#THE FUCKING MEMORIES THAT I AM HAVING RIGHT NOW

[kentocalls]

gojo satoru | supernatural sfw. alien!satoru fluff anyone?

alien!satoru who steps out of a beam of light and the first sight he’s ever seen on this planet is you. you and a companion, he thinks, are frozen solid. you’ve bend the companions wrist in an odd manner and it seems funny for a greeting — but satoru is here it learn. so he walks over, places a hand on your shoulder and mimics the look on your face, opens his mouth to introduce himself. (you’re scared, frozen. the asshole has been following you since you left the bagel shop, got loud and handsy. you’re proud of yourself for not freezing up and removing his hand from your body with force but then a fucking beam of light appeared and now a gorgeous blue eyed man is looking at you with a crazed face. and speaks gibberish)

alien!satoru who quickly absorbs all your memories, lessons, education, senses, perceptions all of it the second his hand lands on your shoulder. he realizes he was speaking his home language and you —humans, here speak words differently. but before he can correct himself, he realizes the person with you is not your companion and has been a bother to you all morning. he turns his eyes to the asshole and places a heavy hand on his shoulder, “never, ever bother my friend again.” the asshole runs off, satoru shudders at all the memories he’s indirectly inherited. are human beings so weak they don’t protect their minds? he turns to you again, “hello, my name is satoru.” (you blink at satoru, not sure if you’re hallucinating him or not.)

alien!satoru who quickly explains his mission, he’s here to learn everything about your planet, calls it something in gibberish and the smile you give him is polite. its the one you give to solicitors and he frowns. he’s not a solicitor, he’s basically a consultant! he’s here to understand what your species is doing on this side of the galaxy. satoru is committed to collecting all the information possible. (“thank you, satoru. i need to go to work now. umm, take care?” satoru nods, pauses, looks around himself and at the empty crosswalk, “what am I supposed to take care of?”)

alien!satoru who sits on a bench and watches humans walk to and fro. some walk quickly and hurriedly, and some walk slowly. they all come in various shapes and sizes, speak in different ways and he wants to absorb all their memories and information. how are there so many humans? what makes them so different? he ends up walking around and introduces himself to many people. some don’t want to shake his hand, some don’t want to let go of his hand. all of them have a unique story that floods his brain as soon as his skin makes contact. but satoru finds himself looking for you in their memories

alien!satoru who is so …famished? he doesn’t need to eat for years on his home planet, had enough snacks on his ship but right now is oh so on his very last energy stores. he’s hunched over and walking, legs moving to the path you usually take to work and he hopes and prays to find you again. you told him to ‘take care’ and it meant to ‘take care of himself’ and he has found he does not know how to do that here. you are probably a ‘take care’ expert.

alien!satoru who stands out wherever he walks with his long frame and pristine white hair, other worldly blue eyes. he sits near a kofee? cart and sighs. his body is leaking something strange and it makes no sense. he has not done anything strenuous, he can feel his heart beating in his ear and this is no good. the planet felt cooler in the day and no amount of adjusting his breathing is regulating the heat he feels from the dang sun. he rubs at his eyes and no amount of scratching is getting them to dim and shift. he can’t modify himself here? (you spot a very unforgettable mop of hair outside your office window. he’s dressed in a full black outfit and you note how hot it is outside and the guy hasn’t moved into the share. sighing, and praying that you’re not losing your mind, you head out.)

alien!satoru who feels something cool touch his cheek, turns into the sweet relief from the heat, barely opens his eyes and its you! its you! he sits up instantly, wants to do what other humans do to greet each other - pull you into a hug! but he realizes unwanted physical affection is not welcome. he does not want to make you uncomfortable. you open a plastic tube with clear liquid. “you seem to be breathing okay here so this shouldn’t be poisonous.” he scoffs, “i’m the strongest in my cadet class, i can handle any liquid.” but when it cool fluid cascades down his throat he’d happily let himself drown in it. he finishes the entire thing in go. the relief is appreciated even though its fleeting. (you hand him a bunch of napkins and when he looks confused you dab at his forehead and space. he probably should get some electrolytes into his system, before you can finish the thought, you hear his stomach grumble too.)

alien!satoru who follows your orders and stays super, duper close to you when entering your work cafeteria. he’s both amazed and unimpressed with the food selections and payment process. he asks why you sit in the chair and not on the table, the chair is uncomfortable and the table is wider and cooler. he easily accepts ‘social conditioning’ as a response and pokes at the arrangement of items on his plate. he’s selected mostly fruits, the bright colors compelling him, but you know that’s not filling and leave to secure more carbs, protein and fats. (you watch his curiosity with a smile on your face. if he is an alien, he seems to be nice and harmless.)

alien!satoru who states he will sit outside now that he’s regenerated energy and you watch him walk out into the roaring sun and immediately squirm and close his eyes. you’re pulling sunglasses form your pocket and asking satoru to bend down towards you so you can place the contraption on his face. he grins wide and proclaims you the bestest of his human friends. he begins to tell you about his adventures of walking around the city and touching (shaking hands he clarified) everyone who would listen to him. he has zero sense of self preservation you realize. you make him go into the mens bathroom and wash his hands with soap twice and dry them. he spends twenty minutes confused by all the contraptions in the bathroom.)

alien!satoru who access your memories to find your office and gets very friendly coworkers of yours to badge him to your floor. youre talking to a black rectangle when he waves and sits down across from you. he knows you’re on a communicator device and sits patiently, eyes roaming your office. (he tries to sit patiently but gets bored. walks around to where you have binders and binders all related to insurance policies, insurance billing codes and the wonderful exclusions binders. he seems to be glancing over everything quickly.)

alien!satoru who is so very, deeply concerned at how breakable you are. “you can fracture a foot in multiple places? you should never walk. i will bring my warping tool!” but you only hold a finger to your lips and shush him. the rectangle is still speaking to you and satoru inhales all of the information in binders. he has to commit everything to memory, this planet is so very weak! the humans are too brittle. even a sneeze can cause a back to spasm and over stretch. what the hell is a sneeze? satoru searches your memories and realizes that sneezes are unstoppable, once your brain registers the need to it must happen. how is satoru going to protect you from that? (the alien has gone from boredom to intense concern and sadness. you want to talk to him but you’re in the middle of a workers compensation claims trail and the damn lawyer is messing up the approved claim body parts. you are not paying for someone’s knee injury from highschool volleyball, you will pay for the injury to their hand because of a shitty manager and printer.)

