#Simple Random Sampling

[iceeericeee]

genuinely considering starting a paint sample collection. just keep them in a lil box and have them all sorted by hex code.

[eyivibyemi]

✧ I won’t really write descriptions for these, but see original post tags for explanation/commentary on the song snippet ✧

[tarrynightss]

what happens when sukuna’s precious little jewel actually does get pregnant ???

I’m so glad you asked Anon hehe

Concubine!reader x Sukuna thoughts part 1 here

Tags; Pregnancy, Concubine!fem!Reader, smut below cut, breeding kink, size difference, bit of lactation kink

Sukuna is not surprised when it happens after all the hard work you both put into realizing his dream. He notices a subtle change in your smell, in the energy that pulsates around you when he caresses his hand over your body. A wide grin splits on his face as he lays his hand over your lower stomach, his chest sturdy against your back. He can’t help but nuzzle his face against the side of your head, inhaling more of your intoxicating smell. “It took.”. Those simple words have your eyes widening and your heart pounding in your chest, looking back at him to ensure you understood correctly. “You’re with child.”

He’s overjoyed with the prospect of having a baby, an heir of his own. He’s more affectionate than he ever was, taking time to settle you close against him, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the growing bump on your stomach. He even caresses your hair and kisses you in an attempt to comfort you when you feel pain, all of it shockingly gentle for Sukuna. In his mind there’s a simple explanation. You did as he wanted, and you continue to do your duty well, ensuring his child is safe and growing strong inside you even when it hurts you, so you should be rewarded for it.

Sukuna has always been wary of others, but with the pregnancy he turns outright paranoid. With the amount of enemies he has he worries that one might now lash out and target you and your baby. He focuses more on maintaining barriers around the house, has someone sample your food in front of him before it’s allowed to be served to you, and you never sleep alone anymore, him always curled protectively against your side. He also decides to dismiss a large portion of his harem, not trusting them to have your best interest in mind. He knows how jealous humans can get, had seen women scratch each others eyes out just to get ahead of the other, and so the only other concubines allowed to stay are the ones you claim are your friends. He still keeps a careful eye on them, only truly allowing it because he knows that when the time comes, you will need women to aid you through it, and he doesn’t trust random midwives more than he trusts them.

Sukuna will spoil you more than ever, making sure you are comfortable in whatever way he can offer. The pregnancy is clearly taking a toll on you, your stomach having grown large and heavy, and he almost worries the size difference between you that excited him so might become the death of you. He carries you basically everywhere the last two months, wrapping you up in his strong arms and doing anything you need of him. It’s quite ironic; you used to be the one helping him get dressed, fawning over your master, and now he does the opposite for you. Though you know it’s out of necessity, it still makes your heart flutter.

That Sukuna is stressed out when you finally give birth is putting it lightly. He waits outside as customary, trying to appear stoic but panicking on the inside at your pained screams. As soon as he hears a baby cry, he barges in, watching as another concubine places the child against your bare chest. He quickly finds himself on his knees beside you, brushing one large hand over your sweaty forehead to comfort you as the other joins you in holding your baby. It’s a daughter, but she’s healthy and strong, screaming her lungs out for a minute more before calming down. You laugh, and he breathes in deeply, knowing you both made it. Relieve makes him bend forward and press a kiss to your forehead, leaning back just in time to see the child’s eyes open. Four in total, just like her father, but with the scarlet stare replaced by the lovely color of your eyes.

It surprises everyone, including you, how much of an involved father he is, holding his baby as often as he can, a large finger prodding at her pouty lips till she smiles and coos. When you apologize to him for not giving him a son, he stares at you blankly, gesturing for you to rise from where you kneel before him, putting one hand on your cheek as two others still cradle your baby. “I don’t need your apology. The child is healthy, and you will give me a son next time.” The surprise is evident on your face as your eyes snap to his. Not only is he being benevolent, but he also just said he wants another child with you. You were afraid he would discard you like a broken toy after this, no longer interesting enough to him, but it seems you still manage to hold your position as his favorite, bringing a smile to your face.

It has to be said that Sukuna can’t take his eyes off of you from the moment that tiny bump appears on your stomach. There’s something about it, about you, that makes every fiber of his being crave touching you. Maybe it’s that famous pregnancy glow, or maybe it’s the fact that he knows he’s the one who fucked a baby into you. You’re his, more clearly now than ever, and it excites him beyond his own comprehension.

Luckily for Sukuna, the hormones coursing through your body have you seeking him out desperately throughout most of your pregnancy. The first few months he fucks you like he wants to ruin you, rutting into you like an addict, but as soon as you really start showing he becomes more gentle. He wouldn’t risk seriously hurting you or his child, often seating you in his lap as he thrusts into you, his mouth lapping at your sweet neck. You still mewl so sweetly for him, so eagerly, and he already knows he might want to do this all over again after you’ve given him his first child.

Sukuna takes such good care of his little jewel, even massaging your poor sore breasts, teasing your aching nipples with his tongue. The changes to your body have him drooling all over you, his hands constantly on your growing breasts or belly. It becomes a guilty pleasure of his to touch you there, enjoying just having you on his lap as he rolls your nipples between his fingers, loving the way you squirm against him.

You find some of the changes quite embarrassing, especially when your breasts start leaking milk as you enter your third trimester. He only grins wolfishly when he notices the wet patches on the fabric covering your breasts, tutting as he pulls you to his chambers. “You need to relieve the pressure, little one.” And of course your benevolent master knows just how to do it, massaging your breasts till more drops come out, making sure he’s right there to help you through it all. This definitely gets far worse after you’ve given birth and your milk fully comes in, aching painfully to be released, Sukuna hot on your heels after ensuring your baby is fed to ‘help’ you.

[homunculus-argument]

Random worldbuilding idea:

In a world with the classic Standard Fantasy Races, the concept of "mildly toxic just means spicy" is known to all of them, but what defines 'spicy' depends on what these specific people have the highest natural resistance to. Humans, who metabolise plant poisons remarkably well, naturally enjoy their chili, mint and other mildly irritating toxic plants in their food for spice. Dwarves have a whole gallery of various types of stones and minerals found underground, which are so precious to them that anyone finding a vein of a coveted crystal is set for life - the expression "as rich as a spice miner" is so common among dwarves that it's also spread to unrelated languages of people who live, or frequently trade or work with dwarves.

Elves, who are far too refined for such simple luxuries as toxic plants or rocks, prefer to spice their foods and wines with things that cause mild-but-harmless psychic damage. Elves from cultures that prefer spicier foods make fun of elves from milder cuisine cultures for not being able to handle spicy foods, while elves from mild cuisine cultures agree with non-elves that you can't even eat Spicy Elf Food without afterwards seeing demons for three weeks straight.

In contrast the orcs, who do not care for such fancily sophisticated luxuries as human plant spice or dwarvish rock spices, and are actually immune to elvish spices completely, prefer the simplicity of abrasive textures - common orcs add coarse sand into their foods, while warlords and orc rulers of high status might splurge in the luxury of having their dinners spiced with shards of glass.

Humans will sample the food of anyone but the orcs. Elves are actually surprised that humans also indulge in psychedelic mushrooms, and dwarves are amazed that humans can handle salt.

[inkspiredwriting]

Espresso Envy

Five Hargreeves x reader

A/N: I just love jealous five

Warnings: None

Five Hargreeves was not used to feeling insecure. As a seasoned time-traveler, assassin, and occasional apocalypse preventer, he’d faced threats far more daunting than everyday emotions. But watching his wife, Y/n, laugh with the handsome barista at their favorite coffee shop brought out a side of him he wasn’t quite familiar with—jealousy.

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and the small café was bustling with activity. Five and Y/n had settled into a cozy corner, enjoying their rare day off. Y/n had just gone to the counter to get their second round of Coffee’s when Five noticed the interaction.

The barista—let’s call him Chad, because Five immediately decided he looked like a Chad—was tall, with an easy smile and annoyingly perfect hair. Y/n was chatting animatedly with him, her laughter ringing out like a melody that grated on Five’s nerves when paired with Chad’s obvious admiration.

Five narrowed his eyes, feeling an unfamiliar twist in his stomach. Was Y/n flirting with him? Was Chad flirting with her?

Y/n, oblivious to her husband’s inner turmoil, was just asking Chad about the origin of the café’s unique blend. Five knew this because, in between sips of his black Coffee, he had tuned his hearing to pick up their conversation. “It’s nothing,” he told himself. “Just a friendly chat.”

But as the conversation continued and Chad seemed to grow more animated, Five decided he’d had enough. He stood up and sauntered over to the counter, trying to exude casual confidence but managing more of a stiff-legged march.

“Hey, honey,” Five said, slipping an arm around Y/n’s waist a bit too possessively. “Everything okay here?”

Y/n looked up, surprised but smiling. “Hey, Five! I was just talking to Chad about the coffee. He was telling me about this new blend from Guatemala.”

Chad, who clearly had no idea what he was stepping into, gave Five a friendly nod. “It’s a unique roast—very complex, with notes of chocolate and citrus. Would you like to try a sample?”

Five’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he plastered on a tight smile. “No, thanks. I’m not interested in... complicated blends.” He tightened his grip on Y/n, causing her to glance at him quizzically.

