#it legit heals my soul

[ace-malarky]

I am intrigued about soul magic please expand maybe :)???

hm yes hi Trade I can very much expand on that!!!

caveat that a lot of this info is very possibly stuff I made up literally this month bc I only had the vaguest idea of how soul magic worked before starting on this particular story (ie the box for it in the twinery thing where I keep all my worldbuilding legit just has the world it comes from in it and nothing else lmao ^^; )

The vague in-text explanation we get is thus;

“Users power their spells with their lifeforce,” Jasper said. “Its main applications are healing and interrogation, but it can also be used to create locks and the like that are fine-tuned to a specific person.”

which is very rough but honestly it covers the basics. Jasper knows what he's about

When he says locks, I'm meaning like... biometric kinda scans only I couldn't remember the word when I wrote that. I may go back and write that in actually.

The other thing it can do that is like. the main part of the plot of this story is that the mages can use it to control other people! They're getting other people caught for their crimes!!

Mostly when a soul mage uses their magic, they're relying on their own life to power it. So many soul mages burn out early because they don't get the exchange right, or they just use their magic too freely. If a soul mage is old it means that either

a) they don't use magic a lot

b) they know the best exchange rates for spells (eg smaller spells will take less life)

c) they largely use it via aids such as gems and older spells that have been sunk into items for general use

or

d) they tie their spells to someone else's life.

d is why soul mages tend to have a pretty bad rep amongst the wider mist worlds. They're not as bad as green witches in general but hoo boy.

sometimes!! sometimes tying their spells to something else is useful. This is how you get the healing; you convince the hurt person's body to heal itself gotdamn quicker and if they maybe get a year or so knocked off their life in the process they probably won't notice. Can they siphon off other people's lives to extend theirs? uh. technically. yes. that's the plot of another story (sort of)*.

This is how you get the biometric locks and other fun trinkets that non-mages can use; you set the spell into the lock or the item or whatever and give it a trigger phrase or motion which can be used by anyone. Biometrics will ofc only work for like the one person, but anything else is just dependant on the person knowing the phrase or the motion. Using an item with soul magic in it is obvious - Solaris likens the feeling to a sudden weakness at one point and doesn't like using it. You can fully faint while using soul magic if you're not used to it sort of thing.

This is how you get the interrogation; no one likes having their soul poked at ok. it feels gross. they can and will rifle through your memories. Sometimes they ask for consent first (it could also be a therapy tool, I guess) but holy fuck it's tricky to do without damaging anything. Weirdly this is a fine-wire one that tends to fall more on the mage's life being the one used up because they're still the one using the magic. They could tip it the other way, but then they run the risk of like. killing the subject before they get anything useful.

The controlling-other-people part of the magic is less well known which is why everyone is so fucken stumped by the shenanigans that start this story. It's like. fairytale kinda nonsense. "the soul mage made me do it" to the tune of "the boy who cried wolf", you know?

But that one is tied to the victim's life and can be set as intricately as the mage likes. Most people never know they've even been controlled, although they'll have li'l missing screeds of time where they've just blanked the fuck out and then come to, maybe in another place with no knowledge of how they got there

noticeably it does not work well on fully bonded ferals bc they have two souls and not everyone knows this. The mage that goes after Jasper fucks up by just suppressing his human soul to make him lose the fight and uh. well. buddy's got a lynx soul in there as well, and the lynx has access to fire. That one may have backfired (lmao) on the mage that set the spell, but I'm not sure yet

The other fucked up casefile I have is Elise who is the target the soul mages are trying to get ahold of in this story bc she has a green witch sharing her body who fucked herself over by attempting to use soul magic when she was already dying. There's a timeshare going on. The soul mages stabilised them and would like the experiment back, thank you very much, but because of the stabilisation thingy-majiggy, soul magic no longer affects them. Elise would like the timeshare broken, the green witch is fairly sure she'd die in that case and Does Not Want that, no thank you. They are however both agreed that they're not letting the soul mages get their grubby little paws on them. The soul mages would like her back because literally no one can work out how the fuck she managed to make that happen. like. the only other beings that have two souls are fully bonded feral mages and uh. demons. I think is how Skilkran is classed anyway. but yeah Elise is decidedly neither like damn she's just a girl who turns into a witch when night falls.

(soul magic probably could affect them, the parameters of the spells just need to be set properly but no one's actually thought of that yet. or maybe they have but it's been since they escaped so they haven't had a chance to test the theory)

anyway! yes! soul magery! it was uhhhh it was born out of a dumb joke with brother#2 because the first time I wrote it the magic was set in the saxophone of a dude who was playing um. soul music.

that scene still exists within The Soul of the Party because there are no depths I will not sink to for a dumb joke.

*this is Mint of Red String, they may have had a bad break up with a soul mage in their youth and the soul mage reacted by uh. cursing them to drain the life of whoever fell in love with them? That gets broken with the power of polyamory and also maybe necromancy because fuck yes the gays are winning this one.

[jadore808]

finally moved into my new place and now i can begin to have peace and look forward to the rest of the yr thank goodness

[midheavenastrology]

🎉🧁Super rando 🎉🧁Astro Observations 🎉🧁

🍥I do not recommend dating someone who has ur chiron sign- in one way or another they will hurt you unconsciously and trigger you 😔😔😭😓🫣of course this is good in a way because all trauma is meant to be healed ❤️‍🩹🩺🩻but you have to be with someone who is conscious of the hurt they are causing. The chiron person is only really meant to surface these hurts not heal them. Think about it: ur chiron sign is literally embodying the wound that u have so to date that sign is like dating a walking red flag 🚩

🍥People with prominent Jupiter aspects to their ascendant, sun, midheaven will naturally just emit light ! ✨🌞🌻 u shine ! U so sparkle ! Jupiter expands anything it touches, so imagine having sun 🌞 aspecting Jupiter: big energy, big beam of light !!! They also have the loudest, biggest laughs lmao- this is me and everyone always tells me they love how much I laugh at everything/have the biggest guffaw- sound like a dang donkey🐴 sometimes srry not srry 🥲🥲🥲

🍥Someone with a lot of mutable placements absolutely needs fixed energy to ground and stabilize them 😇🥺when it comes to synastry. Especially when it comes to moon sign compatibility. Mutable moons are legit the most moody 🌝😩🌚Cardinal can work too but sometimes feelings will burn out quickly 🐒🔥🌪️💦

🍥However with that said: have y’all ever dated ur opposite moon sign ??? Because that sh*ts fire 🔥

🍥Be careful who you meet romantically during mars or Venus retrograde ⏪⏮️these are past lovers that come back to try sumthin, sumthin out again. Like I went on a dating app 🤪during mars ☄️retrograde and had a super casual fling that burned out super quickly💥💥💥but not with some big lessons. The seggs will be ahmazing because youve fucked around before lol 🍌✨ are the lessons worth it tho, who knos 🥲

🍥Libra and Taurus placements will always be attractive ! trust ! Venus blesses them in some way or another 🌸💅🧖‍♀️ pretty privilege y’all ✨Scorpio and Aries placements will always be sessy, trust ! mars gives them sexy privilege 🍌🍆🌶️ if u got both in ur big three, boy r u trouble 😈

🍥I read somewhere that when you’re embodying your true soul essence you take on ur vedic/sidereal placements: literally have been feelin my triple fire 🔥 placement in vedic ! 😬🌶️🔥

🍥Neptune+mercury placements ….you literally manifest when you speak so be careful what u wish for 🫶 it’s because Neptune: higher spiritual plane, angels 👼, ancestors and then mercury: communication: u are literally speaking to angels mmkay 🥲✨🫶

🍥If you lack fire 🔥 in ur chart, u tend to run V cold 🥶 like ur probs the friend who has cold hands and feet constantly ! Me 🙋‍♀️

🍥Too much mercury in ur chart or air placements can make u constantly in ur head: like u can’t detach ur mind from ur body and soul. It’s gonna be hard 4 u to meditate 🧘‍♀️ tbh. I recommend breath work 4 y’all, so u can get more in tune with ur body/or working out, running, moving ur body 🕺💃🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🤹‍♀️

🍥biggest flirt placements of the zodiac goes to Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius- if u have all four shidddd…I hope ur significant other is ok 🥲 honorable mention: Pisces (but it’s cus we fall in love like 5 times a day…doesn’t mean we actually know how to flirt tho..we’re just sweet lovers by nature) Aries, Gemini, libra and Sag are the ultimate smooth talkers of the zodiac 🥵

🍥biggest non flirts of the zodiac goes to Capricorn, Virgo, Scorpio, Taurus. Ur flirting style is basically being mean, uninterested or cold. Earth+ Scorpio is very self contained, they like to keep it together and flirting feels stupid and petty. When in a mood, they don’t want to talk to anyone unless there’s a reason for it..like what do u want ? Tell me what u want, set a date and make a plan. Also lez be real: their main love is cash money 🤑

That’s all y’all 🍭🎨🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️💅💅💅💅💅☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️🧋🧋🧋🧋🧋🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Hope y’all have a magical day 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

Thanks for reading+scoping !! 🥰

[tarotwithdanise]

What will happen to your June?

༉ ‧ ₊ ˚ how to choose a pile? ✧ . ˚

꒰⠀from left to right ; intuitively choose the pile your mind, heart and soul desire for. if you are having trouble choosing the right pile for you, here’s some tips you can do ; (1) take a deep breath (2) close your eyes (3) ask guidance from your guides (4) finally open your eyes and you can choose the right pile for you by the guidance you ask from your guides. if you are still having trouble by choosing the right pile for you let me know because i am willing to help and guide you.

1 - 2 - 3

PILE ONE

deck used : waite-raider tarot ♡

1. Love and other relationships

card : the star

It's the right time for you to make a progress about your love life. Meet new people, make connection. After all many trials you finally ready to let go of these baggages to start new beginning for your love life, you desire to get deeper when it comes to romantic partnerships. Your future love life is bright, full of optimism. Start making progress for this month. While, if this talks about an ex - you should prepare yourself to completely move on about them. Let go the hurts and past and start meeting new individuals that you may share common.

2. Family and friends

card : judgement

There's important matters that may happening in your family or friend's life for this month. However, the result will be in your favor. I see some friends and family relatives are judged the way you work for yourself. It also possible that you may meet someone new through family and friends connections. There's also indication that your family may discuss some paperwork's from heritage you all will be receiving.

3. Career and Finances

card : the fool rx

This month will not be in your favor when it comes to work and finances. However, you maybe start working at home like digitally or this can be a business. Perhaps of trying to join in some sort of online jobs please do check it first (if they're legit) before applying. This company can be fraud with fake employees and other creditability and lack of proofs to make their company to look real. Be careful when investing your money or buying something, there's a high chances that you might get scammed.

4. Spirituality and Manifestations

card : four of pentacles

You should stop focusing on materialism and start making a progress with your spiritual path and growth. There's a lot of negativity you were holding back, a lot of what if's and right now, you aren't opening your heart rather you closing it for any opportunity of changes. Your manifestations are being blocked, don't expect anything when you are not making any progress and open for opportunities and healing trauma and karma.

Overall, the main point of your June is to make progress and start a new beginnings. Also, if you are someone who is planning to go on a exercise and diet, it may the right time for you to burn some unhealthy fats you were having because you may have lack of movement.

