#I'm too tired to write something more eloquent.

[forcedhesitation]

this is going to be pure word vomit, but wow. okafor being as important to the entire story of the ones who live despite dying in the first episode was insane and incredible writing. the parallel between him and rick coming full circle at the end, with rick remembering the last thing okafor said before dying and not letting beale manipulate him at the echelon meeting. okafor retroactively being revealed to have never "died" as rick never really did, deep down, because he warned rick about the sword. the ONLY time he snapped was when rick insisted he had nothing, because he didn't have nothing. he always kept his wife's sacrifice in mind, just as rick always kept michonne in mind, even after he chose to "die," because he did this not being able to escape, but he could at least still build a better future for michonne and their children. rick switching sides, just like okafor did, and destroying the CRM's army to save everyone else. the story about rick's father and the burning crops...and okafor being someone who was someone who was researching and growing crops, whereas beale was stealing resources from other communities and destroying them. like okafor knew the CRM had to be destroyed so something new could grow, and he genuinely had a plan to do that and saw a future where more could grow, but beale only ever saw destruction in the future and used violence so that his own community could grow. beale telling rick that both the walkers and them are dead, whereas okafor told rick that all people are his people, everyone alive. beale had spies in other communities to help keep him informed and to help destroy those communities, whereas okafor trusted rick and told him the truth plainly, despite this going against beale's aims and potentially endangering his life, and rick finding his strength in trusting michonne, and lack of trust being what undoes thorne and jadis.

i'm just. wow. donald okafor the perfect morally grey character that you are ....

[oops-all-concrete]

I'm back with more BG3 COMPANION REACTIONS!

This time; Companions see Tav (yours/you) getting flirted with and being too shy/stunned to turn the person down and step in for them. As usual, the romance is only as implied as you would like! These can be read as platonic (but I'm happy to write romance specific posts if you lovelies would like)

Lae'zel -

The concept of flirting tires her. Why make eyes and small touches and idle chatter that eludes to a 'something else' if you can just get to the 'something else- immediately? Assuming both parties are interested of course. Unlike now, where Tav is failing miserably at saying no- because they weren't asked "May I taste your flesh and you taste mine in return?" With a roll of the eyes and a calculated stalk, Lae'zel makes her way over to Tav and takes them by the wrist, dragging them away. If she's stopped, she glares and speaks sharp: "Keep your filth to yourself. If they wanted what your company could achieve, they'd roll around in the mud with an actual pig."

Shadowheart -

Wyll -

She watches from afar with some amusement for a time. But- watching them stay seated several times when the "newfound company" kept getting up and seeming eager to leave- she was happy to put her wine down for such an occasion. "Pardon me, but myself and that one have somewhere to be tonight." She says, hooking her arm in Tavs. If pressed, she'll elaborate. "Well, we travel with a Githyanki warrior, the Blade Of Frontiers, a chosen of Mystra, and a cleric of Shar who's had to put down her wine to come over here and apparently repeat herself." She smiles innocently, though her voice is piercing enough to send the stranger walking backwards with their hands up.

He waits with stepping in, giving Tav the agency to say yes or no on their own accord, but as the stranger starts getting a little too familiar, he can't sit still. "Excuse me, I'm afraid my friend here isn't available this evening" He says, friendly but firm. Of course he's challenged- too nice about it- so he stops being nice. "I should have been more clear-" he starts, placing a hand on their shoulder- watching them become more afraid with the distinct crackle and glow of eldritch energy. "You're either leaving alone- or with me. In a bag." He says again, voice darker than usual. The stranger gets the message and Wyll watches them like a hawk out of the building. "Apologies Tav, I shouldn't have been so harsh. I just have a special distaste for people like that."

Karlach -

This woman jumps in the second Tav shakes their head. "Woah, woah, woah!?" She yells from the distance she is, a lot of the tavern pausing their conversations and looking her way. "Yeah, that's enough of that. If they wanted you as bad as you think, they'd have left with you already, yeah? Hands and unfortunate looking face to yourself" She says, cheeky smile on her face, but her hands itching to swing. Of course the person is embarrassed, especially when some giggles start coming in from the crowd, possibly Tav too, but Karlach knows they're safe with the entire tavern as witness. "Let's get outta here, Tav. There's more drinks and less weirdos down the street" She smiles smugly.

Gale -

He's quite socially eloquent when he wants to be, but knows how to be tactically rude as well. The minute Tav starts shuffling subtly closer to him to get away from this other person, he's inserting himself in the conversation. "Oh, you've got art at your home? I've been meaning to talk to another art fanatic, I've quite a few pieces I'd love to discuss back in my tower in waterdeep filled with wonderful architecture, sculpture, Baroque- Oh! Are you familiar with Oskar Fevras? I commissioned him personally a while ago-" he knows he's hard to talk over, and he takes full advantage. The minute the person tries to talk to Tav- Gale immediately gives them an out. "Oh! I just remembered- Tav my good friend! I believe I've left a ring in the bathroom on the sink while washing my hands" Gale talks fast, allowing Tav all the time needed to leave.

Astarion -

Oh this man is an actor. A few times he catches eyes with Tav- notably uncomfortable, and he rolls his red eyes. He disappears for a moment, but before Tav can think, he's throwing himself between Tav and the stranger. "Darling- This is where you've been??" He says, and you can hear the offence in his voice. Several heads turn. Bar staff is concerned. Oh boy. "I thought you said you'd quit drinking?? And here you are while I'm at home waiting! Look how late it is!" It's like, 4PM, and it makes the stranger frown, but Astarion is yelling again before he can be stopped. "And who are you?? Stealing my lover away like a bandit!" He throws his arms around and sounds on the verge of (fake) tears. Of course the stranger is out of there asap, Astarion taking their seat and drink, making himself at home. He smirks at them like a little shit

Halsin -

As polite and friendly as Halsin is, he can look rather intimidating when he wants. He's huge and he knows it, and while he doesn't like doing it, he will use it to his advantage. The minute he picks up on Tavs discomfort, he's a shadow over the pair. The stranger just has a look up at the druid and that has all the effect needed. "Apologies, I'm afraid you're in my seat. My friend was waiting for me" He smiles, arms crossed in front of him, a mountainous man. If they don't move immediately, he leans down to the strangers height, because of course he's much taller. "Don't worry about paying for your drink, I'd much rather pay for that myself than a bloody floor." He says, voice even and friendly, but a vein bulging out of his forehead.

Hope you've you've enjoyed! Who are you looking to for help in this situation? (I take requests, feel free to ask!♡)

[cas-kingdom]

Can you please write Damon cheering up sis!reader by taking her out for some 1 on 1 time? Maybe even some grumbling from Stefan when they get back home lol ❤️

"If this is what you call a date, I want you to know I'm not impressed."

Damon Salvatore rolled his eyes to the high heavens and punted a stone across the grass. "Would you stop your grumbling? God," he said, "you try to do something nice."

You dragged your feet totally unnecessarily. "I'm tired."

"You wouldn't complain like this if it were Stefan, would you?" He stared straight at you, immediately noting the hesitation flit across your face. He stopped. "Would you, you little snake?” You turned on your heel, walking backwards and sticking your tongue out. Damon grit his teeth and surged forward, making a swipe for you. You easily darted out of the way but wasn't as lucky the second time, your brother catching your head in the crook of his arm and mussing your hair.

"You're a vampire," he said above your screaming, "you can't get tired. Ooh, bunny rabbit."

He let you go, stumbling, and approached the oblivious black rabbit. You recovered and grabbed his wrist before he could snatch the animal.

"No, no, no, don't." Damon gave you a look and your mirrored it. "Just let it exist, D."

"Fine, but when I'm hungry later and wanna snack on a passing tourist, don't come crying." You slapped his shoulder and he leaned down, beckoning to his back.

"Come on, get on." You merely blinked in response and he rolled his eyes once more. "Get on, or I'm leaving you behind." You, figuring this was the only way you were getting to the top of the mountain, jumped onto his back with all the grace of a baby elephant. Damon, ever the drama queen, groaned under the weight. "Damn, sis, how much do you weigh?"

You kicked his hips. "Walk on, ass."

Damon had hauled you out of the house that morning without allowing you—or Stefan—a word in edgeways. "It's a date," he'd said when you’d protested, "we're going on a date." Said date apparently included hiking up the tallest mountain in Virginia.

You moved faster now you were off the ground, hanging around his neck with your cheek against the back of his head. Your eyes followed the moving view until Damon got to the top and the trees cleared. You lifted your head and dropped down as he let go of your legs. "Woah."

"What'd I tell you, kiddo?"

"It's beautiful."

"Yeah, I—" A sharp trill pierced the quietude at the top of the answer and Damon grumbled, reaching into his pocket to yank out his phone. The name caused him to audibly roll his eyes "—aw, seriously?" He put the phone to his ear. "Hi, bro. No, bro, I haven't kidnapped our sister. We're having a dandy old time, thanks very much. She's fine, we're fine, the bunny's fine, and don't even think about coming after us because you're not invited. This is a date." And with that, the phone was turned on silent and pushed right back into his pocket.

You crossed your arms over your chest and grinned, one brow raised. "Eloquent."

Damon rolled his eyes and sat at the edge of the mountain. "Come here. Come on, I won't let you fall." He rose a brow playfully. "Maybe."

