#i never draw them being casual but i think it fit most here

[superbellsubways]

original

[hitlikehammers]

intimately entwined

rating: e (but not how you think) ♥️ cw: the deepest intimacies in the most unexpected places knocking someone on their ass  ♥️ tags: established relationship, care-taking, casual intimacy, fluff, relationship development, slice of life, idiots in love

for @steddielovemonth day three: Love is wanting to do everything with someone, even if its nothing special

and yes, again: these boys probably grow up to star in the rockstar-husbands-with-the-sex-toys fic je ne regrette rien which will have a sequel flavoured revival via @subeddieweek in April whaaaaaatttt

“Another.”

And the way it’s said: it’s almost fucking expectant too, Jesus Christ, this man.

“You’re sure this is okay?”

Because, like, Eddie needs to know it is. He needs to check, then double check, then triple check because…because this feels like a wholly different step, y’know? This feels like crossing a kind of line they haven’t even dared to tiptoe near just yet, wholly different from all the other lines they’ve navigated, both reckless and careless but together, always, and that helps, in theory. It helps to know that no matter how they’ve fumbled or triumphed in this, between them: it’s been hand in hand. Before, and during, and after.

Still, though. This is…this just feels very fucking different. The kind of boundary with implications that feel heavy and expansive under Eddie’s ribs. Maybe it should seem less monumental compared to other shit they’ve done, and most of that with far less deliberation and hesitation for them, at that. But this does, it…Eddie genuinely believes this pumps weird and novel through his veins, because it is different; and incredible for it, no question. Terrifying. Wholly beggars belief, honestly, and Eddie never really understood that phrase meant but.

He thinks this thing fits it, to a T.

“I said it was, didn’t I?”

Eddie blinks, recenters: was it okay?

And this, this…brilliant perfect little shit: Eddie can hear the smirk in his voice without even looking. He can hear the amusement as much as the loose-ends of frustration. Like Eddie is being absurd here.

Which: what the actual fuck; seriously.

Like, like: goddamn seriously.

“Yeah,” Eddie answers, a little hesitant, a lot fucking dazed; “yeah you did,” because…he did. From the beginning, from even before they settled int to start this: Steve had been…vocally enthusiastic. Not that Eddie hadn’t been! He’d mostly just, he’d just been—

“You think I’m fucking with you?”

Again: without having to see Eddie clocks the eye roll, the not-even-subtle challenge in it.

Alongside the nugget of genuine hurt held for if it turns out true and that: no.

No, Eddie will not fucking have that, so.

Okay, he won’t have that, but also first:

“I mean, yeah—“ because umm…their sex life is a little undeniable.

Steve snorts; how. How

“Here and now, jackass,” he snipes back and Eddie…Eddie really and truly doesn’t fucking know what to do with this. How cal, Steve is. How focused and dedicated to the task. How monumentally and profoundly, just…

How this is sitting in his chest as so much more than the rest of it somehow in a way Eddie cannot wrap his mind around to understand and it’s frightening. Not understanding something so clearly and intimately important; so clearly fucking intimate.

“Not exactly,” Eddie ultimately settles on speaking rather than continuing to gape, continuing to stew in his terror as his heartbeat picks up but speed, it comes out more choked than he’d been hoping; less convincing by a mile as a result. “I don’t think you’re fucking with me like, like it’s something intentional,” and Eddie seeks out Steve’s gaze directly then because that’s it, that’s the hurt part he needs to root out and not crush to bits because he doesn’t crush any part of the man he loves, ever; no.

No, Eddie needs to root that out so he can draw it into the pounding in his chest warm and safe to be cradled and adored until it snuffs itself out in contented fucking joy, for being loved right. Like it deserves.

Which might be part of the problem in the present case just: this time it’s a problem for Eddie.

“Like not mean or anything,” he reiterates, to make absolute sure of this part too; “I just…”

Steve watches him as he struggles to put any part of it into words, can’t even move, or fidget like this: caught, and kinda giddily so underneath everything else, and maybe he needs to lean into that base sensation, see if he can chart his way out from the center versus stumbling around the sides:

“It can’t be, like, enjoyable,” is what he ultimately settles on saying as clear as he came because honestly, that sums up the bulk of it.

Plus he’s learned by now to trust Steve to reach around his rougher edges and find the heart of his meaning, or else, and probably more often: hold his hand as the send out a search party between them for the right words.

Because that’s still it, isn’t it: together.

And of everything else, Eddie doesn’t have to even pysch himself up to trust in that; it just it. It comes natural like breathing.

“Umm,” Steve draws out, a little incredulous; “why not?”

Why not? Why isn’t this exchange clearly one-sided?

“Because,” Eddie tries to find his words, or at least some of them: “I guess, what do you get out of it?”

Steve’s the one glancing to lock their gazes and Eddie…Eddie doesn’t feel ashamed where he might have early on. But he recognises the similar dive where it still lives in his stomach for the gentle warmth that Steve stares into him. Like he sees Eddie’s question, and loves Eddie enough that he won’t dismiss it.

“One more,” Steve instructs confidently, just-shy-of-demands.

“Steve—“

“If you hate it we never have to do it again,” Steve counters; a compromise; “promise.”

“That’s not—“ because fucking hell, as if Eddie could ever hate it.

“One more,” Steve reminds him with the patience of a saint and…Eddie’s moving almost without any thought for it at all, like his body runs the way of his heart and moves for Steve be rote, which.

Kinda, yeah.

“Blow,” Steve’s instructing and Eddie’s doing the moving-by-instinct-because-Steve-says thing again; knows he’s blinking owlishly as he purses his lips and does as he’s asked.

Blows. Ever-so-gentle.

“Okay,” Steve assesses and then grins: “okay, that’s it. Perfect.”

Eddie won’t fucking argue. Not least because it’s true.

Though he’s more invested in the perfection looking up at him like this.

“Verdict?”

And okay, Eddie thinks maybe he has words now, at least inside his head: intimacy wasn’t something he’d ever had before Steve, and frankly was never something he was hanging hopes on ever getting, again—before Steve.

But it wasn’t just because he didn’t have other options that Eddie banked on intimacy equalling sex, either. Because once he did have Steve, it just shifted to the idea of sex as a way of showing love. The more of himself he could give to Steve, the more intimate they’d become: the more of him that was Steve’s for the taking, the more of Steve he look reverent into himself, body to body: that was intimate. That was a relationship, how it looked as it grew. First time Steve came inside him. First time Eddie licked him open. First time he fucked Steve’s gorgeous goddamn thighs.

That kind of thing.

But Eddie’s not sure even the heaviest, headiest sex has ever left his heart as much of a thumping, fluttery mess as just this, which doesn’t feel like just anything: Steve. Sitting in front of him. With a bottle he drove out to Indy to get just for Eddie. Because Eddie wanted it. Because Eddie would like it. Because it might make Eddie happy and it did, it really really did, and—

Steve’s just painted his fucking nails the most gorgeous shiny black, only the slightest bit straying off on the skin, too, and it’s somehow hitting Eddie deeper than the first time they fucked, the first time they stretched each other open, the first time they 69’d in the sheets.

This is apparently what knocks Eddie on his ass for just how deep the love goddamn goes.

“That.”

“Hmm,” Eddie hums, blinking back to the moment where he was busy getting caught up in the new revelation of what intimacy looked like, not to mention caught up in admiring his nails: “what’s ‘that’?”

And Steve’s smiling beatific, incandescent, as he pokes Eddie’s cheek, no, more specifically: as he pokes Eddie’s dimple.

“What I get out of it.”

And Eddie flushes hot under Steve’s touch, then, as it all adds up and seeps in strong enough to shake his core before reshaping him from the inside out as Steve taps the little divot in his skin playfully:

“That.”

Which is how Eddie realizes full on and forever, probably something he already knew, just somewhere under the surface: the intimacy was the sharing of the joy. And in love, especially a love like this one: joy itself is the payoff.

Joy, like everything, is shared by default.

Eddie lifts his eyes, meets Steve’s smile so wide, and relishes the color on his nails as a sign of it for seeing; relishes the dizzy cadence pumping in his chest as proof for the rest of him, to feed and nurture this depth of loving for all the simple things, undimmed and forever until his heart stops doing anything at all. Because there is no pay off, even if there is always something to get out of it. Out of all of it.

Because love is them; together.

