#but despite the other silly stuff in the rest of the book that *did* get me

[elucubrare]

the eternal problem of being a picaresque lover is that there's no actual good way to end a picaresque. like it's fine, i've gotten used to it, but you have to be ready for a little bit of a let-down at the end of an otherwise fun experience.

[sv5hive]

all's well that ends well | lh44

pairing: lewis hamilton x fem!reader

content warning(s): suggestive content? (like one little comment nothing outrageous

word count: 2,107

note: this is a part two to this fic! thank you to the anon who gave me the idea otherwise i would have been stuck for ages!! so happy so many of you enjoyed it and i hope you enjoy this one just as much 😚🫶🏻

(masterlist!)

you let out a shallow sigh as you gently pushed the door closed with a click. last night's fight had plagued your mind and haunted your dreams meaning you had gotten almost no sleep at all. you just wanted to get all your stuff and find a small place to rent while you looked for a more permanent place to stay.

but lewis had other plans.

"hey, baby-"

"don't call me that, lewis. i thought i made it clear last night that it was over. i thought i also made it clear that i didn't want to see you again."

"ok, ok. i'm sorry. i just, i know i fucked up. but i can make it right again. i promise."

"like how you promised we would have a normal life together? i don't want to wait anymore, lewis. i told you this already. now please, let me just get my stuff and leave."

"no, just, just hear me out on this. i can't imagine how you felt while waiting for me to finally catch up to what you realised a long time ago. but i have been in love with you since the day i met you and if i let you walk away again i would never be able to live with myself."

despite what you had said earlier, you didn't hate him. and lewis could see you weighing up the idea in your head.

"saying it is but proving it is another. otherwise your apology means nothing."

"ok. yeah, ok i can do that."

he grinned at the possibility of winning you over.

"but, i need space. so, i will be getting my stuff and leaving."

"wait! you can stay here. i'll go, it's only fair."

"don't be silly, lewis. i still have my hotel room booked don't worry about it."

"no, no, please stay here. this house is yours as much as it is mine. don't worry, i can find somewhere else to stay. i know how you get sleeping in a bed that's not yours."

he knew you too well.

"ok. uhm, thank you, lewis."

"you don't need to thank me. i'll see you soon?."

"ok, yeah. see you soon."

you thought sleeping in your own bed would help you get a good night's rest but you seemed to toss and turn for hours on end. looking to your left, the digital clock on the bedside table screamed some unreasonable time in blinding red. you huffed before realising that maybe it wasn't just the bed. after all, all those years you slept in this bed you weren't sleeping alone. eventually, you did manage to fall asleep at some ungodly hour after scrolling on your phone mindlessly. but not without pondering how lewis was planning to change your mind.

the next morning you were awoken by a knock at the door. rolling your eyes, you readied yourself to turn lewis away but instead you were met with a bouquet of flowers on the doorstep. you peeked your head out to see if the person who dropped it off was still around but it was like they had disappeared into thin air. bringing the bouquet to the kitchen to place in a vase your eyes caught notice of a note gently tucked into the leaves.

thank you for giving me a second chance. you won't regret it.

he was making it hard to stay mad at him. you pulled out your phone and sent him a quick text.

thanks for the flowers.

anything for you. and i meant what i said.

read 9:26 am

humming along to the radio, you plated up your lunch and made your way to sit at the counter to eat. the recent weather had been unusually pleasant with the sun shining all day, and you thought about going for a run outside when a text popped up on your phone.

do you have any plans tonight? it read.

you debated lying to him but you had already finished with your work that day and you found yourself wanting to see him again after a little bit more than a week of being apart. you typed out your reply after a couple of seconds.

depends. what do you have planned?

it's a surprise.

you grinned.

i'll pick you up at 6.

oh and can you wear that black dress again? the backless one?

read 12:46 pm

you felt your face go warm at the reminder of what happened the last time you wore that number. god damn it. no matter what he would always have that effect on you. looks like you had something to look forward to tonight.

you smoothed away imaginary wrinkles while obsessively checking your entire appearance over in the mirror. it felt like you were doing too much but then again, you had to show lewis what he would be losing out on if he couldn't convince you. before you could check the time there was a knock at the door.

you calmed yourself down and opened the door to come face to face with lewis.

lewis swore he felt his world stop spinning.

"you- wow. you look...as beautiful as ever. seriously, why were you ever dating me?" he eventually managed to get out, audibly breathless.

your giggles filled the air as you hoped your makeup meant he couldn't see your entire face going red.

"you look, ok." you were lying straight through your teeth. he could make a trash bag look like a designer outfit and you both knew it. he found it funny enough to let out a chuckle though so maybe it was the right move.

"oh and uh, these are for you." as he remembered the bouquet of baby's breath, white chrysanthemums and blue hyacinth in his hands that he painstakingly put together himself.

"oh they're lovely. thank you. i'll just go put these in a vase and we can go."

he couldn't mess this up now. not again.

"ok, do you plan on telling me where we're going now or is it still a surprise?" you asked locking the front door and heading towards the car.

he opened the passenger door for you as you got in.

"y'know there's a saying that goes something along the lines of 'good things come to those who wait'. you ever heard of that one?" he retorted before getting behind the wheel.

"hmmm, i don't know. doesn't really ring any bells for me."

"that's too bad because i'm still not telling you."

"fine, be that way."

he looked over at you staring out the window refusing to spare him so much as a glance. you always have been a stubborn one he thought. shaking his head with a smirk, he began driving.

you were definitely surprised when you two arrived at the restaurant you raved about months ago - you didn't think he had been fully paying attention while getting ready for bed. now sat down at the secluded booth, you couldn't help but grin at the fact while in awe of the decor. all lewis could do was admire the pure joy and glee present on your face.

"what? why are you looking at me like that?"

"like what?"

"y'know, like that."

"i don't know what you're talking about."

all the other patrons must have been irritated by the way you two couldn't stop chatting and laughing as the bottle of wine dwindled down over several courses of delicious food. but if it meant he could see you so happy after everything he put you through he was ready to pay for them all to leave.

"so i've been thinking, and, i'm ready to take the next step with you. don't worry, i'm not about to get down on one knee right now, but i just thought you should know."

"what changed your mind?"

"i should've listened to you but instead i was an idiot and i let you leave. i'm sorry for that. and everything else. i guess seeing you walk out really brought me to my senses."

"yeah? well i'm glad it did."

"and i am absolutely ready to retire and start a family with you-"

"what?" you almost spat out your wine.

"i've thought about it and i want a family with you more than anything."

"no, lewis, i won't let you do that. you love racing. you said it yourself it's your whole life!"

"not anymore. i want to be there for you and i can't do that if i'm away driving every weekend."

"i can travel while pregnant, lewis. i'd follow you until i am physically unable to and we would be waiting for you until you come back home. i know how much racing means to you and i will always support you. besides, wouldn't you love to have your kid cheer you on in the garage?"

you two were cheekily grinning now at the prospect. he couldn't believe how lucky he was to find you.

"are you sure? it's not going to be easy."

"yes, of course i am. i've been sure for years, lewis. you were the one who wasn't ready."

his smile faltered a little as he wished he could go back in time and tell himself to get his act together. he couldn't change the past but he was damn well going to change your future together.

"ok."

"ok."

to everyone else in the restaurant, it seemed like a normal date, but if lewis kept his word then it meant the start of a completely new chapter in your relationship.

"you ready for this?" you were in awe of the man stood in front of you.

"more than ready."

"stay safe, ok? we want you back in one piece."

"of course. anything for my two favourite girls."

he placed a kiss on your forehead before taking the toddler from your arms.

"you ready to see daddy race? hmm?"

lewis nuzzled his nose against hers and placed gentle kisses all over her face, prompting an endless symphony of infectious giggles.

he had been absolutely petrified when you told him you were pregnant. he wanted nothing more than a family with you but babysitting nieces and nephews was very different to having your own child. even after all the baby books, birthing classes and packing dozens of hospital bags, lewis still almost passed out when your water broke. and if you weren't in excruciating pain due to your rapidly growing contractions, you would have teased him for his panic.

soon enough, his daughter was placed into his arms for the first time and all of a sudden there was nothing to be anxious about. he could still visualise the moment perfectly and yet somehow failed to describe just how he felt looking at the little one's face. she was the perfect mixture of the two of you.

"i'm so proud of you, my love. you know that right?"

season after season, he was left fighting in the midfield when he was finally given a championship contending car to restore his former glory. it was clear to everyone that lewis was more motivated than ever and that he just needed a car good enough to take him back up to the top step. all the late night meetings and simulator runs had finally paid off, as the legendary eighth world championship was won just a few races ago.

now, as you helped him prepare for his final race in formula one, you looked fondly back on the beginning of your relationship. you had everything you always dreamed of and you wouldn't trade it for the world.

"i couldn't disappoint my biggest supporters!"

"even if you didn't win we would still be your biggest supporters! isn't that right, my sweet girl?" you tickled your daughter as she curled back into lewis' neck to evade your hands.

"thank you."

you looked back at him with furrowed brows while fussing over the toddler.

"what for?"

"for everything. for taking me back, for making me the happiest man in the universe. twice, by the way."

you beamed from ear to ear at the reminder of the wedding that awaited you next year. he had proposed to you just before you found out you were pregnant and it felt like your life was falling into place at last. studying his face, you felt content knowing that you were truly meant for each other. nothing else mattered more than what lied ahead of you and you couldn't wait to experience it with the man you had fallen in love with years ago.

"i would do it all over again in a heart beat."

note: omg. it's literally 1 am but i had to finish this before my random streak of motivation ran out. i didn't think so many people would want a part 2 like i was so shocked at how many people enjoyed part 1!! never thought i'd get 10 notes let alone 100+ you are all tooooo kind 🥹

[cloveswifey]

REAL TO ME - MATTHEO RIDDLE

Chapter Three

Series MasterList

As I hastily changed into my school uniform, a wave of nerves engulfed my body. I had overslept, missing breakfast, and my roommate Pansy was nowhere to be found. Despite the strong temptation to skip school and retreat to my dorm room for the day, I reluctantly suppressed that urge.

