#MAYBE some angst??

[because-she-goes]

luck be a lady

warnings: alcohol use, drug use if you squint, newly sober Matty, swearing, gambling. Enjoy!

author note: go try calimochos, they’re delicious and very easy to make at home!

It is 12am and a newly sober Matty makes his way to the casino floor from his lonely hotel room. The rest of the boys currently getting high in George’s room. He bid them farewell about an hour ago, excusing himself and them sympathetically understanding his need to leave.

His tie now undone, top two buttons of his wrinkled white shirt open, hair perfectly messy. He had to admit, he looked fucking hot tonight. Dress pants still miraculously creased down the center and worn in, scuffed brown shoes as comfortable as slippers. He adjusts his hair one last time, pulling it up and away from his face and licks his chapped lips. Sauntering out towards the roulette tables, he spots a bar. There is not a soul at the chairs surrounding it, the bartender taking the quiet moment to clean glasses. He decides to wait a bit and play a round of Texas hold ‘em with people much more knowledgeable about it than him. 20 minutes later, he is down $500 and decides to take the loss and quench the thirst thats been bothering him since he lost the first round against a lady named Susan who was in a Hawaiian shirt and had the worst smoker’s cough he’s ever heard.

Now making his way to the bar, he spots a girl. Not a girl, scratch that. An almighty. She is laughing at some probably horrendous joke the bartender just made. Head thrown back, raven hair cascading down her back, babydoll dress hugging her frame like it was crafted by Persephone herself. A flush covers her freckled cheeks and eyes the most incredible shade of cinnamon he has ever seen. Her laugh like Mozart to his ears. He takes the seat besides her, hands shaking excitedly in his lap.

“Yeah, Can I get whatever she is drinking mate? Thanks!” He asks the bartender who is now sending the new arrival death glares for interrupting their conversation.

“Its called kalimocho, I don’t know if you’ll like it. Might be too sweet for your tastes.” She informs him.

“Oh is that right? Whats in it, love? Just looks like red wine to me.” He abruptly replies, not meaning to come across curt, but probably sounding like a twat to the poor girl.

“Its red wine and some coca cola and a little lemon juice.” Her tone now reflecting his coldness. How dare he be so abrasive when he’s the one who sat next to her. How dare his neck look so pretty and practically begging to have a hand wrapped around it. How dare he look like a goddamn dream to her tired eyes.

“Okay, sounds good to me. I’ll still take one, mate.” He adds, looking towards the bartender in an attempt to smooth over some of the wrinkles in the conversation.

The bartender quickly makes another in a tall glass, adds an orange peel and hands it to Matty.

“What’s your name by the way, love? Might as well know it if we are going to drink together…” He nods in thanks to the bartender and slides him a tip that is well over the 20% normal in America. She doesn’t know if this is out of generosity or a way to get in her pants by flaunting his wealth. She gives him the benefit of the doubt and replies to the question.

“Nora. My name’s Nora. And yours?” She interjects. She takes a small sip of the cocktail awaiting his response. Desperately wanting to know this handsome stranger’s name.

“Matthew, but everyone calls me Matty. You can call me whatever you like, Darling.” He swiftly answers. Pleased with his answer, she throws him a wink. Mascara coated eyelashes accentuating her sultry makeup flawlessly.

He takes a swig of the cocktail, humming into the glass as the name Nora fills his brain. How sweet. How gentle. How totally perfect of a name for such a creature as she.

“Will do, handsome.” She brazenly flirts. “Would you wanna go play some roulette or a slot machine by any chance? Stretch our legs a bit?” She adds, hoping he’ll accept her offer.

“With you? I’ll do anything, love.” He gets up and walks with her to the slots. He takes a minute and admires the way she can be so comfortable in a place like this - with drunken men much older than her surely oogling and ogling at her every movement. He commends her for being so confident i herself and completely strong while being a lamb surrounded by lions. Matty’s face shrivels up and shoulder shake in disgust at the repulsive thoughts the men must be thinking about her. She takes a seat getting ready to put her cash into the machine, startled when she feels his strong, long fingers squeezing around her shoulder and stupidly perfect lips dip in towards her ear.

“Luck be a lady, baby.” He whispers, nipping at her earlobe.

She practically moans, shivering as various vile thoughts begin to cloud her judgement. Goosebumps covering her skin.

“Don’t fuck with me right now, Handsome.” She clips, not wanting the distraction as her nerves build. Pressing the button to start the machine, anticipation killing her.

He smirks at the effect his small action has on her, intelligent eyes roaming over her and the screen waiting for the result.

A few moments later, sirens start blaring, the screen illuminating brightly with neon colors. They read the screen in awe….

