#and then the Plot starts to happen ahahaha

[ace-malarky]

the first chapter (scene?) of the shapeshifter wip is really just everyone having a great time and setting in some character stuff and it is. so misleading in terms of tone I think lmao but I'm having a great time

[devilfic]

❝late-bloomer❞

plot: you've never been kissed before. on a completely unrelated note, what if your best friend offered to be your first? pairing: tasm!peter parker x gn!reader. cw: post-tasm 2, gwen stacy mention, angst, self-deprecating thoughts about being undesirable and insecurity in love, best friends to wouldn't you like to know, eventual fluff, attempts at andrew garfield accurate rambling, he definitely talks you through it I mean who said that. words: 4.3k.

a/n: entirely self-indulgent because I wrote this after crying over being a late-bloomer for an hour ahahaha

Peter is reading something for research when you suck in a breath and finally ask, "What was your first kiss like?"

You hear his voice die in his throat. The small whispering of test results and calculations fall short, but you don't dare to look back. You're hunched forward so he won't see the way your eyes burn and brim with tears unshed because if he did, he'd ask about it and then you'd really start crying. Instead, you busy yourself with your phone, idly scrolling as if your question was pure curiosity alone.

You watch his ankles uncross, hear him sit up and then lean against the headboard again, fumbling for your train of thought, "Uh... sticky, 'cause I was six," Peter laughs, "You should know. You're the one who kissed me."

No matter how many times he tells you this, you can't remember the day you'd been so bold as to plant one right on Peter Parker's lips. You felt like you'd remember that, but you'd been such an impulsive child back them. Bolder. Thicker-skinned.

But Peter remembers, and so does Aunt May who swears up and down that she'd caught it on camera ("If only I could find that damned photo album"). You're the only one who doesn't. It's like it never happened, "No, God... no. I mean like your first real kiss."

"Like with tongue?" You hear the humor in his voice and even your sullen mood doesn't stop you from smacking his knee. "I dunno what you're talking about. That kiss was real to me."

"I'm serious, Pete."

He hums. You're so, so tempted to look back and see what he's thinking, but it would give you away too easily. "It was... it was a kiss. I mean, Gwen- you know. You know. I was crazy about her. I didn't think I just... kissed her."

"How did it feel? Do you know?"

"I felt like I needed to do it. I felt like if I didn't, I'd throw up. Not actually, just... like I'd explode with all the feelings I had for her."

Your finger hovers over a tweet. In your wondering about that feeling of almost nearly exploding, you try to picture that rooftop kiss that Peter had relayed to you between classes, with hushed whispers and childish laughter. It was windy, and I was breathless, he'd said, and I wanted to lay myself bare. And I just... pulled her in. Shot a web and swept her up and kissed her. I think I've lost my mind. You remembered pressing your back against the school lockers to cool yourself as you imagined the scene, the steps it took for you to settle the uneasy churn in the pit of your chest. The euphoria and panic upon realizing that your Peter was growing up.

You felt overwhelmed just imagining it. You barely hear Peter ask why you want to know. "No reason. Was just curious."

You think that Peter accepts that as good enough reason because the room is silent again. You keep scrolling, keep taking subtle deep breaths to keep the tears at bay. You see a picture of a couple on your timeline and scroll faster.

A few minutes of peace pass before Peter broaches the subject again, "What about you?"

"Hm?"

"I don't think you've ever told me about your first kiss."

Your shoulders tense. No good effort hides the strain in your voice, "I haven't?"

A beat passes. You glance over your shoulder and see Peter staring right at you, his lips upturned in a small, resting smile, but his eyes are inquiring. He's trying to read you. Perhaps he's just noticed the heavy cloud hanging overhead. "Nope." He pops the "P". He's waiting.

You could lie. You could say it was Flash Thompson who stole it, mention that field trip to the zoo in middle school when he'd sneaked next to you at the peacock exhibit and pestered you about you and Peter. Peter wouldn't question Flash about it. Even if they'd made amends, any conversation about him would send him over the edge with memories of his childhood bully and how much he pitied you for having your first kiss with him. And all of you were far too old now; Flash Thompson had gone to another state to play football the minute he got his diploma. It'd be so inconsequential, such an easy lie.

But the longer it takes you to deliberate on it, the worse it makes you look. You should've offered up an answer easily, jovially, unbothered. It should be inconsequential. Anything more and Peter would call your bluff because he knew you better than you knew yourself sometimes.

At some point, you feel the brush of a lone finger at the base of your spine and it startles you. Peter's slipped his finger under your shirt, stroking along the middle of your back, "I won't laugh. If that's what you're thinking." He says softly.

Of course Peter wouldn't laugh at you. As much as your relationship was teasing, he knew where you were tender.

But it wasn't laughing you worried about.

"I know." You say, in lieu of a real answer. You fear you've given yourself away.

Now there are two fingers stroking your skin, "You don't... you don't have to tell me, if you don't want to," but you can hear the discomfort in his voice when he says it, like the thought that it's something you don't want to tell him concerns him, "it's up to you."

Just lie. Your breath shudders and immediately you regret it. There's no way he hadn't heard that.

Before you can recover, you're feeling the heat of his entire hand on your back now as it slips further up, as he sits up in bed beside you and rests his chin on your shoulder. The closeness of his breath makes you feel claustrophobic all of a sudden, "Hey, hey. I'm sorry. Did I push? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

You struggle to shake your head, but now your eyes are burning again and you don't think you can stop the tears this time, "You didn't." You insist.

"You're crying, bub," he laughs (not mockingly, never mockingly, never when you cry) and reaches a thumb up to brush away the first warm tear, "what's wrong?"

There's a million things you could say. I've never been kissed before, I don't know what it feels like to be longed for like that, I want to be longed for like that, why haven't I been longed for like that? But it all feels so heavy. Peter picks his chin up to kiss your shoulder and that really does it, "It never happened."

Peter's lips still against your skin. Their warmth slowly peels away, though you feel his breath ghost over the curve of your bone, "What hasn't?"

"A kiss. A first kiss, Peter. I've never had one."

"That's..." Peter sounds almost shocked, disbelieving. He never picks up that thought.

You turn your head away and toss your phone onto the bed, no longer interested in pretending you could distract yourself with anything else. You try to shrug your shoulder out from underneath Peter's mouth but he's quick, the hand at your back locking around you and you can't escape him even though you want to, even though you need to get away from his sweet smile and lovely heartbeat that thuds a little faster against your side.

It was already so much to tell him you hadn't had your first kiss yet, to admit to your best friend who—despite popular Midtown High opinion—has always been so irresistible to lovers, that you haven't gone as far as something so... simple. Something teenagers running your old stomping grounds have probably experienced ten times over by now. You don't think you can handle his pity too, "Peter, please."

"There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. Everyone moves at their own pace."

You hiss through your teeth. You don't mean to, but the spite overwhelms you like red hot heat for a minute, "It's easy to say that when you've done it already."

You catch Peter's eye and immediately regret it. His untamed brows are drawn together, expression more analyzing than pitying. Even though you're brimming with feelings, he seems as if he's trying to wade through them, search for the gnarled root at the center of it all.

Then, and he says this so carefully that the meaning takes a moment to catch up with you, "There's nothing wrong with you."

It's the sincerity that does it. You shove his hand off of you, jerk away from him in a scramble to stand, but Peter is fast and lithe and he's always been two steps ahead of you even before the bite. He's up on his feet before even you are, coming to stand in your way when you go to grab for your bag, "Peter, move."

"Look, can we... can we talk about this?"

"I really don't want to. Move."

"Why are you shutting me out?"

"Because I want to go home. Move."

"Is it because of what I said?"

"Yes!" You blurt, growing frustrated the longer he blocks your path, "yes. Because I'm sick of being told there's nothing wrong with me when clearly..." Your voice tapers off, afraid to give him the reason he needs to worry about you, "Please. I'm just tired. It'll go away on its own, it always does, I just can't be here right now."

The standoff between you two lingers, feels like you might have to fight him just to escape. It takes everything in you just to keep eye contact with him and not burst into tears.

Peter clearly doesn't want to let you go. You can see that genius brain of his running every possible scenario in his mind in which he convinces you to stay, cry it out, leave happier than you came. None of them come soon enough. You brush past him when he realizes he's got nothing, and even the hand that grabs for you is halfhearted, shrugged off with little force.

"I'll see you later, Pete."

You let his front door shut on its own.

It hasn't been great.

What typically took a few hours to shake off had settled over you like a dark cloud ever since you'd stormed out of Peter's place. Even though you texted him like everything was fine (and dodged any phone calls so he wouldn't hear the truth with those freakishly good best friend senses of his), you had yet to see him again. Had yet to let yourself be seen.

You told yourself that it was just you missing Peter, and you believed that to be true, but you also believed that when he looked you in the eye and told you "there's nothing wrong with you", you hadn't been prepared for the nakedness of it all. He'd dug deep, right to the source. That kind of thing was hard to move past.

So you avoided him. If he came by your place, you pretended you weren't home. If he showed up at your work to take you to coffee, you lied and told him you had plans with a coworker. It had been several days now and you felt more and more cowardly by the minute.

It was Peter. Of all people, it was Peter. Your best friend. You could tell him anything (most things, some kept a little closer to the heart). You should be able to.

And it was silly. Being embarrassed about not kissing anyone. Plenty of people were in the same boat as you and they didn't ice their best friend out about it.

Ugh, now you were just making yourself feel worse.

You'd had enough. You'd end this pity party today. As you make your way through your apartment door, you promise yourself that after you've showered, after you've made yourself a filling dinner, after you've settled into bed, you'd call Peter and ask him to meet for pizza this weekend. You'd talk like civil adults who understand that life isn't a race. You'd share your couch, laugh about the whole thing, and maybe, just maybe, the hollowness in your chest that longed for someone's desire to fill it would finally-

He's sitting in your kitchen.

Legs dangling off the island, mask rolled up to his nose, and a spoon clattering out of his mouth and into a bowl of ice cream. Your front door shuts gently behind you.

You stare at each other for a few seconds. Then you glance through your bedroom door, cracked open just enough for you to see the breeze rustling your curtains. You turn back to Peter, who's cleaning off his bottom lip of raspberry sorbet. "Did you climb through the window? You have a key."

Peter sets the bowl down beside him, shrugs, "You weren't returning my calls."

Your shoulders sag and you drop your things to the floor, "Peter-"

"No, no," you watch him slide off the countertop and bounce over to you, and the nearness you aren't prepared for makes you back away an inch or two, "No Peter. I'm not Peter. I'm Spider-Man. See?" He gestures to the suit.

You reach your hand up and pinch his exposed cheek, then narrowly avoid his teeth before he tries to nip you, "I'm not in the mood. I said I'd call you later, I'm just... busy."

"Busy avoiding your best friend."

You can feel him trail after you as you walk away, beginning to undress. He catches your coat when you throw it toward the couch and hangs it up all neat on a hook. He kicks your shoes to a wall and tugs your belt from your fingertips once you've undone it. Then, unexpectedly, he hooks said belt around your waist and yanks you back to face him.

The momentum throws you fully into his chest but he's sturdy, unmoving as you grip his shoulders and give him the most hostile look you can muster. You attempt to wiggle out of the trap but he pulls the belt tighter, forcing you closer, and then you start to panic as the space between you both disappears, "I haven't been avoiding you, I just needed space." You quickly explain.

"And I get that," he admits, "but you scared me. I've never seen you like that before. Not with me. Not ever."