Intimately entwined to the goddamn cells.

tag list (comment to be added): @pearynice @hbyrde36 @slashify @finntheehumaneater @wxrmland

♥️

divider credit here

[shokolandish]

viv is not a good person and i don't support her, but ive got a hyperfixation right now and im gonna make that everybody else's problem

besides, separate art from the artist or whatever

hazbin has a shit ton of mistakes, problems, same body and hell, even same clothes syndrome. does hell only have one shop or something???

but i just kiiiinda enjoy (?) it for what it is

and ive seen a lot of people do redesigns and that seems really fun and honestly, the characters have a lot of potential that's just blatantly ignored by the show

aaaanyways, after all that out of the way, i present to you...

finished refs for two of my redesigns for the cast!!! did the main couple first, naturally

soo, here's charlie

age: about 22 in human years

and vanessa!

age: about 25 years old. not sure if angels age differently but that's her age in human years

some notes under the cut

Charlie

- yep, i made her non-binary. just get a lot of non-binary energy from xer. besides, i like the hc of them preferring the name charlie over charlotte because it sounds more gender-neutral

- i like to imagine xer a bit on the bigger side complexion-wise. like, i don't know if you could call her chubby but she is a bit plump and really soft to the touch not only because of the fur. i feel like being soft and having more soft edges in buns design would fit buns character more

- she's not freakishly tall anymore!!!! like.. i don't mind her being tall because she's the princess of hell after all.. also have you seen how tall lilith is???? but i feel like sometimes it's TOO much... also honestly it also just fits them more imo??

- they're a redhead now. I MEAN LIKE. both lucifer and lilith were described with red hair in old paintings.. i just had to.

Vanessa

- yeah yeah i made her a demigirl... her original color palette just screamed demigirl. like. it was literally the demigirl flag color palette.

- i thought of naming her violet but that'd be a little too on the nose i think- gave her actual hips!! and not whatever was going on in her original design (the waist just going straight into the legs)

- also made her a little more.. (uh i guess the appropriate word is "thicc") overall- yeah i also redesigned the angelic spear a bit. not too proud of it but i think it gets the idea across

- i don't usually.. draw noses, but i figured it was a pretty big/most recognizable part of her design so i gave her one.

- oh yeah btw she's not gray anymore!!!! yippee!!!!! like what's even up with viv and making poc characters gray. anyways since she's a fallen angel i figured giving her a more human appearance would make sense. we've seen winners in heaven and a lot of them look pretty human. even if we only look at exorcists, lute looks pretty human too.

writing notes

okay, so, i wanna give you some notes about the writing, but before i do - i am NOT a professional writer, im just a kid who has some criticism for the hellfire of a show hazbin is

with that out of the way...

chaggie's writing

okay so. chaggie am i right.

so, ill just get this out of the way - it's boring

like, really boring

chaggie defenders will say they're just "casual" and im an asshole for wanting more from them but you can be casual and not be FUCKING BORING

like.. all of their interactions just go the same waythey comfort each other or hold hands or vaggie is trying to convince charlie to do something and she NEVER. FUCKING. LISTENS. like seriously.

the only time she actually listened was when vaggie convinced her to be more assertive but she was trying to do it anyway... and she changed vaggie's words and did her own thing anyways

they don't even have that much chemistry. and they're like, the main couple. they're supposed to have chemistry.

hell, emily and charlie had more chemistry in one episode they interacted in than vaggie and charlie in the whole damn show

vaggie's writing

vaggie's writing.. it's... sigh.

she doesn't really feel like a separate character when she's with charlie

they're just. doing the same thing. over and over again. all of their interactions are the fucking same. like.. i wanna care but i just have no reason to. i just DON'T FUCKING CARE.

even vaggie's whole deal in "whatever it takes" is her just?? dedicating her life to being charlie's partner?? and not even being her own person and living for herself??? like. what's up with that. maybe i just didn't pay enough attention??? i can't be bothered to rewatch any chaggie scenes in episode 2 because they did not deserve that drama and i just don't care enough

im supposed to care but i don't

the show just. doesn't give me any reason to care.

vaggie interacting with ANY other character is so much more interesting - i don't know what to expect, i can't predict it!

vaggie interacting with alastor? hell yeah! we never know alastor's intentions and seeing vaggie not taking any of his shit is really entertaining!

vaggie interacting with angel dust? sure! id love to hear the bickering or maybe them having to put up being alone with each other for an episode? maybe both of them having to put up with charlie's shenanigans and bonding over that?

vaggie interacting with niffty? okay sure! a lil gremlin and an involuntary caretaker maybe with vaggie seeing niffty can take care of herself? or vaggie trying to put up with her insanity?

vaggie interacting with husk? oh hell yeah, they both seem to be the straight man in any situation (despite neither of them being straight but whatever), maybe they can have a drink or two together.

vaggie interacting with pentious? yes please! she'd not take any of his shit, but honestly? pentious' obliviousness with vaggie's seriousness could be a very fun dynamic!

but charlie? yeah i can just. predict any interaction they'll have.

and that's not really a good thing with the main couple

because it just gets old really quickly

and we see them all the time, so after some time they can just start to irritate people

how would i fix it?

MAKE THEM INTERESTING, DAMN IT

maybe make charlie listen to vaggie more often??

or maybe vaggie getting a bit irritated because charlie doesn't take her advice seriously

or maybe actually show us how they fell in love?? not just love at first sight or whatever they had in the flashback

like, id love to see actual chemistry develop!or maybe make their interactions not as predictable??

or maybe actually show us how they work together

have an episode dedicated to them

that's the problem with trying to fit everything into one season - the character and relationship developments can end up rushed and just. not very good.

like.. the season we got could be easily stretched out into two or three, WHERE ARE YOU GOING SO FAST, SHOW?? why so fast

this show doesn't know about the existence of filler episodes and we NEED filler episodes

to actually get to know the characters, to explore dynamics, to get to know the world around them

the season is just way too short to tell the story it's trying to say

and if i didn't care about a character from the start and the show doesn't let me meet them... im not gonna just start caring.

---

anyways, that's about it! im definitely gonna do more, i even have angel and pentious ready:) niffty, husk, alastor, emily or adam are next after them, i already have them sketched out

idk what order im gonna post them in but we'll see i guess

---

bonus:

some concepts

[the-burd-lord]

Playing around with Alastor’s design a little bit. He would still wear most of the same outfit he wore back then, don't fix what's not broken, but with an added suit jacket that's a bit too big for him. I need to make a bit of to at some point, but after his break up he draws on a pencil mustache to add on to his emphasis of having a new appearance while still staying in his time.

A post depression mustache if you will.

As for some of his creepy aspects I'm cutting out the voodoo elements of his character, and instead using the uncanny and analog horror elements instead (I am a simple creature).

I need to actually remake the color pallets for him and old Vox, but essentially they both start off as black and white or with grey like colors, and gain new ones after they split up. Vox becomes more saturated and Alastor becomes sepiatone, as while it's more colorful it's still is reminiscent of the past.

Now time for some of the silly rivalry bits:

I’d image they would have casual debates on the radio and tv that would soon devolve into insults and eventually nothing but 30/50s slang and Creole French that would last for hours.

I need to finish writing this bit, but basically Charlie sees it as a good idea to go on Vox’s talk show to promote the hotel and herself. There’s some lil rivalry moments between Vox and Al, but ultimately Vox doesn’t fully let his grudges get in the way of hosting a good show.

Even though they mutually broke up they still each regret ending the relationship, and as such covey their loneliness in their respective mediums. Vox making sad, gay movies and being so worn out after that when he watches them he doesn’t even know what he made.

And Alastor having a late night audio story about a turtle and a hare going on adventures. There are times where he’ll just start describing crushing regret and isolation, and he’ll realize that he may have gone a bit far and try to steer it towards more of a happy ending with Vox listening in on all of it.

Something something relationship meme with a sketch I’ll probably never finish. Also surprising, but also not that surprising, to me that in "Stayed Gone" they didn't go with the obvious joke on what to call his late night talk show.

The grrls r fighting!! But for real this time.

Been playing with the idea of Vox turning into pure energy when he's overly stressed, or just becoming a weird robot creature as form he can take as an overlord. It's probably going to result in a lot of sketches where I 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 won't use Videodrome as inspiration (lie).

At some point I need to get a good animation program and just start making a bunch of animatics or animations cause I have so many song inspirations for these two.

Specifically one that I want to make a whole animation for is “(They Long to Be) Close to You.” Basically it’s just going to be them fighting interspersed with moments of them waltzing together. I think you can probably parse out the metaphors and connections I'm going for here.

Also me and a friend were talking about song inspirations and after I continually listened, watched, and worked (at least for me) on Hadestown we just replaced Hades with Vox in some of the songs.

🚨SPOILERS FOR HADESTOWN🚨

One stanza that I need to make an animatic for is in Chant Reprise, specifically 2:33-3:18 with the “I conduct the electric city” line.

This is going to become a bit of promotion for the show cause I love it so much. Probably my favorite musical ever! Also highly recommend listening to this version of "Chant," cause there’s a verse for Persephone and Eurydice that provide some cool reflections that reflect the original “Chant” in their verses.

