#it's an exercise for me rather than anyone else

[hephaestuscrew]

Audio Drama Sunday 24/11/2023

Here's the new stuff I've listened to in the past week and a bit:

🏠 Unwell Ep3.01-3.07 - I really liked the first couple of seasons of Unwell, and I don't know why my listening fell off midway through Season 3 in 2021. (Honestly it might have partly been that some of the dementia stuff hit too hard. Ep3.05 was A Lot in a masterful way...) But I thought I'd resume it from the beginning of Season 3, and it's been really nice to return to these characters and this world, even if I can't remember all of the context. I'm tutting at Hazel, a librarian actively withholding and distorting information. I'm shaking my head at what Rudy's gotten himself into. I'm very emotional about Wes - the first episode of this season was really moving. And I'm excited to see where things are headed!

🚀 Travelling Light, Ep1-3 - Like Monstrous Agonies, this show has such a lovely reassuring vibe. I'm in awe of H. R. Owen finishing one show and almost immediately releasing another weekly show nearly single-handedly. It reminds me a bit of the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, because of the exploration of the diversity of cultures across different planets and species, and the way these differences are celebrated. I've also noticed that so far the cultures described tend to be more local and specific than 'every alien of this species has this tradition' - instead it's usually about the people who come from a certain city or region on a planet. Which helps avoid some troubling attitudes that sci-fi which contrasts different species can imply. My favourite archive entry from these episodes so far was the drinking song. It felt convincing as that kind of song and was fun to hear.

🌊 The Silt Verses, Chapter 36 - This was one of those episodes that made me stop in my tracks in the street as I listened. I cared so much about the two characters who were only introduced this episode, and the ending sent shivers up my spine. I often hate listening to flirting but the flirting via memory games was unusual, sweet, and compelling in a way that made me smile in spite of the Horrors around them. Also I think Carpenter should be a bitch about unimportant things like music trivia more often. I loved her and Hayward bickering. She should get to care about things that aren't gods or rituals or matters of life and death.

🚇☕ Greater Boston / The Amelia Project, Live Crossover Episode - This was an excellently done crossover in terms of blending elements of both shows in a way that I think would work for someone who was only a fan of one or the other. I was pleased to hear Felix Trench's absurd portrayal of Mark Walhberg again, but my favourite parts were Chuck Octagon attempting to sum up the events of Greater Boston (and the Interviewer's reaction to this) and the Narrator narrating the Interviewer's response to his offer with his own exaggerated impression.

[kelseytheballerina]

Reflections on building a better me

Exercise is not optional. Mental satisfaction from completing yet another workout cannot be overstated. Physical satisfaction from feeling good and enjoying your body in clothes, the mirror, and photos cannot be overstated. Stop messing around, stop info hoarding, go exercise. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. And the next day.

Looking your best depending on circumstances (ie, casual, dressy, bedtime, etc) is not optional. External confidence from taking care of your appearance top to bottom and loving what you see in the mirror is highly valuable.

You feel better when you eat better. You’re proud of yourself when you eat better.

Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies. Do you feel embarrassed when someone asks what you do all day and you can’t come up with an honest answer that doesn’t make you sound like a loser with no life? You need hobbies. Some that are outdoors, some that are indoors. Some that are taxing, some that are relaxing. You will enjoy life more, become a more well-rounded individual, and have positive ways to spend your time rather than racking up more hours on your phone. Get some hobbies. Plural.

Procrastination and laziness should disgust you. You shouldn’t be able to relate. You should strive to be above that. You like yourself better when you complete your tasks and get things done in a timely manner. You’re proud of yourself when you’re on a roll and have a productive streak. You’re impressed by productive people and no one likes a lazy bum.

Decide what you want from life and pursue it ruthlessly. Don’t take advice from people who don’t have the life you want, unless they were once on your desired path and fell off. Even then, you listen to them when they say what NOT to do (learning from their mistakes) but clearly they don’t know what TO do bc they didn’t make it to the finish line. Take “do this” advice from people who crossed the finish line and have what you want. You’ll find that the amount of input that is actually valuable to you has suddenly dwindled. Good. Less chatter in your ears.

Get yourself in order before you go around critiquing everyone else. Get YOUR face in order. Get YOUR body right. Get YOUR money up. Get YOUR style in order. Get YOUR relationship together.

Stop coming to everyone for validation like a toddler. Validate yourself. Do you like it? Okay then. Are you over it? Okay then. Stop being so weak. Stand tall, lead yourself. Stop being such a follower.

Be a good person. Help your family, lend a hand to strangers, give back, say sorry, do things for loved ones just because, show affection, work things out, watch your mouth, speak respectfully, remember that the world owes you nothing. Stop being an insufferable freak.

You can’t change anyone but yourself. Get yourself in order and be a good role model. That’s all you can do. Give people advice when they want it and then go about your business. Get yourself in order. Get yourself in order.

Outrage content is the lowest form of entertainment. Engage in things that make you happy or educate you. Doom scrolling only leads to doom. Don’t like this person? Don’t click on their articles or videos. Unfollow and block. Don’t like these people? Leave their spaces. You don’t have to be outraged every day.

Always keep your word to yourself. Make a plan, stick to the plan, always deliver. If you can’t be reliable for yourself then who can you be reliable for?

[pers1st]

could you just try to listen?

pt 2 of kiss me, try to fix it

pairing: alexia putellas x reader

notes: writing this was a pain tbh but you guys wanted it so I hope this suffices

Ditching Alexia was easy, as you spent the last week of your break with Keira and Lucy. If the two minded you interrupting their couple time, neither of them mentioned it, and to be quite honest, you didn't care much. You had known the couple for a long time, and given the way Lucy had witnessed the absolute mess you had been that morning - you figured she was happy to keep you in her sight, for as long as she needed to.

You had told Keira as well, though reluctantly. Admitting that Alexia had cheated on you had felt like knives stabbing your mouth with every word that dropped from your chapped lips, which you had been chewing on relentlessly since the revelation.

On a positive note, though, you were presented with two very personal security guards, making sure that neither Alexia nor Mapi, who had been chasing after you like a stray dog, were awarded any interaction with you, other than passing a ball. The pain was still rooted deeply - every time you looked at your ex girlfriend, it pierced through your body, reaching every nerve, numbing your face. You put on a stone hard expression whenever you were met with her sight, although it was harder than you could put into words. Alexia didn't deserve your sadness. She didn't deserve to see the damage she'd done to you - you didn't deserve for her to know how badly she'd hurt you, though you figured it was easily visible by the fact that you didn't talk anymore. Barely any words to Lucy and Keira, complete silence to the rest of the team. Anyone else would've figured the loss to the Spanish national team had hurt your pride so badly, you refused to speak their language anymore. In truth, you were simply too tired.

Nights were spent tossing and turning and fighting the urge to absolutely wreck your apartment, because everything there reminded you of her -

The framed pictures, the hoodies in your closet, the shoes by your door. All of it was Alexia. All of you had been Alexia.

She didn't stay away from you though, as much as you wanted her to. With every time the two of you were left alone in a room, either Lucy came running back, realizing she had forgotten you as though you were a little child, or you ran away from her. You didn't think she deserved to explain. Didn't think she deserved for you to listen.

It was much harder to ignore Mapi, though. You had expected her to stick to Alexia's side through this breakup, partially due to the fact that the two of you had never been super close, but what happened seemed to be quite the opposite.

She was everywhere. Waiting on you in the locker room, sneaking up on you during gym, trying to pick you for partnering exercises, approaching you during at lunch. And she always asked the same question - Can we talk?

Most of the time, it was Lucy who told her no. Except for the fact that, since you had seen who seemed to be the assistants of your breakup have a very aggravated conversation yesterday. Ever since, Lucy had let you loose a little bit. And that was how you had found yourself here - in the locker room, fresh out of the shower, dressed in sweats with a towel around your head and Mapi sitting in your cubby, inspecting your locker shamelessly.

"Ale gave you that, no?", she asked, holding up a bracelet she had picked out of your belongings, one that you had stored at the very back of your locker.

"Give it", you huffed, stretching your hand out for the piece of jewelry and watching as Mapi handed it to you, just for you to throw it to the very back of your locker once more.

"Chica, we need to have a talk", she sighed as you pulled her away from your cubby, sitting down to take off your slippers.

"I don't think we do", you smiled bitterly as you pulled your socks on rather aggressively.

"You think, but you don't know!"

You furrowed your brows as you allowed yourself to look at your ex's best friend for just a second, the frown on her face, along with determination making you gulp ever so slightly.

"I don't want to talk to you", you huffed.

"Okay, then listen, at least."

Knowing that there was no way to get Mapi out of the locker room without forcing her (physically), and knowing that you would inevitably loose that battle, you stayed silent, wishing for nothing more than Ingrid to come get her girlfriend out of your way. But you weren't that lucky.

"Ale was drunk."

You had to laugh at that. You had seen how drunk your girlfriend was, but there was no way Mapi seriously believed that it would be a good enough excuse for you to forgive her, did she?

"I know that", you chuckled bitterly, turning towards your locker for your pair of sneakers.

"No, Y/N. She was drunk. Like, so drunk she couldn't even stand on her own. Jenni was helping her to not collapse. When Jenni kissed her, Ale-", Mapi stopped herself.

"She didn't even realize until it was too late. She pushed Jenni off, but someone had taken a video of it and posted it. Alexia didn't even- she couldn't-"

You stopped in your tracks. This didn't compare to the scenario you had made up in your mind in the slightest.

In your imagination, it had been Alexia to initiate the kiss. It had been Alexia who had grown tired of you, who had been happy to celebrate her win with her teammate, and her ex-girlfriend. In your mind, it had been Alexia who had had enough of you, and decided to ditch you for someone she knew was a better girlfriend than you.

What Mapi was saying- it was doing your head in.

"Jenni took advantage of her, Y/N. Alexia was so upset that she cried, but- chica, she doesn't even remember it. That's how drunk she was. Jenni knows it was shitty and apologized, but- Ale has no idea how to make this up to you. She blames herself, when - and trust me on this - this was in no way her fault."

Looking up from where your gaze had fixated on your sneakers, you found Mapi's face. She was genuine- you could tell. Mapi was a lot of things, but she wasn't a liar, you figured. What she told you made sense- Alexia really hadn't remembered. You noticed it now when you thought back to that morning, the morning that had shattered your world.

"Okay."

There was nothing else you could say. Before Mapi could react, you had left the locker room already, only then noticing how Lucy waited on the other side of the door.

