#it's in moments like this that I really appreciate the process of growing up‚ learning‚ and changing ideas/beliefs

[braceletofteeth]

If you want to be happy, I hope it comes true.

I hope you will be happy too.

[snapscube]

In Dawntrail did you enjoy a different character playing the main role, or do you prefer when the player character is leading the narrative?

this is definitely a major point of contention in the fanbase rn and i can generally see valid feelings/criticism on both ends of the spectrum. i myself do fall somewhere in between the most extreme takes on this. i won't go into too much detail about actual events but ill tag this as spoilers anyway just in case. ok so my thoughts are:

firstly, i like Wuk Lamat a lot. i don't think she deserves even half of the pure unfiltered ire that she is receiving from a large subset of the community rn. the amount of people who have already turned being a wuk lamat hater into an advertised personality trait really frustrates me. i really enjoyed seeing her personal journey through the story and i was overall very satisfied by her inclusion. however, i do not think the story was perfectly paced or balanced, and i definitely do understand where people are coming from when they say that they could have used a little less of her in the forefront. honestly it did kind of ultimately disappoint me that we missed out on a lot of potential interaction/development with someone like Krile, who in spite of being promised a big breakout role in this expansion still somewhat felt like a SLIGHT (i have to stress slight) afterthought. she did get some notable moments of development and emotion, but i feel like there could have been more.

okay but, your question is about our role as a player in the narrative. i hold the opinion that for THIS EXPANSION SPECIFICALLY, the warrior of light taking somewhat of a narrative backseat actually made a ton of sense and fit the themes of the narrative as well as the promise of a somewhat breezy summer vacation for our heroes. now, i will say this: i really do not agree with the idea that the WoL should be in a mentor role indefinitely because our story is done developing and we need to give the spotlight to "the next generation" of heroes in the world. i appreciate the SENTIMENT of this, but like for me personally.... i don't want Pella's story to be done, yknow? i definitely would be disappointed if this was the DE FACTO role she played in every expansion past this. but i don't even think that is factually what's going to happen. we're currently in a setup phase! and, again, bringing it back to this narrative and the themes within, a lot of Dawntrail about the experience of entering unfamiliar places and learning about the customs and the traditions of people already within it to best help them without unwelcomely trampling on their culture in the process. i think a story like that is the PERFECT time for the WoL to take a bit of a backseat. wuk lamat is also somewhat unfamilar like us yes, but Tural is still her home and she is about to be tasked with leading it. i feel like centering our character in that equation would feel.... really disingenuous? it was kinda frustrating sometimes when it felt like hey.... there's a situation happening right now that can be solved by skilled combat and you have a literally god killer standing right here doing a frown emote, but at a certain point i could chalk it up to growing pains or necessary suspension of disbelief in the interest of the overall emotional hook of the narrative. a lot of those moments could be explained away with enough thought about the character motivations and culture at play, though sometimes it does feel like a stretch. again, far from a perfectly written MSQ. it starts slow and it's messy and it throws a LOT of stuff at you that doesn't always pay off like you expect or want. but i dunno! i think we're gonna see some really interesting stuff come to the forefront in the future, and i think especially now knowing that much of the playerbase thought we took TOO much of a backseat here CS3 will probably adjust their focus accordingly next time. so i can't be too upset really about the stuff i wasn't into. the rest of it was great imo!

[wr0wn]

how do you deal with seeing artists that are way more skilled than you executing ideas you wished to draw better than you? like how do you get over that jealousy and draw if there's always gonna be someone out there doing it better? i know art isn't a competition but sometimes it feels like i've gotta do extra work just to catch up to other artists

I do have my moments. I do get jealous and upset, and I would love to be more skillful as other artists.

Ultimately, I am the one responsible for my growth, and that thought keeps me grounded.

And just like you said, there's always someone better, so just let it go. As stupid and uninspiring as that sounds. Just stop carrying.

Focus on yourself being better because you are in control of your skills and your emotions.

Work on yourself, and you'll eventually reach new and new milestones.

Even if you learn every technique, be really good at anatomy, lineart or coloring, or whatever there's still a way to go, and the leaning process never ends until you're forcefully stopping it.

So, in conclusion:

• Appreciate the artist for the work they put into growing their skills.

•Appreciate the work you put into growing your skills

Respect other artists. Respect yourself :)

[the-s1lly-corner]

giving them flowers (COTL bishops edition)

Wait I'm cooking again-literally and metaphorically i am cooking dinner rn as i type this notes: reader is gn and any creature, non specified flowers because the admin doesnt know anything about plants, bishops are still bishops, established relationship cws: none

LESHY

if you put together a specific arrangement of flowers for a deeper meaning, hes going to catch on the second the eye of his crown catches a glimpse of the gift

will incorporate some of the flowers youve given him into the plant matter covering his body, they stay alive thanks to his powers so its better than letting the flowers rot in a vase somewhere!

more than a little amused at the idea of someone personally delivering him flowers, offerings are usually left else where but youre different... you get to be special and deliver them in person

will feel the need to out do you and grow an entire field of flowers for you, not exactly to one up you... more so him liking to show off to you

trading flowers is likely a common occurrence between the two of you

HEKET

does not get flowers often, usually her followers leave offerings of... other materials, from non-flower plants to living people

not opposed to you in particular giving her flowers, even if this is something new for her shes actually fairly receptive to this new gift

keeps your flowers until theyve wilted and begun to rot, totally dried out to the point where breathing at them wrong may make them turn to dust right then and there

will give you something in return even if its not flowers, something she knows for a fact you like- whatever that may end up being!

though she may forcefully put it in your hands rather than being tender- gift giving isnt something she does often so its a bit of a learning process! you appreciate her regardless, though!

KALLAMAR

give him this extravagant bouquet and hes going to be talking about it for weeks, so pretty so thoughtful

keeps the flowers until they start wilting, cannot stand to watch them curl up and die

will be sending a gift your way with time, likely something pretty and shiny- covered in gems and crystals, something thats just as beautiful as he thinks you are

has a love for things he deems pretty so the flowers are very appreciated, probably one of his favorite things to get from you

its something so small but it screams that you thought about him and thats going to bounce around in his skull for a while

SHAMURA

stares at them for a moment, like leshy, theyre going to try to identify what kinds of flowers they are and if theres a deeper meaning to the arrangement youve given them

if there is, they think you clever for having the thought to put in that extra effort- and your efforts will not go unheard or unrewarded... even if you picked random flowers..!

not really a gift giver like their siblings, they tend to spend time with loved ones to show how they care, so you two may sit together and simply talk for the rest of the evening

will tell you about the flowers and the meaning behind each plant if possible, plants may be leshys domain but that doesnt mean shamura isnt looking into it in their free times

puts them on display in their temple

[klbwriting]

Who Am I Really?

Chapter 1

Fandom: Aquaman

Pairing: Ormxfemale!Reader

Warnings: violence and attack in this chapter

Summary: Orm is traipsing around the surface when he decides to visit an animal shelter. While there Atlanteans soldiers attack. Orm is able to fight them off before they can report him back to Atlantis, but in the process he loses his memory

Notes: Hello! This is one of 2 fics that I will be posting! This one will be posted daily in the morning. I hope you enjoy! Comments/critiques are appreciated!

Orm Marius was many things. He was a disgraced king, a mighty warrior, a proud Atlantean, but a good surface dweller he was not. He couldn't figure out why they did so many stupid things. Why did they throw out perfectly good food? Why didn't more of them know how to grow things, how to make things? He had grown up with servants yet he knew how to grow his own food, mend his own armor and clothes, make sure there was not unnecessary waste. He couldn't understand why surface dwellers weren't taught these simple things. He wandered the land, learning more about the corruption and hatred they held also. Arthur liked this place? His own mother loved someone from this hell hole? How? Then he started noticing something else. He noticed community gardens that were flourishing, with volunteers helping to harvest and give the food to those in need. Atlantis could learn from that. For all their merits about being environmentally conscious and able to take care of themselves they didn't do as well taking care of each other. He saw a news story on one of those TV's about a house fire and neighbors coming together to raise money to make sure the family affected could build a new house quickly, offering their own homes to stay in while they waited. And finally, he found a person who did something he could not even imagine. This person saved animals. Marine life seemed never ending to Atlanteans. They would eat every part of the creature but they weren't pets. When his first animal companion, a sea turtle, had died, his father had found him mourning and had made sure he understood that animals were nothing to mourn. The scars on his back were enough that he never mourned another creature again. This woman fascinated him.

He entered her shelter, a small compound by a lake he had been camping around, just to watch her and how she interacted with the small creatures. She smiled happily at him, introducing herself.

"I'm Y/N, can I have your name and reason for your visit? Are you just looking or adopting?" she asked, bringing up a clipboard. Orm frowned a moment.

"I'm Orm," he said finally, knowing this surface dweller wouldn't know who he was from anyone else coming in. "I was just looking, never had a pet before, wondering what all the fuss is about." Y/N nodded, writing his name down and pulling a sticker off the clipboard. She put the nametag on his chest. "What is that for?"

"In case you need help, I just met you, I'm not going to remember your name after one meeting," she said. That was a lie. She had seen Orm's blue eyes and knew she wasn't going to forget him, but she still needed to be professional. Orm nodded slowly and she blushed a little, making him smile. She was pretty and by the blush he figured she might find him pretty as well.

"What is the purpose of this place?" he asked. She smiled a friendly smile now, it lit up her face. She waved him through to a door towards barking.

