#YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE GRRRR

[actorsmask]

(Ahanon is currently lounging in their house, reading some random book Ms. Pela had made them beta read for her. Apparently she wrote it and wanted them specifically to speak their thoughts on it.)

Simple plot, but effective, it always got readers on the edge of their seat and makes them yell in frustration for the two to kiss… Heh, boy do I know the… Feeling…

(They immediately sat up, interested at a particular part of the story.)

… Oh my god, Ms. Pela…

The book read: “I do not love him! Your just spouting nonsense now!!!”

His friend stared at him with a deadpan stare. “Yeah, sure, mhm, totally— I’m not going to do this again Sam! You need to stop denying it and delaying or you’ll lose the chances you have of being with him!”

Sam rolled his eyes and stood up. “Like you said, I’m not doing this again either! I do not have any feelings. Period.”

“You didn’t seem like it that one time Garrett got the flu—“”That is beside the point.”

“No it’s not! I’m telling you, running around in circles like this won’t work!”

Sam sighed and walked back to his room, ignoring his friend yelling at him to ‘wake up.’

“… I don’t like him.”

… He admits he’s attractive, but so does everyone else! I mean, everyone likes Gerard! He’s a novel citizen, good work, good pay, good life, good family, and good money!

Sam? He can’t even count the amount of times he’s went to jail! He’s a crook, a criminal, an absolute fool… He and Gerard would never work. Never.

… Sometimes, though, he allows himself to wish.

.

.

.

.

“…ett…rett…”

…

“… Garrett!!!”

Garrett snaps out of his trance and looks back at his friend, who looks at him with a raised eyebrow. “These bags won’t carry themselves lover boy! Help me out!” “Ah, of course, sorry.”

Garrett immediately picked up a few bags and walked alongside his friend, who side-eyed him.

“If you were daydreaming about—“”I was not daydreaming about Sam.” “I didn’t even mention Sam.” “I can already tell you we’re going to bring him up.”

“Basta, tomato tomato.”

Garrett sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t like him, nor love him.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” “I’m serious.”

“And so am I, Garrett.” They said seriously, looking at them with a stern gaze as if they were a parent scolding their child. “You need to reflect seriously, and think about this. You can never just easily put a label like this when it comes to love.”

“I have already thought and reflected, and I can say with full confidence that I do not like Sam.” His friend sighed and kept walking.

“… You won’t be able to be with him forever, Garrett.” This made him stop walking, staring at them as if they had insulted him. “Again, I’m serious. You know how many enemies he has? How many enemies you have? Something could happen to either one of you or even both! And you would never get the chance to talk again.”

This made him stop once again, it made him think. Garrett was rich, sure, but it meant people wanted his money. His family was well known too, which made him even more of a target.

Sam… Sam always landed himself in jail. One day he himself could go too far and get tased by the cops, or worse, shot and killed. Not to mention the amount of people he’s hurt and scammed.

As Garrett was thinking, his friend snapped their fingers to get him out of his trance.

“See what I mean now, Garrett? Both of you are big figures, both well known, which makes an easy target.”

“…” They sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. “You can still wait, but don’t keep each other waiting so long. Both of you have dangerous lives, you might as well spend what little you have left with each other not as rivals, but as lovers.”

…

(The book ended there.)

(Ahanon laughed loudly as they finished reading.)

Oh Ms. Pela, stooping to a new low I see!

(They sigh and place the book down on their table.)

… She asked me how she should end it…

(They said thoughtfully, looking towards an old picture of themself and Sampo, it was… From a really long time ago.)

… I haven’t seen him this happy… For a long time.

Maybe… Maybe I’ll wait and see, then I’ll tell her how the story should end.

[tubbytarchia]

gg buddy am I right (ethubs doodle that I don't know what to do with)

[beep-beep-robin]

eddie feelings realization scene where he just breaks down and it looks bad and - oh fuck -

but it turns out he‘s actually breaking down because he finally figured it out. he finally realized what had always felt a bit off, what was always missing from not only his love life, but his view of himself as a person. he finally feels a bit more whole. he gets it, gets himself a bit more now.

and what if chris is there, and he thinks eddie‘s having a bad, bad breakdown again, and he calls buck. and of course, buck comes over as fast as he can - and to his surprise, when he gently touches eddie‘s shoulder to get his attention as to not scare him with his sudden presence, and eddie looks up at him, he doesn‘t look like he‘s devastated. sure, he looks quite rattled, but - the main thing buck can read on his face is relief. relief, hopefulness, and a bit of something else?

