#i love core four a normal amount

[thatgothsamurai]

Kinnporsche Week 2022 | Day 3 - Favorite Couple

🌹Kinn&Porsche | Vegas&Pete

I couldn’t dare myself to choose

[piedpiperart]

Phantom of Gotham 11

Chapter 10

After lunch, the four boys parted ways and Danny found himself in his room. He checked his Tucker Approved phone for the four hundredth time since arriving in Gotham to find a spam of messages. Situating himself on his bed he clicked the messages open to read. All of them were from Tucker, in what looked like an info dump of updates on Amity. 

Danny frowned, not really liking what he reads. According to Tucker, his parents really were working with the GIW and Jazz had scoped out that they had already started inventing some questionable things. One was a tracking device of sorts, which sent a shiver down Danny’s spine at the implications of that. They were fairly certain that Danny was still safe in Gotham for the time being, given they didn’t think the range of it would go as far as Gotham from Amity. 

Tucker reported that while everyone else in Amity was still going about business as normal, Valarie, Sam, Tuker, and Jazz had picked up slack on ghost hunting. There were not a lot of ghosts coming to Amity, especially now that Phantom was MIA, so there wasn’t a lot of work to be done. Mostly, it took more effort to keep the Fentons distracted. 

On a sidenote, Sam had a run in with Vlad because of her millionaire parents, and concluded that the old man had something planned. None of them could figure out what, but they seemed to be more worried about the GIW and the Fentons to think about Vlad’s friutloopy plans. Either way, Sam and Valarie were keeping an eye out. Speaking of Valarie, apparently she joined the team because she was worried about Danny going missing. Tucker and Sam had given her the barest amount of information and in turn got her to help them wrangle the ghosts in Phantom’s absence. He was quick to reassure Danny that Val didn’t know about him being a halfa, but Danny trusted Tucker with his life. Even if Tucker had told her, he knew it would have been for a good reason. 

Sighing, he typed out an acknowledgement and signed off, hoping they were doing okay without him. His core pulsed anxiously at his feelings for his friends and sister. It felt wrong to have them deal with all of this without him. Danny couldn’t help but feel responsible for dragging them into this mess. But, he couldn’t help the overwhelming feelings of pride and affection that his friends were so capable at handling this. That they cared about him. 

Danny laid on his bed for a while before getting bored. He couldn’t fall asleep, so he figured he might as well find someone to bother. His core thrived on being around people, and protecting them. Out of everyone in the manor, Danny figured someone might have some free time, or needed some cheering up from being stuck inside all day. Though, looking out the window he could tell the blizzard had died down. All that was left were the heaps of snow and icy trails. It looked pretty, the thought absently. Maybe he could help Alfred with something. The elderly man was probably not enjoying the cold. 

Fighting the urge to smother the old man in blankets, he turned the corner and almost bumped into the manor’s smallest resident. “Oh- Damian, hey, want to play in the snow?” Danny asked,”Looks like the blizzard stopped.”

Damian wrinkled his nose, glancing out the window. “I do not require a babysitter, Folson. Playing in the snow is for children.”

“I dunno, we could have a snowball fight?” Danny offered. “You could bring your dog. Tim said you had a dog, right? Dogs love snow. Probably.”

“Fine,”Damian sighed. “Titus has been upset at being cooped up in the manor, and I am under the impression that you will freeze out there without proper supervision.”

“Awesome!” Danny exclaimed, bouncing on his toes.”Lets go, I wanna meet Titus.”

“You won’t be going out in that,”Damian scowled at Danny’s t-shirt and socks. “Follow me, you can use Drake’s winter gear.”

Danny and his core were too excited to play in the snow to complain about having to put on warmer clothes. Not that they’d really help against the cold, since he’d be fine no matter what, but if it made Damian feel better he’d do it. 

---------------------------

Damian sighed exasperatedly. After Danny cajoled him and Titus into going out into the snow-filled backyard of the manor, Danny and Titus had not stopped jumping and running through the snow. The smaller teen watched from his position as Danny raced Titus through the snow, only they had to trudge through what was probably a good foot and a half of snow so it wasn’t very fast. Damian scowled that Danny and Titus had gotten along so well. Usually Titus took a bit longer for strangers to warm up to.

Suddenly, the two miscreants raced towards Damian as he looked on with mild annoyance, until about ten feet in front of Damian Danny had dove into the snow in front of him. Pushing down amusement, Damian took a step forwards, realizing that Danny had in fact doven under the snow to confuse Titus. The greyhound was nosing around where Danny had disappeared, and Damian was about to call him over when a voice rang out behind him. 

“You gonna join us?” Damian hid a jolt of surprise that Danny had not only snuck up on him, but also apparently traveled ten feet under the snow to behind Damian without him noticing. He whirled around to face the other boy who had snow clinging to his clothes and hair despite Damian’s efforts to get him into Tim’s winter gear. His eyes wandered from Titus to Danny before he elected to ignore it. 

Danny’s eyes sparkled with mischief, and Damian gave him a look. “Join you in what?” Damian asked sarcastically,”You two have just been running around in the snow for the past ten minutes.”

Danny nodded,”True. I think I just missed my dog a lot. Titus reminds me of him, and we used to go running around the park a lot. But we can make a snowman if you want?”

Damian perked up at the mention of animals. “You have a dog? Who is taking care of him while you are here?”

“Ah, he’s not really my dog?” Danny said sheepishly, running a hand behind his neck. “He’s kind of a stray dog that likes to stick around sometimes. I play with him when I can but couldn’t keep him, you know?”

Damian nodded sagely. “I understand. It took me a while to convince Father to adopt TItus. What kind of dog?”

“I have no idea,” Danny smiled, reminiscing about his kind of big and small friend. He continued talking, but started packing the snow around him into a pile.”But his name is Cujo and he’s super sweet, but not very obedient. He looks kind of like a bulldog? I’m not really sure, but I think you’d like him.”

“I’m sure we’d get along,”Damian agreed. He definitely got along with animals more than people. Part of him was glad Danny had a dog, because that meant the teen understood a bit of where Damian was coming from. “Now can we go back inside now?”

“What? No way, we’ve only been out here for like five minutes,”Danny complained, flopping into the snow, despite the disapproving look on Damian’s face. “Besides, I just got started on my snow-batman.”

Damian scowled at the lump of snow in between them. “If you’re trying to make Batman, you’ll need more snow. He is taller than that.” 

“It would be faster if you helped me,”Danny pouted, reminding Damian of Grayson,”You know Batman better than I do.”

“Fine,”Damian relented, despite the cold irritating his exposed skin. He knelt down to pack the snow in better, and before he knew it, they were making a life-sized Batman snowman.

“He’s perfect,” Danny said smugly, hands on his hips. Looking over the snowman that towered over the two of them, Damian could admit he felt a bit of pride at how they managed to make a snowman that perfectly encapsulated the dark knight. 

“How are you not cold?” Damian scowled, looking to Danny’s uncovered fingers. He’d taken his gloves off to make the bat ears because they needed a ‘delicate touch’, and hadn’t put them back on. Even Titus had retreated back into the house for warmth. “Do you have some anti-cold meta-human ability?”

“Um,”Danny started, caught off guard. He shifted in the snow, debating food a moment while Damian stared at him with narrowed eyes. Damian wasn’t exactly trying to pry, but he wanted to know if his siblings’ theories were correct, or if Danny would be a threat. Granted, Damian thought it was difficult to view the boy as a threat after watching him fail at making snow-bat-man’s ears twenty eight times.  “Maybe.” 

“Maybe?” Damian raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. They kept eye contact before Danny slumped in defeat, looking a little bit wary. 

“Okay, I’m not really a meta, but I can like, create ice and snow and stuff,”Danny said, looking back up to the mansion as if someone were watching them. Damian however, knew along with the rest of his siblings that Danny had some type of meta abilities, but was preening internally at being the first one trusted with the secret. Danny lifted his hand, and Damian watched as a few snowflakes forms to circle the air before floating to the ground “So the cold doesn’t bother me, and I’ve never lost a snowball fight. But I can’t do anything big, and I didn’t cause the blizzard, so please don’t tell anyone?”

Damian wrinkled his nose. “I would not betray your secret. However, I doubt ice powers are your only abilities.”

Danny bit his lower lip, and Damian was about to say that he didn’t need to say what they were even if he was curious, when Danny smirked. “I may have cheated at arm wrestling.”

Caught off guard by his answer, Damian huffed out a laugh. He cleared his throat, continuing with,”Super strength then? What about speed or healing?”

“Nah, not speed but I think I heal a little bit faster than normal,”Danny said, starting on another snowman. Damian guessed it might be Robin, and deduced that it would be embarrassing to have only a Batman and Robin snow sculpture out in the lawn where everyone could see it.

“Despite your abilities, I highly doubt you’d be able to win at a snowball fight against me,”Damian redirected. He kicked at the newly formed pile of snow when Danny wasn’t looking just to ensure it’s doom. 

Danny’s eyes lit up, and his hesitant smile turned bright. “Oh, you’re on!” 

If Damian and Danny were smiling like idiots as they pelted eachother with snowballs and hid behind snow fortresses, then no one knew but them and the cameras Alfred would review later and then show to Bruce. Both adults would ignore how Danny seemed to create snow-sculptures in minutes. 

Hours later, Alfred came outside to fetch the two boys, only to come across an entire snow-army of replicas of the Bat family, as well as a few other heroes. On either side of the yard were two different versions of a castle, with little piles of snowballs on each side of the fortress. Alfred raised a brow at having spotted Damian first as he threw a snowball to hit the small snow Robin at a perfect angle to topple the entire thing. From the other snow-barricade castle, Alfred heard a noise of distress. 

“How could you Damian?!” Danny cried out at his fallen brethren. 

“He is an abomination and deserved death,”Damian called back, only for Danny to appear out of the barricade with a snowball in each hand. 

“I’ll avenge you Snobin!” Danny exclaimed, using his snowballs to hit what Alfred thought was a snow-Titus on Damian’s side. 

“Sn- don’t call it that!” Damian demanded,”How dare you kill snow-Titus?!”

“There’s like four Snitus’s over there! He sacrificed himself for the greater good,”Danny called. 

“You are not allowed to give my Snow-Titus names!” Damain yelled back, throwing more snowballs to topple Danny’s army. 

“Not Snow-wing too!”Danny cried, and Alfred decided to intervene before all the snow people met their end.

“Boys! Won’t you come inside to warm up before dinner?” Alfred called, mustache twitching in amusement as both boys halted what they were doing to stare at Alfred, only for a snowball to smack Danny in the face while he was distracted. 

“Coming!” Damian called, running gracefully up to the manor. Danny on the other hand, squawked in protest and stumbled after the younger teen. 

As they both passed the butler, he couldn’t help but hope Danny would become a permanent member of the family if he got along with Damian so quickly. 