"I started this shelter slash adoption center around five years ago. I've always wanted to help animals but wasn't really smart enough to be a vet, not steady-handed enough to be a groomer, so here I am, trying to save strays and get them into forever-homes," she said, walking them through a hallway with what looked like dog apartments in it. "This is the inside sleeping area, it links to the outside through that little door. In the summer we keep it open all the time, the outside area is contained and they can sleep or just sit out there as long as they want." Orm stooped down by a few of the dogs, looking into their eyes. They looked well fed, even happy. They had some toys, blankets, beds, everything you needed to be comfortable. Just no home. Orm understood that right now. He followed Y/N as she moved to the next area. She finished the tour of the dog wing before standing by another door. "Would you like to see the lakeside play area? I'm really proud of that."

"Ya, let's take a look," he said. He didn't know why he was so pulled to this place, to this person, but it felt like home here, among these other strays. He felt welcomed and like he could be happy here. They stepped outside and he stared. The lake was shimmering in the early sunset, glittering. It was clean, not like other lakes he had seen, and there was a large fenced in area that had dog play equipment and even went so far that the dogs could run into the shallow water if they wanted. "This is nice."

"Ya, I love animals, but I love the water too. There's something so freeing about floating, letting the waves carry all your worries away with them," Y/N said. She frowned, squinting her eyes as she looked over the water. "Is someone swimming?" she muttered. Orm frowned, looking closer. Atlanteans. Three of them. Soldiers if the gear they were wearing was any indication.

"Go inside, lock the doors," he said. If his tone wasn't so commanding she might have argued but Y/N did as told, going inside and locking the doors. She started even getting the dogs inside and locking the doggy doors to that side of the compound. She then sat in a corner and waited, listening to the sounds of a fight, something beyond a human brawl, going on outside.

Orm surveyed the three soldiers around him. He had a chance against 3, anymore he might have had real trouble, but 3 he could handle. They all pounced at once, but even without a weapon, he was ready. He bent, building the strength in his legs, and when he felt hands from the first attacker he twisted, bringing his fist up, sending the first soldier flying back several feet, knocking him into a tree, forcing his sword out of his hands. Orm would need to get that before the soldier fully recovered. He turned his focus to the other two, kicking one backward as he moved to grab him, then punching the other in the stomach to double him over before bring his elbow down on the back of the neck, disabling the water apparatus to suffocate him. That was one who was completely down now. He turned, seeing the first soldier scrambling to get to his weapon. Orm ran faster, grabbing it and slicing. Two soldiers were taken care of. Now just the last one. He turned, seeing the other one with a pulsar of some type. Orm looked around, grabbing the body of the Atlantean he had slain, throwing it towards the other one. He caught the body and fell back, rolling into the lake. The body drifted off on its own while the still living attacker recovered. Orm moved to the other body he had created, throwing it as well. Y/N didn't need a mess when she came back out. The attacker dodged this one, moving to climb out of the water again. Orm repositioned the sword, getting ready to throw it. Just as he launched it at the final attacker, the attacker fired the energy weapon, hitting Orm in the chest and knocking him back into the solid wall of the shelter. The last thing Orm saw was the attacked falling, sword impaled in him, into the water and sinking. Then Orm himself sinks into darkness.

[bbyquokka]

：🧡 ♡ . ⁺ ᘏ : first time

➥ pairings: Yang Jeongin x fem!reader

➥ genre: smut | MDNI

➥ synopsis: you and Jeongin try cock warming for the first time

➥ warnings: reader and Jeongin are inexperienced | smut | protective penetration | cock warming | breast play | clit play | fingering | porn watching | explicit language

➥ words: 2.2k

➥ chan | minho | changbin | hyunjin | jisung | felix | seungmin | jeongin

➥ tags: @lix-ables | @sstarryoong | @ipegchangbin | @chaneomma | @purple-belle | @critssq | @laylasbunbunny | @dilucpegg3r

➥ m.list – ➥ cock warming m.list – ➥ you can also read it on my ao3

Feedback and reblogs are highly advised and appreciated!

"What's cock warming?" You look up at your boyfriend, hand hovering in the air with a salty fry held between your fingers.

"Uh." You swallow, placing your fry down, "I don't– I don't know. Why?" 

"I hear Seungmin and Chan talk about it all the time. They say it feels really nice but when I go ask them what it is, they just laugh and say I'm too pure to know." His bottom lip sticks out in a pout before he takes a bite out of his burger.

"I-I mean, I've heard of it just never, done or thought twice about it." You say with a shrug, resuming your task of eating your overly salted fries.

"If it's something good, should we try?" Jeongin asks cautiously, wiping away the burger sauce from the corner of his lips.

"If it's nothing too gross or extreme, I guess so." You say, wiping your salty fingers on a napkin.

You and Jeongin are a fresh couple, only dating for 2 and a half months. Both of you were virgins when you became a couple so sex was neither of your strong sides. The first time was very vanilla. You both were very shy at seeing the other naked, and although you have watched porn and know what genitalia looks like, seeing it in the flesh made you extremely shy and giddy.

Your virginity was something precious to you, you wanted to make sure you lost it to someone who means the world to you, to someone who would grow old with you. Your friends all lost theirs recklessly. This just encouraged you even more to treasure it and give it to someone you love and trust.

Luckily for you, Jeongin felt the same way. You both had a very long and hard discussion about sex before you even took action. Jeongin researched, asked his friends about what he should and shouldn't do. He wanted to treat you with the utmost care and make it a pleasurable first time for you.

You researched techniques, especially oral. You too, also wanted it to be a pleasurable first time for him. Moans, whimpers, making sure your jaw was slack – you researched every article and watched every porn video you could find.

When it came to it, everything you both learnt, flew out off the window. You both felt very shy and awkward. Seeing each other naked for the first time, experiencing new feelings and being bound together in the most intimate of places – your first time didn't go so smoothly but it was a pleasurable moment to say the least. 

You're both still inexperienced, learning the dos and don'ts of one's bodies. Kinks, fantasies, fetishes – you both want to know what turns each other on and off. It's a delicate process, one that takes time but you're both willing to try.

"Should we research it?" Jeongin takes a sip of his coke, wiping his mouth.

"How?" You extend your legs out on the cold wood floor, back leaning against the sofa.

"I dunno." Jeongin shrugs, tips of his ears burning red, "Maybe, uh–" He looks to the side, feeling embarrassed. You giggle, shuffling to his side. You place your hand on his thigh gently, tilting his head towards you.

"Go on. If you have a suggestion then we should absolutely try it. It's something we agreed on, remember?" You softly spoke. Jeongin smiles warmly, placing his hand on top of yours.

"Of course I remember, love." 

"So–" You encourage.

"So why don't we watch porn or something." His voice trails off. You flush pink at the thought, heat pooling to the pit of your stomach at the thought of watching porn with your boyfriend.

"Porn? As in–?" Jeongin hums as a response, nodding slowly.

"It's just, porn has everything right? So maybe we could learn something. I know porn isn't real and whatnot but like, I jus–" You press your lips against his in a sweet and gentle kiss, cutting him off.

"You're rambling, baby."

"Sorry." He whispers.

"Don't be. I think it's a good idea. Let's go to the bedroom, that way, it's more comfortable for us."

After cleaning up your empty take out packets, you and Jeongin got comfortable in your bedroom. You stripped down to nothing but your cotton panties with Jeongin stripping down to his boxer shorts.

You grab your laptop, situating it between you both before clicking on a porn site. You search for cock warming and hundreds, if not thousands, of results pop up. 

"Woah. It must be a decent thing then." You mumble, Jeongin nods his head in agreement as his hand was currently stroking your inner thigh slowly.

You hover over a video, pausing before you and Jeongin look at each other at the same time, causing you to giggle softly.

"Are you sure, y/n?"

"Of course I am."

"What if it's gross though?" Jeongin chews on his bottom lip, feeling unsure, "What if Seungmin and Chan baited me."

"Then we can turn off the video and forget it ever happened. We don't know until we try, baby. We are still learning about one another." 

"True." Jeongin hums.

"Don't think too much about it, baby. We do this together." 

Jeongin nods before pulling you close to him. He kisses you slowly, lips moving and moulding together perfectly. He wasn't this good at kissing to begin with, but overtime, he's mastered the art of it.

You hum softly, feeling yourself getting lost in his touch, his scent and warmth. He deepens the kiss, squeezing your thigh softly. Heat pools to the pit of your stomach, blood rushing south for Jeongin. Oxygen and saliva mix together as Jeongin pushes his tongue inside your mouth. You let out a soft whimper, your heart thumping loudly against your chest. 

Pulling away, you whimper at the loss causing Jeongin to laugh softly. He strokes your flush cheeks, admiring how beautiful and ethereal you look to him.

"Shall we–?" He nods his head towards the direction of the laptop. You nod, pressing play on the video.

You both watch a series of videos, learning about the techniques and what it generally is. To your relief, it wasn't something gross but instead, something you find extremely attractive. It wasn't so much the action, but the way the actor looked.

Struggling, face twisting in all sorts of facial expressions. Hands gripping the waist of the actress. The way the actress would smirk, act cocky as the actor would struggle to stay stationary. Dirty words exchanged between the two, the actress sounding cocky and confident whereas the male would whimper and groan.

"Holy–" Jeongin whispers from the side of you. You look at him, his cock straining against the material of his boxer shorts, "I thought it wasn't going to be good but fuck."

You nod your head in agreement, your panties sticking to your folds due to your slick. Your body tingles with excitement, cheeks hot and flush pink. You shift in your spot, whimpering softly and looking at Jeongin.

"J-Jeongin." You stutter, hand sliding up his thigh to his erection. He swallows, watching you palm him through his boxer shorts, "I think we should try it." 

He nods before pulling you flush on his lap. You sit flush on his crotch, his erection poking and prodding you through your underwear. You kiss each other messily, lust taking over your body. Lips moving together, tongues meeting together at different intervals – nothing about the kiss is coordinated nor skilful.