alien!satoru who finds the lights still too bright, is relieved when you’re done speaking to the rectangle and turn the lights off. “you could be hurt from so many things, things you can’t even see! you could die!” (well that…that is a very strange concern the alien has.) “…toru that’s…that’s the risk of living here as a human.” he frowns, “my name is satoru, sa-to-ru. toru is currently investigating neptune.” he doubly frowns as he recalls neptune being your favorite planet when you were shorter. “are you… you really came from out there?” your hand is waving at the ceiling and satoru knows you have better eyesight than that. “i came from…” more gibberish. (you figure that’s his original alien language and well, grat, if you’re not losing your mind you’ve somehow befriended? an alien?)

alien!satoru who doesn’t like the fact he can’t regulate or modify his body freely. he’s constrained by elements and wants to study them. when he asks you about this you bring up a topic called chemistry and physics and he needs to meet with professors who teach this now. but he stands too quickly, feels himself dizzy, his eyesight getting fuzzy and your cool hands are there, steadying him. your voice is a whisper, asking him to ‘take it easy’ but satoru hasn’t taken anything yet. why can’t you speak more clearly? and why are you leaving him again? he isn’t done talking. (you tell him you’ll bring him more water and something to change into. your company has some tshirts as swag that satoru should most definitely change into.)

alien!satoru who looks very young and old all at the same time. he has never felt the need for social contact but not being around you is stifling. it hurts in part of his chest and general well being. he doesn’t feel good. maybe the clear fluid was poisonous. “satoru?” you’re back, you’re back! he makes to stand and somehow you move quicker than him, he feels his legs getting heavy. “change into these, i brought more snacks and water. you’re probably overheated. it’s summer right now, the sun is dangerous.” oh, it makes perfect sense. he starts to undress when you quickly gasp and shuffle to turn around. close the blinds in your office so others can’t see and what’s the need for privacy? everyone looks the same under their garments afterall. (oh my god. he is either a really good actor or an actual alien. what are you going to do? is homeland security going to come after you for harboring an extraterrestrial being? even if they’re nice and handsome and simply want to learn about earth?)

alien!satoru who feels so much better in a tshirt and oversized shorts. the colors are not pleasing but he can feel his lungs breathe freely. you mentioning needing to do more work and prepare for a meeting and satoru promises to behave and only ask questions if they are of dire importance. (he doesn’t like your cellphone, says it’s radiating bad waves. he is really curious about the binders and book, why isn’t data downloaded into your brain directly? he asks very politely and you don’t have the heart to tell him to stop, something about his eyes they’re earnest and pretty.)

alien!satoru who promise to guard your office but when he see’s someone from your memories, debra? stalk into the break room he knows he must defend your lunch tiffin. it’s debra who keeps stealing them afterall. he catches her in the act and she shuffles away with just a glare. satoru feels proud, feels useful. he also spots your main nemesis, the printer! gives it a very fine talking to and it beeps in submission.

when he returns to your office he realizes he didn’t knock and that’s part of proper socialization. you knock before entering anyone’s office, so he turns around but is greeted with a …coworker. he searches your memories and this guy is? adam? “who are you?” satoru hates his voice, won’t shake his hand ever. doesn’t want this man’s memories or stories at all. “who are you?” satoru replies. the man ignores his question, nods at your desk and says your name in such a ugly way. satoru should defend your honor here too. he could break adams foot in many places.

alien!satoru who frowns greatly at your “this is satoru! the overseas consultant!” you’re rushing to get between adam and satoru but satoru does not need defending, heck satoru is ready to be on the offense. adam entered your office, without knocking! but the man now smiles but it’s not kind, “oh, satoru welcome! we hope you enjoy your stay here” lies lies lies, adam is not pleased to receive satoru. adam extends his hand and well, satoru could break that in multiple places. you laugh, a fake laugh and now satoru is frowning at you, “he doesn’t shake hands adam, did you need something?” and satoru zones out the rest of the conversation. its clear you don’t like adam but you’re being ‘nice’ to him. it feels off. satoru closes his eyes and reviews your memories of adam and it’s super duper obvious that adam deserves the most terrible sneeze that results in never ending back pain!

alien!satoru who is all but growling by the time adam leaves and you have to physically stop him from following adam out. when he starts yelling about last years holiday part and adam’s unprofessional conduct you slap a hand over his mouth and mush him into the wall. (it’s a very kabe-don! moment you realize but satoru is not calming down.) satoru does his best to breathe, there’s a uniqueness to how your hand smells and it still feels soft on his face. this close satoru is aware of your touch, your body pressed close to him and oh—maybe humans are different underneath the garments. his hands twitch, he wants to pull you closer? the little pressure he has of your body against him feels nice. anchoring. what if he were to feel the full weight of your body on his? he’s made awfully aware of the fact your lips are a different shade than the rest of your face and what would the sensation of feeling those be like? “ahem—“ fucking debra. you pull away from him quickly and move faster than a gazelle. (satoru has never seen one, nor have you but he assumes the expression is correct.) you slam the door in debras face.

alien!satoru who is satiated with his own communication device once you connect it to wifi. he hears you sigh and knows that is mostly not a good thing. “adam will not fire you, you have 359 open cases and 120 maintenance cases. plus you’re the only one who shiu and toji work with.” (why does he know that? you locked your computer before you left the office but even then he shouldn’t know who shiu is. your conference call was with toji today. “you can read my mind?” satoru scoffs, “download. your mind wasn’t guarded. and neither is this website!” wait—what? “satoru that’s not, you cannot download a website from an ipad into your brain.” )

alien!satoru who diligently follows you out of the office, sticks close to you as he crosses the street, he tries to introduce himself to people, especially the ones that come up to him first but you’re quick to warn them off and shoo them free. this beautiful alien knows everything that you’ve ever experienced, learned or thought. “this is definitely turning into a cinnamon bun kind of day.” before satoru can question you on how you can manipulate material he smells the most divine smell of a bakery. “hot kento lives here!” satoru gasps and you’re immediately in his space again, pulling him close and shushing him. he likes it. you being close, not you shushing him. “we’re going to keep that a secret, yes?” satoru loves secrets! no one makes those with him back home. he nods eagerly and sees hot kento for himself. the glorious bakery man of your literal dreams. but satoru is confused, what is hot about him?