You gave him a look but came to sit beside him anyway, making extra sure to be close enough that if the wind blew a little too hard and you did topple over the edge, he'd be able to grab you in time.

"I brought you here when you were a kid, you know?" Damon thought about that. "Well, more of a kid than you are now, I mean."

"Yeah?"

"Yup. Carried you all the way up. You said your legs were tired." He jabbed you in the side. "Guess some things don't change."

“Hey, I walked up most of it by myself.” You jabbed back.

“Yet the question remains…will you walk down by yourself?” He rose his brows in question. You narrowed your eyes but didn't respond, prompting your brother to snort.

"What did I think of it then?" you asked. The views were gorgeous, but you doubted you’d appreciated them as much when you were younger.

"Absolutely no idea. You fell asleep on the way up." Damon didn't sound impressed. You grinned. "Seriously. Busted my ass climbing up that hill and you weren't even awake to see all this."

"You didn't wake me up?"

"You were a deep sleeper."

"Belated sorry."

"Accepted."

You leant against him, your shoulders touching. "That's why you wanted to come today?"

Damon shrugged. "Seems a shame not to see it at least once." He paused. "And to spend some time together." You glanced up at him. "What?"

You said nothing. You shook your head and rested it against his shoulder, reaching to take his hand in yours. "I missed you too, big brother."

TVD Masterpost

[paradoxolotl]

neil, resident fruit lover: kevin these bananas are for consumption. do not fucking touch them. kevin: but i need- andrew, regretting that he started this: day, just get a goddamn dildo if you feel the need to practice on something. for fuck's sake.

kevin gets turned on whenever he sees bananas. the dorm is in chaos. jeremy has no idea about the banana thing until neil messages him, 'hey you got any bananas at your place? kevin loves those.'

-🍌 anon (also i'm sorry if i'm bothering you i'm just having a good time :D <3)

Bananon I tried to write you something but it’s late and my brain is mushy

~

Something something about Kevin and Jeremy seeing each other for a few months before Jeremy rolls up to Fox Tower to pick up Kevin for a date. He’s surprised, though he really shouldn’t be, to see Andrew and Neil leaning against the wall, two sets of eyes already on him. It’s different, without the publicity of a court and the game separating them. He’s more aware of the dangers that lurk in both of them.

It’s ridiculous of course. He watched Andrew break Riko’s arm in front of thousands. If they wished violence upon him, he’d receive it.

So he’s really not that worried walking up to them.

“Is this a shovel talk?” He asks, because he knows Kevin has more than one shadow.

It’s Neil that cock’s a brow, but neither break their stare. “We’re not his keepers,” he says. Jeremy can’t help but smile at that.

“Sure,” he agrees anyways. The twin looks of emotionless judgment don’t waver. “Can I just slip on by you then?”

It’s almost eerie, the way they both blink as one. Andrew pushes off the wall, uncrossing his arms as he does so. He tosses something at Jeremy, who catches it out of reflex. Though when he sees the banana flavoured lube in his hand, his embarrassment is almost enough to beat out his confusion.

“Um,” he says. Eloquent.

“Ever heard of Pavlov?” Andrew asks.

Neil’s grin is wicked, too sharp to be friendly. “We’d say your welcome, but I’m tired of questioning our fruit.”

They leave before Jeremy can ask what the ever living fuck any of that means, their short legs making surprisingly quick time across the parking lot. Jeremy watches dumbly, lube still in hand, as they climb into a black car and drive away.

He’s only brought out of his confusion by the door to the Tower opening, then man he was looking for finally making an appearance. His grin is easy, but the motion of stuffing the bottle into his pocket is not, taking more than one try. Blessedly, Kevin doesn’t seem to notice, his own smile appearing.

What Jeremy wouldn’t do for Kevin Day’s smile.

[starry-night-author]

I absolutely love prompt 17 ! Could you possibly write a part 2 to it pls?

YEAAAAHHH

Prompt #17 (Pt. 2)

(Part 1) (Part 3)

Hero woke to being violently shaken awake.

"Where are they?"

Startled, confused, and up a little too early after a long night, Hero thought their response was quite eloquent considered the situation. "Wha- where's hmmm?"

They were shaken again, and this time they started up blinking. "Where are they?"

"Hm?"

Hero reached up and rubbed the sleep from their tired eyes just to see Villain sitting back on the bed next to them. "Where. Are. They." Villain repeated.

"...Who?"

"Where's Superhero!"

Hero knew it wasn't really a question. Or, if it was, it was a very intense one. It was more of a demand that Hero do what they wanted. That they give them the information they needed.

Hero nonchalantly laid back in bed, waving a hand. "Oh, I'm sure they're up making breakfast or something. Maybe they were called in early this morning?"

Inside, they were panicking. Superhero said they'd be back by the time they woke up. The spot on the bed next to Hero was clearly empty, and there was no sign they'd been home yet.

But they had to keep it together for Villain's sake. And try to keep the truth from them as long as possible.

"And you weren't?" Villain pointed out, slipping out of bed. They were going to search the rest of the house.

"Hey, sometimes the agency doesn't call everyone in!" Hero called after them. "Maybe they just wanted Superhero?"

There just came an audible grumble and the sound of various doors slamming around the house as Villain checked all the rooms. Hero winced as there came a particularly loud slam, and they were sure it wouldn't have taken much more force to throw the door from its hinges.

Finally, Villain stormed back into the room. "They're not home," they growled.

Hero sat up slightly. They knew they should tell Villain, they really did. But after their encounter with Supervillain yesterday, Villain really wasn't doing well. Superhero had spent most of the day comforting them, and later when Hero got home, they did too.

Hero wasn't sure what finding out that Superhero might be dead by now might do to Villain in their current fragile state. Just Superhero being gone with no explanation had been enough to shock them out of their shattered silent state, something like this might shatter them even more.

Superhero might be dead by now.

That realization put a little more panicked fear into their voice as they sat up to face Villain. "T-they're not?"

Superhero might be dead by now.

They weren't back. They said they would be, and they weren't. They were up against Supervillain, one of the most ruthless villains in the city. Supervillain played dirty, and probably really wanted Superhero out of the way. They'd do whatever they could to get rid of them.

Superhero might be dead by now.

They probably were.

"Hero?"

Hero was startled back to reality by the soft voice in front of them, the gentle bandaged hands on their face and leg. They looked up, hazily recognizing Villain's face through the panic.

"H-Hero," Villain's voice was panicked, but it was clear they were trying to keep it level. It was full of fear, but surprisingly concise. "Hero, where's Superhero?"

Between their tone and the soft touch against their face, Hero broke.

"They went to go fight Supervillain," Hero whispered. "They left last night. After- after what Supervillain did to you yesterday, they decided to put an end to it. I-I caught them just before they left, they said they'd be back before we woke up. They promised they'd be-"

But Hero couldn't finish, they broke off in a sob.

For a moment, they expected to be shouted at. To be ridiculed, for Villain to demand how could they just let Superhero go. That it was Hero's fault for not stopping them, that if they hadn't ended the nonsense while they could, Superhero might still be alive, waking up next to them.

But Villain didn't. They would never.

They threw their arms around their partner, holding them close and sobbing against their shoulder. Hero hugged them just as tight, breaking down as well.

It was all the two could do for a moment. Hold each other and sob as the realization crashed down on them. That Superhero, the one who held them all together, was gone. Was gone because of them, they'd been killed trying to get justice for their partners. To save them from Supervillain, and it'd lost them their life.

When they drew apart several minutes later, Villain was still shaking, the tears running silently down their face.

"Hey hey hey hey hey," Hero held on to their wrists, not wanting to hurt their bandaged palms. "We- we don't know for certain they're gone though, right? The fight might've just lasted longer than they thought, or they stopped to get doughnuts on the way home. A-and even-" they swallowed- "and even if Supervillain does have them, they might still be alive! We can get the agency involved, Superhero's one of their top heroes, they'll definitely do all they can to get them back. We don't know anything yet."

Villain just nodded.

Hero stood, holding tighter to their partner's wrists. "We can figure this out. They're resilient, and they're probably still alive."

Villain nodded again.

That's when there came the sound of a knock on the front door, followed closely by the doorbell being rung. Villain jumped, startled, and Hero looked up. "Who is that?"

"S-Superhero?" Villain suggested. They didn't sound too confident.

Hero slowly walked out to the front hall, Villain timidly following behind them, their wrist still in Hero's hand. The person at the door knocked again, and Villain stood off to the side, out of view as Hero slowly opened the door.

It wasn't Superhero.

"A-ah." Hero said shakily. "Supervillain."

The felon standing just outside of their house grinned.

[jolenes-doppelganger]

Update

My WIPs are taking a bit longer than anticipated to get through due to some travel sickness I've been battling. Have a short little excerpt of my upcoming Rose the Hat fic as atonement.

Waking up for the upteenth time was more exhausting than being awake itself. Your head swum with too many thoughts, the mind's way of catching up after being unconscious. Someone was petting your hair, little strokes and teases that pulled at your scalp menacingly.

"We have a debt." Rose murmured. "My people are hungry, and they're going to go hungry because you're not on the menu any longer."

Her words rolled over your head in weary waves, peddling meanings over the valleys of your brain until they slowly sunk in, stringing together cohesive ideas once more.

