#also only would be possible if i hold this level of excitement/interest in it for a year

[crushedsweets]

The things I will do to be a beta tester🙏

give me roughly 1 month and i may start asking again. however ill prob only ask for 18+ (not cuz the content is 18+ just cuz i rather work with an adult) LOLOL

[astrolook]

Who Do You Attract? Your 7th House Holds the Answers! 💫❤️

Note: These are all my personal observations thru the years and leave me a comment below letting me know whether it resonates with you or not. Also, I concentrated only on the good side of the 7th lord.

7th House through the signs:

🔥 Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) - You need a partner who keeps life exciting. These partners are bold, independent, and maybe a little unpredictable. Love feels like an adventure, not a routine. Wants a movie-style romance.

🌬 Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) – Your ideal partner is intellectual, social, and communicative. Conversations are everything. If they can’t hold an interesting conversation, your attraction dies instantly. You either ghost or get ghosted.

🌊 Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) – You attract deep, emotional, and intuitive lovers. Love needs to feel like a soul connection, not just a surface-level fling. These relationships can be intense but oh-so-transformative. Love is either magical and life-changing or a dramatic tragedy.

🌍 Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) – Stability is key. Your best partner is grounded, responsible, and maybe a little traditional or bit conservative. No messy drama, just real commitment and reliability.

7th House Ruler Through the Houses(Future Spouse-FS):

7th Lord in 1st house - Your FS will find you whether you are looking for or not. Relationships define your identity more than you’d like to admit. Your FS would play a huge role in shaping your life. They would see you as a "husband/wifey material" almost instantly. Have seen this placement where the 7th lord person fell in love at first sight with the 1st house person. If not afflicted, could get married before 28 or 29. Marriage would feel like a major identity shift.

7th lord in 2nd house - Your FS is either a financially responsible person or comes from wealth. Love is slow-building, but when you commit, it's rock solid. Your partner’s voice could be super attractive. You might find their words especially persuasive or charming. Your FS will have strong values and expect stability in relationships. They likely take commitment seriously and won’t tolerate uncertainty. Stability and long-term security will be at the heart of your marriage, making it one that lasts through life’s ups and downs.

7th lord in 3rd house - Your future spouse will be talkative, witty, and possibly younger at heart. You might meet them through social media, a sibling, a neighbor, or while traveling. You in-laws could be chatty or nosey. Short-distance travel could be a theme in your marriage. Your FS will always have a new hobby or skill they’re working on. Expect lots of jokes, sarcasm, and clever remarks from your FS.

7th lord in 4th house - Your FS would feel like home. They would be emotional, intense and protective of you. Your FS would dream of building a strong family with you after meeting you. You could meet your FS in famililar places like your neighborhood/hometown, school/uni reunion, a family event, etc. They could become a homemaker or work from home or just your FS career would take a backseat after having kids.

7th lord in 5th house - Your FS would have a youthful, playful energy, no matter their actual age. Think “aging like fine wine but acting like an overgrown teenager sometimes." They would be child-like and their confidence would be attractive to you. If kids are in the cards, Your FS would make an amazing parent. Think matching outfits and "my kid is the best" energy. Your FS would make you feel special and would fight for you through thick and thin.

7th lord in 6th house - Your FS would be career-oriented. They are practical in love. Acts of service are their love language. Love isn't just a feeling for them, it's a responsibility. If you get sick, they baby you completely and also would spoil you with their devotion.

7th lord in 7th house - Your FS will be exactly the type of person you imagine marrying… or the exact opposite, just to keep life interesting. They’ll be charming, social, and possibly someone others lowkey have a crush on too. You’re attracting grown-up, commitment-ready energy. They take relationships seriously, but don’t expect boring. They’ll either be your best friend or your most thrilling challenge. Maybe both.

7th lord in 8th house - Your FS possibly knows all your secrets before you even tell them. Either they’re wealthier than you or high-status, or inherit something wild, or you two somehow build an empire together. If they’re into you, they’re into you forever. You might meet them in a weird or fated way. (One of my friends met her man at a car dealership and now married for 4 years).

7th lord in 9th house - Your FS might be from a different country or far away from you, culture, or just someone who is bilingual. Long-distance might be a thing. You could meet your FS through far-away trips or through the internet. You two might elope too. You and your FS are like travel vlogging couples/family.

7th lord in 10th house - Your FS either comes from an influential or respectable family or are working hard to become "somebody." Status matters to them. You two could be living a public life. Your FS will have their life put together when you meet them. You might end up helping them with their career or even going into business together. They want a partner who adds to their success story so you’re the Michelle to their Barack. A power couple.

7th lord in 11th house - Your FS is your best friend first, life partner second, and possibly a social butterfly third. You’re likely to meet them through friends, at a party, or while arguing in a Reddit thread. You both are partners-in-crime. Your FS is someone that you won't date normally like think "not my type but perfect match."

7th lord in 12th house - Your FS might be super private, lowkey or someone from a different culture/lives far away from you. They bring a sense of unconditional love, but sometimes it feels like you’re dating an enigma wrapped in a riddle. A weird psychic connection between you two exists. Love might feel like a secret affair and sometimes this placement hide their marital status or just keep their married life really private.

🌟✨ Do you want to unlock the secrets of your birth chart or dive deep into your synastry with your loved one? 💫💖

📩 DM me for a complete astrology reading or a synastry compatibility reading! 🌙💕

✨🌠 Check out my pinned post for pricing! 🔮💫

[sofiatarot]

PAC: If I were your partner: How I’d treat you, win your heart, and fulfill your desires... ❤️‍🔥

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have someone treat you exactly the way you dream of? the way you truly deserve? In this reading, I’ll dive deep into how I’d love, cherish, and spoil you as your partner. We'll see what makes your heart race, how I’d go the extra mile to win you over, and a glimpse into what the passion between us might look like. Let’s uncover what your perfect partner would bring to the table.

TIP JAR - FREE READINGS - PAID READINGS

1->2

3->4

Take this as a sign—this is the lover you’ve been manifesting. There are no coincidences, only fate bringing you closer to what you truly deserve. Get ready, because the universe is sending someone who will treat you exactly like this… and maybe even better.

Group 1

Okay so... I get the impression that you wouldn’t make this easy… You crave a connection that’s more than just surface-level. You’re not here for fleeting infatuations or hollow promises—you need someone who can show up with passion, depth, and consistency. What makes your heart race is the idea of a partner who can handle the highs and lows of life with you, someone who knows how to celebrate your wins but also stand by you when the weight of the world feels heavy. You’re drawn to someone who’s bold enough to take action yet emotionally intuitive enough to make you feel understood.

I’d have to treat you just right to earn your trust… Winning your heart wouldn’t be a game; it’d be a commitment. You’d fall for someone who isn’t afraid to put in the work, to prove their loyalty through actions, not just words. I’d have to show you that I’m strong enough to carry my own weight while being gentle enough to support yours when you need it. You’d appreciate someone who takes the time to understand your complexities, who doesn’t shy away from your emotional depth, and who knows how to balance ambition with tenderness.

This is undeniable… I know you’d want something raw and real… Behind closed doors, you’re someone who loves intensity. You crave moments that feel almost electric—like passion that builds slowly and then crashes over you all at once. I’d know how to take my time, teasing out every ounce of desire until you’re begging for release. There’s something about the push and pull that excites you, isn’t there? The tension of holding back, only to give in completely. I’d make sure you feel like the center of my universe in those moments, with nothing else mattering but us.

I’d have to surprise you, though… You’re not someone who’s impressed by the predictable. You’d love a partner who keeps you guessing, who knows how to reignite the spark when things feel too routine. I’d make it my mission to keep things fresh, whether that means spontaneous adventures or quiet nights filled with whispered promises. You’d appreciate someone who knows how to balance the thrill of the new with the comfort of the familiar, always leaving you wanting more.

I think I’d have to match your intensity… You’re someone who needs a partner who can meet you on your level. You’re not interested in someone who’s going to shy away from the fire—you need someone who’s willing to step into it with you. I’d show you that I can handle your passion, your ambition, and your emotional depth without flinching. You’d love a partner who sees your strength and meets it with their own, creating a connection that feels both powerful and unshakable.

But I’d also need to make you feel secure… You’re not someone who can thrive in uncertainty. You’d fall for a partner who makes you feel grounded, who proves their love through their actions and their presence. I’d make sure you know that you’re my priority, that I’m here to support you and celebrate you in every way possible. You’d love someone who sees the beauty in your vulnerability and cherishes it rather than taking it for granted.

Oh, now this is interesting…

Something tells me you’d like to take control sometimes… You’re someone who knows what you want, and I’d love nothing more than to give it to you. Whether it’s letting you call the shots or completely surrendering to your desires, I’d make sure you feel empowered in every way. You’d appreciate a partner who can read between the lines, who knows how to anticipate your needs without you having to say a word.

I think you’d love the little things, too… You’re someone who notices the details—the way someone remembers your favorite coffee order or the way they hold your hand when you’re nervous. I’d make it my mission to show you how much I care in all the small ways, proving that love isn’t just about grand gestures but also about the quiet moments that make life beautiful.

And in the end, I’d make sure you feel like the only one… You’d love a partner who makes you feel like the center of their universe, who shows you every day that you’re cherished, desired, and deeply loved. I’d make sure you know that you’re my priority, always and forever. You deserve nothing less.

