#edit: oops forgot teeth

[howlsnteeth]

completed commission for @knightmaredigitalis! no kin/id/etc associations, thanks!

[emeraldxphoenix]

what kiss trope is destined to be in your narrative

The Kiss of Death The primary instincts of all creatures — sex and death. If you can combine the two they become a bigger selling point. Though not exactly graphic, the Kiss of Death is still sensual, seductive, and very, very deadly. The Kiss of Death comes in many varieties, including: hypnosis, narcotic effect, and sucking out the soul of the victim, which may or may not result in death, depending on the story. Crucially it can also be a symbolic gesture — the kiss itself does not bring death or harm, but the person who receives it knows that his days are numbered.

tagged by: @rvndrkhlme <3

tagging: @wcrriorhearts (your choice) , @theresastargirl , @othunderous , @sioraiocht (lilith) , @cffidelityy & anyone else who wants <3

[duckysprouts]

jbsss episode 5 part 1

the infamous van scene. i can’t draw vans so it’s truck-kun instead. bella was very close to being an entirely different protagonist.

spoilers, it’s the system’s fault. and also jacob’s.

edit: forgot bella’s gapped teeth! oops

[wonwooslibrary]

svt as boyfriends ♡ jeonghan edition

member: yoon jeonghan genre: fluff, bullet points, established relationship word count: 668 summary: jeonghan's boyfriend things <3 warnings: none! author's note: i totally forgot to write this oops but heeeey it's done and it's jeonghan's turn! school has been a lot so i'm sorry that I haven't been posting as much </3 I'm trying to write more in my free time so we'll see :O

I feel like Jeonghan would be the “silent boyfriend”

Jeonghan gives the perfect college boyfriend vibes and I love that for him idk

Quality Time 

Jeonghan slays so hard at quality time

As I said, Jeonghan gives college bf vibes and it’s totally because of his love of quality time! 

When you are doing work, he’d totally agree to sit with you somewhere on campus or in a local cafe to study with you and help you memorize terms for your next exam! 

If you don’t go to school, he’d totally help you with your work projects too!!!

If you don’t have work projects either, he’d just be there for you if you are having a rough day, just as someone to lean on and to listen to you talk <3 

He’s so caring I love him

He would also definitely love to go on night walks with you when it’s late! He would totally find a spot where y’all can see the stars and take you there so you can stargaze and share some snacks 

Words of Affirmation 

Jeonghan is totally a “sweetie” or “baby” kind of guy and you cannot change my mind about it at all 

I can imagine Jeonghan coming home from a long practice or something and finding you in the living room. He’d sit next to you on the couch and lean against you and be all like, “Hi baby, how was your day?” 

(I’d actually scream pls) 

He would always say sweet things to you like “I missed you, baby” or “I love spending time with you” aaaaaa 

Jeonghan is a compliment machine so never think he would keep his thoughts to himself 

“Sweetie, I love the outfit you wore the other day! It looked perfect on you” 

(sobbing) 

Physical Touch

Jeonghan obsessed with little or light touches 

Loves holding hands when you’re waiting in line for something, or resting his hand on your knee when you’re sitting together on public transport 

And of course don’t forget about the back hugs when you’re doing something like dishes, brushing your teeth or literally just standing and texting your friend back

Head pats !!! Loves just patting your head and combing through your hair slightly

Y’all would be the couple that I strive to be a part of in my dreams 

Just imagine Jeonghan being a cuddly bf :( 

Acts of Service 

Helping you brush and do your hair!!! He definitely knows how to braid so imagine all the cool stuff he could do 

And if you have short hair, don’t fear: he’s got the butterfly clips all prepared just to be silly 

Definitely helps you with chores when you are busy or need to just take a break from existing 

Likes driving you places, even if you are a better driver and also enjoy driving 

He just likes making sure you get places safely and also don’t have to stress yourself out from how bad the traffic can be 

He also just likes letting you be in control of his radio 

Gift Giving 

He would totally go to your favorite cafe or bakery in the morning and get your favorite treat and bring it back while you’re still sleeping so when you wake up, you get something amazing from him !!!

Spoils you all the time but instead of it being jewelry or something expensive, he just gets you small trinkets 

Totally buys you pins for your bag when he goes literally anywhere 

Also loves to get you little decorations for your place: including stuffed animals, one being an extremely soft lamb that you decided to name Mareep, like the Pokemon

Now, for something like holidays and your birthday, he would get something more sentimental, like matching bracelets or something!!! 

He would want to get something for the both of you that he can still wear during practice, photoshoots and when he’s filming literally anything

Even if the audience doesn’t know what it symbolizes, he would know and that's very soft boyfriend of him <3

[thehollowwriter]

💀 🔥 and 👑 for Finn and Quinn, if that’s okay!!

That's perfectly okay! Thank you, Cyn! Vil answered here (

Edit: I forgot Quinn oops 💀

Sam is the only staff member Finn likes (he is neutral to Trein, though). Sam is not loud or obnoxious or irritating or a prick, and he's actually useful, unlike most people. He is admittedly quite curious about Sam's culture and would like to learn about it, but he doesn't know how to form such a demand.

Finn actually bought Sam's mystery drink, much to Azul's horror, and simply smiled and continued to drink it when Azul demanded a reason for his "traitorous act". He finds Azul and Sam's "rivalry" quite entertaining.

Sam is fond of Finn and can tell he's a curious little fella who wants to learn things. He's patiently waiting for Finn to ask about his culture. He can see the burning curiosity in those amtheyst eyes, after all.

Sam can see Finn's siblings, no matter the time of year, and they gave him quite a fright when Finn first walked into his store. Sam mentions his friends on the other side a number of times, and I hc he has a special connection to ghosts and spirits through his magic and can see them when others can't. Sam is, like some others, concerned about Finn because his health is visibly detoriating. Sam is quite sure it's got something to so with those ghost babies.

Ohhh boy this is gonna be a long one

Finn is either neutral to most of the student body because he doesn't know or hasn't met them, hates them because he unfortunately does know and has met them, or -rarest of all- likes them. Idia falls into the second option.

Finn has come to visit Azul during clubs a number of times and has subsequently met Idia. Finn does not like Idia.

Quiet? Shy? Bullshit, the bastard runs his mouth a mile a minute, no wonder he gets along with Azul. Fnnn does not like Idia's attitude, nor does he like Idia's personality. Idia's unwanted comments about his weight or teeth when Azul wasn't there does not help matters. Finn is always ten seconds from turning into Riddle's long-lost twin when speaking with Idia for too long.

Idia just rubs Finn the wrong way. He insists Azul should not be spending as much time with Idia as he does. He's even bringing gamer lingo home! (Finn doesn't dislike video games he just hates the way Idia talks). Finn does enjoy tormenting Idia at any opportunity he can.

Meanwhile, Idia is terrified of Finn and finds him incredibly creepy. It's like the little guy crawled out of an indie horror game, put on a uniform, and started going to school. And those paintings? It's like something out of a fucking creepypasta.