Of course he hadn't. It was why you kept all of this a secret in the first place. Because you knew he'd worry, and you knew that there would be nothing he could do to fix it. Not like he usually could.

"It was a... brief lapse in self-esteem. That's all. You're making it into a bigger deal than it should be."

"It's not a big deal?"

"No! That's what I keep trying to tell you."

"So it doesn't matter at all."

"Correct."

"Right."

"It's just an arbitrary milestone that means nothing." You grip the leather of your belt but you're nothing against his superhuman strength. Pleading with your eyes, you do your best not to slip back into that vulnerable place all over again. Peter made you feel safe to do that. Way too safe to do that. "I promise. I'm not avoiding you."

You get sick of staring into the whites of his mask and so you grab the edge of it and pull it up to his hairline, little tufts of curls poking out as his face is fully revealed to you. You stare into those sharp, probing eyes of his, forcing yourself to stand the test of Peter Parker's perception.

Suddenly, you're released.

You stumble back a bit, the belt clanking against the floor, as Peter throws his arms up in defeat, "Alright, alright. I get it. I should've let you breathe the other night. I was just worried, is all."

You smile, "And I appreciate that."

Peter quickly glances at you and then away, making an exaggerated show of kicking imaginary dust off the floor. "First kisses really mean nothing then, huh?"

"Zilch. Nada."

"So... doesn't matter when it is, who it is..."

You watch him carefully, "If this is about when we were six-"

"No, no, I know that didn't count. You don't even remember it," his face contorts in a wince, "I was just thinking. Something."

Your eyes narrow, "Uh-huh."

"Well, I mean, is that why? Because you don't remember it? Or... is it because it was me?"

"The kiss?" Peter blows a raspberry, looking more bashful by the second, and nods without looking at you. "It's... it's because we were six. And we didn't know what we were doing. I was just mimicking what we saw. We didn't know anything."

"And now we do."

"Yeah. What are you getting at, Pete?"

He sits on the back of your couch and kicks his feet out in front of him. "If all that matters is that we both know what we're doing, and a first kiss is just a meaningless milestone to you, then I thought that maybe we could give it another go. You know. So when a real kiss comes along that actually means something, you'll have an idea of how it's supposed to go."

You're six years old again.

You and Peter Parker are sitting in the dirt, mouths covered in sticky ice cream that the summer sun melted right up. You're both talking about Flash Thompson's trip to Florida and the hilarious sunburn he came back with when you spot an elderly couple across the park, pressing their mouths together over and over.

You're looking over at Peter and asking about it, sure it couldn't possibly feel good, and he's telling you that when Uncle Ben kisses May good morning in the kitchen he always looks away because it's gross.

And you're thinking... you start thinking something.

You're thinking it would be funny—that Peter would hate you for it, but you're just so curious—and you're pressing your lips to his so quickly that he doesn't get a chance to pull back before you're giggling in the grass. And May's voice flutters in the background, a shrill and delighted, "I caught that!" that makes you both turn tail and run toward the swings.

Peter's still staring at you, waiting.

Part of you feels like it's pity. Like he doesn't want you to feel bad about yourself. Like he doesn't know how else to fix it, because he has to fix it. He has to fix everything. He has to be your hero.

But the other part? A restless and selfish part wants to take it; it's curious.

You take a step forward, the two of you watching each other, waiting to see if the other might back out at the last second. He stays exactly where he is, legs parting slowly, and the silent invitation makes you feel hot under the collar.

When you're standing between them, you feel his knees bump your legs on either side, his hands planted firmly into the couch cushions. You notice the grip he has on them, "Are you sure?" You pause.

Peter tilts his head in that strange, spider-like way. As if he cannot fathom why would you ask such a thing, "Of course. I'm the one who offered."

Your hands shake as they consider where to put themselves, and you get about halfway to his shoulders before he takes them and places them on either side of his face, mumbling something about how it might help you feel more in control, quell your nerves a bit.

Peter's cheeks feel so warm in your hands, and you can feel each swallow he makes the longer you take in his expression. "Should... I move in first? Or..."

He laughs, short and high-pitched, "I guess I can go first."

You know you're supposed to close your eyes, but as he comes in close, you can't help but keep them lidded, taking in every twitch of his mouth as he inclines his neck, shuts his eyes, and kisses you.

Your brain reacts a half-second after his lips touch yours. You've probably stopped breathing, and you have to force your lips to unstiffen so that you could actually feel him. His lips are a little wet—he'd been rolling his bottom lip between his teeth since he'd sat down—and they taste faintly of raspberry. They're not cold though, and the feeling isn't unpleasant.

You don't know how to react to it, don't know if you should move or not, and so instead you curl your fingers into the silk of his nape and wait for the pounding in your chest to stop.

You feel him mouth at your bottom lip just once, and then pull back. "How'd that feel?"

You recall the sensations that went through your brain (all that it can recall anyway, when Peter's looking at you like that), "Slimy...?"

Peter's face falls, and then he bursts into laughter, shakes with the force of it, and drops his head on your shoulder. "There's got to be a better word than that."

"I don't know! I was just thinking about the feeling."

"I don't want to know what it felt like, I want to know how it made you feel. Did you like it? Hate it?"

"I don't know. I'm- I'm nervous."

"Hey, that's okay," his hand rubs your hip, warming the skin there, and you find yourself leaning into it for comfort, "everyone is their first time."

Peter is so, so gentle. Your heart feels like it might give out, but a little less now that it's over and he's not looking at you in disgust. You don't know what you expected, but... this was better. By far. That part of you that felt selfish takes over again, "Can we try again?"

His eyes widen a bit, but he's immediately nodding, "Okay. Yeah. Okay. We can try as- as many times as you want."

You nearly choke on your spit. "Can we?" Your voice comes out a meek whisper.

Peter nods. He brings his legs in so that he's sitting properly now. "Of course. You wanna move me? I can sit somewhere else. Or you can sit if you want."

"No, I like you here," you say, feeling your stomach tighten when his thighs lock against your legs, "um. Is there anything I can work on? How did I feel?"

"Warm. Soft. Just try to loosen up, alright?"

You force yourself to release the tension in your body and move in first this time. Images of rom-com kisses flood your brain, how you memorized their rhythms and the placement of their mouths. You try your best to mimic it, make it feel as good as it seemed to look, when you feel one of Peter's hands slip behind your head and angle you away just a hair, "You're tensing up," he warns, making you pause, "it doesn't have to be perfect. It's just you and me. Breathe for me, okay? Turn your brain off."

You feel your stomach flip a bit, and nod along mindlessly. You try again.

This time, it feels a little different. Not wet or stiff, even if it is still awkward. It almost overwhelms you when, as you're mouthing at Peter's lip, he returns the favor, but you keep your brain empty. You can't focus on the details because it won't feel right. You can't focus on the way it looks because it won't feel right.

So you focus on Peter. You focus on the hand on your hip drawing you closer and the hand on your neck rubbing circles into the knot there. You focus on the feeling of his suit under your pinkies. You focus on the small hum he makes when, with quite a bit of building up to it, you pass your tongue over his.

Almost as soon as you do it, you pull back. Peter is flushed and it makes the beauty marks on his skin stand out more. His eyelashes flutter, a half-smile on his lips that are kissed red. By you.

You open your mouth to ask but he beats you to it, "I think you've got it now... yeah. Definitely." You're so relieved you sigh, sagging away from him, but he catches your hands before they can can leave his face completely and holds them in his lap. You don't dare move them. "How about you? Did you like it?"

You nod, speechless.

Peter laughs and squeezes your hands in his, "Okay, good. Good. I love you, you know? I know it doesn't... replace what you're looking for, but you're wonderful. You're insane and funny and stunning and there's nothing wrong... you know? You're perfect. Take it from your loser best friend who had to get bit by a radioactive spider to get to first base."

You snort, "I mean, if that's all it takes..."

Peter shakes his head and stands, but his hand remains on your neck as you follow his eyes to his full height, "So, we good? No more ignoring me?" You bite your lip, nodding your head. Peter smiles. "Good, cause I'm starving and I need you to split a pizza with me."

"You just polished off a tub of ice cream and you're still hungry?"

"I'm a growing spider, honey. And I missed you." Without warning, the hand on your hip hooks around your back and hoists you into his body, throwing you off balance once more, "I'll swing us there and cover cheese sticks too. Sound good?"

You know you don't have much room to argue when he's being so generous. And not when he's beaming at you, so genuinely relieved to have you back that it would knock you off your feet if he wasn't holding you up.

He was right; this wouldn't replace what you were looking for, but it gets pretty damn close. Closer than you expected, actually. But it's just the adrenaline. This didn't change anything.

Did it? You stare up at Peter.

"We can try as many times as you want."

You might have a very different problem than you started with.

taglist: @yikes-buddy @alexxavicry @theclassicvinyldragon @marina-and-the-memes

[heavenlyhischier]

𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐚

word count: 3.1k

summary: The cowboy rule: You take the man’s cowboy hat and wear it, that means you gotta ride the cowboy. What happens if you don’t take Marks hat?

warnings: dumb mark (in a loving way), slight angst, drinking, swearing, make out scene at the end

note: i am incapable of writing a story without angst im sorry ahahaha. the cowboy rule is basically a secondary plot device but it’s fine. it’s also kinda sloppy because i’m sick and dying 🤣

College started off normal for you. You moved into the world's smallest dorm, a thought that passed through most freshmen's heads when they came face-to-face with their shared space. You met your roommate, dreading the possibility that she was going to be the most vile girl you had ever met, but she turned out to be one of the best people you knew. You become overwhelmed with your workload and wanted to die. Most importantly, you met a guy.

Mark Estapa was a boy you had met in your calculus II class after he had not so quietly asked you for the answers to the previous lectures homework. You had noticed him before that day, of course. It was impossible not to. He was, after all, the cutest boy you had seen on campus. Following that day, you had agreed to help him in class, and he convinced you to join his hockey team’s media crew. It wasn’t long after that you entered an intricate and complicated relationship with the hockey forward.

It started off as harmless flirting, teasing remarks, and longing stares. Then it turned into blatant flirting, sexual innuendos, and subtle, lingering touches. Before you knew it, the two of you found yourselves in an empty bathroom at some random party with his lips exploring parts of you that no one else had before. You’d expected to walk out of that bathroom and pretend it never happened, but then it happened again. And again. And again. Now, halfway through sophomore year, you were still entangled in the messy, sticky web that was your relationship with Mark.

“You coming,” Ethan’s voice rippled through your thoughts, his brow quirked in curiosity as he watched you bring yourself back to reality.

“To what,” You slightly pinched your brows together, dropping the hand that was previously picking at your lip.

“Party. The theme is like “this ain’t my first rodeo” or some shit like that, so we’re dressing up all country,” His voice was full of amusement, and a lot of excitement, “I hope there’s a mechanical bull.”

You sent Mark a sideways glance, who only gave a shrug in response. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, annoyed at his change of behavior over the last few days. He’d been acting distant, which typically wouldn’t bother you, but it came seemingly out of nowhere. You tried to not let it upset you, but it did. It upset you far more than you wanted to admit.

“I guess,” You mumbled, your eyes trained on your hands that were clasped in your lap.

Ethan glanced between you and Mark, letting out a quiet sigh at how stupid the both of you were. He’s known about you and Mark since the day it started, and he’s also known that it was more than the two of you let on. He could tell that Mark liked you by the way he was constantly looking at you when you were around, and the way he was always bringing you into the conversation when you weren’t. He also noticed the way you would linger on Mark with the media camera, and the way your face flushed when he would toss you a playful wink.