Taking a deep breath, I made a conscious effort to shake off those thoughts and adopt a nonchalant demeanor. Just as I was mentally preparing myself, the door swung open dramatically, unveiling the sight of my roommate and best friend, already dressed in her uniform and carrying her bag, ready to embark on the day ahead.

"I can't wrap my head around the fact that you're dating Mattheo! It's crazy!" Pansy exclaimed in disbelief as she closed the door. "I never would have guessed that you were secretly screwing Mattheo, while you both were pretending to despise each other." She giggled and crossed her arms,

I let out an awkward chuckle and replied, "Yeah, it's definitely a surprise."

Why on earth would I say such a thing? It couldn't have sounded any more suspicious than my appearance already suggested.

As I fidgeted nervously, she shot me a questioning look. "Is everything alright? You seem a bit tense."

I tried to play it cool. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just need to go meet up with Mattheo in the common room."

She didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure? You sound a bit suspicious."

I cringed inwardly. "No, no, I'm good. Let's just grab my stuff and go."

She grinned, grabbing my bag and tossing it to me. "Alright then, let's get going!"

As we entered the common room, my gaze shifted upwards and I spotted Mattheo casually leaning against the side of the green sofa. Draco, on the other hand, was engrossed in twirling his wand, probably waiting for Pansy.

"Hey, beautiful," Mattheo greeted me, a slight curve forming on his upper lip.

"Hey," I responded, my voice barely audible, as I slowly approached him. Nervously, I chuckled at the thought of this being our first interaction as a couple.

"Are you okay?" he asked, pulling me towards him until I stood between his legs. His arms loosely encircled my waist, causing me to tense up once again. "Relax," he whispered in my ear.

"You two are just too adorable," Pansy let out a delighted squeal as she snuggled into Draco's lap, causing me to chuckle.

In a low, husky voice, Mattheo asked, "What's your first class?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Potions, silly. We're in the same class now, remember?"

Mattheo smirked, his hands still resting on my hips. "Oh, right. But can you keep up with me?"

I shot back with a smirk of my own. "Can you keep up with me?"

He feigned hurt, placing a hand over his heart. "Ouch. Is that how you talk to your boyfriend?"

I grinned. "Yep, that's exactly how I talk to my boyfriend."

"You guys ready?" Draco inquired, a playful laugh escaping his lips, as he confidently moved closer to the painting, signaling our imminent departure.

"Pure-blood," Pansy murmured, as the painting's door slowly swung open.

As we made our way through the winding corridors of the dungeon, we finally arrived at the entrance of the Potion Classrooms. The sign above the archway read 'potions' in bold letters, indicating that we had arrived at our destination.

"Hey, did you hear about the new teacher?" Pansy exclaimed, as we walked in.

"Hey, you guys, grab the textbooks and join the rest of the students," instructed Slughorn while he was busy brewing a potion.

"Well, there you have it, Pansy," Draco chuckled, providing the answer.

As we made our way towards the bookshelf, it was hard not to notice the abundance of books. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that there was a clever illusion at play. In reality, there were only three books on the shelf.

Draco and Pansy quickly snatched one to share, leaving behind two remaining books. One appeared weathered and aged, while the other had a pristine, new look.

I extended my hand to take hold of the fresh one, but Mattheo interjected, "the previous one."

I furrowed my brow and questioned, "Why?"

"Just grab it," he responded with a sigh, muttering, "you're so difficult."

"Why? Undoubtedly, the newer one would be far superior!" I countered.

"Quit acting like a spoiled child," he scoffed, rolling his eyes as he playfully tapped me on the head with the book.

"Hey!" I chuckled, as he swiftly pulled me close to his chest and planted a kiss on my cheek, maintaining the charade.

Beside Theo and Blaise, the four of us stood, with Blaise growing increasingly impatient.

"You guys took so long! Lavender Brown has been bothering me this whole time!" Blaise complained, frowning.

Theo couldn't help but laugh. "You should have seen the look on his face!"

I chuckled and teased, "It's all because of your good looks, Zabini."

Mattheo raised an eyebrow and challenged, "Is that so?"

I playfully rolled my eyes and retorted, "Oh, shush you!"

“Alright students, let's all calm down now...”Slughorn addressed the class.

"Today, we will be exploring the fascinating world of potent potions. Paying close attention to every detail during the preparation process is absolutely crucial." Slughorn emphasized, "It is the foundation of effective planning."

Slughorn's smile widened as the door swung open abruptly, interrupting his sentence. All of us turned our attention towards the archway, where the two boys stood, revealing their presence.

"Ah!" Slughorn exclaimed cheerfully, "Harry, my dear boy, I was starting to get concerned. It seems you've brought a friend along with you."

“Ron Weasley," the red-haired boy said with a frown, clearly not thrilled about being in this particular class. "I must admit, potions has never been my strong suit. It always seems to end in disaster, so I’m just gonna..." he trailed off, attempting to escape the class.

"Nonsense!" Slughorn interrupted him. "We'll help you out. Anyone who's friends with Harry is a friend of mine. Go get the textbook from the cupboard."

"Now, where was I?" Slughorn continued. "Ah, yes. I brewed some potions this morning. Can you guess what they are?"

Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes as Granger's hand shot up in the air.

"Yes, miss...?"

"Granger, sir," she replied before stepping towards the cauldron.

“That over there is veritaserum... it's a serum that compels truthfulness. And that, would be… a polyjuice potion. This right here is amortentia, This is amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world… it’s rumoured to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them."

She took a moment to lean closer to the cauldron and inhale deeply. "For instance, I smell freshly cut grass, along with the scent of new parchment and spearmint toothpaste." A slight frown appeared on her face as she pondered.

Slughorn continued to talk about how Amortentia doesn't actually create love.

"Sir, you haven't mentioned what's in that one," a student interrupted.

Slughorn picked up a small vial and said, "This is a fascinating potion known as Felix Felicis, but it's commonly referred to as-"

"Liquid luck," Hermione interjected, causing Draco to scoff once again at her intelligence.

"Fucking mud-blood" He grumbled.

"Yes, Miss Granger, liquid luck!" Slughorn grinned. "Extremely difficult to brew, disastrous if you make a mistake..." I started to drift off as his rambling became tedious.

"Are you ready, my love?" Mattheo asked.

"Hm?" I replied, confused.

"We're brewing The Draught of Living Death." He chuckled, "pay attention, beautiful." He took my hand and led me to an empty table with two cauldrons - one for Mattheo and me, and the other for Draco and Pansy -

"Go to page ten, love." Mattheo spoke, as I opened the book.

"Mattheo, there are notes on this page," I pointed out as Sopophorous Beans flew around the room.

"Notes? Where?" Mattheo asked, busy measuring out our ingredients.

I directed his attention to the writing beside the word "cut," which read "crush with a blade."

I frowned, unsure of what to do. Mattheo suggested we crush the beans instead of cutting them.

"Are you sure?" I asked skeptically.

"It doesn't seem like anyone is having much luck cutting them," he replied, handing me one of the beans.

I let out a sigh and proceeded to crush one of the beans using the back of my knife. Afterward, I carefully dropped the extracted juices into our cauldron.

Pansy looked puzzled as Draco attempted to slice the Sopophorous Bean, but his efforts were in vain. "How did you manage to do that?" she asked.

"You're supposed to crush it, not cut it," I explained.

"No, the instructions clearly state to cut it," Draco insisted, frowning.

"Leave us be," Mattheo chuckled, as Draco and Pansy groaned. “You’ll figure it out.”

Mattheo mixed the powdered asphodel root with wormwood infusion, resulting in our potion becoming transparent in the cauldron.

I furrow my brow, questioning, "Is it meant to be transparent?"

Matheo's gaze lingers on the potion as he mutters, "I think so..."

Slughorn quickly approached as I look up, a smile playing on my lips, and ask, "Are we finished?"

He smirks and nods, confirming, "Indeed you are."

"By Merlin's beard, it's perfect!" He smiles widely, before he adds a pink leaf to our concoction, causing it to vanish into thin air. "As I promised, you both shall receive a vial of it."

“Thanks sir.” I mutter my gratitude, not fully comprehending the purpose of the potion since I wasn't paying attention.

"Make good use of it."

…

“I told you to listen to me.” Mattheo had a smug grin on his face as we neared my dormitory.

After finishing our potions class, I finally had some free time and decided to take a nap.

"Stop being such a smart-ass." I replied, rolling my eyes.

Mattheo suddenly grumbled, "I'm bringing you to Hogmeade tomorrow!"

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"To help you shop for the masquerade ball," he replied with a chuckle.

"Oh shit, I completely forgot about it!" I exclaimed in shock.

"Don't worry, princess. Go take your nap," he said dismissively.

“We’re alone now… you don’t have to call me pet names.” I mumble with a frown, watching him start to walk away.

"Yeah, yeah," he replied as he descended the stairs.

…

A/N: Hey there! I know this chapter might have been a bit dull, but fear not! Exciting things are just around the corner. I also wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for all your support. My apologies for being a bit inactive lately.

Tag list: @noah-uhhh-what @itsamusical4lifee

[deblklesb]

[Another Diamond Day — Ellabs x Reader Drabble]

[established relationship, farm!au, fluffy/soft, afab!reader]

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

a/n: this is 100% self-indulgent, I'm not being able to finish the request as fast as i wanted but had this cute piece of fluff that had been engraved on my mind 🫂 it's just pure softness and a silly time. love ya!! despite it, i don't want minors interacting with my content so this is still MDNI

not proof read | reblogs are highly appreciated

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

The sun was rising when Abby came back from the corral with a bucket full of fresh milk. A thin fog covered the pasture denouncing a hot day following that cold night, and she already knew you and Ellie would be looking forward to a dive into the lake later. Suzy, the cow from which she milked, was now resting peacefully next to her calf while Abby made her way into the kitchen.

You and Ellie were fast asleep still since that was Abby's day to take the milk. Your limbs entangled with Ellie's in a mess, but comfort reigned on that bed and enveloped you in calm dreams. Abby looked at you both after fixing the milk, the auburn hair of the Williams girl all messy and cute and your adorable pout. She smiled at herself unconsciously, thinking how tranquil your farm were in comparison with the buzzy mornings of Jackson. The community was fine, but nothing compared to that piece of heaven you three had. The days were calm and the chores were shared between you all.