"And why does that mean I have a debt with you?"

Rose gave the hairs at your scalp a tug, raising an eyebrow as she looked at you seriously.

"Because what I say goes, honey pie."

You closed your eyes, nodding in defeat. The light hurt, everything hurt.

"Got any more memories to view? I have millions, my mind is a cathedral."

You fought back the urge to mouth the words along with her. You knew her little cliches too well.

"I don't think so. The last memory was pushing others out of the way until it could be seen."

The logic behind that theory was imbued with a hidden clarity that had come from somewhere in your unconscious mind. The memories would stop jumping in front of your eyes again.

"Okay, well, you owe me. I'm keeping you alive because you're useful. Clairvoyance is a gift, we don't have a lot of True with such wide sensors as you."

Leaning forward felt like the next best thing with your head throbbing so violently. A soft little 'mmph' left your lips as you did so.

"You're not listening..." Rose said in sing-song fashion.

"Brain hurts."

Rose snorted at this.

"So eloquent. Truly, you should write novels with your linguistical prowess."

You let out another grunt in response.

"Its like talking to a caveman." Rose muttered.

She brought a cup of something to your lips. Tea. You drank it, not really caring that it was lukewarm and half full. It was liquid.

"Not picky. I'll add that to your list of positives."

You eyed her wearily.

"And let me guess, all the negatives include the fantasies of me you can't have because I know you too well."

Rose cocked an eyebrow, momentarily stunned.

"Well. I do have plans for you in the physical department. Crow and I are fizzling out, it might be time to break in a new lover."

She said it so confidently, in a fashion that made it almost unbearably flirtatious.

"You're wondering how good my head game is."

Rose laughed, a stunned kind of bark that caused her chest to jiggle, the swell of her breasts unencumbered beneath her t-shirt.

"Oh god, you're hysterical. I mean yes, but you make me sound so blunt. So, collected." Rose snickered. "I can be blunt, and I certainly try to be..."

Rose trailed off, eyeing you carefully.

"Kiss me."

It was a command that cut through your tired brain. She caught your head as you leaned in, pressing her lips against yours, one hand tangled in your hair, the other resting on your back. Rose pulled away after the short kiss, seemingly a little vexed by something.

"How much... How much experience do you have? You kiss like a petrified boy."

[;p]

[greycaelum]

Hello Grey, so here is the request as a regular request. I would love to see that and love you so much, by the way<3333. And I did at a tiny bit more detail no worries if you don't do them (Absolutely no pressure)

So I was hoping if you could do like the reader is tired but can't sleep so they just cuddle and Satoru reads them a bedtime story as they talk about random things and like he covers them with a blanket.

But as usual, you can write it with your own imagination. I would like to see your take on this

Love a loads<333

Somnolent Collections: { Ocean and Skies in your Eyes }

—Gojo Satoru X Reader

𑁍 Synopsis:

"The sea must look as pretty as your eyes." You mumbled, and reach to run the pad of your thumb underneath Satoru's closed eyes.

"Uh-huh? You flatter me too much darling. Stop making me beg you for more lovin' the man's trying to make you sleep here."

You chuckled and nipped on his jaws making him groan.

"Pretty nasty thing, stay still and listen." Satoru accused you. "The sea king had six daughters, they had no legs they were mermaids living deep in the sea. Only when they reached the age of 15 years old were they qualified to rise up out of the water to view the world above the sea."

𑁍 Genre: domestic fluff, established relationship, sleepy nights

𑁍 WC/CW/TW: (2k)— inspired by the Little Mermaid, angst if you squint—fluff, cuddling, soft kithes, overall something to make you sleep

𑁍 A/N: Hi sweetheart, as promised here's for you! Since I can't make the previous one you asked for GAC Event. Happy Valentines to you all and I hope you like this one~ —Grey,

"Can't fall asleep?" Satoru groaned, pulling off his eyemask to search for you in the dark.

"My brain is dead. but my body is alive." You grumbled, turning to your side. You look at your phone and it read 00:43. That barely helped in making you feel better. You turned to see Satoru rousing from the bed with a yawn. It pinched your heart knowing he needs sleep more than ever.

"Want me to grab you a snack?" He mumbled, searching for his slipper but you held his wrist.

That'd make you feel so bad. Waking up the exhausted man just to fetch you food when you can do it by yourself.

"I'm not hungry, just can't sleep is all." You grumbled and tug him back into the bed. Satoru didn't protest and let himself fall back in the duvets and scooch over to your side.

"Then what should I do to make you fall asleep?"

Sleep it off... You blame this on the evening coffee you drank.

"You could tell me a story." You piped up and giggled.

Satoru's face blanks for a moment, blinking again before he could respond.

"A story huh? Lemme think." Satoru hummed. "How 'bout the story of the big grey wolf eats the little red riding hood?"

"Toru I'm trying to sleep, not have nightmares." You rolled your eyes.

"Okay, okay, my bad. How about... the Little Mermaid?" Satoru pulled the duvet up, covering his waist. The pillow on your side is removed and you're now laying in Satoru's biceps, closely breathing against his bobbing Adam's apple. "Comfy?"

"Then our story begins... Far out in the ocean where the water is as blue as the prettiest centaury flowers and as clear as the brightest glass." Satoru started in a low voice, almost as lulling as the soft whispers to a delicate thing. You never imagined he's this eloquent to tell a fairy tale.

You sighed and nodded. You've never really read a bedtime story. And Satoru, has never done it before too.

Satoru waited for you to settle down before starting the tale.

"To go from the bottom of the ocean to the surface above would be as high as many church steeples that are piled one upon another. The being under the sea just dwells there. They live in the finest, purest, and freest blue ocean."

You nuzzle close, feeling Satoru stroke your back. Letting yourself be immersed in his calming voice and the untold story you've yet to hear.

"We human beings, who live in our world don't know them, nor do we know about the beauty, magnificence, and tranquility of their world... the eternal deep sea. But unlike us, after death, the beings under the sea turn into water droplets, and stay forever with their loved ones, and with their beloved sea."

"The sea must look as pretty as your eyes." You mumbled, and reach to run the pad of your thumb underneath Satoru's closed eyes.

"Uh-huh? You flatter me too much darling. Stop making me beg you for more lovin', the man's trying to make you sleep here."

You chuckled and nipped on his jaws making him groan.

"Pretty nasty thing, stay still and listen." Satoru accused you. "The sea king had six daughters, they had no legs they were mermaids living deep in the sea. Only when they reached the age of 15 years old were they qualified to rise up out of the water to view the world above the sea."

"When the youngest mermaid reached 15 years old, she rose lightly to the surface of the water and saw a beautiful world. The sun had just sea and nearby on the sea, there was a large sailing ship. She swam close to the side f the ship and saw people inside holding a dance party. At the center of the dance party was a handsome prince. That day was his 16th birthday the little mermaid was deeply enchanted by the prince."

"Sound like a womanizer." You scoffed Satoru pinched your nose but continued.

"It was very late at night and the crew gradually fell asleep. Just then a fierce wind blew across the water and the ship was torn apart by the storm. The little mermaid saw the whole scene from the ship. She took the dying prince in her arms and swam to the coast. She kisses the prince's cheek and hoped he would wake up."

"Naughty little mermaid." Satoru laughed while your face contorted.

"But at that moment, someone approached so the little mermaid had to leave the prince and hide behind a rock."

"A young girl spotted the prince and that is when the prince woke up he smile at the girl gratefully and believe it was she who saved him. Seeing this the little mermaid returned to the palace under the sea."

You shivered a bit from the coldness of the AC. This didn't go unnoticed by Satoru as he pulled your side of the blanket up to your shoulders and tug you closer to his side.

"Still chilly?"

"Much better." You snuggled as well. Taking into account that sharing Satoru's body heat has always been the highlight of cuddles.

"The little mermaid wanted to see the prince so much that her sisters drag her to the surface where the prince's palace was and from then on she grew more fascinated about the world above the sea and she eagerly hope to step on the shore and live among them."

"So she asked her grandmother 'what's the difference between mermaids and human beings? How can a mermaid become a human being?'-her grandmother told her,-' the life span of humans is short, but human beings have souls. After death their souls will go to heaven and live there forever, we mermaids can live 300 years but after death, we become sea foam above the water and can no longer see the sun in the sky."

"If a mermaid wants to obtain a soul she must find a man who loves her more than anything and marry him. Only then could she share half of his soul and half of his happiness with her. But Grandmother believes that such a thing would never happen because a man could not fall in love with a mermaid."

"That's stupid, is this a sad story?"

"Shush, just listen, you keep interrupting me, pumpkin." Satoru look at you and bit his lips in petty warning. "A bad listener doesn't get kisses."

"Okay, okay sorry, do continue." Satoru resumed running his hand over your back and ran through the story in a low husky voice, laced with faint sleepiness.

"The little mermaid suddenly thought of the witch who might help her, the witch did agree to help her but in return, she must give her voice to the witch. The little mermaid accepted. The witch gave her a bowl of soup. If consumed it would give her legs and make her the most graceful dancer in the world. However she could never return to the sea and with every step, it's as if she's threading over sharp knives, blood flowing from her feet. And if her beloved were to marry another, the morning following the wedding she would become seafoam on the crest of the waves. the little mermaid accepted. After she drank the soup she became mute and her tail disappeared, in its place, she had two legs but when she stood on her feet she felt heartbreaking pains and fainted."

