#answers you seek?

[eternalronin]

So has anyone here seen Goncharov?

"Never did care for arthouse bullshit personally."

[ffcrazy15]

There's this way of doing female-ness in Christianity that I call "pastel flower journal Christianity." I've got nothing against pastel flower journals per se, but for some reason people believe it's the end all and be all of female spirituality, and I think it's a real disservice towards young Christian women.

One of these days I'd like to start a prayer-and-reading group or something for young women, but there would be no floral themes or over-focus on how "God thinks you're beautiful even if the world doesn't" (a true statement, but it's wayyyyy too often the focus in women's spiritual reading). Instead we would be reading:

Seneca's Letters from a Stoic

Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning

Sheed's A Map of Life

Portions of Pieper's book on leisure

Kreeft's Three Philosophies of Life

Guardini's The Lord (or something similar)

Therese's Story of a Soul

and some select portions of the Nicomachean Ethics.

(Also they're all getting the porn talk. I don't know why we give the porn talk to young men but not young women. There's this idea that women don't use porn and they only need the talk about "guarding their heart." Bullshit. There's porn on the YA shelves of Barnes and Nobles and before that there were bodice rippers. Young women need the porn talk too.)

Every young woman needs to be getting a basic grounding in virtue ethics, logic, natural law, scholastic philosophy and Biblical hermeneutics if they're going to get by in today's spiritual landscape. Enough faffery and emotionalism in young women's spiritual education! Give them real food to chew on, not pasty sentimentalism!

[youngpettyqueen]

I know the decision to have Julian's parents have him augmented was made on the fly but imo its pretty obvious from early on that Julian has Family Issues because he avoids talking about his family like the plague and I think they should've incorporated this into the Julian and Sisko dynamic right from early on because I think it would've made for some really compelling stories and moments and could've set up a REALLY interesting Julian and Jake dynamic which they kinda started to do but never fully went for

[canisalbus]

If I remember correctly you created Machete around 2007-2008. But when did you create Vasco? (I'm sorry of this has been asked before, I couldn't find anything)

First finished pictures of Vasco are from 2018, but even before that I had been thinking it would be interesting if Machete had had one (1) romantic relationship in his youth before he was ordained. I just didn't have a name and design for him yet.

In the earliest sketches of Vasco, he first looked a little bit like a bordercollie, then like a spaniel or a setter. He had a darker color palette as well, sort of chestnut brown with white markings, but combined with the overpowering whiteness of Machete he looked kind of impassionate and drab, so I kept making him warmer and lighter until he became the golden boy he is today. The name came later, I just thought Vasco sounded friendly and charismatic. (Also the old finnish word 'vaski' means brass and bronze, and even if it's a tedious connection and doesn't factor into their canon at all, it felt too fitting to me personally and I had to go with it).

[save-the-villainous-cat]

a touch starved hero x a flirty villain who teases them about how they lean into their touch 😈 (ps. this is the first ask I've sent you, may I be 🍒 anon? if that's taken then 🍇 or 🧋? lmk <3)

“This doesn’t seem appropriate,” the villain whispered. Although the content of their words might have suggested otherwise, they weren’t concerned. At least, that’s what their smirk told the hero.

“Am I a shitty hero for saying I don’t care about that?” They leaned down to let their lips ghost over the villain’s neck. In a sense, it was warfare. They wanted the villain to make the first real move, so the hero could say later that it wasn’t their fault. That they had been seduced. That it hadn’t been them, the hero, who had wanted to sleep with the enemy.

They needed that kind of excuse, they needed to play dirty because, simply put, this was getting ridiculous. Their constant dreams and their stupid thoughts got in the way of everything. Whatever the villain had done to them, they needed them to finish it.

“Nah. It makes you quite attractive actually,” the villain said. Their hand found the hero’s lower back and they pushed gently, trying to get the hero to sit on their hips. Eventually, the hero did sit down but they wanted to be more provocative. They wanted the villain to actually start. “I just wish this could be more romantic.”

“I didn’t know you’re a romantic.”

“Well…” Instead of going further down the hero’s spine, the villain’s finger went up and stopped at their shoulder blades. The hero wanted to curse.

It wasn’t right, they knew that. They weren’t supposed to be attracted to their nemesis. They had hoped they could sleep with them once and get it out of their system, but fate didn’t seem to be that kind.

In reality, they had hoped some flaw in the villain could make them back off and lose all their feelings for them. But there was nothing.