You move your hips, grinding down on his erection. Jeongin groans deeply, hands holding your hips to help you with your movements. Your slick coating your folds more and more, wet patch forming on the material of Jeongin's boxers. His hands travel up your sides leaving goosebumps in their wake.

He cups your breasts gently, kneading them slowly and gently. His fingertips brush against your nipple making you shiver and hum against his lips. The lack of oxygen and the overwhelming feel of lust and desire makes you feel dizzy.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jeongin pulls back for a second, his lips wet with saliva as he pants for air.

"Are you?" You reciprocated his question back to him.

"Of course!" You giggle at his eagerness to which he flushes red at.

"Then if you do, I do." 

"What if it's not that good though…" His voice trails off, gaze shooting to the side of him as he chews his bottom lip.

"Hey. What's up baby?" You cup his face softly feeling there is something more that he's not telling.

"It's just… I just don't want it to feel good for me and not for you. I want you to feel just as good as I do. I'd feel so bad and guilty if that's the case."

"Why guilty?"

"Because I suggested it…" You smile softly, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Don't be, Jeongin. We agreed to find out likes and dislikes together. We are still learning about each other after all. Plus, we never know until we try and if we don't like it, then we can forget about it and just have sex." 

"But–" 

"No buts. At least we can tick it off the list and say we done it, whether we like it or not. Don't feel guilty for suggesting something like this. There's a whole range of kinks and fetishes out there, we need to try things in order to see if we enjoy them or not." 

Jeongin nods slowly, biting his lip. "I know. You're right." 

"Relax." You grab his hand gently, pushing it down your panties, "We're in this together." 

Jeongin leans in, kissing your neck gently as his fingers find their way to your clit. You buck your hips, his fingers working on rubbing soft and gently circles. You clit throbs against his fingertips, walls clenching around nothing desperate to be filled.

You tilt your neck to the side allowing Jeongin to tenderly kiss and suck more of your neck. Slowly sliding his finger down from your clit to your entrance, he rubs slow circles around it before pushing his finger inside. You groan at the feeling, hands gripping his shoulders as he thrusts his finger at a steady pace.

A second and a third was soon added, making you a whimpering mess. Your bottom lip caught between your teeth, your slick coating his fingers and Jeongin's erection painful and straining.

"I think it's time." You nod, shuffling off his lap and onto your back whilst Jeongin grabs a condom from the bedside table. You take your panties off as Jeongin takes off his boxers. He kneels between your legs, opening the condom and rolling it onto his length. Holding onto your knees, he looks down at your pussy and audibly groans.

Your slick coats your folds and inner thigh, entrance visible clenching, teasing Jeongin and begging for him to enter you. His cock throbs at the thought of being inside you again.

"Are you ready?" He asks, one hand around the base of his cock whilst his other holds your waist softly. You nod, spreading your legs wider, "Okay. I'm going in. Let me know if it's too much, yeah?"

"Of course, baby." You reassure him. Jeongin smiles before pushing his length inside slowly. You hiss at the burning sensation of being stretched – it's clear you're still not use to his size and you don't think you ever will be.

"I'm sorry. You're doing so well." He mumbles, noticing your uncomfortable expression and how tense you feel around him, "Just relax."

You nod, allowing yourself to relax. Jeongin smiles and praises you with a "Good girl" before pushing half his length inside and then stops. You let out short puffs of air, feeling full but not satisfied. Jeongin's hands gripping your hips, his brows furrowed together as beads of sweat roll down his temples.

"Is that all of you?" 

"N-No." 

"I want it all!" You whimper, Jeongin's eyes widening as a glimmer of hope shines in them.

"Y-You mean–" You nod slowly, humming. Closing his eyes, he pushes the remainder of his length until he is balls deep, tip brushing against something inside you that sends shockwaves of pleasure down your spine, causing your back to arch and toes to curl.

You feel full – fuller than you have ever felt before. It's a strange feeling but you don't hate it. You look up at Jeongin, smirking a little as he looks like he is struggling. You don't know why but you love seeing him like that.

His eyebrows furrow, lips pressed together in a thin line, his breathing shaky as he struggles to stay still. The tightness of your pussy suffocating him, your warmth making him feel warm. He's buried deep inside you and all he wants to do is move!

"It feels so good, too good. I don't know. I can't comprehend or put into words how good it feels." 

"Does it feel… different?"

"Yes! Fuck yes!" Jeongin blurts out, making you laugh softly, "I can't explain it. My mind feels like it's becoming mush, my cock feels like it's tingling. I know it sounds weird but it feels like we're moulding together." 

You coo softly, wrapping your legs around his waist to keep him still. Jeongin grunts, placing his arms by the side of your head. You kiss his cheek before ghosting your lips across the shell of his ear and whispering:

"You're so adorable, Jeongin. I think we need to do this more often, don't you think?" 

➥ note: we ending with something cute because why not ;w; ahh, i cant believe its over. thank you to everyone who gave continuous love during this mini series – i appreciate and love you all! 🖤 reminder; if you wish to be tagged in future works, here is my list (pls read the description before asking. it's there for a reason) . again, thank you all for the love and support. i hope you continue to love my works! 😘

[browniesarethebest]

Ur reverse batfam is so just *chefs kiss*!! I’d love to read either Dick seeing Cass dance for the first time if it’s not too much trouble

Ah! Thank you! I am so sorry that this took forever! I promise I didn't forget about it! Thank you so much for your patience!

When Dick first moved into the manor, he was given a tour by Stephanie and Tim, which Dick was very grateful for. The place was huge and, even with the tour, Dick still managed to get lost once or twice in the beginning. At one point, they stopped to peek into a windowless room. One wall contained a giant mirror that stretched from corner to corner. The opposite wall held a wooden bar that was just as long. There were a few chairs stacked along another wall next to a closed door, and Dick could see sound system one could hook their phone up to. Dick shuffled his sock-covered feet across the polished wooden floor and almost missed Stephanie's explanation as he took in the whole room.

"This is the dance studio. Cass is pretty much the only one who uses it, but I'll join her sometimes if I'm in a dance-y mood."

Dick perked up. Cass danced? It wasn't quite the same as acrobatics, but that made Cass a performer, just like him.

Dick soon forgot about this as the tour continued and he was bombarded with the rest of the amazing rooms the Manor had to offer. He only remembered again a few weeks later when he went exploring to continue learning the layout of the Manor. He was walking down a hallway when he heard soft music coming from one of the doorways. Peeking his head in, his eyes lit up as they caught sight of Cass gliding around the mirror-filled room.

Dick stared in silent awe as Cass moved and swayed to the music. There were no words in the song, but Dick felt like he could see a story in her dance. He sighed wistfully.

She would have fit right in at the circus.

Cass seemed to have caught the sound—or maybe she caught sight of him in the Manor, Dick wasn't sure—and paused. Instead of stopping the music like Dick expected, she reached her hand out to him with a gentle smile.

Dick beamed and eagerly took her hand. She led their dance, but Dick easily stayed in rhythm with her. The performer in his heart soared as he watched the two of them in the mirrors. It wasn't his usual type of performance (not enough flair for him), but it was so nice to move with someone again...

They both slowed as the song came to an end, posing gracefully as the final note finished. They beamed at each other, and Dick felt his heart skip a beat as he felt kinship growing between them. It was strange to go from being an only child to having a gaggle of siblings, but Cass was quickly becoming one of his favorites. She understood him in a way the others couldn't, and Dick appreciated that.

"Do you ever perform for the others?" Dick asked as they sat on the floor. Cass passed him an apple from her bag, which he took eagerly.

She shrugged and made a so-so gesture. Dick frowned, so she elaborated further. "Mine. My...thing."

Dick took a moment to process that before he understood. "Oh! So you mean you like to keep it to yourself. Because it's for you."

Cass nodded, and they fell into silence. Dick picked at the stem of his apple.

"The trapeze is like that for me," he murmured. Cass tilted her head to show she was listening. "Do you think...Do you think I could have one? Like you have this?" Dick gestured around the room. He wasn't really asking if Mr. Wayne could make him one. There was no way the man would do anything like that for him—the man had done enough already taking him in. Dick just missed the circus, and he couldn't help but dream about flying on the trapeze again.

Cass huffed out a laugh and ruffled his hair. Dick batted her hand away, pouting.

"I wasn't being serious," he muttered. Cass just looked at him knowingly.

And that was how it went. Dick would find himself exploring the hallways, always ending up at Cass's dance room even if he didn't always intend it. He would watch Cass dance and wait for her to notice him. She would eventually reach a hand out to him, and he would join her. She never made him leave, even though dancing was "her thing." Maybe she knew just how much he needed it—Stephanie had said she was good at reading body language.

It was almost like a shared secret between them. Unknown to Dick, however, Cass had a secret of her own.

"What...?" Dick breathed as he was led into a room further down into the Manor by Bruce and his siblings. His jaw dropped as he stared up in awe at the trapeze set up in the middle of the room. He stopped moving, but Cass took his hand and pulled him further into the room.

They stood in front of the trapeze together, still holding hands, as Bruce came up behind him and set a hand on his shoulder.

"Cass was telling me how you miss the trapeze at the circus." His head snapped towards Bruce as the man spoke. Bruce smiled down at him reassuringly.

"This—This is too much! I—"

"Everyone here has something of their own. Cass has her dance studio, Tim has his gaming room, Damian has his art studio, Jason has the library, and Stephanie..." Bruce was pointing to each sibling but faltered when he got to Stephanie.

Said girl grinned proudly. "I call it my multipurpose room."

"...Sure." Bruce turned back to Dick. "So you see, everyone has a room that is just for them—"

"Pretty sure the library is technically for everyone."

