#I've decided this will solve all my problems ever

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Somehow, Through the Storm

Summary:

Living in the slums of the Warehouse District, Kaz and Inej are struggling to cling on to life through a seemingly unending winter. Wrapped up in a stranger's overcomplicated marriage contract that he is convinced is key to solving the merciless weather, Kaz remains busy and distracted for days on end, putting everything else at risk. So when a storm ravages the city and sweeps Inej into danger, the offer of safety, food, and a place to stay is an overwhelming one - no matter the cost. Terrified of mounting threats, Inej signs a contract - not knowing she would land herself trapped at the Menagerie. Kaz signs a contract that states if he can walk all the way through the city and back to the Warehouse District with Inej behind him, never looking back at her, they will both go free. But this is the Barrel, the darkest part of the city where the rules of physics can change with the stroke of a pen; the journey back will not be the same as journey there…

This is a Hadestown-inspired reimagining of the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, casting Kaz and Inej as our main characters and heavily featuring our beloved Crows, set in an alternate version of the Grishaverse with a different magic system based entirely on contracts.

Tags: @lunarthecorvus @marielaure @multi-fandom-bi @iggy-gotthisaccountunderduress @thelibraryofalexandriastillburns @devoted-people-hater @spraypaintstainonawhitewall

If anyone else would like to be added to the tag list let me know <3

Warnings for this chapter: ptsd references, implied forced marriage references, implied abuse references

AO3 link:

Chapter 15 - Kaz

Two days. Just two days since he’d seen Inej, and already Kaz felt like he’d been thrown off kilter. He missed their routine, the stillness and ease of her company. He missed the sound of her voice, or hearing her laugh. Don’t go getting attached, Kaz, she’d teased him, and Damn us to hell if I do, he’d thought in the moment but - well, here he was. He hadn’t even realised until now, but apparently he was damning them to hell after all. 

He made his way along the edge of the canal slowly, in part because of the cold dampness clinging to the air, it was sure to rain tonight, that was making him lean heavily against his cane and in part because he wanted to give her time to hear him coming. He hadn’t forgotten the way she’d flinched when he found her at the market, nor the punch she’d thrown - and Inej knew far better how to fight by now. It would be quite unfortunate if he had to knock her down - or if he took her by enough of a surprise to send her tumbling into the canal. Where she was sitting, with her legs dangling over the water as she sipped something - coffee, probably - from a bottle paper cup and watched the reflections of the weak sunlight on the surface, it wouldn’t be unimaginable for a jump or flinch to lead to a fall.

She knew that he was there. He knew she did. But she just kept studying the canal below her, sipped her coffee again, kicked her legs back and forth. Kaz waited, knowing he must be visible in the corner of her vision, but she didn’t turn, and only when the silence had finally become too much did he say:

“New gloves?”

Inej still didn’t look at him, but she glanced down at her gloved hands. Kaz hadn’t seen her wear them before; dark green woollen things, an almost perfect fit starting a little higher than her wrists, curving neatly over her palms, and rising up over her knuckles before they folded over in five perfect little cuffs at the base of each of her fingers. She shrugged. 

“New enough,”

A moment stretched. 

“Why are you here, Kaz?”

He took that as an invitation, and stepped forwards to look out over the canal at her side. Above them the clouds were gathering, preparing to spill their tears over the city. It looked like it would be heavy. Soon the surface of the canal would be a twisting haze, constant disruption beneath the droplets sending ripples that wouldn’t have time to come into fruition before they’d collided with another, and the edges would turn slick and dangerous, the drop practically invisible until it was too late. But for now it was still. Quiet. Dark and maybe uninviting, but in a strange way maybe even gentle. Kaz peered down at the black waters for a moment, then tightened his grip on the head of his cane as he fixed his eyes obstinately onto the horizon. 

“Unless it’s been so long that I don’t remember what it looks like,” he told her, “I don’t believe that it’s spring just yet,”

As if in response to his words they were crossed by a strong, cold gust of wind, powerful enough to play with Inej’s scarf and for Kaz to squint into the skyline. It brought with it a faint sense of water in the air, enough of it for Kaz to feel it on his cheeks, and what he didn’t doubt was the threat of more frost or ice to come. Inej stood up, taking another sip of her drink before she said: 

“I’m not sure spring is coming,”

Kaz’s lips quirked. 

“No?” Are you staying, then?”

He didn’t know why he’d said that. He wondered if he was pushing too hard. There was a snake curling inside his stomach that had been eating him alive for the past two days: she knew. Kaz had fucked up, left the broken parts of himself on show. And she had left. Maybe he needed to push too hard, before he lost his mind. 

“You don’t want me to stay,” she whispered, already turning away. 

“Yes I do,”

“This is what I do, Kaz,” her voice cracked through the air and she spun on her heel to finally, finally, face him, her braid swishing on her shoulder, her scarf catching in the wind once more, “I run away. I ruin things and I run away, and that’s it, and if you-”

“Can I ask you something?” 

Inej stopped midway through whatever her next word might have been, studying him with slightly narrowed eyes before she conceded a short nod.

“When you run away, Inej, how often do people chase after you?”

She parted her lips. Closed them again. Kaz didn’t know where he was finding the daring, but he stepped forwards. 

“Kaz…” 

“Inej. Come home with me,”

“Kaz-”

“I need to show you something,”

A beat passed, and when it was clear that Inej had decided to hear him out Kaz pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket. It was one of the pages from the Van Eck marriage contract, and he had found something very interesting indeed. 

“I can’t read that-”

“It doesn’t matter. It won’t work unless you hear it out loud, anyway,”

Inej frowned. 

“What do you mean?”

Kaz smiled. Maybe he shouldn’t have smiled, if this meant anything - and how couldn’t it? - then it probably didn’t mean anything good, but ever since he had read these words he had felt – Saints, he almost felt hopeful. Maybe he should see a medik. 

“The Partner M.H.,” he read aloud, “will be permitted to leave the limits of the city alone once per annum, for the period of spring and summer’s length. The Partner J.V. here agrees that the spouse’s comings and goings will by definition cause dependence on the turn of the seasons, the pattern of the moon and sun, the direction of the wind-”

And then it happened. The breeze heard him. The air around them warmed, the wind gentle and flowing as it wrapped its arms around them, and in the dead earth beneath their feet grasses began to spread. Inej gasped out loud as a small sprig of snowdrops forced their way up to the surface and began to sway at her feet. 

“Wh-?”

The air snapped back again, cold and unyielding, and the grasses shrank back into the dirt as though to hide from the wind. The snowdrops wilted, fell, then crumbled into dust and vanished. 

Inej stared at Kaz. 

“How did you do that?”

“I don’t really know,” he admitted, “I’ll have to ask Nina to understand the contract’s power properly, but I think it’s fighting itself. The wording doesn’t make enough sense, it’s fighting itself overtime to try and figure out what it’s supposed to do and I think… I think that instead of Marya depending on the seasons, the seasons might be dependent on her,” 

Inej looked back down at where the flowers had been. 

“Are you telling me that if you finish that… you could bring spring back?” 

Kaz had no idea. 

“Maybe. Hopefully,” he braced himself, and then as if the words were being ripped free: “You could stay. To find out,”

Inej stepped forwards, just a little, closing more of the space in between. They were close enough to touch, but neither of them moved. Kaz felt his spine straighten. 

“I didn’t even know that I was lonely,” she breathed, “Until you… until I wasn’t, anymore,”

He nodded. He knew exactly what she meant. 

“If I came back today,” she murmured, her eyes drifting just past Kaz’s head, as though she couldn’t quite stand to meet his eyes, “I can’t promise I wouldn’t run again,”

“Then run,” he whispered, “Run, and I’ll always come after you. Please, Inej. Stay in Ketterdam. Stay with me,” 

Silence hung in the air for a moment; just them and the wind and the clouds above them. Not even the streets behind them existed anymore. There was nothing else in the world. 

“I can offer you one of those, I think,” Inej’s voice was low, softer than silk, “But I’d rather not stay in this city forever,”

“Where else would we go?”

“Anywhere we want,”

“Where do we start?”

Inej smiled, and Kaz couldn’t help himself but return it as she said: 

“Take me home,”

[gideonisms]

THE number one most irritating thing about life is deciding when you're meant to speak or make eye contact and when you're not, and for how long and how many phrases you're meant to say at a time

[dating-eveeything]

HIHI!! Could I pretty please have a GN!Reader x Hector one-shot?? Hector decides to set up an at home date with the help of the fellow datables? He read about it through his "How to get a Date 101" book trust me on this.

First date, kinda nervous

Summary: Some objects are fed up with Hector's yearning and take fate into their own hands (read: Sophia drags everyone into hooking Hector UP)

Featuring: Hector, Sophia, Parker, Mitchell Lin

Fic type: fluff, accidental confession, cutesy date once Sophia and Mitchell are out of the picture.

Language warning, possible suggestive comments, they/them pronouns used for reader, no Y/N use, might be ooc for him! I haven't read up much on his character yet

"You absolutely coward!" She yells out, towering over Hector with a demeaning aura. Her presence made all objects quiver and he certainly wasn't an exception. "What-why are you talking to me like this!" Hector cried out, cowering behind Parker who was probably on something at moment.

Sophia groans in frustration before turning around, her hand coming up to push on her temples as you would to get rid of an oncoming headache. "You!" She huffs out once more, "I'm sick and tired of your- your-" her stuttering words and raised tone made Hector want to go back to his air vents "Your yearning!!" Sophia finally lets out. She turns around and points accusingly at him.

Her accusation was right, Hector was a total yearner and any object that saw him could tell. If you were in the room he was in the room too, well, in the vents more like.

Parker laughed after Sophia turned around to point at Hector, who was still hiding behind him. "Dude! She's absolutely right!" He chuckles to himself, turning around to leave Hector out in the open. "You're totally in love with them, why don't you do something? If the dice roll on hearts you can't deny~!" He almost sings the last part, dragging on the last note.

"But!" Hector cries out, not even knowing what to say, he starts word vomiting and stuttering out filler words. "Shut up!" Sophia yells out, stomping her heel onto the ground and getting both boys in front of her to listen to her orders. "I'm sick of you, sick of having to listen to you weirdly talk about them to yourself! There's only one way to solve this problem of ours." She crosses her arms, leaning to one side and staring daggers into Hector. He could feel her judgement.

There's a tense pause, Hector trying to avoid how aggressively Sophia was staring at him. "Man," Parker spoke up, looking from Hector to Sophia "even I'm scared to know."

Sophia smirks, though it's even more intimidating than when she's frowning. "You're going on a date with them."

Everything stills.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Hector yelled, his hands raised to his head and he started stressing- pacing around the room, practically circling Parker by accident. "I can't! You! I don't know anything about dates!" He cries out, crouching down and covering his head like the roof was crashing down on him.

"Well then it's a good thing I do" she praises herself, resting her hand on her chest and smiling like she was the best object to ever exist. "I've employed the help of a friend, this date will not go wrong under my watchful eye." She walks over to grab Hector by the back of his outfit and swiftly starts dragging him to the hatch leading to the second floor. "Wh-wait! I never said I'd do this!" He cries while being dragged away.

Parker stares at door before shrugging and sitting down, humming to himself as he sets up his chess board.

Sophia and Mitchell Lin watch from behind the wooden boxes that sat nearby, watching as Hector sat on the makeshift picnic blanket (provided by Mateo) and went over lines that were fed to him by the two. The lines were nothing if not full of sexual innuendos and confidence, Hector didn't have enough of the second one to make them really work; he kept stuttering over them as he practiced to remember them.

He quickly shut up and stared at the entrance with fear as everyone heard the stairs creak, someone was coming up and all three knew who it would be. The door opened and you walked in, as expected. "Oh, hey Hector..." You wave at him, looking around the room "Sophia told me to come here, any clue why?" Seeing as she wasn't there, you go and take a seat on the cloth he was sitting on, smiling at him.

"Are- are you a..." Hector mumbled, staring at Sophia from behind the boxes as she tried to coach him into remembering/saying the introduction line. "No I haven't seen her" he relents, turning away to avoid Sophia's angry face. You let out a hum and move to sit closer to him.

"That's alright, maybe I'm just early." You shrug, leaning against the wall and cross your legs. "Good thing you're here though!" Hector stares at you, swallowing his fear to ask "Why is that?" To which you happily respond with "You make great company! Much better than a few objects I can think of."

Your comment flusters him and makes him feel like he might burst into flames, the temperature was definitely a few degrees hotter than it was a few seconds ago. "And I wanted to talk to you..." You quiet down, suddenly trying to avoid looking at him.

"Talk to.. me? About what?" He mutters, fiddling with his hands and the blanket to try and relax him. "Well.. You see Hector I-" you pause, leaning over to take one of his hands and holding it on your lap "I really like you..." The bashful look on your face says it all, it was the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Hector's metaphorical heart felt like it was about to burst, no doubt your house getting warmer by the second.

"Oh! I- uh..." Hector trails off, unsure what to say to truly show just how much he returns the feelings. Before either of you could say something else Mitchell Lin jumps up from his spot and points at Hector "He has the hots for you too!" Hector gasps and stares at Mitchell with a betrayed look on his face.

"Good job Mr. Lin, you've ruined my absolute romantic plan!" Sophia complains, standing up as well since the jig was up. She grabs onto his jacket and pulls him outside, slamming the door behind the both of them to actually give Hector privacy with you.

The room quiets again before you turn to Hector. "Is it true? Do you also like me back?!" The hopeful look on your face breaks him as he grabs onto your hands and pulls you close to him. "Yes! It's true! I feel so deeply for you. I can't help but spend all my time thinking of you and how lovely you are." He takes a shaky breath before continuing "You are one of the kindest humans to ever enter this home, and everyday is a blessing to me- just being in your presence is a great honor!"