"Okay? Seriously?", she asked, raising her eyebrows as you pushed yourself past her, ignoring her reaction entirely. The fact that Mapi knew this was enough publicity for you, and you'd be damned if Lucy got in on the whole conspiracy as well.

At home, you had time to think about it, well and truly. You allowed yourself, for the first time, to look at the picture that had broken the Internet, it seemed. Your heart still stung as you saw the fabric of your shirt on Alexia's body, her lips on that of another woman. But now, you noticed things you hadn't before -

The first one was Jenni's arm around her waist, and if you believed Mapi's story, it was to hold her upright. Alexia's head was almost laying on her own shoulder, which at first you had interpreted to be pure passion, but now, it seemed as though the energy had been soaked out of her body entirely.

You didn't believe Mapi was a liar. You had never believed that. You had known she told the truth from the very first word she'd spoken, but now that you had looked at the picture again, for the first time in months, it only confirmed what you already knew-

You were in the wrong here. Alexia hadn't broken your heart in a malicious attempt to ruin your life. The woman you loved hadn't simply discarded you for her ex.

Yet you had yelled at your girlfriend like a mad woman and left her without giving her the chance to explain herself.

Guilt was creeping up on you within seconds as you remembered her hazy eyes, the tears dwelling in them, the way she had kissed you and promised that whatever it was, the two of you could fix it.

Silently, you wondered whether that offer still stood.

Before you could even come to a conclusion, you were up on your feet again, keys in your hand as you headed towards the front door. You were going to talk to Alexia, you were going to talk to the woman you loved so dearly and win her back.

Only you didn't have to go anywhere, because the second you opened your door, there she stood- phone pressed in her hands, eyes fixated on the screen, one of your hoodies on her body.

When the wood creaked, she finally looked up at you.

"Oh, I was just- texting Mapi, to-"

She stopped herself.

"I was just coming to see you."

"So Maria spoke to you?"

You nodded. Her shoulders sunk a little as she gazed at you, her eyes wide.

"You want to come in?"

You didn't have to ask twice, as Alexia gently pushed herself past you, discarding her shoes by your door and strolling through the hallway as if it was her own home. In a way, it was. Or at least, it had been. Maybe it still was, you didn't know. But the way she drew herself into the corner of your couch, pulling her legs up to her chest as she nuzzled herself into the soft pillows made a warmth spread through your stomach, following her shortly after.

"I'm sorry", you started, but Alexia was quick to interrupt you.

"No. You don't have to be. You didn't know-"

"Yes, but I should've-"

"Amor, let me speak."

You huffed at that but nodded, leaning yourself against the cushion as you sat across from her, taking in her features just like you had that night. One night, you had began counting her freckles. Despite the fact that you didn't allow yourself to do so now, desperate not to get lost in her mesmerizing beauty but to actually listen, you still hoped that one day, you'd get the chance to count them all. To kiss each and every one of them.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten drunk, and what happened was bad. But, amor, I love you so so much. I would never cheat on you, I would never even dream of kissing another woman. You are the only person I ever want to kiss again."

"You want to kiss me again?"

You shuddered slightly. Was Alexia still giving you a chance, after you ignored her for weeks on end, and had risked your relationship for just a simple misunderstanding.

"Sí, you muppet. I want to kiss you for the rest of my life, if-"

She halted for a second, taking your hands into hers. The warmth of her skin immediately slowed your beating heart, which was pounding within your chest as your breath hitched slightly.

"If you let me?", she asked, her voice so soft that you almost melted on the spot.

You nodded at that, only now realizing your vision was blurry with tears.

"Hey, don't-"

Cry. She had wanted to say. But you didn't let her speak this time, instead closing the gap between you as your hands found the back of her neck, pressing your lips against hers.

You would let Alexia kiss you for the rest of your life. And you would never, ever not hear her out again.

[signedeclipse]

Please could i request a oneshot of Haganezuka meeting and falling in love with a hashira reader (Tanjiro’s older sibling) 💙💙

One More Time [Haganezuka X Reader]

Reader is Human Gender Neutral | Fluff + Romance

Recomended Song - Rather Be by Clean Bandit

It wasn't his first sword delivery, but Hotaru had never been assigned to a slayer permanently before, having only made swords for beginners of the corps or for practice, since most upper ranks in the corps chose older, more seasoned nichirin swordsmiths.

Part of him was excited, being able to tend to an individual's abilities and forge something more unique, as opposed to the clear cut ones most starter blades were.

The other part was frustrating, because it wasn't for anyone unique, no one had specifically chosen him, just a random assignment since all the others had enough to care for. Still, he tried to feel grateful that this was a chance at becoming more reputable.

He remembered his first encounter with the Kamado, the excitement at the idea of a red blade, the disappointment that followed.

It all loomed over him now that the Kamado name had long since grown. It was hard not to recognize such a unique family; a demon, one of the fastest-growing slayers, and the sun hashira. While he wasn't one to take back his words so easily, he was reminded by the chief to bite his tongue the next time he tried mouthing off to the family.

But luck had not been on his side.

When news got back to him that Tanjiro had broken his blade for the second time, Hotaru felt a mix of anger and shame.

Anger that once again his craftsmanship had not been enough, and shame at the idea that it'd likely happen again were he not more careful.

The idea flashed across his mind that his failure twice in a row might mean he would lose Tanjiro as a client of sorts, or that he would be forced to resign from being a swordsmith, so he avoided confronting or contacting him in favour of preparing himself to make the best blade imaginable.

There he was, as the sun had barely begun to rise and the sky was a mid-blue hue, casting the village and its surroundings in a cool tone. Though he slept soundly, he woke up before anyone else got the chance so he could get a head start on his exercises, which gave him time to ponder how long he had before Tanjiro came to him instead.

"So, you must be Haganezuka."

The voice almost startled him from his perch atop a cliffside, though he barely showed it besides the clenching of his fists. The voice was entirely unfamiliar, though before he could turn to look at them their presence had moved.

"Is that a yes?" You were to his right, which he turned to finally meet the individual who had managed to find him.

While still taken back by the speed at which you had moved, he was also very surprised to see the same maroon eyes as Kamado, except it was clear that you were no Tanjiro.

"Well, I'm sure you've realised who I am, but you can just refer to me as Kamado."

Hotaru had not expected your presence in the village, had you been sent in place of your brother?

"I don't have a blade ready yet." Haganezuka had bowed his head slightly. He could run and be stubborn all he wanted, but Hashira could be far more harsh in punishment.

"Blade? I'm not- no-" You had let out a string of laughs, facing away from him and covering your mouth to suppress the giggles. He looked so worried! Even if you hadn't seen his face, the atmosphere around him had certainly dropped.

"It's his first time in the village, I couldn't miss it! Well, that and my swordsmith will be retiring, so I'm here to meet some of the newer generations and pick someone I feel is capable. I was never a fan of blind recommendations." While you spoke, Hotaru had straightened out his posture and looked back out at the village, the sun now growing the area with orange rays.

You were very relaxed, and far more talkative than any hashira he had met, so any intimidation he felt melted away, especially considering you weren't here to scold him.

"Anyways, I hope you give my little brother a hard time, sometimes I think he gets it too easy because of his kindness, and he needs to be ready to combat issues that aren't life-threatening..." Judging by your words, you hadn't seen Haganezuka chasing after your sibling with knives, which relieved him.

Still pouting from his faulty blades, he kept silent, deciding he didn't want to say much if more to prove a point for himself.

By the time he glanced to his right again, you were long gone, with nothing but the imprint of where you sat left in the grass.

.

The next time he saw you, you were with Kanamori, who held two nichirin blades that had seen better days.

Having been found by Tanjiro and been given the blade he was to repair, Hotaru was on his way to eat and prepare for the gruelling 72 hours worth of work he had ahead of him.

Despite the raging inspiration he felt, you had stopped him dead in his tracks, pulling all the air from him until he felt weak again. Hotaru hadn't realised how much he'd hoped to see you again, and you were still here.

"Ah, have you met my good friend, Haganezuka?" Kanamori motioned to the taller swordsmith, who you noticed now had a wide hat fit with chimes...and his upper torso was revealed, the rest of his clothes wrapped around his waist.

You nodded, smiling and waving to the surprisingly well-built swordsmith, trying to hide your rosy cheeks with a smile.

"I have, but, it's a long story." Shrugging your shoulders, Kanamori hummed pleasantly, before returning to a slow strive towards his workshop, pulling you along considering your arms were linked.

Apparently, Kanamori had experience with dual blades, so you had chosen him for his kind personality and experience since you were a dual wielder.

Before you had entirely left, you turned to look back at Haganezuka, throwing a thumbs up.

"You better make sure this one doesn't break!! I'm trusting you!"

Of course, he would have to make the best blade he could manage, for Tanjiro; if not to prove himself as a worthy swordsmith, then to impress the eldest Kamado.

Author Note -  For some reason this took me so long to write I get procrasinating but WE GOT ER DOWN!!! Thank you for requesting <3

Word Count - 1,058

Art Credit - Kimetsu No Yaiba (2019)

[rinzsu]

HAIRCLIPS .ᐟ

cw: itoshi rin, fluff, gender neutral, established relationship, wc 300+

“doesn’t it bother you sometimes?”

“what exactly?”

“your hair. i've noticed you blowing it out of your face every now and then while you were performing the lotus earlier.”

rin cracks one eye open as he examines your expression, watercolor eyes searching for the tiniest hint indicating that you’re messing with him once more.

yet he’s met with nothing but pure curiosity as you scrutinize the olive bangs messily descending upon his face, concealing his pearly orbs like a veil, hiding them from your prying gaze.

“sometimes” he sighs before settling back into the yoga position he had been performing prior to your question.

with a silent hum you excuse yourself, leaving your lover to continue on with his exercises in tranquil silence.

the pitter patter of your hurried steps on the wooden tiles recures sooner than anticipated, accompanied by an exited chortle leaving your mouth as your hastened strides lead you over to him once more.

only as you flop down on the floor does he detect the metallic clinking sound of what he considers to be your jewelery box.

despite questioning your decision to put on your accessories in the living space rather than the bathroom, rin resolves to leave his eyes shut, deeming your presence rather soothing than a nuisance, expecting you to let him finish up his training without any disruption.

rin comes to the revelation that you enjoy messing with him even more than he already knew as he feels a cool metal sensation graze his forehead before the cover of his bangs gets lifted off his face by what he supposes to be one of your hairpins.

he's proven correct as you scoop one of the side pieces up with another pin, clipping it shut after fixating the small section on the side of his head.