"Yeah, but no one goes in there but you, Jason."

"Yeah, 'cause you're all uncultured."

"You all have a room just for you!" Bruce cut in, his smile becoming forced as he refused to look at the others. He heard a scoff and mentally noted to give Jason extra training tomorrow.

"Just for me..." Dick murmured as he stepped closer to the trapeze. He fought back tears as he stared up at the trapeze. For a moment, he could see his family flying across it, circus music playing softly in the background as his parents called out to him.

He blinked, and the vision was gone. The hand holding his own slipped out and slid around his shoulders, pulling him closer to his older sister. He looked up at her, lip trembling.

"Yours," Cass simply said.

Dick let out a shaky breath as he looked around the room. He took in the trapeze, but more importantly, he took in the faces of those surrounding him. Jason and Tim were subtly shoving each other while Stephanie giggled and egged them on. Damian was leaning against a wall, looking done with the whole thing. Only Cass and Bruce were still looking at him.

Dick smiled at them, warmth settling in his chest.

"Mine."

[hazshit-hotel-hater]

The way substance abuse has been handled on the show thus far genuinely upsets me and reeks of writers who either 1.) don't understand the subject matter they're presenting and haven't done even the bare minimum to research it or, worse, 2.) simply don't care.

Apologies for the slight rant incoming, your comment about how it has been mostly "handled" off-screen got me going because that's 100% true and in that truth is such a missed opportunity for the show. The way it has been handled winds up feeling incredibly shallow and juvenile at the end of the day, especially for a piece of media that is attempting to present itself as "adult" and navigate multiple incredibly sensitive topics. I'll try not to get into my own personal experiences and will speak broadly, but the show uses substance abuse more as a cheap character flaw to poke fun at or something to magically handwave away when it is inconvenient, rather than the life-altering, debilitating illness that it is.

Nothing about Angel's use is ever meaningfully explored. It's so (apparently) unimportant to his arc and development that one rude comment from Husk (a character who ALSO has a problem with gambling and alcohol that is never addressed) is all it takes for him to suddenly "resist temptation" and be shown as "recovered" (unless I'm misremembering). Or was he suddenly going to counseling off-screen too and its just another thing that will be told to us rather than shown? And how does Charlie even handle that at the Hotel (I'd be really interested in this as a moment for her character to have to grow/change too)? Does she even understand substance abuse and the many unaddressed systemic factors that can influence it? Or is the entire recovery process just shame based (because that works so well /s) combined with some more corny trust exercises? Why is this incredibly serious topic relegated to the background as if it's unimportant?

Recovery is hard. It is emotional and exhausting. Withdrawal (depending on what you're coming off of) can sometimes mean excruciating, unimaginable pain and in some cases people literally die. It is not a funny "ha-ha I take drugs because I'm chaotic and wild" quirk to be adored or glorified and it definitely should not be presented as something that can be wrapped up in a month or two off-screen without any development whatsoever. That's just insulting.

When you approach a topic like substance abuse and recovery, I personally feel you need to take in all sides of it. All the missteps that come with it (two steps forward one step back - mistakes are expected and okay), the self-loathing, the guilt and shame, the joy, the sense of freedom, the loss, and the best part of all: the incredibly difficult but liberating journey that is rebuilding your life and learning to love yourself and your body again, once you've chosen to be free and to live life.

Mad props to anyone who has ever battled this disease. You are strong, you are worth it and you are valued. Lol I am so sorry for going off here but I so appreciate you calling out the lack of exploration on this topic in the show. I guess I didn't even realize how annoyed and upset it was making me feel (praying this is coherent...).

This was absolutely coherent don’t worry!! Im really glad to see other people talking about this. I myself have not struggled with drug addiction but I have struggled with other kinds and as someone that studies a bunch of medical junk, I’d say I’m decently knowledgeable.

I’m mainly going to focus on Angel for this since he’s the main character I write for, but I assure you other characters addictions are also handled in my rewrite.

During the actual canon show, we don’t see Angel actually abusing substances that often; there’s a few times, most notably in episode 4, but from the rest of the show onward we hardly see anything. Yes in episode 6 they mentioned relapsing, which, mind you, was done horribly, but I digress. They touch on relapsing; Angel relapses, and then… what..??? What happened from that? I don’t feel upset or second hand guilt of any kind from this scene because we haven’t seen Angel’s attempts to stay sobre and off drugs.

His name is fucking Angel Dust. You don’t, I dunno, think that’d entail a higher dependency on drugs? Why do you think he named himself that?

About his name before anything else, the show has so much potential later on to talk about Angel picking out his drag name and why he chose that specifically. So much potential to explore how he views drugs and himself. He sees them as an escape and something “fun” to take his mind off of his actual life. When you die in a fucking coma and wake up in hell as a spider you’re going to want an escape. You will want to ignore reality. I am fully convinced Angel picked his name once he started performing because thats what he needed at the time. He needs to be like that to survive in hell. Angel is an incredibly mentally ill, troubled, traumatised, and unstable person, and being surrounded by so much intense negative influence only amplifies his current problems. I don’t mean to drag Vox in here but in my last redesign post I mentioned how very mildly bad people can become even worse people in hell because of the environment and this is no different for Angel. He’s been surrounded by crime and drugs his entire life and unable to live comfortably because of his sexuality. He has very likely been struggling with substances since he was a teen. Possibly even younger. He is not going to suddenly get over his addiction because of something like this. It could pave the way to him looking into dealing with it, but things like this can take years. I don’t remember when my addiction started; I’ve been clean for 2 1/2 years now I think, but the amount of relapsing and anguish I experienced while working towards that isn’t something that can be done in a few days or months. I still struggle with feeling like I deserve to say I’m recovering.

I’m hoping they tactfully handle this as they should, but my hopes are low. It’s okay to show a character relapsing. It’s okay to show a character feeling guilty. What matters is that the struggle is there to signify they’re trying. For a character with a song called “Addict” you really don’t see much of it. Drug and alcohol addiction is not a silly thing to just twiddle your fingers with and be like “well I guess thats over!” It’s incredibly insensitive to do so.

Whenever I write about Angel’s struggles with addictions, I focus on how small they can feel until you realise what’s actually happening. Just me talking about my rewrite again, but to get my ideas out here: Angel smokes often. He smokes at the studio when he’s stressed, he smokes at the hotel when he’s stressed, he smokes at in alleyways when he’s bored, there’s almost no location he won’t, but sometimes he tries to smoke less. His lungs aren’t the same as humans and technically he has 2 pairs of lungs, but smoking causes him to cough. This is painful in general and especially painful for Angel since he has barbs going down the back of his throat. Imagine choking on sandpaper, kind of like that. It’s painful, he doesn’t like the sound, Fat Nuggets REALLY doesn’t like the sound, and it’s an overall inconvenience, so he tries to stop smoking as much. Periods like this usually go fine for him until the stress returns or he starts to feel the withdrawal. Withdrawal from any sort of addiction is terrible, and in Angel’s case, just from not smoking it worsens his mental state further. He becomes irritable and stressed and that stress leads to wanting to smoke again to calm down. He may resist a few times and those times should be praised, but he gives in eventually. One cigarette to calm down becomes two, then three, and before he can process himself getting carried away, the entire pack is gone. It’s things like this that make addiction horrible. It’s something that deeply scared me when I was struggling. When I was struggling I was still in the mindset of “I can stop when I want to” and then being so suddenly hit in the face with the realisation that I’m not longer in control of this is terrifying. I could not stop when I wanted to. There were even points where I didn’t want to stop. Even just getting the smallest glimpse of this in an incredibly serious manner with Angel Dust would surprise me. To think the bar is this low on a show that seemingly prides itself on tackling such sensitive topics like you said is appalling. Your show shouldn’t have to be told how to write itself.

[dragonflydestiny]

Letter to your soulmate ✉️

My very first pick a card. This pick a card is going to be about your letter (the reader) to your soulmate. What would you write to them? Let’s find out. Pick from 1-4. Thank you.

P.S. Their responding letter will reach you soon.

Disclaimer: This is meant as entertainment only. Takes only what resonate.

My Master List

✉️

💌 Letter 1 🍒

9 of Swords, 6 of Pentacles and 3 of Swords in reverse

My dear Soulmate,

What have I become?. The thoughts of having you give me anxiety and the thoughts of not having you also give me anxiety. My doubts and my fears do get to me and I would lay at night thinking that maybe there is no one out there truly meant for me. It’s a long process I have to go through, keeping my anxious thoughts at bay and learning discernment. To know the different between my fearful thoughts and reality. And I will learn not to judge myself for those low moments of self-deprecation and self-pity. Because deep down I know that the universe works by the law of cause and effect, the law of karma. At least in this life, you and I are tie by our past karma and the universe will give to me you, whom I deserve. Not only the universe is fair but it is also generous.

I know at this time we’re not together yet because I still have some wounds to heal, wounds I am reluctant to address. Even though I am working very hard trying to earn stability and security, I still fear that I am not ready and this quote comes to mind “One can be the master of what one does, but never of what one feels”. I know I do more than enough but why does I feel like I am not enough. It’s because, growing up, I kept telling myself these dialogues for far too long, “if I am not the fears anymore, then what has I become?”. Would you know?. While waiting for you I will become something else than fear. Courage?, joy?, relieved? Who knows. But at this time, please wait a little longer. We will meet soon when I address my low self-esteem issues. I will also work on my mother wound. When we meet I will tell you all about her and how much fear she instilled in me. She was a hardworking woman and similar to me, she never saw her own worth. She ties her worth in monetary gains and seeks outside validation. For that reason, she was really never here for me and in our relationship, it lacked the balance of equal give and take. I felt like I was only giving and never really received. So growing up, I only know how to give and now it still hard and awkward to receive but I am willing to learn.

