#Window Design Online Help

[neodermatologist23]

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[subjectsix]

KIP'S BIG POST OF THINGS TO MAKE THE INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY SUCK A LITTLE LESS

Post last updated November 23, 2024. Will continue to update!

Here are my favorite things to use to navigate technology my own way:

A refurbished iPod loaded with Rockbox OS (Rockbox is free, iPods range in price. I linked the site I got mine from. Note that iPods get finicky about syncing and the kind of cord it has— it may still charge but might not recognize the device to sync. Getting an original Apple cord sometimes helps). Rockbox has ports for other MP3 players as well.

This Windows debloater program (there are viable alternatives out there, this one works for me). It has a powershell script that give you a little UI and buttons to press, which I appreciate, as I'm still a bit shy with tech.

Firefox with the following extensions: - Consent-O-Matic (set your responses to ALL privacy/cookie pop-ups in the extension, and it will answer all pop-ups for you. I can see reasons to not use it, but I appreciate it) - Facebook Container ("contains" Meta on Facebook and Instagram pages to keep it from tracking you or getting third party cookies, since Meta is fairly egregious about it) - Redirect Amp to HTML (AMP is designed for mobile phones, this forces pages to go to their HTML version) - A WebP/AVIF image converter - uBlock Origin and uBlacklist, with the AI blacklist loaded in to kill any generative AI results from appearing in search engines or anywhere.

Handbrake for ripping DVDs— I haven’t used this in awhile as I haven’t been making video edits. I used this back when I had a Mac OS

VLC Media Player (ol’ reliable)

Unsplash & Pexels for free-to-use images

A password manager (these often are paid. I use Dashlane. There are many options, feel free to search around and ask for recs!). There is a lot that goes into cybersecurity— find the option you feel is best for you.

Things I suggest:

Understanding Royalty Free and the Creative Commons licenses

Familiarity with boolean operators for searching

Investing in a backup drive and external drive

A few good USBs, including one that has a backup of your OS on it

Adapter cables

Avoiding Fandom “wikias” (as in the brand “Fandom”) and supporting other, fan-run or supported wikis. Consider contributing if its something you find yourself passionate or joyful about.

Finding Forums for the things you like, or creating your own*

Create an email specifically for ads/shopping— use it to receive all promotional emails to keep your inbox clean. Upkeep it.

Stop putting so much of your personal information online— be willing to separate your personal online identity from your “online identity”. You don’t owe people your name, location, pronouns, diagnoses, or any of that. It’s your choice, but be discerning in what you give and why. I recommend avoiding providing your phone number to sites as much as possible.

Be intentional

Ask questions

Talk to people

Remember that you can lurk all you want

Things that are fun to check out:

BBSes-- here's a portal to access them.

Neocities

*Forums-- find some to join, or maybe host your own? The system I was most familiar with was vbulletin.

MMM.page

Things that have worked well for me but might work for you, YMMV:

Limit your app usage time on your smartphone if you’re prone to going back to them— this is a tangible way to “practice mindfulness”, a term I find frustratingly vague ansjdbdj

Things I’m looking into:

The “Pi Hole”— a raspberry pi set up to block all ads on a specific internet connection

VPNs-- this is one that was recommended to me.

How to use computers (I mean it): Resources on how to understand your machine and what you’re doing, even if your skill and knowledge level is currently 0:

This section I'll come back an add to. I know that messing with computers can be intimidating, especially if you feel out of your depth. HTML and regedits and especially things like dualbooting or linux feel impossible. So I want to put things here that explain exactly how the internet and your computer functions, and how you can learn and work with that. Yippee!

[markrosewater]

Hi Mark. With a lot of talk recently in the online space about the unreasonable outrage and horrendous death threats towards the Commander Rules Committee and Commander Advisory Group, I want to thank you for being the proverbial "shield" for some of the most heinous and grotesque backlash towards WOTC as the unofficial public representative for MTG. I know it can be absolutely draining for your mental health to receive harassment in this position, so I just want to say I am grateful and empathize that you are in this position. With that being said, as one of the most prominent faces of Magic, is it possible if you could say a word or two about the aforementioned harassment towards the RC and CAG to deter these harassers and possibly share your own experiences regarding unconstructive hate to help the victims of such depravity (if you're comfortable sharing)?

There are advantages and disadvantages of being one of the faces for Magic. When people like something we're doing, even when I had nothing to do with it, I get lots of praise. Most players only know a handful of Wizards employees, so they tend to assume that the people they know are responsible for the things that are happening.

There is, of course, a downside to that. When things happen people dislike, I'm also the light rod for complaint. Whether or not I had anything to do with the issue in question, I get the blame. I am Head Designer. Many times, I did have a hand or a say in what happened. And when I'm responsible, or partly responsible, for something, I try to own up to it.

Players are not a unified front though. When we do thing X, some of you will like it while others will not. I often will get complimented for the same thing I'm being yelled at for.

From time to time, we do something a majority are unhappy with. At times, we do things a majority are *very* unhappy with. That's when things can get a bit ugly. There are a lot of civilities built into daily life. There are just things you don't do or say to another human being. Most of that goes out the window online.

For some reason, the anonymity combined with just how social media has evolved has emboldened people to do and say things they never would in person (and I should also acknowledge society has changed in ways that even what's acceptable in person has changed).

What this means is I get a lot of negativity, some of it very personal. I'm not just talking about people criticizing the in-game choices I've made (or often didn't even make), but comments on me as a person, about who I am and what they think of me. People tell me that want bad things to happen to me. Not just getting fired (although that's a popular one), people vocalize, sometimes quite graphically, about things they want to happen to me.

The first few times this happened, I took it pretty hard. Having lots of people attack you online, saying horrible things about you, is tough. Humans look to other humans for approval. It's just built into our DNA to want others to like us. Having people attack you hurts. You have trouble sleeping, eating, it just weighs on you emotionally.

I was bullied as a kid. This really isn't much different except its much higher in volume and very public.

With time, I learned to adapt to it. It's not that I enjoy people saying nasty things about me. It still sucks, but I've found ways to process it. I came to realize that someone being nasty is more a commentary on them than me. And I adopted a philosophy of looking past the words to the message behind it. Most people complaining didn't like a choice we made about the game. I could focus on the feedback and less on the delivery method. But that took years, and it has a lot to do with who I am as a person. I enjoy the things I get to do with a public profile, so I accept what comes with it.

I've made the conscious choice to build a thick skin and weather social media, so I can continue doing what I love. It saddens me that I have to.

I say all this because I don't know if people really process the harm they're doing when they get negative online, especially towards another person. Most people do not have the years of processing angry messages like I do.

Words have an impact and that doesn't matter whether you're speaking them directly to someone's face or typing them in the privacy of your home.

Bullying is not okay. Cruelty is not okay. Making a conscious choice to belittle another human being, especially because they made a choice you disagree with about a game, is not okay.

When you use ugly words, you are doing harm to another human being (sometimes many human beings). Imagine if someone attacked you like that, or a loved one, or a friend. Don't do something to another human being that would cause pain if it was done to you.

That doesn't mean you can't communicate unhappiness. It doesn't mean you can't vocalize that you disagree with a decision made. I would stress two things. One, make it about the decision and not the person who made the decision. Explain why and how the decision impacts you, not what you think of the person because they made the decision.

Two, watch your language. As I said above, words have power. They can be used to build or to destroy. Is the language you're using designed to hurt? If so, don't use it. Use other language. If you need to take time to calm down, do so.

Community is what we as individuals choose for it to be. One of the things I love about the Magic community is how kind it can be, how accepting it can be, how uplifting it can be. But that's because we each individually choose to do that. The Magic community can get ugly, but only if we allow it to become so.

So please, the next time you're making a message designed to do something destructive rather than constructive, take a moment to reflect. Why are you doing this? What is your goal? Is it your intent to hurt someone? Because that's what negative language does.

I ask the Magic community to be better. I know we have the potential. I've seen it.

Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Thanks.

[mama-waterlily]

Waterlily

note: i am not the protagonist of this story!! i changed my URL after i wrote the story because i thought it was cute. the protagonist of this story is you. or your little. or me, if you'd like to imagine it that way. i wrote the protagonist to have no specific genitalia because i wanted everyone to be able to read it and "become waterlily" so to speak.

this is an ABDL story that contains kidnapping, wetting, bondage, stalking, drugging. reader has no specific genitalia.

She's been watching you for a while now.

She's extremely intelligent, and a very methodical stalker. She's somehow found you on every site you've visited, even anonymous accounts, in order to collect your interests. She breaks into your email to see the things you've ordered online. She follows you around and places cameras in your bedroom with a perfect view of your computer screen to see the kinks you engage in behind closed doors and the things you look at, and another with a great view of your bed to watch you sleep. She sits blushing, fawning, watching the camera feed and fantasizing of the day you'll finally become hers.

The night came where she took her place outside of your house. She's been monitoring your social media, and saw that you were online complaining about craving a particular food that you don't have in the house. This is the perfect opportunity to strike. She ambushes you when you're on your way to your car after dark, sticking you with a sedative and profusely apologizing as your vision slowly fades. She knows you're afraid of needles, but it's for your own good.

You wake up, laying in a soft bed to blurry vision and a music box softly playing in the background. You try to sit up, but you quickly come to realize that you are shackled by your wrists, ankles, and neck. Forced to remain on your back. Your eyes wander first at yourself. You're wearing an oversized, babyish purple shirt (a particular favorite of yours when you're feeling small) with a thick, pink diaper covered in bunny prints taped around your hips. The very same ones you've kept hidden in a box in the back of your closet. You notice the feeling almost immediately. Your reflex is to reach down and touch it, but the chains on your cuffs rattle and hold your wrist in place. You're trapped.

The haze in your vision starts to clear as you examine your surroundings. You see that you're surrounded by your very own plushies. They even have the little imperfections from snuggling and the clothes you've put on them. They aren't copies, they're yours. The rest of the room is a saccharine, pastel version of your bedroom. As if your bedroom and decor was used as a blueprint to design a nursery. Your sentimental photos are hung on the wall. Your medication is placed neatly on a table in the corner of the room, with your name on the bottles. The whole place feels... off. Someone didn't sneak in your house and redecorate your room. Your window is different. The room is shaped differently. You stammer out a muffled cry for help behind the pacifier held snug in your mouth by a strap around your head.

Quick, excited footsteps move toward you, growing louder as they draw near. Tears well in your eyes from the fear gripping your body. The door opens to a dark-haired woman dressed in a loose, black dress. She cannot contain her enthusiasm. "She's awake! My little Lily is finally awake!" You're too frozen in shock to even acknowledge that she's calling you a name that isn't yours. She moves toward you with a squeal, causing you to flinch and squeeze your eyes shut.

She stops where she is, eyeing you and acknowledging your fear. "Awww, I'm sorry, Waterlily. I didn't mean to scare you!" She moves toward you much slower, with a softer tone of voice. "It's okay, baby. I'm not gonna hurt you. Look, I even brought you all of this!" You reluctantly open your eyes to see her gesturing at your possessions and the plushies cuddling you from all sides.

"I've been... watching you. Is that creepy? That's not creepy, is it? No, it's not creepy. I just wanna take care of you! I just wanna make you happy. It's not creepy to make people happy." She doesn't keep up the tempered artifice for long. Her excitement becomes palpable once more as she approaches you and reaches toward your face, causing you to flinch once more as her soft fingers brush against your neck. Her face becomes flushed as she undoes the chain around your collar keeping you from sitting up.

