#Signal Processing Project Help

[gemstarstarlight]

Grief is weird.

What they don’t tell you is that grief can be about anything. Loss is something that happens to everyone, but it’s not just death. Grief comes when you lose something precious to you.

Over the past two to three years I have lost my relationship with my dad. And it’s never been very good to begin with, hasn’t been good for a decade, but over the last two years it has completely withered and died.

It started emotionally, then theologically, and finally politically. And it’s not like one stopped when the next one started. It’s just one layer after another layer. Exponential hurt continues exponenting while another one starts.

It’s really hard to lose your respect for someone, but that’s what’s happened. I no longer respect the man that is supposed to be my father. I don’t look up to him, I don’t see him as a role model, and I don’t want to be around him.

And that’s sad. I used to love him. I used to want him to care for me, to see me. Now I’m terrified of his opinion because I don’t want to deal with it. I don’t want to deal with the emotion swings, the painful words, the close minded politics, the grief I feel when I hear him talk about God.

Because that’s the worst part. The way he talks about God is so sad to me. I don’t know why, but all he sees is a God who is never satisfied. He only sees himself in the text: his own insecurities, his own perfectionism, his own resolve to do better whenever there is failure.

There is no acceptance, there is no grace for him. All he sees in the text is his own salvation. His own coping mechanisms. His own unprocessed grief.

I wonder if he feels like a failure as a father and is thus so hard on himself? If he still feels the pain of his own losses? If he even thinks about what he’s doing? I don’t know.

All I know is that I cannot see my father as someone worthy of respect anymore. His values, his biblical interpretation, and his view of humanity are totally incompatible and I cannot be in the room with him anymore.

[immortalsins]

why is it impossible to do any work despite the certainty that everything will go to shit if i don't

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

How to Start Writing Again When the Spark Fades

Sometimes the well of creativity runs dry, leaving you staring at a blank page with nothing but frustration. But trust that the art of writing is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Here are some ideas to help you reconnect with your writing practice when you feel like your passion has dimmed.

Redefine Your Environment Consider taking a deliberate step outside your usual writing space. The environment in which you work can drastically affect your mindset and creative flow. Even if it’s setting up in a different corner of your home, finding refuge in a local café, or enjoying the subtle distractions of a park bench, a change in scenery often signals a mental reset. This isn’t about permanent relocation, just a simple shift can break the monotony and stir new ideas that have been hiding in plain sight.

Embrace Imperfection The pressure to produce perfect prose can be paralyzing. Give yourself permission to create something imperfect yet honest. Think of every sentence you write as a rough sketch, a necessary experiment in understanding your own voice. When you allow yourself the space to write without the weight of perfection, you invite experimentation and genuine self-expression. That freedom lies at the heart of rediscovering why you fell in love with writing in the first place.

Set Incremental Goals for Continuous Momentum When the idea of diving into a full chapter feels overwhelming, scale back to manageable, bite-sized projects that feel achievable. Instead of demanding a polished page, challenge yourself to write a paragraph or even a single sentence each day. These micro-goals build a foundation of small successes, gradually restoring confidence and momentum. Over time, these consistent efforts enrich your creative reservoir, proving that every little step is indeed a victory.

Engage Deeply in the Process of Freewriting Allow yourself to spill thoughts onto the page without judgment or expectation. Freewriting is an exercise in vulnerability and self-exploration, offering you a space to unburden tangled ideas and unexpected insights. In these unfiltered moments, you might stumble upon a germ of an idea or a rediscovered passion that rekindles your creative fire. Embracing this unstructured approach can transform an intimidating blank page into an open canvas of potential you haven't tapped back into.

Rekindle Old Inspirations There is power in revisiting the work and moments that first ignited your creative spirit. Even if it’s rereading an old journal entry, rediscovering a favorite piece of literature, or reflecting on the stories that once moved you, reconnecting with your past inspirations can shed new light on your present creative journey. This reflective practice not only reminds you of your original passion but may also reveal new directions for your current writing endeavors.

Create a Consistent, Loving Writing Routine Creating a structured yet gentle routine can help reestablish your relationship with writing. Treat your writing time as a vital appointment, a moment carved out just for you. Even if inspiration seems scarce, the simple act of sitting down, opening your notebook, and letting words flow without self-censorship can be incredibly healing. Over time, this practice transforms writing from an obligation into a ritual of self-discovery and mindfulness.

Connect with a Community That Understands Engaging with fellow writers can remind you that you’re not alone in this struggle. The shared experience of creative highs and lows can be profoundly comforting. Join writing groups, participate in online forums, or simply reach out to someone whose work inspires you. These interactions foster a sense of belonging and accountability, encouraging you to keep writing even when the path isn’t clear. In the gentle exchange of ideas and feedback, there is often a spark that reignites your dedication.

Every writer’s journey is unique, filled with ebbs and flows. If you’re feeling disconnected, know that these moments are integral to growth. Embrace each phase as an opportunity to rediscover writing on its own terms, and allow your passion to guide you back into the words you love. If you need any advice from me, never be afraid to send me an ask.

Until next time, Rin T.

[xiaojunsdiary]

admire from afar

shen quanrui x m! reader

prompt: your classmate ricky dyes his hair and you just cannot take your eyes off of it. but someone else can’t take their eyes off you either

warnings: flirting, blushing, flustered reader, ricky being a tease, RED HAIR RICKY

word count: 992 words

************************🎀************************

you have had a crush on your classmate and fellow acquaintance, shen quanrui, for a while now. the two of you sharing a few classes over your high school years. now both in your senior year.

he went by ricky in class but you never looked at him and thought of him that way tho. the two of you weren’t close but you had worked on some projects together in the past and greet each other in the hallways. ricky was nice, but the boy was also very popular.

he had gained popularity when he arrived halfway through your sophomore year as a foreign exchange student and had decided to stick it through to the end of high school here as he enjoyed the environment.

the other leading factor to ricky’s popularity was his undeniable beauty. the boy was stunning and had everyone infatuated. you were no different. for you couldn’t help but catch yourself staring at him from time to time, wether it be a few glance or an extensive stare, you admired generously.

* 🍒*

today started a new week of school. a lousy monday. you had done your normal routine of getting ready, brushing your teeth and walking walking to school as it wasn’t far but something was a little different.

the normal crowds that would gather about outside of school seemed to be louder today. gossip was spreading like a wild fire as you tried to listen in while making your way to your first class of the day. you heard ricky’s name slip a few times but never heard any follow up as there was so much going on.

when you had finally reached your first period: mathematic concepts, you eyed the main topic of today: shen quanrui but with red hair. a bold shade that was very different from the normal ice prince-blonde the boy had usually worn.

you didn’t realize you weren’t moving from the doorway until you heard an “excuse me” behind you. you quickly apologized and moved to sit down in your normal seat.

you began to get your belongings out on your desk as you stole another glance at ricky. the bright shade of red really complimented his features and even exaggerated them in the process.

your eyes had managed to catch his and he gave you a smile but you quickly looked away, embarrassed of being caught. you didn’t understand why as many other people were staring as well. probably because he had seen you in particular. ricky went back to conversing with his friends.

your math teacher walked in to begin his lesson while trying to ignore the flutter in your chest.

stupid, stupid, stupid you thought.

*🍒*

the lesson had went on for a moment and you had started to zone out due to boredom. your eyes wandered back over to ricky who was just a few seats away, taking notes down that your teacher had insisted you write down.

he felt someone staring at him and he looked up and locked eyes with you. you felt your face heat up in genuine embarrassment as you were supposed to be taking down notes, not ogling down your classmate. he gave you a small smirk and continued taking down notes.

you decided it was time to actually do some work yourself as well. the red hue on your face not leaving anytime soon as you recall the incident that had just occurred moments prior.

stupid, stupid, stupid.

*🍒*

the bell rang signaling the end of your first period. as students gathered up their materials and begin to exit the room, it took you a minute longer to pack up your things delaying your departure.

as you were putting the final notebook into your bag, you saw a pair of exquisite shoes perch their way beside your desk. looking up to meet eyes with…RICKY?

what could he possibly want? you thought

while there was only a few inches between the two of you, you felt much smaller as he gazed down at you this closely, an undisclosed meaning behind them.

“u-uh, hello?” you asked, zipping up your back back while attempting to hold eye contact. attempting to anyway.

“hi, mn. how are you?” he asked with a small smile.

“i’m okay. you?” you asked, happy you didn’t make a fool of yourself of stuttering again.

“i’m doing great, thank you. didn’t know so many people would be staring at me today, although, there was one pair of eyes that just couldn’t seem to stop” he replied, his smirk from earlier returning to his face.

your face went aflame as he had called you out for your looks you had given him earlier .

“i’m s-sorry, i hope i didn’t make you uncomfortable” you apologized, heat prominent on your cheeks.

“it’s okay. although, i’m curious” he said stepping a little closer.

“to what?”

“as to what your schedule looks like this weekend” he replies, slyly might you add.

“u-uh…,” you were in shock. what do you say?? “i’m unoccupied” a bit of hesitation near the end of your reply. shen quanrui wanted to potentially spend time with you?

“would you like to go out to dinner with me? i could pick you up” he asked, now a smile was stationed upon his face.

“yes!” you replied a little too enthusiastically, you cleared your throat” “yes, that sounds lovely”

omgomgomg, your crush just asked you out!!

“then it’s a date. how’s friday night at 7pm work for you?” he said, shifting more body weight onto his right leg, making his current pose even more attractive.

you nodded with a smile.

