#and a bar's worth of wine to describe

[andromeda3116]

you know i wonder where the essay is, i certainly don't have it prepared, what it reflects about society, that the '99 trigun was a fun action western-sci-fi anime with a plot that wove itself out slowly and had plenty of heart that got serious eventually but was also a quirky romp through most of its run

and the '23 trigun stampede is a dystopian sci-fi set in a crumbling desert that can barely support life with a dark plot that drags you under immediately and also does have a lot of heart but ultimately appears to have the theme of scavenging that heart from a place that gives you no reason to believe it exists

like, as time capsules i feel like it's unintentionally saying something about us, about where we've come to and come from, that the same basic story is told in two such wildly different ways, after less than a quarter-century

[lenakluthor]

totally random question but do you read supercorp fics? and if yes, which ones are your favorites?

i absolutely read supercorp fics! i've been devouring ao3 basically since i finished the show. here are a few of my faves: people will say we're in love by AKAWWJJD - this was recommended to me by a friend and was the second ever supercorp fic i read. it's angsty, but it's BEAUTIFUL and it's one of my favorite fics from any fandom, ever. it's basically a rewrite of crisis and the aftermath of that (with a heartbreaking, post-reveal beginning), and it's just so, so good. it really set the bar for me in terms of supercorp fics and i still think about it to this day. it's heartbreaking and poignant and just. perfect.

the banks of certain rivers and ever more light by @i-am-robie - these two go together, but if you only read one, read ever more light (although i highly suggest reading both). i found this one through a gifset based on the fic, and i am SO happy i did. this is the fic that made me believe in fluff again. i'm not kidding, before i found this fic, if it wasn't tagged as angst, i was not reading it. this one? completely changed my opinion. it's so soft and sweet and it gives you the same butterflies and good feelings kara gets around lena. i actually love these so much that i am in the process of binding them into a book.

same old blues by @searidings - this one is, in my opinion, hands down the best portayal of lena i've read so far. it captures her anger and hurt and emotions so well and it just feels exactly like lena. it picks up after the end of season four and is exactly how i imagine lena's reaction to kara being supergirl. obviously it's canon divergent, but this one just really nails lena. it's angsty and emotional and just SO good. the author describes it as "horny enemies to lovers" in their note and that really sums it up pretty well.

you're in my blood, like holy wine by @jazzfordshire - this one is one of my favorite AUs. it's a loose practical magic AU with witch!lena, but much more developed and fleshed out than in the show. not only does it have really well written supercorp, but it also showcases a really well done friendship between lena and sam. i'm gonna be real i'm very picky about AUs, but this one GOT me. i definitely recommend it.

i also highly recommend checking out all four of those authors' other works. robie has an AU that i really enjoyed, searidings has a fun little competitive supercorp one shot, jazzfordshire has one of my favorite smutty one shots, and AKAWWJJD has a mxy rewrite that is just wonderful.

i've read so many more that were really worth reading, so i highly recommend scrolling through the supercorp tag on ao3 and filtering out the results to find ones you might be into. i could've mentioned a bunch more that i enjoyed, but i figured i'd keep it to my top four and the honorable mentions because the authors all happened to have multiple i love. i've also got like, more than 40 open ao3 tabs currently, so i know my favorites list will definitely be growing.

[izvmimi]

cw: fem!reader. reader wears a dress. villain!reader. reader with a described quirk. alcohol mention.

"so you want me to act as a honey trap? for Shoto."

saying the words out loud was intended to have your boss understand the ludicrousness of what he was suggesting for you as a task, particularly with the stress on the notoriously stoic pro hero's name, but the man you've devoted most of your relatively short adult life to pleasing is not catching the hint.

"for Shoto-" you repeat, and now your villain boss looks up, the stern look on his face sending a chill down your spine not dissimilar to your target's abilities.

"is there an issue?"

you wonder if you should back up your stance a bit, but being sent out on an impossible mission is unfair to you, no matter how zealous you can be about anything that undermines those snarky Heroes at the top of the societal hierarchy. you steel yourself and continue your protest.

"how do i know i'm even his type? or his preferred gender? what indication is there that he has any interest in romance to begin with, let alone can be tricked into revealing ANYTHING important?"

the final look you get makes it clear that that's a 'you' problem and not his.

...

you're still ruminating on this exchange as you adjust the straps of your slinky cocktail dress, leaning at the bar of the gala you're not really meant to attend, but have managed to use your seduction Quirk to find your way inside. your target stands at the end of the room, and you've tried to lock eyes with his more than once, but no dice. you're about to give up - your Quirk only works if there's some initial interest, if someone locks eyes with you a little too long, if their pupils dilate just so but there's no chance of it happening at this rate. you could be less subtle, move over to him, and sweettalk his friends, the bespectacled hero talking a mile a minute and the sweet-faced angel in pink but there's something less prideful about that. men come to you, not the other way around.

you sigh and allow yourself to sip white wine with the intention of coming up with a good excuse, when fate shines upon you enough to find him slipping into the seat two seats beside you.

you blink, practically incredulous, but thinking quickly, you activate your Quirk and begin to lay on the charm, but he speaks to you first, startling you.

he's easy on the eyes but with a flat, unreadable expression.

"stop staring at me. it's creepy."

somewhere in the recesses of your mind, glass is shattering. you've never been so embarrassed.

shoto turns his gaze quickly and orders something from the bar that you can't hear because you're too busy burning up in shame. your mind races.

you can't remember the last time you've been so embarrassed, even if through the ambient chatter no one, not even the bartenders or other patrons can hear you be cut to size.

shoto turns his attention back to you with an old-fashioned in hand. he swirls the glass for a moment, watching you carefully, as though appraising your worth, and it makes you feel small, insignificant. all you can wonder is how you've been so obvious and oblivious. he's clearly not interested in you; you can barely activate your Quirk at this point, you're so deflated in confidence. you start to rise, but he says something else to stop you in your tracks.

"if you wanted to talk, just do so," shoto asks. you blink.

"i- uh-"

stammering is not your thing.

"did you come here alone?" he asks. he takes another sip, and his eyes darken as he softly exhales. he leans in and his cologne is more intoxicating than any scent you can buy.

there's an entry, just not in the way you expected, and it makes your heart race.

[marnieorange]

hi again! i was the anon who sent whether you're taking jnh requests and i'm so happy to see fics for the novel!

may i request some hc's with jekyll and hyde falling in love with the same person, who — by chance, is actually both friends with them (jekyll's colleague, hyde's buddy during his night outs) but that person is unaware they're one 🫶🏻 take care!

𝐉𝐞𝐤𝐲𝐥𝐥 & 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧.

————————————————————————————

Notes; Middle image was just pretty! There was no gender specified in the request, so I took it as gender neutral. :)

————————————————————————————

𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐤𝐲𝐥𝐥

𖤓 Meeting him was easy enough. You worked at the royal society, and they often needed to cross check work and theories, just to make sure it was all correct before publishing.

𖤓 It was Henry's work that you were checking one evening, and everything seemed to be correct, other than one detail.

𖤓 You had to tell him, of course. This one thing could make everything else seem... lazy!

𖤓 After correcting him in person, his work passed reviews and managed to get published.

𖤓 ... And after correcting him in person, you two became good friends.

𖤓 One thing led to another, and soon enough you found yourself at dinner parties with Utterson and Lanyon, as well as other colleagues and associates.

𖤓 What can you do? Henry is a sociable man, after all.

𖤓 After a year or two of knowing each other, you and Henry find yourself alone in his study, discussing absolutely anything as you both conversed over red wine.

𖤓 That's when he notices things about you.

𖤓 It could be the alcohol, the late hour, or even just... realisation dawning on him, but he pays attention to all of these small things you do.

𖤓 The way your smile is evident in your features; your cheeks, lips, and even your eyes. Or the way you laugh every time he uses that tone of voice.

𖤓 And he just... lets it be.

𖤓 After all, he was taught that these types of extreme feelings had to be repressed. It was wrong to have such emotions as a man. They had to stay inside. They were wrong, unorthodox, ill.

𖤓 What a life.

𖤓 But he does subtly let you know. Whether that be by mainly conversing with you in ballrooms at your friend's parties, inviting you over to indulge in wine on the weekends, or even by taking walks with you on Sunday.

𖤓 It's subtle things, really. But you know that he cares.

————————————————————————————

𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐞

𖤓 How to begin with Edward?

𖤓 You met at a bar, of course you did. Where else?

𖤓 A particularly long day at work with particularly stressful papers led you to have a need to relieve yourself, so getting a drink before heading home seemed like a reasonable idea.

𖤓 Until he crept up to you.

𖤓 How to describe him? Beastly would be a harsh way to put it, but with the way he carried himself as well as his shrunken posture, it wasn't too far from the truth.

𖤓 Henry was still somewhat conscious within Edward, so he saw you. And given his... secret feelings towards you, he was confused why someone like you would be in a place like this.

𖤓 Something within Edward clicked, he was his own person after all, and for the first time since the first transformation, something human glistened in his eyes.

𖤓 After weeks and weeks worth of meet ups at this bar in Soho, you finally got to see what Edward was like — impulsive, rude, and yet somewhat comedic in what he did.

𖤓 Someone insults him or you? He gives the most dramatic gasp known to man, and starts a fight.

𖤓 Honestly? A laugh. We love that for him.

𖤓 Gaga and eccentric is one thing, careless is another, but with time, he practically adopts you into this cycle.

𖤓 You know somewhere within yourself that it's dangerous to be around a man like him. He's a threat to everyone, pretty much. Yet, at the same time, you feel protected by him.

𖤓 If you're hanging around the most dangerous man in London, what can anyone else do?

𖤓 It was months after meeting you that he recognised his feelings. Of course, Henry within him, he already had these emotions, but with Edward being the troglodyte that he is, it took him a while longer to recognise how Henry felt, and then himself.

𖤓 Once he does grasp it, though, not much changes.

𖤓 He's still as confident as ever, fearless, and dangerous, but a bit more protective. Maybe affectionate, if you give it time.

𖤓 Leaving a bar? A kiss on the cheek before getting dragged.

𖤓 It's a double sided coin with Edward and affection. He could do the absolute sweetest thing you've ever experience, and then top it off with the most uncharming action afterwards.

————————————————————————————

Conclusion? They're both disasters when it comes to feelings and romance and high-key need to go to a therapy session. Especially Henry. He definitely has Victorian England inflicted religious guilt deep within him. Get him an Aldi smoothie and a weighted blanket, amen.

