#e: misdirection

[katrani]

*Zavala turns down a fantasy hallucination thing of his dead family* Ikora: The Witness shows you what you think you want. Zavala: And what did the Traveler ever show me? THEN THE IMMEDIATE NEXT SCENE. IS FUCKING. LIGHT-IMBUED CAYDE? REUNITING WITH ZAVALA?????????????

my fucking heart that is the absolute good shit holy fuck i was mad at zavala for not helping in that bullshit-ass fight but THAT'S SO GOOD on a character level aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[daytonasand]

do not touch my man kyle

[brrnedoutbrrista]

((Honestly if you ask Agni if they’re okay, if they seem like they’re about to have a breakdown they’ll still say they’re okay. Even if you try to push them because tbh they would rather Perish than reveal what’s wrong until they trust you enough…which is already hard to earn their trust despite seeming like they trust easily.

It’ll be harder for them to pry about their injuries; if they speak about the true nature of the Brand on their arm…well. Let’s just say Agni won’t be Agni anymore.))

[miyamiwu]

Why Xiao Yueqing had to die

Apr. 28, 2025: This post has been heavily edited to address stuff brought up in the notes and to expound on the existing points.

Not to excuse Li Haoling’s crimes against women, but after calming down from the episode and sleeping over it, I can now properly think about why Xiao Yueqing had to die.

I mean, I’ve expected her to die since that episode 1 ending. Li Haoling may like misdirecting the audience, but one thing he never betrays us for is following up on cliffhangers. There was no way he’d show us a bleeding Xiao Yueqing in a vision and not have it show up again.

But aside from justifying the episode 1 cliffhanger (and to have her leave an impact on a male character, sigh), Xiao Yueqing’s death also signifies something else—that heroes are forever bound by the Trust system (and the Association that helps enforce it). And the only way to break free from it is to give up that trust completely and openly.

Yingxiong Budao (Firm Man) got to retire from his hero job by kneeling down in public, completely breaking the people’s trust in him to be always standing.

Lin Ling was able to resist his believers’ wish to not respond to God Eye’s trap by going down with the mission to reveal his identity, giving up the Nice persona and forfeiting his trust value.

But Xiao Yueqing? She got her “freedom” by deceiving the public. She betrayed their trust. Something a hero should never do.

Sure, her leaving her teleportation gun behind may have been symbolic of her giving up her hero identity, but it’s not enough. Because the gun still works. The power of trust is still at play.

She used the trust placed on her not for the people but for herself. And look, I get it, the trust were shackles on her, but it doesn’t change the fact that she abused the people’s beliefs for her own desires.

Maybe that’s why E-Soul had to kill her. Maybe E-Soul was sent by the Association to eliminate heroes who abuse trust value for their own wishes.

Like, imagine if after Xiao Yueqing got her freedom, she suddenly turned evil and used that freedom to commit crimes all over the world. The people’s trust value would become her weapon. We know she won’t do this, of course, but I doubt the Association is gonna conduct a personality test on her first to come to that same conclusion.

The Association has three ways to deal with “criminals” like Xiao Yueqing:

Have her openly admit her deception in public and make her lose her trust value

Erase her memories

Or just kill her

Edit: With Lin Ling as the new rising hero, there was no way they’d go for option one. A negative image on Xiao Yueqing would impact Lin Ling, the new cash cow. Remember, those fangirls started paying attention to Lin Ling because they believed he was the one who cried during Xiao Yueqing’s death and because they saw him willing to risk his life for her. If Xiao Yueqing turns out be alive, then they’d start questioning whether his tears and love are real. Lin Ling’s trust value would be shaken.

And to expound on #1, I also mean to say that the Association just won’t do it because it would cost more resources.

Imagine the work it would take: Prepare a press conference for one hero, then damage control for the hit Treeman, Lin Ling, and heroes in general would take. There’s already been two cases of heroes deceiving the public (Blankster and “Nice”), and the recent villain’s entire shtick was uncovering their lies. If the people’s beloved goddess was also such a liar, would the public still want to believe in heroes?

They had to kill Xiao Yueqing not just for Lin Ling, but for the dignity of heroes as a whole. The Association can’t allow the people to be skeptical about heroes because that would impact their powers. This point had also been foreshadowed with the words of Gu Lang (Wolf Girl): “So to protect the egos of these so-called heroes, you’re going to neglect a living, breathing person right in front of you?”

Moreover, I just want to properly respond to what @naisikill brought up in the tags:

#still a little questionable on XYQ admitting to being alive making fans not trust lin ling #since she was already shown to be alive by god eye since he had her captured #(which ended up being fake but no one knew that at the time)

In episode 4, it was the fans’ strong belief that Xiao Yueqing was dead and that God Eye was just using a fake that prevented Lin Ling from going down to save "her." The fans had seen Xiao Yueqing die in front of them, and they had no reason to believe in the villain God Eye who’s had a bad reputation for always trying to defame Nice. And so they wished for Nice to not respond to the threat because they believed it was just a trap. If it was later revealed that what they believed in so strongly turned out to be another lie, then Lin Ling, as Xiao Yueqing’s accomplice, would undoubtedly take a hit.

Moving on to number two, it also can’t be done because Blankster, the one who can erase memories, just conveniently lost his powers early on in the episode.

A writing choice was clearly made here. Li Haoling didn’t want to “absolve” Xiao Yueqing of her “crimes” by simply making her forget. That would be too easy for her, and in a way it might even count as a reward for her to become an ordinary person. A statement had to be made, and that statement is most impactful with a punishment through death—which is option 3.

Xiao Yueqing had already died in the eyes of the public. Killing her would be just fulfilling what the public believes of her, essentially undoing her deception to them.

In short, Xiao Yueqing’s death was to ensure that the trust system remains fair and absolute. She can’t have her cake and eat it too.

Although my mutual @psychopomp-namine argued in the tags that she wasn’t actually eating her cake because she wasn’t happy on the island, I think that’s less the system’s fault and more of Xiao Yueqing’s (and L0’s) naivety. They thought they could easily cheat the system, only to be hit with the painful lesson that nobody is escaping it. Nice even had to commit suicide. They should’ve known better.

The Trust System is fair and absolute. Its drawbacks are mainly brought about by agencies trying to capitalize on it through PR stunts and marketing gimmicks. Juan-jie packaged Nice as the perfect hero, and the public, not knowing any better, just believed in what they were fed, leading to disastrous effects on Nice.

The people want a perfect hero couple? Well then, let’s give them one so we can farm their trust value.

If heroes can just be honest, if they didn’t have to stick to a particular brand… then trust won’t feel like shackles as they did on Xiao Yueqing and Nice.

Lin Ling proved this in episode 4. He came as himself and even got beaten ugly, but the people learned to trust him anyway. They trusted the real him they saw that day, and with the power of trust, he was able to beat God Eye.

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Thoughts on the “E”?!

Hey Nonnie

Oh I have many thoughts on the ‘E’ on the bomber jacket!! @lover-of-mine and I have been talking about it and doing some research to find out when it first appeared and if anyone else has letters on their jackets.

I can confirm that no one else appears to have a letter on their jackets, so this is a Buck exclusive thing. That in and of itself is important and revealing - it means it’s intentional and relevant in some way.

As you can see above - nothing on Bobby or Hens jackets in this up coming episode.

As for its first appearing - well - the bomber jackets have been part of the uniform since the crossover episode with Lonestar - back at the beginning of season 4. There is no ‘E’ on the jacket we see buck in during that episode. I’ve messed around with the brightness to make it easier to see on most of these screen grabs, so ignore the slightly weird colouring!

After that - we see the bomber a couple of times in season 4 and it bears no ‘E’ - this is a still from 411!

The same in season 5 - the bomber appears a few times and there’s never an ’E’ present on the sleeve, this is a still from 511.