Group 2

I can tell you have a romantic heart but a practical mind...

You’re someone who loves the idea of deep, soulful connections, but you’re not here for fleeting infatuations. You’re drawn to love that feels purposeful, where every moment builds toward something meaningful. What makes your heart race is the idea of someone who understands both your dreams and your doubts, someone who can balance passion with stability.

Oh, there’s no question about it… I’d have to show you I’m serious about you… Winning your heart would mean showing you that I’m not just talk—I’d need to back it up with action. You’re not impressed by empty promises; you need someone who can follow through and prove their commitment. I’d make it clear that I’m here to build something real with you, not just chase after fleeting thrills. You’d fall for someone who sees your worth and doesn’t shy away from putting in the effort.

So I’d take my time making you feel special… You’re someone who loves the little moments as much as the grand gestures. Behind closed doors, I’d make sure every touch, every word, every kiss feels intentional. You’d love a partner who knows how to build anticipation, teasing out the tension until it’s almost too much to bear. I’d make sure you feel completely worshipped, like nothing else in the world matters except you.

I have a feeling you’re the type who craves a bit of mystery… You’re not someone who wants everything laid out right away—you’d love a partner who keeps you guessing, who adds a touch of intrigue to the relationship. I’d make sure to surprise you, whether it’s with unexpected adventures or the way I look at you when you least expect it. You’d love the feeling of discovering new layers to someone, always keeping things fresh and exciting.

I’d need to balance passion with stability… You’re not here for chaos—you want a connection that feels grounded yet still electric. I’d make it my mission to show you that I can offer you both security and excitement, blending the best of both worlds. You’d fall for someone who can handle your complexities without trying to change you, someone who embraces your depth and matches it with their own.

I sense that you’d appreciate being cherished… You’d love a partner who pays attention to the details, who notices the little things that make you smile and finds ways to incorporate them into everyday life. I’d make sure to show you that I see you, truly see you, in a way that makes you feel loved and appreciated beyond words.

And let’s be honest, you’d love to feel desired… Behind closed doors, you’d appreciate a partner who knows how to take control when needed but also gives you the space to express your own desires. I’d know exactly how to tune into what you need, finding the perfect balance between softness and intensity. You’d love someone who knows how to push your boundaries in the best ways, leaving you breathless and wanting more.

I’d make you feel like the only one in the room… You’re someone who loves to be reminded of how special you are, whether it’s through words, actions, or the way I look at you. I’d make sure you know that you’re my priority, that everything I do is with you in mind. You deserve nothing less than a love that makes you feel like you’re walking on air.

And in the end, I’d make sure you feel secure and adored… You’d fall for someone who makes you feel like you’re their everything, someone who doesn’t just say they love you but shows it in every way possible. I’d make sure you know that you’re deeply cherished, desired, and loved beyond measure.

Group 3

It’s clear to me now… you’ve got walls up, but they’re worth climbing… You’re someone who doesn’t let just anyone in—you need a partner who’s willing to earn your trust and prove that they’re here for the right reasons. What makes your heart race is the idea of someone who’s not afraid to put in the effort, who sees your strength and admires it but also makes you feel safe enough to let your guard down.

I’d have to show you that I’m not going anywhere… Winning your heart would mean proving that I’m here for the long haul. You’d appreciate someone who’s patient, who doesn’t push but instead lets the connection grow naturally. I’d show you that I see the real you, the version of you that you don’t show to everyone, and I’d make sure you know that I love every part of it.

I’d make you feel unstoppable… Behind closed doors, you’re someone who loves intensity. You’d want a partner who knows how to take control but also lets you express your own power. I’d make sure to create moments that feel electric, where every touch and every look sends shivers down your spine. You’d love the feeling of being completely seen, desired, and adored in those intimate moments.

It’s written all over you—you’d need a mix of strength and softness… You’re not someone who’s drawn to extremes—you’d love a partner who knows how to balance their strength with vulnerability. I’d make sure to show you that I’m both capable and caring, strong enough to stand by your side but also soft enough to hold you when you need it.

I’d need to earn your respect first… You’re not someone who’s easily impressed by charm—you need substance. I’d make it my mission to prove that I’m someone worth your time, someone who can match your intelligence, your ambition, and your drive. You’d love a partner who’s not afraid to challenge you but also knows how to support you when it counts.

Mhm, I can almost picture it now…you like to keep things exciting… You’d appreciate a partner who knows how to keep the spark alive, who’s willing to try new things and push boundaries. I’d make sure every moment with me feels fresh and exciting, whether it’s through spontaneous adventures or the way I look at you like you’re the only person in the world.

And let’s not forget—you’d love to feel adored… You’re someone who appreciates the little things, the moments that show you how much you’re loved and valued. I’d make sure to pay attention to the details, showing you that I care in ways that go beyond words. You’d fall for someone who makes you feel like you’re the center of their universe.

I’d make sure you feel completely secure… You’re not someone who thrives in uncertainty—you need a partner who makes you feel grounded and safe. I’d make sure you know that you’re my priority, that I’m here to support you and stand by you no matter what. You’d love someone who proves their love through their actions, not just their words.

And in the end, I’d make sure you feel truly seen… You’d fall for a partner who sees the real you, who loves every part of you, even the parts you try to hide. I’d make sure you know that you’re deeply cherished and adored, that you’re the love of my life in every way.

Group 4

I get the feeling you don’t just let anyone get close to you… You’re someone who knows their worth and keeps your guard up until someone proves they’re worth your time. What you crave is a love that feels equal, where you’re respected, cherished, and understood. You’re drawn to a partner who brings balance to your life—someone who knows how to handle your complexities while making you feel like the most important person in the room.

I’d need to show you that I can match your depth… Winning your heart wouldn’t be a simple task. You’d make me work for it, and honestly, I’d enjoy every second of the challenge. You’d need to see consistency from me—proof that I’m not just here for the good times but also for the hard ones. I’d show you I can handle your storms without flinching, making it clear that I’m not just here to take, but to give in every way you deserve.

Now, I’d make you feel like royalty… Behind closed doors, you’d need a partner who knows how to pay attention to every single detail of your pleasure. You don’t settle for half-hearted attempts; you want someone who’s completely attuned to you. I’d make sure to build anticipation, teasing and pleasing until there’s nothing left but pure satisfaction. With me, you’d never have to doubt how desirable you are—I’d remind you every second of the way.

You’re the type who’d keep me guessing, and I’d love that… You’re not someone who lays it all out on the table—you love to keep things intriguing. I’d make it my mission to uncover all your hidden sides, to show you that I’m just as fascinated by your quiet moments as I am by your wild ones. You’d love having a partner who keeps things exciting without ever rushing you, someone who knows how to navigate your rhythm.

I’d have to prove I’m someone you can truly trust… You don’t give your heart easily, and I wouldn’t expect you to. To win you over, I’d show you that I’m someone who can hold your secrets, your fears, and your dreams without ever using them against you. You’d appreciate a partner who makes you feel safe enough to be vulnerable, someone who protects your heart as if it were their own.

And I know you’d want a love that feels equal… You wouldn’t settle for a relationship where one person gives all the effort. You’d want someone who invests just as much as you do, who meets you in the middle and makes you feel valued. I’d make it clear that I see you as my equal, my partner in every sense of the word, and that I’m here to create something extraordinary with you.

Let’s be honest, you’d love a partner who can handle your intensity… You’re not afraid of passion, and you’d need someone who knows how to match yours without being overwhelmed by it. I’d make sure to embrace every part of you, from your fiery moments to your softer ones. You’d fall for a partner who makes you feel free to express all sides of yourself, knowing you’ll never be judged for it.

I’d make sure you feel seen in ways no one else could… You’d love a partner who notices the things about you that others miss—the way your eyes light up when you’re excited, or the subtle shifts in your tone when you’re trying to hide your emotions. I’d show you that I don’t just see the surface—I see the real you, and I’m completely captivated by every part of it.

And in the end, I’d make you feel irreplaceable… You’re not someone who’d be content with anything less than a love that feels all-encompassing. I’d make sure you know, every single day, that you’re my priority, my muse, and my greatest treasure. With me, you’d never feel like you’re settling—you’d know you’ve found someone who’s truly worthy of you.

I could be a better boyfriend than him—

xoxo🌙

[ciaossu-imagines]

Do they collect anything?

Blast, of course, collects the mysterious cubes. It’s a hobby and interest of his, as established in canon. However, I think Blast has a very strong interest in finding and collecting anything else mysterious, weird, or unknown. He likes the things that are unknown, but he also understands that they might be dangerous, which is another big reason for him to want to ‘collect’ them. He doesn’t want them to hurt innocent civilians but at the same time, he’s also interested in them because of his own curiosity. They’re puzzles to him and Blast enjoys a good puzzle. On top of that hobby of his and ‘collection’ of his, Blast seems to ‘collect’ the strong. His presence seems to draw the strong to him, which Blast has no problem with!

Tatsumaki can be a proud one. Nowhere else is her vanity more shown than her little collection, though it’s not a collection that is well-known to almost everyone. There aren’t many people who get close enough to Tatsumaki to be allowed to see within her personal spaces, which is where she stores her collection. She collects her own merchandise. It reminds her how proud she deserves to be and she loves the visible proof of how strong, terrifying, and adored as a hero she is. Given how important her sister is to Tatsumaki and how much Tatsumaki does love Fubuki, she also collects each and every piece of merchandise for her sister that she can get her hands on.