"what are you doing?"

"helping you keep your bangs in place so they won't annoy you"

"and you had to use your pochacco clips to do that?"

"they look cute on you! besides.. they work don't they?"

"you're unendurable"

"but you love me"

"yeah.. i guess i tolerate you a little more than anyone else"

©️ rinsque — do not plagiarise nor repost anything on any other platform.

note. this is a repost from my former blog @/iohims

[mokulule]

Almanac - Chapter 4

DP x DC Dead on Main First | Masterpost Note: I made a new masterpost to subscribe to over on my new blog where I organize my writing @mokus-invenstory. Links on the other chapters have been updated, I will still notify on the old post with updates.

Chapter 4 - October 21-22nd, Orinoids Meteor Shower

Training with Fright Knight was an experience.

Jason was no stranger to harsh training regimes, but it seemed like Fright Knight truly had no other duties to attend to. And maybe that was what ghosts did? Find the one thing they were good at and then do it for all eternity? It was exhausting, unrelenting.

Every day he went to the kitchen to find a plate of breakfast ready, thankfully it wasn’t the same thing every day. He wondered if it was courtesy of the Lunch Lady, but he never saw anyone else and the cupboards and pantry were empty.

The mystery of who and how human food came to be here itched at him but as long as the magical castle felt reluctant to even let him get to the kitchen in the first place (he’d yet to walk a path quite the same there) it was something he would have to leave unexplored.

He ate and then as he was done as if summoned Fright Knight would collect him and drill him until he dropped.

The knight treated Jason as if he’d never held a sword before starting basic at stance and simple attacks repeated ad nauseum, with the occasional cardio and strength building exercises. While Jason preferred guns, hand to hand combat and occasionally knives, it wasn’t the first time he’d fought with a longer bladed weapon. His general training meant he could pick up most weapons and use them successfully so he thought it was rather unfair - not that he was fool enough to raise that opinion, this wasn’t the first stern training master he’d served under.

And arguably he didn’t have much experience with medieval style broadswords. So he sucked it up and did as ordered.

There were no breaks throughout the day, no more food. You’d think it was a form of torture that he didn’t get to eat more than breakfast, but Jason, while he got tired, never got hungry throughout the day. Apparently he got the rest of his needs covered through energy diffusion or some shit - assuming he’d understood the king correctly.

His waking moments were repetitive, but he was not bored as such. Not that he was enjoying himself either, but he was busy, occupied. Training and learning new skills were never a waste - he had to tell himself that. But when he laid in the barren room, which he still considered his prison, in those short moments before exhausted sleep claimed him, horror creeped in; horror that this would be the rest of his life.

Another day another drill.

The weight of the practice sword in his hand felt as familiar as breathing after 9 days of non stop practice.

“You are becoming complacent,” Fright Knights voice boomed as always from everywhere at once despite him clearly looming right in from of him.

Jason tilted his head regarding the knight for a moment. He wondered how much sass he could get away with.

“Well you could give me a challenge instead of this,” he returned evenly.

Somehow Jason had the distinct feeling the knight was smiling unseen in the darkness under the helmet.

“Very well,” his voice rumbled like a storm in the distance, setting all of Jason senses alert at the coming threat. His grip tightened on the practice sword.

The knight turned and flew over to set aside the neon green sword he carried at his side in favor of a practice sword in the weapons rack by the wall. For the first time since Jason had seen the knight kneel before his king, his feet touched ground.

He stalked towards Jason, a weight and realness to him now as the armored shoes clanged against the cobblestone. The hair at the back of Jason’s neck stood on end as the air charged with his approach. Every instinct in his body told him to be afraid. Someone with less combat experience might have frozen, Jason picked his guard up and turned so he made a smaller target.

The cobblestone knocked his breath out and his sword clattered across the stones. His ears rang and he could already feel his left eye swelling from where it had met an armored fist. Above him a couple of shooting stars shot across the clear sky in rapid succession before the Knight stepped close. He loomed above Jason and for one horrifying moment Jason thought he would ram the practice sword through him, blunt tip and all.

Instead the knight held out a hand.

Jason wet his dry lips and took the hand. He was pulled unceremoniously to his feet.

“Did you notice what I did?”

Not only did Jason notice that twist Fright Knight had done that had sent his sword flying, he very much felt the way he socked him in the face.

“Yes.” Jason had not expected he’d be dueling something like a fucking Kryptonian, nobody that size had the right to be so fast. The trick to fighting Kryptonians and people of that speed class was more in anticipating their moves rather than reacting to them, and more importantly coming prepared with something to incapacitate them with. Jason had no clue what might be Fright Knight’s weakness, probably wouldn’t be so easy as to laugh at him.

The knight nodded at his response.

“Good, now to counter.”

He then walked Jason through no less than five possible counters, to what was apparently a rather risky move he’d done - had he been alive at least. The counters were well and good, but as long as Jason had no way to counter the speed, the knight could repeat the move at his leisure.

Not that Jason pointed that out. No, Jason practiced dutifully and found himself seeing the stars multiple times that day. He got very well acquainted with the cobblestone. On the seventh meeting with the ground, he thought he saw a glimpse of light from a window high above the courtyard. He could have sworn it was the king watching, but as he got back to his feet and looked back up the light was gone. Maybe it had just been a reflection, a trick of the light from one of the many shooting stars.

Still, reminded of why he was here, his mood soured. Yes, Jason had put himself in this situation, but he’d expected to die for his sacrifice - and maybe that would have been too easy an out, but he’d certainly not expected to be discarded, like the unwanted possession he apparently was.

Resentment curled in his gut. Poor little king never wanting to have been summoned having to take Jason as payment. It was clearly such an ordeal.

Jason snarled getting back to his feet and for the first time he went on the attack. Fright Knight seemed amused, which only egged him on. Jason reached for the All-Blades but of course they didn’t manifest, because in this stupid place not even someone named fucking Fright Knight counted as true evil.

He let Jason wear himself out, disarmed him again, and punched him hilt first in the stomach. Jason crumpled over the practice sword and slid down to his knees, gasping for breath.

The knight considered him for a moment, waiting to see if he would get up again. When he didn’t, he made a minute shake of his head.

“You have spirit, but your mortal trappings do you no favors.”

Jason couldn’t help laughing at that. What was he supposed to do? Apologize for being alive?

“Blame your king.”

Oo o oO

That night Jason dreamt of Gotham, or more specifically of Crime Alley. Dick was patrolling in Jason’s absence, but he didn’t know the Alley like Jason did. He didn’t know of the small shadowed nook in that building that made for a perfect hidey hole. He didn’t see the gun pointed at him, didn’t move until the shot rent the air.

Jason sat up in bed gasping and shaking.

It was a dream, it was a stupid dream. He fumbled automatically for his phone, before he remembered, there was no way to make sure. He was stuck in the realm of the dead. It was a dream, he firmly reminded himself.

Still he shook and couldn’t bring himself to go back to sleep. Dick’s shocked face haunted him whenever he closed his eyes.

Gingerly he stepped out of bed. Clearly the order to keep Jason alive hadn’t kept the knight from beating him to hell and back. A particularly spectacular bruise mottled the side of his torso in purples and blues. From the twinging pain with every breath there was probably a few bent or broken ribs underneath that.

He walked to the bathroom, where he’d hung his clothes to dry after washing them in the sink. He reached out to touch them to find them cold and damp, a testament to how little sleep he’d managed. He shivered at just the thought of pulling them on, but he didn’t exactly have anything else to wear.

He couldn’t go back to sleep. He needed to move. That gun had been aimed for Dick’s head. It was just a dream, he reminded himself sternly. He needed to pull himself together.

Taking a deep breath he reached for his underwear first, pulling it on with a grimace. Disgusting was not a strong enough word, he thought grimly. He was cold and miserable by the time he’d finished dressing and trapped his damp socks in his boots and tied them.

Dressed, he left the room for the hallways, expecting the castle to give him a good walk around as usual - expect he’d barely walked down two hallways until a door revealed the kitchen. There was a cup sitting on the table in front of his usual place. Curious he walked over to pick up the steaming mug, he put it up to his nose and sniffed it. His eyebrows rose in surprise - hot cocoa.

He glanced around and like always saw no sign of the presence of anyone but himself. He took a sip and amended his earlier assessment with a hum of pleasure, this rich taste could only be hot chocolate. It sat warm in his belly and he found some of the restless energy leaving him. He sat down and allowed himself to relax. He held the cup with both hands and let the warmth seep into his fingers with a sigh.

Maybe the castle didn’t entirely hate him after all.

He sipped slowly, savoring the treat. The hot chocolate was good, it wasn’t quite Alfred’s but-

A wave of homesickness overtook him and he slumped forward in grief. Maybe Jason would manage to escape some day, but Alfred was not exactly young anymore. People died suddenly sometimes, even when they seemed healthy.

Jason wasn’t there anymore. He couldn’t check on his family. Not Alfred, not Dick (it was just a nightmare!) or anyone. A mocking laughter haunted him as if from a distance, a memory wanting to drown him. He clenched his fits tight, he wasn’t back there. He was here, property of the ghost king, safe.

Unlike everyone else.

The Joker was still in Gotham. Still alive despite everything, a threat to everyone and Jason was useless.

He was a fucking idiot. He’d sacrificed himself willingly, but he hadn’t expected to have to live with the choice.

Did that make him a coward too? On top of everything?

He stood. He couldn’t sit here. He had to move. Before he knew it he was walking through hallways, uncaring where they took him. Left, right, nothing mattered. He just had to move. He didn’t know how long it he walked until he found himself, breathing heavily, in front of a stairwell. There was something familiar about it. His eyes were drawn to the path down. He’d never chosen to go down before. There was something down there. He took a step forward.

“Jason.”

He froze and spun around at the echoey voice. It felt like all the breath left his body, sucked into the gravity of the king.

Toxic green eyes flicked from Jason to the stairwell. Dark brows drew together in a frown, and the shadows suddenly seemed darker, deeper, like places you could fall into and disappear never to be seen again.

He floated closer. The pressure increased. Jason locked his knees to keep standing. There was a siren blaring in his mind, a scream lasting an eternity. Cold fingers touched his swollen eye soothingly and Jason gasped, a quiet little intake of breath into his burning lungs.

He wanted to move away. He wanted to lean into it. He wanted- He did nothing.