“great, well, see you then, gorgeous” he said while leaning in to press his lips to your right cheek before he made his exit.

you stood and stared at the door from which ricky had just left through. your face burning

what the fuck just happened

****************************************************

A/N: this shit deleted halfway though so sorry if the way i wrote it changes like halfway LMAOO. but OMGGGG, RICKY’S RED HAIR HE DEBUTED WITH TODAY, I’M FUCKING SCREAMING. I CALLED THAT SHÍT. i need him so bad, i’m blushing

posted: 03-10-24

edited: ???

****************************************************

comments & reblogs are very appreciated!! <3

[transentiencestudios]

Just a couple of sketches of the alien shrimp bois I wanted to share—the Nar-Haan! They’re a peaceful, tribal-like civilization living deep within the caves of Blue Moon, a rogue planet orbiting a black hole. With Blue Moon, I wanted to emphasize the idea that life always finds a way—even in the most extreme and unexpected conditions.

The Nar-Haan never developed advanced technology, but they use bio-organic gadgets powered by natural biological processes to help them in their daily lives. While their intelligence is high enough that they could become a spacefaring species if someone uplifted them, nobody even knows they exist—until the crew randomly encounters one of them: Vek-Tor (the one with the purple face).

The only light source in the Nar-Haan’s caves comes from bioluminescent fungi growing along the ceilings. However, their environment is usually very dark, which is why their most important body regions can emit pulses of light to communicate over long distances.

When interacting up close, they use their feelers to physically connect, exchanging brain signals directly. This allows them to understand each other’s thoughts and even emotions without words. Their entire form of communication is based on electrical signals rather than spoken language.

I’ve already written some pages about their culture and other details, but I don’t have much time to fully develop them at the moment. I might, though—depending on how much people want to see more of these guys, lol. I’ve just been and still am extremely busy drawing art for our overall setting.

Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to develop Blue Moon in its entirety someday. It’s been my passion project for years—a way to explore a strange planetary environment in deep detail. Aside from my character (the Commander), it’s the only thing that truly reflects how emotionally connected and fascinated I feel to space and evolution as a whole.

- Eight

[kosmicdream]

Hello. After drawing webcomics for 10 years and making about 10,000 pages of comics, here are some things i have learned/observed in that experience..

1) making comics does not get easier.. Not really

Making comics is a tedious and slow process and with so many different facets of the experience to learn - you’ll never run out of stuff to learn or weaknesses to work on. I’m not saying this to discourage but to just give the frank reality that it really takes a lifetime to understand. Be patient with yourself and try to set healthy expectations. 

2) Read your own comics after making them.

I don’t know if this is as important to other people as it is to me, but I do think that sometimes its easy to not re-read your own work and just go from your own memory of it, or maybe you’re tired of looking at it because of all the flaws. I don’t personally get sucked into the “rewrite/remake” cycle that I know is common with comics, as I sort of just accept things as they are, but re-reading my work does help me see where I have come from and where I need to go to next. I personally don’t like to lose sight of that, and I think re-reading helps ground me in the planning process of my work and gives me a better perspective on all aspects.

3) A lot of comic advice should be taken with a grain of salt, because its the person talking to themselves. (including this)

I see a lot of advice that never would have worked for me, or just simply wasn’t something I was ever going to follow. “Dont start with your big epic long stories”! Is a common one. I don’t think that’s bad advice exactly, but how many young artists are going to listen, especially if they’ve never told a story in the first place? Yes, the advice to start small and build yourself up with experience sounds great, I’m sure people do it, but if you’re an artist you’re probably not gonna be that responsible. And for me, when i tried to do this with eggshells, my house burnt down and i kinda gave up comics for a while because i lost a lot of work. 

Writing short stories is still something I struggle with, its just not easy for me. I have gotten better at it but i don’t think that makes me less of a comic artist because I haven’t gotten good at that particular format, or that I jump around on my projects. Is it more impressive to have more completed work under your belt, sure. But I also think that.. Idk.. what is the advice actually saying, because with that one it sort of feels (often times) as a warning that you’re setting yourself up for failure/embarrassment by attempting a comic like that. I don’t know how to tell you this, but comics are gonna be embarrassing no matter what you do and there’s no guarantee you’ll be more successful/not experience failure by avoiding your passions. Something to think about anyway. 

4) Don’t draw every leaf. Unless you really want to.

I’m the kind of comic artist that kind of doesn’t care about the art as much as the whole package of the comic. When i see a very impressively drawn panel/page, with laborious detail that is well drawn and maybe even colored ect.. That usually is kind of, I guess, a turn off for me as part of the reading experience. The thing is, when i encounter that, it usually signals to me that someone has poor planning skills for comics. It says to me that comic is probably not going to see its end or that artist is overworking themselves in an unnecessary way, that ends up concerning me about how they’re doing. Because i know how hard it is to draw comics. When an artist phones things in a bit, or has a limit on how much they work on a page, its a relief for me to see! because I understand they have healthier boundaries and expectations, and the art itself usually is less stiff too. This is all an overgeneralization, but I think with a lot of webcomic artists we are usually drawing a comic for the first time ever, so it makes sense we want to do our best and try as hard as possible - that just usually isn’t the smartest plan to put all the stock in the visual department. This also kinda frustrates me to see because most comics (professional or not) will also (generally) not reel the art in ever or make a more simple style. Generally I see it always trying to outdo itself, which leads to burn out. I personally only work about 1hr on each page i draw, that hasn’t changed in the 10 years I have been drawing comics, but i used to spend hundreds of hours drawing detailed lineart for eggshells and it didn’t even read well and i’d be disappointed with the results, feeling more lost with my goals than ever. PLEASe.. Just draw worse, its usually better looking in the end too. (because you wont have the experience to judge visual clarity until you’ve been drawing comics for a while imo..)

5) Don’t draw ahead, draw those inbetweenies.

“Inbetweenies” are the pages for the “boring” ones. They are also usually the most common KIND of page. Its the pages that are necessary, but “inbetween” the action. The impact moments in a scene, ect. You gotta draw them. They’re always gonna be there. They’re the pages where maybe, the character is walking somewhere, thinking, ect. The after impact from an action.. There’s a million examples, but hopefully you’ll understand what I mean when I say they’re both necessary pages/panels, sometimes so mundane/redundant, but also required for telling the story.. As a comic is a sequence of images. This is why, the previous advice is also important IMO- because if you really want to “draw every leaf” - maybe you should save that energy and effort for those impact moments that you want to impress the reader with.. And not for the inbetweenies, which are the foundational support, but also not the most important moments. If you conserve your energy a bit, the contrast OF that effort will also pop more. I personally find it funny when I put more effort into a page and end up tricking my readers into thinking I got better at drawing, when really i just have been able to draw better and only save it for moments like this instead of always.

Also, when I say don’t draw ahead.. I mean I draw each page at a time before going to the next one. I have no idea if this is an unusual practice or not, and I know a lot of people will draw their chapters/episodes/whatever in sections like sketch/ink/color/ect.. But I personally draw and finish page by page, unless its the thumb/sketch stage. Even then, i don’t go ahead much. I think that you can control flow/pacing better by doing chapters all at once of course, I see that as a benefit. But i also think that makes things very overwhelming and can also result in a lack of flexibility if something isn’t working. No matter HOW much planning you do- comics are always going to have an aspect of IMPROVISATION with the result you get in the end. There are way too many factors in play to be in complete control of all of them and always know the result of the reading experience. SO for me, this technique is easier and has been something that continues to get me to working effectively. Plus, rumiko takahashi said that’s what she does. And i think she has some of the best visual flow/compositions in comics. So that’s what I do.

I could write more personal advice or rules that i follow..but I think those are the ones I find are the most important to me anyway. Of course, comics are a strange medium and not everything that works for me will work for you. That’s all for now.. Bye bye…! 

Oh by the way, my comics are here: feastforaking.com nastyreddogs.com https://kosmic.itch.io/ Support me on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/kosmic

[dduane]

Hi DD! I am rereading the Middle Kingdoms books and I was wondering if there’s a pronunciation guide for the characters’ names kicking around anywhere. Especially for Segnbora’s name and Eftgan’s nickname 😊 thanks in advance, and thank you also for the books. If there was ever a time that those of us living in reality needed fix it fic for the world….. regardless, they’re a comfort.

First of all: you're very welcome. I have to admit that at this particular point in time, there's something to be said for being able to take refuge in a universe where, when the politically or economically powerful misbehave, God is extremely likely to show up on their doorsteps—in one guise or another—to forcefully, and when necessary fatally, kick their butts. (I'm polishing a scene of that kind right now and it is so fecking satisfying.)

And for our joint amusement: here's an image of Segnbora and Queen Eftgan in that fabled Darthis dive bar the Stuck Pig, just after the events in Tales of the Five: The Landlady (and after Eftgan had had time to change out of the clothes she'd earlier been wearing for yardwork).

Meanwhile, about pronunciations in the Middle Kingdoms books: sure, no problem. A little background:

I've mentioned here and there that the groundwork for the series grew out of a period in the late 60s/early 70s when I'd pivoted toward writing Tolkien fanfic (from Trek). One aspect of the LOTR works that particularly stuck with me was the whole "Author Is Merely Translating The Red Book Of Westmarch" thing, with Tolkien claiming (in his appended materials) to be translating character names from the Westron and substituting sympathetic alternatives from Old (and Middle) English.