Kamikaze collects the usual thing that most would expect him to collect. That is, of course, that he collects swords. He doesn’t just collect any old sword, of course. That would defeat the purpose and he sees no point in just picking up any old hunk of metal in a sword shape. He collects any swords that are unique in nature, shape, structure, etc. The really beautiful ones he displays as one might display a spectacular piece of art because that is indeed what they are to him. During his younger and cockier (if that’s even a possibility) days, Kamikaze would also have a tendency to collect the swords of his defeated opponents, as one might collect spoils of war. However, he also has a more mundane, everyday kind of collection. Kamikaze is the type who just kind of collects wet wipes, the ones that restaurants give out with meals, the little prepackaged ones. It wasn’t even meant to be a collection. He just always takes a couple, more than he uses, and he never throws them out because he feels like they’ll come in useful. It’s at the point where he’s got enough to last him for a couple years, using one several times a day, but he still can’t bring himself to throw them out.

Bofoi collects technology. He’s been doing so for ages. He’s always collecting the newest technology and gets especially excited over technology that he isn’t fluent with or things that he hasn’t ever seen before. They become obsessions for him and, once he has them in his grasp, he can’t stop himself. He pushes past his limits; he stays up for days at a time. He stops remembering to eat, doesn’t think about his hygiene. Everything, and I do mean everything for Bofoi is now contained in this new and unknown piece of technology, until he has it figured out and mastered. It’s obsession to a complete and unhealthy level. He doesn’t throw out any of his collection once he does figure them out though, not only because they can be very useful, but because he likes looking at them. He likes remembering them, how he discovered or came across them, the long hours he enjoyed with them as he cracked the secrets behind them. Just looking at or holding them brings him back to moments in his life that were precious to him and to discard any of his collection would impact him emotionally, quite an unusual thing for Bofoi, who typically doesn’t get that emotionally attached to ‘things’.

King collects video games. While he definitely collects specific games because he’s really in love with them or the franchise they’re a part of, he also collects video games he’s never heard of or ones from varying genres that he finds for a good price. He picks up a lot of games from pawn shops, thrift stores, and yard sales because he can find them for amazing prices and he’ll grab what looks good to him, and then he just picks five at random that he’s never heard of and knows nothing about. He finds it’s a good way to diversify his gaming experience, for one, and helps him become a better-rounded gamer. Because of this collection of his, King also tends to collect video game consoles. He has his mainstays that he uses all the time, but he also has an impressive collection of retro gaming consoles, like the Atari, Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, as well as discontinued consoles like the Nintendo Wii and PS Vita.

Pig God collects menus. Not only does he collect the regular take-out menus from the places he likes to eat at, but he collects special menus as well. He prints off and makes nice menus from restaurants that he one daydreams of eating at or that are famous for some reason, from the mundane mom and pop type restaurants to the Michelin star rated restaurants that do full eleven-course meals. For restaurants that he’s been to that aren’t his normal ones, where he’s been really impressed with the chef’s food, on top of tipping exceptionally good, he requests and offers to pay for a copy of the place’s menu to add to his collection. He especially does this for places where he’s gone with people he considers his ‘friends’ or people he considers important to him, because the menus will bring up such pleasant memories of them all eating together.

Flashy Flash doesn’t put a lot of emphasis on things. He doesn’t need a lot of material things in his life to be happy and he tends to be pretty minimalistic in both his living spaces and in the way he lives his life. Because of this, he doesn’t have a particular collection. It’s just incompatible with how he likes to live. He has tried, but it just ends up with him giving away or throwing away the collection he has built up, because it’s simply become clutter to him.

Genos doesn’t have anything he currently collects. There’s not a lot of extra space in the apartment, for one thing, and there’s nothing that he’s really, really into to the point where he feels the need to find even the unused space in a corner to really collect that thing, even in a small way. There’s definitely things Genos is interested in, things he adores and wants, things he likes, but none of them are what you would call a collection. This wasn’t always the case though. When he was a kid, Genos would collect both hero merchandise of a hero he’d really liked but his biggest collection was fridge magnets. His parents fridge was absolutely covered in them. He doesn’t remember exactly why he liked them so much or why they were so important to him. There was just something about them his little four-year-old self loved and that’s when his collection started. He kept finding them and getting them for himself when one amused him or he liked the looks of it, but a lot of them were gifts from others who had learned of his little ‘collection’.

Puri-Puri collects people. To be more specific, he collects people, mostly men, that he considers to be attractive. For men he considers handsome, whether they be criminals, other prisoners, or even some heroes, if he can beat them or sway them to stay by his side by choice, he collects them to add to his personal harem, something he’s always wanted since he was young. Monogamy has never been a thing for Puri-Puri; he’s someone who needs romantic variety so that harem is something he considers to be more worthwhile than just about anything. In return for those people being added to his harem, Puri-Puri will go out of his way to protect them and take care of them, so it’s not entirely one-sided. However, as mentioned, it’s not exclusively males. I just think Puri-Puri likes to surround himself with people who are physically pleasing to him and he will have collected a few female or nonbinary individuals whose looks and aesthetics are very pleasing to him, who will be, in actuality, his friends, but in his words are part of his ‘collection.’ He’s always really enthused to add to his collection and is always on the lookout for new examples of beauty.

[hoshologies]

ur aftercare drabble with mark is making me so soft🥹🥹 if it’s alright can u also write abt inexperienced reader who is having her first time with mark?

send me a kink/scenario + an idol (txt, svt, skz, enha hyung line, or nct dream) and i’ll write a drabble

warnings. afab!reader, making out, suggestions of sex (primarily f!receiving oral and penetration) smut is under the cut. minors do not interact.

your favorite thing about mark has always been his willingness to accomodate and make you comfortable. in any other man, this would be the absolute barest minimum, but mark approaches it like it’s the greatest honor that could ever possibly be bestowed upon him: he asks for your permission on everything, he tailors every date to your personality and interests and comfort level, he even waited for you to express interest in wanting to go beyond holding hands and hugging (though, in his excitement, your first kiss together ended up being a little messy, but it was sweet nonetheless). most of it stems from your inexperience; mark is your first real boyfriend and you want to make it work, so he’s been kind and patient with you, allowing you to set the pace.

like he’s doing right now, letting you settle yourself on his lap, your hands drifing across the soft expanse of his chest and stomach, places on him you’ve never seen before. he’s the only one in a state of undress; he told you that this can take as long as you need it to, so he didn’t rush to take your shirt off in the middle of the makeout session that had started in the middle of a movie, no long forgotten. your fingers trace, memorize every dip in his skin, every freckle, every mole newly discovered, and you feel him growing hard under you, hot and insistent in a way that stokes your own fire behind your navel.

he pulls your mouth to his again, a little bashful under your exploring gaze and looking for a way to get your eyes off him for a few moments so he can recollect himself. somewhere in the midst of it, his fingers, which had been resting dutifully on your lower back, dip under your sweater and you shudder; not in a bad way, though, because you like the feeling of his calloused fingertips against your skin. when he pulls away and looks up at you with his brown eyes wide and glassy, pleading, you nod and let him take your shirt off of you, all reverence and worshipful.

and then not long later, he’s got you on your back, your head resting on his many pillows. your shorts and bra have joined your abandoned shirt on the floor next to mark’s bed. like you, he’s left only in his boxers and when he looks up at you from between your legs, one hand on your thigh and the other toying with the hem of your underwear, you think you just about die on the spot.

“i know this is all new for you,” he says, tilting his head to the side just so. he looks inquisitive, earnest, like your pleasure and comfort are the only things in the world that matter to him. “so can i tell you what i want to do and you can decide if you want me to do that? because i just… really, really want this to be good for you.”

you nod and smile at him softly, a gesture he returns before he starts listing off, his eyes trained on you and gauging your reactions. you’re fighting off the mortification of being naked in front of a boy for the first time ever, of hearing him tell you that he wants to taste you, wants to feel you around him when you come. every part of you burns with embarrassment, but when he asks you with a gentle voice “is that okay? do you wanna try?” you really cannot bring yourself to tell him no because if you’re going to experience this with anyone for the first time, you’d prefer it with mark, who already treats you like a deity.

so you don’t. you tell him yes and he smiles. and he thanks you.

© hoshologies 2023. do not translate, copy, or repost my work on any site.

[epicleovilanon]

can u tell us anything else abt the roger rabbit au??? im SO hooked-- are there other twst characters that show up? or is it like solely jamikali?

Hi, sorry anon, i know i've been sitting on this one for a while lmao, work had me busy for a bit, but i promise i didn't forget you!

I honestly love any opportunity to talk about the who framed kalim al asim au, so answering this ask really was a special little treat for me that I was holding off on answering as a little reward for myself for finishing my work lol

so for the other NRC characters that show up, here’s a brief rundown!

Deuce Spade (and possibly an Epel mention or cameo)

I ran a poll that recently ended, about who the Eddie Valiant/PI character could be, and of the results, Deuce was in the clear lead. The follow-up was an OC who was a Scarabia student at the time KaliJami were students at NRC and thus a witness to Jamil’s second year Winter Break Overblot. This way, we get an outsider pov, but from someone who was still on the fringes of their dynamic back in school.