Finn's UM is also horror material, according to Idia. He even called Finn "a limited live action bodysnatcher experience," much to Finn's displeasure. He refused to allow Finn to touch him out of fear of Finn doing who knows what with his appearance and voice once he figured out how said UM works.

Finn is #1 on Idia's "NRC's Most Turbo Sus Background Character List, Source: Idia Shroud" (not to be confused with the turbo sus dorm leader and turbo sus vice dorm leader lists) since as much as a creepy sea mosnter Finn is, he's more of a side character in the general scheme of things.

Idia questions Azul's choice of partner (he saw Azul and Finn smooch once, it was disgusting) and wonders if Azul is broken somehow. Brainwashed, maybe.

Yeah, they don't like each other and avoid one another at all costs. Idia tries to find blackmail on Finn, just in case. Finn purposefully flashes his teeth and changes eye colour just to see all colour drain from Idia's face. He even spoke to Idia using Ortho's voice, though he will admit it was a low blow even if he doesn't regret it.

It's just best these two don't interact.

Tagging: @distant-velleity @krenenbaker @oya-oya-okay @the-banana-0verlord @theleechyskrunkly @cyanide-latte @officialdaydreamer00 for Finn lore >:D Feel free to drop on an ask!

[basclari]

DA 2 Mods - Oops All Bloodmages Run

Merchant Backpacks

Scarlet Robes of the Circle Mage

Scarlet Robes Finery Replacement

Scarlet Robes MOTA Replacement - same link as finery replacement

Unique Face Textures - Companion Retextures and Extras

Fenris Blue Wraith - 4k

Repeatable Romance Scenes V1.2

Eye Fix - Nathaniel and Delilah

KS Hairs for DA2 - All in One

LOTC s DA2 Eyelash Fix - Natural in Dark Brown

PTs Makeup Intensifier 1_0

PTs Vibrant Eyes 1_1

SJC's Makeup Edit

Fenris Spring Cleaning v2.0

Fenris Lyrium Ghost Fix_U_ Update 03

Hawke Estate Mirror and Outfit Changer

No More Bloody Teeth

DAO - Inspired Zevran

Isabela_s Hands and Merrill_s Hands

Puffy Face Begone - Warning needs a hair tint that I forgot or get the alternate

WS78_Origins_Teagon

[a-really-cool-blog-name]

Can you tell us more about Lily and the never ending mirror please 🥺

OH HOHO You asked for this! (YES I GET TO INFO DUMP PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT MY OTHER STORIES I HAVE SO MANY OR OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS I LOVE TALKING) Without further a due I'm gonna start with the characters!

Lily: Our main girl, we love her. She's 14. A little sassy and very loyal, she windes up in the neverending mirror at the start of the story when on a trip at a fall fair with her family. She is VERY confused and worried right now.

Charles: Anxiety 💯 He's 15. He's been in this place for about two years now. Insecure but VERY protective, caring, and a great big brother to Mary, Speaking of-

Mary: E N E R G Y. She's 11. She's been here for a little less than by like two months. Energetic, hyper active, optimistic, and outgoing, she's voted most likely to yell "echo" in a cave even when she needs to be stealthy. Cares a lot about her friends and family (Well, whatever family she can still visit while in here. Which is just Charles.) and is not going to let them think badly about themselves if she can help it.

Thomas "Archive": Won't tell you his name unless he trusts you, he's worried about Lily "Working for the government" whenever he first meets her, whatever that means. He's 17. Been here for five years. Book lover. Actually has a corkboard with red string connecting pictures. Mostly just Friends with Mary (Kind of unintentional on his part) at the beginning but will later becomes closer to the other characters.

Mabel: Angry and lonely. Her body and mind is twelve at least. She's been here for a while at least. Reason why everyone is here. (If you want more I may do a post specifically about her and the next person)

???: That's weird, I forgot what I was saying! What Character? >:)

(She doesn't have a name yet, oop.) (this is an edit in the future her name is Carol now):A very caring and sweet lady, acts as a mother figure and helps people when- well, I'll get into that later. Most likely to call you sweetheart or honey. She's in her 30's.

(He ALSO doesn't have a name yet): In his late 20's. Kind of rude and grumpy because of this whole situation.

(There are like 20 more people there but I don't have ideas for them lol)

ACTUAL PLOT TIME!

So, The neverending mirror! As the name implies you get pushed by a mysterious hand coming out of a book fall through a mirror to end up there. If you were to walk all the way to the end of this pocket dimension you'd just end up on the other side. This place changes it's inhabitants the longer they're stuck there for, painfully. (Woooo angst and hurt/comfort)

Charles has a black smokey-ness (I don't know how else to describe it)covering half his face and his arm but he doesn't want to worry anyone and doesn't want to acknowledge it's getting worse because he already hates this he can teleport and make portals which is very useful for helping people get around in this place.

Mary has REALLY REALLY good hearing and sharp teeth. Everything can be too loud which hurts sometimes and her teeth ache sometimes and it's hard to chew but it's fine because in Mary's mind she looks SICK and that's all that matters.

"Archive" just... doesn't have legs anymore. He misses them a lot He has this pink purple smoke around where they would be. (It would totally suck if had phantom pain from not having legs anymore ha ha ha) But, on the bright side he can float and make other things float! He never has to worry about getting something off the top shelf again!

Mabel has nothing wrong with her you can see, yet. (Make her angry or she just doesn't have the energy to keep it constantly up and well, that's a different story. She basically has horns made of crumbled up paper and a bookmark tail inspired by no one at all (*COUGH COUGH SCRIPTLESS COUGH COUGH*))

???...

Carol has "Galaxy" hair, eyes, and hands. She can also heal people and she comforts someone whenever a "change" happens, she can't stop it from happening but she can at least help the pain a little.

(He's not a important character in the slightest how could you tell? lol ) Just Snake/lizard features

Lily is fine (physically at least) at the beginning of the story and is scared of it happening to her. She's hoping to find some way out of here before that happens. (Spoiler, she fails at that. Get a third eye, idiot.)

The story is mainly about Lily, Charles, Mary (And Archive but slightly less so) trying to get to the bottom of this place and maybe, just maybe, finally getting out.

(It's also about the tragedy of two siblings from Britain in the past and the pain of no one ever remembering you or being able to truly love you and getting older but never growing up, but that's a post for another day.)

[drpanda99]

Modern Cultivation AU Wipwednesday!

Oops I forgot last week that I'm on Tumblr now and that I don't need to take low quality screenshots for wipwed. This is a completely unedited snippet from a modern cultivation fic that I'll eventually publish! This may be heavily edited in the future since it came out of my unhinged nanowrimo writing fugue.

TW some horror imagery?