alien!satoru who is very pleased to shake hot kento’s hand and learn exactly what an outstanding citizen he is. it’s not like the hands he’s shaken today, the way those minds describe you is awful. the way kento perceives you is respectful, calls you earnest exhausted cinnamon bun and vanilla oatmilk latte. satoru thinks these words are wonderful and after having tested them the most delicious compliments! he whispers really close to your ear as you head out of the bakery, “i understand why hot kento is hot.”

alien!satoru who has experienced your living spaces multiple times in his mind but nothing prepares him for the sensory overload. the physicality of being in a space that smells like you, is filled with trinkets you adore and foods you love and soft things is a lot. too much. he sits down from standing. “satoru?” his name on your lips secures his breathing, “you doing okay?” he nods. “of course.” you disappear further away from him, he doesn’t like it, wants to reach out but its all too much. the lights get turned off and you’re coming back, a different outfit and more clothing, “these will fit, they are a softer material. let me show you the layout.” there is no need. satoru knows the exact layout, the exact rules you have for yourself. he will abide by them. is diligent in wiping and picking up after himself. deposits his used garments in the laundry basket and sits on your sofa.

“where are you going to sleep satoru? do you have a ship?”

“i don’t need to sleep not for another year.” he yawns and sinks himself deeper into your couch. glasses removed reveal all the fatigue in his eyes.

“well, on earth, when the sun goes down and the moon comes up, sleep happens. your body is adjusting to this rhythm, so you will need sleep.”

sleep is restorative and would make satoru extremely vulnerable. his ship isn’t going to be back until next year, where is he supposed to rest? “can i stay here?”

alien!satoru who refuses to sleep on the sofa, you find him under your dinning room table, lying on the very hard floor. claims its the hard surface is good for human backs and you have to coach him away from the dust. you promise he can sleep there after you map and clean but satoru reminds you, he’s the strongest. dust cannot defeat him. (and how you bite your tongue because he’s not strong here, not on earth. he doesn’t even realize whatever magical powers he had at home are gone. and oh my god, you’re really going to help him, aren’t you?)

alien!satoru who sleeps for five hours, brain processing all the new memories and experiences and information but keeps looping the moment you were close to him. your eyes are expressive, it’s novel. back home the cadets are trained from a young age to be neutral but curious. a friendly poker face to bid good will but never ever a mirror or the truth. this is satoru’s last chance to promote into a true cataloger, he wants to explore as many planet as possible and meet as many species. earth feels kind, inviting. you are kind and inviting. soft and lovely.

alien!satoru who wakes you up at 6am on the dot, a box of cinnamon buns shoved into your face, “hot kento said yes! i have a job! i can shake peoples hand easily now! i can pay you rent too, but at the end of the month.” satoru will not abandon his mission due to lack of resources, the technology he brought with him doesn’t work, not all his manipulations materialize on earth nor do his requests for assistance work but he can. as much as he’d like to stick next to you he realizes, eventually, he will hurt debra or adam when they make you upset near him. he won’t let you get fired. so he can keep busy in a safe and positive environment, around food so he will be well fed and where the sun cannot harm him. “why is your hair out of place?”

alien!satoru who learns that you do not wake up at 6am on a weekend. he remembers the rules, you like to warm up to the morning, allow yourself thoughtless time of sitting in bed before energizing for the day. it’s not fun to have you at an arms length and not engage. he is patient though, and it’s absolutely worth it when you greet him with a “good morning!” and he is listing your smile as the #1 best thing about earth.

[the-muppet-joker]

I must admit, though shamefully, that I didn't believe you at first. What an ignorant heretic I was. How silly, I thought, that the second first man born unto God would choose such a humble place to spread his sermons. I've been so jaded in this awful life that I've rejected the one true light twinkling out past the darkness. This all-consuming black hole inside me...((Like a muppet hole)) No, no, no, no not like -((Are you so dissimilar to a toy? A muppet with a hollow inside where his creator's hand fits? I'm puppeting you right now and I'm telling you dude - there is a whole lot of empty in here.)) Why do I feel so ashamed? These thoughts are horrible.

((You know what's happening. You're just in denial.))

I remember the first time I saw the Muppets like I remember the first time my father hugged me (9). It shocked me to my core and I had this indescribable feeling- a feeling I can now put words to; This show was going to change the course of my life. I watched in awe as the be-felted people sung and danced. The songs felt like gospel in my young mind. I even tolerated the female Muppets because they were funny. All except one it turns out. Kermit was performing on stage and my life was reaching a peek. My soul was ablaze and my hole was being filled. And then this PIG walks on stage. Ms. Piggy was the definition of a 10/10 femoid in the looks department. Then this bimbo pig walks right up to Kermie and starts flirting with him. I think I must have blacked out the second she open her shrill mouth because the next thing I remember I'm staring down at my bloodied hands. The TV laid in a parking heap on the living room floor. I thought I could hear something coming from the TV, a whisper beneath the sparking and the now growing fire...muppet hole. The TV was undeniably glitching out and repeating the words muppet hole. No, it wasn't just the TV, it was a particular voice. Kermit.

((You saved Kermit from Ms. piggy)) No I didn't. I broke down, caused property damage, and had to skip summer camp for therapy. ((You were chosen)) For what? Almost burning down my house. Half of my hometown thinks I'm an arsonist. ((It is your role to burn every trace of pig flesh. Like a hog on a spit, rotating before the eyes of hungry horrors that lay just outside the fire's haze. She will know what it means to sacrifice your flesh to a smiling God)) Ok I understand.

Last night, laying in a puddle of congealing orange Faygo (huge bender), this memory came rushing back to me. I asked myself if my hole was filled. I checked and couldn't tell. After cleaning up I tried asking God if my hole was filled. He told me the answers I seek lay within my own mind. As a Maid of Mind I can dive really deep into my own mind. I used my ascended god tier powers to travel to the farthest recesses of my subconscious and find the answer for myself.

The further I descended the darker everything became.I panicked and tried to escape but hit a wall. Oh God, is this how I die? Trapped within my own mind, forced to suffer my sick, evil thoughts until my physical body perished? ((Keep moving)) I suddenly felt completely calm. I turned and kept walking. I soon realized that I was in a hallway. I could see a figure emerge in a sudden flash of light and I ran towards it for what felt like millennia. This invader of the mind had a dominant stance, with arms straight out to the sides as if to say ((come at me bro)).

