#it really does help to broaden my interests ^^

[tunamayuuu]

apparently there are still sgk fans! lovely 🦀

and for those wondering, yes i do use these pages for bullet journaling! i write on top of these drawings with to-do lists and daily journaling. i post the spreads before doing that ofc to keep a memory of before it was written over 💌

unfiltered scan below!

note: the scan doesn't accurate capture the color contrast in real life, and i apologize! my phone's broken so i only have the scanner </3

[the-offside-rule]

Fermín Lopez (FCBarcelona) - loml

Requested: yes

Prompt: 46) "Are you going to undress me with your eyes or are you actually going to do something?"

Fermín x f1driver!reader

Warnings: it's just really long tbh oh and there's some fluffy smut, and then SMUT unprotected s€x, oral (f receiving), light cursing

The final whistle blew, signalling the end of the match and the season for Fermín Lopez. The crowd roared as the team celebrated their victory on the field, but Fermín's mind was already elsewhere. He high-fived his teammates, a wide grin on his face, but his heart was set on the upcoming reunion he had been longing for.

As he made his way through the tunnel towards the locker room, a wave of exhaustion hit him. The season had been grueling, filled with highs and lows, but now it was over. And that meant only one thing—he could finally see Y/n again.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Fermín stepped out to the press area, where the media eagerly awaited. He was greeted by a barrage of camera flashes and microphones, but he was used to this. He spotted a familiar face in the crowd, the team's usual reporter, and gave a nod in her direction.

"Fermín! Over here!" she called, and he made his way towards her. "Great game out there, Fermín, also an incredible goal. How does it feel to end the season on such a high note?" The microphone leaned towards him. "It feels amazing." He replied, his smile broadening. "The team worked really hard, and it’s great to finish strong." The reporter nodded. "So, what are your plans for the summer?" She asked, leaning in with interest. Fermín’s eyes sparkled as he answered. "I’m heading to Monaco to visit my girlfriend, Y/n. She has just raced there, and I can’t wait to see her. We’ve been apart for a month because of my games and her races, and it’s been tough. But I’m really excited to be there to support her."

The reporter's eyes widened with curiosity. "That sounds wonderful! How do you manage the long-distance relationship with both of your busy schedules?" Fermín sighed. "It’s not easy,but we both understand each other’s passions and commitments. We talk every day, and we support each other from afar. Now that the season’s over, I’m just looking forward to spending time with her and cheering her on."

"That’s great to hear. Best of luck to Y/n in her race, and enjoy your summer, Fermín." Fermín smiled."Thank you." He said, giving her a polite nod before moving on to the driver car park. As he walked away, Fermín couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. In just a few days, he’d be in Monaco, the picturesque city by the sea, watching Y/n race. He could already picture her, focused and determined, the way she always was when behind the wheel. For now, though, he had to wrap up his duties here. He answered a few more questions, signed some autographs, and finally, with a sense of fulfillment and anticipation, made his way out of the stadium. The warm evening air greeted him as he stepped outside, and he took a deep breath, savoring the moment. In a few short days, he’d be with Y/n. And that thought alone made everything worth it.

------

The flight to Monaco felt like it took forever, even though it was only a few hours. Fermín spent most of it restless, unable to sleep despite his exhaustion. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Y/n and how it would feel to hold her again. As the plane descended, his excitement grew, making him almost giddy with anticipation.

Finally, the plane touched down, and Fermín quickly grabbed his bag and made his way through the airport. His heart pounded with each step closer to the arrivals hall. As the automatic doors slid open, he scanned the crowd, his eyes darting back and forth. And then he saw her. Y/n stood there, looking as beautiful as ever, her eyes searching for him in the sea of faces. The moment their eyes met, her face lit up with a radiant smile, and she broke into a run.

Fermín dropped his bag and opened his arms wide just as Y/n leaped into them, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. He held her tightly, spinning around slightly as the world seemed to disappear around them. "I missed you so much," Y/n whispered into his ear, her voice filled with emotion. "I missed you too." Fermín replied, his voice thick with the same feeling. He pulled back slightly to look at her, their faces inches apart. "I can't believe I'm finally here with you." She smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Me neither. It feels like forever."

They shared a soft, tender kiss, the kind that spoke volumes about their time apart and their joy in being together again. After a moment, Fermín gently set her down but kept an arm around her waist, unwilling to let her go completely. "How was the flight?" She asked, her hand resting on his chest. "Boring." He said with a chuckle. "But worth every minute now that I'm here with you." Y/n kissed his cheek. "Come on, let's get out of here," Y/n said, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the exit. "I've got so much to show you and so little time before the race."

"So, where to first?" He asked, a playful grin on his face. "Well-" Y/n said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "There's this gorgeous hotel room with a seaside view if you'd like a tour." Fermín bit his lower lip, in an attempt to hide his grin. "Lead the way." He whispered, kissing her hand before she practically hauled him and his luggage out towards the exit of the airport.

-------

The couple walked through the bustling streets of Monaco. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the beautiful city, as the tourists and racing enthusiasts filled the streets, their conversations blending into a lively hum.

As they turned a corner near the harbor, a group of fans spotted Y/n and hurried over, their faces lighting up with excitement. "Y/n! Y/n! Can we get a photo with you?" One of them called out. Y/n laughed and nodded. "Of course!" Fermín watched as the fans gathered around Y/n, their admiration for her evident. One of the fans handed Fermín a phone, asking, "Could you take the photo for us?" Y/n looked over to Fermín, expecting a lighthearted joke about him not being asked for a photo but his reaction was the complete opposite. Fermín's heart swelled with pride. "Absolutely." He said, taking the phone. He backed up a few steps to get a good angle, making sure to capture the picturesque background of Monaco along with the smiling faces of Y/n and her fans.

"Alright, everyone say cheese!" Fermín called out, snapping a few photos. The group giggled and struck different poses, and Fermín happily obliged, capturing each moment. After taking several photos, Fermín handed the phone back to the fan. "Here you go. I hope they turned out okay." The fans checked the photos and thanked him enthusiastically. "They're perfect! Thank you so much!" Y/n turned to Fermín with a grateful smile as the fans walked away, chatting excitedly among themselves. "Thank you babe. You're the best."

Fermín shrugged modestly, but his eyes shone with happiness. "I'm just living my life as a Formula One wag. This is the way." He chuckled. "Easily the best wag." She smiled, taking his hand in hers again as they continued on their walk.

-----------

Fermín stepped out of the sleek black sports car, the warm Mediterranean breeze tousling his hair. The stars sparkled against the inky sky, casting a gentle glow over gorgeous city . He rounded the car to the passenger side, a smile playing on his lips as he reached for the door handle. Inside, Y/n watched him through the window. Fermín was always the gentleman, a trait that never failed to make her feel cherished. As he opened the door, he held his hand for her to take and of course, she did. As she gracefully stepped out, her elegant dress shimmering under the streetlights. As the young driver steadied herself, her fingers interwined with her boyfriend's. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her, admiration evident in his gaze. "You look stunning." He murmured, his voice soft and sincere.

"Thank you." She replied, her cheeks warming. "You don't look so bad yourself." As they stood there, sharing a quiet moment, a few onlookers gathered at a respectful distance. The romantic gesture did not go unnoticed, and soon, cameras were clicking, capturing the sweet scene. Fans who recognized both Fermín and Y/n couldn't help but smile at the adorable couple. They smiled and waved, interacting with the fans who stayed respectful towards them, something that the couple found they would only have in Monaco. "Ready for dinner?" Fermín asked, leaning in. "Absolutely." Y/n replied, her excitement matching his.

Hand in hand, they made their way towards the entrance of the restaurant. The ambient lighting and chic decor promised a cozy, intimate evening. They were greeted by the maître d', who led them to a secluded table by the window, offering a breathtaking view of the shimmering harbor. As they settled into their seats, Fermín reached across the table, his hand finding hers once more. "I've been looking forward to this all week." He said, his thumb gently caressing her knuckles.

"Me too." Y/n agreed, her smile brightening the room. "It's nice to have some time just for us." Their conversation flowed effortlessly, laughter punctuating their words as they enjoyed a delicious meal. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their perfect little bubble. After ordering, they took a moment to appreciate the view. The lights from the yachts reflected off the dark water, creating a magical atmosphere. "I was thinking today-" Fermín began, breaking the comfortable silence. "About how far we've come." Y/n tilted her head, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Oh? What brought that on?" Fermín shrugged, a fond smile playing on his lips. "I guess it's just being here with you. Monaco has always been a dream destination for me, and now I'm sharing it with the person I love. It feels like I'm in a movie or something."

Y/n squeezed his hand. "I wouldn't be mad if you proposed right now." Y/n joked as Fermín smiled lovingly, almost considering proposing, yet he nodded, his gaze locking with hers. "Do you remember our first trip together? We got lost in that tiny village, and you insisted we try to find our way without a map." She laughed, the sound like music to his ears. "In my defense, I had been in that town many times before. I didnt think I needed a map." Fermín bit his lip to hide his smile. "And how did that go for us?" Y/n shrugged as she sipped her wine. "Well, we made it out of that town, didn't we?"

Their meals arrived, and they took a moment to savour the delicious flavors. Between bites, they continued to reminisce, sharing stories and laughter. "Amor?" Fermín said, setting down his fork. Y/n across to him. "The whole point of this thinking is that the one thing I've found is that it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing, as long as I'm with you." Y/n's eyes softened. "Babe, you're going to make me cry and this mascara was very expensive."