Lan Zhan spun around, unsheathing Bichen in a single move. Behind them stood a grotesque form, the skin of its face half-rotted into a permanent grin. Its eyes and lips were gone, great chunks of flesh missing as if torn by sharp teeth. Its body was stiff and greying, the clothes on its body dark from dirt. Lan Zhan could not tell if it was originally a man or woman. A jiangshi. It reached out a single straight arm and screeched. Lan Zhan jumped towards it, building spiritual energy up in Bichen. He swung diagonally across its body, his strength enough to split it open shoulder to hip. The jiangshi moved with unnatural speed, jumping backwards to dodge his blow. “Dodge!” Lan Zhan heeded the shout and jumped to the side. A glowing red talisman flew past where he had been standing to hit the jiangshi squarely in the face. Then two other talismans followed, hitting each of the vampire’s arms. Chains of golden energy formed from the three points of contact with the talismans, binding the arms of the jiangshi to its side. The chains linked to the talisman on its forehead jerked its head back and it roared in anger once it could no longer move. The Yiling Laozu ran up beside Lan Zhan, out of breath. “That should hold it for now! Quick, get your suppression started! I can keep it in place for you.” Lan Zhan nodded, sheathing his sword and summoning Wangji. He placed his hands on the familiar wood and strummed the first chords of binding. Blue energy from the notes of his guqin formed and flew towards the corpse.

[bahamutgames]

AFTERTHOUGHTS - ROUNDUP ROUND 3

April 2023

Nintendo Switch Online Edition!!

HELLO EVERYONE! Yes, you right that right, NSO Edition. This time I'm gonna split the round up into 2 different posts. In April I spent most of the month moving. It was a particularly hard move but we managed to make it through. And some days I wouldn't have a car so I would just be sitting around with my Switch, and even after the move was done I did a lot of just sitting around cause I injured my feet during the move! So, I found myself playing a TON of Nintendo Switch Online games. I've mentioned before that I can't afford the expansion pass, but I was actually able to get 8 people who could all send me $10 each, so we were able to finally afford the $80 family plan!

As such, I've been finally getting to sink my teeth into those other emulators and try out stuff that isn't just on the default version. So get ready for a lot of N64 and Genesis stuff haha

As always, these aren't reviews just thoughts yadda yadda yadda. If you wanna play any of these play them. They're all easy to emulate (I think? Idk how good N64 emulation is atm). Anyway enjoy.

Kuru Kuru Kururin (March 21, 2001) - Gameboy Advance

Of course, we start with GBA first. I'm obsessed with this console and it's actually insane how few games on this console is available on Switch! But one of them is Kuru Kuru Kururin! Which is a game I've actually wanted to play for YEARS cause it's an assist in Brawl. But it never made its way over here (but I found out the day I played it that it WAS released in the UK so... I could have been playing it the whole time. Oops.)

But yeah now that's I've played it, I think this game is pretty cute! It's short and sweet, only having around 30 levels or something around that range. But it can be TOUGH to make it through! The game is all about patience so if you're like me, it's tough to make it through. And if you're like me, you'll use rewinds a LOT to make it through this cause you suck at waiting. Regardless, yeah, this game is fun! Cute music, cute visuals, and you can customize your ship!

Only real complaints is that some of the levels are like straight up mazes, so they can be really hard to navigate. And also in general the game is a little frustrating but I think generally people will find it very easy. Again I'm just not patient. Glad I finally got to try this one out! Would have loved to see this get a sequel on DS or 3DS or something. Oh well. Look at my custom ship! The red parts blink on and off like a warning light :)

Yoshi's Story (December 21, 1997) - N64

And here we go with some games I replayed! Recently I said in my first attempt to do a podcast (shameless plug) that I don't have a lot of memories with the N64. But getting NSO just totally brought everything back. I never forgot how much I loved Starfox 64, Paper Mario, ect ect. But I completely forgot about just how many games on this console I ADORE! One of which being Yoshi's Story!

I was OBSESSED with this game as a kid, I played every level in the game and this also spawned my love for the Black and White Yoshi! And I'm happy to say that, yeah, this game still holds up. I see SO many people say this game sucks. But honestly, I don't agree. Maybe if you payed $60 for it back in the day it'd be disappointing. And while it is easy there's a lot of levels to play and trying to get the high score can be really really tough in certain stages like the piranha plant level or the level with the big fishes.

Regardless, I still think this game is incredibly charming and fun! Great music, great visuals, i ADORE the characterization of the Baby Yoshis. This game really makes them feel like puppies? They growl and act so much like little dogs and I LOVE it. The story book aesthetic rules. I think the gameplay is great. And honestly, this might still be my favorite Yoshi game if you can believe it! My only major complaint when coming back to it is that the switch version makes a lot of the graphics look REALLY odd. This game gets the 2D stuff messed up more than anything else on the service. Very odd.

Starfox 64 (April 27, 1997) - N64

Here we go! Here is one of my all time favorite games EVER! Honestly... I don't even really think I need to write up my thoughts on it as I'm fairly certain the last time I beat this game and talked about it was just last year aha. Without a doubt, Starfox 64 is one of my all time favorites and is easily the game I have played to completion the most. I ADORE this game. So, yknow a quick run of it again wouldn't hurt right? I have NSO now anyway so I might as well...

And now we're here. Yeah, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. This game still absolutely RULES! It's such an amazing game and shmup (do on rail shooters count as shmups? I think they should... 3D Shmups). Even all this time later and after so many playthroughs the game never fails to scratch that itch. Great music, great levels, great characters, great gameplay. And that ending. Augh, gets me every time.

If anyone is curious my favorite route is

Corneria > Meteor Herd > Starwolf > Solar > Macbeth > Area 6 > Venom. Always my favorite set of levels to run through!

Pokemon Snap (March 21, 1999) - N64

Another all time favorite! I mean... This is basically an on rails shooter, if you think about it. Just with VERY different objectives and the bullets are, yknow, photos. So it's only natural I would love this Shmup classic! For real though, if you know me you know I LOVE taking pictures in game, so I love games all about taking pictures!

I used to play Snap a TON back in the day. And after I was absolutely madly in love with the sequel that took way too long to come out, I was interested in revisit the original for a bit now. I will come out of the gate and say it, New Pokemon Snap is better by leaps and bounds. It's got tons more content and things to do. But this only speaks to how good New Pokemon Snap is, because the original still holds up great! It feels fantastic to play, it's super cute, great music, lots of lovely scenarios to take pictures of. And it's made at that cute time period where the Pokemon brand was still figuring itself out. Honestly I think seeing Pokemon just living in nature is one of my favorite ways to see them and now I REALLY wanna play more NPS!

My only real complaints outside of just, not as much to do as the sequel that came out YEARS later is that the stages are SO short! I forgot how insanely short they are! I would love them to be a little longer with more Pokemon, but again that's what the sequel is for I suppose!

I had a bunch of really nice photos I wanted to show off but I deleted my save data before the final boss so I had to play the game a second time and didn't really feel so intense to take many pictures. eh.

F-ZERO X (July 14, 1998) - N64

I feel like I NEVER get to talk about it but I LOVE FZero! It's a series I totally adore and find super fun to play! And with the small amount of games in the series (crying and dying and coping and seething) it's also not very often I get to play a game in the series I've just NEVER played before! But here we are!