The gloved tips of fingers became the flat of a palm cradling the side of his face oh so gentle. Jason felt wetness in his eyes and blinked. He couldn’t handle gentle right now. His skin tingled and the swelling fell. The king looked at him, green eyes sad.

“Are you okay?”

Was he okay!? Jason ripped away, fury finally breaking the spell.

“The Hell I am!” In his mind Dick’s shocked face, a second from being shot flashed, “my family could be hurt right now, dying-“ a crowbar dragged across a concrete floor, a terrible laughter skittered across his senses, and every hair stood on end- “tortured.”

Jason took a step forward into the king’s space, snarled, “and I can do nothing!” into his shocked face. Playing at innocence, as if Jason’s words were a surprise. As if he didn’t know exactly what he’d done. He had changed the wording, acting like he’d done Jason a great favor. He chose to keep him here, useless, powerless.

He stepped back. Looked at the king with anger gone cold. “Killing me would have been a mercy.”

Jason braced himself for the worst. He’d said his piece. He expected an explosion, a onesided fight, for his brain to melt out his ears, something other than the hollow eyed gaze only vaguely looking in his direction.

The lights flickered and finally the king seemed somewhat present in his body. He looked at Jason with the most neutral face in existence.

“I shall relieve you of my presence, goodnight.”

He flew casually over to the staircase and went up. It was only then Jason snapped out of it.

No! How dare he!

He ran after him, but of course he was gone. The cursed castle made sure of it. Jason wanted a fight and he would not even give him that! He punched the wall with a frustrated scream that cut off into a sob.

“Shit.” He rubbed angrily at his eyes. He was fucking pathetic. Couldn’t even pick a fight right.

Oo o oO

Fright Knight found him in the practice yard, doing drills, sweaty and shaking from exhaustion.

“You are pathetic human, sit down before you fall down.”

Jason glared. “No.”

The knight promptly pushed him down on his ass. “Do not test me. I was tasked to keep you alive. Drink.”

A bottle of water was shoved into his hands.

Mulishly Jason did as he was told. It was only when he’d taken the first sip he realized just how thirsty he was and he had to force himself not to just chug the entire bottle in one go.

Fright Knight watched him with that detached disgust he had for mortal weaknesses, like the need for sleep or in this case sustenance. He was a fucking annoying, stuck up bastard, but-

“Why are you not evil?” Jason asked in frustration, too emotionally worn to consider whether that was a smart question to ask. If he had been evil, Jason could give him a proper fight. Let the knight try to phase through the All-blades.

When no response of any kind came, he looked up. It seemed he had rendered the knight speechless.

Slowly hesitantly the knight finally spoke, “You speak as if you’d prefer that I was evil, yet I was led to believe you are aligned with so called heroes.”

Jason scoffed and looked away. “Not a hero.”

Fright Knight floated down to sit crosslegged in front of Jason, his glowing green sword drawn and resting across his knees.

“I am the spirit of fear itself, I am neither good nor evil, I just am.”

Jason barked a short chuckle, of fucking course. Then, he explained the concept of the All-Blades to the knight; flaming magical blades fueled by the soul and blood of the wielder, only able to be summoned in the presence of true evil. The knight in turn looked very intrigued.

“I would have liked to match my Soul-Shredder to your All-Blades. A glorious bout that would have been…” the knight said wistfully.

“Soul-Shredder is the name of your sword?”

“Indeed,” Fright Knight chuckled maliciously in a way that ran cold down Jason’s back, an effect that was done on purpose judging by the greedy glow in his gaze. Jason felt fairly certain he feed on fear.

The knight raised the green blade between them and turned it to let Jason see every facet with obvious passion. “One cut from Soul-Shredder will land you in a dimension of your worst nightmare.”

Jason’s breath caught in his throat. No. He refused to think about it. He forced a half choked laugh, “and you claim not to be evil.”

The knight looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe if we had met in the previous king’s rule, we could have had a proper match.”

Jason frowned in confusion. “Why would who the King is matter to your nature?”

“Because human,” Fright Knight began, green eyes boring into Jason, “the King is the most important soul in the Realms. His nature affects the very air from which we get our energy.”

“Pariah’s reign was a dark time,” there was an almost nostalgic tone to his voice as he continued, “he sought to conquer, control and enslave and I was his loyal servant, as is my duty as a knight. But Pariah was so bad that having no king at all was a better option than him, and he was sealed away by the Ancients, even if it left the Realms stagnant and disconnected.”

He paused for a moment to let that knowledge sink in.

“Our Phantom is a king who never wanted to rule, and has actively avoided it. It has been amusing to see him grow into the role.”

“And as long a he doesn’t grow into a power hungry despot he will always be better than the last?” Jason asked bitterly.

The knight barked out delighted laughter at that.

“Make no mistake, mortal, Phantom is a good king now, but he is young, still changeable by nature. These years are crucial. But should the worst happen and my king become a despot, as you put it?”

Fright Knight shrugged carelessly. “I will merely do as I have always done and that is to serve my king. I am the spirit of fear after all. It is only my concern now because my king wishes to avoid that fate.”

Leather creaked as the knight tightened the hold on his blade. He looked straight at Jason. Despite no mouth being visible, Jason had the distinct feeling the knight was grinning.

“We may yet have our bout someday.”

-

And that was chapter 4... nobody is really in a good place here? Except Fright Knight, he's having fun.

Comments are much appreciated <3

You can subscribe to the masterpost for updates.

[hauntdoesthings]

let's talk about: Husk

Husk is a character that I see a lot of love for, but not a lot of discussion about, at least not the same way we talk about Angel Dust or Alastor, so I'd like to start the conversation since I've noticed certain details about him during a rewatch.

How He Socializes

Husk puts it best himself; "Everybody likes to bitch to the bartender." He knows more about everyone than anyone else, whether they tell him or not. Not only is he the one people turn to vent to at their lowest, he has incredible skill at reading others. It's most likely something he picked up as a gambler, but we can see he still utilizes it to read the other residents, like knowing Angel shouldn't be getting drunk after his long shift and realizing when he's masking right afterwards.

On the other hand, reading people like this doesn't seem to fit with his character in earlier episodes. In the first episodes, Husk makes it very clear he doesn't want to at the hotel and by extension doesn't want to be around the residents. His first line is literally about how he's forced to be there and pretty much all of his screen time is spent being anywhere from unfriendly to outright aggressive towards the rest of the cast. He surely doesn't care enough to read people to get closer to them, so why does he? I believe it's either a subconscious behavior or possibly as a defensive measure. Like in a poker game, he reads his "opponents" to stay ahead of them while keeping his own cards close to his chest.

It's already clear Husk values his boundaries when watching his earlier interactions with Angel, but this combined with other behaviors makes me think he's a very defensive person in general. His body language is constantly closed off, often crossing his arms or physically being separated from others behind the bar. This could just be indicative of his surly personality, but there is a specific behavior makes me think more of it. During my rewatch for this post, I realized Husk has a tendency to hug himself during certain moments of discomfort, like the entire first trust exercise in episode 3(more on that later), and during his first argument with Angel in episode 4, he actually shields himself with his wings when AD insults him before leaving.

Speaking of, episode 4 is really a great example of how Husk view others, especially since this is when his mindset finally shifts.

It's easy to see how dismissive Husk is of AD during this episode, with his constant reiterations of how "fake" he is and even saying that he'll be fine after running out despite knowing that he's had a hard night. Looking a little closer at his mannerisms though, it's clear that he cares more than he wants to let on. He insults the scripts and setting of AD's video rather than his acting and even says that that's specifically what Angel tends to complain about. Even when Valentino sudden calls up AD, Husk's face is more upset than "I told ya so." He realizes that Angel is unhappy with his work, but at the same time, he doesn't think too deeply about it.

Husk assumes that because everyone tends to spills their guts to him while drinking, he knows all he needs to about them, and he's correct to a certain degree; however, despite everything he knows, he doesn't appear to think too deeply beyond what he can easily glean. Charlie wants to help others so she doesn't have to help herself, Vaggie projects her self-hatred and high standards onto those around her, and Angel bullshits his way through everything because he's an actor who doesn't know how to be real. Husk realizes these things easily, but not why the others are this way, and it especially shows during his confrontation with AD, as when Angel finally snaps and reveals his true motives, Husk is visually taken aback.

He's so used to knowing and analyzing people easily that this sudden, truly heartfelt moment from Angel makes him rethink how he's been going about their interactions, how he's been thinking of him this whole time. And this is the moment that makes him decide to open up about his own past. Whether it was seeing that common thread between himself and Angel or possibly a realization that he won't accept help from someone who doesn't offer any input of their own, this is the first time we really see him offer any of his private, personal life, and afterwards, there's an obvious shift in how he treats Angel and everyone else.

"Loser Baby" is the first time we see Husk willingly initiate physical contact onscreen when he's always be visibly tense and uncomfortable at even most mentions of it, though most of that was AD being suggestive so it could be an issue with sexual intimacy than physical. He's comfortable enough in episode 6 to go clubbing with the group and genuinely looks like he's enjoying himself, especially compared to when he went to keep an eye on Angel in episode 4, even helping look out for Niffty when needed and supporting Angel after standing up to Valentino. In the lead-up to the Extermination, there's not a single insinuation that he would've left the hotel, choice or not, and he is with the rest of the cast during all the important moments of the battle, from Sir Pentious' death to the ending number. Even when Alastor is presumed dead, even if he assumed Alastor wasn't really gone, Husk could've easily run off during his absence, but he sticks around to help rebuild, undeniably of his volition, wanting to help his friends and possible family.

That note also brings me to something I've really been wanting to talk about:

Husk and Alastor

Unless we see a shift or get new knowledge about Nifty, Alastor and Husk have a really unique relationship both in theory and as evidenced. Husk is a former Overlord, presumably from before Alastor's rise if he was willing to bet his soul in a game with him. This opens up a lot of questions for me, mainly about what their bet entailed, what led Husk to making it in the first place, and if there's a certain respect between them. Yes, Alastor refers to Husk as his "pet," but Husk also comes to him with his suspicions about Mimsy and it can almost be read as worry. Alastor even responds that "it's nothing [he] can't handle." There has to be a certain level of trust for someone to bring up "hey, that friend you've known for decades only ever comes to you when they need something" and have their concerns taken seriously, even if Alastor's care for others is negligible at best. This whole scene seems to be showing that despite their deal, their past as equals has not been totally forgotten by either of them, leading to a certain understanding of each other that neither, particularly Alastor, have had with anyone else up until now.