It’s the same through season 6 - the bomber is worn but there is no ‘E’.

Then we get to season 7 and things start to get interesting! Below is a still from 701 - no ‘E’ is on his sleeve here.

But when we get to 704 - oh hi there ‘E’ you’ve decided to appear - in a scene that kickstarts Bucks bi arc, and from then on - the ‘E’ is present on bucks jacket sleeve!

Right up to the next episode!

As for what the ‘E’ means and the significance of its connection into Bucks bi arc. Well I have a couple of theories.

The fact that no one else has a letter on their sleeve means it’s not about his name - so it’s not meant to represent Evan in any way - if it was I would expect a ‘H’ on Hens and on Chim’s, and an ‘R’ on Bobbys and Ravi’s and to have seen an E on Eddie’s (I’ve just realised that we have two names for each letter as I typed this out - which is very fun!)

So that leaves us with it having a different meaning. Buck as a character is someone who tends to wear his heart on his sleeve and so it’s a fair thing to come to the conclusion that it’s connected to that idea of his heart being on his sleeve. It’s also his left arm - which is important in connection with the red string of fate which is supposed to run from your heart down your left arm and connect to your lover or family etc through your left hand.

So buck having an ‘E’ there can only really mean one thing - Eddie. There’s literally no one else it could conceivably be linked to. So in my opinion (and if that makes me a clown then I am a clown and I’m prepared to die on this hill) it’s been put there at the start of 704 to very subtly inform the audience that Buck is misunderstanding the assignment yet again and misdirecting his feelings for Eddie onto Tommy. It’s a way of telling the audience that we are correct in our opinion that it’s all about Eddie and not about Tommy at all.

Nothing else makes sense to me, it can’t be an allergy information thing, it’s not a brand thing or everyone would have an ‘E’. I guess there’s a vague possibility that is signalling where emergency information is located for Buck, but that seems very unlikely.

So in summary it’s metaphorically buck wearing his heart on his sleeve and his heart is Eddie shaped! I also expect that him wearing a jacket on the job with this ‘E’ on in this episode is very intentional - playing into bucks sense of loss over Eddie leaving and his heartbreak - even if he can’t recognise it for what it is.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has any theories on its appearance and meaning m, and there is plenty of room in the clown car if anyone wants to join Anna and I in this theory🤓💜💜

[littlejoyss]

𝓯𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 3

“One single thread of gold tied me to you.”

Stray Kids - Felix x Reader

Red (golden) string of fate trope

Word count (so far): 19k

𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 ← 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 → 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽

You arrived at the venue early, determined to squeeze in every second of productivity before heading to SBS Prism Tower. The building was mostly quiet, the only sounds were the click of rolling garment racks, distant conversations in rapid Korean, and the occasional bark of a director giving instructions.

The door to your prep studio creaked open as you stepped in, only for the breath to catch in your throat.

The rack was still empty.

Your eyes swept the space again, as if the collection could somehow be hiding behind a mannequin or tucked under the work table.

But no. No garments. No boxes. No deliveries.

“Where-” you fumbled for your phone, fingers suddenly cold.

As if summoned, Bora stepped into the room right then, a cup of coffee in one hand (she’s addicted to coffee at this point) and her phone in the other. She took one look at your face and stopped. “They’re not here?”

You shook your head. “They were supposed to be here yesterday.”

Bora's eyes narrowed, and her tone turned sharp. “Did the shipper confirm pickup?”

“Yes. The warehouse texted me a photo of the truck leaving.”

She pulled out her phone immediately, scrolling. “Hang on. I’m calling customs now.”

You walked slowly over to the rack, running your hand down the cool metal bar that should’ve been weighed down. Instead, it was bare.

You’d spent months on this collection. Sketching until your fingers cramped. Stitching until your vision blurred. Choosing fabrics so precise you’d fought with a vendor over 3% silk content. These weren’t just clothes. They were proof you deserved to be here.

Bora swore under her breath, still waiting for the call to connect. You could hear the ring on speakerphone as she set her coffee on the edge of the table.

When the shipping rep finally picked up, she launched in without preamble. “This is Bora Seo, designer liaison for Seoul Fashion Week. I need an update on a customs-cleared garment shipment from Atelier Han. Tracking number ending in 7134. It was marked as released yesterday. Where is it now?”

A pause. You strained to hear the voice on the other end, but the reply was too muffled to make out.

Bora’s jaw clenched. “Yes, I see that. Customs clearance was confirmed at Incheon at 3:42 p.m. So where did it go after that?”

Another pause. Bora’s eyes flicked toward you, unreadable.

“No, I’m not asking where it should have gone. I’m asking where it actually went.” Her tone was ice now. “Because the venue received nothing. And my designer's model fittings schedule is released today.”

You crossed your arms, trying to suppress the chill under your skin that had nothing to do with the venue’s central air. Your stomach had started to twist itself into knots.

Finally, Bora gave a slow blink, listening. “Understood. Email me the internal logs. Now.” She hung up and turned to you, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay. So the good news is they cleared customs. The bad news is-”

“They don’t know where the hell the boxes went,” you finished, voice tight.

She nodded grimly. “Exactly that. They were picked up by a third-party delivery service after clearance, which should’ve brought them here directly. But there’s no delivery confirmation, and the tracker’s been inactive since yesterday evening.”

Your voice cracked slightly. “So they’re just… lost?”

“They’re not lost,” Bora said quickly, though her tone wavered at the edge of certainty. “They’re… misplaced. Temporarily misdirected. It happens. Sometimes the logistics team drops it off at the wrong dock, or the delivery driver doesn’t scan the box, or-”

You turned away, fists clenched at your sides. “Bora, my fittings start tomorrow. I can’t present a ghost collection.”

“I know.” Her voice softened immediately. “I know. I’m already on it. We’ll find them, okay? You did everything right. This isn’t on you.” Bora picked her coffee back up, took a long, furious sip, and muttered, “If some intern signed for those boxes at the wrong address, I swear to god I’ll personally dye their eyebrows pink.”

You couldn’t help it, you laughed, hoarse but real. “Pink?”

“It’s the ugliest semi-permanent color I know. Lasts for weeks. A fate worse than termination.”

You scrubbed a hand down your face. “What do we do now?”

She looked at her watch. “You keep working. Draft backup fitting notes. Check your digital files, double-check the accessory sets, and anything you can until those pieces turn up. I’m going to track this shipment to hell and back. And tonight, you’re still going to SBS Prism Tower.”

Your head jerked up. “You still want me to go?”

“If that thread was pulling that hard, you must follow it. Fashion week is the show of your life,” she said. “But he… he might be the rest of it.”

You blinked at her.

“Besides,” she added, “if I’m going to threaten a warehouse, a shipping service, and an intern in one day, I need something wholesome to balance it out.”

You smiled despite yourself. “A soulmate sighting is your idea of wholesome?”

“Only if it ends with some kissing.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Go get your designs back,” she said. “Then go get your boy.”

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

You had spent the day finding some assistants who could sew quickly, just in case your packages never arrived.

Two interns from ESMOD were sent your way by Bora’s friend in casting. They were quiet, efficient, and terrifyingly fast with a needle. You assigned them mock-ups, digitized what patterns you could salvage, and resigned yourself to the grim possibility of rebuilding the collection piece by piece overnight if necessary.

By the time 6:45 PM rolled around, your hands were sore and your laptop battery was dying. Still no word from the delivery service. Still no boxes.

And yet, Bora insisted on dragging you, half-covered in thread clippings and foundation touch-ups, into the back of a black van headed for the SBS Prism Tower.

“I should be back at the venue,” you murmured, voice hoarse as the skyline slipped past outside your window. “What if the pieces show up? What if the interns need help? What if-”

Bora reached over and flicked your forehead lightly. “Ow, hey!”