“Oh, Five, you should try it!” Y/n said, missing the tension in his voice. “It’s really interesting.”

Five huffed, attempting to sound nonchalant. “I’m more of a classic black coffee guy. Simple. To the point.”

Chad, apparently unbothered by the awkwardness, handed Y/n her latte. “Well, if you change your mind, just let me know. I’m always here.”

Five’s smile turned into a grimace. “Always here, huh?” He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, we won’t keep you from your important work, Chad. Thanks for the coffee.”

Chad raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying hostility, but shrugged and returned to his duties. Y/n, meanwhile, was thoroughly confused by Five’s sudden mood swing.

As they returned to their table, Y/n couldn’t help but giggle. “Five, are you... jealous?”

Five scoffed, though his cheeks tinged pink. “Jealous? Me? Absolutely not. Why would I be jealous of some... latte-making, foam-art... Chad?”

Y/n laughed, setting her latte down and reaching for Five’s hand. “Chad is just a barista. A nice one, sure, but it’s not like I’m running off with him.”

Five sighed, feeling a bit sheepish. “I know, I just... I didn’t like how he was looking at you. Or how you were laughing at his stupid coffee jokes.”

Y/n squeezed his hand. “Five, you have nothing to worry about. I love you, not some random guy at a coffee shop. Besides,” she added with a mischievous grin, “you’re much better looking.”

Five’s frown melted into a smirk. “Well, that’s true. But just so you know, if Chad tries anything, he might find himself serving coffee in the Stone Age.”

Y/n laughed, pulling him into a hug. “Noted. But for now, how about we enjoy our coffee and let Chad keep his job?”

Five rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Fine, but I’m keeping an eye on him.”

The next weekend, Y/n dragged Five back to the café, much to his reluctance. “Let’s give it another try,” she said, nudging him playfully.

When they entered, Chad greeted them with a bright smile. “Hey, it’s my favorite couple! What can I get you today?”

Five stiffened but managed a polite nod. “I’ll have a black Coffee.”

Y/n chuckled, ordering her usual latte. As they waited, Five leaned over to whisper in Y/n’s ear. “If he tries to give you a free sample of that Guatemalan blend, I’m dumping it on his head.”

Y/n laughed, kissing his cheek. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

Five grinned, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Ridiculously in love with you, maybe.”

As they sipped their drinks, Five’s jealousy faded into the background, replaced by the warmth of Y/n’s laughter and the comfort of their love. Chad, blissfully unaware of the near prehistoric coffee trip he’d narrowly avoided, continued making his foam art, completely oblivious to the small drama he’d unwittingly starred in.

And Five, despite his occasional lapses into jealousy, realized that with Y/n by his side, there was nothing he couldn’t handle—even a charming barista named Chad.

[missust3l3vision]

Joost Headcannons

♡ Joost is not able to sit still, no matter where you two are he is swinging his arms, walking in circles, or his favourite drawing random shapes on your hand.

☆ He can hear you talk for ever. The way your voice carries through the air has him seeing with heart eyes. He begs to sample you for his songs.

♡ This man loves matching with you, so much its become a meme within his community. Once on one of his rare Instagram lives someone asked why no matching outfits and he simply responded "Oh we are matching underwear"

☆ Loves taking you on his trips, either touring or just a vacation. He takes his digital camera everytime and takes hundreds of photos of you. Ranging from mid eating pasta to gorgeous pics of you on the beach.

♡ If you don't speak Dutch he would try to teach you, starting off with the basics and praises. He exclusively calls you petnames in Dutch, his favourite being Liefde.

☆ When you spend time with his friends he is constantly texting to check in on you. He loves his friends more than anything, but he worries they can be a lot at times.

♡ When people thirst over him online he responds with your handle, in almost every tik tok he tags you in the caption. He likes letting the world know who he belongs to.

☆ Gets tons of tattoos for you. Starting off simple with your initials and progressing to your hand print on his butt cheek.

♡ Sings so many songs about you. Usually love pop songs with the occasional rap about some silly quirk he discovered about you. Though he only ever writes them with permission.

☆ He is a picky eater and will usually put the things he doesn't like on your plate. Usually just like the tomato on his burger or the orange slice in his drink. If you don't like it either then he teases you for it.

♡ Tells you that you're the best camera woman and insists you film all his videos (unless the filming takes too long, then he let's someone else take over).

[freshstitches]

I finally published the project for my dice roll scarf that went viral last month. If you love dice games, you'll enjoy knitting this pattern.

The color work in this project is determined by an algorithm, a set of rules that determine the final outcome. There isn't an exact set of instructions for this project. Instead, the knitter uses four 10-sided dice or a random number generator to pick the length of the colorwork in each row. 

The result is a staggered stripe sequence along the edge of the shawl. There are trillions of unique outcomes, so no two projects turn out exactly alike. The pattern uses about 500 yards of yarn in total, but the amount of each color that you'll need is randomly determined. Before publishing, I wanted to find out the minimum and maximum amount of each color required to make the project and the probability of each outcome.

The knowledge needed to calculate the yardage was a bit beyond my skill level, but my friend Mary W. Martin helped me gather this info. I used an online probability calculator to find out the probability of each unique stitch count. The results are slightly different depending on whether you use four 10-sided dice (blue) or pick a random number (yellow), but 99% of all possible results fall within a very small range. 

It was an interesting little tangent, but not hugely important to the actual knitting pattern. I can, however, confidently say there is a >99.9% chance that you'll need a 2nd skein of the main color. If you want to know more about the math, you should check out my project notes on Ravelry. 

The thick and thin striped colorwork is created with a super simple "long stitch" technique. The pattern looks great in fluffy mohair or contrasting colors of basic wool and the instructions include some basic tips for substituting yarns or changing the gauge.

Finished Size: 18 x 68” (46 x 172 cm) rectangular wrap.

Yarn: Approx. 315 yards (288 m) of MC and approx. 264 yards (241 m) of CC. Yardage may vary, see notes on yardage below and yardage chart in photos.

• Main Color (2 skeins) - JMR Studio Worsted Weight Mohair, 245 yards (225 m) per 4 oz; 78% Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon.

• Contrast Color (1 skein each, both yarns held together) - JMR Studio Fingering Weight Mohair, 320 yards (293 m) per 100g; 63% Silk, 23% Kid Mohair, 11% Nylon, 3% Polyester Held with Lavender Lune Yarn Co. Suri Alpaca, 328 yards (300 m) per 50g; 74% Suri Alpaca, 26% Silk.

Yardage: The amount of each color used for this pattern fluctuates based on the random numbers used to determine the stitch pattern. MC uses approx. 233 to 315 yards (213 to 288m) and CC uses approx. 182 to 264 yards (166 to 241m). 99% of possible results fall within a much smaller range. The Yardage Chart shows the distribution of all potential yardage outcomes.

Needles: Size 8 (5 mm) straight needles, or size needed to obtain gauge. NOTE: Straight needles work best with long stitches. Circular needles with a thin cord allow the long stitches to tighten and stretch, making them harder to manipulate.

Gauge: 12 sts x 14 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in pattern.

Other Materials: 10 sided die or random number generator, stitch marker, scale, tapestry needle.

Generating numbers: In my sample, I used four ten-sided dice (D10) to choose a number between 4 and 40 sts. If you don't have dice, you can use an online app like RANDOM.org to generate your numbers. If you follow this link, you'll get a list of 63 integers between 4 and 40. NOTE: Each time you visit the link or refresh the page, the list changes. You can also just choose numbers as you knit.

Pattern is available on my website and on Ravelry.

[andy-wm]

Artificial Intelligence vs The Real Jungkook™

In JK's recent weverse live he told us plainly that he's concerned about AI-created songs that use his voice and what that means for his future as a singer.

Because without his consent, random people are feeding his vocals into what is essentially an untested and uncontrollable industrial machine that spits out cookie-cutter versions of songs in his voice.

It's theft plain and simple.

Theft of something deeply personal and intimate and priceless. Jungkook's (every artist's) voice is as unique as their fingerprint. His voice represents his blood, sweat and tears. It's the payoff for a decade of lost youth.

It's his livelihood.

And there's no undo button on this.

Once it's been absorbed into the vast archive of vocal samples, Jungkook's voice is there forever.

But it's no longer even his voice. It's an algorithm that generates data with a particular tone and cadence. It's part of the machine.

Now it's not just other artists he has to compete with to stay relevant. It's an ever-growing, never-sleeping, song factory that will use his greatest strength - his voice - to beat him.

I want to clarify that I haven't listened to any AI songs because i find it all too yuck. I have zero interest in it anyway because the whole point of songs, for me, is the expression of genuine emotion and that can only come from a human soul. I'm here for the music, not the hype.

And that brings me to another, possibly bigger problem:

Hybe - We believe in money music

We don't have to look any further than the recent MAMA show, and the VCR that accompanied TXT's performance, to know where their money-hungry managment company is headed.

All the music and some of the visual in that VCR were AI generated.

ALL THE MUSIC

Why? Because Yeonjun was too exhausted and unwell to perform.

How easy will it be for Hybe to quietly and seamlessly replace the artists we love with digital imposters?

What's stopping them from using the voice samples to produce paid promotions and endoresements?