💌 check out my back-up account @danisetarot bio ; click the link, choose your favorite deals that you wanted to purchase and then send all of them to my email account (daniseallure@gmail.com)

PILE TWO

deck used : blue bird lenormand ♡

1. Love and other relationships

card : fox

You will discover and unreveal some secrets happening about this relationships. If you are in a talking stage or in relationship with someone or even a crush, you will discover something new about them that you haven't knew before. If you think that this person were lying to you or infidelity then you're intuition is right. If you are single, you will meet someone new to date who is quite and creative.

2. Family and friends

card : tree

I see that you will care for health your health or for a family member or a friend's health for this month, I see that this person you are caring for will continue to heal or they might heal completely for this month. While, for some of you, your family may be thinking to extending and expanding the house. Expect changes may come to your family and friends for this month.

3. Career and Finances

card : clover

You may find yourself unlucky when it comes to love for this month however the luck will be on your when it comes to money and job. If you are waiting for a call from a job you were applying expect hearing back from them. While, if you are trying your best to a win lottery or gambling? expect small winnings will happen. You will be blessed and feel lucky when it comes to finances and career for this month. Good fortune will come on your way. So mote it be.

4. Spirituality and Manifestations

card : letter

In may take time to process your manifestations and spiritual growth however this slow progress confirm that they're all working on your favor. A good result will coming soon and you will see a little peak of them for this month of June.

Overall, your June is about receiving and claiming the blessings and opportunities that may come on your way.

💌 check out my back-up account @danisetarot bio ; click the link, choose your favorite deals that you wanted to purchase and then send all of them to my email account (daniseallure@gmail.com)

PILE THREE

deck used : (cartomancy) gold playing cards ♡

1. Love and other relationships

card : ten of hearts

In short, good things will come in when it comes to your romantic relationship for this month. This feels like a fulfilment, a celebration. If you have a partner, you two might be planning to settle down and get married for good - a wedding. If you are single, there's a high possibility that you might meet someone new for this month.

2. Family and friends

Someone who is in your family or friend that may currently pregnant may due to give birth for this month or may not. The child they were carrying will give a massive changes and success when they get older for the people around them. If none is pregnant in your family or friends then expect a travel or vacation with them for this month.

3. Career and Finances

card : five of diamonds

There's a high positive meaning for this card. This indicates that you have to work for yourself to get better when it comes to job and finances. Your old decision reflecting your current situation where you feel unhappy and trapped. This time you should make progress to continue growing. If you will start doing this, money will come on your way if you work for it.

4. Spirituality and Manifestations

card : jack of hearts

A divine mission will play significant part for this month for you. You will receive an advice and important message from someone who is younger than you or someone who is a youthful spirit. If that's happens, this person can help you out on how you can strengthen your knowledge and skills about proper manifestations and spiritual gift (path).

Overall, your energy for this month is about a new journey or taking the next step. Positive outcomes and opportunities will come on your way.

💌 check out my back-up account @danisetarot bio ; click the link, choose your favorite deals that you wanted to purchase and then send all of them to my email account (daniseallure@gmail.com)

Made with love, Danise.

[trans-axolotl]

three GoFundMe's I want to highlight right now. Can vouch for these, met a founder of the Camp Breakerz Crew who had evacuated in person yesterday and he confirmed that these links are active and legit. This dance school has switched over entirely into trying to figure how to provide aid and support to their community right now and need more funding in order to continue providing food. There is also a GoFundMe for Camp Breakerz Crew members who need to evacuate with their families.

"The Gaza Strip has a few refugee camps where families live with only basic medical and educational resources provided by the U.N. Most of these families have many children and rely heavily on these basic services. It is challenging for these families to raise their children and provide for their basic physical needs, let alone provide the sense of safety and security that every child deserves. Camps Breakerz Crew (CB Crew) is a dance team that was established in 2003 by a group of local youths to represent the Palestinian children and support them through the emotional and social struggles caused by the political turmoil around them by performing and teaching dance. CB Crew helps the children of Gaza heal from trauma, express and understand their emotions. Moving to the rhythm helps them gain a feeling of existence and belonging, and gives hope and spreads awareness...

At this time we are under war time. We are praying to stay alive and pass this scary phase. We go to shelters to motivate those children who seeked shelter after losing their homes.

We will require to rehab and restore our community mental health after this phase. Please do what you can to support us."

[orionsangel86]

why did I get a post on my dash saying there was a destiel empty rescue on dead boy detectives in an episode directed by speight??? help I don't watch the show 😭

Because there legit IS a destiel empty rescue on dead boy detectives including a gay love confession in an episode directed by Dick Speight Jr. I am BEGGING Supernatural fans to watch this show. LITERALLY ON MY KNEES BEGGING YOU ALL TO WATCH IT! 😭😭😭

It is SO GOOD. Okay so basic facts:

Take a highly repressed closetted gay Edwardian twink and pair him up with an 80s rude boy with daddy issues and childhood trauma. Kill them both. Their ghosts are running away from Death (THE Death from The Sandman because this show is set IN THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE). One of them spent 70 years in Hell before escaping. The other refused to go to the afterlife because he wanted to stay with his best friend.

Add in a psychic with memory loss and a demon ex boyfriend, and an adorable fujoshi girl who has brain parasites (she's okay, she eventually gets them out of her brain and keeps them as pets in a jar - they spend the whole show as a foul mouthed Statler and Waldorf)

Top it all off with a goth lesbian butcher, a cunty witch who is basically Katya (of Trixie and Katya fame - according to Katya herself lol), and OUR VERY OWN RUTH CONNELL AKA QUEEN OF HELL ROWENA PLAYING A BUREAUCRAT FROM THE AFTERLIFE TO COLLECT THE DEAD BOYS SOULS.

Closetted gay Edwardian twink is literally catnip to all the gay Supernatural creatures in town. A cat and a crow both fall madly in love with him.

Well, the cat king is a very cunty, very sexy trickster who seduces our boy and sends him into major gay panic - its adorable, he can't stop picturing his abs.

The crow is the familiar of the cunty witch and she turns him human in order to spy on the dead boys. If anything he is even more twinky than the Edwardian twink. He is very gay and obsessed with astrology and, well, the Edwardian twink. Its cute.

Add in a few excellent case of the week type mysteries - there is a walrus who is a man and not very happy about it, a giant mushroom, a scary haunted house, two dead jocks and a giant fish.

THEN the Edwardian Twink gets dragged back to Hell after an attempted love confession to his best friend. His best friend (80s rude boy with childhood trauma and very probably repressed bisexuality) goes to Hell to rescue him in one of the BEST EPISODES OF TV I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME - It is REALLY REALLY GOOD. They are chased by a horrible spider made of baby doll parts. There is a whole Orpheus and Euridice moment - there is a gorgeously done gay love confession and a response that is SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE DESERVED FOR DEAN WINCHESTER OMG WE DESERVED THIS - it is literally healing my soul watching this scene in DBD.

The rescue from Hell takes place and it is epic. Speight has outdone himself. DID I MENTION THIS SERIES WAS SHOWRUN BY OUR VERY OWN STEVE YOCKEY? THAT YOCKEY? THE YOCKEY WHO DIED FOR US?!? HELLO??? The same Yockey that made the cunty gay gorgon kiss Castiel????

Oh and Jeremy Carver - He who was SO thirsty for naked Castiel - is an executive producer.

So is Neil Gaiman. Obviously. DO I NEED TO SAY MORE?!?!

PLEASE WATCH DEAD BOY DETECTIVES ON NETFLIX YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT

[campingwiththecharmings]

Safe Haven

AN: This has probably been done already but I saw a prompt (“Can we stay like this just for a minute longer?”) and immediately thought of Marc so, hope someone other than me enjoys it. It's self-indulgent af, ngl. This is my first Moon Knight fic, please be gentle (I legit agonized for weeks about getting Marc's characterization right 😭).

Without another word, you walk to him, your bare feet padding softly across the floor. He jumps a little when you touch his arm, seemingly lost in his thoughts. His smile is apologetic but strained when he looks at you, his muscles tense. You begin to look him over, your fingers gently tilting his head this way and that as your eyes scrutinize every inch of him. “I’m okay,” he says again, this time softer, his hands coming up to rest over yours, halting your inspection of his face. “I can’t get hurt, remember?”

Rated: T (for references to violence/blood) Words: 2,325 Pairing: Marc Spector x GN!Reader Warnings: hurt/comfort, a little more angst than I’d anticipated (oops), softness, touch-starved!Marc, unresolved sexual tension, yearning, brief mention of blood/injuries. AO3

——————

It’s late when he knocks on your door. 

He looks weary, the dark circles beneath his eyes visible even in the darkness of the hallway.

“Marc,” you breathe, your eyes doing a quick once over of him. 

Streaks of blood mar his skin and the sight makes your stomach drop. 

“I’m okay,” he says quickly, evidently sensing your distress.

Your eyes flick back to his, the panic rising in your chest dissipating a fraction at the earnestness of his gaze. After a beat, you nod, waving him in and closing the door softly behind him. He shuffles across the room, the sound of his boots rasping against your area rug filling your ears before he stops. After bolting the door, you turn, studying him from across the room. His arms are limp at his sides, head bowed slightly as he stares blankly at the wall. You chew your lip, ignoring the pang of worry that stabs through you. 

Without another word, you walk to him, your bare feet padding softly across the floor. He jumps a little when you touch his arm, seemingly lost in his thoughts. His smile is apologetic but strained when he looks at you, his muscles tense. You begin to look him over, your fingers gently tilting his head this way and that as your eyes scrutinize every inch of him.

“I’m okay,” he says again, this time softer, his hands coming up to rest over yours, halting your inspection of his face. “I can’t get hurt, remember?”

That’s not entirely true, though, and he knows it. Sure, Khonshu’s power heals his physical wounds, but what about the others? The ones you can’t see, the ones deep down inside him, the ones he tries to hide, that he ignores. This life is killing him. Maybe not his body, but his soul, his heart. It eats away at him, you know it does, you see it in his eyes, in that look he gets when he thinks you’re not paying attention—he’s haunted.

He’d never tell you that, of course, not when he’s spent most of his life thinking he’s a burden to everyone around him, that he’s an inconvenience. In his mind, he’s already asking too much of you just by coming here, by accepting your help. The knowledge makes your heart ache. 

He forces a smile, trying his best to alleviate your concern. You hold his gaze, unable (and unwilling) to smile back, to help him lie to you, to himself. Realizing he isn’t fooling you, he looks away, the corners of his mouth turning down, that little crease between his eyebrows making an appearance.

“Come on,” you say softly after a moment, loosely threading your fingers through his.

He lets you guide him without a fight, trailing behind you as you lead him toward your bathroom. Once inside, you release him, turning on the warm water before grabbing a washcloth and a few towels from the closet. Marc stands in the doorway silently, half in, half out. You gesture for him to take a seat on the closed toilet seat before wetting the washcloth in the sink. He sits heavily as you wring out the excess water, blankly staring at your hands as you work. 

Turning to face him again, you briefly pause, eyes flicking over him as if you’re considering where to begin. What you’re really waiting for though, is for him to look at you. It takes him almost five minutes to meet your eyes, to pull himself back from wherever he’d gone. 

“Still okay?” you ask, allowing your lips to quirk a little.

He nods, averting his eyes again. “Yeah.”

Sighing quietly, you step into his space, close enough to smell him, to feel the warmth of him through his clothes. He looks up at you from where he’s seated, eyes guarded, yet somehow still pleading (though, for what, you’re not entirely sure). Gently, you press the damp cloth against his cheek, dragging it slowly down toward his neck. You know that he doesn't really need you to do this, that there aren’t any cuts or gashes that need tending to, but he doesn’t stop you, somehow knowing this is just as much for you as it is for him. 