"Your skin is so soft..." She gazes into your eyes and trails off before shaking herself out of it. "Well, l-look at this! I saw one of your posts saying you've always wanted one!" My posts? Who the fuck is this woman and how does she know me? You turn your head to see a soft pastel pink changing table against the wall. One of your plushies sits at the foot of the table, dressed in a nurse outfit. It's so sickly sweet it nearly makes you nauseous.

She turns her attention back to you, causing you to lay your head back down and turn away in fear. She seems genuinely upset and almost unable to believe that you're so afraid of her.

"What's the matter, Waterlily?" Her voice sounds genuinely concerned. "Are you hungry? Or maybe..." Her hand trails down your body slowly, placing two fingers inside your padding through the opening on your legs, causing you to jolt and squeal as her fingers brush past your most intimate parts. She seems surprised to feel that you're still dry.

"Baby girl, you haven't gone potty? The last time you made tinkles was your little accident while I was... helping you take a little nap so I could bring you home. That was so long ago, sweetheart!"

Your head spins as the realization of what this woman has done sets in. There's too much to process. As much as it enrages you to think it, she's right. There's been a sting in your bladder since the second you awoke, but your mind has been focused on more pressing matters.

"Do you need help going potty, baby?" She tilts her head with an expression of concern.

"Mm-mmh!" You shake your head and try to back away, but your bindings keep you snug in place.

"Come on, baby girl. I've seen you do it. I've watched you do it so many times." Her face tints red. "Don't you want to be a good girl for mommy?" You can nearly taste the joy in her voice. Like she's been waiting for this moment forever.

Your guts twist and your face burns hot. She really has figured out all of your kinks. But how? And watched you wet yourself? All of your posts about your little secrets were on a completely anonymous page with no identifying information, and all of your little play sessions were done with your blinds closed. Yet this woman inexplicably knows all of your weaknesses.

She reaches for your wrists and begins to undo the cuffs binding you to the bed. "Now I'm gonna give you a little bit of wiggle room. Are you going to be a good girl and behave?" Her stern eyes burn into you.

You nod, ready to seize the chance to escape. You stay completely still as she finishes undoing your ankle cuffs and steps away from the bed to give you some room. You immediately move to undo the strap holding the pacifier in your mouth, only to find you can't get a grip. Looking at your hands, you discover that they are snugly bundled in a pair of lavender mittens with no fingers. the exact ones from the wishlist you posted.

After fully sitting up, you dart off the bed and immediately make a run for the door. The instant your feet make contact with the ground, a shock of pain radiates from your feet to your ankles. A muffled scream of pain and helplessness rises in your throat as you fall to your hands and knees. Secured on your feet are a pair of booties with inlaid spikes, a soft lavender color to match your mittens... The very same ones from the wishlist you posted.

"Bad girl! Mama trusted you when you promised her you'd behave!" You can't tell if she's delusional or if she's fucking with you. Did she actually believe you'd be amicable to her after she drugged you? And abducted you? She kneels next to you, tightly grasping the back of your shirt, ready to scold you for your defiance. Reeling from the pain and overwhelmed with fear, you lose control. Your bladder relaxes against your will and you begin to flood your padding with warmth.

Your captor stops her scolding as she hears the telltale hissing of your accident. Her expression brightens with excitement and you feel a soft hand rest on your padded bottom. You involuntarily whimper as your body freezes. "Shhhh, that's a good girl. It's okay, baby. Just relax for mommy. You're doing so good."

You begin to instinctively relax and take a deep breath. A sense of serenity washes over you as her sweet velvet words caress your mind. Your diaper becomes heavier with every passing moment, swelling and pressing against you until you've finally emptied your bladder to relief. You almost feel a smile trace your mouth. You've done this for your own pleasure so many times, but snapping out of it as soon as you've grasped what's happened.

"Doesn't that feel better, sweetheart?" She pats your bottom, the warm wetness squishing against your soft skin. It all becomes too much. The humiliation. The pain. The loss of control. The confusing sense of affection for this kidnapper exploiting your weaknesses and manipulating you using your desires. Your eyes fill with tears, and you begin to cry. Uncontrollable sobs of frustration and helplessness escape your throat and tears drip from your eyes onto the hardwood floor.

"Don't cry, baby. Mommy's here. Mommy's here to help you." Her soft voice drawing mixed emotions of terror and comfort in your chest. She lifts you up almost effortlessly from the floor and cradles you in her arms. You hopelessly push against her with weak arms to escape her grasp, to no avail. She feels unfathomably strong. Or have you become weaker? Your muscles feel so tired. Resistance is so exhausting. You cease your futile taps that were your attempt at fighting back, and relax in her arms. You have no other choice.

She sits down and holds you close, rocking you back and forth. "Shhhh, it's all right, baby. Mommy forgives you for misbehaving." your cries intensify as reality sets in. Your fighting wasn't even taken seriously. It was only tantamount to misbehavior. A childish tantrum.

Your mind is completely overwhelmed and finally cracks. The hopelessness of being at your captor's mercy overtakes your drive for freedom and you hide your face in her chest. Your kidnapper is your only source of warmth and comfort in the terror of captivity.

She lifts your face from her breasts and wipes the tears from your cheeks. "It's going to be okay, little Lily." her tone sounds so sincere. she's not trying to disarm you. She truly seems like she's trying to comfort you. Slowly, finding comfort in her soft gaze, your tears slow and you catch your breath.

"All done, Waterlily?" You hesitantly nod weakly. That isn't my name. Your protesting thought grows smaller with every time it passes your mind.

"You must be hungry, aren't you? Is that why you're so cranky?" your face heats with embarrassment and anger. I'm not cranky! I'm not some sort of fussy baby. You think defiantly. But... you are quite hungry. Your speech privileges have been stripped from you, and you fear that you won't be fed if you say no. So you nod again.

"Does your soggy little bottom need a change first?" You hide your face in the humiliation of the babytalk being directing at you. You don't respond. She's fully aware of what you do behind closed doors in your pissy padding. In your mentally weakened state, you're no longer able to suppress the reality that part of you has been... enjoying the feeling.

She giggles teasingly, clearly sensing your arousal. "Does my little Lily want to play before her change?" Her hand trails slowly down your belly and over your soaked padding. You don't object. you lean into her chest as her gentle fingers caress the squishy warmth of your infantile pants.

You've given in to her. Your desire to resist has disappeared. You completely relax in her arms, beginning to slowly grind your hips against her hand. She adds pressure to meet your hip movement. Moans and whimpers involuntarily escape your lips like butterflies.

"Goodness, Waterlily, how long have you been waiting for this? You've been wanting me to come along and sweep you away, haven't you?" Her soft words bind your psyche in a warm blanket. Maybe you have. The right person you imagine will come by to scoop you up and fulfill your fantasies... maybe she is the angel you've been waiting for. "Doesn't that feel so good, baby? You like your wet diapers?" While lost in your head, you'd subconsciously begun to move your hips more vigorously. Your mind is in a haze of pleasure. All you can muster is to nod and answer her question with an affirmative "mm-hmm..."

She reaches back to unclip the strap around your head holding the pacifier in place. It falls to the floor. She's certain that, so quickly, she's worked you into such a little puddle of pleasure and submission that you won't cry out for help.

"Tell me. Tell me, little Lily, tell me all about how much you love mommy. Tell me how much you love your pissy pants. Sing for me, sweetheart."

Her tone, the way she knows every button to push to pleasure you, and the warmth around your bottom and rubbing against your little flower create a cocktail of emotions that sends you spinning over the edge. You obey. You sing for her. Your little pipes erupt in a muffled song of ecstasy and raw pent-up emotion and desire into her breasts. Your mindshattering orgasm radiates through your body for what feels like an eternity, curling your toes and stealing your breath away.

By the end, You're left drooling into her chest and panting heavily. Your mind is left blank outside of the moonlight of afterglow. Your captor turned mommy strokes your hair gently. "You've had that in your system for a long time, haven't you, Waterlily?" Your eyes flutter open to meet hers.

"That... isn't my name." Between breaths, you stammer out the first words you've been able to say since this woman had taken you captive. She giggles. "It is now." Her face beams as she presents a metal, heart-shaped tag. Sure enough, it reads, "Waterlily". She clips it onto your collar, forever branding you with the name she's chosen for you. You can't help but smile in the comfort of no longer needing to be your own person. The serenity of being owned sets in as she begins rocking back and forth.

"I know you'll come to love being mine, little Lily. Soon you'll be so grateful that I came along to take you away."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

my first sorta longer story on this blog!!!

i'm still an amateur and i'm still very new to writing erotica, but i quite like this one.

one of the wonderful things about being a switch is the ability to write both what you would love to do to somebody and what you would love done to you in the same story. it's quite useful.

yes, my profile picture IS a waterlily. yes, i write based on my personal sexual fantasies. i write smut, what do you want from me?

anyway, i hope you liked it!

if i'm feeling fancy in the future, maybe i'll make a sequel to this story. maybe i'll retcon the reader getting stockholm syndrome within the span of an hour, because i think struggling is extremely hot. who knows? i'll probably go back through and make little tiny edits to wording because i am never satisfied with my writing lol.

anyway, post-story ramble over.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

butterflygirl738 (4)

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, power imbalance, sickness, medical bills, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You love butterflies and your mother, but life isn’t that simple. As life gets complicated, and expensive, you find yourself in need and an unexpected miracle presents itself.

Characters: Steve Rogers (CEO/Sugar Daddy)

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

You give the stranger your name but he just tells you to call him S. He seems a lot more important than you, so that makes sense. He must be if he's throwing around money so easily. A lot of money.

That seems to be on his mind too.

"Did you get the transfer?" He asks as he takes off his sunglasses.

You rub between your thumb and index nervously. You can't stop fidgeting. You glance around for what must be the dozenth time. You feel like everyone is watching you, that they all know you're doing something so stupid. Yet, nobody is looking at you.

"I... didn't check," you murmur. "I've just been waiting."

"Sorry again for making you wait," he puts his large hands on the table, framing the tall mug with his fingers. "You know what they say about meeting people online."

You snort, "ha, yeah."

You look out the window and exhale. That only stirs your nerves. You face him and sit back in the chair, folding your hands in your lap.

"I'm sorry. I think this was a bad idea." You say.

"Is it? We haven't even talked."

"Yeah, but... I should be looking for a job or... my mom. She's all alone..." you wring your hands.

"I want to help with that," he turns his hands and taps his fingers on the table. He sniffs. "I'm trying to figure out how to say what I want to say. And that's what it is. I want to help."

"But why? I don't know you. You don't me." Your teeth want to chatter, you're so nervous.

His chests rises and falls. His throat bobs. He resets his posture.

"That would be part of it." His blue eyes bore into yours. They're so bright and bold. "Getting to know each other."

You shake your head, confused.

"I could help with the medical bills and groceries. Whatever you need. It would just be..." he extends his fingers as he gestures with his hands. "An exchange. An arrangement. All you have to do is spend time with me."

You stare at him. Your eyes search his face. Your mouth slants. You want to laugh. It sounds absurd. Yet, he looks serious. You straighten your lips.

"By spend time you mean..." you shiver and mash your hands together in your lap. "They don't have people you can pay in New York."

He sighs. "It's not just... if physical things happen..." he pauses and his cheek twitches. "I'd prefer we just feel it out and see where it goes."

You look down. He can dress it up and say it as carefully as he likes. You've heard about these things. There's women on TikTok who post videos about new handbags or designer shoes and their 'daddies'. But they are so beautiful. They are interesting. You're just... afraid.