Chapter 12

[sunshine-for-serotonin]

Hii, can I request some yandere! Eric Destler headcanons? Preferably NSFW ;)

Now this, this is beautiful- thank you for this request my dear!!! I’ll get to everyone else in due time!

General behavior, positions, and anatomy

Let’s start of with the basics- Erik tends to give up control in the bedroom, and if you so much as kiss him a little bit sweeter than normal, he becomes putty in your hands.

Erik will cry, there’s no way around it. He loves you so much, and the fact you are there with him in that moment is enough to turn the normally intimidating and obsessive man into a teary-eyed, clingy, red faced mess.

Please, kiss him until he can’t think straight. Erik soaks up any affection you give him like a dry sponge, and kisses and long cuddle sessions are great for aftercare or even during sex!

Now how about turn ons? Place him in your lap, facing you as you kiss him all over his face and neck while moving your arms along his back (I don’t care how weak you think you are, I am giving you the power to put this man in your lap) and you can bet within minutes he’s trying to subtly grind against you and begging for you to touch him. Eriks also a fan of you gripping his hips, no matter the context

If you are a fan of marking your partner up, you are in luck my dear! After you explain to Erik what hickeys are (and trust me, you will have to explain) and place an experimental one on his neck, he will beg for you to put them all over his body! It makes Erik feel loved and wanted by you, that you would so proudly say he’s yours all over his body. This is also a quick way to turn him on!

if you speak to him in French, even just calling him a pet name or telling him you love him, he will in fact be on his knees, pressing desperate kisses to your thighs and core within seconds all the while he has a very obvious bulge.

Eriks neck and ears are highly sensitive, and I encourage you to tease him in those areas with your mouth, and if you’re gentle you can even use your teeth. Fair warning though, his hips will start to buck uncontrollably and he will start whining. Truthfully, it’s adorable!

Now for anatomy- I would say he’s more of a grower not a shower, being four inches long flaccid and seven inches hard with an average amount of veins close to the surface, and just wide enough to where you will feel a stretch but not be sore after. I personally believe he has little to no body hair, and the amount that he does have is well groomed.

Eriks behavior during sex can vary, but the one thing that never changes is how vocal he is, his need to have you as close as possible, and his need to please you above all else.

Yes, Erik is very, VERY, vocal! He wants to communicate with you how good he feels, and even if he tries to hold in his moans, he fails miserably no matter how long you two are together. “S’il te plaît, s’il te plaît, mon amour!!! G-good, feels so good!!! Mon ange, je t’aime, je t’aime!!”

Erik cums a large amount and it’s relatively thick in consistency, so not the greatest for swallowing, but luckily for you he’s not a fan of blowjobs. But you know what he is a fan of? Eating you out!

Erik is 100% willing to beg you to let him put his head between your legs with actual tears in his eyes. Seriously, it is actually his favorite thing to do besides you fucking him into next week, like, he could actually spend hours in between your thighs while he grinds against whatever he can to get friction. Erik is actually very greedy about eating you out as well, and if you try to pull away before he feels like he’s gorged himself as much as he can, he’s gonna let out an absolutely pathetic sounding whine of your name before dragging your hips back to his mouth and pleasuring you with even more vigor. Also when you cum on his tongue, he is for sure orgasming as well, even if he isn’t actually grinding on anything. The only thing I would caution you with is that Erik probably also wants you to sit on his face, which their is nothing wrong with, except for the fact that you may irritate his facial deformities, but he’s definitely still going to beg so you will have to be the one to say no.

another thing with eating you out is that Erik absolutely craves to be smothered. I’m talking about him gripping your thighs so tight it’ll leave bruises and him shoving your thighs against his face to the point he almost passes out, and yet all he can do is beg for you to let him keep eating you out. (Once again, you will have to be the one to make sure his face doesn’t get irritated because Erik really doesn’t care about anything other than making you orgasm)

“please, please, please, mon ange, mon cheri, just one more orgasm for me, please!”

Eriks absolute favorite position is The Face Off, because this way he can be absolutely surrounded by you while he has his arms around you and his face buried in the crook of your neck or desperately trying to kiss you, like I said previously, Erik is probably the clingiest partner you will ever have. But also honestly, he enjoys any position where you are on top or where you are domming him.

He won’t last long for a while, and by that I mean Erik will cum within five minutes just from shakily rutting his hips against you.

kinks, turn-offs, and aftercare

Praise kink, praise kink, praise kink!!! Erik loves to be told how good he’s doing, how handsome he is, etc! To the point where you decided to not give him any friction and just praise him, just to see what would happen, and much to your (not) surprise, he was able to cum just from that!

Overstimulation- this might be Eriks favorite kink, because it reminds him just how much you love him to be touching him like this and you praise him for doing so good.

Edging- Erik likes edging because he feels like it makes your sessions last longer, and it feels even better to cum after being denied for a bit. Be wary that if you edge him for to long however, he may become a bit temperamental!

if Erik is in one of his moods and won’t take his mask off, just do any combination of the above and he’ll rip it off

Also I’m willing to bet good money he has a mommy kink, but the only way you’ll find out is by pure accident when you were overstimulating him probably, the poor man just wants to be nurtured and to be absolutely drowned in your love

he doesn’t have many hard turn offs, but degradation towards both you or himself as well as bondage is something he will never do, because it reminds him of his insecurities and traumas.

Erik has a relatively high sex drive, and as long as you initiate it, you can end up railing him from four to five days a week for about two hours at a time after he gets some experience with you.

Before Erik kidnapped you, Erik is ashamed to admit that he used to steal your dirty clothes like bras and underwear so he could enjoy your scent while he desperately fucked himself into one of your (also stolen) pillows. And if you wear modern clothes like hoodies, he always makes sure to put said hoodie on a pillow, so he can cuddle it at night and pretend it’s you he’s holding.

“oh mon amour, I wish you were here with me right now- I want to make you feel good. One day, but for now I must have patience. Je t’aime, mon cheri.”

After care is a must for both of you!! Truthfully this is basically just cleaning each other up, drinking water, and Erik laying on top of you while he listens to your heartbeat as you both drift off. If you are wearing a pajama shirt afterwards, Erik really likes to crawl inside so that he can have skin to skin contact and be nestled as close to you as he can be.

( I don’t care who you think Christine should have ended up with, Erik is my babygirl and I will die on this hill)

[jgnico]

please nico i beg you to explain the sukuna 4 eyes being a copy of six eyes theory 🙏 it sounds really interesting

I was going to make a joke about you triggering my trap card, but yes, I would love to explain the Eyes Theory.

First, I wanna lay down some groundwork before I get into why I believe that Sukuna having four eyes functions as a nerfed version of the Six Eyes technique.

Thanks to statements from Todo and Mechamaru during the Goodwill event, we know that normal sorcerers can see cursed energy and follow its flow/behavior. With Todo, he's able to see the flow of Yuuji's cursed energy and how it lags behind, which leads to him teaching Yuuji the basics of cursed energy manipulation. Later in this same arc Mechamaru is able to see one of Panda's cores by looking at where his cursed energy is concentrated within his body.

So we know that sorcerers can see the cursed energy of other sorcerers and curses even without Six Eyes, but to drive this point home...

We get a panel of Sukuna looking at the cursed energy of the people within the city around him in the very first chapter. This lets us know that not only can he see cursed energy, but that he can see the limited cursed energy within non-sorcerers.

Where Six Eyes possibly differs in this aspect of its use is the precision with which it sees cursed energy. In the top panel here we're able to see Gojo's view of Toji's movement thanks to The Worm he's carrying, which isn't only brighter/clearer, but the traces between Toji's movements can be seen despite Toji's speed making him basically invisible to the naked eye.

It's thanks to this view of cursed energy that Gojo is able to do things like discern a person's technique or see if someone is a sorcerer to begin with. [ch. 69, 70] But, I'd like to point out that Sukuna has done something similar, for both of the previously listed feats. Not only is he able to figure out Megumi's technique during their fight, similar to how Gojo figures out the curse users technique in his respective fight, but we've repeatedly been told by The Angel that Sukuna only needs to see someone do something once in order to replicate it himself.

This isn't only how he was able to turn himself into a cursed object, despite other ancient sorcerers being unable to do so, but also how he's able to understand how Gojo was "healing" his cursed technique and do it himself afterwards. Likewise, this is also the foundation of why he wanted to use Mahoraga against Gojo after seeing how the shiikigami operated in Shibuya: to get a blueprint of how to get past Limitless. Despite multiple guesses from multiple characters about how Mahoraga adaption works (namely of which was Gojo), Sukuna is the only character that's seen it adapt multiple times, and therefore, knew that its adaptation process differed with each use.

So if we know that Sukuna can see and interpret Cursed Energy at a level on par with Gojo --save for some clarity through how the Six Eyes takes in information vs the eyes of other Sorcerers -- what about the other benefit that Gojo gets from his eyes: high amounts of Cursed Energy Efficiency?

Well, we get the answer to that from the person -- outside of Gojo and Sukuna or even Kenjaku -- that would know the most about Cursed Energy Manipulation. Keep in mind that Kashimo, regardless of his death, was someone who kept his place among the strongest by only using his CE reserves. By right of his skillset, he's no slouch when it comes to the topic, and per his assessment, Sukuna's efficiency would be better than Gojo's if he didn't have the Six Eyes to replenish his CE in the way that it does.

This is the only real substantial difference between the two, that Gojo's Six Eyes gives him more cursed energy, which allows him to burn ridiculous amounts of it, even without perfect efficiency. To balance it out and keep them somewhat equal, Sukuna has a tighter hold on his efficiency rate and a lot more cursed energy to compensate for what he uses up.

But why do I think that Sukuna having extra eyes is his own version of Six Eyes specifically, rather than a visual buff alone?

Well, we told explicitly that Sukuna's extra limbs and organs make his body perfect for sorcery. None of these modifications to his body are purely aesthetic. Extra hands for signing, an extra mouth for chanting --both of which greatly increase the potency of your attacks-- an extra heart and lungs to make sure it all keeps running smoothly.

The only feature that isn't mentioned is his extra pair of eyes, which is odd given the fact that they're arguably his most noticeable and present feature. Even outside of his true form, his eyes are manifested on his vessel while his extra mouth and arms aren't. Even when he's not in control of his vessel --as with Yuuji's case-- his eyes still remain on his face, only closed.

If all of his extra limbs and organs have a purpose that makes his body perfect for sorcery, then why would his eyes be different? And what better eyes to immulate than the ones that are highly valued within the jujutsu world for the advantages they give in terms of sorcery and have also been around in some way for as long as Sukuna has?

While I won't argue that they're better or even the same, I will say that they are at least (arguably) equal in two of the three main benefits that the Six Eyes grant their users; perception and interpretation of cursed energy.

That's the theory, at least.

[searchingforserendipity25]

tag meme for posting your favorite 9 books read in 2023

Thank you @meadowlarkx! I'm loving getting to know everyone's book recs from last year.