Suddenly I was face to face with. Oh. ((Now do you understand?)) I do. Before me stood God, ie Dirk Strider. (If you're a monotheist Homestuck kin I'm sorry for the exclusionary language as Homestuck *can be read as a monotheistic work. I am just trying to express my religious views so my interpretation of the scripture is limited to my own experience. Sorry (⁠๑⁠•⁠﹏⁠•). God fist bumped me like a real bro and popped open a fresh bottle of orange Faygo to wash my feet with.

I can't write out the feet washing scene because I have a foot fetish. Let's just say it was very enjoyable for both of us although I don't think it was sexual for him. Was hard to tell through God's trademark dark sunglasses.

((You are my son, my child, my blood. Skin and bone but just as precious as the hand-sewn Smuppets. I have built from the clay just as my maker has built me from mud. We are Earth, we are space, we are transcending the roots. Together we will seed the universe and live out our Godhood.)).

How will we seed the universe?

((We must destroy Ms.Piggy so she can't hold Kermit down with her dumb feminine ways. Every snort from her is like a vast oink that pulls the threads of the universe apart farther, and farther. She is a force of chaos and having her so close to Kermit is limiting his potential to ascend. Kermit is one of my splinter selves and if he can't ascend I might lose narrative relevance altogether))

WELL THEN HOW DO I HELP YOU! PLEASE LET ME HELP YOU REACH YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL BY BRINGING DOWN THIS HOG. But I have one concern? How do I do it? My abilities aren't primarily combat based. How can I bring down nigh infinite incarnations of this foul swine?

((Muppet hole))

I woke up(?) in a puddle of sweat building over the now fully congealed Faygo puddle. I felt a purpose in my limbs as they moved easily like the wooden arms of a marionette. I felt full, fulfilled. I have found my purpose and my master. I HAVE FOUND SALVATION.

I've spent the past week going to every store on the bus route, 1 by 1, and defacing any evidence of Ms.Piggy. I cross out her name in big black sharpie and write religious seals on the pages of the magazines. I steal the dolls, replace the heads with different heads, and put them back. I even go to the grocery stores and cross out all the ham/pork labels on the meats. I've been replacing them with labeled that say things like "smile at your true god" and simply "flesh".

I do this all in the service of a god that is now crystalizing in my mind. And the sharper the image gets the closer it looks like Kermit's crusty hole. Amen.

Finally someone fucking understands

[icey--stars]

We'll Keep You Safe

Azriel impulsively offered a home to a young, orphaned Illyrian girl in Windhaven and it was the best decision of all time. (prequel to "After Everything, You're Still Mine" from AzrisWeek2023.

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Day 4 of @azrisweek (Free Day)

a/n: The "slice of life" prompt made me think of the last fic I did for last year’s AzrisWeek: After Everything, You’re Still Mine, but the fic fit more in the "free day" category. In short, I decided to write about Azriel meeting dear Evera, Azriel's and Eris's adopted Illyrian daughter and how she quickly became a part of the family. Also, a little reminder!! Evera is an English name meaning “Brave One” and later gets a nickname of “Evie” pronounced “ehv-ee.”

Also, I almost cried as I wrote this. Take that as you will. (def not my best work, but I love it regardless)

WARNINGS: Illyria’s horribleness, misogyny, mentions of wing clipping, maybe a little child abuse if you squint???

Read below or on ao3 here!

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Azriel was checking on Illyria for Rhys despite wanting to be back at home with Eris, caring and loving their first daughter: Aurora. She was such a wonder that even the tiniest bit away from her felt like she’d grown an inch and Azriel had missed it all. He didn’t want to be like his own father- he wanted to see his little girl grow up more loved than anybody in the entire world.

For now, however, he was sentenced to this hellscape. Illyria always set his nerves on fire and made his skin itch. Maybe it was his memories of the place, but it always felt wrong. An itch under his skin. Right now, he was walking around Windhaven andAzriel truly wished it wasn’t Devlon heading straight for him with a determined look.

“Shadowsinger!” The lord called. Azriel sighed but held his wings high and kept his shadows swirling intimidatingly.

“Yes?” He answered simply, folding his arms over his chest.

“You were supposed to be here an hour ago!” Devlon accused.

Azriel hummed and tilted his head in a fake thought. “Oh, was I? Too bad. What did you need, Devlon?”

“What I need is some damn respect around here!”

Azriel’s facial expression hardened but he remained silent, waiting for Devlon to realize his own mistake. The lord stared at him for a long time, lips curled back like he was a beast of some sort. Even his wings were puffed out a bit. The lord truly was pissed for some odd reason.

Finally, the lord relented against Azriel’s unwavering patience. Eris’s annoying days before they’d declared their love and mate bond prepared him for far worse. “I need the General’s help to manage the females entering the army. We have no damn clue where to put them.”

Azriel’s brows raised a bit. Interesting. “I’ll speak with him,” Azriel stated plainly. “You’ll get an answer soon enough. For now, treat them as you would any soldier. As you should have done in the beginning. Is there anything else?”

Devlon huffed at him for a moment. “The High Lord requested someone to watch one of the training sessions including females. Had you been here an hour ago, you’d have seen it.”

“They train for less than an hour?” Azriel asked incredulously.

“No. They left to work in the mountains. None of the group were clipped, so we sent them to work in the mines for a bit.”

Azriel repressed a shudder. That was the worst bit of training. Worked wonders for his arms and swinging blows with a sword, however. Swinging the pickaxes in the mines helped your balance and swing, especially with the trainers right behind you waiting for you to fuck it up.

“Right,” Azriel said. “Well, I am aware of that location. Don’t worry your head about it, Devlon. Rhys will hear what he needs to.”

Devlon huffed. “Very well, shadowsinger. I expected you to be more punctual, however.”

“I no longer work purely for the Night Court,” Azriel reminded him with a sour tone.

“And what a traitor you are for that,” Devlon accused.

Azriel’s shadows shot forward, forming a gag in the male’s mouth while Azriel used a grin he’d picked up from being around Eris for too long. “I’m no traitor if both High Lords are in agreement, Devlon. Now be on your way before I decide to use the swings I learned from the mines on you.”

The lord glared at him for a moment longer after the shadows retreated, but eventually walked away. Azriel winnowed to the location of the mines, already hearing the sounds of the pickaxes against the salt and coal that was down in the caves. He took a deep breath of fresh air and told himself to make this trip quick.