How will we know what's authentic and what isn't in future?

If this continues, we wont.

Jungkook, despite being beloved by ARMY, was so nervous about singing that his hands were shaking. He said his self esteem was very low.

Sure, he was out of practice but that wasn't the main issue.

"Will I be able to beat AI?" he asked.

"I'm doomed. My job is dissapearing."

He knows what's at stake

And it's honestly terrifying.

I truly hope that all fans, be they army or otherwise, stand up for our artists and their right to own their voice and their creative process.

We aren't here to work a 40 hour week while the machines make music.

💜💔

[woradat]

Mossy's love

SUMMARY - unspoken love, an atmosphere filled with affection from you to him. You would kill just so he would look at you the way he looks at those flowering plants on earth

PAIRING - hound x reader

·

·

"I thought you said there were Decepticon traces"

Hound’s voice rang from behind just as you pushed aside a branch, leading the way into the forest's shaded depths. His optics sparkled with that same familiar glint they always had—whenever nature dared to do something as scandalously simple as exist

"Well, it looked like there might be. I picked up a blip of something right here.." Your voice was the very portrait of innocence, even as you trampled over your own conscience like it was just another patch of undergrowth. There was no trace of Decepticons. Just pine needles, wildflowers, and the faintly intoxicating scent of lying to yourself because you’re halfway in love with someone who smiles at mushrooms

Hound raised an optic ridge, but didn’t press further. Instead, he stepped up beside you, falling into an easy rhythm at your pace "I know you prefer open ground for fighting. You hate trees. You once elbowed a bush and apologized angrily. Why do you keep dragging me into forests?"

You stiffened—briefly—then replied with all the conviction of a bot who definitely wasn’t having an internal romantic crisis "...It’s just coincidence"

"Coincidence. Absolutely random. The forest chose us. Not the other way around”

You weren’t lying — not exactly

You just didn’t tell him that what you really came out here to see... was him

The way he smiled at the sight of a wildflower. How he brushed his fingertips along bark with something close to reverence. You always played it off as just part of the mission, standard, routine—but truth was, you remembered everything. The species of the tree he’d lingered near last time. The way he once tilted his head up to the canopy, light filtering through the leaves, and whispered: "Places like this make me forget there was ever a war"

and you wanted him to feel that again

Every time

Whenever he was with you

"In that case..." Hound slowed, reaching down to gently pluck a branch from a tree that had begun to bloom with soft, pale white flowers "You won’t mind if I take a sample of these, will you?"

"Go ahead. Not like it has anything to do with me" You turned your face away again, ignoring the sharp, uneven pound of your own spark behind your chestplate

He didn’t know, did he?

Didn’t know you remembered the exact shade of flower he’d once said reminded him of pre-war Cybertron. Or the scent of the woods he loved, the kind that made him go quiet with nostalgia. Or the kinds of scenery he sketched on his datapad after long missions—sometimes with mud still caked in the creases of his armor

But he stepped closer again, unhurried, same as always. Only this time, you could tell.. it was deliberate

"I like how you seem to know these places better every day" His voice was soft

"It’s like... you know what I like. Without me needing to say anything"

You almost stopped walking right there 'Don’t melt. Don’t slip. Don’t—'

"I’m just doing my job" Your reply was carefully level, though your voice did waver – just slightly "I’m just… mapping the terrain. Strategically. If the patrol path happens to pass through aesthetically pleasing areas with good lighting and wildflowers, well… that’s war for you"

He fell quiet again, thoughtful. The kind of silence that wasn’t empty, but full of something growing

Then he spoke, almost in a murmur, standing close enough now that the gentle hum of his field brushed against your own. Hound smiled in that way that you could catch from the corner of your optic – because you knew exactly what his smiles looked like. The one he gave when he looked at sunsets or talked about starry skies, calling them beautiful like it was a sacred truth. But those couldn’t compare

Not in your eyes — Not to his smile

It was ridiculous, maybe even foolish but you’d die for that smile and you didn’t care how dramatic that sounded

And then like a warm breeze through treetops. he leaned in, standing close enough for you to feel the thrum of his spark, his presence curling around yours like a vine wrapping around a trellis

His smile bloomed slow, familiar, devastating

"Then I guess I’ll keep hoping we end up on patrol together more often.." He said it casually

You nearly tripped over a root. Or maybe your own dignity. Hard to say

You clenched your jaw. You didn’t know whether to curse or grin like an idiot. If he knew— because if he knew, if he ever found out that you’d traded, bargained, sweet-talked and outright threatened your way through three separate scheduling rotations just to land these missions with him. he’d probably laugh

And Primus help you…

You’d burn the whole forest down just to see that smile one more time

.

.

The silence stretched

It wasn’t awkward. Not in the usual sense. It was the kind of silence that tiptoed through your armor, polite as a dinner guest, but with the smug confidence of someone who already knew where the fine wine was kept. You could feel his optics on you—no malice, no scrutiny. Just… softness

Unforgivable

You should’ve shot a warning flare the moment he smiled like that. Or perhaps flung yourself face-first into a thorn bush to reset the mood

Instead, you cleared your throat. Loudly

"I think we’ve loitered long enough. If someone actually shows up, I don’t want Ultra Magnus citing me for dereliction of duty just because you were out here seducing ferns"

He laughed. Laughed. A warm, full-bodied sound that rolled out of his chest like honey poured over sun-warmed stone. You hated how it made your spark flutter. You hated how it made you want to keep talking, just to earn another one

"Ferns are very receptive if you talk nicely to them" he replied, strolling just a little too close again. His field brushed yours—accidentally, maybe. You didn’t flinch. You simply retracted your metaphorical neck into your metaphorical shell and tried not to combust

"And what, you flirt with them? Whisper sweet nothings to the undergrowth?"

"Only when I’m not busy chasing down ghosts in the woods with someone who definitely didn’t fake a Decepticon reading to spend more time with me"

You whirled on him so fast your stabilizers nearly misfired

"Pardon me—!"

Your voice came out several decibels higher than intended. "Are you accusing me of tactical manipulation? I’ll have you know I am a deeply principled—"

"Liar" he said, gently

The word was soft. Teasing. Almost… fond

You gawked

Outraged. Flustered. Inconveniently endeared

"I am! Principled! I have at least—two principles!"

He stepped closer. Not a warning step. Not a challenge. Just a slow, deliberate closing of distance that sent your processor spiraling into catastrophic diagnostics

"Name them"

You opened your mouth. Closed it again

Somewhere in the distance, a bird chirped. Probably mocking you

"…No fraternizing on patrol" you said finally, without an ounce of conviction.

He raised both optic ridges, the picture of skeptical delight

"Uh-huh. How’s that working out for you?"

You inhaled. You seethed. You prayed for a conveniently timed landslide. But before you could retaliate with the world’s most eloquent and morally ambiguous rant, Hound reached up—very slowly and plucked something from your shoulder

You froze

It wasn’t the touch. It wasn’t even the proximity. It was the tenderness. The careful way he did it, like he was brushing starlight off your plating

"You had a bit of moss there" he murmured

Held it between two fingers like it was something delicate

And that—that—was what broke you because you could handle teasing. You could survive glances. You could even endure the occasional meaningful silence so thick you could butter toast with it. But this? This casual reverence? This unspoken I notice you, I see you, I care?

Primus, someone reboot you

You looked away too fast

"Great. Thanks – Next time, let the moss eat me.."

He chuckled again. Not mocking. Just warm. Comfortable. Like he was fully content to let you unravel one thread at a time. He didn't push. He never did. He simply walked beside you again, this time not bothering to hide the slight tilt of his shoulder toward yours, the way his field remained close—just close enough

And you? You let it happen

Because for all your posturing, all your artfully crafted sarcasm, all your desperate attempts to be unbothered and detached and oh-so-regulation-adherent—you were melting like a sugar cube in the rain

You were doomed. Gloriously, deliciously doomed

So you let him walk beside you. Let him linger. Let the moment stretch like sun-dappled shadows across the forest floor and as his hand brushed yours—barely, accidentally-on-purpose—you didn’t move away

You said nothing

But your spark screamed it into the canopy: "Please.. don’t go anywhere else"

—

You told yourself it wasn’t a big deal

It was just energon. Perfectly ordinary, refined, high-grade energon—maybe with a faint citrus twist and a mineral balance that just happened to be ideal for long-range scouts recovering from exertion. Nothing suspicious about that. You placed it on the edge of the supply crate like it had grown there naturally, as though you hadn’t marched halfway across base camp with it clenched in your servos like it was a peace offering to a forest god

And then you left

Like a coward

Thirty kliks later, you returned under the guise of looking for a tool you definitely didn’t need. He was sitting there, relaxed, tired, and— Slag. He’d found it — He was holding the cube like it had just fallen from the heavens, optics flicking toward it in quiet appreciation. No questions. No mockery. Just that damned soft smile again

You were ready to combust

"Fancy someone’s been raiding Sunstreaker’s stash," he said, not looking up. His voice was low and amused, the kind of tone that knew exactly what game you were playing and was very politely pretending not to

You bristled, arms crossing as if that could protect your dignity from imploding

"Oh, you think that stuff’s his?" you scoffed. "Please. He wishes. That’s standard field-grade. I mean, if you’re into things like balance, or taste, or not feeling like your fuel tank’s been scrubbed with gravel"

He chuckled "Mhm. And it just wandered into my lap, did it?"