The biggest reason I bring their relationship up though is Alastor's deal. With all we've seen, I believe Husk is the one character besides Alastor himself and whoever the other party is that knows about the deal and its possible connection to Alastor's disappearance.

For one, Husk is the one that confirms Alastor is "on a leash" in the first place, and he shows no surprise that Husk knows. Alastor is definitely not the kind of person to let anyone know about something like that no matter how close they are, so this makes me think either Husk had to know or that he was possibly there during the deal.

It also stands out to me the specific phrasing that Husk and Alastor use during the scene.

"You've been gone a long time, and it's not like anybody knows why." "They don't need to know!"

This kind of phrasing makes it feel like Husk is specifically being excluded from that group by both himself and Alastor. If it's true that Alastor's deal is the reason he disappeared, then Husk knowing about both the deal and why Alastor's been gone lines up perfectly. Maybe Husk will be the one to reveal more about this to the audience or even the rest of the cast later on, but it's clear that he does know more than anyone not directly involved and at this moment is the most likely to talk about it, assuming Alastor doesn't immediately tear him a new one for it.

Little Details

Last section, I promise. This is just some little details I noticed while rewatching for this that didn't really fit in anywhere else and questions/speculation about them.

Remember how I mentioned Husk hugging himself earlier? The first time I noticed this was during episode 3 when, after seeing the stage, he declares "I'm not about to put on some show for these fucking chumps." Not sure how much of everyone's backstory is still canon, but it was stated that Husk was a magician during his life, so maybe this is hinting that he has some stage-related baggage?

Also during episode 3, we see Husk sneak down the stairs before Vaggie can toss him off the roof in the warzone, and since he didn't come back up with Angel and Pentious, he presumably left before they made it out. However, at the end of the episode, he's laughing with everyone over the events of it. He comments that SP can "take a beating like a champ" and "you did ok, new kid," so was he just pretending like he was there or did he just hang out on the sidelines and watch? Husk wtf?

Husk specifically says that AD's video is "not a very convincing interrogation scene." Does Husk have experience?

When the bartender pours drinks for the gangster getting Angel a refill, Husk immediately watches the drinks themselves, before the guy even reaches for that little bottle. He's a bartender, he's probably seen too many people have their drinks fucked with to the point it's just an instinct now.

He was ready to square tf up when Valentino hit Angel, but waited until Angel walked away instead of jumping in like in episode 4. He really does trust him to take care of himself and was ready to back up whatever he did.

During "The Show Must Go On," it's minor, but Husk actually tucks his wings around the group hug and it's aasfjkdsajfd

For those who've made it this far, thank you so much for listening to my overthinking and ramblings. Please feel free to ask about anything incoherent, add on to anything, or point out things I missed, I'd just really love to get the discussion started on some of these things!

[shirecorn]

Your reindeer designs give me such childish joy I can't wait to see the rest. What's your process (aka any advice) for designing from scratch with something like just a name or concept?

Redbubble (buy reindeer swag) || Patreon (see all early!) || Ko-fi

See more free tutorials!

You can see my process unfold in real time by joining any tier of my patreon discord. Which doesn't even have to go through patreon! If you want, you can just pay me $20 and let you in for a year (and then lose track and probably keep you anyway)

Here's a preview using comet! (nevermind the preview thing I wrote you a whole lecture lol)

initial sketches in 2021:

Revisited in 2022 and 2023

I was constantly asking which design was the weakest, why, and how to fix it. Whenever I tested without the magical comet behind it, people could only guess who comet was by process of elimination.

I didn't want to rely on throwing icons into the design. I wanted each one to communicate through shape and silhouette alone. It would be like drawing a little cherub with a bow and arrow floating along with cupid. If you have to include a nametag to communicate, your design can be improved.

So I tried a few different strategies to say "comet" before I realized I could twist the antlers into any shape I wanted. I was worried I would have to discard the drawing and restart from scratch! Which is what I did for rudolph about 6 times before I had a breakthrough.

Then I gave my patrons a brief lesson in antlers to explain where and why I was placing the tines. When I stray from the caribou structure, I do so knowingly in order to achieve something that cannot be achieved within the caribou shape, like dancer's tutu. Know the rules before you break them. My goal is to make animal nerds (myself chief among them) happy when they see species-specific anatomy instead of cop outs.

I tried a few things before figuring out antlers could become comet

Another thing that often caribou have is an unsymmetrical "spork" that comes forward off only one antler. I figured this out by looking at hundreds of reindeer pictures and saving them to my reference folder. A few of my designs have this, that's what the little spiral is in the final comet antler design.

When I put comet in my lineup, I realized that the antlers I drew were way more stylized, chunky, and "tribal" than the others. I had already changed the proportions on one of my designs to match, so then I had to hack away at the basic comet rack to make it look natural.

I already knew that comet's colors would be easy because a basic reindeer already Has the big comet on the shoulder. But here's a peak at all the reindeer images I posted for my patrons to look at.

As you can see below, I chose reindeer markings for all my designs instead of other deer or animals. Even vixen is tied to actually possible reindeer patterns rather than copy-pasting a fox. Almost all of my designs have light-colored anklets on dark colored legs, which is very common with caribou of any color. This is the sort of thing no one tells you; you have to observe it yourself.

Ft cupid's early design! I was continually testing out my reindeer silhouettes and colors on new people, taking their feedback, and fixing what wasn't clicking.

I know I could have made vixen sexy and curvy to play into a recognizable trope, but I really wanted them to be scary and fox-like. Sometimes you gotta do what you want and not what you think will appeal to audiences. Reindeer Days is a purposeful exercise in audience resonance. Most of my art is 100% me and what I feel like doing with no regards to anyone else. So it was a fun challenge!

My patrons also got to see me making fun of corporate designs for recognizably/cliches at the expense of literally anything good

One of these is going to get a lot more "that must be vixen!" results from people who aren't constantly thinking about animal colors, markings, hunting strategies, and teeth.

And one rocks.

Vixen changed the least from the initial 2021 concept!

A Vixen is a female fox. In english slang, it means a cunning, fierce human woman, and sometimes sexually attractive or promiscuous. Quite often an insult to someone because she won't date you!

But to me, a vixen is an animal. A predator.

When designing to reference something, I like to hit it at multiple angles, referencing obscure trivia about something to delight and educate. This is done by researching a topic deeply, far below surface level and beyond what you think you need to make your design. Or in my case its just knowing a bunch of animal trivia already.

After researching/dredging your knowledge, sit there and Think. Don't draw anything. Come up with several ideas and then throw them all in at once for the ultimate trivia design.

Trivia about red foxes:

They have Long bushy tails

They have teeth that include large sharp canines, flat incisors, triangular premolars, and chunky molars with points on them that slide scissor-like with the molars above to cut meat via chewing

They hunt rodents in burrows under the snow by jumping into the air, arcing, and slamming down with their face through the snow

They are orange

They have a dark vertical stripe on their snout

They have black legs, with the backs and bottoms being orange

Translated into the design:

Pose based on a fox jumping, about to land in the snow

Antlers twisted to resemble teeth

Long (for a reindeer) bushy tail

black mark on snout

Some adjustment to the pose to be at the top of the arc and flow better.

Tinkering with the design to make it recognizable but not 100% copypasta fox

I was finally happy with a design that absolutely showed "fox" while still being creative and plausibly caribou shaped. This would absolutely communicate who it is! I thought!

The most obvious one of the bunch! After all, everyone knows what a vixen is!

Nope! No they do not

Want to be part of the design process, help me with WIPs months before everyone else, see exclusive doodles every day, and join a funky little community?

(you also get to see photos of my dog)

Connect your discord to your patreon and join any tier to automatically get added to the server. Not a fan of patreon or monthly subscriptions? message me here, on ko-fi, or via email (shirecorn.art@ gmail.com) and ask if you can pay $20 to get put in the server for at least a year and longer if we work it out later!

This was supposed to be a preview to get you to pay me but instead I wrote an entire lecture for free because I can't help myself.

Want to thank me for the free info? Tag me when you use what you learned! Comment and give feedback! If I could pay rent with attention I would never need anything else in life.

You can also thank me by tipping my ko-fi! I use it to buy pens since I die if I have caffeine. But could you imagine??

[frieschan]

𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭. // op. men scenario

➳ character/s featured: monkey d luffy, roronoa zoro, vinsmoke sanji x f! reader

➳ unrequested | scenario // fluff/smut

➳ TW: nsfw, mentions of blood, luffy moments, not proof read

➳ summary: how would the monster trio be with a lover that was a highly skilled shinobi, but could be a charming playful flirt?

➳ AN: sorry if sanji had a lot more stuff, im just a bit of a biased sanji fangirl hehe<3

—MONKEY D. LUFFY ; straw hat luffy !

-ˋˏ ღ listen, this little dummy can be such a fanboy about you whenever someone asks "Y/N went like, woosh! poosh! pow pow! and then they were all on the ground!!"

-ˋˏ ღ he's your own little cheerleader when going into fights, sure he pays attention to his own fights but you know he can't help admiring you

-ˋˏ ღ he understands that you're strong enough and capable of holding your own but the moment he sees you bleeding, it makes something snap inside him

-ˋˏ ღ and his opponent is going to be the one to experience his wrath.

-ˋˏ ღ when you flirt with him, he's a bit... clueless. He can't really understand your advances and it can't really be helped.....

-ˋˏ ღ whenever you say something flirtatious, he just assumes you're being really friendly. (which kinda concerns you)

-ˋˏ ღ Luffy likes testing how fast he can sling his arms, with you trying to outrun it! It's a fun exercise for the both of you to test your limits.

-ˋˏ ღ one day he stole your scarf and stood at the nose of the ship, doing the stereotypical pose people assume ninjas do when they meditate

-ˋˏ ღ when the both of you cuddle, he has his stretchy arms wrapped around you multiple times making sure you can't leave his grip by the rising sun.

-ˋˏ ღ yeah you completely couldn't, luffy was grinning proudly the next day and telling everybody about it

-ˋˏ ღ (he got his head smacked)

< NSFW 3

-ˋˏ ღ shiiiit when he sees your shinobi uniform slightly torn up from a rough fight, your scarf and guard lowered down, heavy breathing with sweat dripping off you..

-ˋˏ ღ he may or may not sling himself towards you and just make out with you, and he doesn't even care if anyone else is gonna see, he just needs you.

-ˋˏ ღ he has completely ripped your tight uniform off you, showing how much hunger and need he has for you..