He coughs and shifts his chair closer. "I know it's not easy to be in your position. Sick parents are difficult. My mom... when I was about your age, she was really sick too. Still is but we manage."

You peek up at him. You don't know what to say. There's that voice in your head telling you that the answer is clear as day; no. You're not a prostitute. No, you have dignity. Then there's the other one, the louder one. You have nothing and you're about to lose even that.

"How about this? Before you make up your mind, let me take you around town. We'll just get to know each other. Baseline." He suggests. "We'll have our coffee, order some lunch, and you can show me around."

You bite your cheek. That's not too bad. He's not pushing you. If anything, he seems just as unsure. That makes you feel a bit better.

But can you really do this? Can you sell yourself like that? He's still just a stranger. Still just S.

Your head is reeling. What would your mom think? Well, you couldn't tell her, just like you never told her what you're really doing right then.

You bring your hand up to rub your shoulder. You hook your fingers around, shielding yourself, and nod.

"Alright, I'll try." You agree, keeping the rest of the sentence inside; I don't have any other options.

His cheeks dimple. The lines on his face only add to his good looks. He really isn't that bad. A bit older. Maybe a lot older.

"So, you hungry? What do you want?" He looks over at the chalkboard menu.

You follow his gaze. You focus on the menu. It's a bit easier to do that.

"My treat," he assures.

"Um, thanks," you scratch your neck nervously. If it were up to you, you wouldn't waste the money. "The veggie croissant sounds okay."

"Sure, anything else," he stands.

You push your shoulders back and and shake your head. "Thank you. That's more than enough."

"No problem," he turns and struts up to join the line.

You watch him. His shirt is taut across his shoulder blades and around his biceps. He's built better than any man you've seen before. Confident. He's cool as he waits patiently and steps up calmly to order. He slides out his wallet and swipes his card. Not a second thought. No tallying up rent or bills or even just the cost of a bag of rice.

He folds up his wallet and spins. You avert your attention to the table. He approaches and sits again.

"They'll bring it to us," he says.

"Okay," you accept. You can't look at him.

He shifts. "Look, I don't see you as just... I see you as a person. I hope you realise that. I really do want to help you."

"Yeah, I know." You swallow. "I'm sorry. I'm just... thinking."

"That's okay," he assures. "Not rushing you. So uh... I'll tell you about me a bit. If you want?"

You nod and make yourself look. His eyes are almost sparkling as they stick to you. You're a stranger to him too. How can he be so interested? Just you and your butterflies.

"I have a business. I have been running it for the last fifteen years. Before that, I did some corporate work but I really didn't like the politics, so started my own thing," he explains. "I live in New York, I watch baseball, I like to draw. Or liked to. I don't have a lot of time for that anymore." He pauses and holds up his finger. "One sec."

He reaches to his chest pocket and flips up the flap. He slides out a napkin. He unfolds it on the table.

"Got bored on the plane," he slides it over to you. It's a sketch of a butterfly. It's really good too.

"Wow, you did that?" You ask.

"Mm hm," he hums. "I'm a bit rusty."

"No, it's really good," you lean in to admire it. "Wow."

He's quiet. You put your fingers on the edge of the napkin as you look it over.

"My mom used to draw. Paint, too. She's really good. Like you."

You peek up at him. There's a subtle curve in his lips.

"It's... nothing but you can keep it if you want."

"I think it's more than nothing," you pick it up. "That's so cool."

"Ha, thanks. Think the real thing is cooler."

He sits back and looks over as one of the cafe employees approaches. She puts down your plates and tells you to enjoy. You tuck away the napkin.

"Looks delicious," S says.

It does and it smells even better. You hesitate as he picks up half his sandwich. You stare at yours.

"Everything okay?" He asks.

You think about your mom. She doesn't eat much these days but you wish you could bring her good food like this. You resist a frown.

"It's all good," you assure. "Thanks so much. It looks great."

You pick up half the croissant, careful not to let the contents spill out.

"So, where do you work?" He asks.

You nibble and swallow tightly. "Oh, just... customer service at a few stores. Nothing special."

"Hm, that must be stressful."

"It can be," you shrug. "Not the most stress I have right now... but er, whatever."

"Not whatever but I can understand not wanting to talk about it." He says. "Any other hobbies? Besides the butterflies?"

"No..." you drone. "Just watch some TV here and there. Go for walks when I can. There isn't too much going on around here." Not much you can afford.

"Any recommendations? I don't watch much but I'm always open to binge," he says.

"Not unless you're a fan of 90s sitcoms," you shake your head.

"Don't mind them," he says.

He leans forward to take a bite. You focus on your own sandwich. Your stomach is mulching painfully with each morsel. You only realise then how hungry you are.

🦋

S is even bigger walking next to him. You take him down the block to the park. You don't often come to this part of town but it's nicer than your neighbourhood. There's a fountain there.

You collide with S as he tries to follow the path but you find yourself distracted by the birds bathing in the water. You apologise and back up. He chuckles and turns to look at the fountain.

"Pretty. Peaceful," he says as he stops to watch them. "Different. New York is just... everything."

"Oh, it must be super busy there."

"Yeah, very," he agrees. "This is nice though."

"Probably boring to someone like you."

"Boring is nice. Boring is... easier," he says.

He starts toward the fountain and you follow. He stops at the edge and turns to sit. You do the same. The water trickles, the scent of it stirring the air.

You peer around. Another mother with her stroller, a couple and their dog, a brood of kids and their parents. It's all so nice and perfect and sweet. All these people are so happy. They don't have to worry about a thing.

You can barely remember the days when you weren't bound in anxiety. When you were the little girl skipping down the pathway. It feels like it's always been this.

You turn away to hide the gleam in your eyes. You don't know why you're thinking about that right now. You dab your eyes with your knuckle and sigh. You make yourself sit up.

"It's pretty here," you say.

He's watching you. You can feel it. Did he notice?

"It's gorgeous," he agrees but he isn't looking at the trees or the flowers.

You sniff and turn to watch the birds again. You make yourself smile. He shifts to see them too.

"Is your mom waiting for you?" He asks.

"She'll wonder where I am. She always does," you cross one arm across your middle. "I told her I was going to the bank to pay bills and do some running around."

He looks at you and nods.

"I didn't mention you. She doesn't know at all." You say. "It's just... I wasn't sure..."

"You weren't?" He wonders. "What about now?"

You clamp your lips and tilt your head. You open your mouth but can't find the words. You drop your shoulders.

"I don't know. I... I'm very lost right now." You look away.

He exhales. "I know it might not be very obvious, but I am too. I came all the way here and I was sure I was going to sit there alone all day. I kept checking your page thinking maybe you might delete and disappear with the money. Which is fine, that's fine. Your mom needs it but I just... the money is nothing to me." He sucks in air and laughs grimly. "New York is lonely. Being the boss, it's isolating. I didn't know what else to do and I... I just want something simple."

You listen, rolling around your thoughts on your tongue, poking your cheeks. You might be gullible but he sounds honest. Vulnerable even.

You hang your head and turn so that you're facing the open park path. You lean forward and wiggle your feet. "I just want my mom to be okay," you utter. "And if she isn't, then I don't want her to spend the time she has left like this."

He's quiet for a moment. You could wilt right then. All the stress crashes down on you and threatens to smother you.

"I can make sure that's not the case. I can help you keep her comfortable," he slides his hand across the stone and touches yours. "And you don't have to tell her about me."

"Yeah, she doesn't need to worry about me," you push yourself straight. You look him in the face. "I think we could try."

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: Adventure, Romance, and Village Building Begin in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma on May 30 on Nintendo Switch™ and PC, Welcoming Players to an Eastern Land of Adventure and Dragons

XSEED/Marvelous USA:

Marvelous USA Releases Gameplay Video Showcasing Guardians of Azuma’s

Action Combat, Relationship System, and Seasonal Village Life; Announces Jan. 22 Livestream Showcasing Additional Details and Special Guests

TORRANCE, Calif. — Jan. 16, 2025 — Marvelous USA announced today that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will launch globally on the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025. The latest entry in the popular action-RPG and life-simulation series introduces players to the Eastern territory of Azuma, a land of Japanese-inspired visuals and unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise. Alongside the reveal of the release date, Marvelous USA announced an upcoming livestream that will happen on Jan. 22 at 8AM PT/11AM ET on their YouTube channel, where the company will be revealing additional information and showcasing further looks into the land of Azuma. Host Ovilee May will be joined by voice actors Brandon McInnis (Subaru) and Suzie Yeung (Kaguya), who will discuss their roles and provide additional commentary alongside new reveals.

Ravaged by the effects of the Celestial Collapse and the cessation of power provided by the runes, the eastern lands of Azuma are a shadow of their prosperous past. Weakened by corruptive forces, the gods of nature retreated from the world, leaving mountains to crumble and fields to wither. The people of Azuma seek aid against a blight that has swept these once-bountiful lands. One young hero enters into a contract with a dragon and sets out on a journey. “Accept the might of the Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.”

Guardians of Azuma takes players on an all-new adventure in the never-before-seen country of Azuma. Here, players will assume the role of an Earth Dancer destined to return hope—and life—to the once-thriving land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose fates are closely tied together, and experience reimagined and expanded Rune Factory gameplay; as an Earth Dancer, players will farm with grace, restore and build entire villages, and fight with new weapons like the Bow and Talismans. Azuma is a vast world to explore with majestic villages to uncover, each taking inspiration from Japanese culture and each with a seasonal theme. In addition to exploration, combat, and village-building, players will also cultivate relationships with the locals, recruiting them to your side in battle or to help manage the villages. Wield sacred treasures of the gods and the Earth Dancer’s power of dance to purify the land and return Azuma to its former glory. The adventure of a new world awaits.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Key Features:

Bold New Abilities and Weapons: As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talismans to purify the land, farm, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village: Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings strategically to entice people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life: Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships: Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates—god and mortal alike—in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid in dynamic battles, too!

Pre-orders for the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma “Earth Dancer Edition” on Nintendo Switch™ are now available via the Marvelous USA Online Store and at participating retailers for an MSRP of $99.99. This stunning collection comes in a custom outer box featuring awe-inspiring art of a battle high above Azuma, and includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, a plush Woolby keychain, and the “Earth Dancer DLC Pack,” which includes the “Seasons of Love Bundle,” the “Festive Attire and Dark Woolby Bundle,” the “Rune Factory 4 Outfit Bundle,” and the Useful Item Bundle. The standard edition of the game is also available to pre-order for an MSRP of $59.99.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will also be available digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam. Details on SKUs and pricing will be available at a later date.

Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is scheduled for release globally on the Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025. The title will be published in Japan by Marvelous Inc. and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. More information can be found on the official website, https://na.runefactory.com/azuma/, and on X @RuneFactory. This title has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

---

Marvelous Europe:

---

London, U.K. — 16 January 2025 — Marvelous Europe announced today that Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will launch globally on the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025.

Alongside the reveal of the release date, Marvelous Europe announced an upcoming livestream that will happen on 22 January at 16:00 GMT/ 17:00 CEST on their YouTube channel, where the company will be revealing additional information and showcasing further looks into the land of Azuma. Host Ovilee May will be joined by voice actors Brandon McInnis (Subaru) and Suzie Yeung (Kaguya), who will discuss their roles and provide additional commentary alongside new reveals. 

The latest entry in the popular action-RPG and life-simulation series introduces players to the Eastern territory of Azuma, a land of Japanese-inspired visuals and unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise. 