So early on in my ficcing process—which rapidly turned into a worldbuilding hotbed for the Middle Kingdoms universe as a whole—I scraped together enough cash to send to Blackwell's of Oxford for a copy of J. R. Clark Hall's A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. (Which you can actually now download as an .epub from Project Gutenberg, such are the wonders of the age we live in.) I promptly started mining the book for character names, and as a result Old English-based or -sounding names are scattered all through the series. Sometimes the name signals something about what's going on with the character: but not inevitably.

...Inserting a cut here, as this goes on a bit. Caution: contains inflected vowels, idiosyncratic pronunciations, snarky nicknames, mice, and the secret behind why—when he's not helping save the world—Herewiss usually seems to be in the bathtub.

...Anyway. As far as pronunciations go, probably the simplest hint is to treat these names—and other Old English-derived words in the text— as if they were indeed sort of English... and not to get unduly worried about trying to approximate the proper OE pronunciations. (Because I sure don't.) So that means "Herewiss" is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable, and the "Here-" pronounced exactly like Eng. "here"; "Freelorn", the same way—just "free" and "lorn" run together. His name, like various others in the series, is a construction, and doesn't appear in Hall's. Its structure harks back to etymologies like the one involved in the now pretty-much antiquated word lorn (cf. "lovelorn", "forlorn", etc.). Its use in his name is meant to suggest someone who—when he tries to live a carefree unencumbered life—screws up repeatedly until he realizes he just can’t do that; because, like it or not, he’s destined for different things. ...Herewiss's name, though, is an alteration of an OE word that does appear in Hall's, herewisa: "wise in [the ways of] war", a captain or general. The word often implies a strategist or tactician, which is a good fit for him.

The pronounce-it-like-sort-of-English approach works for both Segnbora and Eftgan. The first part of Segnbora's name comes from the same root as the Eng. "sign", and Segnbora's "g" is also silent: so, senn-BOH-ra, to rhyme with "when MORE uh." It's derived directly from the OE segnbora, "a standard-bearer": which, as the series's plot proceeds, is a name she earns. Eftgan is just EFT-gan, rhyming with "WEFT-ten". Her name, unlike Segnbora's, doesn't appear in Hall's, but those of various of her family and relatives do, featuring the "eft-" prefix (OE "again")* that suggests repetition; or sometimes just "ef-". (Darthene royal names during the main series's century tend to start with "E" or “B”, as Arlene ones at the moment start with "F".)

The nickname situation (or "calling-name" as it's described in both the Arlene and Darthene languages) is slightly more involved. People coming up with nicknames for friends or family may chop off a congenial segment of a name and use that (as "Lorn" for Freelorn). Or they may verb-ize or adjectivize part of a name, so that the nickname sometimes acts as a pointer to something going on with that person—perhaps a character trait. Eftgan does this with Segnbora, calling her "'Berend" (as the others in the found family eventually start doing as well). This very purposeful twist of a possessive form of her name (Segnbéreind) into a pun on Dar. (e)h'bereindh, "hurried, speeding", implies a tendency to rush into things or to take sudden action that may look precipitate to the casual viewer.

Tegánë (teh-GAAH-nay), Segnbora's nickname for her onetime lover and current wife, is something similar. It first breaks the Queen's name in an archaic and atypical way (and one that would, for a fellow lore-student of the Silent Precincts, evoke some usages in previous centuries' verse forms). Then the extraneous, inflected vowels hooked onto it turn the nickname into a teasing near-opposite of Segnbora's own, a cognate to Dar. tegáneit: "methodical, calm, thorough"—with the affectionate implication that maybe the person it's applied to could occasionally speed things the Dark up a little. The two nicknames together could be taken by Darthene speakers (and there are a couple more of those in the family) as a microcosm of Segnbora's and Eftgan's relationship.

...And then there are the nicknames that have no damn thing whatsoever to do with the "right-name" of the person associated with them: like "Dusty" for Herewiss. In the dialect of Darthene commonly spoken in the Brightwood principality, the actual nickname "translated" here is Dar. Eárret(h), "[habitually] dirtied, besmirched": a word often used in frustrated affection for the kind of person who all through their childhood will inevitably find a mud puddle to jump into mere seconds after you’ve managed to wrestle clean clothes onto them. For someone who in adulthood canonically prefers to dress way down, in traditional/vernacular Brightwood leathers, for city life—the better to bamboozle clueless courtiers into dismissing him as an unsophisticated hick—but who's also been revealed to enjoy being a bit of a clothes-horse when he has an excuse, the conjoined fondness and irony underlying Herewiss's family nickname make it choice. Yet (as the best nicknames are) it's still apropos. This is a man who, whether digging in the garden or taking on a difficult piece of political work, is not afraid to get right down into it and get his hands dirty… and who won't waste time washing up until matters are fully sorted out.

...Anyway: hope this has helped a bit! The only other piece of advice: when you run into dipthongs (Héalhra, Éarn, Béorgan, etc etc), you can split them if you like (HAY-ul-hra) or run them together (YARN): exactly as you please. No one in this universe is going to care. And in the other one—bearing in mind the Realms-wide mandate for showing proper hospitality to strangers—on hearing how you sound they'll probably just buy you a drink and ask you for the news from foreign parts. (As unexpectedly happened to me, one time, here. Hit the "backstory" tab for the details.). :)

*Burns’s poem "To A Mouse" invokes this word, dialect-changed to old Scots: "...gang aft agley."

[7s3ven]

DRIVING LESSONS. luke (pjo)

Normal! Au

( master list )

IN WHICH… Luke attempts to teach Percy how to drive and, in the process, almost crashes into Luke’s long time crush. But maybe he can spin it in his favor.

—

Luke was like an older brother to many. He had warm and comforting aura that people seemed to gravitate towards.

“Don’t get hurt, seaweed brain.” Annabeth warned Percy, pointing a stern finger at him. Luke chuckled as he leaned against the hood of his shiny car. Percy needed driving lessons and Luke was more than happy to help. Though, he knew he was going to regret it. Annabeth and Sally were both too terrified to teach Percy but Luke was up for the challenge.

“Turn on your blinker, Percy.” Luke reminded the teenage boy for the fifth time.

“My what?” Percy only stared at Luke in utter confusion.

“Your turn signal. And keep your eyes in the road!” Luke exclaimed as another car whizzed past, narrowly avoiding crashing into them. Percy immediately glued his eyes back to the view in front of him, sheepishly smiling.

"Sorry." He whispered.

“Turn slowly here.” Luke instructed, nodding when Percy finally remembered to press his blinker. Percy turned painfully slow, matching the speed of a sloth, and Luke held back an annoyed groan.

“So, when did you start driving?” Percy asked. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Luke shrug.

“I’m not sure. Around your age or a little older.” Luke was in his twenties now, already having secured a well-paying job which helped pay for half of Annabeth’s tuitions. The other half was paid by a scholarship she earned.

“Have you met any cute girls?”

Luke lightly snorted, grinning in amusement. “Why are you asking me that, Percy? You know I can see how you look at Annabeth. I should be asking you how it’s going with her.”

Percy and Annabeth had always been stuck between friends and lovers and it was driving Luke insane. He wanted to shove the two of them together and demand they admit their feelings.

“Okay, but have you met any cute girls?” Percy was persistent, which suited his given name. Luke scoffed, tilting his head back. He had but he didn’t want to admit it to Percy. How was he supposed to tell Percy that he was still in love with the same girl from high school?

He thought he was over his feelings but he saw her in a coffee shop one day and everything came flooding back. Their playful flirting, their late night rants as they lay in each other’s arms while listening to Luke’s playlist, and that kiss they shared in their last year. Annabeth was already calling Luke a loser for liking her again, he didn’t need Percy doing the same.

“I guess.” Luke finally answered. “I’m not really attached to any of them, though.” Because his mind was always on Y/N, his high school sweetheart.

“Are you gay?” Percy asked out of the blue, causing Luke to choke in surprise.

“Am I- No! I’m not gay, Percy! I like girls but I wouldn’t date any of the girls I meet!”

“Is it because you’re still obsessed with her?”

Luke knew who he was talking about. He clicked his tongue, giving Percy the indirect answer that he needed. Percy wasn’t so clueless after all.

In all Luke’s years of babysitting Annabeth and Percy, he had only brought one girl over, who happened to be Y/N. They were working on a school project but Annabeth still liked to tease him about the way he gazed at Y/N.

Percy made the mistake of tearing his eyes away from the road again. “Percy!” Luke shouted as soon as he spotted someone walking across the pedestrian crossing, “Eyes on the road!” Percy, in a panic, slammed his foot against the break. The car screeched to an abrupt halt and both boys were sent flying forward. If it weren't for their seat belts, they would've crashed through the windshield.

There was a soft knock on Luke’s window and he turned his head, mortified to see the very girl he was just thinking about. The brunette slowly rolled the window down, thickly gulping.

“Hey.” Y/N greeted him, resting her arms on the sill, “You know, people usually stop at the crossing. They don’t almost run someone over.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. It’s his first time and he’s still pretty nervous.” Luke jabbed a thumb in Percy’s direction. The blond boy was sweating, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He sent Y/N an apologetic smile.

“Oh, Percy. I haven’t seen you in a while.” Y/N grinned at him, “You’ve grown up so fast. Last time I saw you, you were smashing into walls.” Percy’s cheeks heated up at the memory. “Glad to see you still have that habit. Though, instead of walls now, it seems you like to crash into people. You weren't thinking of committing a hit and run, right?"