Tagging with no pressure @sallysavestheday, @mayfriend, @theghostinthemargins, @thalion71, @247reader, @melestasflight, @nablah, @camille-lachenille, @m-b-w, and anyone who'd like to share their recs!

I took the liberty of writing a little about every book under the cut, because it is 22:30 and I am passionate about these books.

Lavinia, Ursula le Guin. It's le Guin, do I have to say it? I really have, because the depths of study on ancient animism in the Italian countryside is extraordinarily well researched, and even aside from the ambitious narrative approach of Lavinia speaking with Aeneas, the study that went into it is one of the most respectful and involving approaches to ancient spirituality I have read.

The Fury is Silvina Ocampo's recently translated short-story compilation! Whole-heartedly recommend any of her short works, which I understand are published with different titles. Reading anything of hers feels like the pervasive grey silence of staying awake till four a.m. as you consider all the familiar people and strangers you have known and reconcile with the strain of incurable isolation and cruelty present in human nature. Life, Silvina tells you, is sharpened and not redeemed by the possibility of understanding. You are not safe from Silvina Ocampo's studies in unsettling mundanity; no one, Silvina warns, is ever safe within themselves. But at least Buenos Aires is very beautiful, and so are all her deliciously malicious women.

The Fée et Tendres Automates (Béatrice Tillier-Téby) graphic book series starts with this book, about Jam, a young man who is not so young, surviving in a dystopic Victorian society while trying to reunite with the sentient mannequin he's in love with...it is moving, it is bold, it has class warfare and magic and a mad scientist, it is gorgeously written and illustrated.

I read The Blue Castle (L. M. Montgomery). Loved the Blue Castle. 'A book about being in your twenties' is a bad summary, but technically not wrong?

I wavered on putting on Claúdia Andrade's short-story collection 'Quarter Finals and Other Stories', because it's not translated, but it was my favourite book of the year, in many ways! An incisive and imaginative writer with a delightfully chilly grasp on human nature. I find myself thinking about the scenes she invokes several times a week. For instance, I think all dying old women should be cursed to speak the truth of every secret they ever knew.

Lords and Ladies was a lot of fun! Also reread Wyrd Sisters. Every years Granny Ogg grows hotter wait who said that.

The Fox (D. H. Lawrence) is about cottage-core lesbians, but like, detestable cottage-core lesbians in post-war England. It's terrific psychological work - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The last paragraphs haunts me. Will never trust seaweed metaphors again.

The Painter of Birds (Lídia Jorge) is translated. I recommend it. I recommend it a normal amount. I might be lobbying Lídia Jorge for a Nobel, idk. In all seriousness - she is an absolute powerhouse with a career of profound, invasive, masterful works, she's got most Portuguese language and French awards, do get a Nobel while she's still kicking. God!! This book!!!!

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours (Helen Oyeyemi) is like nothing else. Ruiz Zábron married Angela Carter and then had an affair with Olga Tokarczuk? But it's queer and it's not white and unapologetic about being undefinable speculative fiction. Still chewing on it. Wonderful, wonderful, terrific.

[genshingorlsrevengeance]

Original Writing Project: 916

OKAY, now that I've edited the first few chapters enough, I think it's finally time to have its debut to you all!

This is an original sci-fi story completely written by me, with MAJOR influences from things like Gundam and whatnot.

I want to post it here to get your all's feedback and just to share some good ol' storytelling, so please let me know what you guys think of it, your feedback/comments is always read by me!

I expect to have the first few chapters out sometime during this week after your normal schedule of simping, but this post will just be covering what the main idea of the story is/what shows/games is influencing it.

Below the cut is the blurb, inspirations, main characters, and a story excerpt!

First of all, thank you so much for even pressing the keep reading tab/showing any remote interest. I understand this isn't really what you come to this blog for, so it means the world to me!

Anyways, first up is the story blurb:

===

Story Blurb:

The year is 1177. Thirty-four years have passed since the battlefield had been introduced to the bipedal warmachines known as Soldat D’acier. Though they only stand a few meters above tanks, they were able to reduce armored divisions to scrap metal, and fortresses once thought impenetrable transformed to piles of rubble.

The entire continent of Anis rushed their militaries into an arms race to have their own versions of these steel behemoths.

In the name of expansion and rightful conquest, the country of Florence had declared war on Cumbria in 1155. The invasion saw countless deployments of Soldats on both sides, and death quickly followed in their wake. The two nations signed a peace treaty to end hostilities after five long years, but their crimes wouldn't be so easily forgotten by the people, nor its creations.

Now, the man-made atrocities emerging from the "Enhanced Human Initiative" stoke the flames of war once more, forcing an uneasy alliance. And from the same crime that threatens them, comes their final hope: Enhanced Human 916.

===

Inspirations:

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Mobile Suit Gundam: Narrative Mobile Suit Gundam: Unicorn Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeta The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, Scarlet Nexus, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Girls' Frontline,

I was not joking when I said the major influences are from Gundam. At first I was worried about not being 100% original, but eh. Write what you love, right? Elements of the story, themes, suits, and a unholy amount more is snatched from all the Gundam shows listed above.

Armored Core 6 is what inspired the look of the "Soldats", and how combat flows in the story. The main lead, 916, is called numbers bc of the player character 621. (I also learned that the reasons I chose that number came from my subconscious, specifically Darling in the Franxx and that character, 196 aka Ikuno)

Scarlet Nexus inspired some of the tech things regarding the pilots being able to "read each other's minds" so to speak. Pretty much a less space-magic version of being a Newtype from Gundam, as well as other characters.

Trails of Cold Steel and Girls' Frontline inspired the other cast members, and speaking of which:

===

Main Cast:

Wolf Company

Enhanced Human 916, "Vi", Age: 21

A young man who escaped the "Enhanced Human Initiative." Due to augmentation and surgeries, he remains stoic and emotionless, but thanks to his adoptive family, has shown signs of opening up. Earned his nickname after his violet eyes.

He pilots the Soldat R1-N0, "Rhino", a bulky mech utilizing rush and ambush tactics, armed with a 60mm Autocannon and Heat Dagger.

A/N: Titular character, heavily inspired by Byleth (Fire Emblem Three Houses), and Mikazuki (Iron-Blooded Orphans). My second favorite character to write so far in the story, ironically.

David Collins, "Boss", Age: 53

Leader of a PMC called "Wolf Company". David took 916 in at a young age and raised him to be part of the "family". Loud and proud, he takes great pride in all serving underneath him, and has known to have a temper in anything regarding his age. Earned his nickname since calling him "Boss" was more comfortable for everyone.

He pilots the Soldat "Juggernaut', a machine with the legs of a tank, but upper half of a mech with arms. Armed with wrist-mounted machine guns and twin battle-cannons on top of its shoulders.

A/N: Inspired by Maine from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Don't look too much into that, don't worry. You can also tell from just his dialogue how much I like writing him too. He is my number 1 favorite to write.

Chloe, "Flare", Age: 35

Second in command of "Wolf Company. Chloe is extremely loud, complementing her foul-mouthed nature. Generally regarded as the "Big SIster" of the team. Earned her nickname from her extremely short temper.

She pilots the Soldat "Mantis", a lanky and smaller machine focusing on blitz tactics, able to leap surprisingly massive heights due to its inverted legs.

A/N: Inspired by Bianca (Gundam Thunderbolt), Sasha (Attack on Titan) and Miku (Darling in the Franxx). To everyone I have shown this story thus far, she has been the fan favorite, including her partner in crime:

Hayes, "Screw", Age: 32

The newest "rookie" of Wolf Company. Impulsive, a little too confident in himself but admittedly a talented sniper, Hayes is always eager to prove himself. Earned his nickname from either screwing himself over, or the enemy.

He pilots the Soldat "Phantom", a mech focusing on stealth and sniping, able to keep itself off enemy radar.

A/N: Inspired by Connie (Attack on Titan) and Zorome (Darling in the Franxx). Him and Chloe are a fun combo, as you will soon see.

There's eight more main characters, but I'll let you read their introduction yourself! 916 and Wolf Company will be the ones we'll be following the most throughout the story. Though this part of the cast was heavily inspired by Iron-Blooded Orphans. For those who watched the show, again, don't read too much into that.

===

The last thing I'll have for this post will be an excerpt from the prologue to get things started! Hopefully my slow ass will have the prologue out soon, so please look forward to it!

Without further ado-

===

Story Excerpt:

===

“Doctor Moreau, do you think we go to heaven?” asked the small girl.

Doctor Moreau stopped typing for a moment as her eyes glanced over the terminal, seeing the child laying on the operating table, standing out from the rest of the clean black walls and white tiles. The room was supported with soft lights illuminating the room, complemented by the blue screens and dizzying amount of automated surgical equipment quietly whirring into position.

Moreau pushed her aging white hair away from her eyes, looking at the child, subject designated 403. 403 was about seven, she barely stood up to Moreau’s stomach and had long black hair that stopped at her shoulders. The light blue gown was slightly too big for her, the sleeves extending over most of her hands and just revealing her fingers. Seeing her face again reminded Doctor Moreau of 403's rather inquisitive nature. 

“Why are you asking that, 403?” Moreau replied, her tone indifferent. Her fingers went back to typing as she sighed. “If you’re worried about the procedure, the chips are perfectly safe to implant. There has been no previous record of anyone dying from-”

“-But I’m going to die after.”

“...What?”

“After the chip goes into me. Will the others and I go to heaven?”

The question had caught the doctor completely off guard. Moreau had answered questions such as, “Will this hurt?”, or “Do I have to?”. This question was something she could not answer with her usual dismissive tone. She sat up straight in her seat now and turned to look at the child. 403's eyes were still fixated on the ceiling.

“Why are you so certain you’re going to die, 403?”

“That’s what my brother told me. When the chip goes into our brain, we’re sent off to die.”

The girl’s voice stated it as a matter of fact. There was no confusion in her tone of what was to become of her. Doctor Moreau had no response as she stared at 403 with her mouth slightly open. The child simply turned her head, facing her and expectantly waiting for an answer.

“... I certainly hope there’s a heaven, 403. I’m sure heaven will allow good kids like you and your brother.”

“What about my friends? Will they-”

“We’re about to begin the surgery. Please face up towards the light and close your eyes.” Moreau bluntly cut off the conversation.

403 pouted, but complied. It was clear that the answer did not satisfy her as much as she wanted it to. Doctor Moreau took a second to recover and focus back on the job at hand. Facing back towards the terminal, she began typing once more. With the input of several passwords and confirmations, the surgery to implant the combat data-chip into 403’s brain would commence. Afterwards, she would be sent to her brother’s unit, and be deployed to the battlefield.

Just like all the others.

This room had always been nothing out of the ordinary to Moreau. The same procedure had been repeated more times than she could count and yet why did this one make it so hard to breathe all of a sudden?

“Doctor Moreau?”

“Yes, 403?”

“Can I ask one more thing?”

“You may.”