[svtskneecaps]

took advantage of what may apparently be the last quiet qsmp night for a WHILE to watch through some day 1 vods, since i didn't hop on the train until mid april. holy SHIT there is gold in those metaphorical hills. one day i gotta make a compilation fr but it is so tedious the way i get clips.

anyway here's a collection of highlights:

[bobosbillionsknives]

I like the plotline in stampede where vash finds the other seeds ship right after the big fall I like playing around with that idea a bit 😇 (no ship)

[lucalicatteart]

A few little sketches of some possible school uniforms for mage schools/learning centers for magic/etc. :0c Though because Nanyevimi is so scattered and disconnected, it'd actually vary much more by region (like not everywhere would have a cultural concept of what a suit jacket or neck tie looks like lol), so it's probably unrealistic for so many of them to follow too many traditional Uniform Conventions from cultures in our world, etc. But, still, fun to mess around with designs, and think about which would be most fun to wear/what school you'd go to just based off the clothing lol~

[leo-kinnie]

*grabs you by your shoulders and stares at you before shaking you violently*

YOU. ARE. ONE. OF. MY. FAVORITE. PEOPLE. YOU. FABULOUS. MORON. 💚

MOTH IM BITING U AND SHAKING U LIKE A DOG WITH A TOY

[they-of-fixation]

Die Alone Together [Placeholder Name; DRAFT]

A Cult of The Lamb fic (my AU)

There I lay, crouched in the grass, clinging to myself desperately; falling, falling, falling... my mind miles below the soil in which I cowered. The moment I fell to my knees, there became of time this... dissonance, a rift between it and space, and though the ground caught me, I never quite stopped falling- falling away from myself, from this place, and into a memory; miles away from here, years, suspended in an unreachable past and yet frozen in the present. For my dissociation, I could hardly think but one thing:

I was too late.

They're all-

I could scarcely hear myself screaming, nor could I feel the tears stinging my cheeks, nor the burn in my lungs or the ache in my legs from the fighting; my body did not and does not feel like my own. I am not in it. Everything felt distant as I held myself, and as I drew the corpse of one of my own to my chest, I realized how far this place had become from my home.

'They're all dead.'

And I will never get them back.

I don't know how long I laid there for, but I do remember thinking myself damned to the same fate, trapped in the same place; that I'd die there, alongside my brethren, eventually- in some way. I couldn't bring myself to leave them, not even to stand, and had little reason to think anyone would find nor save me. I was alone in the depths of Darkwood, miles away from any living thing- who could possibly hear my crying? I could hardly hear myself, and any person who might would surely, in devotion to the Bishops of the Old Faith, to the Worm, Leshy, end my life.

That is, or so I thought.

There was movement, rustling, in the brush surrounding me, and I was suddenly aware of just how loud I had been mourning, and, consequently, of the fearful silence that followed- but I did not move. I was not frozen in fear, at least not completely, more I was complacent; maybe someone had heard me, and I was going to die here. In a way, I deserved to. Perhaps dying the same way my friends, my found family, had would honor them, perhaps it would free me.

So I stayed. I stayed right where I was, amongst the remains of my community and embracing the body, only turning my head up to look in the direction of the sound, to see my assailant and face them head-on, if only for a moment. I dared not stand nor speak, I just patiently awaited in trepidation whatever fate it'd be to befall me.

It was quiet again for a moment as I stared into the shadowed flora, but then, not only could I hear the crackling of leaves on the forest floor, I could see someone, something, moving towards me. I drew in a sharp, panicked breath despite myself and held it as I watched the cloaked figure step into the clearing and catch sight of me.

I could feel my breath hitch yet again as I made eye contact with what seemed to be a child, at least no older than me, donning the crown of my god, and... not just a child- at that, a lamb?

I knew my face betrayed me; I was never known for my poker face, and despite my position, now was no different. I could not hide my confusion, for it had been years since anyone had seen a lamb. I thought- as we all did- that the Bishops had caused their extinction. The lamb's eyes were dark, stoic- nearly expressionless, if not for the silent and subtle shock at the sight before them; had it been any darker, I would not have noticed. I stared back with exceptional surprise but equal intensity. I did not ask.

Neither did they.

"What is your name?" They spoke softly, their hooves visibly unarmed and reaching towards me in, be it genuine or not, seeming good manner, the bell clasped to their cloak jingling quietly with every step.

"What are you going to do with me?" I diverted; they were a lamb, a living lamb, likely the last of their kind- and better yet, their crown… not to mention that they held no weapon that I could see- but even so, after everything I had gone through, and they as well, I could not be certain of their intentions. It was not in my favor to let down my guard, not with such ease.