-ˋˏ ღ he loves it when you lower your mouth cover, your pretty plump lips... you had him hooked.

-ˋˏ ღ you were even bent over, letting him have a pretty view of your god-made body

-ˋˏ ღ you did everything with a bit of.. spice, riling up your pretty boy captain.

—RORONOA ZORO ; pirate hunter zoro !

-ˋˏ ღ both of you being swordsmen, he tends to be a bit... competitive during your duels.

-ˋˏ ღ barely holding back even when you're his lover, leading you to use some of your stealth tricks on him, note that your speed and stealth is the best on the whole ship

-ˋˏ ღ he does respect that you're more on assassinations and infiltrations rather than head-on fighting, he can't help himself on seeing who's better

-ˋˏ ღ you sometimes run your finger tips on his face, having your unmasked face, oh so close to his, as if you were leaning in for a kiss..

-ˋˏ ღ only to pull away, smirking and pulling away from him and putting your mask back on, god he hated and loved your tease

-ˋˏ ღ one time, when he was just minding his business, you appeared behind him without his alert and wrapped your arms around him, resting your hands on his chest

-ˋˏ ღ his breath was caught in his throat and he quickly recognized your semi-gloved hands, this was making him reach his limits

< NSFW 3

-ˋˏ ღ "If I win... you'll have to let me tie you up and overstimulate you to hell."

-ˋˏ ღ ...you ended up winning the duel since his mind was.. wandering a bit to say the least

-ˋˏ ღ listen you tease this swordsman with the way you sway your hips in your tight uniform, showing off your plump ass.

-ˋˏ ღ zoro booty hunter?

-ˋˏ ღ he just had to grab your wrist and dragged you to your quarters, pinned against a wall and him leaning in on your ear.

-ˋˏ ღ "just what the hell are you doing to me.."

-ˋˏ ღ couldn't help but grind his hips on your ass and shove his fingers in your mouth, muffling your moan

— VINSMOKE SANJI ; black leg sanji !

-ˋˏ ღ oh boy... when this blondie saw you without a mask for the first time, it was as if he found the All Blue. He fainted, blood spilling out his nose, heart eyes, hand clutched on his shirt

-ˋˏ ღ my goodness he is such a fanboy of yours, this urged you to try and tease him by hiding for a day, not being detected by him a single time

-ˋˏ ღ ....he ended up crying and worrying you left him so you immediately appeared and comforted your pretty prince, sobbing on your chest as he clutched on your body

-ˋˏ ღ your sweet baby can't help but overthink maybe one day you'll get caught in a midst of a rough battle, even with your undeniably amazing abilities

-ˋˏ ღ you eased his worries, always reassuring him you'll come back, come back to his arms and kiss his lips with an 'i love you'.

-ˋˏ ღ you kinda get off to him always staring and oogling at you, with an obvious pretty pink blush on his cheeks.

-ˋˏ ღ so you used this to your advantage :)))

-ˋˏ ღ doing pretty poses in your uniform, emphasizing your curves, all on display

-ˋˏ ღ you were an absolute goddess to him...

-ˋˏ ღ you loved kissing behind his ear, teasing him. or even kissing the corners of his lips, driving him absolutely crazy.

< NSFW 3

-ˋˏ ღ he can't help but.. worship your body, taking his time to remove articles of your clothes, you do need to eat first with your eyes, yes?

-ˋˏ ღ he loves testing just how loud his pretty shinobi can get with his tongue inside her..

-ˋˏ ღ you're skilled in stealth, but would you be skilled in holding in your pleasured and desperate whines and moans?

-ˋˏ ღ this man is just skilled enough to make one of the best shinobis in the waters melt in his arms.. and he was addicted to it.

-ˋˏ ღ he once tried out a vibrator on you, one that had a remote and could be controlled wireless.

-ˋˏ ღ ..he had you down on the floor, hand between your legs, shaking and biting your lip, just about to snap from all the pleasure.

-ˋˏ ღ you're not the almighty and confident now are you ey?

copyright © 2021 | frieschan

reblog or like if you enjoyed!

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

Reading How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England by Ruth Goodman and had a thought.

I know everybody likes to picture Hob with a long sword, which I don't blame anyone for thinking. It's very sexy. However, like others have pointed out, before 1589 Hob was a poor foot solider who casually robbed people on the road. He likely wouldn't have had access to proper training until he became a Sir.

Now, the obvious solution for this is a long bow. Again, very sexy and during the Tudor era at least every able bodied man was expected to train with one before firearms came on the scene. Hob undoubtedly learned the bow before he ever learned how to use a sword. It was an acceptable form of exercise for years. I'd even say it's safe to assume he's proficient in it, and likely the weapon he was assigned to use as a solider. However, during his time in between wars, I think we're all missing the most obvious tool; the staff.

Staffs were cheap, easily available and in the right hands extremely deadly. Not to mention the favored weapon of highway men or rather a footpad (which is a highway man who didn't have a horse). Hob strikes me as the type to get up close an personal, rather than attack at a distance.

Just imagine Professor Gadling walking into class to give a demonstration of how to properly use a staff. It requires a mixture of strength and dexterity as to not leave yourself open to attack. It can be used simply to injure, but with enough force scatter a man's brains on the pavement. Just think of him getting somebody else to come at him with a sword and demonstrate how someone could disarm them with nothing more than a length of wood.

Underrated, that's all I'm saying.

Edit: Also it should be noted that while he was likely eventually trained in the sword, more likely it would have been a rapier/dagger combo as was favored in England at that time. Again, long swords are hot, but rapiers are sexy.

[kalims]

Omg requests are open! I hope you get really awesome requests 🥺🥺🥺💖💖💖 may I request leona or ruggie on a rainy night just cuddling and being corny and talking about books or food? (I recently read in a translation that leona likes to read long books so 😳😳)

ㅤits pouring

"is that a book?"

there's a knock on the window by the pitter pats of the rain, smell of petrichor floods your nose. a pleasant smell that relaxes your shoulders. leona smells it better, rain means not having to deal with anyone else because no one's out during the time of the day.

so he bares with a smell, he doesn't dislike nor like it. it's fine, but compared to your scent it's practically nothing.

a chortle from you shifts leona's rather peaceful expression into a gruff frown, an expression you were more used to. he doesn't release the literature from his grasp, only shifting it to the side to take a peek at your chuckling face and steering an irritated stare—though devoid of the fire it usually has.

he scoffs at you. ears folding in itself as if to block out the sound of your voice, you'd argue that his... more animal features only twitched, or swayed because you only spoke. but you know that he is also aware of the fact so he willingly just chooses to settle on the warning from his eyes alone.

you stand in front of his bed. hands on your hips, idly tapping the sole of your foot on his carpet made entirely out of fur (kind of concerning.) and most importantly, adorning a feigned, mortified expression as you nod your head towards the item in his hand. "so what?" he grumbles, only illiciting another laugh from you.

"I didn't know you read, I'd expect.. I don't know, jack to read but definitely not you." you prod gently—teasing. practically pouring gasoline into the fire that's bound to spark, yet.

but it doesn't. he simply offers an incoherent rumble straight from his chest, deep and scratchy as his eyes stray away from your standing figure and back onto the sheet of the page he's been reading. 520. "just because I failed to ascend to the next level doesn't mean I can't read," he deadpans, eyes sliding smoothly over the expanse of words.

his ears, though still folded over itself unconsciously listens intently at your words.

he adds. "that grunt knows how to focus for sure, in exercising. I doubt he deems reading more important than that."

you blink, tilting your head at him. "then, what are you reading? I'm curious what kind of book has you so enamored that you've been cooped up in here all day and ignoring me." that seems to create a reaction in him, tail going still and tense from it's relaxed notion of sways. even his eyes pause on a particular word and grows unfocused as if processing your words.

he looks away. "I.. wasn't." he scowls, wracking through his memory to browse through something that would support his answer but there isn't, because all he remembers is indeed, reading all day, in between naps and besides that the only memory he remembers of you was your sleeping face before you... went to the main grounds...

oops. maybe that was just a slip of his mind.

a sliver of guilt gnaws at him. he stares at your face, the pride in him not wanting to admit to a mistake on his part—his stare is rather challenging, despite his predicament. leona is searching through your eyes, and you allow him indifferently. he knows you too well to believe that you were all but willing to let it slide with how many jokes you've been sprouting.

he concludes you're most likely, if not, a little upset.

leona sets down the book beside him and decides to pour more attention to the more important thing. "why don't you come over here and see for yourself then?" he offers. a bit unsteady with his feelings. your brows raise, contributing to an unimpressed stare.

"are you trying to seduce me?"

"yes,"

a quick, laid back answer said so casually. it was very leona-like, so much so that your blank face breaks into a little grin, and that time his warmth was not present nearly the whole day—your heart soared, and yearned. your brain thinks quickly, listening in and moving your feet without your will. until you've just climbed on his bed, on the edge.

not next to him, just closer.

leona eyes the distance with disdain as he shakes his head at you. "what, being petty?"

you retort fast. "a little space hurts you already, leona? why don't you try me ignoring you half a day?"

when he meets the smug, knowing look on your face he knows this is gonna be your excuse now on to use against him. every single day.

when it seems like you're not backing down he's at the end of his guilt-patience. he leans forward, a hand supporting his weight against the bed as the other reaches out for your limb. it happened fast, too quick for your liking. since when was he storing this haste under that lazy demeanor?! you'd think he moves like a snail (which he actually does.)

but you blink and you're being yanked forward by your arm, by a brute force you're sure you can't even struggle against. more so, he's using a single arm to yank you towards him. he doesn't need two to handle you, just one. you can't imagine if he uses both, practically a kidnapping sentence.

and, you're huddled in his arm, between his legs, on his chest. jailed, and unable to wriggle out with how secure one grip is.

leona casually picks up the book as if nothing happened. placing it in front of you so that even you can read what it is.

the rain falls harder, suddenly you feel warm beyond the cold it brought.

"cat got your tongue?"

his mocking voice echoes in your ear—beside your ear actually, maybe it was the heat of his breath that spread through your face and down your entire body..? you pursue your lips, uncharacteristically unable to make up a quip back because, what were you even supposed to say in this situation?!

and that tight knot of affection you've been admittedly craving all day comes loose just from less than a minute of an embrace from him. "..." you sigh, reluctant to submit to your fate but here you are; body relaxing as though a blanket has been thrown over your body but there isn't because that's just how warm leona feels.