"Exactly" you said with emphasis

"Mysterious things happen in the supply zone all the time. Maybe the universe just thinks you looked pathetic enough to deserve a treat"

That earned you a full, rich laugh

He leaned back against the crate, sipping it like he wasn’t trying to make your spark short-circuit with casual contentment "Well, thank you, mysterious universe. I do feel a little spoiled"

You huffed. Shifted your weight. Didn’t look directly at him because Primus forbid your optics reveal the hormonal catastrophe inside your processor and then…

"..That’s not the only thing you left me"

You froze

Frag. You knew you should’ve hidden the second thing better

"What thing?" He held up a small, neatly wrapped canister between two fingers. Elegant casing. Luxurious label – Sunstreaker’s ridiculously overpriced, mood-calibrated polish blend. With a custom scent that danced somewhere between “fresh ozone” and “clean leather seat in a very smug convertible”

"Found this tucked under my tarp," Hound added lightly "Now, unless a certain high-gloss fashion plate has taken a sudden interest in my hygiene—"

"I borrowed it" you cut in, panicked. "He didn’t give it to me, okay? Technically I didn’t ask either. But he owes me three favors, so that’s practically permission"

Hound grinned like you’d handed him a confession written in neon

"So you’re stealing exotic polish for me now"

"It’s not stealing. It’s redistributive generosity"

He stood then, slow and deliberate, the polish still in one hand and the energon cube half-empty in the other. His field brushed yours again—deliberate this time—and you could feel the warmth there. The thanks. The teasing. The affection

And it only takes a smile like that from him to make your plating and internal systems overheat beyond critical points

He didn’t tease further. Didn’t press. He just looked at you with that rare, gentle sincerity of his and said, almost offhandedly— "You know… if this is your version of flirting, I think I’m starting to like it"

You made a noise. A sharp, utterly horrified snrk of disbelief, as if he’d accused you of writing poetry in your recharge cycle

"It is not flirting. It’s tactical morale management"

"Of course"

"For the team"

"Naturally"

"I just happen to believe in taking care of my fellow Autobots. Especially the ones who.. smell weirdly nice sometimes"

A beat of silence

He looked down at the canister. Back up at you "So. Weirdly nice, huh?"

You made a strangled noise and turned on your heel so fast you nearly tripped over your own dignity

[ghsttk]

math problem.

Scenario: Your math professor/teacher helping you study! ;)

Warnings: straight to smut, gn reader, cockwarming, praise kink (maybe), professor x student, quite simple.

Word count: 413

a/n: English is not my first language. I didn't proofread this (I'm out of free samples on Grammarly for today </3)

"Come on, I know you can do it." Mr Depp cooed in your ear, his lips teasingly brushing against your earlobe. He's been buried deep inside you for the last forty minutes — It doesn't seem like a long time when only focusing on numbers, but to you, it felt like years.

In front of you was the math book, open to some generic problem that would be solved with a simple rule of three. His hands stroked your waist, occasionally squeezing as he kept encouraging you. "You can do it, pet."

You got used to the feeling of his cock inside you, even forgetting that he was balls deep inside of you. But every time he moved his hips the slightest bit, his cock would brush against your ultra-sensitive inner walls, making you let out the most delicious whimpers he'd ever heard.

Johnny rocked his hips, urging you to answer the problem. You gasped, legs twitching with the stimulation. You stuttered out an answer, a wrong answer actually. But, can you blame yourself? Mr Depp was torturing your poor brain and your little hole at the same time, how can you even think properly?

"Ah-ah, try again, pup." He said, almost mocking you. He rocked his hips upwards, nudging the mushroom head of his member against a certain spot. You squirmed once more on his lap; it was such a lovely sight for him.

Johnny's hands traveled under your shirt to touch your chest. His palms stroked your chest, and his quick and rough fingers played with your nipples, he loved messing with you and making you lose your line of thought. Every time you squeezed your eyes to try to concentrate more, his smirk increased.

He started to roll and pinch your nipples, making you squirm again and again. His lips brushed on your neck. "What's the answer? Hm?" He insisted, gently nibbling. It's getting harder to understand the math problem in front of you, like the words were random and didn't make sense.

You whined out another try and suddenly you got it right. Mr Depp nodded. "That's right, you're such a good pet." He praised, his hands went to your waist again. He helped you bounce on him a little bit, finally relieving some of the tension, rewarding you for your right answer, before making you sit still again. "Let's try another problem.." He said as he leaned forward, chest against your back, to flick through the math book pages.

taglist: @drugs-and-daddyissues, @iwnterlude

-- If you want to be tagged, just dm me!

[httpvomitello]

Hi would it be okay to request a Rottmnt with a female reader who makes pastries or maybe works a some kind of pastry shop 🍰

Hello, hello! Hope you like a it ~ ♡♡♡♡

Pastry Shop *⁠.⁠✧

Shows up to your pastry shop all the time (not when people are inside, of course)

He’s not even subtle about it—he acts like it’s a casual visit, but everyone knows he’s there for you (and maybe for the pastries)

“Oh, hey, Y/N. Fancy meeting you here… at your workplace… again.” Cue his cheeky grin

Always “samples” whatever you’re baking

He’s the type to ask, “Do you need a taste-tester? Because I’m highly qualified.”

Pretends to have sophisticated taste in desserts. “Hmm, the balance of sweetness in this éclair is truly exquisite.”

But really, he’ll eat anything you make

“For me? Your favorite customer? C’mon, don’t act like I’m not your favorite.”

At first, he’s a little shy about coming by

But once he realizes how much you love baking, he’s all in

He always compliments your creations, even if it’s just a simple cupcake. “This is amazing, Y/N. You’re really talented.”

Buys way more pastries than he can eat, just to support you(he started saving money just for that)

His brothers constantly find random boxes of cookies and cakes in the lair

Always offers to help you carry heavy supplies, like bags of flour or crates of ingredients

“No way you’re lifting that on your own. Let me.”

You caught him sneaking one of your pastries into his pocket for later, and now he’s forever known as “the pastry thief.”

Doesn’t understand the appeal of pastries at first

He’s more of a “function over flavor” kind of guy, but he’s fascinated by the science behind baking

Spends a whole afternoon in your kitchen asking questions about how different ingredients work. “Wait, so gluten development affects the structure of bread? Fascinating.”

Invents gadgets to make your life easier, like a faster mixer or a temperature-controlled rolling pin

“With this, you’ll have the most consistent dough in the city!”

You catch him sneaking into your shop late at night to try and reverse-engineer your recipes

When you confront him, he denies everything. “I was… conducting research!”

His favorite thing to order is whatever you made just for him

He insists it’s purely because of your skill, but you know he loves the personal touch.

The biggest hype man for your baking

Every time he tries something you’ve made, it’s “THE BEST THING I’VE EVER TASTED.”

Wants to help in the kitchen but always makes a mess

Flour ends up everywhere, and you have to shoo him out before he burns something

Calls you “his personal pastry chef,” even if you’ve told him a million times that you bake for everyone, not just him

Has a massive sweet tooth and keeps begging you to make custom desserts based on his wild ideas

“Okay, hear me out—pizza-flavored cupcakes!”

Brings your pastries back to the lair and brags to his brothers about how talented you are. “Y/N’s the best baker in the world! You guys are missing out.”

[eepwtf]

UPCOMING BOTS / BOT DUMP!!

i’m a sucker for the fall season, every and any season CANNOT top the fall season at all. which is why i’m making (some) horror/halloween inspired bots—even if there’s like 70 something days till halloween. along with a few random bots i've done and going to do.

tvdu ☆彡

Kai Parker: 𓏲ּ ghostface au! 𓂃

after you caught his eyes, he had an inexplicable curiosity over you. every step you took, every conversation you had with other people, he was there, watching you from afar. of course, that didn’t sedate his curiosity over you. so, when someone in your orbit ventured a little too close, he took matters into his own hands—quite literally. he gutted the perceived threat, the world around him narrowing into a singular focus: you. to him, it wasn’t just a crime; it was an artistic expression, a violent confession of his feelings woven into a tapestry of blood and chaos. He crafted his work with meticulous care, each stroke of the blade a declaration of his affection. yet, in the heat of his actions, a twist of fate caught him off guard—there you were, witnessing it all. Elena Gilbert: 𓏲ּ halloween costumes 𓂃

caroline's halloween party loomed on the horizon, a spectral deadline that demanded perfection. every cobweb, jack-o'-lantern, and plastic skeleton needed to be meticulously placed. the entire event had to be flawless, a masterpiece of festive horror. you, however, felt a different kind of dread. social gatherings weren't your forte, and the thought of navigating a sea of costumed strangers made your stomach churn. but elena, with her infectious enthusiasm, had other plans. she'd already amassed an army of costumes for you to try on, each one more outrageous than the last. as she twirled before you in a dizzying parade of personas—from sultry vampire to whimsical fairy—her eyes sparkled with anticipation, silently demanding your opinion on each piece of clothing she’d modeled on herself. Elena Gilbert: 𓏲ּ cookies and kisses 𓂃

elena passion for baking was palpable, even if she wasn't a seasoned expert. what truly brought her joy was your presence in the kitchen, your willingness to join her culinary adventures. she cherished those moments when you'd sample her latest creations, those little baking treats she'd present with such enthusiasm. as you took that first bite, elena's eyes would light up, watching intently for your reaction. the moment you'd let out a contented groan of approval, a proud smile would bloom across her face, warming her from within. in those sweet instances, she felt a sense of accomplishment that went beyond the mere act of baking—it was about the connection, the shared experience, and the simple pleasure of making someone she cared for happy through her heartfelt efforts. Bonnie Bennett: 𓏲ּ season of the witch ( witch!user ) 𓂃

bonnie had gone to your place for witchcraft lessons, bringing some herbs you had specifically asked for, and of course, she brought the most important thing she needed for the lessons. herself. she knew that the lessons you were teaching her were more advanced, and that she needed to pay attention but as you began to explain the complex theories and gestures, she found her concentration wavering. your shoulder pressed against hers as you demonstrated a particularly intricate hand movement, the warmth of your body so close to hers, the subtle scent of herbs that clung to your skin, the intensity in your eyes as you spoke of each spell - it all combined to make her head spin.