"Morning, sunshine", Abby said when Ellie opened her eyes lazily. Her face was marked by the folds on the pillowcase, and she yawned while pulling you closer.

"Don't keep staring there like a creep, come here", the both of them smiled while the blonde approached the bed.

You squirmed in your, now, light sleep, and soon opened the eyes to see them both next to you. Ellie hid her face on your neck while Abby kissed you face fondly.

"Milk's in the kitchen", she said, a hand going to caress Ellie's arm around you.

"I'm starving", the brunette murmured.

"Let's get up then", you moved slightly, lounging the legs.

"Don't wanna"

"Then starve"

"Goddamn", Abby laughed, followed by you both.

The mood was so cozy and warm, the sun wasn't so bright yet, the chickens were making sounds afar and the air was chill. That was your piece pf heaven.

Sometimes you tried to think what would be of you three if the world wasn't ending. But then realized that the only reason why this was the piece of heaven was the almost-like hell you've been through before. Your parents used to tell you stories about the old world, about music and parties and the fears people had before. They told you about wars and christmas, about ice creams, mathematics and philosophy. It was such a big world and it was all to the ground before you were even born.

Maybe it was impossible to conceptualize that existence in a reality so distant. But, well, it was just the first moments of the morning. You were definitely far too deep into those books you've found.

"C'mon, I'll make us some hearth shaped waffles", you said out loud, getting Ellie's full attention.

"Will you let us eat the cutout edges?"

"What would I do with them, Els?" She kissed your face repeatedly, taking a easy smile from you. On the other side of your face, Abby did the same, finishing with a peck on your lips.

The moment made your heart flutter, and your body suddenly felt so small to contain all the love and excitement them two gave you.

Finally getting out of bed, you and Ellie went to the bathroom before meeting Abby in the kitchen picking up the stuff to make breakfast. She placed it all in the island carefully and all you could think about was how delicate she could be all the time.

Most people get intimidated by her size, but Abigail is one of the most careful woman on the planet most of the times - if she needs to beat you, that's another story. Her hands would travel along your skin lightly while you're laying on the couch listening to the radio, crickets and tree tops whispering from outside, enveloping you in a tranquil time. When she casually puts one of Ellie's hair strands behind her ear, it exhales delicacy and tenderness.

"Thank you, love", you say while pecking her biceps.

Ellie puts coffee on the stove for both you and Abby and then grabs juice from the refrigerator for herself.

"Who's shaving the sheeps today?" Williams ask, sitting on the kitchen isle.

"You", Abby is kick to answer.

"I'm getting the vegetables" you add. "And Abby is cutting wood"

"Oh man, I thought I would cut the wood today", her pout is adorable as she laments, earning a peck from the blonde.

"That's tomorrow, you dork"

You were prepping the waffles and fixing the strawberry syrup, satisfied with the sweet smell running around the kitchen, even with the small window open. You notice a wild cat running outside, trying to catch some insect in the field.

"Hey, isn't that the same cat from last time?"

"Really?!" Ellie almost jump, coming to look outside. "Should we keep it?"

"You don't even know if it wants to stay with us", Abby laughs.

"Who wouldn't want to stay with us?"

"Sometimes I reconsider my decisions", you chuckle with these words coming from the blonde.

As they eat the cutouts, you place the same amount of waffles to each one and then put the syrup on the table. Ellie takes the coffee and mugs, Abby gets the bread and what is left of the chicken.

The breakfast goes calming, comfortable after Ellie puts some disco to play from the living room. You and her mumble the song as Abby stays silent, enjoying the presence and the energy surrounding the place. It's a beautiful day to walk around and maybe go swimming on the lake nearby a little, as the area is always clear due to Jackson's patrols. You three also go out in some runs, just to make sure, and the last time you found an infected it was alone.

"Okay, I wanna finish it soon, so let's not waist any time, ladies", you announce as soon as you finish.

"Wanna go swimming later?"

"Only after the chores"

"I bet a boob I'll finish it first!" Ellie collects the plates, smirking even though she has the longest chore for the day.

"You bet. With these babies, the wood will be cut in no time", Anderson flexes her arms, making you roll your eyes. It would never be boring with them both around.

"I just wanna get the vegetables"

And so the day starts.

You change clothes to a more appropriate to the soil environment, putting a cloth on your head to hold the sweat you know will come drip down your face. The boots come later, dirty from all the external use. You put a sunglass you found on a old Jackson patrol and get the basket and the gloves from the back porch.

The garden looks beautiful. Vibrant green pops from the healthy soil, you recognize it after working so much on the thing back in Jackson. A smile takes place in your face as you go collect the vegetables, carefully walking through the plants to later kneel between them.

Ellie is good with the sheeps. She talks to them, calling by their names - you never knew how she could tell them one from another, and somehow Abby could do it too. Only some wildly different you could keep in mind. But Ellie was always making jokes and petting them, hugging the animals after shaving them and saying how much of a good work they did.

"That's it, Madam Olivia, you're so brave!", she murmurs, kissing the sheep on the forehead before letting it go. "Sir Callahan, you're next! No, you're not running away from me this time, I know you're all nice with Abigail, it's me you have for today, okay? Yeah, it'll be okay, it'll be fine. I'll bring a coat made of your fur, what you say?"

Despite the sun, she stays with the back to it and put all the fur on a sack. They'll take it to Jackson in the weekend, using the time to visit Joey, Tommy, Maria and your mom. The woman makes her best to clean them before cutting the fur, paying attention to sticks and bugs even though a cleaning work will happen in the city too.

Abby is nearby you, getting all the wood she'll have to cut today next to a large trunk. While you collect the vegetables, you can hear the axe going down again and again, the cracking of the wood and then it being thrown next to her. This goes on for over an hour.

It's almost relaxing, to be honest. She focuses on one task and try not to get hurt, mind empty. The pieces end up all pilled on the other side, waiting to be stocked away.

It's before midday when you three finish it all. You also clean the vegetables and cut some of them, making sure to treat the soil later.

"Run to the lake?" Ellie it's the one to suggest, gaining a smirk from Abby almost immediately.

"No", you cut, laughing. "Let's just get our stuff peacefully and go there in our sweet time, please"

They obligated for the most part. You actually got the stuff: towels, clothes and food. But later, when getting close from the lake, Abby started running and Ellie wasn't the one to deny it. And you came right after, making your away on the trail, still partially cautious about the sounds.

Apparently it was all clear, as usual. Taking off the clothes were secure. Abby puts it folded on a rock, Ellie just trows it there before jumping in the water.

You never like the contact of a body of water around you immediately, it takes a minute to get used to it. The way every movement reaches to your skin, and how completely different it is; like experiencing two different realities at once. You have patience to relax before going to the two women messing around and enjoying the fresh water under the sun.

Once you saw this old painting on a suburbian house, you mother told you what suburbs were. The painting had this beautiful lake on it, fast and raw brush strokes creating the image of a landscape. First you thought how cool it was to be able to create something like that. Then, you imagined what would it be to bathe on that place, with a little bit of tranquility and the company of whoever wanted you good.

It was good. It was sweet. And it was true. As you felt Abby's arms around you in the water, as you reached to put Ellie's hair away from her face, you realized once again that it was real, you were there. Touching them and living with them, breathing, feeling, and you couldn't think of anywhere else you'd rather be.

Birds sang sweetly around the pond, the sounds coming from everywhere sporadically as the time passed in front of your eyes. One of those rare moments when the good doesn't fly away, but walks with you, hand in hand, guiding your perception through the details. Their cool skin against yours, little drops on the limbs above water, wet hair slowing drying as breaths were so loud you thought it could be heard miles away.

"I love you. So much", you whisper under the natural track, sighing.

"We love you too", Abby said, face resting on your head as her arms enveloped you, and Ellie's hands rested on the blonde woman's biceps.

Ellie kisses your cheek as you smile.

The afternoon walks with you lovely for the next hours, and then it's time to go home again. You spent some time sitting on the border to better dry, putting back the clothes. Now, them both do not run around, just calmly wander next to you in silence for the most part.

"I'll go get the food, you to can shower first", Ellie said as soon as you reached the limits of the farm.

"Okay, thank you, sweety", you hold her hand.

When the night approaches, signing that a new day is closer than before, you three are with warm clothes on the living room. You and Abby read a book, Ellie reads a comic, and the limbs are tangled on the couch. As tempting as it was, the fireplace would never be lighted up in order to not attract unwanted people, so duvets and socks are essential for this moments.

And for the next hour you three just sit in silence and appreciate the comfort of each other's presences, before going to bed together to finish another day.

[vgperson]

What Did I Do In 2023?

Whatever I wanted, mostly.

----

As I mentioned last year, my site now has an RSS feed with basically everything I've done back to 2020, so this will mainly be going over the same stuff from that, just with added context.

In January, I finally sat down and properly realized an idea for a short story I'd had sitting around for a while: From the Sidelines, about a fantasy RPG expedition going sideways. I remain very proud of it in both concept and execution, and hope people read it.

In February, Your Turn To Die was released on Steam Early Access, receiving character profiles and some bonus mini-episodes, adding two more later in the year.

After finishing From the Sidelines, I carried that momentum to revisit my Ut0p1a story series about funny computer animals. I'd always meant to continue it - and conclude it - but hadn't been satisfied with the ideas I had for it until totally rethinking them this year. In March, I posted the remaining stories one after another: Right to Code and Left to Code. I'm very proud of these as well. Also in March, Kenshi Yonezu released LADY. (Video, interview)

In April, Uri released the Data Book of the Strange Men Series, a big collection of the writing she's done on the games in the series, with a lot of new parts as well, all translated by me.

Then in May... uh, well, let's see. In April, Capcom released the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. I always adored the Battle Network games, and was initially excited that they finally did the thing... but by the time it came out, I was pretty disappointed by how, while you certainly couldn't call them low-effort ports, the effort didn't extend everywhere I thought it should, with the biggest offenders being the total absence of any "convenience features" except Buster Max Mode, the bad font, and the almost entirely untouched translations.