Fermín leaned closer, his expression turning serious. "I want to promise you something, Y/n." She felt a lump grow in her throat as she looked between his eyes and down to his lips. "No matter where life takes us, I'll always be by your side. Through every high and low, every twist and turn." He squeezed her hand yet again, reinstating his promise to her. "And I promise the same, Fermín. All that and more." Fermín brought Y/n's hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss onto it. "Now, let's eat." He smiled, lifting his fork once more and beginning to eat as the couple indulged in new topics of conversation.

y/nofficial has added to their story

_ferminlopez added to their story

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

Inside their apartment, the ambiance was peaceful and inviting. Soft lighting created a warm glow, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing background. Y/n slipped off her heels by the door, sighing in relief as she wiggled her toes. "Want some tea before bed?” Fermín asked, heading towards the kitchen. “That sounds lovely.” Y/n replied, getting up off of the sofa to follow him. She watched as he expertly prepared their favourite herbal tea, the familiar routine bringing a sense of calm and comfort.

"Now, amor. It's hot so be carefu-" Y/n gasped as the hot tea touched her tongue. Fermín began laughing, setting the two cups aside. "I just told you to be careful." He said, his hands now holding both sides of her face. Y/n's hands found his. "You should've been quicker." She retaliated playfully. "Or maybe you should slow down." They stood there for a moment, the quiet music Fermín had put on earlier in the background as they found themselves swaying along. "Today was wonderful." Y/n said softly. "Thank you for making it so special." Fermín moved a strand of hair from her face. "And thank you for being so unbelievably perfect for me."

Finishing their tea, they made their way to the bedroom. Fermín started to unbutton his shirt, while Y/n slipped into the bathroom to change. When she returned, wearing a comfortable pair of pyjamas, Fermín had already laid out her side of the bed and was brushing his teeth. She joined him at the sink, playfully nudging him with her elbow. “Scoot over, I need some space too.” He chuckled, making room for her. They brushed their teeth side by side, occasionally bumping shoulders and sharing amused glances in the mirror. When they finished, Fermín wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

“Ready for bed?” He asked, his voice low and tender, his lips pressing gentle kisses onto her neck, trying to tempt her back to bed with him. “Mmh, almost.” Y/n hummed, her head falling back slightly as she watched him through the mirror. “I just need to wash my face.” Fermín nodded, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Take your time." He grinned before cheekily slapping her ass. "Fermín Lopez Marín!" She squealed as he headed to the bedroom to wait for her.

Shortly after, Y/n entered the bedroom, she saw him staring at her, hungrily. He was propped up on his elbows as his gaze swiftly moved from her face down to the shirt she was wearing; his shirt. She leaned against the door, an amused smile tugging ag her lips. "Are you going to just undress me with your eyes, or are you actually going to do something?" She asked innocently. "Come here then." He replied. Y/n walked slowly towards him, their eyes not daring to dart away from one another. She stopped at the end of the bed before crawling up towards Fermín. His breath caught in his throat as she climbed on top of him, her hands exploring his bare chest as he looked up to her in complete awe that someone could be this beautiful. His lips needed to taste hers. And so, he bridged the gap between them. Y/n's fingers tangled in his her as Fermín's hands roamed Y/n's body. Their kisses became deeper and deeper. Y/n found herself moving her hips, desperately trying to find some form of friction.

She felt him smile into their kiss. "Please, let me." He whispered into her lips. Y/n hummed. Fermín reached down to undo the string of her shorts as Y/n promptly helped him to take them off. As Y/n wrapped her arms around his neck, Fermín had managed to flip them both over so he was now on top. His lips trailed away from hers, peppering a gentle trail of kisses down her body. A smile tugged at her lips as he kissed both of her thighs, looking up at her just as he always did. "Ready?" He asked. Y/n nodded. He always asked, it was his way. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He was completely and utterly obsessed.

His tongue licked up her slit sending a shiver down her spine. She arched her back with the sudden pleasure she was receiving and the gorgeous sounds leaving her mouth was all Fermín needed to know she was doing alright. His tongue slid in and out of her, his nose rubbing off her clit every so often. Her head fell back as she felt her core tightening. "Fermín." Y/n whimpered. "You're doing good so far, amor." Y/n sighed, smiling and caressing the strands on hair on his head. Her mouth fell open as she felt herself coming closer and closer to her high. "Ferm- Fermín." She moaned. He kept at his pace, lifting his eyes up to look at her as she came undone. She grabbed the bed sheets, her knuckles turning white as she crumbled, moans tumbling from her as Fermín kissed back up her body until he reached her lips once again. "Are you okay?" He asked gently. Y/n ran her fingers through her hair, nodding. "I'm okay, but I need more of you."

Fermín reached down to his boxer shorts, quickly taking them off and aligning himself with Y/n. His lips licked with her's as he pushed in, muffling her moans. "Good girl." He muttered into her lips. He waited until she adjusted to him, her arm hooking around his shoulders. She nodded, Fermín began to roll his hips against hers as their forehead leaned onto one another. Her hand reached up behind his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

Her eyes rolled shut as Fermín started slowly. He remembers their first time together, Y/n got hurt and since then, he's always started slowly until she says she wanted more. He watched her face carefully as he focused on giving her as much pleasure as she gave him. "Fermín, you can go faster." She whispered. Fermín's head fell to the crook of her neck, his hips jolting forward that bit faster and deeper, hitting a different spot than before. She planted kisses on his cheek, a form of reassurance that she was okay. Fermín however felt himself coming close. He didn't want to finish before she did but Y/n could feel him inside of her. She could tell how his hip movements grew irregular and needy and how his pants turned to groans. "Are you close, love?" Y/n purred in his ear. He groaned upon hearing her voice, not being able to give any answer other than a hum. "Come on, love. You're doing so well." That was more or less all he needed for him to climax.

"Mierda. I-"

"That's okay." She smiled, her fingers caressing the side of his face. He looked down at her confused. "Inside you? With no protection?" Y/n shrugged. "You're my boyfriend. I don't mind." Fermín smiled, pecking the tip of her nose. "How about we get you to finish then, yes?"

"I already did."

"No, no. I mean together. I want to feel you." Y/n looked between his eyes, chuckling. "You don't think you being in me already is you feeling me?" Fermín and Y/n burst into a small fit of giggles. "Okay, okay. We can go another round." Fermín's smile faded as he took one of her legs and placed them over his shoulder. Y/n's brows raised. He had never done this position before, but she trusted him completely. His hips rolled forward once again, hitting a spot in her that had never been hit before. "Oh my god." The two of them let out a synchronised sigh. Y/n's hands flung to Fermín biceps, gripping and leaving behind white scratch marks on his tanned skin. He once again sped up, drilling into her like he never usually did, but in her current state, Y/n couldn't complain; she enjoyed it too much. "Fermín, I'm close!" She nearly screamed. Fermín gripped her hips, pulling her down to meet him. She felt her core tightening as she grew closer and closer to her orgasm. "Fermín, oh my god!" She screamed. "Hold on for me, princesa." He murmured. "I'm close too." Y/n winced. "I don't know if I can."

"I know you can. You're already doing so well for me." It took everything in her to not cum, waiting and waiting for Fermín to tell her he was about to finish. She grew more and more sensitive, eager to reach her orgasm and then finally, Fermín could feel himself twitching. "Coño. Tan bonita cuándo dentro de ti." While she only understood a little Spanish, it always pit her over the edge and this time was no different. She finally let go and let herself come crumbling beneath him as he held her in his arms doing the exact same thing. Their sweaty foreheads rested against eachother as they rode out their orgasms, panting and catching their breath.

He pulled out gently and headed for the bathroom to grab a towel. "Im sorry if it was too much." He whispered as he helped to clean her up. "Sorry? I enjoyed it." She smiled back. He pecled her lips lovingly before chucking the towel into a small wash basket. He walked back to the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his chest.

"So, you enjoyed it?" Fermín chuckled. Y/n looked up. "Yup. Best sex of my life." She replied. "Ah so I'm doing better." Y/n giggled. "You could say that." He grinned, looking down towards her, pure adoration in his eyes like always. "I was writing my wedding vows in my head that whole time." Y/n burst out laughing at the joke. "You're such an idiot!"

"Yeah, but you love me." Y/n shrugged. "That's true. And I assume you love me?" Fermín nodded. "Of course I do."

[torturedpadfootdepartment]

Prongsfoot Valentine’s Day Treat

James is fourteen-years-old, and it’s Valentine’s Day. He slumps over the table in the Great Hall. He’d thought maybe Lily had come around on him this year.

He’d been occasionally dragging Sirius to join her, Mary, Marlene, and Remus for their study sessions. It had taken passing notes with Sirius, but James had managed to even mostly stay quiet while they studied, to stop his knee from jerking up and down like it tended to do when he wasn’t actively trying to stop it. Occasionally, he’d snorted, but that couldn’t be helped, and actually James thinks he showed a lot of restraint considering the amount of hilarious things Sirius said.

Unfortunately, Sirius isn’t being hilarious now.

“You can’t just say things like that to girls, mate,” Sirius says, patting James’s back. It sends a jolt up his back like Sirius’s touch always does because they’re best friends, magnets to each other since they first met on the Hogwarts Express.

“Things like what?” Peter asks.

“Things like comparing her eyes to emeralds or telling her you want to marry her one day,” Sirius says with a scrunched nose.

Remus snorts into his tea, and James thinks that, judging from his friends’ reactions, what he did should be embarrassing. It’s not embarrassing to James though. “But it’s how I feel.”