His eyes are on you as you work, slowly dragging the cloth back up his neck and over the underside of his jaw. His throat bobs when you take his chin between your fingers, tilting his head to the side as you move the cloth over the other side of his face. His breath skims over your skin as he exhales softly, eyelids fluttering a little at your touch, as if he’s fighting not to close them. Your heart aches for him, aches at the thought that this is likely the only non-violent physical contact he’s had in weeks; it’s one of the reasons he comes to you, you know. He’ll never admit it, will never tell you that he needs this, that he needs your attention, your care, your softness. You keep moving the cloth over his skin long after the smears of blood are gone, if only to give him a little bit more of what he’d never let himself ask you for. 

When he starts to fidget, you stop, slowly stepping back and meeting his eyes. They are closed off again and you ignore the sharp stab of disappointment that laces through your chest, mentally scolding yourself for daring to hope that this time would be different. You gesture toward the shower stall behind him, clearing your throat in an attempt to break the tension that’s settled between you.

“You finish up. I’ll, um, go find you some clothes to change into.”

He nods, reaching for one of the towels you’d left for him on the counter. “Thanks.”

You hum in response as you turn away. His eyes are on you again as you leave, boring holes into your back as you close the door softly behind you. A sigh escapes you once you’re on the other side, whether it’s relief, disappointment, or a mixture of the two though, you’re unsure. 

You don’t really know how to describe what this is between you and Marc. It’s not a friendship, not exactly. It’s certainly not romantic. There’s trust there, yes, but it’s never gone beyond the longing looks and you giving him a safe place to lay low. There is something there though, a kind of tether, one that keeps you connected to him and he to you. You have a soft spot for him, one that makes it impossible for you to ever let him go, even though you know you probably should. He’s never going to give you what you want, he doesn’t think he can, that he’s even worthy. 

You wish he’d try, though. You wish it so much it hurts sometimes.

A pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt are folded and stashed in the back of your closet. Marc had left them the last time he’d been there, and you hadn’t had the heart to toss them. You pull them from their hiding place (still wondering why you even felt the need to hide them in the first place) and stare at them for a moment, your fingers lightly caressing the soft cotton of the shirt. You leave them in front of the closed bathroom door, knocking softly to let him know that they’re there. There’s no response from inside, just the muffled hiss of the spray from the shower. Trying not to linger, you turn away, heading toward your kitchen—gods, do you ever need a drink.

You grab a glass from one of the cupboards and pour yourself a finger or two of the whiskey from your secret stash. It burns your throat as it goes down, warming you from the inside out and you close your eyes with a sigh at the sensation. After a long moment, the sound of someone clearing their throat reaches your ears and you open your eyes to see Marc standing awkwardly in the doorway. 

He runs a hand through his damp hair and points at the bottle of liquor beside you. “May I?”

You nod, studying him as he walks over, tracing the lines of his face with your eyes. He looks even more tired in the stark light of your kitchen, the bruises beneath his eyes purple, his jaw clenched, his shoulders more rounded than usual. You bite back a smile at his mussed hair though, his curls far more unruly than you know he likes them to be, and suddenly, you’re struck with the urge to pull a brush through them, to tame them, to quell the chaos (be it inside or out). He’ll say no if you ask him outright, wouldn’t dream of putting you out like that (as if brushing his hair of your own free will is an inconvenience), so you have to get creative.

“Would you do something for me?” you ask, your eyes and voice soft.

His eyes flick to yours as he swallows his mouthful of whiskey, his tongue swiping across his lips to catch any of the excess.

“Of course,” he says, nodding as he looks around the room, as if trying to anticipate your request. “Whatever you need.”

You smile and start to walk out of the kitchen, no doubt leaving him a little confused. When you enter your living room, you nod toward the bathroom. “Mind grabbing my brush? It’s in the drawer on the right.”

He nods again, shuffling over to and then through the door. When he returns, you’re seated on your couch, flipping through the various channels before settling on some mindless show. You motion him over when you notice he’s returned, hoping he hasn’t figured out your true intention. He still looks confused (and maybe a tad suspicious) as he hands you the brush. Your fingers graze his as you take it, and you see this throat bob as he swallows.

“Sit,” you say simply, motioning to the pillow on the floor between your feet.

His brow furrows, the crease between his eyes deepening as he looks between you and the pillow. “What?”

“Please,” you say softly, your eyes pleading. “Sit.”

He stares at you for a moment longer, trying to figure out what the purpose of this request is. His brows unfurrow a fraction when he figures it out, and he looks away, embarrassed. “You don’t have to—”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

He meets your eyes again, his deep brown ones hesitant but curious. 

“Please, Marc.”

After a moment, he nods, sighing quietly as he takes his seat on the pillow between your feet. He’s broader than you anticipated, and you have to widen your legs a little to accommodate him. Once you have yourself situated, you get to work, gently pulling him so his back is resting against the base of the couch. He fidgets as he sits, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists in his lap.

“Comfortable?” you ask, leaning forward enough that you can see the side of his face.

“Not really,” he mutters, and you huff a laugh through your nose in response.

You lean back, raising the brush and setting it at his hairline. You pull it through gently, taking care not to pull on any of his curls. His hair is beautiful, you’ve always thought so, have longed to run your fingers through the meticulously styled locks. You prefer it when his curls are like this, unruly and free of the product he uses to keep them in check. It’s softer than you’d imagined, the dark strands like silk against your fingers. He’s silent as you work, his body still tense. Little by little though, he relaxes, his shoulder pressing a little more heavily against the inside of your knee, more of his arm resting against your calf. 

Longing wells inside of you as you brush and you chew your bottom lip, as if to stave it off. Not for the first time, you wonder why he doesn’t want this, why he doesn’t want you. Was there something wrong with you? Were you too pushy? Too annoying? Too accommodating? Maybe there was someone else—the thought results in a sharp stab in your chest that you quickly shoo away, unable (or unwilling) to deal with it at the moment.

No. Instead, you settle for this; savoring every touch he allows, every moment he spends in your presence.

You’re finished far sooner than you’d like, his curls untangled and (mostly) lying flat. There’s that one curl though, the one above his right eyebrow that never seems to want to lie flat; it’s rebellious, stubborn, always breaking free from the confines of the styling gel he uses. It’s your favorite, you think, always falling across his forehead or into his eyes, unwilling to be tamed.

“All finished,” you rasp quietly, an inexplicable sadness welling inside you.

His hand wraps around your ankle as you move to let him up. His grip is gentle, but insistent, and you pause, a little shocked at his willingness to initiate this type of contact.

“Can we just…stay like this for a little longer?” he asks, his voice soft and a little rough.

There’s a pang in your chest at his question, one that somehow both cuts and soothes; he doesn’t feel like he deserves this kind of attention, this softness, yet he allows you to provide it nonetheless. Emotion swells in your chest and suddenly you’re thankful that he can’t see your face. You clear your throat, willing your voice to remain neutral.

“Sure.” 

He nods in thanks, leaning into you even more heavily than before and something inside you cracks a little. This time, you forgo the brush, instead combing your fingers through his locks, heart stuttering in your chest as he leans into every single touch.

If you enjoyed this, please let me know! I appreciate every single reblog and/or comment. Thank you. 💖

🌟 Masterlist 🌟

i am no longer doing a taglist. please follow @charmingupdates for updates and turn on notifications.

Also tagging a couple of people who were interested in this fic. If you want to be tagged on any future posts, please let me know 🥰: @spacecowboyhotch @ninebluehearts

[xxacademy]

Hello!

Love your work!

Can you do headcanon of Leon and the first * I love you * said with his So ? I always wondered how'd he'd say it. Or if he'd even say it first ? I'm torn lol

thank you so much anon,, it means a lot !!♥️ but truly i’m gushing over the thought of leon saying i love you for the first time. i decided to write more of a one-shot for this one because im obsessed. might make a legit head-cannon post alongside this though.

literally smiling and kicking my feet writing this agggh <3 hope you enjoy !!

she/her reader. pure fluff, only a little nsfw.

head over heals in love is the only way to describe the way you feel for his stunning blue eyes and gentle soul. leon, the man you’ve been seeing for a few months *formally* asked you to be his girlfriend. he was rather reserved at first, and opened up to you slowly. gradually letting you into the beautifully strung web of his heart. it wasn’t a question of if you loved him, but rather if you should even tell him how you felt. it was nerve racking- the man of your dreams fell into your lap and the last thing you wanted was to throw it all away to a premature confession of your love.

so, you gave it the time you felt it deserved.

all the while leon treated you like a princess. he would pick you up on his motorcycle and drive you around the city. your arms encircled tightly around his waist, getting lost in the dream-like glimmer of the nighttime skyline. he would serenade you with his thoughts, telling you the most unbelievable stories imaginable. often while snuggled up on a park bench overlooking the horizon.

leon was unbelievably romantic, he spared no expense to shower you with little compliments. “my gorgeous girl” he often said, his eyes always fixed on you.

he made love to you in a way you have never experienced before. it was overflowing with passion. he touched your body like a work of art; a work of art that solely belonged to him. between his whimpers he would let out little love swept praises. “my girl, my beautiful girl, all mine.”

but what made you fall even deeper for him were the heart-melting moments of domesticity you shared. he comes over to your house after work and you always greet him at the door with a kiss. one that usually turned into him pinning you against the wall, his hands resting low on your hips. only to break it off by saying you prepared him dinner. he will insist that you didn’t have to. but, you always assure him that it was no trouble at all. just another bespoke limb of your affection.

at the dinner table he will go on in great detail about his day. little moments like these made you feel like his wife, and my god, you wanted to be his wife.

and in every one of these moments those god forsaken word’s were begging to come out. plagued by your own insecurity, you were stuck in the limbo of two soul mate’s afraid to say to “L” word.

…

it’s about 11pm and you’re getting settled into bed. you’re wearing nothing but the t-shirt leon had “accidentally” left at your house. it smelled irresistible, his sent lingering strongly in the black cotton. you mindlessly scrolled your phone, constantly switching back to leon’s messages. impatiently waiting for the just got home, are you having good night, baby? text he normally sends you.

knock knock knock

abruptly you get up, running to the door. confused and racking your mind as to who could be knocking. you chalk it up to being a neighbor- because who the hell else would show up unannounced at nearly midnight.

you open the door; just a crack, careful not to expose your lack of dress.

“hey pretty girl.” of course it’s leon, wearing all black, dangling a helmet in his hand.

“leon! oh my god! what are you doing here? i’m sorry, i’m not really dressed” you fumble.

“is that my shirt?” he asks with a smirk.

you blush, whispering a shy “yes..”

“i mean who wouldn’t wanna come home to their girl wearing his shirt?” he embraces you, resting his head in the nook of your shoulder. he whispers “i missed you.”

“is that why you’re here?” you tease.

“well, i wanted to talk to you.”

your heart skips a beat, for whatever reason feeling a sense of dread. is he going away for work? is going to break up with me? it’s not really rational to think that way, but leon isn’t exactly predictable.

“no need to get nervous, it’s good- i think”

“what’s good?” you ask, trying not to jump to any conclusions.