————————————————————————————

Slander me all you want, but Henry would have loved this song.

[fatalitysficbakery]

𓆰♥︎𓆪 Confessions Of Sin. —

Selina Kyle x Black Fem!Y/n

genre: (sprinkle of) angst/fluff/SMUT.

warnings: vampire!selina, hybrid!y/n (wolf/witch), g!p (selina), degradation, stalking, slight dub-con, mating, sadism, masochism, mommy kink, slight!puppy play, intercourse, slight fingering.

synopsis: she’s been watching you.

↳ 𓆰 Fatalitysficbakery navigation menu 𓆪.

↳ 𓆰 Fatalitysficbakery multifandomed &&’ oc menu 𓆪.

⌫

I'd been running from fate my entire life, I didn't believe in it, thought I was destined to trek through life alone, I thrived better in the solitude, that is, until I saw her face.

Been here over a thousand years and nothing quite captivated me like she did, she was the embodiment of everything I was opposite to, she was sweeter than the sour I was accustomed to, that I so admired because within my life, I could never be described as...sweet.

But her? She gave me a damn toothache, and it was worth the cavities. I admit, it turned into a bit of an obsession, an understatement I'm sure the readers will realize soon enough.

—

I liked crimson. Red. Blood. I've never been one for sweets, I enjoyed the finer delicacies the humans found disgust in as they continued eating their rare bloody raw steaks without thinking twice, a nice glass of blood could do a body good, but I get it, I do.

I liked my blood like I liked my wine, dry, bitter, it was true but again, you'll find that I changed my tune.

Y/n Y/ln is sweet, made of sugar, spice, and all things nice so to say, with her body wrapped in visions of pink and hues of deep purple, jet black curls framing a deep brown complexion. When she spoke, I swore I could hear birds singing to her pretty little tune, but love is blind, and I was too.

I saw innocence in her eyes, she couldn't have been more out of place in a city like Gotham, with evil lurking throughout every corner, maybe I felt it my responsibility to protect her. That's a nice excuse, right?

The truth was far more sinister, though I guess it's somewhat true, her blood while enticing belongs solely to me and I needed the filth in this dreaded town to know it, so maybe I told a few more lies but you would too to protect what's yours.

And she...was mine.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

She worked in downtown Gotham in this slumlord-owned bar, as a barista and despite her sweet exterior I could tell she held her own rather well in a place with gross older gentlemen going from wall to wall, their younger dates passing disgusted glances hoping those pockets went deep and that the discomfort proved worth it.

It was only right that I keep a close eye on her, no? Besides, I needed a job, and Blue Silk had a spot open for a new dancer, it wasn't like I had no experience on the stage; It wasn't all about the pretty-eyed soft-spoken bartender, was it?

↳

Selina had just gotten off the stage, she was Catwoman to the crowd and Sel to her colleagues, slipping some shorts over her lingerie, she made her way to the floor, eyes searching until she found Y/n standing behind the bar, a smile spread across her face, her lively kind demeanor inviting to the locals that came in regularly as if their lives depended on it. She could see instantly why Y/n was a good fit for the nightclub, that smile could charm a polar bear.

It wasn't until that smile fell that Selina became worried, she sees the woman stiffen when a regular named Lenny walks in, she cocks her head, zoning in on the scene before moving in.

"Hey, Barbara's looking for ya. Said she needs your help".

Selina steps behind the bar, her eyes on the man hard in contrast to the gentleness she displayed when wrapping her arm around her shoulder and pulling her in a little closer, Y/n is more than thankful for the interruption, her smile when she sees Selina is one of utter relief.

"Bet". Is all she says, putting her dish towel down, her gaze never breaking the man's until they leave him and head into the back, her heart thunders through her chest, adrenaline on a 10, Selina hadn't heard everything that was said but she could see the anger and anxiety on her face.

"You okay"? She asked when out of earshot of the floor, letting the other barista know you were taking a moment.

"I'm good, Sel. Got a light"?

"Always".

The air was cold against your skin, light snow was falling over Gotham and neither you nor Selina, in your haste to escape the scene had remembered a coat, grabbing nothing more than a pack of cigarettes.

Y/n was still rattled, but Selina, Selina was thinking about their proximity, watching her blow her smoke out into the air, her eyes remained fixed on the woman's every move, she'd been doing it for so long now it was like muscle memory observing her from head to toe.

"Sel"?

"Yeah, Hun"?

Passing her the cigarette, she lets out a sigh the chill from the air turns her breath into its own cloud of smoke as she turns to face her friend, leaning against the pillars that were just outside the double doors of Blue Silk, "We need to look out for each other. Okay"?

"We will, Honeybun".

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

And just like that, Selina was walking her out nightly, sometimes walking her home when she needed to, and within that time she decided, she wanted more than her blood, she'd started this after a whiff of something so tantalizingly sweet, so delectable smelling that it invaded her mind for days on end. God, she needed the poor doe more than anything, and now...She was seeking all of her.

She'd learned so much about the woman she felt she'd known her for years, from something as surface level as her favorite color to the more personal like how she'd ended up in Gotham in the first place — Through an orphanage.

There was more than met the eye to Y/n Y/ln but Selina hadn't found out just how deep the mystery went until the night it all came out in throes.

↳

Y/n hadn't asked Selina to follow her out in a week due to being out sick, the night she came back the world had become a vibrant place for the vampire again and she wasn't going to waste it, not when she was so close to her end goal, so close she could practically feel the pulse of the woman's veins against her tongue.

She was absolutely drooling for it, as desperate as it sounded to admit it. She was hungry, and the only craving to satiate her appetite rested in the manicured hands of a 5'3 bartender with bright shining e/c eyes that lit up any room she damn walked into.

Selina was at the mercy of Y/n, but in due time she hoped to welcome the opposite.

"Missed ya, Kitty cat".

She was quick to wrap Sel up in her arms, that smile shone brightly up at the Cat, so sickly sweet it made her weak in the knees, why wouldn't she hug her back? Her arms wrapped tightly around her in return and she wasn't shy about nuzzling her cheek up against hers.

"Missed you too, honeybun. Walking homes been so lonely without you, sweetheart".

"We'll fix that. You're gonna kick ass out there, Kit. I missed seeing you in your element".

A smirk threatened to tug at Sel's lips thinking about the younger woman watching her on stage and possibly enjoying it, if that in any way hinted at reciprocation, she'd hold onto hope.

"You're gonna watch me? Be my good luck charm"?

"I don't know what luck I'd bring but I'm for sure gonna watch you, I always do".

When they pull away, Y/n leaves her with the lightest feathering of a kiss on her cheek. Selina feels her fangs threaten to pull, and Jesus is it so dangerous to be so close to her like this. "You always do..."

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

It was around time for Y/n and Selina to leave but the bartender hadn't seen a hint of Selina after her last performance that night, even as she looked around for her; It wasn't until she'd gone out for a smoke that she appeared almost out of thin air behind the girl as silent as a mouse, she swiped the cigarette from her hand and slipped it between her own lips that curved into a grin after she exhaled and let the smoke flow freely. "You didn't think I'd forgotten, did you"?

She flinches, the hand that had been on the knife only loosening when she hears the familiarity of Selina's voice, shaking her head, biting back a matching grin at the sudden appearance.

"Maybe. You disappeared, Kit. Where'd ya go? Didn't see ya round after that last performance, you killed it by the way. As I knew you would".

Playfully she punches her shoulder, but the Cat has one thing on her mind and it's pumping through her veins like lava, she licks her lips and throws down the cigarette, stomping on it with her boot, "Fancy a ride home? I had a few loose ends to tie up".

"Mm, a ride"?

Selina holds out her hand, grin broadening when Y/n easily takes her hand; leading her over to her new wheels, a smooth black motorcycle, she holds up a backup helmet and hands it over to her.

"You ever been on one of these, love"? She asked, watching her struggle with the helmet before coming over to help her out.

"Once or twice, one of the kids I was placed in the orphanage with got his own when he was adopted, he was like a little brother to me so when I was trusted to go out on my own, we'd go out riding".

"Oh yeah? So you know I need you to hold on tight, right? Real tight, don't let go".

She was a breath away now, her breath tickling Y/n's skin as she fastened the helmet to her head, eyes locked to hers while she did it.

"I won't, I promise". Y/n mumbles, slightly blushing and happy the helmet could help hide it, but Selina had always had that allure that took her in and refused to let go, anyone could fall victim to it, man or woman, and Y/n was no exception.

Holding onto her hand gently, Selina aids her on the bike and then situates herself as well, Y/n's arms firmly wrapped around her waist. They set off just as it begins to fade into a starless night, few to no bodies on the streets.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

Mystique. She threw wrenches into the lives of many but never did I expect myself to be playing her game, I thought I had everything figured out, she was one of many necks, I'm an expert in my selections, but I missed so much, far too much.

When we got to her house she invited me in under the guise of a drink, but I had planned in advance to talk my way in, the fact that she was so willing to gaze at me all sweetly, so trusting, so naive, it was a rush. Something like a drug.

Her hand tugged at mine, and she smiled all brightly, eyes staring up at me so...enticingly. If I could've kissed her then, I would've but that would've ruined the surprise and we didn't need that, no. For this to work I needed her to trust me...fully.

"Coffee...Or wine"? Her neck craned to the side and my eyes capped it immediately, her throat like a lure and I was the fish that had taken the bait, my mouth went dry; It was then that I realized how close I really was.

We were alone. She was mine.

"Dry"?

"You're in luck, I don't enjoy dry, myself but I do keep it for guests that do".

"Social butterfly".

"You aren't the first to call me". Sending a wink my way, I was in hook line, and sinker, and her every movement sent my body into overdrive, I could feel myself pulsing beneath my jeans.

"It is how you got the necklace, no"? I asked referring to the butterfly pendant around her neck, she'd been wearing since the day we met, I could tell by the way she frequently fiddled with it that it meant a lot to her.

"Keen eye. When I finally got adopted, I was a teen, freshly 13, and a teacher from my school became my own real-life Ms. Honey from Matilda, adopted me after fostering me when I was at my worst; Nickname is from her, necklace is from her. I've been Butterfly to anyone I've ever known".

I chuckled, hanging onto every fucking word she said. Her accent was distinct, Nola dipped heat spoken like honey, I wanted to hear it moaning my name, and it would. In due time.

"Now you are Butterfly to me". I got closer, fingers grasping onto the glass she held, our fingers brushing against one another briefly.

"I've never heard it better".

She would be the death of me, I swore.