“How have you been, Y/N?” Luke changed the subject to spare Percy from the embarrassment of Y/N’s teasing remarks. “You disappeared after high school. And the last time I saw you was in a cafe. I barely had time to ask.”

“I went to university in Europe.”

“And you got your law degree, I assume?”

“Conjoint, actually. I majored in law with a minor in psychology.”

Luke whistled, impressed. He barely passed university. “So, what are you doing now?”

“Well, I was taking a calming walk before I almost got killed.” She chuckled, an amused glimmer flashing in her eyes. Percy sank deeper into Luke’s leather car seat. “If you need help with teaching Percy to drive, I’d be happy to help. You look like you need it.” She fished out a card from her purse, handing it over to Luke. “I changed my number, by the way. That’s my personal one. Feel free to contact me, Luke.”

She bid the pair farewell and once she was out of earshot, Percy and Luke turned to face each other.

“Oh my gosh, she gave you her number!”

“Bro, I got her number!”

It was safe to say that Luke spent the rest of the terrifying car ride feeling elated despite being tossed around in the vehicle with Percy and almost throwing up once or twice.

Luke was dreading the next day with Percy because the young boy was not a good driver. At all. Not only had Percy narrowly avoided crashing into a pole and took off one of Luke’s mirrors in the process, but they also got chased by the cops for going over the speeding limit. Twice. And he couldn't forget how they almost killed Y/N.

Luke was thinking of ditching Percy but he was technically Annabeth’s boyfriend, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

His phone buzzed and his eyes darted to the screen for a split second. He looked back at the road, quickly stomping his foot onto the break. His heart sank for the second time this week. This was not how he wanted to meet Y/N again.

Y/N was teasingly grinning as she made her way over to his window. She knocked on it, bending down to match his height. “Hey, Luke.” She uttered, clicking her tongue. She playfully pursed her lips as she watched Luke sigh, his head resting against the wheel. “You and Percy seem to have one thing in common. Almost crashing into me.”

Luke’s cheeks flushed bright pink. “I didn’t mean to… I swear.” He uttered.

“It’s fine, Luke. As long as you don’t actually hit me. Because if you do, I will run you over too.” Y/N smiled, acting as if she didn’t just whisper a threat in Luke’s ear.

“I’m actually going to pick up Percy right now. Do you want to, uh, join me? I might throw up less with you around. Partly in fear of embarrassing myself.” Luke chuckled to himself while Y/N huffed in amusement.

“As long as I don’t land in hospital, I’m up for it.”

“No promises.”

Y/N climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her. She tilted her head to the side as she picked up a Lancôme lipstick. “I never took you as lipstick person, Luke.” She joked, holding up the tube.

“It’s Clarisse’s.” He said. Despite their differences, the two were quite close in high school. And they still were.

“You two dating already? Everybody shipped you two.” Y/N chuckled, turning her head to look at Luke.

“We’re just friends.” Luke said.

“Oh, come on. You must like a girl. Who’s the lucky one, huh?”

You, Luke almost said.

“I’m not interested in any girls right now.” He said instead. Y/N quirked an eyebrow.

“Are you gay? Wait, I kissed you while you were gay?!” Y/N gasped while Luke wildly shook his head.

“Why does everyone think I’m gay?!” He exclaimed.

"You've never dated anyone, Luke. It makes people think things." Y/N chuckled as leaned back in her seat. "I remember when everybody thought you and Chris were an item. Your fangirls were devastated. It was hilarious."

"What about you?" Luke asked, "How did... you feel?" Y/N faltered. She slowly turned her head to look at Luke before shyly diverting her gaze.

"I was more preoccupied with laughing over the sad girls with my friends." She uttered, "But I had a feeling you weren't gay. Your fashion sense back then was a dead give away that you were straight."

Luke clicked his tongue, "Was that meant to be an insult or a compliment?"

Y/N silently shrugged, flashing him a small grin. "A bit of both, I think."

Silence eventually settled between the pair. The car engine quietly hummed and Y/N glanced out the window as the radio played a soft melody. She thickly gulped as Luke pulled into Percy's driveway, a little disappointed they'd no longer be alone.

"Y/N." Luke quickly turned to her as soon as he pulled the keys out of his car. She met his gaze, confused as she gestured for him to continue. She watched as Luke took a deep breath. "Do you remember when I asked you if you had a partner for prom?"

"Of course. I went with Jake."

"I know that. But do you remember when you told me about Jake and I looked a little sad?" Luke was usually straight-forward with his sentences but he couldn't find the right words in this moment. Y/N slightly tilted her head.

"Yeah... you looked crushed." She said in a joking tone, causing Luke to gently chuckle.

"I looked sad because... I wanted to ask you out. Because I liked you. And I didn't ask anyone else out or accept any other offers because you were the only person I wanted to go with. And when you kissed me in our senior year, I couldn't feel happier, even if it was only because you wanted to feel a teen romance. And when you left... I didn't leave my room for ages. Annabeth had to drag me out. I was scared that you would find another person and I didn't want you to leave me behind."

Y/N gazed at him in silence. Luke cleared his throat, nodding his face. "I shouldn't have said anything... sorry. All those things were ancient history. I don't even know why I brought it up."

"What about you?" Y/N breathed, "Is there anyone else in your life?"

Luke pressed his lips into a thin line. "No... To be honest, I still haven't moved on from you." He turned his head to face Y/N, taken aback when she pressed her lips against his.

"I didn't find anyone else, Luke. I wanted to come back from university and run into your arms again, like old times." Y/N uttered as she pulled away. Luke cracked an ecstatic grin, pulling her back.

"Are you guys seriously making out in front of my house?"

Y/N and Luke jumped apart at the sound of Percy's voice. The younger boy was staring at them through the tinted window, face wrinkled up in disgust.

"I'll, um, get in the backseat." Y/N said, smiling before she switched seats, allowing Luke to sit beside Percy. The brunette gave the boy a subtle glare.

"Can I turn on some music?" Percy asked as he drove down an empty road. Luke had switched off the radio to allow the blond to concentrate.

"Only for a little while. Keep your eyes on the road so you don't almost kill anybody else." Luke snapped. From the backseat, Y/N lightly laughed.

Percy pushed a button and with a quiet click, Olivia Rodrigo started playing. "Really, Luke? Your sad playlist?"

"It's the only other tape in my car."

"I got my driver's license last week"- Percy sang along but he was cut off by Luke's stern tone.

"Percy, you won't be getting your license for ages if you don't focus on the road." The brunette warned. Percy frowned, going silent for a few moments before he parted his lips again.

"He used to listen to this playlist in his car while it rained. He was probably thinking about you." Percy said to Y/N, looking at her through the mirror, "I think he even cried at some point. Annabeth and I saw him one night, just sitting in the car and banging his head against the wheel."

"Percy!" Luke hissed, trying to shush the boy. But the damage was already done as Y/N diverted her eyes to look at Luke.

"Really?" There was an amused edge to her voice.

"Stop the car." Luke demanded, glowering at Percy. The young blond nonchalantly pulled over and stopped the engine. "You're dead, Percy. I'm going to tell Annabeth how you still drool in your sleep." Luke pulled out his phone, causing Percy to panic.

"I told her I stopped!" Percy reached for Luke's device but the brunette quickly stepped out of the car. He held the phone up high, away from Percy's grasp. Y/N watched as Percy chased after Luke, desperate to hide his drooling problem from Annabeth.

Luke turned his head to scowl at Percy. "It's your payback for telling Y/N that!"

idea from @emiliehornby !!

PJO TAG LIST : @lostinhisworld @julielightwood @outerbanks-stuff @jennapancake @csifandom @evrybodydies1 @kkrenae @s0ulsniper @annispamz @justanotherkpopstanlol @soraya-09 @simpforeveyone @papichulo120627 @corpsebridenightamare @lilacspider @prettylilsimp @urmomsbananabread @ur-lacol-dsylexic @hottiewifeyyyy @kamiliora @be-bap @finnickodaddy @th0tblckgrl @shoyofroyoyoyo @uniquely-her @imafrkinsimp @syraxesrevenge @ahh-chickens @dracoslovergirl @midnightstar-90 @8812-342 @liv1104 @krkiiz @arialikestea @ch16rles @lizziesliz @maryclx01 @lukecastellandefender @yuminako @coryoskywalker @julielightwood @crybabysbakery @jsbabyyy @liviessun @p3pperm1nttea @angie-esc @purplerose291 @prettylilsimp @10ava01 @froggiesstalks @happy-jj @czennieszn @gisellesprettylies @loveyava @csifandom @luvvfromme @mashiromochi @kamiliora @yorksyree @mqg125 @jamesmackreideswife @niktwazny303 @2hiigh2cry @user021099 @living-in-my-imagination88 @xx-all-purpose-nerd-xx @randomgurl2326 @niktwazny303

[sensualnoiree]

astro notes: scorpio new moon 11/1

This Scorpio New Moon illuminates the shadowed aspects of our lives, encouraging us to face hidden truths, resolve past burdens, and reconnect with supportive communities. The New Moon's Sabian symbol, “A fellowship supper reunites old comrades,” speaks to the power of shared experiences and communal bonds, suggesting that solace can be found in reconnecting with people who have walked similar paths. The Moon's trine with Saturn offers grounding energy, helping us simplify and stabilize our priorities, while the Mars-Pluto opposition challenges us to transform destructive impulses into positive action. This potent alignment opens a path for emotional release and constructive growth.