There’s no direct references to any of the other characters, although you can add your own interpretations.

On that note here’s another song that reflects them. “How Long?” mainly with the “your pity won’t fit in my bed” lines, and when Hades and Persephone are actually singing to each other turning it into being about their relationship instead of the fates of Orpheus and Eurydice.

And a lil teaser for how they make up:

Will make another post about them. I have so many sketches WWHYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN’T ESCAPE EITHER VERSION!!!!

[octuscle]

Hello support! I hope you can help me because I am not good with this kind of tech and I don't want to make a mess! You see, I have taking bad decisions all my life. I decided to ignore I was gay and lived a straight life for 40 years... I never took care of my appearance and now I am a 42 yo man with a bellly, and I don't seem to be making any progress at gym.

I think... I feel like it's too late. I feel that even if I change the way I live from now on, I have lost too much time, too many experiences... and I want to use Chronivac to turn my life 180º. I don't really have a specific type of life in mind, but I hope you have some great presets for me.

Can you help, please? Thanks!

Fuck, dude! You've been sweating out your sexual desires your whole life? And this pathetic body is all you've achieved in the gym? Okay, good that you came to me. It would be terrible if things got any worse. Lie down, get some sleep, I'll take care of it.

Since your wife threw you out on the street, you've been living in a small boarding house until you find something better. The bathroom is in the hallway and you share it with the other tenants. Most of them are plumbers and other tradesmen working on a construction site in the area. They wait in front of the toilet. It's occupied, of course. You hear the flush. The door opens. A mason of the highest caliber comes out. His dick is still sticking out of his pants, which he only closes casually. You make eye contact. A little too long. The synapses in your brain run amok. You go to the bathroom. You leave the door unlocked. You drop your pants. The door opens. Jackpot!

You did good for a virgin. You blow like the devil. And you know how to massage a cock in your tight asshole. The men waiting outside the toilet grin shamelessly as first the bricklayer and then you come out. One of them slips you a note with his phone number and tells you to call him. Shit, you forgot to piss because of all the sex. And you haven't showered either. What time is it anyway? Dude, you're a little out of it. It's only 6:30. Sure, the workers are already leaving. But you just got off work. Being a doorman is a hard job. Lie down first. Your landlady already knows. Breakfast is usually served at 16:00.

The first guests are already coming home when you wake up. Dressed only in your jockstrap, you shuffle across the hall to the bathroom. There are phone numbers on the walls. Usually with a crude drawing of a cock above it. You take your magnificent piece out of your underpants. 20 centimeters flaccid. With an impressive PA on top. Fits well in your calloused hand. As you pee, your eyes wander up your forearms. Were those tattoos there yesterday?

You're sitting in the breakfast room in your tracksuit. You're watching porn on your cell phone. One hand always on your dick. You're always horny. Hey, 42 is no age. You're at the peak of your manhood. You grab your gym bag, kiss the landlady goodbye, and head to the shabby basement boxing gym in the red-light district.

It's around 8 p.m. when you come out into the fresh air. Three hours of hard training, jumping rope, punching bag, sparring, technique training, lifting weights. And then a cold shower. No soap. No deodorant. Routine for more than ten years. And it shows. Fuckin' fit. A machine. You belong here, among hookers, pimps and drug dealers. This is your world. You go to your favorite falafel restaurant almost every night. Because the falafel is good. And because the chef's son is hot and horny. Dinner and a fuck - a good way to start the evening. And then you open your club. It was always your dream to create a gay club, bar and brothel concept. You had the right instinct. The concept has been successful for years. Partygoers love your place. Within an hour or two, the dance floor and dark rooms are full.

You're one of the toughest bouncers in town. But it's also one of the hottest clubs in the city. And you're only at the door until two or three o'clock. Then you check the situation in the club. And if there's something hot to fuck, you check the situation in the darkrooms particularly carefully.

[pray4byron]

Hello! I saw you were doing match-ups for Hazbin Hotel and wanted to give it a whirl!

I'm AFAB, and use she/her pronouns. I do have a preference for males, but I wouldn't mind being paired with one of the female characters in the show.

Personality wise... I'm an introvert and do prefer time to myself, but I love hanging out with my friends and family immensely. I hold them very closely to my heart and would do A LOT for them. I'm a music lover and have a preference for rock/alternative music. I'm also a bit of a smart-ass and can't stand bs, lol. I will gently call people out for being hurtful or dumb, or both. I also have a soft spot for animals of all kinds. They literally deserve the world. 😫

My style is more casual and comfy?? Like leggings, sweatpants, fuzzy socks, a nice fitting tank top, with a hoodie or sweater on. I have been wanting to get into more styles like Y2K Grunge and Goth, but haven't found pieces that would fit me. (I'm a bit curvy and have a hard time finding stuff that won't suffocate me)

My main love languages are Quality Time and Acts of Service. I just love the idea of making food together or doing chores while listening to some music. Singing along, either seriously or goofily, lol.

My hobbies are mainly daydreaming, singing and dancing, and listening to music. I used to draw but haven't in YEARS. I have thought about getting back into it, but am kind of apprehensive about it. It just brings back a lot of anxiety.

My interests are as stated above, along with history. I love learning about different eras and about different parts of the world. I also like to talk about philosophies and converse about different perspectives people have and why.

As for name stuff, I won't add my name here, but I do love when the people I'm close to give me nicknames. It makes me feel special and warm and fuzzy. ❤️

Appearance wise... I'm a medium brunette, with gray hairs, that goes past my shoulders, but I have recently been wearing it up with hair clips. I have light blue eyes. I'm 5 foot, 5 inches. I also have a bit of chub, thick thighs, and am a DD. (If I could get a back and shoulder massage, that would be great, lol. And I would also LOVE if my partner buried/laid their face on my chest while we cuddle. It would be the BEST feeling)

Thank you for taking your time if you get to this, and take care of yourself!

i knew right off the bat who i was doing lol, you’re paired with…

Vox !!

Vox loves your introverted-ness, it’s a contrast to his life that’s mostly spent on set or through a screen, his time with you feels so much more real, cause more often than not it’s just you and him, also your comfy style makes him feel very safe and at home haha

Vox also loves your smart-ass self, and it’s fun when he gets to be a smart ass back, you both kinda just go back and forth yk?

Vox will definitely dedicate an episode of his show to talk about at least one of your interests, whether or not you catch on though is debatable…

Despite the fact you’d most likely much rather stay in bed, he’d really want you to pop on his show, not just for the status of saying he has a partner, when he sees you sing and dance around the living room as you sweep the floor he thinks your pretty fucking talented, pretty screen-worthy tbh, and if you can’t do that, at least maybe draw something? He just doesn’t wanna see all your talent go to waste, but he would never force you

Also while cuddling, his screen definitely goes into your chest and yk how the bottom of a laptop heats up a lot after being charged for a long time? Yeah it’s like that, but with his face, on top of your chest

[alittlextrathatway]

Line: "Show me the places where the others gave you scars." Location: CFD Christmas party.

Alright 5th and final part of the Firehouse 40 AU.

You can find the rest here: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

***

It’s been a while since Matt had an official date to a CFD function. The last time was with Gabby, right before that relationship completely fell apart.

Gabby’s moved on — in her personal life and her career — and so has he, but he forgot how much of a fishbowl the CFD can be. Especially, when a guy walks into a room with Sylvie Brett on his arm. Sylvie Brett in her duty uniform is appealing enough, but Sylvie all dressed up for a holiday party? She’s bound to draw a few slack jawed stares.

When he picked her up, he nearly had a heart attack at the first glimpse of her form fitting holiday red dress. It was low cut, with a neckline that reminded him if the top half of a heart, and thin straps framing her sternum. The way it emphasized her neck and collar bone left him with the urge to lean down and bite the graceful swanlike line her features seemed to draw. The fact that he’s managed to keep that whim to himself is a testament to his self control.

She’s gorgeous to him all the time though, even when returning from a call drenched in unknown substances. The image of her crawling out of the back of 61, just over 24 hours ago, covered in a poor kid’s vomit is fresh in his mind. Her first shift as PIC on 61 didn’t quite go the way she hoped, but she bore it like the consummate professional she’s always been.

That level of proficiency is sexy as hell to him. She faces the ugly stuff head on and never flinches or compromises in her empathy. She’s not only gorgeous on the outside, but the inside too. However, he recognizes he could potentially be biased. It comes from knowing her heart as well as he does, and from being fortunate enough to have spent the last two months sharing space with her at one residence or another.

So, he assumes most of the people in the room are staring because she makes such a striking picture, even when compared to all the festive Christmas decorations that surround them. It’s not until Sylvie quickly directs her gaze down at the floor and squeezes his hand in a vice-like grip that he realizes anything’s wrong.