"you're reading, romance?" you deadpan, gaping and stifling a laugh. not minding the nose buried between the crook of your neck from your behind and inhaling deeply. leona grunts on the flesh of your nape, the sound tickling.

"stop laughing." he groans. "what, you want me to say being with you got me in a mood?"

lovey-dovey mood?

your laughing ceases, and he's the one chuckling at your obvious fluster. he kisses the spot where his lips are. "I was wondering if there was a story as glorious as ours."

beneath the muffled song of rain, is that of peace.

520, represents "love."

[jounosparticles]

reply to the tags of your reply to my previous ask: PLEASE RANT TO ME ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP!!!! i want to hear. they rot my brain too and im glad that i found someone who's also suffering the suegiku takeover

OKAYOKAY YAY!!!!! this will be fun >:)

a huge suegiku analysis:

okay in the last ask you mentioned how tetchou stabs jouno for fun and sillies and stuff which happened to make me think a lot about how tetchou acts decently different around jouno than others.

tetchou is typically rather formal in the way he acts in a way? as in he's very straightforward, generally composed and calm in his words, and polite to anyone he's dealing with.

an example of this is when he still treated the cafe owner kindly despite him being an "accessory to terrorism" in jouno's words.

basically, in most situations, he remains very composed. even when he's up to his sillier antics (like when he was watching ants or doing pushups during a meeting). he's direct and straight-faced almost always around most people. he doesn't act that way to be seen as silly, it's just who he is (and i love it).

i would imagine he could act this way for many reasons. it is most likely him being professional, likely as a reference to the irl tetchou who had samurai lineage; making him act with the tone and professionalism of samurai.

despite his professionalism, maybe he has difficulty being expressive around most people, or maybe he doesn't want to be expressive around people by choice.

but this is where he's different around jouno.

firstly, i'll talk about the times he's stabbed jouno. this has happened twice, and both were to de-escalate jouno from his tendancy to mentally torment people.

the wording in these panels implies this is a regular occurrence. which is a little funny to me hehe.

anyway, we see by the way that he acts around others that usually he de-escalates situations by talking first instead of acting. he will turn to violence if he believes it's needed, but typically he talks first. we see this when he confronts kenji verbally before attacking.

yet with jouno he doesn't bother to tell him to stop first, instead opting to jab him. remembering that the hunting dogs have enhanced physical strength, a small stab wound probably isn't a huge deal for them.

because of this i think the stabbings are tetchou partially teasing jouno. him messing around like that isn't something he does with anybody else but he seems to enjoy pissing off his partner.

also. stabbing him directly in the ass? gay as hell. jouno following up by saying "don't poke my ass every single time" implies that his ass specially gets jabbed a lot. hmmmm

anyways

another example of this is when tetchou smirks/chuckles at jouno insisting that he's the greatest hunting dog. the small laugh was most definitely to bother jouno.

mmmm theyre both so pretty.

once again, tetchou pushes aside his composed self and being intentionally silly only really happens towards jouno.

arguably, this can be shown again in the pushups scene.

tetchou acting unbothered and then calling jouno's weight "just right" while he continues to exercise seems like a combination of him trying to (jokingly) annoy jouno as well as his tendency to not acknowledge his own actions as bothersome or odd to others.

anyway to sum up this segment: tetchou is only seen intentionally bothering and teasing jouno and nobody else. he acts much differently towards others but seems to let his professional guard down around only his partner. this shows a great layer of trust and comfort between the two!

oh. but im not done talking about this. not at all.

the other huge display of emotions for tetchou was everything that went down with kenji.

as displayed throughout most of tetchou's appearances, he's incredibly justice-orientated. he has a tendancy to put justice above everything. here's a couple panels showing this:

ooog tetchou is so pretty. i love that left panel so much

using his own logic here, he should have went after bram after having found him. tetchou even admitted that, but there was one other thing more important to him than that. jouno.

starting here, this panel takes place after bram and aya escape. at this point, tetchou had assumed the agency was using bram to control people; meaning it wasn't just kenji he technically had business with at that time.

i will also preface this by saying the book's influence likely had an impact on tetchou attacking kenji before they could finish talking.

however, the book's writing didn't stop tetchou from insisting on finding jouno before taking down the agency. his worry towards jouno's whereabouts made him change his stance on justice as well as deterred him from prioritizing taking down the agency.

now that he's talking to kenji, i'd like to start it by showing that he seemed genuinely grateful and happy when kenji initially offered to help him find jouno.

as well in the anime, his eyes soften when kenji offers to help.

after talking to kenji for a brief moment, he opts to attack instead of continuing. this seems out of character for tetchou; he even apologized to kenji before saying he needs to find jouno as quickly as possible.

the fact that he apologized, combined with how we've seen him treat people in the past shows that this isn't typically what he resorts to.

also, in the anime we can see the gloss his eyes slightly shaking as he says this line, which could display worry, sadness, or anger towards whatever could be happening to his partner.

he seems almost distraught, which is a huge contrast to his typically-composed self.

and, of course; there's the fact that mid-fight tetchou had to tell kenji that jouno is a good person despite what people think.

he looks genuinely sad here, as if he's speaking from his heart. jouno has very-clearly put up a tough exterior that he uses around everyone, but tetchou goes out of his way to defend him even when he absolutely doesn't need to.

he could have stayed silent or just said he wants his coworker back, but he insisted on stating that jouno is a good person.

it's also important to note that nobody else tends to speak kindly of jouno, which puts a lot more depth on their closeness to each other. tetchou sees through jouno's words and actions and knows that he is heavily misunderstood.

and of course, we have tetchou directly saying that he will place jouno above justice despite knowing what the right course of action should have been.

he is putting jouno above the very thing he basis his career as well as his morality on. that's how worried he is. that's how much he cares.

and in this panel, we see he's extremely angry towards kenji's lack of response.

lets compare this to the first time tetchou fought the agency.

in chapter 61, when he was fighting the agency alongside jouno; he kept a more menacing/intimidating look as he attacked. when he was not attacking, he kept calm-looking despite being pissed off. compared to when he was fighting kenji in chapter 100 and looked infuriated. even the different fonts used for the dialogue puts further emphasis on this.

now, i'm going to jump ahead to the end of tetchou and kenji's fight. tetchou recognizes his mistake and asks kenji to kill him.

it's important to note that his reasoning as to why he should have chased justice was because he doesn't think jouno would have condoned his choice.

he specified it again, even opting to call jouno his friend. also note how white his eyes are here, meaning his intent was pure and he genuinely felt awful for misjudging what jouno would have wanted. he cares so much that he was asking to be killed for misunderstanding what was the correct course of action.

and then after kenji insists on helping him find jouno instead, he smiles in relief before the two pass out.

one last small note is that we've only ever seen tetchou smile three times throughout the manga so far, and all of them were mentioned here and involved jouno.

to sum it all up: tetchou, who is typically very composed and justice-orientated, is willing to throw aside his entire stance on justice for jouno. he lets his professional guard down around his friend, allowing them to tease each other and be silly as well, which he doesn't appear to do around others often. this shows that the two have a close bond and genuinely care so much about each other.

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

as for jouno, i don't have as much to say however there definitely is a few things i'd like to touch on.

firstly, despite claiming to hate tetchou a lot, jouno still uses a respectful honourific (-san) whenever he refers to him. i'm not a japanese speaker so please feel free to correct me if i'm wrong but there's a good chance jouno would opt to not use an honorific at all if he genuinely detested tetchou as much as he claims.

and when it comes to teasing, jouno does it much more often than tetchou does (however he also messes with more people, it's just a personality difference between the two).

clearly with the way they act around each other, jouno does not actually hate tetchou. i think they like to bother each other by play-bullying.

also, noting on jouno's criminal past, he was given an easy oppurtunity to be thrown into the DoA where he could be incredibly powerful and would likely not face any consequences for his actions had he joined.

we know he declined fukuchi's offer because he found joy in saving innocent people. but i would the influence of the other hunting dogs helped set him into that place of mind. tetchou seems to be the one he works with most, so there's a good chance he takes a lot of inspiration from how tetchou handles justice.

another thing i noticed with jouno is that his displaying of emotions is almost an inverse of how tetchou acts. jouno keeps smiling a lot despite who he's speaking to. in contrast, he can keep a straight face when interacting with tetchou a lot.

of course, that could make it seem as if jouno is unhappy around tetchou, but i would argue it's the opposite.

some people will force a happy expression to appear unassuming or kind (or in a lot of jouno's cases, intimidating). so him allowing himself to maintain a straight face around tetchou could mean that he is comfortable enough around him to not feel the need to express everything. he doesn't need to keep his guard up around tetchou.

jouno almost always keeps a very happy or calm composure around enemies, likely as an intimidation factor. yet he allows himself to express frustration and annoyance around the hunting dogs in general, and most often with tetchou. i'd like to imagine this just shows his security in his partner.

jouno talking to an enemy, for reference ^ i also just really love this page hehe

the last thing i'll mention here is a lot of speculation on my behalf. however i think that jouno seems like the type to push away those close to him. i kind of perceived his supposed hatred towards tetchou to be a combination of joking around as well as possibly a defense mechanism to try and avoid keeping people close?

my main reason in stating that is that he's claimed to not like any of his coworkers yet still opts to not betray them and still works well with them. if he truly hated tetchou, he probably wouldn't allow them to work together. he likely says such things to avoid being liked too much, and these actions proved to work since tetchou acknowledged that everyone sees jouno as cold.

yet through all that tetchou still knew he was good despite the exterior, which makes them well-suited for each other.

anyways: i feel like these two really do treat each other much differently than they treat the other people around them. that puts a lot of emphasis on their bond and closeness in general. they can be silly around each other, they can get through arguments no problem, they make a great team, and clearly care about each other a ton! they mean so much to me <3

i love my sillies :)

[corvid007]

i can imagine a oneshot that is built on the misunderstbding between the reader and Alastor, this could work with Charlie, Lucifer, kinda Nifty as well but im an Alastor girly first and formost. let me set the scene. you might be able to guess where im going but i think it would be kinda cute

the reader is an animal hybrid (obviously), but they have more instincts then the rest of the hotel gang (as they currently show ing the show).

you can make the reader almost any animal a mouse, a primate, maybe even a dog. the point is they will hve one spasific insticnt and i will get to that later.

i can imagine this working best with a reader who is nice to most everyone, they hang out with (most) everyone, and tend to be outgoing. however, we are going to make them avoid Alastor.