He’s not entirely sure what had his best friend pulling away from the girl he’s loved for the last year, but he was determined to not let him screw it up more than he already was. How? Ethan wasn’t sure, but he’s hopeful he’ll be able to come up with something by the time the party starts.

“Now ladies,” Dylan nodded his head towards you and the other girls, “Do not forget about the cowboy rule. What is the cowboy rule you might ask? If you take the cowboy hat and put it on your head, you ride the cowboy.”

“Yeehaw,” Luke let out, a cheeky smile forming on his face as everyone in the living room of soph house erupted into laughter at his dumb joke.

You had gone back to your shared apartment with your roommate a few hours later, barely speaking to Mark during that time period. You’d tried to talk to him after the group branched off into their own conversations, but he mumbled something incoherent and went up to his room. If it were a typical day, you’d have followed him up there, but it wasn’t, so you didn’t. Instead, you fell into conversation with Luke and Dylan as they discussed their cowboy outfit.

“He still being an ass,” Jillian asked as she peeked her head out of the shower, watching as you did your hair.

“That’s the thing,” You lowly chuckled, dropping the strand in between your fingers to look at her, “He isn’t even being an ass. He’s being distant. Which is worse, I think.”

She let out a quiet hum, head going back under the water as she spoke, “I think he’s being an ass regardless. I mean, he treats you like his girlfriend all the time, and now he’s just ghosting? That’s an ass.”

“Yeah, I guess,” You mumbled, eyes and shoulders dropping in defeat.

“No ma’am,” She slightly shouted, “No sadness! You heard Duker about the cowboy rule or whatever. Well, you’re gonna steal someone's hat tonight.”

When you and Jill arrived at the party, the house was already buzzing with life and music. People had their own version of rodeo attire on as some slammed back bottles and cups alike, and others did their best attempt to line dance at whatever song was playing over the speakers. You were holding tightly onto Jill’s hand as she weaved through the sea of people, making a line straight for the kitchen to get a drink.

When you finally managed to break through the wall of bodies, you found yourself in the kitchen with a few of the boys from the team. They were huddled in a corner talking amongst themselves when they noticed the two of you, and it wasn’t long before a pair of arms were wrapped around you. Though they didn't belong to who you wanted them to.

“Ethan, put me down,” You giggled as he twirled you around, his hat nearly falling off his head in the process, “You’re making me dizzy and I’m not even drunk yet.”

Once your feet are planted comfortably on the ground, you couldn’t help but search for Mark within the group of hockey players. His dark eyes were on you the second you walked through the doorway, so it wasn’t hard to find him. His jaw was set and eyes narrowed as he watched his best friend’s hand linger on your lower back.

His gaze flicked up to meet your own, and his features softened as soon as he saw the way your brows were furrowed and eyes wide in confusion. Truthfully, he wanted to walk over and gently yank you into his side and away from Ethan; silently claiming you as his, but he couldn’t. He was trying to push back the feelings that have been growing inside of him for a year, not make them worse.

You held Mark’s stare for a few seconds before he was glancing away and a frown was slowly carving its way onto your face. Jill was quick to shove a drink in your hand when she noticed the sad look making its appearance. She not so subtly tossed a wicked glare in Mark’s direction before tugging you away from the kitchen.

No matter how hard you tried to enjoy yourself, all you could think of was the one boy who wouldn’t talk to you. You were trying to figure out what you had done, where things went wrong. Jill had tried to keep you present in conversations and various activities, but you always found your mind floating off to Mark.

It wasn’t until you were outside on the deck with a group of people that you actually saw Mark again. He was off to the side talking with a few of his teammates, and a few random girls. You couldn’t help but let the jealousy burn in your chest as you watched them with baited breath. From where you were, he appeared to be laughing and enjoying himself while one of the girls gripped his bicep.

Jill’s gentle voice echoed in your head as she called out your name, but you were focused in on the sight in front of you.

Her face contorted as she watched you let your thoughts and jealousy consume you, but she knew her efforts were going to do nothing but harm until you tore your attention away from Mark. She’s known you long enough to know that when you’re even slightly tipsy, trying to make you do something you didn’t want to do was only going to make things worse, so she waited.

Time began to still as you watched the blonde’s hand slowly creep up his arm. You knew what she was going to do and, with Dylan’s words from earlier ringing in your ears, you wanted him to tell her to stop. To carefully push her away and tell her no. Her manicured fingers grasped the brim of the hat, hastily pulling off of his head and placing it on her own.

“Shit,” You heard Jill mutter as you tossed the rest of your cup's contents into your mouth.

The alcohol burned your throat, but it didn’t matter to you as you turned on your heels and scanned the pool of guys around you. If Mark was going to play that game, so were you, and you loved winning. Your eyes lasered in on the school's star quarterback, who you’d only talked to a handful of times before, and before you realized what you were doing, you were rushing towards him.

“Hey JJ,” You cut in through a break in the conversation he was having, voice sticky with honey.

“Hey,” He cheerfully greeted, eyes briefly darting down to your blatantly exposed cleavage, “What’s up? You enjoying the party?”

“Yeah, I am now that you’re here,” You playfully flirted, twirling the ends of your hair as you looked up at him.

He let out a loud laugh, but he grabbed your waist and pulled you into his side as the two of you fell into a flirty, surface level conversation. You secretly hoped that, despite the girl who was desperately seeking Mark’s attention, he was watching you. You hoped that he was watching you and was feeling the same thing you were feeling only moments prior.

“You know, I always thought you and Estapa had a thing,” JJ pointed out, eyes flitting to where Mark was watching the two of you.

The mention of him had your lips turning downwards as you asked, “Why?”

“Well, because the two of you are always together, and he’s looking at me like he wants to fuckin’ kill me,” JJ chuckled, shaking his head in amusement, “But if you’re not together…”

You could sense the shift in his tone, and it had you glancing up at him with a knowing look. You’re not sure if it’s the alcohol in your system, the fact that you were upset with Mark, or a combination of both, but you found yourself reaching for the hat that sat on JJ McCarthy’s head. However, your hand was roughly yanked backwards and his body was shoved away from you before you got the chance.

Your vision blurred from the sudden movement, the thoughts in your head dizzying as they tried to find solid ground again. You heard jumbled yells around you, a familiar hand wrapped around your wrist as it was slightly jerked around from movement. Your vision cleared, and your stare finally settled on Mark’s back.

“Look dude,” JJ held his hands up in mock surrender, “She said you guys weren't dating. My bad.”

Ethan stood between the two boys, palm firmly against Mark’s heaving chest as worry was written all over his face. He could barely see you hidden behind Mark’s much taller figure, but Ethan could feel your anger radiating off of you, and he didn’t blame you. However, a very tiny part of him is glad that Mark’s anger wasn’t directed at him, and that he didn’t have to utilize the dumb plan he’d figured out moments before the party.

“We’re not,” You snapped, roughly pulling your wrist out of his grasp as you glared daggers into the back of his head.

Mark’s body tensed as your words floated into his ears, his already racing heart increasing tenfold when he picked up on the venom that was laced in them. He knew you had a right to be mad, and that, truly, he didn’t. He was the one that was pulling away from you, but he thought it was the right thing. He thought it was, until he saw you in the arms of JJ McCarthy.

“Ba-,” Mark tried, hand reaching out for you, but you cut him off.

“Stop it, Mark. Don’t call me that,” You spat, tears brimming your eyes as you stepped away from him, “God, I hate you so much.”

Not sparing a glance at the circle of athletes around you, you spun on your heels and ran into the house. You dodged bodies as you darted towards the upstairs part of the house in search of an empty room, blatantly unaware that Mark was following closely behind you. You considered yourself lucky when the first door you tried turned to be an empty bathroom, but the luck was short lived when you heard an achingly familiar voice calling your name.

“Go away, Mark,” You called out, trying to overpower his strength and shut the door, but of course, he won that battle and was slipping in through the small opening.

“You don’t mean that,” His words were rushed and broken as he looked down at you, and it was as if all your anger had dissipated with that one look.

A part of you hated just his easily you fell into his hands, but the look of pure heartbreak that was slapped against his soft features was enough for you. It was enough to leave your own heart aching even more than it already was. It was enough to make you unofficially his again, even if he didn’t ask you to be.

“Mean what,” You asked.

“That you hate me,” He whispered, “You don’t mean that, right? Tell me you don’t mean that. Please, baby.”

Mark’s eyes were full of desperation and longing as he begged you to take back what you had said. To tell him that you could never hate him. To tell him that you loved him instead.

“Mark,” You breathed out, shaking your head as tears spilled down your cheeks, “Of course I don’t hate you, but I do think you’re being unfair. You get to let some blonde bitch take your hat, but the second I try a-.”

“I didn’t let her,” He interrupted, grabbing your hands with his own, “She did take it, yeah, but I immediately took it back. The only person I want taking my hat is you. It’s always been you and it will forever be you.”

Your pupils were blown wide as you took in his words, letting them settle as your internal thoughts battled each other. Trying to decipher if he was telling the truth, or if he was just saying it because he knew it would get you to crawl back to him, even though he was the one that pulled away from you.

Marks heart raced as you stared at him in silence, and he could tell that you didn’t believe him by the way your brows were furrowing every few seconds. It was a habit he’d noticed when he first saw you in calculus last year. He would watch you doing the school work, and he could always tell when you were torn between an answer by the way you pulled your eyebrows together and scrunched your nose.

“I know I’ve been an ass,” He continued, “I’ve been pulling away from you without an explanation, and I’m sorry. I just- Fuck, baby, I’m scared. The way I feel about you scares me, and I didn’t know what to do so I just did what I do best and fuck it up.”

“How do you feel,” You finally got out, heart in your throat as nerves pricked at your skin, “About me.”

“There are not enough words in any language to describe how I feel about you,” He stepped towards you, his hands dropping yours to cup your cheeks and brush away the tears with his thumbs, “But, I do love you. I love the way that you always go out of your way to help people, even if you don’t know them. I love the way your face lights up when you see any animal anywhere. I love the way that you laugh at your own jokes, even when they’re not funny. I love you in a way that makes me feel like without you, life has no purpose because you are my purpose.”

The tears that rolled down your cheeks in waves were no longer tears of pain, but tears of the utmost happiness you have ever felt before. You’ve wanted to hear Mark say that he loved you back for so long, that finally hearing it almost felt unreal. If he weren’t standing right in front of you, with his hands on your face, you wouldn’t believe that it was real.

You said nothing, choosing to crash your lips against his own in reponse. His reaction was instaneous, his mouth working with your own as one of his hands slipped the base of your neck, tilting it so that he could slip his tongue into your mouth. He backed you against the bathroom counter, lifting you onto it with ease and without breaking contact.

You were grasping at him, pulling him into you as his lips molded with your own. It was sloppy and rushed, but it was perfect. With Mark, there were no slow, sensual make out sessions. They were always messy, hungry and desperately full of passion, but that was one of the things you liked about him. Every time you kissed, it was like it was the first time all over again.

Mark pulled away from you, lips swollen and bright red as his chest heaved. You didn’t even need to look in the mirror to know that you were sporting a similar look. You watched as he readjusted the brand new cowboy hat that had gotten bumped around during your kiss, and you quickly grabbed hold of it and placed it on your own head.

“You heard what Duker said earlier,” You teased, staring up at him through your thick lashes, “Take the hat, ride the cowboy right?”