Even after our hands stopped touching, I could feel her fingers running down my arm, traveling the length while my lips wrapped around the glass, something out of my wildest fantasies if you asked me; I sat the glass down and within a moment my lips were against hers.

⌫

It was finally time, after the first kiss Selina found herself craving much more than a sample taste, she'd waited so long for this moment and she was prepared to savor it, tugging Y/n to her and pressing her lips to the woman's chest, kissing what revealed skin she could reach, and Y/n didn't resist, not with the way a soft whimper fell from her lips, parted to allow her noises to freely drip shamelessly but a whimper was just the tip of the iceberg, Selina wanted to hear far more.

"This, this is what I've wanted since I met you, at the club".

It had always been entertaining to hear prey speaking of their own crushes on her, how they fantasized, and manifested...With Y/n, however, it meant something different, something special. The woman threw her off of her game, she was so used to being in control but it all came crashing down the moment she'd gotten her hands on the one she was convinced fate wanted her to have.

"You're filled with sugar, ain't ya, Sweet thing? C'mere. On my lap".

Moving to sit on the couch, Selina has Y/n sat in her lap, her back to Sel's front, and her lips quickly find her neck just as they'd found her chest, she's damn near quivering with anticipation when she has the sweet girl in her lap at her very mercy, it all feels like it's fallen into place.

"Let's play a game, yeah? I wanna play a quick game, it's simple".

Y/n trembled underneath Sel's touch, her hands roamed her body eagerly, and her body reacted like it was made solely for the vampire and her alone, her core throbbing with a sick need for Selina to touch her. She gulps. "What's the game"?

Selina laughs, her grin akin to the Cheshire cat when she's met with curiosity instead of reluctance. Her claws gently run over the girl's stomach, goosebumps left in her wake. "It's called two truths and a lie, it's as simple as it sounds, I'm going to tell two truths and one lie. You tell me which one the lie is, okay? ...Little pup"?

Y/n's voice is timid, her eyes following Sel's every touch on her skin trying to keep her composure though it seemed for naught the moment she felt Selina's boner poking into her backside, the thought of it inside of her instead sent unwavering unadulterated arousal washing over her.

"I can".

"Good girl. You're too damned sweet, angel. You know that? Listen carefully, love. 1. I hate sweets. Disdain them even...2. Bloodthirsty creatures? They're not...as mythical as you'd believe they are And 3. I...know you better than you'd like to think, sweet girl".

All of this is said while her hands play with the hem of her shirt, allowing her time to think over all of Sel's questions thoroughly, and immediately her eyebrows furrow in confusion, trying to think through a lust filled lense was already hard enough but Y/n could swear she spotted two lies, one truth.

"I'd say...2 maybe, but 3. Are you sure? I think there's more to me than that, no"?

A chuckle leaves the Cat's lips, she leans her head back and squeezes her just a bit tighter than before. "You might be right, but you are incorrect and misguided in so many ways, may I count them as I undress you"?

Letting out her own laugh, Y/n moves Selina's hands from her waist back to the hem of her shirt, and Selina so happily counts the ways.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

Her hands worked your shirt over your head, lace pink bra underneath taking her eyesight happily, smirk on her face she speaks up but her eyes don't leave your chest. "I don't know which will scare you off first but know that this is all I've ever needed, and hear me out before you scream".

Most would've ran from those words alone, but the woman on her lap stayed firmly placed allowing Selina to undress her even while her words became ominous and vague. "We live in a world where superheroes fight villains. Go on then, frighten me".

That was exactly what she meant when she called you trouble, she groans, leaving a trail of kisses down your neck, voice raspy when she speaks, "Bloodthirst is all too real, and it's...how we got here today, you see? It ties into my other, pretty little truth, and funnily enough? Also my lie. See...I thought I hated sweets".

"I thought you did too, I don't think I've seen you eat a dessert ever in my time knowing ya".

"You haven't. But you're the reason, the reason I started...craving them. I've been on this earth for over a thousand plus years and nothing has quite lured me in like the scent of your blood, my dear".

It took a minute for her words to register but when they did you almost thought you were hallucinating, it was shocking for all the most insane of reasons, her news.

"I can see you look...disturbed and for all good reasons, I'm sure. I won't confuse you with my vagueness so let's cut it straight, I'm what you humans call...a vampire. I have a bloodlust that I just found cannot be satiated by any other, any other but..."

She pauses to let you answer, humming when you do, "Me"?

"Smart girl. Gotham is filled with monstrosities, I'm sure you're aware, and I, unfortunately, am one of many of the freaks this town has to offer. I've always had a rather strict appetite, but you? You have ruined me".

There was a heat in her voice now, a darkness and danger that settled in the pit of your stomach listening to what no longer sounded like the Selina you knew, and even though you knew you should run, get out. It was like she had you pinned to her lap, under her spellbound with the hypnosis that was her voice; You weren't sure if you could move or if you'd stay compliant even if you wanted to.

"I-I ruined you? How could I eve-" Your words are cut short when her fingers hooked onto your leggings, taking them down with ease whilst whispering sinful truths into her ear.

"I'm hungry and it's all your fault, I haven't looked at another neck in 10 months, sugar and let me tell you...living off blood packs isn't sustainable for a woman like me, and that, I will have to fix and soon. And how, tell me, do you think I should fix it, Y/n"?

Your mind ran, it ran with many things but the first that falls from your lips is fueled by shock, "What do you mean 10 months, Selina"?

From your point-of-view it had only been 3 months since you'd known one another, she'd only been working there for that long so it couldn't have been ten months but the more you ran through it, the more you realized what she'd meant by two truths and a lie, and if she'd been watching you that long, truly...Was all of it true?

"Do you wanna run"?

You'd sat up by now, running over everything in your head repeatedly trying to come to terms with the fact that what seemed to be Satan, herself was in your living room, her fingers running the length of your neck and collarbone watching you put it all together.

Did you wanna run? A normal person would wanna run hell anyone in their right mind would be calling the cops, right now yet you were still there sitting in her lap, watching her hands run over your skin, her fingers now playing with the fabric of your lace pink thong.

"Do you wanna play two truths and a lie, Selina"?

If Sel had a heart it would probably be beating out of its chest right now, how could this innocent, pure little thing be so close to death itself and not completely freak out? "Lay it on me".

Y/n stands up, Selina's eyes following after you when you do, slight surprise on her face as you, instead, take down the pink thong on your own, your eyes dancing with mischief, you speak too calmly for a woman standing in front of the undead who'd apparently been stalking her for longer than they'd even known each other.

"1. I knew that you weren't human...2. I hate all things bitter, sour. And 3. I, myself, ... am not human".

You reveled in the way Selina's eyes widened, how her shock turned into intrigue thinking over your words and making her final decisions before she pulled you in closer by the thighs, her chin resting on your legs, sage green eyes staring up into your e/c ones.

"Tell me a story, mama. I wanna hear it all from those gorgeous lips of yours, and don't leave a thing out, ight"?

Your breath hitches at her words, lips parted but not a peep comes out. 'Adorable', Selina thinks, pulling you back onto her lap and spreading your legs effortlessly, her head dipping down to whisper into your ear. "Ready, set..."

Her fingers move to toy with your clit, a dangerous, sadistic smile spread ear to ear, finally getting what she wanted, and God was it worth the wait. Her cock twitches in her pants, and she's glad she has a semblance of self-control, she just really needs to hear every little thing Y/n says, she finds your words...fascinating. And maybe, maybe she wanted to see your squirming and moaning in her lap, dripping from her fingers dipped into your sweetness all by themselves.

Struggling to get your words out.

"Witches blood. My family's one of the oldes- Selina... I-I'm also half-wolf, I could smell it on you from the moment we met".

"Wolf's blood... and witch? It must be why you smell so damned sweet, a hybrid. I don't know how I didn't peg it sooner". Selina grunts into your ear, her hips involuntarily bucking up against the wolf, now that she knows, she's aware she has something more special than originally thought. she takes a moment to think before dipping her fingers inside your cunt, she knew she couldn't wait too long, she had too much desire building within her own stomach.

"If I were a stronger woman, I'd have you trembling and squirting on my lap before I even thought about fucking you but when it's you..."

Pulling her fingers from your pussy, she puts the fingers in her mouth, fangs popping out when she gets even the slightest taste of your essence on her tongue. "My control— It's evaporated into nothingness so here's what I'm gonna do".

She stands you back up, but this time she follows after you, taking your hand and leading you down the hallway to your own room as well as you yourself could find it.

"I don't want to compel you but I could make it easier on you when I feed. Now is that what you want, Darlin"? When you turn back around, she's lowering her pants, and underwear revealing 7 inches, circumcised and a caramel brown, it's something that leaves Y/n's mouth-watering. She shouldn't want this but she does, and it's intense.

"No".

That was exactly what Selina wanted to hear, she needed to know in her heart of hearts that you wanted this just as much as she did, and even if she had the power to bring you to your knees, herself? She wanted it to be real, fuck this wasn't like her at all but her cock wouldn't let her hold back any longer.

"And you know what that means, princess"? Sitting on the bed, she brings you over to her, stood between her legs, she turns you to face the door, groaning quietly at how beautiful you looked up close and personal, better than any invention of you her fantasies could create. "Spread your legs and talk to me".

You're snapped from autopilot, spreading your legs only to be grabbed swiftly into her lap, and this time she keeps your legs open and breathes into your ear, "I said...talk to me".

Taking her length in her hand, she guides her cock between your slit, collecting your slick and pulling an audible shudder from you as you finally begin to talk, "I-it'll hurt. I know, but I don't...I want it to".

Selina grunts. She grunts, and suddenly her cock is bottomed out and sunk deeply into your cunt, the only things heard are the sounds of the effect she has on you, from the squelching between your thighs when she sinks as deeply as she can to the way you let out the cutest little yelp she'd ever heard, tugging your hair back, she exposes your neck to her.

"It will hurt, but you don't care. You don't even care. Fucking masochist, look at yourself".

Scooting to the end of the bed, a hand firmly around your waist and the other forcing your eyes to the full-length mirror in the corner of your room not allowing you to look away, and the sight is as erotic as Selina made it out to be; You can see her slowly pumping into you, your lips parting to allow soft moans to escape, eyes struggling not to roll back. And when you look up to her, she's already staring back at you, lips curved into a shit-eating grin still leaning down so she could whisper into your ear. "You see that, hun? You're so pretty, baby but my god...You're a damned whore".