I like the idea of Deuce as the PI character but I did feel that something was missing. It was bouncing ideas around with the always amazing @mari-oaky that really helped me plot some things out.

Deuce is still the PI character but he’s not the ONLY PI character. Basically I’m splitting the role into two. As mari-oaky pointed out, a stranger who has no prior relation at all to Jamil and Kalim could actually offer a pretty intriguing perspective. Particularly as a non mage who has bought into the same biases that everyone else has regarding Jamil. So for the PI character, we have Deuce + OC partner.

The purpose of this OC partner is also to function in a way similar to Eddie and his prejudices. You know how Eddie dislikes toons? and in twst we already have an example of characters exhibiting anti-mage prejudices, with rollo (i.e. "magic is dangerous, therefore the world would be better off without mages") and also fellow (i.e. "the more magically gifted have an unfair advantage in society compared to a lot of people")

Of course, I need to double check what Deuce wants to be and what it means. I remember he says he wants to be a "magical enforcement officer of the elite anti-mage division" but I don’t recall exactly what that is, but its interesting. I'm going to have Deuce, for that position, have to work a few different internships and postings, some hard entry exams he has to study for, maybe additional academy years, to get to that level, and maybe, one of his internships was with this OC non-mage PI.

What I need to work on and tune-up is a timeline, because I think at the time of this fic, Deuce is a newbie in the elite anti mage division, so he has completed that internship and all, he's graduated the academy/academy equivalent, and he's working the case with the PI for reasons of "this is a high profile case that involves a lot of mages and he is acquainted with the PI character so they might actually work together"

Because PI’s I believe, tend to act independently and based on who hired the, yet in this case, he's working in tandem with Deuce, a mage, to clear a very high profile mage of murder, even when he doesn't want anything to do with them in general. I really think it could work! And I'm so excited because if Deuce is here I get to toss in an Epel cameo.

Timeline wise, Deuce (and Epel, who is Deuce's bf, and possibly doing Spelldrive? I don't know) is 23/24, whereas Kalim and Jamil are 24/25. I haven't really worked out a concrete timeline yet.

2. Azul Ashengrotto (and perhaps Jade and Floyd cameos as well)

The lounge Jamil is singing at is owned by Azul. Jamil is working there, perhaps as result as a deal with Azul.

I was toying with the idea of, Azul having, not that many yet, but a few, lounges and restaurants. Like, he is very much a businessman, a proprietor, whatever its called, and he's successful yes, but he's getting there, he's not got that many places yet.

He has maybe three? And he's in the process of expanding. Because at this point, they're like, in their mid 20s. So he IS successful of course, like three very busy very popular locations in different countries and kingdoms. But he wants MORE. He will probably always want more lol

So he doesn't live in the Scalding Sands permanently, but he does come by sometimes--I'm partial to the the idea of having Azul visit the scalding sands a bit more frequently during the whole frame up incident.

I initially had the patty cake scene happen between Azul and Jamil. But Acme ends up dead after, remember? And I'm not killing off Azul! Technically I can still make it work if I incorporate changes, but I don't know how yet, so for now, it's not Azul.

But it would have worked really well! Because its like, its this dude who had a crush on Jamil at NRC, and is successful and rich too.

So everyone already thinking Jamil is a gold digger + Kalim’s funds being limited and his position as heir being rocky, they’re trying to push the "jamil is moving on to shinier more opportunistic things” agenda. And Azul is that thing according to rumors, and he has a history of crushing on Jamil, as well as the fact that they are both schemers and have a past. (The past is that they get a sick thrill from teaming up to screw over another person.)

So I already had this scene in mind, with a bunch of shady, suggestive pictures taken of Azul and Jamil. But really what was happening is that Jamil is being blackmailed. (like Jessica.) To make Kalim end things with Jamil. But there’s a secondary purpose, and that purpose is to blackmail Azul as well, but Jamil is a schemer and Azul is a schemer and they caught on, and as the pictures were being taken they were discussing their own plans.

Of course, I scrapped it as soon as I remembered that the whole thing is that Roger is framed for the murder of Acme, Jessica’s “affair partner.” Which would suggest that Kalim is accused of murdering Azul, “the guy his husband is cheating on him with.”

But the Azul-Jamil dynamic is so much fun to me, so I’m going to have it involved on a lesser scale. Prior to the frame-up, there’s already rumors floating about Jamil and Azul, stemming from what people’s perceptions of Jamil are, Azul’s old crush, and the fact that when Jamil was traveling solo he did keep in contact with and visit Azul sometimes.

Of course, Kalim knows the rumors are just that—rumors, and is unconcerned about them, and his only frustration is of the way they affect Jamil, and the constant speculation people have regarding his marriage—it’s invasive and slanderous and he’s real tired of it.

He’s just so done with the constant, “damn that Jamil Viper really is nothing but an ungrateful cheater... having a rich husband that does everything for him wasn't enough, he apparently had to go and sleep with his own boss too. Once a snake, always a snake I guess.”

But to put it simply anon, you can expect Azul to show up, and if he’s on scene then you can imagine Floyd and Jade are not far behind. However they could be managing one of Azul’s other restaurants at the time so maybe they won’t be present! I’m not sure and cannot guarantee whether or not they’ll be there—but you know who I can guarantee?

3. Riddle Rosehearts

I can guarantee Riddle's presence, because while Jamil is dealing with a noir murder mystery frame up centered on his husband, Azul and Riddle are off on their own little rom com subplot. AzuRid and KaliJami are basically existing in different genres lmaooooo because yeah, all this is happening while Azul is swooning over divorce lawyer Riddle. (like mother like son lol)

So we're flashing from complex dark noir murder mysteries ft JamiKali to bright sappy comical AzuRid.

Like, picture those 2000s rom com cheesy movie ads, you know with those voice overs? and like, the trailers--where its like:

"a savvy businessman with a heart for contracts and an independent divorce lawyer whose very job is ending them--will they find love!"

Cut to riddle talking to Azul about how he, as a divorce lawyer, is disillusioned by love and marriage etc etc and Azul is internally making it his mission to change his mind

They're so corny and its so funny to me, they deserve nice things.

Like you have a scene like this--

Riddle, sipping his tea: "I've witnessed the inevitable downfall of every love story. I'm far too cynical to let my heart be swayed." Azul, desperate for a chance with Riddle: "Oh, come on! Not every romance ends in heartbreak. Just look at Jamil and Kalim—they're happily married and head over heels for each other!" Their phones simultaneously blowing up with notifications: "Al-Asim heir makes headlines: Husband’s affair partner found dead."

Now Azul has to make sure Jamil and Kalim's marriage doesn't fall apart just to prove a point to Riddle and hopefully get that first date.

4. What Some Other Characters Are Doing

I don't know if these will show up in any way, or be mentioned at all anon, but since you expressed interest, here's what the others are doing.

Ace is off-world, traveling with Yuu. They're supposed to come back in a two months.

The Diasomnia fam are in Briar Valley. Silver and Sebek are Malleus' Knights, and Lillia and Baul finally got their shit together.

Cater is a character I flip-flop around with a lot in terms of what he's doing post-NRC, but for now, he's a reporter or investigative journalist, and he's newly engaged to Vil, who having just wrapped up a live action drama series adaptation of a manga (think, Princess Jellyfish) and is now directing a new movie starring Ortho. (It's Ortho's first big role!)

Leona and Idia are dancing around each other still, after having broken up once already.

Ruggie plays Spelldrive professionally, but is currently helping Jade, who has been divorced from Trey for one year now, and Azul set up a new location in the Sunset Savannah. He's mostly interacting with Jade though as Azul is kind of occupied at the moment. Jade and Ruggie are tentatively setting up a first date.

Trey is a dentist, his siblings run the bakery, and he's caught in a love triangle between childhood best friend Che'nya and old school friend Rook Hunt. Rook and Trey are Vil and Cater's Best Man respectively, and Che'nya is hanging around as well for some reason, I don't actually know. Rook and Che'nya kinda dig each other's vibes. There's a solution here.

[jeannereames]

Hi professor- If you believe that Alexandros and Hephaestion ceased or at least heavily restricted their sexual contact by the time they were in their mid-twenties, do you think it possible or plausible they continued other non-sexual romantic behaviours, e.g making out, holding hands, lying in bed together, or other forms of intimacy that might be uncommon in purely platonic friendships?

PS: I'm a huge fan- I'm from a country where Classics is mainly studied by men, and posh ones at that. My class of about 20 girls made up more than 5% of people studying Classics in second-level education in the whole country. It can feel like a bit of a dorky interest at times, so thank you for being so cool and talented and sharing your knowledge in such an accessible way.

First, thank you! My goal here is to make the past easier to grasp (and without specialized knowledge). Not sure where you live, but if it makes you feel any better, Classics has been male-dominated in most universities until relatively recently. I’ve no stats to back this up, but I believe, at least in Anglophone countries, women are better represented these days, although it’s far from good. See Sarah Bond’s excellent article on the problem of the “manel” in Classics/ancient history. It was written in 2016, and I do think we’ve made some headway, but leagues remain to go. I’ll just echo RBG when asked how many women would be enough on the Supreme Court. “When there are nine.” At least in Macedonian history, we have a fair number of women.

Affection between Alexander and Hephaistion

Now, to the question … I’m going to expand this a bit to talk about what I see as a common misconception regarding affectionate gestures among ancient Greeks (and Romans). This isn’t something the asker is implying, mind, but their question became a useful jumping off point, so indulge me.