Rising Sign Delineations:

Aries Rising With the New Moon activating your 8th house, this is a time to face deep, transformative processes that could involve shared resources or intimate relationships. Reconnecting with trusted friends or mentors from the past could help you navigate unresolved fears. Saturn’s trine in your 12th house provides a stabilizing influence, encouraging solitude and internal reflection. As Mars in the 4th house opposes Pluto in your 10th, you may feel tension between personal life and career, but there's an opportunity to rebalance and redefine your goals.

Taurus Rising This New Moon in your 7th house brings focus to relationships and partnerships, encouraging you to explore any underlying issues or resentments. The supportive energy of Saturn in your 11th house suggests that reaching out to friends or joining a community can help you feel grounded. With Mars in your 3rd house opposing Pluto in your 9th, honest conversations may reveal new perspectives, fostering growth in both personal and intellectual areas.

Gemini Rising Activating your 6th house of health and daily routines, the New Moon encourages a fresh start in self-care or work-life balance. This is a perfect time to release unproductive habits. Saturn in the 10th house enhances your career stability, helping you focus on professional goals. The Mars-Pluto opposition from your 2nd to 8th house encourages a careful approach to financial matters, urging you to align your energy with long-term investments or shared resources.

Cancer Rising With the New Moon in your 5th house, this is a time to release creative blocks and reconnect with your inner joy. Saturn’s trine from your 9th house adds a steadying influence, helping you find meaning through philosophical exploration or a structured study. Mars, at the tail end of your 1st house, opposing Pluto in your 7th, highlights a balance between personal desires and relationship dynamics, calling for compromise and deeper understanding.

Leo Rising The New Moon in your 4th house encourages introspection around home and family matters, giving you an opportunity to let go of old family patterns or find peace in solitude. Saturn’s influence in your 8th house highlights stability in shared resources or emotional connections. The Mars-Pluto opposition between your 12th and 6th houses may reveal hidden stressors related to work, offering an opportunity to heal and transform daily routines.

Virgo Rising In your 3rd house of communication, the New Moon invites you to release outdated beliefs and foster more meaningful connections. Saturn’s trine from the 7th house stabilizes partnerships, encouraging you to find supportive friends or colleagues who share your values. The opposition of Mars and Pluto from your 11th to 5th house calls for balance between personal projects and collaborative efforts, emphasizing the importance of teamwork over control.

Libra Rising This New Moon in your 2nd house signals a time to reassess values and financial matters. Reconnecting with past mentors or communities might provide perspective. Saturn’s influence in your 6th house supports stability in your daily work and health routines, making this an ideal time to simplify. With Mars in your 10th house opposing Pluto in your 4th, you may experience tension between home and career, but clear boundaries and focused energy can bring harmony.

Scorpio Rising In your 1st house, this New Moon empowers you to release old self-concepts and embrace a renewed sense of self. Saturn’s trine from your 5th house encourages creative self-expression, helping you find grounding through art or other personal projects. Mars in your 9th house opposing Pluto in your 3rd urges you to confront limiting beliefs, fostering open-mindedness and deep introspection.

Sagittarius Rising This New Moon activates your 12th house, emphasizing healing and release from subconscious fears or unresolved issues. Saturn’s trine from the 4th house promotes grounding through family or home-related stability. The Mars-Pluto opposition from your 8th to 2nd house encourages balance between shared and personal resources, inviting you to work through complex emotional dynamics for greater security.

Capricorn Rising With the New Moon in your 11th house, this is a time to reconnect with social groups or allies who share your aspirations. Saturn’s trine from your 3rd house supports stability in communication and learning. The Mars-Pluto opposition between your 7th and 1st houses may highlight power dynamics in relationships, calling you to find common ground and communicate openly with loved ones.

Aquarius Rising The New Moon in your 10th house suggests a fresh approach to career goals and public roles, possibly through reconnecting with professional mentors. Saturn’s influence in your 2nd house encourages financial planning and resourcefulness. The Mars-Pluto opposition from your 6th to 12th house might reveal hidden stressors related to health or work; releasing old patterns will help create a more supportive daily structure.

Pisces Rising In your 9th house, the New Moon inspires you to expand your worldview and seek knowledge, perhaps by reconnecting with wise friends or mentors. Saturn in your 1st house lends a steady hand to your self-development journey, encouraging clarity and discipline. With Mars in your 5th house opposing Pluto in the 11th, finding a balance between individual creativity and group collaboration becomes essential for personal fulfillment.

follow for more astro insights like this and head on over to @quenysefields or my etsy --> sensualnoiree to grab my new astrology guidebook on reading your own natal chart :)

[honeykaes]

a renter's deal

pairing: renter!kaveh x afab!reader II 2.2k

warning: smut, 18+ content, minors do not interact, afab!reader with no set pronouns, cunnilingus, fingering, reader had a previous crush on kaveh, unambiguous if kaveh knew, reader is a landlord, unedited

synopsis: your old college-friend (and crush) Kaveh hadn’t paid rent yet. Just as you draft an email to inform him of the consequences, you hear a knock at the door wish a kaveh desperate to pay you back in other ways.

Cicadas loud chirping echoing from outside as your a/c continuously blast to avoid the hot temperatures of the summer from creeping into your apartment complex. It was the end of the month as the next loomed over in a couple of days. As the landlord, this was one of your busiest times. From working on paperwork moving people out of apartments to finalizing paperwork and credit scores to move people into the apartment, you had your work cut out for you—especially when it came to residents paying their dues for their apartments.

A fan blew past you, causing your body  to shiver as you shake your head trying to focus again on the laptop in front of you. An excel sheet on the screen greeted you back, tracking everyone’s payments. Apartment 125, Tighnari, paid in full. So did apartment 243, Aether and Lumine,  before they moved out.

As you scrolled down, you noticed only a few people had not paid you for rent yet despite today being the last day of the month—including your old college friend, Kaveh.

You and Kaveh were once friends in college before losing contact after graduating. He was always very popular and friendly, a heart of gold that always managed to get hurt by one situation or another. He was now a pretty-well known architect trying to start his own firm. 

You helped him through his breakups, his tests—his ups and downs, as he did the same for you. You wanted to reconnect when you first worked with him, moving in to his complex but things weren’t the same. The two of you aren’t the same 18, 19 year olds staying up late and going to a midnight movie showing before an exam like you used to—you both were in your late twenties, different responsibilities and interests pulling you.

And that scared you, so you gave him space.

Since the economy had slowed and businesses and organizations were interesting in building more projects anymore, Kaveh suffered immensely, scrapping anything he could to try to pay rent at the last minute to you. You felt bad but you didn’t want to pry either. 

You let out a sigh, clicking on your emails as you began to draft. Since he was late on payment, a meeting needed to be scheduled and fees processed to strategize a plan. You didn’t want to evict the poor man; or anyone for that matter.

Just as you finished drafting the email, you turned your head hearing a knock at the door. Placing your laptop on your coffee table and rising from the couch, you expected a resident to inform you about something breaking or not working. Your lips parted in shock to see Kaveh at the door. 

Kaveh seemed completely disheveled, long blond ombre hair, a mess unlike its usually tidy self. His clothes were wrinkled and unfastened as if he had just woken up and immediately ran here. He leans along the wall near your door, chest heaving loudly as he struggles to catch his breath.

“Kaveh?! Are you alright?!” you stammered out. Kaveh puts a finger out to signal to give him a second before he finally catches his breath.

“N-No. I’m so sorry I’m late on rent,” he groaned. “I am working with this school to create a playground but they won’t be able to pay me until next week. I’m a bit short with rent with my current funds.”

Your lips curled downwards before lifting your head to to nurse the headache threatening to form from the stress of the situation.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve been late, Kaveh. I can’t grant you a grace period. I really need that money in full,” you murmured. Kaveh turned to face you, scarlet eyes misty in desperation. Your heart withered seeing him in this state, but you feared bugging would put you on a tight spot with your boss.

“Please (Y/n)! You got to understand, I really tried this time. I can give you what I have and give you the remaining next week! Then I’ll be good to go for next month,” Kaveh yelled out. 

“Kaveh, let’s continue this inside, okay? I’ll get you a glass of water or some tea to calm your nerves,” you beckoned, as your own anxiety began to creep in your stomach, you open your door beckoning Kaveh to come inside without a potential audience watching the two of you.

As he nervously entered, stifly sitting himself at the couch as you leave to enter your adjacent kitchen.

“I am only short 500 out of the 1500 dollars for rent and utilities. I can surely give that to you next week,” Kaveh called out as you prepare some glasses of water for you two. You sigh once more, leaning yourself against the fridge trying to figure out what to say without hurting your old friend’s feelings anymore.

“Kaveh, technically it wouldn’t be 500 but 1000. 100 for the late fee and 400 because this is the second time, along with the 500. I don’t make these policies, my bosses do,” you replied solemnly, guilt beginning to eat at you.

“Then what can I do to prevent the late fees from occurring!” he asked.

In college, whenever he was in a bad situation, to make him feel better you always started off with a ridiculous joke to catch him off guard before giving some sound advice with a smile. Oftentimes, he’d be smiling back, hopeful and taking your feedback and lighthearted jokes for the better.

Grabbing the glasses of water, you walked back into the living room placing the waters on the coffee table and closing your laptop.

“I don’t know, fuck me or something,” you idly murmured out before chuckling. Just as you were about to give him actual advice, Kaveh fell to his knees in front of you, wrapping his arms around your legs. You gasped, flustered,  body shifting in embarrassment feeling his close contact.