You moved to rest your head over Satoru's shoulders. At this point, you hardly listen to the story but rather to Satoru's voice which seems to have a deeper ring as the story takes a turn. Your eyes are starting to drop, listening to Satoru's slow reading. Your head found the spaces of his neck and buried your face there, nuzzling your nose against his pulse point. His hand from your back found your head and stroked your hair, pressing a gentle kiss on your cheeks as he continued the tale.

"When she woke up she found herself lying in the palace and her beloved prince sat before her. And so she began to live there, and became the most beautiful girl in the palace and though she could not speak nor sing she could dance with all the grace in the world in that way the prince was deeply enchanted by the little mermaid. She lived a happy life with the prince but every night she would sit by the shore look deep into the sea and miss her family."

"If she was you, would you do it? Forcing yourself in my world?" You look up to Satoru who stopped from your sudden question.

You don't know but it's just too foolish to give up everything.

"Oh baby," Satoru chuckled and pause for a bit. "You don't know what I'd trade for you." His eyes reflected the glimmer like the constellations of stars reflected by the water. It's mystical how could Satoru's eyes hold both heaven and ocean. "Do you still wanna listen?"

Subconsciously you nodded, and Satoru cleared his throat, going back into the quiet tune of the story.

"However before long the prince was to be wed. His would-be wife was a princess of a neighboring kingdom. The little mermaid went to see this princess when the princess walk down from the main hall, the prince was stunned, this was the girl who he believed had saved him. Seeing them together the little mermaid's heart was full of sorrow. On the day of their wedding, she danced beautifully for the bride and groom. All the people applauded cheerfully, never did she dance so cheerfully. although that was to be the last dance she had forsaken her kindred, sacrificed her beautiful voice, and suffered pain daily for hum. But he knew nothing of it."

You blame the little mermaid. She could've taken the shot to tell the prince rather than staying quiet. But thinking about it, she lost everything, even her ability to speak, away in a foreign land and strange world where she never belonged with no option to turn back.

"Late that night when everyone was asleep, the little mermaid waited on deck for the sunrise, just then her sisters appeared on the water their long beautiful hair was gone as they had given it to the witch in exchange for a dagger. Before sunrise, she must plunge the knife into the heart of the prince and let his blood fall on her legs only then could she turn into a mermaid again. and return to the sea"

"The rosy dawn got brighter and brighter, the little mermaid drew back the curtain of the bed, bent down, and kisses the fair faceoff the prince. she glanced at the dagger and at the prince. suddenly she flung the knife into the sea and the knife sank beneath the waves, she cast one more lingering glance at the prince and then threw herself into the sea."

You rose abruptly from the bed. But Satoru merely looked at you and continued.

"The sun rose above the water, she saw the bright sun, and above her floated numerous transparent beautiful beings. through them, she could see the white sails of the ship and the colored sky. Their speech was sweet but too ethereal to be heard, she perceive that her body was gradually transforming into seafoam."

"The end?" You look at him in disbelief.

"The end." He nodded.

"But! 'Toru!" It was a mistake to have him as a storyteller.

Satoru on the other hand looks at you, mirth swirling in his eyes from your outburst. The way your eyes flared and glared at him was too cute like a riled-up cat. His pretty little missy.

"Awww, we're you expecting a happy ending? My bad, fairytales are starting to get boring they needed some twists." Satoru patted your side of the bed, looking at you with a faint smirk.

"You suck at fairy tales, they're called fairy tales for a reason." The lower of your lips jutted, not a bit impressed by what he did.

"I'm your happy ever after, now get your sweet ass in my arms before I pull you myself." Satoru drawled and open the blanket for you to crawl in.

"That's not it!"

"I will always choose you."

"Why bother about made-up tales? I'm here, I can hold you tight, kiss you better, and love you best, mnnn? Like thisssss~"

But it was too late, Satoru already grabbed your wrist and wrap his strong arms all around you. You're trapped in his arms with the blanket pulled to your shoulders. His lips graze your forehead and tilted your chin to look at his ocean eyes.

—GreyCaelum

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME

Check out the Masterlist for more

All rights and credits of the Jujutsu Kaisen character(s) mentioned images(s) and songs(s) used, belongs to their respective owner(s)

General/ Series Taglist: @ice-icebaby @aeanya @tender-rosiey

[freuleinanna]

tracked down

Characters: Travis Hackett, reader Chosen ending: The were!Hacketts are dead, the counselors gang might as well have lived Short summary: You were the extra counselor that summer, so you participated in the fun campy werewolf activities, and not without consequences. Silly something that jumped to my mind bc who wouldn't want Travis to track them down Words count: 1081

Tags: @sadclowncat (I'm SO sorry for mistag earlier!!), @sera-wonderland, @b33barlowsstuff, @imperfectjam (also, tagging those who wanted something w/ our man Travis or Travis x reader, all future stuff will be at (# anna writes the quarry))

(the gif is just to show the character, it's not this exact scene, but the message seems right tho)

You took one look at the badge – and bolted. Within a split of a second some regret managed to sink through. You should’ve made a goddamn poker face, but now it was too late for that. Now you just had to run.

The cop reacted like any good cop should, by starting the chase. Unlike any good cop, he didn’t shout any warnings, he just straight-up sprinted behind you. Like a Terminator. Unsurprisingly, being the 1st film Sarah Connor sucked ass. Only she lived to see a second film, and then some. You might not have this luxury.

The cop tackled you near the window while you were trying to jerk it open.

‘Going somewhere, haunts&curses2573?’

Your whole body froze for a moment. He knew. His voice wasn’t smug, though, just edgy. Tired, even. The cop held you face down on the floor but seemed to try not to hurt you. You held your head up as best you could.

‘Who the fuck are you?’ ‘Are you gonna run if I let you go?’ ‘What the fuck do you want?’ ‘Are you?!’ ‘I know my rights, okay?!’ now you were really panicking. ‘I know my fucking rights!’ ‘DO YOU WANNA TALK LIKE ADULTS OR DO I CUFF YOU TO A RADIATOR?!’ ‘GET THE FUCK OFF ME!’

You heard a grunt, then some cursing under the breath.

‘Cuffs it is, then.’

You felt the metal on your skin, and next thing you knew, you were facing the room, with the cuff link gleefully clanking against the radiator pipe and the cop carefully moved to a safe, unkickable distance. That’s the first time you saw him properly. Not exactly young, with a shade of stubble on the cheeks and chin. Slightly tilting his head to the side. He squatted, keeping his eyes on your level. Something about his whole figure was just… unnerving.

‘Please,’ your throat was suddenly parched and the voice came out harsh, ‘please … I don’t know what you want from me, okay?’

A slight annoyed eye-roll followed.

‘Yeah, that’s why you ran. Uh-huh.’ ‘I… I…’ ‘Quit the damn tune, Y/L/N’ he cut you off, slightly pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘I’ve had an awful coupl’a months chasing you down, but unlike you, I can do my job right.’

You yanked the cuff slightly, not actually hoping for anything. And nothing happened. What a surprise. You yanked some more just out of spite.

‘Happy now?’ cold, calm voice didn’t match the appearance one bit, but perfectly matched the prying eyes. ‘Wanna do some more running?’

You shook your head, drawing your legs closer to yourself.

‘Good, ‘cause you’re gonna SIT YOUR ASS DOWN AND LISTEN!’ you jerked and the sudden rise of the voice. The cop… really, he looked irritated. And irritated cops are never a good story. Terminator 2 covered that as well. ‘Am I clear?’

You nodded. He sighed sympathetically.

‘Look, kid. My name is Travis Hackett,’ a meaningful pause. ‘Like the Hackett’s Quarry.’

And then it came together. Of course. Of-fucking-course. He was studying you, as if making sure you won’t suddenly decide to chew your arm off and run. You had half a heart to do just that.

‘…shit,’ that was all you could say. Not very eloquent, but very true. ‘Exactly,’ the cop nodded generously. ‘You’ve fucked up big time.’ ‘I didn’t do any-’ ‘Ah,’ he stopped you with a motion of his hand. ‘I suggest you shut up and really don’t piss me off now, because I really don’t wanna take out my gun. Especially, since it’s loaded with silver.’

Bastard knew it right away, from your eyes. Read your face like a note on the fridge. The uneasy tug pulled in your stomach. You were fucked. Absolutely fucked in a totally non-unfuckable goddamn way, but the stupid kid inside you still tried to wiggle their way out.

‘W-what does silver hav--’ ‘Did I not just say to NOT PISS ME OFF?!’

That’s what, a third strike? Thoughts ran around your brain in a sort of dancing fever. There was no way out for you. The only way was through, and it could just be that on the other side of the tunnel you’d be met by a silver bullet. Not on the full moon, but still… The Hackett cop seemed to have calmed down a notch. His brother, you remembered. His brother and the kids. They died that night. It’s a wonder the silver bullet didn’t come first. You suddenly felt really cold.