Ravaged by the effects of the Celestial Collapse and the cessation of power provided by the runes, the eastern lands of Azuma are a shadow of their prosperous past. Weakened by corruptive forces, the gods of nature retreated from the world, leaving mountains to crumble and fields to wither. The people of Azuma seek aid against a blight that has swept these once-bountiful lands. One young hero enters into a contract with a dragon and sets out on a journey. “Accept the might of the Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.”

Guardians of Azuma takes players on an all-new adventure in the never-before-seen country of Azuma. Here, players will assume the role of an Earth Dancer destined to return hope—and life—to the once-thriving land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose fates are closely tied together, and experience reimagined and expanded Rune Factory gameplay; as an Earth Dancer, players will farm with grace, restore and build entire villages, and fight with new weapons like the Bow and Talismans. Azuma is a vast world to explore with majestic villages to uncover, each taking inspiration from Japanese culture and each with a seasonal theme. In addition to exploration, combat, and village-building, players will also cultivate relationships with the locals, recruiting them to your side in battle or to help manage the villages. Wield sacred treasures of the gods and the Earth Dancer’s power of dance to purify the land and return Azuma to its former glory. The adventure of a new world awaits.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Key Features:

Bold New Abilities and Weapons: As an Earth Dancer, use the power of dance, sacred treasures, and fresh weapons like the Bow and Talismans to purify the land, farm, and undo the Blight’s damage.

It Takes a Village: Don’t just mind the farm—rebuild entire villages! Construct and place buildings strategically to entice people to return to the villages and contribute. Revive the gods to bring vitality and valuable resources back to the plagued lands.

Your Fantasy Japanese Life: Experience beautiful Japanese-inspired character designs and aesthetics—from festivals to events to monsters. Explore Azuma’s natural landscapes and its seasonal-themed locales steeped in tradition.

Classic Romance and Relationships: Choose between male and female protagonists, then befriend or romance any of the eligible candidates—god and mortal alike—in fully voiced scenarios. Recruit these new friends to aid in dynamic battles, too!

Pre-orders for the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma  Limited Edition are now available at participating retailers via the Marvelous Europe website for an RRP of €99.99. This stunning collection comes in a custom outer box and includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, the “Seasons of Love” DLC bundle, additional DLC costumes for your protagonists and their divine sidekick Woolby, and a plush Woolby keychain. The standard edition of the game is also available to pre-order for an RRP of €59.99. Details on digital editions will be announced later.

Developed by Marvelous and published in Europe and Australia by Marvelous Europe, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is scheduled for release on the Nintendo Switch™ and Windows PC via Steam on 30 May, 2025. The title will be published in Japan by Marvelous Inc. and in the Americas by Marvelous USA. More information can be found on the official website, https://marvelousgames.com/games/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma, and on X @RuneFactory.

For more information regarding Marvelous Europe, please visit the official website, or follow @MarvelousEurope on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

[shjsnjkj]

COME 2 ME┊ l.hs

kinktober day 1! - masterlist

warnings : smut, MDNI, making out, pussy eating, nicknames, unprotected sex

featuring: Enhypen-Jungwon

genre: smut

taglist: @blackp1nkfan @mitmit01 @pasteltheghost16 @harukayoiiiiiiizzz @mlywon @lhspeachie @seraphira @kaykay11sworld @winuvs @yuniesluv @shhth @rizzki09 @mylettterstoyou @d-dilemma @moonpri @blushbunini

wc: 1,6 k ✧.*

☆ boyfriend!heeseung x girlfriend!reader

; After a rough day at work, you finally stepped out of the office building, only to find yourself caught in a sudden downpour. That would've been no problem because you love rainy days, but you didn't have an umbrella, and your phone's battery died as well. You prayed that your boyfriend, Heeseung would pass by your workplace and pick you up, but you knew he was working late. But not today, he came to you with his new car. You were so happy to see him and couldn't wait to thank him for saving you tonight. “You know, I’m ready. Waiting for you every night. Entrusting myself to your touch”

Another long, stressful day at work.

You enjoyed your job, but lately, you've been feeling more anxious than usual. It's because of your new boss at work. She's always late with everything and is quick to point out mistakes in everyone's work.

"What do you think, would this dress be suitable for the gala?" -she touched the dress you made with a look of disgust on her face.

"Yes, ma'am."

"How can you say that to my face like that? You need to make another one."

"What?"

"Right now!

You stayed on to finish the dress even after she decided to head home.

"Y/n, I'll take care of it. I'll stick around for the night since my online meeting is scheduled for tonight due to time zone differences. I've got time until then, so let me help you with that dress. Go home and unwind. You've already done so much today." -Jungwon said.

"Are you sure about that?” -he nodded- "Thank you so much. You're the best!"

Jungwon was undoubtedly one of the best stylists at your company and in your country. He's worked with all the big names, from Prada to Bvlgari. But he was also your best friend. He showed you all the tricks and techniques to follow in his footsteps and become the next most successful fashion designer like he was before he shifted his focus to styling.

You packed up your stuff and went straight home. You were relieved to finally leave the office for the day when something wet fell on your head. And another one, too. Before you knew it, it was pouring with rain and there were big lightning bolts in the distance. You were fine with it because you always loved rainy days. You could be reading a romantic book at home under a warm blanket or you could be under the blanket with your boyfriend, Heeseung, making love all night. However, Heeseung was nowhere to be found now. So does your umbrella. You thought about calling an Uber, but as soon as you pulled your phone from your pocket, you realized it was turned off. It probably doesn't have any battery left. Fantastic.

You went under the building's roof to wait out the storm. Twenty minutes later, the situation hadn't changed. You didn't want to bother Jungwon in the middle of his meeting, so the only thing you could do was pray for Heeseung to come pick you up.

He usually works late, so you had less hope as time passed. Another ten minutes passed, and you saw a big black Porsche pull up in front of the building, the driver slowly lowering the car window.

It was Heeseung. He came to rescue you. Your mood changed instantly. You didn't even notice the rain as you ran to the car and got inside.

“Hi baby!” -he smiled at you.

“Heeseung you came!” -you leaned to kiss him on the cheek.

“Of course, I came to pick you up! I called you countless times so I assumed your phone must've died and I couldn’t leave my princess here for the night in the heavy rain.”

“Awww….my love. What should I do without you?! You’re such a gentleman.” -you gave him another kiss on the cheek.- “And what’s this car? Did you borrow it from someone?”

“No, this is mine. I bought it today and I wanted to surprise you with it. Do you like it, baby?”

“Mhm, of course, I love this one just as much. Nevertheless, I didn’t see much from the car because it’s dark outside and I'm excited to try the backseat as well.”

“You can’t go there now”

“Why??” -you watched him with puppy eyes.

“There’s a surprise for you, but you have to wait for that.” -he said seriously and turned on the engine to drive you home.

“What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll see baby! Just stay still.”

The ride home was chilly, Heeseung’s hand remained on your thighs while slow music played on the radio. The rain hasn’t stopped but the car did at an empty parking lot.

“Why did we stop?”

“Didn’t you want to try out the backseat?”

“Oh, yeah you’re right. But let me dry myself with something because I’m still a bit wet from the rain outside.”

“There’s no need for that Y/n. Just go.”

“Okay?” -you stood up as much as you could and went to the backseat. There were two gift boxes there. One big and a smaller one.

“Omg, Heeseung what are these”

“Open it up.” -he said as he climbed over to your side from the driver’s seat. There wasn't much space for him because of the boxes so you insisted him sit down on your place and you’ll sit on his lap to be more comfortable.

“Ah, this is more comfortable. I missed you so much, Y/n. Your smell, your touch.” -Heeseung kissed your neck as you opened up the first box, trying to keep your moans inside.

“Heeseung this is so pretty! Can you put this necklace on my neck, please?” -he didn’t hesitate and did what you asked. To be precise, he did more than what you asked.

Wet kisses all over your neck. The straps of your dress are halfway down on your arms, while you try to put them back because you know that you two would make a mess if you gave in. So you tried to get away from Heeseung a bit and opened the next box. You discovered a beautiful short black, silk dress and a Prada symbol on it.

“Hee…I should be the one to give you something for coming to me today.”

“Then change into that dress and come for me.”

That sentence was all it took for you to lose your ability to restrain yourself. You had originally planned to wait until you got home, but you couldn't resist him anymore. You turned around to face him and started to unzip the dress you were wearing, leaving you in just your black lingerie. Heeseung watched the scene unfold before him, picturing what he'd do to you in the next few minutes.

Heeseung came closer and started kissing you deeply, ruining your red lipstick. Your tongues were locked in a passionate embrace, saliva dripping all over your jaws. You unintentionally pressed yourself against him through his pants and started riding him, which made Heeseung want more from you. Suddenly you felt Heeseung’s cold hands on your warm back, unclipping your bra.

"Let's wait until you're ready to change into the dress. I want to make sure you're feeling better first."

You just nodded, and before you knew it, he was kissing your breasts and sucking gently on your nipples while massaging the other with his hand. Your pants were getting more and more wet, and you couldn't stop yourself from moaning.

"Just be patient, Y/N. There's more on the way." He helped you get dressed in the Prada dress. Heeseung bent you down on the seat and reached between your thighs. He gave you a smirk when he saw how wet you were. He pulled down your lingerie and threw it on the gearshift.

In no time, your legs were open for him and you felt his hot breath at your entrance. Heeseung slowly started to place sweet kisses on your pussy, following that with his warm tongue tasting each line of your folds. You couldn’t stop mewing and your desire for him just kept growing.

He came up to you, kissing your swollen lips, meanwhile, his fingers found their way to your entrance. The next moment, you felt his long and thick fingers curling inside your pussy. Leaving you breathless, your back arching.

“Mhmm. I-I w-wanted to thank you for your help. But you make me like this instead.”

“Shh baby. You already thanked me with being a good girl for me.” -he kissed your forehead while increasing the pace of his fingers.

It didn’t last too long before you cummed, arousal drenched his index and middle fingers. He put them in your mouth to lick it down, letting you taste your own cum.

“It’s so sweet, right? Like yourself baby.”

“Now turn around”

You were on your knees with him behind your back. Heeseung pulled your dress up to your waist and put his tip close to your entrance. One last kiss on your neck and he was inside you fully. Sliding in and out while you support yourself with the window, your hands leaving prints on the fogged glass.

You could only hear the clapping of your skin together and the beautiful moanings Heeseung filled your ear with. With every pump, you felt like losing yourself and so did Heeseung. You just moaned from the pain and the pleasure while you tightened around him until you felt something form in your stomach. It hurt but felt so right at the same time. You truly felt how much he loves you and you tried to reciprocate that every time.

“He-Heeseung..I-I’m gonna…” -you weren’t able to form words normally but Heeseung knew what you meant and he felt the same.

"Cum for me, baby" -Heeseung whispered, his voice husky with desire. With a few more deep thrusts, you both reached your climax together, your bodies shuddering in unison. You lay there for a moment, catching your breath, feeling the warmth of Heeseung's body against yours. The rain continued to patter against the car windows, creating a soothing rhythm that matched your slowing heartbeats. As the fog on the windows slowly cleared, you realized how much you loved these spontaneous moments with him. As you came down from your high, Heeseung held you close, placing gentle kisses on your shoulder.

“I love you Heeseung!” -you melted into his body.

"I love you too, Y/n," -Heeseung whispered, his breath warm against your skin. "You know, I'm ready. Waiting for you every night. Entrusting myself to your touch."