“Jackpot, $35,000 dollars…….” They mutter in shock. Surely, she’s dreaming. None of this can be real. Not him. Not his hands on her shoulders. Not his eyes now staring at her in awe. Not his lips parting perfectly as he gasps.

Coming back to reality, she leaps up from the seat as he takes her in his arms. The muscles in his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, her chest pressing into his, she stands on the balls of her feet in order to reach him. He glances down for half a second over her shoulder and catches the glimpse of her butt in that dress. He nearly drops to his knees right then and there, willing and ready in-front of the whole casino. He reels himself in, coming back ti the goddess in-front of him. Nora, the name consuming his every thought. God, what he would give to say her name like a prayer in the dark of the night.

He kisses her deeply, hungrily, needy. She kisses him like her life relies on it. The both of them drinking the other in and only releasing when their collective oxygen runs out. All of the people around them disappear. They don’t notice the guy walking over to her with the cash filled suitcase. They don’t notice the machine’s sounds and lights anymore. They don’t notice the whole casino clapping and cheering.

In that moment, it is just them. Him and Her. Nothing else.

[hinamie]

mentor

[hyenaa-euphoria]

hope 1/???

more angst!! i am actually building an au around this comic but I’ve never done aus before so like this is new to me!!!

[saturdaysky]

we'll be alright, love. we'll make it through, you'll see.

just a doodle of my gnome tav, mayhew, and gale sometime in the long, dark night of the soul that is act 2

line version:

used a photo ref for the general pose. refs are amazing ✌

[kittykalliarts]

For decades, the blank vision that Iudex Neuvillette wears near his heart has been subject to much discussion in Fontaine. Nobody remembers who it had once belonged to or why the ancient dragon protected it so jealously. It is said that if the Chief Justice would to stare at it for a long while, it would be sure to rain right after. Oh, how beloved that person must've been.

[punnifullife]

Been binge-watching the '03 show and it's re-ignited my hyper-fixation on one of my first OTPs as a kid.

[kirdoodl]

I had this funny idea a few days ago so here are a few doodles abt it

The actual idea is below :3

Basically imagine if Cesar and his alternate shared a body, BUT, Cesar is completely unaware of that. Hijinks ensue.

To make this even better I imagine Cesar living with Mark, who, unlike Cesar, is very much aware that his friend has an alternate, but doesn't want to tell said friend as to not scare him while trying not to get killed by the alternate.

Its like this weird game of catch where Cesar's alternate is trying to inflict M.A.D. onto Mark and Mark is trying to get rid of the alternate, but then there's CESAR who is ruining BOTH OF THEIR PLANS while completely unaware of anything that's happening.

And I find that hilarious.

[thatskindarough]

I’m not sure about anyone else but I personally have a pretty hard time finding Aziraphale centric fics. Crowley centric fics are really easy to find, stuff that splits C/A evenly is also pretty easy to find.

So I think we should start a thread of Aziraphale centric fics (or at least ones where he gets to take a major role in.)

I’ll go first:

These are the Soul by Mikripetra—This is my comfort fic I love it with my entire being.

Starmaker and Starlight by Nohaljiachi—This one just made me very happy then very sad. It focuses on Aziraphale before the beginning, coming to be friends with the starmaker (angel Crowley)

Prax In Terris —by Oatmeal Addiction I love this one because it captures the spirit of good omens perfectly. Genuinely if s3 was a fanfiction this (and the other fic in this series) is what I’d want it to be. Now it is not exactly Aziraphale centric, it does split time pretty evenly with Crowley and Muriel, but I love Aziraphale’s role in this, and he gets to be really interesting and stubborn. (Maybe not for all readers who dislike face value interpretations of the FF though.) It’s a wip about the second coming and I’m very curious where the author is gonna take it.

If you want, please feel free to add any Aziraphale centric fics to this post and also please shamelessly self-rec your own fics

(Edited to add the author names and also to say thank you for everyone recommending things, it makes me and I’m sure other Aziraphale fans very happy!)

[toastyyjams]

game & movie night!

[mellosdrawings]

i fear ive actually been converted to the no.2 squad agenda after previously not even considering it, its like a brain fungus

do you have any extra thoughts abt leona forcing his workaholics to actually take a rest? im a sucker for some fluff lol

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US! (Sorry for the brain fungus xD)

Well, first he'd wrestle with them. Physically force them to keep their butts on the couch/grass/bed. He's definitely stronger than both Vil and Jamil and, while Jamil is probably a godsdamned eel that can slip from most grasps, if he's too tired to do it then Leona wins de facto.