Ancient (and modern!) Greek culture is, in general, highly demonstrative. That is, physical expressions of affection are normal, beyond opening or closing social interactions or when excited.

What do I mean by that? When two (or more) people meet or separate, friendly gestures are common: hello or goodbye kisses, hugs, handshakes…. These are socially approved exchanges. Likewise, in periods of heightened emotion, whether good or bad (celebrations, mourning, or frightening events), physical expressions are also expected and accepted: holding hands in solidarity, hugs, arms around shoulders, etc.

But outside these events, more emotionally closed cultures rarely or never share such gestures: hand-holding, an arm around another person, kisses, etc. except within certain social categories such as parents and children, romantic pairs, and occasionally siblings.

But more emotionally expressive cultures don’t have the same inhibitions. Thus, when those from a more emotionally closed culture observe members of an emotionally expressive culture, misunderstandings can ensue. This is one reason modern assertions that so-and-so historical person “must” have loved so-and-so romantically because—see!—they’re hugging/kissing/being affectionate or declaring their affection in public is extremely problematic because it’s CULTURE-BLIND. It imposes the assumptions of one culture onto another culture, which is not only ignorant but—frankly—arrogant as hell.

I just want to put that out there because it needs to be said. AND taken seriously, not just given lip-service.

So, when it comes to pairings in certain ancient cultures, to call two people a same-sex couple, we must have better evidence than some public kisses and hugs. Their cultural norms must be taken into consideration. I do this, of course, when looking at Hephaistion and Alexander. It’s why I’m cagey about making an absolute pronouncement. We simply can’t because we have no clear evidence that’s contemporary and without other historiographic problems. That said, the freight of circumstantial evidence suggests, to me, that they were lovers at least as youths.

So, with all that in mind, let’s return to the question about other romantic gestures persisting even if/after Alexander and Hephaistion had stopped being physical lovers. As the reader may have begun to suspect, the difficulty in judging is that such gestures wouldn’t necessarily be purely romantic for them anyway. The Greeks, then and now, simply engage in more gestures of affection between “just friends.”

So, I’m quite sure the two hugged, stood arm-in-arm, and gave kisses, and no one in their personal circle would have regarded that as romantic. If they’d been lovers when younger, such gestures were probably much easier and more frequent than if they hadn’t been, but they still wouldn’t have been taken as evidence that anything sexual was still going on between them—even while such gestures wouldn’t rule it out, either. The two simply didn’t have an automatic correlation. Just like, once upon a time, a woman and man speaking together in private without a chaperone was evidence of the two having an affair, whereas today, such an accusation would sound ridiculous. (Even while it also wouldn’t rule it out!)

A rather lengthy and round-about reply, but as noted, I wanted to use the query to remind folks about the different norms for interaction in ancient Greece and Macedonia.

[tonydaddingham]

@teddybearbutchh and i might have just worked out something whilst we were screaming, once again, about This Face:

because it's practically obscene, right?! aziraphale you need to rein it in, babes, now is not the time-

-but the thing is why aziraphale makes this face which, arguably, is relatively anomalous when compared with other faces he's thrown at crowley when crowley isn't paying attention.

on one hand, you could take it down the horny route - the look is certainly heated enough (the eyes, the heavy breathing, the gulp) - and consider that aziraphale is suddenly struck with the 'epiphany' that if crowley is an expert on love... does that include all aspects of it? 👀 possibly. but it's likely more than that:

aziraphale demonstrates in s1 that he (im not including other angels in this empathetic superpower) is able to feel ambient love - and it's indicated similarly that crowley cannot. there have been theories - that i somewhat subscribe to - that aziraphale can't detect crowley's own love "for the same reason people in times square can't see America.", but it's equally plausible that crowley as a demon cannot emit love... either way, it appears to be a revelation on aziraphale's part that crowley might... just might... feel and understand love on a fundamental level

this is also fresh out of ep2 when aziraphale is toying with the idea to hold a ball for nina and maggie, to make them fall in love like They Do In Jane Austen... and yet, now, he's considering whether he could do the same for crowley? now that he 'knows' that crowley feels/understands love, he can unleash all of his own at this ball, and they'll swan off into the sunset because now they can (with complete disregard for everything else going to shit around him, bless this little eldritch horror)

this conversation, as robyn💕 pointed out, is post-"our shop/car" conversation. could it be, from aziraphale's perspective, that crowley has possibly been picking up on aziraphale's hints all along, that aziraphale wants to share his life with crowley - and the vice versa - and that if he confesses properly to crowley, crowley might just accept it? and want the same?

this is only reinforced by this Look being sandwiched between crowley being hesitant about giving aziraphale the keys, and then immediately afterwards chucking them at him like its nothing... crowley must trust aziraphale, must accept and reciprocate at least some part of what aziraphale is trying to tell him; his efforts aren't for nothing. these two have never communicated anything like this verbally - for many different reasons - and why stop now, when aziraphale's actions seem to be doing the trick?

it would further, theoretically, explain why aziraphale is not only in such a good mood going up to edinburgh (sure, he's off to go play miss marple too - the dream) - he's literally going to go solve this whole mystery like a cool detective, come back, send gabriel off on his merry way, confess properly to crowley like he deserves, and then they can get started on the rest of their lives together

it also gives some justification as to why aziraphale feels it appropriate to change the colour of the bentley; we know it's a manifestation of his love for crowley, but this gives it even more depth. he's so excited! he gets to come back and hold a ball - they'll do some formal dancing, crowley will realise that he's completely misunderstood aziraphale, and that aziraphale is actually deeply in love with him! works every time apparently!

look, The Face could be something of nothing - but its nonetheless really interesting when you consider that aziraphale's sudden enthusiasm for the ball might have been encouraged by this line in particular; that crowley's bluff might have just been the undeniable green light, as it were, that aziraphale was waiting for.

[elspethdekarios]

Faerûnian Writing Challenge: Day 10

Feb 10. First time after a love confession

NSFW 🔞 !!!

Gale x Female OC

This is basically just what I imagine happens in the bed romance scene. I wanted to do something different by writing in present tense and also from Gale's POV. Hope you enjoy!!

Elspeth offers her hand, and he takes it in his own as he climbs over her. A shiver runs through him at the sensation of her hands on his back. Gods, it's been so long since he's touched someone like this. A mortal, even longer. He only just began daring to touch himself again. After a year abstaining from excitement of any kind in fear of the orb, having that feeling be sated felt... odd. Like the ball could drop again at any moment. But as the days went on and he finally felt like he was not a ticking time bomb ready to level a city at the drop of a hat, he began to allow his mind to wander, his fantasies to take hold of him, his thoughts before drifting off to sleep to be consumed by her. Elspeth. Even her name on his tongue stirs electricity inside of him. He started slow, testing the waters with just a few gentle strokes, keeping as quiet as possible in his tent, but even the feeling of his own hand made him let out an intense breath of relief, of pleasure. After a few days of this, he concluded that the orb was indeed still stable, and he truly let his desires take hold of him. Every day, he watched her travel, fight, plan, strategize. Every day, she spoke to him with genuine interest and curiosity. He was beginning to accept that maybe she actually did enjoy his company. After all, she could take her pick of companions to socialize with. And she did make an effort with everyone, that was true. But he'd taken notice of the way she'd ask him for spell concentration advice, inquire about his studies back home--hells, she would even walk all the way across camp to ask him to open a jar for her when Karlach or Wyll were clearly closer to the food chest and obviously stronger than him.

So he began to let himself think of her, imagine her hand was the one exploring under his covers, wondering what her lips would feel like on his. What kind of kisser was she? Soft and tender? Passionate and eager? He didn't much care, really. He just wanted her. Soon his thoughts would drift to her body. The first night that he let himself imagine her unclothed, he came within seconds. And he has thought about it every night since, even daring to imagine what it would feel like to be inside her. Wondering what positions are her favorite and which ones she's never tried. He feels confident that he can last a perfectly average amount of time now, here with her. And considering this may be his last night alive, he knew he had to take a chance.

She caresses his face, pulling him in for a kiss, deliberate and tender before increasing in passion. A sense of desperation is palpable in them both. She tugs at the hem of his tunic, and he rises to his knees to let her take it off. Her soft hands run down his chest and abdomen as she admires his body. It's the first time he's been touched since Mystra. The first time he's been touched by mortal hands in years. The warmth of her palms feels like home. He has to take a moment to feel it all, to place his hands on hers, now resting on his thighs, to let the sensation of her flesh, her presence fully sink in.

"Gale," she says softly, "are you alright?"

He nods.

"More than alright." He leans back over her, pressing kisses to her neck. "Just taking you in."

He slides his hands under her top, sighing with relief and excitement when he realizes she's not wearing a bra. He pulls the shirt over her head to reveal modestly sized but plump, perky breasts, prickling from the cool night air.

"Gods, you're beautiful," he says as he runs his hands over them, ducking his head and savoring the soft skin on his face. She reaches for his pants and he reaches for hers, becoming a tangle of limbs increasingly bare.

"I've wanted this for so long," Elspeth breathes, discarding the last article of clothing to the side of the bed. He hovers above her, kissing her lips between words.

"So have I," he says. "Since the day you pulled me out of that rock, I've dreamed of knowing you this intimately."