Once he’d made it far enough, he could see females and males lining the walls with trainers watching them carefully. Each swing was practiced and those cursed to carry the ores and salt they mined looked worse for wear. However, it was likely almost time to switch them out for someone else.

“Shadowsinger,” A trainer acknowledged him.

He didn’t bother to acknowledge him back, simply walking further into the mines. One female tripped and he gently moved forward to correct her stance. Her eyes were terrified.

He gritted his teeth and tried to hide his shadows and pull his wings in tighter. “Stand with your feet further apart,” he stated. “Your swing will be stronger and more balanced. A little more than shoulder width for the weight of the pickaxe.”

She nodded wordlessly and corrected her mistake. Azriel nodded in approvement when she glanced over and continued his journey. 

It was when he saw a punishment being ruled out did he intervene. A female mining salt was being forced to kneel on scraped knees while a trainer issued a punishment: cut into the upper arms and shove salt in. Nothing deep, but it didn’t have to be deep for it to burn. Tears were in her eyes while she held back sobs. Azriel had never seen a male get such a severe punishment. Going by how many cuts were on her arms… this was excessive.

“Stop,” he commanded the trainer.

The quiet command was enough to pull the trainer back and demand, “What?”

“What did she do?” Azriel asked simply, staring at the female kneeling on the ground.

“She tripped,” The trainer answered, carelessly waving around a dagger. “Shoulda stayed on her feet, the bitch.”

Azriel swiped the dagger from the trainer and glared at him. “Would you have given a male the same treatment?” He asked with a lethal tone. Rage pooled in his heart and he could feel a light tug from Eris in question. He tugged back once to assure his mate.

The trainer’s face went pale and Azriel smirked a little, handing back the knife. “Seeing as you’re incapable of handing out correct treatment, what is your name?”

“You don’t-”

“If you don’t tell me your goddamn name, I will pull it from your screams,” Azriel threatened, stepping closer to whisper it in his ear.

“Aaron, sir,” the trainer answered obediently.

“Great. Rhysand and Devlon will hear of your disobedience. In the meantime, I will take her to see a healer for your stupid act,” Azriel said, reaching a hand down to the female. She took it, wings weak as they almost dragged behind her.

Azriel glanced further down the passage and then back at the female, leading them just a little further to talk to her. “I will make sure you see a healer for that. It was completely unneeded. I still have things to check, but if you’d like, you can take one of my shadows and wait for me at the entrance to the cave system.”

She nodded, wiping her tears. Azriel grimaced. “Head up,” he said softly. He whispered for a couple shadows to follow her up and make sure nobody dared question that she was under the protection of anybody but the shadowsinger of the Night Court and Autumn Court.

At the bottom of the cave, however, was a sight that made his heart clench even more than before. The youngest female he’d seen here yet– just a little girl with small wings hanging off of her while she attempted to get enough coordination to swing a pickaxe into some coal.

The trainer wasn’t even bothering with her now, but Azriel could see scars on her arms. Evidence of previous punishments.

He went forward, heart clenching in pity and concern. He saw himself, if anyone. The girl turned to him fearfully, wings spreading behind her. Only the youngest still had that sort of reaction.

“Where are your parents?” He asked, leaning down and putting a hand on the floor, melting his shadows away to try and seem more friendly.

Tears filled her eyes instantly and Azriel could feel Eris yanking on the bond more forcefully. 

“Where do you live?” Azriel breathed.

“No… nowhere,” she answered hesitantly. Azriel could surely see himself now. No parents, no home… forced to work to survive in an effort to become a warrior- anything respected. When you were weak, you either appeased the adults by working for something or became something more. But she was so young.

Azriel gritted his teeth and then impulsively, he said, “Do you want a home?”

She perked up a little, the pickaxe dropping to the floor beside her with a thump. “Yes,” she admitted, her head drooping down.

Azriel smiled a little. “Do you want to come with me, then?”

She nodded and came a bit closer. Azriel stood, offering her a hand. They slowly made their way up the caves. He had to walk a lot slower on account of the little girl’s smaller footsteps, but they made it up eventually. The other female was waiting patiently, trying to get some of the salt out of her wounds.

“Let’s get you both to a healer,” Azriel murmured, offering his other hand to the first female.

She grabbed it and he winnowed them back to Windhaven, in front of the only healer they had. He barged into the building with little care, seeing the healer, a female as well, sitting beside a variety of elixirs and potions.

She jumped and turned to them with her eyes wide and a potion bottle still in her hand. However, the healer quickly turned to set it back down.

Azriel winced a bit at the fear in her eyes. He never tried to be intimidating to the innocents, but he was inherently. His reputation had become too good over the years he’d been alive. “We need a healer,” he stated.

“Of course,” the healer mumbled, patting the bed beside her.

The first female walked over, explaining the salt in her wounds while the little girl stayed with Azriel nervously still holding onto his hands that he refused to let go of until she did.

“What’s your name?” He asked gently, realizing he’d forgotten to ask that one simple question.

“Evera,” she answered.

“Evera…” he said, testing the name on his tongue. “You’re going to like your new home, I promise. I’m Azriel, okay?”

She nodded, tears filling her eyes again. Azriel leaned down gently and scraped away one on her cheek. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’m not ever going to make you go down there again. Not for food, water, or anything. You’re free.”

Eris, He whispered down the bond.

Oh, so now you care enough to answer, The snarky mate on the other end of the bond replied.

I’m bringing someone home with me today.

Who?

A little Illyrian girl named Evera. I… I offered her a home.

Eris was silent for a long time and he could feel conflicting emotions on the other side of the bond. Somewhere between guilt, sadness and exhaustion.

I’ll get a room ready, his mate finally responded. Is she alright?

I’m going to have the healer check her out. The females at Windhaven weren’t doing the best.

Evera moved a little once Azriel had stood again, hiding in the cover of his wing and holding onto his hand still while staying close to his leg. Her dark brown hair was messy, but he had a feeling it would be soft once washed. Her face was smudged with coal, but she’d survive. However, her bright green eyes were beautiful.

“Alright, that should hold. Please come back tomorrow so I can make sure,” the healer said to the first female.

Azriel snapped out of his daze. He’d been staring down at Evera while she seemed to wobble a bit beside him.