Her words though degrading are said with the care you'd provide a wounded animal with, they are meant to lull, to tame, and you were so sick with arousal that you didn't even notice you'd fallen right into her trap; She wasn't about to let you leave.

"You're gonna look at yourself and bounce on my cock, got it"?

Without needing anything more said, you'd been broken out of your stupor and ready to obey her every whim, your hands are braced on the bed in front of you, eyes to the mirror, and back arched; Selina, pressed against the headboard sitting with eyes low and a hand resting on your hips, she watches the first roll with an entranced intrigue, your hair still wove around her fingers, she lets her fangs graze your neck, reveling in the way you slightly flinch but never stop moving.

"Count down from 3..."

Her claw digs into the hip she holds, pricking the skin beneath and drawing your blood with a scent so dizzying she forgets her own words, and with a hiss, she sinks her fangs into your neck.

"T-THREE"! Y/n screams out, pain melding with pleasure, your cunt clenches tightly around her, ensnaring her into a chokehold, the light behind your eyes bright and blinding you feel yourself growing ravenous as the room fills with your collective pleasure and Selina helps you along with the thrusting when she realizes how distracted and clouded you are with her feeding from you.

She doesn't let up, she speeds up her pumps, pulling herself back from your neck, your ass pressed to her pubic bone, she savors the way the blood looks against your complexion, licking you clean, her hands move from your hair and underneath your chin, tilting it up slightly. Raising your leg for better access, she angles her hips deeper inside you, drinking in the way you moan her name. "I knew it, shit, I knew it...so. damn. sweet".

"S-sel, I need a little more, I need—" Your head is on fire, you didn't even notice that it wasn't only the lack of blood clouding your judgment, but something more, Selina's pheromones carried a floral scent to it that sent you into a world of your own, enhanced the already natural chemistry the two of you already had.

"Ah, say please, pretty thing. Mommy can make it all better".

Her voice is like a siren's song, a snake charmer. All you can do is succumb to her efforts, your cunt soaking the bed and in kind, Selina's stomach and thighs, as well as your own; You feel her throb inside of you, swelling at your words. "Please...please mommy".

She couldn't deny that, now could she?

This time, her eyes lock in on her target, the space between your shoulder and the nape of your neck, the final nail in the coffin of your lovestory, then it would all be set in stone. "Mm, since you asked so nicely".

"Cum. for. Mommy".

Selina growls into your ear, pushing herself to the hilt and sinking her fangs into your neck again, this time harder than she had before, on a mission to make you hers for good. Your body quivers in response to her power, moans loud yet strained, she can feel the moment you let go; Your legs wrap around her torso, and your cunt turns into solitary confinement, keeping her in an inescapable hold, hole twitching around her.

She could cum at that alone but it takes a few more rough pumps, her body leaned over yours, she holds her wrist up to your lips and compels you to bite. "It won't hurt me, I promise".

And so you listen, not as though you had much of a choice; It's when the black de-oxygenated liquid spills onto your tongue that she finally climaxes, rope after rope flooding your womb whilst you feed from each other shamelessly, heads filled with only thoughts of sin.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

She watches over her sleeping figure, a crimson-splattered soft grin spread across her face, she watches Y/n's mate mark swell and glow as it all settles down, and leans down to whisper in her ear.

"The midnight won't be so bad, not with you here, sweet deer".

All she gets in response is all she needs, Y/n turns in her arms and wraps herself up in Selina's grasp, mumbling incoherently; she presses a kiss to Selina's shoulder.

She falls into a dreamless sleep.

𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪𓆰♥︎𓆪𓆰♡︎𓆪

A/N: let's call this your birthday fic, love you more than the moon loves the sun, happy 21st grandpa bear~ <33 @u4iuh

[aimwigs]

hey I've been listening to the yard for about a year and a half and I want to get more into it ifywim do I just start watching old vods to catch up or is there any content u can recommend as a baseline must-watch

this is by no means a comprehensive list because i've only really been watching the yard since dec 2022 and my 2021 stint in lud viewing was brief and casual (didn't know what i had) but it is a fucking long list so i'll keep it under the cut. included stuff that maybe i wouldn't classify as a must watch but i wanted to include it so you can pick and choose what interests you

PODCASTS - I know for a fact there are other podcast appearances out there that I don't know of but here are a few:

the yard x wine about it - it's just the four of them and qt which means good times! this is an essential imo

there are a few eps of fear& that they appear on! specifically rec the ep with nick and aiden and the ep with ludwig and aiden. there are also a few eps with ludwig and slime (not at the same time) if you're interested in those

i've watched aiden on three different interview podcasts all are worth a watch to me: karat interview, across the bar, and good griefed (audio a little scuffed on this one but it's cute)

fucking loved nick's ep of across the bar because his outlook on creativity is super relatable to me. he also did something with safety third that i've been meaning to watch but haven't yet!

VIDEOS AND STREAMS - there's a lot here but i'll try to describe what's what

mogul money ft the yard - this is the full vod, there's also a cut down video. extremely fun watch

nick was also on mogul money live (first game specifically) and he and aiden appear in the bts video a little bit

qt posted vlogs from italy! they're all fun watches and there's some good moments. one, two, three, four

qt and aiden halloween gingerbread house video. ludwig and aiden kiss in this one. i think the full vod is in god's hands unfortunately

qt and aiden make shit in an ezbake oven and make the guys eat it. fun little video. idk if the vod is out there somewhere or not

there's a cut down version of this too but the full stream of qt having all the guys do a gingerbread house competition is very peak

lud did a shit load of taste test videos with the guys for a slim jim sponsor. this might not be all of them but here are the ones i cold find off rip (fruit, cheese, chocolate, water, steak)

ludwig has done a shitload of ylyl streams with slime that you can find and honestly i have a horrible mediashare allergy so i haven't watched a lot of them but i have watched the one they did with aiden and the one with everyone but idk where the full vod is for the latter

from ludwig's fortnite mondays, there was a week where slime and nick played with jerma and sapnap. idk if any of the others posted the vod but here's sapnap's

the subathon has a shitload of stuff that i can't even begin to link but if you want the experience of the dcom series without subbing to tier 2 they watched the truman show starting about an hour thirty into this vod, tho it takes a hot minute to get everything lined up with the time stamps

halloween po unboxing where them + qt dress up as characters from scooby doo. nick looks frankly obscene as velma this is a great vod

how many flashlights does it take to cook an egg is exactly what it sounds like. it's lud slime and nick ft a little bit of yingo

they play the family feud game together in these two vods: just them and against miz/otk (can't stand miz but it was still good)

RECENT STUFF - aka stuff you probably know about or have seen because you've been around a year and a half but i figured i'd include them anyway since they happened off the pod

two months ago they all played fortnite on lud's stream and it was awesome

both the show matches of the ludwig tarik invitationals are worth watching if you're into valo! the first one is team mogul v otv and they're split up in the second. if the timestamps are broken it's 2h30 in both vods

the rivals 2 tournament is fun! i don't understand shit about fighting games but i love to see the boys play

cdawgva ski vod with lud and aiden from the japan trip! there's also a cut down version of youtube but i found it a fun watch

recency bias alert: they all played in creator dodgeball

the qt and aiden winter cocktail tierlist stream was so good like genuinely a stream of all time to me. ludwig hangs around for parts of it

the yard doing the dougdoug fast food challenge is a MUST WATCH! they celebrate and they suffer what could be more beautiful

otv's fear pong video with them is so fucking good. SO GOOD!

and finally i guess i should mention beerio because it just happened LOL

[ananxiousgenz]

TPP HADESTOWN AU PART 4

ANOTHA ONE. i am so sorry guys, but the muse has possessed me and i literally cannot stop writing. this is no longer a flash fic. i am now a slave to the au. this time will be a direct continuation of part 3 because honestly i wanted to keep writing that but i also just wanted to post it so consider this a kind of part 2 to part 3 if that makes sense

tpp mutuals come get your juice!!! @smidgen-of-hotboy @ceaseless-watchers-special-girl @urjover @one-joe-spoopy @waters-and-the-wilde

when he said his name, juno heard it.

ringing in the background like the hum of a crystal wine glass.

the song.

when peter nureyev said his name, the song echoed with it.

"your name has the same melody," juno breathed, eye wide and searching for some kind of answers on the face of this strange, beautiful man. how could his name have the song of spring laced through it?

nureyev shot him a sideways look and took a sip of his drink. "so. what do you do for a living, lady who's going to marry me?" he questioned, leaning back in his chair and looking juno over with a gaze he could only describe as skeptical.

"oh! well, I work here at the bar with rita. she's over there. but you've met her already so I don't know why I'm introducing her."

rita gave a friendly wave from her perch behind the bar.

"I also, um. I, uh. I sing. sometimes. not all the time. i'm not bad at it. typically when I do sing, someone will give me a couple bucks. it's nice. oh, and uh, I can play guitar too, but I haven't done it in years, and to be honest, I don't really want to-"

nureyev cut juno off, looking away disinterestedly and downing the rest of his drink. "that's nice. so you're like all the other bar workers in existence. that doesn't exactly sound like something I'd want to marry."

suddenly, the butterflies that had been gradually building in juno's stomach began to unexpectedly drop dead.

"heyyyyyyy, that's not very nice, mista nureyev. mista steel isn't like all the otha ladies you eva met! he's a very supa awesome lady who I love workin' with and-oh oh oh! mista steel! you GOTTA tell him about that song you're workin' on! it's so pretty! and important! I'm sure mista nureyev would LOVE to hear about that!" rita cried, bounding off the bar and hustling over to deliver another drink to the table.

"oh, uh, yeah! I'm working on this song to bring spring back again," juno said, feeling mildly embarrassed that rita brought it up with this man who was still basically a total stranger. "it's not done, honestly, it needs a lot of work. but, when i'm finished with it, it will hopefully fix.....everything."

"wait just a moment." nureyev's brow furrowed and juno's stomach twisted at the sight. even when he was skeptical and defensive and bone-tired, he was still so damn attractive. gods, what juno wouldn't give to just kiss him right now- focus, steel, he's trying to talk to you-

"so you say this song will bring spring back again?"

"yup! at least it should."

"that's...." nureyev placed a finger over his lips in thought. "I haven't seen a proper spring in at least a decade, maybe more. the world has been so wrong in recent years... I shudder to think where it would all end up without the return of warmer weather."

"well, that's the idea with the song. I want to fix it. all of it. when the song is done it should put the world back on track. more sunshine, springs, falls, rain and flowers. you know. all the stuff that's just sort of been missing. maybe you could help me out with it!" juno grinned a bit sheepishly.