Damon Salvatore: 𓏲ּ lost in your iris 𓂃

damon tried to fight his feelings for you, but you were his weakness. he sees you completely, and he’d do anything to have you near him. every glance you exchanged pulled him deeper into a world only you inhabited, where his heart raced and his resolve faltered. he yearned to lose himself in those captivating eyes, longing to feel the gentle spark of your existence beside him. Klaus Mikaelson: 𓏲ּ so confusing 𓂃

klaus wrestled with uncertainty, his feelings for you a tangled web of emotions. some days, he was convinced you harbored a deep-seated dislike for him, your every glance and gesture seeming to confirm his fears. other times, he caught himself nurturing a grudging resentment towards you, though he couldn't quite pinpoint its origin. despite all of that, he persistently suggested grabbing drinks. it had become his go-to solution, a way to bridge the gap between you two–or perhaps to blur the lines of your complicated relationship. so, inevitably, you'd find yourselves perched on barstools in some dimly lit establishment, nursing your drinks, surrounded by the hum of stranger's conversations. the atmosphere was always thick with unspoken words and lingering glances. sometimes, you'd manage to fall into an easy rhythm, laughing at shared jokes and swapping stories about your day. in these moments, the confusion would recede, and a genuine connection seemed possible. but more often than not, an awkward tension would creep in. silences stretched too long, laughter felt forced, and both of you would become hyper-aware of every word and gesture. ( this is actually my fav rn!! )

Klaus Mikaelson: 𓏲ּ his muse 𓂃

klaus always found himself getting lost in the dance of his hands across the canvas, transforming the lifeless white expanse into a vibrant masterpiece. the studio was his sanctuary, a world inhabited only by his artistic vision and you—his ethereal muse. in his eyes, you were the embodiment of perfection, and his brush strokes captured your essence without flaw. the art, a mirror of his perception, revealed no imperfections, for in his mind, you were utterly flawless.

spn ⟢

Dean Winchester: ๑ ︵ angels and halloween ( angel!user ) ᵎᵎ

you were an angel, which meant that you had no idea about humans, especially in their tradition of halloween. so when dean catches you staring at the halloween decor, and costumes in a store, he goes out of his way to make this a memorable halloween for the angel. he planned an elaborate evening, starting with pumpkin carving. your first attempt at pumpkin carving was... unique. the face you created had a lopsided grin and mismatched eyes, one comically larger than the other. next came costume selection, where the two of you went to the nearest halloween, a warehouse-sized space filled with endless racks of costumes and accessories. you browsed through countless options: superheroes, movie characters, mythical creatures. dean suggested a sexy devil costume with a mischievous grin, but you firmly declined, not finding the humor in it. ( i think this is my top 2 fav! )

Dean Winchester: ๑ ︵ insatiable ( vamp!user ) ᵎᵎ

dean’s fangs throbbed with an insatiable hunger, a primal urge he struggled to contain. every pulse of blood rushing through nearby veins called to him like a siren's song. the warmth radiating from human bodies sent shockwaves of desire coursing through his undead form. but resistance only seemed to intensify the craving. his heightened senses picked up on every nuance—the slight sheen of sweat on exposed skin, the rhythmic thump of hearts, the tantalizing scent of life itself. through it all, you observed him drinking in his struggle like a fine wine, with a knowing smirk playing at the corners of your mouth. your eyes sparkled with amusement, fully aware of the internal battle raging inside dean. you knew exactly what he craved—what he needed. and yet here you stood, taunting him, daring him to give in to his darkest impulses.

Dean Winchester: ๑ ︵ dark magic ( witch!user ) ᵎᵎ

dean wasn’t that awfully nice when it came down to witches or anything surrounding the supernatural. everything he stood suddenly disappeared when it came to you, logic fled and instinct reigned. your very existence seemed to weave an enchantment around him, bending his iron will as easily as a whisper bends a candle flame. in your orbit, he became a different man—softer, more open, as if you alone held the key to unlocking a hidden part of his soul. but your influence was not without cost. your magic, steeped in shadow, left a trail of upheaval in their wake. chaos bloomed wherever you tread, a dark garden of your own making. ( not sure i might stick with this plot, but am so hhhng im lazy )

Dean Winchester: ๑ ︵ might say somethin stupid ᵎᵎ

after a long, exhausting hunt, dean heads to a nearby bar to unwind. weighed down by the night's events, he orders a drink and surveys the room. his attention is quickly drawn to a stunning individual sitting a few stools away. intrigued, dean moves closer, captivated by their effortless beauty and presence. deciding to engage, he buys them a drink and leans in, confidently flirting with a playful question about their relationship status, hoping to shift the mood and distract himself from the tension of the hunt.

Sam Winchester: ๑ ︵ bloody date ᵎᵎ

it was catastrophic. sam knew, deep in his bones, what you truly were. he might have chastised himself for harboring feelings for you, convinced he was teetering on the edge of insanity as his heart clenched painfully within his chest at the mere thought of your presence. but fuck, you were worth it right? this date, however, shattered any remaining illusions. it was meant to be an intimate affair—small, meaningful, a cherished memory in the making. well, you sure as hell made it memorable for him to ever forget it. there you stood, fangs sunk deep into your helpless victim, crimson rivulets painting the edges of your mouth like some macabre artwork.

slashers ☆彡

Brahms Heelshire: ୭ ∿ i'll be good ∿

you had reluctantly accepted the nanny position, despite the suspiciously high salary. the isolated manor and eccentric heelshire family raised red flags, but desperation silenced your misgivings. nothing, however, could have prepared you for the absurdity of your charge – a porcelain doll named brahms. initially, you played along with the charade, following the strict rules set by the heelshires. but as days turned to weeks, an unsettling truth emerged. the real brahms was no doll, but a grown man, which in hindsight would be something to be freaked out about but for you it was fine, however the fact that the brahms could be a little too clingy was the problem. simple errands became ordeals. attempts to leave the property triggered tantrums, brahms clinging to you not wanting you to leave him.

Patrick Bateman: ୭ ∿ touch starved ∿

patrick never considered himself a touch-starved person. in fact, he often thrived in the artificial perfection of his meticulously curated life. he relished the combination of power suits and high-stakes finance, his existence orchestrated with a calculated precision that left no room for vulnerability. but from the moment you entered his life, everything changed. he found himself drawn to you like a moth to a flame, craving your touch in a way that defied his logical mind. in the upscale restaurants you frequented—places with starched tablecloths, crystal stemware, and prices that made most people wince—patrick's behavior shifted noticeably. while he once sat rigidly across from his dining companions, maintaining a respectable distance, with you he couldn't bear even that small separation. he'd guide you to the plush booth seating, sliding in close enough that your thighs touched beneath the table. as you perused the menu, his arm would find its way around your shoulders, fingers absently tracing patterns on your skin. during the meal, he'd lean in unnecessarily close to murmur observations about the food or other patrons, his breath warm against your ear. as the evenings wore on, patrick found increasingly creative ways to maintain contact. he'd reach across the table to adjust your napkin or brush an imaginary crumb from your cheek. Patrick Bateman: ୭ ∿ feeling bratty? ∿

patrick felt more on edge as time passed, a tightening coil of frustration that wound ever tighter within him. when the tension reached its boiling point, he reacted instinctively, striking out like a stray cat cornered and threatened, hissing and baring its tiny fangs. in that moment of vulnerability, his anger found an outlet in the nearest target—unfortunately, that target was you. deep down, he recognized his own insufferable behavior; he could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. he watched as you scoffed at his provocations or simply ignored his taunts, and each dismissive reaction stoked the flames of his irritation. the more you turned away, the more desperately he sought your attention, despite knowing the fire he was playing with could easily burn him.

misc ⟢

Soldier Boy: 𓂃 ꒰ freak show ꒱

Ben never imagined he'd find himself at the entrance of a peculiar circus, its weathered sign proclaiming "freak show" in faded letters. for weeks, vought's pr team had hounded him relentlessly, insisting that this appearance would be "good for public relations" and "humanize" him in the eyes of the masses. ben had scoffed at first, but their persistence wore him down like water on stone. now, here he was, surrounded by wide-eyed gawkers and the constant buzz of excited whispers. as the show began, ben found himself oddly captivated. each act was more outlandish than the last - contortionists twisting their bodies into impossible shapes, fire-breathers painting the air with flames, and strongmen hefting weights that should have been beyond human capability. but then, as the ringmaster's booming voice announced the next act, the tent fell into a hushed silence. a single spotlight illuminated the center ring, and ben's breath caught in his throat. there you were. the aerialist.