The hero didn’t understand.

“…it’s our first time. I would have loved to take you out to dinner first.”

The villain hummed when they pulled the hero against their chest. It definitely came closer to satisfying the hero. They were lying on top of the villain completely now.

Admittedly, they were probably as red as a tomato. Their face was hot and their pulse was going crazy. They needed more.

They needed to touch the villain.

“Some quickie after a gala…” the villain said as their gaze dropped to the hero’s lips, “…that’s not really what you deserve.”

“Oh…”

“Hmm.” The villain combed through the hero’s hair with their fingers. Their other hand gently traced the little veins in their wrist. “Or am I wrong?”

“Please, just…” The hero couldn’t help but lean against the villain’s hand when it traveled from their neck to their face.

How was the villain so warm? How were they so soft? It didn’t make sense. They were supposed to be a source of chaos, a violent and cruel person…

“I wish you could come closer but I’m afraid there isn’t much space left,” the villain said. Their voice was suggestive enough to embarrass the hero.

Because, sadly, this close wasn’t close enough.

“If you have any solutions to that, I’d be grateful if you could guide me.” And then, the villain laughed.

“Oh, no, sweetheart. We’re not gonna play like that. I know what you’re doing. If you want me to do anything tonight, you have to initiate.” Again, their eyes dropped to the hero’s lips and the hero could’ve cursed them.

“You’re evil.”

“You’ve been all over me tonight. Touching my back all the time? My forearms? Trying to hold my hand? You clearly want me. Now take me.” The hero was fully aware of their burning face. They could barely keep eye contact. On the other hand, the villain seemed totally relaxed, completely calm.

“…did you mean that? That you would’ve liked to take me out to dinner?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” the villain asked.

“I thought all I wanted was to sleep with you. But maybe it’s more. Oh fuck.” The hero sat up on the villain’s hips. Maybe this was more. Maybe they couldn’t just sleep with the villain and call it a day.

What a stupid, stupid thing.

“Listen.” The villain rubbed the hero’s thigh. “If you want this tonight, you kiss me first and I oblige. If you want to go out first, I’m free tomorrow. It’s your call.”

“Is this some game?” the hero asked.

“Maybe.” They smiled. “You have to find out for yourself, I suppose.”

Stupidly, the hero had never been this attracted to anyone.

[randomrottmntscreenshots]

do you have any silly raph? like dumb or extreme facial expressions. thank youu!!

I will let myself look up what others on the internet have captured so far, cause I bet they already got all the best ones:

[sinvulkt]

which type of writer are you?

I’m bored, so i shall be hijacking your tag game, @esorydoolb . It looks fun! :3

take this quiz

---

Here is my result:

I feel more like a Methodological Pantser or an Intuitive Plotter, but I guess this is the mix of the two, eh? XD

Tagging for those who want to join in the fun: @kuraiarcoiris @udekai @aimportantdragoncollector @threebea @beguilewritesstuff @stewardofningishzida @numerousbees1106 @trickstress333 @exomal @thehappybaker @wendingways @cinderfeather @yatsukisakura @bluntblade @tramp-fiction @purpleopossum @starmahgalaxies @purple-iris @tonhalszendvics @retciwrites @vandervoiz @insertmeaningfulusername @pebblish @pat-the-togorian @linzerj @kgjhk @fanfictasia @kefalion @doctorgeekery @asteral-feileacan @dreaminghour @silvereddaye @chickadeechickadoo @25centsoda @silvercaptain24 @azzzryel @ash--00 @insecateur @allen-kunekune @starr234 and anyone else who want to join!!

[odoraful]

details in floral promise | rafayel 🪻

[tapakah0]

I walked in the Temple of the Black Egg (knowing beforehand that I won't be able to kill them, because of what Lemm and Hornet told us), looked how they watched us back and forth like a kitten and died... I suck at battles, but maybe I will be able to free them

[eternalronin]

Wait where did Johnny’s

"Well it wasn't me this time"

[cherry-bomb1985]

I feel like The Father and Hell both understand and experience love in all the worst ways.

The Father sought to create a life form that would follow and love him unconditionally. It wasn't enough that he had a great cosmic kingdom of angels who are unquestioningly loyal, no, he needed something that knew suffering and mortality and the threat of oblivion, and would still find love at the end; love for him above all else. But after numerous implied failures at that, in his desperation, he instead created the threat of eternal damnation to force them to love him in order avert that fate. Lucifer's words must have been like a splash of cold water, but by the time he realized sheer magnitude of suffering he had unintentionally set into motion, it was too late. He could not destroy Hell; he could not stop the cycle of violence.