“here c’mere, let’s sit”

you sit in the couch comfortably under leon’s arm. he diverts the subject and tells you about his day, like he usually does. and you tell him about yours. leon’s a sweet talker, his deep and calming voice relaxing you. and without intending, he allows you to be yourself, you feel safe.

“i’ve been thinking about you, about us.” leon says, running his hands lazily along your exposed legs.

“yeah?”

“you occupy so much of mind, and i—uh— i really dunno how to put it, you just mean so much to me.” he pauses, shyness apparent on his blushed cheeks.

“honestly… and i really mean it— i love you”

leon looks nervous, anticipating your reaction. hoping that if rejection comes it’s quick and over with.

“i love you, leon.” with no hesitation you say the words he was always hoping you’d say. leon’s smile is bright, one of true happiness. he kisses you with fervor, pulling you closely to his chest.

“you’re all mine, my love” he says into the kiss.

“delightfully so.” you reply.

your heart is filled to the brim. swept off your feet by your charming boyfriend, truly in love.

[finalskies]

Heart-Purr is another of my dnd characters that has a very unique build. She is a humble, traveling tabaxi bard who plays her enthralling hurdy-gurdy tunes to downtrodden souls. At least, that's how she appears on the surface. Her real name is Fuchsia, and behind her fluffy disguise is a monstrous thri-kreen hypnotic illusionist, a form she trusts very few to see.

In a past life she used her bewitching powers to amass wealth through a host of hapless victims. But in time she realized her ability to pierce into people's minds could be used to help instead of hurt; She could soothe and heal anxious, troubled, haunted minds, a task that felt infinitely more fulfilling than scrambling their brains for coin. Unfortunately, Fuchsia's life of manipulation caught up to her (she may have extorted a wealthy crime syndicate), and was forced to flee from her homeland. From there, "Heart-Purr" found herself in a foreign nation and thrust into a harrowing adventure where the fate of the world hung in the balance. Also, evil clowns.

Now I'm gonna rattle off some fun facts about her build because honestly I'm still proud of it...

Fuchsia is a 3rd Level Eloquence Bard / 2nd Level Archfey Warlock multiclass.

Thanks to class bonuses, the lowest she can possibly roll on a Deception Check is 19.

She has the Mask of Many Faces Invocation, allowing her to maintain her "Heart-Purr" form indefinitely. She also had the Duel Personalities background feature, further bolstering her ruse. The other players did not know she was a Thri-kreen was she joined the party, and Fuchsia managed to go entirely undetected during the campaign. Ultimately, she chose to willingly reveal her true form to the party.

Because her Heart-Purr form lacks the extra arms of her Thri-kreen form, when she dual-wields daggers with those arms, the daggers appear to just hover in midair (she claims to have telekinetic powers to explain this).

Fuchsia prefers to be a "hands off" sort of combatant though; she has low damage output herself, but has several spells and abilities that force the Charmed condition on enemies, making her foes do the dirty work for her.

With the right combination of spells and abilities, she can give enemies anywhere from -3 to -14 to their saving throws, making it extremely difficult for them to resist her mental manipulations. And with her Eldritch Mind, she is also good at maintaining those Charms.

Because she's a Monstrosity, she's protected from a number status spells that only affect Humanoids (notably Charm Person), making her difficult to Charm herself.

My favorite combat moment in the campaign was when she mind controlled a massive, eldritch Iron Maiden that was destroying a city. But then an enemy spellcaster wrested control by Charming it themself, which Heart-Purr did not stand for and Charmed it right back, and from there the encounter spiraled into those two fighting a mental battle for control over the metal monster. It was legit one of the coolest things I've ever experienced in a combat.

[blaxcunicorn]

Hello love! I was wondering if you can write something with Sasuke and a reader his family doesn’t approve of (in like a universe they didnt die lol)? No pressure! Thank you and have a good one!!💘

Hiii!

Firstly, omds love??? I legit blushed while reading this.

Secondly, thank you for the request. I really enjoyed writing this one! This takes place in the alternative Naruto world in Tsunades dream. I ended up writing that his father disapproved of the reader instead. I feel like his mother and Itachi would be happy with whomever Sasuke is with as long as they make him happy.

Warning, this story contains a bit of racism (the reader is a Senju while Sasuke as you probably know is a Uchiha)

Word Count: 1.3k

After the Fourth Great Ninja War, the two of you started dating when he came back after leaving the village. You had been in love since you were kids, but you didn’t realise how much you loved each other until he left the village. It didn’t pass a day without the two of you thinking about each other. 

The two of you were rivals as your families pressured you to outdo each other. It was bound to happen with him being a Uchiha and you being a Senju. As you grew older and saw Naruto and Hinata getting married, you were ready to make your relationship known to the world. The two of you were eating at Ramen Ichiraku on a quick date before Sasuke went to work with the police force. “Sasuke, do you think it’s time for us to meet each other’s families?” Sasuke’s eyes widen, he always knew that this day would come. You were both of age, and your peers were planning their wedding. “You are right…but what about our situation? Senjus and Uchihas have been on each other’s throats since the village was built.” 

You were in your great aunt Tsunade’s office helping out with healing an injured ninja. When the two of you finished, and he woke up, his wife came running in, embracing her husband. It warmed your heart seeing the two of them in love, adoring each other. Tsunade coughs, “So, Y/n, you are of age soon. Why haven’t the Uchiha boy proposed to you yet?” You feel your cheek burn “H-how did you know?” You and Sasuke really tried your best to be as secretive as possible. “I saw the way he looked at you when you healed him. It’s the same eyes Dan used to give me…Well…You aren’t getting any younger, and I want great-great nieces and nephews.“Aren’t you past fifty and…” You felt your soul leave your body as she slammed her fist on your head. You wobbled, feeling dizzy from that slam but managed to mutter out, “It’s a bit difficult. I don’t think my parents will approve of him being a Uchiha.” Tsunade pressed the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “That stupid old rivalry. Come with me.” 

You follow her to your house, and she kicks your door open, finding your parents eating lunch. Your father gets off his seat to greet his aunt. Tsunade grabbed your father, lifting him by his shirt. “My beautiful grand niece wants to marry a Uchiha, any objections?” Your father shakes his head in fear “O-of course not, as long as you are happy, dear.” He stutters out while your mother nods in agreement. “See, that was easy. Now we have a wedding to plan,” Tsunade says, patting your father on his back and hitting the oxygen out of his body. 

Now you were seated with Sasuke discussing your next big step. Sasuke nods at you finishing the story. “Well, you should come over for dinner next week, Itachi will be home by then.” You eagerly nod, excited to meet his family. It went smoothly with yours. Hopefully, it will go even better with his family. His father is the head of the Uchiha clan he might be more level-headed and more logical than your parents. Sasuke, on the other hand, hides his nervousness. He really wants to introduce you to his family, but he really wants his father’s and brother’s approval. He knows his mother would love whoever makes him happy.

You were now standing outside their house, with a flower bouquet in your hands. Sasuke is the one greeting you at the door. “You look beautiful,” he said, gently putting his hand on top of your head. He held the door open for you, and you were greeted by his family, who were preparing the table for dinner. The first one to greet you was his mother. She embraced you in a warm hug, you felt a wave of relief wash over you. “I’m delighted to meet my son’s gorgeous girlfriend.” You felt your cheek burn “T-the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for having me.” You said, giving her the bouquet. “Thank you, dear.” She smiled, giving you another hug. You offered to help her prepare the table, which she kindly accepted. The two of you talked while preparing the table. Sasuke noticed that you become more and more comfortable around his mother. Seeing the two of you smile and laugh together warmed his heart. When the table was set, his mother called upon the other men in the house. 

The first to show up was the family’s patriarch. “Father, this is my girlfriend Y/n.” You dried your hands on the handkerchief and nervously shook the father’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Y/n.” He said with a firm voice. “N-no the pleasure is all mine.” You stuttered nervously, you have heard stories about Sasuke’s strict father. “Please, have a seat.” He said the four of you sat down at the table. “Sasuke, where is your brother?” 

“I’m here, father. Sorry that I’m late. The Anbu mission took longer than expected.” Itachi said, having a towel on his shoulder. You glare at how Sasuke’s eyes light up at the sight of his older brother. You knew, based on his obnoxious bragging as a kid, that he adored his big brother. “Itachi, this is my girlfriend Y/n.” He said proudly. If there is one person in his family that would accept you, it would be Itachi. You stand up and shake his hand.  Itachi couldn’t help but notice the Senju Clan embroidery on your dress. “Y/n, do you belong to the Senju clan?” He smiles. “O-oh, yes. Tobirama Senju was my paternal great-great-great grandfather.” You said. Itachi’s warm smile brought you hope, but that was quickly crushed as their father slammed the o-choko on the table. “I’m not having my youngest son marrying a Senju.” He said between his teeth. 

“The Senjus are solely responsible for why we, Uchihas, have been discriminated against since the village was founded.” He continued standing up from his pillow. “Father, she has nothing to do with it!” Sasuke said, accidentally triggering his Sharinga. Which his father responded with the same eyes. “I don’t want anything to do with the Senju clan, especially a brat who is a direct descendant of Tobirama.  If you know what’s best for you, leave this house immediately.” You wanted to earth to swallow you as tears were running down your face. You immediately left “Darling, wait”, his mother said as you rushed out of the house. Sasuke gets up to run after you “Sasuke, stop” he ordered. 

“You don’t have to like her, but you will respect her as she will be your daughter-in-law whether you approve of it or not.” He finishes running after you. His brother looks at their father with disapproved eyes. “Father, this could’ve been a great opportunity for the Uchihas to approve that we wish to integrate into Konoha. And who knows, she might infect Sasuke with the will of fire which might prevent him from running away again.”  Itachi shakes his head before excusing himself. He uses his Sharingan and spots you and Sasuke sitting on top of a bridge above a river. 

You leaned your head on Sasuke’s shoulder, while he rapped his arm around you. “Your father hates me, h-he didn’t even give me a chance to explain myself.” You mutter, still sniffing from your crying. “Forget about him. It’s only the two of us against the world, right? You nod, and he slides a silver ring on your finger. You lift your head off his shoulder “S-sasuke” you were shocked at his gesture. He still wants to marry you, even with his father’s disapproval. He turns, facing you “There is no one I can imagine standing by my side. You are the spring sun, in my cold winter days…I-I don’t think I can do this without you.” Sasuke is stunned as he sees tears streaming down your smiling face. You threw yourself over him, embracing him in a hug causing him to fall on his back. “You and me, right, Sasuke?” He responds by putting his index and middle finger on your forehead. 

[sharonisthebettercarter]

Thinking about what you said, I think it's highly probable Madelyn Stillwell raped Homelander when he was 14 or 15.

That's around the age he got stuck at, right?

I think fandom is probably right about her doing it as more of a means to control him than anything, but I think you're probably right about this making it worse and meaning she did much more than has been shown to us on screen.

Regardless, I think this would have to be the case and I would say is even implied, but you are absolutely right that it shouldn't matter why someone decides to be a child molester.

They're still a child molester and whatever reasoning they have, the act is still vile and inexcusable. There even being debate on that in fandom just seems like grooming apologism and abuse dismissal because of favoritism towards Madelyn.

But the results and actions are ultimately the same in the end. It's also implementing a clause to make it mutually exclusionary when it could very well be both.

In the final scene, she swears to him that she loves him but is afraid of him and Homelander thanks her for finally being honest with him before killing her.

What if she was being honest or at least believed her own words when she said she loved him?

