#god they're so transparent i would laugh

[gael-garcia]

watching a movie set in Asia directed by a Western director and it is immediately obvious why Western critics and award-giving bodies are eating it up : an Asian man listens to and adores English, Western music

[laurzzz]

Robo-Boyfriends AU (My Sona Version) - Effort

Woe word-less comic be upon ye! I think it's very fitting with my sona being mouthless LMAO. I haven't worked on RBAU in a short while so take this thingy before I continue to work on MO again :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Explanation/vent under the cut (it's VERY long, so know you've been warned)

I'm tired. I'm tired of pretending it doesn't affect me at all. I'm tired of not wanting to express genuine frustration on my blog. I've been trying my best to keep my blog and every other platform I have as a place of escape for myself. I want it to only be filled with mostly good and optimistic things. I already get enough crap and more in my private life, I don't want to see reminders of them in places where I want to escape. Which is why I've been pretending to not see the numbers, that I don't feel under appreciated, that I don't vent as much when I want to or when I do I'm quick to delete them.

I know that many artists online go through this and have expressed their frustration on this experience-- where they put in so much effort and time on their works and they barely get any feedback or interactions or when they do get feedback it's often on the works they don't even put that much effort in. I love RBAU and Cloud Nine.. they're my AUs that basically gained the most traction here but the time and effort I gave to making those comics and random pieces of gradient-themed drawings don't even compare to the rendered pieces or the animated works I've made for them.

As much as I appreciate the reblogs and comments on the posts that reached so many people, I often wonder why it's always the works that I didn't put my all into. It makes me feel discouraged... not in continuing to draw or make creative work, but to actually put in more effort. But if I'd do that--stop putting in more effort-- then I would only make myself even more miserable as I don't like stagnation. I hate stagnation. I hate getting bored of the things that mean so much to me. Sharing my art and improving on it means too much to me.

But it's weird because I tend to observe the interactions with other blogs. They look to put in so much effort and make such beautiful rendered pieces that I adore and yet they are appreciated as deserved. While there are artists who make "shitposts" (their words) who also gain so much traction and appreciation. This observation makes the voices in my brain start correlating the quality of my work to the interactions. If I'm being completely transparent, I get these thoughts a lot. But I also don't believe them. I don't want to believe them.

Before anyone starts saying "ohhh you shouldn't attach your appreciation of your work from external factors" etc etc-- I KNOW. I am FULLY aware. I'm completely aware and have rationalized this situation over and over. That this is just how the internet goes. That these are factors I don't have control over. That my work is gold and it doesn't have to be determined as such by numbers. That someday the people who appreciate my works will find me. I. Know.

Still, knowing these things doesn't make the feelings disappear. It's like I want to be mad, and cry at the same time but also understand that I just can't really do anything about this but let it be. It's as if the more I care about a project, the less likely people will. I don't want to pretend like I don't care about a project just for it to be appreciated. But I also don't want to feel as if I'm not getting as much appreciation or attention that I think my work deserves.

I've been experimenting with my works and how I post them here on Tumblr and on YT since last year. The ones that are shitposts are seriously what gets more attention AHAHAHA I am laughing with frustration. Look, I love making memes and poking fun with characters as much as the next viewer and artist but by god. I can't just keep churning out funny haha low substance stuff in exchange for interactions. That's not the kind of artist that I am. I like making things that has lore; that has depth to them. Like how I tend to make lore heavy AUs right after getting my silly, lighthearted works blow up just to remind myself that the relationship I have with my works will not grow if I keep chasing after the interactions, the numbers by prioritizing quantity over quality.

Or maybe people just don't like my ideas? I guess that's a possibility too. Maybe my ideas just don't resonate with people enough. It's not "consumable" enough. Or maybe they don't like my art/writing/animation style. Yet more factors that's out of my control. But I also get told that people like my art, my writings, my animations. And they mean so, so much to me. But it just doesn't add up sometimes, y'know? If people like my work and stick around because they like my art no matter the fandom then why don't I see it? Thoughts like these make me feel so ungrateful actually.

I'm sure there are many people who look up to me as an artist and think how "popular" I am. I've been told this so many times. And yet, I don't feel either of those as strongly. Hell, even as I type this long vent out, I feel like people will not even care. Or worse. Perhaps they may think I'm focusing on the wrong things or think I'm being insecure and jealous of other people's well-deserved appreciation from others.

For the record, I am not. I think every single (actual, not AI) artists put in so much effort and love to their own works most of the time and if they get appreciation for it then I'm sure as hell that they've been seeking for it too and now that they're getting it and it's there then they should bask in it and rejoice. They really should.

Sigh. This is getting far too long. I'll stop here. I hope my words and my thoughts came out clearly. I'm writing this out late at night. Don't worry, I'll still be putting in the effort I've been putting in lately. I'm still going to work on MO, and give my best to make Assassin Eclipse's design to be as on par with Assassins Sun and Moon. I'm still going to write and continue the lore in the fic. I'm still going to animate the lore-heavy Welcome Home animation I've been working on slowly day by day. I just wanted to let this all out. Venting it to my friends just seem to not be enough. I gotta express it where people can see it. I think this is just my last straw too. I've been holding out for so long and 2024 really hasn't been that kind to me lately that I just can't anymore.

Anyway, the next post will be much lighter, I promise.

[thatdeadaquarius]

I found one of your sagau posts about language and got me thinking xD

Reader who knows a lot of languages which gets people confused. Are they speaking in their godly language? Are they really that mad that they switched to another language? Why are they smirking like that--- (Aether/Lumine who understood everything trying so hard not to laugh at people's reactions)

Why did I imagine that after a flowery speech Reader delivers a response so blunt the vine boom sfx can be heard---

Reader trying out flowery speech and failing, while the rest of the people in the background are either A.) Trying to convince you that its alright to talk simply (oh now you turn the tables--) or B.) Some of them fainting in devotion/cuteness because their god looks at them so eagerly for feedback

I heard somewhere that Mondstadt is based on Germany and another post about Snezhnaya (bruh whats the spelling 🤣💀) based on Russia, so I thought that while they speak english they also throw in a couple words of their respective language (or in some drunk cases, full out native language). Cue reader just.... 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♀️

Bilingual reader who uses full advantage of their knowledge into making puns and jokes to Cyno----

WE CAUGHT ANOTHER ONE BOYS

YES YES THE PSPSPSPSS NEVER FAILSSS🛐🛐🛐

(subliminalmessagingpspspspsscometomeaskscomepspspspspssubliminalmessaging)

___________

DUDE ive thought abt just making it where Aether/Lumine are the only ones who understand English/ur language and like, while u can (or maybe cant for shenanigans) speak Teyvatian (ew theres gotta be a better word for that?) Theres NOTHING as amazing as the bilingual experience of pranking bitches

Eula gives like a whole poetry book of a speech to you guys to be more responsible abt gliding in the city (its cute <3 shes actually very concerned bc you know you would do sm that would worry her, i mean i know im just flinging myself off of every surface all the time, esp in Mondstadt im not using no stairs💀)

And you just... turn to Aether/Lumine and say smth in English and they bust out laughing

(Or worse, u two are giggling like little shits✨️)

Dont feel too bad Eula, they do this to everyone

(Paimon's constantly on ya'lls case abt it)

Like u didnt even say anything rude (probably), as u explained to Eula, but its like this all the time, sm ppl even find themsleves jealous of this bond you two have got, tho whether they are jealous of Aether/Lumine or you is still still hard to tell,,)

♧

IM SO GLAD ONE PERSON OUT THERE GOT THE FLOWERY SPEECH -> YOU REPLY -> VINE BOOM 🤝🤝🤝 THING I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY

Thats deadass like how i imagine half the time it would be like talking to ppl, esp if ur critizing smth that person was doing lmao (like roasting them)

Its even funnier if like, u didnt hear the vine boom so to speak, like u got ur back to the rest of the characters/npcs while ur talking to this one person and u dont even know u just said smth that's got like one person crying laughing

(KAEYA, aether/lumine, hu tao, KAVEH, Venti, childe, Yae Miko, SCARAMOUCHE/WANDERER, beidou, off the top of my head)

♡

Another one is just standing there in shock, when will they unfreeze? Only time can tell

(Zhongli, jean, eula, keqing, ayaka, ganyu, kuki shinobu, once again off the top of my head theres so many characters at this point in genshin help)

♡

They're just like,, processing still, theyre probably overthinking everything u say bc to them you give so little information 💀 i can see the like transparent images of their thinking faces floating around them now LMAO

(Alhaitham, zhongli again rip, DILUC, kaeya's also laughing at him not just you his stomach hurts help him, Ei, XIAO, ALBEDO, Ayato but he'd also be muffling a laugh, Kazuha maybe i can also see him just giggling n shit, Kokomi, CYNO, Tighnari but also he'll react like its the funniest joke ever while he's trying to actually think abt it, so he just ends up standing there, thinking outloud, then cracking up over and over again lol)

♤

Oh Cyno u sweet summer child, as soon as u started making puns it was over for him, no one can stop you, even if Tighnari can't understand ur language rn he can definitely just sense there's bad jokes being made, esp if Cyno gets it and his lip like, twitches upward or even worse, he chuckles.

(Tighnari's totally getting onto him for corrupting you)

☆

pLEASE US ACTUALLY TRYING TO SPEAK LIKE THEM 😭😭😭

What a cute image, just some of them reassuring us and some of them thinking its cute for trying, and we look around the room when we try for feedback i know i would 😭😭

If i actually got close tho they better give me a headpat or smth

___________

Anyway THANK YOU for the ask!! (subliminalmessingpspspspspscometomeaskscomepspsps)

That was a BEAUTIFUL✨️ thing to read, got my heart doin backflips and shit 😳😊🥰

God this is so long im so sorry everyone

Cheers,

🌒🌊🌧Aquarius♒️🌌🌘

[occasionaltouhou]

Some time ago I asked you if Star Sapphire would be transparent in the outside world owing to the light pollution obscuring the stars. Today I would like to ask you a related but different question: How would Sunny Milk feel about and react to how sunlight's diminishing value in the outside world?

For most of human history the sun was among the only sources of light, and therefore greatly valued. The rationing of daylight was one of the primary fields of struggle for the laboring classes. But with the advent of artificial lighting, some people go entire days without seeing the sun, to the detriment of their health.

How does Sunny Milk feel about this? Does she simply laugh at human stupidity, and go about her business as usual? Does she feel sad at how the holy light that gives her form is no longer cherished? Does she jealously smash the false suns who dare usurp her glory, as the God of Abraham cursed the Tower of Babel? Or does she plead with humanity and try to warn them that if they do not cherish the light while they have it now, the gods of the sun will no longer feel loved, and if they no longer feel appreciated one day they will no longer bother, and only when the world is consumed by darkness will humanity remember why they cherished the light?

Would Sunny Milk dress in darker colors to reflect the Sun's diminished value? Or would she dress brighter than ever to remind humanity of its glory?

i'm gonna open this by saying that realistically sunny wouldn't care. she's a fairy. she's got a very short attention span and none of these would occur to her if they weren't pointed out to her.

anyway, with that caveat out of the way, let's assume that some of these points were pointed out to her. the three fairies tend towards either well-meaning exploration or pseudo-malicious pranks, so the most likely is probably the smashing of lightbulbs - but even then, without any real degree of intent to Do Something About It

sidenote but personally i think the three fairies, when confronted with a lightbulb exploding, would decide to do that to every lightbulb they could find regardless of ideological reasons

like, i don't even think she'd laugh at the foolish humans, is the thing. i don't think it would even really occur to her, because why humans do what they do is completely beyond the interests of the fairies. they're interested in what humans do, but the why is generally irrelevant to them.

i can absolutely see her electrocuting herself trying to put fairy lights all over her outfit though. again not on any ideological basis i just think she'd realise that she could do that and immediately set about doing so

[icepixie]

SNW 2x07

Spoilers

THAT WAS THE BEST THING EVER OMG OMG OMG

I rarely rewatch episodes but I might watch this SEVERAL times.

I have no coherent thoughts, so have some reactions:

The animated bit at the beginning was rather transparently set-up for the episode, but I was not expecting the Orion scientist thing to play such a large part in the narrative, so good on them.

The Lower Decks uniform looks fantastic in person. The next live action series needs to use it. (Live action Lower Decks miniseries, y/y??) Although it looked like Mariner kept pulling her shirt down, so maybe it wasn't as practical as it was good-looking.

YESSSSSSS THEY ANIMATED THE CREDITS!