Sirius bites his lip, as if bothered by something. But before James can ask what’s wrong, Sirius says, with confidence, “Still, you can’t tell her that.”

Maybe Sirius is right. He usually is about these things.

“Girls tell you things like that though,” James says, gesturing to the pile of Valentines next to Sirius.

“Right,” Sirius says with a smirk. “Because I don’t tell them things like that.”

Remus shakes his head. “That’s twisted.”

James frowns, because, really, he agrees with Remus. James thinks perhaps the Valentines might have less to do with what Sirius doesn’t say and more to do with how handsome Sirius is, with how that’s become even more evident this year by Sirius’s cheekbones sharpening against the dark hair that now frames his face, by shoulders that have broadened and legs that seem longer now.

“But you like it, don’t you?” James asked. “When one of those cards tells you how your eyes make the ocean envious or how your hair shines like ink made of night?”

Sirius sputters out his drink, and Remus shoots James a raised eyebrow. But James isn’t processing any of that. Because Sirius is blushing.

James finds he likes it, the pink flush of Sirius’s face. He wants to make it deeper, redder. “Aw, Siri.” He hooks his foot around the leg of Sirius’s chair and pulls his best friend closer. It has exactly the intended effect: Sirius turns scarlet. “I didn’t know it was this easy to make you blush. No wonder you’re not reading those cards in front of us.”

“Haha, a bloke who’s pale as a ghost blushes easily. How exciting,” Sirius says wryly, though James thinks maybe his best friend’s hands are shaking. He didn’t realize Sirius Black was so susceptible to flirting.

Thoughts of Lily Evans’ rejection have disappeared, making way for something different. Something interesting. Something mesmerizing.

“Your skin looks more like porcelain to me,” James says cheekily.

Sirius throws his hands over his reddening face as James starts throwing out compliments, pick-up lines, anything he can think of really. Peter joins in on the fun, and some fifth years join in, and soon it becomes a running joke, one that will mark this year in the Marauders’ memory—the year that everyone in Gryffindor took turns making Sirius Black blush for a laugh.

[From my Prongsfoot oneshot that takes place over several holidays in James’s childhood]

[xjulixred45x]

Hi!

How would Lucifer, Mephisto, Satan, and Shiro react to a half demon who's considerably younger than them crushing on them? Maybe their relationship too? 👉🏻👈🏻

(age difference like if Rin and Yukio were adults, reader is the same age as them)

First of all, i don't like that kind of age differences, but i can do the crushing Headcanons(this would be kind of short for the amount of characters). Thanks for the Request

Half demon Reader x Lucifer/Mephisto Pheles/Satan/ Shiro Fujimoto: Crush and relationship

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: neutral

Warnings: BIG BIG SPOILERS FOR THE MANGA!!!!!(the only one who dosen't have it is Mephisto 😅), Illuminati, Satan is honestly a LOT of warnings himself, some posessive/overprotective behavior, lots of fluff, Reader is corresponded:)

Mephisto Pheles

**sigh** THIS MENACE--

We all know that Mephisto is someone arrogant and pompous, that doesn't change even if he is interested in someone aka reader.

The fact that the reader is half-demon only helps to increase his curiosity towards them and definitely broadens his interest further.

Don't worry, I've dealt with other hybrids before, and reader is definitely the friendliest and prettiest of all ;)

Definitely when that happens he becomes quite clingy and does not hide it in the slightest, either with displays of physical affection such as hugs to say hello, following them in his dog form, saying things that KNOW they are interested in, etc.

In general he is playing to WIN so to speak.

so when he finds out that it is reciprocated, he is quite arrogant about it (he doesn't want to admit that he is partly relieved).

In general a relationship with Mephisto is quite extravagant.

Mephisto IS already flamboyant, but he's surprisingly good at listening to what his partner has to say.

ESPECIALLY if it has to do with humans, and he honestly doesn't understand some of the social norms that cause problems for the reader. But he is willing to listen.

after all you can 1- spend time with your partner and 2- know more about humans, Two for One!

HE GAVE READER GERMAN NICKNAMES, CAN YOU TAKE THIS HEADCANON OUT OF MY COLD, DEAD HANDS.

I think the fact that Reader is half-demon would help him see them as an equal more easily, but he is definitely still VERY protective of them, since at the end of the day they are much weaker than him.

MANY GIFTS, seriously, and sometimes they are strange gifts or that look like GENUINE antiques that reminded the reader and no, he is not saying where he got them from.

He enjoys making his partner angry in a harmless way, even with the demonic part, for him he is like an angry kitten, is adorable for him.

They would probably watch the students' torture training together:) I hope you have a strong stomach.

Mephisto can and DOES demand to be held and pampered in his dog form, I don't make the rules.

He is still as clingy as the first day, but amplified, of all of them, he is the least afraid of PDA, hugs, kisses, holding hands/arms, he doesn't care, he just wants to have his hands on your partner in some way.

this man would randomly bite his partner like a cat CHANGE MY MIND.

All in all, not a bad match if you think about it.

Lucifer

He's not surprised, like, at ALL.

Let's say that for this reader is part of the Illuminati or the hybrids that work with Lucifer, because I don't think another type of case would work very well.

Probably this + the reader's attitude was what caught Lucifer's attention in the first place (how someone can support the Illuminati but have a certain... innocence as far as possible)

At first Lucifer justifies his sudden interest by saying he has to make sure Reader isn't a spy, but he quickly realizes that, well, he really cares about Reader in other ways.

Maybe because they see him as a living being and not just the idealized (cult) leader of the Illuminati, or because they genuinely care about him without reaching fanaticism, let's say that Lucifer has good reasons. so he gives in quite easily to falling in love.

especially because the reader is half-demon, which makes him not a hypocrite and he likes them even more (even if they had been a normal human, he would continue with his particular interest).

Let's say that Lucifer is quite...direct, but at the same time quite clumsy because he doesn't understand social rules(like me)

For example, he will constantly demand the reader's presence with him, regardless of whether they are good or the worst cadet ever seen, he wants them close.

When the reader confesses (because Lucifer lets it happen, out of satisfaction) Lucifer is already prepared for that.

He's a control freak, what did you expect? Hell, he probably even already knew when reader was already in love by their body language or sudden changes in behavior. It's predictable but enjoyable for him.

A relationship with Lucifer is structured and somewhat rigid, but at the same time do not doubt that he takes advantage of every occasion to keep his partner close.

He likes physical contact, especially on days when he can't move or is particularly sore. It's like a psychological painkiller for him.

Being Lucifer's partner also implies a lot of security, the reader will not set foot outside without at least Homare and three cadets.

Surprisingly good at words of affirmation, although hey, what do you expect from a cult leader? The difference is that no matter how much he says everything in a monotone, he really means everything he says.

very "shows don't tell" style

I think his partner would be the ONLY PERSON he vents to about everything that happens in the story, the incompetence of certain doctors, Shima's attitude, ranting about humans, etc.

one of the few moments where he leaves his mask (lol) and says what he REALLY thinks.

In general it's cute, but definitely a little more isolated than Mephisto (although ideal if you're antisocial like him xd)

Shiro Fujimoto

Smug motherfucker--

Well, not really, I think at first he would have difficulty accepting 1- that he is interested in a hybrid and 2- that they like that hybrid too. especially the last.

We already know how stubborn he is (especially when he's young), and with his oath to exorcise as many demons as possible, I can't help but think that at first that included the reader too😅

However, when he started interacting with them, when they gave him attention without having to be an idiot, when they said nice things to him that they really meant it...

He is in denial at first, STRONG.

But rather than treating them badly, he simply lets things be, friendly, he thinks it is better not to hang out with them beyond that.

He doesn't think he's in the place to be with someone that nice.

so when they tell him that the reader likes it, he doesn't believe it at all. He sees it as a joke.

but...if READER were the one to tell him...

The man dies there and here.

You just can't believe it! but it's true! wow!

Speaking of young Shiro, he's definitely arrogant and moody, but he's in a considerably better mood if he goes on a mission/is with his partner.

Shiro without a partner nearby: >:(

Shiro with partner nearby: :^

He definitely doesn't hesitate to defend his partner's honor if necessary, and look, he makes jokes from time to time about being half-demon, but 1- he doesn't mean it and 2- only HE can do it >: (get ready to take a beating

Once he gets used to it, he's pretty good with PDA, not a lot, but he likes it to some extent, especially on outings.

I would say that one of Shiro's greatest displays of affection would be to make his partner laugh (especially once he grows up), either with the aforementioned jokes, or by exaggerating his expressions to get a laugh from them. likes.

He definitely likes to annoy a LOT, it's his other main love language (along with quality time and MAYBE coocking once he learns, maybe even coocking togheter and trow heach others the breakfast? Who knows), if he spends time with Reader, half of that time they're annoying each other and enjoying EVERY MOMENT.

After Yuri, he is a bit paranoid, but he tries VERY HARD to not let it affect the relationship, after all, the reader is not Yuri.

He will have his own demons to deal with, but his partner encourages him A LOT to improve. It's better than it seems for sure.

That's it, it's a PACKAGE once he has the twins, but honestly? I think we all would be even more into with it ;)

Satan

This depends if we talk when he was just "born" or in the pseudo actual time.

Okay, this depends a little on whether we're talking about when he was just "born" or if we're talking about pseudo-current times.

Young Satan is definitely more innocent in his interest but is still somewhat brutal and very direct (after all, he acts like a VERY big and VERY lethal 5 year old).

The best way to realize if a human likes you is the same as what happened with Yuri, that is, he is much more docile in the presence of the reader, he throws tantrums so that they are with him, etc.