Alastor thinks this is probably due to fear, and he’s fine with that at first. build up the tension to alastor confronting reader avoiding him. for example, he enters a room being his usual obnoxious, smiling self and reader takes one look at him and excuses themself from the room. or reader goes to the trust exercises for charlie as Alastor usually isn’t there. he is today. they spot him and inatead of sitting down to join they tell charlie they arn’t feeling well with a sad/upset and kinda scared look on their face.

but they dont always avoid alastor. there are moments where alastor has been stuck in his mind and isn’t his usual loud over the top self or, heaven forbid, he has a soft moment while reading or cooking. in those moments reader is fine with being in the same room and even beside Alastor.

say Alastor notices and finally gets fed up and trys to ask about it as it is making it difficult to do his job (for some reason). he aproches reader being himself and reader looks up from whatever they are doing, sees him and kinda looks around the room for an escape, squirming in their seat while doing so. you could make it so this scenario repeats over and over and over, build the tension and irritation in Alastor. or you could make it a one and done.

say someone else notices, could be anyone and they ask about it.

you tell them that you appear to have more (animal) based instincts than other people. whenever alastor is around you get really scared and want to retreat, specifically when you see his smile. you feel that him smiling is somehow more threating then him just being there.

you could end this with Alastor manipulating reader into a deal with him or doing what he wants just be flashing a smile. or you could make it so he tries his best to use ‘lip’ smiles rather then his full grin.

if you use this with another character you could make it into a more hurt/comfort with learning more about eachother

[cupidastrology]

mars ♂︎through the signs: short terms 

associate with your natal mars ♂︎ position. for more astro content you may subscribe to my post+.

please do not copy or repost my work.

please consider booking a birth chart reading with me to know your personal mercury position and much more. open for messages.

♂︎ in aries ♈︎ : the planet is at home in this sign, with acting upon passions or achievements in a very non-hesitant, powerful fashion. the head is sensitive, with the need to keep going and moving endlessly.

♂︎ in taurus ♉︎ : mars slows down, with a need to look everything over express deep opinions and feelings. it must be comfortable before anything else. finances are a big deal and keeping a open space of patience is required before choicemaking.

♂︎ in gemini ♊︎ : the mind is full of positivity and optimism, ideas that sprouted from officiating actions and expressions. goals include using the hands, the eyes, and the inspiration that is of the world. a need to add on more to what is already pictured and laid out.

♂︎ in cancer ♋︎ : the solitude, the home, and the family is both the protector and the one to protect. your childhood is most strong, especially the child that is inside you. to fulfill your own desires and to have your own space to create is a need.

♂︎ in leo ♌︎ : wearing the heart on your sleeve, the pride is strong, and the protection is deep. when you involve yourself with others, you are the shield. there is no reason to hide or to even put the self down for others.

♂︎ in virgo ♍︎ : the need for a solution, the stomach aches, and the need to stay involved no matter the cost. this position is all about having the correct documents, routine, and overall order set to make daily life happening comfortably and with reassurance.

♂︎ in libra ♎︎ : peace is better than pride. this is a position that pushes through with conversation in relationships rather than division and anger. grudges can't be won with this position, only peace.

♂︎ in scorpio ♏︎ : this ♂︎ positions is at home, the anger behind the surface, the pot that boils within. you're traveling through life in privacy, never telling anyone your whereabouts or your plans. it's a lesson learned when you choose to lean on others.

♂︎ in sagittarius ♐︎ : the positions of reckless abandon and spiritual experience. knowledge is power and can be used against your enemies. knowledge and belief systems can corrupt your life, or enliven it. the wild side calls instead of routine.

♂︎ in capricorn ♑︎ : the controlling one, the business woman, the business man, the business individual. the one head in charge and not afraid to make a mask to create your counsel. many interruptions with taking charge in life, but self control is infused in time.

♂︎ in aquarius ♒︎ : the best form of exercise is fantasy, and the imagination are work to make into a physical reality. to be able to be above for the sake of others than the self is the most for this position. the provide a voice for the unspoken.

♂︎ in pisces ♓︎ : the magician, the sorcerer, and the one who holds onto all issues of the matter. life is full of stories for this position, especially with its inability to detach and discern; though through time and understanding they will.

check out the twitter thread on this aswell <3

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for saying I don't give a shit about calorie counts?

Before I even start this, I'm going to say - if you actively have an eating disorder, please don't vote on this one. I used to have one and I know how badly ED screws with your reasoning regarding weight and food, even with other people. Onto the dilemma.

I (22M) and my friend (31F) are both on "diets" - in quotes because its a lifestyle change, but idk about her. I've drastically changed my diet, exercise, and general lifestyle for health reasons.

My friend also wanted to start dieting at the same time, and as far as I know, she just wants to lose weight. She has a healthy weight goal in mind and her methods of losing weight are healthy, basically the same as me - better foods and more exercise. Recently we talked about our goals because we both lost several pounds, and she asked me what my goal weight was. I told her I didn't have one, I might later but right now my only focus is making sure my body is in good health. She seemed to agree and the conversation moved on.

Another thing is, I recently learned that I LOVE to cook. I've been adding more veggies and spices into my diet as well - swapping french fries with marinated air-fried carrots, veggie dumplings, shredding cabbage for noodles, making my own stir fry sauce and blends, etc.

I cook for us sometimes, because I often make more than I need and I want to share my cooking with others. But she keeps asking my how many calories are in stuff. I tell her what's in the recipe and how it's made, but I honestly have no clue how many calories are in anything I make. I can tell her pretty much anything else, like it's rich in whatever vitamin, it's low cholesterol, it's a great source of iron, I used healthier alternative instead of whatever... but that's not the info she's looking for. And since a lot of my cooking is experimental, I can't look it up online. I've never noticed this to be an issue before, but I'm a bit clueless so it's possible she showed signs of being bothered by this and I just didn't notice.

It all came to a head the other day when we had dinner after our usual workout. I was charting the exercises I did that day. She asked me if I was tracking calories for the meal and started talking about her calorie tracker app. I listened to her spiel about empty calories and tracking food. When she asked if I was going to downloaded it, I laughed and said "I don't give two shits about counting calories. As long as the food is good for me I don't care." I said it light-hearted and joking bc I don't want her to think it's bad to count calories - it's just not what I'm going to do. But she got quiet and later texted me that it hurts. I explained that she can count calories if she wants, and I don't care if she does or doesn't, but it's not for me. She doesn't know about my eating disorder history and I'd rather not tell her, since that's another reason I don't count calories - I don't want to fall back on starving myself since I KNOW that's not healthy, so it's easier for me to just exclude calories from the picture entirely. Should I tell her why I don't count calories? Could I have told her that I don't care about calories in a nicer way? AITA?

Also, before anyone suggests it - she does NOT have an eating disorder. Idk why she counts calories, but she shares a lot about her life with me, and she eats plenty and eats well, and doesn't exercise excessively, just enough to stay healthy for what she wants to do.

What are these acronyms?

[vigilskeep]

is it just me or is the justification for hawke helping meredith annul the gallows completely… non-existent? i try and try to figure out why hawke would think killing all the mages for something anders openly did himself was the right decision and i always come up blank. only a really sadistic, mage-hating hawke would be okay with it. the whole annulment is so insane and senseless to me. is it just me who thinks this, or would other fans agree?

for roleplay purposes, i think there are a few mindsets you can work with beyond hawke just being foundationally comically evil. here’s a couple suggestions off the top of my head:

they believe that an annulment will sate the templars and the common people, containing the violence to kirkwall in one bloody stroke rather than causing widespread retribution across thedas

they have fought tooth and nail for their place in kirkwall for seven years and they are ultimately not willing to sacrifice it and be a refugee again, no matter what they have to do. i think it’s interesting to consider how da2 is framed and advertised as a rise-to-power game, and the crux of siding with the mages is giving all that up, whereas you can only finish your climb to the top by siding with the templars

they believe having a voice on the “winning side” is the only way they can save themself (if a mage) or their sister (if bethany is a circle mage) from meredith’s wrath. they are unwilling to risk their lives and their friends’ lives fighting for what they see as a doomed cause

for a mage hawke, a desperate desire to believe that they can be a mage who is “different” and cut themselves off from the rest, and if they have previously supported the templars, a kind of sunk cost fallacy where what they’ve done has to be worth it

for a non-mage hawke, deep-seated bitterness that they were raised for this fight, that they are expected to die for this when magic has never done anything for them but take everything they have

i think hawke is a really difficult protagonist to play pro templar because the game places you into a position where you and your family’s existence, and that of companions you have no choice but to pick up, is inherently an act of defiance against the templars. ser wesley makes that clear from the start of the game. it’s illegal for you to exist freely, and there is never any option to do what the templars require, because it would completely end your ability to act as hawke. that’s a game limitation but there’s something to be said for that as a thematic comment, as well. persecutors can put down their weapons and go home, but the only way to escape being the enemy of people who want you dead for what you are is to stop existing. there’s a reason meredith will always turn on you no matter what, beyond just wanting everyone to have that boss fight. there’s a reason writers have talked about regretting that for orsino but not for her, and there’s a reason she’s (iirc? lmao) always the climactic fight and ultimate enemy that comes last, whoever you side with

there’s no morally justifiable reason for anyone to annul a circle, full stop. it’s incredibly evil, inarguably. but real people do evil things. obviously exploring a character like that is not for everyone as a game experience, but as a thought exercise i do think it’s worth recognising that people who enact atrocities aren’t somehow magically inherently soulless. populations who collectively commit the worst evils that humanity has ever seen don’t just, like, happen to have a higher concentration of evil than everyone else in a world. it’s a human behaviour we see committed constantly by people born as ordinary as you and me. and i do think that’s something we should be aware of, rather than falling into the trap of believing there’s something that, uh, inherently separates us from those people, because then we risk complacency and blindness, right, and thinking something must be fine because our people and our leaders would never do something like that. that got a little off track and philosophical. food for thought! it’s not like every templar who takes part in the annulment is somehow inhuman, is my point, and the fact that they follow those orders is really very human, if you compare them to, you know, any military force now or in history. it’s what happens. (as is resistance and compassion, before we get too bleak.) hawke is human, too, and even when presented with only one morally acceptable choice, may not always make it

uhh my point is i do think it can be done without hawke just being an irrational villain caricature who kills for fun, and it’s an rpg literally made for you to have those options, but it requires effort and creativity and grappling with what’s involved a bit. there’s a reason players overwhelmingly support the mages it’s not a surprising response to that choice at all