Oh man, Boimler is the perfect character to come back in time like this. Not only does he enjoy it the most but he's so terrible at keeping his mouth shut it can only cause more complications.

OH MY GOD, Boimler is how Spock/Chapel gets nuked before TOS time? DUDE.

(I feel for you, Spock/Chapel shippers. And I feel bad for Christine, even though I want her out of that relationship.)

(But that said, Spock's attempts at smiling and laughing are super creepy and I hope that ends soon. Since they're meant to be creepy, hopefully they will.)

On a related note, why the hell is Boimler being allowed to walk around the ship? Why wasn't he put in a locked room until they figured out how to get him back to the future? And why was he allowed to just wander ON THE BRIDGE, where he was able to screw up the Orion interaction??? (I mean, well, I guess he had to be allowed there to make it so Tendi was alive...so I guess Tendi wasn't supposed to be there before this time travel trip? Nice.)

Hehehehe, all the bridge officers standing in a line not looking while Boims rejiggers the sensors.

Heheh, tiny Marinler moment when she basically leaps into his arms from the portal. And of course she would be trying to save him only to use up the last of the blorbonium. I liked that, although I also wish she'd been able to be in the episode as long as Boimler was.

Awww, Pelia's advice to Boimler is so good for him to hear.

"Do they sound weird to you?"/"Yeah, all slow and soft." Bwahahaha.

Hahaha, Mariner fangirling Uhura. And Uhura being like, "fuck, I'm famous? Goddamit, I can't take the pressure!" Hee!

Oh thank god, Pike, you finally confined them to quarters. (For two seconds. And they didn't even go.) I was waiting for the blorbonium as a part of the NX-01's hull to become relevant! Heh, and Mariner was the one who paid attention because Boimler was distracted by grapplers.

Heh, everyone notices Mariner is...not exactly model Starfleet officer material.

OF COURSE THEY TRY TO STEAL A SHUTTLE. OF COURSE THEY DO.

Awwwwwww, Una gets to be the poster girl for recruitment! That's gotta be so gratifying after the trial. Such a nice moment for her (and for us). I wonder if Boims and Mariner even knew she was court-martialed, or did Starfleet cover it up and paper it over with making Una the face of recruitment?

But on that note, I was expecting events to be wiped clean from the SNW characters' memories, 'cause there's a looooooot of timeline pollution here. La'an must be horrified. (Especially since this is the second episode in a row to remind her of her own time travel experience.)

Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome are preternaturally good at capturing their animated selves' movements and translating them to live action. Maybe Quaid a little more than Newsome, but I think that's because animated Boimler's movements are slightly more realistic than Mariner's. She tends to do more arm motions or whatever that aren't quite possible in real life.

YES YES YES THE SNW CHARACTERS GOT ANIMATED YESSSSSS! And it's because of the Orion alcohol! They dropped acid and turned into cartoons! (Fringe did this and it was also a blast.)

You guys, I am SO. THRILLED. with this episode. A thousand sins from earlier episodes are forgiven.

[watercolor-hearts]

v you are literally a blessing from the gods above i swear bc i can’t concentrate on writing without reading something so 🛐

i would love some a/b/o with simi and/or charlos? like them discovering they are true mates? idk i just need fluff in this tiring times

btw your writing is amazing keep up the great work 🖤

I'm trying to be as transparent towards my readers as I can so I've decided not to post this story in a separate post but as an answer to this ask of yours. Writing these little stories is a learning process for me to find out what I can write and what I can't. And as it turned out I can't write a/b/o things. We've discussed it with Nyx and I asked them to pick something else as a replacement. They wanted a second part to Still a human, and now I'm here with it.

Thank you for your kind words and your continuous support, Nyx. I'm sorry for the long wait. ❤

So once again: this is not an a/b/o story, this is a second part to my non-binary Seb story.

Seb/Kimi • 747 words • non-binary Seb • lipstick and nail polish • birthday • supportive Kimi • fluff • established relationship • Ao3 link

-

If anyone had told Kimi that he would one day shop at a makeup store, he would have thought they were stupid because he and makeup products couldn't be further apart.

And yet, now he was in a makeup store with a determination to find the most beautiful red lipstick for his partner's birthday. But the thing he wasn't expecting is the amount of brands and products in the store. He thought it would be a few lipsticks in different colors and a few other products but not millions of brands and product stands as far as the eye can see. He was a bit lost, to be honest. But luckily, some ladies who work in the store came to help him.

A few minutes later the mission was accomplished and he was on the way to the hotel with his little nicely wrapped gift to surprise Sebastian.

***

“I missed you,” Seb said after kissing Kimi.

“You always miss me even if there's only one hour when we're not in the same place.”

“Maybe I'm in love and I wanna be with my lover,” Seb smiled, grabbing Kimi's hand and guiding him to the bed.

“I brought you a gift,” Kimi showed them the gift bag when they sat down on the bed, “For your birthday.”

Seb's eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Kimi handed it to them, “Open it.”

“Thank you, it's really nice of you,” Seb smiled while taking the little box out of the gift bag. “Oh my...” they looked at Kimi and then at the little box again. “A lipstick and nail polish.”

“In the exact same shade,” Kimi nodded. “The ladies at the store said that this is the most famous red shade and everyone loves it. So... I hope you like it.”

Seb put the box down and pulled Kimi closer to kiss him. They had never imagined Kimi would buy them something like this because their coming out wasn't long ago and Seb was sure Kimi needed time to get used to Seb being non-binary and slowly starting to show it when they're together at home or at a hotel.

“I love it!” Seb exclaiked, eyes glowing from happiness, “It's so pretty. Can I try the lipstick on?” Seb asked, excited to try it because they'd never worn red lipstick before, only some clear lip gloss. “I wanna leave the nail polish for the summer break. Because...

“I know,” Kimi nodded, caressing Seb's hand. He knew Seb was still closeted and he didn't want to push them to do something they don't want to. Their safety is more important than some red nail polish. “Put on the lipstick and then show me.”

Sebastian nodded, a wide smile on their lips as they jumped to go to the bathroom. They were very excited to try it because it was another huge step for them. They had already bought a mascara and clear lip gloss but nothing else so having this beautiful red lipstick meant a lot to them. Especially because it was from Kimi.

“How is it?” Kimi asked a few moments later.

“The shade is amazing but my application is... not,” came the answer from the bathroom and soon Seb stepped out, laughing and trying to cover their lips because they weren't perfect.

“Show me, darling,” Kimi asked, getting up from the bed and stepping closer to Seb. When Seb showed it to him, Kimi smiled. It was true that the application wasn't perfect, it was uneven in a few places, but it was still better than if Kimi would've done it, and Seb was beautiful and happy while wearing it, and that's what mattered to Kimi. “Look at you, Seb. Red is your color. You're beautiful.”

“Really?” Seb asked, smiling from ear to ear. They were a bit scared Kimi wouldn't like to see them wearing makeup but it seemed like Kimi didn't mind it. “But I'm sure there's some on my teeth.”

“That doesn't matter. What matters is that you're smiling. Happy Birthday, darling,” Kimi said, looking into Seb's eyes, and then kissed them, deeply.

“Now we've smudged the lipstick,” Seb laughed after the kiss, pushing his finger on Kimi's lips, and then showing him the red color on his fingertip. “It looks like red is now your color, too.”

Kimi didn't mind it. Especially not when a few minutes later Seb was on the top of him in their bralette, covering his whole upper body in red kiss marks.

[yooniesim]

You also wanna address how the person you are currently uplifting is also bullying an autistic, disabled, abuse victim? Like be real, do you actually give a shit about oppressed groups, or are you just a performative activist? Because I fail to see how you can go after nurodivergant people for being "ableist" but then you'll actively ignore this ableism right here.

https://texasthegreatdestroyer.tumblr.com/post/692306055676461056/i-just-wanna-say-youre-right-about-gyrutrait-i

Let me tell you something, @texasthegreatdestroyer and your many alts, since you somehow think you're getting somewhere by sending asks like this to my inbox: your rants are laughable, your insults are weak, and absolutely no one is convinced by your facetious attempts to catch anyone in any sort of contradiction. It's so transparent that you couldn't care less about anyone marginalized that even your response to that random account you probably own was blatantly hollow. Because there's a difference between truly caring about those that experience bigotry and oppression, and simply using them as a prop to give your harassment and meaningless obsessions some twisted sense of validation.

This victim you say gyarutrait is bullying- are you referring to the person that referred to you with ableist language such as "unhinged" and "mentally unwell"? Because I don't believe for a second that if it was anyone you couldn't use to further your own harassment, you wouldn't simply insult them just the same as anyone else. Or is it really this common for you to go to bat for the people that actually couldn't care less about you? Because I really can't decide which option is more sad and embarrassing...

As for the person that sent you that ask (if they're real), I sincerely hope they don't genuinely try to seek solace in you, because your obvious attempt to use a neurodivergent person as an excuse for your tirade is just as harmful as all the other ableist things you do. But NDs can also be ableist, and just because someone is ND doesn't excuse them from their own behavior. Gyarutrait was right about their language being no better than yours was, and pointing that out was not bullying. Which, of course, you're already well aware of- even if you pretend to care about them, you're the one that's so obviously performative that it makes me feel sorry for this person you're pretending to defend.

You may think that your near endless rants full of hot air and humiliatingly juvenile strings of expletives are getting to someone, but I'll tell you straight out: you're nothing impressive. Everything you write is only embarrassing yourself further, and trust, there's no one in this community taking you seriously or, god forbid, using you as a trusted source of information. You so obviously think you're more intelligent and enlightened than anyone else, but anyone able to string two thoughts together sees right through your inflated sense of self-importance.

You want to keep sending me asks and writing hilarious posts about me on your endless amount of accounts? Go ahead, I love you wasting your time on me. There isn't a single sentence you could write that would do anything except entertain me. It's only for the sake of gyarutrait and anyone else you've attempted to hurt that I don't point and laugh at you on the regular. But to avoid distress on their part, and avoid feeding your blatant attention-seeking behavior, this is the last time I'm allowing you to do anything except shout into the void. You'll just have to imagine what gif i might use to respond to you from now on, okay? 💜

[unproduciblesmackdown]

had a hell of a time (good) bit ago watching elemental and feeling things including enjoying a film, great ride, i love a metaphor & anything vignettey (just living life, alongside but also including the [this is about the metaphor] threads), i do love it when a couple of fun people have an enriching dynamic that they enjoy and huaaaghwgh (good) & i liked the premise metaphor exactly as is for what it is for what it did with it & i liked overlaps & resonances w/other experiences i saw ppl perceive. i liked the way i was going oh my god that painting looks the way i feel b/c like navigating a complementary dynamic where what's holding one person back is what helps the other person along, vice versa, no interaction or relationship that develops by like having some [theoretically your trait/quality/behavior] contained in the other person, rather it being an interaction within yourself, such that i was going "i have this interaction Within Myself, right now, in life currently like always and the past years but also past months especially really, it's ongoing, i'm going Oh Goddamn Omg" scintillating to see it externalized as a conversation imagined by others. and also still different / more capacious on both ends than "wow Exactly that." feeling things going ohh my god. music is going for it so Noticeably. hot air balloon scene And track changing me with an immediate Resonance

easier when having fun but i was also like continually so hype gasping about intrigued about pointing at art direction decisions & execution and one especial element i was sooo noting was the use of Color b/c it's Really colorful like rainbow palette nigh constant noticeable saturation, And it was atmospheric, always readily visibly parsed, varying in styles but cohesive. the backgrounds babey, with obvious priority for working with a vivacious orange and/or blue. oh and the related use of Light like different visuals for different glows and just different effects and waugh....i collected mostly a bunch of bgs to point at often for that "look at the color design & atmosphere" but also so much more & foreground things big time too. semitransparent characters like bitch. the physics of fluid dynamics. optics like refraction like my God. i'm mclosing it and that these effects would be sooo prohibitively intensive w/o computer but it's so impressive w/computer and that Stylistic Decisions were made all over, it's clearly not ever simply just "oh this is what it'd 'realistically' look like if uhhh someone was made of fire or water" even as realism Based effects were employed for style and fun and our lives. the use of of course 2D animation / art conventions for style and effect and fun & our lives!!! maybe ember a bit too but wade has a whole like 2D style profile so the [curved droplet] shape always faces the camera, how are we doing that it's so cool & i love to see it. not to mention being transparent but also like clearly not!! first time i've properly thought about how inside of mouth 3D animation has Ever worked lmao

cut so i can go on & on (^ that's brevity up there lol) & post mostly various backgrounds to gesticulate at what i notice abt the use of color like oh my god. and some other things. laughed, cried, lived & loved like for real lol