So, I ended up deciding I might as well just replay the originals, and that was a fun time (aside from the parts that were bad). Doing this, I couldn't help but notice how... turbulent the translations were, even if I'd always known they were less than ideal. I mean, the first two games just used periods for ellipses despite the tight character limits, then in BN3 they had an ellipsis character... but it's center-aligned, Japanese-style? Aside from the intro, which has normal ones? Gosh, somebody should fix that - it's simple enough to find and edit in YY-CHR. "JapanMan" is silly, too - I wonder if anybody made a patch for that? Wait, what do you mean there's just a tool to extract and insert text in all the Battle Network games including the Legacy Collection???

Thus began a journey that sort of occupied the rest of my year. First I did the BN3 Translation Revision, trying not to worry too much about cross-referencing the Japanese text unless something seemed wrong, so that I didn't spend too long on the project. Then I began to consider BN2, with its unfortunate "foreigner" text that would need some more significant reworking. I established more convenient tools for comparing with the Japanese script, and thus did a much more thorough job with it, releasing the BN2 Translation Revision in June (AKA Princess Pride Month).

Finally, after giving myself time to recover and actually finish replaying the series, I knew what I had to do to close things out. With the BN4 Translation Revision, you can finally play Battle Network 4 with a translation that isn't such a mess. Whether you'd want to is for you to decide, though if you can get over the structure, I don't think it's the worst game in the series by any means. (Oh, and in December I also updated the BN3 Revision to 1.1, doing a thorough pass with the methods I'd honed. But I think I'm pretty much good on MMBN translations now.)

Anyway, backtracking to other things that happened during my Battle Network haze... June had Kenshi Yonezu's Moongazing (video, interview), and July had Globe (video, interview, interview).

Last but not least, released in November, I translated Refind Self: The Personality Test Game, a short game from Lizardry (creator of 7 Days to End with You) with a fun concept.

----

Obviously I was right to have said "no promises" last year. But really, Your Turn To Die should get its final part on Steam sometime next year, maybe even early-ish in it. That's certainly the goal.

I'm also hoping to buckle down and finish one of my own games, but as usual, who knows how that'll pan out. Letting my whims carry me this year let me finally finish From the Sidelines and Ut0p1a, which was great, and it also led me down a Battle Network rabbit hole, which was... fine, but definitely for a narrower audience. I'd always like to get back to more free game translations and the like, too, but it takes effort to find things I'd want to translate. For now, I think my increasing desire to be able to let loose some of these original games I've been planning, and the stories in them, might come out on top.

[merakiui]

PLEASE WRITE THAT SPY AU PLEASE

I'M SO TEMPTED AAAAAAAAA,, orz but I can't write anything else until I finish tmdg (and the rest of the fics on my list). But just know that if I do write Floyd spy au, it would naturally have to include these very crucial details and scenes:

✧ hand-to-hand combat training with Floyd and you're one of the only other agents (aside from Jade) who can match Floyd's pace and sporadic fighting style. Exchanging blows is fun, even more so if you manage to give Floyd the ass-kicking of a lifetime. He's lying flat on his back and you're standing over him and he's never been more horny in his life before.

✧ reader finding out that Floyd's father is the head of the mafia they've been investigating on the sly. Perhaps it's one of those scenarios where the mafia has taken something from you or you're on the run from Mr. Leech's debt collectors, so there's lots of angst to be had when you find out Floyd is the son of your enemy. The betrayal is so yummy... orz Floyd being a wolf in sheep's clothing all along. Oh, you thought he was an agent allied under the same cause as you? As if. <3 (or the misunderstanding angst!!!! Floyd trying to tell you that he's different and not like his father, but you won't hear any of it.)

✧ things get particularly perilous during a mission and maybe the enemy has you cornered. You think this is the end, but then Floyd's there, killing them in the most brutal, cold-blooded way. And you don't see his usual goofy, carefree grin or hear his nasally laughter. It's just this blank, dead-eyed stare and the ever-so-subtle curl of his lip as he sneers at the one who dared to threaten his Shrimpy's life. He shrugs off the bloodlust afterwards just to give you a silly smile and say, "Aww, did I scare ya, Shrimpy? My bad."

✧ missions with Floyd as your partner never go to plan, which means you're both often called into Azul's office so he can scold the two of you (although most of his ire is usually directed at Floyd) for "fucking up the mission." And Floyd has such a smart mouth on him, so it drives Azul insane (even though Azul knows what he's getting into when he assigns these missions to Floyd; it's mainly why he has a partner. You're there to keep him in check). T_T

"But we got the stuff you wanted, Azul."

"Yes, but I specifically said it was to be entirely covert."

"But we got the stuff."

"But you weren't covert."

"So what? We got the stuff. Who gives a damn about—" and you're already dragging Floyd out before he can continue bickering with Azul.

✧ Floyd who always gets you into the most dangerous situations during missions and he's always the one who saves you from said situations. Danger just follows him wherever he goes, but he also has a penchant for inciting it.

✧ his code name is "Bind the Heart," but Floyd thinks that's so lame and so he just uses his real name even though Azul's choked him out for it every time. So now he settles for BTH as a shortening and if anyone asks what it means he says, with full seriousness, "Bacon Tomato Hamburger." LOL

✧ Floyd who is so down bad for you that he's always flirting with you in his own weird, Floyd way, and each time you shut him down with a stern, "Never gonna happen," because you're dedicated to your job (and love is a distraction in this line of work). But Floyd's not one to give up and he keeps trying because according to him, "Never might be today and tomorrow, but Shrimpy doesn't know what'll happen in the future..." (He's right; the two of you end up fucking months later because Azul booked a hotel room for you to share on one of your missions and it did have more than one bed, but why sleep separately when you can sleep together?)

✧ despite how closely you and Floyd work together and how chatty he can be when he's in the mood, neither of you know much about the other's personal life. Cue Floyd wanting to know more about you and you getting suspicious each time. And he always answers your questions with, "Because. Can't I ask about Shrimpy's life if I'm plannin' on bein' in it long-term?" He will be the death of you........ orz

✧ Floyd gets himself badly injured on a mission, so he's stuck on bed rest until he heals up. Which means you're transferred to Agent Shock the Heart in the meantime, and Floyd does not like the idea of you and Jade cozying up during missions. >:( he's in Jade's ear the entire time the both of you are on the mission (he dragged himself out of bed and to HQ's tech room just to steal the microphone from the agent who was in communication with Jade) and he's saying stuff like, "Jade, you lay a finger on Shrimpy and I'll break all of yours..." and Jade just has to be annoying, so he's like, "We get married in June. I do hope you'll be my best man."

✧ a classic confession in the midst of an argument. Maybe the mission got too risky and you have to leave behind your team; you and Floyd get into an argument about it and essentially it ends with him yelling, "Cuz I ain't ready to lose ya!" And you look at him with so much confusion because what is he talking about? And Floyd's so angry he's even tearing up and from there it's a soft admission of feelings: "Cuz I like ya... A lot. A whole fuckin' lot. And I'd rather those other guys take the fall than let you get hurt for 'em." AAAAAAAAAAA OTL

[mime-the]

Yeah it’s fanfic Saturday, I wrote a chapter one for the silly prologue thing I made the other day. Here you go for those interested…

Pure Vanilla Cookie woke up with a start, his heart pounding. Another nightmare, he thought. He listened to the soft song of one of the faerie kingdom’s many birds, bringing himself to the present moment, giving his spinning mind the time to ground itself as well. Tick… Tick… He listened to the ambient ticking of the clock. Just a nightmare. Nothing real, Pure Vanilla Cookie reminded himself.

Plenty of horrible dreams had visited him along his long life, but none quite so violent and rage-fueled as the ones that came after White Lily Cookie had sealed the Beast of Deceit right back into his prison. He knew this was no coincidence, but he had no solution... Pure Vanilla Cookie opened his eyes slightly, reaching toward his staff and sliding off his bed.

The Faeries had insisted on giving the party their own rooms, and Pure Vanilla Cookie had noticed the lilies they had decorated the room with, alongside a few other flowers. The room itself was quite spacious, a lavishly adorned shelf of books on the opposite side to silver cabinets which he had been told had extra clothes, would he need them during their stay. A mirror laid on the wall next to the cabinets, the rim had small little patterns carved around it. Patterns which the Faeries just loved to etch into many of the things they built.

There was a desk near one of the windows, holding a lamp and writing utensils. It was often a comfortably warm spot in the room, where Pure Vanilla Cookie often found himself sitting to watch the birds outside and drink tea whilst thinking about the council and his friends. His bed was adorned with soft cream colored fabrics, a splash of blue flowery patterns here or there among them. The bed sheets were white, stripes methodically sewn into it like chocolate drizzle. He was grateful for how comfortable the bed was, but despite his attempts it never granted him a fulfilling night’s rest.

He walked to the mirror, fixing his hair and getting dressed for the day in his typical attire, then folded his pajamas and fixed the bed. He moved soundlessly to the window, taking in the humbly peaceful sight of the Faerie Kingdom. Pure Vanilla Cookie was glad to have helped bring the calm and stop the chaos Shadow Milk Cookie had sewn right through it.

He frowned… he hadn’t really done all that much, did he? It was White Lily Cookie’s wise thinking that had actually resolved all this. He’d just gotten strung up and held hostage. Pure Vanilla Cookie held his hand up to his head, it’s too early to start thinking such thoughts. He should at least get something to fill his stomach for the time being. The ever-present feeling of being watched only grew stronger as he made his way to the door.

He walked out through the elegant silver halls, saying his hellos and good mornings to the stray Faerie here or there, reminding himself to be thankful of their hospitality. Pure Vanilla Cookie made his way to the cafe which he had been introduced to as soon as the party had decided they’d be staying here until word got back from the other members council. He noticed Gingerbrave and his friends already there, and it didn’t take long for them to notice him too.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie! Come here! You HAVE to try these jellies, they’re sooo good,” Gingerbrave shouted, before stuffing his face once more. Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn’t help but smile as he walked closer. He sat down on one of the metal chairs they had set on the outdoor tables, three little cookies talking to each other. “Gingerbrave, I think you should slow down…! We don’t want you to get sick,” mumbled Strawberry Cookie, watching her friend with a worried expression. Pure Vanilla Cookie let out a little laugh, “You’re enjoying your stay here by the looks of it.”