Just by writing to you bring me so much joy and motivate me to learn. By connecting to you already make me want to be a better person, to show up as my best for you. When we meet I want to give you something as well, a small token perhaps. It’s small but it will mean so much. I know that when we meet, even though it will be brief, I will think about those moments shared for the rest of the week. You will fill my mind, take up every space and the constant thoughts of you will make me smile. Your caring nature makes me go soft, you help me to finally feel what it’s like to have someone truly care for me. I appreciate how you are so determine to remind me everyday that I am more than enough. Times where I will put myself down you will be quick to lift me up even higher. My shining star, who shines the brightest in my darkest night “if one word would describe love, it would be your name…”. You will teach me what true love really is and I will be your willing student.

Love,

(Your name)

Channeled poem: To Be In Love by Gwendolyn Brooks “To be in love is to touch with a lighter hand. In yourself you stretch, you are well.”

Channeled song: LOVE POEM by IU “I’ll be there, behind you who walks alone” “I will sing for you who walks long nights than most”.

✉️

💌 Letter 2 🎀

The Hierophant in reverse, 9 of Wands in reverse and 8 of Wands.

Hey you,

I just want to say that I am not like other girls/boys. I am not traditional and the thought of marriage, working 9 to 5 and conventional stuff, they don’t appeal to me. I rather do something else to secure my life. I know that it would be slow, very slow but at least my foundation will be firm. I will build it out of my true authentic desires instead of other’s. I also know that it would mean our meeting will happen later on in life because right now I want to focus on myself, my security. It is sad that our union will take a little while but I know deep down that it will be worth it. In the meantime, I will continue to fight for my way and put in the necessary work. Even though at times, I feel so tired and burned out and sometimes I feel like these burden paths will never end. I know the place I want to achieve is high, I want to reach for the stars. I know these dreams do come with a lot of work and sacrifices. I know that, I can see the path clearly without illusions or rose coloured glasses. And I know that you are also cheering for me. You will be the most supportive person I know. When I feel like giving up, you are/will give me the strength to follow my heart. You remind me that I am part of something bigger, that I am part of the divine. I will understand that to honour the divine is to honour myself.

When I understand my fears a little better, I understand myself more and those past moments where I made ‘mistakes’. I can sometimes focus too much on the finish line, too much on the bigger picture and forget about the little details where it is most important. When I am fearful, I don’t focus enough on my actions rather I only worry about the results. I need to understand that there are huge correlation between the progress and the final outcome. It is a direct reflection. With that in mind, I must bring balance into my lifestyle. I can’t just work work and work. Life is about moderation and ironically the right temperance will somehow bring the fastest results. These realisation bring to me the confidence to continue whether or not I will succeed. I know you know these feelings really well and we relate a lot through our ‘failures’. We know what it’s like to have to face our dark and raw emotions and to be honest with ourselves. To feel the pain and loss of failures without repression and shame. You and I have to learn to listen to our emotions the hard way but it is worth it as we gain sincerity through those hardships. And now we can give it to ourselves and others. So when I’d meet you, you will only receive my utmost sincere emotions. I won’t repress my feelings for you either. After all, you will know either way because we are one.

When I met/will meet you, I can see so much of myself in you. Your journey remind me of my own, both the successful ones and the not successful ones. That is why I will understand you right away. I think I will fall for you instantly, without me realising, without me intending to. I thought we could just be good friends but through out each encounter I fall and fall more deeply for you. I love the dept of your character and through knowing you help me reach that dept within myself as well. You help me reach the deep uncharted water where I’m afraid to go and allow me to see it for what it is. By understanding the fears I have, I begin to fear less. You teach me true freedom where fears cannot hold me back anymore and now I can swim in the deepest ocean.

You are someone who can be deep and wise yet so beautiful and light at the same time. I grow fonder and fonder for you everyday. “My heart is so full of you I can hardly call it my own”. My feelings become so deep and intense that I can no longer hold it in. I have to confess how much I love you and through this letter I hope you can feel my love and support for you. You are my inspiration, the one where I will forever admire, my dream come true.

Yours, always

(Your name)

Channeled poem: The More Loving One by W.H. Auden “If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me.”

Channeled song: You Say by Lauren Daigle “You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing. You say I am strong when I think I am weak. And you say I am held when I am falling short. And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours. And I believe (I). Oh, I believe (I). What You say of me (I). I believe.”

✉️

💌 Letter 3 🍊

4 of cups, ace of Swords in reverse and the Hierophant.

Dear you,

I have to admit, it’s pretty lonely here without you. Maybe because I don’t really find anything or anyone interesting. It’s like there’s a disconnection between me and my environment. I can’t really connect to anybody, no one really understand me and I don’t care enough to understand them. I hope you can sympathise with my apathy. The world just look really bleak where I’m at, it is quiet but certainly not peaceful. I’m not sure if I should be the one that break this dullness. Even if it’s up to me to bring excitement back into my life, I still don’t know what I should do. I don’t really see a clear path to where I could escape this mundane life of mine. I know I shouldn’t expect you to come in and save me but maybe just maybe you could bring a little bit of magic back into my life. A sense of reciprocation perhaps?. But I’m not entirely sure how you could do that.

I only see it in movies where the main protagonist fell in love and their world turn up side down. Suddenly they find purpose and joy in their life. From black and white to array of rainbows, full of vitality. Excitement even in the little things, wild flowers turn to the most beautiful thing. It is these energy where you fall head over heels for your life , it’s where I can’t see myself being in. How can one person affect or influence another so much?. Maybe that’s exactly what you’re going to teach me. Are you going to come in and teach me the tradition and cliche of being in love?. A feeling of ecstasy and bliss where you sing with birds. It’s feel kind of silly and funny just by imagining it. I never really meet anyone who can make my heart sings that much. No one makes my eyes sparkles or my heart to skip a beat or even beat faster. No one really influences or interest me that much. So I hope you can change that for me. I know it’s not good to set expectations but at least I hope that you can make me stray, that you can make me follow you wherever you’d go. Can you be the one where I’d beg to take my hand and destroy this belief of mine where I demean the power of love.

I don’t understand how love can be the cure to everything. I want you to show me the power of love, show me that it is safe for me to express my love to you and also to myself. Convince me that everyone deserve to be loved, even me. Please show me that love is the answer because no one show me that before. Where I grew up, my childhood home, love wasn’t present. I didn’t have my parents to show me that unconditional love. Their love to me was conditioned and not all my needs were met. I didn’t really learn to connect with myself, to find out what I love to do or what I’m passionate about. I didn’t learn to take care of myself, I didn’t learn to love myself or meet all of my needs. I only learn to survive and mistaken these survival mode as normality. So I hope when you come along, your light would ignite the fire within me, the fire that had been dormant. You can teach me to unlearn these survival way of living. I hope you would love me unconditionally. With the fire that you ignite, it will continue to guide me even when the sky turns dark.

You would teach me what it means to truly take care of yourself in all aspects, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I hope we can create together a sense of home and safety where I can be for you and you can be for me. That we can hold hands and face whatever it is that we have to face together. I do want to do all those cheesy romantic things with you. Talking on the phone all night, chocolate and red roses on Valentine’s and even dancing in the rain. Let’s exchange poems as well. I do want to marry you and create a future together. I want to introduce you to my family, build a home and have children. I want to fully be here and enjoy the present moments. To feel the joy, pain and other range of emotions of life and see it as an adventure rather than something mundane and dull. So, let’s create that life together.

With love,

Your soulmate

Channeled poem: Variations on the Word Love by Margaret Atwood “Then there’s the two of us. This word is far too short for us, it has only four letters, too sparse to fill those deep bare vacuums between the stars that press on us with their deafness.”

Channeled song: Willow by Taylor Swift “Wherever you stray. I follow. I’m begging for you to take my hand. Wreck my plans. That’s my man.”

✉️

💌 Letter 4 🪲

2 of Cups in reverse, 7 of Swords and 4 of Swords in reverse.

Dear (name of soulmate)

I hope our union will turn out better than my last. Somehow I am not so successful with my love life. I guess I have a lot of lessons to learn through love in both romantic and platonic love. One of the lesson was the lesson of equal give and take, balance and reciprocation. Let’s just say that the divine did test me to see if I really understand the concept. They showed me that I can’t be the only one that give, I have to receive from my lover/the other person as well. What I had wasn’t a true reciprocal relationship, I had to see and admitted that. I had to be honest with myself even if the other person wasn’t. I had to stop lying to myself and see truly what was going on. It wasn’t true love and it pained me to realise that. But loosing a fake love wouldn’t be as painful as pretending it was real. So I chose to walk away. I chose to walk away because I couldn’t take the emotional and mental turmoil anymore. I couldn’t take the emotional unavailability, the immaturity, the manipulation and the coldness anymore. That relationship brought me everything but my peace of mind. I didn’t like who I was becoming if I were to stay. So I chose to walk away, I chose to change and made my choices with discernment. I let my mind leads me to my freedom. I wasn’t happy where I was because I tried so hard to control my relationship and my environment. I know now that was not the way. My approach to love, specifically giving love have to change.

Even though it took a while and looking back I still regret something in the past but I did learn my lessons the universe taught me. I learned not to let my emotions blind me from the truth. I learned to be honest with myself and to have the courage to admit and address the issues. To know I, too, have the birthright to have a loving and reciprocal relationship where it brings me pleasure and is able to meet all my needs. I deserve connections where I feel safe to express myself truthfully where trust is not an issue. So, if you’re coming to me with an untruthful energy, just know that I learned my lessons and I am not going to repeat it. I don’t have the time or energy to go through that again. Thankfully, going through those lessons have help me spot a lie from miles away.