Hello~~ This is the opening story for our masterlist with @luviwon ღ

I hope you’ll like it and I recommend you to stick around because there’s more to come! ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

It’s the first day of the month, so I wish everyone amazing weeks and make sure to rest and read a lot this month as well! 🧸ྀི

Sending lots of love! ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

[arkfeather]

i found this weird book in my room this morning….i dont remember buying it…..every time i try to read it i get distracted and forget i have it…can someone help me identify this book?

happy halloween!! i wasnt actually planning on posting this today but i managed to finish it just before the hallows eve struck!

for anyone still wondering this is a handmade bookbind of There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm! this is just a hardcover rebind made from a paperback i bought online so no fancy typesetting here unfortunately. BUT i am happy with the cover design at least

closeup pics and thoughts abt my process below!

i wanted to keep the covers pretty minimalistic to make the book seem more mysterious and to draw more attention to the square window i cut out of the cover boards. fun fact, that square is supposed to represent SCP-055! theres only so much i can do to represent something indescribable, but its not round, so at least i have that

originally i was planning on making the text along the spine white so it would have a sort of disappearing effect against the white fabric, but it didnt really work out so i printed just the shadow of the text instead for a there-not-there look

something i really wanted to try while making this was to paint the edges of the textblock black. i think it came out nicely! it looks neat contrasted to the white cover :p

now the ENDPAPERS!! i had actually imagined the design for these way before anything else. i tried to go for a sort of fractal pattern of fingers like the monster from Fresh Hell. i quite like it in combination with the window on the front cover :3

okay thats all thx for coming with me on my journey ^_^

[drunkenkissesatdusk]

SAFE HAVEN

pairings — jason todd x reader

warnings — mentions of blood, mentions of injuries, mentions of yeowch, swearing, this was cams ( @harleyyquinnsgf ) idea so this is a dangerous game we play

summary — you would always be Jason’s safe haven; the only person he would ever let help him when he’s hurt would be you. that’s why he goes straight to you for help of any kind.

notes — like i said bruh cam gave me this idea bc i was a little lost on what to do

━━━━━━━ YOU’VE KNOWN JASON FOR YEARS at this point, befriending him in your earliest high school years. it was a pretty unusual friendship, Jason and his tendencies to get into trouble, and your picture perfect student record.

they do say opposites attract.

maybe that’s what made you and Jason begin a steady dating life as soon as you were both done with any studying. well, you attended online college and he continues with his Red Hood side gig.

you could hear the sound of your windowsill opening, and Jason sliding through it. nothing clattered to the floor - Jason had a designated window he would slide in from whenever he finished patrol.

you didn’t like it, but he liked it, so you endured it. it reminded you of before you guys got together, when he would still enter your family’s house to get inside and see you.

“did i ever tell you,” you were leaning against the doorframe, watching him remove his helmet, “how much this reminds me of when we were teenagers, and you always ran to me for help with your injuries?” you walked forwards, embracing him in a warm hug.

“no, but we could do a blast from the past and you could patch me up.” he gave you a weak grin, motioning to the gap in his leg.

“jeez, Jason.” you sighed, leading him into your guys’s shared room. you had him sit in the side of the table, your face flushing as he sat down after removing his costume. uniform? you forgot what Jason called it.

“you should see the other guys, then.” Jason muttered.

you began to work carefully, removing the dried blood. Jason watched you intently. you could feel his eyes burning into you as you continued to wipe away the blood from his wound.

“i bet you fucked them up, Jay.” you smiled, throwing away another paper towel, grabbing a new one. you doused it immediately in saline solution, doing the last passover of his wound with care.

“anyone else show up?” you hummed.

“no,” he mumbled, “Dick wanted to, but something happened that he needed to deal with. i told him he could come over and hangout soon.” he was still watching you, admiring the care you carried for him.

“well, he’s welcome whenever. was it just him patrolling?” throwing away the other paper towel, you reached for the gauze and medical tape you kept on standby for this exact reason - Jason.

“yeah. Damian’s patrolling tomorrow with Tim, which is destined to be a shit show. Tim’s only going because i’m staying in tomorrow.” he hummed, moving to make the dressing of the wound easier.

you responded to his movement with a small ‘careful’.

“staying in? what for?” you ripped the top of the gauze pads packaging off.

“you’re always telling me to take a break.” he muttered softly, his arms crossing over his chest.

“you’re finally taking my advice into your vigilante lifestyle? never thought i’d see the day.” you teased.

“and i’m regretting it already.” he joked.

you smiled up at him, wrapping the tape around the previously places gauze. Jason eyed the movements, how careful you were, and how lucky he was.

“movie night? i’ve been wanting to watch something new. we could try a romcom?” you suggested.

“i am not watching a romcom.”

masterlist — reminder that asks / requests are open!!

[marzipanandminutiae]

Do you have any advice on making a living working in historic preservation? I feel like every opportunity in the field (ex. Local historical societies) is volunteer work, which I do, but I also need money!

:)

:) :) :) :)

I am so sorry but you've hit upon the main employment problem with this field: it is wildly underpaid. Especially if you want to do something with museum content/collections/preservation rather than admin.

The issue is, this system (at least in the US, where I live) started out in the late 19th century being run by people who had a lot of free time and a LOT of money already. Married upper-class women, rich men- often gay, interestingly enough -with academic turns of mind, etc. They didn't need the money, so they built a structure designed to function that way. And for many years a lot of this work continued to be done by volunteers.

Except then people came along with the audacity to want to make a career out of it. Without enough generational wealth to not need payment! Oh no!

So now there are not enough full-time jobs in the field for people who want them, unfortunately. They're out there! But you might have a hell of a time getting into one.

I'd say to look for bigger orgs over small ones, or small orgs in big cities. We love a tiny house museum in the middle of nowhere, but they often have the smallest budgets in a world of small budgets. Also, consider starting out part-time and trying to work your way up (just make sure the org has full-time employees first). Making connections is paramount- I've only had part-time museum jobs so far, but I never got a single one just by applying online. You can, but it helps a lot to have someone say "hey, the Fancyman-Spinsteracademic-Wepromisewe'rereckoningwithslaverynow House is hiring; want me to put in a good word for you?"

Alternately, learn some hands-on preservation skill like carpentry or horology (working with mechanical clocks- PLEASE learn horology if you go this route; all the horologists are 80 and they keep dying) could be a way to get specific talents that historical site museums can't function without and will therefore pay for when the budget allows. In cities with lots of historical architecture that they actually care about preserving- so not NYC, apparently -there are often independent companies that specialize in different aspects thereof. Historical window repair, historical plastering, historical brickwork maintenance, etc. Trying to get hired by one of those is a way to go into preservation without working in museums. Private auction houses or antiques dealers can also be an option, if you're more into the Collections Objects side of things.

I don't mean to make it sound bleak. My eight-year career in museums has been entirely part-time collections/interpretation/admin jobs stitched together, and while I'm sick of the "underpaid and relying on my parents to pay for my insurance" aspect (yes, I freely admit it; I'm a lowkey continuation of the Can't Work In Museums If You Don't Have Family Financial Support tradition and very very lucky to be able to do what I do, and yet even I'M frustrated and tired and over it), it is deeply fulfilling work that I consider highly worthwhile and important. And there ARE avenues to make a decent living in it!

I just want to explain the phenomenon you're seeing and give you realistic expectations.

Best of luck!

[asarajaa]

Hiiiii Sarah, I'm one of your new followers and I just wanted to say that, I LOVED the Wally West x Reader angst fic (it had me screaming into a pillow) you wrote a while back !!!

I do have request tho , would you maybe be willing to write a part 2 of that fic? It was just sooo good and I couldn't get it out of my head

Tysm my love!! I wasn't very sure about how it turned out but your comment really hyped me up 💗. Of course! ty for following me and I hope this reach your expectations!!

Warnings: fem!reader, angst romance, forbidden love, reincarnation (?) Words: 2338 Disclaimer: English isn't my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!

You always liked cats.

They were cute and fluffy, but what you liked the most was the myth that cats were able to live 9 lives.

Of course, your logical and trained superhero mind knew that such a thing as reincarnation had very little chance of happening and much less with cats, but you liked to fantasize about it anyways.

You would catch yourself constantly thinking about it, 9 lives. 9 different whole lives, what would you do with those? The answer, for you, was obvious.

You would plan your 9 lives, thinking about what you would do and with who. Maybe you weren’t a superhero in one, maybe you were just a normal civilian, maybe you liked to do snorkeling and once and for all stopped fearing the ocean.

Yeah, that would be what you’d do in your first life. 

You would spend your first life snorkeling, feeling all the different textures of sea animals and organisms. Maybe you would get bitten or harmed by one and needed medical attention and as you would be lying in the hospital’s bed, sedated with medication, you would no longer fear the sea and lived near to it for the rest of your first life. 

And then, after your accident, maybe you could even have a date with the cute doctor that laughed but thanked you when you said— high as a comet— that his eyes were the most beautiful jewels you’ve ever seen, they reminded you of emeralds. 

In your second life you would be born in a word without any type of powers or superheroes, you would decline your mothers wish of being model and choose a peaceful and quiet life, studying mechanical engineering because your dream job  would be to be a F1 driver— but you would settle for being the person who designs the cars they’d drive, if being a driver didn’t work out.

At night, when the world was supposed to be asleep, you would sneak into the underworld and spend your nights racing illegally, a big smile on your face— because you never knew why or how, but going super fast without any other feelings besides adrenaline made you feel happy and free.

You would laugh while you drove at full speed, the tires would squeal and the car would give off a toxic smell of CO₂ that would seep into your lungs. You would love the feeling of the adrenaline running through your veins and your heart racing as much as your car, the air brushing your hair because you’d like to leave the car windows open while you’d drive.

Then, one night, for the first time, you would be defeated by a new guy that just moved into your town. He would be the new Drift King that would make you eat the ground for the first time in a long time. The thought of your next race would make your face lighten up because since that day, you wouldn't stop thinking about new techniques to defeat and take your place as the Drift Queen back from that damned new guy who’s hair looked like a forest in the autumn season.

In your third life you would be an absolute fan of superheroes. You would help your twin brother, Dick Grayson, to fight at night being his computer specialist. You would also help your father figure, Batman, and whoever he asked you to help to.

You loved superheroes, but you could never be one, never. The job was too risky, you needed to be the one who would take care of them from the comfort of your house, being a type of online vigilante that even though it technically could train and fight goons, would never try to. 

You would help Alfred with the cooking and assist your brother and father figure when they would train, handing them towels and bottles of water when necessary. You even learned medical assistance under the wing of Alfred, being too afraid to lose your new family member like you did a time ago in a circus.

You would help your family and some years later, when the death of your younger brother and the moving of your twin one would be too much to handle, you would find yourself moving too.

You would escape far away, leaving all the things you’ve known behind and trying to create a normal life with normal acquaintances. 

But it couldn’t be that easy, could it? What was the saying? Once a vigilante, always a vigilante. It seemed like troublesome things would be attracted to you like magnets.

So, taking that into account, you weren’t very surprised when a robbery attempt happened in your local bank.

You would act calm—the teachings of Bruce sunk in your mind like roots—as you followed the criminals orders, all the time tricking them into perceiving you as submissive as you would subtly protect the rest of the civilians. Technically you were a civilian too, but it wasn’t the same, you had more than basic training that Batman taught you that you followed since a kid.