I've wanted to try this game for ages but just never could really get my hands on it for one reason or another. But now I didn't really have any reason not to try it! I'd still say it's not as good as GX, but it's still REALLY good! And it's crazy to me that they were so close to the insanity of GX on the N64. Game feels AMAZING to play and has TONS of characters, alt colors for each of them, and lots of tracks! And of course the OST is SUPER GOOD but that's not surprising for FZERO. I'm not a music guy but the guitars in this game sound really good and cool. And it has the fantastic cover of Rainbow Road if you've never heard that.

Off the top of my head the only issue I really have are kinda nitpicky. it's not amazing looking, but I totally understand that it just kinda can't look crazy good on N64, it's a big game with a lot going on and it's not gonna look as good as GX I'm not stupid. But a larger problem I had is that there are SO MANY KILL PLANES! I was trying to jump around the track and kept dying super high up or the collision for the road wouldn't load in cause I guess I skipped checkpoints. Frustrating. LET ME GO NUTS!!

But yeah, good game. I played as Pico and did every track in the Novice Class cause I suck

Dr. Mario 64 (April 8, 2001) - N64

Another game I've been interested in for a while but never got to play before. This one is very odd. it's Dr. Mario so of course it's good but it actually has a story mode with 2 very slightly different stories between Dr. Mario himself and Wario! Yeah this game actually features TONS of Wario Land 3 characters which is so weird and was a big reason I wanted to check it out.

Not much to say on this one. It's Dr. Mario so it's good. But it's just Dr. Mario. Story is cute. Although I didn't have the energy to play through both stories on higher difficulties so I didn't see the true final bosses. It plays fine, looks cool, has a good amount to do. I think the game is a little brutal though. I've never played VS Dr. Mario believe it or not. And I actually think trash blocks in this game are totally detrimental to you if you're not the best at it (like me) so the enemies had a pretty easy time just filling my board with garbage. Ah well. Still neat. Wouldn't mind a new Dr. Mario with a Story Mode and maybe more stuff like Miracle Cures from Miracle Cure on 3DS.

Kirby's Dreamland 2 (March 21, 1995) - Gameboy

Random Gameboy Jumpscare! Yeah last time I played Dreamland 1 so... Why not run through Dreamland 2? Yeah, this one is a LOT better than Dreamland 1. It's got copy abilities, and a whole game set up more similar to Adventure (or Nightmare in Dreamland if you're like me aha) and it has some animal buddies from Dreamland 3! Who, of course, all have different ways of using the copy abilities so there's LOTS to see and experiment with!

Cute sprites, some really honestly very cute and nice looking environments. Good soundtrack. It's honestly pretty dang good feeling and looking for a Gameboy game! I think something that really surprised me with this one is that there's a LOT of unique and cool boss battles in this that I've never really seen before as a casual kirby fan? Nruff, Sweet Stuff, and Ice Dragon are monsters I've seen before but never as bosses. It was neat and actually surprising to not only fight whispy and stuff. I know a lot of Kirby games have new bosses. But still!

Only complaints are stuff like. Ah not enough copy abilities or animal friends. But it's still gameboy there's only so much you can jam pack into it. No, my biggest issue is easily the final boss. Which, if you've played this game you might see the screenshot and realize I didn't fight! Every game in the Dark Matter saga (DL2, DL3, 64 as far as I'm aware?) all do this annoying thing where you can only challenge the final boss after 100% completing the game. This doesn't bug me all the time as I did this for Super Princess Peach and Demon's Crest, but I wasn't like ecstatic to do it in those even though I adore those games. And while I really like these Kirby games. I'm just not crazy enough about it to sit down and try to do EVERYTHING in them at the moment. But that's just me I'm sure Kirby fans could probably 100% this with their eyes closed. And if I ever do sit down to play the entire franchise, I will make an effort to try and grab everything and finally fight the true final bosses to these games.

Pokemon Stadium (April 30, 1999) - N64

Ah now here's a game I have a lot of nostalgia for! Despite not ever doing a full playthrough of the original RBY until last year, I played Stadium a BUNCH growing up! The minigames of course, everyone did, but I actually played Free Battle with Rental Pokemon a LOT for some reason. I was really into it and I remember really wanting Stadium 2 and whatever the GC and Wii ones were called but I never got them.

And something I tried as a child but never managed to do was beat Gym Leader Castle! And now I'm happy to say I did! Did it all with Rental Pokemon of course because they... dont have RBY on Gameboy Online for some reason which is a HUGE mistake by the way. I'll just come out and say it. With your own team I feel like this game would be REALLY exciting. But looking back, with Rental Pokemon. It's REALLY boring. It feels so slow to get through and I totally understand why I just didnt have the energy without save states as a kid.

BUT this game is still nice in a lot of ways. Very charming little title and I ADORE the animations made for all 150 Pokemon. They all have tons of personality, are fun to watch, and are just plain cute. I know Pokemon Company has said there's no reason to make a game like this now that Pokemon main series games are 3D but I disagree because a game like this really allows them to showcase unique emotions and quirks in the personalities of the different species. If that makes sense. Game looks good, music is nice, and of course the announcer is LEGENDARY.

No I am not unlocking Mewtwo, I thought you got him for clearing Gym Leader castle. You do not. I looked it up, you have to do EVERYTHING. I am not doing that.

Also if you wanna see the team I took on Gym Leader Castle with. All rental Pokemon of course. But still neat! (x)

Pokemon Puzzle League (September 25, 2000) - N64

Gosh now here's a REALLY weird game. For years I've seen people say this game is absolutely awful and... honestly it's not. It's just Panel De Pon so it's good objectively. But it still sucks but like, in other ways? Like. I don't know how to describe it the game is just really weird. It's fully based around the anime, which is rare. It has one or two original animations made just for the game (I think they're made just for it)? Which is neat. And it has covers of music from the anime which is neat! I was particularly blown away by the inclusion of Catch Me If You Can from the first movie which is a song I liked a lot in highschool lol. (no Free Up Your Mind or Brother My Brother though 0/10)

But I'dunno even though it plays fine and it has a lot of stuff to do including making your own boards for people to solve which is neat. The game just feels so lame? It looks like a PowerPoint presentation and while you can pick a Pokemon to bring into battle as far as I can tell it has 0 impact on the actual battles which is a HUGE waste because the blocks have type icons on them so I feel like there's a huge missed opportunity for a Panel De Pon game with like elemental weaknesses? Idk how to describe it but it really feels fake, or maybe like a flash game you would have played on the official Pokemon website back in the day. It's not bad but even playing it for free, I'd rather just play Panel de Pon lmao. Sorry Puzzle League.

THAT BEING SAID, I did randomly beat it twice so I could get the better ending. Which I didn't bother doing for Dr. Mario 64, so that's gotta be worth something.