“Kaveh! What are you doing! It was a joke! Y’know like I used to do in college!” you stammered out. Kaveh lifted his head up, eyebrows slightly furrowed in determination.

“Well, I’m not! I wouldn’t mind it at all. If this makes those pesky late fees go away, I’d be more than happy to do this and more!” Kaveh replied. You tried forming words from your quivering lips but your mind seemed to be malfunctioning, feeling his lips beginning to trail along your thighs, placing soft kisses along the skin.

“...Please (Y/n). For old times sake?” he whispered. 

Your heart tugged remembering the big crush you had on him before and the drunken kisses you shared with him as you attending parties together leaving you longing for more—the memories were flooding you like a tidal wave.

“...Okay, Kaveh…”

With a small smile gracing his sun-kissed face, Kaveh hands trailed up as his fingers hook on their shorts and the waistband of your underwear and gilded them down. He leaned his face in, puffs of his hot breath causing your body to shiver from the sensation as your clit began throbbing in anticipation.

His face tilts closer, darting his tongue out as he trailed a long swipe between your folds. The muscles curled up to brush against your clit, jolts of pleasure rooting through you from the sudden touch. He swirled along the bud of nerves, hands squeezing at your thighs. Your hands reached over to his hair, playing with the soft curls and losing yourself to pleasure.

He flicked his tongue along the nub, feeling your hips beginning to rock along his face. A low groan emitted from you as you ground yourself against him, his lips circling around your clit before beginning to suck. He continued to switch from sucking to rapidly flicking and circling his tongue on your clit while his hand crept up to squeeze your ass so he could keep up with your movements.

As he continued, one hand eventually left the globe letting two of his fingers sink into your dribbling cunt, coated with your arousal and his saliva. He pumped them deliberately slowly, your legs shaking from his delicate touch, wanting more.

“Kaveh,” you whimpered out, hearing him slurp continuously as your slick graced his mouth. He nuzzled his face deeper into your cunt, as his fingers pumped inside your pulsating walls, curling and massaging themselves to get you closer to your high.

Shutting your eyes, your hands traveled to your chest and squeezed it tightly as your voice began to rise, feeling Kaveh’s tongue press harder against the button. You throw your head back, as your high finally reached you. Kaveh struggled to keep up with your movements as he continued to thrust his fingers inside of you, nursing your high before it fell down. 

With slight jitters, Kaveh finally leaned away, lower mouth completely coated in your slick. His tongue was parted out, strings of your arousal still connecting the muscle with your cunt. Your tired eyes stared down in embarrassment, cheeks warm in shame as Kaveh wipes his mouth in content.

You could see the bulge poking out from his pants.

“W-Well! You’ve done your part! So—”

You're interrupted by Kaveh rising from his knees on the floor and connecting his lips with your own in a passionate kiss. You can’t help but moan, feeling his tongue, stained in your juices, roam inside your own mouth as he pulled you closer. He momentarily broke the kiss, both of you trying to catch your breaths, lips hovering by your own.

“I want to ensure that you don’t go back on your word though. So please, let me ensure your pleasure…” Kaveh breathlessly begged, claiming your lips once more. His hands wandered to your waist as pinned you against the wall—paintings knocking roughly from the sudden movement. 

Breaking the kiss once more, he zipped his pants down, revealing his throbbing erection. His cock was flushed, shivering as he took a hold of it as precum budded at its tip, dripping down to the rest of his length. He pumped it a few times with a shaky moan erupting from his lips before using another hand to slightly light your leg up near his small waist.

Your lips trembled as the tip of his cock spread past your folds trying to find your entrance, gathering up the abundant slick drooling from you. As Kaveh lined himself up, he placed his lips by your ear and with a low groan, sank himself inside of you. 

He grunted loudly when he finally bottomed out, cock nestled deep inside of you. He pecked at your neck before snapping his hips back, thrusting himself inside of you. The paintings hit the wall rowdily to the pace of his thrusts. 

“I hope you’re enjoying my end of the d-deal…” Kaveh grunted out, pressing his lips against your ear so you could hear all of his little noises. You moaned in response as Kaveh reached over to press tight circles along your overstimulated clit. 

“Y-You made me so sensitive,” you admitted, as you chirped, feeling Kaveh shifting his angle pistoning inside of you so he was not hitting that spot he desperately wanted to find.

“T-That’s the point. I want to make you cum so hard. I know you can…you're so close aren’t you, eshgham,” he whispered, nibbling on your neck. Kaveh could feel your walls beginning to cave in and spasm, signaling your end was close. 

“K-Kav—” Kaveh captured your lips as you reached your second climax, your body shivering pinned against him. Hips sloppily faltered as he furrowed his eyebrows to try to control his own temptations and guide you down your high once more.

As glossy lips part from your own, Kaveh slipped his cock out, pumping it rapidly before a desperate groan emitted from his lips before biting down to try to be quieter. Ropes of cum shot from his tip, smearing themselves on your thighs. 

He watched as his cum glided down the curves of your wobbling leg. He let your other leg down before supported your weight on your body with a small smile.

“Easy there…you’re probably very overstimulated. Let’s get you all cleaned up in your bathroom. Where is that,” he asked. You tiredly pointed into the direction of your bedroom as he guided you toward it. As he opened the door, he gently set you down on the rim of the porcelain bathtub before reaching to grab a rag on your towel rack.

“I’m sorry for going a little overboard. I just wanted to ensure I had done my part. Keeping my end of the deal is important to me,” he murmured, wetting the towel up with some soap before wiping it down to clean your legs. As he wiped over your cunt, you whined at the burn of overstimulation getting to you.

“...So, please, please please don’t go back on your word, (Y/n),” he begged, with large  pleading eyes. You sighed once more, but to his surprise it was a lot lighter in tone than earlier.

“...You don’t have to pay rent at all for this month, okay? I’ll cover it…just focus on getting the money for the next month,” you whispered. Kaveh lit up as a grin curled on his face. He leaned in placing a tender kiss on your forehead as your cheeks fought against a blush.

“...I missed you Kaveh…” you admitted. Kaveh brushed part of your hair away.

“I missed you too.”

[steddiebbang]

Steddie Big Bang 2025: Interest Check!

Your friendly neighborhood mods are working behind the scenes ahead of the next round of the Bang and like last year, we'd love for interested participants to fill out our interest check. This helps us get a feel for the size of the bang and to try and keep artist-to-author ratios balanced, so please reblog to signal boost.

Please take a quick moment to fill the interest check out HERE if you're interested in participating!

In the interest of transparency, most guidelines will remain the same from last year; however, we've made a couple of tweaks to help smooth the process of completing projects! For 2025, there will be a draft submission due based on estimated word count, and unlike last year, we will only be including completed projects in the masterlist posted at the end of the Bang to align with a typical Big Bang structure. As you'll notice, we've also updated our social media handles from steddiebang2024 to steddiebbang for continuity!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to working with you all again, and to welcome some new faces! - SBB '25 Mods 🦇⚓️

[spacequokka]

Page 12

Prompt: “I’m sleep deprived and I have a crush on you so I don’t know how to act normal around you right now.”

When you opened the door, it took everything in you not to flinch. “Oh geez, Chris. You look like hell.” To be fair, he was usually more lively, less zombie-like. Even the dark bags under his eyes had bags on them.

“Darling, please just let me in unless you’d rather drag me in or have your neighbors think you’ve committed a murder.” His voice was much deeper than normal with a rasp that, coupled with the pet name he’d never used before, derailed your whole train of thought for a second. You silently stepped aside and gestured for him to walk through. “Thank you.”

He toed off his shoes as you locked the door. “Did you want some coffee or something? Or did you come here to crash?”

“I should sleep, but if I do I’ll be up all night again. Can’t think of anything to do—but you—to stay awake.” His sigh was a borderline moan as he flopped down on the couch across the cushions, effectively taking up all the seats. Wait, what did he— “I’ll take coffee.”

“I, uh, yeah. Coming right up.” You went to the kitchen, more than ready to let it go and ignore the desire spiking between your thighs. “So what’s the reason this time? Another pet project?”

“I wish.” He groaned and covered his face with his arm. “No, I was helping a friend put the finishing touches on his mixtape. It’s his first solo so he’s pressed to make it perfect.”

You couldn’t help the giggle. “You were the same way when you did your first one. If I recall, you couldn’t chill the fuck out until the day it dropped. Like one of those Bridezillas.” The coffee maker clicked signaling the end of the cycle and you poured some in two cups. “He likely learned from watching you.”

“Oh God. I can’t even defend that. I’m that exhausted.”

You added his preferred amount of cream and sugar to his cup then brought it over. As soon as you set the cup down on the coffee table, he grabbed your hand and pulled you down on the couch easily positioning you along his side against the back cushions. Once your head was comfortably situated on his chest where he could brush his lips on your forehead, he sighed again with a much happier tone. Admittedly, you were bewildered. You weren’t even aware you two were chummy enough for cuddles.

Unable to process how different he was acting from his usual friendly but distant demeanor, you broke the silence. “Chris, what’s going on? Why are you acting so…weird?”

He made a little noise. “What’s considered normal?” He shrugged and pulled you closer. “I’m hella sleep deprived right now, and I have a crush on you so I honestly have no clue how I usually act around you. But I like this. This is nice.”

“I—” It took forever for your brain to reboot, and by the time it did, he was fast asleep.

[tomorrowusa]

Every once in a while there is good news. And today it comes from Romania.