But before anyone could get hurt, The Flash entered the building, saving all of them in a flash. You would observe him, Wally West, the new Flash and your twin brother's best friend save all of you.

Wally and you have never been that close, the only reason you guys got along was because of Dick but when he moved to Bludheaven and you moved to Central, at some point, the calls and the messages stopped. 

You tried to brush it off but the truth was that you missed your twin brother, you missed your father father figure, you missed Alfred and you were secretly excited to meet the new young boy—Tim, if you recall—that entered the family.

You sometimes envied Wally, since your brother always hung out with him and for some years, Wally West has known most things about your brother than you, even know, he probably still talked and meet him while you would only stare at your shared chat—one that has been silent for some time—in silent, waiting for a magical text to appear.

The Flash came into your way, not even looking at you as he moved his hands to untie your hands, your heart raced as you thought if he would remember you.

“You okay, ma’am?” he would ask calmly in a i’m-comforting-a-civilian voice.

“Yeah, thanks” you would answer, your heart skipping a beat when his head raised quickly, eyes wide open as he looked at you. His eyes comparing you to the version of you that he remembered, surprised written all over his face like if he didn’t expect to see you.

You would thought that he reacted like that because he didn’t knew you moved here, which made you ask yourself why Dick didn’t tell him. Maybe he stopped caring for you after all?

He stumbled over his words but the only thing you had in your mind was—

Oh, he still got a constellation drawn in his face.

Months passed and after encountering him a lot of times because of superhero type of problems, he finally would ask you to grab a coffee with him to "catch up". 

In your fourth life you probably would run away.

You would travel the word and meet places you never thought they would exist until you landed on them. You would block all of the persons you once knew, breaking the expectations your family had for you—maybe you would listen to them in another life, who knows.

In your fourth life you would be in every city for a while but you never stayed long enough to make stable friends, you would be surrounded by different people from different cultures, cities and personalities but you would be completely and utterly alone cause none of them would be a person you would trust your life with.

In your loneliness you would adopt a big and fluffy dog and raise it by yourself, making it travel the world with you and stay by your side to the point where it would watch you take your last breath on this earth. 

In your fourth life you would never be able to find him, to find the right person and who was meant for you. You weren’t ready and since being ready is a decision, you would decide that you’d never be. You wouldn’t even give anyone the chance to approach you in the fear of disappointing them so you always left before they could get the chance to do it.

In your fifth life you listened to your family’s advice.

You would  take your family out of poverty, you’d retire your parents after you studied a career you didn’t like at all, fulfilling the dream they asked your older brother to do before he runned away .

You would get a job that would make you work from 8 to 6, you would make a stable income and settle down with a man you’re not very sure you’re in love with but he would be a good father to your children.

You would buy a house near the beach, where you would take your children to do snorkel under your teaching while your husband would reading a book as he laid down in the sand after he took your children to collect ‘sea treasures’, as they liked to called them, before you took them to do snorkel.

You would forgive some infidelities for the sake of your family and would kill yourself yourking to make sure your children had everything they needed, unlike you did when you were their age.

You weren’t completely happy and you were sure your younger self would feel a little disappointed of you, but you didn’t have a bad life and some women had worse family issues.

Sometimes, when your kids were swimming in the seashore and your husband went for a walk when his phone began to ring, you would stare into the little golden sea star necklace your childhood best friend gave you for your birthday right before you moved from Central City to Star City.

You would smile at the memories of that little boy who always was up to a race with the other kids, remembering how you promised to marry each other at 30 if none of you had a couple for that time and how you exchanged gifts, he’d gave you a golden sea star necklace and you would gave him a  golden thunderbolt bracelet because he always said something like—“I’m as fast as a flash!”

You’d wonder who that little boy was nowadays, what his job was and what happened to his life.

In your next 2 lifes you would be lost.

You wouldn’t know what to do with your life or with whom. You would have a nostalgic, beautiful but painful feeling everytime you walked into nature because the color green meant something to you, reminded you of someone you just couldn't make yourself remember to who.

You would have the same feeling everytime the sun would express itself through sunrise and sunset, because the mix of those warm colours would remind you of a love you weren’t capable of remembering having felt before.

It would happen everytime you would see a ginger, no matter if it was a boy or girl. Your heart would begin to race for no known reason as you would wait for them to turn around, feeling disappointed when they weren’t who you expected them to be—but it wasn’t like you knew who you were expecting either.

You would feel empty because you desire something with all of your heart but you never knew what it was.

In one life, you would find it. 

In the another one, you wouldn’t.

Then you would reach your eighth life— the one you prayed you were living.

In your eighth life, you and Wally would find a cure to the reaction of your abilities combined.

You would cry tears of joy when time passed and none of you could feel any difference from the first minute you guys started to be near each other.

Wally would kiss you all the time he could, a smile on his face because no matter how many minutes he would be by your side, his body didn’t slow down.

You would make your relationship public, receiving blessings from all the people you’ve known and approving smiles from both of your mentors.

In your eighth life you two would marry each other properly, a big ceremonie for all your known ones and then a little dinner for the closest ones. You would wear your ring proudly in your finger instead of hiding it in a necklace under your shirt.

You would travel the world together for a year after your marriage before settling down on the outskirts of  Central City, leaving behind the apartment on the second floor you guys shared before in the centre of the city.

You would have children, two twin boys that were as handsome as their daddy  and a little girl that was as beautiful as her mommy. 

In your eighth life, your self being wouldn’t be a threat to the other one. You know your eighth life is like this because sometimes you dream about it, and it feels so real that you almost start to think "this is the bad dream" but that is your reality.

But you don’t have 9 lives, you only have one.

This one.

So I guess you will pass it sneaking around, always close but never close enough, always fearing the consequences of being loved by someone who isn’t supposed to love you back,

You only had one life, this one, but you like to think that the universe couldn’t be cruel enough to not allow you and Wally a happy ending in at least one.

You only had one life and you would spend it praying for another one.

Hope you liked it 💗 If you prefer to be a happy ending, you could just imagine like the 8th life was the current life 😽alte

Remeber that if you wanna get tagged everytime I post something, go to my pinned post>taglist>chose the fandom you want to get tagged in!

© asarajaa — Please, do not copy, translate or reuse my work without my permission.

[minetro]

masterlist \\ next->

kinich x fem!reader

word count: 1.2k words

warnings: none

summary: Spending your free time playing games sounds like a swell idea to release some academic stress, yet you did not account for the rage you'd experience from getting destroyed by pixels over and over again. Good thing your online savior is here to watch your back!

----------------------------------------------------------

prologue: sword and shield

The light that slipped through the crack of your window curtains curated the most harmonious lighting that was perfectly fitting for an afternoon of pure relaxation. A quiet hour to simply unwind and let time seep away the fatigue off of your shoulders. Well, that was what you had envisioned in your head at least, but reality begged to differ.

"HOW does it deal that much damage?!"

Here you are mashing your keyboard and mouse at a monstrous rate as you groan for the nth time. You'd planned for this to be a moment of relaxation, but the sweat that had stuck to your palms and the vein that was threatening to pop on your forehead were sheer proof that you're having anything but a calm evening.

You sighed as your soul disintegrated, head falling onto your desk with a thud. It's been a good hour or two since you decided to fight this new boss and all the damage you've managed to inflict on this hell spawn of a creature was barely half of its health bar. Meanwhile, you've been getting nearly one-shotted left and right. You curse the game developers who decided that this enemy was a good idea, then took it immediately back when your rationality made you realize that you probably just needed to learn how to dodge better, and also maaaaybe spare some stat upgrades on your defense.

"Why don't you increase your DEF stat up?"

You recall a certain player asking after he'd witness your abysmally low defense.

"If I level up my attack as high as I can, there won't be any need to protect myself from a dead enemy!"

You remember being proud of your logic, but now, after being defeated countless times and being greeted by a mocking "GAME OVER" screen over and over again, you couldn't help but curse at your past self's decisions just a teensy bit. Maybe now that you've learned your lesson, you'll actually start evenly distributing your stats.

Your days of moping in despair are cut extremely short when a notification cuts you out of your slump.

[K is online!]

"He's on!" You practically cheered, frantically opening up the message box in-game.

He responded just a few seconds after you'd sent your message. It used to surprise you, how quick he was with his replies, but you've since grown used to his swiftness and appreciated it as you both got closer.

It did not take long for his avatar adorned with green garments and accessories to appear right next to yours in-game. You decided to greet him by spinning around his character to translate your delight at his arrival.

Having K by your side as you fought was like being graced by a guardian angel's protection. Right as he casted his shield spell, you were free to attack to your heart's content, the boss' attempts at killing you barely making a dent to your health bar. Defeating the boss that had previously given you a good beating, now proved to be exceptionally easy. With the help of K's buffs, shields, de-buffs, while also chipping in some attacks of his own, that enemy was as good as dead.

You couldn't help the smile that enveloped your face, a toothy grin that you're sure made you look ridiculous. To think you actually thought this was a hard fight. As long as K is around as your designated shield, perhaps you can get away with a low defense stat for a little bit longer.

Running around in circles again, this time in a much more frenetic manner, you thanked K for his help. Finally, you could progress through the new story update that had been locked behind this enemy.

"Y/N! I made dinner!" Yoimiya, your roommate, yelled from outside your room.

"Oh? Be right over!"

You had not realized that it had gotten quite late. How long have you been playing for? Three? Four hours? Whatever, you've done worse. Although, it's a shame to have to leave so soon right after K had just got on.

---

"Yoi... what is this...?"

To say you were baffled was an understatement, in fact, you're not entirely sure what would be the correct adjective to describe your reaction. Safe to say, you were definitely amused.

"Dinner is served, madam," Yoimiya pulled out a seat, presumably for you, while putting on the worst impression of a middle-aged butler ever.

"What's the occasion?" You giggled, while indulging in this roleplay of hers.

Yoimiya hummed, "Can't I simply want to cook dinner for a friend?" She shimmied her way to the kitchen counter, bringing back with her a bowl.

"Bon appetit!" She placed the bowl, that smug smile on her face, right in front of you.

You made a squeak in confusion, then a moment later, burst out in laughter.

"Cereal?" You wiped a tear off the corner of your eye.

"I take the time out of my busy schedule to tirelessly cook dinner for you and this is how you respond?" Yoimiya gasped, holding her palm to her heart in mock hurt, "I'm awfully shattered by your ungratefulness, Y/N."

"Oh, please," You chuckled, scooping a spoonful of the sugary goodness into your mouth.

"On a serious note, we could get takeout if you want," She suggests.

"Nah," Shaking your head, you take another mouthful, "This is perfect."

---

Kinich let out a breath, slouching back into his chair. He stared at his monitor, more precisely the location you'd just been present on. He clicked his tongue, looking at the time, before logging out himself. He didn't feel like playing anymore.

Swaying his chair from side to side, he peered over at the time. It's past 6 o'clock, Mavuika hadn't come home yet. Probably working late again. He figured.

As if on cue, his phone lit up accompanied by a notification, ding!

He stood up from his seat, extending his arms upward in a big stretch.

"MEEEEEOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

An orange kitty screeched at Kinich from the doorway of his room.

"Looks like it's just you and me again, Ajaw."

He went down and scooped the cat with one arm, much to Ajaw's dismay.

"MREOWWWWW-"

Ajaw thrashed around in Kinich's arms, swinging his paws left and right, to which Kinich instinctively evaded. After years of dodging Ajaw's random chain of attacks, you could say he's become some kind of a pro.

"Okay, okay, let's get your dinner."