And the other scenes between them never struck me as a one time deal or the first time something like them happened. He does look off put in some ways and not quite uncomfortable, but almost like he's regressing when he's with her. Like she maybe used to do that sort of stuff more frequently and hasn't lately.

The scene where they're finally together struck me as more regression too. He immediately apologized to her and she consoled him like it was something that has happened before and she was used to it from him. Even the words she used and the way she said it and the way things were.

"My special sweet boy." "You did good." "That was so lovely."

Do people really believe this or similar can't have happened before with the things she says? To me, they indicate the exact opposite of that thought.

The scene looked almost like it was his first time, and obviously not hers. But the only way that really makes sense is if he is experiencing a moment of regression, possibly to his actual first time with her.

The scene feels like mother and son incest after years of abuse where she's deliberately causing his regression and enjoying the power it gives her over him.

She's a predator and this to me is made pretty clear if not explicit.

OOOH~<3! my darling anon, i wish i could fucking kiss you<3!

you just put into a word exactly why i could never get behind the homewell ship or the homewell type elements being used in other ships in fics that were supposedly trying to *heal* him. easy way to get me to check out for a fic because you *CANNOT* use elements from someone's trauma and abuse, legit full on *exploit* them, and *then* dare to call it or frame it as *healing* and expect it all to be hunky dory, that is just not how that shit works. (at least speaking in terms of medical accuracy/no wonder this shit is so triggery for me, this ain't supposed to be fuckin' disney--)

obliviously or dismissively predatory, so not even in the fun way...

and i want to be clear here, because this isn't me trying to tell people to not like the ship or elements or stop making content for them or whatever the fuck else. i don't care if people have or indulge in toxic guilty pleasure ships or stories here and there (literally have my own), but i always think we should be self aware of our own shit (plus ranting is sometimes good for the soul~<3) and it really *really* shows some people just are not in this case.

i *also* know people don't always mean to set up that way, part of it is a major problem with society (i will get to that~) and the only way for people to be aware is to be *made* aware, butt~

"--you think love is to prey, but i'm sorry i don't pray that way!"

"once i ran to you, now i run from you, this tainted love you've given--"

1000% correct. madelyn, regardless of what happened *off screen* between her and homelander, what we *did* see of her is enough to confirm her as a *predator*, and this was *before* diabolical added to the story behind them. she is extremely predatory as a character, set behind a narcissistic 'mother knows best' filter and a lot of it has nothing to do with homelander.

look no further than starlight~<3

this woman attempted to get a victim of rape to have 'discretion' about what happened to her, TO HER FACE. and every step of the way, tried to bully starlight into 'line' for the company. literally using narcissistic abuse--guilt tripping and shame, questioning her core values, fucking gaslighting (all things we see homelander copy oh deary me what an *odd* cowinkidink!! I WONDER WHERE HE LEARNED IT FROM.)--among others with a 'motherly' frame and 'it's just constructive criticism' (BITCH NO IT AIN'T!!) to manipulate her into doing what vought wanted/what was best for the *company*, NOT for annie.

hell, i'd wager she fucking hired starlight *specifically* because they thought she'd be an *easy* target.

she was *vulnerable*, nearly alone in that big city. her only relative/support system was an extremely religious mother who was *pushing her* to push through any pain or abuse and still wear a smile *for vought* and *for her* because of *fame* and *fortune*, framed as *for annie* when no it def wasn't. (i do like that starlight's mum actually becomes self aware of this and tries to amend the trust she broke, but i digress)

her tapes and everything they showed us about starlight showed us a wide eyed, bright eyed girl who was *hopeful*--but also naive... and as much as it pains me, that would have made her more susceptible to vought's machinations.

and i think the main reason annie didn't completely fall down the vought victims rabbit hole is in part due her truly good nature<3, but also because she met *hughie* (side note, notice how every time hughie and starlight have a falling out or separate from each other, they both start to get *worse*. butcher also tends to swoop in--)

it doesn't get talked about enough, but butcher pulls the same kind of bullshit with hughie (honestly probably why i could never quite feel right about butchie, do still like it but i do prefer it if butcher catches some guilty complexes causa hughie lmao), another good kid who's just had something monumentally traumatic happen to him and is in a super fucking vulnerable place where he'd be easy to manipulate for whatever it is butcher has planned.

he scoped him out and *saw* that, something to *use* to his advantage. and recruited him as such. like a gotdamn predator.

the wrench in his plans (as well as madelyn's) came in *hughie meeting annie* because they *gave* each other a solid support system because they were both good people, dealing with trauma, who found each other~<3 (always a hardcore hughielight shipper)

and butcher even *knows* this, he *knows* annie actually *honestly* and actually HELPS hughie and ruins his plots for him, so of course that mofo is gonna keep trying to ruin everything and break them up. if madelyn had ever discovered hughie, she probably would have done the same shit if in her own faux 'concerned mother' way.

BUTT... you are absolutely right in saying that fandom is highly dismissive or even apologist of what madelyn did to homelander (like they are with fuckin' everything that happened to him honestly) and it doesn't matter what reason she had to abuse him, what should be looked at is the fact of the matter.

did she abuse him? yes or no

the answer is yes, period. asking if she was actually attracted to him or just wanted control becomes a moot point after that, she *still* fucking groomed him. people can go ahead and debate the other factors, but the least they could do is acknowledge the first bit and not use the others to try and deny or 'lessen' the gravity of what she did.

i blame part of this on ableism and victim blaming, but also with how dismissive people *still* are when it comes to male victims of just about anything. christ, we still have people in fandom who have watched the show and *refuse*, not hyperbole, they downright *REFUSE* to acknowledge that homelander could have *any* semblance of victimhood whatsoever. despite the fact that he was literally tortured as a child and fucking groomed and we are given glimpses of these facts on screen, they'll deny any form of nuance and paint it as completely black or white, because he became... pretty much the only thing that fate allowed him to become.

that's not limited to this site even, it's prevalent pretty much in any part of the boys fandom across the web. (which is ironic given the series exists to challenge this sort of thinking)

but how often do we still see cases of a male *child* being sexually assaulted by an adult woman and the fucking judge going, "wElL sHe'S cAnDy So He PrObAbLy LiKeD iT"?

thankfully, not as often anymore. but if i'm honest? TOO FUCKING MANY (once is fucking too many) and the thought is still INSANELY pervasive. and again, it leads back to the question.

did she abuse him? yes or no

it doesn't fucking matter if the kid 'liked it' or not, MA'AM, THIS IS A FUCKING CHILD--

*children can NOT consent*

or in homelander's case, an emotionally stunted extremely mentally ill person. and ALSO a child at one point.

*likewise, mentally ill/special needs/disabled people and informed consent is an issue all its own. all of these are among the most vulnerable to abuse and the least likely to get justice for it*

if madelyn had been a man, nobody would question this. (who am i kidding, i'd like to think that but i am well aware there are apologists of all kinds that would not give a shit and be equally gross about it.)

and you are def right, it *feels* 1000% like *regression* in the scenes he's with her. and now that you mention it, the scene where they're together?? oh, fuck me. anon... that is *dark* and it fucking hurts but you may be right.

it *was* absolutely the first time *we* as an audience saw them together, and i think that may skew the perception about. there *was* absolutely an effort to regain control over him in that instance. but the things she said and the way it plays out... no

plainly, just no... it *does not* feel like the very first time that has happened... it feels like something that is *rare* between them. but definitely something that's happened *before*, and perhaps something she maintains as *rare* specifically to keep a hold on him. (could this be one reason for the diabolical episode?? to further implicate this?)

and even his use of doppelganger hinted at this cause think of it.

a 'madelyn' that is *just* for him, *only* the parts of her that... gave him attention, the bits he *liked*. what she more than likely fed to him as *scraps* to keep him crawling back for more. but because it was never genuine, the confusion from the ratio with abuse was thrown off, and the entire illusion that it ever meant anything was shattered prior (along with stormfront manipulating him), well...

"i give you all a boy could give you, take my tears and that's not nearly--"

down to his hatred and jealousy of teddy. we have to imagine what things were like before she had him but i get the feeling homelander got a lot more attention before then. it was well over 20 years and people honestly think in all that time *nothing* else happened??? things were 'normal' and then boom, *random* mommy kink??? hell, even the kid was maybe just as much a means to 'reset' the balance and help her maintain control as he was for future profit for vought.

OW.

yes. madelyn is a predator. homelander is her groomed victim. and i don't think it gets mentioned enough in this discourse, but one of the biggest reasons predators prey on the vulnerable or even want to make a fucking victim of someone is *because* of the power trip it gives them over that person. (hell, homelander fucking does this *specifically* because it has been done to him his entire life!)

and *even former abuse victims* may not realize it when they pull this sort of shit. i'm not gonna dive into that because it is a fucking *depressing* can of tapeworms, but let's just say i've been there, i know people who've been there, and i know people who know people who've been there. so this shit is a big fucking problem for people when we don't notice it and massively persistent circle jerk of perpetuation.

but it's still fucking predation, it doesn't make a difference if it's done by someone with power/control kink, narcissistic disorder or 'mommy/daddy dearest' vibes, pedophilic disorder, etc. it still fucking harmful and victimizes someone (especially when they are unaware/cannot consent to the powerplay OH FUCK--)

goddammit... i just realized the problem lmao... PISS. POOR. BDSM ETIQUETTE. GOTDAMN.

and trauma management i guess.

basically, people tag dom/sub or top/bottom when they should be tagging a 'control' or 'abuse kink'. dom/sub play relies on the informed consent of both parties while 'control' relies on the lack there of (informed consent) from the 'sub'. and in homelander's case, this shit is particularly bad. (readers need to be given informed consent too!! always tag yo shit y'all!!)

which to be fair, ain't exactly the fault of the ship itself, but more so the lack of awareness/common dismissal on it. it's really hella normalized/often advertised as 'just a quirky lil guy with a mommy kink' when that's not even remotely the only thing at play here and it goes way deeper and darker than that. you toss in homelander's other traumas and it's just... it's a goddamn mess.

and now i understand why i am so incredibly grossed out by fics that push homelander through more of this nonsense (or worse) with a new person (any person) and never bother addressing the trauma he has *directly* related to this shit. (because my traumas directly deal in the control shit yayyyyyyyyyyyyy~... UGH--)

well.

call me a pussy if you must (i am a pussy and a cunt and a dick and an asshole, i wear it shamelessly~<3) but i just ain't all that interested in fics that only exchange *handlers* for homelander instead of actually help him (when that's what they'll claim to want to do). seriously, lining him up with another 'madelyn' of all things just leaves me wishing he could *get away* from his shiny new abuser (because that is what she was, and would ideally be the inevitable outcome anyhow!)

homelander needs at least *one* honest *friend* who genuinely doesn't want anything from him to help him unblur the lines of informed consent that madelyn intentionally muddled *before* he can even make informed consent when it comes to this shit, especially if we wanna *actually* heal that boi (all he's had is more people capitalizing on it over and over if not just people with no clue of the minefield they were navigating)

he'd need to be able to experience true *independence* and *agency* before he decided they were things he actually wanted to put in someone else's hands or 'give up', so to speak, both of which would come *after* healing.

and if i'm indulging in toxicity with him, i'ma make him *get back at his abusers*~<3, give him a chance at some revenge porn for once and make it so much worse for *them*, not the guy who literally never had a chance or got to breathe his own breath (and def tagged properly of course).