"and why would I want to help?" his eyes were cold, almost as cold as the biting wind and frost outside, but juno thought he saw the beginning of a thaw at the edges of his facade.

"because, mista nureyev. he's real good at makin' people feel like life is worth livin' again with that music of his. also, he makes the BEST chocolate cake i've eva had! and frannie agrees with me!" rita chimed in, cleaning the bar top as best she could with her short stature.

juno snorted involuntarily, marveling at rita's ability to constantly be focused on food. "it's true, I won a local competition a few years back for that cake."

nureyev's face had half a smile on it now, and the butterflies in juno's stomach turned into a hurricane.

"so you can make people feel alive again? that's quite a gift, juno. but what else can you offer me?"

"huh?"

"say, for example, if we were to get married. who would pay for the wedding rings? times have been hard, and gold is scarce. how would you do it?"

juno thought for a moment. "the rivers. they've got plenty of gold in them, and if my song works, they'll give it all to us for wedding rings."

nureyev's eyes glinted with something juno suspected was either curiosity or suspicion.

"what about a wedding feast? or a bed? good food and better beds are hard to come by these days. what would you do about that, juno?"

"the trees would take care of the wedding feast, and the birds would take care of the bed."

"with your song." nureyev cocked an eyebrow as though it was a question.

"well, yeah, of course."

"you talk a lot about that song. why don't you sing it for me?"

a wave of panic stuttered through juno's mind. "I can't. I told you it's not finished."

"you said you wanted to take me home and marry me, is that true?

a sly smile crossed nureyev's face, and goddammit it only made juno want him even more. "yes," he breathed.

"then sing the song for me, juno."

juno hesitated, then nodded in spite of himself. he shouldn't be doing this, he knew he shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't help it.

he was in love.

and lovers need the spring like a flower needs sunshine. so he'd sing the sunshine back for peter nureyev.

he stepped back, breathed in, and let the notes flow from him like water from a faucet. the song flooded the room, hitting the walls and rushing back to his ears in perfect harmonies, and for a moment, he was back in that wheat field with benten, strumming guitar as he danced like a pheonix rising from the ashes, spinning around and around and around like he was the center of the universe.

and then the song ended. and juno was back in a shitty roadside bar, holding a perfect dahlia in his left hand, with peter nureyev staring at him now, eyes wide and sparkling.

"that's...... you...... how did you do that?" nureyev asked quietly, standing from the table on unsteady legs and taking the dahlia to examine it with shaking hands.

"i didn't do that, the song did," juno muttered as nureyev gently touched the immaculate petals of the dahlia, still damp with dew. rita beamed at juno from the bar and gave an overenthusiastic thumbs-up. juno just rolled his eyes again.

peter nureyev looked at him then, all of the previous frostiness gone from his eyes and something like amazement and love and hope spilling through them.

juno decided that he liked it when he looked like that. it made him feel like he really could fix the whole damn world with that song of his.

nureyev seemed to come to some sort of conclusion and slipped the dahlia into the buttonhole of his traveling coat. "so, what time does your shift end, my dear juno?"

juno thought for a minute. "uhhhh, the bar closes around 10. why?"

his eyes gleamed like a pair of stars as a smile twinkled on his lips. "didn't you say you were going to marry me?"

[momo-de-avis]

Saw this on TikTok, thought you'd find it mildly interesting. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJvpDMqN/

A few things:

Sangria is 17€ everywhere in downtown Lisbon. 5€ is the glass. A jar of sangria is not going to be much cheaper than 17€ anywhere in Lisbon. I don't know who the fuck sees "sangria 5€" and expects that to be the price of a full one litre jar

I'm very positive I've seen those guys every other day. I walk that street almost every day, I have a stop there on the food tour and also there's a café there I often go to. It's a pretty chill street overall, but those dudes, if they are who I am remembering, they're those guys who are usually standing there trying to sell drugs that aren't really drugs. Now Imma be honest with you. I've dealt with them very often, for several years. Never, not once, had a problem. Yeah they're loud and a little annoying with the hustle, but when I was working near that street selling touristic services and they were next to me selling fake weed lmao they even defended us at some point.

I'm not saying everything described in the video did not happen. Likely it did. I said that street is very chill, but if you watch the vid you'll see in the background a building with flags and then a purple light. that building with flags is the Coliseum, the local concert hall. Which means this couple is officially on the wrong part of the street. Portas de Santo Antão, the street in question, is fine right before you get to that part, overall.

When travelling nobody has the mindset to just google every restaurant and check reviews, but keep in mind this is going to be a possibility. Lisbon is very, very popular right now as a tourist destination, and we Lisboners have known FOR YEARS about a lot of these restaurants functioning on the basis of scams. Portas de Santo Antão, again, is usually chill, but not always. Personally the way I deal with it is just pay for my shit and move along, cause you're in a foreign country and it's not worth the shitshow. You don't know what's going to happen, you don't know the country's laws, so just accept that you made a mistake. It happens often.

What this means is that Lisbon has become a city that requires thorough research before you sit your ass in a restaurant. Even for me, bro.

If the restaurant has people aggressively trying to get you to come inside and sit, avoid it. Granted that not all are going to be like this, and I can tell a couple ones in downtown that are chill, it's just the dudes are paid to do that ungrateful job. But there's Critical Zones

With that in mind, when eating lunch or dinner stay away from:

The upper part of Portas de Santo Antão

Rua dos Correeiros, for the love of god stay tf away from this one. The chances here of paying 500€ for a salmon are not zero. Loads of restaurants here are actually run by the biggest pickpocketer in Lisbon. THis is not a joke, it was on fucking TV

Rua Augusta although this one is fine for breakfast and sweets to be honest.

Trust:

Rua dos Sapateiros (some of the oldest and most trustworthy and iconic restaurants in downtown are here)

Rua do Ouro for quick snakcs but nothing too traditional

Lower part of Portas de Santo Antão, namely Casa do Alentejo

Rua do Jardim do Regedor, namely, Bonjardim which is one of the oldest places and most trustworthy for piri piri chicken

Rua da Madalena. 100% nothing there is bad. Literally nothing I am not exagerating, best bifanas in Lisbon and some of the coollest wine bars too.

[docholligay]

The raison d’etre for this trip, in its conception, was to see the Christmas markets of Germany and the UK. I don’t know if I’ll say that is actually how it turned out, given how many UK markets Mom has taken a quick turn around and then decided to go do something else, like sit in a pub or sit in a different pub*. It must be said that, in this department, Germany beats the UK as rightly and soundly as [insert inappropriate WWII joke here]. The Christmas ‘markets’ in the UK are largely consisting, at least based on my survey of four large and major ones, repackaged items that are largely not handcrafted by the seller, a lot of food stalls, and, bless it, a number of bars. Not a bad tme if I lived in any of these cities but assuredly not something worth crossing that Atlantic for. 

But the German Christmas markets were mostly as advertised. Even the more commercial among them had foods that carried the air of the traditional, made extensive effort to continue the line of culture that had been there for generations, and curled around themselves in long circles that invited more of a chance to meander than a strict row system that kept you going down a shooting gallery of booths. The Frankfurt market, even straight off the plane ride with a roughly 3 hour night, dazzled with its sense of history and its easy strolls through to the bar. It was at this market that I tried what I might call, “The drink of the trip”

Fuerzangenbowle, the best hot alcoholic drink I had never encountered even in writing, even in passing, truly a genius invention.** What this is, is mulled wine, already getting points from me, but then they soak a cone of sugar in rum and light it on fire so it drips down into the wine. I would have told you i wouldn’t care for that because it would make it too sweet, but it really doesn’t. What it does, is add a note of toasted caramel to the wine, a slightly burnt taste that adds to the larger whole. It is so good, that I am going to go home and see if I can buy some kind of piloncillo that’s small enough to work for the single serving cup. I don’t know that I would try and make it for a crowd, I’ll leave that to the professionals, but I do love lighting things on fire as my wife will, sighing heavily, attest to. 

All of them were good, and Cologne in general was much more charming than I had been led to believe it would be, but it was there we came upon the best market of them all: 

The old town market. 

We stopped there simply because it was the next place on the little train that takes you from market to market, but I was immediately captured by it. Busy and crowded, people miling around each other like little bees, the hum of their voices uniting into a low buzz. A violin plays “Come Emmanuel” at the door, and the long, high voice of it carries above and weaves through. The bright and bustle as the lights glow against the darkness, fairytale in the way that I could never hope to describe to another human being. I had to take a breath as i stepped inside. It was a Christmas market as you imagine them, a watercolor made real, the cold of the air touching your cheeks, the smell of mulled wine in the air, all of it immediate and total. All of it something that somehow seemed a dream, as if i’d been pulled into a book though admittedly in my fairy story slightly less people would be wearing beanies and puffy jackets, but what is fantasy without a little grime on it? 

In this one it also seemed that the traders had been vetted to some extent in the main square, and so was near-exclusively people who had made the objects in their booths. We spoke to people when possible, given my hilariously limited German, about their stuff, and gawked at it, and I bought a little mug for my daughter with her name on it, that the woman painted right in front of us. 

Whether the rest of the markets were a disappointment*** or not was hardly material at this point, because my mother was so entranced by the old market. She spoke of it all the time on the trip, as we were going through other markets, as we sat in a pub, as we put on our pajamas. I think it will probably take the crown for experiences on this trip. I can think of only a few that might unseat it. My mother’s face as we wandered through the market was all the confirmation I needed that this was the right choice. 

And so I am delighted to inform myself that Germany was a success. I said I would never return there, I let myself be talked into it, and I had a wonderful time. 

*This sounds like a complaint, but is full of delight. I have two favorite things to do when I travel: Walk miles and miles around a city (absolutely not happening here, there is a hot short list of people in my life who can walk as fast and far as I can) and go to pubs, bars, etc where there are a fair amount of locals and people like to talk. See my unwieldy essay on how much I like people for reference. 

**The best mulled wine I had, however, does in fact go to the UK. Specifically, Peacock’s Tea Room in Ely had the absolute best mulled wine I had in the entire trip, the seasoning was exceptional, it was not overly sweet, the cup contained some soaked fruit and sliced almonds, it was truly exceptional and I know I’ll be trying to style my mulled wine off it for a long while. 