In the second round of Romania's presidential election, the moderate mayor of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan defeated ultranationalist George Simion by over 7% in Sunday's election.

Simion is a firebrand who channels MAGA and hates Ukraine. His election would have been a disaster for the EU and NATO.

In the first round on May 4th, Simion got 40.96% of the vote while Dan trailed way back with 20.99%.

But pro-democracy Romanians united behind Dan and the turnout from the first round (53.2%) surged to 64.7% on Sunday.

Here are the second round results directly from Romania's Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă.

The centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, has begun sounding out Romania’s political parties over forming a new majority government after winning the country’s presidential election in a surprise result greeted with relief across the EU. With all votes counted on Monday morning, Dan, who had described the second round vote as a battle between “a pro-western and an anti-western Romania”, scored 53.6%, official figures showed, against 46.4% for his far-right rival George Simion.

Simion at first tried to pull a Trump by claiming that he was the real winner. But as the returns continued to flow in, even he couldn't deny the outcome.

Simion, a former soccer ultra and ultranationalist agitator, at first refused to concede, claiming on social media on Sunday, “I am the new president of Romania”. But he later acknowledged Dan “won the election, and this was the will of the Romanian people”.

The first foreign leader to congratulate Dan was a delighted President Maia Sandu of neighboring Moldova, a Romanian speaking former part of the USSR: „România, mergem împreună cu încredere pe drumul european!” (Romania, let us walk together with confidence on the European path!). Other leaders had reactions.

EU leaders congratulated Dan. The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the result would help “a strong Europe”, while European Council president, António Costa, called it “a strong signal of Romanians’ attachment to the European project”. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said Romania had “chosen democracy, the rule of law, and the European Union”. Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also congratulated Dan, saying it was “important to have Romania as a reliable partner”. The result deprives Hungary’s illiberal leader, Viktor Orbán, the EU’s disrupter-in-chief, and Slovakia’s Robert Fico – both of whom oppose military aid for Ukraine – of a new ally in key decisions on the war, energy, EU enlargement and the bloc’s budget.

It was a bad night for Putin, Trump, and the far right and a good one for democracy, the rule of law, and Ukraine.

[villainsapologist]

hello! may I request a fluffy early 80’s James Hetfield x girly best friend reader she is very girly always wearing white and pink dresses and has everything hello kitty (clothes pj’s etc) and after the success of their first album Kill em all coming out he buys her a custom hello kitty leather jacket where the letters are in Metallica’s lettering and when he gives it to her he confesses that he’s had a crush on her for years and she confesses the same thing!

Warnings/Tags: James Hetfield x Fem Reader, fluff, love confession, friends to lovers, kissing, 2.1k words

You first met James when you moved into his neighborhood, you were about six years old. His house was right next to yours and the weekend your family first moved in, your parents took you to the park which was conveniently a few houses down from where you guys lived.

You had immediately ran to the biggest slide on the playground, ignoring your dad telling you to be careful. Eagerness took over your six year old self and you wasted no time climbing to the top, seating yourself at the peak of the slide and pushing off with way too much momentum.

Half way down you realize that you made a huge mistake but it was too late. As you got to the bottom you flew up upwards letting out a squeal just before you landed right on your behind, hurting your wrist in the process as you tried to break your fall.

Instantly you began to wail hoping to signal to your parents that you were in distress. However, as you opened your eyes you were met with someone exactly your size - a little boy your age with blonde hair and blue eyes.

“Hey it’s okay, don’t cry.” He says as he helps you up and dusts you off. And that was the first time you ever saw James. Since then the two of you had become inseparable. All throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school you were partners in crime. 

Always there for each other and able to talk about any and everything. James didn’t have the best home life but with you there for him he always felt safe and had some semblance of peace. Unfortunately, as high school came to an end James began to take his music more seriously and co-founded a band. 

Of course you were happy for him. The fact that he had another outlet to express himself and give him some direction made you so grateful. The only problem was that it now required a majority of his time. 

Before Metallica, the longest you two had ever gone without seeing each other was a few days. Now you go weeks and one time even months without seeing him. 

Despite being disheartened by your new reality you remain in high spirits for him, always there to support whenever you could. You were his number one supporter. 

When Kill ‘Em All finally released you had never been more proud. All of the hard work that the entire team had put into the project was now a fully tangible work of art. 

— — —

“Are you almost here?” You inquire to James over the phone. Standing in the kitchen you frantically move around setting out all the snacks for your sleepover with James. As you maneuver around, the telephone cord gets increasingly tangled along the way.

“Yeah I just got done picking up a movie for us to watch. I’ll be there soon” James had already got the movie. It was literally just one he had at his house. What he was really doing was picking up his gift for you.

“Perfect. I can’t wait to see you. It feels like forever!” James can practically see the frown on your face just from your tone. “I know - I know. I’m sorry.”

You let out a deep sigh. “It’s not your fault, you don’t have to apologize. I’m just glad I get to see you.” And with that you say your goodbyes.

After preparing the snacks you ran upstairs to get the gift bag that contained your little present for James.

— — —

Ding Dong

You perk up from your place on the sofa, running to the front door. As the door swung open you immediately jumped into James’ arms.

“Hello! I missed you so much!” James chuckles at your excitement, hugging you as close as possible to his chest.

You hopped down, planting your feet on the ground, circling your arms around his waist and smiling up at him. “This is going to be so much fun.” 

As you squealed with excitement, you dragged him into the house. 

James takes a look around and sees everything that you’ve prepared. Candy, popcorn, cookies, pizza, your signature drinks – good ole cherry coke. There were also red, white, and black decorations around the room with little fairy lights that alternate colors. 

“Wow, I remember when we used to have movie nights like this.” James remarked, fully taking in the room, getting hit with nostalgia. 

“Yeah and my mom would be the one making us all the food.” You added, remembering your former Saturday nights with him.

James takes a moment to look at you. He had been away for so long, he found himself staring at you trying to savor as much as he could.

You are just as adorable as he remembers. You have on the cutest PJ’s, and James can’t help but smile to himself as he notices the matching Hello Kitty design on your nightwear.

“Nice outfit.” He says it in a teasing tone but he actually means it. “How many Hello Kitty PJ’s does that make now?”

“Hey! Are you judging me?!” A playful pout forms on your lips. 

“I would never, you know I love your little outfits. There’s no one cuter.” Now you’re blushing.

“As a matter of fact…” James lifts up the black shopping bag in his hand. “I have something for you.” You let out a gasp.

“James you shouldn’t have, this is supposed to be a celebration for you.”

“I know but it makes me happy when you’re happy so why not.” He shrugs.

You sit on the sofa with him. He places the bag at your feet. “Close your eyes.” Following his instructions, you close your eyes and further cover them with your palms.

You hear the item being pulled out of the bag. You can’t help but have the biggest smile on your face the entire time. “Ok, now open.”

As you drop your hands and open your eyes, you finally see what he got you. Your jaw drops. 

“Oh My God…”

“No way!” you let out a high pitched scream. James couldn’t stop smiling at your excitement.

It was a black leather jacket. The only thing is that the back of it had custom detailing. In the middle of the back there was a huge Hello Kitty with a skull in her little bow. Above her there was also “Hello Kitty” printed, except it was with the signature Metallica font. 

“I know how much you love this stuff so I just got it for you.” James says sheepishly. He’s not sure why he got so nervous all of a sudden. “And you can wear it to one of our shows. It would be perfect with one of your dresses. Don’t you think so?”

James loves everything you wear. He loves all of your beautiful dresses. He loves your obsession with everything Hello Kitty. He just loves all of your little quirks and everything that makes you–you.

He’s not sure why he began to feel this way about you. All he knows is that one day when you two were hanging out in your local park, you got up to dance to the jazz band that always played there. As he laid on the blanket staring up at you, it was like the entire world had stopped and you were the only thing in motion.

As you twirled in your baby pink dress with the sun shining down on you, his heart skipped a beat. And that was the moment James knew that he loved you in a way he never did before. 

— — —

“Thank you so much Jamie. I love it.” You wrap your arms around his neck, embracing him in a hug. 

“It’s sooo me but also with a bit of you. It’s us.” Those words stirred something in James. It’s us. That’s all he wants.

“WAIT! I almost forgot.” You spring up, your eyes going wide. “I have something for you. You’re not going to believe it.” You say to him giggling. “Wait right here.”

You jump up off the couch going into the kitchen to get your gift bag for James. “Close your eyes.” You mimic him, now that it’s your turn to present him with your gift.

He copies you by closing his eyes and placing his palms over his eyes. You sit back down beside him, grinning from ear to ear. Taking the gift from the bag, you hold it in front of his face. “Open!”

As he takes a look at what you got him, he throws his head back with laughter. Taking it from your hands he holds it up, shaking his head. “No way haha”

In his hands, he holds the plushie up admiring it. It was a Hello Kitty plushie of course but this one had on a little "Kill ‘Em All" t-shirt. “Wow I wouldn’t have thought that she would be into the album” James cheekily says referring to the plushie making you laugh.

“We kinda had the same gift idea if you think about it.” You say, making the realization that you and James were on the same wavelength.

It honestly didn’t surprise James, because he knows you and you know him. All this time away from you and the way his life is changing had put things into perspective for him. 

All the time on the road had him longing for you more than ever. Before he got to your house he debated whether or not he would finally do what he had been contemplating.