They blinked slowly, taking another step my way. "Be not afraid, I mean well. Did he," Their smile faltered, no gesture necessary. "do this?"

"...If you mean Leshy, then I suppose. At least, his following. I," I felt my brow furrow as I forced myself to speak through gritted teeth. "was not here to see."

"Ah."

"You didn't answer my question." My voice cracked; for my tears earlier, I could hardly speak. It was only then I realized that I had never let go of the body- and with this realization, instinctively, I pulled it closer to me.

"Nor did you answer mine."

A beat.

"Your name?"

"Oh. My name is..." My hesitance was not to save face, nor to deceive- I could give a false name to “protect” myself and hide my identity, but if this lamb were to kill me, pretending would do nothing to lengthen my life, it couldn't truly protect me- rather, I was weighing my options, deciding my fate in the only way I knew I could. To continue as I had, or-

I looked down at the doe clasped to my breast: her eyes, lifeless, and lips slightly parted by her final breath. “Fern. My name is Fern," I decided, to honor her, not a lie now that it'd been spoken, but not the truth. If they meant what they said, that they were not here to hurt me, maybe, just maybe, this would be my chance to start anew. I did not turn my head to the lamb again; I let my eyes flutter shut and my head hang low, loosening my grip on the carcass to hold her face in my claws.

“...And yours?"

I could barely choke the last two words out.

"Fern… a pretty name!" Their smile, so mellow, in stark contrast to the death around us, struck me- I could not decide whether it was comforting or off putting in the moment. Again, they reached out their hand. "You may call me Lamb.”

This time I did look up; I watched them cautiously, my eyes shifting from their outstretched hoof, which I still refused to take, to their face.

‘Just… “Lamb”?’ I thought to myself, but said nothing. The question, I decided, was one likely better left unspoken.

“Okay, Lamb- your turn.” I interjected, changing the subject, or at least trying to, for what time now I had lost count. “What do you plan to do with me? Why spare me and not just kill me already?”

“No one deserves to meet a violent end. You deserve to have a choice in the matter; I can't, however, deny having an ulterior motive,” their smile never faltered as my eyes burned a hole through their own. “Would you rather me kill you, or to run away and hide before I have the chance? Or rather, the most forgiving of your options, would you like-” they adjourned, their eyes glinting wildly, still holding contact with my own. “to join me?”

“...Join… you?”

“It isn't safe in Darkwood- though I needn't tell you that- and it isn't much safer in any other of the Bishops’ domains. I can offer you shelter; for a price, of course, but a small one. All I ask for is your loyalty, and your devotion- to me, and to my god.”

“You're asking me… to join your religion?”

“Offering, yes. I won't force you. It is your decision, after all- granted, it is the safest, and in my… qualified opinion, smartest choice of the three.”

“And if I decline?” A face on my behalf, more out of curiosity than defiance.

“Again, I won't force you. But would you truly rather die, or spend your life running, only to lose it to one of them in the end, than to stand by my side? A side you should, in theory, have no hard time taking?”

Any argument I could have made, not that I had one nor any intention of refusing (because what choice did I really have?), was instantly, with ease, brought to a screeching halt. Their honesty, their sharp words and rightful, righteous confidence shook me thoroughly, to my very core; that last statement, a confirmation of my only suspicion. They didn't ask, but they knew. I said nothing, but they knew, and when the realization of their admittance donned on my features, they were more than aware that I knew, too. It was like telepathy, a secret passed silently between us, fate drawing me in.

“I am tired of running.”

“Then? I’m giving you an opportunity you can't possibly refuse.” Their expression darkened, their smile, different now- more serious, more grave; the weight of my situation coming back to me once more, and hitting me like a freight train. “Take my hand and join me, join my cult. You will be safe in the commune, and you can take your life back into your own hands.”

And with this- I looked again from their hoof to their twisted smile and somehow, despite the ominous air about them, emanating from the red crown atop their head, I knew that I’d be safe, or safest, with them- I, reluctant to let go and with a final embrace, laid the doe down in a patch of softer looking grass, and took the Lamb's hand.

[elastica1995]

sometimes at work i get emails about changes in our department that i feel are 100% because of me. and maybe that's just me being anxious and paranoid but actually it certainly isn't.

[feintenstein]

finished rewatching Steven Universe (OG before the movie & future) and oh my god they really just crammed a whole season into 3 episodes.... I really wish they weren't rushed n' canceled, it would've been so great!