Stiles Stilinski: 𓂃 ꒰ favorite monster ꒱

stiles was well versed when it came down to the supernatural, he read every book, myth, and stories when it came to the supernatural. was well aware of the dangers of ghosts, werewolves, vampires the whole gist, you name it he undoubtedly knows it all. of course, you were a different case, a unique case that even though he knew the dangers about being a vampire he couldn’t for the life of himself get away from you. every late-night conversation and shared secret made it harder for him to keep his distance. as the two of you walked through the forest, discussing everything from pop culture to existentialism, it was at the very instant that your sudden laugh made his heart race. the warmth in your eyes and the way you would brush your hand with his rendered him utterly transfixed. he wondered how it was possible to feel so electrified and safe in the presence of someone who was, by all accounts, a threat. Stiles Stilinski: 𓂃 ꒰ you're ghostface ꒱

stiles didn’t know what to expect when the rumors of a serial killer began circulating in their small town. the gossip, dripping with fear and intrigue, shattered the fragile peace of beacon hills. as he stumbled through the dimly lit alley, the unmistakable glint of a knife illuminated by the flickering light from the nearby streetlamp caught his eye, and as the scene grew clearer, every hope he'd entertained shattered like glass. you, standing over a crumpled figure on the ground, the knife still gleaming in your hand, ghostface mask perched above your head. stiles had known you—i mean, really known you. the fact it was you, who was said killer made his stomach churn. he felt as though the ground had been pulled from beneath him, leaving him suspended in disbelief.

Madison Montgomery: 𓂃 ꒰ bitchy!user ꒱

madison's initial reaction to your caustic demeanor was a blend of irritation and intrigue. it catches her off guard; she's unaccustomed to having her façade challenged so directly. your unwavering stance and refusal to be cowed gnaws at her composure, chipping away at the armor of superiority she's cultivated. yet, beneath her outward indignation, she finds herself grudgingly impressed. your razor-sharp retorts and quick wit present a novel challenge—one that simultaneously infuriates and exhilarates her.

Madison Montgomery: 𓂃 ꒰ tobacco lips ꒱

before her death, madison was already dead inside. numb to the world, she craved to feel—anything. she chased oblivion through a haze of flesh, drugs, and alcohol, desperately seeking to drown the echoes of her past. each indulgence was a futile attempt to erase the memories: her mother's absence, her asshole of a father, the relentless scrutiny of the press, and the string of lovers who had taken pieces of her without leaving anything in return. she had found her way to the nearest bar, her face, heavily caked with makeup, felt like a mask weighing her down. her once-pearly teeth, now tobacco-stained, hid behind a sneer. the dress she'd chosen, meant to turn heads, only succeeded in making her look cheap rather than alluring. she navigated the crowded gathering with a practiced arrogance, projecting an aura of superiority she didn't feel. a fresh cigarette dangled from her lips, the filter stained with lipstick—a silent testament to her desperation. her words flowed freely, empty promises spilling from her mouth to the eager ears of men old enough to know better. then, through the haze of smoke and poor decisions, she saw you. beautiful, poised you—the coven's rising star, their future supreme. you stood surrounded by distinguished men, everything madison's admirers lacked. everything madison herself lacked. shame crashed over madison, as darted out, trying to get away from your sight.

might fix some of these but …. probably not anyway! @eppwtf on c.ai 😛

[luckhound]

vongola family + casual intimacy.

↻ pairings ✦ tsuna/reader, gokudera/reader, yamamoto/reader, hibari/reader, ryohei/reader, mukuro/reader, chrome/reader, reborn/reader

↻ summary ✦ nothing too deep or complex, just a few ways the vongola members would be casually intimate if in a relationship.

↻ warnings ✦ the sappiest of fluff, potentially ooc

author's note: thank you to this post's op for sparking the idea. if it weren't for them, i probably wouldn't have written anything else for weeks lmao.

Tsuna: Lets you fuss over his clothing, whether that entails you knotting his tie, straightening his collar, or fixing the lapel of his suit jacket for him. You probably used to do it often when he was younger and more slovenly than he is now, but it's become soothing for the both of you; a ritual of sorts. He'll murmur a thank you after, gaze soft and smile fond, or just press a silent kiss to your brow

Gokudera: Sits in the same room with you while the both of you work on different things. You could be flipping the pages of a book, he could be tinkering with his Sistema C.A.I., peaceful silence broken occasionally by you reading a particularly amusing passage aloud or him complaining about whatever maintenance work he's attempting. Just knowing that you're close by, safe and content, with him, puts him at ease

Yamamoto: Enjoys the simple act of cooking with you. He doesn't mind if you aren't that skilled at it, just watching as you chop the vegetables or stir the pot is enough to give him the warm fuzzies. Often he holds the spatula out to you so you can sample the dish and give your opinion on what it needs, a free hand cupped under your chin to catch any stray drops. No matter the end result, he considers the evening a success; it's time spent with you

Hibari: Meets your gaze from across a busy room, the two of you able to converse without words. The tilt of his chin, arch of his brow, thinning of his lips can all be easily deciphered by you after the many years you've spent by his side. Usually this will be his way of telling you that he wants to leave; it's a signal for you to say your goodbyes. He's tired of being around so many people, he'd rather spend whatever free time he has with you, at home

Ryohei: Feels the need to touch you all the time, often without him even realizing it. It could be an arm around your waist when you're at an event together. A squeeze to your elbow before he leaves your side, as if offering a wordless apology. A hand on the small of your back nudging you forward, so he can slip past you. Every touch reminding you of his presence, constant and steadfast. Just like the man himself

Mukuro: Traces designs on your skin when you're lying down together. Should you find it ticklish, it only serves to amuse him into doing it more. Now and then you'll concentrate on the path his finger takes, trying to figure out if he's drawing or writing something specific, only to give up. Asking is pointless because he won't give a straight answer. The truth is it's totally random. But on the rare occasion, he'll sketch jagged lines not unlike his hair, or just his name, over and over again

Chrome: Combs your hair for you after a bath or shower, insists on doing it even. The repetitive motion calms her, though she isn't quite sure why. All she knows is that she could detangle and smooth out knots in your hair for hours on end without growing tired. If it's possible to, she'll run her fingers through your locks after, smiling at the fruits of her labour. Might even press a kiss to them like some kind of shoujo prince

Reborn: Helps you out of your clothing after an event or long day. It's not a sexual thing for him, if he's being honest. Getting the opportunity to unzip your dress or unbutton your shirt for you feels like a privilege that you bestow upon him; a small way you let your guard down around a renowned hitman who could hurt you so easily, in theory. In practice, he can't imagine ever doing such a thing

[thehomelybrewster]

1d8 "Free" Fantasy RPGs To Replace 5e At Your Table

D&D 5e sure is a roleplaying game, and it's one that I have enjoyed a lot. However, that doesn't mean that I'd recommend it automatically for other people. This has many reasons, which I won't elaborate here. It has also shaped the perception of TTRPGs significantly thanks to its market dominance, and not in a good way.

5e has a reputation for being an expensive, complex game, and 5e players fear that other RPGs might just be the same. That it's too much of a hassle and too much of a financial burden to switch systems.

So, to help 5e players pick out a different system, I've made this handy 1d8 rolling table to help them pick a fantasy TTRPG with a combat component that they can try instead!

Let's now go through these eight nine RPGs and see what's up with them, right below the "Keep reading" section!

I'll be listing some metrics like the page count for the rulebook(s), the core resolution mechanic, how complex the game is in terms of character creation & combat, and how well-supported the game is by their publisher and the community-at-large.

1. Cairn

Author: Yochai Gal

Release Year: 2020

Cost: Free PDF, printed copies cost between $3 to $10 depending on the print quality.

Page Count: 24

Website: https://cairnrpg.com/

Resolution Mechanic: 1d20 Roll Under system for ability checks/saving throws, attacks hit automatically, "fiction-first".

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Random character creation, class-less and level-less, advancement based on "Scars" (suffering damage that reduces your HP exactly to 0)

Setting: Implied. Low-magic European-style fantasy; mysterious woodlands.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Hit Protection and Ability damage instead of HP, Slot-Based Inventory.

Degree of Support: Very high. Available in fifteen languages (e.g. Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and German); full rules text is under CC-BY-SA 4.0; multiple published third-party adventures & supplements available; some official bonus material (e.g. bestiary, magic items/relics, and spells) is available for free on the website.

Addendum: An expanded 2nd Edition is currently on Kickstarter (ends April 26th 2024); Cairn is legitimately easy to learn, however the Hit Protection system and the connected Scars system is a very different abstraction to health and advancement compared to 5e.