[k-s-morgan]

TGSTLTH related

Ok so I decided to do it here cuz I don't know will AO3 allow me to write essay hahahahah 😂😂😂

I don't even know how to start this. I've been reading fics for 13 years straight, like I don't remember the period of my life where I didn't read them cuz I always have some ship active and I'm crazy BL fan. Only a small number of them can make me crazy to the point I don't wanna sleep, eat, skipping my obligations, killing the pain and your sebaciel did everything. I haven't felt like this reading fic..,maybe ever? This is totally another level of me being fascinated by some writer.

I adore sebaciel, I'm in fandom since 2016 but the biggest problem I had with their fics is that - either people go too much OOC with them orr they rush up the things between them, going quickly with sex and feelings. It bothered me so much so I was crawling for good SC fics as crazy!!

After some break with SC, I came back to ao3 and saw your long fic. I started reading it but I dropped it after 3 chapters, I got bored cuz I thought you are gonna just re-type manga and do classic thing which another people do. Quickly, I got disappointed with another one and idk how but I decided to give your fic one more chance and dear lord......that was one of the best thing I have ever read. Maybe even the best.

Like, how smart are you? What's your IQ? Your manage to explain me some things about Kuro plot which I haven't udnerstand by myself. And the way you write Sebaciel relationship. That's everything I have ever wanted. Everything. They have normal conversation and that's it, that's all I need cuz there is everything. I feel electric every time when they talk, fight, do things together, goood the little touches svbjhsdjvbvbvbvbvbsdjvhbdf. I was tense whole fic. I read it for like 10 days, abandon everything until I finished it and now I feel sad ahahhaahha. But you are really something special, cuz I always used to say that manga itself is the best fiction cuz Yana knows the best how to create good Sebaciel energy. You, next to Yana, did the best job. You kept them as they are, never broke the character, and that's what I am most grateful. Slow burn, with drama and angst, love and attention, all misunderstanding, you put all necessary spices for 5 star meal. My fav part is when Ciel told Sebastian to add slamming doors to his most dramatic moments of his life ahahahahahahhaha 😂😂 I laughed like crazy, they are so precious♥ And I really wanted kiss to happen when Ciel lied Sebastian about another demon, that was sooo svbjhsvjhjhvbdf. But okay, you know the best, I trust you fully with this♥

The fact that they are ready to kill each other before they have normal conversation about their feeling is my fetish. I am in love with toxic things. Ciel ready to throw all game just to prove Sebastian that his value is not only his soul, right after he told himself for 1000 times he needs to stay on distance..... I LOVE ITTTT!!! I also need to say that you find PERFECT balance for good plot and romance. Your games and their cases...I just don't know, deep bow for you queen🔥💯After all, you didn't retype drama ahahaha but you manage to keep it canon without changing anything but still adding your spices so it's not ordinary Kuro plot we see every day....

I just have one question. From time to time, I was like a Bard ahahhaha, so sick of their games and my head hurting me, but on a good way. I am clear about Ciel but what about Sebastian and his disgust for Ciel's nicer, soft, emotional side? I know Ciel doesn't have it a lot, but would Sebastian still be grossed out about it as he was at the beginning of a contract or not? Keeping in mind that he is more and more obsessed with a boy?

So, that's all. I don't know how to use Patreon/PayPal, but for you I'll try cuz I only have credit card and that's all I know ahhahaha, I like to keep money in my hands😂 I'm sad about the situation in your country and all under - war countries. It's not bringing any good for anyone, specially for civilians. I hope you are okay and I wish you alll the best, the good karma must hit you really quickly cuz you made one person really, really happy here♥

Looking forward how will you finish this story, have a nice day❤

PS - this is the longest comment for fic I have ever left ahhaha, it's crazy how you got me sooo hyped up bjcvsdghvbds.

Hi! Ooh, thank you so much for your amazing, wonderful essay! I can't tell you how happy it made me! I think the electricity was already started being cut off when I got it, so I could see I have some really lengthy ask, but it wouldn't load. It was the torture of the most delicious kind :D

Like you, I've been reading fics for ages now, and the moments where I find some fantastic story that won't let me sleep or work or even blink are always the happiest and the brightest spots I remember. So it's extremely flattering to know that my story has become something similar to other people.

I love writing about smart characters, but most of them are definitely smarter than me! The benefit is that since I'm writing, I can think and plan everything in advance. In real life, I only wish I were as quick-witted and inventive. Alas, the best ideas and arguments come to me when they are no longer needed.

I love slow burns, and I love characters who abhor the idea of expressing their feelings, so Ciel and Sebastian have the most perfect dynamic in my eyes. I feel like I could spend the eternity just enjoying their Gothic world with their games, arguments, plots, and so on. Them antagonizing each other only to instantly team up against the common enemy is my most favorite thing in the world.

As for your question, right now, Sebastian would be thrilled if Ciel were to show a softer and more vulnerable side - at least in relation to him. Well, a part of him would feel the automatic need to mock him for it anyway, some habits don't die easily, but Sebastian's feelings have evolved a lot, plus Ciel is cold more often than he is not. So Sebastian treasures every word of praise, every hint of appreciation and need because they are so rare - he's come to crave them, and he has memorized all known cases of them by heart.

And no worries about supporting me! I really appreciate you taking your time to leave such a fantastic review, it made my day!

[somerandomdudelmao]

Okay. This is it. Theory time.

I'm going to write an essay on "how I love elaborate lore in Mystic Hands by @characcoon " It may or may not be a complete circus, but at least you'll have fun watching me getting it wrong eh?

Okay, first of all, let me put on my clown suit for this performance. Because, I'll be honest, I can only understand 70% of a complex text if I don't use a translator. And the translator also tends to change the meaning of the text.

I'm also writing this essay through a translator and just hoping for the best, so...ahahaha...yeah.

Chapters nine and ten of Mystic Hands gave me something to think about. Mostly because, all of a sudden, Bishop and his lab-military squad turned out to be more than background characters. And let me tell you, I grew up on the 2003 series. I may not remember all the nuances of the plot there very well, but I remember the asshole named Bishop perfectly~ But I'm not sure how similar 2003 Bishop and MH Bishop are, so I'm just...anxious in advance and start looking for things that would ring a bell.

From what I learned in chapters 9 and 10:

Bishop is an asshole.

He has his precious organization.

He also has access to empyrium and a recipe for crafting an incredibly toxic herbicide.

He also has a mustache. ( funny how this part puzzles me the most)

Michelangelo talks about him as a cruel and despicable scumbag who should have been rolled in asphalt at the first opportunity. He also calls Bishop a liar, so I guess in the future Bishop and the turtles have a... "adventure" haha... And of course we all know how fun stories with a cruel scientist and mutants can be. Yep.

This is where I start trying to put the puzzle together.

When Michelangelo sees the glowing blue stuff in the vials he reacts rather emotionally and says it could be a version of a anti-mutagen. He also says that it might help bring Raph back to normal when he asks Donnie to analyze the thing.

Donnie does the analysis.

The so-called "anti-mutagen" turns out to be an herbicide. Yes, very toxic and suspect and containing empyrium, but only herbicide.

In this moment. ONLY at that moment does Michelangelo realize that his information about the substance and its capabilities was wrong. And for SOME reason, it makes him absolutely furious.

And this is where the shit hits the fan.

Everything written above leads me to believe that the Turtles have already dealt with Bishop and his "anti-mutagen" in a bad timeline of the future. Whatever happened, Michelangelo came out of that adventure with the certainty that the blue stuff was a anti-mutagen. Which in itself is not suspicious, because even with his constant sleepovers in Donnie's lab, Michelangelo is still not that advanced a science dude. If he was young enough, Bishop could pour Sprite into a test tube, call it a anti-mutagen, and Michelangelo would buy it.

What a good thing they had Donnie for situations like that, I thought. And then I thought again. A little more anxious.

Did they?

Obviously, if Donnie had participated in the "adventure" with Bishop, he would not have allowed the turtles to call the strange liquid a retromutagen without analyzing it at least ten different ways. Even if Bishop hadn't given him a free sample, Donnie would have found a way to extract as much information as possible. Michelangelo was his lab partner. There was no way he would have missed something that important.

So...I guess at that point in the future, Donny wasn't there. Which leaves me with two possibilities. Either he was dead, or...he was taken out of the game for some reason.

The death option looks pretty straightforward. Donnie wasn't there to take control of the situation, so Bishop could probably afford a lot of free lying.

But I tend to think more about the second option.

Because Michelangelo, after getting into the past, intends to keep Donnie away from Bishop. This cannot be dictated by logic. Donnie, of all turtles, would be best able to consider if Bishop tries to pull something sneaky. Donnie has his technique, his knowledge, and his ability to hack any computer with just a dessert fork and rage. And yet Michelangelo takes Donnie with him into the tunnels. Because I'm sure he's guided not by logic but by fear.

Which leads me to the second option.

Donnie was not there at the time of the "adventure". Maybe physically he was alive, but he wasn't there at that moment of the future. Because Bishop did something to him.

That's why Donnie couldn't discover the lie about the anti-mutagen. And that's why Michelangelo wants to keep his younger version away from Bishop.

Now. This is where my knowledge of the 2003 series comes into the chat. More specifically, about one of my favorite stories from there - season 4 episodes 24 and 25 - "Good Genes."

( These are the episodes in which Donnie mutates, turning into a monster because he was previously stung by one of Bishop's mutants. Donnie's brothers spend a very "fun" amount of time trying to figure out how to cure him, but none of them are smart enough. So they are forced to make a deal with Bishop to reverse Donnie's mutation. Bishop was nice enough to actually do it and at the end of the story Donnie is fine again)

What if. Listen. WHAT IF something like this happened in a bad timeline.

Maybe Donnie was infected by Krang. Maybe he mutated for some other reason. Something happened to him. Something that caused the rest of the turtles to go to Bishop for help, because Donnie was usually the one who solved problems like this and Donnie wasn't there at the time.

This is where I pull out the "squeeze apple juice out of oranges" pokemon, because I'm starting to use information that isn't in the fanfic. We have the art, and the post.

And Donnie is not having a good time there. There's also the idea that the anti-mutagen in Mystic Hands doesn't work as neatly and conveniently as it did in 2003 and 2012. It doesn't turn a hypothetical mutant turtle back into a regular turtle.

The art quite clearly complements this thought.

At first I thought - hey, anti-mutagen works differently. I guess it's because it's supposed to reverse a secondary mutation or Crang infection?

Then I thought again. You know, more thoroughly. Bishop was lying.

There was no anti-mutagen, at least not in the sense that the turtles needed it. They only THOUGHT the thing existed because Bishop convinced them it did.

So. What are the chances that Donnie was infected with something the turtles couldn't handle on their own? So they had to enlist the help of Bishop. But unlike the man in 2003 this Bishop didn't do his part honestly and used some version of the toxic herbicide on Donnie?

What are the chances that at first the herbicide actually worked as a cure for Krang, because in this universe Krangs are apparently very evil vegetables? How long did it take for this substance to start killing Donnie himself? Because there's no way I'm going to believe that this caustic stuff is harmless to living creatures of any kind. Was the herbicide slow enough for the turtles to think the "anti-mutagen" was working and happily celebrate Donnie's healing? Maybe it took hours, maybe days, but my guess is that at some point the herbicide destroyed Donatello, giving enough time before that, however, for Michelangelo to remember that "blue stuff = cure for krangification."