He doesn't even consider the possibility that they don't want him, whether out of early arrogance or a genuine innocence of not thinking ahead.

Current pseudo Satan, on the other hand, is a little more aggressive with his advances.

Like, as soon as he realizes that he is attracted to an inferior hybrid (although he passes that stage very quickly) he is basically DELCARING that he belongs to the other demons (although not to the reader, because for him, that is already a fact).

by far the most jealous of all, although at least after, um, some experience (ahemYURIejmejm) he knows how to better hide his most unpleasant facets.

That doesn't mean they aren't there, but I guess if the reader had a crush on Satan of all beings in the first place it's because they can handle that shit/they like it.

Being reciprocated is definitely a bust to his already monstrous HUGE ego, because it only confirms that he was right in what he did, possessive behaviors and all.

Although he definitely has a soft spot for his partner, after all they are the only being of value of all humans and hybrids (even demons).

Satan is quite angry and proud, so he expects the reader to receive the same kind of reverence and fear as him (okay, not as much, but close to that).

Needless to say, he's quite paranoid and overprotective :), let alone why.

I think he's one of those demons who is fine with doing absolutely nothing with his partner and considers it quality time, whether it's being silent, reader playing with his hair, etc. knowing that they don't abandon him is enough.

Honestly, he's like a yandere in many ways, only at least now he's more aware of the limits of humans/demons and he's DEFINITELY not willing to lose another partner or have this partner leave him, ever. no again.

Did I mention that he has abandonment issues?

This demon NEEDS words of affirmation, I just know it.

In general, even with all the redflags (there are not a few), he loves as much as he can love.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

Another done? Baby i'm ON FIRE(literally, collage is killing me:,D but i'll try to do all the Requests i can before My exams and My driving tests, wish me luck!)

[yurimother]

Asexuality in Yuri: The New "By Your Side"

This is a preview of an article from The Secret Garden, YuriMother’s exclusive series of articles, available only for Patrons. To read the full article, get early access, and help support Yuri and LGBTQ+ content subscribe to the YuriMother Patreon.

“Soba ni iru.” By Your side. “Zutto issho ni” We’ll be together forever. For decades these words were, for fans of same-sex relationships in manga and anime, the stand-ins for what we really wanted to hear.”

The opening lines from Erica Friedman’s By Your Side highlight the strenuous relationship Yuri and lesbian identity often have. It is a dynamic we have explored many times in this article series and will no doubt continue to delve into as the genre continues its rapid evolution and broadening. However, as I discussed in my article “Beyond The School Cathedral: How Yuri Grew Up,” Yuri and LGBTQ+ works are changing seemingly by the day. Moreover, while we celebrate the more explicit representation and discussion of queerness brought on by these changes, we also observe the growing intersection of other LGBTQ identities in Yuri.

In one of the first articles in The Secret Garden, I noted several works throughout history that explored gender and trans representation within or parallel to Yuri. Now, let us examine the presence of another important, though often sadly underrepresented, aspect of queerness, asexuality.

.....

Finally, Renmei’s 2021 series Lilies and Voices Born Upon the Wind (Yuri to Koe to Kazematoi) also presents a look into an asexual Yuri relationship, but without the romantic relationship of Doughnuts Under a Cresent Moon or Catch These Hands. Also, unlike those two titles, this manga notably openly discusses asexuality and LGBTQ+ identity using explicit terminology. Additionally, although lesbian attraction and the relationship between two women is at the story's core, its exploration of asexuality often takes an even more central role than in previous examples.

At the start of the series, the main character Matoi identifies as asexual, describing it as a lack of romantic and sexual feelings, which, as a reminder, is a common definition in Japanese LGBTQ circles. According to her, “That describes me perfectly,” and the character even clarifies other aspects of their identity, like that she is not a lesbian and is cisgender. Renmei does this to affirm to the audience that Matoi truly believes she is asexual and that the description resonates with her. Although by the end of the series, Matoi’s identity evolves, the author wanted to make it clear that she is not a closed lesbian or in self-denial in any way. Thus the series set the boundaries for exploring her evolving identity within the umbrella of asexuality.

It is unclear exactly how far into LGBTQ+ exploration Matoi is. However, she is assumed to be relatively new to learning about queerness. In the first chapter, she is shown to be watching a video describing “a look at LGBT,” possibly an introductory survey of queerness. She may have even discovered the term “asexual” in this video and, finding it the most accurate summation of her experience, decided that it described her best.

Matoi’s assertions about her sexuality are challenged upon meeting Yuriko, a 22-year-old biker who is also asexual. The two start seeing each other frequently for karaoke, motorcycle rides, shrine visits, and other reactionary activities. However, Matoi’s feelings for Yuriko are something more. At first, she attempts to rationalize it, saying that it is just fun to hang out with someone who does not get involved romantically, comforted by the knowledge that she has no interest in being physical while obsessing over Yuriko’s presence and every word. This justification is a retreat into her self-perception of her identity. As of this point, she believes herself to be asexual, and ties romantic and sexual attraction together.

Only after meeting Rio, a panromantic, demisexual woman and guide to Matoi in the LGBTQ community, does Matoi admits her feelings for Yuriko and the challenge it has presented to her asexuality. Talking through her feelings with Rio helps Matoi learn more about different asexual identities, finding a new label that more closely aligns with her truth, “non-sexual.” This experience also galvanizes her to learn more and continue building her knowledge of queerness. Matoi’s convection leads to her meeting an older lesbian couple, Rio and Chihiro, who serve as further sages of queerness and, as they are openly affectionate and sexual, provide a stark contrast to the feelings of the asexual characters.

Matoi’s newly found identity, nonsexual (ノンセクシュアル) is a term unique to Japan, where often, as previously stated, the label asexual refers to a lack of both sexual and romantic attraction. Nonsexual refers to someone who feels romantically drawn to others but does not experience sexual attraction (“Asexual.Jp Info”). It is thus identical to alloromantic asexual, a comparison Renmei themselves makes at the end of Lilies and Voices Born Upon the Wind’s final volume. Even as the split attraction model and its associate labels gain popularity in Japan, the term nonsexual is still employed, with over 80 percent of alloromantic asexual people identifying as nonsexual and only eight percent deliberately not identifying themselves as such, and the rest being unsure or unfamiliar with the label or its meaning (Miyake and Hiramori).

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[codenamesazanka]

With this new mystery person I’ve been people saying a lot of things from it’s tenko to it’s the new afo the kids are gonna stop by preventing him from ever being a villain. Among all that there’s been a fair amount of people saying this is showing hero society is doomed now that shigaraki and the league are gone. My question though is how would shigaraki and the league winning or teaming up with deku and the heroes for the future prevent this? Like what could have actually been done to prevent this? Like tenko says he’s gonna be the hero to the villains but that doesn’t change the problem, he’s still one guy the league members are a finite amount. Even if every single fighter on that battlefield decided hey let’s all work together for a better future, how does that stop people from falling through the cracks? Like short of a totalitarian surveillance state where every single person has a twice clone with them in case something happens there’s still gonna be incidents where no one that can help is around for some reason.

So it's true that as much as I hype up the League and Shigaraki and insist they are right (and they are! to a point), they were indeed less interested in the new world they will be building, and more just interested in tearing down the old world. The world that comes after destruction was at best vague, at worst just pure lawless chaos, a quirk free-for-all. But for them, in their imagining, it would've been a freer world in some aspects, in that the rules and norms they felt trapped in can be destroyed. Heroes as a civil servant/law enforcement job wouldn't exist; they're free to use their quirks; the standards that called them inhuman and crazy and the such and rejected them could be abolished. It's true that it wouldn't have been a better society for everyone - which is why the League and the Villains had to be defeated.

What would've been (and still would be) ideal is the Heroes taking lessons from this - hearing out the League's discontent of the deep structural issues of their current society, and doing something about it. But see - here, its not about Heroes or fighters. It's about change on all levels of society. Change in attitudes and cultural mindset and institutions. You stop people from falling through the cracks by getting rid of the cracks the best you can; by building multiple safety nets above the cracks; and finally by having people who reach into the cracks to pull out those who've still managed to fall in.

A lot of the issues the League went through really could not have been solved by Heroes; did not need to be solved by Heroes, if the proper cultural progress was made and the social support services were available. So like, Toga:

Her parents seemed to have been very concerned about abiding by the prevailing norms of society. This could be because society values conformity and ostracizes those who can't fit into a neat, little box - despite the fact that quirks should've broaden and redefined those boxes, after a whole century since quirks appeared. Change the need and the pressure to conform - educate people to be more tolerant and accommodating - and her parents might have felt less fearful of having a child that wasn't 'normal'. Heck, change the definition of 'normal'.

I've always wondered what exactly a Hero can do about the emotional abuse Toga's parents inflicted on her. For one thing, I doubt they were screaming 'inhuman demon child' at little four-year-old Toga in public at a frequency and volume that would make a Hero take notice. (Remember, they wanted to be seen as a nice, normal, middle-class family. All the abuse was probably kept at home, behind closed doors.) And I wonder if someone did try to intervene, the parents might not have tried to claim it's simply discipline, because after all, Toga has an instinct to drink blood - relying on the Heroes' own understanding of human taboos and preconceived notions of 'villainous' quirks. Plus, no one in this situation is using their quirk - no law is being broken. For this to be addressed, we go back to the point above - education about the definition of 'normal' - as well as a more robust child welfare system.