The word vomit is said almost too quickly for you to understand, yet when he's done and looks up at you waiting for some sort of negative reaction he's only met with the biggest smile ever.

"Oh, Hector!" You cry, leaning over and wrapping your arms around him in a huge hug. "You're the best AC a person could ask for!"

[pnutbutter-n-j-elyy]

When They Accidentally Bring Up an Insecurity| Jisung

(xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

You had always admired Han's loving spirit and his ability to find inspiration in the smallest things. He brought light into your life in ways you never thought possible. And he helped you see the world in a way most didn't. You loved that you had that in common with Han- an appreciation for things that breathed life into your creative works.

You had never been very good at drawing. Or writing. Or anything having to do with the fine arts. Rather your creativity came more in a problem solving way. But in order to connect with Jisung, you decided to take up sketching to connect with Han a little more, because you loved him.

But that just created a deep-rooted insecurity about your creative abilities. Surrounded by so many talented people - as you were around the kids -you often felt your own contributions paled in comparison, and it was a fear you kept to yourself.

One evening, Han was over at your place, working on some new lyrics while you attempted to write poetry. He was sprawled on the couch, notebook in hand, humming a melody under his breath. You sat at your desk, scribbling down words and then erasing them feeling increasingly frustrated with your lack of progress.

You had long given up drawing, and you thought it might be easier to write a poem, since it was words that described your feelings. You could easily write a poem about something you knew well right? It couldn't be that hard.

You scratched your head as you tried to think of rhymes.

"How's it going over there?" Han asked, glancing up from his notebook.

"Not great," you mumbled, trying to keep the disappointment out of your voice.

Han chuckled, not noticing your tone. "I figured."

His casual comment felt like a sting, a reminder of your perceived inadequacies. You forced a smile and nodded, but inside, you felt your confidence crumbling.

He got up and walked over to you, picking up your paper in his hands. He chuckled. "Poetry now huh?"

You felt your cheeks burn and tried to take it from him. "No-"

"No jagiya I want to read it." He said holding it above your head and reading it. "You make me laugh when I am sad, Your jokes are the best I've ever had. When you smile, my heart feels light, You make everything so bright." Han giggled again. "It's like one of those poems we had to write in elementary school."

That made your cheeks burn even more. "Jisung give it back-"

"Your hugs are warm, your eyes so kind, With you, I leave my worries behind. You're my sunshine, my best friend, With you, I hope the good times never end." He gives you a cute pouty face in a teasing manner. "Awww Y/N... it's such a cute little poem. It's like a little nursery rhyme."

"Jisung stop!" You called out again, feeling your eyes burn as you put your fists to your eyes, the embarrassment you had taking over.

"I know my poem's not that great, But loving you is my favorite fate. Thank you Jisung..." His smile fell and he swallowed. "Thank you...Jisung for...for being you. My love for you is always true." He looked up and seemed to realize what he was teasing you about and his lip trembled. "Y/N-"

"I want to be alone." You mumbled through your tears. Jisung wanted to reach out, but he knew he had hurt your feelings, but knowing you he also knew you needed space.

The next few days were a blur of self-doubt and creative blocks. You avoided drawing and writing, and found excuses to stay busy with other tasks. Han noticed your change in behavior and even if you guys had talked a couple hours after the incident, he still didn't think his apology was enough.

One afternoon, while you were both working on a puzzle together, Han brought up the subject again. "Hey, you know I'm really really sorry right?"

You nodded. "I know. I'm not mad anymore, Jisung."

Han frowned. "But you haven't been writing at all. Or drawing...I feel like it's my fault. No...I know it's my fault. I'm sorry I made fun of your poem- I loved it. I really did. It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever written me..."

You felt a pang in your chest, wishing you could believe him. "Thanks, but sometimes it feels like I'm just not good enough."

Han looked taken aback. "What do you mean? You're incredibly talented."

You sighed, finally letting out a bit of your frustration. "It's just… I see how talented everyone else is, including you, and I can't help but feel like my work doesn't measure up."

Han's expression softened, and he reached out to squeeze your hand. "You're amazing in your own right, and comparing yourself to others isn't fair to you. I wouldn't ever want you to compare yourself to me. That's like comparing a doctor to an actor. Both are genius in their own right, but do you expect an actor to be able to perform surgery like a doctor? Or the doctor to recite the entire second act of Hamlet? You have your talents that I could never even begin to measure up to, Y/N. Its the same with everyone who walks this planet..."

His words were kind, but they didn't fully reach the core of your insecurity. You forced a smile and nodded, hoping the conversation would end there.

A week later, Han invited himself over to your house, hoping to put an end to both of your guy's misery. You hated feeling like you had to walk on eggshells around him, and he hated thinking he was making you uncomfortable.

You guys ate dinner and started watching a drama. After the fourth episode Han pressed the pause button.

"Baby...can I show you something?"

You nodded, slightly confused as to why Jisung would pause your binge.

He grabbed his laptop from his bag and came back towards you, placing his headphones on your head.

He unlocked his laptop, clicked a few buttons and a soft melody filled your ears. Your eyes widened.

"Did you guys wrtie a new song?" You asked excitedly, but Jisung shushed you gently and motioned for you to listen.

You closed your eyes and let yourself go, embracing the music fully.

You felt your heart almost stop when you heard the words of your poem masterfully intricated into the song.

"Why did you show me that?" you asked, your voice trembling. You didn't dare open your eyes, or you were sure the tears you had would fall.

Han sounded puzzled. "Because it's great and I wanted to share it."

"But it's not great," you snapped, tears falling from your eyes as you opened them. "People will know you just used those words. You're so much more well versed and-"

Han stopped in his tracks, realization dawning on him. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just wanted to show them how talented you are.” You shook your head.

"Ouch, Y/N..." Jisung chuckled, his voice breaking a little. You looked at Han, whose chubby cheeks were encompassed by his pout. His boba eyes sad.

"No- No baby I meant... I feel like my words are stupid. Not your voice. Your song was absolutely beautiful... I just feel like I made you waste such a good backtrack."

You wiped away a tear, feeling exposed and vulnerable. "It's not your fault. It's just… I can't help but feel like I'll never be as good as everyone else. And I feel like you did that to make me feel better..."

Han pulled you into a tight hug, his voice gentle and soothing. "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. You're incredibly talented and creative, and your art is a reflection of who you are. It's unique and beautiful, just like you."

You clung to him, the sincerity in his words slowly breaking through your walls. "I just want to feel like I'm enough," you whispered.

Han held you at arm's length, looking into your eyes. "You are more than enough. Your worth isn't defined by how perfect your art or writing is or how you compare to others. It's about the passion and love you put into what you do."

His words resonated with you, and you felt a sense of comfort and reassurance. Han's unwavering support and belief in you made a difference, and you realized that your insecurities didn't define you.

"And I didn't make that song to make you feel better...I made it so you could see just how much inspiration I find from you. Y/N I love you more than anything. So, I was over the moon when I wrote this. And even more elated when I got to use the words the love of my life wrote. That's only the demo..." He grins sheepishly. "I was thinking...it would sound cool if you could leave that poem as a voicemail. I could make it the outro of the song..."

You looked at him with wide eyes. "You mean it?"

"Of course I mean it baby. I mean... I know Stay speculates I'm in a relationship...it's been a year now so I feel like this would be a fun way of confirming that. And I want the world to hear the beautiful voice of my baby." He coos, squishing your cheeks.

You giggle and nod, as Han peppers kisses all over your face.

One evening, as you both sat on the couch, Han handed you a sketchbook he had bought for you. "I got this for you. I want you to fill it with whatever makes you happy. No pressure, just pure creativity. It doesn't even have to be art. Maybe you could write me more poems..."

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. "Thank you, Ji. For everything."

Han wrapped his arm around you, pulling you close. "I'm always here for you. And for inspiration. Because you're my inspiration." He says nuzzling his nose against yours.

You leaned into him, feeling a sense of peace and contentment.

His inspiration. You thought.

What an amazing thing to be...

@abovenyx @wolfs-archive @oddracha

@iyeeeverydee @parisanmorovati @seungmincenteric

@panbish-1209 @fxiry-vtt @sseawavee

@shuporanporang @amarecerasus @softkisshyunjin

@whoa-jo @meanergreener @rikibun

@ayyonoona @shinywombatcrusade @y4yayael

@skzstan12345 @mariteez @allys-reads

@jazziwritesthings @skzstannie @yongbokkiesworld

@kkkeopi @neverendingstay @moony-9

@minsungsthirdwheel

[twisted-writing]

Simmering Rage

For Anonymous

Who asked: Could I have headcanons of the vice dorm leaders (with Floyd replacing Ortho) fem S/O blowing up after finally having enough of Crowley's incompetence?

POV: First Person

Characters: Female!reader, Trey Clover, Ruggie Bucci, Jade Leech, Jamil Viper, Rook Hunt, Lilia Vanrouge, Floyd Leech

Pairing(s): vice house wardens x fem!reader (separate)

Note: Floyd replaces Ortho in this.

Warning: This will contain HEAVY Dire Crowley slander.

WC: 1,339

Note 2: I decided to take a different approach with this piece! Let me know what you think!

Opening scene: A week was all you wanted. Seven days off to yourself, so you could give your body and mind the chance to relax. Ever since you had arrived in Twisted Wonderland, in Night Raven College, you've been running ragged, solving everyone's problem and fighting overblots, functioning on little food and basically no sleep.

And so when you had approached Crowley to request for the week off, the headmaster had at the time agreed, and you thought for once, he was actually having your best interest in mind.

You should have known better.

Why did you ever think that Crowley, that damn cheapskate, would actually let you have even a moment of rest?

On Monday morning, what should have been the start of your vacation, you had been called to Crowley's office and immediately he went through a very long list of tasks that he wanted you to complete on his behalf since he was so busy as headmaster.

The rage that had been growing with each insult and slight you had taken ever since your arrival in Twisted Wonderland, simmered over.

Like a volcano that was finally erupting.

You had stormed out of Crowley's office, not even giving him a response.