***Things are rarely a true disappointment to me because I operate on the idea that everything in life is a lesson, is information, and if it wasn’t what I built up in my head, that is information, and it’s information I can pass on to others. Sometimes i love a miserable story as much as a successful one. Attitude can change the color of many situations, and I tend to be very adpatable and cheerful, and also i froze to death or it was crowded or whatever whatever is more often than not, not what I will carry away from any given situation. But, this is somewhat unique to me and I’ve spent a long time cultivating a sense of appreciation for these things, so I felt a little bad for my mom. 

[andrastesknickerweasles]

Sam’s starting to become accustomed to Gabriel relocating him on a whim, but it is a surprise when it’s not the gaudy hotel room he’d expected. When Gabriel had promised him a better evening than the motel and seedy dive bar could provide, despite Dean’s passionate defence of their virtues, he’d expected it to be, you know, a sex thing.

Instead he finds himself standing outside of what can only be described as a fairytale cottage, thatched roof and all. Fairy lights are strung between the boughs of the trees in the front garden, there are lanterns lining the paved pathway between a rustic metal gate and the front door, and warm light and laughter spill from the windows opened into the warm summer evening. A restaurant, he surmises, when he spots the framed menu by the door.

Gabriel loops an arm through his elbow and pulls him through the gate. “Come on, kiddo. Promise you’ll enjoy this.”

They’re welcomed into the foyer by a young man who’s calling them sir and offering to take the jacket of a suit he hadn’t been wearing five minutes ago. He takes his cue from Gabriel and allows the man to assist him with the removal, glad that Dean’s not here to see it. Someone else leads them to their table and Sam tries not to feel too emasculated when his chair is pulled out for him.

Gabriel, of course, orders them champagne before they’ve barely sat down, waving away Sam’s protests that he’d really much rather have a beer. Gabriel probably was trying to do something nice for him, he reminds himself, and he supposes it couldn’t hurt to go along with it for an evening.

He still can’t help staring incredulously at the ridiculous cart the sommelier wheels out, or the way his eyebrows nearly hit the roof when the top arcs open and the bottle ascends with dramatic gusto and a wisp of smoke. He wonders how much that piece of theatre costs. From Gabriel’s bark of laughter, Sam’s expression must clearly display his opinion of it.

He stays quiet until the champagne’s poured and placed into a silver bucket by their table and they’re finally left alone. “Cheers,” he mutters, trying to be charitable despite his discomfort. Gabriel’s eyes are sparkling with amusement but he thankfully doesn’t say anything, just lifts his glass to clink it delicately on the side of Sam’s.

“To us,” the archangel toasts. “And to our first proper date. Bit of an upgrade from your usual haunts, but hey, you’re worth it.” Gabriel grins at him, and Sam remembers why he’s doing this. “You must have been to a few nicer places, surely? Or has it been hamburger highway since diapers?”

“A couple. With Jess, mostly, she liked seeing me try new things. Nothing this fancy though, student budget only stretched so far.” He tries for a smile but isn’t sure he sticks the landing; it’s hard not to feel like he’s betraying her when he’s, well. Sex is one thing, but he hasn’t exactly dated since she’d died.

He imagines introducing Gabriel to his father, and that image stops him from spiraling too hard.

There’s something in the way Gabriel’s looking at him that suggests he’s caught something of Sam’s inner crisis, but thankfully a waiter’s bringing food before Sam has to explain himself. He wishes he’d been allowed to order his own meal, but it’s clear Gabriel’s on a mission to wine and dine him. It’s flattering, in its own way, though he tries not to worry about what will happen when he’s officially caught and Gabriel starts to get bored of him.

Meal turns out to be a generous word for the mouthful of…something, presented prettily in the middle of a shell floating on what he thinks is a bowl full of salt. Gabriel’s attempt to be funny? The waiter’s explaining what they’re eating but he only understands about half of it. He looks dubiously at the slimy looking thing in the shell. He knows what an oyster is, but he hasn’t actually seen one before.

Gabriel’s looking at him again, and this time some of the mirth has faded. Sam misses it already, though he’s glad the angel isn’t laughing at him. “I, uh. How am I supposed to eat this?” There’s no cutlery, and he’s pretty sure it’s not the sort of place that’ll look kindly on him using his fingers.

“Like this,” Gabriel instructs, and tilts his own shell up to swallow the oyster whole.

Sam copies him, only to nearly gag as he swallows what he can only describe as salty mucus. He takes a hasty gulp of champagne to clear the taste and nearly gets bubbles up his nose.

Gabriel is openly laughing now. “Damn, Sam, way to make it look sexy. Not a fan, huh?” Gabriel waggles his eyebrows as Sam considers kicking him under the table. “They’re supposed to be an aphrodisiac. Getting any urges to jump my bones yet?”

“I hate you so much,” Sam grits out, though he’s proved a liar when Gabriel snakes his hand across the table and entwines their fingers. He snorts out a self-deprecating laugh instead and runs his thumb across the angel’s. “There’d better be more food coming. Something edible, preferably.”

“Patience, padawan. I promise I’ll feed you properly. Here, look, you’ll like this one more.”

Another plate is set in front of him. He’s still not really got any idea what he’s eating but this one, he must admit, tastes good – fuck, it might be the best thing he’s ever tasted. He makes a happy noise of contentment and watches, with surprise, as Gabriel visibly relaxes. He’d been too busy trying to fake his own confidence to realise Gabriel might be nervous too.

Nice to see it wasn’t just Sam feeling out of his depth here.

[seventeenplug]

Yoon Jeonghan X Reader (Get out)

Pairing - Non idol Yoon Jeonghan X Not gendered reader

Genre - angst + sad

Warning - mentions of being drunk - hitting - throwing items

Summary - As you waited and waited for your boyfriend to celebrate your two years together he appears drunk once more, and in mids of a fight confesses to his unfaithfulness.

Word count 1.6k

It was one of those nights again, he was out with his friends, one drink turning into five and then into ten, he could barely remember what he had first before he started mixing them.

Was it whiskey? Was it beer? Why was it hitting so strongly... that, he couldn't say for sure.

Maybe because he had a light dinner, leaving the office at late hours and deciding to head into a bar with his friends instead of home to his girlfriend who awaited him with dinner ready.

He didn't know, he had no clue of the day it was.

He forgot completely that you two had planned for a night in for your 2 year mark.

Work was hard, deadlines were closing in rather quickly and he couldn't just finish the work by himself for his team mates to get the credit that they never gave.

You sat alone at the dinner table, the lights were down, candles shined a warm light within the place, lightning up the path up to the table, where a vanilla candle burned. You had cooked for the entirety of the evening, having taken a break from work specifically to plan and care for the day.

What was it worth to him when he was out doing something unknown to you whilst you sat at the table, mascara sliding down your face as hot tears fell faster, sipping your glass of red wine.

It was well past midnight, your glass was empty, so was the bottle, which you had drowned your sorrow in.

You had tried multiple times to contact him, but it was of no effort, it went straight into voice mail, letting you know that it had either been turned off or had no battery.

Dragging your hand through your hair, you sighed, a shaken breath leaving your dry lips as you stood up from your chair, tears now dried onto your face simply leaving a trail of mascara behind.

But that's when he walked in, door unlocking, immediately alerting you who stood frozen in place just in front of the dinner table.

He closed the door, his back to you, as he locked it, you tried not to, but you couldn't help but laugh as he finally turned around, clearly drunk.

Laughing as if it was the funniest thing ever, when really, all you wanted to do was cry more at the mere thought of Jeonghan forgetting your 2 year celebration and going out for drinks instead, getting bat shit drunk and going home to you in said state.

So, you laughed, and laughed, tears falling once more, you didn't know if they fell from the laughter or due to the situation you were in.

Was this all he cared for you?

"Why... why are you laughing?" he asked, a single eyebrow raised as he eyed you weirdly.

"Do you know, how fucking embarassing this looks right now?" you asked him, although you chuckled, he could, despite his drunked state fully understand the venom dripping in your tone.

He looked around, his eyes locking onto every feature that you had changed within the place, the candles, uneaten dinner, the lights...

"What did I miss?" he asked clearly confused.

"Not much, you know, just an everyday mark" you shrugged, taking both plates into your hands and heading to the kitchen, the man following closely behind you as best he could.

"Y/N, come on. Just say it" he sighed, running his hand down his face, mind completely blank of what this could possibly mean.

"Nothing. Go to bed"

"Just fucking spit it out. For fucks sake, Y/N. Do I look like I fucking know what you want?!" He yelled in anger.

"Fucking hell, always pissing me off. This is why I'm barely home. At least she-"

"She?" you questioned, eyes finally meeting his which widened in sudden realization, mouth open agape as he stared back at you in something you could only describe as guilt and shock at the same time.

"Y/N, I didn't mean -"

"You have another woman" you say once more, he averts his eyes from yours, too ashamed to look at you. You can only scoff, eyes falling to the ground before you raise them once more in anger.

"I have done, everything! Everything to make this work and what, you have the decency to mention, SHE?! On our 2 year anniversary?" You laugh dryly.

You watch his eyes, once more widen, finally realizing the date, checking his phone's calendar to confirm that it was in fact the date. Even more guilt filling him inside.

With quick steps he tries to reach you, but you push him away, one hand behind you holding the counter for dear life whilst the other was on his chest keeping the distance between you two.

"Who is she" you ask once more.

"She's just a coworker, she means nothing! Nothing to me" he says, all drunkness put aside as he speaks.

"She's clearly important for you to want to spend time with her. I bet she doesn't piss you off" You speak confidently, you had to put this front, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of watching you broken, so you  watched him, as his act fell to the floor, still trying to convince you otherwise.

"Leave"

"Y/N... please, she-"

"I don't care. I said leave" you repeat, eyes glaring at his which now gathered tears. But he made no effort in moving. And this is when everything went wrong. Your anger simply grew, this man wasn't the man you had fallen in love with, he wasn't the Jeonghan you knew. You didn't even know if that had ever been the man you loved.

Was it all a facade?

The hand that was on his chest curled up into a fist, hitting at his chest, the tears that fell down his cheeks, now matched yours which fell once more.

Your hand hitting at his chest with strenght as you sobbed. He took it all. He deserved it, he knew he did.

You had every right to despise him. hate him. But he didn't want to let you go.

"Leave!" You screamed at him through your tears, your sight blurry as you stared blankly at his shirt.

He grabbed at your hand, pulling you into his embrace, but you couldn't accept it, not after knowing of the affair.

You broke out of his hold, slapping him across the face, lip quivering as you groaned. His face turning to the side, his own eyes glossy, sniffing and wiping his face with the sleeve of his work shirt.

"Get out" You glared sternly.