Quirk counseling! When the lady said Toga had "deviant behavior" and said "Let's get you all reformed, nice and normal" and promised Toga's parents that "we'll be sure to iron it all out", that's her doing her job. A job that the government supports, given how they have general quirk counselings at schools. A job that UA Hero Factory Principal Nedzu probably helped developed in some way, since he's apparently an influential and world-renown expert in 'quirk morality education'. Quirk Counseling Lady is there to give Toga therapy. She was probably incredibly nice and professional about it. She was probably properly following all procedures. There is nothing you can arrest her for. No, the issue is the goal of quirk counseling itself - to make someone 'normal'. And we're back again to point above.

And then there was all the teachers throughout the 9 years of Toga's public school education that could've taken notice of anything wrong at home. Probably should've paid more attention to the bite wounds at Toga's wrists.

Hell, there probably could've been a hotline for Toga to call or a youth center for Toga to go to, if she felt she was struggling and reaching a point of break. Why didn't she go? Maybe because she was afraid she'll be called inhuman, that she'll be turned away. Why does she think that way? See first point above.

She stabbed Saito, but even then, I think the right response could've stopped her from stabbing more people. After the stabbing, Toga went on the run, and she's been fearful ever since that she would be killed by Heroes. Instead of turning herself in, expecting to still be treated as a person and that the justice she’ll receive is appropriate, she figured it was better to throw her lot with Villains and the underworld at 15 years old. She believed that she had a better chance surviving homeless on the streets with harden criminals, than with Heroes and whatever juvie they put her in. I think there's an image issue there that Heroes and police should fix. Yes, criminals should feel guilt and horrible and prison has to be unpleasant in order to be a deterrent to crime, but in the interest of harm reduction, maybe rethink that.

Also maybe if the media didn't go and put her parent calling her a demon child and disowning her on air. Kinda feels like the type of thing that burn bridges and makes her feel she can't return, even if she might have wanted at some point. Who the heck authorized that segment???

This is a lot of speculation, but I don't think it's illogical. I don't think the problem just started when Toga stabbed Saito and a Hero failed to beat her up and arrest her, a 'fighter' that couldn't be there to prevent the incident. I think the problem started when her parents freaked out at seeing her quirk manifest and their first instinct is to slap her and accuse their 3-year-old of catching a bird to kill it and drink it's blood and then proceed to worry about 'my child is not normal!!!', instead of gently taking the bird away, be concerned about germs, and giving her unconditional love but also firm parenting.

Consider the mirror opposite: Iida, who went rogue and tried to get revenge on Stain.

First off, I think UA - Aizawa specifically - failed so badly in it's job as teachers. Iida's brother is attacked and paralyzed by Stain; Stain was last seen in Hosu; Iida wrote on his Internship form he wants to intern at an agency in Hosu (and left it as his only choice in a form that give three choices). That's a giant red flag??? And they let the kid go??? So that's a missing safety net.

Manuel seeing just how obvious it was that Iida was after Stain. He gave him a talking to, which is good, but that was it. Should've ordered the kid home immediately. Second missing safety net.

Iida goes and attacks Stain. This is where Iida starts getting helped. Deku and Todoroki figured out his plan and went to help him, instead of, say, deciding that, 'Wow, he's breaking the rules. Maybe he's not such a good guy after all. Should disassociate myself from such a person if I want a successful school and Hero career.' But they helped, and so Iida and Native aren't dead in a alley - or 'worse': Native dead, but Iida is alive, and part of the responsibility possibly put on him.

Biggest help: The police chief deciding to help out these kids by not pressing charges, by making sure the story is not released to the public, and ensuring that the small number of eyewitnesses stay hush.

His family also didn't disown him or become estranged from him for getting caught up in all this. They love him, so they wouldn't.

I get that Iida is an excellent student and promising Hero student who made an error in judgment when he was caught in whirlwind of emotions regarding his beloved brother, and Toga was less so. (Maybe. She was a year younger and we didn't know her grades and we weren't quite sure the exact sequence of events the led to her stabbing Saito, which was due to her getting caught in the whirlwind of a romantic crush, perhaps her first taste of love after receiving none at home). But had he not had the support he had, he would've kept falling. And where would he have landed then?

You don't need a Twice to prevent these incidents. You don't even need Heroes, exactly. You needed understanding and caring citizens, in a supportive community. Now make it a culture that produces such citizens.

With Mystery Person. We don't know what their deal is, or what their past. But if they are a victim of abuse and confinement from their parents who couldn't handle their quirk, then a Hero saving them is a Hero coming in after the damage has been done. I think the better fix is to stop the damage before it happens - making sure parents never conclude they should be zip-tying their kids as a solution to anything.

Sorry for the long response! And sorry for how pseudo-sociologist it got. Don't trust me on this. It's only my thoughts. Thanks for the ask!

[irradiatedsnakes]

Hi! I really like your furry aus! They really inspired me to branch out species in my own. I was wondering how you chose such a wide array— I’ve noticed a bias towards mammals in my own, with birds following close behind. Do you have any tips on collecting species & looking for furry symbolism? Thank you!

HI HELLO so i typed out most of an answer to this like a month or two ago then it got deletd and this languished in my askbox since so let me try again and emphasize the stuff that i think is the most important when i'm making my furry aus

biological interest and diversity

i think the biggest thing that gets my goat when i look at other furry aus is the lack of animal diversity. and, i need to be clear here, this is ENTIRELY a personal gripe/preference- it just kind of annoys me when i see furry aus that are entirely familiar, domestic mammals, yknow? where at least half the characters are dogs and cats. like, no shade to people who do or like those, i cannot emphasize enough how this is a meaningless Me pet peeve, i just really really think furries in general should broaden their horizons and try out more out-there species. and i'm not perfect in this way either: there's an OBVIOUS bird bias in my choices, and a MASSIVE tetrapod bias: almost none of my furries are fish or inverts, despite fish species outnumbering tetrapod species, and invertebrate species outnumbering vertebrate species by massive orders of magnitude.

i think my point is: try getting more unconventional with it. i also really like including extinct species because that's just my jam. pterosaurs, man, consider them

i often will do wikipedia trawls for animals when choosing species for furry aus- i'll have a general idea of the animal i want (ie, horsefly, wallaby) and i'll get to peruse the various families/genera/species under those more general umbrellas til i find something that works either visually or symbolically better than the others.

i'll also say that there will often be a very obvious choice for characters- like, spider for annabelle cane, or something. i encourage, in cases like this, don't go with the obvious choice, see if you can find something more subtly meaningful and interesting. (see: a hummingbird for annabelle cane. they steal spiderwebs in order to weave their nests, but can become trapped in the webs instead and get eaten by the spider.) it can also help to actively try and choose animals- like inverts and fish- that don't usually immediately jump to mind for you.

i also highly recommend getting Specific with it. always do your best to choose a Species of animal, rather than a genus, family, or more general group. it's always more interesting.

2. The Process

so very first thing when i'm choosing a species for a characetr is ENTIRELY vibes-based. like what does this character Feel like. sometimes this step is skipped, if there's like, an obvious symbolic or mentioned-in-canon choice that would make more sense (see: condor callum crown). but most of the time for me: Vibes. i'm just gonna list a few of my dialtown furries and my thought process (as i remember it, may be inaccurate) for how i chose them? hopefully that helps a bit.

oliver, to me, feels like a soft and fluffy mammal. he's outgoing, friendly, kind of an in-your-face personality. just feels like a mammal to me! but he's also a complete freak, so i was like, oh, he has to be a marsupial or a monotreme. the Strange mammals! i decided that, from there, he feels most like one of the megapodes (kangaroos, wallabys, those sorts) to me. kangaroos look too scary and imposing, with a frightening Buff Man kind of vibe, so those were out. went to wallabies, because they get that cute fluffy mammal vibe that i wanted for him. i eventually settled on the yellow-footed rock wallaby: they have bold, stripey patterning that i think fits his vibe, and rufous coloration on their limbs that meshes well with his red color palette.

or let's take randy. vibes here were some sort of Trash Animal, those sorts like pigeons and raccoons that adapt well to living in human garbage and most people regard as a nuisance. randy also feels very Birdy to me. from there, i think it was fig who suggested an animal that preys upon swans, and that's really funny. i eventually landed on gulls: some larger gulls will hunt swan chicks, and gulls are a perfect epitome of Trash Animal. i went with the great black-backed gull in particular- randy jade being the biggest, most imposing, apex-predator ass gull is really funny to me. also: i like great black-backed gulls.

karen! she was pretty straightforward for me: karen very much felt like a bug. some sort of insect or arachnid was my starting point: i felt that the Bug Vibes fit her well and that the segmented leg look would work well for her visually. flies are a group i like a lot and felt fit well here- overlooked, often seen as generic or boring (but are actually really cool), and also i like them. and, like, i couldn't resist the pull of Oh She Should Be A Horsefly. She Needs To Be A Horsefly. much like for oliver, the species was chosen for visual reasons: needed to be brown or tan to complement her color scheme, and i didn't want it to be one of the like, larger/scarier horseflies. band-eyed brown horseflies fit her color scheme and are pretty to look at.

3. uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

that's most of what i've got, i think. sorry for the lateness, hope this can provide some direction.

[izicodes]

LinkedIn Career Explorer

Hiya everyone, I came across something interesting while browsing LinkedIn that I wanted to share, especially for those in the job market, particularly in the tech industry. If you're not familiar with it, this could be valuable information for your job search~!

LinkedIn Career Explorer is a tool provided by LinkedIn that helps individuals find new job opportunities based on their existing skills and also assists in identifying the skills needed for career transitions!