Once he's got them stuck in his embrace, he'd just incite them to nap with him. Purring also has calming abilities (I know lions don't actually purr but lemme have this one, I just like it too much)

If it's only one workaholic he has to force into resting, he might coax the other into helping. While Vil and Jamil overwork themselves, they're also aggressively caring towards others, so they'd immediately jump to Leona's aid to force the other to sleep.

For regular days that don't necessitate emergency interventions, Leona (and Vil) would enforce healthy sleep schedules onto Jamil. Vil is already very stringent about sleep schedules and healthy food so Leona wouldn't need to help him with that, but I will never believe Jamil ever manages to sleep before the wee hours of the night. And he probably wakes up at 5am too. That boy really is overworked.

Mostly though it's just... like a cat settling on your laps and you can't move anymore. You can but you can't. So you just wait until it leaves on its own before going back to your activities. Leona smothers Jamil and/or Vil beneath him and they have no choice but to let it happen.

(And they all end up sleeping in a cuddle pile <3)

[armenelols]

In deference to my recent bout of shitposting, have a daily reminder that Tolkien's half-elves have no happy ending and no matter what they choose, they'll still lose part of their family forever. They'll always be split between two people, neither fully one or the other, yet forced to pick one and lose the other

[justaz]

merlin slipping up early on around arthur and trying to assuage his fears by assuring that the gods would look out for them and arthur pauses before asking “the gods?” and they have a awkward lil conversation where merlin is like “yeah i worship the gods of the old religion” and arthurs like “why?” and merlin goes “well why do you worship the god of the new religion? we just believe in them” and arthur takes in this new information and is eventually like “yeah. sure. i guess its not illegal in escetir is it?” anyways thats it. it doesnt get brought up again until later on

when arthur + the knights and merlin and in that shrine and the knights aren’t taking it seriously and merlin goes “in the time of the old religion, they built shrines like this to appease restless spirits. we shouldn’t be here” and the knights brush it off but arthur knows merlin truly believes in it all so he redirects the knights away and later on its him and merlin at the well and arthur is there to calm merlin after he sees the visions from the raid. merlin’s crying and pleading with arthur to leave, that they shouldn’t be here. arthur agrees and goes to leave when merlin calls out to him. arthur stops but doesn’t turn. merlin wraps his arms around his middle

“you were here”

arthur doesn’t say anything more and walks away

[estrellami-1]

First Cuts

Part 1 | Part 2

“Hey,” Steve says breathlessly. “Y’know that thing that we are not mentioning, ever, on pain of death?”

Eddie blinks. “Y’know you’re still mentioning it even if you don’t call it what it is, right?”

“Eddie,” Steve says seriously, which causes Eddie to focus. “I need your help. I’m kinda freaking out, here.”

“Okay,” Eddie says, running through things in his mind. “Want me to come over? Or wanna come over here? Or just over the phone?”

“I’m stressed out enough I can’t make any decisions right now,” Steve says.

“Okay,” Eddie says, “then I’m coming over. Unlock the door for me, ‘kay? I’ll be there in ten.”

“M’kay. Thank you.” With a click he’s gone, and Eddie hangs his phone back up too, looking around for his keys.

He snatches them off the counter, jams his feet into his shoes, and takes off.

He realizes halfway there that he’s still in his pajamas.

He walks in when he arrives to find Steve sitting at the table, staring at an envelope like he’s trying to disintegrate it with just his vision. Eddie thinks he can almost see the paper smoking. “Hey,” he says softly. “What’s going on?”

Steve doesn’t meet his eyes, just keeps his gaze locked on the envelope. “I did something impulsive. And Robin doesn’t know. And either nothing changes, or everything does.” He lifts his face to Eddie’s. His bottom lip is bitten raw.

“Okay,” Eddie says. “Well, first things first is to figure out which of those options it is, right? I’m assuming the letter will determine which it is.”

“Yeah,” Steve says, reaching for it, only to push it towards Eddie. “I, uh. I applied to a specific school. And I know the kids are going to tease me about it-”

“Hey,” Eddie interrupts, brows furrowed. “You’re plenty smart, Stevie, don’t listen to the little shitheads, alright? Whatever the answer is, whatever you decide to do, I’m with you. One hundred percent. I’ll even punish the little twerps during our next session if they say anything, okay?”

“Can you open it?” Steve begs, whispering, eyes wide.

Eddie’s hopeless to refuse. “Of course I can,” he replies, just as softly.

He looks at the envelope. Good, thick paper. Sticker return address. He opens it and pulls out a letter.

Dear Steven J. Harrington,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen for 1988’s starting class! In Tricoci University, we pride ourselves on…

Eddie looks up at Steve with a grin. “You’re in.”

“Holy shit,” Steve breathes. “Holy shit!” He begins to grin. “I made it!”

“You made it!” Eddie celebrates, then keeps reading.