That's why Michelangelo was so furious when he found out the blue stuff wasn't a retromutagen. He realized that Bishop had lied to him by calling this toxic crap a healing possibility. He realized that Donnie, his Donnie from the future, was not healed. He realized that Bishop probably didn't even try to heal him, taking advantage of the incompetence of the turtles.

_________

Either that or Bishop in the future just stole Donnie and experimented on him for fun and science or something. And I just wasted a lot of your and my time for nothing~

Everything I've written here could be complete nonsense haha. And I'm not even sure I used half the terms correctly, because translating things from English into my native language and then translating back is tedious. But I hope that at least this post will be fun to reread when the fanfic plot moves on and mysteries are solved lmao

[lizhly-writes]

hey guys do you wanna hear about my bad idea ahahaha i'm just joking i'm going to tell you whether you like it or not.

anyway! au where jiang fengmian brings back a starving orphan from the streets, and his name is yue qi.

(what happened to wei wuxian? don't worry about it it's fine) (idk maybe he doesn't exist? whatever)

yue qi is strong. yue qi is talented. yue qi tries harder than anyone. yue qi is perfect and you can't even really be irritated at him for it, because he's nice and polite and good-tempered and absolutely everything you could ask for in a da-shixiong.

jiang cheng feels so fucking bad about this. second best even in a whole new au, huh, a-cheng? but it's not your fault. even op protagonist bing-ge couldn't beat yue qi in a fair fight!

nobody knows this, though, so you're just going to have to suffer through the comparisons. it's your mom and your dad and all the little disciples thinking that yue qi is better than you. ooooh, that can't be good for that burgeoning inferiority complex your mom's instilled in you, huh?

but, you know. jiang cheng's going to be sect leader. he's going to need a strong sect. even if his mom fuckin bitches at him for not being as good as yue qi -- yue qingyuan -- then at least he's going to have a strong right hand, right?

HAHAHAHA.

so there are two routes we can go here. for the sake of my early morning ramblings, we're going to go for the more unrealistic one that requires me to jump through more hoops, because i think it's hilarious.

yue qingyuan starts getting more distant as he gets older. going on long nighthunts away from the lotus pier, you know. he stops leading the disciples in morning drills -- or, well, it's less that he stops, and more that he's not around to actually do that.

he's not around a lot.

snide, snide commentary about how yue qingyuan is going to run away to become a rogue cultivator, just like -- (but we don't talk about them). how yue qingyuan's not going to be da-shixiong for much longer. every time yue qingyuan returns to lotus pier, he seems to be more tired, more wound up, more stressed out --

and then everything stops. yue qingyuan comes back one day emotionally catatonic. he doesn't respond properly when people talk to him. unrelatedly (of course it's unrelated), there is some wailing and weeping in the night. some little shidi thinks that somehow a resentful ghost has made it into the pier and alerts da-shixiong about it in the morning.

thankfully, da-shixiong is back to normal in the morning. "i'll take a look," da-shixiong says, and then everybody forgets about it because da-shixiong is back and da-shixiong stops going on those long nighthunts away and everything is fiiiinnnne, don't worry. and if da-shixiong is a bit more brittle after that -- well, you're probably just imagining it.

jiang cheng worries about it. but yue qingyuan never says anything, because that's what yue qingyuan does. he never says annnnnnything to anyone.

of course, there's only so long you can argue with da-shixiong when the plot is coming up. gusu happens. the wens happen.

jiang cheng and yue qingyuan get sent to the wen evil summer camp, or whatever it's called. indoctrination, right?

lectures. drills. meaningless busy work for the sake of beating people down. obedience, and more obedience. there's a wen staring down every class, just waiting for them to slip up. there's one in particular that seems to have it out for yue qingyuan, sharp mouthed and pointy and HAHAHA OKAY, you've probably guessed who this is, haven't you? you're a genre-savvy audience, i bet!

ah, but i'll spell it out anyway, don't worry. for a-cheng, maybe, because jiang cheng can't guess, because yue qingyuan doesn't tell him anything. jiang cheng's out of the loop, on the outside, like he always is with yue qingyuan. don't worry, jiang cheng -- you're not special. he treats you like he treats everyone else.

but ah, that's the problem, isn't it?

jiang cheng stumbles over da-shixiong at night, past curfew, arguing with the wen. or, really, it's not arguing -- the wen is verbally eviscerating him, and yue qingyuan is just letting him. attacks on yue qingyuan's character and talent and everything, and about how yue qi's CLEARLY found a replacement (replacement? what does that mean?) and fine, you think you're so respectable now, of course only a high-bred sect heir is good for you (that jiang-gongzi, do you think he's a better version of me) (is this the version of me you've always wanted?) --

all yue qingyuan says is "i'm sorry, i'm sorry, i'm sorry--"

there's got to be one question on your mind, huh, a-cheng? yue qingyuan seems to know this wen. pretty well, it seems -- those insults aren't generic, this seems personal. why? how?

who the hell is wen qingqiu?

[the-ninja-legacy-whip]

Where do the ninja get their ninja suits from? Like Wu just pops out randomly doing book 2 with a parcel and be like "hey, here's ur suits!", but like who designed the, who manafactured them? Are they from the Order of the Ourobourus gang?

The Training gi, "GX gi", and "Zen GX" were designed and gifted by Mystake. This is why Lloyd's outfit is a little bigger than it should be, because she expected him to be larger for his age (a plot point to be deliberated during S2), plus why he even had a suit to begin with. This also includes Jesse's suit.

Elemental Robes are obtained via ~magic~ during The Temple of Life visit in S2 (which both Nya and Jesse are not present for)

The "Tech Armor" suits are designed by Cyrus Borg and given to all ninja from the start of S3, and maintained for the season.

The Tournament Robes are designed/given by Master Chen at the start of the Tournament to all current EMs, save for Nya and Zane.

The "Jungle Pursuit Robes" are also given by Chen to the remaining participants pre-Spellbound. Those who were in the noodle factory at the time or were part of Nya's squad receive these outfits from Skylor later in the season.

The "Deepsoul Armor" is again provided by Mystake, though its ability to "fend off ghosts" is not gained until somewhat later in the season. Finding/earning that protection is a plot point.

"Destiny's Legacy" Armor is also designed by Mystake, reflective of the Ninja mastering Airjitzu (save for Nya, who lacks the Airjitzu symbol on the back at first + Jesse/Skylor, who get a similar design but without the Guardian/Spinjitzu/Airjitzu aspects).

"Legacy Honor" Robes are going to be designed by Mystake specifically for Day of the Departed, as a special suit the team wears for the holiday.

Idk what I'mma do for S7 just yet but ideally the suits may come from Cyrus Borg again

The suits worn in S8 and get beaten to shreds in S9 are gifted to the group by the Order of the Ouroboros.

During the NRG Arc the "default" suits are going to be the Core Outfits, with the "new suits" just showing up as they do in the Wildbrain seasons normally...mostly.

Screwy stuff happens in the Finale Arc and it's way too far in the future to truly pinpoint how this comes together just yet ahahaha

[gradienta]

Interview with the Vampire - S2E4 [Part 1]

I never doubted you, Mr Molloy.

I love how different Louis and Armand's recollections of the events are. They were never on the same page, but, surprisingly, Louis was more on the same page with Lestat after the attempted murder. Lestat always knew for sure when his lover was unhappy.

Claudia always showed her attitude, and I guess that's why Louis was less likely to believe her that time. Maybe he blamed her for murdering Lestat (Dreamstat said, "Debatable," when Louis claimed he had it coming). Maybe he didn't want to jeopardise whatever was happening with Armand because he was almost happy and she'd ruin everything. I think Louis blamed her for his own guilt too.

Santiago wanted to antogonise Armand so hard he accidentally joined Claudia's side. Nice :) Was he wrong though? He was chaotic, but with principles. You've got to respect that.

Maybe Armand understood how unfair he was to everyone compared to Louis while Louis couldn't even say they were companions. They weren't on the same page.

I just... I don't get Armand.

The French menace is back! Love him. Does Dreamstat have to be so stunningly beautiful? Louis. Louis, you love him so much. You want him back, you want him to indulge your every whim and ask you to dance and be irritatingly bitchy and just there. You want him to never leave you.

Ahahaha, Dreamstat is such a clown. Unmatched.

While Louis was living in a drama full of remorse, Claudia was living in a thriller, Armand - tragic romance story, but Dreamstat? He was in a dark comedy.

Louis touched Armand with his foot and told him he loved him. What. What :D :D :D :D

(SAY NO, MON CHER) :D :D :D :D THIS IS AMAZING

Armand was not excited to learn that - to say the least.

Claudia and Louis weren't careful enough. Lestat hadn't been lying about European vampires being vicious.

Santiago, the cunt that you are :)

Soo... Is Armand breaking his own laws by being with Louis, and only Louis' affection is what's stopping him from killing Claudia and him? "Tender can turn to tinder" - IS THIS WHAT HAPPENED???

Santiago, the wonderful cunt that you are! Truly chaotic neutral.

Ahahah Claudia's woman is such a bitch, I love it for your both!

Santiago, stop being jealous. You'd slept with Armand, you had your share. Louis is absolutely attractive, stop lying.

SAM'S WORKING ON A NEW PLAY? THE TRIAL???

I hate it. Louis is finally happy, he's so excited to be part of the artistic community, and Armand is going to ruin every fucking thing.

"I couldn't prevent it" - asshole. He stopped the whole restaurant without blinking. Also, Santiago was pissed and plotting.

Armand was so fragile he couldn't prevent anything, sure sure sure of course of course.

But that French woman? Wow.

Lestat is still the only one Louis can trust. Dreamstat is there, supporting him, listening to him.

This. Show. Is. A. Comedy.

Sam was writing the play and Armand was having walks with Louis??? Lestat would never. Lestat started plotting to get them all away as soon as he sensed danger.

Is Madeleine sedusing Claudia with such stories? What a wicked woman :D

When your lover's in trial for murder - it's not a good situation to use your powers, is it?

Dreamstat is THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD I want Dreamlouis for real Lestat, please.

Uh-oh. Louis and Armand are going to destroy each other with the information they have.

He doesn't want to be the coven leader?

Louis is asking himself if he's the sum of all his mistakes, and Armand's asking if he's the memories and the job. What about seeking a therapist's help?

Her hand in marriage, please. I'll fight Claudia for it and I'll lose.

When exactly did Armand decide to get rid of Claudia and Louis? After Santiago overheard him? Before? WHEN???

If Dreamstat is Louis being honest using his lover's voice, Louis regrets Claudia and thinks Armand's a gremlin. He's right.

Amazing. You're making the worst mistake of your life after making Claudia, Louis. Is Claudia doing it again, trying to break him up with his lover? Yes. Does she have a reason? Absolutely. Is her approach ruining his life again? Yep.

He's doubting - he's good with fire when he's angry. Shame his doubt won't lead anywhere. He's actively silencing every voice of reason.

He seeks comfort from the man he tried to kill - poetic cinema.

Does Louis choose Armand on that day because he keeps regretting not choosing Lestat? He probably doesn't want to feel lonely because of Claudia again.

He chose Armand, and the coven chose to end him.

[ga-yuu]

[Gilbert Von Obsidian Story Chapter 2]

----Part 1----

I now became Prince Gilbert's friend.

I safely returned back to the palace after what happened in the bookstore.

Gilbert: "Speaking of which, friends eat together, don't they?"

Prince Gilbert who seemed like he's in a happy mood, asked out of nowhere.

And me who is already exhausted, can only return a strained smile.