“Everything okay?” He asks.

“Um, yes, but I need you to keep standing there, blocking me from view for the moment, and I also need to tell you something I probably should have mentioned by now.” When she looks up at him again, her face is pinched and her eyes are apologetic.

“Okay,” he says, bracing himself for a deep dark secret. Something that might flip the last couple of months on their head.

“You know the CFD Chaplain we’ve had for the last few years?”

“Yeah, Sheffield, right?”

She nods. “That’s him.”

“What about him?”

“Well, uh, we were briefly engaged a few years ago.”

Matt has no idea what to do with that information. “How briefly?”

“Just a month or so — until he suggested I should think about quitting my job once we got married and then I very quickly realized it was never going to work,” she confesses. “I should’ve said something sooner but I just — I mean how do you bring up a failed engagement in casual conversation?”

She bites her bottom lip and stares at him with wary expectant eyes as if she thinks he might blow up at her at any moment.

“Sorry I sprung that on you,” she whispers, her eyes leaving his and widening slightly. “But he’s headed this way and more than a few people in this room know I jilted him so we’re for sure gonna have an audience.”

He wants to tell her not to worry. He has no room to be critical of botched engagements or trying to make it work with someone who simply isn’t the right fit. His entire romantic history is full of those exact same things.

“Sylvie,” the Chaplain greets as he joins them.

“Kyle, hi,” she says with a too bright false smile. “Have you met Matt Casey? He’s a captain over at 51.”

“Your new house,” Kyle states with a nod, turning to offer his hand to Matt. “We’ve met a few times over the years. Haven’t we, Casey?”

“We have, yes,” Matt replies, suddenly remembering a conversation with Sheffield about where to take his new fiancée for her birthday dinner. Matt had given him a couple of suggestions but never followed up on whether or not he had taken them. In light of what Sylvie just revealed to him, he realizes she must have been the fiancée. “Been a while since you dropped in on 51 though.”

And now Matt understands why.

“You’re right. I promise I’ll work on correcting that soon.”

Yeah, he bets he will based on the moon eyes the Chaplain keeps throwing at Sylvie. For her part, Sylvie definitely isn’t returning them. She looks antsy and uncomfortable. Matt tries to imagine running into Gabby tonight and has to rein in a wince. Sylvie doesn’t know about Gabby. He imagines it would be just as awkward as this moment with the chaplain.

“Well, if you’ll excuse us,” Matt says, pointedly threading his fingers through Sylvie’s. “Our chief and his wife are right over there, and Sylvie hasn’t had the chance to meet his wife yet. I don’t want her to miss her window.”

“Oh, right, of course,” Kyle says, stepping aside. “We can all catch up later.”

“Sure,” Sylvie agrees, still holding her blatantly forced smile. “We should definitely do that.”

Like hell they will. He doesn’t care that this man once had a relationship with Sylvie, but he does care about Sylvie’s unease. If she doesn’t want to be around Kyle, then she won’t have to be.

He leads her away from the chaplain, but stops just short of Boden and Donna.

“I am so sorry, Matt,” she immediately begins to ramble. Her nerves exploding to the surface as she talks. “I should have told you, I know, and I’m sure you’re furious with me but I swear I wasn’t trying to hide it. I—“ She cuts herself off when she realizes he’s smiling at her with with warmth and amusement. “Wait, you aren’t mad at me at all, are you?”

“No,” he states, chuckling slightly. “In the grand scheme of things, we haven’t known each other that long. There’s no timetable and learning things about each other.”

“Oh,” she says, blinking owlishly at him. “Okay.”

“And in the interest of full disclosure, you’re not the only one with a failed engagement under their belt,” he reveals, blushing slightly. “Personally, I have two.”

She gasps, eyes bright and full of mirth. “No way. You too?”

Her incredulity cancels out any shock he might have experienced from her news and he finds himself laughing at her. “Sheffield was fiancé number two?”

She nods. When talking about the chaplain she looked more embarrassed than haunted, but this first fiancé was clearly different. Worse. “The first one is why I came to Chicago. At some point I realized I was living his life, not mine. So, I left.”

There’s more to the story than that, he can tell. But she can have her secrets. She’ll tell him when she’s ready. After all, he’s yet to tell her about Hallie. If anything now he knows they both have scars that run deep, deeper than they may appear at first glance. It’ll all come out with time. Something he hopes they have plenty of if he gets his way.

He’s spent two months getting to know her — eagerly filling in the puzzle that is Sylvie Brett. He doesn’t have all the pieces yet but he has enough of them to understand the most vital parts of her. Her good heart, her empathic soul, and her resourceful mind. She impresses him more and more every day and, in truth, there’s no one he’d rather spend every second of his free time with than her.

His hands land on her waist, urging her toward him. She follows his lead, bring her arms up to wrap around his neck. Intentionally, he meets and maintains her gaze. “The guy sounds like an moron,” Matt tells her. “But if he led you here to me then at least some good came from him.”

“It’s funny,” she says, thoughtful expression on her face. “If I had a chance to go back and change anything about my life, you would think I’d use it, wouldn’t you? That I’d use it to spare myself some pain or humiliation or something.” She sighs contentedly, running one of her hands through his hair until it can rest at the nape of his neck. “But I wouldn’t.”

“No?” He asks, curious about where this conversation is headed. “Not at all?”

She shakes her head. “It’s too big of a risk. I mean, change any part of my past and…maybe I don’t find my way to Chicago, the CFD, or you. And I don’t want to imagine my life without you. Not if I can help it.”

The sentiment rocks through him like a seismic shock. It shifts his entire being and sends happiness like he’s never known breaking through the surface. An irrepressible smile overtakes his face and he can’t stop himself from kissing her. It’s a short but firm kiss. Maybe a little deeper than is perhaps decent in a room full of their colleagues, but he doesn’t care. Because in this moment he knows something with as much certainty as he knows the compartments on 81. Backwards, forwards, and with his eyes closed.

“I love you,” he declares. If he doesn’t say it now he’s afraid he’ll come up with a million reasons to chicken out.

Her breathing hitches and for a moment he worries he’s misread their entire relationship, but then the moment passes and she smiles so bright she nearly blinds him. “I — god, Matt. I love you too.”

“You do?” He asks in disbelief. “You really do?”

She nods, smile never faltering. “I really do.”

He kisses her again and this time he doesn’t give a single thought to who’s looking. Sylvie Brett loves him. She picked him. And he’s going to make sure she never regrets it, not for a second. He always wants her to feel as if all their struggles and their broken journeys were meant to bring them together — to believe being with him in the end is worth the pain.

Because that’s what he believes too. The disappointments and the losses hurt a lot less now that he knows they were preparing him for her.

[amysterywrappedinanenigma]

Ranking (bullying) LD Curtain's season 2 fashion choices

Because even if the show seems to have forgiven him, I sure haven’t. 

DISCLAIMER: This is in NO WAY criticizing the costume designers of this show- it couldn’t be farther from that. They’ve done an amazing job with every single piece in the show, and all of these fit Curtain’s personality and aesthetic perfectly. This is just me mocking the in-universe fashion choices that the character makes, because he needs to be bullied more. All lighthearted, all in good fun.

Disclaimer #2: I know literally nothing about fashion, please don’t attack me. 

Okay, from least heinous to most heinous, here we go! 

First up:

As much as it pains me to admit this. I actually. Really like this one. (”And if you told me I would never say something like that, well, I would never say something like that, but here we are.”) I think the silhouette is interesting, and all of the pieces come together well. Plus, in some of the tighter shots you can see that the fabric texture and detailing is really cool:

The leaves as clasps and that crinkly texture kind of really slap, and I really love the way the collar sort of wraps into the placket.

8 / 10

Interview outfit:

Wow, look! Another one that doesn't inspire immediate feelings of rage! We're doing so well.

This one isn't as visually interesting as the first outfit, but I do sort of like it. The collar folds create kind of a cool shape, and the grey accents under the top is a nice little contrast. I don't know how I feel about the zipper right below the collar, it's kind of a weird choice and might look better if it wasn't so visible, but I'll let it slide for this one since we have a much more heinous zipper situation coming up later.

I like the contrasting shades of blue with the button up shirt, and the lavender shirt he wears under it later in the episode, and the fact that part of the collar can kind of fold down to make a different shape.

6 / 10

Clown sleeves:

So the sleeves on this one are. kind of a lot. But they gain a couple of points for being the only thing in this outfit that really pops. They're sort of weird, but I can see the appeal of them standing out against the black vest, and being a pretty nice contrast that draws the eye.