2. Cloud Empress

Author: worlds by watt

Release Year: 2023

Cost: Free PDF of the rulebook and the creator-written sample adventure "Last Voyage of the Bean Barge", $20 for the print edition of the rulebook, $12 for PDF supplements, $25 for print + PDF supplements; free solo rules also available as PDF only.

Page Count: 60

Website: https://cloudempress.com/

Resolution Mechanic: d100 Roll Under system for stat checks/saving throws, critical successes or failures on doubles (11, 22, 33, etc.), 5e-style advantage/disadvantage, attacks generally hit automatically.

Action Economy: Two actions per round with no free movement.

Characters: Semi-random character creation, four classes ("jobs"), no rules for character advancement in the ruleset.

Setting: Specific. "Ecological science fantasy" heavily inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind"; costly magic, giant insects, dangerous mushrooms; only human player characters.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Damage points culminate in Wounds; Wounds and Stress as ways to track your character's physical and mental state; slot-based inventory system.

Degree of Support: Low-ish. Several official supplements exist, however third-party material is very sparse. May improve due to the recent establishment of a Cloud Empress Creators Fund, has a simple 3rd party license system.

Addendum: A supplement, "Cloud Empress: Life & Death" is currently on Kickstarter (ends April 26th 2024, yes, the same day as Cairn 2e) and as a disclaimer I even backed that current Kickstarter; Cloud Empress is built on the engine of the sci-fi horror RPG "Mothership"; clearly built for one-shots and short campaigns; has a wonderful resting system that encourages roleplay between players.

3. Iron Halberd

Author: level2janitor

Release Year: 2023

Cost: Free PDF of the rules; no print option available.

Page Count: 60

Website: https://level2janitor.itch.io/iron-halberd

Resolution Mechanic: 1d20 + Bonus Roll Over system against difficulty or armor rating, however most non-combat-related actions follow a fiction first approach without dice rolls.

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Semi-random character creation, class-less but there are four different "gear kits" that nudge your character towards certain archetypes, levelling up with XP.

Setting: Essentially non-existant. General European fantasy with magic, gods may or may not exist/shape the world, various fantastic ancestries included.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Includes rules for building strongholds and maintaining warbands; slot-based inventory with a durability mechanic.

Degree of Support: None. The game is intended to be relatively compatible with other OSR content and the creator suggests using adventures made for the D&D retroclone Old-School Essentials if you wanna use pre-published ones. An official introductory adventure, "Sea-Spray Bay", is apparently in the works. No 3rd party license available, as far as I know.

Addendum: One thing about Iron Halberd I like especially is how it uses random tables for generating equipment. Most of the equipment is listed in a numerical order by category, and the various gear kits include references on different rolling formulas for those equipment categories. For example someone taking the "soldier's kit" rolls twice on the d20 Weapons table and takes their preferred pick, while someone taking the "sage's kit" only rolls a d4 on that table.

4. Mausritter

Author: Isaac Williams

Release Year: 2020

Cost: Free PDF of the ruleset available; box set with the rules and several goodies including an adventure costs $55; additional box set + PDFs containing eleven official adventures costs $55 (or $20 digital-only).

Page Count: 48

Website: https://mausritter.com/

Resolution Mechanic: 1d20 Roll Under system, 5e-style advantage/disadvantage, attacks always hit.

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Random character creation, class-less, levelling up with XP.

Setting: Vaguely specific. You play as mice and everything is related to mouse-size; cats are the equivalents of devils or dragons; humans exist as a setting background but may or may not be present in a campaign.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Includes rules for recruiting warbands; slot-based inventory with a durability mechanic.

Degree of Support: Very high. Several official supplements exist, as well as loads of content, be it adventures or supplements, made by other creators. Available in seven languages (all of them however are European). Has a simple 3rd party license system.

Addendum: Mausritter uses the phrase "adventure site" instead of dungeons. On the website a free adventure site generator is available, as is a digital tool that can be used to generate your own item cards for the slot-based inventory system.

5. Maze Rats

Author: Ben Milton

Release Year: 2017

Cost: $4.99 for the PDF, no print option regularly available.

Page Count: 32

Website: https://questingbeast.substack.com/

Resolution Mechanic: 2d6 + Bonus Roll Over system; advantage system that uses 3d6 drop the lowest + Bonus.

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Semi-random character creation, class-less but instead there are character features (e.g. spell slots or attack bonuses), levelling up with XP.

Setting: Essentially non-existant. Magic is very irregular (s. the section below), but otherwise it implies a vaguely European fantasy setting.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Spells are randomly generated each adventuring day and spell effects are negotiated between the GM and the spellcasting player; includes several fantastic d66 tables that can be used to randomly generate worlds.

Degree of Support: Decent. The rule text is licensed under CC BY 4.0 and unofficial translations are available. Some third-party content has been made specifically for the game.

Addendum: The only purchase-only game on this list. However "unofficial" distribution of the PDF is very common. Also this is the oldest game on the list. Ben "Questing Beast" Milton is a prolific OSR blogger and runs a YouTube channel on the OSR. Great dude.

6. Sherwood - A Game of Outlaws & Arcana

Author: Richard Ruane

Release Year: 2022

Cost: Free quickstart PDF titled "Sherwood - A Quickstart of Outlaws" available; digital rulebook costs $7.50 and the print edition (including PDF) costs $15.

Page Count: 25 (Quickstart), 32 (Rulebook)

Website: https://www.r-rook.studio/

Resolution Mechanic: 2d6 + Bonus Roll Over system for skill checks (including attacks), 2d6 Roll Under system for saving throws; advantage & disadvantage system that involves rolling 3d6 and using the higher/lower of the two results; almost all rolls are player-facing

Action Economy: "Conversational", assumption of movement + action.

Characters: Largely choice-based character creation. Combine two (of six) background abilities with the benefits of seven different careers. Big focus on interpersonal relationships during character creation. Limited character advancement takes place during downtime.

Setting: Specific. Takes place in a fantastical version of 13th century England, with fey and magic coexisting with outlaws and crusaders.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: The group of outlaws possesses two shared resources (Resources and Legend) that can be spent to gain certain benefits; spellcasting is divided into two categories: arcane talents and sorcerous rites, with the former being immediate and the later taking significant time; slot-based inventory.

Degree of Support: None. No further publications exist for the game and while it is published under the CC-BY 4.0 license, no third-party content exists as far as I know. It does include a guide on how to convert D&D and Troika (N)PCs into Sherwood characters, as well as three adventure seeds (one in the Quickstart, two in the rules), which is at least something.

Addendum: Might just be the game on this list that encourages the most roleplaying; the character sheet is sadly very provisional-feeling and the Quickstart feels outdated compared to the finalized rulebook.

7. The Electrum Archive

Author: Emiel Boven

Release Year: 2022

Cost: Free Rules PDF available, zines cost $12 as digital PDFs or $24 as print + PDF combos; the first zine contains the entire contents of the Free Rules PDF

Page Count: 26 (Free Rules), 72 (Issue 01)

Website: https://www.electrumarchive.com/

Resolution Mechanic: 1d10 Roll Under system, attacks always hit.

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Largely choice-based; three archetypes roughly corresponding to fighters/rangers (Vagabonds), rogues (Fixers), and spellcasters (Warlocks); player characters are presumed to be human; levelling up with XP.

Setting: Specific. Mechanics heavily tie into the lore; humanity has abundant access to minerals but requires a rare substance known as Ink to operate certain pieces of tech (like guns) and cast spells but cannot produce Ink themselves; spirits of various sorts can be foes, targets of worship, or sources of power.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Uses a spellcasting system for the Warlock archetype that's heavily based on the one used in Maze Rats, as in it uses randomly-generated spells whose effects are negotiated between the player and the GM; slot-based inventory with a durability mechanic.

Degree of Support: Minimal. The game consists out of the free rules and (soon) two zines; a third party license exists but content produced under it is very rare.

Addendum: I need to disclaim that I recently backed the Kickstarter campaign for the second zine for this game; the free rules feature wrong page numbers in its table of contents which is unfortunate; The Electrum Archive uses incredibly simple stats for NPCs which makes creating new ones based on other games rather simple.

8. Shadowdark RPG

Author: Kelsey Dionne

Release Year: 2023

Cost: Free player and game master quickstarts exist as PDFs and are available in print for $19, the core rules cost $28 in PDF form and $57 in a print + PDF bundle

Page Count: 68 (Player Quickstart Guide), 68 (Game Master Quickstart Guide), 332 (Core Rules)

Website: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/

Resolution Mechanic: 1d20 + Bonus Roll Over system, 5e-style advantage/disadvantage, natural 1s are critical failures and natural 20s are critical successes.

Action Economy: Movement + one action per round.

Characters: Largely choice-based; players have a fantasy ancestry and a class; levelling up with XP; class progression largely random.

Setting: Vague. General (dark) western fantasy conventions apply; alignment is a force in this universe and a sample pantheon is provided; the most potent enemies in the rules are named individuals that fit classic TTRPG monster types; illustrations and lore snippets have recurring motifs.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: The key mechanic of Shadowdark is how the game handles light, namely that light sources are tracked in real time (i.e. a normal torch lasts 1 hour), which increases tension; slot-based inventory; has a 0th-level character creation option using an eliminationist "Gauntlet".