Gilbert: "Starting tomorrow, I'll have you prepare every meal next to me."

Emma: ".....Can I decline..."

Gilbert: "Oh, what's that? You wanna hear my military strategy?"

Emma: "Ah, I'm honored to have meal with you everyday, Prince Gilbert. I couldn't ask God for anymore."

Gilbert: "Ahahaha, I'm glad to see you excited as I am."

Emma: "........."

Gilbert: "Goodnight, little bunny."

Prince Gilbert easily flips off his cloak and turns his steps toward the guest room.

The moment his back was out of sight, I let out a huge sigh of relief.

(Let's go see Sir Sariel right now!)

Even after the Trampling Beast was gone, the feeling of helplessness didn't go away and my hands were shaking.

It was as if I was trapped in a situation where I was looking down from a long cliff and a tiger standing behind me.

(.....I won't cry, but I want to cry)

I started walking quickly with my head down and accidentally bumped into someone.

Emma: "S-Sorry, I didn't---"

Chevalier: "................."

Emma: "....mean to bump into you.."

Chevalier: ".............."

Emma: "Prince Chevalier?"

Prince Chevalier doesn't say anything and simply stares at me coldly.

The head of the external affairs faction is sometimes called the Ruthless and Cruel Beast, but he is also a man with a heart.

Without changing his expression, Prince Chevalier turned his back to me and started walking the way he came.

(Weren't you heading outside?)

Prince Chevalier looked back at me when I was standing still and moves his chin.

(Oh, are you asking me to follow you?)

...........

I quickly followed him and very arrived at the back row of the library.

(This place)

The shelves were jam-packed with books that are more artistic in nature, such as plays, poetry, and stories, rather than books of a practical nature.

The usual me would jump in excitement at the sight of it.

Chevalier: "I heard you went town with Eyepatch."

Standing next to a window under the moonlight, Prince Chevalier opens his mouth.

Chevalier: "What did he ask you to do?"

(Asking 'what he asked you to do' instead of 'what happened' shows how much insightful Prince Chevalier is)

Emma: "He asked me to be his friend."

Chevalier: "............"

Even I who has been staying at the royal court as Belle for a short time, could see it.

Prince Chevalier is by far the most intelligent and visionary of the eight princes.

Even for Prince Chevalier, the word 'friend' left him in a momentary surprise.

Chevalier: "Why did he ask you to be his friend?"

Emma: "I didn't quite understand either."

Thinking back to my exchange with Prince Gilbert, I report everything exactly to Prince Chevalier.

Eventually after I finish, silence resonate.

(Again in retrospect, there is a lot of mystery, but all I know is that there's some sort of plotting)

Emma: "Prince Chevalier....is there any way I can stop being friends with him?"

Chevalier: "Why do you want to stop?"

Emma: ".....I feel like the fate of my country depends on me, and I'm scared."

My heart still palpitates because depending on what I say or do, the beautiful roses could be stained with blood again.

I don't think I can handle any more responsibilities because I've got my hands full with the duties of Belle.

I bit my lip in frustration and Prince Chevalier chuckled.

Chevalier: "Didn't know you are so arrogant."

----Part 2-----

Chevalier: "Our country is not so fragile that it will fall because of the words and actions of one mere girl."

Chevalier: "Your statement just now, means that I am incompetent."

(............That's)

Rhodolite has eight noble beasts.

It's their duty to protect the country and my statement just now is tantamount to saying that they will not be able to fulfill that duty.

(Even though the Princes of Rhodolite would never lose to Prince Gilbert)

Chevalier: "You are a fool to take his threats seriously."

Emma: "....Please forgive me."

(I'm not alone)

I felt as if the threads of tension that had been clamping my heart is being blown away.

Chevalier: "A verbal apology is unnecessary."

Emma: "Ouch!"

His long finger flicked my forehead and I can't help but raise my eyebrow.

(I've been bitten, and flicked on the forehead...could this day get any more worse)

Chevalier: "As punishment, you must show me your sincerity."

Emma: "What do you mean?"

Chevalier: "Yeah, I was thinking of many ways to use you."

Prince Chevalier, with a smile, looked no less than the Trampling Beast itself.

Chevalier: "Be my pawn, imbecile."

Emma: "....Pawn?"

Chevalier: "As his friend, I want you to gather info."

(....!)

Emma: "You mean....to be a spy?"

Chevalier: "Only for me."

I held by breath at the offer made to me.

(I thought...being friends could be a bad thing, but I never thought, I could use it in this way)

Why did Prince Gilbert appear on the diplomatic scene and decided to stay in Rhodolite for an extended period or time?

In the first place, why has Obsidian, which has long maintained its diplomatic relations with the country started to make a move now?

There is too little information at hand to counter unknown threats.

But Prince Gilbert should know most of the answers that Rhodolite seeks.

(If I stick around, I might learn a thing or two)

(And based on that, Prince Chevalier and others can take countermeasures)

When I looked up at him, Prince Chevalier snickered at me.

Chevalier: "Incidentally, our personal spy never reveals info to anyone but his master."

Chevalier: "Do you know...what that means?"

Emma: "....The other princes must not know about this, right?"

Chevalier: "Yes. Report everything you learned about Eyepatch only to me."

Chevalier: "The other princes, bureaucrats, servants, even your butler. Don't trust anyone."

Emma: "Why..."

Chevalier: "A number of people from the Obsidian's side have already infiltrated the castle."

The sentence felt painful as if a rose thorn is stuck to my throat.

(But....I knew)

(The fact that Prince Gilbert knows 'Belle' means that someone tipped him off)

The 'someone' may be in a position to obtain confidential information about the Country of Roses.

Anyone, the princes, the court officials or even Rio could be that someone.

(I want to believe everyone but I need to accept the reality)

Chevalier: "Above all, the Trampling Beast excels at dominating and manipulating people."

Chevalier: "It's entirely possible that today's allies could become tomorrow's enemies."

(I don't even want to think about such a horrible thing happening, but....)

I'm sure Prince Chevalier knows more about Prince Gilbert than I do.

(And I'm no stranger to that)

I already know that there is no 'choice' in the options given by Prince Gilbert.

Emma: ".....I will remember that."

Nodding in acceptance, Prince Chevalier pulled out something shiny and golden out of his pocket.

He rubbed it with his thumb and placed in my palm.

Emma: "This is...?"

----Part 3----

(An insignia of a tiger)

Each Prince has one attached to their coat.

Their personal servants and knights wear plain insignia on their uniforms.

It was the first time I had ever seen Prince Chevalier's insignia.

Chevalier: "I can predict what Eyepatch is going to do next."

Chevalier: "I'm sure he will make some nasty demands in the future, and you won't have time to consult Glasses."

(Glasses...you mean Sir Sariel)

Chevalier: "You can make decisions on your own and don't have to ask for permission."

Chevalier: "I will take full responsibility for everything you do and say."

(....! So that's what this insignia is for)

It is a small emblem, but the meaning behind it is significant.

Emma: "....Can I really keep this?"

Chevalier: "As long as you do your job properly."

Chevalier: "As long as you're beneficial for me, I'll protect you."

Chevalier: "If I find you worthless, I'll cut you down myself if worse comes to worst."

Emma: "........"

Chevalier: "That's all for now."

(.....I was so worried that my hands were shaking, but now, I feel much more relaxed)

Prince Chevalier's presence was enough to bring warmth back to my fingertips.

Emma: "Thank you very much....I'll definitely live up to your expectation."

After bowing deeply, Prince Chevalier snickers and heads to the door.

But before he can leave, he stops.

Emma: "....Prince Chevalier?"

Chevalier: "Once there was a boy that said the essence of people was love."

(......Love?)

He continues talking without looking back.

Chevalier: "In this case, love is more like compassion for others."

Chevalier: "He said that there are no real bad people in this world, people become bad because of the influence of their surroundings."

Chevalier: "What do you think?"

(That's difficult.....)

It's a question I never thought about before.

I try to gather up all the words in my head, but I can't find any answers.

(Are you asking if the essence of a bad guy is 'love', right?)

The first person that came to my mind was Prince Gilbert.

(Does that person have something called 'love'?)

Can Prince Gilbert, who can trample on others with a smile, have any compassion for others?

I can only tilt my head in wonder.

Emma: "I don't know...."

Emma: "I think only Prince Gilbert can answer that."

Chevalier: "........."

Prince Chevalier says nothing and leaves the library.

(I wonder a day will come when I can understand the meaning of that question)

I clutched the insignia tightly in my hands.

............

After a bad day, I headed to the dining hall where the guests gathered.

Emma: "........"

Silvio: "..........."

Keith: ".........."

Gilbert: "Little bunny, you like sweets, don't you? Look look, I asked them to prepare a lot for you."

Gilbert: "Eat as much as you like. Oh and give me all the leftovers."

Gilbert: "Our country was food insecure for a while, so we don't want to waste our food."

Gilbert: "Fufu, what do want to eat first?"

(...What is this situation?)

Both Prince Silvio and Prince Keith, stopped eating and looked surprised.

Next to me, Prince Gilbert is smiling brightly waiting for me to start eating the mountain of sweets in front of me.

To begin with, the table is filled with food to feed at least ten people and there are only four of us.

At least 70% of the food is in front of Prince Gilbert himself.

(Lot of things are going wrong and his staring hurts even more)

I was prepared for this from the moment I was invited to dinner, but this is actually tougher than I thought.

Gilbert: "Hurry up. Or do you want me to feed you?"

Emma: "N-No.....Thank you for the food."

(I can feel the eyes in front of me wanting to say something but for once, I'll just let my mind go blank)

-----Part 4----

I picked up the fork and knife and started eating the cake in front of me.

Remembering the table manners that were drilled into me by Sir Sariel, I brought it to my mouth.

(.......I never even told Prince Gilbert that I like sweets in the first place)

Gilbert: "How is it?"

-----Options------

I'm nervous and can't taste

It's delicious

How about you, Prince Gilbert?

--------

Emma: "....I'm too nervous and can't taste."

Gilbert: "Hahaha, at least you're being honest."

I thought I might make him uncomfortable, but surprisingly he laughed happily.

Gilbert: "You don't have to be so polite, just because you're in front of us."

Gilbert: "If anyone says anything about manners, I'll shut them up...okay?"

(I can't fail)

Silvio: "Hey, you two-faced bastard. What do you see right now?"

Keith: "..Well, a little rabbit inside a tiger's cage who can't escape."

Silvio: "How did the little rabbit get inside that cage in the first place? Was she forced?"

Keith: "Can't say for sure..."

Gilbert: "Hehe What's wrong? Are you curious about our relationship?"

(....Finally someone asked)

Both Prince Silvio and Prince Keith must have been wondering since the goodwill party.

For the friendly Benitoite and neutral Jade, the Obsidian is a symbol of threat.

They must be wondering who the noblewoman is that was escorted by the Prince of enemy territory himself.

Emma: "We're friends."

Before Prince Gilbert can answer, I jumped in and replied.

(It's better than having him give hints that I'm Belle)

Silvio: "Huh? Don't lie so transparently."

Gilbert: "It's true. As proof, I know a lot about her."

Silvio: "Like?"

Gilbert: "There's a bakery near her house run by an elderly couple. She likes the sandwiches there."

(!?)

Gilbert: "One time, she bought some sandwiches and went to a hilltop to view the city and read a book.

Gilbert: "Sometimes, she even ends up reading books from morning till evening and because of that she caught a bad cold one time."

Gilbert: "Everyone in the town was worried about her."