“Stop spiraling. I’ve got it covered,” she said firmly, holding up her phone, which displayed approximately 17 ongoing text threads. “I have a guy at the loading dock. I have the shipping company’s regional manager on the verge of tears. I have a spare espresso shot in my bag and a threat drafted in my notes app in case I need to go nuclear.”

You looked at her sideways. “Does the espresso come with a therapy session?”

She smirked. “Only if you cry first.”

The lobby of Prism Tower was a sea of controlled chaos. Stylists and staff rushed across marble floors with garment bags and makeup trunks. Idols posed for the press behind velvet ropes while their managers hovered nearby like hawks. The air buzzed with tension and hairspray.

You tightened your grip on your badge as you and Bora made your way past the credentialed entrance.

“Don’t slouch,” she said without looking at you.

“I’m not slouching.”

“You’re slouching emotionally.”

“I’m anxious.”

“Then fake it. Shoulders back. Chin up. Pretend the entire K-pop industry is watching you.”

“They are.”

“Good. Maybe one of them will remember you when you’re famous and want to walk your next red carpet in your designs.”

Bora didn’t miss the sudden shift in your expression, the way your breath hitched slightly, and your eyes locked onto something invisible and far away.

She followed your gaze. “The thread?”

You gave a small, shaky nod. The golden line tugged violently at your pinky as it glowed. This happened last time he was close.

“Alright, follow it.”

You blinked. “What?”

She raised a brow. “You said he’s here, right? Go find him.”

“Bora, we’re in a high-security building, surrounded by idols, staff, and literal K-pop royalty. I can’t just walk around like I’m soul-radar?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “Exactly like that.”

You hesitated, but the thread gave another soft pull, like it knew where it was going even if you didn’t. You swallowed. “Okay.”

Bora nodded approvingly. “Text me if you need backup or if you find the love of your life and need a witness. I’m going to go harass a logistics manager and pretend I’m scarier than I look.”

You slipped away from her with a grateful smile and started moving through the tower, following the quiet hum inside your chest. The thread guided you through backstage corridors, past bustling makeup stations and camera setups, winding deeper into the heart of the production floor.

People buzzed past in a blur of dark clothing and headset wires. You had to duck around racks of sequined suits, dodge a dancer mid-warm-up, and avoid getting smacked by a boom mic swinging around a corner. But still, the thread tugged, firm and calm, like a hand leading you through a storm.

Finally, it led you into a quieter hallway just behind the main performance stage. The sound of muffled bass pulsed through the walls, but this area was dimmer, calmer. Right in front of you was a dressing room door marked ‘Stray Kids’.

The golden thread attached to your pinky was practically buzzing now. It shimmered faintly in the low light, pulsing like a heartbeat. And it led directly to that door.

Your heart leapt into your throat. You took a shaky step forward and stopped because you heard voices on the other side. Laughter first, warm and familiar. Then words, quiet and close, as if someone had just leaned in near the door.

“…still glowing,” someone said. A low, accented voice, edged with awe. “Hyung, I’m serious. It’s glowing more now.”

A soft scoff followed, amused but not dismissive. “Maybe you’re just excited.”

“No, seriously,” the first voice insisted. “It’s like… vibrating. This has never happened before.” A pause. “Do you think they’re close? Like, right now?”

Your breath caught. Felix.

On the other side of that door, he was speaking about you.

You pressed your hand lightly against the wall, just beside the doorframe. The warmth of it grounded you.

Inside, another voice joined in. “You’re the only one whose string reacts that strongly. It’s gotta mean something. Didn’t you say it lit up like that when we walked out of the studio yesterday?”

“Yeah,” Felix murmured, quieter now. “It pulled hard. I think, I think they were nearby. I just didn’t know who.”

The conversation continued, but in Korean.

That’s when you decided to grab hold of your string and tug. Not forcefully, just enough to say you’re here.

Inside, the conversation stuttered. Words dropped off.

You held still, trembling, the golden thread thrumming like a live wire between you.

“…Hyung,” Felix’s voice came again, barely a whisper. “Did you feel that?”

More scrambling. Someone muttered something urgent in Korean.

Felix’s voice was closer now. Softer. He was near the door. “I just… I need air.”

The doorknob turned. Slowly.

You blinked, barely managing to step back as the door cracked open and Felix emerged.

He didn’t look at you at first. His gaze was on the floor, his shoulders rising with each unsteady breath. He was pale, and his lips parted as if he’d just run a mile, skin dewy from the heat of backstage lights.

And then, he looked up and locked eyes with you.

The golden thread between you flared violently, burning. Both of you flinched. Felix staggered back half a step, his hand flying to his chest, and you gasped as a searing warmth shot through your pinky like a lightning strike.

“Oh.” The word barely left his lips, but it rang out like a bell in a cathedral. Your whole body felt it.

“Oh,” he said again, softer this time. His eyes were wide.

You felt the heat in your pinky intensify, and the golden thread between you shimmered again, catching the light in a way that made it look like it was made of flame. It curled through the space between your hands like it had always belonged there.

Felix took a half-step forward, eyes never leaving yours. He lifted his hand slowly, fingers trembling slightly. “Is it… You?” he asked, voice nearly breaking on the last word.

You nodded. “I think so.”

Felix exhaled, and something in his posture released. His shoulders dropped slightly, like he’d been holding tension for years and was finally allowed to let go.

“Can I…?” he gestured hesitantly to your hand.

You didn’t trust your voice, so you offered your pinky forward in answer.

His fingers brushed against yours, and the moment they touched, the golden thread flared so brightly it lit up the space around you. And then it settled. It didn’t dim, it didn’t disappear, it just eased into a quiet glow.

Felix looked down at your hands, now linked pinky to pinky, and laughed softly under his breath. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Yeah,” you whispered. “Me neither.”

Felix looked up at you again as he moved his hand away. A small smile curved on his lips. “I don’t…I don’t even know your name.”

You let out a shaky laugh and said it. Just your name.

He repeated it back like a prayer.

“I’m Felix,” he said, though of course, you already knew. Still, hearing him say it that softly, like it was only meant for you, made a smile plastered on your face.

“I know,” you murmured.

Felix's smile widened just slightly, like he still wasn’t convinced this wasn’t all some fever dream.

But then, “Felix!” A sharp voice cut through the moment like a whip. You both jumped.

From inside the dressing room, a woman snapped at him, speaking to him.

Felix flinched. "잠깐만요! 잠깐만요!" he called back, waving a hand, eyes flicking between her and you. “Just, please, one minute!”

He turned to you, suddenly frantic. “Wait…wait, I have to…Can I? Here-” He fumbled in his pocket, yanked out his phone, and shoved it into your hands. “Please. Put your number in? So we can talk. Or meet. Tomorrow. I don’t, God, I don’t wanna lose you now. I just have an interview in ten minutes-”

You typed fast. Name. Number.

He took the phone back with a breath of visible relief, clutching it like it was suddenly the most important thing he owned.

“Tomorrow,” he promised, already backing away as his makeup artist stormed closer. “I swear. I’ll text you. I’ll find you. Please don’t disappear.”

You nodded, still dazed, heart pounding.

Then he was gone, swept back inside with a flurry of apologies and a final glance over his shoulder, golden thread trailing faintly behind him as the door shut.

You stood there alone in the hallway, the warmth of the thread still glowing at your pinky, and whispered into the quiet, just like you did on your eighteenth birthday:

“I think I found him.”

(A/N: Woah! Thank you for the support! -Deedee)

taglist (comment to be added): @hwangjoanna @shinygubbins @lizzygd @btch8008s @under--space @monniemons @chimmyn0chu @wickedbutlovely @hyunjinsculpture @beal-o @valkirymin @moonlitcelestial @wolfhallows4

[rivetgoth]

Not sure what it’ll take to fix the massive misconception that testosterone HRT is something you take for a series of superficial / external changes and then stop. I mean it’s obviously fine to do that if you’re doing so with intentionality but all the time I see guys casually say stuff about “having gotten all the changes” or “the changes have plateaued” or “it’s not doing anything anymore” and citing that as reason to stop taking it. That just objectively isn’t how HRT works.