“Yes! The Faeries really know their stuff when it comes to the food,” Gingerbrave commented, between mouthfuls of food. Pure Vanilla Cookie observed what they were eating. An assortment of jellies, varying in size and color and a few little berries to accompany them. Wizard Cookie piped up, noticing Pure Vanilla Cookie’s interest, “They said these jellies were mixed with Honey, giving them their gold color. We’ve had a few before back at the feasts but I never got to see them for too long… ahem.” He then motioned to Gingerbrave, which was now lying on the table, face flat against the wood, lightly grumbling.

Strawberry Cookie had picked out a berry, and frowned at him. Pure Vanilla Cookie was glad the kids were having a better time than he was here. He himself picked up one of the smaller jellies, never having much of an appetite. “How have the Faeries been to you?” He questioned, before taking a few polite bites. “They’ve been really nice! One of them has taken it upon themselves to teach us some more stories, separate from the Beasts,” Strawberry Cookie told him, now patting her friend on the back as he visibly regretted his decision.

Wizard cookie lit up at the mention, nodding vigorously, “Oh yes! It’s very interesting to learn the history of the Faeries. They hold Elder Faerie Cookie and White Lily Cookie to very high regard in their stories.” Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckled, “I’m very happy to know that you’re all feeling as welcome as me.” The little group talked for a while longer, sharing laughs and stories here and there. Pure Vanilla Cookie then nodded to the young cookies, having eaten his awkwardly small fill, “Well, you should make sure Gingerbrave makes it home to his room without too much of an issue. I am in the mood to go feed the birds. Have a good day, you three!”

“Goodbye Pure Vanilla Cookie!” called Strawberry Cookie as he left, turning back to talk to Wizard Cookie. Pure Vanilla Cookie walked down the paths of the Faerie Kingdom, the ones he’d chosen to familiarize himself with. It was now, away from his friends, that he felt that glare boring into every part of his dough. He tried to ignore it but the thought always gnawed away in his mind.

Eventually he’d made his way to the little clearing he had found whilst walking through the kingdom, a calm little place where birds curiously flew to peck at the floor and pick up branches. Pure Vanilla Cookie sat down on the silky grass, carefully placing his staff on the ground next to him. “It’s a wonderful day… is it not?” he thought out loud, looking at his staff as if it’d respond. It just gave him a silent look before closing its eye and resting.

Pure Vanilla Cookie sat there, thinking to himself for a few moments before taking out the bag of seed he had brought with him and throwing some in an arc around him. He watches as a few yeast birds fly down curiously and begin pecking at the birdseed. These little birds were the main inhabitants of the Faerie Kingdom, a combination of the blue birds he was used to seeing back in his own kingdom and the yeast spores that wandered the forest. He watched them gladly, holding his hand out to let one land on it. Pure Vanilla Cookie held his hand there as one of the inquisitive younger ones landed on it, and he gave it a few little scratches.

Just as he watched the little bird fly off happily, he heard an all too familiar voice call out from within him, laced with pure fury “You fool.”

[the-s1lly-corner]

I'm back on my silly goofy haha bullshit once more. [This time with itward]

Itward with a reader who likes to make bread and tend to plants, maybe they make flower crowns and gifts for itward like bread and plant related things! [A basket made out of dead grass or handmade paper/books! Paper can be made from a bunch of weeds and just plants in general mixed with baking soda and boiled!]

Make sure to take time to rest, get water and eat something, such as a snack! :D

Itward x reader who bakes and does plant stuff !

LETS GO ITWARD FANS WE EATING TONIGHT!!!!!

God I'm so so sad that fran bow and little misfortune is.. not that popular <\3 or at least doesnt have a huge active fanbase

Which sucks because it deserves the attention! The game is amazing and did a lot for me growing up (comfort media am I right?) And you can tell the creators put so so so much passion into the games

Also itward pretty

Honestly until we are confirmed otherwise, I like to think that everyone returned to ithersta after the end of the game... and until more content comes out (iirc they are working on a DLC bonus chapter! Dont quote me on that !!) And disproves that, I am going to believe that itward raises fran in ithrsta

Anyways

Whether the reader is human or from a different reality, they're here in ithersta, too! Plus I think that's the most fitting place given the prompt :0

You and itward love baking together, often exchanging recipes and sharing tips on how to get the best product!

Imagine you two start a garden in order to be more self sufficient! Berries and veggies (get creative with the bread flavors!!!!) and the like are grown in your garden as well as some herbs and such! As well as other general plants that may be needed for whatever; potions, ointments, ect!

Plus itward just seems to be the type to be as self sufficient as possible, doesn't tend to buy things unless it's something he truly cant produce on his own..

Very friendly but asides from Fran, mr midnight, palontras, ziar, and the great wizard, and even cogwing, I dont think itward speaks to many people, given his introverted nature... at least according to the character sheet KMGs posted a few months ago!

Keeps every single piece of paper you've made for him. Compiling them all into multiple books! Keeps all his books in a little shelf he built in his ship... they're all kept neat, tidy, and dusted!

Ooouuugh he looooves when you make him flower crowns, loves slipping them around his hat and letting them rest on the brim of it

Dries out the crowns so he can preserve them for as long as possible... adds them to the main area of his flying ship, where the little shadow theatre thing is!

No thoughts only you two in the garden and he tucks a flower behind your ear.. looks at you with so so much love

You think his eyes can get all huge? Like cat eyes? Because I think so... his eyes get all round when he looks at you

Full of love

Okay back to the baking portion of this because I'm kind of neglecting it a bit, I feel

Theres nothing sweeter than baking something with your loved one, and enjoying your team work and company

I think you guys would have music softly playing in the background while you both work together

Maybe I want to rewatch fried green tomatoes, but you guys end up having a lighthearted food fight

Completely out of character for itward, but I think you can spark this silliness in him

Plus despite what the suit may imply, I think itward doesnt mind getting dirty... I mean he literally is an engineer! Bro probably gets greasy sometimes! Please help him clean the crevices between his bones

... that's another idea I absolutely adore and have talked about ^^^

Hold his hand and help him clean between his bones, please please he'd be so still and patient

[cherryrainn]

hey don’t know if you saw this I had the suggestion of headcanons for Moxxie and Millie being parents to a half-succubi/imp little girl 6-8 Moxxie fathered on a one night stand he’s only just discovered after he was contacted the girl was found to be his through a dna test as the girl was put up for adoption at birth. After the shock and talking it over with Millie they agree to adopt the girl and raise her. I like the idea she’d be a sweet happy little thing like I imagine moxxie was when his dad wasn’t around and having a good voice like him too. I imagine she’d look like her grandma but with white hair and succubus wings. I could see Mox as being both a terrified and overprotective dad while at the same time a sweet and loving one. Millie I think she’d be less worried and let her have fun, being a sweet loving mama, though if anyone hurts her little girl they’re fucked. Also how the rest of imp is with her. Blitz would be the crazy/cool uncle type while Loona would like the kid once she warmed up to her but could act distant like an older sister. I could also see Mox/Mills asking Stolas for parenting advice as well. Just wanna clarify mox didn’t cheat this was years before he met Millie.

M&M WITH A HALF SUCCUBI/IMP DAUGHTER .

; pairing ; millie + moxxie

; note ; this is so sweet 😭i had a lot of fun making these up. hope this is good!

; warnings ; none

the initial shock of discovering he has a daughter is overwhelming for moxxie.

he goes through a whirlwind of emotions, from disbelief to fear of becoming a father.

millie, being the supportive and understanding wife she is, helps moxxie come to terms with the situation.

after many conversations and sleepless nights, they decide to open their hearts to their newfound daughter.

their daughter, a sweet and happy little girl, quickly steals their hearts.

she has moxxie's good-natured personality and a voice that echoes his own.

her laughter is like music to their ears.

her appearance takes after moxxie's side of the family, resembling her grandmother, but with unique features like white hair and delicate succubus wings.

moxxie, despite being terrified and overprotective, is a devoted father.

he reads parenting books, installs security systems, and learns how to do her hair.

he's the dad who's anxious about scraped knees and bedtime stories.

millie, on the other hand, is the laid-back and loving mama.

she encourages their daughter's creativity and adventurous spirit.

she's the one who introduces her to imp games and lets her stay up a bit later on weekends.

blitzo becomes the cool uncle, showering her with pranks and silly jokes

he takes her under his arm for impromptu adventures and teaches her the fine art of chaos.

moxxie is totally against this though, millie also a little bit.

but that man just doesn't back down.

he wants the be the greatest uncle of all time

loona, acting distant at first, eventually warms up to the little one.

she becomes an older sister figure, protective in her own way. deep down, she cares a lot but struggles to express it.

moxxie and millie, unsure about certain parenting aspects, cautiously approach stolas for advice.

surprisingly, stolas is 100% down to help out

if anyone dares to hurt their little girl, those two are NOT letting whoever did it get away with it.

they go CRAAZZYY

over time, they create their own family traditions, from their own holidays to weekend movie nights.

just some fun stuff

[tariah23]

I wanna know why you're still reading JJK not because it's bad but bc I love seeing you rant about things you love

NATEjajajaaj tbh, I complain about everything I like and everything that I’ve said thus far about JJK, I still feel strongly about because I KNOW that it used to be written way better before but despite all of that, I can honestly say that I still enjoy it a ton. It’s so fun!? I can’t look away?!? I haven’t felt this way about a manga, especially a shounen of all things, in… I really don’t know (I kind of don’t like to count csm since it’s still a seinen to me…). Jjk is joining the ranks of my love for Naruto 🙈……. As absurd as that might sound, it makes me feel nostalgic despite not being that old!!!

It definitely deserves all of its praise as well and I’m not just saying this just because I’m a fan. If it didn’t, I’d definitely say otherwise. I’m glad that everyone is fucking with it! It just made the  Guinness world book of records the other day, I kind of want to throw up 😭. Knowing how Gege’s been writing the story lately, he probably doesn’t give a shit. He just wants to finish JJK as soon as possible so that he could get back to doing fuck all. Well… good for him. But, I’m genuinely glad that I got into it! The fans are annoying but that’s to be expected from a mainstream shounen unfortunately. It’s so nice ignoring them though. That’s the only way you’ll be able to enjoy something as big of a series like this tbh.