“Can I listen to that song you always play? The one that goes ‘Lalalalala~’? I want to hear it one more time before I sleep. I really like it.”

Doctor Moreau’s lips suddenly dried up as she once again stopped typing. With a slightly trembling hand, she turned to the radio sitting on her desk and nodded.

“...Of course, 403. No more questions, please.” 

She could see the smile form on 403’s lips as the mask was gently put onto her face, the anesthesia slowly starting to pump into 403’s lungs.

“...Thank you.”

Doctor Moreau swallowed hard as her finger pressed the on switch of her old radio. Despite being in such a high tech surgical room, her radio was comically outdated. It was a small gray oval-like object that only had a speaker and a few buttons. To even put music in it, she had to insert a smaller rectangle that contained the songs in it via tape. It was a gift from her father when she was 403’s age, the thought of their roles being reversed not lost on the doctor.

‘Sing, sing a song Let the world sing along Sing of love there could be Sing for you and for me…~’

Doctor Moreau could hear 403 softly hum along to the song as her voice gradually became quieter, and eventually turning into soft breathing. The whirring of the surgical equipment and the radio being the only things in the room left making noise. The only remaining step was for Doctor Moreau to approve the procedure to implant the chip into 403’s brain.

“Is there heaven…” the doctor quietly repeated the question to herself, attempting to ignore 403’s startling self awareness of the situation.

"Authorization confirmed, Implant procedure beginning.” A deep robotic voice rang out across the room as the sound of a drill began drowning out the other equipment. Doctor Moreau sat on her chair as she closed her eyes, waiting for the procedure to be done and turning off the radio in the process.

 “For me, I don’t think so…Heaven was lost to me long ago.”

...

‘Sing, sing a song Make it simple to last Your whole life long~’

The Doctor was snapped out of her melancholy as the music continued playing. Sighing, she moved to turn it off for good.

“Piece of junk is starting to-” She stopped as her finger was about to hit the switch.

The radio was still off.

Listening closely again, Moreau realized the singing was coming outside of the door.

‘Don't worry that it's not Good enough for anyone Else to hear~’

Creeping towards the door, the doctor put her ears to it and heard what sounded like a chorus singing. The song wasn’t over the intercom, otherwise the voice would be far clearer.

Instead it sounded like- 

A sudden sense of dread hit the doctor as she swung the doors open and ran towards the hangar. Multiple guards and scientists were opening the doors along the long gray hallway, joining Moreau and investigating what the noise was. When they finally got to the railing after the doors slid open, none of them could speak. 

‘Just sing, sing a song (Just sing, sing a song) Just sing, sing a song~’

Inside the massive hangar stood rows of countless Soldats, giant bipedal machines that stood several meters tall, lined up next to each other as if they were statues. Their bulky legs stood firmly in place and the compact yet slender arms did not move an inch.

The only things moving were their horned box-like heads, slowly moving side to side in perfect sync. Each of the voices emerging from the Soldats were different but singing in perfect harmony.

Their normally offline and horizontal segregated visors were suddenly flickering to life with blue lights, illuminating the large dark room with bright blue rays.

‘La la la la la, la la la la La la la la la la laaaaa~’

Doctor Moreau could hear the voices of security guards rushing down the stairs to halt the singing, shouting orders at the others to back away.

However, the doctor could only hear their cheerful singing along with her breathing becoming noticeably shorter with each second, feeling her chest tighten.

Once again, the question 403 springed up to the forefront of her mind.

“Is there heaven?”

...

===

And that's the first part of the prologue done, hope to have this out soon, and again if you got this far, thanks for taking the time!

See ya soon, and back to the normal content for now!

[theniftycat]

I just finished rereading Good Omens and now, after 2 seasons of the show, I understand season 1 a lot better.

The book is at its core about the Antichrist who grew up without hellish influence and due to being half-angel, half demon and fully human, couldn't let the world end. He's the center of the narrative, a character who grows more than anybody else, and he makes all the most important decisions on his own.

Crowley and Aziraphale are just there to be incompetent and a bit bumbling. They put the plot into motion and give us the celestial perspective on what's going on.

But the thing is that Adam is only eleven and it's not a children's book, so not every reader connects to Adam (I did) and the demon and the angel are so charismatic and fun that they became iconic and they're many people's favourite characters in the book. I could compare it to Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli being more iconic than Frodo because Frodo is just a normal hobbit who became a hero due to being a decent person, while the aforementioned four are noble, powerful, and highly unusual. Or the way a certain boy wizard was rarely somebody's favourite character (he was mine).

To me, someone who likes the journey more than the sites, the main characters are usually the most interesting ones, they change a lot, they learn, they make decisions. But aesthetically and due to their uniqueness, side characters can be more compelling. They also invite imagining their own journeys because they're usually unseen to us.

So, Crowley and Aziraphale ignite imagination and look very compelling. That's why it's sort of accepted that the book is about them. It's also easy to see them having further adventures because Adam's arc is complete.

When season 1 came out, I enjoyed it, but the added conflict between Aziraphale and Crowley irked me and I thought there wasn't enough focus on Adam.

What I understand now is that there was no journey for Aziraphale and Crowley in the book. They were an angel and a demon and it was implied that they were quite ordinary. Were another demon stationed on Earth given the Antichrist, they'd probably also not be very thrilled.

Aziraphale and Crowley start trusting each other more as the book goes on, but not by miles, and they essentially stay the same throughout the story. And that's great, they're comforting and reassuring.

They also depend on each other less. When Crowley thinks that Aziraphale is dead, he's sad, but he just moves on. They constantly ask each other to do things and they oblige each other without much deliberation. They are good friends. There is subtext that they look like a couple and they behave like one, but they can live without one another, they're just enjoying each other's company.

In the show, on the other hand, they are the main characters, it's not a kids show or an 80s American small town horror, after all. They should appear in each episode, not only in the first two and the last two. They need to grow and change and learn and make decisions.

They also must convey to an unprepared viewer in a limited amount of time that they aren't as evil or good as they are supposed to be and that despite everything, they care about each other. And such relationships should get tested.

They are also made distinct from all the other demons and angels, so that we know why it's only them trying to stop the Apocalypse.

In season 2 they are developed even further and now season 1 doesn't look like it got its protagonists confused, it looks deliberate and a great start to a love story of a couple of very unusual occult entities who exist not just to enjoy themselves, but to love each other and keep the world safe.

And that's beautiful.

[iicha-0s]

Kissing Contest| !vminkook×reader

A/N: hey guys this is a new series! this is the first part. lmk what you guys think! hope you enjoy it! :D

Tags: !drug use (alchohol, weed), !very cocky behaviour, !mentions of masturbation, !kink, !mentions of sex, !all four of you are hard-core party people, !smoking, !alchohol consumption, !flirting

"please no guy knows how to kiss." You wave your hand in the air.

"You're just saying that because you haven't kissed me." he crosses his arms over his chest acting proud of his supposed kissing skills.

"please when i say guys, i mean all guys in general. it's like you're tryna slop up an ice-cream when you try to kiss someone."

"puh-lease. don't count me in amongst these numb skulls. i've had a lot of ladies tell me about my amazing tongue skills."

"uhuh, and how many of them were drunk out of their minds?" You roll your eyes and stand up, pushing past people to go to the kitchen. you pour yourself another drink and chug it down before refilling your glass once again.

*the next day*

Jimin sits down opposite to you and next to Jungkook while Taehyung sits down next to you.

"whatchu guys talking about?" he takes hold of a fork and digs into his burrito bowl.

"I just don't get why you said that to me yesterday. like you haven't kissed me to know about my kissing skills!" He brings up last night's topic again while stabbing a piece of fried chicken with his fork.

"ugh! im not doing this again." You roll your eyes.

"What! its true. stop normalising everyone else's behaviours on me. i'm not like everyone else."

"yea yea. you're the golden ball or something, aren't you?"

"egg. im the golden egg."

"tomayto, tomahto." You roll your eyes again.

"Stop it would you!" He groans and packs up his takeout box and stands up frustrated and walks away.

"what! is this your way of saying you wanna kiss me!" you watch him walk away angrily.

----×----×----×----×----×----×----×----×----×----×----×----

you tilt the bottle of Gin more, adding more alchohol in your glass than you normally do. you take a sip from it and turn to all the kids from your college who were dancing, making out and grinding against each other while being drunk out of their minds.

maybe it was the amount of times you've chugged down glasses of tequila, vodka and Gin but you were starting to feel the hit a little. you walk over to the other living room and drop on the couch next to Yoongi as he passes you the joint he was smoking. you hold your glass on your lap while taking a puff from the joint and blow it out, repeating the process a few times until you start feeling the high.

the couch dips next to you and you look to see Jungkook sitting down next to you. he takes the joint from you and takes a few puffs and leans his head back against the backrest of the couch to feel the high coursing through his body better.

"hey." He says when he feels you leaning against his side and extends his arm over the backrest to let you get comfortable.

"hey." You take the joint from him and take another puff before taking a sip from your drink and passing the joint to Yoongi.

"and the love birds are back at it again." Taehyung says entering the room with Jimin. he goes and takes a seat next to Yoongi while Jimin walks upto both of you, sits on Jungkook's lap and leans in against you to whisper some things in your ear.

"You know, I heard our little Kookie moaning your name while jerking off last night after the fight between you two. maybe he's got a kink for hate-fucking. think about it." He says even tho he knew Jungkook was listening.

"shut up hyung. it's gross of you to listen in to what I'm doing in my room." he pushes Jimin away from you.

"you were being too loud even after i asked you to shut up." he looks back at him while turning to sit sideways on his lap, his legs now laying over yours and Jungkook's legs.

"this is too much TMI for me. i don't wanna know about anyone's sexual adventures. especially not of the people I hang out with on a daily basis." You take the joint from Yoongi and take a few puffs before passing it to Jungkook.

"Why? is it because you'd feel jealous you're a part of them only as an imagination and not in reality?" Jimin chuckles ask Jungkook snorts while passing him the joint.

"You're disgusting. you wish i'd wanna have sex with any three of you fuckers who always sweat like a heroine addict." You chug down the last sip of alchohol left in your glass.

"now now don't get all defensive, Y/n. we know how bad you want us." Taehyung pitches in and you flip him off before holding your glass out to him asking him to get you a refill.

he laughs softly and takes your glass before standing up and asking around the room if anyone else wanted a refill too and left the room with their glasses.

you guys continue drinking and smoking, cracking weird jokes that unnecessarily make you all laugh too hard due to how buzzed you guys were but noone cared.

as the night went on, some people left the party but a lot of them stayed and now you were left with Jungkook on the couch you curled up into his side while Jimin and Taehyung went out to busy finding themselves girls to have a different type of fun with.

"about what you said the other day.." Jungkook starts causing you to sigh and pull away to sit straight. "no. listen to me." he pulls you back against him.