He lifts up to kneel between her legs, spreading them slowly apart, growing harder than he thought possible at the pink wetness he finds there. He places his hands on her hips and trails kisses down, stopping before he gets there. Her panting grows heavy with anticipation.

They meet eyes across her body as his hands move closer and closer.

"May I?"

She nods fervently, running her hand through his hair. He kisses her wrist before dropping his head and putting his tongue to good use. She writhes in pleasure as he tastes her, and hells, she tastes good. He's sure this must be the nectar of the gods, Elspeth Ambrosia.

The sensation of her nails gently trailing across his scalp makes him moan into her, which makes her grip his hair and push her hips up to his face. She writhes in pleasure, squealing softly between quickened breaths, before coaxing his face up with a hand on his chin. He lifts his head, meeting her eyes as she looks down her body. He can feel his heart swell at the pure love and longing in her expression, and he wants nothing but to take her, to love her, to make her feel pleasures unimaginable. Elspeth pulls him up, kissing his wet face with fervor, her tongue running over his lips, asking for permission to push into his mouth and tangle with his own. In a smooth motion, without breaking their kiss, she brings her legs up towards her chest and angles her hips. The tip of him feels her warmth, just barely touching him, and effortlessly he pushes himself into her, groaning as her heat envelops him. He pulls away from her kiss, wanting to see her face as she moans, wanting to know she's enjoying herself as much as he is. He gets his answer when she gives him a sensual smile and whispers "I love you."

He keeps his thrusts slow, pushing a little deeper into her each time and savoring every noise that comes from her lips, unable to keep himself from kissing them for more than a few moments. Graceful fingers caress his face, his shoulders, his back. When they run across his scalp again, he can feel himself getting too close to completely unraveling.

"You are phenomenal," he mutters into her neck as he pulls himself out of her. "I want this to last forever."

Twisting to the side, El guides him onto his back and swings a leg over his waist, reciprocating the kisses he trailed along her neck.

"Then let's take our time."

Gale wraps his arms around her body, hugging her tight to his chest as if she might float away. Her skin is soft and warm against his own. She rests her head on his shoulder and runs her fingers through his hair as she presses lingering kisses to his cheek. The orb on his chest glows a pulsating violet.

"Does it hurt when it does that?" she asks, touching the scarred skin with a gentle fingertip.

"Sometimes," he answers. "But not right now."

Her lips move down his neck to the center of his chest. She kisses its center with a tenderness that he doesn't know he's ever felt from another being. It surprises him. He rests a hand on the back of her head and presses a kiss to her starlight blonde hair.

Gods, he's in love with this woman. A love deeper than he's ever known.

Their kissing grows heavier as passion overtakes them again. Giving him a full view of her body, Elspeth hovers over him before she lowers herself to take all of him inside, exhaling as she does. A rhythm finds their hips as she rides him, his thumb rubbing circles over that most sensitive spot until she's crying out with pleasure, all restraint abandoned.

Hands on her waist, Gale flips her to her back, pushing one of her legs up to her chest as he thrusts into her again and again, still rubbing circles between her thighs, finally letting his body take over as his mind goes quiet. One of her hands grips the forearm he's using to hold himself up, the other gripping the sheets as her cries grow louder and louder. He feels her begin to tighten and pulsate around him, and as she lets out the most intense sound she's made so far, pleasure washes over him. A consuming, overwhelming, heavenly climax that gives way to relief. Peace. Complete and utter satisfaction.

Both breathing heavily, Gale collapses next to Elspeth as they stare up at the canopy above them. She pulls back the sheets and slides underneath them, lifting the fabric for Gale to do the same. He snuggles close to her, takes her into his arms, and kisses her forehead. To hold her close is a bliss he's never known with another lover, mortal or otherwise. It's the first time he's felt like himself in a year. It's the first time he's felt wholly, fully content in his life.

To sleep peacefully in her embrace is enough to make him believe that everything will be okay.

[hauntedsidebl0g]

random mogari and his family ramble, some light spoilers for chapter 17 and 18

I'm super curious about what the dynamic is like between Mogari and his grandfather. So far, we haven't seen them interact directly with eachother at all.

As far as I remember, mogari speaks very informally to just about everyone, which I'm pretty sure is just a result of him being the one people had to speak respectfully to growing up and not the other way around. I figure his grandfather, as the clan head, is the only person he had to use formal speech with.

Seeing them interact face to face would say much about their characterization so I'm excited to see that in future chapters. Is mogari weirdly stiff while talking to him? I would assume so considering how reserved he seemed to be before becoming friends with Fuku and getting out of Akita, it's pretty obvious he doesn't get to just be himself at his own house.

At the same time, the clan head is obviously controlling and an asshole in general, but he seems to believe anyone in the main family is inherently better and more deserving than everyone else, so does he treat mogari with a bit more respect than he does to the rest of the family? I figure he probably talks at him more than anything, and maybe he's just as much of an asshole to him as he is to the rest of the clan, I just think it would be more interesting if they had a more complex relationship, being the only two members of the main family and all.

Which brings me to Mikabane and the branch family's plot to kill Mogari. We know Mogari is a good kid, and he really wants to be better than his family, but he unfortunately was still raised as the heir to a rich clan of supernatural hitmen, so... he has his moments. He already threathened Ren (for the rest of the gang's sake, of course), and Ren was very put off by it when it happened, finally seeing the similarities between heir and clan head. In the flashback we also see him yell at Mikabane, and honestly i really like the way neoshoco drew this panel

the way the tattoo (the clan's symbol) is highlighted really drives the point home that at this moment, he was embodying his role as the shishikuno heir: controling, ruthless and above everyone else.

We see him break out of it immediately after being scolded, and he clearly regrets not only losing control and sounding like his grandfather, but losing control in front of his friend. At the same time, Mikabane basically smirks a little after he gets scolded, and he is the one that ratted him out and told his grandfather that he was hanging out with the new kid, so it's very obvious he finds joy in getting Mogari in trouble.

Probably sees it as a way to "get back" at the main family. I can't fault Mikabane for hating the main family, but I can fault him for bullying and ordering the murder of a 15 year old lol. At first I figured he was indifferent about mogari and only saw killing him as a means to an end, basically just a stepping stone for him to get some power withing the clan, but after this flashback I get the vibe that at least on some level he considers him to be just as bad as the clan head and a possible future threat, so killing him is both a way to get power and ensuring he doesn't have to deal with another Mukuro in the future.

If he was just indifferent about Mogari I figured they could talk it out or something, but if he holds resentment towards him then that complicates things a little, doesn't it? Ren is unsure about killing Mogari after realizing he's not like the clan head, but would Mikabane care about that? Probably not...

[civilization-illstayrighthere]

while i do think Kerry can be emotionally distant and closed off at times, especially when he feels slighted or hurt, i don’t see the new ending as evidence of that. He tries to listen to V and keeps getting interrupted, but he’s also in the middle of a tour (notoriously crazy busy at his fame level) and had also been (albeit accidentally) ghosted by V for two entire fucking years. And yet, he laughs with excitement hearing V is back, asks if he needs any monetary support, says he’ll see him right after the tour in four months. Is he busy? Yes. V would have known this getting into a relationship with Kerry. Musical artists have crazy tour times and then slower times off-tour. V himself was booked and busy himself with his job. Kerry literally seems like the ONLY one of the love interests in that ending where a chance at reigniting the relationship is even possible! I actually really like that ending because it shows him as he is: a vain, successful rockerboy who is a touch vapid and short attention spanned but honestly really caring and giving to those who he holds dear. While, you know— being a grown adult invested in his career with responsibilities and obligations he has beyond what was, though life changing, a few week romantic fling that, again, ghosted him for two entire calendar years.

[sarroora]

very excited to see more of the relationship between connor and alex. his relationship with his creators and his two mentors/handlers is most interesting to me. kamski saying it was a stupid notion to ever truly believe connor would cling to amanda over hank, and the fact that he already figured that the amanda program was emotionally manipulating connor?? and that, married to the fact that hank was clearly chosen specifically for his (previous) hatred of androids. i wonder how long the connor we have in the story had been activated before being deployed- itd be like connor had truly been “raised” since “birth” by amanda and hank. im curious to see if connor will seek some kind of approval from alex (if alex and connor end up reuniting)- because he didnt seem all that interested in alex compared to how he interacted with the young scientists that worked in the tower (like gia), and had to be practically begged to even mind alex. im curious to see the full extent of hanks feelings on connors creator forsaking him- and in contrast, how alex will feel about hank being so fiercely loyal to connor. willing to maim and kill for connor, even. because he said in his pov that he wouldnt be surprised if humans would lay down their lives for connor, but in the present time he seems baffled at hanks ferocious behavior. im hooked!!

EeEeE thank you for this delicious ask keep em coming asdfhkl

Yep, you’re absolutely right - in addition to Amanda, Hank was specifically chosen for Connor because both evidence and past experience pointed to them being highly unlikely to form any close relationship - thus curbing the possibility of ‘uncontrollable behavior’.

I find it morbidly hilarious to imagine the people at CL just kinda losing hope over time that they can ever get a firm hold on this android, so their only hope is basically, ‘if this thing is gonna deviate sooner or later anyway at least let’s make it under our control only.’ *Install Amanda. Fails anyway a few days later*

Which is also why I strongly believe the HC that Connor (51) always had to go back to the Tower every night. He’s not allowed to spend ‘unnecessary’ time with humans outside of his job. Which is hilarious bc they ended up choosing the worst possible candidate - Connor ended up spending copious amounts of time just dragging Hank around and saving his life and being the definition of a Companion just to do his damn job.