5 / 10

Meh:

Time for the part of the post where I include 6 outfits that I just kind of don't have strong opinions on, mainly because they feel like pretty standard, decent outfits with no real reason to bat an eye at them.

The last image is saved on my computer as "are those your pajamas?" but. acceptable.

sure / 10

Dancy dance:

🧍‍♂️

I don't have much to say about this one other than, for some reason, the visual of him wearing tennis shoes makes me viscerally uncomfortable.

🤡 / 10

Elizabeth Holmes Chic:

He looks like a kid playing dress-up in their dad's giant overcoat, except someone let him go outside looking like this. I know oversized clothing items can be fashionable but here he's like drowning in it.

And then when he takes the coat off:

This maybe wouldn’t be a terrible outfit, it’s just so goddamn pretentious. He seems like he's trying to look like Steve Jobs, but ended up looking more like Elizabeth Holmes.

about to start another pyramid scheme / 10

Vacation dad (derogatory):

On someone else I might like this outfit, but on him it just looks so dumb. He looks like he's about to go skydiving with how much he's buttoned up. Better watch out or he could get carried away and spend 20 minutes unstrapping and unbuttoning it to reveal his fun little vacation shirt underneath! It's somehow stupidly formal and stupidly casual at the same time, and I just think it's a very silly little outfit. He's joining the army as penance for his fashion crimes. If you ask very very nicely he might tell you what's in his four huge, weirdly-placed pockets.

what's in the pockets / 10

And now.

We've arrived. We're finally here. The last one. The moment we've all been waiting for.

The worst of the worst:

I'll be honest, I don't really know where to start this one. There are too many things to choose from. Do I start with the weird asymmetrical pattern on the sleeves, with the red and blue stripes that aren't even made up of the same type of pattern?

Or maybe the fact that the buttons (and the piece of fabric they're attached to) ends too high above the neckline of the top layer?

Or we could talk about the fact that the top layer looks like one of those smocks you'd wear to get an x-ray at the dentist, made in a fabric that must have been rescued from the back of a fabric store after 50 years of not being bought.

I think by far the worst part is the length:

The fact that those strange little smock flaps go almost a foot past the zipper, halfway down to his knees. It swallows like 2/3rds of his body in this horrible block of grey fabric, and this man has the audacity to carry himself like it’s fashionable, instead of an assault on the senses. 

I want to set it on fire. I want to burn him along with it. I want to gently take his tailor aside and ask if Curtain held him at knife point and made him design this monstrosity. TEAR IT TO PIECES, GET IT OUT OF MY SIGHT, TURN IT INTO SCRAPS FOR SQ'S ART PROJECTS.

Anyway.

This outfit is such a menace to this world that I thought everyone should get a chance to tear it to shreds, so presenting, the communal roast:

“GROSS. SHUN.” -@mvshortcut

"prison chic. dentist x-ray chic. ugly." -@mysteriouseggsbenedict 

“the terrible zip up vest that just keeps on going fucked a potato sack” -@bi-demon-ium

“runway model for the most pretentious fashion designer who ever lived” - @sqenthusiast

“Trying to be casual but also Better Than You. The definition of 'you really thought you did something there'” -@echo-delta

“Child with one of those books where you can draw clothes over top the shape of a person” -@mysteriouseggsbenedict 

“Mr Curtain sir I don’t feel very happy looking at this. I think it’s a little counterproductive.” -@mvshortcut

Truly horrendous.

borrowing constance's acid to destroy the outfit and then clean the eyes of anyone who wants to forget they saw this monstrosity / 10

Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me, and as always, send the x-ray bib to hell.

[elisysd]

My place is yours 

Masterlist

A year and two months after Paris

Ethan and Julia - 25 years old

Ethan looked at Julia, his sweater fitting her body so well, it was like it belonged to her as she was preparing breakfast in his kitchen. She had spent every single day of the winter break at his place, with him. She had come over to celebrate their first anniversary and had never left. And quite frankly he had done everything he could to make her stay. But she had not complained. Nothing much had changed in a year, despite that he was more in love with her than ever. And she was too, not failing to tell him or to show him, in front of thousands of people or in the dark of his room. The season would be starting soon, the car was showing very encouraging results and he felt more at ease with everything and everyone. The new year was bringing him new perspectives and new hopes.

He stood up from his couch, slowly moving behind her as she was making coffee and hugged her, kissing the back of her head as he felt her relaxing against him. She belonged there. In his arms, in his life, in his flat. His flat was becoming her own and she had started to leave a few things here and there, on purpose or not. He didn’t mind. He loved finding little stickers on the floor that she had left falling from her notebooks or her toothbrush, right next to his in the bathroom. It felt normal. It felt right.

His heart fell as he thought the little bubble they had created throughout the winter would soon burst. He didn’t want to go back to normality, even if he was still excited. He turned on the stereo as soft jazz music started to fill the room and looked at the window. It was sunny outside, a few people were out, casually strolling the empty streets. Maybe later on, Julia and he could be one of those couples. He felt a mug of hot coffee being poured next to him and a hand sneaking around his chest, resting casually right where his heart was beating and a sweet kiss between his shoulder blades.

“I love mornings like this.” she whispered against his back as he held her hands, drawing small patterns with his thumb.

“I love them too.”

“I’ll miss them. Waking up in a hotel doesn’t feel the same.”

And suddenly, he imagined her not being there the rare times he would be home and he felt like suffocating.

“You don’t have to miss them. You could stay here.”

“You don’t want me around you?” she asked, confused.

He turned towards her, taking both of her hands in his and looked at her right in the eyes.

“No, I still want you around. Unless you don’t want to anymore and that would be okay… I meant here. In this flat. Permanently.”

“Are… are you asking me to move in with you?” she stuttered.

“Let’s face it, Julia. You’re here most of the time when it’s not a race week, and when you’re not, we’re with your parents. You wouldn’t have to bring your bag whenever you want to stay here and you could have a real workspace. I can make the necessary arrangements.”

“It’s a big step in our relationship.”

“We’re already living together. Let’s just make it official. But if you need time to think it through…”

“I don’t need time, Eth. I just felt a bit overwhelmed but, of course I want to move in with you.” she smiled.

Ethan let out a sigh of relief he didn’t know he was holding back before taking her in his arms to make her spin. When Julia announced it to her parents the only surprise came from the fact that they had taken this much time to make the move. They both were happy, offering their help in whatever form suited them best. But Louis wasn’t as happy as his parents, locking himself in his room, breaking both Julia and Ethan’s hearts.

“Louis, buddy… open up please.” Ethan begged him as Julia was softly knocking.

“No. You’re abandoning me. I don’t want to see you.”

“We don’t, Louis… we love you.” Julia replied.

“If you loved me you wouldn’t leave me.”

“You can come to our place whenever you want.” Ethan said.

“I wasn’t there a lot anymore, Louis. It doesn’t change anything.”

“Yes, it does! Because it means your room will be empty. And you won’t have your things here anymore. It will be like you don’t exist. And you will forget me. You will have your life with Ethan and you will stop caring.”

Julia was about to reply but Ethan was faster. In a firm grip, he opened Louis’ door wide before stepping in. The now seventeen years old was sitting on the floor, furiously writing down what seemed to be guitar chords, in a frantic way.

“Listen to me. We’re not abandoning you, I need my tennis partner and Julia needs her brother. It’s not because she decides to leave that it means she will stop caring. We are building our life together, a future. A future in which you will always fit.”

“You’re still taking my sister away from me. She is choosing you.”

“She can’t stay with you forever. And you need to learn to be an adult. And adults make choices in life according to what they think is best. It doesn’t mean it’s easy or not hard to do.”

Louis glared at him before putting his headphones on, adjusting his glasses before showing them his back, indicating that the conversation was over. It’s sad that they left Julia’s household and as soon as they got into Ethan’s Lamborghini, she broke down.

“You were a bit harsh with him…”

“You should stop treating him like a kid. He is old enough to be considered as an adult. He is starting uni soon. Did he choose his degree, by the way?”

“Musicology. And yeah, I know you’re right… it’s just. He’s my baby brother. And I didn’t expect him to react this way. I thought he would be happy.”

“Give him time.” he told her, kissing the side of her head before starting the car.

The next few days were all about Julia packing her stuff at her parents with the help of her dad and Ethan. Louis being nowhere to be seen or ignoring her when they were crossing each other’s paths. Most of the time he was outside, in the little cabin where his piano and now guitars were stocked. It was only when she finished putting her boxes in Ethan’s car that Louis finally got out to say goodbye and to apologize.

“You always have your place in my life. I’m always one call away, no matter the distance, Louis.”

“Can I still come when I want, if you’re here?” he asked.

“You’re always welcome. Just text before, okay?”