"about what you said the other day, I was offended because you're really judging a book by its cover. that phrase is something you say all the time so why aren't you following up with it now?" he wraps his arm around your neck to keep you close.

"thats what literally every guy says, and you all turn out to be the same." You snort and start laughing.

"not with mee~" He whines softly. "give me a chance and you'll understand."

you raise an eyebrow and look at him only to realise he was being serious.

let's take chances tonight then.

[hopeymchope]

Just me loving all over Fire Emblem: Engage

Years after being so thoroughly disappointed and even angered by Fire Emblem: Three Houses — which, it must be said, is deeply popular and incredibly successful because that's how it goes for me — I've found myself loving Fire Emblem: Engage. I put off playing it because the online reception was so "meh," but I needn't have been so worried. My deep affection for the series is back.

Play as Aquafresh OR Pepsi!

The two biggest reasons I'm happy? Well, FIRST, my biggest complaint about Three Houses has been... not cured, unfortunately, but still significantly alleviated. If you want to remain adequately leveled/competitive in taking on strategic battles, you still need to do a bunch of side chores that amount to "running around your home base doing boring shit" between each fight. BUT. 1) The sheer amount of those chores is significantly less now, and 2) all the blind guesswork has been removed from increasing Support levels. You'll never be trying to helplessly guess what to say at some fucking teatime or in some classroom conversation where every response seems valid, nor will be you making your best guess on what food to serve people. Because the game just fucking tells you the kind of gifts or food each person likes! (And tea events/random interstitial convos are blessedly absent.)

SECOND, however? It's the quality of the writing. Yes, I know people have complained a ton about the writing in "Engage," but in my experience, they're primarily complaining because they felt the story is so simplistic. And, sure — I get that. There's so much emotional drama built into the setups of the last three games (Three Houses, Echoes, and Fates) that this tale seems rather bog-standard by comparison. The overarching story of Engage can be boiled down to a tale as old as the franchise itself — essentially "Evil Dragon gonna Do Evil." There are also some aspects of the worldbuilding/subtextual implications that don't quite make sense. But I'm not talking about the overarching plot when I praise the writing here — I'm talking about how the characters possess more detail/facets than usual, and the dialogue/banter between characters is so damn fun.

A woman I feel completely normal about.

I don't even quite know how to explain it. Maybe the humor is just more to my taste, but I've laughed so much more at this one. And by the same token, maybe I'm just digging deeper into these characters because their dialogue is endearing them to me. But after playing the past four games before this one (yes, I started with "Awakening" like some Filthy Casual, I'M SORRY), I don't recall any other game featuring characters with so much detail to them. In Engage, many chracters possess more than the usual "two noteworthy personality traits/talents" that are typically found in FE's enormous casts. I'm talking about people like Citrinne, Lindon, Yunaka, Clanne, Ivy, Gregory... I can easily say like FIVE things about each of them. And yes, I consider this to be an important step forward.

Okay, so: I like the dialogue, I like the characters, I don't like all the side busywork, the overall story is bland. (The Fell Xenalogue's story is kinda sick though?) But hold up, what about the actual MEAT of the game — the core gameplay of having strategic battles? That's not usually a problem, mind you. But how'd it go this time around?

WELL. I'd argue we've got some of the best maps and best ways to optimize characters that we've ever had. There are still some lame straightforward corridors in here, but by and large? You get a lot more freedom in how you lure enemies to you, how you can split up and flank them while simultaneously attacking from the front, how you can now disarm (or "Break") them during one turn so other allies can attack more easily/do more damage — it's pretty rad!

One of the earliest maps to make me go "Oh cool."

There's even a main theme with lyrics, and although it's never gonna be the inescapable earworm that "You are the ocean's gray waves" became, it's not shabby either.

I've put over 80 hours into Engage so far, and although I'm finished with the main story, I'm not yet finished unlocking stuff. There's a lot to love here. I'm just happy to be back.

[renyen808]

A Date with Death: How is this Game FREE?!

Lately, the video game industry has taken a turn. When it comes to purchasing high-end games, instead of the $50 amount that I used to pay, I find that now games can cost upwards of $80, which to me is ridiculous. I mean, clearly with the success of Baulder’s Gate 3, they show that they can make an amazing, complex, and fun-filled game for $60. I can already hear people saying, ‘Well, if you want the Deluxe version, that is $80.’ Yes, it is, but it is worth it when you can play the game over and over again and have a different adventure each time. I will write a blog post later about Baulder’s Gate 3, but let’s just say I am a huge fan. Unlike games that require you to not only buy the equipment, but the game itself cough Spider-Man 2 cough. I personally never played Spider-Man 2 and I heard it is great, but it is absurd to me that I have to have a PS5 in order to play one game. Anyway, I am getting off topic a little, the point is, games are getting expensive in the mainstream and I just want something fun to play with me having to pay little to no money. I was searching through Steam when I found it, the game I am about to talk about: A Date With Death.

(Credit: Steam)

A Date with Death, which was released on December 7th of last year, is a texting and chatting based game where you are talking to a Grim Reaper created by Two and a Half Studios. You are able to communicate through text messaging and video calls for the majority of the game, with at least one chat and video call per in-game day. You can customize your own character, choosing from an array of different outfits, skin tones, hairstyles and colors, facial attributes and accessories. You can also choose your pronouns, your first and last name, and pet. You can also customize your in-game apartment with all sorts of things, such as polaroids or plants. 

(Credit: Two and a Half Studios)

At the point I am writing this, I have completed the game, obtained every ending, and got every Steam achievement available. I played the game a total of four times and received a different ending each time. There are many different requirements that you have to do to complete each ending, and while, during the game, it could seem confusing, once you figure out how Grim, that’s what I will call the Grim Reaper, reacts to your words, then you’ll be able to change the course of the story. Although this game only goes for seven in-game days, they find many ways to pack it with content. I have a total of 26.6 hours on the game (honestly, some of it is from it being idle), but that shows you just how much I played it. Before we continue, I also want to add that this game does have swearing and some suggestive content, but I think that can be assumed because this is a romance visual novel. Nothing NSFW shows up in the game. 

Also, before we continue, I have to admit that I got the DLC for this game, which was $7. It adds more dialogue and different choices you can make in your character’s appearance, so there is that. However, I can tell what was a part of the base game, thanks to a little star next to the new dialogue (I honestly thought it was saying he likes those the most, that is not the case for some of the choices). What I am saying by bringing up that I purchased the DLC is that you do not need it in order to enjoy the game. It really is great without it at its core. 

It helps that Grim himself, to me, is pretty cute. I love his snark and charm and instantly understood that that is what the developers were going for. His outfit is also unique. He is wearing a jacket, but it’s around his shoulders. He also has white hair (LOVE) and red eyes, because of course. He is video calling from his bedroom, and he is usually slouching like he is in the image on Steam. Sometimes he will perk up and blush and stuff, but he is normally guarded when he is on call with you. He will also message you in different styles since he is learning to talk with a mortal, so there is that little bit of information. Oh, I forgot, you can also completely customize your in-chat profile, changing the image and name, but only after an in-game event. 

(Credit: Steam)

The artwork in this game is absolutely stunning for a free game as well. I cannot believe how gorgeous it is. They give you a gallery, which shows all the different images of Grim and what the previsuals looked like before the in-game counterparts. They give a lot of artwork and put a lot of love into the game and I appreciate it so much. I really enjoy when I see people put their heart and soul into games they create because it shows that they love what they do. It doesn’t feel like a cash grab, but rather a passion project that they can build more off of.

(Credit: Two and a Half Studios)

Speaking of that, currently, there is a DLC expansion planned for the game. There is currently no release date at the time of this post, but I can assure you, once it comes out, I will be one of the first ones to purchase and review it! 

A Date with Death, a free game where you chat and romance the Grim Reaper was a lot more fun than I anticipated it to be. I found myself going back and wanting to complete everything instead of it feeling like a chore to achieve all the endings and achievements. While I don’t think I’ll play it again right away, once the new content comes out, you best believe I will return to Grim and our adventures. In the end, play this game. I honestly think this is a well made game for FREE, and I believe anybody will have a fun time with it. 

Also, sorry for the lack of images this time around! I don't wanna spoil anything for you all ;)

[underforeversgrace]

healing the wounds we hid - 3

title: healing the wounds we hid

words: 3,506

Finally, the sequel to broken trust and the wounds hidden behind! (Refresh here on AO3 or here on Tumblr)

Story Summary: Now that his father knows, Danny's life is changing for the better. Jack encourages him to let his friends and the rest of the family into his small word. Unbeknownst to Danny, Jack is secretly worried about how Maddie will react to the news upon her return to Amity - and how to confront Vlad once Jack learns his true identity. Amidst it all, an enemy lurks and plots their revenge.

Chapter 3 of 11: Missing You

AO3

Tumblr Chapter One

(Tumblr Chapter Four will be here)

Beta by: @probably-dead and @scarletsaphire!