The external changes are great but hormones are doing way more behind the scenes than just giving you facial hair and a deeper voice, especially when it comes to aging. Individuals with T-dominant endocrine systems and individuals with E-dominant endocrine systems age differently. Fat distribution isn’t a one and done thing; those patterns continue to change and evolve over the course of your life. You as an old man on T for decades will look different than someone who has had an E-dominant endocrine system for that same amount of time. Tbh I think a lot of it is the fact that guys are accessing T at younger ages now and it’s just par for the course that young people don’t take aging into consideration lol. At 18-19 and younger you aren’t even really comprehending that you’re going to age, and for a group statistically more likely to be suicidal that’s tenfold. Lack of substantial research on the longterm effects of both HRT and stopping HRT play into this too.

That said though I think detransition fearmongering and even sort of misdirected transmisogyny kinda comes into play here as well. Testosterone as a substance that causes “permanent damage” is largely weaponized against trans women but it is also used to threaten us not to transition in the first place. The word “permanent” carries with it a lot of weight and you see all these people talk about the “permanent” effects of T but what’s lost in these conversations is what cisgender society is threateningly calling a “permanent” change is like… different than what these changes in an estrogen-dominant body do actually look like. We talk a lot about facial and body hair being a “permanent” change on T, but transmascs who stop T and trans women on E alike can report that estrogen causes these hairs to grow in softer and lighter; they won’t look how they did on T. Bottom growth is another “permanent” change that can shrink as erections soften. Your voice (another often-described-as-permanent effect) can change as E changes the body’s ability to grow and retain muscle. I think beyond splash damage from societal transmisogyny (and just misogyny in general causing a lack of understanding and dearth of research re: estrogen puberty), I’d even say some of the lack of understanding here comes from intracommunity transmisogyny & trans men not fully comprehending the level of change possible on estrogen, internalizing the sentiment that trans women’s changes are less meaningful than ours and not talking to trans women about what estrogen-based transition really looks like.

And again I’m not saying this to berate the people who intentionally go on T, know what to expect by stopping it, and do so with intentionality because they have a vision for what they want. That’s awesome, 100% valid. Do you. It’s more the wider misconception I see of HRT as something that “plateaus” and leaves a series of permanent unchanging effects while no longer doing anything else. And to overstep just a little I honestly think there are some men who would be happier if they continued to take T and are falling victim to larger transphobic institutions that have convinced them it’s unnecessary. As itskobold said on my post about HRT timelines you will keep changing forever. So it’s best to really consider what you want the layout of your endocrine system to be as those changes continue to occur.

[awkwardambivert789]

crack-ish e-soul theory (spoilers for ep 4 and ep 5 preview):

HE DIDN'T KILL MOON

Ok ok, hear me out!! We've already seen multiple E-Souls in his Unlock PV right? There's:

1) Gray armor E-Soul

2) Light armor E-Soul (probably just Gray in a different suit)

3) Gold armor E-Soul

And the last one matches with the one we see in ep 4:

Who doesn't seem to be the one aiming at Moon [1]. So if this one is presumably innocent, then what is he doing there? I'd like to tie it back to this moment in the Unlock PV:

Why is Gold trying to kill Gray? Well, what if one of them isn't supposed to exist? I've seen theories of time travel or alternate universes to explain the multiple E-Souls, but I think there's a more likely culprit: the Trust System. E-Soul is said to be a long-time "legendary hero." We've already seen that the system tends to interpret beliefs quite literally, so what if Gray, who may be the retired/dead original E-soul (and perhaps also the originator of the Trust System [2]), is canonized as a legend? As in he manifests from people's continued belief [3] in him or his power. It's not so farfetched - we've already seen a dead man walking purely because people believed his replacement really was him. If you stretch that a little further, a more legendary hero - a subject of urban myths - could walk amongst the populace/the living once more, without needing a body double.

Our E-Soul successor(?) in the ep 5 preview was rescued by Gray, and at that point, it might actually be him.

That might've been why our successor was led to masquerade as E-Soul at Mighty Glory's children's theater - to retell the story of a hero who appears to vanquish tormentors of children (and to generate more belief for him perhaps). It's not clear whether or not Gray's out of the picture yet at this point, since there was a seven-year gap where that could've happened:

The E-soul employed by Mighty Glory seven years ago was Gray, yet the one operating in the present day is Gold. Somewhere between those points, Gray retired/died and Gold, our baby successor, replaced him, maybe more ethically/transparently than Nice was. But unlike how Nice was replaced, people still have such strong beliefs tied to the "old E-Soul" because he was a much older hero than Nice, with more tales to his name. Those stories accumulated into a ghost-like manifestation of Gray, who maybe goes around and embodies himself. You know, stuff like...

Believing that heroes must "bear the trust of the people" and "pay the price that comes along" - to the point that he killed Moon for betraying the trust of the people by 1) lying about her death and 2) for still possessing powers without using them for the people [4]. And that’s why it was only when she was reaching for the teleporter, the source of her power, that he killed her [5].

And so the scene with Gold trying to kill Gray is misdirection!! From Gray's POV, it looks like Gold is the ghostly, hostile one. However, perhaps Gold, our present-day E-Soul, is trying to stop the afterimage of Gray from eliminating heroes he deems unworthy.

It's a bit of a shaky theory, I know, but I think it can set up some nice (heh) themes for E-Soul's arc that tie into the ones already developed in the Nice arc. How to live up to the example set by your predecessor, and whether or not you should. What responsibilities or duties a hero has to their supporters. Is it right to continue the legend - to ride on the legacy - of a beloved figure? etc, etc.

tldr: In the words of me and my lil bro, @nightbittensprite, E-Soul's a "power ranger Ultraman man"

Since I'm writing this instead of the actual essay for school I should be writing, I might as well cite my sources lol

[1] @sirobumblebee [2] @supremefloof [3] me ("source: my brain" ☝️😌) [4] @miyamiwu [5] @gotta-bail-my-quails

[sparklyjojos]

I finally read the Umineko VN last year and had the funniest possible experience:

Finished Episode 1. Sat down with a pen and paper and meticulously solved the epitaph in a way that incorporated tons of Japanese wordplay to arrive at another thematically appropriate kanji wordplay riddle, the answer to which pointed to a specific location. Was completely incorrect.

(under read more because massive spoilers for Episode 1 and one technically Ep3 spoiler re: the "village" and someone's name)

My base assumption was: the names of the victims, in particularly kanji wordplays, are needed to solve the epitaph--a classic trope of shinhonkaku where the longer the case goes on, the more punny 'clues' are given, with the solution being either an admission of guilt or a clever misdirection.

I also figured out that the "village" refers to the 'ri' in Maria's name and that the river is the family tree (you can imagine my satisfaction when they actually brought it up two episodes later), so even more hints that you should be looking at the family's weird names.

My thinking process:

First Twilight - four people with their faces smashed in + two people with only half their faces destroyed. Human face = their identity = their name. You pick the six "chosen as sacrifices", therefore the four full names and halves of the two remaining names. Anagram time! Unfortunately I lost my notes and don't remember the entire thing I figured out, but the only truly important syllables were "on" (音) from Shannon and the "goh"/"gou" (郷) from Gohda.

Second Twilight - tear apart the two who are close. Well, how can you signify that two people are close in the first place? You can use a possessive: Eva's Hideyoshi, or Hideyoshi's Eva. In Japanese, you use the particle 'no': X の Y. The thing separating the two names who are close is therefore... the particle の itself, "no"!

Third Twilight - praise my noble name. The self-explanatory answer here is just "Beatrice".