Less than ten words, but enough to shut the blabbering kitty up in mere seconds. Now he sat comfortably with no protests, as if he hadn't just thrown a fit a few moments ago.

While Kinich prepared Ajaw's food, and also preventing him from trying to devour the kibble from the whole bag, Kinich thought of you.

"We should play together tomorrow!"

Unbeknownst to him, a small smile etched his face.

Unfortunately for him, that smile was quickly wiped off in replacement of a frown. Ajaw had taken advantage of him having his head in the clouds to swoop in and knock over all the cat food to the floor.

Kinich sighed, muttering with a low growl etched to his tone.

"Ajaw."

[slutterhaus]

AN: Clive has made tough times bareable so I wanted to make something cute rather than my regular nsfw content. Thank you @fallendev0tionvn for giving us the perfect bbygirl malewife to love 💕 definitely check out the demo for Fallen Devotion!!

CWs: None except maybe the mention of developing a small obsession with Clive. No beta, we die like barbarians

Other: Second Person POV, GN!Reader, Fluff, Established Relationship, Clive may be a little ooc I'm so sorry. Under read more because it's more than 100 words.

Word Count: 830

Music played through the small speaker located in the kitchen, joined by the sound of something being fried on the stove. You were peacefully making dinner, focused on whisking some eggs to add to the rice bowl recipe you found online. A smile played on your face as Clive’s reflection appeared in the cabinet’s window when you closed it. “Hey.” You greeted. “I know you don’t like anyone in the kitchen with you when you’re cooking.” He began, a playful look on his face as he held his hands up in defense. The dimples you adored were on full display, and while you both knew you couldn’t be mad at him, you decided to feign annoyance and cross your arms, quirking a brow as you tried your best to keep a straight face. “It just smells so good.” He said, emphasizing his statement by letting himself lean to the side as if he were about to faint, letting his arms dangle and closing his eyes.

You couldn’t help but snort at the scene when you turned around. “Alright, alright, sit down. If you were feeling lonely, you could’ve just asked, y’know.” With a victorious smile, he happily sat at the kitchen island that gave him the perfect view of you as you moved around.

You were 22 when Clive came back into your life, and if you were attached to the hip before, you were even more inseparable seven years later. Sometimes you thought therapy was in order, but you already lost Clive once, always wanting to be with him was rightfully justified in your mind. He didn’t seem to mind either, playfully teasing you about looking like a baby koala with the way you stuck with him.

Oh, who were the two of you kidding? Clive had rubbed off on you, and while you knew any type of obsession was unhealthy, you didn’t care at this point. You were happy, in a loving relationship with literally your best friend, and it’s all that mattered to you. All that mattered was that gorgeous smile beaming with appreciation as you set down the bowl of food in front of him, the way you could talk about everything and nothing, and how sweet he was with helping around the house like doing the dishes after dinner.

Though there was always something you wanted from him, something that made you a little nervous. And as he finished with the last dish, you took a deep breath. “Mi vida…” You called, shifting your weight from one foot to another.

“Mm?”

“Would you… give me my first tattoo?”

The question seemed to catch him off-guard, his shoulders tensing slightly before relaxing as he turned around. ‘You…. You sure?” He asked. While he showed some hesitancy, he seemed to be holding back his excitement. You had gifted him a Sol Nova Unlimited, and he went through the fake skins like they were napkins cleaning up a spill, so he was dying to show you just what he could do. "Now?"

"Do you have the stuff at hand? We don't even have a design." You giggled.

Clive paused for a moment before answering. "Oops."

The two of you shared a fit of laughs, landing on the couch as Clive went into his silent fit. The fact that he was struggling so much to get back his composure sent you even further into giggles, sides burning as you buried yourself under his arm to try and calm yourself. The moment was fairly quick, but it was something you were going to cherish forever. You didn't want to live another day without Clive, not when you were left breathless after something so silly. "Tomorrow, then." You said in bewteen soft gasps for air. "Make a list and we'll go get everything in the morning."

It took everything in you not to burst out laughing again with how giddy he looked, a toothy grin on his face as he jumped up from the couch and went to get his tablet.

"What'd you have in mind?" He called from the bedroom. You pulled out your phone as he entered the living room again, tablet in hand while you pulled up your inspiration pics. "You have total creative freedom to make changes, but I was thinking something like this." You said, showing your phone to Clive. He leaned in close, observing the photos with a focused look on his face.

"I got the perfect thing in mind."

A smile crept onto your face as you watched him work, heart swelling with what could only be described as pure love and adoration. Seven years and sometimes you can't believe your sweet boy is back home.

Sure, he looked a bit different, and the scar along his neck brought back painful memories once in a while, but all that mattered was that he was home.

[mc-lukanette]

Taking her talent online, ultimately, had been the way Marinette felt she could play to her strengths without worrying about her weaknesses. Commissions had been helpful as a side job while she made a name for herself, and following that came a proper channel to run and make money off of. She did a little bit of everything, from sewing to designing to color theory and tutorials for how to do it all.

One of the best parts about it was the anonymity of it all, as she could keep her face hidden and no one would question a thing. It meant that no past publicity she had ever gotten as Marinette - particularly those from celebrities - mattered, and she could build herself up based on herself and nothing else.

Not having to talk to people was a bonus. When she did "talk" to others online, it was through instant messaging, and the Marinette who stammered through every word was far less likely to come out when she had to type things out and voluntarily send it afterwards. Even better was knowing that it was harder to be lured in by a pretty face speaking pretty lies when she wasn't face-to-face with them.

It was just about perfect. Sure, she still lived alone as an adult, not having someone to call hers, but she wasn't lonely and she did have someone in a sort of vague way.

I saw your video. That wasn't fair. I was planning on relaxing today and now I can't put my guitar down.

Like she was a schoolgirl all over again, Marinette had to step away from her computer and collapse onto her bed, kicking her legs out and giggling to herself.

She didn't know his name or face, but she'd heard his voice and creative ability. He was another channel like hers, though not a competing one as he made music rather than other creative ventures. From what she'd gathered over their messages to each other, he was like her where he found public fame to be a hassle and preferred being able to simply put himself out there quietly.

Their "relationship" had started with - appropriately - creativity itself. She'd been looking for something to listen to and found herself drawn in by the same faceless presentation that she had as well, going from one of his songs to the next until she'd blown through his entire channel. She got inevitably inspired and made a video where she made a dress based on one of his pieces, which he'd seen and made a video back at her with music piecing together the emotions one of her designs had invoked in him.

She tried not to let herself get carried away, telling herself that he'd done it out of obligation or thanks, but creativity didn't lie. She didn't know anything about music or the details of making it, but she could feel it when she listened to what he'd made: he meant every note he played.

Talking to each other over instant messaging started up from there, and she'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't find it the slightest bit romantic. The videos inspired by each other continued, like love letters to the other's talent, and they weren't shy about praising each other directly through their messages either.

He was the kind of guy she always wished that she'd had in her life: direct while not being overbearing or abrasive. Too often, she'd find herself trying to decipher the vagueness in people's words or question how much she could take out of them. He didn't leave room for that.

He was also, as she'd discovered only a month ago, totally single and lived in New York like she did. The former had been through some idle Q&A while messaging each other, but the latter was what she'd parsed out from some of his music: just enough was taken from landmarks or notable aspects of it that he had to be living there.

She stayed up some nights, dazed with thoughts of how close they might be to each other. Would she walk down the street one day and hear his recognizable style playing from a window he'd accidentally left open? Or had they passed each other on the street dozens of times and hadn't realized? She'd grown content in knowing that her social interaction in her offline life had greatly diminished due to her online job, but it was different with him.

The worst part was that she knew she could just ask him if he felt the same and would get an honest answer. All it took was working up the courage.

Heading back to her computer and looking over his message for the twelfth time, she smiled to herself and typed out her response.

Oh no. I'm forcing you to create more. Now you'll get even more of all the attention you deserve.

Her heart raced even after she'd sent it. He brought out a side of her that was much bolder than she was normally, and she liked it. Sometimes she caught herself twirling a strand of her hair or caring about how she looked as if he could see her and it was almost like a game.

A blush-inducing game.

I know. Terrible. But seriously, you're really something. I didn't know if my message would come through the music when I wrote it, but you caught everything. Either I'm a musical genius, you're a genius music analyst, or both.

She laughed at the idea that she would be some sort of music connoisseur, sampling his tracks like fine wine to determined their meaning.

You're definitely a musical genius. Just don't let it go to your head or you won't be able to find room to hide your face in videos anymore. Besides, you being so humble is one of my favorite things about you.

She hesitated before sending the last message, wondering briefly if she was coming on a little strong. Friends could casually talk about the traits they liked in each other, right?

Assuming they were friends, anyway. She supposed they'd never really put a name on it.

His next reply took a few seconds longer than she would've expected for its length.

It's hard to pick favorite things, but I've always admired how much you try to make everyone happy. You reply to so many comments, you're always listening to them, and I can see how hard you're working to make something entertaining.

He noticed? Well, of course he noticed - it was him - but she rubbed her pink cheeks at the thought that he'd been paying that close attention to her. She couldn't judge or anything as she put just as much effort into keeping an eye on him, but he was a special case.

Did he do that with everyone? Could she afford to ask, maybe with a little "haha" at the beginning to keep it casual?

Before she could start typing out some experimental responses, she noticed that he was typing again and kept still.

I hope you're putting just as much effort into making yourself happy too, whatever your happiness is.

She held back a squeak even though he wasn't there to hear it. The way he'd always worry about her was precious, like when she hadn't posted any videos in a week and he immediately asked if anything was wrong or she needed a break. He was just that kind of person, caring for all people generally but prioritizing those he was close to; it sounded standard, but he would've easily told her to not care in the slightest about her viewers and just be ruthlessly selfish if it was for the sake of her personal happiness.

It reminded her of love interests in stories at times, specifically the ones who would act neutral or cold to all others but treat their special someone extra special.

Swallowing down the feelings in her throat, she focused on responding to him.

Whatever my happiness is? Even if that's a person?

It was a joke more than anything else to lighten the atmosphere she'd caused in her own room. Maybe he'd crack some line about stealing someone away for herself.

Though, looking over the message again, she realized the ways he could take it. She chewed at her bottom lip, wondering how she could deal with it if he told her honestly that he was fine with her going after anyone. It wasn't as if she'd feel like he'd been leading her on, but they'd grown to a level of closeness where she hoped their relationship wasn't strictly friendly.

He finally responded, but she granted that time felt like it was creeping along painfully slowly while she'd waited.

Yeah. Anyone at all.

Her heart sank. So he was fine with anyone, meaning—

Including me.

Heat climbed up Marinette's neck. She stood, so quick that she nearly knocked her chair over, and ran right back to her bed to start punching her pillow. The screech she let out was entirely involuntary, a desperate attempt by her body to get out all of the emotions those two words had given her.

He could've left it at "anyone," which technically included him anyway, but he made sure to single himself out so she would know. Direct, just like she'd always asked for, good for her head and wonderfully bad for her heart. Knowing that he wanted her to pursue anyone at all, even beyond him, for the sake of her own happiness, somehow just made him more attractive.

And she didn't even know what he looked like!

By the time she'd finished beating up the pillow that had done nothing wrong, she frantically ruffled her hair and scratched at her scalp whilst trying to sort her thoughts. She looked like a mess by the end, someone who'd just gotten out of bed, but she didn't care. She knew she couldn't leave him on read, so she hurried back to the computer to reply to him.