Featuring art by @phantoms14! Please go check it out, it really is wonderful!

~~~~~~

“I’m so ready to come home. I miss all of you so much.” Maddie said on the other end of the line with a  sigh. “I haven’t been away from you or the kids for this long since they were born!”

“We miss you too. I can’t wait for you to come home.” Jack responded, hoping the lie wasn’t as obvious to her as it was to him.

“We’ll have to go out for a nice dinner or something! I’m sure there’s so much I need to be caught up on that I’ve missed.” Maddie jabbered excitedly.

“Ah, there isn’t much going on, Mads! I’m sure it’ll be a normal family dinner,” Jack lied. He’d talk to Danny when he got home. They needed to make a plan for telling Maddie and Jasmine. This family - after this - was done with secrets and lying and hurting each other, intentional or not.

Maddie began to say something else but her words were cut off by a yawn.

“Sounds like it’s time for you to go to bed,” Jack said.

“Yeah, it is kind of late,” Maddie agreed. “I’ll talk to you later this week, okay?”

“Sounds good, Mads. I love you.”

“I love you too, Jack. Tell the kids I love them?”

“Of course.”

“Good night! Or, well. Morning, for you.”

Jack laughed. “Good night. Sweet dreams.”

He hung up the phone, returning it to its place on the wall and sighed deeply. He dropped his head into his hands as a familiar sense of fear and worry clouded his mind. He hated lying to his wife. He hated being afraid of what she’d do. He hated the uncertainty. He hated that, as much as he knew her and loved her, he still doubted if she’d accept Danny.

He hated that he’d looked into divorce lawyers, that he’d pulled a significant amount of money from their joint account and stashed it into an account in his own name. How had life come to this? How had he messed up this badly? He lifted his head, gazing at the closed door to the lab.

That stupid fucking portal. He had built it, designed it, with Maddie. How had neither of them realized they put the fucking ‘on’ button inside the portal? He held two doctorates, Maddie had three, yet neither of them thought something was off when they installed an ‘on’ button somewhere that couldn’t be reached without a fatality?

For two geniuses, they were incredibly stupid. Or arrogant, he supposed, that they trusted their own invention so much they never doubted their abilities for even a moment. Jack wasn’t sure which option was worse - stupidity or arrogance. Which was better to kill his son with? Which was a more justifiable reason?

He grit his teeth together until it hurt, returning his gaze to the floor as he grabbed and tugged painfully at his own hair. 

When the house was quiet and empty like this, Jack could hear the hum of electricity around him, could feel the permanent chill in the air that the portal caused. Did Jazz ever get too cold? Is that why she hated staying at home? Jack and Maddie had always thought the chill wasn’t that bad - neither kid had ever complained. But Maddie and Jack were protected from it by the hazmats they wore and Danny wasn’t even capable of feeling cold anymore, especially since his ice core had strengthened. But what about Jazz?

He glared below him, as if he could see the portal in the basement beneath him. He wished he could close it permanently, dismantle it, destroy it. But he and Danny had talked in the two weeks since the reveal. Danny would die without it, without the ectoplasm source to feed and energize his ghost half. Ironic, wasn’t it? The thing that spat out the enemies Danny faced was also the thing that gave the nutrients he needed to to live.

He’d wallowed in his own misery long enough. Jack forced himself to his feet and down the stairs, to his computer in the lab. Jack had been curious about Danny’s unique physiology. He’d told Danny as much, a few days after the clearing. He’d been worried Danny would think he just wanted to study him, and he’d never before known relief as profound as he got that day, when Danny admitted he was curious too. He’d done some of his own tests and studies, but would very much like an expert’s opinion, in case he ever got really hurt.

And then he’d smiled at Jack, and there had been no fear, no apprehension, no doubt in his son’s eyes. All these years, all these misunderstandings, all the time spent hurting Danny, could’ve been avoided if Jack had ever tried to talk to a ghost. If Jack had pulled his head out of his ass long enough to listen and learn.

There was nothing to be done now to fix it. All he could do was pick up the pieces their family had shattered into and try to put them back together as best he could, even if they were never the same again.

Jack settled onto his desk chair, pulling up the files. There was the information from the first day in the lab, where they’d tested Phantom’s powers. A smile tugged at his lips at the memory - the two of them laughing and learning together, Danny entirely unafraid of him. Jack wanted to test his son’s powers again in a few months, to see if Danny’s strength was growing or if it had plateaued. Even he had admitted he gained powers and abilities at an unprecedented rate among ghosts. It was a good idea to track his power progression. Plus, Jack just wanted an excuse to spend time with his son.

He scrolled further, studying the notes he’d taken from their discussions and tests since then. Danny truly was a scientific marvel, though Jack would never say that to his son’s face.

Danny’s human blood was red with bright green sparkles interspersed within, while his ghostly ectoplasm was green with streaks of crimson. His human heart rate was low and entirely silent as a ghost. Most of his vitals were like that - concerningly low if he was a normal human, and entirely absent as a ghost. His blood pressure, his oxygen saturation, his breathing rate - he breathed out of habit, as Phantom, not need. He was hypothermic as a human and subzero as a ghost.

It was fascinating and wonderful.

It was horrific and terrible.

Jack glanced through the data again, frowning. He was working on developing anesthesia or at least pain relievers that would work on Danny. He’d learned the pain pills were more to help Danny sleep, to force him into unconsciousness, rather than actual pain relief. That had been a hard conversation, asking Danny about the illegal narcotics under his bed. They still had the pills, but the bottle stayed with Jack now. Danny had grumbled half-heartedly when Jack told him that - “I’m responsible with them!” - but he hadn’t protested much, especially when Jack had explained it was because Jack was worried about him.

It might be odd that Jack was developing pain relief for his teenage son, but Jack had stitched enough wounds by now to know that Danny needed it. He hurt just as much as a ghost as he did a human.

Hours passed as Jack hypothesized about various chemical properties. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the front door open upstairs, and he held his breath in anticipation.

Danny had agreed this morning to tell his friends about Phantom at school - after refusing to do it over the weekend - and Jack could only pray it had gone well.

The sound of three pairs of feet above him brought a wide smile to his face. He hurriedly left his seat, rushing up the stairs. The three were still in the living room as Jack made his way in, all chattering amongst each other as if no time had passed.

“Danny!” Jack exclaimed, nearly vibrating in excitement. He tried to rein in his exuberance, in case Danny hadn’t told them yet, but Jack had never been particularly good at that.

“Hey, Dad,” Danny greeted. He met his father’s eyes and answered the question he could see burning within them. “They know.”

Jack glanced over at the other two, who smiled and nodded at him. “They know?” He verified.

Danny laughed and suddenly white rings swept across him, morphing him into Phantom. “They know.”

Jack didn’t say anything, just turned and crushed his son’s friends into a hug. They both yelped in surprise, no longer used to a Jack Fenton hug after a year and a half without one. He released them quickly.

“Wait, I have a question.” Tucker piped up once he was free, eyeing Danny suspiciously.

“No, I never snuck into the girl’s locker room.” Danny said seriously, making the other three snort with laughter.

“Man, that’s the most surprising thing you’ve said today,” Tucker joked. “But, that wasn’t my question.”

“What is it, then?” Danny asked.

“Are you aware that you are the real life version of an anime magical girl now? You’ve even got the magical girl transformation sequence!” Tucker said, absolutely grinning from ear to ear.

Sam groaned and Danny cried out, placing a hand to his chest as though wounded. “I am not!”

“Dude, you even had a catchphrase earlier!”

“You wound me!” Danny said dramatically, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead and falling backwards onto the couch, transforming back to human.

“You two are such idiots,” Sam muttered, but Jack could see the smile on her face at the ridiculousness.

Jack began to relax, the tenseness in his shoulders abating some. Danny’s friends were good people, and he was so happy his son had them.

“You kids hungry?” Jack asked, noticing the time. “My treat!”

“I’ll never turn down free food!” Tucker answered. 

“Everyone load up into the Fenton Family Ghost Assault Vehicle!” Jack declared, grabbing the keys from their hook on the wall.

Tucker whooped with excitement - that kid got so excited for food, he could’ve been Jack’s son too! - and they all climbed into the GAV. Jack actually drove like a normal human being for once, enjoying the sound of the kids’ chattering and laughter in the backseat.

Thoughts of Vlad tried to surface but Jack wrangled them back down. He’d never told them how much the young trio reminded him of Vlad’s, Maddie’s, and his  friendship in college.

He suppressed the thoughts as he pulled into a parking space at Nasty Burder. The four of them filed out and into the building, making their way to the counter to place their order. Jack fished his card out of his wallet and paid while the teens found somewhere for them to sit. He was on his way over to the table when Danny suddenly stood and bolted towards the bathroom, throwing a look to his father. Jack sighed and placed the table number for their order down in front of Sam, noting both her and Tucker’s worried face.

“He said there’s a ghost somewhere.” Tucker muttered, the earlier humor gone from his voice.

“Damn it,” Jack swore. “I’m going to go help him, you two stay right here. If it gets too dangerous you get out of the way, understand me?”

They nodded and Jack hurried outside as inconspicuously as possible. Luckily, he was Jack Fenton. People expected him to be weird, and when everything you do is weird, nothing is actually weird anymore.

As soon as he cleared the door, his eyes were on the sky, hand resting on his ecto blaster. He didn’t have to look hard for the ghosts; Plasmius flew in front of Jack, Phantom hot on his tail. Their words were lost to the wind as they dove behind the restaurant. Jack ran after them, pulling the weapon from its holster and clicking off the safety. He and Danny had been working on his aim and he had gotten much better!

“Come, Daniel, I’m just here to talk,” Plasmius’s voice echoed from around the corner. Jack peeked, electing not to attack yet. Danny had emphasized that he tried his best to not attack first, to try and talk it out, as even the more violent ghosts could sometimes be persuaded away. Jack knew Plasmius was one of the most dangerous and aggressive ghosts in Amity, and he didn’t want to start an unnecessary fight. He frowned slightly; he couldn’t really see anything from this spot - Plasmius’s back was to him and he could only see a part of Danny.

“And be a massive pain in my ass?” Danny said, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the other ghost in irritation.

“Be reasonable, child,” Plasmius said smoothly. “I haven’t even done anything.”

“Yet.” Danny grumbled.

“Come, little badger. I know your second death day is approaching - it’s just two months away now, isn’t it?”

Jack stiffened as Plasmius spoke, a sudden dread settling in his stomach like a rock.

No. His mind whispered. Little badger?

Danny had likewise tensed, unaware of his father’s presence. “How did you know that?”

“You died turning on a portal, my son. While your death may not be notable within the Realms, that portal turning on is.”

“I am not your son, you goddamn fruit loop!” Danny shouted and Jack’s knees gave out beneath him.

Little badger. Fruit loop.

Vlad.

Jack had known Vlad had to be an enemy of his son’s, Danny had let him know the day of the Spectra incident that he didn’t have any allies that frequented the human world. But Plasmius? Who had possessed Jack in Wisconsin, who ruthlessly chased Phantom down just to beat him to a pulp once a week?

Who had called Jack a bumbling buffoon more than once, who had looked at Jack with such hatred. Who had become one of Amity’s frequent fliers right after Vlad Masters moved in.

Jack would quite like for his world to stop imploding, thank you very much. How many more surprises could his heart take?

He didn’t hear the rest of their conversation, instead drowning in his thoughts, crushed under their weight.  He’d hoped Vlad was one of the more unremarkable ghosts - the ones who sometimes caused minor, harmless havoc but otherwise just existed, not even worth being hunted (back when he still hunted ghosts).

Of course Vlad couldn’t be bland or boring. Jack should’ve known better. Vlad was practically allergic to being anything resembling normal - the man had been an ecto science major because it was the most unusual major he could find, not because he’d believed in ghosts. Jack nearly snorted at the irony.

The non-believer, the ecto science student who didn’t think ghosts were real, was the one who got turned into a half ghost.

He was startled by a sudden ectoblast sounding from where the two argued. Jack shook his anxiety off as he stood, again poking his head around the corner. Danny’s hand was smoking and Plasmius’s - Vlad’s - cape was singed.

“Stay the fuck away from me and my family.” Danny growled, rage in his eyes. An uncomfortable shiver went down Jack’s back - he’d never heard Danny sound so… inhuman. His voice was more animalistic, more echoed, more eerie. It nearly sounded like static.

“Another time, then,” Plasmius said as he rose higher in the air. Green energy began to crackle around Danny’s hand again in warning. Plasmius merely sighed and flew away.

Jack waited a moment, making sure Vlad had flown out of sight, before fully stepping around the corner. Phantom’s face immediately smoothed from the rabid rage he’d been glaring at Vlad with, softening as he relaxed.

Part of Jack wanted to demand answers from Danny, demand to know what was going on with Vlad, but he found he couldn’t. These were his answers to find, his wrong to right.

“You good, son?” Jack asked. “I heard the ectoblast and saw Plasmius.”

Danny shrugged. “I’m more than a match for him, no worries.” He glanced around, confirming they were alone before shifting back to human. “Back to dinner?”

“Yeah, c’mon, son,” Jack agreed, ignoring the sense of guilt in the back of his mind. Was this lying? Technically neither of them had really said much about Plasmius, and Jack hadn’t technically lied either!

He was electing to ignore the fact lies of omission were a thing. Danny and he made their way back to the table, Sam and Tucker immediately lowering their voices to ask if he was alright, Tucker fretting slightly and checking Danny over for injuries.

Had Vlad had anyone to check him over for injuries since he’d died?

Pervasive thoughts of Vlad filled his mind for the rest of the night, even after he’d dropped Sam and Tucker off at their respective houses. He hoped his distraction tonight wasn’t too obvious as he planned his next steps.

It was time to confront Vlad.