A part of the reason the dev team covers their faces when they’re dealing with Connor is because they don’t want to trigger him to form a ‘relationship’ with anyone, which is why the Gia situation was so frustrating to Alex. The engineers weren’t supposed to socialize with him except in the most restricted of circumstances, but they didn’t do that. It was an open secret that they believed Connor was on some level ‘alive’ but none of them was foolish enough to ever say that in front of Alex.

And the question on how long Connor 51 had been active will come up in the story. And you’re right - even though Alex is the Lead on Connor’s creation, Connor so far shows no real interest in him. Alex might not be bothered by that in itself but the idea that Connor would prioritize another engineer over him drives him up the wall.

I can’t freaking wait to write Hank’s feelings on the matter - and I don’t know whether to label it hilarious..or terrifying. XD Alex truly did believe it, that Connor’s likability would be so endearing humans would willingly die for him, but that opinion changed after Connor 23. That’s why he’s baffled. 😈

#DetroitBecomeHuman #TheKamskiHierarchy

[mserm]

Kinda obsessed with this idea of post-Endgame Steve as one of Charles and Erik's handlers during First Class. He's not Moira, and definitly not CIA, but maybe some other agency? Possibly SHIELD related? He's been investigating Shaw in case he had any connection to Red Skull and somehow ends up being a part of the group that reaches out to Charles.

At first, I couldn't find anything interesting narratively with this because Charles would know immediately he's Captain America, right? Except now I'm convinced Charles would think Steve is INSANE. It's not the Captain America thing, though in context Charles doubts that. It's the fact that when Charles reads his mind, he finds out that Steve thinks he's from the future. And that he's fought aliens. And that he thinks he's friends with the God of Thunder. And oh wait, he's been to space. And worked with a fucking talking raccoon.

This man must be crazy and somehow he has the power of the government behind him.

Steve, on the other hand, is going by an alias and has only shared his past with a few choice people, often omitting the more unbelievable details. He's tried to be open with Peggy, but once he made a joke while they were in a park about not taking the time to learn Groot when he had a chance and she regarded him with such skepticism that he's kept most of the rest to himself.

He's beyond excited to get to work with the mutants, and despite the fact that he's pretty sure there weren't mutants in his own timeline (he would know!) he believes in them with all his heart. He feels especially kindred to Charles with all his rhetoric about using his gifts to help humanity. He adores Hank and his big brain. He's compelled by Erik's single-minded determination. He throws himself into the mission to find Shaw with his own special brand of stoic enthusiasm by researching mutation and running theories past Charles and Erik whenever he sees him.

Charles, at first, ignores these theories but slowly comes to the conclusion that this man is at least somewhat intelligent. He could be useful. And then Steve's the reason no one gets hurt when Shaw attacks the CIA compound, so Charles is willing to accept this guy might actually be Captain America incognito.

(But everything else must not be true. He's still crazy. Maybe all that experimentation fried his brain.)

Charles shares his thoughts with Erik, who cares less about the insanity angle and more about the fact that this man looks like he can actually protect people. He's glad there's at least one other person who can hold his own in hand-to-hand fighting. So what if Steve thinks he's close with the king of Wakanda? At least he's useful.

After the attack, Steve supports moving the team to Westchester. He doesn't trust the CIA and well, he's partial to the idea of a rich guy giving a bunch of misfits a home. He's also a little startled to discover that the very real possibility of nuclear war sparks something in him. Not excitement, definitely not that. But something closer to clarity. It's been almost twenty years since he's faced an annihilation-level threat. He, unfortunately, feels at home under end-of-the-world pressure.

So he helps train the young mutants and discusses tactics and feels closer to people than he has since he and Peggy started to drift apart. Then he sees fault lines in the conversations and arguments about the future of mutant-kind and is overtaken by a fear that it will tear the nascent group in two. Because what Steve knows is this: someday those differences won't matter. Someday you'll have the option of staring down an annihilation-level threat and being told that you weren't there when someone needed you and if you could choose again you'd choose the former.

But Steve doesn't try to interfere. He's not naive; he knows that he can only imagine what it's like to be a mutant.

But it's hard not to project.

It isn't that he regrets his decision to go back in time. He'd do it again. He saved Bucky and ripped Hydra out of SHIELD and he's so close to finding out how Red Skull ended up in space guarding the soul stone. But it isn't until he begins to teach Raven the finer points of combat that he truly feels not alone.

He's with them when they go to Cuba. He sits next to Moira and wonders if he should have brought the shield. He hasn't used it since he came back to the past. For all intents and purposes, Captain America is supposed to be dead; yet, Steve's blood thrums through his veins like he's standing on the ruins of the Avengers Compound next to Tony and Thor.

(Charles has long since learned to ignore Steve's strange internal monologue. This man should have been a storyteller instead of a soldier.)

Steve doesn't fix it, in the end. He falters just when he could be of use because when Erik holds those missiles in his power and turns them around on the ships he thinks of Tony turning a missile around and at flying it into the sky. He wonders how he could be so wrong about someone. It's at this moment Moira picks up the gun. Steve's fast, but he's not faster than a bullet.

It still shatters Charles's spine.

They save the world, yes, but Steve will only be able to watch as Erik's sent into solitary confinement. He can't prove Erik didn't kill Kennedy. And, of course, he'll try to reach out to Charles as the school closes and he shrinks into himself, but Charles can't stand to look at Steve and only finds him marginally more tolerable when he can't hear Steve's impossible thoughts.

It isn't until Logan arrives that Charles realizes that Steve might actually be the person he thinks he is. However, Steve's halfway across the world for some unimportant reason during the events of Days of Future's Past. He's not on the plane when Charles tells Erik that he wasn't there when Charles needed him. He's not there when Erik--again--chooses his principles over Charles.

And that's fine. You can't rewrite the future in Steve's brand of time travel. You live with your choices. You try to be there when people need you and you live with the consequences when you cannot.

[streussal]

hi please lmk your thoughts as and when you are caught up to the apothecary diaries!!!

hi hi!!

this got kinda long so is cross-posted to dreamwidth if people want easier discussion

Okay so I have now seen s1. Overall all I really like it. And it's beautifully animated.

My thoughts:

Maomao is an excellent protagonist. Her love of drugs and poisons is so pure and true. The way that she's generally pretty phlegmatic, but also deeply compassionate. The way she tries to be careful navigating power structures (in which she generally has very little power). It's all just very neat!

There is a bit of "girl takes off her glasses and becomes beautiful" silliness going on with Maomao applying fake freckles to make herself blend into the background, but I accept because she's such a well done character overall. (Also there's other elements, like clothes, styling, the way she holds herself, etc. And even at her top beauty levels I don't think she's supposed to be at the level of the Emperor's concubines or the high level courtesans.)

Jinshi is fun, and I enjoy his relationship with Maomao. I'm not convinced that there's a satisfying explanation for him pretending to be a eunuch though. Especially since it doesn't seem like the Emperor is forcing him to do it? I don't actually NEED there to be a reasonable explanation - it's generally a fairly light series, not a serious historical drama. But sometimes the show does have the occasional dark and psychological element so like. A coherent psychological explanation would not be completely out of place?

My other ship is Maomao/Suirei. Suirei has only been in a few episodes so far but these episodes did lead to Maomao getting really excited about what a wonderfully competent adversary Suirei was and hoping they meet again. I think they should kiss about it maybe. Great potential for Literally Toxic Yuri.

On the mysteries and puzzles Maomao solves - they're entertaining enough, but the way she solves them often involves a lot of conjecture on her part (even though the show makes a big deal out of not basing things on conjecture). I don't have a big problem with this - it's very much in the tradition of Agatha Christie detectives like Poirot and Miss Marple - but some mystery lovers may be irritated by it.

Power structure stuff - I do find it interesting how aware the show is of power structures. How Maomao is always careful about how she says things, both to try to avoid angering the wrong people (and being executed) or getting others in trouble (and executed). Maomao's detailed knowledge of how the brothels operate, and how in some ways they are very similar to the rear palace of the Emperor's concubines. The way she always presents this information in very matter of fact ways. She isn't trying to change things (and really how could she), she's just trying to live within them as best she can. I do wonder how this will work with the eventual Maomao/Jinshi romance that is developing, because that's a huge difference in social status and relative power! 

Character ages and math - okay some of the character ages do not make sense at all. So the Three Princesses of the Verdigris house basically raised Maomao right? But if they're not retired they should be 30 max, as Maomao says. Maomao is about 18 at this point in the series. So they should be 10-12 years older than her. Okay fine, they were still in training then. But then Pairin apparently breastfed Maomao??? At age 12?? Unless she's put off retirement longer than I thought and is like 35 and was 17 at the time. Idk. (The flashbacks showed all three princesses as adults too but I'm just gonna go with that being Maomao's imagination.) ALSO. Jinshi is stated to be 19 and having pretended to be a high ranking eunuch in the rear palace for the last 5 years. So since he was 14?????? Like I guess it's possible but. Uh. Well. It's anime I guess. (Based on light novels, but they're based on similar tropes regarding age.)