Fourth to Eighth Twilights - gouge the head, chest, stomach, knee, leg. Similarly to the First Twilight, this means choosing parts of the victim's names. If 'head' signifies the beginning of the name and "leg" is the end, we get in order:

[K]inzou K[a]non Ge[n]ji Nan[ji]o (the hiragana is 'ji') Kumasa[wa]

Ninth Twilight - the witch shall revive (or, as is the trend in this solution, her name will be revived). How? By simply reading everything we just came up with until now--and answering the resulting riddle:

'OUGON NO BEATRICE' KANJI WA?

"What are the kanji of Beatrice the Golden?"

There are a thousands possible solutions, but the important thing is to notice that the name ベアトリーチェ, Be-a-to-ri-(i)-chi(e), contains a certain word.

For example, something like this:

TORII CHI (E) = 鳥居地へ

"[go] to the torii grounds".

You know, like the suspiciously missing torii gate that was foreshadowed near the beginning of the game? Woah, I can't believe I actually found the location of the treasure! (wait what do you mean it's wrong)

[acourtofthought]

Elriels: Changing key aspects of Elain to turn her in a spy to make her more compatible with Azriel

Me: Makes a post about how Elain would be a fantastic diplomat and how it could play a role in Elucien's growth.

An Elriel finding said post: You only want her to be a diplomat to make her compatible with Lucien!

I also think they become way too attached to the things that are spelled out in the books rather than the breadcrumbs / possible hints. "Elain and Az would be so handsome together." Oh my god, E/riel is definitely happening! "Why not make them mates?" See?!? Feyre confirmed they should be together, not Elucien! "wondering if she'd been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends" It's proof Elain is going to be a spy!!!

To me, hanging on to lines like that would be like expecting Sarah to have book 1 Lucien as saying, "Tamlin, I know you want to be with her but I just see her ending up with someone like Rhys." and Feyre then ending up with Rhys. If the author (especially Sarah) is coming out and straight up feeding you lines like what she did with Elain and Elain / Az, then shouldn't it feel too easy? Shouldn't you stop and think, oh maybe this is her trying to misdirect me?

I'm not saying Sarah doesn't have patterns in her writing that if you read enough of her books it becomes easier to spot what she's getting at, but she doesn't literally tell you what the plot is going to be ahead of time. And the thing is, anyone can be a spy. Jurian was a spy out in the open. Feyre wonders if Lucien is also Tamlin's spymaster in book 1. Lucien was also working behind the scenes with Nuan to create an antidote without telling the others. So yeah, maybe Elain could be "spy-like" in her book too. But that doesn't automatically mean it will look like Az's work, where she's sneaking around in shadows (and no, her coming out of the shadows in ACOWAR to kill the king means nothing considering she came out from the forest. Trees tend to make shadows). There would have been no point for Sarah to continually remind us how Elain is good at talking to others and convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles if her arc is set up to go along with Az spying unseen. I imagine whatever Elain gets up to, it will be done in the public eye where she play both diplomat and spy and that is 100% already in line with Lucien's character as well as her own without us even having to twist it for it to work.

[mayosmultiverse]

Report Overview

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

BEHAVIOURAL ANALYSIS UNIT

PRIMARY ARCHIVE: "Things That Hotch Would Prefer Not to Know About."

SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION: "How Not to Secure A Suspect: A Live Demonstration"

DOCUMENT TYPE: Unclassified Internal Report

PAIRING: Spencer Reid x BAU GN!Reader (Pre-Relationship, Slow Burn.. sort of)

WC: 1.9k (Again)

CASE STATUS: Refer to attached report. (No spoilers.)

SUBMITTED BY: J. Jareau

ARCHIVED BY: P. Garcia

CASE NO. 002 | The Houdini Gambit: A Lesson in Restraint

SUBJECT: A takedown turns into a handcuffed disaster after Reid becomes the star of a magician’s obsession

TW: Criminal minds stuff

INVESTIGATING AGENTS: D. Morgan, P. Garcia, Scout (Reader), S. Reid, E. Prentiss, J. Jareau, D. Rossi, A. Hotchner

Case 001 | Case 003 | Case File Index | Criminal Minds Masterlist

An unassuming day was something none of the BAU agents were used to. Quite frankly, with the nature of their job, it was something like a sighting of a blue moon.

Which is why today was no other.

It was the same drill. The same seats. The same dynamics.

Scout resided on their designated place, sandwiched between JJ and Spencer. Their seat was decided prematurely when they joined. JJ and Spencer at a glance were the royalty of giving comfort.

If only Scout knew about the chaos, they brewed inside.

Everyone was fully attentive to what was being presented at screen. 

Another day. Another serial killer. Another life cruelly taken away.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and our very own doctor of wizardry. I present to you the works of 'The Magician' Vince Moretti which no self respecting Magician would ever call themselves if they were a serial killer. Leaves a bad taste." Garcia scrunched her face as the slides transitioned into various forms of utter brutality man could recreate. 

“A magician turned murderer, that’s new.” Prentiss raised her eyebrow.

“Not just any magician. It seems he worships the old school greats. Houdini, Thurston, Copperfield—but mostly Houdini. And not just ‘wow, cool tricks’ kind of worship. More like ‘this is my divine calling’ kind of crazy.”

“And now he’s killing people instead of pulling rabbits out of hats.” Morgan leaned forward, which was mainly shifting in his seat, clearly unimpressed.

“Exactly. Our guy believes ‘escape artistry’ is the ultimate test of human skill. He doesn’t see these as murders. He sees them as failed illusions.” Garcis replied grimly as she clicked through the crime scene photos.

“Each of the three murder victims was placed in an ‘escape challenge’ as in trapped in a situation where a real magician might have survived. Our fourth victim was the first to get out alive.” JJ noted. It is truly a marvel how quickly she caught on. In the total non sarcastic way (Love you, boo ~ Garcia)

The slide finally landed onto the victims. Three failed challenges. A glass tank. A fire rope. A locked coffin. 

“That’s terrifying” Scout muttered as they grimaced at the scene. Not quite used to the desensitised killers’ actions yet.

“The question is, does he want his victims to escape? Or does he want to prove they never stood a chance?” Hotch nodded, as he flipped through his file.

The somber moment was broken. Garcia’s face suddenly lightened up as she clicked for another slide.

“Oh, now for the fun part.” 

“There’s a fun part?” Scout’s question went unanswered. Sort of. (It had to be done sweety ~ Garcia)

“‘True escape is only for those with minds as sharp as a blade. A true challenger will find me. Someone who understands misdirection. Someone…’”

“Don’t say it.” Morgan groaned, already knowing where this was going.

“‘…like Dr. Spencer Reid.’”

“…Did you piss off a magician recently?” Scout blinked a bit. Then turned to look at Spencer.

“Why does this keep happening to me?” Spencer was exasperated at the amount of times this has happened. Not even rubbing his temples brought any relief.

“What can I say? You’re inspirational.” 

The whole team is staring at Reid, who looks mildly distressed.

“Okay, but objectively, this is kind of a compliment. He thinks you’re the only one smart enough to catch him.” Prentiss followed Rossi’s lead.

“Yes, because serial killer fan mail is always flattering.”

“Congratulations, Pretty Boy. You’ve got yourself a stalker with a flair for the dramatic.”

“He even called you a challenger. That’s, like, a villain origin story setup.” Scout nodded, mock serious.

“Please tell me I don’t have to personally go in after him.” Reid was absolutely done at this point. Only Hotch was his solace now.

“You’re not going in alone. You and Scout will approach first. Morgan and I will follow as backup.”

“…Fantastic.” It seemed Reid had aged a few years as the conversation progressed as he regretted his entire career path.

“Cheer up, Genius. At least he didn’t call you a sidekick.” Silver linings.

Scout and Reid were prepared to face Moretti. Well as prepared as they could be. Neither of them had experienced a Magician Serial Killer, even if the latter had years worth of more experience.