oh my god

and like immediate intro theme going "oh my god blue and orange making Purple (magenta, pink) oh my god we're doing Additive Light with that holy shit yes"

so extra [!!!] about city nighttime shots especially. and the details of all the building designs, it's all the shit like i haven't even sat and Studied any given shot for all small elements like that but that you know they're There so that it looks this complex and "realistic" like you know the attention & effort is there & you get the Overall Effect baby. also the way purple/green are employed to contrast with blue/orange often. the Glows here, the Bluer upper half and the Oranger lower half that both also have some purplishness to them, the Green bridge breaking it up / spanning this

the colors in closeups even. first of all the expressions styles are after my own heart & got it, and i'm sure i'll go on & on more there. pull mouths down do the m upper lip n lower lip lines combo, you know what i mean, i Love it. wavy flowy design vs more triangular / ending in peaks/corners design for your water vs fire aesthetiques. i think that's [heat creating refraction in the air] effect like lord. the pink blue purple here. the slight shadow framing the pic for better contrast, the pink / glow around ember, wade slightly Glows from within too, the constant wave refraction there. okay obsessed again with both sorta transparent and fluid Figures like you've got the outermost layers. you've got the Inside. you've got the silhouettes and the lines that are "drawn," reddish outlines of flame shapes and constant highlight "outlines" for water so it never "realistically" blends in with everything / just Is clear and is impossible to easily parse. that those silhouettes are constantly Flowing and responding to motion / pressure as well. i can only imagine. oh and the colors again that the Glow for fire is often a Soft gradient, but there's this like, slightly convex polygonal style of "glow" / Light in backgrounds a lot and it works great for style and contrast with the important Soft Glow from fire and even also water, again the slight inner glow there too. and again the mutual [pull mouths down] expressiveness lol so much fun. the Elasticity is fantastic, same with like 2D style Movement like invoking a smear frame for example like fuck yes it's about What Works it's about style & effect & what things like lighting color faces can do that aren't just aiming for "be peak realistic" like clearly it isn't. note the sharper line of shadow in the upper corner with a deeper blue. we framing

oh this one was to point out "look at how you can see the full spectrum rainbow in the wave surface light refraction oh my fucking god" not to mention of course In Motion the shapes, the effect, some bubbles and flow for flare and seeing that constant Light Outline, the cyan leaning aqua that's put in along with the overall slight blue not b/c it's "realistic" but b/c it's what works baby the artistic design choices fuck like hell. and only when i took this one frame was it like oh my fucking god look at these split second flame shames flowing off of ember there above her head especially. all the more stylization required for fire without it being like, "realistically" mostly transparent, overly bright, not very strongly delineated / silhouetted....the shape, color, flow of flames on the "inside," outermost breaking off shapes & "outline" as well augh god. and look at the purples in the background's left side

AUGH the night city backgrounds. pottery burn haha yeah the blue orange AND purple my god!!!! it's thematic ([blue + orange = purple] b/w the blue & orange characters) and it fucks like hell holy shit!!!!!

meanwhile the green & purple here with One orange element getting to stand out / not that much blue either, but more ultramarine style than aquamarine, and LOOK AT THE MOON!!! the surface!!! check out that Polygonal glow around it and the green/purple there too!!!

and the use of bokeh. immaculate, not holding back, after my heart. the Purple/Pink additive light properties coming into play!! her reflection is more simply orange(tm) sometimes and i would presume it tends purpler when we are getting [emotionally connecting / recognition of the self through the other] but oh my god heaving overhead like a hero this additive light blue+orange=purple ingenious and stylistically fucking like hell choice. and again their "outlines" working so well while also retaining enough softness/fluidity to be part of them as a whole. everything is so cool

there's the mouth shape i was talking about. you see the slight m upper lip simply n lower lip and resultant (idk like a video game controller?) shape lol. flexible expressive asymmetry. the closeup transparency of [can always see the other side of shirt collar]. green bg for contrast while also incorporating the orange glow. the full spectrum rainbow refraction just also an immaculate and probably characterfully relevant lmao as a bonus. also hell of cute moments wauugh yes, fun, dying thanks

the additive light!!! (how magenta/purple/pink the reflection of Orange is off the Blue like employing what's realistic in another context for what fucks aesthetically & carries symbolism. like wade wouldn't Realistically be constantly [surface wave refractions] but it fucks like hell. also wouldn't be someone made of fire or water but it fucks like hell & embodies a central metaphorical layer to the literal material). also look at that curtain from deep purplish red to deep bluer purple!!! the line of bright blue!!! the glow in the Background with sharper polygonal lines / corners to contrast with the visual effects of glows elsewhere!!! wade default =3 as [wavy featured] and inherent =3 vs ember's more flame tipped => (not pictured)

ohh this one for rainbow color / out of focus usage and b/c it's like how the semi transparency but only So Much + constant outline of Highlights / constant inner glow and visible infusion of like aquamarine / bright turquoise cerulean color helps a water guy stay perfectly Visible / parsable. also besides ember being green, an effect subtly pictured at any given point: like cinders continually rising off fire but depicted so much like Sparkles :') there's so much colors and highlights and choices after my own sensibilities out here like i love a shoulder swoop design that flows right into the arms from the neck from the head. and that's exactly what we get precisely b/c it has so much flow!!! ember's like whole head Flaring out from her neck, terminal points like tips, or sources, of flames. Styles

the bokeh!! the blues and pinks and purples!!!

ouuwaah

UGH obviously in motion the like arcing falling curtains of water, the shimmering....the purple into pink into dusky orange!!! the little bit of contribution of the turquoise light aaa wahooo, ofc what the bridge adds in Composition for this & that previous shot

lmao this is b/c Wavy Scribble Squiggle Mouth again the design choices after my own heart. the constant extra wobbliness to Mouth Outline obviously works great to emphasize [water design] but it also works great b/c i love it

every shot of the background with this beach is gongious like jesus christ. the closeup of sand is like that looks amazing and So soft. look at the wavy swoopy shapiness of the clouds, look at the [in this shot] faintly detectable Polygonal outlines of Glow from the sun. feel free to look at that water like i said every shot of this, wrow. tasked with Pretty Beach Sunset and coming through big time

expressive design contrast, glow contrasts, refracting, silhouettes, those flame shapes breaking off again epic hot wheels style fuck yes....and the bg!!! look at the purple to muted purple pink sky, the atmospheric distancing on layers of buildings that goes from blue to purple!! the dimmer purple / blue / teal on the ground in the foreground here UGH the COLOR USE

ooh i was so Noticing the like, full ultramarine blue here, like it's been used Before in any night environments but the way here it's brighter, making it like "okay yeah night but more Lit Up. also the visual variety of [water curtain] textures there, the area of Pink, the Yellow that hasn't previously shown up too much but might be saved for associations with tension / "danger" lol. also love the "straightup a pool" designs lol wish i was swimming

oh the orange + blue = purple on display here / translating Outlines

amazing sequence and again look at the Purple shadows the Blues the Oranges the Greens!!!! aughhh again like So colorful and so bright but also ofc dimmed, atmospheric, balanced, waughhh!!!

oh my god what can i say. "bisexuality" for one but and also fr like the pink of the sky vs deep purple, lighter with more blue in the water, the streak of oranger light, pink atmospheric haze....augh!!!

speaking of "and then really vivid striking colors in another overall palette we haven't seen before" the teal & golden yellow for this shot was new & noticeable. the yellow of problems, but not too bad lol, looking at that Contrast with the blue on the outer pool edge there. i wanna take a swim yippee....but fr like holding some colors more in reservation, finding new combinations, as Ever how bright the bgs are but atmospheric, non overwhelming of other elements, i Love it

bokeh!!!! colors!!!!!!!

bokeh!!!!!! colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fucking roy g biv like yes gorgeous. nice tree evocative bridge. composition. lots of lights and colors but the distribution being so balanced, but organic, broken up in all the right ways and all encompassing....the bright orange lights in shadowed blue/purple buildings in the upper left corner, leading down to the path of lights across the center of everything....ugh incredible great

out of focus bg, the lights, the purples, the blue/Green, look at everything on the right side ugh lovely, the slight Shapes of glows, can see that arc in the right side as well, the emotional relevance of all the colors and glows as this bg dims / desaturates a second later

and so similarly here, the Purple, the Glows....like the use of both the perfect balance of soft edges/borders but no sacrifice in clarity

oh and i suppose there's then any amount of spoilers following but like, in part only b/c i point them out as as much but also like. it's about the journey lmfao you see two screenshots, containing some information, well you've seen it all

and to pad that out i'll also note without screenshots about it like bringing in a very like Clear for Compositional Effect sort of Danger Yellow again twice over, with the harshest like chartreuse leaning yellow yet for it, v much a color that it'd just take more effort to fit into a palette / would have to be kind of the color centerpiece, vs the orange/blue/purple here

(but also not to say yellow was never used otherwise....some perfectly harmless golds, paler lighting like just Daytime vibe, constant presence w/fire of course. so the Particulars of a hazard yellow are all the more notable)

the COLORS....look at that orange that pink red the pink reflections the Purples....the just deep slightly slightly purple red in the bg and how like smoothed over / Immediate that background is to just make everything close & present!! the flame textures going!!! water textures going!!! cinders as points of light!! the colors the orange purple pink blue UGHH it's amazing they're really off the shits with it in every scene

spoilers they do kiss about it and i was like smacking hand to forehead like oh my god and they did another "breaking out a new Light thing" when we've glowed and refracted within and without, lit up or dimmed, sparkled, reflected, used further styles in environmental lighting....answer was Lens Flare rainbow refracting glow like goddamn!!! and again like putting In the purple, but also the blue, the orange, the out & out more cerulean / aquamarine that is not gonna simply come from elsewhere in the environment. nice commitment to also having someone smile into a kiss lmao we've all been like i Will make this work. i'm still just like ugh the focus on and variety of Light too, the backgrounds' like soft polygon/hexagon glow "fields," straightforward soft/even gradient glows, wave pattern refraction, refraction also separating light into rainbows, remember water is a lens, stylized light of fire, bokeh, additive color mixing....holding on to & breaking out Cinematic LENS FLARE is fr like ohhh my god they're just fucking On It, got this, here's another effect for you

i also have a gif b/c i couldn't note anyone's fluid dynamics / flowing / Interacting physics enough, and little moments giving that some extra flair are a delight, but holy shit a highlight i'm instantly obsessed with forever, now if there's something and nobody pours themself, i'm out

oh we sloshing!! all the water physics going on here to fantastic effect but also all working within the confines of "and it's some guy." immaculate joke 5 sec later around the "i am Not an inspector" line just What a delight. the vision....the manifestation of effort, craft....i'm not kidding at all i'm like okay forever treasuring [pours yourself] clip and if someone doesn't get it it's like it's called joie de vivre, panache, taking all kinds. some sloshheads out here

again i had a delightful time at the cinema (figuratively. i didn't go anywhere. though i did go "oh fuck re: even the idea of seeing plenty of this in theater format" like i was going oh Shit at visuals and music and every damn thing enough already, can only imagine) i was like bitch i love ppl living life vignettesquely with the emotional arcs aids of metaphor, symbolism. i love the styles and designs and i love paying attention to details and going damn how they'd do that, i love technical shit, noting techniques that are centered around 2D derived visuals, about aesthetic effect & visual purpose....i was going "oh my god same. lately, always, ongoing. oh my god it's me always crying at everything, but also never at anything, and also just sometimes at some things. it's me with the Temper it's me with one like everyone else but not about to let it out at all / not be making room for anyone else's. me like 'just powering through like arghhh' me like 'that, but [a puddle]' liable to spontaneously interact with randos by just doing your own thing, also [dying] and beloathed at that, going with the flow trying to carpe diem it, having these conversations and navigations like just as one person lmao, and also ofc it's different" lol like oh damn okay. and twentysomethings popular with the nebkids like wow in real life....and just having a great time entirely straightforwardly and expecting as much but also being increasingly delighted and surprised and going "wow my aesthetique sensibilities piqued" and going "wow okay a journey" and like Gasp at details and loving the overall effects and little moments and shots and entire deal. did weep repeatedly, when you slosh, when you soggy....delighted a lot, along for the ride having fun for the whole way, so much abt [bummed 20somethings who are nevertheless very vivacious Feeling Things, including About feeling things] and the way that's given sooo much space, Saturating things even, maybe with light & color....i liked it a bunch, [aaaaaa], great time, thinking about feeling things and feeling about it and about thinking about it & so on & so forth too like man hang on a second. and the soundtrack. and the character designs Overall there did i mention?? so cute & fun. wobbly wavy shivery tapering having Flow in the lines / shapes of silhouettes in different ways just like flow in [fluid dynamics] of flame or water in different ways. there's a lot i can say but i just mostly did the backgrounds / color / lighting noncomprehensive slideshow lol. i was very engaged like oh wahoo yippee aaa then mfs let's go and keep going

[woodsfae]

Babylon 5 S01E10: Believers

First

Previous

ToC

Child: "Am I going to die?" Parent: "If it is written in the streams of time, Shon, it will be so."