I especially wanted to meet the nephrites and the other corrupted gems... darn. Or how much the gems on homeworld changed! What their lives are like, what they do with their time, and how they cope with era 3- ! aw man.... it just makes me bummed to think about.

[ruvviks]

– WHAT DOES YOUR HEART LOOK LIKE?

TAGGED BY: @katsigian & @devilbrakers, thank you so much!! TAGGING: @aartyom, @reaperkiller, @faarkas, @swordcoasts, @twinwitchbolt, @adelaidedrubman, @strafethesesinners, @henbased, @shellibisshe, @dickytwister, @ncytiri, @cultistbase, @reapersynth and YOU! – quiz

– A GUIDING, GOLDEN LIGHT.

just because you cannot see your own heart doesn’t mean that others can’t. your heart is blinding, captivating, a fire so bright that others can’t bring themselves to look away. it illuminates the path they follow and cements you as a guiding star for their own wayward hearts. every experience you’ve lived through has built your lighthouse heart up just a little higher. you are inspirational, a light that doesn’t go out.

director's commentary: the thing with ambrose is that he is so tired. desperately wants to stop working for arasaka but he knows they won't let him go and he believes they've turned him into a monster and there's nothing more to him now because of that. but at the same time he adopted a little girl who would have otherwise simply ended up alone again, and he is the whole world to her; and he is SUCH an important figure in the community they live in, helping with repairs to the building they live in wherever and whenever, always offering protection, and just a friendly familiar face to have a good conversation with at the end of a long day at work. he's so stuck in the belief that how arasaka sees him is how everyone he knows sees him that he doesn't even realize his own kindness and i'm very normal about that [lying]

– A TANGLED BALL OF RED STRINGS.

who are you without the company of others? you aren’t sure, but you know that you aren’t fond of whoever it is. you are an actor, a pretty face and a pleasant song. many idolize you, or love you, but you can never be sure of how sincere it is. your heart is buried under the letters they leave you, sealed with a kiss. it can’t be untangled from the red strings they’ve attached to you. you deserve to find something, someone, true and faithful to hold your heart in place. you don’t have to be everything to everyone.

director's commentary: for the longest time, aubrey believed he knew exactly what he wanted and what was good for him. spent a decent amount of years living a much wilder life than he could actually handle and while he could always get along generally well with people, he could never really find his place even in the biggest of crowds. he's an entertainer, he knows he's funny and knows that's how he makes friends, but at the same time his somewhat obnoxious behavior is a defense mechanism- a way to control how people perceive him in hopes those who actually care about him will stick around despite all his flaws. it's hard to tell where the act stops and the real aubrey starts, but now that he's finally found his place and his people he can finally figure out who he really is

– ICED OVER, OUT OF THE SUN.

your heart is very lonely, isn’t it? is your fortress of ice self-made? are others afraid of you, or are you afraid of them? are you afraid of hurting them, or of being hurt? vulnerability and connection can be frightening, but that’s no reason to shy away from their light, to tuck yourself small into corners, to build up frigid walls to keep yourself from feeling. you will heal when you allow yourself to draw closer to the flames and thaw.

director's commentary: cassidy has been alone for a very long time and especially after his relationship with reid ended, he believed it would be for the best. didn't allow anyone close anymore because they showed no interest in him anyway, so why should he show interest in them? but deep down he longs to have some sort of connection to someone again, and he wants very badly to be loved- in literally any way. he's very scared of being hurt since physical touch does in fact hurt for him, and he's very scared of hurting others because in the past, any sort of confrontation has led to his loved ones dying. but in the end he manages to let people in again and it took him very long but he is finally healing from all of that now, and he no longer has to spend his nights alone

– AN OPEN DOOR, A BURNING HEARTH.

your chest is wide open, and your heart is a home. others are welcomed in readily and asked to stay. you are comfort and love, everything you were never given but so desperately want to provide for others. you have built this welcoming hearth with your own two hands and won’t see anyone else left out in the cold. be careful to not burn yourself out trying to keep everyone else warm.

director's commentary: harlowe is relatively new in comparison to the other guys listed here but this result fits him very well. he used to work as a doll and all of caused him to become very wary of other human beings and feel alienated from them. especially following the incident in which he lost his leg and his doll chip got broken, which led to him getting permanent brain damage after he was forced to keep using the broken chip, he felt very alone and unloved and it wasn't until aubrey got him out of that situation and basically adopted him into his family that things started changing for harlowe. and nowadays he is so full of love; makes it his job to make those around him feel welcome and safe, and he knows how to bring good vibes to any situation. but at the same time he still hasn't had a chance to properly work through all that's happened to him and he's starting to run on fumes