Pulseman (July 22, 1994) - Genesis

Speaking of Pulseman, here's a game with no Pokemon in it! I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone this at this point but Pulseman was made by Gamefreak and even has a lot of the art done by Ken Sugimori which is very neat! This is a game I've actually enjoyed for a bit as I bought it on Wii Virtual console a loooong time ago. But I could never beat it sadly. Thankfully I finally managed to get through it!

Pulseman is VERY cool! I like the character designs of Pulseman and his sidekick girl a LOT. Pulseman also has a lot of really interesting abilities, I think the ability to run fast and build up static to super charge your moves is SUPER cool! There's even some voice acting which is REALLY neat. The game feels very advanced in a lot of parts. And the game has a lot of impressive visuals and looks very good for the most part!

For the most part though. I honestly can't help but feel a little disappointed in Pulseman now that I've played it? I think a lot of the levels don't play to Pulseman's cool abilities enough, I think a lot of the levels in general kinda suck. A lot of the game looks kinda headache inducing with tons of flashing lights instead of focusing on the REALLY nice sprite art if that makes sense. I don't really remember most of the enemies and bosses. And I don't recall any of the music. Idk I hate to say it cause I love Pulseman's design and a lot about the game. But I can't help but feel like this game didn't bring out the concept's full potential.

PERSONALLY I think Pulseman REALLY could use a sequel and honestly, it's not too late. I know Gamefreak is kinda eh on not doing Pokemon every year or so but I really think Pulseman is a game that could go SO nuts nowadays with some cooler levels and expansions on Pulseman's abilities and giving him new tools he can use and upgrade using the static electricity stuff. Ah well, it's still worth playing as an interesting piece of history!

Street Fighter II - Championship Edition (March 18, 1992) - Genesis

Can you believe I've never beaten this game before? Yeah despite how much I love fighting games I only really got into Street Fighter during covid when I played Street Fighter 4 and really found myself loving Juri Han. And while I've been REALLY wanting to get the Capcom Fighting Collection, which includes this, I've just been kinda strapped for cash so I'll have to go with the NSO for Street Fighter II!

Yeah it's fine. Not mind blowing but it is REALLY interesting to go back and play this and see how much of it is still accurate to modern day fighting games? Either the genre hasn't changed much or this game just hit the nail on the head so well (probably a bit of both) but yeah it's neat that it has a lot of modern day fighting game trappings and while it feels outdated, it doesn't feel as outdated as you would expect such an old console port fighting game to feel? Idk how SF2 feels in general though cause I've barely played it. But yeah it's neat. Looks good, has good music, stuff you would expect for Street Fighter. I played as Blanka cause Cammy isn't in this version. Neat :)

Super Fantasy Zone (January 14, 1992) - Genesis

Ah never a bad time for Shmups! I have a little bit of history with Fantasy Zone as I used to LOVE playing my bootleg NES cartridge of it as a kid! Fantasy Zone is very reminiscent of Twinbee with its cute bullet hell stuff and also having a living ship. I love OpaOpa.

This game pretty good, feels great to play, looks adorable, has great boss fights, nice music. And I especially LOVE how many upgrades you can buy for OpaOpa! I just wish they were all permanent or at least lasted longer? I also appreciate that it had a kind of out of nowhere ending with a really cool and edgy dark matter concept and villain, I guess I need to research more Fantasy Zone lore!

My only problem with this game, and while this may feel stupid, I think it's fair to bring up. This game feels like it would be impossible without rewinding? It's 1 hit and you're dead, and it's a bullet hell where it can be really hard to tell where everything is including your ship (which is REALLY important to tell where that thing is during bullet hells aha). With rewinds it wasn't a problem, but I genuinely don't know if it would be possible without them. Still, it's fun so if you have NSO (or an emulator which is free btw) it's a great time!

Ristar (February 16, 1995) - Genesis

Last, but absolutely NOT least, is Ristar! HEY!! RISTAR ROCKS!? WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THIS GAME RULES ACTUALLY!?!? I've seen it around a lot but idk the game just never really looked like something I'd enjoy. But I figured, why not? Let's give it a go. And I can safely say I was WRONG! Ristar is a FANTASTIC platformer I'm sad I never sunk my teeth into before (well, I never owned it I dont think. But still)

First off, Ristar is ADORABLE. I didn't like how he looked on the boxart but he looks GREAT in game and has some lovely animations (him making snowmen in the ice world killed me.) The music is also fantastic, the bosses are cool, and the whole game is full of really cool ideas! It's even got a neat albeit small story. But particularly, the visuals. Oh my god. This game is GORGEOUS! Ristar has such AMAZING sprite art I was honestly totally blown away by every part of the game's visuals! A part that really made my jaw drop when I first saw it is when you beat a world, the cutscene that plays when Ristar flies to the next planet looks AMAZING and also has some really beautiful music! Honestly, Ristar looks like an indie game trying to look like a Genesis game, but massively overshooting what the Genesis could actually do. And I mean that in the best way possible!

I have some nitpicks with it, I think the final boss had some attacks that were really stupid to dodge? And there were some stages that just... Weren't hitting. But I think my biggest issue with the game is similar to Pulseman's issue. Ristar has cool abilities. He can stretch his arms out and launch things around by bouncing into them like a sling shot. But, this just kind of never gets used? You use it for the spinny things but that's it? I feel like I should be able to angle enemies when I grab them to sling them into eachother, or just be using these abilities in ANY additional ways. Also the game is SLOOOOW, it's REALLY slow game. I think Ristar is another game that REALLY could use a second go around. Ristar 2 could really add to Ristar's abilities and turn up the speed! I think there's so much you could do with grappling and slinging with this character that hasn't been explored yet. PLEASE GIVE US RISTAR 2!!

[bubblebaath]

a completely suitable design for team wither

[rockfact]

just remembered almost everyone in fnaf1 only has bottom teeth so i edited cents and T_T he looks so cute

[briefmusicbouquet]

am i going to keep running with this "bat queen and darius adopt hunter after belos gets his ass kicked" au?

yes, absolutely, this has been the only thing trapped in my brain ever since i made that post about hunter running into the bat queen after hollow mind

i can see it now,

hunter caleb *very excited to play his first official flying derby match with the team, and also for the first time has adults that care about his interests and wellbeing* : guys! look! both my parents could make it to the game, isn't that great!!!

the team and their parents: *see a fucking former COVEN HEAD and the BAT QUEEN*

gus and willow, "last time they saw the bat queen she was holding them hostage": caleb how in the name of the titan's femur did you do this

edit 5/1: i forgot the gap in his teeth oops it's fixed now

[watercolorfreckles]

The Villain and His Therapist - Part 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

"You know, that shade of pink looks lovely on you," Villain purred, descending the stairs to lean against the kitchen counter.

Juliet paused where she was scrambling eggs in a skillet and glanced down at her attire of soft blue pajama pants and oversized grey sweater. "I'm not wearing any pink," she said slowly, lifting her gaze to look at the Villain.

He'd just come down from a shower, dark locks of hair curling over his forehead. He smelled of her green apple shampoo. It made her insides swoop all funny.