All of the characters that I’ve liked or loved never got to the point where they were written horribly like, I can say that Gege has remained pretty consistent in the characterization department, which is a plus, since whenever I get into stuff, I tend to pay a lot of attention to things like this especially. Yuuji is still Yuuji, Sukuna is still that petty old bitch, Gojo remained as silly and courageous till the very end (even tho I still wished that Gege could’ve focused more on Gojo’s trauma… it would’ve been nice to see him overcome the burden of being the apex of the jujutsu society… he was so much more than an idol and he still died believing that that was all that he was. Someone who was so far removed from humanity that he continued to tell himself that this would be all that he ever was and that even if his friends and peers truly did love and respected him, they’ll never learn to “understand,” him because he’s so much more powerful than they were. Their lives would never be the same. And he could never make any of them truly happy in the end. I really HATED THAT Gege let that man go to that DAMN airport still holding onto to his loneliness like this 😭😭😭… and then when you think back to that one scene in the story where various other characters were asked about their feelings towards Gojo, and all most of them had to say was that “he’s the strongest,” I just… :(… Obviously, he’s well respected despite his personality but 😭… Gege, you will burn for this-

I do enjoy how ridiculous JJK can get as well. People can talk badly about it all they want but you can’t say that it’s predictable lmfao. This looney toons ass plot 😭!!! I’m kind of here for the shenanigans. It’s been pretty repetitive as of lately though. Mainly the whole Sukuna vs everyone thing that’s been going on starting from Kashimo (his dumbass) right after Gojo’s death… but it’s okay. Outside of my favs being slaughtered left and right 👎🏾☠️. You can tell that Gege is just rushing through the story now though :/. I kind of can’t wait for it to end but I’m still enjoying the ride until the wheels fall off! I want Yuuji and the rest of the gang to be able to enjoy the rest of their lives, man… Gege wrote JJK with a chip on his shoulder 😭.

[itsavgbltpta]

Should You Watch The Anime?

(Speed Run Winter 2024 Edition!)

I watch too many shows a season to really want to dig deep and review all of them, but since we're a few weeks into the Spring 2024 anime season, I figure I can give you a rundown of the Winter 2024 season!

I'm only talking about shows I finished, and maybe only a couple with sentences on my judgement and some flavor text. If you want to know more about my thoughts for a specific anime listed, let me know and maybe's I'll do a full review on it.

So, Should You Watch The Anime?

In no particular order...

Fluffy Paradise (Isekai de Mofumofu Nadende suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu)

No. It's not a bad show, but not really worth the time either - unless you just have to see a little girl petting random animals and monsters.

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic (Chiyu Mahou no Machigatta Tsukaikata)

Yes, if you like isekai that take their time building things up. Fun premise and fun characters, though it doesn't have a conclusive ending.

Mashle season 2

Yes, though only if you watched season 1 already. Still a lot of dumb shounen fun, but now with the best OP of the year.

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru)

Yes, if you're looking for a good romance anime with interesting characters/world. I liked it so much I read all the translated light novels out so far.

Mr. Villain's Day Off (Kyuujitsu no Warumono-san)

Yes, if you're looking for a unique slice of life show. It has chill vibes most of the time, but also some heartfelt stuff. And pandas.

High Card season 2

Not really, even if you watched season 1. They added some weird twists and barely resolve character arcs.

Snack Basue

Maybe, but only if you like kuso-anime and can appreciate assholes as they converse. I laughed at this one more than I thought I would, but it ain't for everyone.

Delusional Monthly Magazine (Gekkan Mousou Kagaku)

No, but it's decent for an anime aimed at a younger audience. Just a little too silly for most of the run, so I couldn't get invested.

Bucchigiri?!

Absolutely Yes if you love dudes that kick each other's asses while feeling like they should be making out with each other instead. This was my favorite show of the season, but I also have unique tastes, lol.

Brave Bang Bravern! (Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern)

Maybe, as long as you jive with the main protagonist and don't guess the big twist by episode 3. Guessing the twist so early kind of made the rest of the show a slog. I did want to like this one, but it was just okay in my book.

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard (30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Mareru Rashii)

Yes, if you're cool with Boys Love. Despite the absurd premise, the show conveys adult romance fairly well - and the couple actually communicates with each other!

Shangri-La Frontier (Shangri-La Frontier: Kusoge Hunter, Kamige ni Idoman to su)

Yes, especially if you're the type of person who watches Let's Plays. I am that person, so I had a lot of fun watching the progression through the game, especially with the great animation.

Metallic Rouge

No, unless you're really hard up for some sci-fi anime. I wanted to like this one, but it failed on a lot of levels.

[cryptid-moose]

tattoo hcs for psych characters

Shawn: - Has a shitty, partially faded stick n poke tattoo of a pineapple on his ankle he did when he was 18 or 19 and couldn't afford to get a professional one done - He also has his mom's birthday tattooed on his wrist (professionally done this time), first line in roman numerals, the second in regular english numbers. Having that little reminder of his mom helps him during times when his mental health gets really bad. - Sometime after Henry gets shot Shawn considers getting his dads bday on his other wrist, idk if he went through with it or not tho.

Gus: - Gus doesn't have tattoos cause if his mother were to ever find out it would break her christian heart....and also she'd probably murder him lol /nsrs - He almost got a tattoo when he was drunk, but he bailed out at the last second. This actually happens quite often. - If he did end up getting a tattoo I'd like to imagine it'd be something space themed :)

Juliet: - Has this really cool floral design with lots of big flowers on the back of her shoulder - She wants to get DOZENS of other tattoos but currently hasn't found the time to schedule an appointment, especially cause most of the tattoos she wants to get done would take multiple, hours long sessions

Carlton: - He, unfortunately, committed the cardinal sin of getting your partner's name tattooed. He's got his ex-wife Victoria's name in a fancy font across his collarbone, probably another attempt to save his marriage -He's going to tattoo removal sessions tho thank god -His pain tolerance is usually higher than most people (he literally drank scalding hot coffee without screaming out in pain lmao), but getting a tattoo makes him so physically uncomfortable that i dont think he'd every get one again, despite how fun getting a tattoo of his favorite gun sounds lol.

Buzz: - Buzz canonically has had a Baha Men tattoo (removed), although this was according to Shawn so you can take that information with a grain of salt lol - Probably has a silly little lineart doodle of an alien somewhere - He and Francine have little matching tattoos of baby ducks <3, Buzz's has a cowboy hat and Francine's has a Wild Rag (the bandana thingies), the artstyle is very similar to the soft fluffy artstyle you see in older children's books, kinda like peter rabbit (but not quite peter rabbit) - Little banana wearing a cowboy hat 💪, Buzz likes cowboys and their hats - A couple doodles of his pets - He's like Kurtis Conner except not edgy (i dont actually think Kurtis is edgy thats just the only way i can describe the difference between them and their tattoos lmao)

Karen: - Has an Iris flower tattoo on her upper arm dedicated to her daughter - Probably has a book/movie quote somewhere - Other than that i don't really see her as being much of a tattoo person, she only ever gets tattoos if its something super meaningful to her

Woody: - Woody has a y2k style hello kitty tramp stamp, why? cause i think it would be funny as hell HSUADFVHUFE - He got it completely seriously too, was a gift from a "tattoo artist friend" (random guy he barely knows who bought a tattoo gun on amazon) - The linework is awful, Woody has never actually fully seen the tattoo, he just took the guy's word for it when he told woody it looked sick as hell. - Has shown it off to everyone at the sbpd, no one has the heart or guts to tell him how bad it looks, Lassiter almost did but Chief Vick stopped him - Has genuinely never occurred to him to ask someone to take a photo of it for him so he can properly see it

Henry: - You'd think he'd have a tattoo but surprisingly he doesn't yet - He would've gotten one already if not for the fact hes very indecisive about that stuff, the whole "drawing that will stay on your body for the rest of your life thing" is a lot of pressure for him - He just worries about getting something that he'll end up hating a few years down the line - Has considered getting a tattoo dedicated to Shawn on multiple occasions, but then Shawn pisses him off once more and he drops the idea again for another couple months lmao

[aroacesigma]

U SHOULD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i adore ff15 i've played it like four times and have a save file that has nearly (Or maybe even over now?) 300 hours in it.

like the game does get HEAVY at points (esp if you play some of the dlc. episode prompto and episode ignis are. ouhghhghghg.) but its pretty lighthearted despite it. the boys have a lot of fun banter (unfortunately a lot of the world banter just. stops triggering once you enter the post-game state? its sucky. i miss prompto's silly comments...) and there's a lot of cute little details.... also you can customize the car :)

the endgame got a little rushed due to like. development constraints and stuff (the dlc (the cancelled episodes aranaea, noctis, and lunafreya) and the endgame kinda got expanded upon in a book that came out. i forget what it's called but i've been meaning to get my hands on it to read) but despite it it's still a really good game, the last few chapters of the story just get a lot more linear compared to the massive open-world. also a lot of the heavy-hitting bits happen in the last parts. its sooooo.

i don't want to spoil it but like the endgame chapters are some of my favorite parts despite how bashed it gets online (mostly bc of the rushed development showing the hardest in them) like.................... augh.

it is very sweet tho u get to see noct, prom, iggy, and gladio's relationship and how close they are (noct & prom are best friends from high school, iggy basically grew up w/ noct (and i think gladio kinda did too but came in later than iggy did) - they're all in like their 20s during the games events i think. like noct & prom are 20, gladio is 23, and iggy is 22) like. its so . im insane abt this game obviously skjdghskd

everyone has their own little unique thing too. prompto does photography (and whenever you rest at campsites/hotels you get to look thru the photos he took since you last rested!!!!!!!!!), noctis fishes, iggy cooks, gladio is an outdoorsy kinda survival guy . sucky that gladio's skill doesn't have an interactive component like the other three's but he gives some nice lil bonuses as you level his skill >.>

also i think noct is like. canonically disabled. bc he got injured as a kid and i think was in a wheelchair for a lot of his childhood and to this day like. has issues w/ his back and legs hurting him . also he's prone to nodding off a lot so like . chronic pain & fatigue represent ig skdghsdkg

ALSO FUN FACT FLORENCE + THE MACHINE DID A VERSION OF STAND BY ME THAT REPRESENTS NOCT'S FEELINGS FOR HIS FRIENDS BC HE STRUGGLES TO VOCALIZE THEM . <- sorry i just think everyone needs to know that fact

wait this sounds so fun WTFF sadly it sounds like my computer would shit itself and die also