Basically you add your city and the job title you’re applying for and it gives you:

Skills Needed: Career Explorer may suggest the skills and qualifications required for the job you’re interested in.

Related Job Titles: It offers suggestions for related job titles, which can broaden your job search and open up more opportunities. E.g. You enter “Web Developer” and it would suggest Web Development Specialist, Web Application Developer etc. From there it even shows you what skills you need to build on to transition from the original job you entered to the one they suggested. Also, it shows a “skills overlap” to highlight that oh the original job does have a lot of similarities in skills!

Job Market Insights: It provides data on the demand for specific job roles in your city. This can help you understand which industries are thriving and where your skills might be in demand. Tells you if it’s popular from someone to transition from job A to job B, a rating out of 10!

Networking Opportunities: LinkedIn often suggests connections and groups related to your career interests, helping you expand your professional network too!

They use their own data so it's independent to what's outside of LinkedIn, so keep that in mind in terms of what they say about popularity and skills need but, in the end, I think it's really useful!

Link to LinkedIn Career Explorer : LINK

⤷ ○ ♡ my shop ○ my twt ○ my youtube ○ pinned post ○ blog's navigation ♡ ○

[thecharmonydove]

COMMISSION BOARD : CRYSTALIZE .

this will cover my wants for Sunday , Boothill: @dustymetaltrail and Mei: @originsrebirth !

SUNDAY .

Liyue’s famed Lantern Rite is just around the corner, and tourists from all across the land have already begun flocking into the Harbor. Of course, with so many naive souls looking forward to the celebrations, less savory individuals will follow. The demand for bodyguards exceeds the abilities of both the Millelith and private parties, and so a recommendation comes for visitors to journey in groups. What better way to meet a new friend than travel together through the beautiful fields and mountains of Rex Lapis’ lands… and maaaybe beat up a few Treasure Hoarders along the way?

as he's obviously not from Liyue or Teyvat , a muse from there will be needed ! but , i think Sunday would quite like to explore and see all the things happening , learn more about the places outside of penacony and see more of the world , i'm very willing to take this on any of my muses , but won't go out of my way to list it , feel free to poke me about this with any of them , but i am most interested in doing it with Sunday as of current !

MEI .

The reality of work at the Herta Space Station is that the researchers, who hail from all across the universe, rarely ever have an opportunity to visit home and celebrate whatever festivities their nations traditionally enjoy. Hardly surprising that some of them become a little homesick. A group decides soon to put together a faire, where they can share elements of their culture while learning about the beauty of others. Guests who wish to broaden their horizons, or perhaps even share their own, are of course more than welcome!

i think she'd absolutely have plenty of stories to share here , she has so many memories she's made , adventures she can share , so many she wants to hear , because while she has had her own experiences , she loves to hear what people have gone through , she loves to listen .

Though Belobog was a far cry from defrosting, expeditions out of the city are easier to execute on. One such expedition resulted in a rather… odd specimen. A strange creature, with a segmented trunk for a nose and gnarled tusks. Faint hues of pink radiate from inside, with faded pink markings decorating what would just be white and dark purple skin. Despite its massive size, there are no previous records of creatures like this on Belobog, and a signal has been put out, requesting any further information on this strangely alien beast and how it may have gotten here.

do you really think i'm gonna look at this plot and NOT wanna do it with Mei ? i absolutely BEG someone to take her up on this shit ! ! ! i wanna do it so bad ! ! there ain't nothin more to it ! !

BOOTHILL .

Though the tradition and legacy of the Four Winds has been largely forgotten by Mondstadt’s general populace for centuries now, there have always been individuals, even if singular, who maintain their beliefs firmly and try to preserve whatever is left of these great memories. When a rumor circulates about Abyss Order making their nest anew in the Temples of the Lion and the Falcon, and the Knights of Favonius turn out to be too busy to handle this matter, these devoted people call upon any help they can recruit before whatever is left of the sanctuaries of old is ruined for good.

tell Boothill anything about the Abyss and he's ready to fire , he does not know what to do in Teyvat and he's trying to go ahead and do anything to have a silly time !

[mitziholder]

I find your thoughts on fandom interesting, and in general, I'm really glad to see more discussion of the bad shit fandom can/is doing to young women in radblr spaces. But I mean this as an honest question: Why do you consider fandom not challenging writers/readers such a problem? These aren't professional writing spaces, and the vast majority of fanfic writers don't intend to go into them. Does an artistic hobby *need* to challenge its participants to be worthwhile? I mean this all really genuinely, especially as someone who *does* work in the arts and *does* actively want work that challenges me, and has traditionally prided herself on it -- are these inherent moral goods? Am I a reasonable standard to expect of other people? Is engaging with boundary-pushing art a requirement of healthy maturity? Why? Is, say, a human rights lawyer who spends her free time watching trashy reality shows blighted, somehow, by that fact? What about a cashier who watches the same stuff because she's genuinely not interested in anything else? And, given the vast majority of readers of actual books basically read the way fanfic-only readers read -- the same genres, which use well-worn tropes -- do we think fandom is actually keeping its participants from more worthwhile experiences? (I suspect you might argue this is dumbing down the publishing industry, which I would really disagree with, as someone in publishing -- I know we can all point to Ali Hazelwood or a million YA books that advertise with tropes, but I really can't emphasize enough that this has been the case since modern publishing began, and I think pinning "so-so prose that's The Same Old Shit" on the current young female writer cohort borders on sexism, tbh.) I've been thinking about these questions a lot lately, and I just don't know the answers. My gut wants to say yes, it's good to present challenging work to people, especially women, because art is a key part of the human experience, and can effect all sorts of societal things. But also ... I know very little about the environment, including my immediate natural environment, and if I'm honest, I'm not really inclined to learn. I'm sure learning about it would effect all sorts of change in my life and concept of self. But I'm probably not going to do it because I have a limited amount of time and I'd rather give it to other things. Is that better or worse than engaging with challenging art? Is it better or worse to be me than the woman reading the same old tropey fanfic in her free time? I think what I WOULD argue is that, specifically, fandom as it is reinforces patriarchy and induces a lot self-destruction and alienation in young women, with particularly vile effects on young lesbians, autistic women, etc. But if it didn't do that....would I still have a problem with it? I don't know. But it's interesting as hell to think about, and I'd love your thoughts on it.

hello nona :-) many interesting points, much to consider

>Does an artistic hobby need to challenge its participants to be worthwhile?

no. I’m sure there are plenty of people who enjoy crochet or knitting or something like that for the sake of it or to de-stress. I’m sure there are also plenty of people who write and draw for the sake of it with little interest in grinding for improvement. that’s fine. the problem is when you have people who replace reading and personal edification with endless fluff + pointless indulgence.

reading... things... that are above your level, that actually make you think, is how you increase your vocabulary, your linguistic competence, your critical thinking skills, your ability to express yourself. difficult and complex texts present you with opportunities to broaden your perspective. they stimulate your mind, present you with new ideas; they can help you grow as a person in ways that the Same Old Shit simply won’t/can’t. it would be like benching the bar every day for 10 years straight and expecting to get stronger... I presume. I don’t lift weights.

as I said previously, I don’t think fanfic is going to destroy your brain, but if you read nothing but fanfic, that is on the same level as (or maybe worse than) reading nothing at all. of course I’m going to be critical of a community of people who humblebrag about how they can’t bring themselves to read 25 pages of literature in an academic (non yaoitastic) context.

ya ya it’s a joke they’re joking very funny, but do you see people of other creative pursuits or hobbies joking about how they can’t bring themselves to focus on a piece of actual literature or nonfiction? how they have zero interest in anything outside of anime boys kissing each other? it’s a sign of intellectual stagnation (and eventual regression imo).

I watch a lot of shitty youtube videos, but I acknowledge that they are basically a waste of my time. meanwhile you have post after post singing the praises of how culturally important and worthy of respect Our Beloved Fic Writers are in spite of the fact that their work is, by and large, completely self-indulgent shit! there’s just so much potential that isn’t being tapped into & so much complacency... it’s very frustrating to me. I find it dishonest. red white and royal blue is not going to change the world... lol

for the record, yes, you are right, lots of Real book-readers also read mostly self-indulgent shit. genre fiction is far more popular than anything else... and I don’t care for booktok either. in fairness, literary fiction isn’t always good, and I’m sure there were many women who read nothing but terrible pulp novels 70 years ago too. that doesn’t make fandom any better! not to say this is all women’s fault - I just have zero frame of reference for how “cultured” men may or may not be, and I don’t really care either way. I focus on fandom girlies because they’re what I know, & I want women to be... better, or at least more interesting. this is, of course, sexist by definition. I hold myself and other women to higher standards. I will admit to that. I’ll also admit to the fact that I do not care about men or what they are writing or reading and would not give a shit if they all became illiterate thoughtless slugs. it is what it is.

truthfully, I have no interest in moralizing any of this. I just find it depressing! it’s resulting in more and more women who cannot relate to and have zero interest in anything outside of the narrowly defined fanfic bubble - so, more and more women who can’t relate to me or what I care about. I’m selfish, and I think it’s unfortunate that there are so many young female writers clearly capable of writing something interesting who nevertheless restrict themselves to lowest common denominator coombrained garbage because it’s what’s easy and popular.

do we have a responsibility to pester random strangers about their amateur fanfic? naw. who has the time? all I know is that conversations I’ve had with my female friends about our original works or other women’s writing have been vastly more substantial and enlightening than any argument about who tops or bottoms in supernatural... imo. in my opinion

re: the environment and social responsibility, I also have no interest in debating what matters are the most important and whether you have a personal, moral obligation to educate yourself about them. I recognize that we all have a limited amount of time and energy to dedicate to something which is admittedly fairly peripheral to most people’s everyday concerns (such as... paying the bills). then again, so is almost everything.

at the end of the day, I just think it is an awful shame that some women would - and they freely admit this - rather turn their brains off and do nothing, think about nothing, read the same shit over and over, watch the same shows over and over, draw and write the same things and dynamics over and over... than do anything else. anything different or thought-provoking or uncomfortable. it is a loss for the breadth and the depth of women’s contributions to culture as well as their empathy and intellectual curiosity.

obligatory food analogy: a little bit of junk food won’t kill you, but if that’s all you’re eating, you are probably not... doing... well

and that’s not even getting into the social contagion present within fandom re:mogai, relationships, and gender identity shit (which I would say probably has a lot to do with the underdeveloped critical thinking skills and worldviews of girls who read nothing but fanfiction). I would love to come back to that at some point, but I think this post is long enough, so I’ll just put a pin in it. there’s honestly an insane amount that I have to say about common talking points regarding the value of yaoi/fanfic (in terms of how they portray Marginalized Identities and Relationships and how it supposedly helps women navigate their own trauma through a proxy or some shit like that) oh god this is a horrible run-on .... that’s all for now! send post!