Very Reassuring.

Entering the quaint building did nothing to ease the building up stress. It had everything that horror movie does. Those ‘props’ or ‘scenes’ that scream run away. Far far away from here.

That thought was tied in with a creaking sound. Typical.

And like the most idiotic characters in the self made episode, the two followed. 

Spencer lead this dance and Scout followed behind him.

And in as they followed the sound to a dusty living room. Or what was meant to be a living room. There was nothing, absolutely nothing.

“Ah, the great Dr. Reid. The mind reader. The one who sees all.” Moretti appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The grin on his face was nothing but sinister. His hands were menacingly playing around a pair of cuffs.

Scout jumped at the sudden sound.

Why? They don’t know. For a magician they should’ve expected that. But it went unnoticed by the offending man. He was fixated by Spencer. 

His eyes unwavering from Spencer’s figure as he took a step towards Moretti. 

And Scout took a baby step, ready to pounce if the grand magician decided to try to unleash his last act.

“You believe this is a game of misdirection. But in reality, your illusion is unraveling.” Spencer’s face was as expressional as a board. Completely calm as he analysed Moretti. 

The only response he got was a booming laughter, bouncing at every crevice of the room. His manic energy was increasing. His grin, bigger. His eyes, excited.

“Oh, but the best magicians never reveal their secrets, Doctor.”

“Secrets are pointless when you are surrounded with no escape.” It was the first time Vincent Moretti’s crazed gaze landed on Scout. 

He didn’t respond. Just tilted his head and watched.

He didn’t respond and that was creeping Scout out.

He didn’t respond.. In words..

He lunged at Spencer. Scout only saw a struggle between the two and moved in to subdue the Unsub. 

But Moretti was one step ahead of both of them.

He grabbed both their wrists and snapped the cuff on them before any of them could react. Taking both their surprise to his advantage, he escaped. Leaving smoke behind to put insult on injury.

Scout looked down at the cuffs, giving it a firm tug.

“Did he just.. Ninja vanish?”

“That;s not even his best trick. He also picked my pocket.”

It was a tug of war and words between the two until the team came barging in. 

“…This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.” Morgan smirked at the sight.

“Garcia needs to hear about this immediately.” JJ already had her phone out to record.

“Okay, so tell me why my favorite little genius and my rookie in training are currently DEFYING STANDARD FBI PROTOCOL?” Garcia’s voice squeaked in the comms.

“Garcia, not now.” Hotch rubbed his temples. “Where is Moretti?” 

“He disappeared.” Hotch took a deep breath in. and out. And in again.

“Of course he did.” followed by a sigh.

“All right,” he said, sharp now, switching into command mode. “Morgan, JJ, sweep east of the perimeter. Prentiss, Rossi, check the warehouse exterior. If he’s injured, he’ll find cover. We move fast.”

And then his eyes landed on the two people still awkwardly linked together by cold metal and mutual regret.

“Scout. Reid.”

Scout straightened like they were about to be deployed into battle. Reid looked away, trying to casually pretend he hadn’t just suggested Moretti wouldn’t escape.

Hotch continued, tone flat.

“Go to the car.”

There was silence. Then:

“Wait what?” Scout blinked. “Are we being benched?”

“It’s not a bench,” Hotch said, already turning away.

“It's so bench. This is a time out.” Scout nudged Reid dramatically. “He sent us to the car like we’re toddlers who drew on the walls.”

“Technically, it’s more like administrative separation from the crime scene for operational clarity-”

“Okay, genius, we’re being babysat. Let’s just call it what it is.”

Spencer sighed. “We’re going to the car.”

“This is the most FBI version of being grounded I’ve ever seen.” Scout muttered under their breath as they started walking.

It was a while after they were joined by JJ and Morgan in the car. It might have been personal because Hotch decided on the seatings. Morgan chose to drive and JJ was not so subtly recording the two.

“Are you really going to make us stay like this all the car ride?” 

“Yes” The two were really enjoying this.

“So, how’s it feel, Genius? Finally outplayed by a magician?” Morgan looked at Spencer from the rear view with the biggest grin.

“…He didn’t outplay me. He relied on an unpredictable variable.” Spencer huffed, trying to cross his arms but the cuff and Scout not letting him.

“Oh, am I the variable?” Scout was now on the last leg of exasperated.

“Technically, you’re the assistant in the act.” Morgan mocked.

The car ride was silent after that. At least for the first five minutes, mostly because every attempt to adjust the cuffs ended in some form of passive aggressive elbow bumping.

Scout eventually gave up and leaned against the window. Reid was still trying to angle his wrist into a position that looked vaguely more dignified.

“Next time,” Scout mumbled, “I’m wearing a hoodie with zip ties instead.”

The SUV finally rolled into the garage.

Scout was out of the car before Morgan even finished parking, possibly to escape the humiliation, possibly just to get some distance from the world's most spatially unaware genius still rubbing his bruised wrist.

Reid stepped out after, fixing his cardigan with what little dignity he had left.

Now back at the BAU, Scout and Spencer were both freed from the piece of cuff. 

By the time they got back upstairs, the rest of the team was already pretending not to wait for them. Badly.

Garcia practically beamed from her desk the second she spotted the duo. 

“My little magical misfires return! Did you two enjoy your teambuilding exercise?”

Scout deadpanned, “I have seen my life flash before my eyes three times today.”

“You should’ve waved at mine while you were at it,” Spencer mumbled.

Morgan patted them both on the shoulder as if proud. “Tough day in paradise, huh?”

“Effective immediately, all field agents are required to review cuffing procedure.” Hotch didn’t even look up from the folder as he said it.

“That means you, Rookie,” Morgan added with a grin, nudging Scout.

“…This was still improbable.” Spencer rubbed his wrists in disdain.

“Not impossible though.” Scout responded flatly with their arms crossed.

“Next time, just buy dinner first.” Rossi walked pasted at this point unfazed by their antics ignoring the chaos that followed.

CASE STATUS: Resolved (With Added Embarrassment)

ADDITIONAL NOTES: INTERNAL USE ONLY

Vincent Morreti was arrested 6 hours after his amazing escape (a lot of self control was tested by Scout and Reid)

All agents had to go through lessons of handcuffs (They're salty about it)

Morgan and Garcia subsequently were called by HR from said lesson (They have no regrets)

JJ absolutely refused to delete the footage (It's good content)

Rossi somehow made it worse

Hotchner is half an incident away from having an aneurysm (He won't be going down alone)

TAGGED PERSONNEL: Contact author for notification requests

@princess-ofthe-pages

CASE SUGGESTIONS: Submissions for additional reports are open and under review

[tashiduncandonaldson]

build a fic: 2 E, and 𓃢

AHHHH THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME!!! alrighty, apologies for the wait, but here we go: art and tashi + "what they said back there. is it true?" + anxiety + the dressing room of a luxury department store

"What they said back there. Is it true?"

Tashi closes the door to the dressing room, feeling Art's eyes on the back of her head as she locks the door. She doesn't need to look at him to see the expression on his face -- his eyebrows drawn together, his mouth curving downward, tension lining his forehead and jaw like a frame hugging a beloved portrait. Hurt, bewilderment, and disappointment. The three things she hasn't been able to figure out how to alleviate in him just yet.

She turns to face him, to see him looking at her exactly the way she knew he would be, and she hangs the dresses she's planning to try on on the hooks in the dressing room. "Yes."

Art bites the inside of his cheek, his jaw clenching even tighter. He's a string too tightly strung, just on the verge of breaking. She's seen him snap the strings of his opponent's racket with the force of his serves before, and as she looks at his face, she's reminded of the sound those strings had made when they'd snapped. Sharp and unforgiving, much like another sound that still lingers in the back of her memory when she allows herself the very rare opportunity to pity herself.