‘What do you want?’ you asked flatly. Trevor Hackett, or whatever his name was, was kind of staring you down. Full-on drama. ‘You figured it out, didn’t you, Y/N? When the moon came and you turned, you figured it out,’ he gave you a moment to chime in, and when you didn’t, finished darkly with a disapproving shake of the head. ‘The White Wolf is still alive. So you went and sent all those trinkets you found out there to that goddamn podcast, didn’t you? What were you hoping for? A crowd of werewolf-hunters who’d put him down for you?’

He was surprisingly accurate, that Trampy-whatever. Travis, it struck you, the name was Travis. Probably should remember that for later, if that later ever comes. It didn’t really seem like it, though.

‘That… was the plan, yeah,’ you mumbled awkwardly. ‘Well, congrats, mastermind. You created a fucking pilgrim path for every dumbass who ever wanted to snoop around and smell werewolf shit.’

His voice was dripping with sarcasm. A bit more, and the floor beneath would be a goner, burnt right down to the basement. That would’ve been fucking hilarious, only it wasn’t anywhere near funny.

‘Do you want to see the body count? Maybe the local town reports on rabid dogs? Hmm?’ ‘Alright, I get it, I fucked up,’ you snarked, not being able to take the blame-pushing anymore. ‘So what, you dragged your ass out here to shoot me? Cover for your fucked-up family once again? What the fuck do you want?’

The cop’s face changed. You didn’t understand how, exactly. It took you a few moments to catch up, but you got it just as he finished saying that next words. Then it beamed on you. He didn’t look angry anymore. He seemed regretful. As if he was sorry for something he was about to do.

‘Full moon’s in 10 days. I’m sorry, kid. I’m really sorry, but I’m gonna need your help to end this.’

[mercurytrinemoon]

More venus retrograde thoughts about love and relationships because I'm annoyed or smth

I've seen the latest comments from Rachel Zegler about Snow White and I'm just tired. Her rude attitude doesn't help either.

Keep in mind I'm writing this as someone who never dreamt of a wedding nor having a husband (actually my childhood dream for the future was living together with my friends, such an Aquarius + 11th house stellium thing to do), I was also never actively looking for love and often kinda cringed at the thought of being in a relationship. I was always quite the tomboy and I grew up loving strong female characters who can kick some proper ass (Lara Croft was my ultimate hero). But I also loved stories about princesses who fall in love, because, idk, one needs a healthy balance.

Also I'm invested cause I was once the Evil Queen in a school play lol.

Listen, Snow White is ultimately about having a pure heart and rising beyond the surface level, whether it's someone's "beauty" (Snow White) or "quirks" (dwarfs), so just, like, don't be vain and be kind, that's the point. It's not even a love story, per se, as Snow White spends majority of time figuring herself out, being resilient and minding her own business. In both the og fairy tale, as well as the animated movie, Prince is just a convenient plot point. But as usual it ends with finding "true love" cause that is just the universal way of saying that love conquers evil. And so you can have a victory in a full package fashion of self-fullfilment and a romantic partner.

So like, saying things like "the story is outdated" and "ugh @ true love and prince" is just??? I can't find an eloquent way to say it, so let's just go with: stupid.

My mom just told me the other day about her friend, who called off her wedding because she felt "too ugly for the pretty guy". Years later she met someone else and she married the dude because he treated her good and that's it. They have a daughter and don't really even live together now. My sister, on the other hand, has a friend who's in a relationship and she's not really that much into her boyfriend but he has a lot of money and so it's a convenient situation for her.

These are just examples but my point is, there's plentyyyy of relationships like that these days. I think the world actually NEEDS true love and a reminder that you can have your own fairy tale, like stop being so pragmatic about life.

Meanwhile the approach that's represented by Rachel is not only being way too pragmatic (because, apparently, everything revolves only around work and building empires and no one really needs a good support system and emotional intimacy with the other *read with sarcasm*) but also it's villanizing love and villanizing men. We'll never be equal if we won't stop putting one above the other.

Also? Side note, I was a fan of Maleficent and how they got rid of the Prince there, I think they've done it in a clever way. I liked The Huntsman, that was an interesting twist on Snow White. I liked Once Upon a Time's version of Snow as well. Mirror Mirror flipped the script as well. So I don't think we have to forcibly prove the same thing over again. And if they want, they can come up with a new story or reach for another fairy tale that has the female protagonist saving the day (there's a few, just do a quick google). But obviously Disney won't come up with anything new because it's easier to sell something that's already familiar, that's why they're making those remakes.

(And like, so disrespectful to hate on the first ever full-length animated movie, like wtf.)

[soothfog]

i need a new "muse i can write when i'm too lazy or foggy to write prosey" character. that was originally why i made lee. to write when i feel a thick brainfog but still want to attempt to write. but his narrative and style and plot has really taken off and transformed into something more. so i'm somewhat... scared/apprehensive to use him as an experimental "foggy but wanna write" account now. i feel i have a, like, standard to live up to here (which isn't a Bad thing; but is nonetheless a thing which creates mental limitations/possibilities).

anyway. all this to say, i'm thinking of adding a new oc to my multi (over on @ eyeshone) to fill this hole. the simple gist of it being: ai android whose intelligence/thoroughness is battery percentage dependent. depending on the percent, they're able to think/speak more critically or eloquently. on, like, 5% battery the narration could include things like "they're so tired they're like [low power: unable to generate simile]." to help me not have to think as much lol. the oc would naturally have a more comedic feel to them but could obv have more serious interactions.

[deathsbestgirl]

Saw your tags-- agree w/ your thoughts! :DDD

I put my fleshed out ideas... somewhere? in an additional post; but I meant (and didn't say very eloquently) was that Mulder's trauma is psychological while Scully's was physical. We see him on more mental collapses over the series than Scully, whereas her arc revolves around her bodily autonomy being violated. Both are tragic; but Scully was given something back for everything CC took away from her (abduction = coma to have a goodbye from her dead father/peace, Melissa died = led her to Emily to give Scully autonomy over her daughter's peace, infertility = IVF = failure = confronting her own scientific reluctance in Amor Fati arc = alien ship healing = journey's end in all things = miracle pregnancy, etc.) Whereas Mulder's tragedies has no good thing to come from them EXCEPT closure for Samantha (his mom's suicide will always weigh on him, and his dad's "hi son" in Anasazi was butchered by Mulder learning about his Nazi dealings in Paper Clip, etc.)

Scully is able to seek help, stability, and normality regardless of her sufferings (even going to therapy when her mental health in untenable); Mulder, however, collapses far too easily without his dilapidated quest (until The Unnatural-Closure.) His trauma is psychological: being too late or too frozen or too incompetent to help others (Max in Fallen Angel, Samantha pre-show, his parents' deaths, Scully's abduction, her cancer and chip control, missing his son's birth, etc.) And his torture in S8 was never addressed, he was competently replaced by Doggett (who had a great solve rate), Scully would have been a good parent without him, Skinner/TLG advocate for his replacement (silently), etc. He had to suffer another loss-- his job, his files, to get a modicum of peace... and even that was robbed by his fear of his child's paternity. And he missed his son's birth (while Scully suffered another physical trauma with Reyes, so both had an awful time of it.)

Their tragedies are incomparable; but Mulder isn't hit hardest by physical violence while Scully is, hence her abduction/infertility being a pillar of trauma for her. For Mulder, it's psychological failure that haunts him the most.

Went on a long-winded spiel there, but I tried to consolidate it all down! :DDDDDD

thank you for this message !! so i tried to start it last night, but honestly was too tired to continue trying lol my issue isn't that i disagree with you at all, but the whole discussion ended up bringing out my anger toward the show 🤣

so i'm finding it hard to talk about their characters in the context of the show when i'm mad about the writing choices.

because. in oubilette (i love this episode), they give a minor the space to have such intense emotions after she'd been kidnapped, raped & abused. and it's SO frustrating that they make scully just bury it. i guess we can assume that because we see her go to therapy, she may go more than we see. and i think you're right to credit her more stable family background for how she's able to heal. but i just don't think being abducted for three months & having no memory and later learning you were medically raped when she was terrified to do any kind of therapy that could help her remember.

so i just don't think she ever dealt with it well, she internalized and tried to bury it and just move forward. or rather, she dealt with it by working on the x files with mulder. cuz maybe she'd eventually get some answers when she was more ready. and she'd already dedicated herself to him.

which i think is another part of the "problem" for me. because they did this with scully, and the way the show is continually about mulder's trauma, i think it just pisses me off. and like. i just can't be sure these were decisions the writers made intentionally, to be part of her character (which when i rationalize it, scully doesn't want to be weak in front of mulder, become another reason for him to feel guilty, another reason for his quest. she's strong & rational and he needs her to be okay. she wants his trust & his pride, to feel worthy. not necessarily because of anything mulder says/does but because of her own psychology & issues...) or if they were lazy & GA worked with what she had as they focused her on mulder.