Why not? He has to take that step now or never. Metallica is only going to become more enthralled in their music and their goals and he desperately will need a real anchor. Someone who he thinks of at all times. Someone who knows him, has seen him at his lowest, and has been with him through some of the worst moments of his life.

— — — 

“We should start setting the blankets up, so we can watch the movie.” You say ready to get cozy and eat all the snacks.

“Actually, can we sit for a moment? I want to talk about something.” He says grasping your wrists in his hands. “Oh ok…” You reply in a questioning tone. HIs demeanor had shifted and now the air was more serious.

“Everything alright?” You’re a little nervous now.

“Yeah Yeah, I just want to tell you something.” James sees the look on your face and raises his hand to stoke the side of your face. His thumb caresses your cheek.

You grow even more nervous from his actions. Your heart beat becomes louder and faster in your ear. 

“It’s been very hectic these past few months. You know that right?” You nod your head.

“And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.” He trails on.

“I love you so much honey. I always have.”

“Aww Jamie. I love you too, you're my best friend.”

James shakes his head. “No…”  He lets out a sigh, holding your hands tighter. “Honey, I really love you.” The words start to cement and you realize what he means.

For a moment you don’t say anything. Of course you love James as a friend. But what he doesn’t know is that you’ve been for lack of a better word crushing on him for years now. 

James didn’t know what was going through your head. Did he mess up your friendship with this?

Just before James opens his mouth to speak again, your lips curl upwards in a smile.

“Am I your crush?” You say playfully in the sing-song voice that you would use when you guys were kids.

James lets out a sigh of relief at your response. He was elated that you took it well.

“Don’t say it like that. But sure if you want to put it like that.” James says laughing at your antics.

“Well can I tell you something now?” James raises his eyebrows at your question. He nods his head yes, heavily anticipating your next words. 

“I really love you too.” You confess. James’ eyes light up. He has the brightest smile on his face. He pulls you into a hug, stroking your hair. “That was so scary. Phew” He says, pulling back to look at you. 

You stare into his eyes – the familiar blue drawing you in. Leaning in you place a kiss on his lips. As you pull back from the kiss, James follows you, chasing your lips with his. 

When you two finally separate you smirk up at him. “Can we eat the snacks now?”

[aspaceinthecosmos]

hello! i've got some GROUNDBREAKING space news for you!

scientists have uncovered evidence for a gravitational wave background (GWB) in our universe, and the way they went about it is fascinating.

To fully understand what's going on here, we need to go into a bit of background information.

First of all: what are gravitational waves? gravitational waves are often called 'ripples' in spacetime, often caused by extremely energetic processes such as black holes colliding, or two neutron stars orbiting each other closely.

So, how did scientists figure this out? They used 67 pulsars (known as the Pulsar Timing Array) throughout the Milky Way, practically creating a galaxy-sized telescope in order to study this.

Pulsars are the extremely dense cores of massive stars, left over after they go supernova. These are fascinating on their own, but for this project, they had an essential feature: Pulsars rapidly rotate (think up to hundreds of rotations per second), spewing radiation out in pulses from their magnetic poles. For some pulsars, these radiation jets cross Earth's line of sight, and we get incredibly constant bursts of radio signals, which can be catalogued and used as a sort of standard, universal clock.

Here is a link to a gif showing the rotation of a pulsar. Please be warned for flashing and eyestrain.

For 15 years, a team of astronomers working for the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), used radio telescopes around the globe to track minuscule changes in the signal patterns from pulsars. The changes they found are due to the slight movement of spacetime between us and the pulsars, stretching and compressing the paths of their radio waves as extremely low frequency gravitational waves pass through the universe (yes, that includes you. your atoms, as well as the atoms making up everything around you, are very slowly shifting position, dancing along to the heartbeat of the universe).

At the moment, scientists are still debating what could have caused this gravitational wave background, but some there are some leading theories: the GWB could be caused by trillions of binary black hole systems (black holes orbiting each other) throughout the universe. It could also be due to cosmic inflation, or even the big bang itself. Scientists just don't know yet, but the opportunities this discovery opens up are incredible.

The knowledge of the GWB could help us better understand the formation of early galaxies, or even help us understand the origin of the universe.

[hollow-port]

Allison's official lore change!!

Okay so…. This has been a long fucking time coming, considering I had this whole idea planned since, what, fucking February? But I’m finally sitting down to type this out and lay it all out on the table! 

As stated on Ophelia’s blog ( @ycungmagick Link here!! ), my little witch got a bit of a lore change! In which, she’s swapping(???) Lore with Allison! Meaning that, from here on out, Allison will now be the mushroom witch that came back wrong!! (As she wasn’t already like Princess Peach enough….)

Okay! So! Lore time!

Allison was born with some health complications, but by the time she was 13, she learned how to brew her own medicine. Still, despite this, she wanted to find a more permanent solution, not just for herself but for others as well. She was researching fungi and the health benefits when she became enraptured by a particular species of fungi that we’re all very familiar with. (At least you would be if you're a weirdo like me.) The infamous cordyceps fungus. Specifically, she was fascinated not just by the fact that it turns ants into “zombies,” but by the process of how it’s done.

Most would assume that because the cordyceps makes the body move, it would be infecting the ant’s brain to do so, yes? Well, Allison would discover that the brain and nervous system remained untouched by the fungi; instead, the mycelium would target and control the muscles. They would use chemical signals to make the muscles flex in real time, where they want to go. This gave Allison an idea. If she could somehow create a species of cordyceps that worked in tandem with the brain to both heal and strengthen the muscles in the body, it could be a miracle in modern medicine! A breakthrough! A revolution even! 

For years, she worked on this project, alongside her best friends, Lillian LeClair and Skylar Phillips, hoping to find an organic aid to those with her condition and many more. She even trusted Lilian to keep prototypes in her best friend’s jewelry box. It was her life's work. Her magnum opus…. And the very thing that would both save her and transform her forever…

Her darling fiancé, Romeo, was dismissive of her work. (As is often the case, because he’s a jackass who didn’t know how good he had it with her and took her for granted.) Still, even he saw potential in her work, wanting it for himself and his family’s company. Alas, he needed her two dear friends out of the way for this. Which was fine. Allison and Lily were getting too close for his liking anyway.

His plan would begin by outing Lilian as a lesbian to her parents, assisting in arranging for her to be married to a man known as “Marcus Dumont.” Someone that Romeo paid to get rid of Lilian once and for all… but his plan would ultimately backfire in a way he never would have predicted.

On the night of the “honeymoon,” Lilian overheard Marcus and Romeo’s plans and decided these horrid men weren’t going to get their way. In her rage, fear, and sorrow, her magic exploded into a raging inferno that engulfed the mansion, killing Marcus instantly and trapping Romeo inside, but this was no ordinary house fire… This was a labyrinth. Allison and Skylar arrived at the suit, looking for Lily to help her escape, but instead found the cortège, which they found swallowed whole by a burning labyrinth! The two springing into action, actually managing to save Lilith from the burning blaze, and managing to dispel the magic keeping the labyrinth together. However, as the flames roared their last breath, Skylar was spotted by an injured and delirious Romeo. Rage overcame the man at the sight of them, and he fired a necromancy spear that pierced not just Skylar but Allison, who was standing behind them… killing them both. 

Lilith came to as the flames were doused in the pouring rain, only to be greeted by the sight of her two dearest friends, dead. She was in hysterics, screaming and sobbing apologies as she truly believed that their demise was her fault… That’s when she remembered the coryceps. It was a long shot, but she had two working prototypes that would hopefully be enough to bring both Allison and Skylar back from the dead. With the last of her magic, she activates the fungi in both, and thankfully, it was enough to bring them both back… but forever changed. Lilian then disappeared into the night after that, leaving her friends to wake confused and alone… thinking they had failed to save her, and it was Romeo who used the cordyceps…

While the coryceps did bring Allison back, she could never return to being the same, celestial-born girl she once was. She was forever changed. Vein-like markings riddle her back, showing where the mycelium roots deeply into her back. Her freckles now glow with a pinkish color. Her blood, once a heavenly gold color, now pink with white specks of glitter. Furthermore, her wings and feathers now have a more leathery texture. Her halo itself morphed into a literal mushroom cap. Sharper fangs, pointed ears. If anything, it seemed closer to a vampire than an angel…. 

Grief consumed her over the next few years. Grief of losing and failing Lily, grief of the monster she now saw herself as. Even on the day of her wedding, grief followed her, as it was revealed that all the painful losses in her life were orchestrated by Romeo’s hands… Grief consumed her, but it did not break her. 

After leaving Romeo, Allison converted her grief to rage. A burning desire formed within her to destroy everything Romeo had built as he had to her. To so many other innocents. She wanted the Moore Family legacy to burn. This drive, this passion, made her tap more into the cordyceps power, and as it turns out, healing her mortal wounds wasn’t the only thing it did. It had fused with her magic, making her brews stronger, robust, and deadly. She could shed spores from her wings that would give mushrooms and other fungi sentient life and obey her command. Her spores could also heal, put people to sleep, erode, and poison others. She gained the ability to reattach limbs should they be lost, like replacing lost jewelry. She could even shape her body in ways some shapeshifters would envy. Above it all, however, she gained immense power over the dead. She could easily command corpses and remains, reanimating them to obey her every command. She could see, hear, and speak with the dead effortlessly, and had powers over life and death that could rival liches and other undead lords. It was in this power that she discovered a miracle…. Lily. Her darling best friend. She wasn’t dead. She was out there somewhere, and Allison was going to do whatever it took to find her.