Maomao's bio dad: Okay so if I wrote this while I was still watching s1, then I would be talking about how Lakan is the ABSOLUTE WORST and needs to BE IN PRISON FOR A MILLION YEARS. And then I finished the season and it turns out he's mostly just kinda pathetic. Like he still sucks and is a dick. But he actually presents himself as worse than he is. The reason that Jinshi and the audience thought that Lakan had raped Maomao's mother to get her pregnant and destroy her buyout value was because Lakan himself heavily implied that. Very purposefully.

Anyways, very good series overall.

[berryless]

Weekend worth of all at once

Sunday x Original Female Character (Fluff, PG || 970 words || preening, kissing, memories, Stellaron Hunter Sunday AU, a pinch of angst (?))

next part ⤞

Read this work on Archive of Our Own.

"I miss your wings," Sejal would say, and Sunday would stare at the message for long enough to blur the last six letters.

Still, he would write, "Interesting you only mention one part."

And without missing a beat she would answer, "Others adjacent parts are also welcome to visit. If you remember to grab them, I might even kiss you."

"Only if?"

"Hmm. Tough question. Fine. Kissing is still on the table even if only one thing comes."

"You spoil me."

"Someone should."

They never talked about their feelings or their future, that plural, shared between them two 'they' remaining quiet and illusive. As if agreed in silent acquiescence that nothing born out of the dream could last far into waking.

Given that those last years in preparation for Charmony Festival Sunday was spending with his life as it was on a timer, it fit him just fine.

Still, bits and pieces of affection managed to slip through the layer of preterition, and each time he swallowed them hungrily, pecking Sejal's fingers for crumbs until they bled. Whatever she was giving him, couldn't be enough to satiate him, but Sunday never asked for more.

What right did he have for that?

Even if his heart would skip a beat when she would tackle him in the doorway as soon as the door was closed, warm and soft and sweet and kissing his head off until everything before him swayed, and he had to hold onto her, hugging tight, fingers digging into soft hips, leaving imprints.

"That was quite the greeting," Sunday said, hiding his shaken breath in Sejal's cheek as he pulled her closer.

"I think it was appropriate level of excitement to display since I'm getting the full package of real you," she laughed, but Sunday suddenly felt guilty.

Because as real as he could be with her, it was never in full.

She caught his wing between her fingers, ruffling the feathers.

"Oh, someone looks ready to hatch."

Sunday blinked.

"What?"

"You growing new feathers, right? Come on, I'll help you."

He let himself to be led into the room and pinned against the backrest with Sejal straddling his lap.

Only then the words returned.

"That's the reason you mentioned wings?"

"Mmm-hmm… Noticed it last week… Now, don't move, I don't want to hurt you."

Sunday opened his mouth to stop her, but nothing came out. His hands that found perch on Sejal's hips pulled her closer as he leaned his cheek against her head. Her nose almost touched his wing with how close she inspected it. Sunday found it hard to breathe with her smothering him this way, but didn't complain.

He was long used to taking care of himself. Not that it was hard with mirrors around.

Still, he remembered the childhood. Mom's soft touch and Robin's restless pinches—little she was always eager to free him as soon as possible. Sejal felt like neither. She held him close and firm, trapped in her embrace, her touch heavy, but not unkind.

"Heh. All ready."

She pulled away, but Sunday didn't let her, holding the back of her neck as he kissed her. Sejal first froze, but soon melted into his hold, her arms snaking around him, scent of her warm slightly wet skin and clean soap enveloping him like a second hug.

"Is that a display of gratitude, or you trying to change the topic? Because I only checked one."

"I can do that myself," Sunday finally said, his fingers trailing over Sejal's cheek.

"I know. I just want to do it for you."

They came so easy out of her mouth, those words.

Sunday caught them with his own lips, mulling, biting them over, rolling them on his tongue.

Many people were ready to do things for him. He hardly needed asking for volunteers, just assigning things were sufficient enough.

He never asked Sejal, though.

Whatever she was giving him, she was always the one deciding to share, pulling and pushing the line of admission, letting him in step by step.

Into her dreams, her body, her waking self, her touch, her…

Sunday couldn't bring himself to think the last word, even inside his own mind.

It wasn't fair of him to think about it. To want it. To ask for it.

Whatever Sejal was giving him should've been enough.

Except it never was, no matter how wide he opened his mouth.

"Hmm, seems someone's ready to welcome their new feathers," Kafka laughed, lightly ruffling his wing. Sunday flinched, pulling it away to cover his face.

"I can do that myself," he said calmly.

"Suit yourself," the woman smiled, leaning against the table he was sitting at. "But if you want some help, little bird, you know you can ask for it. We don't bite."

"I'll make a point to remember."

"No nervousness before your grand debut?"

"It would hardly be my first time following the predetermined script."

"Hmm. Good attitude. Keep it."

He didn't need instructions to do as such.

After dealing with the feather, Sunday washed his hands from keratin dust and looked in the mirror to determine whether or not he needed changing the suits.

In his pocket laid the phone with two named contacts, opened with draft letters consisting only of ellipses.

Sunday pulled it out to check them both, but didn't write to neither.

Silverwolf could probably restore the history of his communications, but Sunday could never ask for that.

Everything that was left at Penacony belonged to the past, and it was where it should stay.

Still, his finger slid over five pointed letters, pausing on the last one before leaving the app and turning the phone down.

No matter how wide he would open his mouth now, nothing would fall into it, and that was the way he chose for himself.

[lady-zoras-artroom]

[Update Note: Concept has changed, but enjoy what I've made!]

Okay!!! I got Lupin OCs!!! Here's one!

Be for warned, Long Post!

Yes, her name is spelled that way and she changed it to be so! Her actual name is Bonnie Anne (Some last name that relates her to an Infamous Arms Dealer in the black market).

Her whole deal is that, she was at one of Lupin's Heists, a big party where all the Fat Cats are gathered to do business and exchanges the Goods.

When she first saw Lupin making his getaway (goods in hand), she immediately crushes on him!

Her story is a work in progress, and so is her color pallet, but the jist is that, she is trying to discorver True Happiness and to keep far away from her father as much as possible. So when she saw Lupin III himself, she felt something! Not sure what it was, but because of this feeling she devises a plan to capture Lupin - wanting to meet him in person!

Because of Lupin's Successful Heist, she takes the opportunity to steal some money and make a getway of her own with her personal body guard/best friend, Galsan (Nicknamed "Terra").

Now on the run and hiding from her father, she calculates and plans the perfect scheme taking note of the heist she witnessed.

She changes her name slightly to be what it is now and with her trusted connections, she was able to set up a temporary base of operations. It would also be the stage of where she will set the trap for Lupin!

Plan: Challenge Lupin III to steal a lost treasure hidden within the confinds of a tower!

The goal: Entice and Steal Lupin's heart!

Bonnie conducts research by contacting Zenigata as he is the only one rich with Knowledge about the Lupin Gang! Of course, she isn't going to let the Inspector succeed in capturing the infamous theif, but makes him thinks so!

Everything that Zenigata had on the group as well as Fujiko was all she needed! Learning about them esspecially Lupin excited her!

I say the time frame took perhaps almost a year to set up as the setting needed to be as believable as possible! Bonnie then has a stand-in (who is male) to announce the creation of the tower and the prize waiting inside! Make him seem like he's the mastermind when he isn't that way Lupin is more interested!

Details: The Tower is built like a gauntlet. The lower levels are available to the public as a museum for the "Lost Treasure". The treasure is displayed in a bullet proof casing for the public to see. Then when the museum closes, it is elevated to the top of the tower under very heavy security and protection!

Now, I'm not sure what Lupin will do as I do not know how to write spy/theif action stories, I can think up concepts. But I do know he not only does succeed, but gets an unexpected surprise!

Plot twist, the treasure was agreed to be faked by Zenigata and Bonnie, but in actuality, it was real and Bonnie is "wearing" it (she hid it between her boobs [and it was on purpose])!

Bonnie used her connections to get the real thing and makes an offer to him!

Offers in order:

- Let her become part of the Lupin Gang! She will supply them with needed necessities through her trusted connections (though she does have a budget)

- Become her boyfriend! She wants to see who Lupin is in person! Though she was told by Zenigata how shameful and criminal Lupin is, weridly enough that only interested her further.

- I kid you not, this is what she wants: Have Lupin sleep with her! Like no shame whatsoever! She's 28 btw, she's just short, like 5'3 and just as horny!

If anything, Lupin meets his match here - both in terms of skill and romance! I'm thinking their relationship does start off as a mutual agreement. Lupin gets to experience what it's like to be genuinely liked or crushed on as Bonnie would be holding his cheeks and just gushing about how cute and handsome he is! He's still after the treasure of course, but Bonnie will make sure it's a challenge for him! Teasing him, playing around, making him chase her and stuff. She's got tricks up her dress, let me tell ya!

What I want to do basically is like, build up their relationship as I do wanna ship them! OCxCanon is valid and I will die on that hill. I want them to have depth and go into detail about what kind of relationship the two want. I esspecially wanna go over what exactly Lupin and Fujiko's relationship is. How long are they gonna keep playing these games with each other? Will Bonnie understand what it's like to have a relationship? The sacrifices and dedication it takes to maintain one?

Yeah, I wanna explore all that. This is just for fun! Anyway, I'll work on her pallet and share Galsan's stuff!