Villain's lips tugged into an easy grin as he took one step closer, two. He paused directly in front of her to lift a hand, brushing his knuckles feather-light against her burning cheek.

"I was referring to your blush. It suits you quite beautifully." His voice was liquid gold. Her skin tingled beneath his touch.

Remembering herself, Juliet swatted his hand away and covered her cheeks with her palms. "I'm not blushing."

He didn't try to hide the amusement on his face.

"Mm, whatever were you thinking about, Doctor Meadows?" Villain took Juliet's hands to gently pry them away from her face, using the hold on her wrists to pull her closer.

Juliet sucked in a soft breath, looking up at him. The sun streaming through the window caught the highlights of his handsome face and illuminated his dark irises, turning them to molten amber.

"I...was...thinking about how gentle you can be. When you calmed me down that night, you were patient and sensitive; you displayed a lot of empathy and care. I'm really proud of you. You've come a long way."

Villain's grin grew a little softer as he tilted his head to the side, studying her face. The way he looked at her used to make her feel like prey being stalked by a lion. Now...it made her feel like she was the only thing in his universe.

Her stomach fluttered.

Juliet swallowed, continuing. "I imagine it isn't easy for you to be so vulnerable. I'm glad that you feel safe enough with me to be soft."

Villain brushed her fringe away from her face, tapping the side of her head. "That psychologist brain of yours never turns off, does it?"

She smiled sheepishly, gaze dipping down to the floor.

Villain's finger hooked under her chin, lifting it gently. "I never said I didn't like it. You are my therapist, after all."

Villain leaned in closer, eliciting the slightest hitch in her breath. He smiled, relishing her response.

His breath ghosted over her lips, leaving them tingling in anticipation.

"Yours?" she asked softly. Her mouth had gone dry.

"Would you like to be?"

Juliet's thoughts were rarely clear on her face. She was difficult to read under the years of training keeping her steady and prepared. Villain wanted to unpick that artificial calm from her; to map her every reaction. He wanted to watch her sigh and blush and smile...

"The eggs are going to burn," Juliet whispered, watching him.

Without taking his eyes off of her, Villain reached over her shoulder, turning off the stove. In one fluid movement, he turned with her, pressing her back against the counter.

If her cheeks were warm before, they were blazing now. Villain smiled again, this time something so fond it dazzled her senses. The world narrowed to just the two of them, flush together.

Juliet's hands fell against Villain's chest, lightly resting against the soft cotton of his shirt.

She breathed in his scent.

"Villain?"

"Mm?" he murmured, the hum of his voice vibrating against her palms.

"When your brother- What he said about how you feel...about me... Is it true?" She held his gaze, holding her breath.

"My sweet Juliet Meadows." His voice alone was enough to melt her. He took one of her hands with deliberate gentleness and placed a kiss against her fingers. "If only I were brave enough to say it out loud."

"You can say it in other ways," Juliet breathed.

His eyes gleamed.

"Oh I intend to," Villain said softly.

Villain's gaze flicked down to Juliet's lips. He kept one hand on her waist, slotting the other into her hair. He leaned in until their lips brushed. Pausing, he seemed to catch himself, probably remembering Juliet's comments in therapy about the importance of healthy communication.

He smiled again, sharp and beautiful. His warm breath grazed her skin while his thumb traced lazy circles against her jaw. "May I?" he whispered, his lips hovering just barely above hers.

Juliet opened her mouth to answer, and-

The door burst open.

Juliet jolted in surprise, panic shooting through her as she gripped Villain's arms before she caught sight of who was really at the door.

The figure was fitted in a deep red super-suit, a black mask concealing his identity.

She relaxed, releasing a breath through gritted teeth. "Hero?"

"Doctor Meadows," Hero said, relief flooding his expression. "I heard what happened to you on the news and with Supervillain's escape, I knew you were in danger so I-"

His eyes narrowed as he seemed to notice Villain for the first time. "You get away from her," he hissed marching closer, crimson beams of tech-powered energy sparking to life in his palms. "Let her go and get out."

Villain hardened at the sight of him in turn, straightening and pulling out an advanced weapon. "Now that's insulting, at least I was invited inside." His voice was smooth and dangerous. Chilling.

A far cry from the man who had held her close and smiled fondly only moments ago.

Juliet stepped between them, holding up a hand in each direction. "Stop."

"You invited him in? Doctor Meadows, he's Supervillain's brother! He's probably here to finish the job for him!"

"Oh that's rich," Villain interjected. "For all your self-righteous monologues begging me to change, to be better, when I actually try, you can't accept it."

"I'm not willing to bet Doctor Meadow's life on your 'moral awakening,'" Hero spat.

"Hero," Juliet said in the no-nonsense voice her job often required her to use. "Take a deep breath. Villain would never hurt me, you don't need to worry about that."

"He-"

"-is in rehabilitation," Juliet finished for him. "He is my patient, just as you are. He has made tremendous progress, you are in no position to discredit his reformation. I promise you that I am safe with him."

Hero stared, studying the pair. Villain's jaw was clenched, glaring hard at the hero. Juliet touched his shoulder and some of the tension immediately dissolved from him.

Hero extinguished the energy beams in his palms, shifting into a less guarded stance. He regarded them for a second longer.

"Alright."

"Alright?"

"You want to prove you have good intentions? Help me find Supervillain and bring him in, for good this time," Hero said. "I can't do it alone."

Villain turned to look at Juliet. She stepped closer, taking his hand as she spoke.

"No. I don't want you to put yourself in a position where your recovery might be compromised again. You're too close to the situation to act rationally, and it would be too much of a trigger for you."

Villain's gaze softened as it landed on her, any hostility in his demeanor vanishing like it had never been there. He brushed her hair back with gentle fingers, leaning in. His thumb dipped down to graze her lips.

Villain kissed her cheek, her chin, the corner of her mouth. He straightened, eyes intent, looking like he wanted to kiss her properly--but not until they were alone.

When time would suspend like frost in the air and the moment would belong solely to the two of them, in the quiet and safety of each other.

Juliet's skin felt cold at the loss of his touch. Dread swirled in the pit of her stomach.

Villain turned to Hero, observing him for a moment before extending a hand to shake. "Deal."

Sorry I haven't posted in so loooong. I kept putting off writing this bc I was worried id mess it up lol. This is officially the longest series I've posted so far (the rest of my snippets have 3 parts or less) so wooo! Let me know if you want to see more :)

General Taglist: @writing-on-the-wahl , @valiantlytransparentwhispers , @distance-does-not-matter , @redbircl , @lilaccatholic , @crazytwentythrees , @thelazywitchphotographer , @deadlygemuwu, @chibicelloking , @lolafaiy , @thinkwrite5 , @putridghost , @tobeornottobeateacher , @sunflower1000 , @bouncyartist , @thanatoastie , @feyriddle , @yet-another-heathen , @silverwhisperer1 , (@distractedlydistracted i think forgot to tag you in the last part, oops)

You're on this list if you've asked to be tagged in any of my stories. Please let me know if you want to be added or removed. :)

Edit: the tags weren't working so I redid them through mobile, let me know if it worked!