I hope that in their culture, this is far more comforting than it would be in mine. Regardless, this caused my first out-loud laugh of the episode.

Another dark episode, I see. So far it feels like it's JW/Faith Healer-criticism focused.

Idk how well I'm going to do with this episode. I had an anti-healthcare parent who refused to get me medical treatment for many easily treatable problems, and some of them are still bothering me today. Hell, it's the reason I'm almost 30 and watching Babylon 5 while recovering from a quadruple 100% bone impacted wisdom tooth extraction. So my commentary might be a tad....hostile. For this episode.

Shit like this makes me hot under the collar. Children should be able to have medical autonomy over their bodies.

oh my god, the parents also don't let their kid watch secular educational or entertaining material. Wow. It's my family but aliens.

Doctor Franklin's soft and soothing bedside manner is the only thing keeping me from skipping this episode tbh.

I don't really care about the moral arguments of this back and forth. Fuck no. No debate. Parents don't own their children. Children deserve adequate medical care. Period.

This poor, afraid, tortured child. There were times I spent hours and hours and hours trying to control my breathing, not knowing if this would be asthma attack that killed me, knowing that if I was allowed to have an inhaler or go to the ER, I wouldn't have to wonder. Sometimes I blacked out and didn't know if I would wake up again. My adrenaline is rising.

Can we spend more time on Ivanova?

pfffft G'Kar won't help because they have nothing to offer the Narns. Londo won't, because research, committee hearings and paperwork cost money.

Nasty ass parent: "If it were your child, or even you yourself, how would you feel if the doctor of Babylon 5 wanted to perform an unwelcome procedure on you?" Kosh: "The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."

That made me laugh for the second time this episode! Slightly hysterically, to be sure.

Delenn is SO sympathetic. "I cannot tell you how much all this troubles me," yeah cuz they wouldn't like the answer, I'm sure.

Sinclair, don't be stressed about this. The kid will die if their awful bigoted parents get their way. It's murder via slow, torturous death. The only thing I approve of so far is that Sinclair is speaking directly to the child.

"It's only a piece of industrial goo, but please don't tell Doctor Franklin I said so. He still believes it's an egg."

I may cry, that is so precious.

Poor brainwashed little child doesn't want to lose their spirit.

"I have to honor the beliefs of the parents," bullshit.

Awful. Everything about this is awful.

Now that the parents are crying I refuse to cry because they're fucking awful. Crying over a situation they could have fixed days ago.

YEAH GO DR FRANKLIN. He's already packed! And the surgical assistant is going to help, too. Now that's what I'm talking about! Fucking ethics!

If they write something fuckin dumb in like the kid's spirit escapes I'm going to be furious.

Their transparent masks crack me up. In the future, you can see each others faces during surgery. :P But what's stopping them from wearing hygienically transparent scrubs?

terrible terrible parents. There's a reason I'm an atheist.

Franklin: "Well if I have to take the responsibility then I claim the authority, too. I. Did. Good. And we both know it, and no one is gonna take that away."

Yep. Bravo.

Fuck I'm just so on edge. This episode is hard and bad for me.

They're taking the child and uhhh. Hope they won't kill the kid. "He needs to rest," "He will," is extremely ominous.

Goddamn it I hate being right.

"Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't change anything. It can drive you crazy."

True that.

I'm glad Ivanova had a nice time, at least.

-

funsies, an episode about the devastating effects of alcoholism on familial relationships

[whumpcloud]

The God of Isonmore

content: god whumpee, genderless whumpee, defiant whumpee, winged whumpee, stress positions, whumpee unable to disobey (through magical means but they're mad about it), child caretaker, royal whumper

"That's a god?"

Alios does not speak. If they do, their ears will ring with the force of the blow they will receive. That's the fun of it. Lyell could easily command them unable to speak, and yet doesn't, for an excuse to hurt them if they disobey.

Still, all pain is the same to them. It's a sensation they haven't grown accustomed to since losing their Source. They didn't know that it would cause them to learn what pain was. How could they? A god has not lost their Source for eons.

"The god of Isonmore," Lyell says, that smug, stupid smile on his face. So proud of himself for ensnaring a god. "They make a wonderful trophy, do they not?"

A trophy of war. Is this what they are reduced to?

The little girl looks up at them. "...but isn't it wrong to keep them?"

Yes, they want to say. Yes, little girl, this is wrong. Please don't believe the words of a man who would strip away the will of a god.

"Of course not, Cecile!" Lyell smiles at her, and lifts her up into his arms. "Not when I'll rule over Isonmore soon."

Their arms and wings are tired of holding this position.

"Why don't they just leave?" Cecile asks, childlike innocence in her expression.

"They can't," Lyell says, and pulls the jewel hanging around his neck out from under his shirt. "Because I have this."

It sparkles in the light, shifting colours and shapes contained within the infinite transparency. Their Source. A symbol of the power the gods wield, power that should never be in mortal hands. Power that will corrupt, though, Alios thinks bitterly, it's not as if Lyell needs help in that regard.

They want to take it back. They will themself to reach for it, but their will is not their own, anymore. What is a king to a god? And what is a god to a king with more power in his hands than he can fathom?

Cecile brushes her fingers over it. "What does it do?"

"It means they have to do what I tell them to," Lyell says, then looks towards Alios. "Isn't that right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," they say, as willed, and then nothing is binding them. "Do you not get tired of puppetry? In front of your daughter, no less."

They are suddenly willed to drop from the position they have been forced into for the past few hours. They gasp in relief, and at the new pain this has caused them. Every muscle seizes. This is why they never take mortal form. Why they never should have done so in the first place.

"Cecile," Lyell says softly, "go do something else for a little while. I'll come find you."

Cecile huffs, but she leaves. Lyell turns to Alios, still shaking on the floor, and grabs them by the chin. He doesn't bother commanding them to stay still. He knows they couldn't move even if they wanted to.

"Don't speak to me that way," Lyell says, nails digging into Alios' jaw. "And do not speak about or to my daughter."

"You could have stopped me," Alios spits.

Their teeth cut a bloody line in their lip when Lyell slaps them.

Alios wipes the blood from their face, eyes closed, trying to avoid looking at such a clear sign of their current predicament. Blood. They hadn't ever bled before their capture.

"I can easily be an outlet for your sadism without the games," they say quietly.

"Oh, but the games are what makes it interesting." Lyell is letting their Source hang in front of them, dangling it so tantalisingly close. "I want you to choose to be obedient."

This is beneath them. Mortal games, the way they parade prisoners as trophies, their wars and their power trips and their unadulterated violence. They abandoned this world for a reason, and now they can't escape it.

"I will never willingly be obedient to a king," Alios says, forcing their voice to stay steady.

Lyell laughs. "You will. There's plenty of time for that, yet."

"My siblings will come for me." Alios doesn't truly believe that, but they want to. They need to. "You're only cursing yourself."

"You must know your reputation," Lyell smiles. "You've been missing for the last few thousand years. Isonmore hasn't believed in you for the last two hundred. I would be surprised if even your siblings still did."

Alios wants to scream. They only wanted to step in to protect their people in battle. An idiotic, emotional part of them cared for once, and this is what they've been given in return. They should've stayed isolated, emotionless, above everyone and everything. That is their place as a god, though they know and ignore that their siblings would disagree.

But they are on their knees in front of a king they are unable to disobey, and the anger they are unused to feeling has nowhere to go.

"Did that finally stun you to silence?" Lyell straightens up, and tucks their Source back into his shirt. "How peaceful."

"I am a god," Alios hisses. "Do not forget that."

"Don't think I have!" Lyell grins and turns to leave. "Stay as you are."

Alios cannot even clench their fists or wrap their wings around themself to block out the world. They are trapped on their knees, gaze tilted to the floor, and they are seething.

They can only hear, not see, the tiptoe of a child out from behind a pillar when Lyell exits the room. Cecile silently approaches Alios. She must have been hiding here the entire time.

She seems nervous, fidgeting with her fingers when she comes into view. Then she suddenly reaches out and touches Alios' wing.

Alios is incapable of recoiling, and snaps instead. "Don't touch me!"

Cecile jumps back. "I-I'm sorry!"

Alios exhales, and does not look at her.

Biting her lip, Cecile steps in front of Alios, and kneels down to look at their face. "Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I am." Alios can't reign in their harsh tone. "Well done for noticing. You aren't a total imbecile."

Cecile frowns, and folds her arms. "You're not very nice."

"You're expecting me to be nice, Princess?" Alios snarls. "Would you be nice, in my position?"

She flinches. "My tutors say you should always be nice, even if you're mad…"

Cecile is only a child. She hasn't learned the apathy and hate of humanity yet. She will, but Alios cannot blame her for what she does not know. And they breathe in, and breathe out.

"They are right," Alios says, softer this time. "I… apologise."

"Thank you for apologising," Cecile says, and it's obviously a learned phrase, but it's sincere. "I'll… be back."

She runs off, and Alios mumbles a prayer. They don't think their sister will hear them. They don't think she would listen if she did. But they are in her kingdom, among her people, and the part of them that they've tried so hard to lock away knows any hope is better than no hope at all.

Cecile returns, a little bowl of water and a cloth in her hands. She dips the cloth into the water, and very gently dabs at Alios' bleeding lip, trying to wipe the blood away. Alios flinches, but lets her, with what little choice they have.

"There," she smiles, drying where she's washed. "I hope you feel a little better."

Alios doesn't say a word.

"You know," Cecile pouts, "you're supposed to say thank you when people help you."

"...thank you," Alios mumbles.

[phantom-ellie]

Temet Nosce Chapter 3: I should have left you on that Spanish Vessel where you were Hanging

Click for Chapter List/Content Warnings

A paper doll, sure. A silly joke, but one headed for the mouth of the whale, and Stede tells himself it's about rescuing Ed but somehow he knows it's actually himself. He can almost feel himself becoming less transparent, returning to flesh. A pathetic joke, a source of entertainment for sure. The crew around him laughs. He knows they're laughing at him.

He's wrong, though. Through his silly puppet dancing and the sad mewling and bright, painted smiles masking the incompleteness of the carving below them, Stede has cultivated something. There is a secret garden blooming on the vessel he seeks to reclaim. The man of the hour, the day, the month doesn’t know it, but he is heading towards nabatea, ad meliora.

“Hey, Ivan! I-van!” Ivan looks up at Fang in the crow’s nest, holding a telescope.

“What is it, Fangie?” Fang closes his lips together in a nervous line and hurriedly beckons with his hand.

“Not in front of the others!”

“Why, what don’t you want us to see, capullos?”

“Shit, Jim, you can’t just sneak up on a guy like that.” Ivan rubs the back of his neck nervously. Since the… unfortunate separation of the crew, Jim has taken to stalking the ship like a malevolent forest spirit, and Ivan hates forest spirits. They make his nose ache.

Jim does what Jim is wont to do and twirls their knife threateningly.

“Whatever you tontos del culo have to say to each other you can say to me.”

Ivan has nothing against Jim. He has nothing against the rest of the crew, really. He is loyal to Blackbeard, sure, but he is beginning to suspect that the Captain has gone a bit too far this time, isn’t quite right in the head.

Fang shrugs his shoulders. “Aw, Jim, don’t worry about it, don’t need to get mad at us like that-”

“It’s Stede! It’s the crew!” Frenchie points out at the water and is practically dancing a jig, his voice the loudest stage whisper imaginable. Jim runs to the edge of the ship and strains to see. There they are, all fifty of them, or however many, piled on top of each other in the dinghy, moving about and jostling so much Jim is surprised they haven’t capsized. It is hard to tell them all apart, they are so far away, but Jim sees a hand shoot into the air and stay there, as if to acknowledge that they are being watched. That Stede fucking Bonnet is being watched.

“Fuck!” Jim growls.

“Fuck yeah!” Frenchie cheers as quietly as he can manage, fist pumping the air.

“Oh god, here we go again.” That’s Ivan.