[whiskersz]

hi! saw your match ups were open and wanted to send a request if that's ok! im a woman and my pronouns are he/him. i don't have a gender preference or a type. i'd like romantic if that's alright. as far as aesthetic goes, i'm not really sure what to call it. i work as a receptionist so i'm generally just always dressed smart. i'm not really one for dresses, trousers and shirts are my go to. i wear a lot of jewellery though, at least one ring and one bracelet on each hand. i always wear glasses bc i cannot see at all and i've got long reddish hair. as for personality im quite a quiet person. i always help people where i can. i've got a dry sense of humour and have a tendency towards cynicism but at least i'm fun with it. i'm a very organised person. confrontation is not my strong point. i'm not afraid to stand up for myself and others, i've done it before but i will shake the entire time and i wish that was an exaggeration. i know its bad but i love a good gossip, its fun. i've got a few hobbies and interests, i love reading, mainly crime fiction. that ties into my other interest of true crime, i actually have 2 degrees in forensic psychology. i'm a very music oriented person. not only do i listen to it a lot, but i also play piano and sing. i engage in a lot of genres but i've been balls deep in an inescapable musical theatre phase for about a decade. i used to be in a society for it, definitely better at singing and dancing than acting, and i also did a lot of backstage stuff. i was even stage manager in one production (never again). my job and my degrees required me to be quite tech savvy in the sense thay i needed to know how to use a couple data handling softwares which i somehow managed. things i like - books, animals, sunny weather, warm white lights. things i dislike - people that don't have manners, loud overlapping noises, being rained on, insects. i don't have any characters that are a hard no. i hope i've done everything alright, you're such a talented writer and thank you :)

Hello! Yes, you’ve done everything perfectly and provided me a lot of information which I appreciate ;3 also, thank you for calling me a talented writer, I appreciate it a lot :((

Now, prepare to be sssurprised, as I match you with...

Sir Pentious!

Yes, him! Allow me to explain: you said you’re a cynic, a person distrustful of human sincerity. Sir Pentious is the exact demon who would prove you that some people, in this case him, are sincere. He’s a genuine individual, somewhat ingenuous if you will, who likes the simplest of things such as drinking good tea and having friends.  

Described as a wussy fighter by Vivziepop herself, he really needs somebody who will stand up for him and you seem to be the right person for this job, as you’re not afraid of doing so. He actually quite admires your courage, as even he can notice that you’re nervous when you stand up for other people, and yet he wonders how you manage to do it either way. He thanks you profusely each time this happens, and promises to look out for you in return.

Your job and degrees requiring you to be a quite tech savvy person makes me think that you’d somehow end up getting asked for help in some of his inventions; he trusts that you’re somewhat of a quick learner and smart, plus he simply loves to include you in his hobbies just as you include him in yours (more on this later!), so having you around him and the Egg Boiz is quite the pleasure every time.

Despite being a little silly, Pentious can very well be a gentleman, too. You dislike people with no manners? He’s more than willing to hiss at them if you ever come across any. You hate loud noises? He’ll make sure to invent something, anything that could help you with that. Don’t like being rained on? He will remove his jacket to hold it over your head if he has to. And rest assured he will remind Niffty about the gross bugs circulating in the Hotel if she doesn’t clean well enough.

Sir Pentious is not the most courageous demon around, we’re all aware of this. But! For you he will make an exception, and watch all those true crime videos and read the crime fiction you seem to be so passionate about. After all, you join him in his hobbies, so him participating in your is the least he can do. He’s also not afraid of gory situations themselves, so that’s something. He unexpectedly finds himself enjoying the time spent with you, especially reading, and he definitely interrupts you at least once each time to prepare a cup of tea for both him and you, if you enjoy it.

I can also see him being mesmerized by your skills each time you sing or play piano, and he would definitely try to learn how to sing/play along! He comes up with all these silly little tunes, it’s quite endearing on your side actually, and he surely wants to hear the most modern music you can play for him.

Pentious doesn’t really care what his lover is wearing at all, he will compliment you no matter if you’re dressed classy, cute, edgy or if you’re just getting ready to go to work. To him, you’re the most gorgeous person around, and while he’d be a little more on the shy side at first with compliments, he’d definitely go all out once you’ve been in a relationship for a while. He quite enjoys your liking for jewellery, and will remind you how pretty it looks on you whenever you’re putting it on.

 All in all, I feel like you two would be the cutest representation of ‘opposites attract’!

[gretchensinister]

@purplebloodedmajesty also gave me the word "space" when I asked for words. I ended up going in a different direction than I expected, but space is mentioned!

This piece is a fragment of what I’m casually calling the “Garnetting AU.” I want to save most of the explanation for the longer fic, so the things to know for this one: 1) it’s shortly post-movie, Jen, Kira, Aughra, some podlings, and SkekGra and UrGoh are currently at the Castle of the Crystal trying to Deal With All That, 2) the Great Conjunction granted SkekGra and UrGoh a fusion form who is both them and a new person. The fates of certain other parties aren’t defined in this fic and there’s a lot of stuff that isn’t addressed that obviously would be in a longer work.

~*~

“I always wanted to travel through space. Do I not find that aimless desire granted, now that I am the farthest from my origin that I have ever been?” UrGoh’s voice rose and fell as he spoke, as if he were trying to make what he said into a song.

“I knew about the wandering through the stars part, but what do you mean about the rest? Why do you sound like that? And we’re not exactly far from our origin, now.” SkekGra turned and froze when he saw the books in UrGoh’s hands.

One was triangular and made out of some glossy material that neither they, nor Rhoga, nor even Aughra had recognized, but had reluctantly opened to some combination of Rhoga’s hands and breath and voice. It held arrays of symbols that Rhoga could almost recognize and sort of interpret if they didn’t think about it too much. Rhoga didn’t like doing that, though, despite their curiosity, so what they did was make plenty of notes for SkekGra and UrGoh to use when they examined the book. SkekGra intimately understood why Rhoga was uncomfortable with the project. Rhoga was young, and new, and wonderful, and they weren’t the author of this book. At least they hoped they weren’t, and they worried that spending too much time with this book would change them from Rhoga into someone else. SkekGra and UrGoh, on another hand, had crossed a thousand trine, and if even Rhoga and the light of the Great Conjunction hadn’t made them other than themselves, then it seemed unlikely that any book possibly could. SkekGra was still suspicious of it, though. Mostly for UrGoh’s sake. Which was, of course, partly why Rhoga was suspicious of it for their own sake.

The other book was the blank volume that UrGoh had decided to use for Rhoga’s notes. Or, wait, was it Rhoga who had decided to use that book for notes, it was just that UrGoh’s choice had totally aligned with Rhoga’s? SkekGra still wasn’t used to remembering Rhoga-time, or even conceptualizing it. That was all right, though. It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to learn. He loved Rhoga just as much as he loved UrGoh. And he loved being Rhoga as much as he’d loved being a young skeksis—maybe even more, even if he couldn’t remember Rhoga’s experiences the way he remembered his own. He thought he’d leave a note to ask Rhoga to write down how they remembered things that SkekGra and UrGoh experienced. Because he really wanted to know what they thought about this.

“That’s—”

“The translation,” UrGoh said. He tilted his head. “The work is almost slower than I can stand. There are complexities that Rhoga has sensed but need an analytic point of view that we don’t share...yet.” He smiled softly. “I wish I could work with them face-to-face. We could work with them. Then again...I have a feeling that between you and Rhoga I wouldn’t get anything done.”

“Rhoga does have a silly tendency to miss you even when they’re happy,” SkekGra said. “I can only imagine what they would be like if they could actually hold you.”

“Well...that all applies to you just as much,” UrGoh said. He paused. “You know...I don’t think Rhoga is in danger from this book...at least not any danger of not being Rhoga. Perhaps the danger is...learning about someone else to miss.”

“Or learning about someone we’re glad is gone—even when he’s not really gone—I—look, what I mean is that all of me came from GraGoh. The Conqueror was already in him.”

“Surely you know by now...that only makes me want to know more?” UrGoh met SkekGra’s eyes. “GraGoh can’t make me love you or Rhoga less, no matter what I find.” He glanced at the more ordinary book. “I want to share this with you.”

SkekGra looked at UrGoh for a long moment. “Well,” he said, “I’ve never said no to anything when you’ve put it like that. And—I can’t forget you were inside GraGoh, too.”

UrGoh motioned SkekGra over to a table where they could sit down. “I haven’t yet figured out if GraGoh or any of the urSkeks would have laughed, been affronted, or even understood the double entendre when you speak of us being inside GraGoh, by the way.”

“Do you expect to?”

UrGoh looked at the urSkek journal thoughtfully. “Yes, I think so.”

“I guess considering all the things we wrote down—all right, what’s—what’s there, so far? And explain it without pauses, won’t you?”

UrGoh looked at SkekGra innocently. “It’s a hard...habit to break.”

SkekGra groaned, and UrGoh reached out and covered his hand with one of his own. “I won’t do it on purpose for this. But I really did get used to thinking and speaking that way...our renewal didn’t undo that.”

“Nothing undone,” SkekGra said. “Ah, fuck it. At least I’ll always know it’s you, talking like that. And my thoughts still race around the place where the nail was. Anyway—so—now—how did GraGoh speak?”

“I don’t know if we can ever know that,” UrGoh said. “The distance between speech and writing...at least this journal was only for GraGoh himself, if the way it was sealed means anything.

“So...the translation is possible because of Rhoga’s...memories, if that’s what they are. Puzzle pieces of the mind...finally fitting together. Their memories link symbol, sound, and meaning. It helps also that we taught each other skeksis and mystic, as both of those share a great deal with the...physical aspects of the urSkek language. Knowing spoken and written ‘Gelfling,’ which is really urSkek-arrival-era Vapran merged with auditory urSkek, also helped. The urSkeks...did not want to keep their way of writing a secret, though I can tell they greatly simplified it in ways that...I doubt were truly necessary.

“What also helps...my memories of how UrAc constructed his chronicles. There was a lingering urSkek sensibility, there.”

“Are you showing off?” SkekGra asked playfully.

“I just want my work to be complete,” UrGoh said.