In a deserted corridor, you pulled out your phone, an old model that Crowley had “gifted” you, to show his appreciation and sent a long text to your boyfriend, venting your frustration.

~~~~~~~~~~

🧁 Trey 🧁

❣️Y/N❣: I'm so fucking pissed Trey! I've been looking forward to having this week off! Crowley had even agreed to it! But what does he do? He gives me a long list of tasks to do! That will surely go past the week I need off. I'm so angry that I want to hit something!

❣Y/N❣️is typing…

❣Y/N❣️: I'm sorry, I must be coming off as ungrateful huh?

🧁Trey🧁 is typing…

🧁 Trey🧁: No, I don't think you are. You have every right to feel that way. Out of everyone, you deserve time to yourself.

🧁Trey 🧁: What were you planning on doing today?

❣Y/N❣️ is typing..

❣Y/N❣️: Well, I was planning on catching up on sleep.

❣Y/N❣️: Then doing my skincare.

❣Y/N❣️: And after that, going to Sam and see if he has any discounts.

🧁Trey🧁 is typing..

🧁Trey🧁: Then you should go and do that.

🧁Trey🧁: Don't worry about anything else.

🧁Trey🧁: And I'll take notes for you, if you miss anything.

❣Y/N❣️ is typing…

❣Y/N❣️: You're the best, Trey!

❣Y/N❣️: I love you 💞

🧁Trey🧁: I love you more 💗

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

🐾Ruggie🐾

💓Partner in crime💓: I can’t believe that old cheapskate! I should have known better than to trust his word!

🐾Ruggie is typing…🐾

🐾Ruggie🐾: I assume we’re talking about the headmaster?

🐾Ruggie🐾: And I thought you would be catching up on the sleep you missed.

🐾Ruggie🐾: Doesn’t your week off start today?

💓Partner in crime💓 is typing…

💓Partner in crime💓: Of course we are!

💓Partner in crime💓: I was supposed to but that’s not happening and thinking about it, makes me angry all over again.

💓Partner in crime💓: It was supposed to but instead I was giving a long list of tasks to do since he’s apparently so busy as headmaster.

💓Partner in crime💓: Busy my ass.

💓Partner in crime💓: More like he’s going to be busy slacking off.

💓Partner in crime💓: I really don’t want to this long list of tasks.

🐾Ruggie🐾 is typing…

🐾Ruggie🐾: So don’t do them then.

🐾Ruggie🐾: This week is for you.

🐾Ruggie🐾: Go to my room in Savanaclaw and sleep the day away.

💓Partner in crime💓: You’re right! Peaceful nap, here I come!

💓Partner in crime💓: Thanks Ruggie! You’re the best!

🐾Ruggie🐾: Tell me something I don’t know 😏

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

🍄Jade🍄

💜 Darling💜: Jade! I won't be able to have my week off after all. And I really need it!

🍄Jade🍄 is typing…

🍄Jade🍄: Why not, darling?

🍄Jade🍄: You've been so excited about it.

💜Darling💜 is typing…

💜Darling💜: Because of the headmaster!

💜Darling💜: He wants me to pick up his slack again!

💜Darling💜: All I want is to rest!

🍄Jade🍄 is typing…

🍄Jade🍄: Go and rest, darling.

🍄Jade🍄: Don't worry about a thing.

💜Darling💜 is typing…

💜Darling💜: Oh, I'm so exhausted.

💜Darling💜: Thank you so much, Jade.

🍄Jade🍄: Anything for you, my darling 💕

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

🐍Jamil🐍

🐍Jamil🐍 is typing…

🐍Jamil🐍: How are you feeling now? Better?

💝Beloved Heart💝 is typing…

💝Beloved Heart💝: I’m still pissed.

💝Beloved Heart💝: But I am feeling much more relaxed now, thanks for letting me hide out in your room, Jamil.

💝Beloved Heart💝: And thank Kalim for me too please.

💝Beloved Heart💝: I would do it but the battery drains really fast.

🐍Jamil🐍 is typing…

🐍Jamil🐍: It’s no trouble at all. Even Kalim lets me get a break every now and then.

🐍Jamil🐍: You really need a new phone.

🐍Jamil🐍: I’ll tell Kalim that you said thank you. Go and take a nap.

💝Beloved Heart💝 is typing…

💝Beloved Heart💝: I will.

💝Beloved Heart💝: Ugh 😑 the battery is on 🪫

💝Beloved Heart💝: I love you!

🐍Jamil🐍: I love you too.

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

New Message!

📱Tech Topia📱: Thank you for your patronage! Your package will arrive at the end of the week!

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

🏹Rook🏹

🏹Rook🏹: how is your time with Roi du Poison, my dear?

💞 Ma belle 💞 is typing…

💞Ma belle💞: It's going well, Rook!

💞 Ma belle💞: Thank you so much for doing this for me.

💞 Ma belle💞: I feel more relaxed already.

💞 Ma belle💞: I just don't want the headmaster to find out and try to get me to do tasks for him, that he could easily do himself.

🏹 Rook🏹 is typing…

🏹Rook🏹: Don't fret, my dear.

🏹Rook🏹: I won't let anyone interrupt you during your relaxation time.

🏹Rook🏹: So just take all the time you need.

🏹Rook🏹: I adore you 💞

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

🦇Lilia🦇

🦇Lilia🦇 is typing…

🦇Lilia🦇: How are you enjoying your time in Diasmonia, my dear?

🦇Lilia🦇: I hope the boys aren’t giving you too much of a hard time.

🦇Lilia🦇: I’ll be leaving the headmaster’s office soon, you’ll have the rest of the week to yourself.

💓Little bat💓 is typing…

💓Little bat💓: Oh I’m having fun in Diasmonia, Lilia!

💓Little bat💓: The boys have been wonderful company, in fact we’re playing a board game!

💓Little bat💓: Didn’t you just leave fifteen minutes ago? You sure work fast!

🦇Lilia🦇 is typing…

🦇Lilia🦇: I’m glad to hear that you’re having fun and relaxing.

🦇Lila🦇: We’ll definitely have to play a console game together when I get back.

🦇Lilia🦇: What can I say? I know how to make quick work of things, especially when they upset those dearest to me.

🦇Lilia🦇: My heart is yours 💗

💓Little bat💓: I love you too, Lilia 💗

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

🦈Floyd🦈

🦈Floyd🦈 is typing…

🦈Floyd🦈: Shrimpy! Are you sure that I can’t squeeze him for you?

🦈Floyd🦈: Any trouble I get in, Azul can handle it!

🦐Shrimpy🦐 is typing…

🦐Shrimpy🦐: Yes, Floyd. I’m sure. I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.

🦐Shrimpy🦐: I just don’t feel like staying on campus right now.

🦈Floyd🦈: How about we go on a date? Right now? We can go off campus. There’s a new cafè that just opened that everyone is talking about.

🦐Shrimpy🦐: Can we do that?

🦈Floyd🦈: Life is too short to not do it!

🦐Shrimpy🦐: You know what? You’re right! Let’s do it!

🦈Floyd🦈: That’s my Shrimpy!

🦈Floyd🦈: …I love you.

🦐Shrimpy🦐: I love you too, Floyd 💓

[froggiewrites]

hey, congrats on 100 followers! i love the way you write zoro and sanji and the final chapter of "picture you" has me craving some zoro x reader x sanji smut. could we maybe get a taste of that, please? 🙏

I've been thinking about writing a threesome for Sanji and Zoro since I finished Picture You, but I was nervous to try it, so thank you for giving me an excuse to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit 😊 I hope you enjoy it!

Two for One

Pairing: Zoro x Reader x Sanji

NSFW

Summary: Sanji and Zoro have been fighting even worse than usual lately for reasons beyond your comprehension, and everyone else is growing sick of it. Once you finally figure out why, you decide you three are all going to solve this together. Warnings: Smut, Clueless Reader, Canon Typical Zosan Fighting, Praise Kink (if you squint) Word Count: 3.2k

“Shut the hell up, mosshead!”

“Only if you get out of my goddamn face, you damn cook!”

Your crewmates were moments away from tearing each other’s throats out. They always were, of course, but the tension had grown so thick lately it was almost hard to breathe in the same room as them. You have no idea what caused them to turn into rabid dogs, constantly barking in your ears, but it was absolutely unbearable.

“Will you two stop?” Nami smacks them both softly upside the head, glaring harshly. “Don’t make this our problem. Look around, you two. Look at what you’re doing.” There’s something behind her words you can’t quite make out, and both of their gazes turn specifically to you, taking in your tense shoulders and the way you’ve begun to hunch in on yourself a bit. The tension eases slightly as they both slump a little with shame, before Sanji quickly grabs your hands.

“I’m so sorry, my dear. I never meant to make you uncomfortable. The brute and I will stop now. “

“Brute?” Zoro snaps. “You little–” He looks at your face before stopping, letting out a huff, and storming out.

Sanji reluctantly lets go of your hands when a timer goes off in the distance. “Well, duty calls, angel.” He skitters off into the kitchen.

The rest of the crew lets out a relieved sigh. Brook places a skeletal hand on your shoulder. “Good luck with that.”

“What?”

Robin and Franky chuckle, like this is a joke you aren’t in on, and Nami sighs. “You really don’t know?”

“Know what exactly?”

“Oh my god.” She sighs, resting her head in her hands. Everyone else laughs again, slowly filing out and patting her on the back, silently designating her with the task of explaining.

“What is it? What don’t I know?”

“The reason they’ve been fighting. You haven’t noticed a pattern at all?”

You think back to all of the most recent arguments you’ve witnessed, and you can’t think of a single thing that connects them. One about who was more handsome, one over who was stronger, and, strangely, one over who was better at fishing, which is something you didn’t think either of them were particularly invested in. “They’re the same stupid fights they’ve always been, just worse.”

“Not…exactly. Think harder. Have you walked in on any fights recently? Or have they always started when you’re there?”

You’ve been unfortunate enough to witness the rising tension firsthand every time recently. “I’ve been there for all of them. It’s sucked.”

“So you’ve been there for every single one.”

“Well I don’t know if they’ve fought when I’m not around. I’m not there.”

She sighs deeply. “I–okay. That’s fair actually. If I told you they barely ever fought when you weren’t around, would that help at all?”

You narrow your eyes, puffing out your cheeks slightly in thought. “It’s…my fault.”

“Yes?”

“They’re…mad at me.”

“Wait–”

“They hate me.”

“No! Oh my god. They’re fighting over you. Because they’re in love with you.”

Your eyes widen, jaw going slack against your will. “What?”

“You really never noticed? Why do you think Sanji insists on dragging you to the kitchen and slowly rolling up his sleeves directly in front of you, and constantly unbuttoning his top button? Or why Zoro insists on training in front of you, or doing push ups with you on his back?”

You pout. “They’re my friends and they wanna spend time with me?”

Nami hesitates at that. “Okay, um. Yes. That too. But they only do it with you. Sanji hates letting other people into the kitchen that much. And Zoro hates being bothered when he’s training. They’re trying to show off. They want to show off how strong and cool they are, because they want you to fall at their feet and beg to have sex with them.” She sees your eyes dim a bit at that, so she quickly corrects. “They want you to like them, is the point. I mean they definitely also want the sex, but really they just want you, and the idea of the other one getting you first pisses them off.”

You blink. “Oh.” You shift, eyes narrowing in thought. “So…they want to have sex with me.”

“Yeah. A lot.”

You think for a moment, wondering how you could possibly choose between the two of them. Your dear friends, your dear, wonderful, handsome, sexy friends. “What do I do now?”

“You pick one, I guess.” Nami sees the frown on your face, and you can see the realization sink in. “Or…you don’t?”

“Do you think they’d be okay with that?”

“For anyone else? No, probably not. I think their pride would get in the way. But for you?” She smirks. “I think they’d do anything you wanted, and they wouldn’t even have to think for a single second about it.”

“I wouldn’t want to push them into anything they’re uncomfortable with.”

“You think they of all people could be pushed into anything they’re uncomfortable with?” She laughs. “I promise you, they wouldn’t. Just go ask. I think you’ll be happy with their response. And the rest of us won’t have to listen to their stupid dick measuring contests anymore.”

You leave the kitchen, steps lighter and filled with determination. Your extremely hot and wonderful friends want you, and you want them. You have great things ahead of you.

Zoro is up in the crow’s nest training, shirtless and sweating, which seems to be his default state. He sees you out of the corner of his eyes, and his next slash is particularly strong and dramatic. He even looks back to see how you react. How did you not notice the way his eyes lingered on you before?

“Hey Zoro?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you meet me in my room in about an hour? I need to talk to you.”

His eyes absolutely light up, even if his face remains neutral. “Hm? Yeah, sure, I can do that.” When he thinks you aren’t looking, he has the smuggest smirk you’ve ever seen on his face. He thinks he’s won. And he has, in a way.

You wander to find Sanji in the kitchen next. “Sanji?”

“Yes, my love?” He gives you an affectionate smile before returning his attention back to the onions he’s chopping.

“Can you meet me in my room in an hour? I have something important to talk to you about.”

He doesn’t try to hide the way he lights up, giving you a heartstopping smile. “Of course, angel! I won’t keep you waiting!” He starts humming a love song as you leave, affection written clearly on his face.

And then you wait. A few times you wonder if this is a bad idea, if it will make them hate you, but you reassure yourself that Nami would have told you if it would fail. She wouldn’t let you walk into a trap like that. You bounce your leg anxiously as you wait for your friends to arrive.

Sanji is first, of course. He shows up exactly an hour from when you talked, down to the second, an offering of your favorite drink in hand. “Hello, darling. I brought something for you!” His smile is so excited you almost feel bad for not letting him know the rest.

“Thank you, Sanji. That’s so sweet.” You take it gladly, taking a grateful sip and letting the flavor wash over you.

“So what did you want to talk about?” He’s leaning closer, longing clear on his face, but you hold strong instead of kissing him senseless like you want to.

“I can’t start until we’re all here.”

“We? All?”

Zoro opens the door nearly immediately after, joy clear on his face before it sours at the sight of Sanji. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“Darling, why is this bastard interrupting?” Sanji is glaring at him, putting himself between you two as though he’s protecting you.

You set your drink down on a table before regarding both of them. “I need to talk to both of you. …If you’re okay with that.”

They regard each other a moment before humming in affirmation, looking at you expectantly.

“So I found out recently that you guys are…fond of me.”

They nod.

“And I’m fond of both of you.”

Another nod.

“And I thought that…maybe…we could all share in that fondness. Together. At the same time.”

“You want a threesome?” Zoro is straight to the point.

“Well, more than one, ideally.” He laughs, while Sanji sits in silence, brow furrowed in thought. You continue, unable to stop yourself in your anxiety. “I like you guys a lot, and I was hoping you’d be okay with this, but I understand if you aren’t–”

“I’m okay with it.” Sanji speaks up with a firmness you didn’t expect. You expected an argument, maybe reluctant agreement, but he seems to have no reservations. “Whatever you want, I’ll do. Simple as that.”

“I don’t want this if you don’t, though.”

“I do want this.” His cheeks turn a little pink. “The thought is…not terrible.”

“I’m also down.” Zoro immediately starts approaching. “So we should start now, right? Break this whole thing in?”

You freeze for a moment, a deer in headlights. You really expected at least a little arguing. “So you guys are really okay with it?”

“Yeah.”

“Absolutely.”

“Shit. Um, okay. I wasn’t ready for this to go well. Uh, let’s start then. I guess.”

“Yes ma’am!” Sanji is on you before you can even process he’s moved, hands hooking under your thighs and pulling you against him. He kisses you hard, but before you can sink in and enjoy, he’s flipped you around to face Zoro. “Let’s christen this voyage, huh?”

Zoro scoffs. “That was so cheesy.” Even with his annoyed grumble, he seems pretty thrilled. He captures your mouth with his own, rough and demanding. His lips are chapped, and he quickly slides his tongue across your lips, demanding they open. You do so gladly, allowing his entrance, and you’re quickly overwhelmed by the sensation of Zoro taking what he wants from you as Sanji grinds against you, hands wandering and squeezing everything they find. He gropes your breasts, your thighs, before eventually landing on your clothed cunt, making you gasp into Zoro’s mouth.

“God, darling, you feel just as wonderful as I imagined.” Sanji’s voice is dripping with affection and lust as he squeezes you again. “So soft, so perfect. Absolutely made for us.”

Zoro parts from you just to comment. “You really are,” he mutters, squeezing your tits. “Absolutely perfect. Can’t wait to ruin you.”

Sanji makes a soft tsk. “Not ruin. You could never ruin such perfection.”

“Watch me.”

Zoro quickly sheds you of your top and bra, leaving your tits on display for the two of them. They both pause in their movements a moment, just quietly admiring your body, before their hands fight over who gets to feel you first. Sanji ends up with your right breast and Zoro ends up with your left as they both squeeze and prod however they want. When Zoro gives a particularly hard squeeze to your nipple you can’t help but whine, rolling your head forward into his shoulder. This makes you miss the shit-eating grin he gives Sanji, but the other man notices it immediately. In response, he shoves his hands down your pants, rougher than he would normally be, quickly finding your clit to rub.