"When were you going to tell me?" he asks quietly.

"At some point." Tashi knows it's not the right thing to say, and Art's reaction confirms her feelings. His face twists into a grimace of disbelief, a dark scoff escaping his lips as he takes a step back from her.

"Tashi, I shouldn't have to find out that my coach was offered a job by John fucking Isner from a fan asking for a picture with me outside the dressing rooms at Saks," he tersely argues. He's angry now. Good, she thinks. She can take his anger and wrangle it down, tame it into something he can use out on the court. She can't do that with his sadness, but she can definitely do that with his anger.

"Art," she says slowly, her voice hardening. "Did it occur to you that I didn't tell you because I'm not taking the offer?"

"But you didn't tell me."

"What does that matter? I'm not taking the offer, and it didn't make sense to me to tell you when it wasn't something I was even thinking about considering." She folds her arms over her chest and tilts her head, studying him. "Do you think you wouldn't have freaked out if I'd told you about it the day he approached me?"

Art opens his mouths, ready to argue, but then he closes it. His cheeks are flushed with a soft pink he only gets when he's emotional or aroused, and he puts his hands on his hips. "I wouldn't have freaked out."

"Yes, you would've," she argues back. "You would've freaked out just as much as you're freaking out right now, and it would've ruined your mood after winning Miami. And then you know what would've happened? You would've started off clay season in a bad mental space, so to avoid all that fuckery, I did the best thing I knew to do to keep you focused. You're having the best clay season you've ever had, Art, and you've been doing it without having John fucking Isner's job offer worrying you."

Art doesn't look at her, keeps his gaze on the floor. The lush carpet of the Saks dressing room suddenly seems to be very interesting to him as more time passes, and he doesn't speak. Finally, Tashi sighs, and she starts unbuttoning her pants, turning to the dresses on the hooks.

"You can be mad at me all you want, but it's misdirected anger."

"What?" Art asks.

Tashi doesn't turn around, and she continues to undress down to her bra and underwear. "You're not mad at me because you know I'm right. You know you wouldn't have been able to focus. But what you're really mad about is the fact that Isner would try to poach me in the first place."

She takes the dress off the hanger, draping it over her arm as she turns back around to face Art. Reaching behind herself, she unclasps her bra with one hand and lets it drop. Art's eyes are no longer staring down at the carpet, nor are they trained on her face; they're focused on her breasts as she bares them to him.

"And you're especially mad over that thought because I'm not just your coach. I'm your girlfriend. And that complicates everything we do a hell of a lot more." Tashi pulls herself up to her full height, her shoulders back and her spine straight, and she crosses closer to him. He blinks rapidly, the exact reaction she wanted from him. "Am I right?"

"Well...yeah," Art manages to grunt out. "It's fucking Isner."

"Fucking Isner," she agrees, her voice dipping down into a soft murmur. "But you don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere."

"No?" He pulls his gaze back up to her face, and she lets the dress slide down her arm and to the floor. Closing the distance between them, Tashi takes his face in between her hands, and she runs her thumbs over his cheekbones.

"No," she says quietly. "I'm not leaving you."

For a moment, Art simply stares at her, his eyes running over every feature of her face like he's memorizing her. He looks at her and drinks her in with a tenderness she's come to associate with him in everything he does, from how he touches her to how he looks at her. He's quiet when he puts his arms around her waist, drawing her even closer into him, and she arches her back against the warm weight of his palms running over her spine.

"Ok," he whispers. "I'm sorry."

"Good." She tilts her head up to catch his lips in a warm, suggestive kiss. "Now I can think of a way you can make it up to me."

Art's mouth curves into a wicked grin, and he's sinking down to his knees to put that mouth where she wants it before she's even done speaking. And as he drags her underwear down her thighs, his tongue already starting to press against the lines of her between her legs, Tashi has never loved her job or her client more.

SORRY FOR HOW LONG THIS TOOK ME TO WHIP OUT, BUT THIS WAS LITERALLY THE FOURTH SCENARIO I CAME UP WITH LMAO I RESTARTED IT SO MANY TIMES!!!! anyway, thank you for your patience, and i hope you enjoy it!!! thank you SO much for indulging me with this build a fic ask game. it was a lot of fun coming up with this even as i was struggling lol 🥰😭

build a fic with me?

[flieslikeamoron]

First fic tag game 📖

@onirislanding tagged me. Yay! Thank you!

Pick a fandom and post an excerpt of the first thing you ever wrote in that fandom. Could be a scene, part of a scene, a couple of lines, whatever your first foray into writing for that fandom was. Feel free to include a link to the story it comes from if it’s been published (excerpts from WIPs count too).

I wasn't planning on writing any steddie fic but this part of Sleight of Hand came to me fully formed and really crystallized the way I see Eddie. So I wrote that down first and then I wrote the first 12k of Sleight of Hand in one week. I legit felt manic. Like I couldn't sleep, I stopped listening to my normal podcasts to not interrupt my brain's word flow, I was writing all the time. And then of course after chapter 9 it all got very hard and slow, but it truly did feel like the fic was thrust upon me during that outburst.

-*-

Being different in Hawkins isn't something to celebrate. It’s something to survive. Maybe you’re black, or maybe you’re fat, or a queer, or you’re bad at sports, or you have a stutter... Whatever it is, in this town, you’re gonna catch hell for it.

Some kids try to duck and cover, just curl up and pray to God no one notices they exist. It doesn’t work. It never works. What works is giving them something to look at, making sure people are looking at what Eddie wants them to see. Everything he wants them to see is loud. His music, his voice, his hair, the way he dresses. It’s all really him, but it’s not really all of him. It’s a magic trick, a misdirect. Look here, ladies and gentleman, at the card in my right hand. At Eddie Munson: The Freak. The metalhead, the druggie, the burnout. Hell, throw satan worshipper in there too, that’s fine. That just makes them a little more scared of him. That’s useful.

It’s not like he hasn’t taken his share of shit; he’s made himself into a big, noticeable target after all. But people are a lot more likely to pick on the quiet ones, who are trying and failing to fade into the lockers, than the crazy one you think might bite the head off a bat. He’ll jump on a table, he’ll interrupt a class, he’ll shout at the top of his lungs in the middle of the cafeteria. “Look at me!” All the while, cleverly hidden in his left hand, the truth no one looks past the rest to see. Eddie Munson: The Fag.

Tagging @andwhatyousaid @geddyqueer @teddywesworl @carbonbased000 @r-o-s-e-f-i-r-e @pressdbtwnpages

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 46 – IDENTITY PORN

Modern Problems by tonys (orphan_account)

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 803 Tags: Misdirection, Dating Advice, Or Lack Thereof

Summary: Steve Rogers has a crush on Iron Man. Steve Rogers has no idea Iron Man is Tony Stark. Steve Rogers proceeds to ask Tony Stark how he could court Iron Man.

Reasons why I love it: Oh god, Tony, you human disaster, what are you doing?! I would legitimately read about a billion words exploring this concept, it's so good. Poor Steve, I hope they get their shit sorted out eventually. Definitely check this one out, it's great!

Trust Fall by thyrza

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 10,603 Tags: Canon Divergence, Reality Stone, Supervillains

Summary: Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark moonlights as the supervillain Iron Man, top of SHIELD's Most Wanted List and archenemy of the heroic Squadron Supreme. Then he meets the mysterious vigilante known as The Captain, and his world turns upside down. (Tie-in for S02E09, 'Dark Avengers.')

Reasons why I love it: This is such a cool concept! I love how thyrza plays with the Avengers’ identities and reality as a whole, it's super interesting. And the Stony romance is fantastic, I especially enjoyed the identity reveal. Plus, the smut is great. I love this one, and I bet you will too, so I hope you check it out!