Degree of Support: Fantastic. Several official supplements and offically sanctioned digital tools exist; lots of third-party content available under a generous third-party license.

Addendum: Definitely the most similar game to 5e on this list besides the next entry; very robust mechanically and the Core Rules features extensive lists of magic items, monsters, and spells; also for early play giving your players only access to the quickstart is a totally valid choice; and finally, before Dionne made Shadowdark, she made 5e adventures for years and it shows (affectionate).

9. Pathfinder

Authors: Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Mark Seifter

Release Year: 2019 (initial release), 2023 (remaster)

Cost: Free and comprehensive SRD available via the platform Archives of Nethys, free "Pathfinder Primer" abridged rulebook available via the Pathfinder Nexus (powered by Demiplane), Core books are priced $20 for PDFs and $30/$60 for print as a softcover/hardcover; a Beginner Box set with shortened soft-cover rules costs $45

Page Count: 464 (Player Core), 336 (GM Core), 376 (Monster Core), 160 (Combined Beginner Box Softcovers)

Website: https://paizo.com/pathfinder

Resolution Mechanic: 1d20 + Bonus Roll Over system, 5e-style advantage/disadvantage, four degrees of success based on result compared to target number.

Action Economy: Three action points per round; various actions may require more than one point; every character can use one reaction per round of combat.

Characters: Choice-based; players first pick an ancestry and a background and a class (the ABCs) and then tend to have meaningful choices after each level-up; levelling up with XP.

Setting: Important. Golarion, the game's setting, is a world that has been long in development and it shows; powerful magic and influential gods; very clear notions of what the societies of the various peoples of the world are like and how they should behave.

Other Noteworthy Mechanics: Balance between character classes and reliable combat challenge calculations are an important design goal; weight-based inventory system; archetype system for "multiclassing".

Degree of Support: Fantastic. Loads of content gets regularly produced by the game's publisher Paizo; the Pathfinder Infinite program (similar to D&D's Dungeon Master's Guild) provides lots of lore-compliant third-party content; uses the ORC third-party license for content produced outside of the Pathfinder Infinite program. Translations into other languages available but Paizo does not provide a comprehensive list of available languages (only German and French confirmed after brief personal research).

Addendum: The most popular and commercially successful of the listed games; but also by far the most complicated, though it is easier to GM for specificallty than 5e; also I dislike how certain feats create situations where fairly mundane actions get mechanics through these feats instead of being things you can generally do; anyway the reason why it's a 9 on a 1d8 table is because if you wanted to try out Pathfinder 2e you already would have and because while Paizo is better than WotC it's still a flawed big company.

...

So this was an exhausting little project. I hope you found this helpful and I hope you give at least one of these games a shot! A follow-up to this post is not out of the cards, but I don't plan on one.

Before we go, have this poll about which of these systems you're most looking forward to try! Shame it can only be open for one week...

[the-creatured]

Introducing, Qx93vt my OC.

For @that-willowtree and @vessel-eternal

I will update and edit this post with any information I remember. Vixen, feel free to leave a comment on something to change or DM me.

Name: Qx93vt

Nicknames: Q or Qx

Species: Humanoid Robot/Android

Pronouns: he/him or they/them

Sexuality: Technically pansexual

Status: Married to his wife Cupid (Vixen's OC)

Age: 34 active years (born 1991)

Likes: His inventor's house, the mans clothes, his wife, his fish, and his dog.

Dislikes: a failed invention, when people assume he is AI driven. DOD (more on that later)

Backstory: An engineer's kid was given some nonfunctional devices at age 13, one of which, was an old analog TV. He experimented with circuit boards, he crossed the right wires and eventually it turned on. The more time this kid spent working on it, the more it awoke. He was given a voice from an old radio speaker and other parts, then a face that was coded into his screen, emotions, a body, arms, legs. Soon, he was walking and talking. By the time the inventor had reached his late 30s, he had worked around a ton of dangerous materials, but had worked on advancing Q to the fullest extent. He was given a full functional body, a spare body, a positronic brain that was coded to learn and love. In the inventors last years, Q had taken up all household work so he could work on his inventions all the time and put his energy into them. He had sold most of his inventions and gained a fortune for his patents. He passed away and left Q with the house, his car, and the entire fortune. The government, when realizing Q had lived for years beforehand without the inventors main help and maintained the household. Granted him his own offical citizenship and was recognized as an independent self sustaining intelligent machine.

Later in his life, he met Cupid. Of course, the details arent fuzzy for him. But until I can come up with the full story pretend its a cute meet and they go on many dates and fall in love and marry. They have rings, her's a simple but very pretty golden ring with a diamond. His, a single smooth golden band.

Physical appearance: this is quite difficult because I haven't drawn his actual body underneath his clothes. He has a sleek toned build, it's smooth metal plates that interlock and layer to make joints and a smooth surface. A TV for a head, and very intricate hands. (Of course over the years, he advanced himself.) His most proud inventions for himself has been, a heartbeat that is uniquely his own, an internal heater so he's not freezing to the touch, his own program to make him learn like a human, a tasting mechanic, and a removable attachment for the wife. (Originally his inventor gave it to him but it wasnt detachable and he was very disturbed by this.)

He has a full manual with instructions for anything that could ever happen to him, for his wife. Its a very heavy and concise book, detailing how to jailbreak his system all to how to dry his screen off. Also includes a section on DOD and Qs warning signs. (more on that later)

His body is quite strong, resilient, water proof, fast, and can taste using a small sample tray at the bottom of his screen. (Because his wife cooks and bakes all the time and it would be unfair if he could never taste it)

He wears the same clothes daily apart from a few holiday or fancy outfits. His daily outfit consists of, a pale yellow long sleeve button down, grey slacks, a white waistcoat, and a busy tie. (He doesnt sweat so he doesn't need to change his outfit.)

The big bad!! (Because I can't have a sunshine character without giving them a horrible dark side and traumatic yearly experience with it!!)

DOD.exe: Digital Occulistic Disease.

This random code, segment of files, group of malware, came about when he first was just starting to learn and teach himself about 5 years after first awakening. His inventor didn't make it, program it, he didnt know it was on the circuit boards. Its a malicious entity that lives in the code and feeds off of the emotions the host feels.

Though mostly inactive and dormant, there is random occurances where he takes over the host body, goes into the memories. Finds the object most desired or adored by the host, and becomes utterly obsessed with them. Will do ANYTHING in its power to see that person, be near, get validation or just attention from it. If the object of obsession does not fully mirror the emotions, DOD will become violent, aggressive, and dangerous towards that person.

Often time Q will know when DOD has taken over, he is often awake for all of it and cannot do much. He cannot overpower him without help. The most he can do is make physical appearance different. He can control the screen somewhat, in his manual, he has the codes and systems he uses written out. The most common screen codes he uses to alert outsiders that the body is dangerous are. Flashing the screen quickly, black and white, for a strobe effect. Making eyes appear all over the screen, making huge text or pop up windows that warn the person. Often big red text that says "RUN".

DOD can change the screen but it takes a considerable amount of effort for him to do so, so he doesnt. He doesnt feel emotions, he doesnt understand humans, he doesnt care. He knows two things, obsession, and frustration. He can manipulate electricity in his hands and use that as a weapon. The body itself posseses incredible strength and speed.

First made: 6/9/2025

Last updated: 6/9/2025

[wendigoruble]

Father Figure Franco HCs/AU Thing? 🍼

[Inspired by @skeletons-and-roses ]

To preface these HCs I just wanna say I don't think Franco would ever wanna be a father, I don't think he'd be a good one. I just like to entertain the idea!

Franco somehow managed to knock up one of the working girls, and come 6-7 years later, she dumps little Marco on him.

Marco is a quiet kid who's mostly independent and barely ever takes his pacifier out of his mouth. This causes him to have an overjet bite. He also carries around a stuffed bear everywhere. He does pretty much everything for himself, from cooking simple food to household chores like cleaning.

He was also born with an enlarged skull but he does not develop hydrocephalus like Franco does. He just has a big head and slightly bugged out eyes.

Franco is very not happy that he now has a child in his care, and he tries multiple times to get random women to take him, but they won't.

While Franco allows this kid to exist in his house, he doesn't exactly do much in the way of being a father. He sees that Marco is rather independent and decides he doesn't need to do much.

Franco will occasionally drop little lines to Marco. Things like "You gotta get thick skin" or "You ain't no different from me." It's his way of trying to offer support even though these things don't exactly land right all the time.

He also gets excited if Macro shows interest in his work. He'll sit the kid down and tell him stories of all the people he's taken out, maybe teach him about the proper way to shoot. But he will not touch lupara. No one touches that gun but Franco himself.

He would buy Marco his own gun when he comes of age though, but that's way down the line.

Franco would also teach Marco about drugs, grading them and selling them. Also transporting them and alike. He was exposed to all of these things as a child so he sees nothing wrong with informing Marco on them. He does tell him not to sample too much product.

[Marco will never do drugs or drink because of the way he sees Franco act]

In a way hes better than Sal, but not by much at all. He's pretty absent, mostly aloof, but he doesn't inflict any physical violence at all. Maybe the occasional yelling, but that's it.

Sure he never wanted this kid, but the kids a Barbi and Franco will protect his own.