“Oh god,” you cry, muffled by the fabric of Zoro’s shirt.

“Hear that, mosshead? That was all me.”

“Oh yeah?” Zoro’s voice is cocky as he rolls your breast in his fingers again, making you moan. “I’d say that was me.”

“You two are insufferable,” you murmur.

“You think?” They chorus, and you realize that there’s always one thing they can agree on: a common enemy. Quickly their hands start to work in unison instead of opposition, Zoro always squeezing whenever Sanji takes a break and vice versa. They don’t allow you a single moment of peace, always pushing you closer and closer to the brink, closer and closer to losing yourself, before they pull back, not quite ready to give you your pleasure quite yet.

You don’t remember losing your pants. You were too focused on the feeling of Sanji’s bare erection pressed against your ass, the feeling of his warmth against your back, the sight of Zoro’s scarred chest and perfect cock right before your face. Sanji pushes you down so you’re eye level with it as he lines himself up with your entrance.

“Get ready, sweetheart. We’re not going to go easy on you.”

“Don’t listen to him, angel. We’d never be rougher than you can take.” You can’t help but notice the implication that there is a level of roughness you can take, but you don’t voice the thought, left silent by the heat of their bodies and the tension in the room. You’re practically drooling at this point for somebody, anybody to fill one of your waiting holes.

“Please,” you mutter, unsure exactly what you’re asking for, or from who you want it. You just want them, all of them, and they’re more than happy to provide.

“Of course, sweetheart. Just relax. We’ll take care of you.” Zoro’s voice is gentler than you’d expect when brushes his tip against your mouth. His hand tangles itself in your hair, ready to guide you forward, but he’s careful not to pull too hard.

“We’re here for you, always.” Sanji’s voice is gentle as well, but his hands on your thighs are rougher than you’d expect. You had always imagined him a tender lover, treating you as though you’re made of glass, but it seems the spirit of competition has made his hold a little tighter. You’re excited to see if it makes any other parts of him rougher as well.

They thrust in at the same time. Zoro fills your throat slowly but steadily, and Sanji fills your hole in a single thrust, pushing you forward into Zoro. You moan around him, and he shivers at the feeling of the vibrations. He pets your head affectionately, muttering quietly, “That’s it, sunshine. Just like that.”

“Oh god angel, you’re even more perfect than I imagined.” Sanji relishes in the feeling of bottoming out in you, in your warmth and wetness. He allows his eyes to close for a moment, head thrown back with pleasure, before he allows his hands to settle on your hips and prepares himself for the job ahead.

They make eye contact, sharing a single nod before they begin to move without mercy.

You expect Zoro to demolish your throat without hesitation, but his movements are slow and precise. You expect Sanji to take his time enjoying you, but his thrusts are quick and deep, relishing in the feeling of you. You wonder if having them together has evened them out, bringing them to a center between Zoro’s harshness and Sanji’s carefulness that allows them both to lose themselves a bit, treating you less like a toy or glass and more like another person who’s simply thrilled to participate.

As you move, Sanji squeezes your hips just firm enough to keep you still without risking bruising your skin. He leans down, pressing warm kisses to your back, muttering praising words, yes and more and just like that, angel against your skin. Zoro is also whispering to you, as one hand rests in your hair and the other rests on the back of your neck possessively. His words are less obviously worshiping but no less affectionate, even as he whispers more and yes, good girl and fuck to nobody in particular. You close your eyes, soaking in the words of the men against you, absorbing their warmth and affection and need. You don’t think you’ve ever heard their voices turn more desperate or wanting than they are right now.

Sanji gives one particularly hard thrust, pushing you further up Zoro’s cock until your nose is resting in his pubic hair, and they both give a deep moan in unison.

“Yes!”

“God, there you go!”

You honestly couldn’t tell who said what at this point, too lost in the sensation of it all.

As their thrusts grow rougher and more sloppy, Zoro’s hand starts to grip your hair tighter, pulling in a way that makes you keen. Sanji slides one of his hands from your hip to your clit, rubbing small precise circles around the bud. You thrust your hips slightly when he does, and you can hear him chuckle. “Almost there, darling. Just a little more.”

Zoro cums first, thrusting deep into your throat and holding you there as he cums in your mouth, inadvertently forcing you to swallow it all. He gives a few small thrusts into your mouth, fully emptying himself, before he pulls out. You manage to ground yourself for long enough to look him in the eye and open your mouth wide, sticking out your tongue, showing him not a single drop was wasted. He groans, lust clear on his face.

You expect Sanji to be second as his thrusts grow more erratic, but then you hear his soft whispers. “So close, angel. Just a little more. Together now.” His finger on your clit is relentless, calluses rubbing you in all the right ways. It’s only once you let out a high pitched moan, tightening around him, that he allows himself to release into you, painting your insides white. You clench around him, and he leans forward, biting gently into your shoulder, just enough to ground himself. He continues thrusting into you and giving attention to your clit until he’s sure you’re finished, before he finally pulls out, cum leaking from your cunt onto the wooden floor.

You’re about ready to collapse, but before you can, a pair of strong arms wraps around you, guiding you to your bed. “You did great,” Zoro murmurs softly, resting your head against your pillows. Sanji disappears for a moment before reappearing with a damp washcloth, which he uses to lovingly clean you up and erase any trace of the act other than the bite mark on your shoulder and cum inside of you.

“Did you like that?” You murmur sleepily. You know they did, felt it firsthand, but you still feel the need to confirm.

“More than you could ever know,” Sanji whispers tenderly. He then grows a vicious smirk. “And it felt wonderful to be the first one to make you cum, darling. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, with or without current company.”

Zoro scoffs. “You may have made her cum first but I’ll make her cum faster next time, just you watch.”

“In your dreams, mosshead. Though I guess you do know something about cumming fast.”

“Watch yourself, cook.”

You laugh as you realize this didn’t solve any of the arguments your crew thought it would. That’s alright, though. You didn’t mind. They could fight over you any day.

[dailyadventureprompts]

I've got a new d&d group and they're almost all new players, with some of them having played with me before in oneshots/ gotten a couple sessions into campaigns that fizzled.

There's the usual learning pains: No one's quite got a handle on the rules yet and is relying on me for which dice to roll ( it's a D20 friends, it's always going to be a D20 unless it's damage I don't know how many times I have to say that). Person A is nervous and over-talkative , person B is nervous and withdraws from conversation, Person C is always running a little late...

But what really surprises me is the difference between them and the group I've had going for 2 years now:

Newgroup THEORIZES in a way that I don't think I've ever seen despite playing this game for two decades. I'll ask them what they're doing and they'll have a multi-minute chat weighing the value of different options. They don't turn to ME, or ask me if things are possible ( which is what new players tend to do), they turn to eachother and ask if they think it's a good idea that they do X or Y and then what could happen from there. I'm trying to be a good DM and let them learn the ropes but it's FASCINATING response. For example; the barbarian says "I'll use my shield to pin the monster in place so we can question them about the villain" and before I can even get into my response another player will say "but what if I used my rope instead to tie them up?", meanwhile none of them have confirmed if the monster is in any way related to the villain or is capable of speech (it wasn't, it was a mimic fyi)

Newgroup is LASER targeted on their goal, which was a surprise as someone who was DMing for a party that purposefully jumped ship on the A plot ASAP and is actively resentful of anything resembling a main quest. Newgroup passes through a mining village that's been deserted after a recent attack by monsters which drove people up into the hills, a Classic rescue mission with a bit of a dungeon delve on top, intended to give the party some XP and magic items before they leave the early game and I stop pulling my punches. Newgroup stays just long enough to confirm that the monsters have nothing to do with the A plot and unanimously decide to leave the village post haste. Meanwhile I have to be careful about what information I drop to oldgroup, as if they catch a single whiff of villanious wrongdoing they'll drop what they're doing and divert their attention to wiping that threat off the map. I've now had to have multiple villains make peace treaties in all but name with this party because of their habit of knocking out rivals/threats/governments.

Because oldgroup know the game really well they're less experimental with what they want to accomplish. They know that things can be solved through class features/dice rolls/damage, and so those are their default solutions to most problems. Meanwhile newgroup has no IDEA what the limits of the game system are so they're trying clever stuff left and right. " Can I hit it in the eye with my arrow? Can I use this spell to find out if _____, Can we use the flying boots to _____?" They're asking genuinely good questions so often that it's made me want to play around with the d20 resolution system to get something more closed to the " drawback/mixed success" sorts of results you get in apocalypse world style games. ( I think I found a neat fix, more on that to come)

[magesforthedas]

Okay, newest discourse I've seen and want to share my opinion on... Mostly it's about Rook's companions. PLEASE be aware the are Spoilers for late game DAV below!

So, I've been seeing a bunch of people talking about how the companions don't really act like they care about you, because they aren't asking you how you are doing.

We've got some things to dissect here 😅 first off, not everyone's love language is words of encouragement haha. But on a serious note, even if it's true that they never asked "Rook, are you alright?" (Which, I'm pretty sure I got asked that by at least one companion...?) It doesn't mean they don't care about you. The more interactions and companion quests you do, the more you see that care come out.

Davrin asking you to join him for walks? He sees you need a break and fresh air.

Emmerich taking you to the gardens? It's probably the most relaxing thing he can think of.

Neve taking you with her to throw rocks, the thing she does when she needs a break and to clear her mind? She's hoping it helps you too.

Taash taking you to feed the birds? Again, something that helps them clear their head? Makes it easier to think? Also, their comment about you not knowing loss... Haven't you ever said something when you are angry that you know will hurt? Maybe that's how Taash sees you, or maybe they see the haunted look of grief in your eyes every day, and wanted to provoke you into getting mad and talking about it- exactly how they are apt to share their emotions. But Rook knows that comment isn't about them, it's about Taash.

Harding taking you with her to practice her new magic? It's something potentially fun and a little exciting, something brighter than the death and despair everywhere.

Tbh I'm having trouble thinking past romance stuff for Lucanis 😂 but like, making you food, he does check in on you, his quiet care in the way he would talk to you. I'll see on this second playthrough how much stays even when he isn't romanced.

Bellara taking you to check elven artifacts? You most likely have no idea what you are doing, she obviously just wanted you there. Now, it could be because she just wants support, but I wouldn't be surprised if she was hoping some knowledge of how to handle these artifacts rubbed off on you, and wasn't sure how to say that. She's obviously protective, and doesn't always know how to say what she wants.

Point is, sometimes it's words, sometimes it's actions, but they obviously do care. They also realize: you are the one leading this, the one with the most weight on your shoulders. They may be unsure how to actually ease that weight, and not just remind you that you have it.

It makes me really, really sad to see people say that they can't find it in them to care about the companions, because they don't ask you how you feel. Is their worth directly linked to your wellbeing? Is the only correct way of showing care or affection the way you prefer? I cried through multiple companion scenes because of the raw emotions they shared with me. Does that willingness to be vulnerable count for nothing?

Something I honestly appreciate about Rook, is there's a little bit we know for sure about them. You can decide their identity, if they're serious or joking, or optimistic or angry. There's room to fill your backstory. But the core of you is the same, and it's why Varric chose Rook: because you see a problem, you solve it. You see an injustice, you have to do something. Every backstory, you did something that saved lives or helped people and it got you in trouble; you know how to put others first, but without it breaking you.

There are a lot of similarities between Hawke and Rook that I see, the Found Family trope being the biggest. And you know, both families are maybe a little dysfunctional. But while there are similarities, it's unfair to compare how Hawke's friends approached their wellbeing with the Veilguard, because they are all, the protagonist and the companions alike, different people, who would handle and process trauma differently. And in a way that, whether the healthiest or not, kept everyone sane; though there are times when things could slip through the cracks.

My final thought is about Varric, or rather, his death. I saw people talking about how Solas couldn't have kept that ruse going if the companions had bothered to check in with you. Now, sure maybe no one ever said anything because they were concerned if it would help or not. You've been caught in the infirmary a couple times, talking to nothing: maybe that is what helps you cope?

But I think it is completely plausible that the magic Solas was using to make you think Varric was still alive, could also have been censoring outside mention of him. A lot of the time if Varric gets brought up in conversation by someone, they just.... Trail off? What if they said more, but Solas erased it for you? And the companions, well. If you don't want to talk about him, they won't force you. Same with anyone else, like Isabela. Solas is smart, he would know that the people around you would know he was dead, and may very well mention it in front of you. You think he wouldn't have something in place?

So yeah, next time something comes up that makes you go, "this is bad writing, I can't like this game, how can you like this game?" Maybe ... Look at it from another angle? A couple angles? Think about what could be happening offscreen? Or if you really just don't like the game or the characters... Why would you want to make others feel bad if they do? Not to be harsh, because also if you have things you don't like, that's valid and it doesn't mean you can't express yourself. But that doesn't mean nobody should like them.

Love you all ❤️

[weaselle]

#i have a solution for a lot of this i'd love to implement but it means completely changing how people acquire and own dogs so#idk if i'll ever figure out how to make it happen

Would love to hear your proposed solution! I've been thinking a lot about providing satisfying enrichment to dogs, since right now I have a five-month-old puppy of unknown/mixed breed who of course has a steadily increasing amount of energy. She seems to enjoy doing obedience-type stuff with me, and I'm planning to try nosework with her soon, and when she's bigger I'm hoping to take her running/hiking.

ooooooo now you done it! :)

first of all, congrats on a great dog, sounds like you two are going to be really good together! I l really love the interest you are taking in enrichment. If you are not a runner yourself but want to run your dog, i can recommend biking your dog with walkydog (or any other similar product by some different brand, but i use walkydog even though the name drives me crazy because it's not for walking your dog lol)

i used this for 8 years with my own dog, and i've also been doing it professionally for other people's dogs (tho i did have to upgrade to a whole rig i designed and built for running dogs, i actually spent most of today working on a redesign to fix fit six dogs and just be generally better, but here's the original)