but of all the whack ass takes i could see in the sea of fandoms, ANYONE in that position over this boi (or any character in similar situation) as he is *unhealed* is *NOT* his ally and doesn't give an honest shit about him, it's 100% all about *control* over him (which i know is a huge kink for tons of people and hypernormalized in society, especially heteronormativity, but again, trauma central for me so it'd be really fuckin' nice if people learned the difference and also started tagging this shit~<3)

fun for some, but not for me.

i've always generally preferred push/pull powerplay that purposely leaves the question of 'control' open/eventually balances it and helps empower and individualize both characters to be the best versions of themselves, i want them to learn and grow together. positive masculinity/femininity and emotional maturity are way more of a turn on for me and i want these bois and gurls and inbetweens to graduate to *men* and *women* and fairly *reasonable adults* when i write them, while preserving their core personalities and the things that make them *them*.

i also don't view 'bottomhood' as 'punishment'/something to use to deliberately rob a person of control/self determination (as much as we may joke about it, and also that is just rape with a pretty veil that at least deserves to be properly tagged) and i normally focus on empowering them just as much if not more than my tops so it's just damn weird to me to see that kind of mentality get popularized on any character and leik.

gotdamn, first off, what the shit, and second, i realize getting to the places i wanna go reasonably and responsibly takes hard work and pretty intricate writing but please lawd satan tell me i ain't the only one to feel this way, PLEASE!?

but very good point about it possibly being both/more than one element here. control is more likely to be *one* reason, but not *the* only reason and it could very well be a factor of both attraction and need to/getting off on the idea of controlling him (which still stems back to attraction, honestly, even if she didn't feel it towards him the sense of him being a child, it would still mean she feels it towards him in the sense of him being vulnerable which is just as awful, honestly.)

and i do think his stunted emotional maturity is 100% indicative that something *very* specific happened to him around that age (*maybe* she waited till after the debut??), but among all the other trauma, that is actually a question worth asking. why *then* and not any of the other times? he's got no shortage of trauma for his brain to pick from, so what the hell happened then?

as far as it feeling like incest? lil bit, yeah (if pseudo, which obviously we know it's not but i do think the vibe there is actually intended), suffice to say that madelyn is to homelander what billy's father was to him...

and y'know... i gotta admit, knowing this i am surprised we don't see all that much of butcher being shipped with his father because that and homewell are pretty much the same thing on opposite spectrums.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH--

have fun y'all, as always butt leik... have fun responsibly--gawddammit i never thought i'd be *that* old fart but i guess i am... well i can still be fun about it... tipsy bartender is fun lmao<3<3<3 (altho these subjects are decidedly less fun... *sigh of the long suffering*...)

[katyspersonal]

What are your opinions on our Lord and Savior Gywn?

He didn't save SHIT!! He took the perfectly (?) functioning humanity and ruined it! Look at it, it got Hollowing!!

Okay, I am making the 'Marika is a MILF Gwyn' jokes here and there, but 1) Marika is a bit more of a straight up cold and mean person, all things considered 2) Yet she still has enough nuance, and a lot of her actions might be written on reasonable fears and 3) Gwyn is even MORE nuanced than Marika, from what I have concluded so far! Laurence is a similar kind of sinner too. Comparison of the characters that share a trope is helpful for my thought process, so bear with me a little! With Marika I see a more direct disdain and fear before the very nature of life, cyclic and treacherous, uncontrollable, being meant to perish one day but with new life sprouting from it, and thus doing lovely things like shunning Crucible-related lifeforms. With Laurence, we have enough evidence so far that beasthood was not created by Healing Church but something already lingering in the human code after Pthumerians and Loran, so ambition to seize and control it it was risky but understandable!

But with Gwyn, we are confirmed that human nature itself is dark, undesirable an terrifying, as well as how he sorta had the chance to see it 'in action' during uniting with humans to take war on dragons. And also in Dark Souls the cyclic nature of Ages is just a fact, and it would make sense that should Age of Dark come, he and his family would be the first to go as beings of Light. It is a combination of things: his kind being in true danger and not just "risking to lose power", the treacherourness of how political allyship simply works (your today's ally country against the common enemy could tomorrow ally with someone else to start the war on YOU) and simply the not-so-metaphorical horrors of the Dark itself! is not a speculation, the dangers are RIGHT here!

Gwyn messed the natural order of humanity in a way that I personally dislike and express it on multiple occasions: trying to get rid of what's barbaric and dangerous yet natural and not accepting that there is no light without shadow, or life without death. But I also feel sympathetic because he had a legit reason to fear the darkness within men. In is not as much philosophical but a literal concept in Dark Souls lore. He acted out of fear, backed up with a precedent, and it brought the ruin to himself and everyone else. Writing this I'd say he sorta falls for the type of a person I can only like in fiction but resent in reality. I guess I don't need to explain what kind of people this is, paranoid "but for a valid reason", being "preventive" with their drastic measures.. Good intentions path to hell self-fulfilling prophesy blablabla. His specieism doesn't help his case in the slighest. Ironically, all extremely human behavior of him!

(LOL thank you based Goldmask as usual xddd) At the same time, he is not entirely corrupt with the power he seized and used to strip humanity of what was natural for them; he, in the end, committed to what he believed was better for everyone and sacrificed HIMSELF too. I can respect the cunning and machiavellian person who, in the end, is above the vanity of a 'savior' and can give themselves too, not only others. He also did share his power with some humans, showing that he can take kinda benevolent choices even with those he fears. Yeah, part of calculated risk could be there; dude gave the city and his daughter to the Pygmy to, again, preemptively avoid some animosity. But in the case with the four kings, did he HAVE to? Or Seath for that matter, who is a dragon, another species he doesn't like?

I find it hard to detect 'truly' corrupt people in Soulsborne setting in general, and yeah we can fiddle with 'nuanced character' and 'everyone is morally grey' forever and never discover THE big bad we'd love to hate. But, out of those big bads, I think he deserves the benefit of being seen as a way more nuanced character than the corrupt leader the most! It is the case where he should not have done anything, but also should not have NOT done anything.. Soulsborne is eager with placing characters in a position and knowledge where every choice is wrong and they just pick a poison for themselves (and everyone else xd). Jokes about "haha people in power moment" are still mostly jokes for me. He is sympathetic in a way not like I think I'd have done the same (let's be real, I revel in darkness gfjjghk) but in a way where I understand too much to feel negative 🤔

[12pt-times-new-roman]

lore! lore! lore!

This thing bears way too many resemblances to both Obann, the Punished and Cognouza for it to be a coincidence. The mini even looks the same. And both of those are directly related to Tharizdun.

For anyone wondering, because I had to look this up -- Imogen has resistance to psychic damage from a 6th level aberrant mind sorcerer ability. It also gives her advantage on saving throws against charm and fear effects.

"I'm gonna cast....... blight." the entire top table immediately looked up at that. they know.

"It's trying to find a form, but can't." Semblances of the party's faces can be seen beneath the skin, like a head under fabric.

ARBY'S: WE READ THE MEATS

A close second to "Arby's: What's in the meats?"

Them not putting out this fire when Matt has given so many hints that they should is legit hurting my rogue-playing soul a little bit

The illusory wall follows the same rules as the doors in Aeor: it requires a certain level (and possibly school) of magic to open. A 3rd level enchantment opened it. Behind it is a little cubby with a leather satchel, and it isn't trapped.

Deanna has a staff of healing!

Holy shit, that wolf king mini is fucking amazing and terrifying and I love him

As Ludinus' tower burns, the Bells Hells flee into the city, then into the forest. They find a large abandoned nest, where they build a fire to camp for the night.

They open the satchel. Inside, it's "empty" -- but it's a bag of holding. Upon asking for "Ludinus' notes," FCG brings out a cluster of vellum and parchment, some sections of half-bound journals.

"Toy transfers out of Rexxentrum"?? Chetney??? Got a bag of holding from a "credible source" within the city?

And he turns the bag inside out. There are coins, gems, a staff, more papers, and half a piece of armor.

All the papers are blank. Using the same technique as before, plus an Investigation check of 22, Chetney can see that these papers have something written on them, but can't make anything out, let alone discern what language it is.

It seems like this satchel was either a rainy-day fund, or "something left behind when the owner left in a rush." The coins and gems together amount to a little less than 3000gp.

There's also a tiny piece of dark burgundy wood. "It's a dildo!" "NO!"

The armor looks like a harness of some kind, like a torso harness. (Matt walked right into that one.) It's mostly dark-stained leather, and it's almost a vest, but it has a brass-gold inlay on it and it looks like where some of that metal is, it continues into an "emerging, arisen portion, almost like a... it rises like a metallic volcano, like an open funnel, but there's an empty space there." They're not sure if it's the front or the back, but it seems like there's space for something to fit in -- a gem (though none of the gems in the bag fit it), a vial, a beacon.

With detect magic, the armor is faint, the burgundy wood is faint, the staff is very strong. The staff is a "staff of dark oddessey," which has 8 charges that can be used to cast a whole bunch of spells. It requires attunement by a spellcaster. It has teleport, which can be cast using 6 charges. It regains 1d4 charges each day at dawn, and when it's used, it deals 1d4 to the user for each charge expended.

All the papers have a script that Deanna can see and read. LORE TIME! LET'S GO!

"The first bath of notes seem to be revolving around experiments on divine magic. Attempts to distill the base nature of divinity as an energy that can be replicated or destroyed... you also see notes that have designs, sketches, almost engineered blueprints for that strange harness that you saw. This is not in elven -- the text here is specifically arcane glyphs, like it's instructions for an enchantment. There are some notes in elven that follow those initial blueprints that speak of a physical regiment of magical infusion. As you continue on, they note on a synthetic recreation of the powerful natural magics that sustain the venerable wardens of the wilds. Beyond that, there are addition notes on dryads and fey, different fey entities that have locations throughout Wildemount, with eight crossed off... notes about 'feeding the root.'"

A nat20 investigation check to follow Ludinus' shorthand logic. "These notes are definitely batched with this harness. They are the next stage past its design. These are the resources needed for it to function. The dryad and fey entities, the locations that have been crossed out, are probably powerful dryad or fey entities that have, in the past, been discovered and utilized to power whatever this harness was supposed to be... the way it's designed, everything seems to funnel inward, so you imagine whatever resources presented into that portion of the device is funneled into that portion of the device. The last bit of notes speak of expanding his 'restoration sources' into the fey realm." So Ludinus was feeding this harness with fey and dryad magic. Travis clarifies that the elven word for "root" here refers specifically to the root of a plant, not the root of a phenomenon. Keep in mind that this was all written over 300 years ago.

"Oh my god, this Gildamesh motherfucker is grabbin' Smurfs!"

One of the marks delineating a fey-ish fane is "deep in the northeastern part of the Flotket Alps, one is in the lake deep in the Rimeplains, three are in the Savalirwood (though it's referred to here as the Veluthil), one within the Ashkeeper Peaks, and one that exists on an island to the northwest, past the waters." oh I will be COMING BACK TO THIS, JUST YOU WAIT

Best that they can tell, the portion of this chestplate that extends outward has an almost diamond-shaped gap. This probably rules out a Luxon beacon, because each of its sides is a pentagram.