He nodded and Julia took him in her arms, kissing his cheek. Ethan smiled. Louis was now way taller than Julia and would probably be taller than Ethan soon. But still, with his lanky figure he looked like a kid, uncomfortable in his own body.

“I’m sorry I said you were taking my sister away from me. I didn’t really mean it. I still see you tomorrow for tennis, right?” Louis shyly asked.

“Of course.”

Coming back to what was now their home, still full of boxes as Julia was still figuring out where to put what. He had never seen it so full. A colorful blanket was now thrown over his couch, a plant was near the tv, cushions were on the two armchairs, new bedsheets were folded in the dresser but what struck him the most was the new frame on the console in the entrance. He took it in his hands, and traced the contour with a nostalgic smile. It was a picture of him, Julia and Louis, one of the very first they had taken.

“I thought it was only fair to add pictures of the people we love…” she explained.

“You’re right. It’s definitely the first of many. maybe we could add a big frame on the wall and fill it with a picture whenever we make a new happy memory with someone. We could go buy one.”

“I was thinking of buying little decorations, to make it more lively. Maybe one or two frames? We could put one above the tv, and one where we have the dining table. What do you think?”

“I love how it starts to be our home and not my flat, anymore. And everything you want.”

Author's note:

Don't hesitate to leave a comment or an ask, as well as reblogging and leaving a like. Besides the fact that I absolutely love to read you, it helps a lot for the story to find its audience. I also have a taglist for this story, so if you want to be added so you never miss a chapter, let me know.

Taglist:

@herondalism @aundercover @musingsbyshreya @karmabyfernando @reengard @mycenterfold @smoooothoperator

[funkymbtifiction]

image fixes

I was pondering why so many people mistype with the Enneagram and/or struggle to find their core type, and it dawned on me that their image fix might be muddying the waters. It's related to shame and how you are perceived, which means the image center is subtly influencing how everyone presents themselves, ALL THE TIME. It can even deceive you and cause you to identify with something you are not, because it's less shameful than admitting to the "bad side" of certain types.

For example, a 3 fix won't want to identify as a core 6, because of competency fixations. (3: I am competent/cool, being a "repressed thinking" 6 sounds bad and will make people look down on me.) A 4 fixer won't want to be identified with 9 or 6 right off the bat; it doesn't fit their self image and is too pedestrian (6/9 are the most common types -- eww!). A 2 might not want to be seen as a 2, since "give to get" is incredibly off-putting to them. (I know one 2 who typed herself 6 for a long time, because "they're the 2 without an agenda.")

I started thinking about this after noticing how many sp/so's in typing videos open a can of pop/beer or pour a glass of wine, and drink from it while answering the questions. My reaction was "I would never do that, it feels cringe to me." Then it dawned on me that I wouldn't do it, to image-curate (this is not me; I want to be seen in another way -- hello 3w4 fix, finding stuff to sneer at!), but another type would do it, also to image-curate. For me, it's "nooo, too casual/every-man!," for them, it's telling people something about me -- I drink beer, I am chill, these questions aren't bothering me, I'm an every-man (or look at this expensive/special bottled water / wine I drink, unlike other people). I would think "I want this video to look like Y, so I won't do Z," and they would think "I want this video to look like X so I will do Q."

Thing is, no matter where our image fix is, we're doing this stuff all the time without even noticing it -- image-curating. Trimming the truth a little so you look better. Or ignoring this part of the story and playing up that part so people notice THIS about you and not THAT. Loudly drawing attention over here instead of there. Pointing out how you are different, sharing the nice thing you did, humble-bragging, etc. Sitting a certain way in a video. Slouching in your chair. Picking your best side to show to the camera. Or doing the opposite and thinking "I'm gonna wear a ratty t-shirt to show I don't care / don't ascribe to traditional concepts of fashion/beauty." The higher the image focus, the more this is instinctual, but we're all still somewhat aware of it.

To land on an image fix, you have to think about what you're curating and sharing with others for specific reasons and why. #Everyone is broadcasting their image fix all the time, even if they aren't core image types; everyone 'edits' what they want other people to know about them. 3s project competency, success, and what they got done; 2s make sure others know how sweet and generous and affectionate they are; 4s remind others of their brokenness, separation, and how they can't be fixed. What are you sharing and how is it helping or hindering you in admitting to your core type?

[thebadgerclan]

Inclinations

Pairing: Kate Sharma x reader

Requested by Anonymous

Summary: You live your life in the shadows...

It was hard to live your life in the shadows, but you had to do so.  If you didn’t, you risked bringing ruin to both yourself and your family.  It was something you’d known all your life, and something your parents discovered upon your debut into society.  You had no interest in men beyond a casual friendship; you were a lesbian.  The word was only whispered around well-bred ladies, but as soon as you learned what it meant, you knew it was meant to describe you.

To your surprise, your family was rather accepting of you.  There was no need to secure a dowry, your family was wealthy enough, and you had three younger sisters, all who were poised to make advantageous matches.  Your father had already spun a tale: you would fail to find a man who met your standards and resign yourself to spinsterhood, guiding your sisters and volunteering to chaperone as needed.

The plan had appealed to you, allowing you to remain at home and be provided for until your father passed, at which time your elder brother had already agreed to support you.  That is, until you met Kate.  On your morning walk through the park, your gaze was drawn to the most beautiful woman you had ever seen.  Her ebony hair swept back, her skin fair and flawless, carrying herself with such grace and poise; she was gorgeous.

You’d managed to insert yourself into her path, making it so she would have to greet you, and being a proper lady, she did.  “Pardon me, but are you new to town?  I do not recall seeing you last season.”  She had smiled, dipping her chin demurely  “Indeed I am.  My sister, Mama, and I are here to secure Edwina a match.” “I see,” you’d replied.  “I shall have to invite you and your family or tea, Miss…?”

“Sharma, my apologies,” she’d replied.  “Kate Sharma.”  “Miss Y/N L/N.  Lovely to make your acquaintance.”  “You as well, Miss L/N.”  The pair of you had gone your separate ways, and the next afternoon, Lady Mary, Miss Edwina, and Kate had arrived for tea.  You’d chosen your attire carefully: a pale pink gown, your hair braided over your shoulder, and a violet tucked behind your ear.

It was a calling card, meant to catch the attention of any like-minded individuals while going unnoticed to anyone else.  And when Kate took a seat across from you, her eyes locked on the blossom, and her eyes widened.  Subtly, oh so subtly, she nodded, and you smiled, pouring your tea.  Kate knew you what you were, and with any luck, she might just feel the same.

She did.  When you encountered each other in the park the next day, she wore a lavender gown, violets woven into her hair.  “Might you walk with me for a while, Miss L/N?” she asked, and you nodded, falling into step beside her.  “You must know this cannot happen.”  “It can,” you refuted.  “It does.  We would just need to be careful.  Subtle.”  “And how might we manage that?”  You paused, and Kate halted beside you.

“My father is aware of my…inclinations, and has promised to protect and shelter me.  He could be persuaded to shelter you as well.”  Kate shook her head, continuing to walk. “What of my sister?  My mother?  I could never abandon them.”  “And I could never suggest such a thing.”  Not thinking, you grasped her hand, the touch like lightning, and Kate did not withdraw.  “But if you were to linger at my home, spend time with me alone, my family would look the other way.”

She fell silent, mulling your words over.  “It feels too good to be true,” she said, and you nodded.  “You feel too good to be true.  How is it that we have only just met and I cannot bear the thought of being without you?  That my heart feels fit to burst with how much I already adore you?”  You squeezed her hand before dropping it, not wanting to draw attention.  “Love works in mysterious ways, I suppose,” you said, and Kate nodded

Your father took some convincing, but in the end, you won him over.  Kate was permitted to spend her days at your home, in your company, which only allowed your relationship to grow.  Your first kiss was over afternoon tea, your first “I love you” whispered as she departed one evening, and the first night spent together in secret when your father was out of town.  It was hard to live life in the shadows, but your shadows had just gotten a lot brighter.