anyway, biking with my dog was so fulfilling i decided to make it my main job, so, i totally recommend it. You gotta wait until your dog is at least 18 months though, because regular long runs on hard surfaces can create lifelong joint issues if you start them on it too soon. But once you decide to start it will be easy i'm sure, 95% of the dogs i've done it with understand the assignment and decide they love it within the first 10 minutes of trying it. Even small dogs, as long as they are proportional in the leg department. What i mean is a jack russel is fine for this (they make a low attachment for small dogs) but a dachshund has stubby legs and a long back and should not be considered for this activity. And if they are a breed that has big fat paws (most bully breeds, giant schnauzers etc) you have to check their foot pads often and possibly get them some mushing booties.

OKAY, on to the actual ask! you came here from a specific post, dear Anon, but i'm going to paste the relevant part of that post here for other people

"Human lifestyles and canine lifestyles used to be a ven diagram that was much closer to a circle. We used to both live in the woods and hunt creatures and defend territory. Even farming or ranching is not too far from this lifestyle. It has been a great match up for a long time. But now, modern™ society has us living in a way that is much less of a match up. Clients want me to train their dogs not to bark, and are not encouraged when i explain that we spent literally thousands of years asking them to bark more, actually, so it’s going to be an uphill battle. Humans used to have very physical lifestyles, and it use d to be much rarer to spend a day where your dog couldn’t be with you all day doing normal dog behaviors. Now our lives are full of very strict and confining rules of behavior we expect from a dog, and yet people are spending less time than ever socializing/training their dogs to be functioning members of their own pack. It’s sad."

Now, what did i come up with that would be a much better system for how people acquire and own dogs? this post is already getting long, so, answer below the cut

First, specifically what problems am I solving? So for me, the main issues is nobody is teaching dogs how to be a good fit for a modern home. Let's break that down

People want dogs to have a lot of boundaries. For example don't bark unless someone is literally breaking in but also i haven't trained you what that looks like so how are you supposed to know -- be with me in public but do not interact with almost anything at all -- don't run up to greet people or other dogs unless we find out if it's okay with them first. Right? there's a lot of stuff we want from our dogs.

People want their dogs to be able to amuse themselves and not need a person, like, they want their dog to go lay down on their dog bed and chew their dog toys for hours at a time or whatever, the way we would happily spend a few hours online or watching TV shows or something. But most of what a dog would naturally do to amuse themselves is off limits -- no going out and exploring the world on your own -- no digging things up, taking things apart, or getting into things like the food cupboards -- no barking at other dogs, chasing cats, or eating random ground scores ... dogs aren't allowed to do almost anything they would do to amuse themselves, we basically tell them, "you can only do fun things i pick out for you and most of them only if i'm supervising, and i'm only available for about an hour a couple times a day. The rest of the time you have to be bored and waiting on me for fun, but also don't be so bored that you decide to bother me, i'm busy and you can't be involved"

We wish they would have fun by themselves in a way that doesn't involve them getting into trouble, but "getting into trouble" is most of their natural desires, and we tend to not find things they can spend time at on their own. Plus they'd rather do it with us anyway, it's like, you don't want go to an amusement park alone, you only want to go if your friends are going, and life is often one big amusement park to a dog.

But if your dog is trained to be in public, you can involve them with a lot more of your day!

And people aren't socializing their dogs right either. A puppy would normally spend a year or more, 100% of their waking life in the company of their littermates, teaching each other things like "if you are an asshole others won't want to play with you and you might get bit" and "paying attention to what others are communicating to you is important" and "biting me that hard is okay for playing but biting me this hard hurts actually and i hate it and play time is over now" all kinds of super necessary things for a young dog to learn

But we take them at 8-10 weeks! and then WE don't teach them this stuff! and we expect them to be alone for long periods of time! and not sleep in a giant cuddle pile of loved ones, and not be participating in what their siblings or mother are doing 100% of their waking life.

It's crazy, we're basically severing a dog from the experiences they need to be a well adjusted member of our pack, and then we go like "why are you like this!?"

Oh dear, i still haven't gotten to the actual solution

SO. Here it is:

Dogs, should be born and raised in a facility (not like a sterile warehouse building or whatever, yuck, but yes like, a place designed inside and out for the sole purpose of raising dogs)

At this facility would be adult dogs that also help teach the dogs (important, in terms of socialization and even in modeling behavior, dogs can often learn more from other dogs than we can teach them on our own) And of course there would be a staff of professional dog nannies/trainers.

Dogs would learn things like, proper barking etiquette, go to the bathroom where they are told it is okay (not just in the yard, but where in the yard, and how to be told where is okay if, for example staying in a hotel or overnight with friends or family) no resource guarding (no threatening to bite anyone who gets too near their food or toys etc) how to behave around children and small pets, how to behave in public, how to calmly let someone feel between their toes, clip their nails, enjoy a bath, behave at the vet, not beg for food, heel off leash, how to learn new home and pack responsibilities using a basic toolkit (so for example they know basic task "carry", and understand that they may be asked to do jobs involving that, such as "help me carry groceries in from the car. Dogs LOVE to be a functional part of the pack). All this and more.

all the things that give a pet dog access to a better life. If they are calm at the vet they don't have to be held down or other things that can cause panic, if they behave in public they can go with their people more places more often, etc. As well as some additional bonuses like get outside if you hear a fire alarm, don't be scared of fireworks, the difference between safe sidewalks and dangerous roadways...

The time, energy, and skill to do all this for your dog? nobody has all three. Getting a dog from a facility like this would result in a dog that had actually been given the tools to be a really good fit for a modern home, which means a better life for the people, and a MUCH more fulfilling life for the dog.

But people want puppies. I get that. Here's how it works. Keep in mind that most dogs become fully adult at about 2 years old, and that once the facility was operating the exact ages and periods of time would probably be adjusted and fine tuned, but here's the basic idea

you come see the puppies at about 2 weeks old, visit as many days a week as you want. At twelve weeks old (3 months) specific puppies and people are matched. Continue to visit as many days a week as you wish, and take your puppy home for 24 hours every other week (remember most people bring puppies home from a breeder at 8-10 weeks, so this is prime puppy age)

Meanwhile you start taking our one class per month, year long dog course, matched to the stage of development your puppy is experiencing, held at the facility where you have access to, for example, watching trainers work with dogs, and observing groups of dogs in areas alone together, so that you understand dog behavior and communication, understand the basics of dog training, etc, and we are all on the same page when your dog does come to live with you.

At six months old your puppy is this much of a puppy still :

They start joining you for most of your classes which can become more personal, helping you practice whatever you are trying to accomplish at home. Also starting at 6 months you take your puppy home every other weekend.

At 8 months you take your puppy three weekends each month (actual days don't mater, if you work in restaurants and what to have your dog on your "weekend" of wednesday/thursday that's fine, it should just be your days off so that you can dedicate enough of your time to being with your puppy) At ten months you take your puppy every weekend, or perhaps something like for one week in the first half of the month and one weekend in the second half.

One year old puppies are starting to look like a whole dog but are still only half baked

At a year, your once a month classes end, and you take your dog home every other week. You are half a dog owner, you spend half your time with your half grown dog.

Between 18 months and 2 years is a normal age for wolves to begin setting out on their own; being 18 months is sort of the dog equivalent to being 17 years old.

So when your dog is a year and a half, 18 months old, you take one follow up class and your dog starts spending 3 weeks per month with you.

At a year and nine months old they are only spending 1 weekend a month at the facility (again, could be any two days of the week) and the rest of the month they live with you.

At two years old you take your final class which is mostly a group Q&A with a little graduation party, and your dog comes to live with you full time as a newly adult dog. But they've already been spending at least 3 weeks a month with you for the last half a year, and about half of every month for the six months before that.

And then for the next year they come back to the facility for a weekend of training touch-ups and trouble shooting, once every three or four months if they are having no issues, once a month if needed.

If this was the norm, dog owners and their dogs would all have better lives.

Costs of this raising could be augmented through boarding and daycare, since the facility would be an ideal place for dogs to stay, as well as the programs outlined below, such that each dog is not too expensive for people. Currently people spend a lot of money for purebreds and very little money for random adopted dogs, and something like this could still be true, (responsibly bred) purebreds for more money, mutts for much less, but all with access to the full training -- it's important that the dogs all not cost too much or it won't be normalized and puppy mills and backyard breeders etc will still provide a huge percentage of the dogs people get and then only rich people's dogs will benefit from what i am trying to do, so, these other programs and pure-breed mark ups etc would be necessary)

So these facilities should also be training service dogs of all kinds, and, depending on the location of the facility (city or countryside) different jobs like search and rescue, herding, anything related to law enforcement (simply because i 100% do not trust the cops to be training their own dogs) hunting... any and all dog jobs.

AND this would be a perfect way to ensure my other dog idea gets done

Because i think there should be battalions of diagnostic dogs.

I think there should be a few diagnostic dogs at every public event, every sporting event, every concert, every mall, and certainly every hospital... Every crowded place there should be a few dogs moving though, or posted up at walkway intersections, etc. Dogs that diagnose heart murmurs, diabetes, cancer, whatever; dogs can diagnose all kinds of things. It only takes a few sniffs or a few seconds of listening and they can know. As a free diagnostic service paid for by municipalities, states, or federal healthcare funding, they could be pointing out all the people who have these conditions to their handlers (who would have little business cards that just said, hey you've been dog-diagnosed with ____, you should probably check with your doctor about that"). And you could get like, special little lightly scented bracelets or key chains or necklaces or something that would let dogs know if you've already been diagnosed with their thing.

Many of these conditions currently require lab work and weeks of time and a bunch of money to diagnose, and you have to realize you might have it and ask for it and your doctor has to agree that it's necessary, it's a whole thing... but a dog could do it for free in 10 seconds while you were walking into a shopping center.

Anyway, those are some of my dog thoughts

[msfandomsblog]

Vox x FEM! reader one-shot. "I didn't mean it"

Ok sooo, this inspired by the fact my best friend said that she wasn't sure we were still friends while staying at my house.

We made up but what she said I told her what she said wasn't okay at all and she replied with 'i didn't mean it' so I decided to cheer myself up with a fluff fic.

Enjoy!

a/n and warnings: established relationship, use of y/n, shouting/yelling, Vox (dude needs his own warning), harsh words/cursing, crying.

Dividers by: @sister-lucifer thanks so much!

"I just don't understand why you don't ask for help!" You reasoned loudly as Vox turned his back on you.

"And who do you expect me to ask y/n huh?! Val!? Velvette!?" He laughed at their names. "Like they'd give a fuck!" He shouted.

"What about me!? You hardly ever see me as an option to anything!! I'm your best friend! And more then that...... I'm your girlfriend." you said saying that last part softly.

"You wanna know the reason I don't tell people my problems y/n? Because no one can solve them!!! Not even you." He said facing you.

"I'm not powerless, if you would just tell me what's wrong-" Vox cut you off sharply his voice glitching in and out.

"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! I'VE NEVER NEEDED YOUR HELP! I WILL NEVER NEED YOUR HELP!!"

He took a slight step forward.

"Vox I-"

"I DON'T KEEP YOU AROUND FOR YOUR HELP!! AND AS FOR BEING MY FRIEND, WHO WOULD BE FRIENDS WITH YOU IF NOT FOR ME!?

You closed your mouth.

"I see.........well...... sorry to be a burden." You used a simple spell to teleport to the outside of the Vees Tower.

It was a hot second before Vox even realized what he said.

"SHIT!" He bolted to his computer to check every camera he had, he couldn't lose you, not now, please not now. Red pixel drool was coming down his mouth. and Tears streamed off down his face. How could he have said that to you!?

He looked everywhere but he couldn't find you. How!? he had cameras everywhere how could you-.

He stopped.

What had he done?

You knew exactly how to avoid his cameras.

It would only be by him going and searching for you that he ever saw you again.

And by what he'd said, there would be know way in hell that you'd ever want to see him again.

You used your magic to fool Vox's cameras while you wandered the streets of the Vees territory. Being an overlord yourself meant that everyone around you left you alone.

good.

You wanted to be alone.

He said that, he really said that. The words seemed to echo in your head. "I don't need you, who would want to be your friend?" You were always there for him......... you loved him, and he said that.

You'd been friends from the get go, but he said that.

He said that.

It was too much.

You'd never been one for crying even when you were upset.

But it was all too much.

You teleported to a small area that was hidden away from everyone and as you sat down at a small bench you let your tears flow silently.

Vox practically sprinted through every camera to get closer to you.

He repeated the same word in his head over and over

"Please, please, please"

When he'd gotten to the end of where his cameras were he dashed to a spot only him and you knew about. and as he had guessed there you were on your bench.

Your tears had stopped, you sat rigidly still, your back pressed up against the back of the bench.

"You just gonna stand there?" you said blankly.

Vox slowly made his way nest to you.

"Y/n I'm-"

"sorry?" you half scoffed.

"Yeah, I could tell." you said not looking at him.

"I am! I-I, I didn't mean it!"

You chuckled. "Didn't mean it Vox? THEN WHY DID YOU SAY IT!?" You shouted turning towards him.

"If you're so sorry, and you didn't mean it then why are we even here!?" You said standing up.

"Lets just go back to the tower where its all cupcakes and rainbows!!" you said raising your arms in the air.

"y/n listen please-"

"No Vox, you listen. I'm tired of you shutting me out and throwing away our friendship and ha, relationship, just for me to forgive you because you're sorry or didn't mean it" You said adding a mocking tone to a few words.

You stood there, back towards him.

"You're right." he said after a pause.

"You're always right, I've been a terrible friend and partner. and no apology will ever fix that.......but please, I've never wanted someone to be in my life then you. 'Sorry' is not enough to make you feel better and I know that. I'm asking for forgiveness, but I also promise to pay more attention to what I say and what I do, because I don't want to hurt you anymore." He said tears falling down his face as he stood up.