Just know that when we meet, I would be able to see through you. I am very good at reading people. So come as you are, don’t try to be someone you’re not. If you earn my trust, show me authenticity and reciprocation, I know that I would bewitched by you. I already know I love your true self, you don’t have to be anything more for me. I accept and love you as you are. And “if loving you makes me a fool, then I’ll be a fool forever”. When you can make me feel safe to express myself, I will shower you with my love. I will kiss you good mornings and good nights. I will hug you everyday and declare my love to you whenever you demand. I won’t ever let you doubt my love for you, my affection will be the answer. I will write you poems after poems and promise my love on every page. I will be dedicated to you, forever and ever, always.

Forever yours,

Name of the reader

Channeled poem: Bird-Understander by Craig Arnold “Of many reasons I love you here is one, the way you write me from the gate at the airport so I can tell you everything will be alright.”

Channeled song: Queen of Hearts by Twice “Baby I was born to rule, yeah I’m the queen, I’m the queen. And it’s all because of you that I’m the queen of hearts.”

✉️

Thank you so much for stopping by, please do not hesitate to comment and tell me if it resonated. Any constructive criticism is also appreciated. See you on the next pick a card where your soulmate will respond to your letter.

Kind regards

- Dragonflydestiny 🪲

[lovelylichabee]

Good morning I have some headcanons for yall about the archives crew (mostly Martin bc I love him) in no particular order. Be warned there are some spoilers for throughout the series.

- Martin has ADHD so things like audio processing and object permanence are a challenge, and Jon being unaware of this is one of the reasons he thinks Martin is incompetent in the beginning. Because what else do you think of someone who takes twice as long to type out transcripts than his peers, or who can't focus on the follow up research assigned to him sometimes, yet other times focuses so much on it he forgets to take his lunch? Plus the man "loses" files on his desk (because to Martin he just sees a stack of uniform files and getting used to Gertrude's weird looking date-based labels as an organization system compared to the Dewey Decimal System they had in the library is damn difficult!) Upon learning he has ADHD though Jon finds that with some accommodations, Martin is actually decent at doing what he needs to for his job and feels a bit guilty for being such an ass.

- Tim was the first friend Jon made upon being hired into research which to Jon is weird because he's always had a hard time making friends (partially because he's autistic and partially because he hasn't had the routine environment to try to make friends since college). Tim is also a pretty opposite personality to him, so to Jon it felt sort of like when you meet a dog and the dog likes you *way* before you like the dog, but then he grows on you so you kinda sigh and go "Yeah yeah, we're friends"

- Sasha and Tim's hookup never grew to anything more because Sasha didn't know how to tell Tim she was aromantic without possibly hurting his feelings (meanwhile if she had just told him, he would've been fine with it and happy to be in whatever kind of relationship with her, qpp or otherwise). She never gets to tell him, so that's another reason why Tim never caught the differences between Sasha and Not!Sasha when Not!Sasha suddenly had a boyfriend (besides you know the reason that Stranger Rules that says only one person usually notices the difference).

- Jon doesn't like coffee black coffee but drinks it anyways mostly because he has always been told "if you add sugar and/or creamer to your coffee then you don't like coffee you like sugar and creamer" so to keep appearances and insisting he does like coffee, he never adds anything unless he's sure no one will see. Really, he likes black coffee with a bit of sugar because the sweetness gives the flavors something to travel on so he can appreciate them more because otherwise they're overpowered by bitterness. He doesn't like tea because drinking it feels like he's just rubbed tea leaves all over the inside of his mouth and it leaves behind a dry feeling that he hates.

- Martin's pure lonely domain wouldve been a rainy, foggy moorsland kind of environment where its very pretty but you feel like you're walking over the same hills and you feel like you see houses in the distance but you never get any closer to the chimney smoke you see peeking above the fog. You're also always damp and the air feels heavy, and you don't have an umbrella. But for just those moments when youre standing on tops of the hills, looking out to the rest of the environment though, you wonder why you'd ever want to leave somewhere so pretty, even if it is rather lonely, and far too quiet. It's a reminiscent kind of quiet, where you reflect on why you're walking alone here in the first place and not inside one of those houses in the distance with the chimney smoke... and then you keep walking because maybe if you make it there, they'll be kind and let you inside, and you can shake off all of this chilly dampness by their fireplace and company.

- Danny is Tim's best kept secret after he dies. Tim stops talking about his family after that, gets really quiet when the topic is brought up in conversation, but he's still careful not to look upset even if his shoulders tense a bit when he smiles and says something along the lines of "Nah, I don't have much family anymore" when he's asked. Their parents passed away some time after Danny was gone (by natural causes), and Tim never forgave himself for not being able to get back at whatever killed him before they passed, so he doesn't feel it's right to be allowed to talk about them until he does, like some kind of mission he has to finish before he can let himself grieve properly.

- Peter and Elias either are or were married, but with the way they act its very hard to tell if they are actually divorced or just on the brink of it because of how they interact with one another, leading to the rumor that they keep divorcing and getting remarried frequently spreading around the office. Elias knows it frustrates Peter to have attention on them like that so he doesn't stop the rumors, and sometimes actively encourages them when they're in another one of their "divorced" periods. Peter doesn't actually ever fully leave though because he considers the relationship more transactional and useful, than anything nearing "love". They have their soft moments together though, brief little moments of understanding, very privately, and never discussed again after they happen. Elias misses him after he dies, even if Peter was trying to get him killed.

- Tim could've gone Desolation if the idea of serving an entity didn't disgust him. Choosing to serve an entity is a choice that you have to make, and Tim could see in Jon what doing that does to a person, and what people serving the Stranger did to his brother (even if he didnt know exactly what it was). Even if Jon didn't really start accepting being The Archivist until after his coma, Tim was alive before then and knew that it had changed him. Plus experiencing some of the other entities (being attacked by "worms", being in the tunnels, being in Michael's hallways, dealing with Jon's paranoia and stalking, being in the unknowing and seeing what happened to Danny), he has seen what kinds of effects these entities have on people. The Desolation likely did call out to him in that moment of the explosion, and he spat in its face because he'd literally rather die than ever give himself to something like that.

- Personally, I like big but short Martin who is a bit stronger than he looks because of hefting around file boxes in the archives. I imagine "the stacks" being a bunch of shelves sort of like a library but instead of books, there are boxes that fit in, with the files inside of them, but they're left a bit open and uncovered because air flow and climate controlled environment. I don't know if that's how it works bit that's how I imagine it. And then there's a lot of file boxes sort of stacked on top of one another on the ground and stacks of files also on the ground because that archive is an unrealistic mess and sort of ridiculous. But yeah. Big but short Martin who has some hidden muscle.

- Honestly if I imagine them all standing next to each other, Tim is the tallest, Sasha is only an inch or 2 inches shorter, Jon is a bit shorter than Sasha, like up to her shoulder, and Martin is the shortest and needs help getting things off the top shelves from the other three because he wobbles too much on the step ladder and it makes him nervous (another reason Jon likely finds him a bit irritating in the beginning).

- Jon's hair starts off short and very proper but grows out a bit in season 2 because he's too busy being paranoid to take care of himself. He gets a haircut when staying with Georgie in S3, and then his hair grows out a bit again while he's kidnapped, and he doesn't cut it again before The Unknowning. It grows to his shoulders during his coma. He doesn't take that good of care of it leaves it long until the Buried, where he has to cut it all off. He doesn't cut it again and he takes à bit better care of it after being rejected by Martin. It grows abnormally quickly leading to it being past his shoulders and with some natural curl by the time he and Martin do actually run away to the safe house. He wears it up most of the time during S5.

- Martin's hair is loosely curly and a ginger orange or strawberry blonde but fades to white as he gets pulled further into the Lonely by Peter Lukas. When hes working in the office under Peter and Jon asks him to run away together, its very washed out but not fully white, and when Jon rescues him from Peter's Lonely, it is pure white, and slowly fades back to its natural color once they are together and they get to the safe house, though a patch of it remains pure white up in the front of his hair, as if he had Poliosis. In his s5 domain when he's talking to himself, Lonely!Martin continues to have fully white hair.

- I have more but this is already pretty long so I'll stop here and if people care about this I'll answer asks or do another one.

[windsweptinred]

OK, so I'll openly admit to getting a little obsessed with this headcanon. But but but... My expanded theory on Hob as successor to Father Time and Dream as the next Night.

So the Why... Hob is Hope and Delight and Curiosity and all those things people have called him in abundance. But what this all accumulates to is he loves 'LIFETIME'. He appreciates the time he has. Every second of it! The good and the bad. The memories of the past, the everyday wonders of the present, the potential of the future. He doesn't waste a minute of it. He respects and revels in Time. It's his one true gift, Hob has Time and makes a masterpiece of it.

And the How... the Greeks, (who seem to be really up on their Endless know how in their own way) had three divine representations of time..

1.The first, Opportunity, luck and favorable moments.

2. The next level is Eternity, The Zodiac /The turning of time/months/seasons etc

3. Finally the Big Dog, Time itself.. Past, Present, Future

So we say that's the three stages a new Time will journey through.

Hob is literally 'birthed' as Time's successor through 'opportunity'. A case of gets cocky at the right place, right time and boom... In that instance, Death withholds her gift, and after some bargining with dear old dad. Father Time pours himself into Hob to stop the age and decay of his mortal body. Too much of himself. The process of one Time fading and one Time ascending begins!

Say from that point on the power of opportunity is Hobs, even though he doesn't know it. Things just work for him and those he cares about. Who's ever side he's fighting on in a battle 'will' win. The printing press for example, he joins it as a no hope career then it explodes! Hob just puts it down to good luck and a can do attitude.