ANYWAY. all this to say both of their traumas are so so bad. his lead to so much pain, abuse, estrangement and his beautiful beautiful empathy. i think i just care more about scully's because we actually ~see much more of mulder's. half the cases are about his trauma. the whole show is about his trauma. and scully's, i have a harder time talking about because medical rape is too real & scary. losing children is heart wrenching & tragic. the assaults she suffered from obsessive, crazy men are a very present fear for women. we lose people to cancer all the time and it's worse than i could ever put into words (which that aspect of cancer is more about mulder) and i just don't think a lot of that can get better exactly? it's things that stay with you even if you had a loving, stable family, even if you've "worked through it" & "healed" & manage to move forward. there isn't really a choice when a child involved. and there isn't really a choice when you're the one left behind. (not good choices anyway)

(and gods it's so frustrating the way they suck at communicating directly. they really do know each other so well that they can understand so much with looks & touches because they've learned how the other's mind works, though, clearly only to a degree because neither of them can truly fathom how the other struggles when they're abducted & there's nothing they can do except waiting & looking & praying & just doing what they have to as life keeps going because that's how the world works. BUT COMMUNICATING MATTERS. they can't rely on the other just ~getting it, because clearly they can't always get it lol)

(and oh god there's something here about the way mulder is so self sacrificial that any bodily harm that comes to him doesn't matter. and there's also something about the loss of autonomy scully faces repeatedly...)

[oscalesoffeeling]

title: 'dancing around'

rating: t+

word count: 1,504 words. one-shot.

warnings: lust, passionate kissing, implicit nudity, fade to black. nothing explicit is described.

pairing: delruk nulle/wil.huff tar.kin

summary: As Tar.kin's personal assistant, Delruk gets the honor of attending countless Imperial balls. The real honor is getting to lust after Tar.kin in the over-the-top outfits he wears to said balls, from a reasonable distance, that is. Right? Right?

notes: i (Delruk) use he/her pronouns, as always. this is supposed to be our first kiss/time together, but my s/i story doesn't have the most consistent timeline and idk if i even technically consider this 'canon' to my s/i story. anyway, it is very fun and i enjoyed writing it, so here.

-

Delruk grimaces as he pages through her notes: a speech tomorrow, three back to back meetings next week, and another formal ball in two months time, etc. Isn't this very ball big and grand enough to appease the higher ups for at least a year or two more? All this standing around makes her damn back ache.

Her only consolation is the eloquent, clipped chirping of her boss's voice as he chats with his fellow Imperial officers. Tar.kin's voice makes her pleasantly lightheaded and... Warm. And Delruk is not sure how to feel about that. Even the most insane, idiotic rhetoric he spits makes her head spin.

Or perhaps it's because of the deep V-neck of his long, skimpy black leather dress with those belt-like straps hanging down his shoulders, framing his heavily scarred chest and arms. Tar.kin likes to get made-up for important events like this where the Emperor makes an appearance, but his breasts are barely covered this time around and it's just a tiny bit distracting.

Delruk shifts uncomfortably, trying to cast some decidedly inappropriate thoughts from her head as Tar.kin gestures with his words, flapping his fingers and then clenching his fists.

Delruk pages through her datapad again, jotting down something stupid a senator says to Tar.kin.

Laughing cruelly, Tar.kin politely shoos the man off. His laugh rings through Delruk's ears. Oy. Talk about lightheaded...

"What's the matter, Nulle?" Tar.kin asks, snapping her out of her trance.

"Oh, sir, I, uh," he says. Her eyes dart around, just now noticing that they're now alone in this corner of the party, "I'm just. Lightheaded. Sir."

"You look faint, Nulle. Do you need a drink?"

"No, sir, I'm just achy. From standing up too long."

"Ah. Let's sit down, then," Tar.kin says, leading her over to a small couch against the wall.

After he sits, Delruk takes her place not too close, but still next to him.

As they sit in silence, Delruk follows Tar.kin's gaze to the dancefloor. 

"Do you wish you would have spent the night dancing?" Tar.kin says.

"Not really, sir," Delruk says, confused.

"Why not?"

"I'm very tired, and I'm sure I'd've made a fool of myself, sir, in front of all these people. I mean, I've taken lessons, but it was so long ago, you know."

"I would've loved to see it," he says plainly, which makes Delruk's heart drop to her stomach. "What would you've done tonight if you weren't on duty, Nulle?"

"Stayed home, sir."

Tar.kin thinks this over for a moment. Delruk fiddles with the datapad in her hands.

"I believe," Tar.kin says, standing, "it's about time I tuck in for the night. Feel free to accompany me back to the ship."

"Of course, sir," Delruk says. He immediately follows after Tar.kin.

***

In her very own cabin aboard the ship, Delruk is about to undress when he remembers that he forgot to go over her notes with Tar.kin. There was something about another trip to Coruscant that needs clarification, but Delruk can't remember about what...

And Delruk can't take her mind off of Tar.kin's words. He wanted to see her dance... Something twitches and pulses inside her. He taps her foot against the ground, bending her other knee, tapping outward, farther away from herself... Closing her eyes, he crosses her arms against her chest.

What other things did he want to see her do? Oh, sir? Yes, sir. Anything you say. Delruk straightens, coughing self consciously despite being alone.

He ought to ask Tar.kin. About the notes, of course. Coruscant and all that...

He composes herself and makes her way to Tar.kin's quarters. He softly knocks on the door. It immediately slides open to reveal Tar.kin, still very much awake, still done up in his dress.

"Nulle?" he asks.

"Sir? I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I wanted to go over tonight's notes."

"Oh, of course," he says, stepping back from the doorway. "Come. Sit with me."

Tar.kin gestures at a small, circular glass table with two chairs. Delruk sits down and pulls up her notes on her datapad.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Tar.kin asks.

"No, thank you, sir."

Tar.kin sits next to her, so close Delruk can sense the faint scent of lavender and leather hanging in the air around him. His legs are peaking through the long slits of his dress, his eyes are so bright in the dim light, and oh, Maker, he's so handsome... He watches her expectantly, her face growing hot under his gaze.

"Oh, um, here," Delruk says, passing him the datapad, hoping it's not too soaked from her sweaty palms. "I wanted to double check with you about Coruscant, specifically, sir."

Tar.kin scans the screen and hms. Delruk's ears perk up.

"Very good, boy," he says. "Everything appears to be in order. You made a very useful note on senator Jhol, I see."

"Yes," Delruk mutters, shifting in her seat.

"Are you nervous, Nulle?"

"What? Um. Yes, sir," Delruk manages.

"Why now? We've done this before."

"I'm always nervous," Delruk says, her heart skipping a beat. "I'm not used to all this attention, sir. I've never been this. Close to you. Seeing you like this."

"Is this upsetting you?" Tar.kin leans closer to her. His breath is hot... Delruk shivers.

"No, sir," Delruk says. "I long for your attention."

"So you had an ulterior motive for this meeting."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"You have no need to apologize, yet, boy. What is your ulterior motive?"

"I want you," Delruk says.

"You'll have to be more specific than that. What exactly do you want me to do?" Tar.kin asks plainly, like he's expecting her to ask for a vacation or a raise.

"Sir, I don't think you understand. I want you."

Tar.kin's eyes widen.

"Ah, but that still isn't very specific, young man. Do you even know what you're asking of me?"

"Yes, sir, I," Delruk stumbles over her words a couple times. "I want you to kiss me, for a start."

Tar.kin cups her cheek in his hand. Inching closer, his lips brush against hers.

"On the mouth?" he murmurs.

"Yes, sir," Delruk rasps.

Her heart slides into her mouth as Tar.kin presses a maddeningly soft kiss on her lips. Delruk wants to run her hands through his hair, kiss him until he's gasping for breath, but he's so tender... As if on cue, he kisses her harder, pushes their chests together, and Delruk moans. Tar.kin pulls away.

“For a start,” he says. His lipstick is smeared... "May I kiss you again?"

"Yes, sir."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, Tar.kin pulls her into another dizzying kiss. He bites down on her lip, sucking it between his teeth, as if it’d bring her closer, closer; only by being inside could he be closer, and closeness is similarity is sameness is wholeness. And they longed to be whole, through filling that hole with flesh.

"Can I see you without this gorgeous dress, sir?" Delruk asks between kisses he's trailing down Tar.kin's cheek to his shoulders.

"I've been dying to get it off all night," Tar.kin drawls, rising. "Follow me."

Tar.kin leads her to his bedroom, crisp and stylish and mundane and uniform. Delruk can't take her eyes off him. The room is immaterial and nothing matters but him and his body and his heat.

Turning his back to her, Tar.kin shuts the door. And unzips his dress and it and her jaw both hit the floor. He sits on the bed and lies back and spreads his legs and sighs and and and-

***

In the warm darkness, Delruk lay still still next to him. Delruk tries very hard not to make any sudden movements or fall asleep or breathe too loudly, lest he disturb the resting form beside her, turned away from her. Lest Tar.kin wake up and make her leave.

Delruk nearly nods off a few times before slowly, carefully getting up and picking up her clothes littered along the floor.

A light flips on. "What are you doing?" Tar.kin, very much awake, asks, sitting up in bed. "Were you not asleep?" His brows are furrowed, but his voice wavers.

"I'm," Delruk pauses. He closes her eyes and says, instead, "I'm clearing the floor to dance. Do you want to dance with me?"

Tar.kin silently gets up and picks his dress off the floor.

"Usually, I do not allow my quarters to get so cluttered." He hangs the dress in his closet. "Now, as you were saying?"

"How do you want to do it?" Delruk says.

"Whichever way you wish." 

Delruk interlaces one hand with his, her other hand on the small of his back. Tar.kin grips her shoulder, firm but not rough, with his free hand. They spin in slow circles, not wanting to overstep, or step on each other.