The next cluster of notes is "about Ruidus, the red moon. Studying its curious superstition and religious scripture imploring its curse over Exandrian fanes and magical currents... he makes a lot of assumptions that the great temples fear this moon, and he wishes to know why. He theorizes that the gods continue to push to not even question or look in its direction, and you can see where this study is an obsession... for all the great shadows and villains that have been written about through the scriptures of history, there have been deep understandings to inform the populace of faith that what exists in evil should be understood so it can be avoided. But this is the one thing that exists int he skies of Exandira that the gods just say, 'look away.' That has been something on his mind since Moalesmyr. He notes the odd flares, odd notes mentioning the historical Ruidisborn. He quietly curses that he was not born under, wishing for the gods' fate. He hopes to employ a communion ritual timed under a flare to understand and decipher it. He talks about forgotten gods, about divine unravelling, of an ancient primordial that wasn't sundered after the Founding, all these theories of the red moon trying to ascertain its nature. Another entry complains of the Emerald Cross priests undermining his research, but he still managed to contact something, like reaching into an alien dream. He can't quite reach it yet -- it exists on the peripheries, and needs something stronger to break through."

The third and final batch of notes is "on the slowly expanding chaotic nature of the arcane crystals that form the power well beneath Molaesmyr. It notes of Aramond, who theorized that the well was a gift from the Archeart that was lost in the Calamity and rediscovered in the founding of Molaesmyr. Others believed it to be of Arcanum descent, fallen from one of the floating cities... harnessing this long-buried power source interests Ludinus' endeavor. In his final notes, he theorizes that if this crystal well is focused through his design without them knowing, while Ruidus is above during the solstice, he hopes a channel of consciousness could be opened, and that which is calling his attention to the red moon could be contacted."

Laura connected the dots! Maybe this "well" was a collection of Luxon beacons, or a singular one that was somehow elevated -- whether by unleashing or by malfunction -- beyond the power we've seen so far, or one that was infused with the divine magic of the Archeart, or any number of other things.

End of lore dump

Chetney on Rexxentrum: "there's a king, but we know who's really in charge."

The party contemplates who they should take this information to. The king and queen of Uthodurn, the king of the Dwendalian Empire, the Vellum Steeple, Vasselheim, Ivodel...

And Imogen suggests the Cobalt Soul. (please. i am begging. also, Fearne and Imogen being absolutely enamored and turned on by Beau's abs and ass is absolutely peak)

Goddamn, I thought I would never see the day-- SAM being the voice of reason, and TRAVIS being the lying voice of chaos?? I mean, at least Fjord had some kind of logic to his voice of "fuck it we ball," but Chetney's straight-up lying!

Hey, there we go! Religion check on "emerald cross priests." FCG recognizes that some of the symbology of the Archeart leans on cross designs and verdant colors, so the "Emerald Cross Priests" may have been a faction of their worship. This tracks, since Molaesmyr itself was built on the belief that its location was protected and preserved from the 100-year fire by Corellon themself.

They decide to sleep in the abandon nest instead of teleporting, and Imogen and FCG are set to dive into Frida's mind using a dual detect thoughts.

oh my god Christian had matching sweaters made. he gets one in FCG's colors and gives Sam one in Frida's colors. my heart can't take this. gift giving as a love language is so special to me.

Into Frida's thoughts! (Deanna cries in Chetney's arms.)

First, it's a familiar space for FCG, but for Imogen, it feels like a waiting room. It's different, organized, segmented, separate -- unlike organic minds. Even FCG's mind leans more into the chaotic space of organic brains, while Frida's has a clarity.

The three of them come to rest in a room, and FCG and Imogen see Frida as a mist, standing before a doorway waiting to be opened. Through it, it's like being pulled down a lazy river. It's dreamscape, comfortable -- "a trek through a consciousness where you pick up memories. A waking moment, a hooded figure with a metallic mask rousing them from a dark, closed space. (Imogen recognizes them as D.) Struggle, survival in a harsh wilderness, wandering through unfamiliar streets and fear in the eyes of people as the consciousness of Frida steps, seeking connection but being fled from. You see children, playing, and that protective energy swelling, and that fear fades. You see the laughter and smile on Deanna's face over a cooking fire, the polishing of armor. A smattering of memories, but much like FCG's -- a fresh existence. It's like peering into the memory of a child, though there is a more extended, sourceless confidence and maturity."

Frida focuses on the names that he heard in the tower -- Laerryn, Vatora, Vishtaron, the child that FCG saw -- and (with a straight d20 roll of 5) Frida gets lost in the current. Memories begin to bleed into images of the child from before. "You have images that completely envelop the horizon for just a moment, of warfare. Of weapons, of people being cut down, then back to the river. [Frida] has had these dreams, rarely -- but it couldn't have been you, right?"

When Frida looks down, they see the river of energy that pulls them through the memories, and it obscures the lower part of their body. But they see their spiritual self, a bipedal entity of energy.

FCG and Imogen try to push deeper into Frida's memories.

NAT 20 FROM LAURA, and Matt makes a roll with a glance at Frida. They feel a pain in their mind, like a headache even though they've never had one -- the pain builds, and the others see the image of Frida fold and emit white light.

"That flash of warfare seems to emerge once again. It's less a battlefield -- stone hallways, bodies on the ground. Somebody rushes out of a room, and you watch as they fall to the ground. Standing before them is the spiritual form of Frida. A warrior, cutting through enemies in some sort of a structure. A very beautiful, unrecognizable structure... [Frida pushes forward, not knowing who's a friend, who's an enemy.] Some have brown and gold robes with gentle leather chestplates or armor. Some are preparing to cast spells before a blade catches their throat. A soldier runs up with a spear and shield toward Frida, who takes a hit before grabbing the spear and breaking the soldier's neck before pushing forward... [for Frida], it's an odd experience, like you're riding another person's experience. [Frida feels this is right. They know an objective when they see one. They keep going. They roll a d20, for a 10.] The details are fuzzy, but the people around you -- you begin to realize, it's not you pushing into a stronghold, you're defending. But the people you're fighting at the sides of and the people you're fighting against aren't dressed all that differently, and you feel a sadness at what must be done. You are not fighting an enemy from outside -- you are fighting an enemy from within."

Behind Frida, they see what they're defending: a beautiful structure, long halls, tall arched sealings with pipes or metallic tubes. The floors and walls are metallic, polished. Very much like the description of the A2 crash site, with the metal walls and "plastic" tubes. Frida is defending whatever's behind them, and they turn back toward it. Others go past them -- "what are you doing? Where are you going?" The hallway goes on, and on, and on as individuals walk past. The hall widens, and they see a central, massive chamber where "there is a contraption of such immensity, you've never considered or seen something on this scale. All manner of glowing crystalline devices and whirring mechanical devices, funnels and tubes and glass domes, sparks and dozens upon dozens of architects and engineers and magical practitioners all focused in this space. A voice shouts in Aeorian, 'protect the factorum!'"

The room carries a buzz, a hum that grows to a growl. "An engine of such immensity within this space that the chamber itself, the ground beneath you, vibrates and shakes. Stones and fallen instruments just move and cascade across the ground by the immensity of what is growing. The crystals are alighting. The space itself is preparing for something incredible. Then, it's just white." Everyone takes 8 points of psychic damage (no save, no roll to hit, no nothing) as they are shunted out of the vision.

Chetney puts the dots together, between the malleus factorum and the malleus keys. In Aeor, Frida was defending it from assault. Frida remembers one thing: "when you were discovered by D, you were ruined... he didn't just resuscitate you, he repaired you, brought you back from the brink of annihilation and set you free."

Frida was drawn to Aeor, and Deanna implies that that's why they went to Eiselcross.

Imogen recognizes some similarities between the energy signature, the structure, the vibrations between the malleus factorum and the malleus key -- but the key in Marquet was far smaller, far less powerful, far less immense.

Chetney recognizes that the crystals in the malleus factorum are distinctly different than the arcane batteries on the malleus key.

Facets of the clothing was semi-recognizable to FCG, but nothing about the location or the project rings a bell. Travis and Aabria suggest that FCG was in Avalir, not Aeor, hence why they recognize the clothing but not the location.

"Xhorhassian"? Deanna, where the fuck did that come from??

Deanna and Frida were in Eiselcross because Frida felt drawn to Aeor's central ruins, like Imogen felt drawn to Ruidus.

Frida feels a twinge of memory at the back of their head at the names Laerryn, Vishtaron, and Vatora, but they don't know why. But they know they were protecting the creator hammer -- whether it was because they believed in the anti-god sentiment, believed wholeheartedly in Aeor itself, or were going along with their orders.

(Meta note: Aabria says she "saw a room full of people doing what one person did" in relation to Laerryn.)

Chetney gives Frida a little wooden robot! It moves and everything. "A pillar of protection and I feel a connection to you, because you protect children and I bring joy to children with these [toys]." Fearne tries to comfort them too -- "you were being commanded then, but now, you're free to do what you want." The cast makes the connection between "Frida" and "free to."

I'm honestly loving the suggestion that Morri and Ludinus are exes, and that's part of why the Nightmare King hates him so much.

"But wherever we go... what about you two?" FCG.... honey.......

Deanna feels like Frida is moving on, and she's afraid of being left behind again. They have FCG now, and all of them have a mission, and maybe she should go back to Uthodurn -- no. Chetney's with her. They would've been swiss cheese, would've been ground meat without her. "I just don't want anything to happen to you." "I... made something for you, too." It's a little cup, like the ones they used to drink out of on the Menagerie Coast.

"Just-- a real quick question-- is the werewolf thing only for fighting?" "Y'know... there's... only one way to find out." "(full of sarcasm and irony) Help. Chetney has gone feral. Oh no. Anyone. Preferably Fearne, if you're into that. Help. The safe word is parmesan." And Chetney, Deanna, and Fearne run off into the woods.

Oh, how far Travis has come. This is character development. and it's canon now, fuckers!!

Now, they need to find out where to teleport. Uthodurn, Rexxentrum, Jrusar, Whitestone, Bassuras, Zephrah -- they could go anywhere. But they need to find out where the other group would think of to meet up.

FCG casts commune. And Matt does make an interesting point -- "should we go here" is different than "should we go here to accomplish this task."

As they cast the spell, they feel their consciousness rise "to a space within all horizons, at a crossroads, paths spreading out from you in all directions that converge here. There's a sign post, and it's blank. On the sides your vision, you see strands of hair, and you turn, and you see once more a feminine form upon the same horizon. She looks two inches tall, two miles tall, you can't tell -- it's strange. But she's present. [Hi. First of all, thank you, for all your guidance and for sending me Frida. We're trying to find our other friends, and we're wondering if we go to Jrusar, if we would have a chance to find them there at some point.] While previously, there was an inference of an answer, this time you hear a voice on the wind. 'Yes.' [Are they alive, Changebringer? Are they okay?] 'Yes.' [Even if I never know about my past, even if I never find out who made me or why I'm here, will I know Frida for a long time?] The wind picks up, and blows past.. the answer challenging to write, when the future has not been... In an immediate rush, this towering woman appears before you, her dark skin, her light brown hair that entangles around you. Her presence is bold, terirfying in proximity, her eyes these golden, open spaces, an intensity about her presentation as she looks upon you. 'A terrible fate looms for all of Exandria. An alien malice menaces the skies of the Marquesian sands. If you indeed wish to show your faith, to walk my endless paths beyond, then rise to our call. The winds of change blow cold against us all, yet hope remains unmoving in you. Our grace guides those who carry our banner. Hold it high, and traverse the path that I alight with purpose and fated destination. Do not turn from this road, for only shadow and solitude awaits beyond.' The light on the horizon grows cold, she grows more immense, you feel even more insignificant. 'The red end stirs in its slumber. Do not let it wake.' And she looks over her shoulder, and you see the distant gleam of the red moon, before--"

At the same time, the rest of the party watches as a sudden, almost sleepiness comes over Deanna. "Deanna, you sit for a second, before suddenly, this bright light fills your consciousness, the immensity of a star burning before you, something you've not experience at this proximity in some time, and comes with it a strength and a frustration long-felt. You try your best to avert your gaze, but the source of this light burns your retinas, and there you see before you the Dawnfather, encompassing the sky, nothing but his light. 'Mortal arrogance makes union with a forbidden scourge. The ruddy moon beckons over the skies of Marquet. Child, reborn of my grace and my will, I command you: strike out against those who would snuff our light. The gifts I grant you are the sword and shield against the darkness. Forsake these gifts, ignore our charge, and be abandoned... faith needs not logic, nor truth, but unerring conviction... the red end stirs in its slumber. Do not let it wake.'"