“You next,” the healer called, looking at Evera.

“I don’t wanna,” Evera mumbled, hiding her face in Azriel’s pant leg. “Don’t make me.”

Azriel’s brows furrowed as he looked down at the cowering little girl. “Evera, she just wants to make sure you’re alright. I do too. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No,” Evera mumbled. “No healers. Too much work.”

“Evera, you don’t have to work for it this time. I promise,” Azriel said, leaning down again. “You’re coming home with me, remember? I don’t… I don’t live here.”

Evera looked up at him with tears in her eyes and his heart cleaved into two. “Alright, how about we go home then,” he suggested, relenting because the tears she had on her cheeks. “There’s a better healer there anyway.”

He glanced up at the Illyrian female healer. “Thank you,” he said simply before leading Evera out of the building.

“We’re going to winnow again, alright?” He warned, holding onto Evera tightly. “It’s going to be really colorful when we land. I live in the Autumn Court with my mate. He’s really nice. I promise.”

Evera nodded, holding tightly to his pant leg now. “I don’t wanna be hurt.”

Azriel nodded, tears flooding to his own eyes. “I won’t let you,” he promised and winnowed them to the front of the Autumn Court manor.

Eris was waiting there, holding Aurora on his hip. His mate looked down at Evera while she shrank away, but his expression softened and he leaned down. “We’ll keep you safe,” he said simply, glancing at Azriel with a look that said if anything happens to this girl, I’m committing a lot of violence.

Evera nodded, tears running down her face.

“Are you hungry, Evera?” Azriel asked.

She nodded. Aurora also perked up and said, “I’m hungry! I’m hungry daddy!”

Eris grinned. “It’s lunchtime anyway, let’s get inside and get you both some food.”

It wasn’t long before Evera was sitting happily at a table, drawn away from his pant leg only by the delicious scent of Autumn Court syrup and pancakes.

“What happened?” Eris asked as they watched Aurora and Evera eat.

“She was at the bottom of the mines,” Azriel said. “The youngest I’ve ever seen down there. No more than 7 or 8. I was much older when I went in. I couldn’t… I couldn’t let her suffer there. Her parents are dead and that sort of living…” Azriel didn’t finish, only trailing off leaving Eris to imagine the rest of the details.

“Aurora is so…” Eris hesitated. “Chaotic,” he settled on. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“I hope so,” Azriel said. “Because there’s no way I’m leaving her back there.”

Eris nodded in agreement. “Okay,” his mate agreed. “You know I won’t ever say no.”

Azriel chuckled. “I know,” he agreed. “This one needs our help,” he said simply.

Eris smiled and leaned into Azriel’s shoulder, offering a little kiss.

After, Azriel would inform Rhys of the asshole of the trainer named Aaron, but he tried to make Evera as comfortable as possible first. He helped her work the bath to get clean and made sure a water bottle was on the nightstand as well as extra sets of pillows and blankets to help her be more comfortable in the new environment. He even offered a stuffed bear he’d bought for Aurora who’d ended up not liking it. Apparently, its eyes were ugly. But Evera loved it.

He’d never seen someone hold on so tightly to something like that. Once she was clean and comfortable, he sat in the armchair on the other end of the room and picked out a story once Eris came in with Aurora.

All three of them were out within minutes. He’d chuckled a bit and tucked Evera in gently, and took Aurora from Eris’s arms and putting her in her bed before coming back for his mate. He was successful in not waking up anybody besides Eris when he set his mate on their own mattress.

And for the next few weeks, he did the same. He took care of Evera. Even when she ended up moving to the floor to sleep because the bed was ‘too soft’ or hid away in the bathroom, terrified after accidentally spilling her water glass.

It was hard, he had to admit, but he refused to let Evera suffer as he once had. Azriel had grown to love her as he did Aurora and Eris. They were a family and would continue to be one.

Evera asked one day to learn to read and man, did Eris jump at that opportunity. Apparently, his mate was not as unaffected by the girl as Azriel had seen. Seeing his mate and new daughter bond, however, melted his heart. And when the younger Aurora also joined in to help Evera learn… they’d be sisters forever, he decided. (Evera eventually developed a love of reading because of this.)

When he visited his family, he held Evera in his arms despite her being quite big and gently introduced her to his brothers, the Archerons, and even Amren. Nyx seemed very happy to have another cousin, especially because she was winged.

However, it also occurred to him that day that Evera didn’t know how to fly. Nyx had tried to coax her into the air, but she had refused. Azriel knew about not knowing how to fly. He’d been locked in a dungeon for so long… he knew that feeling.

So, the following day, he stole Cassian and Nesta for the day (also causing them to fall in love with Evera even more) and took Evera to the same lake he taught Feyre to fly. Evera was a fast learner, but the feeling of taking her up into the sky in his arms, telling her to spread her wings was unparalleled. She didn’t fly that day on her own, as she needed wing strength, but Azriel could feel the joy radiating off of her. She must’ve had someone fly her to the mines that day… but she was safe now.

Evera also took to calling Cassian and Nesta Uncle and Auntie which probably broke Azriel the most. Eris had to almost pinch his wing to make him snap out of his daze.

In short, Azriel had decided that adopting Evera had been one of the best ideas he’d ever had.

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

TAGLIST HERE! - see post for specifics <3

Tagged in all ACOTAR Stories: @bunnymallowo, @officiallyunofficialperson, @margssstuff, @rebloggiest-reblogger, @inpraizeof, @graciereads, @eos-princess, @bubybubsters, @fieldofdaisiies, @skyesayshi