Enough. Not enough...

Tar.kin brings her further into his embrace, and his heart thrums in tandem with hers as Delruk lays her head on his chest. Sliding into each other, they dance.

[justgayrevolutionnaries]

You got living to do

Or : Enjolras does too much and his friend tries to knock some sense into him.

My gift for @cherrypigeon as part of the @drinkwithme-exchange ! You requested Enjolras and Eponine friendship and I really wanted to see what I could do with them, so here you go <3

Also a big thank you to @aceofspades-smt for being an amazing beta, it was my first fic and you really helped me through it !

Enjolras doesn't really know at what point he lost track of time. Sure, after the meeting was over, he told Courfeyrac and Combeferre that he wouldn't stay here for too long, but there is just too much stuff he needs to get done. He tried to keep writing his speech for the next protest, and when he ran out of inspiration went back to reading that article about the changes in the Congress, made a note to himself that he needs to get Grantaire a birthday present for next week, then went to see if the online petition Les Amis started got more votes since the last time he checked (ten minutes ago). Then replied hotly that guy on their website who apparently had nothing better to do than to insult the group and their actions. Then-

"Earth to Enjolras, is anyone there ?"

The unexpected voice snaps him out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, you were saying something ?" The blond asks, removing his headphones and looking at the person standing next to him.

Eponine sights heavily (and, he thinks, quite dramatically).

"I was asking if you were planning to stay here all night or if, very hypothetically, part of you would be sensible enough to think about getting some sleep ?"

He shoots her a confused glance "What are you talking about ? I've been here for-"

"Three hours straight. It's almost midnight, dumbass, and I hate kicking you out but we have to close at some point."

With a look of horror, Enjolras realizes he got lost working on this for way longer than he thought.

"Shit, shit, shit", he mutters, very eloquently, while glancing at his watch. Maybe there is still a way he can make it to the metro station before it closes- he really doesn't want to walk an hour to his and Ferre's apartment in the middle of the night.

"Man, you look really bad. Like, worse than usual. Need a ride ?"

Ignoring the exhausted part of his brain that wants to accept, he shakes his head and sends her a smile that tries to look thankful, but is really just too tired to be convincing.

"I will be fine, don't bother. You need to go home, too."

"I mean, I told Gav I'd come back early, but y'know, I think the kid won't die if I leave him alone twenty more minutes. At least I'm gonna pretend I trust him not to set anything on fire while I'm not there."

Enjolras can't help but snort at this - Eponine isn't really one to talk, being on Courf's list of "people most likely to set something on fire in a kitchen" (along, for the record, with Enjolras himself).

"C'mon, Enjolras, you look ready to fall asleep on the spot. You really feel like being an idiot and refusing my help ? Because that's, like, a very stupid move."

Again, he vaguely tries to protest, or at least to sound offended, but she doesn't really sound like giving him a choice. God, I'm definitely too tired for this.

After packing all his stuff carefully (Ferre is gonna kill him if he forgets his coat again), he follows his friend outside. Part of him briefly wonders when and how Eponine got a car, but his brain is so clouded he decides it's not worth asking. Still, it feels weird to rely on Eponine for something. He is more used to arguing with her than to seeing her being helpful.

As a matter of fact, the first time Eponine showed up at a Les Amis meeting, the two of them didn't exactly get along well - Enjolras seeing her only as a lovestruck girl who came along because of Pontmercy, while Eponine already had her own not-so-positive opinion on him based on Grantaire's endless rants.

It took them exactly two weeks and a protest gone wrong to realize that maybe they needed to change their opinion on each other. Since then, they didn't exactly become friends, as they never really had a conversation that wasn't either about their actions with Les Amis or Enjolras's relationship with Grantaire, but at least they managed to get along. Kind of. Given how headstrong and outspoken they both were, their relationship was still a rather tumultuous one. The kind that involved a fair amount of annoying the hell out of each other from time to time, through almost-constant bickering and bullying (affectionate bickering, you might say, although both of them would rather die than call it that way).

But apparently, they were comfortable enough around each other to just sit in silence together without it becoming too awkward. It was one of the things Enjolras unconsciously noticed about her : since she started dating Cosette, Eponine became a lot more relaxed and easy to hang out with. They may not be close, but Enjolras is glad to see his previously morose friend looking so happy.

"Y'know, I wasn't joking earlier" Eponine suddenly says, snapping him out of his thoughts for the second time in the evening, which makes him realize he had been on the verge of falling asleep on his seat. Again. Which is a little concerning, since he has never ever been able to even come close to sleeping in a driving car.

Okay, so much for avoiding awkward conversations.

"What ?"

"Are you actually planning to get some sleep anytime soon ?"

"I am getting sleep !" snaps Enjolras, slightly annoyed by the question. How is that any of her business ? "It's just… there is some stuff I need to finish, but it's nothing more than usual."

Again, his friend lets out a sigh while shooting him a concerned and slightly exasperated look. Enjolras staying up all night to plan a rally or some other action, or even just study something, was nothing unusual. All of les Amis knew that when their friend was getting passionate about something he could stay up for days to think about it, and they usually tried not to worry too much when that happened. But this time something felt different. The blond had been acting like this for weeks, drowning into work and not really taking time for himself or to hang out with his friends.

"Listen, Enjolras, I am your friend, okay ? I just want to help you here. I know what this means to you, but you need to understand you can not keep going like this. You can't just get caught up in the idea of saving people to the point where you forget to live your own life."

"Wha- I don't-" he feels so frustrated by what she is saying that he doesn't even know what he wants to say. "Are you serious, 'Ponine ? Who cares about my life ? When I look at the world around me, you think I want to keep living my life like nothing is happening ? People need help ! We need to do protests, tell more people to- to just do something !"

He seems to be on the verge of tears now - which is how Eponine understands that this may be worse than she thought. It's not that she thought Enjolras wasn't capable of being emotional, obviously, but he never actually showed it to people who weren't his closest friends. And even then, it took the combined forces of Courf, Combeferre and Grantaire to get him to admit what was wrong.

"Okay, listen. Just for once, don't be an idiot and listen, okay ?"

She waits until he gives her a reluctant nod to keep talking.

"You are enough, Enjolras. You are doing more than any other person I know, and - god, I can't believe I am saying this - I really, really respect you for it. I respect the way you just always try to make other people's lives better, no matter what. Trust me, what you are doing is good enough. But you need to understand that at some point you can't just always keep doing more. And most importantly, you can't take everything upon yourself, not when we are all here to help you. You aren't gonna save the world by working yourself to death, Enjolras."

He vaguely tries to say something, but Eponine shoots him a look that makes him very effectively shut his mouth. Maybe the girl seems harmless to people who didn't know her, but she could be terrifying sometimes - like when Enjolras started dating Grantaire and she showed up at his door to give him the basic "you hurt him, I kill you" talk, which the blond has absolutely no reason not to believe given the way she looked at him. Which is why, for once, Enjolras thinks it might be wise not to argue back - this, and the fact that a part of him, even if he really doesn't want to accept it, knows that she is right. But still, that doesn't make it easier to accept.

"I know how much you don't want to listen to my advice, but at least take time to think about it, okay ? And whether you like it or not, your friends care about you. So you need to understand we won't stop giving you those talks until you actually start listening, got it ?"

Enjolras still doesn't answer - but this time, it's because he has a knot in his throat that makes him feel like he is going to start crying if he says anything. Eponine is, has always been, a brutally honest person, and the way she told him that his friends care about him went right through his heart. Even if, sometimes, he still struggles with the idea of people loving him for who he is, he knows his friends care. And he knows that if he doesn't listen to them, they would very well be able to lock him up until he starts taking care of himself. And as much as that frustrates him, he really, really loves his friends for it. So yeah, maybe this one time, he can consider listening to Eponine. Maybe.

Still, when he gets out of the car, it feels like a weight has been taken off his chest.

"Thank you. Really." He doesn't add anything else, because he knows he will always be too stubborn to admit he really needed the help from Eponine Thénardier. It doesn't matter, though, because he knows his friend understands what he meant - she can't help but smirks, and he sees very well how hard she is trying not to say anything sarcastic as an answer.

"Anytime, blondie."

"Don't call- yeah, okay," he sighs. Could be worse.

[hotchley]

🐨 Ayyy, first week of work! So far it’s been chasing 4-year-olds around the park in 100 degree (F) heat. But they’re adorable, and sweet, so it’s fun. I bike to work, so the weather isn’t ideal, haha. I get some serious helmet hair.

I did not in fact get into that acapella group, sadly, which sucks cause it is totally like Pitch Perfect and it’s so cool! I had two callbacks but didn’t get it in the end, sadly.

We still have karate in the summer, so my dad and I have been doing some teaching. Our orange belts are absolutely feral and it’s hilarious. They tell us the most random stuff when it is not at all random. Last week, our head instructor and I were demonstrating something, and then a little kid goes “my feet are cold” and we’re like “??? Okay, but reverse punches?”

My whole family has been watching this show called Ted Lasso together. My parents watched it, and then I did, and I would watch in the living room so my brother joined a few times. It’s just so optimistic and nice. It’s like forty-minute increments of restored faith that things might all actually turn out okay, and a reminder that the world needs more kindness than any one person can give, but that’s just all the more reason to give out every bit of kindness that we can. It also means that occasionally, my dad and I will chant “he’s here, he’s there, he’s every-fucking-where! Roy Kent!” around the kitchen because it’s a very catchy cheer.