“Oh man, Izzy is gonna be so mad,” Fang starts the climb down from the crow’s nest, hunching his shoulders like the world’s most resigned teddy bear. What he doesn’t say is how happy everyone else will be to have them all back.

Jim whips around and points the dagger at Ivan’s face.

“You’d better let them board,” they say through clenched teeth. Ivan lifts his hands up in surrender.

“I don’t have no beef with any of that lot, but it’s Captain and Izzy that call the shots around here, you know that.”

“Hey! Do you think he can fix him? Blackbeard? Make things nice again?” Fang huffs as he continues his climb down.

Ivan looks at Fang. He turns back to Jim. Then he gives a side-eye to Frenchie. Finally, he rests his palms on the edge of the ship and sighs.

“Aw, hell.”

***

Izzy. He looks at his own reflection in the knife he’s holding. Izzy. Fuck. Fuck. Maybe that’s been the problem all along. Maybe that’s why I don’t get the respect I deserve. Couldn’t be Israel, no, had to go with a cute nickname. Fucking Fang has a scarier nickname than I do, and he’s jolly as a fucking creampuff. Izzy Hands is, to no one’s surprise, brooding. His toe hurts. Well, the place where the toe would have been if he hadn’t shat out said toe three days ago hurts. That was an unpleasant experience, but it was the kind of unpleasant experience that happens to be quite pleasant for Izzy- uh, Israel.

For a moment, he casts a pensive look up at the ceiling above the bunk where he is sitting.

Is that fucked up? Is it fucked up that I take pleasure from being abused? Isn’t it possible that this pleasure-from-pain experience is linked to some form of childhood traum-

Frenchie, master of subterfuge and distraction, bursts into the room, and Izzy loses that train of thought forever.

“Izzy! Izzyyyyyy,” Frenchie holds out both hands palms up like he’s about to ask a huge favor.

“What the fuck do you want?”

“You know, um, I’ve just been thinking about what a hard worker you are and all, and I just wanted to come down here and thank you-”

“What. did. you. do?” There are so many clenched teeth on this vessel that they might have to bring a dentist on board.

“Oh, nothing! Nothing. I just know you’ve been down, ‘cause of… the foot? You know?” Frenchie widens his eyes above his obviously nervous smile and sort of thrusts his hands towards the foot as if to say, that’s definitely a thing that exists in this location.

“My foot is fine. What are you trying to do?” Izzy gets up off his bunk and starts limping forward.

“No!” Frenchie throws out his hands again. “No, don’t move! There’s no need to move at all! Just stay there-”

“Get out of my way,” Izzy sticks out an arm to shove Frenchie aside, whose mind instantly goes white as a clap of lightning as his instinct kicks in.

He does what he has to do. He stomps on Izzy’s injured foot as hard as he can.

“Aaaaughhhh! You fucking-”

“Sorry! Sorry, it was an accident! Why don’t you just-” The knife comes out and Izzy lunges at Frenchie, who quickly evades it and backs towards the door.

“No need for that, really,” Frenchie whimpers with a hint of hysteria, quickly casting an eye towards the Lair of the Kraken, which is really where Stede used to sleep but Frenchie doesn’t think he’d appreciate it much right now. Oh, he’s gonna be so pissed. Please don’t hear, please don’t hear.

“I will flay you alive, you-” as Izzy hobbles towards Frenchie menacingly, Frenchie has a choice to make. He can return to the deck, or brave the Lair. Thankfully his self-preservation kicks in and he books it towards his friends, turning around to blow an ultra-mature raspberry.

***

Stede had been the first to board. He had expected a wave of raging hot ire to descend upon him. He wanted to take the brunt of it. It was his fault, after all. The pain between him and Ed was like an invisible line of fire that linked them in their pain and misery, burning anyone who haplessly stumbled into its path. Stede expected a sword to the gut, and wasn’t afraid, because he knew he wouldn’t feel it above the white-hot burning that was already there.

Instead of the sword, he had been offered a friendly hand by Ivan and was asked to wait patiently so the others could follow him. Thus Stede sees the first hints of his garden, in flore, as he raises his head in greetings to Jim while Fang claps a happy hand on his shoulder.

Now he stands awkwardly by the ladder, welcoming his family home.

“There you go, welcome back Buttons, Olivia-”

“It’s good to be aboard, cap’n.”

“Watch your step, Oluwande, there you go, see there’s Jim right there, safe and sound, off you two go… Up and at ‘em, Black Pete! I haven’t seen Lucius yet but I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. No, Roach, I don’t know if anyone messed with your good knives. Swede, yes, maybe stand over there and dust yourself off a little, you’re covered in- Hurry it up, Wee John, we have a ship to take! No, I don’t know where Frenchie is but apparently he’s safe.”

Stede begins to try on his captain persona again, to be who these people need him to be, to be the man who reads them stories and encourages them. To begin the performance. But God, he’s tired of the performance. He needs to be himself, to demand to be accepted as himself, because he can’t live in this weird performative skin anymore. He just can’t.

But the crew can’t read his mind, and therefore Fang grabs him around the shoulders.

“Captain, you gotta help us. You gotta talk some sense into him!”

“Who, Izzy? That probably won’t work.”

“No! Blackbeard! He’s making it miserable for everyone! Fix him!”

“I’m sure it’s fine, Fang, just take care of the crew. I’ll make things right.” Stede suddenly realizes that throughout this conversation there has been a mounting roaring sound, getting louder and louder until he stands up straight to figure out its source. Not two seconds later he becomes enlightened, as Frenchie runs out onto the deck followed by a mad, spitting, angry ferret.

“Hi Captain! Sorry Captain!” Frenchie bolts straight past him like a World War I soldier trying to outrun a frag grenade.

The ferret stops when he hits the deck and the roaring is cut off in a wet sputter of rage.

“You.” Izzy the ferret waves his knife in Stede’s general direction. “How the fuck did you get on my ship?”

“I climbed the ladder, dickhead! Let me talk to Ed!”

He needs this to be over with. He can only hold onto the adrenaline for so long.

“I’ll slit your fucking throat-”

“Qué cabrón!” Izzy is interrupted by Jim, who smashes their boot into his hand and sends the dagger flying.

“Aaaugh, you-” Fang tackles Izzy to the ground with a crunch.

“Sorry, Iz. I mean, I’m a little sorry, honest, but not too sorry.” Ivan sort of dances around his apology as he stuffs a gag in Izzy’s mouth before reaching up to take a coil of rope from Frenchie.

“Wow. So much for loyalty.” Black Pete has his arms crossed and his eyebrows raised.

“We’re pirates!”

“Okay, okay! I’ve just never watched a mutiny from this end.”

Watching Izzy struggle in vain sends an initial wave of relief through Stede’s torso. It was so easy. They did it for me. They want me back, they love me.

Killing with kindness actually works. Stede isn’t a fucking lunatic.

This relief lasts only a few moments however, as the door to the deck bursts open. A thunderclap hit’s Stede’s heart. This is him, isn't it? A dark wave flowing out onto the floor of the deck. A black cloud. A trio of tentacles grasping towards Stede's neck.

“Izzy, what the fuck is the fucking commotion up here-”

And there he is. The love of Stede’s life, drunkenly staggering onto the deck. He’s swaying a bit as he takes the last few gulps of what has to be his third bottle of rum. Stede's breath catches in his throat as Ed looks him dead in the eyes. The bottle of rum just hovers there.

And in seeing that kohl-smeared, inebriated Demon King, something drops from the top of Stede’s brain down to the floor, only to curl upon itself and rise through his legs and up through his arm and shoot out of the top of his head like a geyser, a mélange of adrenaline, courage, and wanting. His shoulders straighten. His chin rises a couple of inches. Stede Bonnet looks Edward Teach dead in the eyes as everything else threatens to roll right out of his body and crash upon the deck.

“You. You and I need to have a talk.”

Death it is.

He expects Ed to throw the bottle at his head. He expects Ed to rage and challenge him to a duel. He expects Ed to take out his pistol and shoot a hole through Stede’s torso. He expects Ed to throw a knife at his face. He expects Ed to collapse onto his knees, tears streaming down his face. He expects Ed to stride forward and bend Stede backwards in a kiss.

Instead he hears the groans of the crew as Ed pitches forward and spews three bottles of rum onto the deck.

Stede sighs.

“I guess I just have that effect on people.”

Romance is dead. It will happen the hard way.

Chapter 4

[leviathans-watching]

Killing a bug for the brothers and maybe dateables

killing a bug for them

includes: lucifer, mammon, asmo, belphie, diavolo, barbatos, simeon x/& gn!reader (no pronouns mentioned)

rated g | wc: .8k | m.list

warnings: bugs and insects as well as multiple ways they're killed, gross uncomfy feelings about them

a/n: thanks for requesting! i hope you like it! my inbox is open to chat, req, or leave feedback, so come say hello!

please reblog ily<33

➳ lucifer isn’t afraid of bugs. he’s not. he just… isn’t a huge fan of them, that’s all. you, however, have no such qualms. so when he sees a bug land on his desk, crawling towards him rapidly, he’d got no choice but to call for you. “mc!” his voice is pitched up, and you waits with bated breath as he hears your footsteps coming closer. “kill it,” he begs, tilting his head at the bug. “please.” you sigh fondly, picking up a tissue from the box on his desk, deftly grabbing it. as soon as it’s in the wastebasket lucifer relaxes. “thank you,” he says, and you can’t help but chuckle. the big bad lucifer, getting a lowly human to kill his bugs. it’s cute.

➳ mammon is very transparent with his fear, though he likes to pretend he’s not scared. his ego prevents him from allowing himself to look weak, so he gets in to situations like this. “i’ve got this,” mammon says, more to himself than you, ignoring your amused huff. “i’ve totally got this. easy-peasy.” extending his arm, mammon hesitantly approaches the bug on the window. when it suddenly flies towards him he shrieks, falling to the ground in his haste to get away. you laugh then, not at all sympathetic. you take the toilet paper from his hand, easily grabbing the bug. “i coulda got that,” mammon says from the ground. “i just needed a minute.”

➳ asmo is so grossed out by bugs it’s not even funny. the minute he sees one he’s out of there, shudders running up and down his body. he absolutely can’t stand them. “oh my god,” he breathes from beside you, making you look up. “there’s a bug on me. get it off get it off get it off!” you see an ant has crawled onto his leg, which are covered by pants. “mc, get it off!” he’s clearly panicking, and you’re apparently not moving fast enough for him. you brush the any off of his leg in one easy movement, and instantly, asmo is clinging to you. “i want to go home,” he whines, and you know he’s not going to give it up so you can only agree.

➳ belphie will never admit how uncomfortable bugs make him, not when beel is so close to them and cares for them so. but he can’t help how they unnerve him, making him want to crawl out of his skin. you seem to catch onto this,  thankfully. “ah,” belphie says, frozen. “there’s a bug on the sill there.” you look over, following his gaze. there is a bug there, and thankfully you can kill it, since beel’s not in the room. “here,” belphie says, handing you a swatter. with practiced ease, you get it on the first try, and belphie lets out a sigh of relief, all the while muttering a sorry to beel, even though he’s not around to hear it, much less know what you’ve done.

➳ diavolo hates bugs so much. they’re just so gross and crawly and they always come for him! the number of times a beetle has landed in his hair… yeah, way too many. he feels something his the back of his neck and just knows, letting out a strangled whine. “there’s a bug in my hair,” he whimpers to you, afraid to move. “i can feel it moving. please help!” you turn him around, quickly combing through his hair with gentle fingers. normally, he would melt into such a touch, but he’s more preoccupied with the idea that something might be laying eggs on him right now. “got it,” you say, hands leaving his hair, and diavolo covers his eyes. “i don’t want to see it. just- just get rid of it please!”

➳ barbatos would kill the bugs. really, he doesn’t mind. his hands are just occupied at the moment, as he’s working on a dessert, and he can’t step away to take care of it, much less risk getting the germs from it in whatever he’s making. “can you get that?” he asks, and you nod, hopping off the counter, taking a glass with you. he half watches, making sure nothing goes wrong. you’re efficient and skilled with the glass, and once it’s captured you just fill the glass with water, dumping it and the bug down the sink.

➳ simeon can’t kill things. he’s an angel, after all, and it wouldn’t be fitting of someone in his station to harm something so innocent. however, insects really gross him out. he also doesn't feel good about asking you to kill things for him so the end result is something like this: “wow, it’d be a shame if someone were to kill that bug over there. the one by that desk. yep. a real shame if someone were to just nab it up with a tissue and throw it in the garbage. but who would do that? not me, that’s for sure.” it doesn’t take long for you to grow tired of his theatrics and take care of it, much to his poorly-hidden relief.

leviathans-watching’s work - please do not repost, copy, or claim as your own

[datenightfright]

I am having some thoughts, so enjoy

Monster NSFW. (And I mean it's VULGAR). Mixed genders. Monsters I tried to keep neutral.