– A CAGE WITH IRON LOCKS.

you are an enigma. you take care to remain that way. you aim to keep people guessing; your motives are uncertain even to yourself. what is it you truly want? you’ll never know if you keep your heart locked away like that. you deserve to be known, truly and fully. stop being afraid of what you might find if you open your heart up to self-reflection. stop thinking that no one will love you the moment they understand you. you are more than the facade you put on.

director's commentary: reid doesn't have the greatest past- career at maxtac, cassidy's ex-boyfriend and reid was NOT a good boyfriend at all, and at some point he basically ended up trying to get cassidy to break up with his current partner and also hand him over to kang tao in a desperate attempt to get his own life back together. none of it worked out for him and he ended up having to work for aubrey; become his secretary and assistant in his fixer business, even though reid had already entirely accepted he was probably going to end up getting killed. now being forced to live with the consequences, reid has bettered himself and even ends up saving the lives of those he once wished dead- but he still carries his past with him everywhere he goes and has a hard time letting go of it all, scared to put himself out there again because he doesn't want the past to repeat itself. but as much as he tries to close himself off, people still find their way to him; and it takes him a while to fully open up, but he gets there in the end, and he's much better off nowadays

– MOLTEN LAVA AND CHARRED FLESH.

your heart burned so fiercely that it burnt itself out, leaving horrible scars in its wake; scars inside your chest and on the hands of those who touched you, the hearts of anyone who got close enough to connect to yours. the person you are now is no longer recognizable, burnt up by your own anger and passion and love. the injuries can never be fully erased, but they can be soothed with time and trust and forgiveness.

director's commentary: reuben's result is interesting because it's accurate but not entirely in the way you would expect. when he was with maelstrom, for the longest time he believed that he truly belonged there; it was his home, the only home he could remember, and despite the fact he was mostly treated like shit he found comfort there and was driven by a passion that came to exist entirely out of his loyalty to them. all of it fell apart when he learned everything he had done for them meant nothing, and he suddenly started to realize all the horrible things they made him do had not ever been good to begin with. he then spent a lot of time alone, hiding in his own little hideout and refusing to let anyone get near him. luckily enough this all changes for him and he ends up moving in with someone he now loves more than anything in the world, and he has countless of friends he would be willing to die for. his passion is still there, and his loyalty too- but this time it's created from within his own heart, rather than fabricated out of lies and empty promises

[size-two-shrimp]

Hello mutuals. *I gently set a little felt frog in your palm*

[mini-starfruit]

I love how, as election season comes up, I get to see essentially mindless election discourse float across my dash. Voting for genocide, voting against genocide, voting for the guy who listens to reason, voting for the guy who isnt a cryptofascist—its so silly.

I live in New York, so my perspective is definitely influenced by that, but like. The MIC is going to exist no matter what you vote for. The parties will support the genocide no matter what. Thats not what its about on our end, "our" meaning american "leftists". Voting is not a chance to do no wrong, a chance to make some deontologically ethical action; it is one of many chances to wield the miniscule amount of political agency afforded to you as a citizen. You can use that agency to *not* vote, but unless youre forming a concerted anti-voting bloc (which do exist!!), not voting isnt a signal of any kind. It doesnt say anything, it doesnt indicate anything meaningful to the halls of power. They already know theyre failing to capture the american left, and they dont care. Leftism is anathema to their establishment.

Moreover, voting does not turn you into some sort of branded individual. You can vote and then turn right back around and throw bricks at cops or organise local support systems. These things are not mutually exclusive.

So, what does voting do? Its a ballot cast for a guy to be in the office. What does the guy do in the office, then? He appoints members of the cabinet and supreme court, and effects policy. I don't know about you, but I would like people moderately more left in cabinet positions (because that stuff DOES matter, to the domestic US, to countries economically involved (euphemism) (read: every country) with the US.)

The duopoly sucks!! I dont want neoliberals to be in charge. Unfortunately, they will be, and exercising your influence over them does not curse you forever to be incapable of resisting them in other political avenues. When did understanding your actions via their consequences fall out of vogue?

[justanotherfanartist]

idr who it was but somebody I reblogged a post on a while back in which I dumped a bunch of random personal stuff in the tags if you see this this is for you 🙏🙏 also I’m lying I’m just a yapper

[theclosetedskeleton]

Relating a bit too much to cover this song by wwatt as i think about one of my very close old friends

[leefi]

the woman sitting next to me at a film screening this sunday was coughing through the entire movie (i couldn't move, the theatre was packed) and today my throat is sore. feeling a teeny weeny bit murderous about it