The Way To A Man's Heart (Is Through His Stomach) by dingadur

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 7,866 Tags: Pizza Place, Tony Isn't Ironman, Romantic Comedy

Summary: Twenty-something Tony Stark surprisingly meets Captain America, when the latter stumbles into Tony's place of work and passes out, which starts off a chain of weird meetings between the two. Oh, and Tony's got a crush on his customer named Steve. I'm sure you know where this is going.

Reasons why I love it: This fic is super fluffy and fun. Tony's inner monologue is hilarious, and I love both his and Steve's characterizations. There's just something about No Powers AUs where Steve is still Cap that I really enjoy, and this fic is no exception. I hope you give it a go for yourself, because it's excellent!

speak easy by firebrands

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: M Words: 1,917 Tags: Friends to Lovers, Drunken Confessions, Recreational Drug Use

Summary: It was a normal Tuesday between the two of them, stressed and under duress and Tony needing a drink. Tony had escaped his office to work with Steve, using the excuse that a change of scenery made him more productive. Steve was just happy to spend time with Tony, really.

Reasons why I love it: This is exactly the kind of slice of life fic that I love. Their progression from friends to lovers feels so natural, and I love how Steve handles Tony's overreaction in the face of what they're doing. This fic is fantastic, and you should definitely read it!

Met You on a Monday by justanotherrollingstony (adoctoraday)

Pairing: Steve/fem!Tony Rating: G Words: 10,296 Tags: Getting Together, Miscommunication, First Kiss

Summary: The Chitauri invade on a Monday, the same day that Steve meets Iron Man for the first time, and then Toni Stark--and then everything he thinks he knows about both of them goes right out the window.

Reasons why I love it: This is such a cool take on what the MCU might have looked like if Tony had been born a woman. I especially love how quickly they go from being at each others' throats to actually getting along, and the dancing scene towards the end makes me so happy, I can't even tell you. Definitely check this one out if you haven't, it's amazing!

[dorminchu]

wip wednesday — BH&E 06 (formerly 05)

eren and annie flirt, bicker, and the author's undying love for dramatic irony rears its head again :)

She shrugged out of her jacket. "There's enough room to spar. If you'd still like to."

Aside from the mess on the other half of the room, Annie's side barely looked lived in at all.

Eren hesitated to follow her. "I wouldn't—want you to think of what I did, when you talk to me." The skin on the nape of his neck tingled. "In Trost, I mean. That wasn't who I am."

"Why should it make a difference to you?"

It occurred to Eren that she’d never asked about the nature of his transformation. Of all the cadets he spoke to, she seemed indifferent. But, she was only here to teach him how to fight. And it wasn’t like she had all the answers to what was wrong with him.

"You're not worried at all?" She smiled in a way that touched her eyes. His throat bobbed. "You said," his voice uneven, "that everything before—it wasn't serious."

"It wasn't." Her stance shifted. "I’m not going to wait around for the day you come back in a box."

A repeat of the situation that got them into trouble in the first place. Another misdirection on her part. Was it possible she didn’t have an answer herself? Acting as if she were above him, if she didn’t have the answer—well, she’d never been a very good liar. And he was probably the only person who could tell her so and not get knocked around as hard as usual.

He went for her ankle. Out of practise, really he was thinking about her behavior, and sense of humour—the lack of it. Everything was a weapon to her. What that did make this?

In the time he'd come to a conclusion she'd already disarmed him. Rather than tell him off for not taking this seriously she had him pinned, his chest to the floor.

Her mouth grazed his cheek. The arm around his neck tightened.

"I'm not going to go easier on you," she breathed. "You've been distracted since I offered to see you. It's going to get you killed," her mouth grazed his cheek, "unless you're sure of what you're willing to do."

Eren continued to thrash, helpless. She chuckled lowly. If she canted her hips back she'd be astride him. She wasn’t looking to be understood and he wasn’t going to ask questions

Her fingers skirting over the straps of his ODM harness, slipped under his shirt, catching on the key at his breast. He reached out to grab her wrist, and she stiffened, eyes widening. Close enough to feel her uneven breaths on his face. He let go, his shoulders hunched slightly as she got back to her feet.

"It's a—keepsake. From my father." She wasn't saying anything. Her eyes darted from his chest to his face, searching. He sat up, cleared his throat. "Sorry, I—I should take it off."

The doorknob turned. Annie squared her shoulders. "Oi, Leonhardt, Feulner wants to know if—oh, damn." The girl cocked her head, motioning towards Eren. " He's your boyfriend? I thought you were just being a wiseass."

"Dreyse," Annie said through her teeth.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll just say you're busy." She turned around, catching Eren's eye and skillfully dodging the pillow aimed at her head on the way out. A floral scent permeated the air.

"My roommate," Annie said.

"Does she wear a lot of perfume or something?"

Annie ignored his question, pulling her jacket back on. "You should go. Before you're missed."

Eren snorted. "Since when did you start caring about protocol?"

She looked at him the way she had Dreyse.

"Shit, I didn't mean it like—you never asked when I had to leave, so." Staring at the wall. He glanced at her and then away. "D'you" —he gesticulated towards her— "aren't you hot?"

"Not really."

[dawnbreakersgaze]

Dawnbreaker Discourse 🌄

Over the last couple days I've been tagged in a number of posts regarding the theory that Greyson's story No Morning holds proof that Zayne's Snowy Serenity card is actually Dawnbreaker Zayne who managed to make it to the present timeline.

Below the cut, I'll discuss why I don't believe this is the case, along with references to the in game content that supports my theory. That said, please note that I fully support the folks who want to believe this theory, because at the end of the day my man deserves to have everyone in his corner.

Let's dig in shall we?

For starters, I'm not going to rehash the entire breakdown of where all this commentary started, but will try to sum it up quickly instead.

『The CN players have linked the appearance of the white flowers and the black crystal ice in the WU story No Morning to Dawnbreaker.』

All of these theories are interesting and have a lot of fun ideas, but all of them are missing what I think is the key element here.

I believe the constant reference to the black crystal ice as Dawnbreaker's Evol is being misconstrued for what the game is setting up to be a major plot device/point in later parts of the story.

In No Morning we see Greyson observe the black crystals here-

Earlier in this same story it's specified that this plant comes from a very specific place on Mt Eternal, a place where we've seen another massively impactful scene involving something identical in another anecdote- Never ending Winter:

We also see them referenced again in the World Undernead stories Longly Flame, and Snowy Stairs-

I believe there are other references to the black crystals I am surely missing, but these are the ones I remembered right off the top of my head.

I ALSO realize that in Greyson's POV it very specifically calls them "black ICE crystals" while every other reference says "Black crystals" but I fully believe that's either a translation error, or just a solid case for unreliable narrator. As much as I adore Grey, he can be a bit of a dork, so I can accept the mishap there. That being said, I really do believe with all my heart it is simply a translation difference rather than a deliberate misdirection.

And while Dawnbreaker's ice is indeed a black ice, I do not believe that it will ever be used in a significant storytelling capacity (as in I dont think it will be used to subtly hint at his presence) due to the very heavy-handed usage of these black crystals PG has been feeding us since the very beginning. Never Ending Winter was one of the OG anecdotes, so these black crystals have been set up from launch as a very important reference to either a type of protocore sickness, a metaflux disease, or some other deepspace linked disorder we've yet to understand.

That said, I'll admit I've definitely been calling Zayne's Snowy Serenity card the DawnFaker card because I'll agree- it has some H E A V Y DB undertones and they didn't do him any favors by putting him in a Dawnbreaker cosplay but with a beige sweater. I'm gonna continue to call it the DawnFaker card, but know that it's said in jest and with affection, and that I don't actually believe that card was Dawnbreaker (as much as I wish it was!)

I hope my little bit of imput was helpful or even slightly insightful! Please feel free to discuss or link me any refuting information. I'm always down to say "oops I was wrong~" when it comes to the lore of this game. Because let's be real, it's a mess lol.