I met my older brother’s girlfriend! She’s from a different state—they met at college—so she stayed with us for a few days, and it was very fun! I feel like it’s a Rule that the girlfriend and the little sister must form an alliance. We exchanged embarrassing stories about my brother. He regretted ever introducing us. It was great!

So yeah, that’s basically life over here. Best of luck with your exams! And the strangers infringing upon your day of rest. Both are rough, and you have my sympathy. I remember doing my AP exams last month…testing is tiring. But you’re one of the wisest people I know, and hard-working, so I have complete faith that you’ll be alright :)

Oooh how exciting! I had to do the conversion- which is how I've learnt that I can't spell celsius- and wow that really is hot! Aww it does sound like fun! Ugh I'm actually so annoyed that I never learnt to ride a bike it sounds like so much fun!

Aww, I'm sorry. I hope you feel better about it and just remember that there's nothing wrong with rejection. I had a teacher that used to say there was no such thing as failing because it just meant you tried something out there and it went a bit wayward. But then my brain went to... other places because of wayward and yeah

Oh that also sounds like a lot of fun! Kids are actually hilarious <3

Aww it does sound like a very good show. I like that. I think it always comes back to there being no reason to be mean because why would you bother? And that people deserve softness and it's not a bad thing.

Ahh yes the alliance! I'm glad you two get on and it must be so much fun being able to gang up on him together

Aww thank you. I have four to go, I finish in the morning and then I'm going to be brave and give my textbooks back and say goodbye. There will probably be tears when I go to my history teacher because I'm determined to say a bit more of an eloquent thank you than: "*name of grief counsellor* and I were talking because of course that's what you do we can hardly sit in silence and she said-" "sorry, who?"

The strangers were actually not too bad. She got me a jewellery box, which was very kind, and although I was tired and actually miserable- I had been crying and then my mum got involved which was... debatable in how helpful it was because yeah anyways, it was nice enough.

It's absolutely exhausting!

Thanks friend, I'll be holding onto that as we hit the home stretch. Four days. That's all that's left. And yes it's sad, but it's exciting because I can find volunteering and do my writing and my instagram and read things!

[22degreehalo]

Sooo once again recently I have been browsing various queer-centric merchandise on etsy and the like, and (as always) been disappointed at the quantity/quality of aspec-focused stuff. Which also ties in to an overall (IMO) egregious lack of aspec... memey stuff?? and general place in, like, actual community everyday conversation, outside of painfully repetitive and boring identity glossaries.

And. It's difficult. It really feels so difficult, sometimes. To talk about being aspec without

a) being sex-negative in really gross, harmful ways (that just as often harm other aspecs btw)

b) being like... super self-deprecating in a way that I feel also harms aspecs and reinforces the idea of us as losers and failures in a kind of 'are they laughing at us or with us' kind of way.

One way is to lean into the silly quirky 'food is better than sex' kind of thing, and also puns. The puns I like but a really shitty and awful part of myself deep down sometimes finds the food stuff actually kind of. cringey...? Which is stupid and I hate it but once again I feel myself being made fun of by allos and also it's just. kind of shallow and a one-note joke that has been overdone at this point (due to lack of other options) for me personally

The other big way I've seen is to lean into the whole confident rejection schtick. Big 'Nope' word art and the like. And that's fine but it often feels a bit too... misanthropic? for me. I like people!!!!! Or it's very female-focused and feeds too much into that whole ideals of 'women who let men touch them are Tainted' and/or 'women deserve better than men' which I. hate.

so I've been wondering a lot if what I'm wanting - memey/funny aspec-focused stuff that actually feels authentic and at least some tiny amount of original - is even possible?

So far my ideas are. a) make it casual/nonclinical by going so fucking dorky that it wraps around in the other direction. like idk a shirt that says 'Asexuality: the lack of sexual attraction to people of all genders. Hope that helps guys!!! Subscribe for more cool asexuality facts :)' I think if I saw that shirt I'd slightly suspect I was being made fun of but would vibe so hard I'd still like it unironically lmfao

Softening the rejection stuff also could be fun. Like 'I love every person in the world!! (as a friend <3)' or something. more eloquent lol

And just, in general non-sequiturs. It bugs me so inordinately when I see those kinds of posts or whatever that are like 'I'm tired, I'm gay, and I don't pay taxes' (theoretical example) and like, you could just as well have put 'ace' or 'aro' in there!!!!!! But nobody ever things to do that with us :( as always my plan is to make really cool things but only for ace and aro so we can get to be the ones with things for once hahaha but unfortunately I do not know how to make cool things. Anyway the whole idea here is to write things that make people on reddit go 'uhh, why did you feel the need to mention that you don't date, here...?'

And to cap this off I guess I should affirm that yeah, the self-deprecatory stuff CAN be done well... with a very very VERY precise hand. By which I mean that I was permanently psychologically online-ified by ace discourse and have the sensitivity of an earthquake detector to non-obvious slights against aspecs' importance or worth as human beings. But self-deprecating humour is just kind of our generation's style, so. There's some level of 'yeah I like anime and don't date B)' that is JUST the right balance of 'this is not at all what society says you should be proud of' and 'but fuck it society sucks lmfao I love freaks'.

IN CONCLUSION more aspecs should have my exact same sense of humour but actually good at art. or writing text posts. Or literally anything other than complaining on unpopular tumblrs. no actually we need them too so I can follow you and feel faintly not alone occasionally when our opinions happen to line up. Your honour I rest my case.

[iteveit]

very long self indulgent journaling below cut. Topics; 2 years of being refugee, mourning for people I've lost, 2024 resolutions, and other stuff.

Ive had exactly four experiences with friends whom I have opened up to about being a refugee in which I've walked out of it feeling worse about myself than before opening up. Im not sure what sort of response or words I was hoping to hear, but I always felt like specifically those four didn't grasp at all what I was talking about. Bad advice would follow. Or in the case of one out of those four experiences, one (currently former) friend assumed I was opening up to him solely because I was about to scold him for something, what followed was him expressing that he's had it way worse than me in life. Like.. Huh??..... I'm not eloquent or knowledgeable enough to even express anything on a political spectrum, but merely sharing my experiences about the troubles Ive had on a mental health level makes me uncomfortable sometimes. I go about my day pretending I'm quite a normal person. Ref-you-jee? Couldn't possibly be me. I've joined an anon peer group because I was quite tired of living with a mask on. Over here, I do want to write and share my own thoughts for once without the imaginary baggage of "is this a good idea, will people still like me afterwards?"

I've had a lot of trouble coming to terms with the culture and background I fled from. And my family is inexplicably intertwined with that background. I could say I miss drinking tea lightly brewed in warm milk (no water!), with sugar to taste. I could say I miss drinking it on a late cold evening. But I actually miss the whole package. I miss my aunt who made it specifically for me and her daughter, in her messy kitchen with the loud fridge. I miss how cold evenings felt during the month of January in the suburbs of my hometown. I miss my younger sister when she would call my aunt's barely-functioning landline phone, being mad about how no one told her that we were hanging out together that night. I could go on, listing how I miss random mundane things about my family members.

Now I have no family. I won't go into the specifics of how, and why. But I've lost most if not all members of my family, including access to my old home and country. There is a horrible sinking feeling when I think about how I have nothing physical or digital from my past. I won't even get started on how harrowing the thought of having little to no safety nets is. I have my memories and nothing else. The brain can be kind to u sometimes, when it decides to conveniently remove all the shit things from your memories. I don't think I even liked how the milk tea tasted back then, and my aunt had severe anger problems, and often in a blink of an eye would resort to physical violence. Still I miss small things. I wish I cherished it more back then. Wish I could have expressed to my sister more how much she meant to me.

Back to the present.

Frie//ren is a great series holy shit. I crossed the name midway so it won't show up any searches. Obviously I'm not an ancient sorcerer elf who saved the world at some point, but boy I felt it when she cried during her companion's funeral. I also wish I got to know others better before it was too late. I'm a pretty antisocial person in the sense that I find it so alien that anyone can make close friendships. I go about making acquaintances, and I think it's too much effort on my part to care any further. I have a friend who considers me really close, and she's always expressed how I seemed so untrustworthy at first cause I never hung around for more than a week with any social clique in college. Oof... It's not like I didn't like anyone I hung out with. I think I didn't give it much thought at the time.

I have a few friends from before shit hit the fan. One technically being a childhood friend, albeit an online one from the other side of the globe. I don't think my mental state allows for me to develop bonds with new people at the moment. New country, new social rules, too much baggage to process. I, however, would like to get to know these older friends a bit better. That's one of my 2024 resolution. It'll be depressing as hell if my feelings aren't reciprocated, but in that case I really, REALLY, want to learn how to not get (for lack of a better word) butt-hurt about it. Frankly I don't know which will be the harder challenge. My other 2024 resolution is to cook more things from my culture.... I can't.. I can't cook that well btw..

For now I will make my own shitty milk tea, and drink it during way waaaay colder winter evenings. Way colder temperatures than my hometown ever experienced. Maybe I'll be drinking it alone, maybe with new people. I made it this far, too late to stop now.