By the End of the 1500s he's slowly evolving into the next stage, Eternity. Learning to respect the natural cycle of time, the change of the seasons, with life comes death...Yeah, this stage starts with a hard lesson.

So by this point, the power of life, memory and time are all slowly building up within Hob. Every turn of the wheel that passes for him, it grows. Now this could take centuries to come to fruition. But over the years, not that he'd notice, say, the seasons seem to be perfect wherever he goes. His memory, even as an immortal shouldn't be able to withtain everything he's been through. But he has perfect recall of everything from 1389 onwards. Maybe people around him get that little extra boost for experiencing life in the time they have. I also love the idea of the embodiements of the Zodiac being at his unknowing beck and call. He's sat talking to a crab and is like, "Let's have a good July this year. What do you think little crab?" And Cancer replies in crab... 'Ofcourse my liege!' and skuttles off to see to it immediately.

Final stage, Time itself. Learning to be and master Past, Present and Future... Where the fun really starts.

Hob waking up a different age every day of the week until he gets a handle on it.

Accidentally trapping himself in a time loop beacuse he was so focused on how a situation could have played out better.

Wishing he could have been there to help Dream and suddenly find himself standing outside of Fawney Rig in the 1920. And having seen enough movies to know he can't change anything. Even though he wants to more then anything.

Sneezing too hard and ending up in a different universe 100 years in the future. And having to call on a very white and definitely not 'his' Dream of the Endless to find his way back.

Hob may be starting to realise somethings a miss by now...

....................................................................

As for Dream becoming Night. Of all the Endless Siblings, Dream is the closest in function to Mother Night. While you can certainly dream during the day. Sleep and Night generally go hand in hand. He also seems to have taken for her the most in appearance if those starry eyes are anything to go by..

But well, the moment Hob decided, 'That's the anthropomorphic personification I'm going to marry!' his fate was sealed. Time HAS to have a Night. Mummy dearest is now slowly on the wane as her power slowly passes to her son.

I doubt Dream would notice any major changes for a while. He's got a lot on his plate to contend with after all. But maybe little things...

One morning he's snuggling with Hob and the dawn sunlight beams straight into his eyeballs. And Dream thinks, 'Go away...' And suddenly it's night again until his highness deems it time to get up.

The Stars in their masses start to visit the Dreaming to pay their respects to Dream. Which is all very nice, but he has absolutely no idea why its happening.

Dream is regarding himself in the mirror and notices his skin is starting to ever so slighlty sparkle. Thinks, 'I am getting old, I'm turning into my Mother.' Yup, quite literally duck. 😆

................................................

Then we come to the events of 'The Wake'. But a different kind of death awaits Dream, that of transformation. Daniel becomes Dream, Dream becomes Night. Hob ascends as the new Time... And Father Time and Mother Night's A* parenting comes back to bite them in some truly cosmic level karma.

[dead-dolphins]

I love reading your tpp asks and your answers because you respond with an analysis that at first glance seems simple but is very deep. I get that feeling that you are an author who really knows what you are doing and there is no trial and error and while that is not bad in writing per se, it is a type of artistic approach that is not often seen.

Please continue doing more tpp analyses. 🙏🏻

Ah, thank you so much, anon! Seriously, I really appreciate it.

It probably seems like I have everything planned out because I’ve spent so much time studying and thinking about tpp, haha. I can’t help it, I’m the type of writer who constantly studies my own work. For me, writing is a process of always learning, always growing, and taking inspiration from anything and everything, whether it’s a small moment in my day or something I read or watched. It all adds up, and that’s why I feel so connected to my characters and the plot. I’ve put a lot of thought into them. That’s probably why my responses can get a little long sometimes, there’s just so much I want to share!

But seriously, thank you so much for reading all the way through my long-winded answers, haha. It means a lot that you’re willing to dive into all the details with me!

[chris-continues]

I think we need to take a moment to collectively think about just how rewarding it would be -- (obviously after quite a long time of getting to know each other, building trust, etc.) -- to be able to take care of Nai a little bit. Making sure HE gets to have a sense of support and importance too, and knowing him well enough to be able to give it to him with whatever touches or gestures he's best equipped to recognize and let himself accept at that time.

NOTES: it’s been awhile since I’ve written college au knives, so I definitely had some fun with this hehe >:)

TAGS: @vashfantasy @h4venpha @lune010 @millionsvash @beanibon

Oh most definitely. In my college au he’s constantly watching over Vash and is always swamped with work- having to quit extracurriculars and take up jobs in hs to support them both, helping to take care of the crummy apartment, making sure Vash was taking care of himself, it takes a toll on how you take care of yourself.

I like to imagine Nai and Vash as a sort of example to Katniss and Prim if you read THG- Katniss only takes care of herself because she needs to take care of Prim. I think Nai is kinda like that too. Not that he himself needs a lot of maintenance or upkeep lmao (considering he doesn’t need to eat or sleep) but he still has to groom himself, take care of everything regarding house payments, bills, etc.

By the time reader meets him he’s hardened by his experiences, as you’d expect. He’s very touch averse, yet starved for it (relatable), and the idea of others caring for him makes him cringe. It feels.. shaming to him. Like it invalidates the care he’s had to meticulously handle for years. Of course, it doesn’t; but that’s just how he processes it. Supporting him will start with acts of service.

“You’re always getting me snacks, and I saw this yogurt at the campus cafe and thought of you. You like blueberries, right?”

At that point in time, he’ll hesitantly take it and eat it while studying later. It’s… not half bad. Actually pretty good. Hm. He’s oftentimes carrying food on hand for Vash and you, (who he’s grown partly fond of because you make valid points and you aren’t incompetent), so having the favor returned isn’t something he ever truly put his mind to.

Or perhaps offering him a pen, something small like that. Saving a seat for him in class. Offering him music. He doesn’t accept some of these offers, in fact a lot of times he refuses, but it’s the thought that counts and he does learn to appreciate it more over time.

The first time your hands brush, he curls away with a disgruntled look on his face. Don’t take it personally, it’s just that he isn’t entirely comfortable with physical touch. Imo the only exception to this is if you’re overstimulated and need some time away or if you’re having a panic attack- in which case, for anyone Nai is doing what he can to help. It’s a rough spot he’s seen himself in, a rough spot he’s seen Vash in, and despite finding a lot of things disgustingly human he won’t shame anyone for such a thing.

If you don’t want touch during those times? Understandable. He’s the same way. But if you’re reaching out or need to grab something (ex: his sleeve, fiddle with his pen, etc) he’ll silently hand it to you.

Giving him that same support is a whole other story though, as usually he’ll push everyone away coldly. Even Vash. Leave him alone and when he’s ready, he’ll come to you.

“Hey, you ok? I was worried about you earlier.”

“Adequate.” He hummed.

He won’t apologize for pushing you away, because duh, he was in a stressful situation and him pushing you away was valid, but there’s a sense of.. maybe some closeness between you two. I think growing closer to Nai and caring for him is something that will take time, and it’s gradual, you never really know when it starts- but you’re someone he learns to.. gravitate towards, and Vice versa.

When you get really close to him, you’ll lean on one another. You have to initiate, but he’ll melt into the touch. It’s perfect because he can pull away if need be, it’s an easy thing to do without having to awkwardly position yourselves, and it’s cozy. Or linking arms while sitting down, your head against his shoulder. He finds the weight to not be too suffocating and it fuels his touch starved self just a bit. It’s comfortable. You have to ask often, and he appreciates it.

“Can I lean on you again?”

“Mm.” (Yes)

Frame it as a favor to him. Initiate. He doesn’t wanna ask for it himself. Once he grows more comfortable he’ll allow himself to accept your affections more, craving your touch. It’s something that is a very long term struggle, but he’s handling it well.

This could apply to being in a QPR, close friendship, or a romantic relationship w him imo!!

[pbear]

Julius Reinberg analysis post because I can't stop rotating him in my head like a rotisserie chicken

(I was going to call it an appreciation post but he’s kind of a jerk. Love him anyways though.)

Lots and lots of manga spoilers so read at your own discretion

Julius is introduced as one of the most skilled wizards in Will's class. He's able to cast one of Elfaria's spells (albeit half as good as her). Another notable trait is his ego. He thinks he's better than others and looks down on them. At first, he's a massive jerk, but the story has him stick around after Will humbles him in their fight, and I honestly love what they do with him even though he's just a side character.

To me, Julius plays a similar to Sion as one of Will’s rivals. Both of them won’t let themselves be bested by Will which also pushes them to improve. The difference is that Sion is much more fair (I think he also kind of has an inferiority complex when it comes to Will but we won’t be talking about that today). As shown later in the manga, Julius isn't afraid to use Will to climb the tower himself.

One of my favorite moments showing Julius’ growth. Edward tells the dwarves to help the wizards even if they may die in the process and, oh look at that, Julius gets a reaction panel. He’s seemingly just as shocked as the dwarves to hear this. And then, he calls out to Gina as one of the monsters attacks, worried for her safety.

Part of Will defeating him earlier was that he had to work in the dwarves' tavern after disrespecting them earlier. And this moment shows how that affected his character. Julius didn't just take his punishment and turn back to his old ways. He came to respect and care about those he previously looked down on.

I think this is the moment that really made Julius intriguing to me because we get see what's below the surface of his character. The choice to not be kind because showing kindness only seemed to bring pain. You find out why he acts the way he acts.

It’s a moment that could definitely make him come as more unlikeable. He admits he likes looking down on others and showing off, but I think it more reveals how on the fence he is about this decision. He’s constantly reminded of when Anna told him how she loves how kind he was. He kept the pendant he gave her when he could have easily thrown it away and fully discarded the notion of ever being kind again. He hates that Will reminds him of Anna. Despite how much he wants to abandon his kindness, he’s reminded of how much it was valued. Julius is a very interesting character because there are times where he falls on one side of the fence and chooses to not be kind, but he also has times where he does because he can’t seem to fully get rid of it.