(..........Only people who are close to me know about this stuff)

(And the last time I had a cold was before I met Rio, so that was at least three years ago)

I thought that I got the attention of Prince Gilbert because I became Belle.

I don't think there is a spy who would report even such trivial things in the past that would be of no use.

(Could it be the Prince Gilbert had his eyes on me, even before I became Belle?)

(....No way, I'm just a random town girl)

I have done nothing to attract the attention of a prince from such great nation.

I've never met Prince Gilbert before.

(I'll never forget such a distinctive person once I see them....)

But facts must be accepted as facts.

Prince Gilbert knows everything about me, probably.

(Who the hell am I to...)

The more I think about it, my fingertips tremble and my fork slips out of my fingers.

(....Oops)

I was about to pick it up in panic but Prince Gilbert's hands stopped me.

Gilbert: "Little bunny, it's the commoners who pick up what's fallen on the ground by themselves."

(Ah....)

Emma: "....Sorry. I panicked for a moment."

I sat back properly and looked towards the maid who was waiting by the wall.

The whole process of entrusting a dropped item and taking a new fork is another thing that was taught to me.

Thankfully, Prince Silvio and Prince Keith, did not pay attention.

Rather they gave me a sympathetic look.

Silvio: "From the looks of it, you got info about this woman from somewhere, didn't you?"

Gilbert: "Mm."

Silvio: "You don't know anything else, do you?"

Gilbert: "No no. I've got 100 more....do you wanna hear?"

(...........Someone please kill me)

Keith: "Prince Gilbert...even if you really are a friend, you're stepping too much into a woman's private life."

Silvio: "Do you know what they call people like you?"

Silvio: "Perverted stalker."

(Prince Silvio!?)

Gilbert: "Hahaha. I've never heard of that word before, because it doesn't exist in Obsidian."

Prince Gilbert didn't seem offended and simply laughed it off.

His smile looked like he was enjoying himself.

(....................I don't know anything about Prince Gilbert)

Emma: "Where did you hear these stories?"

Gilbert: "It's a secret."

-----Part 5----

After all that talking.

We stopped and resumed eating.

(I didn't expect you to tell me so easily anyway....)

Emma: "...So unfair."

Gilbert: "Hm?"

I gather my courage remembering the insignia I carefully held in my pocket skirt.

Emma: "Prince Gilbert knows so much about me, but I don't know anything about you."

Emma: "As a 'friend' don't you think....it's a little unfair?"

Gilbert: "Ahaha! It is."

Unexpectedly, he accepted my words.

Gilbert: "Friendship is a process of getting to know each other. Therefore you have the right to know me as well."

Gilbert: "But simply having meals with me everyday, won't help you to know all about me, I guess."

Gilbert: "I would have to be with you all day to tell you about me."

Gilbert: "So...hmm?"

(Why am I breaking out in cold sweat when I'm the one who started this conversation?)

Prince Gilbert puts her knife and fork down and wraps my hands with both of his cold hands.

I felt like a helpless rabbit being patted by a big smiling tiger, even though he was not being rough.

Gilbert: "Let me help you with your work."

Emma: "Huh!?"

Keith and Silvio: "Ah..." "Pfftt..."

Prince Keith drops his fork and Prince Silvio spits out his tea.

(Help me with my work?)

(The Trampling Beast, the world's bane, the prince of the enemy nation, Prince Gilbert....)

Gilbert: "You...assist the princes in their official duties for the sake of your studies, right?"

Emma: "....Yes."

Of course, he knows that too.

But that's from an outsider's perspective.

(Maybe what he really meant was, 'I'll help you select your King')

Gilbert: "If I help you, we'll be together forever, right?"

Emma: "But, don't you have your own work to do...?"

Gilbert: "Don't worry. I can make time for you."

Gilbert: "Not a bad idea, right?"

Emma: ".........."

Gilbert: "I don't know if there's anything wrong with me helping out."

Feeling the gazes of both Prince Keith and Prince Silvio, I looked at Prince Gilbert, who narrowed his gaze at me.

(If I decline here, he will definitely bring up the topic of 'Belle')

Either I accept it willingly or force myself to accept it.

Again, it's an unreasonable choice.

(....I would be panicking now if I hadn't met up with Prince Chevalier last night)

(But now I have other duties to perform besides being Belle)

I brushed off Prince Gilbert's hand and lifted the corners of my mouth.

Emma: "...I understand."

Emma: "If Prince Gilbert is willing to help me, I would like to take you up on your offer."

Keith and Silvio: "Miss Emma!?" "Huh!?"

Gilbert: "..Oh?"

Emma: "Because....I want to know about you too."

Silvio: "Woman, are you seriously an idiot? Do you really think you can handle this problem on your own?"

Emma: "....No."

(Maybe Prince Chevalier also saw this coming)

If I consulted Sir Sariel and the other princes, they would have surely kept me away from Prince Gilbert.

But no one knows what Prince Gilbert is up to.

So Prince Chevalier made the first move.

(If I had refused, it could have been used as an excuse to make things more complicated)

(....He's really a great guy and probably might be the only person who can read Prince Gilbert's all moves)

I take the insignia out of my pocket and attached it to my chest.

Emma: "There should be no problem, right?"

The first to react to the insignia with the tiger's crest on it was Prince Gilbert.

Gilbert: "Ahahaha! I see. So it's Chevalier..."

Gilbert: "Did he read my actions?"

Emma: "....."

Prince Gilbert's laughs out loud as if he was sincerely enjoying himself.

Gilbert: "This why Rhodolite is..."

Gilbert: "so worth crushing...."

[prettyiwa]

Hiiiii 💜 Omg I’m sorry I’m so late to the game but are you still doing the fic writers questions?? If so I have a bunch I’m curious about - 14, 15, 20, or 27. Feel free to pick any or answer any other one you’d like!

If you’re not answering them anymore then consider this a love message thinking of u 💜

You are very much not late to the game because I am very late answering!! I answered 14, so I'll answer the rest.

15. Do you plan your fics or prefer to let the story unfold as you write?

When creating my stories, I start with a little brain worm, just a stupid little idea that may or may not turn into something. I'll decide they're story-worthy if I end up bullshitting enough. Like my interpreter fic? started because I was curious about the friendship between Ohtani and Ippei (THIS WAS A YEAR AGO, OKAY???) and the silly little idea evolved until I suddenly had a COVID Quarantine subplot, a failed confession subplot, and the WBC subplot, and it was only then that I decided I wanted to turn it into a proper fic.

20. How do you approach action sequences or intense moments?

I'm not sure how this question means. Like... does it mean when to include them? How to write them? How to plot them? I can usually, generally, picture what I want to happen, and then it becomes a matter of how to describe it. You can't describe everything, because then you're doing too much. You can attempt to break it down and cover a scene via different perspectives (assuming they each describe something new; e.g. in a big battle, one group of characters will be fighting enemy A while another group will be fighting enemy B). Idk. If any of that makes any sense.

27. What two (or more) fandoms would you like to see a crossover for? Would you ever write it?

. . . I suppose Daiya and Haikyuu? You already know my HC that Miyuki/Kuramochi are the same age as Kuroo/the other third years. I think watching them interact would be fun. And no, I definitely would not write it. I like my separate fandom spaces to remain separate fandom spaces ahahaha

[kcscribbler]

💾 & 🤔

💾What is your document of your wip/ a wip called? (not the stories actual title but what you’ve saved it as)

Ahahaha I am embarrassed to say the three open tabs in Word right now are called Fluffbruary AOS, Loki cutscenes, and shuttlecraft.docx.

So clever, I know.

🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

I'm in the preliminary stages of plotting (a rare occurrence, I'm aware) a sequel to this chapter of What's in a Name.

I particularly love that chapter, because I feel like I did a decent job of rebooting The Immunity Syndrome for AOS, as well as exploring the possibility of a TMP-esque retirement for AOS, what it might look like if it were bittersweet instead of just bitter, like TOS was.

I've had several requests for an account of the Venture mission, and I do love exploring the idea of a much more matured AOS crew, so we'll see what happens.

Thank you for the ask!

Full Ask List Here, if anyone wants to play along.

[alexanderlightweight]

Four and seventeen for the weird writer questions!

@gardensparrow

Thank you! I had fun answering the questions!

I wrote the draft for this while out and my internet didn’t save or post it. So a redo:

Ahahaha… please read these tags because mentioned below is

Kink, sex. Murder. Unrepentant murder. Eating people (not the sex kind tho that happens too).

4: is what word makes me go feral and it’s that

Oh.

Moment. The moment of italicized realization. I loveeeeee it.

I also love blanch. It’s a great word. It feels nice to say.

A feral word that makes me go mad with rage would be… im not actually sure tbh.

17: things about my wips and all the little stuff that doesn’t make it to rest:

So kelpie au.

sad semi-tragic background for Alec that’s only mentioned once. Half shadowhunter half Seelie baby that gets taken out to be ‘taken care of’ when his mom realizes he’s not full nephilim. That is like… 100 years before canon. He’s immortal in this. He’s still pretty young by immortal standards but he’s been around a bit. I don’t really talk about his age and let it be assumed.

Lots of Cat & Ragnor & Magnus because they’re each others ride or dies. Like cat and Ragnor are the: we’ll sip wine and judge your murders Magnus. Oh you’re running late for a meeting? We’ll finish up here, you run along

There is a giant misunderstanding that never gets untangled because Magnus likes what the misunderstanding gets him. Which is Alec.

Very Dom. Much sub.

This is very much an indulgent predator/prey vibes fic.

Uh breeding kink. A lot of kinks I haven’t posted or written into my other works.

Murder. So much murder.

And like fae eating people and cannibalism sort of. But not the pretty Hannibal cannabalism. The kind that’s dark and gritty, with viscera and gaping maws and too-sharp teeth cracking open bones for marrow.

It’s very dead dove tbf.

There is a lot of lore and world building that I have planned it’s just being delayed. It’s also has @saeths dominion magic and hierarchy.

Alec is pretty much a very cranky isolationist who kills all the pests until Magnus starts courting him. By pests, he means everyone not Magnus.

Magnus does NOT know he is courting Alec. He has feelings when he finds out. Because Reasons™️.

Magnus goes on a murder spree at one point because he’s burying a secret and has no intentions of it ever being discovered.

Like I said, Cat and Ragnor rate his murder style over wine and cheese.

Lots of public exhibition and Alec and Magnus are 😍 at each other and 🤬 at everyone else.

I think the biggest wips I have planned plot and all are:

Kelpie!au which is mostly porn rn.

Stray!cat Alec who basically just starts showing up around Magnus like a stray cat.

And cider verse which has a sequel plotted.

Stray cat au is honestly one of my oldest ideas and favs.

Alec goes to fight a dimensional rift with several teams of shadowhunter.

Out of 24 shadowhunter, only Alec and a team of seven survive.

They spend a a couple weeks there but is actually years i the rift.

Alec sees a lot of stuff because things are weird in rifts and pretty much is like: ah okay so Alec’s needs Magnus’. I should go find mine.

And then just shows up at Magnus.

Who is confusion™️

And Alec has no intention of going anywhere.

Alec spends a lot of time avoiding his family and the clave and hiding out on Magnus’ roof and balcony.

Magnus does not mind and is shocked by this turn of events.

—

Choiceless hope sequel is basically Magnus and Alec fucking with canon events is most of the plot. Like Magnus and Alec troll everyone.

They are also super politically trolling and sneaky though.