That guilt drove him to seek a death that, from the looks of it, eluded him in spite of the hollowness consuming him. And now he is... somewhere, helpless to stop his experiments from consuming one another and themselves in a glorious show of blood and violence.

And then there's Hell itself, who seems to recognize love as an act of violence and cruelty. It is something that derives joy only from the suffering of other living creatures. God gave it so many toys to hurt and break and reform, and Mankind gave it new ones. Why would it understand love as anything but? It gave Minos a facsimile of the son he is most ashamed of, and delighted when he cast it, once more, into a labyrinth. Gabriel flattened all the souls within it's confines beneath his heel and gave those that did bend false hopes.

Now there's V1, tearing its way through the remaining layers and creating a spectacle of violence like nothing Hell has ever witnessed before. How could it not love them all for all the entertainment they've provided?

But deep within its recesses, hidden away from the eyes of Heaven, there was a Gutterman. A machine built for war, who eventually came to love that which it gave it life at the cost of their own. Enough to give the human welded within their coffin the mercy that both Heaven and Hell had denied them; enough to write a single love letter to them, even knowing that it would never be read by its intended recipient.

So, as things turn out, you /can/ teach a machine to love. And they will understand and experience it more sincerely than God or Hell ever could.

[muffinlance]

Hi!

I'm so sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for advice. I know that Salvage is a super popular fic (As it should be) but have you ever had anyone reach out and ask to read it YouTube? If so, how did you respond? Or how would you respond?

Yeeeah at this point I'd say no. There's a perfectly good podfic already linked on the fic. Anyone trying to put it on YouTube would likely be doing it to monetize/"get numbers" rather than because they actually cared about making a reading available to the people who use them.

[canisalbus]

have vasco & machete ever gotten into any big arguments?

.

[paimonial-rage]

Ask meme - 6 and 9 for the dragon men (zhongli and neuvillette) please!

This took so long I am so sorry, but here we go!

[Character Analysis Ask Meme]

What is Neuvillette's biggest insecurity?

Neuvillette’s biggest insecurity is not something he's ever tried to hide. Anyone that has spent enough time with the Iudex has probably heard him mention it before. Simply put, Neuvillette doesn't understand the emotions of humans very well. He never has and sometimes he doubts if he ever will? How many times has this flaw of his costed him dearly in the past? How many mistakes has he made? And how many are there yet to come? How he dreads the thought.

What can’t you trust [Neuvillette] with?

To chase after you - Iudex Neuvillette is many things—polite, kind, intelligent—but he is not a man without faults. Only a few know him well enough to realize he holds many regrets upon his shoulders, majority that were never his burden alone to bear. Should you ever become the source of one of these regrets, you can surely expect to know. With somber eyes and a weight upon his shoulders, he will apologize to you. But don’t expect anymore than that. Not understanding human emotions is not only his weakness, but a prison. He will not attempt to make things up to you nor will he try to make things how they used to be. You’re best off where he can hurt you no more, even if that means he will be left alone to the rain.

What is Zhongli's biggest insecurity?

Who knows lol.

What can’t you trust Zhongli with?

With mora - As knowledgeable and talented Zhongli is with many things, it is a surprise to many to hear that businessmen don’t exactly enjoy making deals with him. How can they when contract discussions always leave them with the [shorter end of the stick]? How many [unforeseen business expenses] do they end up incurring in such a short amount of time? In the end, they always lose more than they gained. What they don’t know is this unfortunate occurrence happens with any Mora dealings with the man. But what can you expect for someone that, by contract, has the Traveler liable for all expenses during his outings with them? It's simply best to leave all matters of mora out of any relationships with him.

With your heart - If there's one thing true about Zhongli, it's that, while he may withhold the truth, he does not lie. So when he speaks of a person warmly, they can very well believe his words to be true. That being said, it is important that one does not mistaken his warmth with depth. One cannot simply entrust their heart to him and expect his in return. How could anyone hope to understand the weight of many a millennia, after all? So while the desire may be cute, it'll never be something he would even consider to reciprocate.

[alovethatkilledme]

I am never too busy for you.

[40ouncesandamule]