Your lich lover is generally a refined sort of thing, calm and poised, but damned if being buried balls deep in you doesn't make them go feral.

It's said orcs love to eat, so it should be no surprise that your orc spends hours buried in your cunt, lapping up all that he can.

You didn't think elves could be so salacious, but you were proven wrong when your golden hair lover swallowed your cock so expertly you damn near came right then and there.

You tried hard not to laugh at the Minotaur beneath you, but the tongue lolling out of their mouths as you pounded their asses was almost too much.

The demon above you is reduced to speaking in ancient tongues when you lave your tongue around their sex. Tonight was going to be fun.

Watching your vampire love fuck the mattress beneath them as you give yourself another orgasm, you remind them it isn't their turn yet.

The squeal your symbiot pulls from you as their tongue runs a ring around your asshole is inhuman...they're sure they can make you do it again.

You never knew how enjoyable it would be to see your cock fill the hole of a ghost, but the transparency of it all just make you want to fuck them harder.

You angel calls your name like your their god, and with how well your working them, you might as well be.

[bruhstories]

Fate

Summary: The Abduction of Persephone or how Levi couldn’t get you of his head.

Pairing: Hades!Levi x Persephone!Reader

Warnings & Content: nsfw, mentions of rape & incest (cause, you know, Zeus is a fucking entitled asshole and nobody fucking likes him), unprotected sex, oral sex (male receiving), fingering, language, loss of virginity

Word Count: 5.1 k

A/N: literally the only thing I have to say is that for the purpose of this fic, Hanji has she/her pronouns, and the first few paragraphs are written in third person xD happy reading!

Help me...

Please...

Help... me...

Sweat drips from his forehead and his eyes shoot open. That damned dream again. That sweet voice again. Levi Hades can't comprehend why he was dreaming. Gods don'tdream. His bed seems empty, but he never needed anyone in it. For some reason, now he feels like someone is missing. He gets up, naked body and blank eyes watching over his realm from the balcony of his castle. Empty. Other than the souls of the dead that quietly dance around like little flames, it's empty. Other than Cerberus sleeping peacefully, it's empty. And so damn cold. Mortals mistaken the Underworld for a scorching hot place, but in reality, it's as cold as Levi Hades' heart. If he even has a heart.

He wraps his toga around his sculpted body, a wreath of laurels on his coal-black hair, donning his arms with silver bracelets and rings. Time doesn't exist in the world of the dead, but Levi Hades sticks to a strict schedule. He waves his hand and a scroll and quill magically appear on his marble desk. He can't trust Hermes with this message, and so he gives it to one of his dogs to deliver it to Hanji Hecate. Who better to interpret the meaning of his dream than the goddess of witchcraft herself? LeviHades surrounds himself in thick, grey smoke before he disappears from his bedroom.

Somewhere on Earth, Y/N Persephone is being watched by Zeus. The powerful god cannot resist such a beauty, and he is known for having his way with anyone, even his own daughter. But it's not her time, he thinks, not just yet. She knows this, she knows what will happen to her when she reaches the age of marriage, and at night, when not a soul is awake, she sobs and prays that someone will find her and help her. She is willing to do anything to escape her father's clutches and her dark future. And every night she cries, it rains — it pours.

At the outskirts of the Underworld, Hanji Hecate receives a message. She reads it carefully, and a knot forms in her stomach. The goddess heard the pleas of a girl, whom she believed to be a mortal, but if Levi Hades heard her, too, then it could only be another deity. HanjiHecate closes her eyes and performs a spell in the hopes of locating the desperate girl. It doesn't work. It doesn't work because, unbeknownst to her, Demeter is hiding her daughter from the preying eyes of Zeus.

They searched for weeks, mortal weeks, for the crying goddess, but none of them had any luck. Y/N Persephone is somewhere in the shadows of Demeter, but even she knows her mother can't protect her forever. Zeus gets what Zeus wants eventually. The sun rises over the meadow, but Y/N Persephone doesn't know that because she's stuck weaving in a cave, sweat dripping down her forehead, hairs sticking to her face. The drakons Demeter placed at the entrance of the cave followed Y/N Persephone outside, guarding her as she washes herself in a nearby stream. He isn't supposed to be there. Levi Hades isn't supposed to peer at her naked body and the way she splashes the crystal-clear water. He was supposed to meet with Hanji Hecate and take a walk. He was supposed to go back to the Underworld after that. Yet here he is, spellbound by her gestures, her face, her eyes. And then, she sings. Y/N Persephone begins to sing and all the flowers around him bloom. Levi Hades goes into a shocked state, eyes wide open, brows raised. He knows that voice. He knows it because he's been dreaming it. His scent is picked up by the drakons and he disappears, leaving behind a trail of smoke.

"I found her, Hecate. I found her, but I can't get close to her."

"What do you mean you found her? Just like that?" Hanji Hecate's fingers trace the bark of a tree.

"It was fate. It must be." Levi Hades is desperate now.

"Calm down, Hades. I've never seen you so... twitchy." She laughs, kneeling in the grass. The witch plays with some fallen leaves, brown hair flowing in the wind.

"That's because you didn't see what I did. She started singing and flowers bloomed! I don't know what kind of nymph she is, but she is beautiful. Nothing like I've ever seen before."

"Oh, I never thought I'd live to see the day Hades falls in love." Hanji Hecate laughs again. "So why didn't you approach her?"

"Tch, because she was surrounded by drakons. I don't understand why a mere nymph would need so much protection."

The goddess gasps, all traces of happiness gone from her face, replaced by disappointment and anxiety. Levi Hades takes notice of this and places his cold hand on the witch's shoulder, but she flinches.

"You can't have her."

"You knowher?" His voice is condescending, offended that his good friend hid something like this from him.

"Hades, she's Demeter's daughter, Persephone. She's not just some nymph, but the goddess of spring." Hanji Hecate brings her palms together, forming a triangle. "We can't talk here."

Levi Hades nods and lets himself transported to the Underworld, back to the familiar souls lingering in the air.

"Talk, Hecate." He is impatient and demanding, arms folded across his chest.

"Zeus wants her, and Demeter and I are keeping her hidden." The deity explains with pain in her voice.

"Yes, well, you're not doing a very good job, now, are you?"

"Oi, the drakons noticed you. You don't think they would notice Zeus?" She snaps back, traces of arrogance in her voice.

"Hecate... it's Zeus. What would stop that brat from turning into a drakon fool her?"

The goddess shivers, shifting her weight from side to side.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"I do, actually. I'll bring Persephone here." LeviHades proudly states, but his face is still blank, not once betraying his true feelings.

"You'll... what?" Her mouth is slightly open, bewildered by the god.

"It's the only place Zeus doesn't have access without an invitation. Face it, Hecate, it's a good plan. Better than yours, anyway."

Hanji Hecate is speechless, completely at a loss for words. She ponders over the idea, a hand brought to her chin to think better.

"Alright, but what makes you think she'll just stroll through the gates of the Underworld without a complaint?"

"Oh, you've mistaken my words. I'll forcefully bring her here." He tilts his head, a semblance of a smirk on his lips.

"For fuck's sake, Hades, she's not what you'd expect. And what about me? I promised Demeter I would protect her!" HanjiHecate throws her hands in the air, her shadow taking the form of a raging dog.

"Do notchallenge me, witch. You know I can destroy you in the blink of an eye." LeviHades growls and her shadow restores itself to its natural shape. "Besides, you would still protect her. The Underworld is where you abide."

She knows she shouldn't carelessly be out in the open one hour before her coming of age. But Y/N Persephone, with tears streaming down her beautiful face, embraced her future. She knows Zeus will come for her, and so she willingly gives herself to him. With poppy seeds, she put the drakons to sleep and left the cave, clad in a sheer toga, her body visible through the transparent fabric.

"If you want me, come and get me, father!" Y/N Persephone screams at the skies, the flora surrounding her slowly turning a dark shade of brown and dying, just like her innocence would die tonight. The earth shatters behind her, marigold flames and ashy smoke cracking open the soil. Shadowy figures emerge, grasping the young goddess' limbs and they drag her down, down, down to the Underworld. She is afraid, her heart beats faster as the moonlight disappears, and all she can see is darkness.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be gentler, but I didn't want Zeus to get the wrong idea."

"You're Hades, aren't you?"

"Yes, but please, call me Levi. Persephone, I presume." Levi doesn't smile, but his voice is warm, contrasting the cold that surrounded your body.

"Don't call me that." You spit back, confused as to why you were in his realm in the first place.

"You should be a little more grateful that I saved you, brat." He narrows his eyes down at you.

"Saved me? You abductedme. You're no better than him."

Hanji Hecate was right, you had fire in your soul, and an attitude that would drive Levi over the edge.

"Tch, don't compare me to that pretentious cock." The god scoffs and your expression softens.

"Zeus is a... cock? With a beak and feathers?" You giggle and he almost wants punch himself. How could he forget how innocent you are? Clearly, he's been spending too much time with Minthe.

"That's one way to put it."

"Is there another way?" You ask with your index finger brought to your lips, pure curiosity in your eyes.

"Forget that, you said you didn't want me to call you Persephone. How else should I address you?"

"Y/N." You tell him, eyes peering to the balcony of his castle and you skip to it. "Oh, this place is huge! What are those?" You point at the colourful flames dancing in the air.

"Souls." Levi joins you, resting his arms on the marble railing.

"They're beautiful!" You are in awe, and he is just as mesmerised by your beauty. Not one sane god or goddess would consider the souls of the dead beautiful.

"Look, Y/N, I heard you. In my dreams, I mean. I'm not going to hurt you, I brought you here to rescue you." He lies through his teeth. Levi did want to save you, he still does, but he can't deny the fact that he wanted you all to himself. "I'm gonna mind my own business, you mind yours. Try not to break anything. And don't, under any circumstances, make a mess out of my castle, or my realm."

You lean on the railing, nose scrunched and a hand on your hip.

"What am I supposed to do, then? And what about my mother? What about when spring comes and I have to bring it? What about Zeus?"

Levi grits his teeth, almost regretting his decision of saving you.

"Tch, I'll deal with Demeter. I'll tell Zeus I'm marrying you. You can go bring spring when it's due. Happy?" He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"And you won't taint my innocence?"

Oh, he will taint it, alright. But not just yet.

"I won't do anything you don't want me to do."

"You still didn't answer my first question. What am I supposed to do?" You shift your weight from one leg to the other, impatiently waiting for a proper answer from your captor.

"Anything you want, just don't get in my way when I'm dealing with the dead."

"You're an aggressive little man, you know that?"

Levi can feel a blood vessel bursting on his forehead. You were truly annoying, but he couldn't just sit around and wait for Zeus to have his way with you.

"Anyway, I suppose it is safer to be here." You rolled your eyes. "Got any books?"

"What, you read?" He snorts, a condescending brow arched.

"Don't patronise me. You're the one who abducted me, you could at least try to be nice to me."

Levi sighs. This wasn't how he imagined things would go. He imagined you'd make the perfect housewife and keep him some company.

"First floor. Just stay out of the restricted section."

"Why?"

"Because I said so. Zeus' beard, are you always this irritating?"

"Are you?" You chuckle, a hand hiding your smile.

With another sigh, Levi disappears, leaving you alone. "Great job, Y/N, you made the only person who took a crumb of pity on you to go away." You say to yourself, a pout on your lips.

The Underworld wasn't as bad as you thought. Sure, there was the occasional fire popping from the ground here and there, and you had to be careful not to burn yourself, but overall, it was serene. Some parts of it were scorching hot, but mostly it was cold, and you always brought an extra cloak with you when exploring the realm. Levi wasn't always with you, in fact you haven't seen him in days, but you met his three-headed puppy. Well, puppy wasn't the best word to describe the creature, and it did try to eat you the first time, but you stood your ground and tamed the beast with your singing and eager belly rubs.

"This is a sight I never thought I'd live to see." Levi is shocked, watching his raging dog so calm. "Cerberus never lets anyone but me touch him." He gives the dog a few pats on his back.

"Well, Cerberus likes me better, don't you? Who's a good boy? You are, yes, you are!" You kiss all three muzzles and hug the gigantic beast, the heat of its fuzzy body warming you up.