[wisteriaiswriting]

Hello hello!! I'd like to request a matchup pls!

I'm staying anon on this one but i hope u can do it, i'd like it to be a romantic matchup for tf2! Thanks in advance :)

I'm Mina, i'm 21, my pronouns are she/her and i'm bi, I'm 5'2 and i have long black hair with bangs, i wear glasses and i guess my body type is like, mid size? Not sure haha. I have a few tattoos and a bellybutton piercing. I like to experiment with my outfits and gender presentation, one day i can be very femenine and the other i'll just dress like a 2000s nu-metal singer. My favorite era regarding fashion is the 70s!! It's one of my big interests hehe.

I study journalism and have a big sense of social justice. I'm very extroverted and love being around people but i also think of alone time as extremely important. I have autism and it's a bit hard to read social cues directed at me, but i'm really good at reading who people are, not so much their intentions lol. I have two cats! Not sure if that's important but hey. I'm very detail oriented and very specific at the time of doing tasks. I'm a libra :) I'm very straightforward and have a dry sense of humor, but i'm always willing to help anyone who asks. If you p please include at least two results? One is ok though! I'm doing this for fun haha. I love your writing 💛💛

I match you with...

Medic (Romantic)

Doesn’t mind your fashion sense and how it can change, this only broadens the clothing choice for him. (He definetly steals some from anywhere for you)

While he doesn’t and has never studied journalism, he does appreciate anyone who does. This allows you two to have actual civilised conversations.

He’s more of an ambivert, but he likes the fact that you can keep up with him and his conversation topics,  this also means a lot of the time he lets you talk to the others if he’s busy. He also enjoys some quiet, alone time as well. Opting to spend it with you in the infirmary or in his room for a higher chance of being alone.

Very quick to notice your autism, and honestly, he has no problem working around the way you do things. He also has a hard time reading some social cues, but that's kinda on him due ignoring plenty of them.

Is there to help you figure out people's intention, also gossips with you about said people when you read them.

He adores having some sort of schedule, so you being time specific works really well with him. (Can also can clash depending, but we’re gonna ignore that for now)

With you both being detail oriented it’s very unlikely that anything will get by unchecked, so rarely nothing goes wrong under your watch.

Appreciates the fact that you’re very straightforward, it lets you two have honest and proper conversations.

Would you think this man would have a normal sense of humor? It may not be dry but this means he’s trying to get you to smile.

And

Sniper (Romantic)

He actually loves your nu metal fashion, after plenty of away missions, he’ll go out of his way to try find some more fashion pieces.

I just feel like he also likes fashion.

If you ever wear some 70’s fashion he silently melts (Just ingonore the fact it's 1968, it's totally in the future or new comic) he loves seeing you wear different types of fashion.

As we know he’s a very introverted man, so he appreciates having you around to talk to others, he’ll hang around still but lets you do everything social.

He also likes having his alone time, but now he has someone else to enjoy it with. Lets you hang out in his van for hours at a time.

I have this massive gut feeling that he’s also autistic, the constantly masking type. But he’s there to help you understand any social cues needed.

The fact you are good at reading people makes you two a mean duo on missions, as he’s there to verify who they are and also to try to figure out their intentions..

Absolute cat man, would rather cats over dogs anyday.

Gets you with being straight forward and your dry sense of humor. (Back to autistic Sniper) He never got the whole ‘sugarcoating’ thing, it’s more practical to not be so nice about it, so he understands you very well. Also your humor, god you two could go at it for hours or even days.

The points were a bit lower this time but they were pretty close at the start!

Medic - 8

Sniper - 8

Scout - 7

Administrator - 7

Miss pauling - 7

Soldier - 6

Demoman - 6

Spy - 6

Engineer - 5

Saxton hale - 4

Pyro - 4

Heavy - 3

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Benevolent Manipulation

The goal of this tutorial should be to broaden one’s own support network and gain more power without stepping on people to get it. After all, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

Many of these things are normal things that lots of people do with no ulterior motives whatsoever; but I am breaking down precisely what each action does so that the reader can know in which situations an action can be strategically applied for one’s own gain or defense.

I am writing this because I see shrimp social cues and believe others might find it useful.

…

Respond to compliments with a compliment of your own.

Try not to accept a compliment point-blank or talk about yourself at length afterwards unless you already know the person who said it to you well. This may — depending on how you go about it — make you seem arrogant, or like an open book that is easy to read and easy to manipulate (and not in a benevolent way).

But at the same time, never put yourself down and refuse a compliment in front of others because this will make you seem less confident and like more of a target to unsavory people… unless you are in Japan, in which case, this is the socially acceptable thing to do.

The happy medium response would be to respond to a compliment with a “thank you,” followed by one of your own.

A compliment must be two parts so as to not appear shallow. One part should be complimenting a feature of the person’s clothing or work; and the other part should describe that feature in a little depth, or by comparison.

For instance: “I love your dress. The blue tulle is so sparkly.” or “Your painting reminds me of a waterfall. It’s a beautiful piece of abstract art!”

Then let them accept the compliment and talk about themselves or their interest. Then listen to what they say and add those details to your mental profile of that person (always make mental profiles of people before proceeding with them so you know what kind of person they are).

When someone compliments you on your personality or your actions, you should ideally use it as an opportunity to let them know how hard you work, or let them know that you use someone else as an example for what you do.

For example:

A: “You’re so good with the kids.”

B: “I do my best.” [closed mouth smile]

A: “No really! You’re really good.”

B: “Must be because I always watch you guys for pointers.”

Or

“Wow! How do you draw so good?”

“Lots of practice.”

This subtle compliment-reflecting technique serves three functions:

1.) It makes you seem humble, and thereby classy.

2.) It disarms fake flatterers trying to get you to talk about yourself by redirecting the focus back to the original complimenter.

3.) It shows people that others’ words don’t mean as much to you as the standards you hold yourself to, which also disarms fake flatterers.

Maintain or Build Your Halo

There are two main categories in which reputation-building can suit you: trust and intimidation. Let’s focus on trust, since it is the easiest and most useful of the two to attain.

You can build trust by first doing things for other people. They don’t have to be big things. It can be something as small as picking something off the ground for someone, or lending someone a pen without them asking. A bunch of low-effort “helps” can add up to one big “help,” which will draw the attention of others and possibly prompt them to give back to you in time.

Ask someone for help with some minuscule task if you need them to think you trust them for whatever reason, or perhaps if you need to appear more vulnerable.

Snacks in the break room always go over well. Ideally do this when it’s not any holiday, and just make it seem like you’re doing it for no reason at all other than your general affinity for human beings.

Don’t put a note with your name on them — keep them anonymous — but casually mention that you bought or made them the night before to one or two extroverts, so that word of your good deed can spread by mouth like the old legends.

For example:

A: “Did you do anything fun over the weekend?”

B: “I made cookies. The batch made a lot more than I was expecting so I’m going to put them in the break room. Would you like one?”

or

B: “I went to the store to get some groceries. Aldi has really stuff, and their cookies were on sale so I got some for me and some for the break room. I can run and get one for you if you’d like?”

Never make a big deal over things you do for people or draw unnecessary amounts of attention to yourself. This will let people know you’re bragging; and if you humble-brag, that’s even worse. Let others do the bragging for you.

…

Anyway that’s all for now because I’m eepy. :)

If you want more let me know.

[pigtailedgirl]

Ian MacDonald for the dS prompts please!!

Best road trip ever episode!!! Yes, of course lol.

Ian: (whispers to Dief) Undo my seatbelt.

Ian and Rino Romano are so great. He's a pop up from another of my fandoms so I giggle everytime he comes on. I think what makes Ian an endearing character is his level of bombastic lies are annoying but so quick and clearly are, so reactionary to what the conversation around him is, that it's immediately funny. And you aren't Ray, stuck listening to it the whole trip(s) lol.

Ian is also just really a cool character to examine both for himself and Fraser. Appearing twice, you get to see the change of the reasoning behind him and how Fraser is relating.

For himself, he goes from lying because he can't help himself, a defensive reaction and one rooted in his childhood looks like, one that the episode highlights is a sad case of he lied about a case before he understood the consequences and cant lie his way out, cause duh, but also cant stop. But has that moment of own up growth, even if he doesn't stop entirely.