~~~~~~

“Sir, we’ve been trying for two months,” the IT agent said, frowning. “Phantom fried the servers and we don’t have off-site backups. I’m sorry, O. There’s nothing left for us to try.”

Operative O growled, grabbing the front of the agent’s shirt with one hand and pulling him closer. “Keep working!” He shouted, spit flying into the other man’s face.

The IT agent - Agent Bit - glared at O, but was helpless to do anything other than return his focus to the computer, unable to defy a command from someone so high up the power chain. “I’ll try, but I can’t really do anything else. The servers and hard drives were fried - hell, pretty much every piece of technology in the building was. Have the scientists been able to figure out how Phantom did that? It was confirmed to have an ice core, after all.”

O was silent for a moment, looking at his other hand. Well… the experimental, robotic prosthetic that had replaced his real hand. The damage done to both him and the GIW facility in Phantom’s wake had been immense. He focused on the hand, flexing the mechanical fingers, not quite feeling it. The connections between the prosthetic and the actual nerves in his hand were underdeveloped.

“We don’t know,” O admitted, eyeing Bit. “But I intend to capture him again and find out.”

“It,” Bit corrected. “Calling a ghost a ‘him’ makes it sound like a person.”

“I intend to capture it and find out, then,” O said, rolling his eyes, though Bit couldn’t see it beneath his glasses. “I expect an update within a week, Bit.”

With that, O turned on his heel and left the room, clenching and unclenching his metal hand as memories bubbled up within him.

Operative O had been the only survivor of the explosion, at least of the people in the room with Phantom. Some had been electrocuted to death, but most had been crushed. O’s partner - Operative K - was among the dead, a fact that still ripped into his heart. They had been friends, they’d started together, gone to training together. When someone became a Guys in White agent, anything from a janitor to the director, they gave up their previous life, their friends, their family. K had become his brother in arms… and simply O’s brother.

They’d been born into their new lives together and had been partners for over a decade.

And then that damn ghost happened. K hadn’t been one of the lucky ones. He’d been partially crushed beneath rubble, forced to suffer a slow death. He’d bled out in O’s arms, had cried into and stained O’s white suit. They had known the internal bleeding would kill him before the rescue team would find them. O had been left with his corpse for hours, feeling his friend go cold and stiff in his lap.

Then… nothing. All the deceased were rounded up to be cremated, the ashes dumped like trash. The official statement of the Ghost Investigation Ward had been that it had been a gas leak explosion, that everyone was fine, only a handful of minor injuries.

There was no mourning of the lost agents. No acknowledgement of their sacrifice. They’d given their lives but weren’t given graves.

O paused as he felt a twinge of pain in his left hand - the phantom pain of a hand he no longer had - and his scowl deepened.

He’d realized when they had Phantom in custody that the ghost could feel pain at a human level. He’d almost been sympathetic until the explosion happened, until he lost the one person in the world who really knew him.

Now, he didn’t care about Phantom’s ability to feel pain. He hoped Phantom could feel it. He’d killed a dozen people in that blast. Operative O would make sure that the ghost boy paid for that with his own afterlife, if it was the last thing O ever did.

[lizard-shifter-noms]

I saw that you reblogged the ask game!!

❗️💘🥰

Hii Rosey! yes i did lol! time to answer things!

❗- discovering vore

well, when i was like four? i always did play out vore things with some plastic dino's but of course i had no idea what it was called lol (english isnt even my native language!) (i think i still i have one of the dinos in the attic somewhere but im not gonna sort trough all of the junk there)

💘 - personal meaning

as a pred its very nice to be able to protect and/or shelter my friends in a place where whatever it is has to get literally trough me first!

i like knowing that whoever iv'e got is safe and sound from anything!

its also comforting to know im not alone in being on the weirder side of things!

a surprising amount (majoriy actually lol) of other Vore people are also neurodivergent like me! (i have autism and so do a lot of the others in this community apparently? and ADHD too)

its very nice knowing im not the only one enjoying this! and i love writing my Stories! especially since it is seen as a comfort by a lot of people (including myself!)

🥰 - willing vore

love it! the trust required to either let someone into their very core near some very vulnerable organs or to let someone completely envelop them body and soul in a place that is normally designed to destroy<3

[adobe-outdesign]

Have you done any Ultra Beasts like Xurkitree, Pheromosa, and Guzzlord? I really liked those three the most.

I just did Xurkitree, but as for Pheromosa and Guzzlord:

I love that we finally got a cockroach Pokemon and it's not some grimy disgusting thing, but instead a beautiful humanoid abomination. I'd say it's an inverse of an actual cockroach, but it's not: IRL cockroaches are pretty clean creatures, and groom themselves frequently, which fits with Pheromosa's obsession with not touching anything because it sees the world as unclean:

And I like the design for the most part, including the long antennae, gold accents, and the "hair", which are actually just wings.

My only real problem with Pheromosa is that it's almost too normal. It's an identifiable animal with seemingly normal biology, and it has a face and a logical body structure. The proportions are more human-like and the limbs thinner than you'd normally expect on a Pokemon, but for the most part, this design could be used for a regular Pokemon and it really wouldn't be out of place. I wouldn't have minded a more insect-like head on it, which might've helped give it a more "alien" feel, or even giving it an extra set of limbs. Regardless, it's a neat concept and a solid design overall.

Guzzlord has a lot of cool stuff going for it, namely the conveyor belt mouth that resembles a garbage disposal plant. Appropriate, considering it eats anything and everything but seemingly converts it into energy. It's also one of the only Pokemon/UBs to have been confirmed to kill a human (not just stated to in the 'dex, but actually implied to have in the story).

While I like the general concept and the overall look, I do think Guzzlord's a bit too cluttered for its own good. It's got an appropriately alien feeling and the core concept still reads well, but the amount of detail leads to a lot of "white noise" in the design.

Like, you have the conveyer belt mouth, which is perfect. But then you have a set of upper and lower fangs, except the lower set of fangs are arms. You also have a set of arms up top, four (4) bat wings that are completely vestigial, some stripes on the legs, a mace tail, and an entire second head. It's just entirely too much to parse. I would've dropped the wings, fangs/mouth arms (maybe just make the tongue itself one arm), and mace tail to double back down on the mouth and stomach area.

I also feel like the color doesn't help; not only are there a few too many yellow accents, but it probably would've made more sense to have the inside of the mouth yellow and the markings blue, to lead the eye to the center of the design. As is, there's more focus on the outside of the mouth than the inside.

With that said, though, it is still a fun and unusual design with a lot of fun stuff going on with it. I just would've liked to see the fun stuff be a bit easier to make out.

Overall, Pheromosa's a neat take on a cockroach, though it's almost too "normal" for its own good. Guzzlord's much more alien, but is also very busy visually, which distracts from the concept a bit. Still, both are pretty neat in their own right.

[venturismcdonald]

Derek Venturi is 1989 by Taylor Swift: a sleep deprived essay.

To start: Derek appears to be shallow, fun, kinda ditzy and most importantly, catty. We know Derek's a petty asshole, which is part of Taylor's image during 1989 era. He's also a playboy/cad/whatever word you'd like to use to describe him. Taylor's image at the time was as this serial dater who's obsessed with men. We all know that they both didn't have many serious relationships at this time (honestly, their dating amount wasn't even much more than normal) but they want them.

The 1989 album focuses very strongly on themes of passion and perception. The truth can be whatever you want it to be and it can be twisted to be whatever you want it to seem. That's a motto that, as "king" of SJST High, Derek can live by. He also likes to twist stories to fit his own view of what happened, regardless of the truth. Truth and perception all depends on who you are and what angle you're looking at it from. Passion can kill. Perception is keeping it so that the death is covered up.

One of the core components of Derek's character is that he's passionate. He doesn't think before he does things, he lives his life based solely on his passions, and most importantly, he thinks with his heart, not his mind. Whatever logic Derek possesses (because to say he has none would be incorrect) is hidden away because he doesn't want to be logical. He wants to be able to exist solely on vibes, not on emotions (which are GROSS) or the stupid rules people put on him.

Track One: Welcome To New York

"Like any true love, it drives you crazy."

We all know Casey's the one with the real connection to New York, but this is not a song specifically about New York City. It's about going to someplace where you feel safe, about a home that's loud and vibrant and loving. For Derek, that's the McTuri house. It's insane and everything he wants, really. There's never a boring moment with Derek around, but especially in that house. It's where he grew up, where the marks on the wall are with his height and the memory of Marti tackling him.

Track Two: Blank Space

"Cherry lips, crystal skies/I could show you incredible things/Stolen kisses, pretty lies."

Derek's perception within London is someone who's a serial dater. He doesn't take any of it seriously. The song was written to satirize that experience, to make it seem realer than it actually is. From what we see, all the man does is go on a few dates, get two serious girlfriends in the entire show. This is a man who knows what his own love life is, that it's going to be dramatic and heartbreaking but he genuinely loves and loves hard. He can't help being popular and beloved and the victim of rumors.

Track Three: Style

"Fade into view, oh/It's been a while since I have even heard from you."

This is exactly how Derek feels about Abby. I'm aware Style is about a romantic relationship, but the general theme of an on/off relationship works for his bond with Abby. She shows up sometimes, but she's with other people so often, prioritizing them, that he feels sort of forgotten until she comes into view.

Track Four: Out Of The Woods

"Two paper airplanes flying, flying."

The anxiety present in this track and how terrifying everything is works very well for Derek's fear of Casey. He doesn't fear her, of course (because she's lame and he's cool), but he fears the way that she can control him. Being out of the woods would be being free from Casey and her stupid hold on his stupid heart. Hence why he runs away to Paris.

Track Five: All You Had To Do Was Stay

"Why'd you have to go and lock me out when I let you in?"

Derek's completely aware of how all of this sucks, and the fact that he left, but he maintains that Casey left first. This is all her fucking fault, because she's the one that was in his fucking jersey, which made him run. She was going to lock him out, so it made sense to run first. He was protecting his stupid, foolish heart.

Track Six: Shake It Off

"Got nothin' in my brain/That's what people say."