[megamegaturtle]

in the dumpster fire of 2020, i fell in love with dramione

here’s some fic recs in no particular order of favorites (ao3 edition). this is going to be a long ass post, but a link to all my bookmarks on ao3. again, long post.  you’ve been warned: 

remain nameless by @heyjude19-writing - the coffee shop au that’s 300,000 words that’s friends to lovers and becoming better people (complete)

measure of a man - okay so like. i’m going to explain this story terribly. but like. hermione is a healer, she’s also part farmer. she super heals hard to heal patients. and oh boy. there are the malfoys. we have narcissa as herself. scrop as the cutest baby kid alive, and draco as a poltergeist. JUST. THIS STORY. START READING. IT IS SO GOOD. AND DELCIOS AND ALSJDFJLA you will come away feeling super empowered. (WIP)

subtle perfection  - the ice skating/muggle au that’s is asldkfjsaljf really smoking hot but like the ice hurts my feels (wip)

seven year witch by @thelastlynx- draco and hermione keep meeting up in the summers between school years (WIP)

when midnight comes - TIME LOOP AU. head boy and head girl au. (complete)

 O for Outstanding - hogwarts teacher au. also, draco has a thing for shoes *wink* (WIP)

regrets only - MADE OF HONOR AU. draco realizes a little too late he’s in love with hermione. but now he has to stop but support a wedding! (WIP)

never in heart - the one where where hermione and draco are best friends, but stupidly did an unbreakable vow to get married if they’re not married by 30. time is running out to find a spouse, but like, why take the easy route and marry your best friend? (complete)

nine months - hermione and draco have what is supposed to be a one night stand...several times, but oops. someone is pregrant :D (WIP)

love and other misfortune by @senlinyu - a veela!fic. and in the first few fics i read in the fandom. it made me continue reading more dramione. this is sen’s fault (complete)

living the dream - the one where draco is a high class escort looking for his mate. also a veela!fic. i am here for positive sex work (one shot)

the gloriana set - absolute hilarious perfection with the best little hufflepuffs (complete)

armature cartography - the one where draco somehow ends up as hermione’s boyfriend but she’s not sure how dating works (one shot)

thirteenth night - the one where draco is obliviated to pay for his crimes, but hermione is his caseworker (complete)

traditions - the christmas fic that gets my feels (complete)

everything little thing she does (is magic) - the one were draco and hermione go to parties together as a ruse! (complete)

the preferred hour - the one where scorp and rose start dating and draco is this super nice widower and...asdlfjasdljf JUST READ THIS ONE (one shot)

blood rights - creature!fic. also, draco and hermione have to get married (complete)

precious things - *cue ugly sobbing* the journey of draco’s growing love for his family through many years after he accidently knocks up hermione and....it’s a christmas fic. that hurts my heart, but it’s so good. (one shot)

fight this feeling - the best friend au! but like, unrequited feelings. these two silly gooses (complete)

courting customs most sacred by @heyjude19-writing - pansy thinks she’s doing hermione a favor, but like draco gets how purebloods do etiquette (complete) 

as you wish by @scullymurphy - is this a princess bride ref? yes, yes is it. is it about costumes and movies? yes it is. (oneshot)

all you want by @senlinyu - the first A/B/O fic i’ve ever read. it was good. so i read it. i don’t even like this trope! but it’s worth it! :D (complete)

where we go from here - this hurts. so much. ron dies in a horrible accident leaving hermione alone pregnant with their child. draco is the real bro and helps and alsdjfasldjf family. feels. dad feels. i can’t. (complete)

in search of sunrise - a very cute onesot where draco and hermione stay up all night (oneshot)

tough love - hermione has to date a few bad men to get to the right one (complete)

each day anew - the 50 first dates au. hermione needs help relearning who she is every day (complete) 

with teeth - the one where there are many, many horcruxes (oneshot)

wait and hope by @mightbewriting​ - ugly crying. hermione lost her memories and draco is the best husband. just. take all my love. (complete)

broken by @inadaze22​ - hermione is back from italy. there is a secert. it will wreck you. (complete)

waif and strays - the familiar au! draco becomes hermione’s familiar because she’s a little lost and lonely and he’s a little lost and lonely too (complete) 

apple pies and other amends - the baking!au where i want to eat everything. also. it’s very cute. (complete)

off the cuff - the cinderella au! someone forgot their glass slipper, i mean...cuff (complete) 

universal truth by @scullymurphy​ - the modern wizarding P&P au. ugh. so good. (complete) 

an education - the one where hermione is forced to help draco learn about the muggle world a little bit (complete) 

Inosculation - the one where hermione has to marry draco to save her life because of a stupid curse. they are very cute. (complete)

the calm to her storm - ron passes away and rose and hugo befriend scorp and hermione has to befriend draco and it’s great (complete) 

a boy of hans - hanahaki au. sad ending. 

Dancing with Draco - THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD. okay, so like. draco has to help hermione dance for the yule ball. the sequeal is super good too. 

The Oblivious Ones - a fake marriage story. hermione and draco meet in the pysch ward at st. mungo’s and go off to look for her parents

what you think is right - this story is so painful. one of the best 1st POVs i’ve read. it’s hermione pov. her parents are dying and it’s affecting her marriage with draco and god. just read it. (WIP)

Deine Zauber Binden Wieder - the ochrastra au no one asked for, but it’s like. really fun. (oneshot)

the green girl - hermione is sorted in Slytherin when she’s 11. this story. i still think about it to this day. (complete)

a year in the countryside - hermione wants to escape for the craziness of the big city so she moves to the cute country side. to only find draco malfoy living there too. (complete)

don’t take the sinner - THE MARRIAGE LAW FIC WITH A TWIST. hermione has to marry harry and ginny has to marry draco, but like, no one stays with their spouse. no cheating involved. (complete)

Draco's Baking Dilemmas - the great british bake off au. i don’t need to say anything more. hermione is the judge. draco is the baker. yes. and yes. (complete)

starving - sex is like food. or rather. sex is like pizza. it’s good when it’s cold, but like. it’s better when it’s hot :D (oneshot)

[damienthepious]

OOPS i almost forgot to make a tumblr post for the weekly fic OOPS

makes them kind

[ao3]

Fandom: The Penumbra Podcast

Relationship: Lord Arum/Sir Damien/Rilla

Characters: Rilla, Sir Damien, Lord Arum

Additional Tags: Second Citadel, Lizard Kissin’ Tuesday, Established Relationship, Overworking, Conversations, taking care of each other, Day Off, accidental self-care, very gentle argument, Kindness

Summary: The three of them need a break.

Notes: I did the emotional equivalent of dipping my brain in acid today so i desperately needed something soft. Which means, you all get something soft! Have something soft. (as if that isn't my brand ANYWAY.) I do not intend to edit this thoroughly, but that's fine because eighty percent of it was written last year while i was on vacation. Title from the song Sun, by Sleeping At Last.