"We can work this out-"

"Can I cheat too then?" You asked him... quiet. You smiled looking down at the floor once more, pushing your tears back.

"Get out. It's over, Jeonghan" you sighed, turning around and focusing on the dirty dishes already a safe distance from him who stood frozen to his spot watching your now calm state.

"Y/N" he called out.

You turned around, the plate breaking as it hit the wooden floors just besides him, jolting him, the glass barely missing him.

"I don't want you here! I want you gone! Just leave!" You yelled, strudding down the corridor you walked into your shared bedroom, opening the closet doors and pulling out every piece of clothing he owned throwing it inside his traveling suit case.

He was still stuck in his place, he just couldn't believe this is how it would end, how he had broken you.

He forgot, and not only that but he ended up confessing to his affair, something he had planned on breaking off just the day before, but he couldn't, already in-too deep with said woman, but looking at you right now, he also couldn't just leave you...

Now, he didn't have to make that choice, it was made for him.

He was given no other choice but to leave you.

The possible love of his life...

His heart ached as he watched you walking out of your bedroom, 2 suitcases trailing behind you, with what he knew would be his wardrobe.

He gulped dryly, eyes casting down on the floor, too ashamed to look at you. He deserved it.

"Take them, and leave"

"I love you -"

"If you love me, then you won't want me to be in pain" you said in between breaths, trying hard to contain your tears that had just stopped.

"I never meant to hurt you, we can still fix it, please. Just give me one more chance" he tried once more.

"Do you love me?" you questioned him, eyes fixated on his every emotion, he nodded, eyes filling with hope as he stared at you.

"Then, you'll leave" you whispered.

He gave up after that.

There was no going back after everything was said.

So he grabbed his two bags and with one final look, he exited the house, the most sober he had ever felt in his entire life.

Leaving you behind who sobbed watching his every step, too broken inside to beg him to not go, to stay and hold you.

Too disgusted to even want to touch him, afraid to see even the tiniest trace of the woman he had betrayed you with.

Somewhat wishing this was all a lie, a badly played joke on you... You laid on the sofá, the tears fell on their own, you couldn't even feel the tears that still fell on their own falling asleep to your own sadness.

Posted the 10th of January 2023

Sorry for disappearing, I had a few issues after new years eve and then I just came back a few hours ago from a trip where I lost wifi connection and have an exam on the 12th ;-;

But I have already 2 drafts almost finished so hopefully I'll post them this week!!

[thesinglesjukebox]

SHAWN MENDES - "WHY WHY WHY"

First Sabrina, now Shawn... we just need one more a triple-repeated title song to get a trend piece going...

[4.40]

Iain Mew: Shawn aims soft and tries to bring out the anguish and cyclical hopelessness in small moments. The musical stomp has other ideas, stomping out subtlety without bringing anything worth replacing it with. The resultant sense of aimless momentum leaves it sounding like a festival EDM track with all of its drops missing. [3]

Jeffrey Brister: On the one hand, it is a dated stomp-clap folk single with gang vocals and a hefty dollop reverb in the chorus; with nary a strummed guitar figure or slide flourish or mandolin accent out of place. On the other hand, this sounds really REALLY good. The worst thing I could say about this song is that it’s unmemorable, and it will fade into the swirling morass of competent-if-not-incredible folk songs that sit at the bottom of my mind, and will eventually get it confused with something else years later. But in this moment? Hey, pretty good. [6]

Nortey Dowuona: Mike Sabath can apparently work magic. I mean, he can lay down some firm, surprisingly sturdy but unambitious drums that allow Chris Thile on mandolin, Kevin Barry on lap steel guitar, Eddie Barry on guitar, Shawn himself on guitar with Scott Harris on background vocals to fill up the mix with all the angst and unalloyed joy that come with finding one's footing after years of grasping around in the dark for your parents to protect you, for your lover to return to you, for the small, imaginary bundle who you're convinced is crying out for you to hold them. Then you remember they're not imaginary. You wonder why you thought that. Then you get up and hold your infant son until you fall asleep instead. Mike then has to worry about maybe lowering the bass to let the lap steel sound better but makes sure to not disturb you or the baby. [8]

Michael Hong: The comparisons to Man of the Woods have been unavoidable, but "Isn't That Enough" sounds closer to the alt-country of Waxahatchee than anything by Justin Timberlake. Pleasant enough if a bit repetitive, but as "Why Why Why" attempts to kick up the dust into something anthemic, it sounds more like a deflated version of Avicii's "Wake Me Up."  [3]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: A perfect choice for listeners who found Benson Boone and Noah Kahan to be too aggressive. [2]

Grace Robins-Somerville: Sexless Ed Sheeran-ass Zoloft-ass fake deep pop music. [2]

Ian Mathers: Is it weird that this feels post-Iron & Wine to me? Something to do with the guitar tone and how it and the vocals are layered. It's pleasant enough, and the idea of post-teen pop Sam Beam makes me smile. Congratulations, you've justified your existence for another day! [6]

Taylor Alatorre: An emulsified soup of folky signifiers, "Why Why Why" achieves pathos of a sort -- not from the feelings described within it, but from the singer's need to transmute those feelings into rustic coffeehouse wallpaper. The once and future teen idol is mandated after a certain age to reveal more of himself, his true self, but only within well-defined limits: no to Big Star's Third, yes to "Garden Party." Or "Story of My Life," if we're being realistic here. The big reveal of "Why Why Why," that of deferred fatherhood, is given its requisite four bars in the limelight, then is quickly blotted out by the oncoming rush of billowy acoustic chords and twangy guitar stabs. This may be for the better, given Mendes's earnest belief in the mind-blowing lyrical power of the father-mother juxtaposition. Best to let the sound engineers do the real talking here; that coiled spring of rapid-fire strumming that sews up the aforementioned verse has replay value of its own. [5]

Jonathan Bradley: The best thing about this fibrous Shawn Mendes strum is how it inadvertently demonstrates the talent someone like Ed Sheeran or Noah Kahan has. They could make "Why Why Why," and a lot of time they functionally do. And that would sell, and people who want earnest and modestly rousing folk songs, which are a perfectly reasonable thing to want -- 12 years later, I'm still willing to defend "Ho Hey" -- would be pleased to cue it up on their playlists. But it takes skill to create an "A Team" or a "Stick Season," the versions of this sound that involve more craft and finesse than necessary. I don't think Mendes is capable of elevating his compositions to that level but, hey, at least he's capable of not sinking them to Lewis Capaldi depths. [4]

Katherine St. Asaph: Javiera Mena isn't supposed to sound like the Lumineers, but Shawn Mendes isn't not. The sound of basking blissfully in low expectations. [5]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[infintasmal]

@highseaskxng asked: 🌺(for ja'far) Compliment meme / Accepting

"Sinbad is... hard to describe. One minute, he's giving a heartfelt speech about his love for this world and his desire to help all people within it, and the next he's half naked, face down on the bar stand reeking of wine," there is profound irritation in his voice at that last part. "But.. he is someone you can put your trust in. For all his vices and his sometimes less than savory methods, he really does strive for peace. He is someone who can see worth and hope in even the lowest born. I tried to kill him, multiple times, and he still reached his hand out to me and called me family. I am well aware that there is darkness within him, but I still have faith that he will prevail. If there is any hope for this world, he will be the one to find it. And I will follow him until the end."

[the-meme-monarch]

oh oh chulip headcanons, got any abt Julie? I thought it was neat she used to be an idol, and just by basic virtue of "time passed since the game was made" one of the older school type ones.

i will also do goro, love interest, and the cat bc i don't think i have enough to constitute them being in their own posts!!! and in case no one asks for them. and they are Family

-its a fond headcanon of mine that just about everyone in llt is Not Human so julie has non-retractable claws, sharp canines, and four eyes (her eyebrows) :], love interest inhereted the claws and canines. I'm not certain yet but im thinking goro is. a sentient sweet potato thing in human form based on his section in Her Heart .

-love interest's bow emotes like cat ears :]

-julie and goro are t4t. when you show julie dr dandy's card she says "[love interest] was born at that hospital". notice she didn't specify who gave birth to her

-love interest is also trans

-when love interest ran away it was moreso that she went to school one morning and just. never went back home. stuffed her telescope and sleeping bag into her backpack and left

-this isn't My headcanon but I adopted it as well. goro is so so good at making sandwiches. i think he's actually a better cook than julie(her yakitori being described by Everyone as being burnt and/or raw, where goro considers his sweet potatoes to be art and also they heal you so i don't think Julie made them.)

-love interest used to help her mom cook or help goro sell sweet potatoes :] she was the one keeping the business afloat really .

-julie and goro having been an idol and a movie director and A Couple, made llt into a bit of a tourist attraction. before then llt was literally only known about bc of lover's tree, (which i like to think that in-universe the "[name] and [name] sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g" rhyme came from! it is inaccurate to actual lover's tree lore and it pisses llt residents off So Bad!) anyway them being individually popular and Together put llt like Actually on the map. but julie was a one hit wonder and goro's career fizzled out around when love interest was born (his last movie being akuma doll). julie opened a restaurant to try to keep an audience, but well. she is Not a good cook.

-goro was famous for his movies bc they were so bad they're good. y'know.

-goro and julie don't really wear their wedding rings, with julie cooking all the time, and goro's just not much of a jewelry guy, but he wears both their rings on a string/necklace tucked under his shirt :']

-also according to the jp guide book goro isn't good at expressing his emotions. so not a headcanon but i think it's worth mentioning

-also sorry to be a goro stan but i need to mention it. julie is not faultless in their relationship. please remember that julie threw out his movies (which were important to him. he literally ran a movie theater) and she belittles him in every interaction they have up until she thinks he's Dead. she slaps him when you first meet them. goro is not physically abusive. him throwing the bottle was a Final Straw type moment. not that goro isn't also without blame but it makes me fucking seethe that people put all the blame on him when the point of julie's kiss quest was highlighting that they're Both flawed people but can Both grow and become better. i can only guess people treated him as the aggressor like that bc of his alcoholism, and how julie was the one harmed at the apex of the bar scene from the wine coupon, and the "she likes cats, she'll be fine" line WHICH i think that translation did it a disservice. I think he meant "she's like a cat. she'll come home when she's ready". y'know.