"Oi, don't get ahead of yourself. Come here, Cerberus." Levi extends his arms and the creature is confused. "I said, come here."

The dog stops wagging its tail and plops next to you with a groan, one head resting in your arms. The shit-eating grin on your face is enough to make Levi sigh.

"See? I told you he likes me better." You poke your tongue out in triumph. You wave your hands and the god watches how you place three daffodil wreaths on each of Cerberus' heads. "Much better!"

"Y/N, he looks silly."

"No, he looks adorable! Here, I made you one, too."

Levi takes the flower crown and inspects it, careful not to crumble the petals.

"What is this?" He asks, marvelling at the beauty of the ice-blue colour of the plant.

"Uh, a flower crown?"

"Yeah, no shit. I meant what flower is this?"

"Oh, it's a blue poppy. One of the rarest plants in the world." You smile. "I think it suits you."

"You're an oddball."

You sit in a lavish chair, all kinds of foods displayed on the table in front of you. Saliva pools in your mouth, but you decide to wait for Levi anyway. It's bad manners to start eating without the host, Demeter taught you that. Gods and goddess don't eat mortal foods, but sometimes they indulge in it, and tonight was one of those nights.

"Here, try this." Levi offers you a strange fruit, something humans have on earth, but different.

"What is it?" You poke your finger at the juicy fruit, sucking the sweetness from your digit.

"It's a pomegranate that only grows in the Underworld."

You pick at the seeds, popping one in your mouth. You couldn't believe something so good could grow in a cold place like this.

"So, what's the occasion?" You ask Levi as you eat three more seeds, the crimson juice staining your lips.

"Our wedding."

You accidentally swallow, choking on saliva and the pomegranate seeds, your fist hammering your chest as you gasp for air.

"What?"

"I told Zeus I'm marrying you and now he wants proof." Levi bluntly states, a chalice of nectar in his hand.

"No."

"You don't have a choice, unfortunately."

"But… I'm supposed to be a virgin. Marriage implies consumption of it." You slam your fists on the table. "My mother-"

"Your mother lied to you. You're a goddess of fertility for fuck's sake." He shrugs and you're shocked by how chilling his voice sounds. Sure, Levi was always brooding and silent, but now he was just inconsiderate. "However, I'm not a man who breaks his promises. I told you I won't do anything you don't want me to."

"Oh, how niceof you. I'm leaving." You stand up, pushing the chair away.

"And go where? Demeter can't protect you forever, and you don't stand a chance against Zeus."

"You know why I hate my name so much, Levi?" You growl, fingernails digging into the wooden table.

"Do, tell."

"Because it means destruction. A fitting name for a goddess of ‘fertility’, don't you think?" The table splits open and all the plates fall to the ground. Your normal, bubbly aura changes suddenly and there's a hint of red in your Y/E/C eyes. "You think I don't stand a chance against Zeus? I'm his offspring." You snap, and instead of flowers falling out of your hair, there's thorns, spikes and rusty leaves all over the place. The uglies, most poisonous plants sprout from the ground and you're no longer the goddess of spring, but the bringer of slaughter, and Levi is impressed. Now he really knows it was faith that brought you together, he knows your place is with him — with the dead.

"Marry me." He says, unmoved by your little show. Unmoved on the outside, because on the inside he wants to bend you over and fuck you silly. His words shouldfuel your rage, but you're too surprised by the fact that he still wants to marry you, despite your outburst.

"Why? Because Zeus wants that?" Vines protrude from your skin and your fingernails turn black. You were completely different than the helpless little girl he rescued that night. You were terrifying. But not to Levi — to him you were fascinating.

"Because I want that."

It was safe to say you had fallen in love with Levi in those nine months since you came to the Underworld. He accepted you the way you were, he accepted your darkness, something not even your mother could do, and that's what triggered your feelings for the god of the dead. You still didn't allow him to call you Persephone, because you still hadn't fully embraced that part of you. Spring was almost due, but you promised Levi you'd go to earth after your wedding. Everyone would be there, including Demeter, which you haven't seen in a long time.

A soft knock interrupts your thoughts.

"Y/N, are you ready?"

"In a second, Hanji!"

"Oh, thank the gods for calling me that. I keep telling everyone I'm tired of Hecate but they don't care." The witch scoffs from the other side of the door.

"Has my mother arrived?" You ask, concern visible in your voice.

"Yes. And she's not happy."

"Hey," you open the door, "thanks for taking the blame and explaining things to her." You hug the goddess and she holds you tight.

"Don't worry about it, kid. It's me who should thank you. I don't know what you did to Levi, but he seems happier. He won't show it because he's a prick, but I can feel it."

You flash Hanji a genuine smile and ask her to fix your veil, to which she gladly accepts before escorting you to the castle grounds. Your mother should do this, but she hated her future groom, or your father, but he was a sick man who only decided to leave you alone because he respected Levi.

Every god and goddess of Olympus is here, even your uncle Poseidon. You emerge from the castle, arm looped around Hanji's and you smirk at Levi's shock. He never thought you could be more beautiful, yet here you are, dressed in silk, flowers on your hand and a thin veil clinging from the peony crown on your head. You catch a glimpse of Demeter before drifting your eyes to your future husband.

"Ladies and gentlemen, gods and goddesses, we have gathered here today to witness and bless the union between Levi, god of the Underworld, and Y/N, goddess of spring." Hanji proudly declares. The ceremony doesn't last too long, and when Levi's lips crush yours in what is your first kiss, thousands upon thousands of plants sprout from the soil, colourful flowers blooming and letting out the sweetest smells known to mankind. Love, he thinks, that's what love smells like.

You're tired from the party, tired from all the talking and mingling, tired from your mother's lecture, and tired from avoiding your father. At least Hera was nice enough to wish you a happy marriage. You pace around your bedroom, sitting on the bed, then standing up again. Levi went to his chamber after the party, but you were expecting, no, you wanted to consume the marriage. You walk to his room, a toga lazily draped over your shoulders, and open the door without a single knock. He's in bed, the only light source being the colourful souls levitating outside his windows. You carefully push the covers and climb into the bed, gently scooching closer to him.

"Psst, husband, are you sleeping?" You poke his shoulder.

"Tch, not anymore." He sighs, not bothering to open his eyes and look at you. "What do you want?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked! Seeing as we're married now, I thought it's only natural for a wife to sleep with her husband." You roll on your side, propping yourself on your elbow. Tentatively, you tug on the fabric of the toga, exposing your shoulders and part of your breasts.

"So sleep." Levi finally lolls his head to the side, facing you. He did not expect to see you sprawled on his bed like that, in a lewd position and a playful smile on your soft lips. "You don't have to do this just because we're married.

"I'm doing it because I want to. And I know you want it, too, Levi." You purr, your fingers grazing over your collarbone.

"It's going to hurt." He warns you, but his hand is already on your thigh.

"I know. But you'll take good care of me, won't you?"

Levi has no idea which one of you is talking — Y/N, goddess of spring, or Y/N, goddess of destruction — and frankly he doesn't even care at this point. As long as he has your approval, he knows he can do whatever he wants. You pull him into a sloppy kiss, obviously inexperienced, but he likes it that way. He likes that you have no idea what you're doing because he can be in control. His hand runs up and down your thigh and you can feel heat building in your core.

"Tingles..." You mumble in his lips with a hazy smile.

"Have you ever touched yourself?" Levi pulls away and you nod. "Show me."

You feel embarrassed and small, but obey nonetheless. Your hand travels between your legs and your fingers touch your already swollen clit, rubbing it in circular motions. Levi watches you with hungry eyes, wanting very hard to abstain, but he can't, and so he takes your nipple in his hot mouth. You whimper at the new sensation, electricity shooting through your body as he snakes a hand between your thighs, two fingers diving into your cunt.

"Ah! L-Levi! So big!" You mewl and he throws his head back, releasing your poor nipple.

"That's nothing compared to what you'll get, you needy brat." He curls his fingers, hitting that sweet spot, and you buck your hips. Despite being a virgin, your body naturally knows what to do. Your spongy walls clench around his digits and Levi can already feel how tight you'll be around his cock. "You're so wet."

"Is t-that a good thing?" You're innocent and pure and you rock your hips back and forth, pathetic moans escaping your lips.

"Fuck, yes." Levi kisses you, and it's nothing like the kiss from your wedding. It's desperate and greedy, and he wants you all to himself. The pace quickens, he's pumping his fingers in and out of you faster and you don't know what to do, so you keep rubbing your clit and the familiar heat of your orgasm flushes through your body. You come undone on his hand, the sinful, squelching sound echoing in the bedroom.

"It didn't hurt at all!" You look at your husband, but there's a hint of mischief in your voice, a playful glisten in your eyes. Levi clicks his tongue, because the worst — and best — is yet to come, and you know it — you're no saint.

"Come here." Levi orders and yanks you by the hair, his aggressive gesture sending a shiver down your spine and into your cunt. "Be a good girl and open that pretty mouth for me."

You obey and part your luscious lips and then you see his cock for the first time — thick and veiny, it slaps your face as it pops out of his undergarments, the tip grazing over your cheeks.

"Levi that's... that's too big." You chew your lower lip and lean back.

"You'll be fine. You said it yourself, I'll take good care of you." He cups your face with one hand, thumb caressing your chin. "Now suck it. Make sure to use lots of spit."

You feel your cheeks hot and test the waters by giving the glistening tip a few licks, tongue swirling around it. It tastes salty, and you find yourself liking this. Levi pats your head, but you feel him tensing with each movement of your tongue.

"Shit." He curses under his breath and when you look up at him with doe eyes, his heart pounds into his chest. You courageously take the tip into your mouth, and with hollowed cheeks, you move further. "Yeah, just like that. Take it all."

Bobbing your head up and down, you try to take it all, but the girth and length is just too much, and tears pool at your eyes from the lack of air, but also from how good it feels to have a fat cock in your mouth. Muffled moans reverberate in your throat, and Levi can feel the vibrations tickling him. He firmly grabs your nape and holds your head in place.

"Trust me and relax, can you do that for me?"

You half-nod, anxious and somewhat excited for what is about to happen. Your husband rocks his hips back and forth slowly before aggressively fucking your poor throat, and you feel the arousal building in your core again. So much for promising your mother you'd always stay a virgin. You want to touch yourself again, but Levi slaps your hand away and thrusts into your mouth, holding your head still until you choke, your fingernails digging into his arm. The god pulls out and you gasp for air, and he almost feels sorry when he sees your pathetic state.

"A-again!" You flash him your pearls in a sultry smile, spit dripping down your chin. Who knew you liked asphyxiation?

"Needy brat."

"Please!"

"Tch, later. Right now, I want to fuck you." Levi growls and he already has you pinned on the bed, arms above your head and legs spread open for him. His cock presses against your slick slit and you brace yourself for the incoming pain. "If you want me to stop, tell me."

You don't have the time to nod when you feel a burning sensation between your legs. Squeezing your eyes shut, you bury the back of your head into the pillow and grip the sheets so tight your knuckles begin to lose their colour. Levi slowly pushes further, another inch buried in your cunt, and you bite on your lower lip. But you don't tell him to stop, instead your spongy walls clench around his cock and another inch gets lost in you.

You never thought gods could feel such immense pain, yet here you are, with a bloody lip from digging your teeth into it and a sore pussy. But the worst thing faded bit by bit when Levi bottomed out into your cunt. The two of you sit still, your husband allowing you to get used to his girth.

"Do you think I bled?" You ask, eyes filled with tears.

"Probably, but I promise it will never hurt like this from now on." He comforts you before licking the blood from your lips. The gesture makes your cunt flutter and Levi takes it as a sign to go on. Slowly, he rocks his hips back and forth, and the molten pain is replaced by tingles and arousal.

"You good?"

"Y-yes, oh, f- yes!"

"You can say fuck, you know?" Levi thrusts once, and it's so deep you feel his cock brush over your cervix.

"Fuck!" You cry out, legs wrapping around his waist to make sure he doesn't pull out. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Good girl."

There's no more room for gentle touches and soothing words when your husband fucks you raw. Your hips buck against his to feel that sweet pressure you never knew you longed for. In and out, his cock makes you feel sore and hazy, and you want more. The sound of his balls slapping your ass makes your mouth water and your eyes glossy, and Levi feels selfish. He pulls out, turns you over and takes you from behind, like a rabid dog fucking a bitch in heat. And you are in heat — you love the way his thrusts make you feel dumb, the way his cock stretches you, the way he uses and abuses your tight little cunt. Everything is so new to you and you adore every bit of it.