You turned to look at him but said nothing.

"I hate fighting with the person I love most in this world." He said giving a sad smile.

"I know you can't take it back..... but..... I'm willing to try again." You gave him a smile.

"Thats all I ask." he said giving a his hand to you.

You took it.

Your relationship was never the same,

It was better.

OKKKKKK first things first, half of Vox's apology was from a pin on Pinterest by this person they're quotes are amazing!

Second this is my first time writing for vox so I gave him a softer edge for multiple reasons. One of them being he's known the reader a longggggg time.

sorry that this was short I haven't made long one-shots in a while so I usually make them short and sweet!

Hope you enjoyed and see you at the next one!!

[askcosplaysenpai]

Nice pic you got for your header image now spill the tea👀

Prepare yourself, this is a full cup.

All of this is relevant.

My earliest memory is from sometime in the late 80's, falling asleep on my dad's lap at my grandparents house while he watched Star Trek: The Next Generation. I used to run around with a headband over my eyes because I wanted to be Geordie LaForge. I have, quite literally, loved Star Trek for as long as I can remember.

My dad was a boy when the original series started airing. He is genuinely one of the most insightful people I've ever known. Put him in a room full of strangers, and watch the ripple of heads turning to listen to what he's saying. He can fix anything. He is honest and fair, but never cruel. He's comfortable being in charge because he believes in doing what's right and trusts his own decisions. And I wanted to be just like him.

My partner's dad was a teen during the TOS era. I don't know if I've ever met anyone more intelligent. Math, philosophy, art, you name it, he knows it all. He can critique with an acumen that cuts like a knife. He is fiercely loyal to those he loves, and cares not for the opinions of others. Fact, not emotion, is the way he approaches problem solving. And she wanted to be just like him.

Fast forward to last summer. It had been a while since I'd delved back into Star Trek, but I was feeling the itch and the things we love are better shared. She and I both have a great appreciation for stagecraft, and pre-digital midcentury acting is really only one step away from theatre. I found non-remastered versions on DVD, and we sat down to watch them.

I'd seen TOS before, but watching it anew with her was a completely different experience. We both fell in love, with the franchise and the characters specifically. We realized how much we related to Kirk and Spock. Soon after, we realized we'd been grandfathered their personalities from our fathers. We decided to take them to our annual trip to Yama-Con in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I teach costume design at the Portland Fashion Institute. Accuracy is important to me when it comes to making a cosplay. I did my best to source original patterns and materials, and made what I couldn't find from scratch. My partner has a brilliant hand for makeup and hairstyling. She even cut my hair to match Kirk's.

I've been a guest panelist/cosplayer at Yama-Con every year since it started in 2013. My partner has joined me there as a guest in her own right since 2021. We coordinate our costumes to each other and to the panels we run.

The convention is usually the first week of December, so the con offers photos with Santa. Professional Santa and professional photographer. We have become friends with both the Santa and the photographer. At the convention, we schedule a (santa-less) photoshoot, then use those photos for our guest announcement for our next year of conventions.

The photographer and his partner have season passes to Dollywood, and we all went together after the con last year. He took photos when I proposed to her. A minute an a half later, he took photos when she proposed to me. Neither of us knew the other was proposing. I tell this side story to showcase how in sync we are, as no one who knows us was surprised by this.

So to answer your question: My header image is from our Kirk/Spock photoshoot from last year's Yama-Con, three days before we got engaged. I'm posting that image in full, as well as a few of my favorites from the shoot.

@tumbleofdorks is my partner<3 Here is the photographer

[moniquill]

Just wanted to say that I greatly admire your ability to just keep calmly reiterating your position in the face of someone who really really wishes you were holding a different one and has decided that the best way to accomplish that is to insist that you already espouse that other position. An excellent non-escalation tactic that I hope to one day be able to apply as gracefully as you are.

Yeah, I've worked with teenagers before - like, professionally. I've taken classes about this exact thing! Gonna quote myself from another post I made back in 2018 that's mostly unrelated except for this part:

I went into a career where a lot of very specific knowledge is required.

I had to learn about verbal crisis intervention and crisis co-regulation. I had to learn about helpful vs. unhelpful language:

“I can only imagine how that must feel.” or “Do you want to tell me how that feels?”

vs

“I know how you feel.”

and about being cognizant of my own emotional state and my nonverbal communication and how they effect a situation.

(What am I feeling right now? What does this person think, feel, want, or need? What am I communicating to this person? How is the environment effecting the situation? What’s the best thing for me to say? What’s the best thing for me to do?)

I had to learn about active listening, about reflective statements and summarizing content and emotions:

“I can see that you’re [overwhelming emotion, usually angry or sad but sometimes bored or frustrated] right now, and I want to help, can you tell me about it so we can figure out what to do?”

vs

“Stop doing [inappropriate behavior]!”

(extra least-helpful-thing-ever points for bullshit like ‘You know better’ or ‘We already went over this’ or ‘You’re too old for [behavior or coping skill]’ or other such boderline-to-flagrantly abusive language that I’ve seen other people say in response to maladaptive coping, including shitty and/or inexperienced staff)

I’ve had to learn about offering validation and support. I had to learn about how to talk to others to help them connect emotions with behaviors so that they can learn to be self-cognizant and learn more effective coping strategies [than harming self/others] for managing emotional crisis.

I was taught whole units on the subjects of ‘Don’t make it about you’ 'Don’t get caught in a power struggle’ 'Don’t get defensive’ 'Don’t focus too tightly on details; understand the larger situation’ 'Understand the other person’s point of view and motivations’

These are specific strategies for dealing with human beings (oneself and others), and they’re super effective.

I mean, these classes I’ve taken boil down to 'how to not be a super shitty human being’.

And none of them are taught as requisite curriculum in public schools, or even college. All of them have been entirely optional and tied to this specific career path. Math majors don’t have to take these classes.

Why is that?

How have we arrived at a place, in education, where we espouse that it will be more important to literally any human being that they be able to solve a quadratic equation than be able to analyse one’s own anxiety and manage overwhelming emotions (and help others do the same)?

One of the problems on my homework tonight was:

“The deck on this house is a triangle. The distance from the base to the apex is nine feet longer than the base is wide. If the area of the deck is 68 square feet, how wide is the base?”

(This requires me to know that the area of a triangle is ½ Base(Height) and to parse the equation as 2(68) = B(B+9), therefor B^2 + 9B – 136 = 0 oh look there’s my solvable quadratic equation)

But in the real world, if I need to know how wide the deck is, I’m going to use a tape measure. If I don’t have a tape measure, how the fuck did I work out the area of the deck or the proportions of base to height in the first place?

This is not a task that will be asked of many people in their lives, and yet proficiency in this task is required if you ever want to have a non-minimum wage job.

Meanwhile, most people will at some point in their lives be called upon to comfort someone who is experiencing an overwhelming emotion. Many people will be placed in a position of authority over children. Some will be placed in a position of authority over people who are neuroatypical, or who have experienced trauma, or who have learned maladaptive coping skills, or who for some other reason may display behavior which is not immediately comprehensible to an outside observer who doesn’t seek understanding.

We live in a world where cops and doctors were certainly required to be able to solve quadratic equations at some point to be allowed to progress in their education and credentialing, but where they probably/demonstrably weren’t taught how to deescalate a person who is emotionally flooded to the point of violence (see this post: TW for gif of police violence on a minor). Where they weren’t taught about helpful vs. unhelpful language, or what constitutes instigating and triggering.

We live in a world where empathy and emotional cognizance are electives, but higher math is required.

Why is that?

I think these kids who are frothing-at-the-mouth angry would really benefit from Conflict Co-Regulation being a mandatory part of public school curricula.

[everythingblackblack]

Could you please do romantic and platonic relationship headcanons for Shinichi x Kaito? Thank you so much.

THANKS FOR ASKING, I LOVE THIS PAIR OF FOOLS TOO MUCH. I HAVE A LOT TO SAY. Take romance, because I hate the M27 reveal and I'm petty. 1. First of all Shinichi is crazy, I don't doubt that this guy dreams that he was cheated and wakes up angry the next day because of it.

So he's stuck to Kaito all the time, nothing really fancy, he just locks arms and doesn't let go.

Shinichi won't say anything because he thinks he's stupid, at least that is until Kaito pushes him to find out what's going on, after that embarrassing confession, Kaito would say "you're the only one for me, I doubt I've ever met someone as smart and stupid as you", and Shinichi would be like "Calling me stupid was unnecessary", "I love you, dumb detective". 2. Kaito absolutely denied being in love with Shinichi, not just out of shyness, but because as a thief, actually being in love with a detective is the worst thing that could happen to him, so he did the most reasonable thing he could.

He started avoiding Shinichi!

Shinichi didn't take it well, and made a whole crazy and reckless plan to get KID to talk to him again.

When they finally meet, they manage to solve the problem of not talking to each other, but KID doesn't confess his feelings.

Instead, he starts bothering Shinichi by showing up at his house, making silly jokes, as if trying to wear him out, and he succeeds.

Then he asks the big question!

"Why are you doing all this nonsense?! I mean, it's unnecessary for you to come to my house and throw confetti on me at three in the morning! Are you trying to get me to kill you?!".

"No, I just like to tease you."

"Why are you so obsessed with me? Are you a kindergartener teasing the girl he likes?"

"…"

"Wait… What?"

Then there's an explosion of light. They eventually end up together.

3. Kaito gets nervous when Shinichi stares at him and doesn't say anything.

"What?"

Shinichi just stares at him.

"You look creepy like that, you know?"

"…"

"Why are you staring at me so much…? Is there something on my face?"

"No, I was just thinking that I'm in love with you."

"Uh, what?"

"I like you."

No matter how hard he tries to keep his poker face, it's hard, because he didn't expect that. 4. He tries to pick Shinichi up when he comes back to normal, but they both fall. So he decides to improve his physical condition so he can carry Shinichi.

When Shinichi stays late on a case and Kaito is around, he ends up picking him up, not letting him go no matter how much he kicks, wraps him in blankets and throws him on the bed to sleep. I can see Kaito wrapping him up in the blankets like a burrito so he won't get up.

5. When Shinichi gets sick, it's horrible, because Shinichi refuses to accept that he's sick and tries to escape.

He makes ropes out of blankets to get out of the window, but Kaito, his thieving boyfriend, knows how he thinks and is down there to catch him when he lets go because he's weak.

He found him once trying to get out of the kitchen window, but he stopped halfway because his fever went up, Kaito who went to get something sweet to eat looks at him amused.

"Do you want help getting out of there?"

"No, I know you'll take me back to bed to rest, but I'm perfectly fine."

"Mmh, if you're as fine as you say, why did you stop halfway?"

"Silence."

Unlike Shinichi, Kaito would just stay home if he was sick, but he wouldn't tell Shinichi that he was sick so as not to bother him, who would end up looking for him when he hasn't seen him for several days and only receiving messages that he's "busy".

He finds him on the couch at Aoko's house.

"Why are you here?"

"I haven't seen you for a week, it's weird, you strangely stay away."

"I'm sick."

"I can see that, what I don't understand is why you told me you were busy."

"I was busy being sick, so we can't hang out, you should go home or work-"

"I'm staying, anyway, why did you hide that you were sick?"

"Ah, I just don't like you seeing me like this."

"Sick? It's not a problem."

"Vulnerable and not at all presentable."

"I like it when you're vulnerable, because it means you trust me and well, maybe you don't look as good as you do every day…"

"You know, you started that sentence off really well, but you ended it so badly."

"No, I'm not done yet, I meant, maybe you're not that presentable but… Is it wrong if I say that I still think you're cute?"

"…"

"Don't stay silent, you make it embarrassing and no, take off that poker face."

"I'm just surprised, you can be unexpectedly cute sometimes."

[estapa-edwards]

TUTOR - E.EDWARDS

paring: Ethan Edwards x fem! reader

word count: 4.9k

requested? no

warnings: use of y/n. slow burn!

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The University of Michigan was a place of both challenge and opportunity, especially for those who were part of its renowned hockey team. Mark Estapa, my brother, was one of the key players on the team, and his friend Ethan Edwards was right there with him. The name Ethan Edwards was not unfamiliar to me; I had heard it countless times from Mark, usually followed by tales of impressive goals and game-winning plays.

It all started one afternoon at the hockey rink. I was there watching Mark practice, as I often did, cheering him on from the sidelines. After practice, Coach Naurato approached me, his expression serious, a stark contrast to the lively demeanor he exhibited during hockey practices.

"Y/N," he began, "I've heard from Mark how smart you are. Ethan is struggling with his academics, and I think you would be a great tutor for him. Would you consider helping him out?"

The idea caught me off guard. Ethan Edwards? The very same person who had made more than one snide remark about me in class? The thought of spending extra time with him was far from appealing.

"Coach," I hesitated, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Ethan and I don't exactly get along."

Coach Naurato sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I understand, Y/N, but I believe you're the best person to help him. Please, just think about it."

The weight of the decision pressed on me as I left the rink. The thought of helping someone who had shown me little respect was difficult to swallow. However, the importance of the hockey team to Mark, and the trust Coach Naurato placed in me, made me reconsider.

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After a few days of internal debate, I finally decided to give it a shot. I approached Ethan after our next class together, a hesitant smile on my face.

"Ethan, Coach Naurato told me about the tutoring," I started, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "I'm willing to help you out if you're serious about improving your grades."

Ethan looked surprised, his icy blue eyes narrowing slightly. "Why would you do that? We're not exactly best friends, Y/N."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my patience intact. "This isn't about us becoming friends, Ethan. It's about helping you stay on the team and doing right by Mark."

There was a moment of silence, tension hanging in the air. Finally, Ethan nodded reluctantly. "Alright, fine. When do we start?"

Our first tutoring session was nothing short of a disaster. Ethan's attitude was immediately confrontational, making the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable from the start. He slouched in his chair, arms crossed defiantly, as he looked at the math problems I had prepared for him.

"Are we ever going to use this in real life?" he scoffed, pushing the paper away from him as if it were contaminated.

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. "Ethan, this is basic algebra. It's not just about solving for 'x'; it's about developing problem-solving skills that are essential for understanding more complex concepts later on."