~

"Alright. That is quite enough."

Arum reaches on one side to press Amaryllis' book closed, and on the other to pluck the quill from Sir Damien's hand in one symmetrical, inarguable motion.

Of course, contrary creatures that Arum's humans are, they argue anyway.

"I beg your pardon," Damien yelps, and at the same moment Amaryllis gives a wordless indignant gasp, tearing her book back away from Arum's hands.

"We," Arum says, "are taking a break."

"Don't mess with my materials when I'm in the middle of research, Arum! I was- fuck, I was putting something together, I was this close to cracking-"

"To cracking? Perhaps," Arum says dryly. "I have been attempting to claw back the both of your attentions for approximately forty minutes now, and have received nothing for my efforts beyond uncomprehending mumblings and dispassionate dismissals."

"We haven't been ignoring you, my lily, we would never."

"I told you I was converting to your damned Saints' religion and you said, and I quote, Hm, yes, well, of course that sounds lovely." He turns towards Rilla, then, matching her scowl with a more mellow frown.

"I absolutely was ignoring you," she says sourly, and Arum exhales a sigh to cover a laugh.

"I know," he says. "Because you failed entirely to respond when I told you that you were right and I was wrong. It does not matter what about, I know that faced with such a statement you should have started gloating."

Amaryllis' scowl deepens, fury in her eyes sparking bright for a long moment as she holds her gaze against Arum's much calmer one, and then she breaks. It starts as a twitch of the nose, a curl of her lip, and then she fully snorts and dissolves into laughter, shaking her head.

Damien's expression softens in response, that gentle loving light catching in his tawny eyes as he watches Amaryllis laugh. Arum feels quite the same, in honesty, but he manages to keep his expression nonplussed until the doctor controls her breathing again. She gives a sigh, reluctant, and then tosses her book a little further down the table with a thwump, rolling her eyes as she turns her body more fully towards Arum.

"Okay," she says, indulgent enough to make his frill twitch as she leans to draw her fingertips along the scales on the back of his hand, "have we not been paying our greedy monster enough attention, then?"

"Don't-" Arum snaps his teeth together to circumvent a retort, and instead pivots. "The both of you have been single-minded and irritable and distant and unhappy for days, now. I understand your devotion to your relative crafts, but you are being foolish to treat yourselves so irresponsibly, to disregard your physical and emotional limits out of pure stubbornness despite the fact that-" he pauses, and then he closes his eyes. "I'm- worried. About- about the both of you," he breathes, as quickly as he can manage the words.

There is a pause into which Arum growls absently, and then Damien takes another of Arum's hands in his own and his eyes flutter back open despite himself. The poet's face is soft, now, and he lifts Arum's hand to his lips, humming a kiss against Arum's scaled knuckles.

"Oh, dear heart-"

"You hypocrite," Amaryllis says, her tone unmistakably fond, and she leans even closer to press a light kiss to Arum's cheek.

Arum huffs in response, pretending not to notice as his frill flares with pleased surprise at their combined attentions.

"It is- it is true that I do not possess much experience from which to draw comparison," he mutters, "when it comes to- to not overworking oneself. But- but I know, at least, when you are unhappy, and- and I decided that I would prefer to do something about it."

"And..." Amaryllis catches Damien's eye for a moment, then looks back towards Arum again. "What exactly... are you planning to do about it?"

"I told you." Arum huffs again, his frill twitching at his neck in exasperation. "We are taking a break. All of us. Some- some intentional laziness, some fresh air, some food, no obligations."

"You- wanna play hooky with us?" Amaryllis asks with an eyebrow raised.

Amaryllis must be fully aware that Arum has no idea what that means, but Arum refuses to stoop to acknowledge that fact.

"I want you to relax," he clarifies instead, "and I want to- to help. There is a spot in the swamp- high enough ground to be dry, shaded from the worst of the sun, quiet and-"

"Shh," Amaryllis says, pressing a finger suddenly to the tip of Arum's snout, startling him to quiet. "This is exciting, don't tell me anything else, I want to be surprised!"

Arum blinks, and then he murmurs against Amaryllis' finger, "You'll come, then? I don't need to- you'll come?"

"Of course we'll come, my lily," Damien says, his expression aching and strangely shy, and he clutches one of Arum's hands in his own, cradled against his chest. "You've been more than convincing, so far as I am concerned. I am terribly sorry that we have worried you so, and... well... it would be rather wonderful, to relax for an afternoon, together with my loves."

Arum sags, his shoulders sinking with relief that this will not need become a fight for the simple sake of getting the humans to rest, and Amaryllis shifts her hand to caress his cheek.

"G-good," he says, more uncertain now that his arguments (so carefully cultivated) are no longer needed. "Excellent. Good."

Her fingers draw down his jaw in a distracting arc, the warmth of her form pressing against his side as she laughs under her breath at his lack of eloquence. She shifts away, then, enough to roll to her feet and then reach to pull him up after her, with Damien taking a hand on his other side as well.

"I'll just grab-"

"No books," Arum interrupts with a growl. "No research!"

Amaryllis cackles as she waves him off. "My sketchbook, just for fun! Just fun. I'm on board with the plan, Arum, you don't have to worry."

"For once," the monster mutters, and then he turns towards Damien instead as the doctor darts to fetch her charcoals.

"I'm... glad," Damien says in a muted voice, smiling in a gentle sort of way. Arum blinks, waiting for the rest, but Damien only twists his hands together in front of himself for a long moment before Arum's curious expression presses him to continue. "I know... I know that each of us... not a one of us is particularly adept at recognizing our own limits, or avoiding overwork, or acknowledging that we deserve rest or care or..."

"Honeysuckle," Arum says, reaching to touch Damien's cheek as the poet summons another rueful smile.

"I'm simply glad that we... that we might become better able to care for ourselves, in our determination to provide such kindness and care for each other."

It sounds like the seed of a poem, in Damien's voice: the idea of intentional care with collateral kindness as a consequence. Arum cannot help his own smile, and instead of answering he leans closer, nuzzling a kiss to Damien's jaw.

Amaryllis collides with them a moment later, slipping between their bodies and taking a hand from each of them with a wide grin and a satchel swinging at her hip. "Okay! I'm ready," she crows, her enthusiasm infectious enough that Damien grins in tandem. "Shall we?"

Lord Arum loves them, and loves them, and loves them. Enough to be gentler with his own self, for their sakes, if it helps them be gentler to themselves, as well.

He nods, unable to contain his own smile. "Keep. The overlook I pointed out this morning, if you would."

The Keep assents, delight in its voice as the portal pours sunlight through.

The rest of it- the whole of the world can wait. The three of them will be far too busy, this afternoon, doing precisely nothing at all, and doing it together.

[rotorarc]

HERE HE IS!! I’ve had him done for a while now and I’m so excited to share him for Beast Wars Week!! Day 1: Power of Evil

(Can you tell that I gave up on his teeth? I was so tired… that I said fuck it and forgot about it oops…)

Edit: M-megatron Monday?