Some people have the fucking audacity to accuse Derek of being a man whore. Which, yeah, it's kinda cool, but! Derek's not a whore, he dates a normal amount of girls, and it's no one's business! He's smart and has knowledge, even if no one sees it. He can't help that girls like him, so he just shakes off the criticisms from everyone, even George.

Track Seven: I Wish You Would

"You're thinkin' now that I hate you now 'cause you still don't know what I never said."

Why on earth did someone hate Derek enough to make him want Casey so much he's in physical pain over it? She's with Peter because she's a fucking coward and now he has to deal with it, because Derek didn't take his stupid shot and tell stupid Casey that he likes her stupid self.

Track Eight: Bad Blood

"Still got scars on my back from your knife."

Derek is aware that he sounds insane, but fucking hell, the fact that Sam likes Casey is the world's biggest betrayal. He can't believe this happened, because this is cruel. This is the worst thing to ever happen and it's totally not because he has some weird feelings crawling up in his throat and feeling like Sam is stealing his Casey.

Track Nine: Wildest Dreams

"Tangled up with you all night, burnin' it down."

So what if Casey has a new boyfriend? It doesn't matter. Even if the new boyfriend is Peter, Derek is going to ignore that because he's still haunted by that fucking kiss, and he's going to be haunted forever.

Track Ten: How You Get The Girl

"And that's how it works/That's how you get the girl."

There is no true way to say how absolutely absurd Derek thinks the fact that guys say it's hard to get a girl is. He thinks the entire thing is bullshit. And, look, it's not hard to make a woman swoon! It's time to teach a course. Not to Peter, but to the children, who need so much help getting dates.

Track Eleven: This Love

"These hands had to let it go free and/This love came back to me."

Everything is fucking tragic, because he lost touch with Casey for years, but now she's there. They're together, again, and everything might actually be okay.

Track Twelve: I Know Places

"Just grab my hand and don't ever drop it, my love."

Hiding is easy. There are so many corners and places where Derek can hide, places where Derek can just exist with Casey and her insane ass without anyone watching. Their life was always on view, everyone watching, but now everything can be on their terms.

Track Thirteen: Clean

"I screamed so loud, but no one heard a thing."

Casey's a fucking addiction, one Derek can't be clean from, but there's a fucking ocean keeping them apart. And her goddamn husband. Still, he fucking hates this. Everyone thinks that he's over her, but he's screaming in every fucking song that he's not.

Track Fourteen: Wonderland

"Life was never worse, but never better."

They were toxic in Queens. It was a weird flirtationship that was never going to be healthy when they were in that in between stage, so he left Wonderland. And fuck, being lost in it was glorious.

Track Fifteen: You Are In Love

"Time moved too fast, you play it back."

It's so stupid to feel so much for her after all these years, but Derek cannot escape Casey's hold on him. He's so stupidly in love with her, his best friend.

Track Sixteen: New Romantics

"The rumors are terrible and cruel, but most of them are true."

A little bit of a slut era for Derek in his early twenties is what he needs, to cope with Casey getting married. He hooks up randomly for a year, gets a girlfriend, she gets pregnant, and he's not a new romantic anymore, but he's building castles out of bricks.

Track Seventeen: "Slut!"

"Half awake, takin' your chances."

Everything makes sense when he's with Casey, even if he's called a slut. She's the one, goddammit, and Derek's okay with it. All he wants is her, so he'll take the shitty rumors and occasional subtweets from Peter.

Track Eighteen: Say Don't Go

"And I'm yours, but you're not mine."

Just because Derek left, that doesn't mean he's okay! He's mad, selfishly, in a self-destructive sense. If she had just called and asked Derek to stay, he would've flown back. But she didn't, because she doesn't love him, and he just has to accept that.

Track Nineteen: Now That We Don't Talk

"Truth is, I can't pretend it's/Platonic, it's just ended."

Things have changed, and even though they talk, it's different. Everything is different. Rumors are half of how he knows her now, from the kids and Simon likes to share his observations, but Derek's trying to understand how everything works in this relationship now. Nothing is sensical. What the fuck are they?!

Track Twenty: Suburban Legends

"You were so magnetic, it was almost obnoxious."

Peter is cheating, and he's doing it right in front of Derek, who wants to tell Casey, but he can't. He just can't do this when he doesn't have proof, it's just suspicions, but god, they'd be a legendary couple. Derek would never hurt her like this. They would be suburban legends.

Track Twenty One: Is It Over Now?

"At least I had the decency/To keep my nights out of sight."

It's been years, and Derek's living with Casey now, but things aren't over. He doesn't know if they'll ever be. Will they ever get over each other? Probably not. But Jesus, he wants to. Kind of. He also wants to shove her against a wall because the longing is giving him way too many soft thoughts. She's with Peter, allegedly in love, and this is cruel because he's forced to know that every time he sees her stupid ring.

[myrrhmaidwrites]

18 for your things you said with a pairing of your choice, please and thanks! 🙂

Things you said when you were scared

I picked JDTZ for this, enjoy!

If I messed up anything related to the “sci” part of this fi, no I didn’t ;)

It’s—yeah.

Jamie checks the line of code again. He glances at the sample, then at Trevor’s protocols.

It’s definitely a defect.

Trevor isn’t supposed to be programmed for nearly that amount of physical touch—none of their droids are.

Checking? Fine. Butt pats in the locker room? For sure. But watching an entire movie pressed side to side, Trevor’s hand moving gently on the side of his neck?

Absolutely not.

Jamie flicks his screen off. He’ll deal with this another time.

Trevor wrings the problem out of him less than twenty-four hours later. They’re chilling on the couch and watching the Disney Mighty Ducks show, which Trevor has been begging Jamie to watch with him since he heard there was going to be a android on the show played by a real android actor.

Only, Jamie isn’t relaxing the way he normally does.

He adjusts the blanket for the fiftieth time that night. Before Jamie discovered the error, sitting next to Trevor was a surefire way to make him relax. Now—

“Jamie, what’s up?” Less than two minutes in and Trevor has him figured out. Trevor pauses the show and looks at him.

“It’s nothing. I just—it’s nothing. Let’s keep watching.”

“C’mon, talk to me. It’s what I’m here for,” he says, as though Jamie isn’t hyper aware of that at all times.

“I just—later. Later,” Jamie says.

Trevor hums and restarts the show.

“Wait.” The word bursts out of Jamie. Trevor hits pause again. “I’m worried. Yesterday Gibby said something to me and and I ended up looking at your code. And I think I saw—”

Jamie’s said something wrong. Trevor gets a scared, shifty look in his eye like a cornered creature.

“I just wanted to help, that’s all,” he finishes quietly.

Trevor draws himself up into a formal seated position, the way they always pose droids in shops. “If you’re going to reset me, you have to promise—”

“What? No. Reset you? Why would I want that?” Jamie’s face goes pale with horror.

“If you want to fix the change, you have to do a factory reset.”

“So it’s—hold on. It’s a change? Like, on purpose, not a glitch?”

Trevor gives him a look of disbelief. “Dude, did you look at the code?”

“Yeah. It’s part of the spatial awareness code.”

“No, dude. Well, yeah, but it’s part of my core code.”

“If it’s—then how did it get changed? You can’t…”

Trevor gives him another look. This look says that Jamie should know by now how much Trevor loves to make the impossible possible. “Maybe don’t finish that question unless you’re sure you want an answer.”

Jamie swallows, suddenly aware of how much trouble there would be if this got out. If Trevor got caught.

“Okay,” he says slowly, “but why?”

Trevor’s eyes dim. He glances back at the still-frozen TV screen. “Thought it would make you happy, Jim. If I could—if we could do those things.”

Jamie gives Trevor a long look, makes sure he understands Trevor’s meaning.

“Yeah,” he says. “It would.”

[elkdiaries]

hey everyone, this is sort of negative compared to my other posts, i just wanted to talk about something that’s been on my mind. this is regarding the mainstream audience, heteronormativity and the like so if you’d rather not read my annoyed rambling then scroll on <3

i’m rewatching stranger things season two because i haven’t seen it in the longest time and is it actually real? because like there’s just so much will content? like he actually has a prominent role in the season, as he should? and dustin/lucas get to talk to each other because they’re best friends? and they all ride their bikes around just because they can? and el/mike have a sweet, non-toxic relationship? and max has bigger role in the show, and is able to discuss the hardships young women of the ‘80s had to endure? and mike’s familial issues are displayed clearly? and he and will interact very kindly because they’re best friends who are crushing big-time on each other and regardless of whether they’re endgame (which they are but still) they care an incredible amount about each other?

i understand that the events which occurred over the course of season three were necessary for everyone’s development, and i’m glad they did happen because now some lovely things in season four can follow. but i really can’t help wishing they could still just do this sweet, fluffy stuff sometimes. because the party loves each other so much, and season three really didn’t do their friendships justice. and again, though it was an important arc to add in on their way into teen life, it sort of encouraged the normalization of toxicity in friendships to the audience, as well as the whole “boys versus girls” bullshit. because god knows mainstream viewers and reviewers just love to see mean relationships in their media, for it’s not “boring”. what the party has is very raw and beautiful and the pains of growing older just divided them for a bit. but people have interpreted it so awfully that they’re doing crazy shit like making will the antagonist, all because he just wants to be a kid and not deal with all the drama.

i think the duffers did a good job with season three, don’t get me wrong. it was sad to see the kids having to go separate ways, but it happened because now in season four they can bring them back together and show just how difficult growing up is, and why it’s important to keep core friendships alive even when they may not be considered “cool” to other peers. however, the majority of watchers are so used to just brushing important and emotional events (for example, the neglect of dustin and the byler fight, both in season three) under a rug unless it comes to tension between hetero couples. i know for a fact that the duffers will make byler canon, but the backlash (which is bound to happen either way) from people who just look at the surface level of content is going to be a pain in the ass to have to witness. it’s going to suck seeing people in an intense uproar about mike and el going from lovers to friends, and claiming that the creators of this show just did things like make byler endgame for the sake of lgbtq+ rep— though it’s been implied from the beginning that they’re in love.

i’m not trying to say that people have to watch this show and analyze every tiny detail, because they don’t. you can watch stranger things and enjoy it at the surface level of content. you don’t have to ship byler, and you can even enjoy lucas and mike’s antics in season three while trying to win back el and max. i don’t care, we all like different things. it becomes an issue when for example, season four comes out, things are clearly different, and people try to say it was out of the blue. because no, no it most certainly wasn’t. and that would be very obvious if they just looked at it from a different angle.

to sum it up: as a queer person myself, i hate that we have to work this hard to get good lgbtq+ rep in media (or to prove that there will be lgbtq+ rep in seasons to come). on top of that, i hate how toxic friendships and relationships have been so normalized on screen. it’s to the extent that if a mainstream show differs even the slightest bit from the norm, it’s a fucking scandal.

glad i got that out of my system. anyways, byler is endgame and adore lucas sinclair until the end of time.