[charmixpower]

💐 Flo hairstyles explained 💐

You know? Despite the only Winx member to not be or explicitly retconned into a princess, drawing this made me realize that out of all the Winx Flora's style is easily the most classical princess. Which I think it really cool. Elegant is the word I'd use to describe Flora. You've probably noticed that all the hair style collections have a bit of a theme to them, and Flora's is braids! I think braids both match her elegant vibe, while also being practical for digging though the dirt so I had a bunch of fun putting different braids on her

Also the one thing I'll give the later seasons props for is doing more with her bangs. I see you

On to my individual thoughts

Classic Flora: I gave her a braid because she's an elegant lady. Plus it fits her cottage core vibes so well AND it's practical for gardening!!! Perfect hairstyle, everyone else can go home

Alternative: I have nothing much to say aside from this style of top would look great on Flora, and this is a much smaller cuter alternative to a normal braid. For when she wants her hair down but with some cute flair to it

Crown Flora: ok so I've been pretty loudly annoyed at how all the girls have long hair in the later seasons, giving them all the EXACT same silhouette, and it drives me crazy. After Musa grows out her hair I wanted to chop someone's one to two seasons later to fix this problem. Stella would never chop her hair, and neither would Aisha. So that just left Bloom and Flora, and I remembered how gorgeous and regal Tears of the Kingdom Zelda looked with the short hair with the crown braid, so I immediately gave it to Flora and she looks so beautiful ahhhh!!!! I swear she'd just be able to convince people she's a princess just with her vibes. Also s1 casual party Flora outfit supremacy

Date night: This is a pull through braid!!!!! It was the main reason I wanted to draw Flora with a bunch of braids!!!! It's a beautiful thick braid that perfectly captures the cottage core vibe and they look like upsidedown hearts!!!!! It's soooo pretty!!!!! Absolute Flora going on a date night!!! I picked out a pretty sorta corset dress for her, and half circle earrings, to compete the look. I love it so much

Disco Flora: This is absolutely on of my favorite Flora hair styles, maybe even in my top two. It's just so beautiful. It's the one of the very few times a high side ponytail works, and it works so well. It's a giant ass twisty braid!!! It's so beautiful and so thick and I just love the way it looks. Flora my beloved!!! It's the main reason I will say I like the s3 disco outfits despite the crimes. This hairstyle is worth it

Cozy Flora: This also doubles as a gardening look. I really love the way the top bun looks with the short hair. I think it would look a bit silly with long hair? But it looks so beautiful with the short hair and I just love it so much. I gave her fam shaped earrings bc just bc she's chilling doesn't mean she has to go without. This outfit is pretty clearly inspired by the s4 painting bc omg miss Flora in red so beautiful I am in love with you ma'am

Guardian fairy: I really didn't have an event for this one? I just saw a picture of Flora with flowers in her hair and a different one of her in a halter top, and I combined them to make them both better into this and it's just so pretty. Flora is really made for high ponytails. I love the flower in her hair, and this shade of pink is probably one of my favorites of my favorite color so I'm super biased towards this outfit. I love it sm. I imagine she's doing a formal event at Linphea, not as formal as other planets, as the new guardian fariy

School formal: I do not understand how Flora's original hair worked,, so it's gone now. It has sections of lighter color hair giving it a pin cushion look??? I could of just done normal space buns and ignored the pincushion aspect, but I remembered her s4 pajamas hair and I really liked that so I put them here. I also changed her top a little more to look more like a dress. Obviously the leaf earrings for the soul

Gala attendee: Flora goes full elegant!! She gets the full crown braid here, with flowers in it!! She's rocking the flower princess look, especially with the drapey dress I picked out for her all that time ago!!! It looks so good and I love it more bc of my new found Flora in red obessesion her bangs are braided this time, which I think is such a look. I left some hair for her bangs tho... mostly because I can't see Flora without them XD

[captorations]

it's important, i think, to know the difference between text and subtext, and respect them both. one thing can be subtle text, and another thing can be brazen subtext, and it's entirely possible and even ideal for the subtext to mean just as much or more as the text.

drawing from miraculous ladybug: we recently had the main character casually drop the idea that "why couldn't [someone] be in love with two people" in the midst of an excited spiel. that's text. textual acknowledgement of the possibility and validity of poly relationships in an international children's show! but it was very blink-and-you-miss-it, out of understandable necessity on several counts, and while it's really cool it doesn't exactly move me, if that makes sense. well, it did, but not about the characters or the story themselves, just about the tiny but appreciable step forward it represented.

but a couple seasons ago, we had an entire episode with three characters gallivanting about together, at a few points hand-in-hand, and they flat out went up to the guy who famously makes themed ice cream combinations for couples and asked if he would make them something "for all three of us." that's subtext, but it's blatant, obvious, how-the-fuck-did-this-get-past-censors subtext, and it had me frothing at the mouth. (it took years, but they did get their trio ice cream.)

the thing is, even if miraculous had somehow been able to acknowledge poly relationships from the start, that would still have had me losing my mind. those events could very well have been perfectly identical! this is because speaking in metaphor and subtext and all that is how stories work. like, that's the whole fucking point, and it's the primary method by which emotion is inspired in an audience. this is virtually never not the case in any storytelling context.

so it does bug me when people look down on subtext like it's not enough. sometimes it isn't, sure, and by all means judge anyone who dares to pull queerbaiting nonsense. but subtext is a delightful thing, and often serves to say something better than text ever could. the tangled series- yes, the animated tv series based on the disney movie, i am not fucking with you- is overwhelmingly, obviously poly, and showed that at most every turn while never being able to tell it.

this is only one example, but there's an episode late in the first season which is a very slightly adjusted version of the classic "oops they got love potioned by well-meaning friends and it's causing problems" plot, just muddled enough to slip by the most asleep-at-the-wheel of censors, involving the main trio. if that weren't enough, upon seeking a cure, they are told it's a "three-leafed plant" that is "extremely rare and grows among its two-leafed cousin."

would it be better if they had been told "just kiss already, you've obviously got a poly thing going?" no! certainly not. i mean, that would have been fun, but it wouldn't have been a good story, and wouldn't at all fit with the aesthetic of the show.

i'm not here to scold or lecture, and this was prompted by nothing at all in particular, i just abruptly felt capable of articulating it. if it helps you think about stories better, well, i do like when i can help people do that. that's all you can keep scrolling now

[lacomandante]

🧶 — any non-writing hobbies/interests?

munday asks!

Yes! I have quite a few, actually. I like to think I'm a jack of all trades. I do historical sewing, and atm I'm currently working on a pair of regency stays. It's a little annoying because I've been working on multiple dresses, only to have to stop because I don't have the correct undergarments to accurately measure if the dress fits or not. So I had to stop what I was doing and make these mockups...I'll get there eventually lol. I also make dolls! Which I never posted photos of when complete, I'll need to do that. Unfortunately I'm very easily fatigued, and sewing is easily one of the most exhausting hobbies I have physically and mentally, which means a lot of these projects take months or years.

Reading, but I feel like that's a given for most people in the rpc. I feel like it's very important to read in order to grow your own ability to write. Currently rereading the Witcher series, alongside Sharpe's Gold and Company. I've also been reading a lot of English accounts of travels through Spain, detailing the landscapes, customs, manners, etc. I think since January I've read over 8 books detailing these things...probably over 2,000 pages combined? I'm endlessly fascinated with historical accounts and I honestly can't get enough of them. Currently reading Letters written during a journey in Spain, and a short residence in Portugal published in 1808. There's a huge gap in the history of Spain during this period so it's been very helpful (although biased) filling in the blanks.

I also do drawing and painting, but this hobby has kinda fallen on the wayside this year. I find myself impatient, but I need to get back into groove of things, as I do really want to improve more.

I would say I do gardening, but...this year my plants almost instantly fried in the California heat, and every time I look into my backyard I just see their decayed husks so. Maybe attempted gardener is best...I have more houseplants than anything, and I struggle to keep my pothos alive, which are pretty easy to take care of....I think I have more of a hobby of buying plants...

Oh! I also do a lot of penpal writing. I joined a Jane Austen FB group and joined a pen pal group in there. I'm more of a casual fan and not really obsessed with her works, but I do enjoy them. I've got three pen pals so far, and they're all older women in England (one I was luckily enough to find that also writes/speaks Spanish so I get to practice!). Two of them are in Kent, and one is in Yorkshire. They're all very sweet and kind and nothing makes me happier than getting their handwritten letters in the mail. I also adore making fancy designs for the envelopes and stuffing them full of stickers and pretty things. Here's a few samples of things I've made (steadily improving lmao) - two for my penpals, and one for Sam :)

I suppose archival work also falls into this? I know how to pirate, burn and rip dvds and blurays, how to convert and preserve files, and I'm currently learning how to preserve and convert VHS. It's really fascinating to me, and I've even learned a little bit of coding and programming on the side for it.

Oh! I also like to make gifsets and photo manips- 10 years of being in the rpc with photoshop skills helps a lot with this. I LOVE making manips of Teresa in other Sharpe films, or in different scenes. I actually have quite a few but haven't posted many of them. Mostly for au's and rp's/fics Sam and I have written and explored.

I also play the guitar, but I say this very lightly. More like I can read tabs, and play some songs, but honestly I'm self taught and would say I'm very much a beginner at best. I really enjoy it but haven't had much time, nor the means to learn more sadly. But I enjoy plucking and learning chords to my favorite songs.