[blackjackkent]

Springy has informed me there's some potentially interesting NPCs in the tavern and that I should go back to check it out before the plot locks me out of Saradush, so...brief detour!

Mostly it's il-Khan soldiers hanging out in here, but there are a few people with unique names - Peltje and Viekang. I don't recognize either name, but let's see what they're about.

Always a good start to a conversation.

Oh!

Well, good news, Peltje, I do not believe you are insane. The bad news is that that means there ARE vampire courtesans in the castle prison, which I know because I just fought a bunch of them. But, y'know, silver lining.

And then the poor guy absolutely hauled ass out of the tavern at about mach 5. Wellp.

Let's talk to Viekang.

One of the answer options here is "Viekang...didn't I run into you in Trademeet?" but his name is not ringing any bells to me or Caden.

[blinkblink]

OH. Ahahaha. He's this guy, who randomly seemed to explode when Caden encountered him in the tavern in Trademeet.

I guess this is the equivalent to Caden getting the Slayer form as his Bhaal-related superpower? I think we got the better end of the deal tbh.

Other highlights of the tavern:

A guy named Hectan who responds only "I assure you, my Lord, I know nothing of that" to anything we try and ask him.

A cat named Tepid who doesn't want to talk to us.

:(

Finally, in a back room of the tavern, we find this dude!

I'm not entirely sure if we ever actually ran into him, but according to the wiki we could have run into this guy way back in Nashkel in BG1! And he could have provided some rumors to follow up on to move some of the quests along.

You're a long way from home, Volo. Are you a Bhaalspawn too?

Oh boy. :P

lolol. This feels like what would happen if you spawned some unholy amalgamation of Khalisah al-Jilani and Conrad Verner.

What else ya got, Volo?

This'll be good.

Wait, how the hell does Volo know about Gamaz at all? >:|

Poor Rasaad though.

Awww. <3

Imoen please do not further the rumor that all Bhaalspawn are evil, tyvm. (rofl tho)

Hee. OK, if Elminster knows this guy, he can't be all bad I guess.

But why does Rasaad get a mention of Gamaz but Volo doesn't even mention Khalid as such a big part of Jaheira's story. :(

Minsc is the best, casual reminder. <3 And must be protected at all costs.

Oh, you won't, but thank you for trying!

[crusnikroxas]

I'm gonna keep sending asks and talking Abt your fic bc it gives me so much serotonin, but I was recently just thinking of Papyrus in your fic

How you still have him make mistakes, and even when he was confused and hurt by the notion MC would even hurt someone, he still cared... Idk it's so endearing how he made a mistake but it's obvious he still cared, and cares a lot Abt mc, tho I know him and mc do need to have a lil better of a conversation Abt it....

I am so excited for the next update, but pls !! Take your time! Your health is more important, we'll be waiting for you!

Aaaaahh, thank you for the asks! It always makes me so happy when people get curious about lore and stuff, hehehe 😊♥️

Yeah, poor Papyrus 🥺 I wanted to show that, you know, anybody can make a mistake - and everyone reacts differently when they're hurt and confused about something. With Undyne....yeeeeah, we know how that came out 😅 But I thought in Papyrus' regard....well, even in the 'Disbelief' AU, he still holds some of that kindness within him, even when he's intent on making sure the player just stops, y'know? It's not quite the same situation with y/n, obviously, but I thought it was important to show that even when he's in turmoil like that, he still has a kind heart. Or soul, whatever. 🤣

And yes, they're gonna have to talk a lot about it all - obviously, y/n understands why it happened, and while she's upset about it, obviously.....it's going to take poor Paps a lot longer to get over. I'm so sorry in advance for making the poor boi suffer 😅😂

Ah, thank you >.< At the moment, I'm writing the next update chapter for my Horrortale fic - then, I'm kind of drafting....well, the first chapter of a book that I hope I can take to a publisher at some point >///< But! That does not mean I will be stopping the fic whatsoever 🤣 So after I've done that, I'll be working on the next update - I'm so excited to get it out, it's something I've been plotting since I started the fic, and I can't wait for you guys to react to the lore I've been foreshadowing for soooo freakin' long now, ahahaha 😂♥️♥️♥️

[aithne]

when you say things go sideways for Kathil Amell after pissing off the chantry, what happens 👀👀👀👀 what did she do (if its not a surprise) 😂😂

Ahahaha okay, so. This all sounds utterly insane, but it's one of the big climax moments of Old Roads, and I spent a lot of time building to it and I promise it makes sense in the moment. (Old Roads was also written largely between DAO's release and DA2's release, so it doesn't account for some of the lore in DAI. And this moment happens a long ways into the series.)

To make an extremely long story short, basically after 4.5 books' worth of fanfic plot and about...three years or so after the ending of Origins (I think), Kathil has VERY royally pissed off the Chantry. (She basically started a rival Circle of Magi in Orzammar, broke the Harrowing Chamber in Kinloch Hold so Harrowings could no longer be held, and then after a Seeker attempted to kidnap her kid she kicked the Chantry out of Vigil's Keep wholesale. They hadn't liked her much before that and after that they were blindingly pissed.)

So Kathil has a fair number of Templars on the doorstep of Vigil's Keep along with the Grand Cleric from Denerim. She chooses to walk out to meet them--leaving her partners and the rest of the Wardens behind the walls--because she has A Plan.

The Plan turns out to be to let the Templars hit her with all of the cleansings they want (since nobody is going to let a mage with her reputation anywhere near the Grand Cleric with her magic intact), and when they think she's completely helpless, she basically uses the arcane energy that's stored within the sword Spellweaver to temporarily remove the Veil and invite the spirit/demon/god Memory that lives beneath Vigil's Keep to put everyone present through the gauntlet of her own memories of learning she was a mage along with everything that cost her over the years--family, freedom, sanity, etc. This gives the Templars kind of a lot to think about, and they start to back off.

The Veil starts to reassert itself, which is fine and part of the plan. What is not part of the plan is the fact that every demon/spirit/whatever that Kathil has made deals with over the years is nearby in the Fade. They see her through the closing Veil, and surge forth.

Kathil, in a split-second decision of do not let the demon army invade Thedas, decides that it's her the demons want and she had best make sure that they can't get to her family and her people. She uses the last of the arcane energy within Spellweaver to propel herself into the Fade. The sword shatters, she goes, and the Veil seals itself behind her. Everyone left behind thinks she's dead.

Fortunately/unfortunately, Kathil has the shadow of Urthemiel in her head, which becomes dominant once she's physically in the Fade, and she basically spends a bunch of time as a tiny screaming thing inside of an Archdemon in the Fade.

Her family does eventually get her back, but that all kind of puts an end to Kathil's days of actively fighting the Chantry. She retires from the Warden-Commander post and heads out with her family, largely vanishing from public life.

For a while.

(Oh my gods, Old Roads is utterly bonkers. I always forget how bonkers it is. It was basically me going "fuck it I do what I want" with the setting.)

[flythesail]

Okay because there's only three episodes left (🥲) and because why not, here are my predictions for the rest of s1 of Andor (and some of s2):

Cassian and Melshi (and probably others) escape Narkina 5.

Kino doesn't make it :(

He's either a) killed when he almost makes it to freedom or b) sacrifices himself so the others can make it.

Back on Niamos, Cassian is able to get his stuff back from where he was staying with Windi (the woman he was with).

Idk I could be wrong, but Nemik's manifesto seems kinda important to just drop out of the plot. Same with Clem's blaster.

So Cassian gets his stuff back, whether he has to track it down or meet with Windi (who maybe thinks he ghosted her when really he was arrested and stuck in an imperial prison ahahaha not fun times).

Back on Ferrix, everyone is there (Syril shows up for.. probably thinking he has the ability to take matters into his own hands. At one point I would have said he and Dedra work together, but after ep.9 I highly doubt she'll want anything to do with him ever. Unless she can use him to her advantage).

Cinta is already on Ferrix, and just for finale reasons (possibly still being ordered to kill Cassian reasons) Vel ends up back there too. (Also then they can kiss <3)

Cassian gets back to Ferrix and sees everything has gotten Even Worse.

Maarva dies shortly after Cassian's return. (Sorry to Cassian, but I'm waiting for a crying scene and this is it). I'm going to go with she just dies from old age. Maybe right before Dedra can use her to get to Cassian too (HA).

We see the timeline with young Cassian again, around when he's adjusting to life on Ferrix. Maybe we see his relationship with Clem and Maarva, maybe... Even young Bix? To be shown alongside Cassian learning what happened to Bix in the present.

I think that would work in the final episodes for a few reasons. A) it would feel very full circle to return to young Cassian at the end as that's where the season started, and b) as this season ends, I don't think it will be necessary to have flashbacks anymore. Idk if we'll even return to Ferrix next season. (More on that later).

Luthen... Dies??

Feeling unsure over that, but currently Luthen and Maarva hold a somewhat similar role. I wouldn't go as far to say Luthen is a parental figure to Cassian, as they barely know each other. Yet it's a sort of mentor role (or could be if they worked together more), and with Cassian presumably officially joining the rebellion by the season's end, it might be time for Luthen to go.

Another thing with Luthen is that he's a connecting piece. The biggest example, being that he was the primary go-between for Coruscant-things and the Aldhani team.

Which leads into another prediction: Mon is found out and has to leave Coruscant by the finale. (Granted, this could happen next season. But I stick by the fact it feels like a finale thing).

And if Mon is found out, well... We no longer really need Luthen to jump between those two spheres.

(And there's still Vel if we need to).

Also with Luthen, there's a lot of talk on him "slipping." Kleya is a firm believer of this. That has to lead somewhere and his death is one guess.

The empire is after Luthen too! Cassian too, but they can't get him for Rogue One-related reasons. (Aka, bad news for Luthen).

Other deaths: this is is largely me speaking from a place of fear, but Vel, Cinta, and Bix ALL make it out alive.

Yes... One of them could die. BUT... We have 4 more years to cover and these characters imo have a ton more story left to be told. While I feel highly doubtful anyone will make it to the s2 finale beside Mon, Melshi, and Cassian - at this point I'm letting myself believe the girls are safe and will still play a vital role in s2.

(Side note: fingers crossed Melshi gets a ton of screentime in s2 <3) (Imagine the trio of Cassian, Kay, and Melshi. I'm begging for it!!)

Brasso? I hate to say it, but I think he could die. :( Especially if we don't return to Ferrix in s2, there's a chance he doesn't make it.

If Maarva does die, Bix is really the only other big character left that's tied to Ferrix. Yet out of all the Ferrix characters, I could see her leaving Ferrix for the sake of keeping her in the story.

OR, she stays behind and becomes the reason to return to Ferrix in s2. This is all just speculation since idk whether Ferrix is confirmed for s2 or not.

Oh and B2. Considering he's made to fit the idea of "old family dog"... I'm afraid :(

Biggest point of the finale though is: Ferrix changes forever and so has Cassian.

Maybe s2 even ends with Cassian leaving Ferrix with whoever is left. Like his own little crew :')

Dedra and Syril also make it to s2, but I have nooo idea what they'll be doing in it. They can only be after Cassian for so long lol.

OH!! Last thing: Kerri

This late in the season, I don't think Cassian will ever see her again.

I think we will learn more about what possibly or did happen to her (this could pair with more flashbacks to young Cassian).

Yet with time running out, I'm less and less hopeful this will have a happy ending.

And given Cassian has yet to get a moment to clearly express how Maarva is the one that separated him from Kerri, the time around Maarva's death would be an interesting time to bring it up. Or better put, complicated.