She took a long, deep breath before sending it out, thinking to herself, Here we go...

You make me happy.

The heat climbed higher and she covered her face with her hands, rifling through her memories to figure out when she'd gotten so utterly embarrassing. He wouldn't mind, she was sure, and if it really bothered him then he'd probably give her an out so they'd never have to talk about it again.

She hoped he didn't.

The signature notification sound - the plucking of an electric guitar - played twice, alerting her that he'd responded. She peeked through her fingers to read.

You make me happy too. I want to meet you.

"AHH!" she screamed, impulsively slamming her fists into the keyboard. A mess of letters got sent to him as a result, but that about summed up her thoughts more than anything she could've possibly typed out.

He wanted to meet her. She made him happy too. Her heart fluttered fast and pleasantly in a way that only he could cause, even with the anxiety that came with that. She still wasn't good at offline socializing, and instant messaging had been all of their interactions barring videos they made for each other. What if her full self put him off?

Another two messages popped up.

I couldn't stop myself from saying that. There's no pressure if you don't want to meet up. You can just tell me honestly how you feel. You won't upset me, I promise.

Honestly? She shut her eyes for a moment in an effort to calm herself. The fact that even he - whose relaxed voice never raised once in any of his videos - couldn't help impulsively messaging for a meet up was promising, so she couldn't dare give up the opportunity.

She just couldn't, and she forced herself to type her honest opinion on the matter.

I want to meet you too.

It wasn't directly a promise to see each other, she reminded herself. They didn't set a time or place, even though they shared a state and timezone so it wouldn't have been that difficult to plan. Their shared careers meant that they could easily match each other's schedules, but nothing had to be set in stone right then.

Yet, in all her conflicting emotions, she looked forward to the mere idea.

[youngbounty]

I have been wanting to see a Damian and Tim team up for a long time. While we’ve had some panel team ups like in Nightwing and a comic book mini series called Robins, one was short lived and the other only had Tim kidnapped most of the time. The mini comic “Robin Season“ from Batman The Brave and the Bold is the Robin team up I’ve been waiting to see.

We start with three teenage boys dressed as Robin being surrounded by a ring of fire. Tim and Damian come to their rescue before questioning them. As it turns out, these three kids were participating in an online challenge called “Bird Watching” lead by “Moth Milker” and there was a fourth person. However, after dressing up and appearing on the roof, the fire appeared and their friend was taken. They give a message sent to “the REAL Robin” to meet them at the first place they first fought or the fourth teenager will be “OUT OF THE NEST.” Neither Tim or Damian know who this villain is or the location they’re told to meet at.

Damian is convinced that he must be the “REAL Robin” this “Moth Milker” is looking for since the kids are all his age. However, Tim isn’t convinced and rebukes Damian for trying to make this into a competition despite also being convinced it’s him due to the number of kids. This is not enough to convince Damian, who points out that villains never pay attention to how many variations Robins there have been.

It’s around this point Tim begins noticing the material of the costumes. He takes off, while Damian follows, knowing Tim must’ve found something. Once there, Tim explains to Damian that the costumes the kids wore are made from a former villain called the Tailor who now makes costumes to anyone with money. Tim flexes his knowledge before he and Damian smash through the window of the Tailor.

I have to say I really love this design of the two Robins overlooking Gotham. I especially love the design of Tim’s and Damian’s Robins. Their body portions, face shape, lips, nose, hair and clothing designs bring out their uniqueness.

Damian is shorter with a rounder face, wider nose, full lips, darker skin that’s between white and brown and shorter hair. Tim has slightly longer and floppy hair with a narrow face, a longer but narrow nose, thin lips, taller and more body build. These are the kind of physical features I expect them to have. They’re both Robins, but they’re different with different uniforms and body portions.

As Tim is questioning the Tailor, Damian notices the bodyguards and starts fighting them. Tim fights afterward, feeling embarrassed that he missed the bodyguards next to them. Damian pins the Tailor to the counter with the baterang and interrogates the name of his client that gave the costumes to the teens. This client paid extra to remain anonymous, but did provide an address. Tim stops Damian’s interrogation after getting the address, which given how far Damian will go when interrogating, it’s easy to see why.

Tim and Damian appear at the address of the location, which is a brewery, both coming to the conclusion that neither of them have ever fought any villain in this location before. Just then, they hear a cry for help, running to find the hostage toward a large kettle. As they open it from the top, they realize that this is a trap. However, before they can avoid it, they both get webbed by the mysterious villain looking for a Robin, Killer Moth.

Both Robins realize their error in focusing so heavily on showing up each other that they ran into the obvious trap. Both blame each other while Killer Moth stands dumbfounded that there are two Robins. It becomes clear that Killer Moth doesn’t know how to tell each Robin apart or is aware there have been different variations of Robin over the years.

In the next part, both Robins begin to allow their error that should have been obvious to sink in. Damian running into the obvious trap and Tim completely missing the identity of Killer Moth with the name “Moth Milker.” The both of them were so focused on besting the other Robin that they missed critical information and a trap that could have been avoided. To add insult to injury, Killer Moth isn’t a worthy opponent worth his salt.

Tim, realizing it couldn’t be either him or Damian, asks Killer Moth some questions to narrow down which Robin he’s looking for or if it might’ve been a past Robin. Killer Moth doesn’t remember, but recalls it was several years ago and that this “Robin” sucker-punched him with a pipe. Both Robins realize it was Jason’s Robin Killer Moth wanted revenge against. With his patience running thin, Killer Moth decides to fuck it and lock the two Robins in the kettle. This gives both Robins a moment of clarity.

Normally, I hate any Robin being the damsel in distress, unless it’s intentional or Jason, but this is important character development. Both Tim and Damian had allowed their egos to miss obvious signs of who the villain is, which Robin he’s was after, and ran into an obvious trap.

The three teenage boys resembled much closely with Jason’s or Dick’s Robin outfits (notice the shorts, fairy boots and gloves) and the name “Moth Milker” gives away who the villain is for anyone that can reach the Bat Computer. Had either Tim or Damian placed their focus on the mission, they could have found the identity of the villain, which Robin he was looking for and had taken him down without triggering any traps. However, because both Robins were too focused on proving each other be the better Robin, they needed a humbling reminder that they really have no business calling themselves the superior, let alone REAL Robin when the name, colors, uniform and mantle wasn’t originally theirs to begin with or was the first to have it be passed down to.

After this moment of clarity, Tim mentions to Damian that his gauntlets include spring-loaded blades that need to be triggered by his fingers. While Tim uses the water to weaken the fibers of the cocoon, Damian uses his legs to kick Tim’s fingers to activate the blades. Tim then gets the idea to try to disabled the sprayer that’s about to flood and boil them like hot potatoes, but Damian thinks of a more direct way to create an exit. Damian climbs on Tim's shoulders to plant several bombs around the lid of the kettle, all the while recognizing the other’s strength.

Once the bombs explode and pop the lid open, Killer Moth gets frustrated at seeing the two Robins escape. Tim and Damian lure Killer Moth into their own trap. This really shows the strength of Tim and Damian teaming up. Because they’ve had the same training, they know what the other is going to do and follow each other’s movements without needing to speak to each other. Sometimes, both have different ideas, but go for the one that is more direct or efficient.

Once trapping Killer Moth, Tim and Damian leave while complimenting each other’s tactics. Tim admits that sometimes his step-oriented plans overlook more simple solutions. Damian, meanwhile, recognizes that even step-oriented plans are better than attacking directly. It ends with the both of them enjoying their team up.

All in all, this was a great team up mini story and every reason why Tim and Damian need more team up duo comics. I normally don’t make reviews of mini stories, but this one was great and I want this to spread. I want everyone talking about this. This is the one team up I want to see take off as its own comic book series. Maybe DC can give us more of this kind of team up.

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar Revealed on Nintendo Direct, Opening for Business on Nintendo Switch™ and PC Aug. 27, 2025

Marvelous USA Showcases Advancements to the Cozy Farming/Life Sim Series Including Gorgeous Graphics, Richly Voiced Story, and Expanded Gameplay; Physical Pre-order Available Soon for Nintendo Switch

TORRANCE, Calif. — March 27, 2025 — Revealed during today’s Nintendo Direct, Marvelous USA formally announced STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, the next installment in the beloved farming/life sim series, is in development and will release for the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on Aug. 27, 2025. Originally teased on Marvelous Game Showcase broadcasts, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar takes inspiration from the original handheld release in North America in 2010. This new interpretation expands on the content and feature set of the original, while modernizing the visuals and design, leaning into the title’s focus on the theme of “renewal” as players set out to revitalize Zephyr Town’s bazaar and return it to its world-famous glory. The title will be available soon for physical pre-order on Nintendo Switch™ through participating retailers and on the Marvelous USA Online Store.

Zephyr Town’s bazaar was once one of the grandest in the world, drawing customers and peddlers from all four corners of the globe. These days, though, the bazaar has more tumbleweeds than customers. It’s up to Zephyr Town’s newest resident to turn its fortunes around! Players will raise animals, harvest crops, craft rare delicacies, then sell wares at their very own stall in the bazaar. As the bazaar business grows, new goods and services will arrive, which players can use to improve their farm. Help return prosperity to the bazaar, settle down for a cozy life and start a family, and Zephyr Town is sure to thrive once again!

Inspired by the classic handheld title, the new STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar builds up and improves on the original in every conceivable way. The world is bigger and more alive than ever thanks to incredible new visuals, new characters, an expanded story, and full character voice work in story events—a series first. Take advantage of Zephyr Town’s unique weather, using the wind to make travel and farm tasks a breeze! The winds of change are coming to deliver a new life in STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar.

Key Features

Cozy Living Reaches New Heights: The magnificent beauty of Zephyr Town shines with gorgeous graphics while a richly voiced story carries the player on a rewarding journey of farming, friendship, and renewal.

Ring the Bell and Sell, Sell, Sell: Farm produce and goods take on additional importance as the heart of players’ business at the lively weekly bazaar. Players can customize their stall and take charge of their sales to build up buzz and power up profits.

Take the Leap and Ride the Winds: Harness the power of the wind! Use windmills to create new products to sell, and effortlessly travel across the town on the brand-new glider. Players can use the new jumping skills on their farm or when exploring the town to access new locations. Who knows what they might find!

A Beautifully Cozy Life: Enjoy a rich life amongst a colorful community of characters, from friendly townsfolk to magical Nature Sprites. Build yourself a home, grow relationships, and even find love and start a family.

Marvelous USA also revealed physical editions coming to Nintendo Switch™ with pre-orders to be available soon through participating retailers and via the Marvelous USA Online Store. The title is available in a standard physical edition for an MSRP of $49.99, and a physical Premium Edition including a copy of STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, an adorable plush Suffolk sheep, a cloth poster, a physical art book with over 115 pages of cozy art, and an original soundtrack CD, for an MSRP of $69.99. Details on digital availability will be announced at a later date.

Developed by Marvelous and published in the Americas by Marvelous USA, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar will launch for the Nintendo Switch™ system and Windows PC via Steam on Aug. 27, 2025. The title will be published in Asia by Marvelous Inc., and in Europe by Marvelous Europe. This title is rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB.

For more information about STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar, visit the official site at https://www.storyofseasons.com/grandbazaar/, and follow the series on X and Bluesky.

Information about Marvelous USA’s products can be found at www.marvelous-usa.com. Fans can also check out the latest videos from the Marvelous family of titles on YouTube and get updates by following on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.