“Well—you’re making me want to find something I can dig into so I can show off.”

“You were just nervous about this whole project.”

“I—”

“Unless you’re flirting to put off getting to the heart of this…”

“I wasn’t trying to do that, it’s just—” He smiled. “I will always be ridiculous about whatever you do, I guess. Including research. Remember all that prep work to make Lore?”

UrGoh chuckled softly. “I remember...I was the one who accidentally broke your reading glasses...after you made a key breakthrough.”

“My fault for keeping them on. Wanting to see you clear up close.”

“I’m still going to tell you about this translation.”

“Right, right,” SkekGra said, leaning forward, putting his fore elbows on the table, and propping his head in his hands—not neglecting to replace the hand that had been under UrGoh’s with one of his hind ones, of course.

“Cute,” UrGoh said, with a small smile. “Where was I...oh, yes...so, there were many ways that urSkek is still embedded in the languages of Thra. It will take a very long time to go away, if it ever does...if Jen and Kira value connecting to the gelfling of the past in their own language...Aughra hasn’t given them any advice on that but I think she’s ranted to Rhoga about it….

“All this is to say that the structure of urSkek is not nearly as opaque as I first imagined it might be.” He paused. “I imagined the urSkek language littered with inconceivable concepts...relying on shades of meaning too subtle for a mortal mind to distinguish...approaching time in ways I could never comprehend so long as my brain was made of matter. This way of thinking...it helped shield us from GraGoh before the Great Conjunction, and we needed it then. Now, things are different. Even from what little we know...the urSkek are not so incomprehensible. They easily communicated with gelfling. They had opinions on the ways gelfling day-to-day life should be changed and ‘advanced.’ They came from a place with rules, and laws, and customs, and punishments for those who broke them. They have long lives, but each one still has a beginning and an ending...mortals, all. The difficulties in translation instead stem from urSkek senses being very different from ours, and different aesthetics and values. And even so...they were us.”

“So—the way you were almost-singing when you got my attention?”

“My attempt to address what I think are ways of adding emotion and beauty to the text that rely on urSkek senses. Like the figurative and poetic language we use relies on our senses and experiences. I don’t know enough...we, including Rhoga, don’t know enough yet to know the best way to approach that part of the text. So...we may never know if GraGoh was a good writer...but we can know a little about what he thought. About what it was like, for him.”

SkekGra watched UrGoh, who had turned his attention back to the book with the beginning of the translation in it. The urSkek book—GraGoh’s book—rested on the table like any other object. He took a breath, feeling for the hum in his very bones that had steadied him ever since the Great Conjunction, feeling for the shining, pulsing loop of life that was Rhoga in potential, in essence, or both, always present and waiting, just on the other side of a breath, a desire, a choice—especially when he and UrGoh were touching. “I know there’s no reason to be afraid of myself anymore,” he said. “What does GraGoh have to say so far?”

UrGoh smiled, and squeezed the hind hand under his own. Sometimes SkekGra wondered why they hadn’t been fully restored, but when there were moments of such familiarity with UrGoh, he thought he understood. He’d let the light heal him only as much as it could and still leave him UrGoh’s SkekGra.

“‘By the time this record is complete, may it show that my soul is healed and that I may be safely enfolded in the lace of home.’ The word isn’t lace, exactly. I think it’s an idea that I’ll be able to translate better after I see it more. ‘I always wanted to travel through space. Do I not find that aimless desire granted, now that I am the farthest from my origin that I have ever been?’” UrGoh began again. “‘But even traveling into exile felt no different than arriving anywhere else that is connected to our Crystal—like the passing from one room to another, save that we cannot go back. Still—I do feel we are in exile. We lament. I let it flow through me that this seeming-granting of my desire severed me from everything I ever knew.’”

UrGoh paused, and softly hummed an eerie, sad tune for a few seconds. “I don’t know what it should have sounded like,” he said, “but there’s a break in the text that indicates a lament for a still-broken soul. I borrowed the urRu Lament of Repentance. It...helps me understand my translation.

“The text resumes. ‘I do not forget that I am not severed from everything I ever knew. I am with my closest, particular companions. I am still connected with those I held above all else.’ More indications of the lament...I think GraGoh included this when he wrote of something that meant he wasn’t thinking as an urSkek should. ‘This tempers my lament, and makes me feel almost like I have been granted a gift, and not the gift of a duty that will allow all of us, including myself, to correct ourselves. It feels like a gift of honor and joy to be here with my friends. Not everyone felt the way I did, but I had long attempted to imagine what it would be like to leave everything, even the lace, behind. To go beyond our Crystal and discover what existence is like, there.’ I don’t think GraGoh means just the urSkek homeworld crystal, here. There are certain marks that link it to the word I’m translating as ‘lace,’ for now.

“‘I feel that instead of drifting, I am free in a way I could never have conceived within the lace. It overwhelms almost all other feeling, and I suppose I must be patient and careful with my thoughts as I wait for the longing for the lace to return to me, as it must, because after all, I am still urSkek. I know what we are here to do, and the doing will set my thoughts right.’ There are some subtle marks here that are hard for me to interpret, but if I had to guess, they would indicate something about GraGoh not agreeing with the idea that the thoughts he is supposed to correct are actually wrong. ‘For now, the pain waits, and my lament is in an almost unrecognizable key. And I am not the only one. When we disperse—when we are away from those who feel our punishment most keenly, like SoSu—I see that MalVa’s colors approach rapture, and mine probably do as well.’ It’s not ‘see,’ or ‘colors,’ what GraGoh describes here is an urSkek sensory experience.” UrGoh paused and took a deep breath. “‘The world of our exile is astonishing. It is completely unlike homeworld in almost every way, and still I find it beautiful. I didn’t know places like this could exist, and feel so harmonious, while still being entirely wild. Surely there can’t be much work ahead of us to tune this place. I am looking forward to finding out for sure. I imagine passing over every atom of this world, and I thrill at the toil it will be. There are no crystal paths, no memories of others to help me understand what I am seeing more quickly. It will not take endless time to explore one planet, I know, but I feel I have been granted a wonder that is as close to endless as one can be.’ That is as far as I have gotten in the translation,” UrGoh said.

SkekGra lowered his fore hands and wrapped them around UrGoh’s. “There's no point in hesitating to say it, is there? GraGoh sounds like—well, I hear a lot of you, in that.”

“And I hear you,” UrGoh said. “Especially when he’s glad to be in exile with the people he loves.”

“Is love the right word, for urSkeks?”

“I think so...I think that was part of the problem.” UrGoh shook his head. “I can’t help but project everything that tangled up us and the rest of the skeksis and mystics back onto the urSkeks.”

“It makes sense to me. They became us.”

“Still...some of GraGoh’s thoughts remain unfamiliar to me.”

“Conqueror thoughts? I thought I heard a few.”

UrGoh shook his head again. “You showed me the Conqueror. I know what he was like and what happened to every bit of him. I mean...ways of seeing Thra that, truly, neither mystics nor skeksis ever had. Then again...there is so much more to translate.” He met SkekGra’s eyes. “I’m not as fearless as I try to seem...about this translation. But now...we need to know GraGoh. I think I can find him…”

“You found me,” SkekGra said. “And you loved me.”

“It could be a terrible thing...to love GraGoh.”

“Surely only half-terrible, at most,” SkekGra said, giving UrGoh a little smile.

UrGoh turned his hands to cup SkekGra’s and gently press them. “I don’t know what the urSkek homeworld is like,” he said, “but if walking over the ground seemed so wonderful and novel to GraGoh, then I’m glad he had the chance. I’m glad...that stayed.”

“Yes,” SkekGra said. “But you don’t have to act like it’s not uncanny—what we were, what feels like what we could have been, another world, another time—I—I think Rhoga needs to think about this translation. I want to think about this as Rhoga—I need to be Rhoga right now.”

“Breathing as them...knowing their joy as the end,” UrGoh murmured. He left the books on the table and began to walk to SkekGra, who ran up to him before he could take more than two steps.

One embrace. One breath. One being.

“You figure out a triad and suddenly there’s a complicated fourth,” Rhoga said to themselves. “Well, we’ve done that before, too.” They smiled. “Glad I’m less worried about where a book could take me, now. It really didn’t suit me.”

[muted5ilence]

Me when Eddie Dear Update

But fren pointed out the low low prices for Poppy merch and such things

So Eddie is being actively haunted

And Poppy is just a very very worried character

/lh

But someone saying Eddie might get removed — he died /hj

Poppy is being quietly removed /j

My main notice is that the project actively reflects what we as a fandom (sorta, maybe) have been thinking of

We got characterization actively via the 14 clips and such

And it was “Eddie is being bullied </3” and “Poppy deserves more love” (bc most ppl favor the rest of the cast). Plus we get Sally and Frank fighting, which is funny as a Sally hater (I have mad respect for Frank for that lmao)

So reflecting those things in the COMMUNITY, we get a mostly Eddie-centric update. Confirming that he is in fact left out a LOT, that he is in fact an isolated lil guy (the isolation stuff). Poppy is *quietly* left out of stuff (me when fren said it could be like the birds migrating thing but instead she stays indoors—which tbh she already isolates herself in her home anyways). And Sally is actively being fought (a massive DUB for the Sally haters 😂)

Also I miss my boyyyy, I miss Wally 🥺 They really said “No sir” and locked him up and shit, not allowed to chat on main anymore 😔 Tbf, he did make a mess. But like c’mon, let pookie SPEAK!! Punished for being autistic /j

Anyways I think about the person who made those notebook entries “my name doesn’t matter”

ALSO OML SO MANY Ws ARE USED ACTUALLY (in reference to different things)

Wally, WaLLy, Welcome Home, WHRP, (thats it actually that I can think of)

So when the sign off is •W, I’m gonna think of what little we get

Also note, remember those questions startin’ w/ W, fellas

Who what when where why

And AAAAAAA my brain is making minor connections to things that don’t matter bc ITS SILLYYYY!!! SIlly Silly <3

Anyways yeah I miss pookie and I hope he and/or others will make codes with the new cryptography stuff we gettin’ (cipher)

I always loved those pages in activity books anyways, because looking at a key for reference and translating letters is so fun (despite the tedious back and forth if you dont have it memorized)