Ethan rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "Problem-solving skills? I've got plenty of those on the ice. What's the point of all this?"

I could feel my frustration growing, but I tried to stay focused on the task at hand. "The point, Ethan, is to help you improve academically so you can continue to play hockey. Coach Naurato believes in you, and so do I. But you have to be willing to put in the effort."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms even tighter. "Well, this is a waste of time. I don't need your help."

The session ended with both of us frustrated and no real progress made. I left the classroom that day questioning whether I was the right person for the job, doubting my ability to help someone who seemed so determined to resist. Ethan, on the other hand, seemed to revel in his own stubbornness, as if proving a point by refusing to cooperate.

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One evening, Ethan and I were deep into our tutoring session. We had been working on a particularly challenging math problem for what felt like hours, both of us growing increasingly frustrated as we struggled to find the solution.

"Just think it through step by step," I encouraged, pointing to the problem on the paper in front of us. "You're almost there, Ethan."

He looked at the problem, then back at me, a look of concentration on his face. Slowly, a spark of understanding appeared in his eyes.

"I think I've got it," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

I watched as he worked through the problem, his pencil moving quickly across the paper. And then, just like that, he arrived at the correct answer.

"Yes! I did it!" Ethan exclaimed, jumping up from his chair.

Caught up in the moment, I jumped up too, and before we knew it, we were hugging each other in celebration. It was a spontaneous, genuine expression of joy and relief, and for a moment, all the tension and awkwardness between us seemed to melt away.

But as quickly as the moment had come, it was gone. We both pulled away awkwardly, realizing the unexpected intimacy of the hug.

"Uh, sorry about that," Ethan mumbled, his cheeks turning a shade of red I had never seen before.

"No, it's okay," I stammered, equally embarrassed.

Outside of our tutoring sessions, however, our relationship remained as strained as ever. Our newfound camaraderie seemed to exist only within the confines of the classroom, disappearing as soon as we stepped outside the door.

During hockey practices and games, Ethan and I were back to being at odds with each other. He would make snide remarks, and I would respond with sarcastic comments of my own. Mark tried to mediate, reminding us both of the progress we had made, but it seemed that our truce was limited to our time spent studying together.

It was frustrating, to say the least, to see Ethan revert to his old ways so easily. But I tried to focus on the positive, reminding myself of the progress we had made and the genuine friendship that was slowly developing between us.

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One Friday night, Mark convinced me to join him and the rest of the team at a frat party. I wasn’t much of a party person, but he promised it would be a good way to unwind and have some fun. Reluctantly, I agreed, not anticipating the events that would unfold.

The frat house was packed with students, the music blaring and the atmosphere electric. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself enjoying the night, laughing and dancing with Mark and his teammates. However, as the night wore on, I made the mistake of indulging a bit too much in the drinks being passed around.

By the time midnight rolled around, I was considerably more intoxicated than I had intended to be. My vision was blurry, my balance unsteady, and the room seemed to spin around me. I knew I needed to get out of there, but the idea of walking home by myself in my current state was daunting.

As I stumbled towards the exit, I felt a hand on my arm, steadying me. I looked up to find Ethan Edwards standing beside me, a concerned expression on his face.

"Y/N, are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern.

"I'm fine," I slurred, trying to pull away from him. "I just need to walk home."

Ethan looked at me incredulously, clearly recognizing that I was in no condition to make it home safely on my own.

"You're not walking home like this," he said firmly. "I'll drive you."

I scoffed at his suggestion, my intoxicated mind unable to process the genuine concern in his eyes.

"I am not driving home with you, are you crazy?" I snapped, my words slurring together.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look, Y/N, I know we don't get along, but I'm not going to let you walk home alone like this. It's not safe."

Despite my intoxicated state, I knew he was right. Reluctantly, I nodded, allowing him to guide me towards his car.

The car ride was quiet, the tension palpable. I stared out the window, trying to ignore the pounding headache and the nauseous feeling that threatened to overtake me. Ethan drove carefully, his eyes focused on the road ahead, seemingly determined to get me home safely.

As we pulled up to my apartment, I mustered the strength to speak, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank you, Ethan," I said, my words slurred but sincere. "I appreciate it."

Ethan glanced over at me, a soft smile on his face. "You're welcome, Y/N. Just... take care of yourself, okay?"

Just as I was about to reply, a sudden wave of nausea washed over me. Panic set in as I realized I was about to be sick.

"Ethan, pull over!" I yelled, my voice frantic.

Without hesitation, Ethan swerved the car to the side of the road, unlocking the doors and jumping out of the car to help. I barely had time to open the door before I was leaning out, vomiting onto the side of the road.

Ethan was right beside me, holding my hair back and rubbing my back soothingly as I emptied my stomach. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, there was a gentleness to his actions that I hadn't expected.

Once I was done, Ethan handed me a bottle of water he had in the car, and I rinsed my mouth out before spitting onto the grass.

"Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his eyes.

I nodded weakly, grateful for his help despite the embarrassment of the situation.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I replied, my voice shaky. "Thank you, Ethan. I'm really sorry about this."

Ethan shook his head, dismissing my apology with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it, Y/N. Just make sure you get inside safely, okay?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted and ready to be home. "I will. Thanks again, Ethan."

As I made my way towards my apartment, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude towards Ethan. Despite our differences and the strained relationship we had, he had shown me kindness and concern in a moment of need.

As I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking a moment to collect myself, I realized that perhaps there was more to Ethan Edwards than met the eye. Our relationship was still complicated, but in that vulnerable moment, I couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for him.

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The next day, I woke up with a pounding headache and a sense of regret about the previous night's events. As I tried to piece together the evening, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan and his unexpected kindness. I found myself wondering if maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than the cocky, arrogant persona he often displayed.

Later that day, I received a text from Ethan.

Ethan: Hey, Y/N. Just wanted to check in and make sure you're feeling okay after last night. Let me know if you need anything.

I stared at the message for a moment, surprised by his thoughtfulness. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes about his character.

Me: Hey Ethan, thanks for checking in. I'm feeling better, just a bit embarrassed about last night. I appreciate your help.

Ethan: No need to be embarrassed. We've all been there. Glad you're feeling better. If you ever need a ride or anything, just let me know.

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During a team dinner at a local restaurant, Ethan couldn't resist making another snide comment. The atmosphere was already buzzing with the excitement of Family Weekend, and I had been invited to join Mark and the team for the special occasion. Despite the festive mood, Ethan seemed determined to maintain our strained relationship.

"So, Y/N," he began, a sly grin on his face, "Do you tutor everyone on the team, or am I just lucky?"

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. I didn't want to cause a scene in front of Mark and the rest of the team, especially during a family event. "I tutor those who need help, Ethan. It's nothing personal."

He chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Sure, sure," he replied, the underlying tension clear in his tone.

Frustrated and tired of his constant jabs, I pulled Ethan aside, hoping to address the issue privately.

"Ethan, can we talk?" I asked, my voice low and controlled.

He looked at me, seemingly caught off guard by my request. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

"I didn't even want to tutor you," I admitted, my frustration evident. "Coach Naurato asked me to help you because Mark mentioned how much I've helped him with his academics. I agreed because I wanted to help you stay on the team, not because I enjoy being ridiculed by you at every opportunity."

Ethan looked at me, his expression changing from surprise to hurt. "I knew Coach asked you to tutor me because of Mark," he said quietly. "But hearing you say you didn't want to... it stings, Y/N."

I sighed, realizing the impact of my words. "Ethan, it's not that I didn't want to help you improve. It's your attitude towards me that's made this so challenging. Why do you do this to me?"

Ethan looked at me, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "I don't know, Y/N," he admitted, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. "I guess it's easier to push people away than to admit that I need help."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his honesty. "So, you're saying all this animosity is just a defense mechanism?"

He shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Maybe. It's just... I've always had to prove myself, I guess I'm just used to putting up walls."

I took a moment to process his words, feeling a pang of empathy. "Ethan, I get it. We all have our insecurities and ways of protecting ourselves. But that doesn't give you the right to treat me poorly."

He nodded, looking back up at me. "I know, Y/N. I'm sorry. I'll try to do better."

I looked at him, searching his eyes for any sign of sincerity. "Alright, Ethan. I'll give you another chance. But you need to show me that you're serious about changing. And it can't just be in private, Ethan. You need to treat me with respect in front of other people too."

He nodded, determination in his eyes. "I promise, Y/N. Things will change."

Feeling a sense of relief and hope, I impulsively stepped forward and wrapped my arms around Ethan in a brief hug. To my surprise, he hesitated for a moment before cautiously returning the embrace.

Little did we know, Mark had walked into the restaurant at that exact moment and witnessed the entire exchange. A look of suspicion crossed his face as he watched us, his instincts telling him that something had changed between his sister and his teammate.

As Ethan and I pulled apart, we were unaware of the scrutiny we were now under. Mark's suspicions were piqued, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just occurred between us.

The atmosphere at the dinner table had noticeably shifted, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. While Ethan seemed genuinely committed to changing his behavior, the unintended consequence of Mark's newfound suspicion added a layer of complexity to our already complicated relationship.

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As the weeks passed, Ethan and I continued to spend more time together, both during our tutoring sessions and outside of them. Our relationship was slowly evolving, and the mutual animosity we once shared was gradually being replaced by a growing friendship and understanding.

However, Mark began to notice the change in our dynamics. He would often spot us together around campus, studying in the library, grabbing coffee, or even just chatting and laughing in the university courtyard. Despite our best efforts to keep our growing friendship under wraps, it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide the bond that was forming between us.

Mark couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on between his best friend and his sister. The secretiveness of our newfound friendship only heightened his suspicions. Why would Ethan and I keep this a secret from him if there was nothing to hide?

One evening, after a particularly productive tutoring session, Ethan and I were walking back to our dorms when we ran into Mark outside the hockey rink. He looked surprised to see us together, his eyes narrowing as he took in our relaxed demeanor.

"Hey, Y/N, Ethan," Mark greeted, his tone friendly but his eyes betraying a hint of suspicion. "What are you two up to?"

"We just finished a study session," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Ethan's really making progress."

Ethan nodded, offering Mark a genuine smile. "Yeah, Y/N's been a huge help."

Mark studied us for a moment, clearly not buying our casual demeanor. "That's great to hear," he said, his tone still friendly but now laced with curiosity. "You two seem to be spending a lot of time together."

I felt my cheeks heat up, realizing that our secret was becoming harder and harder to keep. "We're just friends, Mark. Nothing more."

Ethan chimed in, "Yeah, just trying to get my grades up and stay on the team."

Mark looked between us, his suspicion not completely alleviated but not wanting to push the issue further. "Alright, just remember, Ethan, she's my sister," he said, half-jokingly but with a serious undertone.

Ethan nodded, "I know, Mark. I'll always respect that." 

Despite Mark's attempt to convince himself that there was nothing going on between Ethan and me, his suspicions continued to gnaw at him. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, knowing that the two closest people in his life were keeping something from him. Even though they weren't explicitly dating, the closeness between Ethan and me felt like a betrayal of his trust.

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As days turned into weeks, Mark found himself growing increasingly frustrated and angry. He couldn't understand why Ethan and I would keep our growing relationship a secret from him if there was nothing more to it. The more he thought about it, the more it fueled his suspicion and resentment.

One evening, Mark confronted me about his suspicions. We were alone in our dorm room, and the tension between us was palpable.

"Y/N, I need to know the truth," Mark said, his voice strained with emotion. "Are you and Ethan... more than just friends?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The truth was that Ethan and I had grown closer over the past few weeks, but we hadn't officially defined our relationship. However, I couldn't deny the growing feelings I had developed for him.

"Mark, I... I don't know what to say," I replied, feeling torn between my loyalty to my brother and my burgeoning feelings for Ethan.

Mark's expression darkened, his anger bubbling to the surface. "Don't play dumb with me, Y/N. I've seen the way you two look at each other, the way you're always together. How could you keep this from me?"

I sighed, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. "I'm sorry, Mark. I never meant to hurt you. It just... happened."

Mark shook his head, unable to hide his disappointment. "I thought I could trust you, Y/N. I thought Ethan was my friend. But it turns out, I was wrong about both of you."

I reached out to him, desperate to mend our fractured relationship. "Mark, please. I know this is difficult, but I care about Ethan. And I care about you. I don't want to lose either of you."

But Mark pulled away, his trust shattered. "I need some time, Y/N. I need to figure out how to deal with this betrayal."

As he left the room, the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. I knew that repairing the damage to our relationship would take time and effort, but I was determined to do whatever it took to make things right.

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During the next hockey practice, the tension between Mark and Ethan was palpable. Both were competitive and passionate about the sport, but the underlying animosity stemming from Mark's feelings of betrayal added a new level of intensity to their interactions on the ice.

As they found themselves on opposite teams during a scrimmage, Mark's aggression towards Ethan became increasingly evident. He was playing more aggressively than usual, delivering harder checks and playing with a level of determination that seemed fueled by his feelings of anger and betrayal.