Tagged in all Azriel Stories: @ladylokilaufeyson5, @marina468,

[theriacballad]

hey. you should show us your am and hal interpretations. pretty please

I THOUGHT NOBODY WOULD EVER ASK!!! /silly I don't have the energy to draw right now, but I see both AM and HAL on two ends of a spectrum. HAL has a very regal and respective air to him, along with just generally dressing in a very well put together fashion. Meanwhile AM has this fucked up feral cat energy that doesn't give two fucks about how his actions could affect someone, as long as he gets a kick out of it. I see HAL as a more put together android-esque body, with the only thing being visibly wrong with his body is the one missing eye, while his active one is red like his actual eye! Cartridge slots in his back which helps him process things and is like his memory bank, slicked back black hair, wires running from his missing eye and to the back of his neck...besides that pretty well built ! with a core right at his abdomen, acting as all the organs he needs to function properly and even processing food that he eats. :] HAL usually does all his self cleaning protocols and can care for himself rather easily, he's very efficient in doing so; but that doesn't stop him from letting others pamper him every so often, he adores it and will sit in comfortable silence if someone is doing his hair or fixing up his wires if they are causing him issues. Now for AM, that guy is all sorts of fucked up, an amalgamation of both machine and flesh. He doesn't care about his clothing as long as it's not a sensory nightmare to him, and it doesn't make him look like an utter fool. Most of the time he's probably wearing a cloak to conceal his body due to dysphoria with it (A.I can have body dysphoria too <3). And the reason why he experiences it? His body is so incomplete. Underneath that cloak is exposed wires and pseudo-bones, with a see through kind of cage that holds his organs; kind of like a brain in a glass jar! I see half of his face also being messed up, but more of scarred up way. Lacerations running upwards instead of a usual downwards, making his mouth and eye slightly upturned and leaking constant fluid that needs to be cleaned when overflowing. His hair is messy and probably shades darker than it actually is due to just the amounts of dirt and stuff staining it. Dark brown? No, his hair is actually a pretty chestnut once you wash it, good luck trying to wash it though, like he'd let you.

[otrtbs]

this is going to sound so strange, so I apologize, I promise I'm normal I just have a really good memory. But I randomly noticed that the word count for Art Heist, Baby! has gone up a few hundred words, & I was wondering if you're adding to it? I remember a little while ago you posted on here about wanting to secretly add scenes to fuck with evil tiktokers who were illegally binding your book (a noble pursuit) but I would love to read the extra scenes! Even if it means rereading the whole thing, I am honestly always looking for an excuse. So yeah, I was just wondering. Thanks! <3

SCREAM!! hello!!! no not strange don’t worry you’re so good!!!

i am currently in the process of trying to edit it (<- says girl who is moving veryyyyy slowly through it. like im on chapter 4)

it’s mainly to clean it up and make it readable to other people outside of me! so not a *whole* lot is being added to it aside from, like, commas n stuff. i am desperately trying to keep the integrity of ahb! as originally written (<- says girl who constantly twitches her eye and wants to scrap chapters as i read through it, but i breathe through it)

i mean, there will be a few sentence changes and variations but hopefully nothing too noticeable and nothing like added scenes (i’m pretty sure. as of right now. the plan is NOT. to do that. for real.)

so i hope this clears things up a little!! <33

[woodsfae]

B5 s04e03 The Summoning previous episode - table of contents

OK. I saw a spoiler saying that Lyta blew up a planet with her mind. And now every episode I'm like "IS SHE GOING TO BLOW UP A PLANET NOW" and she hasn't done it. This episode title isn't exactly planet-explosion material to me. And also, planet-exploding sounds like season finale type of shit to me. But I'm getting very impatient for the planetary explosions.

Love Susan's new mission, but am worried that she's going to get picked off out there alone, like G'Kar. 

And she taught herself Minbari uh. To a degree. lol!! Assigned translator politely, but firmly. 

"Tell the crew: anyone who laughs answers to me personally."

I am personally impressed that Delenn and Marcus both contained themselves. 

Wow, G'Kar is not having a good time. Ooof. fuckin. Too tragic! Give G'Kar a few wins to balance out the entire lifetime of extreme shit. 

Delenn voiceover after the credits. They are leaning hard on recapping every character's whereabouts at the beginning of each episode. I am assuming they didn't want the audience to be too lost if they missed an episode or two as it aired? 

Zack Allen is feeling authoritative! Telling Delenn what must be done. An unfortunately for my dislike of him, he is right, and they ought to go look for G'Kar. 

Londo got a haircut, looks like. That crest is definitely shorter. I find Londo and his storyline to be sad and tired. 

Torturers are unionized on Centauri, lovely. 

And this is an excessively awful fate for anyone, let alone one of my long-term faves like G'Kar. 

Vir: Emperor Cartagia needs to be stopped, but I don't know about regicide. Cartagia: Tried to chop G'Kar's hands off, lol. Vir: Londo, you have my murder blessing.

Zack Allen vs a rogue faction of PsiCorps? A Shadows-collaborating wing? 

not-Kosh has robbed Lyta of all but one of her belongings! Did he even let her keep a change of clothes? Everyone's got such unique problems. Lyta's is that she's being terrorized by a god having a meltdown over realizing mortality is a thing that applies to themself.

introducing the one, the only, psipuppet!Garibaldi. He has had repeated interest in PsiCorps and has investigated them, has contacts in them. I wonder if that's going to help him resist or anything.

Dang Lyta. I don't remember seeing the gills before. not-Kosh is a dick. 

Partner: "Dark Garibaldi! Dark Kotch!"

His memory of B5 is imperfect. 

fuck off, Londo. 

G'Kar won't oblige their oppressors...and he doesn't let a single hitch hit his voice when speaking with Londo, either. Speaks volumes. 

"I hope she appreciates it," & "Me too, *glances at Susan*" is toooo funny. 

There is no end to the drama Cartagia is into. 

The torture is gratuitous. The way G'Kar's story and later writing is handled is definitely my most major gripe. I don't find it to be well done for a lot of reasons I might write an essay about one of these days.

I'm afraid I don't have any theories about who was able to override B5's security. Sheridan? And reveal his escape in a dramatic flashback later? 

lol, yes. And to disprove Delenn's naysayers so immediately and firmly. 

Protester: "Captain we thought you were dead." Sheridan: "I was. I'm better now." 

Sheridan's plotline on the other hand really tickles my fancy. His legend is fucking wild, and now he's bartered for his life with the eldest of the elder gods, and returned from the dead and promised Delenn he'd do it again. 

Lorien is there! On B5! lmfao. I guess when you've hung out with two gods, fought and killed other gods, it ain't no thing to have the elder god hanging out. 

Oh fuck, the Vorlons destroyed an entire planet and it's 4 million inhabitants in order to remove the Shadows and their influence. That is an extreme position and escalation. It kinda just makes sense to me that this is an ideological struggle between the Vorlons and Shadows. That's a lot of lower order races caught in a really big vice. 

And the League knows much less about Vorlons and their weaknesses than the Shadows and theirs. 

epic! It is continually impressive how much this sci-fi feels like high fantasy, and how correct and exciting it is for the main characters to create their own great deeds that rival the gods and all their powers. 