And I think this moment also shows Will's strength as a protagonist since he is able to draw out this other side of Julius (this happens with other characters like Wignall and Lihanna too). This boy is so good at seeing others’ strengths. He notices Julius’ resolve and how he follows through on his promises. He picks up on the kindness Julius thought he had left behind.

I'm so sad, HE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS!!! And Will says, "Julius was kind enough to leave us a clue." Despite Julius not believing in his own kindness, his final moments are spent creating a guardian that will help the others find out the truth.

In conclusion, I came to like Julius a lot as a character. He's initially an antagonist, but he grows and we come to learn more about his motivations. He says he only cares about himself and not others, but his actions reflect someone who's hardworking, always follows through on their promises, and can be kind.

[missfrieden]

Tech as a father Chapter 55

Orion and plushies which are nearly double the size of him. Not the one I am proudest off, but still somehow like.

Masterlist

Chapter 55: Orion and the plushies

Wrecker, determined to make the oversized Bantha and Tauntaun stuffies ship worthy for Orion, lugs them to the small washing area on the ship. Tech watches with a mixture of amusement and concern as Wrecker wrestles the plush creatures into the compact washer next to the dryer. Which Tech found necessary to upgrade since he brought Orion. Tech interjects, "Wrecker, make sure to use a gentle cycle. We don't want to damage them." Wrecker grins, giving Tech a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Tech. I'll take good care of Orion's new buddies."

As the washer hums to life, Wrecker waits eagerly, anticipating the moment when the plushies emerge freshly cleaned also from the dryer. Wrecker showed immense patience while waiting for the cycles. The rest of the squad, sensing the significance of these new additions to Orion's possessions, gathers around, curious to see the outcome.

Once the wash cycle is complete, Wrecker proudly presents the now squeaky-clean plushies. Hunter jokes, "Well, Tech, it looks like Orion's plushies are officially part of the squad now." Tech, unable to hide a smile, nods in approval. "Thank you, Wrecker. I'm sure Orion will appreciate the gesture." With the freshly laundered Bantha and Tauntaun in tow, the squad heads back to their common area, eager to see Orion's reaction to the new additions to his growing collection.

Orion currently playing with Echo, sitting in his lap, tries to chomp down on the scomp arm. “Don’t please, look now you may have no teeth, but later on that will hurt.” Echo tries to tell his nephew in a serious tone. “Baah” is all he gets as an answer as Orion’s drool covered lips smack down again. Echo moves his arm away, he really does not need any drool in the circuits, and either it shocks him or Orion. But the little ones head follows trying to suck again on this cool surface. As Echo sees the other he places Orion on his tummy and gets up, fetching a cloth to clean his arm. Wrecker carefully places the two new additions to Orion’s stuffed animal collection on the edge by the playmat.

As Orion army crawls closer to the oversized Bantha and Tauntaun stuffies, the squad members watch in amusement. Echo teases, "Looks like Orion is leading the way for his own mini-army." Tech nods, acknowledging Echo's observation. "Indeed, he's been working on this particular motion during his playtime. It seems like he's ready to explore more." Orion, undeterred by the size difference, reaches out and touches the soft fur of the Bantha with curious fingers. The oversized plushies tower over him, creating an adorable scene that captures the attention of the entire squad.

Wrecker grins, "Guess he's inspecting his new recruits, Tech. Gotta make sure they're up to standard." Tech chuckles, appreciating the lighthearted moment. "Seems like he's already showing leadership potential." His hand on instinct wandering up to the camera.

As Orion continues to explore and interact with the large stuffed animals, the squad enjoys the heartwarming sight of their youngest member engaging with his new, oversized companions. It's a moment of levity in their otherwise intense and demanding lives as Clone Force 99.

Orion, displaying his curiosity, manages to nudge the oversized Bantha over, its fluffy form toppling onto its side. He tilts his head, studying the plush creature intently. The lack of sound surprises him, prompting a thoughtful "Baaah" sound from the inquisitive infant. Tech watches Orion's exploration, a smile forming on his face. "Seems like he's trying to figure out why this one doesn't make noise like his other toys. It's a learning process. Fascinating how he seems to catch on." Wrecker laughs, "Well, at least he's giving them a thorough inspection. Good to know he takes his job as commander seriously, even with plushies."

Later Tech leans back in his bunk, watching over Orion as the rhythmic hum of the ship creates a gentle lull. Intent on staying awake until his son drifts off into a nap, Tech finds himself succumbing to the fatigue of constant vigilance. His little trooper had nearly fallen asleep inspecting the new stuffed animals. And threw a tiny tantrum when Tech stored them away. But as soon as he got his bottle, he calmed down.

As Orion's tiny breaths become steady, Tech's eyes gradually close, and he too slips into a light doze. The ship's gentle vibrations, coupled with the sense of security that comes from being close to his son, create a peaceful atmosphere.

In this moment of tranquillity, Tech's mind briefly escapes the challenges they face, finding solace in the simple act of being present for Orion's nap.

Chapter 56

Reblogs are very welcome and I am open for feedback, as english is not my first language, so maybe my sentences may be weird sometimes, or I write a word wrong even with google, or I use a wrong word for an item.

Tag: @spectacular-skywalker @neyswxrld @clonethirstingisreal @sleepycreativewriter @moonwreckd @sskim-milkk

Okay I think that I will try to post one each sunday, and when work is not totally exhausting me, maybe some in between.

[icrypop]

Can I also request a poly sbg x reader who likes cooking for them? (Specifically Korean and Taiwanese food) and they also like calling her mom?

Poly School Bus Graveyard x Reader - Cooking and "Mom" Jokes

Ashlynn, Taylor/Tyler, Ben, Aiden, Logan

I really liked this because my stepmom is Korean and I learned how to make some of these dishes and I like all the requests for SBG gang!! Anywayyy, working through each request slowly, trust the process!

-Writer Icy<3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The reader enjoys cooking for the gang, often preparing delicious Korean and Taiwanese dishes that fill the air with mouthwatering aromas. Whether it's spicy tteokbokki, savory bulgogi, or a comforting bowl of beef noodle soup, the reader takes pride in the meals they create, finding joy in the act of caring for their friends through food.

Ashlynn:

Affectionate Teasing: Ashlynn loves to tease the reader, often calling them "mom" in a playful tone as she digs into whatever delicious dish they’ve prepared. She’ll smile warmly, saying things like, “Thanks, mom! This is amazing!” She appreciates the reader’s cooking deeply and often tries to help out in the kitchen, even if she’s not the best cook.

Quality Time: She enjoys spending time with the reader while they cook, chatting about anything and everything. Ashlynn sees these moments as a way to grow closer, appreciating the reader’s care and effort in making sure everyone is well-fed.

Tyler:

Genuine Gratitude: Tyler is less playful and more genuine in his appreciation. Though he might occasionally join in on the “mom” jokes, he usually expresses his gratitude with a sincere, “This is really good. Thanks.” He loves the reader’s cooking and always makes sure to eat everything on his plate.

Protective Support: Tyler often lingers around the kitchen, keeping an eye out for anything the reader might need help with. He’s quick to step in if something needs lifting or moving, trying to ease the reader’s burden without making a big deal out of it.

Taylor:

Playful Banter: Taylor is the ringleader when it comes to calling the reader “mom.” She’ll dramatically thank them, saying, “What would we do without you, mom?” Taylor loves to playfully exaggerate her appreciation, but underneath the jokes, she’s deeply touched by the reader’s care.

Flirty Compliments: Taylor is also the one to sneak in a flirty comment or two, complimenting the reader on how good they look while cooking, just to see them blush. She enjoys the warmth and comfort the reader brings to the group and never misses a chance to let them know.

Aiden:

Eager Appreciation: Aiden absolutely loves the reader’s cooking and is the first to pile his plate high with whatever they’ve made. He joins in on the “mom” jokes with enthusiasm, often saying things like, “You’re the best mom ever!” His genuine love for the reader’s cooking is clear in the way he devours everything they make.

Emotional Connection: For Aiden, the reader’s cooking is a source of comfort and emotional connection. He feels deeply cared for through the food they make, and it’s one of the ways he feels closest to them. He often lingers after meals, helping to clean up and chatting with the reader about anything and everything.

Ben:

Subtle Compliments: Ben isn’t one for overt affection, but he appreciates the reader’s cooking in his own quiet way. He’ll occasionally join in on the “mom” jokes, but his appreciation usually comes in the form of subtle compliments, (written in his journal) like, “This is really well-made,” or “You’ve outdone yourself again.”

Helpful Presence: Ben often offers to help with the more technical aspects of cooking, like adjusting the heat or making sure everything is timed perfectly. He enjoys the routine and structure of cooking with the reader, finding it a calming and grounding experience.

Logan:

Quiet Gratitude: Logan appreciates the reader’s cooking but is more reserved about it. He might chuckle at the “mom” jokes but doesn’t join in as often. Instead, he shows his appreciation through small acts, like offering to do the dishes or clean up after the meal.

Deep Respect: Logan respects the reader’s skill in the kitchen and often quietly watches them cook, fascinated by their process. He’s more likely to express his appreciation in a calm, sincere way, saying something like, “Thank you. This is really good,” after finishing a meal.

In this dynamic, the reader's love of cooking becomes a central part of their relationship with the group. The gang’s jokingly calling them “mom” adds a layer of warmth and humor to the relationship, making the reader feel appreciated and loved in return. The shared meals become a bonding experience, strengthening their connection and adding to the unique dynamic they all share.