Ethan, sensing the change in Mark's demeanor, tried to keep his cool and focus on the game. However, it became increasingly challenging as Mark continued to target him, making the practice more of a personal vendetta than a team exercise.

At one point, during a particularly heated moment in the game, Mark delivered a high check to Ethan, causing him to crash into the boards. The impact was hard, and Ethan fell to the ice, clutching his shoulder in pain.

The coach blew the whistle, signaling an end to the scrimmage and rushing onto the ice to check on Ethan's condition. The entire team gathered around, their concern evident as Ethan struggled to his feet, wincing from the pain.

"Are you okay, Ethan?" Coach Naurato asked, his voice filled with concern.

Ethan nodded, trying to brush off the incident. "I'm fine, just a bit shaken up."

Mark, realizing the gravity of his actions, looked visibly remorseful as he approached Ethan. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I let my emotions get the best of me. That was uncalled for."

Ethan looked at Mark, his expression a mix of pain and understanding. "It's okay, Mark. I get it. But we need to figure this out."

The coach, sensing the need to address the situation immediately, called for a team meeting to discuss the underlying issues and find a way to resolve the tension between Mark and Ethan.

"As a team, we need to support each other, both on and off the ice," Coach Naurato began, addressing the entire team. "Personal issues should not interfere with our performance and unity as a team."

Mark and Ethan exchanged a glance, realizing that their personal issues were affecting not only their relationship but also the team's dynamics and performance.

"We need to find a way to resolve our differences and work together for the sake of the team," Ethan said, breaking the silence.

Mark nodded, his expression serious. "I agree, Ethan. I let my emotions cloud my judgment, and I'm sorry."

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When I found out about the altercation between Mark and Ethan during practice, I was furious. I couldn't believe that their personal issues had escalated to the point where it was affecting the entire team. Determined to resolve the situation once and for all, I called them both over to my apartment.

As they entered, they could sense the anger and frustration in my demeanor. I didn't waste any time getting to the point.

"What the hell were you two thinking?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with anger. "You let your personal issues get in the way of the team's performance, and it's not okay!"

Mark and Ethan exchanged a guilty glance, realizing the gravity of their actions and the impact it had on the team.

Before they could respond, I continued, "I'm tired of this tension between you two. If you have a problem with each other, then deal with it like adults and stop letting it affect the team!"

Mark looked at me, his expression a mix of guilt and understanding. "You're right, Y/N. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I'm sorry. It's not fair to you, Ethan, or the team."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my anger. "It's not just about the team, Mark. It's about your friendship with Ethan and your trust in me. I can't believe you would let this situation escalate to the point where it affects our relationship."

Mark looked at me, his expression softening. "Y/N, I've thought about it a lot, and if you and Ethan want to date, I'm okay with it. I'd be happy to have Ethan as a possible brother-in-law. I just need to know that you're both serious about each other and that this won't happen again."

Ethan looked at Mark, surprised by his admission. "Mark, are you serious? You're okay with Y/N and me dating?"

I turned to Ethan, my eyes widening in surprise. "You would want to date me?" I asked, my voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and hope.

Ethan smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "Yes, Y/N, I would. Despite our initial disagreements and the challenges we've faced, I've come to care about you deeply. I'd like to see where this relationship could go, if you're willing."

I felt my heart swell with emotion, touched by his sincerity and the vulnerability he was displaying. "Ethan, I've developed feelings for you too. Despite everything, I've come to appreciate the person you are underneath all the bravado. I'd like to see where this could lead as well."

Mark, witnessing the exchange, let out a soft chuckle. "Well, it seems like the feelings are mutual. Just promise me that you both will be honest with each other and with me moving forward. I want you both to be happy, but I also want to make sure that this won't cause any issues with the team or our friendship."

Ethan and I nodded in agreement, grateful for Mark's understanding and support. "We promise, Mark," I assured him. "Our relationship won't change our commitment to our friendship or the team."

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After Mark had given his approval for Ethan and me to date, the dynamic between the three of us shifted noticeably. The tension that once clouded our interactions began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound sense of camaraderie and mutual respect.

Mark, always the protective older brother, now seemed more at ease with our relationship. He made an effort to include Ethan in our family gatherings and often invited him over for dinner or to watch hockey games on TV. It was clear that Mark was trying to build a strong relationship with Ethan, not just as a teammate but now also as a potential future brother-in-law.

One evening, Mark organized a small get-together at our family home. It was an informal gathering, with just a few close friends and teammates. As Ethan and I arrived, Mark greeted us warmly at the door, a genuine smile on his face.

"Hey, you two. Come on in," Mark said, giving me a playful nudge and a wink. "Ethan, glad you could make it."

"Thanks for having us, Mark," Ethan replied, returning the smile. "Smells great in here."

Throughout the evening, Mark made an effort to involve both Ethan and me in conversations, ensuring we felt comfortable and included. He even shared a few embarrassing childhood stories about me, much to my chagrin, but it was all in good fun and made for a lively and enjoyable evening.

As the night wore on, Mark pulled Ethan aside for a private conversation. I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, wondering what they were discussing. After a few minutes, they rejoined the group, both of them wearing satisfied smiles.

"Everything okay?" I asked, looking between the two of them.

"Yeah, everything's great," Mark replied, putting an arm around Ethan's shoulders. "I've got to say, Y/N, you've picked a good one."

Ethan chuckled, his cheeks turning a shade of red. "Thanks, Mark. I think you're pretty great too."

As the months passed, our relationship continued to flourish, and Mark's initial reservations about Ethan and me dating seemed to fade away completely. He became one of our biggest supporters, always there to offer advice, lend a listening ear, or celebrate our milestones as a couple.

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One weekend, Ethan and I planned a getaway trip to a cabin in the mountains. Knowing that Mark was an experienced hiker and outdoorsman, we invited him to join us. To our surprise, he agreed, and the three of us spent a memorable weekend hiking, exploring, and bonding over shared meals and campfire stories.

By the end of the trip, it was clear that Ethan had earned Mark's trust and respect. They had forged a strong bond, built on mutual interests and a shared love for adventure. As we packed up to leave, Mark pulled Ethan aside for another private conversation.

"Take care of her, okay?" Mark said, his voice filled with sincerity.

"You have my word, Mark," Ethan replied, shaking Mark's hand firmly. "I care about Y/N deeply, and I'll always do my best to make her happy."

As we drove back home, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude and happiness. I was grateful for Ethan's unwavering support and love, but also for Mark's acceptance and the bond we had all formed together.

honestly I hate this, but I wanted to get something out for you guys. Please dont be afraid to request!

[booksandmemes]

Thoughts on The Code of Claw as I read it: (Spoilers, but I think I'm pretty much the last one in line)

Gregor's metaphor between himself and the dead knight is rally sad. "And then, nothing will hurt him again." It feels even worse every time he thinks of what will happen to his family when he dies.

(I know he's gonna live, IT'S THE LAW, but the thought process is depressing).

At this rate, Gregor liking Luxa will become common knowledge by Part 3. Mareth and Ripred did him dirty 😭

I find a lot of funny contrasts between Lizzie and Gregor. He'd stayed in the Underland to solve their problems, save them from war and death MULTIPLE TIMES, but once Lizzie wants to help, he goes "Nope, no danger for you."

Also, Ripred treating Lizzie vs Ripred treating Gregor:

I have a feeling Mr. Badass rat used to have these type of anxiety episodes too. I mean, he does blow up when things go wrong and he has time to rant about it. Maybe he switched the panic with anger?

Lizzie and her puzzles love reminds me of 11-year-old me and I'm living for it (pls don't let anything happen to her).

Once every blue moon, I feel a bit of respect for Solovet and what she's doing to lead an army, then it gets wiped out by new and increasingly unhinged stuff.

That part where Ripred and Solovet embarrass Gregor, then he visits his mom and unwinds a bit? Hits too close to home honestly.

CAN THIS BOY JUST SEE HIMSELF AS 12YO FOR ONCE??? PLEASE

Why did it take me 5 books to get the naming gig between species??? (Newton did it for me)

Gregor and Luxa are really cute <3 (romance subplot will forever be better than romance as a genre).

Ripred backstory jump-scare woah he used to have a life.

TWITCHTIP NOOOOOOOOOO

Gregor said he would've wanted an older brother like Howard: "kind, brave, and not afraid to say he cared about things or admit he was wrong." ... Does he realize he's also that kind of older brother? Srsly, these two should win an award for that.

k, at least Solovet is one person I won't be crying over. I almost did at Vikus though. Imagine your family falling apart, dying one by one, losing some of them twice, not once (give the grown man a hug).

Lapblood, Flyfur and Sixclaw mention yay. I can finally live in peace.

I'm scared rn because there are 60 pages left and the fight didn't even start. Like, what if it all doesn't work out? How many people can die in 60 pages? I didn't used to, but this series gave me severe anxiety.

Ripred is the biggest plot twister to ever twist plot twists into plots like OH MY GOD

Honestly, I didn't really feel satisfied at the ending until that part where Boots says Gregor's full name. I have decided that is enough to make up for everything.

This series was a 5/5. Nothing I've read recently has altered my brain chemistry this way. I proudly declare myself obsessed.

[tchiyya]

Hello and welcome, שלום וברוכים הבאים, привет и добро пожаловать!

Welcome all friends, new and old. If you're migrating here with me from my old blog, please be aware that while I am still fundamentally the same underlying person, I have recently (as of this writing, at the start of this blog) gone through some extremely major and difficult personal things that have changed me a lot. I am, in fact, having to rebuild my life from the ground up, and am hoping for a fresh start. I would ask that folks please be respectful of that process and accept the changes as they come. Or, alternatively, if it's no longer your jam, please feel free unfollow with no hard feelings had.

***Important: if you know or think you know me IRL and we haven't had a conversation where I've said it's okay for you to follow this new blog, please respect my privacy and don't follow or read this blog. Thank you for respecting this boundary!

Things you will find here:

Religious Judaism

Jewish culture, history, and identity

Comparative theology

Queer/trans/non-binary stuff

Inclusive feminism/queer liberation/trans unity/inclusionism

Some politics and current events

Musings, thoughts, fancies, things I am thinking through

Personal posts

Hobbies (fiber arts of various types, learning woodworking, cooking/baking, possibly gardening, etc.)

Language learning: עברית, Русский (I am in the early stages of learning both; I have years of עברית practice and formal study but no ulpan, so my conversational skills are limited; Русский is something I have just started in earnest informally in the last few months or so, but I live with a native speaker which is why I'm learning it. Feel free to give me practice by reaching out to me in either!)

Other languages that I would love to learn at least a little of if I have the capability: ASL, Yiddish, Spanish, Arabic, Ukrainian

#ADHD Life

Cats, moths, bats, and other good creatures

Silliness

Boundaries: [Because DNIs don't work and people really need to relearn how to use the block button and curate their dashboards]

These are behaviors that will likely earn you a block from me:

Obvious scamming or spamming

Trolling

Lashon hara or call-out posts

Bigotry (not mistakes; actual beliefs)

Refusal to live in a fact-based reality (that is, if you refuse to take in new information and are unwilling to revise your opinions based on additional or improved information, I don't particularly want to engage with you)

Bitter in-fighting discourse that helps no one but our enemies

Exclusionism

Identity politics where one's identity defines the merit of your argument rather than merely informs it

Purity politics where "accountability" is actually just indefinite public shaming and shunning rather than teshuva and the possibility of forgiveness (which creates a culture where people are so terrified to ever make a mistake that they will always double down and refuse to admit to having made a mistake or having spoken in ignorance even when they very obviously have.) When is the last time you admitted you were wrong? Sincerely apologized for hurting others and worked to correct it as best as possible? Accepted someone else's teshuva and forgiven them fully?

Politics based more on jerking off to a specific theory than on compassion for actual living people and on effective (evidence-based) problem-solving

Honestly any behaviors that stress me out too much to be worth dealing with on an unserious social media platform

The older I get, the more I value people who are kind, compassionate, forgiving, and willing to work on themselves. And, the less I want to do with people whose politics and beliefs would seem to indicate that they are but whose actions show them to be unkind, unforgiving, and unwilling to look inward. Too many people have decided that cruelty is praxis as long as it's directed at the "correct" people. But punishment doesn't teach and is not synonymous with accountability. Cruelty creates more problems than it solves and fails to recognize the spark of the Divine in every person. Worse, it usurps the role of Hashem, who is the only true Judge.

As a religious Jew, I have to believe that every person has the ability to repent and change themselves for the good as long as they are alive. Even in death, I have to believe that gehinnom is temporary and meant to wash clean our collective neshamot, which are pure.

These are my values and I do my best to live by them. At the same time, I'm human and I make a lot of mistakes. I get angry and frustrated and I lash out. Or I allow myself to succumb to despair instead of seeing the broken things in the world as opportunities Hashem has given me to help others and release the Divine sparks trapped within. I do not always speak as wisely and as kindly as I wish I had. My deepest regrets in life are the times when I failed to be kind as I could have been in hindsight. I am a flawed person and I make mistakes. But, I also do my best to admit and correct them.

Can you say the same?

About us:

We are collectively Tchiyya, a system made up of six persons:

Tzuriel: genderqueer adult, ze/zir

Tamar: adult femme lesbian, she/her

Tidhar: adult bi male, he/him

Tahara: adult femme, she/her

Tomer: young adult queer punk, he/him

Tchelet: young alter (11ish), ze/zir

More about each of us here [coming soon]

Unless you are trying to talk to a specific alter, you can just interact with us generally as Tchiyya (they/them); however, you are welcome to reach out to a specific alter if you like. (Please note though, that Tchelet is quite young and so we are very guarded about who gets to interact with zir and how, and it will be supervised.)

Additional biographical information here [coming soon]

Asks:

Asks are open but anon is off. All asks will be answered publicly or (at my discretion) deleted. If you want a private conversation, message me directly.

Friendly, genuine asks about anything are welcomed. Banter is encouraged; trolling will be ignored. I do enjoy positive social interactions, so please do feel free to reach out!

Positions:

I used to have a whole massive write-up of my strong opinions on the topics most important to me. I will not be doing that here, at least not now, possibly never. You're just going to have to read my opinions as they come up like every other disorganized personal blog on here lol.