-we know Julie has been living in llt since she was at least 8 years old (when you show her the micro gum she tells you about an incident from then) but she doesn't know that microgum makes you small? and she doesn't know that the graveyard doesn't mean an Immediate death sentence. I think she just didnt know abt microgum bc She Was Eight and then her time as an idol made it hard for her to connect with the rest of town (being hounded by the media/fans/paparazzi) so she never even found out that That Kid probably didn't Just Disappear he probably just got small, and then even after that she just didn't get out much bc she had family and restaurant to maintain. maybe only a few people even know that being sentenced to the graveyard doesn't mean Instant Death. policeman does just shoot on sight at night after all

-julie and policeman seem to be/to have been friends? he knows that the hair pin poor boy stole is julie's and that it's special to her. and julie says he's a good man .

-the cat disappears behind the hospital every night. i like to think it knows everything abt everyone in town for it's quiz at the end bc it lives in the walls of the hospital and is eaves dropping/reading dandy's documents

-love interest straight up did not name the cat. but maybe post-game she does :]

-this is less of a headcanon and more of an idea for a potential re-release, but i think it'd be neat if you Could kiss the cat, but as you level up the cat gets more and more upset with you, until eventually trying to interact w it at all it attacks you. then in Her Heart we find out it's because you've been getting closer to love interest and it's jealous you're going to take her from it (it's line in-game "[poor boy] is trying to steal my [love interest]"). and rocky. let me kiss rocky

[personalswtorheadcanons]

The Day We Meet Again: Part 2

A while later, the cantina door opened to reveal two zabraks, a man and a woman. Oro'a visibly stiffened in her seat, even if she couldn't see she would have known who they were, the force radiated off them in such a way that she could practically feel it scraping at her spine. At best she could describe it as a green ichorous chill that traveled through her body, it was then clear as day, the siblings she had never known about. The man had orange skin and black slave tattoos, along with the brands that would signify his owners scarred onto his face and throat. The woman next to him also had similar scarring on her throat to signify her owners. 

“Jeez…Looks like they were slaves too..” Teeubo murmured, causing Oro'a to glare at the smuggler. 

“Stay away or I will kill you.” She hissed before taking in a breath and standing up to walk over to the pair. 

“It is going to be fine, Tia.” The man said to the woman.

“Your platitudes are going to embarrass us both.” She snipped back.

As Oro’a approached the two of them bowed, in moments like this, far on the edge of the galaxy Oro’a often found herself forgetting her station and time as a member of the dark council. The reality could be somewhat crushing, not to mention awkward when it is your own supposed siblings respecting it.

“Darth Nox.” The woman greeted with a respectful bow of her head, elbowing her brother to do the same. 

“We are here to beg an audience with you.” said Daku. 

“This had better be worth my time.” Oro’a said sardonically, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 

“Of course it is, sister.” Daku said with a smile.

“Daku, if you get us killed over this…” Tia sneered. 

“No killing!” Selene yelled out from the far side of the bar where she was serving Dedalera and Kokassa. 

“If I’m not allowed to kill, it would appear my only option is to grant your request for an audience, we shall head to the table with the most pretzels.” Oro'a said as she turned to walk to an empty table. Once the three of them sat down, Oro'a reclined back in her seat and crossed her legs as Daku sat relaxed and Tiandara looked stiff. 

“Just how did you two find out where I was?” Oro'a asked. “Rishi is meant for one to get away from the wider galaxy, not ridiculous family reunions.” 

“I believe it was the twi’lek agent who found all of us and got us to rendezvous on the planet while she located the cantina.” Daku replied. “It took our sister here a bit more convincing than it did me.”

“And I'm still not sure why we are doing this.” Tia said, crossing her arms. 

“I hope it's not to ask a favor of me.” Oro’a said, raising an eyebrow.

“No, by the spirits!” Daku said, exasperated. “I just wanted to see us all here again. The fact we have all made it this far is nothing short of a miracle. We shouldn't take it for granted that we can still be part of each other's lives. What the hell is wrong with you two!?”

“Spirits?” Oro’a asked

“That's right, you two were just infants...” Daku said with a sigh. “If we can for one minute pretend to all be siblings, maybe I can fill you in on exactly why I cared so much about all this.”

“I feel like I'm going to need a drink if I am going to hear all this again. He already spoke of it on the ship.” Tia grumbled.

Oro'a smirked at her newly learned sister and chuckled. “Maybe you are my sister, I was thinking the exact same thing. Selene! A glass of my Zakuulian wine!” 

“You have legs, woman!” Selene yelled from the back. “I'm busy! I've got a business to run!”

Oro'a sighed in annoyance, rolling her eyes as she used the force to levitate the wine bottle and glasses from the bar to their table. 

“Well,” Daku started to speak as Oro'a poured the wine, still using the force. “I am the eldest of us three, while you and Tia are twins. We were born on Dathomir. While we may only be half-siblings, I still take my role as your elder brother seriously. The Sith…they took me with you two because they couldn't be bothered to carry two babies. That's when I realized I had to protect you both… ” 

“You didn't do a great job.” Oro'a sneered, taking a long sip of her wine.

“I kept you both alive!” Daku said indignantly. “But I was sold to my owner before you two were old enough to truly remember me.” 

“While I appreciate the sacrifice, it doesn't make up for what I had to go through.” Tiandara said with a slight scowl. “My owners weren't exactly kind.”

“Try being stuck in the slave pits.” Oro'a said, curling her lip in disdain at the memories returning to her. “But I survived, and so did you two as well. Darths, if I heard properly?”

“Yes, I ended up as an apprentice of Darth Krovos after my master grew bored of me.” Daku answered.

“And my master was Darth Vowrawn, he took me as an apprentice when I grew old enough.” Tiandara replied. 

“I have heard of them. Both are in Acina's inner circle.” Oro’a stated “How did you manage to break your chains?”

“It wasn't easy. I was trained on Ziost by Krovos, and she was obsessed with the Anzati, one of the first allies of the Sith.” Daku explained before he took a drink of his wine, emptying half of the glass. “She's very…strict. To say the least.”

“Early in my training, she sent me to Korriban to track down an ancient Anzati sith’s tomb. When I arrived, I found the Anzai in some form of hibernation. She tried to force his secrets out of him and use them to make herself strong… But the attempt scarred her mind. After that, I found myself seeking the blood of ancient sith lords from the Anzati’s time to incorporate into myself, to boost my strength. I saw the lack of peace in the galaxy, and when you see it up close you realize you have to let your passion, what you love, guide you. I earned the trust of the descendents of the sith lords, they gave me their blood and I became strong. A little kindness went a long way, I have apprentices, love and a seat as governor of Krayiss II. My title is Darth Occlus.”

“Sounds like you had it easy” Tia stated. “Not me, Vowrawn was a real bastard, but he knows what's good in life, and taught me the most important thing was to enjoy it all. The man watches Sith power plays for fun, reveled in seeing Baras fall to his former apprentice and Thanaton fall to you.” She said with a nod towards Oro’a. “I gained my power by seeking out Sith artifacts and absorbing their power. Much like you with your ghosts.”

“Find anything interesting?” Oro’a asked “Anything I would have to kill you over?”

“It's all on a public record, sister. I have made a fortune selling from the hordes of ancient sith lords.” Tiandara said before she took a long, slow, sip of her wine. “There is one artifact in particular that could catch your interest. Too bad he’s mine. What I originally thought just to be a gold statue ended up being a Maelibus.”

“I suppose we’ll be needing more wine. We’re going to be here a while.” Oro’a said, floating two more bottles over to the table.

[nvrcmplt]

"Smells like you have had enough wine and liquor for the both of us," the warden jokes as he stands before the other, the two having bumped into one another up on the surface.

A strange occasion, the warden's hand occupied by a bag of food he had been collecting, another rising to grasp onto Einri's chin. It's dark, it's evening, who is to pay attention to the duke's nightly affairs as he stands before Einri, thumb trailing up the dark and gold lines travling up the surface of his chip, up to the bottom of his lip. At the edge of said lip, Wriothesley cants his head, a curious hm let out; "never realized that there's gold in your tattoos."

Prying, silvery gaze then abruptly shifts up to meet Einri's own eyes, the duke guiding him a little closer, though not close enough for further contact to establish. "If you sober up, maybe I'll share my food with you at my office. "

Merry and swaying, the tunes of the taverns fresh in his mind, on his lips - tongue abuzz with flavours he couldn't describe to others with just how much he mixed and gulped with fingers in pockets, wallets and flirty-promises to steal watch, pearl and more. Heavy with good nights thievery, he wasn't stupid enough to completely let the drink get to his head. He tried to dally in the fresh air - sway and hum that merry tune, only to fall upon the shadow of a man he wasn't so used to seeing without bars in front of his vision!

"Ahoy!" Laughter was bright, yet subdued for the two of them. The cobble grounds under his boots not the best at keeping him upright with how much his shoe-toe gets stuck under a lifted brick. This time though he needn't be walking - just swaying as if he was. A habit to keep a rhythm, even as his lashes flutter with blackened hairs brushing over flushed cheeks. A shimmer of his sea-blues and wild greens, attention to their gaze on his face. That glower - ah, he didn't shy away from letting his teeth scrap his bottom lip, the inaudible pop of it freeing itself with a lasting smirk was all that was given in return to Wrio's words.

"You got it, handsome." A flutter of his lashes, a shimmer of that golden hue as his vision beneath the headband ignited just a touch. Energy was always a wonderful way to rinse his senses, to rid of the fluids in his guts, but it was at a price. After all, to purge alcohol… you had to get rid of it. Thus - a hand was quick to push Wrio's chest, whether fingers slithered un shirt for a moments brush of flesh was for Einri to dream about as he turned aside - the nearest bin shoved open and his guts heaving out the delicious remnants of a bountiful night. Wrenching the last of it, pure liquid, which wasn't the best idea for a drinking night - the shorter male stood upright and inhaled deep.

Rolling his shoulders and stepping back with a sway and back of his hand to his chin to wipe aside drool moreso than vomit. "Waste of a good coin that, but for you… worth it." Fingers dip into his shirt, removing a pouch of herbs that have the strongest scent of mint - tossing a wad of them into his teeth to chew with ease. The next thing was his forever-filled waterskin on his hip just below his kidney. That was swung around to be chugged on, the mint leaf spat into the bin and replaced by another bundle to really freshen up the best he could without brush and paste. Worked well in the wilds.

"… Sober enuff, I say." Not at all, but at least he won't digest any more into his system as he stepped forward and wobbled with a laugh before reaching out to snag onto Wrio's jacket's sleeve. "Lead tha'way, cap'in! If ya fas' enough, can see jus' how far my tatts go down with ya own hands before I sleep... unless ya into tha'."