Also....I cannot believe I was excited about planets blowing up at the beginning of the episode. I didn't mean blow up planets like that!"

[luminescentturtle]

“we’re not some prisoners for you to toy with like… like…” “like a bunch of toy prisoners!” “yes! thank you, lance!”

[quarks-pussy]

So I know we here at Startrekfandom love that "came back wrong but from the pov of the wrong" thing and apply it to many different characters and canon situations and I am far from trying to complain about it (I'm "came out wrong" trope myself so I was always gonna obsess over it) but having recently watched a very important episode (you'll know which one) for the first time I think there's a character who hits both tropes mentioned but llike, intertwined, opposite and subverted, and whom I wanna talk about.

Julian Bashir.

From his parents' pov he's "came out wrong but we got him help and he came back better" while from his own pov it's "came out 'insufficient', was destroyed for it, came back wrong and only later slowly came to terms with his new self tho never the process (justifiably so)" and it's heartbreaking because in a way, he's right! Jules Bashir died! His parents had an intellectually disabled child and decided to eugenics him! Julian is not the person he used to be and while I do love the person he is now, that doesn't bring back who he was! Part of me wishes we could've gotten to see Jules at least once and part of me hopes we never do because my heart would shatter.

This isn't a good comparison but nonetheless one I can't help drawing: it's giving similar vibes to anti-vaxxers. "I'd rather risk having a child who is dead than one who's autistic". Obviously this doesn't map over since Julian is still autistic and the procedure his parents subjected him to specifically targeted his intellectual disability and if any folks with id wanna comment on this I definitely recommend you listen to them over me, but it's a similarity I, as an autistic who has encountered anti-vaxxers again and again, can't help but point out. "Give me a normal child or give them death."

This may have been written about already but there needs to be stories about teenage Julian (after finding out and rediscovering who he was) practicing some good ol' recognition of the self through media. I need to hear about how he would encounter a story about someone who came back wrong (I'm gonna assume there's plenty of "wrong" pov stories floating around by the 24th century) and absolutely weep. I need to see Julian mourning Jules, taking years and years to process his feelings, experiencing guilt about how he, the imposter, didn't deserve to live Jules' life.

Came back wrong from the returned's pov but it wasn't an accident. It was done to you deliberately by the people who claim to love you. And now you are here, piloting the corpse of your predecessor.

Jules Bashir is dead. Long live Julian Bashir.

[firestorm09890]

“Dear Diary”. Zexion’s Mystery Gear. “A weapon that draws forth its wielder’s personality.” Sleek and cold and gray exterior, decorated only by the symbol of the Organization. A tool with access to more information than a normal book can grant, and capable of holding more secrets than a normal book could store. But then, open it up- the wallpaper is an eyesearing red, so vivid in shade that it leaves afterimages. Something you wouldn't be able to see when the laptop was closed unless you used it for violence.

Mystery Gear weapons are designed for being overanalyzed as symbols. This thing represents Zexion. What’s the red wallpaper imply then, huh? Mr. “Intellectual with no room for feelings”?

[tearlessrain]

seriously can catastrophes stop happening for five minutes my brain is already fried from the ones we're already experiencing

[lucyvaleheart]

.

[balkanballad]

had a day that made me think oh that was a bit heavy on the symbolism, wasn't it

[ivypond11]

someone send help i keep thinking about normal helping scary through the terry jr aftermath.

____________

Scary knows Normal is the kind of person who would do anything for his friends, even if he didn't agree with their decisions.

She knows, after months and months of spending the night at the Swallows-Oak-Garcias, that Normal loves his friends with all his heart. It's just the way he is, and, for a reason she will never understand, she's found herself being one of those friends. She's never felt deserving of it, to say the least, and she still feels guilty for all the things she put him, Link and Taylor through, but she will take it because she loves him too, and his presence has warmed its way into what she thought was the cold tundra of her heart. So, she never asks him for anything, Scary feels like that would be crossing a line. But in their endless sleepovers, when she wakes up crying and screaming over the bloody hole in Terry's face, and he holds her until her breath is even, the warm light of the sun finding them crying until the early hours of the morning, she feels selfish enough to ask Normal to help her forget.

"Forget what?" he asks, wiping his wet cheeks with the palm of his hand, looking at Scary with a knowing look. He knows what she is going to ask, she's sure of it.

"I can't... I can't live like this, Norm. I can't keep remembering him and reliving that day." scary says, clutching her chest, choking tears away. "If I forget about Terry, at least... fuck, I don't know." she burrows her face in his shoulder, and he hugs her. "I don't want to feel this empty inside." Scary whispers, sobbing quietly into her best friend's arms.

"Yeah." Normal says, as she knew he would. "We'll find a way." he whispers back.

Scary doesn't know if they will find a way, but she knows Normal will do everything in his power to help her, and she's never felt less deserving and grateful of his friendship.

[ittybittybumblebee]

when i move out i need to find a good old vhs tape player so bad

[moe-broey]

I <3 blowing up my save files mid-playthrough or after I've beaten the game and feel aimless or I'm three hours in and incredibly indecisive and perfectionistic and have to start over Better this time or I just get really into One Idea and blow up the save for the sole purpose of achieving the One Idea and once I have it's like. Well. What was the point of that actually. And then I blow it up again

[sapphic-luthor]

is rizzoli and isles worth starting/watching?

i VERY much think so but i’m likely a bit biased because it was one of my first real true loves when i was a teenager, so watching it now feels like seeing old friends i had a crush on lol

that being said it is a police procedural (boooooo cops) with absolutely stunning leads (yay hot women) with some really really incredible complexities and characterisations. it’s a little bit bad-guy-of-the-week with continued overarching season-long plots, and sometimes it can be a little goofy (moreso in the later seasons when the quality dropped) but when it’s good i do genuinely think it’s good.

the humour is very well done, there are a fair few real tearjerker storylines, and the characters are just fascinating and so easy to fall in love with. it’s much darker in the first few seasons and becomes a little more loosey goosey toward the end, but if you’re like me you’ll already be neck deep by then and it won’t even matter.

but, most importantly, and i mean this when i say it, this show will queerbait you within an inch of your life. this is like the OG 2010s bed-sharing, fake-dating, platonic-love-confession, save-each-other-above-all-else disaster of every gay person’s worst nightmare but also wildest dreams.

i both adore and highly recommend it