"Shit, I'm close." Levi warns you, his fingers digging into your hips, and you want to be good for him, so you drag your hand between your thighs and rub your swollen clit in frantic motions.

"L-Leeevi! I think I'm-"

"Fuck!"

When you feel a hot liquid shooting into you, your legs begin to tremble and you come on his cock, head falling onto the pillow with a heavy sigh. He pulls out and you already miss the feeling of being full, your juices mixed with his own dripping down out of you, down your thigh. You curl up next to your husband, hand holding his arm before you drift to sleep.

A sweet smell fills Levi's nostrils and when he looks at your tired body, there’s flowers in your messy hair. He still can't get used to the way your divine, disorganised powers work, but at least now he knows what's been missing from his life, and the corners of his mouth slightly twist upwards into a genuine smile. The god of the dead, in love with and married to the goddess of spring. Order and chaos blending together in one beautiful, perfectly arranged mess.

It’s fate. It must be fate that brought you together — but it’s love that will keep you together.

tagging @starrynightlys @stolemyheart12

[meher-sumedha]

azriel and gwyn getting drunk together (they're in the 'omg I think I like my friend' phase)

Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn were drunk. Like really really drunk. And Apparently, Nesta had thought that going to a tattoo parlor and getting cassian's name tattoed on her lower back, so he could have a better look at her when he's riding her.

Gwyn had just laughed at Nesta, thinking that she would not go forward with it. She could not have been more wrong.

Nesta had decided to get Cassian's name tattoed just above her butt crack and thought to connect it with her butt crack with a line. Gwyn couldn't stop laughing, "NES, it's gonna look like a tulip growing out of your butt crack" And Emerie joined her and laughed.

Nesta just shouted very vulgar cuss words at them and flicked them off with the help of her favorite finger. Gwyn and Emerie were simply sitting on a couch in the parlor and were sharing beer from a bottle. "This beer's shit" Said Gwyn and Emerie chuckled.

"Well you were the one who wanted to be a miser and save money" Said Emerie and Gwyn squatted her hand. "Fuck off" Gwyn said and Emerie laughed again. They were silent for a few minutes before Emerie got up and a new found motivation found her.

"Guys, I'm in love with Mor" She said and Nesta and Gwyn snickered. Nesta said, "Yeah no shit" And Gwyn giggled with her. Emerie then looked around the room in confusion, her cheeks extremely red. "You guys knew?" She asked, still confused.

"Yes em, we've known since we saw Mor's hand on your thigh a year ago" Said Gwyn and went back to giggling.

"Well, I-. Well what if I said I wanted to get her name tattoed" Asked Emerie. Nesta replied for the both of them, "I'd say go for it, you should have it on your breast, or just above it. I catch Mor staring at them all the fucking time".

Gwyn just couldn't stop giggling at this. "Well, I, fine then. I'll get her name tattoed on my, on the outlining of my right boob". Said Emerie and sat on a chair, and soon started talking with the owner.

"Fine by me" Said Gwyn and drank from the bottle again, but she couldn't help but feel a bit left out. Both of her sisters were getting tattoos and only she wasn't. So, she decided to get a tattoo as well, "Even I'm getting a tattoo" She got up and shouted to no one particularly. Emerie just repeated her words, "Fine by me".

After one fucking hour, Gwyn still couldn't decide what tattoo she wanted. "Fucking choose already Gwyn" Nesta said, half asleep. Emerie was just passed out on the couch with Mor's tattoo on her breast, her very visible breast because of her very transparent dress.

"I don't knowwww" Gwyn groaned, still not able to decide. But then an idea hit her, and she whispered that idea to the owner. The owner understood and told one of his employees to do so.

The employee was just gonna start the third letter before the owner said, "so, how are you paying? Cash or card?" Well shit.

Neither of them had any cash on them, what the hell were they gonna do? She couldn't hear Nesta fighting with the owner as her voice was overpowered by her thoughts. They could go to jail. That record would be on Gwyn's permanent record. She won't be able to pass the priestess exams, she would be a failure-

"THERE'S MY MATE" Nesta shouted and pointed as Cassian, Azriel and Mor walked in. Cassian immediately went to Nesta and Mor immediately went to Emerie. But then she saw Azriel almost running towards her. He started touching her face and everything, to assure himself she was okay.

When Nesta had contacted Cassian through the bond and Cassian had told them, Azriel could not have been more worried. He was worried about Nesta and Emerie. But the thought of Gwyn in danger, just awakened something in him.

But when he saw her alright, right in front of him. His mind calmed down. "Are you okay?" He asked, eyes filled with worry.

Gwyn took Azriel's face in both her hands and brought his face closer to hers. "I am fine shadowsinger" She said and Azriel could smell the liquor on her tongue from a mile away. He closed his eyes, letting his racing heart calm down.

But then he saw those two letters on Gwyn's collarbone and his eyes widened. Azriel then shouted, "WHERE THE HELL-", "SHHH!", "WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT?" Azriel asked, his voice panicking but a bit slowly in her ear.

"I got it from here, of course" She said as if it was nothing. Cassian then motioned for him to take Gwyn somewhere, and so he took Gwyn and walked out of the parlor.

He was about to winnow when Gwyn started pulling his hand and said, "I swear to god az if you winnow right now, I will throw up on your shoes."

Az. Those two simple letters which Gwyn had tattoed on her fucking collarbone. It might be nothing for Gwyn, but it was everything for Az.

They started walking in silence. Gwyn smiling cheekily. Azriel still couldn't stop thinking about those two letters. The fact that Gwyn had considered his name worthy of being on her body, was everything.

"Did it hurt?" Azriel asked, suddenly remembering it was a permanent tattoo, "like hell" Gwyn replied and Azriel's eyebrows scrunched. "Oh calm down, not that much" Gwyn said which took the burden off Az's heart a bit.

Azriel was gonna take her home, but then he stopped short when Gwyn did. Taking in the club in front of them. And before Azriel could object, she dragged his brooding ass in the club.

The club was dead, but every single one of those guys were staring at Gwyn's body and all Azriel wanted to do was kill each and every one of them.

He unconsciously put a hand behind her ass, making sure no one could see it. He removed it only when they sat down at the bar.

After a few puppy eyes, and a pleaseeeeee from Gwyn, Azriel finally gave in and took a drink. He could notice the way her hair fell and he could notice the way that every time she looked at him, he wanted to die because he couldn't kiss that beautiful face.

After 1 hour, both of them were drunk as skunks. They had even took a marker and wrote MRS. SHADOWSINGER on Gwyn's forehead and MR. BERDARA on Azriel's forehead.

It was a sight to be seen cause the most dangerous guy in Prythian and one of the first girls to every climb the Ramiel mountain were walking across the streets of Velaris and saluting to no one.

Gwyn's arm was looped with Azriel's and they both were giggling like little kids. It had been the best night that Azriel and Gwyn had ever had. Their most cherished memory.

They were found sleeping against a wall, snuggling in the morning by Rhysand. Who had invited the entire inner circle to view this sight.

Azriel smiling like a little boy in his sleep. Rhysand didn't wake them up until he sent one of Azriel's spies to the human lands to get a polaroid camera. He had clicked their photo, with Gwyn snuggling in Azriel's neck.

After 5 years of waiting, Rhysand had finally found the perfect occasion to give this gift to them. He had framed this and given it to them as their wedding gift.

[jackson--t]

Short Fun One.

"Hello, Officer!"

Hvitserk and Ivar are carrying something forbidden with them, when they happen to meet an acquaintance of Ivar's in the parking lot.

Words: ~ 980.

Have fun, it's just a small piece I wrote while I was hungry.🙃

"Where did you get this?" Ivar's hands ran almost reverently over the small, transparent baggie that contained the white substance: Cocaine. He had never had any in his hands before and had always joked with Hvitserk that one night they would get some, just for fun. That it would be so early, and completely unprepared in a parking lot at McDonalds, was not something he had expected.

Hvitserk sucked on his milkshake in amusement and took the sachet from Ivar again with a broad grin; he had his knees braced against the steering wheel and was looking at the small sachet in the warm evening light.

"I know somebody who knows somebody, you know. I got it cheaper. It's enough for both of us," he said, and Ivar snorted in amusement. He sipped his Coke briefly, his brother still in view.

"Is that really enough? You've got a giant nose, you'll probably take it all away from me."

"It's enough Ivar, besides we don't want to overdo it the first time."

Ivar laughed roughly. "That's right. Oh man, if Ubbe knew, he'd storm out into the parking lot in his white nightgown and beat us with a rolling pin."

"Original Italian style since he's been banging that girl."

"Hmm, I don't like her," Ivar grumbled; his eyes swept over the parking lot, which was only half-full at this hour. Nothing was noticeable. How many evenings had he and his brother spent here, endlessly eating burgers and ice cream, bitching about their other brothers?

"You don't like women in general. You're into guys, so that's no surprise. But she's nice." Hvitserk replied with his mouth full; he was still holding the little bag, almost like a little trophy; Ivar knew he was proud that he had gotten it himself. Ivar had wanted to do it too - but somehow, he had always secretly lacked the courage to do so. He'd already screwed up enough in the last few years.

"If nice is the adverb to crappy, then yes. She's stupid."

"Just because she spelled your name wrong?"

"Huh, yeah?"

"Oh sorry, king grammar rodeo. You got -"

"Fuck, Hvitty - put that cocaine away!" Ivar hissed all of a sudden; he suddenly sat sensibly in his seat and nearly spilled his Coke, while Hvitserk just let out an annoyed snort.

"What, why?" he murmured, as Ivar gave him a soft smack on the back of the head.

"Over there - cop."

"Where?"

"He's in civilian clothes, you have to... Ah, fuck, he's coming over here," Ivar muttered; he could see Hvitserk eyeing the milkshake and the sachet in his hands, apparently overwhelmed with which was now the forbidden thing.

"You shall....! --" with a panicked groan, Ivar smacked Hvitserk in the lap as he lowered the window with his right hand and gave a wide, charming grin. "Hiiiii, Heahmund."

Hvitserk wiped the remains of his milkshake off his jeans and grunted softly; his Chucks lightly pushed down the small bag of cocaine that had fallen into the footwell, and he put on a bemused smile because he had never seen his brother so fucking friendly before. In fact, Hvitserk raised an eyebrow when he saw Ivar put on his best smile, playing lightly in the ends of his own hair with his left hand.

Only then did his eyes fall on the tall man in front of Ivar's window side, smiling kindly and nodding to the two of them. "Hello, good evening! I knew it was you. Your hair is recognizable from afar." the man said, and Ivar emitted such a friendly laugh that Hvitserk wondered for a moment if he hadn't already sniffed a little of the cocaine.

"Yeah, they're a little... wild today, haha. What are you doing here, are you off work?" he said emphatically softly; Hvitserk opened his lips slightly and exhaled, but Ivar hit him between the ribs so fast that he just coughed. The man didn't seem to notice, however, or he was just being extremely discreet.

"I'm off work, and I'm going to treat myself to some burgers. I'm so tired, I'll probably fall asleep on the sofa again. If you want, you can come around tomorrow." the man said, whose name was Heahmund; Ivar and he smiled at each other, and Ivar nodded softly.

"I'd love to. Me and my brother are just here for dinner too, then we're going home. We'll write, okay?" Ivar hummed charmingly, and Heahmund nodded goodbye to both of them.

"Have a good evening, you two!"

"Thank you!" Hvitserk and Ivar said as if from the same mouth, and watched together as the man disappeared into his car and drove away.

Only then did Hvitserk's eyes turn to Ivar, who was biting hard on his lower lip and wearing faint traces of red on his cheek. When the brothers looked at each other, Ivar rolled his eyes. "What?" he nagged, and Hvitserk grinned broadly.

"You're serious? What was that all about? Did you suddenly turn into a fairy? The fact that you didn't throw fucking glitter around is everything!" he joked, and Ivar gave him a firm shove in the ribs.

"No, idiot... that was just because..." He turned red as a tomato, and Hvitserk started laughing.

"Please don't tell me you're fucking a cop. Oh my God, Sigurd would kill you!"

Ivar frowned; he slid deeper into his seat and didn't dignify Hvitserk with a glance. "Shut up."

"You're really fucking him?"

"It's always good to know someone like that, okay? Now drive before I tell on you to Ubbe," Ivar grunted, so offended that Hvitserk couldn't stop laughing for the next two kilometers.

"Are you going to get a card like in Monopoly? You get out of jail?"

At these words, Ivar had to grin slightly, despite the red color still on his cheeks, and he gave Hvitserk an amused look. "If I suck well enough, then yes."