Fraser understands cause Fraser does manipulations in same. In self-defense, rather than say what he wants or needs. With Ray all episode! And Fraser's lesson this episode is not really to stop, but that people, aka Ray again, strung on the ride along, don't enjoy. Fraser kinda does it extreme here, and also gets told off here too lol.

Then when Ian comes back in season 2, he's still lying but has clearly broadened himself to having learned how to find himself in a job where it's cool. In a place where jumping to wild conclusions works. He found his people lol. His struggle now is balancing getting someone to believe him or in him, and get his lover on board in that way too, by contending with his wild claims and the honest feelings underneath. In really he struggles all episode not only trying to find Audrey and be believed that his story of her exists, but getting her to know the romantic interest was honest truth from him, and know that her romantic interest or understanding was the same. And it's cute, while it wasn't "truth" on both sides, the interest was, and they are willing to go again. Happy.

And to me this fits Fraser well too. He's settling in. He's also balancing how do I be seen, am I, and be honest in feelings while keeping the image. Can I? And the answer is: Well, Ray is still going along, be it a lot more awareness than last time, and Thatcher and Welsh and life are okaying the adventure. Truth be out there with aliens lol.

[celestialpaperhaze]

Hey!

Which was the first PM game you've played?

Greets! <3

Hi! :D

The very first Paper Mario game I played was the Thousand-Year Door (the original version)! I have a lot of vivid memories of my time with that game—I must’ve started it when I was around 7 years old, but I got stuck just after the Fuzzies section and didn’t get back to the game until I was 9. I distinctly remember figuring out those stone pillars in Petal Meadows and getting really excited when I finally entered Hooktail’s Castle! After that, I beat the game pretty quickly (as one does when they’re a kid with not much else to do), and I cried when I finished it because I wanted to see MORE… Luckily, around five years later, I was gifted Super Paper Mario, and not too long after that I played The Origami King!

Between TTYD getting me interested in video games, SPM encouraging me to broaden my worldview, and TOK being such a comfort during isolation, it’s safe to say Paper Mario very much helped in making me who I am today…

I’ve been playing the TTYD remake most recently, of course. It’s a lot of fun, and I’m so glad there are kids out there who get to experience this game for the first time like I once did when I was their age!

[justsomeoneintoomanyfandoms]

Hi there! Thanks again for reaching me out ^^ I'd like to request a matchup for JJK, MHA and Haikyuu please!

Name: you can use Yuno if needed :)

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality: I'd like to be paired with male characters

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Appearance: east Asian, slim build, black short hair (two blocks haircut), I wear cargo pants with t-shirts (either black, grey or white) and sneakers. I prefer practical clothes. The simpler the better.

Personality: funny, curious, love to eat and travel, make new interesting friends, discover new activities and new places. I'm also analytical, I understand things people don't say or explain. Loved-ones say I can be blunt, opinionated, creative and love to persuade others. Independent, hard to know and anticipate. I really like to tease people, and even those I do not know well yet.

Likes: spring, summer, dots and cats, eating, traveling, try new activites/dishes, chill out on the sofa, sometimes play video games (Zelda BOTW and TOTK, Okami, Smash Bros, Life is Strange...), watching movies at the cinema, joking around and teasing people, laughing without any restraint, a nice walk in the countryside.

Dislikes: noisy people for no reason, brainless people, people walking too slow, rain, autumn.

Hobbies: writing with people, walking around, eating, going out, cooking, gardening.

extras: I'm a spring/summer person even if I have a hard time standing the heat, I prefer cats but I have a doggo energy somehow. I enjoy writing with others people (never alone because I get bored), discussing about philosophy, joking around and challenge authority.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Juno! Thank you for your request! Sorry it took a while. I hope you like your matchups!

In Jujutsu Kaisen, I match you with...

You and Megumi are both quite blunt and while you might think that would lead to conflict, it actually leads to a very open and clear relationship.

He’s so glad you like dogs. Sure, his divine dogs are there to help him with his curse expelling work but he does have a soft spot for them. He’ll call them out so they can say hello to you from time to time.

I don’t see him as a fan of noisy people either (despite spending so much time around people like Nobara and Itadori). He’s happy to just spend time with you.

Megumi enjoys discussing philosophy with you a lot more than he thought he would. I see him as someone who likes deep conversation but only with a few select people. You fall into that category for him.

I think Megumi would enjoy gardening with you. It’s something relaxing and he can turn his mind off while doing it. Plus he gets to enjoy your presence while you both concentrate on the job at hand.

In My Hero Academia, I match you with...

You and Shoto are a good match since you’re both very different and very similar. You balance each other out in the best ways.

Loves taking walks with you. It really clears his mind and he gets to spend time with you one on one so it’s a win-win.

I think Shoto would also enjoy trying new foods with you. Sure, he knows what he likes but he’s also open to trying new things, especially if you’re trying them with him.

Writing pals! I see Shoto as someone who likes writing down his thoughts and being a bit poetic from time to time. If he gets to write with you and then swap work, he’d have a blast.

Please help him make new friends as well. He’s only got a handful of them and he’d love to make more. He’s just not sure how to go about it without some help.

In Haikyuu, I match you with...

You and Daichi would be rest buddies. He tends to over work himself sometimes so it’s good having you there to make him take regular breaks when he needs them.

I think Daichi would enjoy trying new things with you. He’s got volleyball but he’s always looking to try out new hobbies and broaden his horizons.

He likes that you’re opinionated. Being the captain of a volleyball team means you have to be decisive and have strong opinions. Being with someone who’s the same is good for him.

No need to worry about slow walkers when you’re around Daichi. He’s super tall and takes long strides so he’s a very fast walker. If anything, you might need him to slow down.

I think Daichi would also enjoy travelling and exploring new places so he’d love to tag along with you whenever you go somewhere new. He’d also invite you along whenever the team goes away for a match or a competition.

[elldritch-horror]

So, there's this post I've been mentally drafting for a bit, which in its simplest terms boils down to:

broke: people at work asking 'how was your weekend' are genuinely interested in the minutiae of your weekend

woke: people at work asking 'how was your weekend' are doing so as small talk, and don't care about your weekend

bespoke: people at work asking 'how was your weekend' are probably not explicitly and specifically interested in your weekend, but they probably are interested in you, and in fostering a social bond with you

I think there's a tendancy among those of us for whom Small Talk is not a native language to get stuck at the realisation that we aren't as interesting as we thought, and Janice in marketing doesn't sit there with bated breath waiting for us to come in on a Monday morning so she can hear about the pizza we had for dinner on Saturday night. It kinda hurts, and feels like everyone around is disingenuous, and just pretending to care about us when they don't.

For me, it took me a long time to realise and properly internalise the idea that small talk isn't pointless noise, just because it doesn't mean what it says on the tin. People are interested in you! Just maybe not in the exact ways you thought. They're probably just as interested in you as you are in them, and this is their way of extending an invitation to connection.

That was going to be the whole post, but then my brain did that thing where it connected some dots which probably aren't really dots, and don't connect at all, so take the following musings with a big ol' helping of salt, but...

In autism assessments they ask about trauma. As I understand it, they ask this because autistic and c-ptsd traits overlap so much it can be hard to untangle exactly where those traits are coming from.

I was thinking about this, and I got to seeing a kind of logic to the groups of people for whom 'lovely weather today, isn't it' is a typical social opening gambit, compared to the people for whom 'hey, here's my childhood trauma wrapped up as a funny anecdote' is a more solid introduction.

Maybe, if you're the sort of person who is privileged enough to be able to assume that your basic self will be largely palatable to most people, the relationship model of gradually increasing intimacy makes perfect sense.

If you're someone who can't make that assumption, either because of being part of a marginalised community, or because of trauma, then that simple path towards a relationship becomes a trek into unfamiliar wilderness, where you have no way of knowing at the outset whether the road leads you somewhere beautiful, or around a blind bend and straight off a cliff. You don't want to invest weeks or months talking about weather and weekend plans before you find out that Janice in marketing is actually a white supremacist or terf.

Why does all this matter? Well, maybe it doesn't. But I've been really fucking isolated for a good few years now, because I figured out that people didn't care about my weekend plans, and I got stuck there, and spent my time exclusively interacting with people who matched my internal model of relationship building by starting deep. And don't get me wrong, I built myself some wonderful relationships, but not many.

Recently I've been trying to broaden my horizons, and build bonds with people who aren't exactly like me, and there's so much joy in it, y'all! Sure, it's a bit of extra effort to consciously walk myself through the conversational template of 'question?' 'reasonably brief answer with reciprocal question' etc, but I've met some people I really like, and I'm excited to spend more time with.

And when you're doing these things consciously, you have the option of asking for a map, before plunging into that wilderness. Maybe when they ask about your weekend, the part of your weekend you highlight is one that subtly points at whatever topic you might feel unsafe about, in a non-confrontational way. You saw a drag queen when you waiting for the train. You gave a fiver to the homeless lady outside Morrisons and had a chat about the book she's reading. In a lot of cases, you can weed out the people you really don't want to be cultivating early on.

I don't have a clever and pithy closing statement, so I'll go with awkwardly earnest, instead. A lot of the people I'm building bonds with aren't going to ever become my closest confidantes, but that's okay. We need best friends, but we also need acquaintances. We need whole communities. Sometimes love is lying in bed with someone at 3am discussing your deepest hopes and fears, but sometimes love is also the woman twice your age at the local knit & natter who remembers that you like sugar in your coffee.