[mtdthoughts]

The Twins' Relationship Pt. 14 (Migi & Dali Analysis)

This is Part 14 of the discussion of the twins' relationship and its evolution throughout the story.

Click here to return to the top of the thread (Part 1)

Note that I will use scenes from both the anime and manga wherever I see fit, and of course spoilers are discussed.

This post will be about the second half of Episode 13, i.e. the timeskip, which shows the evolved relationship of the twins. This will also be the second-to-last post in this thread (finally!).

The first we see of the twins after the ending sequence is a casual interaction where Dali explains Migi's art.

This scene made me remember the scene in Episode 7 where Dali laughed at Migi's drawing of Sali/Sally, and it's pretty heartwarming seeing Dali being proud of his younger brother. On top of that, Migi follows it up with "As expected of Dali" ("Sasuga Dali"), which is another nod to the fact that Migi has always looked up to his smarter older brother. Yet, their relationship is nothing like it was before, where Migi no longer feels constrained by his older brother, and Dali no longer lies to his younger brother. It's quite refreshing to see.

Next, we see them making a cherry pie together, which is a clear callback to the first time they do it together in Episode 1.

Notice the similarities and differences here. Dali takes command as he always has, yet he no longer wraps his arms as tightly around Migi as he has before, which shows that he's now no longer controlling towards his younger brother.

Then, when Eiji was about to arrive, Migi desperately pleaded with his brother to dress up as Sali, which undoubtedly would have humiliated him.

Of course, the twins have changed from before, as Dali once again reluctantly accepts a request from Migi after a desperate plea.

This is yet another callback to the scene in Episode 10 when Migi asked Dali to make a silly face for Eiji, and it just shows how much the twins have changed. Dali was willing to put up with this ridiculous request, and Migi has grown more forward towards Dali, as both his request and his usage of "omae" (お前) towards Dali have proven that whatever fear Migi had towards his older brother has completely vanished (and only love remains).

Eiji coming back to enjoy cherry pie with everyone and to visit Metry's grave with the twins serves as a neat conclusion to the revenge plotline.

The twins were both pleased that their triplet brother was finally able to accept his own happiness and atonement for killing Reiko, though notice that Dali was the only one who said "Right" when Eiji said that his mother (Reiko) wasn't here. This could be interpreted as Dali accepting accountability for his involvement of the series of events that led to this, though Migi stands side-by-side with his brother, as if sharing his responsibility.

Finally, in the last scene of the series, the twins decided to separate and live different lives, though they promise each other that they'll always remain connected.

This scene was yet another callback, this time to the aquarium date back in Episode 4. This time, Dali left for a faraway school, yet unlike before, it didn't quite feel like Dali leaving Migi behind as he's done before (e.g. for revenge). If it were the old Migi and Dali, they would have never separated, and the very prospect of it would have left them in tears. But because they're no longer their former insecure selves, and because they finally found love and acceptance from family, friends, and most importantly each other, they could now be confident that their bond will endure, no matter how far they are.

I also it was rather interesting that the twins didn't exchange any words as Dali left. This is a headcanon of mine, but I think that they've definitely cried it out some time before Dali left, and what was shown was in the story was them after getting over the fact. I might incorporate this headcanon in the next fanfic I write, if it does get written...

Anyway, that concludes this post, and in the next and final part, I'll wrap up this whole thread with a neat little bow by summarizing everything.

[redeyedroid]

A lot of the great rivalries in sport aren’t really. We create narratives and imagine storylines that don’t really fit the reality. Serena beat Maria Sharapova twenty times and lost twice, but their contrived rivalry has it’s own Wikipedia page. Tennis’s Big Four was really Federer, Nadal and Djokovic far ahead of Andy Murray, who was just as far ahead of everyone else (unless we’re talking Olympic gold medals, of which Murray has twice as many as the other three combined.) Stephen Hendry crushed Jimmy White in snooker final after snooker final. Nikki Lauda won twenty-five Grands Prix and three Formula 1 titles; James Hunt ten and one. There’s a decent movie about them that makes it look more even than it was. At the end of fourteen of the last twenty series, Australia’s men have held the Ashes and England's women haven't done much better (though, to be fair here, there's a galaxy of more stories to it than that). And so on. Equals that go through long phases of being very unequal. Or never were. 

But there are some rivalries between objective unequals that don’t play out the way they should.  

First played in 1872, the oldest fixture in international football is England versus Scotland. England have won the World Cup (which – in my Scottish opinion - really should come with an asterisk or two attached). They were beaten finalists at the last Euros (to be Scottish about it again, they do best when they rig the draw so they can play all their matches at home, at Wembley). They aim at finals, semi-finals. Grudge matches against Germany and Argentina and big ones against France or Brazil. 

Scotland have never played a knock-out match at a tournament. Our men have only qualified for one in the last quarter-century (though, unlike our neighbours, who have decades of penalty pain to look back on, we are perfect in shootouts.) Only one Scot, Kim Little, has ever scored the winning goal in a full international against Brazil. Our men have never beaten them. On the global stage, most often we lose and most often we fail, because that is what we have always done.  

Our players are collectively not as good as England’s. Even our good players are undervalued. Andy Robertson, probably the best left-back in world football over the past five years, cost Liverpool £8m. The most expensive transfer involving a Scot was the £27m Arsenal paid Celtic for Kieran Tierney. Chelsea paid PSV £30m recently for an uncapped English player called Nomi Madueke. Nobody would be surprised if it turned out he's actually a Football Manager regen. Prising the equally uncapped and not very good Englishman Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace cost Manchester United £50m.

Before she moved to Real Madrid, the absurdly good playmaking midfielder, Caroline Weir would regularly – casually - dominate matches in the WSL for Manchester City, racking up a collection of goals that by rights, should have won her at least one Puskas Award. 

(I didn't fuck up the links. The last two are different goals.) 

But it would feel like precious little footage of her, or Kim Little, or Erin Cuthbert would make it into promos or prematch coverage that preferred to feature far less talented English players..  

England: a team world famous multi-millionaires playing the biggest matches on the biggest stages.

Scotland: not often – if ever – that. 

And yet, 150 years of history gives an all-time record in men's football of 48 England wins, 41 Scotland wins, and 24 draws. 195 goals for England. 171 for Scotland. The last game, played at Wembley in 2021 during the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 ended 0-0, with Scotland having the best of it. 

I think – and I probably am very wrong - this is because there’s a difference in how the match is perceived these days. As the gap in talent has grown in one direction, the gap in attitude has grown in the opposite.

Before that match in 2021, Rio Ferdinand was on English coverage saying, "It’s a huge game. I can’t wait. Nothing to fear, and we will go down and get our seat and watch it. Looking forward to it. England are going to win. I can’t see anything else, I’m telling you. I’ve never been this confident about a game in a major championship." 

Meanwhile, on the Scottish feed, they were showing this: 

We used to play annually, but those days are gone and it feels like the English have moved on, that the fixture stil matters to them only because of history and because the Gammonscenti among them are upset that a lot of Scots want independence and the breakup of the United Kingdom. But, on the whole, they aim higher and a game against Scotland doesn’t live in their heads the way it does for Scotland.

For Scotland, there is only England. When we don’t play them, we live in perpetual annoyance at anglocentric TV coverage during tournaments we aren’t even at. When we do make it, we get more annoyed, because – fairly or not – we feel we’re treated as afterthoughts by broadcasters that ostensibly cover the whole UK. And so, England must lose. Preferably to us, but anyone is acceptable. We’re fuelled by grievances real and imagined; schadenfreude; a desire to see the ruin of our enemies; and a weird sporting inferiority complex that affects the whole country.

(And, let’s be honest, that fucking song was tedious when it was released in 1996, long before it was shorn of all nuance by the hordes of pink-faced cretins who only know three words of it).

If England were playing the Fascist Red Spiders From Mars, most Scottish football fans would be sitting there, rooting desperately for the Fascist Red Spiders. 

It matters to England because it matters to Scotland, but they underestimate how much it matters to us. Because, pathetically, we have nothing else. 

On September 12 the men’s teams will play a friendly at Hampden in Glasgow to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Scottish Football Association. On the 22nd, the women’s teams play in the Nation’s League. England should win both. They are better teams with better players. And it’ll hurt if they do. But it won’t be because the Scots haven’t performed, haven’t given their best. Somewhere in their preparation, someone will have pointed out that “It’s fuckin' England. Let’s get intae these cunts” and they'll come out looking like they’re about to chib someone. 

(No, really. Set Robertson to malky!) 

If England show up thinking that it’s a foregone conclusion, or that they can roll substitutions, or that they need to avoid injury ahead of their Champions League game next week, they’ll find themselves in trouble. They have more than enough class to win, but the Scots have the fight.