We hope you look forward to your time here at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Bloomington.

Eddie looks up at Steve again. “A beauty school?”

Steve flushes scarlet. “Cosmetology. I wanna do hair.”

Eddie sits for a minute, thinking, before he grins at Steve and stands to sweep him into a spinning hug. “That sounds perfect for you!”

Steve giggles giddily, then grins happily at Eddie when he’s set down. “You really think so?”

“Think so? I know so! Stevie! This is gonna be so good for you!” He drags Steve over to the couch so they can both sit. “I mean, think about it. And I don’t just mean the obvious high school shit. Even the little things. You’re good with people, dude. They just like you just ‘cause you’re you. And who knows more about you than anyone else?”

Steve frowns. “Robin?”

Eddie chuckles. “My mistake. General you, not specific. Your hairdresser! You tell them everything. And you live for that shit, Stevie, I see how your eyes light up when the kids share gossip.” He grabs Steve’s hands and smiles warmly at him. “I promise, everyone’s gonna be so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Eds,” Steve murmurs, cheeks still pink.

“And hey,” Eddie says, grinning again. “You’ve got at least one lifelong customer.” He points to himself, grinning when Steve laughs.

“Thanks,” he says, then takes a deep breath, suddenly serious again. Eddie schools his face accordingly. “Will you help me tell Robin?”

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Fic Taglist: @wonderland-girl143-blog

[julicity]

... Eh?

x OVERBLOT x

[athousandbyeol]

i can't stop thinking about this scene.

it was so light-hearted. sheng wang was all-smiley after finishing (perhaps multiple rounds) of revising and studying. but the lively atmosphere simmers down into this thick and stifling tension once jiang tian opens his closet.

honestly, if i were sheng wang, i would have so many questions too. why is he packing? is he going somewhere? but where? so, whatever sheng wang is thinking or feeling at the moment is valid (to me, at least, it is.)

i think it has so much to do with sheng wang's expression here (liu dong qin, the actor you are) that breaks my heart into tiny, million pieces.

it's in the way his eyes follows every movement of jiang tian, but particularly directed at the opened luggage, that has me thinking of sheng wang's fear of separation. the trauma he experienced when he was just a little boy.

i can't imagine how he felt when he saw his beloved mother collapsing to the ground—at the age so little to grasp the situation—to comprehend the meaning of sadness and grief and death.

he was broken. he was devastated. but those feelings as a child were just feelings. but the adult sheng wang now understood that those feelings come with bitter memories and realisations that death is inevitable, and death is permanent. his mother won't come back to him no matter how frequently she visits him in his dreams (and wake).

his heavy breathing. his fixated stare. that feeling of abandonment is washing over him again. they're coming in slow, steady and destructive.

so when jiang tian approaches him with the said book that has more extensive questions, he still can't look away. not until jiang tian realises that sheng wang's attention is now elsewhere.

and he finally asks,

i personally adore how benjamin acted this scene out. jiang tian immediately glances over at the luggage, somehow already knowing the context/direction of this conversation. (it's in the subtlety of benjamin's acting here that has me going nuts.)

when sheng wang asks this question, it reminds me of this scene in episode 1,

jiang tian was looming in front of sheng wang's house, wondering if he should stay or leave. possibly his only destination would be uncle ding's house. maybe he has nowhere to go, to be honest.

sheng wang immediately called him, voicing out his thoughts. and the context is similar—are you leaving?

although jiang tian answers sheng wang's question, not leaving him hanging the way he did in episode 1, it's still not enough. the reason being, as of right now, we're knowledgable of sheng wang's past. but what about jiang tian? we know nothing about him. we just know this boy is closed off and distant and cold and grumpy. but why?

these questions are the answers. but sheng wang doesn't know. not yet.

they could have just dropped the conversation here. but this is one of (the many) things i notice about sheng wang: he's always curious. always seeking answers. even in his studies, he would ask crab (i love you, friend) for the solution. and we saw some instances where jiang tian would share the method he used, etc, only to help him. and i think it's being presented at a different light here. sheng wang is waiting. he's waiting for jiang tian to give him answers.

as jiang tian says it's a habit, it might not be the answer sheng wang wanted, but it was needed, at least, only for the night.

it's so overwhelming to me how jiang tian has always been providing sheng wang with safety, happiness, anger, irritation, fun, answers and questions. how susceptible sheng wang is with everything jiang tian is. they are like mirrors reflecting one another. because for me, jiang tian is like a closed book, but i could understand him once i start reading. but sheng wang, he's more layered. he's open but also secretive. he expresses emotions, but not everyone reciprocates and understands him. not until jiang tian.

and i'm no longer sane in the head because of this.

[bugspray333]

new zam design everyone clap