There is a warmth to the coin in FCG's hand, and it looks shinier. They identify it as a "coin of the Changebringer," and it... does a lot of things, according to Sam. (I bet it's an improved amulet of the devout +1, which by default gives them an extra use of channel divinity per day.)

Deanna gives Chetney her ring of temporal salvation. This is a ring that, when the wearer would die, instead they're healed for 3d6 hit points.

She also identifies the little piece of wood as a tuning fork for the planeshift spell, which is tuned to the fey realm.

Chetney took orders directly from the Cerberus Assembly. He made enchanted furniture. Allegedly. (This is a reference to C2E48/49, if anyone doesn't know.) Also, "RTA" may or may not stand for "Rexxentrum Toy Authority." Most of them were fine -- Ludinus was an ass, and Traversky was his best customer. This means that Chetney likely knows Delilah Briarwood by name, and knows her...... toy preferences.

Using the rod, they all teleport to Xhadana's house.

[kim-seung-mo]

♥♙𝔼𝕝𝕚𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕔 ℝ𝕖𝕔𝕤♙♥

Blue is for absolute favs and Red is for nsfw!!! but always remember to read the warnings before reading the actual fic!!

♢OT8♢

How will SKZ members confess to you as your fwb by @skztea for... making me laugh lmao jeongin's part in particular

the ones you catch staring at you and the ones who catch you staring at them by @soleilsuhh for... being one of the cutest things I've ever read for sure (hannie's part omg asfkagflkg *dies*)

THE INTERVIEW WITH THE EXES by @chogiwow for... being one of the most interesting concepts I've read, every part is FANTASTIC

(no seungmin or jeongin) SKZ as Subs by @mzmezzler for... ugghhh I just need more sub!skz headcanons, please give me more *cires*

skz as subs by @hanjiesgf for... providing me with more sub!skz content thank you so very much I'm sobbing rn

♢Bang Chan♢

be honest with me by @lotus-dly for... being by far the best chan angst I've ever read

SAFE HAVEN by @kp-alice for... writing sub!idol angst??? we doms aren't always horny yknow? sometimes we doms get emotional too yknow? we need to appreciate these more

Somewhere Only We Know by @seungly for... BREAKING MY HEART????? CAUSING ME TRAUMA??? idk, just read it

♢Lee Minho♢

[11:14 p.m.] lmh by @lotus-dly for... when you need pain but also fluff and hurt/comfort cuz ajhfagsdklasgf I never say no to hurt/comfort

Trapped in Heaven by @chans-starlight for... just, if you want leeknow smut? READ THIS

Leeknow Fluff I Requested Because of That One Video by @seungly for... lino getting called angel and blushing?? more please

All I Have|| L.M by @hwavsg4ch4n for... joker!minho x reader??? I'm already imagining a 500-page book on this thank you

Smear Campaign by @dreamescapeswriting for... melting my heart thank you very much akjaslasjg tsundere!minho is everything

the enemies to lovers project by @softukiyos for... being the best leeknow fic to ever exist PLEASE read this

[7:39am] by @hyunee1 for... just being cute and having my baby kitty being spoiled TAT so freakin cute

[✖︎ sub!Lee Know] › 𝚜𝚖𝚞𝚝 𝚊-𝚣 by @sugar-petals for... just, just read this. I have no words 😭

⇢ ˗ˏˋ [10:55pm] by @cosmic-railwayxo for... MURDERING ME??? I can't anymore, deni is a genius and she can read my mind.

♢Seo Changbin♢

nothing...yet

♢Hwang Hyunjin♢

Cruel Summer by @seungly for... making me feel everything at once in 8k??? couldn't be me, I'd need 30k

♢Han Jisung♢

moonlight by @cosmic-railwayxo for... being the single most beautifully written, fluffy yet emotional, cute, adorable, dreamy, everything positive piece of fiction ever

♢Lee Felix♢

Lee Felix | Drabble by @lotus-dly for... writing about boys in skirts??? something we need to talk about and appreciate wayyy more

you are my everything, my love, can't you see? by @multifcndoms for... crashing my heart and soul into a million pieces and making me feel the pain I put other people through 🥲

beauty and the beast by @h0neydewmoon for... MAKING ME FEEL ALL THE EMOTIONS IN THE WORLD I was legit screaming for the whole second half 😭😭☹️

♢Kim Seungmin♢

Your Eyes by @seungly for... being the cutest thing ever ahhh I loved it adhalsdhlkhf read if you're in a bad mood and need soft seungmin

bf seungmin x gn reader by @zoe8stay for... healing me before I need to take an exam... you see a trend here?

Somebody Loved by @bangchanswolfpelt for... writing the best sub!seungmin smut in only 600 words??? criminally underappreciated

seungmin fell out of love and y/n still loves him the same by @seungly for... CAUSING ME AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PAIN (but making me enjoy every second of it)

as the train passes by @starlostseungmin for... creating a whole plot for a kdrama in 4k words??? keisy you're a genius

♢Yang Jeongin♢

nothing...yet

♢Poly♢

to love and be loved by @lotus-dly for... writing something I thought I'd never find... poly!hyunchan and bridgerton au???? more please

[sasusakucore]

the more i think about it

the more i feel sakura can perfectly fit in jujutsu kaisen verse

naruto and sasuke are too op

but sakura? girlie can fit in just fine

if she is a teacher possibly a special grade sorcerer due to her healing ability which can go beyond normal healing

in simple letter rct that surpasses gojo too

her main ability related to super strength which can hutt soul directly

because sakura has a lot of chakra in her original verse i imagine her to have lot of ct so possibly domain expansion

she is nobara's sensei

and we can legit go crazy with love interest-

sksksksksk nanami or higuruma- or hey if it's sasusaku.....sasuke can be a normal house husband who is former sorcerer

she would be so protective of yuji-

if she is a student:

total dork and hothead

gojo's top 5 student

i would make her protective of the trio

totally tease nobara for having crush on maki (my otp ship nobamaki) also saved nobara from mahito

same ct as her adult counterpart

love interest? because sakura loves the emo's possibly megumi or yuta?

her sensei is not only gojo but also utahime to help her control her immense ct and develop her rct

what's cha think?

I am so sorry bestie, but I haven't read jujutsu kaisen. I just seen bits of it from my mutuals across social media so I can't really say much though I saw them making crossover arts with sakura in it. I am sure you might be right because while sakura is tremendously strong and intelligent, she isn't too op like naruto and sasuke, so she will fit well in universes like jujutsu kaisen(where fights with intense powers take place) and can be a very strong fighter in those universes. And as for her personality, sakura(atleast the version at the end the og naruto, shippuden and boruto) would definitely get along with many(and tease them when they get a love interest and play matchmaker) and she would definitely be a good teacher. Sasuke being a househusband is a cool concept because my boy would finally have peace and would get to spend more time with his family. And sakura would an awesome student.

[malvo-ish]

what is a good starbula song

Omg thanks for the ask anon! ❤️💙

Haha I kinda make myself crazy with chosing but let me work that out. :P

Putting a read more bc this gonna be a longer post!

(Please have in mind that's how I interpret lyrics)

For their overall vibe I really love "Superstar" by MARINA. A song about finally feeling belonging with someone, overcoming difficult times together. It's a really beautiful song for this two because it can viewed from both their perspectives:

Before I met you, I pushed them all away Soon as I kissed you, I wanted you to stay What I like about you is you know who you are What you like about me is I know what I'm not

Really love the beginning of the song fitting so perfect on Nebula.

You never judge me for any of my fears Never turn your back, always keep my body near All of the days that we spend apart My love is a planet revolving your heart

While this part is so perfect from Peter's perspective.

And of course the chorus who's just so perfect from both their sides ❤️

I love the way we worked so hard Yeah, we've come so far Baby, look at me, you're my superstar When I'm afraid, when the world's gone dark Come and save my day, you're my superstar

-

Next catergory is "longing"! To specific "Nebula realizing too late she fell for Peter and now yearning for him"! Lyrics should be self explainatory. :) I just dig that vibe on her.

No one can love My closed heart That’s what I believed At some point, my heart is opening My hardened heart Can never get a rush again That’s what I believed Every time I see you, my heart beats

[chorus]

I really don’t want to give Or receive any more scars now That’s what I believed Why does is it like that won’t happen between us It will take a while For the scars in my heart to heal That’s what I believed At some point, I am in your embrace

[chorus]

My heart that became as cold as ice At some point, you softly stole it You are a warm, shining sunlight On my scar, and new skin is growing over it Without me knowing, At some point, I lean on you The heavens might have given me one more chance That’s what I think baby

-

Angsty song for Peter's perspective! Mostly fitting pre-vol3. His feelings while Nebula cared for him, slowly falling for her. Knowing that she's just as broken as him. Knowing they are the same in a way. Two broken souls. Legit the entire lyrics are perfect. XD

Where have you been? Do you know when you're coming back? 'Cause since you've been gone I've got along but I've been sad I tried to put it out for you to get Could've, should've but you never did Wish you wanted it a little bit More but it's a chore for you to give Where have you been? Do you know if you're coming back? We were too close to the stars I never knew somebody like you, somebody Falling just as hard I'd rather lose somebody than use somebody Maybe it's a blessing in disguise (I sold my soul for you) I see my reflection in your eyes I know you're sick Hoping you fix whatever's broken Ignorant bliss And a few sips might be the potion I tried to put it out for you to get Could've, should've but you never did Wish you wanted it a little bit More but it's a chore for you to give Where have you been? Do you know if you're coming back? We were too close to the stars I never knew somebody like you, somebody Falling just as hard I'd rather lose somebody than use somebody Maybe it's a blessing in disguise (I sold my soul for you) I see my reflection in your eyes (tell me you see it too) So close, so close Yet so far away (so far) I don't know (I don't) How to be solo (no) So don't go, oh, no, just stay You and I were bright, shooting through the sky daily (yeah) Lighting up the night, wasn't always right, baby (mm-hmm) Yeah, every time that we realized it's crazy And you save me We were too close to the stars I never knew somebody like you, somebody Falling just as hard I'd rather lose somebody than use somebody Maybe it's a blessing in disguise (I sold my soul for you) I see my reflection in your eyes (I sold my soul for you, I know you see it too) Yeah, I brought same ones too I know you're tired, I know you're tired Just say it, I agree with you Sick of all the poison in me What did I do wrong for me, babe? Uh, I see myself in you, I see myself in you, baby I see myself in you, alright I see myself in you, maybe you should too

-

Bonus: songs I just associate with them without going on full explaination: