#okay. so. the problem. with independent contract work?

[strohller27]

.

[mtcloudsworld]

What do you hc your jason to look like

Anon has requested what my HC would be for Jason and I didn't think much about doing one myself but now that I've got some ideas in place, it's a pretty lengthy hc than intended😅 Warning: I did make the reader more personal than expected, I kinda got lost in the sauce and was having way too much fun with it. It is black!fem/college!reader based HC because that is what I can relate to.

I can understand if most of you won't read it cause it's not neutral but I just really had fun placing my personal life into a reader who may relate to what I've gone through in some way (hopefully that made sense 💀)

Tbh, if you can relate, you can relate. If not, then my apologies. This was just a really fun thing for me to do and think about. But it's not like I can't do another one so 🤷🏾‍♀️ with that being said, enjoy!

Please ignore any errors. Like, comment and reblog

─☁️

𝐽𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑜𝑑𝑑'𝑠 𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝐻𝐸𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝑁𝑂𝑁𝑆

۫ ִ✶ ࣪ Warning | nsfw/sfw, +18, mdni, black!fem reader, college student, boyfriend!Jason, husband!Jason, friends to lovers, black!fem reader is described in the way I want, if you can't relate that's okay. I just found this to be fun to do and imagine, plus!size reader, curvaceous, introverted!reader, wifeblackfem!reader, sweet! Jason, protective!Jason, dom/sub, mentions of insecurities, trust issues, trauma and abuse, losing v card, intercourse, marriage

𝐽𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑜𝑑𝑑'𝑠 𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝐻𝐸𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝑁𝑂𝑁𝑆 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑠

𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑣𝑒 ; 𝑚𝑡𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑑𝑠𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 ; 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

𝑨 = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒

Sometimes your independence can get the best of you. Actions speak louder than words though and best believe you don't have to ask Jason to do a damn thing because he's already ten steps ahead.

Oh, the dishes are already taken care of? Sweet.

Oh how sweet, he did the laundry this morning!

*Sniffs the air* is that... Alfredo I smell?

Oh yeah, baby, Jason's got it all taken care of. There's no reason to fret, no reason for you to get frustrated or stressed to the point you want to pluck your braids from out your head. He follows through with his word. If he says he's gonna do something, consider it as if he just signed a contract with his blood.

Despite trying to receive practical support, you can feel the trust in his promises through and through. He shows up and shows out when you least expect it. And it's not like you ask him to do these things or, once again, expect him to do it because he's your boyfriend. No, in your mind it's your responsibility it's your shit to deal with, not his. Understand he does it because he sees your struggling, he sees your stress and cares for your well being. If you can do it with his problems best believe he's gonna do the same for you.

And you grow to love that about him. You love that Jason goes out of his way to take care of you, especially as a full time college student working the night shift who has studies almost every single day? It's a relief to come back home and see the apartment spotless, opening the fridge to see food ready to be eaten, and a text message (that you failed to look at) list the things he did while you were away.

Now you're not one to be emotional but best believe you may have felt a tear or two slide down your cheeks while mentally yelling, OH MY SHAYLAAAA, MY SHAYLAAAA!!!

He's attentive, boo boo, that's his specialty. He notices every little obstacle in your way.

And please don't think he doesn't love the fact you can take care of yourself, because he does. Oh, he is more than happy that you have self reliance, but he's here now ── he's present. Asking for help doesn't make you weak, it doesn't make you a bother. In fact, it lets him know you can trust him. You trust him to do these things for you unconditionally.

"Thank you." The book is forgotten the moment you slip yourself on top of him comfortably. You feel the deep rumble beneath his chest as you lay your face against his pec. The book is marked and placed on the floor. Bulky arms engulfing you into a bear hug. Your body laxes and your mind goes mush. The feeling of his face buried into your braids, leaving kisses to your crown while massaging the nape of your neck, makes everything around you grow peacefully still. "No need, baby. I got you."

𝐵 = 𝐵𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡

He loves you. Every part of you, sexually and nonsexually of course. But if he had to choose his favorite body part on you, it'd be your thighs.

Mhmmm, those thighs. Those beautiful sexy thick thighs of yours? They just do something to him.

The size of them? Their perfect. Perfectly perfect for rh size of his hand to grope on. His hand practically occupies most of the space. The way he squeezes it, how his hand effortlessly slips between them to feel your warmth and allow his thumb to caress and sooth over your soft bronze skin, makes him feel so laxed. It lets you know he is feeling some type of way and just need you're attention for good, hot, minute.

I mean how could you deny them? They're so plump and plush, and the way your stretch marks adored them really makes him salivate at the sight. He loves how your legs effortlessly reach for him with the quickness, when you want his attention, when you want to talk to him, have eye to eye contact, wanting to crave him. Your determination drives you to wrap them around his waist, pulling him back and trapping him between your lucious thighs. You watch with a smirk how his eyes widen at the gesture, bringing yourself to wrap your arms around his neck and push your tits against him. "Where do you think you're going Mista?"

Most importantly, your thighs never fail to suffocate him when you sit on his face. He loves to smother himself into your skin, allowing his rough veiny hands to caress up the gentle parts of your body, groping at your ass to push your cunt further down for more.

It's safe to say, you're content to know he could die happily by them.

For you, it's not necessarily a "body part" but a part of his body. It's his voice. Like how he is with your thighs? It's the same way for you with his voice. The deep raspy baritone in his voice every time he calls you mama or mamas, baby or dollface makes your panties soak. His moans, whimpers and groans, ugh!! When he's being flirtatious and needy with you he has a way of being charming and cocky with you but also there's a tender side of him that makes you fall deeper.

You're proud to know he's comfortable showing his skin, whether that's walking around shirtless in only sweats or basketball shorts. He can approach you in just a towel with his hair soaking wet and tussled knowing that you wouldn't judge him of his scar or the huge Y at his torso. You practically gleam when he gets out of bed after a moment of intimacy with you to stretch his limbs showing off every aspect himself to you in the naked eye.

Nothing, preferably you liked him in nothing. Why? Because that body of his was made by the gods themselves, Lazarus pit or not. In a bashful yet proud way, he's happy knowing that you love how massive and bulky he is compared to you. At first he wasn't used to the shower of compliments and praises, he didn't know how to take it all. But the more he opened up to you, the more he grew to love your crazy obsession for him.

His autopsy scar beneath your lips isn't bothersome as you litter kisses over his chest, appreciating every little thing about him. Cyan eyes observe how you maneuver yourself between his legs. Hands wrapping delicately around his thick cock, he stiffens a little as you start to kiss along the underside of his cock, slowly moving your hand up and down his shaft, you feel the way he twitches at the palm of your hand. "It's okay baby?" Heart eyes gazing up at him for approval. He hums in response, reaching down to cup your face, brushing his thumb along your cheek to feel the tender texture of your velvet flesh makes his heart beat faster as a rush of excitement runs through him.

You start to tease him at first, leaving open mouth kisses at the base, dragging your lips up the underside of him to then lick and suck at the beautiful blush colored tip. You gradually invite him into your mouth. The warm embrace of your mouth engulfing around him makes your cheeks hollow. As you take him little by little, stroking him in the process, it brings his body into deep euphoria. Head lulling back into the pillow and eyes flickering close, a deep throat moan is heard as he feels your hands placed at the center of his thighs. "Mm, shit. Such a good girl for me, mama." He praises with sultry, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as you bob your head slowly. "So sweet for me. Such a sweet girl. Just know how to treat me..so well-- f-fuck." His eyes flicker shut, listening to how you suck him off tenderly at the tip before allowing your tongue to swirl round and around and around, "Mm, take me baby, take all of me. Fuck, that's it mama, show me--ugh, show me just how much of a good girl you are. Uh huh, that's it baby, go faster for me. Yes that's it." He whimper moans at the way your mouth messily deep throat him, slopper starting to roll down to his pubic hair where you then go to deep throat him.

He groans as a wave of pleasure runs through his veins, you sense the way his hand rests at the top of your head, using you as leverage to start deep fucking your mouth. He hears and feels you start to choke, your throat closing in on him just in time to feel his seed. You pull away breathless, observing the mess you made give his dick a pretty little shine underneath the limelight. Jason runs his fingers through his hair shocked by the short amount of time you made him cum. Though he didn't mean it, you didn't look at him with judgement or disgust. Nah, you looked to him with pride, bringing yourself to straddle on top of him and give him a passionate wet kiss. He groans at the feeling of you welcoming his fat cock to your needy soaking hole, shared juices playing as lubricant for him to slip right in you. With ease, the girth of him stretches you out more and more as you start to bounce back on him.

𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡��𝑜𝑛

Communication with Jason was... rocky at the start of the relationship. Especially when he was hiding his past and the fact that he was Red Hood. He knew if you got caught up in the mix of all his mess that would not only be detrimental to you and your safety but also to your shared relationship. Although he didn't want to hide this major part of his life from you and lie about every little thing, he didn't want to lose you. He couldn't lose you, that would be the death of him.

Then again, It was infuriating having all these unanswered questions left untouched.

And Jason knew you weren't stupid, you were attentive to the things he said and the things he does. He could see it all over your face. You're a very patient woman, always slow to anger with him. But that night in particular? The way your face twisted bitterly with worry and frustration in your eyes while you dabbed the alcohol covered cotton ball against the cut along his cheek. He dared to lock gazes with you.

No words are shared but he can see the hesitation, the wanting to furiously question every little thing, to argue and force him to tell you what the hell is going on.

But you don't.

Instead you sigh, bandage his cut and stand up to throw away the rest of the trash.

Your quiet. Too quiet and that's never a good sign. But you chose to be knowing if you argue with him it'll drive a wedge between you. And he hates it. The overwhelming tension and silence in the air, he hates it. He hates how distant you are. He hates how the bridge keeps growing longer and longer the more he dodges your questions. Because when you turn to walk away, you feel the firm yet tender grasp of his hand reach out for you. Pleading for you to come back, he pulls you into his embrace-- and you cling to him like a vest. Like your life depends on it. and he can't help but bury his face into your hair, telling you, "Please, please understand it's not that I don't want to tell you because I do. I just..." Sigh, "I can't risk it.* You feel his arms hold you tighter. *I can't risk losing you because of it. I can't bear the idea of you getting hurt by it. I just...can't let anybody know about you. Not yet." Not his family, not his friends, not the world or his enemies, could know a thing about you. He couldn't think of the worst possibility of someone finding out.

And after a moment of silence, you break.."I just want to be aware, Jason, I don't want be blind sided by whatever this is" your voice is shaky, so soft, so...broken. like the walls of Jericho falling at his feet. Your guard is down, allowing your tears to wet at his hoodie and it surprises him. He's so used to seeing you tough, being able to handle things without breaking down. You're never this emotional. Never this intense to the point of crying, and you hate crying, you hate showing your vulnerability. You hate being this intense about the situation. But because of your trauma, because of your past, the empty promises, hidden secrets and lies it's gotten you to this point.

You care and it shows in the way you fight with him about this. The way you fight with him just shows he's always on your mind. "I just.." you're trying not to cry, your hand clenching at his hoodie as you bury your face into his chest. "I just wanna know you're okay that's it, that's all I ask."

He groans internally. "It's not...safe. there's a possibility I could get hurt, to the point of death. It could make me go radio silent for months upon months and then come back acting like nothing had ever happened, it could become triggering for me but I know I need to do it."

There's a silence. A silence that has your mind spinning and you'll pull away, take a moment, bat your soaked lashes at him and say, "and when that happens? Can you give me a sign? A text or something to let me know of these things? I won't ask you, I won't... force you to tell me until you're ready but for the sake of my mental and not being left in the dark, all I need to know is that you're okay or that you're gonna be gone for awhile?"

His jaw clenches and he nods in consideration.

I love you endlessly.

The first time you saw that text it made your world stop. Okay, it's happening. It's..time.

A shared phrase, a shared promise, a shared code. He's gonna be gone for awhile but best believe you're the only one he's coming back to.

You eventually find out near the brink of death who he truly was. The worst time to find out but because you were his emergency contact someone had to know he was okay (Which some would find weird since his family was there with him but when shit hit the fan and he has no other options.) You were the only person to call when he found himself in a pickle. When he couldn't tell you himself what's going on. You had the right to know the whereabouts of your lover.

Your mind was swirling when you found out Bruce Wayne was his adoptive father, that Dick Grayson and the rest of the bat family were all his siblings that happened to be the most famous vigilantes in all of Gotham.

You stood before him, laid in bed unconscious with a heart monitor, IV bag attached to his vein and any other machine to make sure his body doesn't crash, feeling nothing but relief, confusion and worry.

"He talks about you ya know?"

"I didn't know, any of it, I swear I didn't."

Bruce nods in understanding. "He has his reasoning, all of us does. Its not your fault. It just comes with the job. However, we're glad to know he has someone other than us to rely on. You clearly care, if you didn't you wouldn't have rushed down here crying and asking what happened.

"I love him. I wouldnt want this for him but I do understand. I understand that this is just part of his life and that I have to adjust."

"ya know you don't have to. You have every right to walk away. It may hurt but we understand."

Your jaw clenches at the idea, walking away? After everything you've been through? Not a chance.

"I can accept this."

"Can you really?" Damian asks, moving to stand beside his father. "Can you really accept the fact that one day his life will be on the line? That you and your future may be in danger because of it? Can you really be that stupid to stand here and say you can handle any of this?"

"If it all means being by his side, cleaning his wounds, hiding his identity, hiding your identity-- taking care of him through and through, yes I can handle all of this." Your answer was serious as you gazed back at the youngest out of all of them, "If you love someone that much you'd do just about anything for them, wouldn't you? I would. I would because he deserves to know someone is in his corner, waiting for him at the end of the tunnel, he deserves that much support no matter what."

Bruce and the rest didn't say much more after that.

You stayed at the manor majority of Jason's time of healing. He wasn't exactly happy about it but talking your way out of it was no use. You were as stubborn as a mule.

Alfred and Bruce made effort in taking you to campus and picking you up after work. You made some time getting to know the Wayne family for who they were. You'd let Alfred take a break from caring for Jason as it had been a minute since you last saw him.

And after dressing his wounds, you'd feel him reach up to twirl a braid between his fingers grasping your attention. A small smile plays on your lips. Your fingers reach over to brush the white strands from his face before proceeding to caress at his cheek. "How are you feeling?"

He grunts, pondering in thought as glances over himself. "Like a bus ran me over ten times over." His humor was dry, but a smirk still appeared onto his lips when hears you stifle a laugh. "Yeah, well next time? Maybe look both ways before crossing okay?"

"Hm, duly noted."

You shake you're head with a smile pulling away to throw the trash. You come back and sit on the side of the bed gazing over his healed face. You notice how his face grows serious. He gulps, brows knitted as he's now in deep thought. He looks to you with hesitation, wanting to say a lot but don't know how.

"Y/n, I--" he gulps, lips parted a little. "I..I don't know what to say. I'm sorry I really am I just─" his lips twist to the side. Trying to find the words to say but can't bring himself to. He's frustrated with himself. Frustrated that it came down to this in this way. It's all out of fear. Fear of losing you. Fear of losing this relationship. Scared that you might reject everything because of his lifestyle

"Don't."

Your gazes lock. You give him a reassured smile, allowing your fingers to entwine in comfort. "You don't have to tell me now. I'm not expecting an explanation right off the bat. For now, just heal and rest, please?"

He was hesitant at first but nods, placing a kiss at the center of your hand.

𝐷 = 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠

Jason was a nervous wreck when he asked you out. He thought he was supposed to show off and what not but really you were simple and subtle. You found it cute when he'd make a fool of himself, giggle when he'd say something stupid. You'd hold onto his arm, strolling down the sidewalk after leaving the restaurant and tell him I really had fun tonight, it was sweet, but please don't think I'm the kind of girl who loves all that fancy shit. I mean it's gorgeous don't get me wrong but I'm not into all that.

Dates with you were never difficult. If Jason had planned something ahead of time, you were usually satisfied. If he didn't, you're indecisive, unsure of what you want. Jason would start listing things, anything that sounds remotely good or he'll suggest a new restaurant or whatever and that usually goes well.

You're not the kind of girl to go to fancy restaurants where you have to dress up, drink wine, where the chandelier is dazzling approve you, and ballroom music is playing in the background. You didn't need all that expensive shit, y'all had enough of doing that at Bruce's galas.

It wasn't you and it wasn't Jay either.

A good ol' family diner, Italian restaurant, bowling, seafood or soul food spot, movie theater or drive in theater, Korean restaurant etc was just enough to get you out of your norm. For more quieter spaces such as a cafe or a library where it's subtle and cute was more up your alley.

There have been a few times where you'd spend your time on the fire scape and watch the sun set on the horizon or stargaze in each other's arms.

And if you weren't ready to end the night, a good ol' ride around the city became the cherry on the top.

"You so cute," Jason coos, smirking from ear to ear, "such a Tatortot." Your eyes roll playfully and your lips smack at the annoying ass nickname. Although you hated it you couldn't deny the burning along your cheeks and the meekness on your face when he pulls you into his embrace. With a cute pout your head turns to the side as you sway from left to right, "Mm, you know you love it." Listening to him speak sweetly to you, you feel how he kisses up your neck, leaving lingering kisses to your flesh while he drags his nose along the underside of your jaw, smelling the scent of strawberries and vanilla through his nose. "Yeah, yeah, yeah...I love you too." You say before feeling the deep baritone of his chuckle beneath his chest.

𝐸 = 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒

Neither of you knew what you were doing. Neither of you were experienced. You were both virgins at heart but your minds were anything but innocent, body yearning, body wanting. Both equally attentive, nurturing and loving. Y'all learned through and through how to take care of each other's bodies like a temple.

The closest thing to anything remotely sexual was masturbation and oral sex. Undoubtedly you both craved for it, wanted it, needed it beyond what you were used to. At first you took things slow, gentle essence with grace, no need to chase the high when both of you wanted to enjoy the expanse of bliss running through your veins.

𝐹 = 𝐹𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

It might take y'all some time to cool off.

You're a very patient woman who is slow to anger, you're not quick to assume but sometimes your thoughts want to lead you to it. And once you're at that point, it's hard to snap back out of it. You need to collect your thoughts and come back with a sound mind. You can't talk to Jason when you're angry because you may say some unnecessary things, your voice may get loud out of anger and feeling like your patience wearing thin.

And after you two are able to sit down and talk like adults, I can say you are quick to apologize if you're in the wrong and quick to forgive if he's in the wrong. Undoubtedly you hate being mad at each other for so long but there are times when you just need space.

If there was ever a time Jason were to get mad at you, I can imagine Jason being the same way. He doesn't like raising his voice but it can overpower you. Just because he's mad and you aren't on speaking terms doesn't mean he's gonna stop caring for you. He's not gonna stop watching over you when you head back home from work. Tracking your every move. Making sure your drinking enough water, eating, resting, taking breaks in between studies. He's still gonna do the things he needs to do, kiss you on the cheek and tell you that he loves you before leaving.

𝐺 = 𝐺𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑑

This man is your protector through and through.

Tracking devices, security systems and weapons of every kind is much needed when dating a vigilante, you are bound to be protected at all costs. He can't risk losing you to foolishness, can't risk you getting hurt. As Red Hood, he watches over you nightly, jumping from rooftop to rooftop he makes sure that you are home from work safe and sound. I'm telling you this man does daily check ins to make sure you're good. Jason is definitely the type to live, die, and breath by you. He'd jump in front of a bullet, a car, a moving train just for your safety. He's just that reckless when it comes to you and although you hate to think of something so damaging, it's the reality of his world.

𝐻 = 𝐻𝑎𝑖𝑟

I could imagine Jason being so caught up with his own shit he'd forget to care for himself. He's not worried about himself right now, he's worried about cracking this damn case. Now that he has you, he makes sure he's got a nice shave and clean cut. As far as pubic hair goes that's really up to you, he doesn't really have a problem with that. You do love the happy trail that leads into his pants, especially when he's shirtless and just wearing a pair of sweatpants. Mhmmm.

You barely grow hair. Your friends call you a hairless cat because you never had to shave your legs. Every girl you've come across was all astonished and jealous of you because of it. They were so smooth like butter, and glossy and moisturized as if you had just shaved. It would explain why Jason has an attraction for your thighs/legs. They're like velvet, they're just so soft to the point he wants to bite them. You barely got hair under your armpits─ you shave them every once and awhile but it's not distracting.

Your curls can be a lot to deal with but you love to wear them out naturally. It's not often you get your hair braided but when you do, Jason can't help but to get all smiley with you. He can't help but to look, (with permission) touch it. He even goes as far as to educate himself with asking questions about how long it takes, how they fo it etc etc etc. The same way you look at your man when he gets a nice cut, is the same way he looks at you, gorgeous and yummy. You always make sure your hair looks good and stays good before it's time to take them down.

With pubic hair, you personally love it clean, if not a clean shave you love when your hair is cut low. Jason doesn't necessarily have a preference. As long as you keep yourself clean and squeaky, he doesn't care.

𝐼 = 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑦

Intimacy started with innocence and uncertainty. Equally unsure of how this should go. Insecurity came to play and then doubt and hesitation. Both of you had to learn. Step by step. It had to take time. Sweat and tears, effort and patience. Acknowledge each other's likes and dislikes. How to be cared for. How do they like to be kissed? Are they dominate or submissive? Do they like to be overpowered? Overstimulated? Do they like it rough? Slow? Hard? Fast? Etc etc etc. Undoubtedly it took time. Your kinks and all weren't really discovered until later on in the relationship when communication and trust was solid.

It just depends on the timing and mood. You can equally be playful. A painful tease. Turn role play into something deliciously nasty. Due to trauma and abuse, some kinks are experienced more than others. Consent is always key no matter what.

Jason's a switch so he can be rough and possessive, delicate and sweet when he needs to be.

You're assertive and blunt, and most times that kind of takes Jason off guard. You come when he least expects it but it keeps him on his toes and he likes that. He likes how mischievous you can be, how your words can be as charming as the moon, how your eyes constantly look at him with love and hunger at the same time. You care for him with confidence, you know what ticks him off, what drives him insane. You have a mouth on you, but he knows how to handle it, how to punish you.

Though, you can also be submissive and shy.

You haaaate your submissive side, though.

Those are the times you're sexually frustrated and need him to do unimaginable things to your body, it's rough and unforgettable. It leaves your body spent and slumped afterwards.

It's the side that's too shy to ask for it after weeks or months of not getting any. It's the side that Jason adores the most because you are your most purest. The side that wants to be told you're a good girl, that you're doing so well for baby. The side that wants to be clingy and babyed. It's also the side where you're the most compliant, agreeing to almost anything that remotely makes you feel good and cum ten times over. This side doesn't really show until later on in the relationship, after all the tension and rocky moments together have passed. This is the side he loves to lavish on.

Blame it on ovulation if you want, but these are the times─ if you're not careful, where you might get pregnant. You're so desperate, so in tune at the idea of being breeded, of having his cum deep inside you that the consequences aren't really thought of afterwards.

It's the time when you haven't really craved for it in awhile and it just...suddenly hits you. It hits Jay too, but sometimes he's not really thinking about it because he's so deep into his missions. He doesn't neglect it though. Like I said he's very observant, very attentive. He can see it all in your eyes, the way you look at him, stare at him, glare at him─ you're practically fucking him with your eyes. He doesn't do things to intentionally make you a soaking puddle but he does. The way you act. You're like a helpless prey. You're not yourself, even when he touches you your body flinches but you yearn for it. He can tell you're just acting funny yet he's waiting for you to say something. Admittedly, Jason feels the same way too. There are times when he sees you just sitting there innocent minding your business, you're doing school work, stressed out, cooking─ doesn't matter what you're doing he just wants to ravish you. Shower you with praise and worship, fuck you like there's no tomorrow.

The poor boy is starving!

He's more forward than you are, he's asking you to tell him what's wrong, is there anything you need? Is there something he can do? The tension is there and he's on you immediately, begging to hear those sweet sultry words fall from your lips. Begging for you to just say it as plain and simple as 123.

Undoubtedly he's fucking you with no breaks in between, from sun down to sun up. He's fucking you so good to the point that you're crying and sobbing into the sheets, you're pleading for him, desperate for him and only him, you just want him to do his worst on you in the most softest way possible.

You're your most loudest, poutest, whiney moans that are high pitched and whimpering like crazy. This side has a chokehold on him the most because he has you in the palm of his hand.

Undoubtedly sex can make you feel like you're most rawest. You feel bare emotionally, physically, and mentally. You're souls are connected and senses every right and wrong thing about each other.

The aftercare is top tier, five star. Talking through what just happened makes you both feel more open, amenable and vulnerable with your emotions, mental state and well being. There's no hiding the tension, no secrets of any kind─ it's just rapport

𝑱 = 𝐽𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑦

I'm very iffy with this one because you don't really go out much outside of school and work, barely like people as it is so it's rare of you to be at bars/clubs or parties of any sort. I feel he wouldn't be jealous, moreso protective. You're not that kind of girl, so the idea of him being jealous is pretty low. He knows you’re loyal, so there's no reason to be jealous when he already has you. The most he’ll do if he’s jealous is wrap his arm around your neck, pull you in close, cold exterior while glaring at the other person, letting them know that you're obviously taken and going any further would be a big mistake

You're not gonna talk to anybody that's not Jason, point blank period.

Same goes for jason, however I feel like the situation with him would go like from him declining them the first time right? Telling them "Hey I got a girl, back up off me." And if they keep pushing up on him, not getting the obvious. He'll chuckle dryly, knowing in the back of his mind that they're playing a dangerous game and that you're not too far from seeing what's going on. "You might not wanna do that, lady." And if she still aint getting the hint. Best believe you're ass is gonna give it to her. Because no means no, what part of that do you not understand?

𝐾 = 𝐾𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

Kissing you is like the heavenly flood gates spreading wide open. Kissing you is like a nice massage on a good tuesday night. Kissing you is escapism. Kissing you is listening to the blues under the midnight moon. Kissing you is like wedding bells chiming in the background. Kissing you is like all his problems melting away. Like the world stops spinning. Like time is of the essence but theres no rush through it. Its loving, its tender, its delicate, its gentle-- its a moment to forget everything but you. Though his cheeks may burn, his heart may flutter and body yearn, kissing you is a craving--an addiction he can never let go. Public PDA might not be his forte, but privately? He kisses how he fucks you, possessive and suave, warm and needy, dominating every sense of you. Kissing you gets him love drunk. It's just enough to gain a radiant high from the heavens.

𝐿 = 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒

His one and only true love. His only exception. The only constant in his life that makes him feel like a good man, that makes him feel worthy of it all. You had a drive, a curiosity, a determination that turned him on. He doesn't talk to anybody else, doesn't show his vulnerability to anybody else and surely doesn't pin someone's home as his safe haven when he's hurt from patrol or just need time to get away from everything── you, you were his only exception.

He couldn't pretend like the feelings weren't there. It struck him like a nerve, like a cord the day he realized. It was sudden, it was quick, it was hard to be nonchlanat when you were standing here looking as good as you do.

His resolve disappeared the moment he leaned over to place a kiss to your lips. Full and juicy, they lingered with love and moved leisurely. He wanted to make sure you felt and tasted every part of him, made sure that this wasn't just any ol' kiss. It meant something. Something so meaningful. Something so out of his norm that it was hard to explain it all in one setting.

His actions were subtle but intentional, and as your lips departed, bodies still close, clinging onto each other. Your faces were still so close, to the point of nudging your nose against his, hood eyes gazing into each other's, there was a pause, a second when things just became...still, "I love you." he breathes, gulping nervously, hands gripping you tighter, scared to let you go. Your eyes flickered up at him, internally shocked.

"I--what?" He stands his ground, "I've...loved you for a while now. Wasn't too sure how else to tell you without being a nervous wreck but.. I do. I love you more than you think. And I know it may be difficult to believe or you're just not ready for it, but I felt you should know."

It takes a minute for you to register everything. For a smile to come on your face, to see the flirtatious yet teasing gaze in your eyes as you pout and coo at him, "You love me, baby?" Your arms move upward around his shoulders feeling yourself melt into his embrace. His hands drifting past your lower hips, making you sway from left to right, smirking like an idiot. "Mmhm, I love you, I love you so much, princess."

𝑀 = 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 (𝑊𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝘩 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚.ᐣ)

Weekdays; If Jason is lucky, he's usually home before you're awake. Gets himself a quick nap in before cooking you breakfast, preparing you some snacks and lunch for the day before waking you up. You're not a morning person, you hate getting up so damn early!!! You're a night owl at heart, it's hard to go to sleep at a reasonable time, so he has to get you up two hours before to get your body going and what not. Some hugs and kisses, maybe a quickie here and there before dropping you off at campus. Weekends; are your only time to be lazy, to sleep in late, have brunch, take a break from any and everything (and thats only if you don't have upcoming exams) otherwise you're spending most of your time with either Jason, Wayne family and or your friends.

For Jason, insomnia is a bitch. He tries to come home at a reasonable time (and by reasonable, i mean the lastest could be 2 o clock in the morning, but once again it all depends on his missions ya know?) but that never happens so sleep for him is off and on. On rare occasions, he's usually his best when he can sleep for a good 8 hours or so. I could imagine him being a snorer, loud or not. the kind to slot himself up against you and bury his face into your neck as he holds you tight at night, making sure he has that body to body contact helps him feel laxed and know that you are with him safe and sound.

𝑁 = 𝑁𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠

Nicknames for you: ma/mama/mamas, suga plum, buttercup, doll or dollface, baby, sweetheart, princess, tatortot (he uses this when he's being playfully annoying with you, it's funny to see you deadpan at him because you know he's targeting your height), hot pocket (comes into play when you have an attitude or your getting a little snappy at him), babygirl

Nicknames for Jason: pookie, baby, honey bun or bun bun (use this when you want to get something from him), sugar daddy (this is used to be playful, flirtatious, to watch how his face gets all red and shy but he always comes back with something so smooth and slick. It's meant to be funny but you think Jason honestly takes it seriously, in a good way ofc), mi amor, darling, Mista peaches because why not.

𝑂 = 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑛

Like I said before at the beginning the relationship was still rocky because Jason was hiding his secret as Red Hood. It was kinda hard to be honest about everything, but when he told you his true lifestyle you took it to heart, and both made a vow to stay honest with each other from there on out. No more lies. No more secrets. Just being bluntly honest about everything, which neither of you had a problem with.

𝑃 = 𝑃𝘩𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑐𝘩

Publicly, PDA isn't too extreme. Y'all are not the average couple where you're constantly on each other. Being by each other's side-- knowing when your presence is near is, in your defense, just enough for you to feel okay. Holding hands in crowded areas helps with your anxiety (the idea of being claustrophobic and people touching you unwillingly makes you cringe and feel icky afterwards.)

Placing his hand on your thigh when you're nervous or anxious (you tend to bounce your knee unknowingly), lower back hand placement-- another way to give you comfort, especially when his fingers slip beneath your shirt and drift over your waist to pull you a little closer, hand kisses, a kiss to your temple or cheek-- it was all just enough for the public eye to see.

Privately, the skin-to-skin contact is a must. Kisses and make out sessions are a must. Bear hugs and cuddles is a must. Feeling your hands run through his hair and scratch at his scalp is enough. Giving each other massages is a must. Big spoon, little spoon kinda love. Making time for each other, communication is a must, just sitting in each other's presence is all that's needed.

𝑄 = 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

No distractions—just genuine connection. Deep, meaningful discussions. Doing something enjoyable together, like cooking, playing games, reading together, taking long walks in the park or just simply laying on the couch with your back against his chest, hands entangled, his face burired in the crown of your head playing light r&b music in the background. Times like these you cherish the most, no ones rushing to get anywhere, the time is slow and love is just dazzling in the air.

𝑅 = 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑠

Spoiled rotten. Both of you-- moreso you, but definitely both. You'd give each other the world, moon and stars, hell even the galaxy. Jason isn't one to ask nor beg for anything because he feels he doesn't deserve it but you give it to him anyway because he does. Same way with you, if you even as look at something for so long, or you wanna buy something from amazon or at a store but you know you can't because you're a broke college student and can't afford shit-- more than likely he has already bought it for you. He always buys your favorite snacks and small little gifts here and there.

"Baby? What's this?" You ask coming over to sit close by him with a pretty cute gift bag in your hand. "Oh, just a lil sum sum for your hard work. Plus, i thought you might like it." He says resting his arm on top of the couch behind your head. He gives you a moment to open it. Watching as your smile turn into a pout as you pull out the gift makes his heart flutter. You turn to look up at him, "You spoil me too much." you expressed sweetly. Jason chuckles, shrugging like it was no big deal with a smirk on his face, "Hm, you deserve it baby. But i believe a 'thank you' would be much appreciated." Your eyes roll playfully hooking your finger over his chain, pulling him down to give him a few kisses before pulling away, "Thank you, mi amor, I love it."

𝑆 = 𝑆 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑎𝑑

Snacks and cuddles are all you ask for. Venting about it helps a lot. consulting and comforting you is the best. He lets you have your moment, whether angry, sad and happy, he lets you have your moment because feeling emotions is valid, you're able to feel how you feel.

Jason is really good at communicating his feelings with you. Sometimes he'll try to push it off to the side but he knows that won't work in the long run. So having you by his side with a listening ear, catering to him makes him feel content. He just needs to know someone is there for him, that he won't feel belittled or judged for feeling the way he does.

𝑇 = 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑛-𝑜𝑓𝑓 '𝑠

Lying, broken promies, secrets are all the reasons you have trust issues with people. I mean, look at the people you have in your circle. Not very many huh? It's the same old story; you've gotten your heart broken way too many times to count. You've witnessed abuse emotional and physical and so opening up to people is very difficult on your part. If you don't like their vibe, or they betrayed you in any type of way. You're cutting them off or ignoring them immediately. Don't even bother asking them to be friends because the answer is no.

We all know Jason ain't the one to follow rules, he despises people who claim to stand for justice but act selfishly or cruelly, wary of people who try to control him or others. Loyalty is important to him, so if you betray him in any kind of way, he ain't taking it lightly. Ain't shit funny about that. He has little patience for people who are all talk and no action, back it up with some proof please, he dares anybody to do so. Lastly, when it comes to you, you're off limits, anyone hurts you, speak to you rudely, touch you nonconsensual-- they're a dead man walking.

Neither of you take any disrespect, discrimination or threat of any kind, don't even think about crossing that line.

𝑈 = 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒

Your determination and independence is what sold him. You have enough excitement for taking risks just like him. You rebel against the rules every once and while. You're the kind person who knows they have the authority and power to do something for yourself. You don't need anyone's approval for anything. When you want something, you work hard for it. It'll take blood, sweat, and tears but best believe you're gonna get it at the end of the day. The freedom you have over your life. No one else can decide your shit for you, only you can. You're the leader of your life.

His loyalty is what makes you feel secure. You don't ever have to wonder if he's on your side or not, if he's with you and for you. He's proven himself time after time that he's with you till death. He's here and ready. He's willing to do just about anything for you. You've never had someone this down bad for you. Never had someone willing to hold you down. He loves you through and through and wouldn't do anything to betray your trust.

𝑉 = 𝑉𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦

Personally you hated the size of your tits, the pudge of your stomach, your back rolls, the shape of your nose, the gap in your teeth. You just...uggggh ─ had a hard time accepting yourself for you. You're a curvaceous girl, thick in all the right places. You'd believe that you're holding up the most space because of your wide hips. Try to scrunch yourself up as much as possible. In Jason's eyes he doesn't see it that. I mean you take up most of the space in his heart but that's to be expected, that's suppose to happen. You take up his love and mind, you live rent free. He loves every part of you. He loves your gorgeous skin, your curls, your wide smile and the gap between your teeth. You're gorgeous in so many ways. He loves every inch of you.

Now I'm not saying you'd have any operations done to yourself unless there was a medical reason to or you want to lose weight, he's gonna love you regardless. It's not his body to control. What makes you happy will make him happy.

Jason was always insecure with his appearance after the Lazarus pit. Everything about him changed. He always avoided looking himself in the mirror because he just wasn't the same, it's not him, he feels like he's in someone else's body. Stolen someone else's image. He didn't feel attractive, he didn't feel confident in his own skin. It had to take you telling him that he was handsome for him to slowly approach the obvious; that he was a great looking man, sexy as hell. There was nothing wrong with him, scars and all. The shape of his build, the way he towered you like a sky scrapper. The way he could pick you up effortlessly making you feel like a feather.

𝑊 = 𝑊𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

Mr. And Mrs. Jason Todd got a nice ring to it don't it? The day you and Jason decide to get married, it's gonna be subtle and small. Nothing to extragvant but a few of your shared friends and family members will witness this happy moment. I'ma tell you the reception is gonna be chiefs kiss, on and poppin'. The day you both say I do and move on to the next chapter, is the day you will move into your shared home. Somewhere a little safer. A home built from the ground up with security all around. Somewhere closer to your job so that way your not driving miles around. Things are gonna be set in place for when you two are ready for kids. It might even be the time when Jason won't be a vigilante for too long. For when he wants to stay home most of the time with the kids till they've grown up and gone to still and be able to take care of themselves. For when they get spoiled and babyed by everybody. Oh yeah the married life is gonna be different fasho.

𝑋 = 𝑋𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑝𝘩𝑜𝑛𝑒 (𝑊𝘩𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑔.ᐣ)

Mona Lisa by J-Hope

Soft Spot by Keshi

Her light by Cleo Sol

Stan by 6lack

𝑌 = 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 (𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.ᐣ)

"Fuck I've missed you so much." He's breathless, hands roaming all across your body groping at the parts of you that made you feel sensitive. "You missed me baby? I can tell the way you're saying my name. Listen to you, so soaking wet." Kisses and love marks are spread all throughout each other's body. And as he crawls himself back up your body. Slotting himself between your legs his dick slides in your pink milky hole, thrusting in and out─ not waisting any time to feel you squeeze around him, clothing him with your warmth and sucking him deeper till he reaches your pillowy cervix. He's cursing underneath his breath feeling like a fish out of water. Your nails digging into the expanse of his back, whining his name as he fucks you so deep and slow. You gasp bucking into him more. "Fuck you're so deep. So fucking deep." you whimper, tilting your head to the side feeling his face bury into your neck. His hands were settled on either side of your head gripping the sheets, his hips swiveling into your pussy with need and greed. You spread your thighs wider, invitingly wanting him to bottom out. You feel sticky and hot, unable to control the hunger that strives you both to bliss. Begging for him to go fast, to dig himself harder. He's fucking you like a damn rag doll. "Mm, cum in me baby, cum in me baby please! I wanna feel it. I wanna be filled to the brim─ s-shit!" You're crying at this point. Tears streaming down the side of your face as you tilt your head back into the pillow. He growls, jaw clenched as he gives it to you ruthlessly now, still so fucking deep. His hips begin to stutter after a while, slamming himself into one last time to feel his dick shoot his warm cum into your womb.

You both can't be far apart from each other. It's a recipe for disaster yet it's the best time to crave for each other. Your touch starved and in need of attention. It's hard when he's on his missions because he can't contact you and you can't contact him until he's in the clear. So those times when he's back him standing in front of you, neither of you will be coming out of that bedroom anytime soon.

𝑍 = 𝑍𝑧𝑧

Having you cradled up in his side clinging to him like a life vest with the scent of each other being the last thing on each other's mind is the best sleep either of you could ever ask for. Being secure in the confines of his arms feels like home. It feels like love. It feels like even the world couldn't disturb you no matter how hard it tries.

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃. 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐋 ©𝐦𝐭𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

[scientia-rex]

Because my most popular post is about weight loss and how it's a crock, I get a lot of questions about various things, including bariatric surgery--just posted the link to the post I did about that--but also Ozempic/Wegovy, the once-weekly injectable semaglutide medication that was developed for diabetes but was found to have independent benefits on weight loss.

I always said that weight loss was like Viagra: when a medication came along that actually worked, it would explode. We'd all hear about it. Fen-phen in the 90s worked, but it was bad for your heart. Stimulants, like meth, may cause weight loss, but they do it at the cost of heart health, and raise your likelihood of dying young. Over the counter weight loss supplements often contain illegal and unlisted thyroid hormone, which is also dangerous for the heart if taken in the absence of a real deficiency. Orlistat, or "Alli," works the same way as the Olestra chips Lays made in the 1990s--it shuts off your ability to digest fats, and the problem with that is that fats irritate the gut, so then you end up with fatty diarrhea and probably sharts. Plus Alli only leads to 8-10lbs of weight loss in the best case scenario, and most people are not willing to endure sharts for the sake of 8lbs.

And then came the GLP-1 agonists. GLP stands for glucagon-like peptide. Your body uses insulin to make cells uptake sugar. You can't just have free-floating sugar and use it, it has to go into the cells to be used. So if your body sucks at moving sugar into the cells, you end up with a bunch of glucose hanging out in places where it shouldn't be, depositing on small vessels, damaging nerves and your retinas and kidneys and everywhere else that has a whole lot of sensitive small blood vessels, like your brain.

Glucagon makes your liver break down stored sugars and release them. You can think of it as part of insulin's supporting cast. If your body needs sugar and you aren't eating it, you aren't going to die of hypoglycemia, unless you've got some rare genetic conditions--your liver is going to go, whoops, here you go! and cough it up.

But glucagon-like peptide doesn't act quite the same way. What glucagon-like peptide does is actually stimulating your body to release insulin. It inhibits glucagon secretion. It says, we're okay, we're full, we just ate, we don't need more glucagon right now.

This has been enough for many people to both improve blood sugar and cause weight loss. Some patients find they think about food less, which can be a blessing if you have an abnormally active hunger drive, or if you have or had an eating disorder.

However, every patient I've started on semaglutide in any form (Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus) has had nausea to start with, probably because it slows the rate of stomach emptying. And that nausea sometimes improves, and sometimes it doesn't. There's some reports out now of possible gastroparesis associated with it, which is where the stomach just stops contracting in a way that lets it empty normally into the small intestine. That may not sound like a big deal, but it's a lifelong ticket to abdominal pain and nausea and vomiting, and we are not good at treating it. We're talking Reglan, a sedating anti-nausea but pro-motility agent, which makes many of my patients too sleepy to function, or a gastric pacemaker, which is a relatively new surgery. You can also try a macrolide antibiotic, like erythromycin, but I have had almost no success in getting insurance to cover those and also they have their own significant side effects.

Rapid weight loss from any cause, whether illness, medication, or surgery, comes with problems. Your skin is not able to contract quickly. It probably will, over long periods of time, but "Ozempic face" and "Ozempic butt" are not what people who want to lose weight are looking for. Your vision of your ideal body does not include loose, excess skin.

The data are also pretty clear that you can't "kick start" weight loss with Ozempic and then maintain it with behavioral mechanisms. If you want to maintain the weight loss, you need to stay on the medication. A dose that is high enough to cause weight loss is significantly higher than the minimum dose where we see improvements in blood sugar, and with a higher dose comes higher risk of side effects.

I would wait on semaglutide. I would wait because it's been out for a couple of years now but with the current explosion in popularity we're going to see more nuanced data on side effects emerging. When you go from Phase III human trials to actual use in the world, you get thousands or millions more data points, and rare side effects that weren't seen in the small human trials become apparent. It's why I always say my favorite things for a drug to be are old, safe, and cheap.

I also suspect the oral form, Rybelsus, is going to get more popular and be refined in some way. It's currently prohibitively expensive--all of these are; we're talking 1200 or so bucks a month before insurance, and insurance coverage varies widely. I have patients who pay anything from zero to thirty to three hundred bucks a month for injectable semaglutide. I don't think I currently have anyone whose insurance covers Rybelsus who could also tolerate the nausea. My panel right now is about a thousand patients.

There are also other GLP-1 agonists. Victoza, a twice-daily injection, and Trulicity, and anything else that ends in "-aglutide". But those aren't as popular, despite being cheaper, and they aren't specifically approved for weight loss.

Mounjaro is a newer one, tirzepatide, that acts on two receptors rather than one. In addition to stimulating GLP-1 receptors, it also stimulates glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. It may work better; I'm not sure whether that's going to come with a concomitantly increased risk of side effects. It's still only approved for diabetes treatment, but I suspect that will change soon and I suspect we'll see a lot of cross-over in terms of using it to treat obesity.

I don't think these medications are going away. I also don't think they're right for everyone. They can reactivate medullary thyroid carcinoma; they can fuck up digestion; they may lead to decreased quality of life. So while there may be people who do well with them, it is okay if those people are not you. You do not owe being thin to anyone. You most certainly do not owe being thin to the extent that you should risk your health for it. Being thin makes navigating a deeply fat-hating world easier, in many ways, so I never blame anyone for wanting to be thin; I just want to emphasize that it is okay if you stay fat forever.

[aeriona]

How Inkfish Change their Ink Colour

Here's an extremely long, (poorly) illustrated speculatory post about how ink and inksports could THEORETICALLY work in Splatoon! yippee!

Ink is a mucous that Inklings, Octolings and Cuttlings produce with their ink sac, where it can be expelled through the mouth and siphon (and through the skin via the ink vessels, but don't worry about that just yet). You can take a look at my diagram of the ink vessels here.

Spitting up or sweating ink is a common stress response in ink-bearing cephalopods, it also serves as an extremely rude gesture if you happen to aim it at someone else's face.

Inkfish actually can't change ink colour on their own, so instead they have to rely on artificial means to brighten and saturate the colour into something more easily recognisable.

The history behind inksports is extensive. In ancient times, inkfish would use naturally occurring dyes (such as clay, plants etc.) to change their ink colour, often to denote a particular social group. In modern times, colours are artificially synthesised and treated to have a minimal impact on the inkfish's body as possible, as believe it or not constantly eating red clay wasn't exactly good for you.

The colour of an Inkling or Octoling's skin is determined by chromatophores, which can be basically any colour or shade they choose. The chromatophores function completely independently from the ink sac, so it's possible to have differing skin and ink colours (although you'd probably confuse your teammates a fair bit).

This is fine and cool and all, but how do inkfish prevent different team colours from just blending all together in a match? WELL! While turfing capsules also change ink colour, they can also alter the chemical qualities of the ink itself by introducing something called polarity!

There are two kinds of turfing ink- polar and nonpolar. In easy terms (I am not a chemist), it's what allows two different colours of ink to sit on top of each other in separate layers instead of diluting together like paint. Before a match starts, each turfing team is given dye capsules in their respective team colour, with each team having opposing polarities to prevent inks from mixing together during the game.

Before technology got involved, people would simply use oil and water to prevent one ink colour from mixing with another's. Nowadays, oil and fat derivatives are commonplace as it's less likely to cause health problems as the body slowly processes it out.

Splatting works when enemy ink reacts with the outermost ink vessels in an opposing team member's skin, forcing the victim to contract their ink sac and spit up all their ink (usually in the form of a super-jump back to spawn, though in the moment it's not uncommon to overshoot it). It's also possible to splat someone with blunt force trauma, but we tend to call that assault. Splatting is usually not dangerous, but it's still not a terribly pleasant experience and is somewhat painful, akin to a nasty static shock.

This splatting reaction is also why water is used in turf stages as a restrictive barrier, as water causes the same splatting reaction in the body as enemy ink does (at least until the dye wears off).

Okay that's all I got, I'm not gonna go into ink weapon mechanics because I'm tired... perhaps another day haha. Hopefully that all made sense and I apologise deeply if it didn't. Feel free to shoot me an ask if something needs to be cleared up or explained in further detail haha

[miowyaa]

One chair a day, keeps the doctor away; Various BLLK x gn!reader

A/N: Thank you @gothforgod for this request, this had me giggling so hard while I was writing this that I genuinely mightve looked insane. I'm sorry if I made the reader a little too freaky. I had no idea what I was doing. Shidou 2.0 I fear. ALSO, THIS CAN BE READ AS PLATONIC OR ROMANTIC? Again, im so sorry but I find it hard to fit so many love interests into such a oneshot but I tried my best. A majority of it is just joking.. Anyways, I hope youll enjoy reading it!! :)

Cw: reader gets hit by a chair and is knocked out for a few minutes, they’re a little disoriented for a bit but that's the extent of any injuries (?)

It's times like this when you’re really contemplating your life decisions. Namely the one you’re facing right now, nutrients…or that shiny new skin that just released? You debate calling your parents for some extra allowance, but then the memory of you stating your independence so passionately sits you down, because as much as you want that cool skin, you decide that your dignity is worth more.

It was a few months ago when your father broke the news that he had gotten a better job opportunity in another city that would require you guys to move to what was basically the other side of the country. As ever the dramatic person, you fell to your knees and started begging them to let you stay here.

Not only were you dramatic, you were also incredibly annoying because your nagging eventually worked. So with the promise of you being the most responsible person ever and to keep the house as clean as possible, you were allowed to stay.

Well, as it turns out, you may not be the most dutiful person to have ever been born but surely it's okay. It's just time to get a job, like any other normal person would. With this new plan in mind, you are filled with a new determination and swing open your laptop and start looking for any job listings that you could apply for. Unfortunately, it seems that it was all for nothing as you either dont meet the requirements, or.. Well, that's honestly really the only reason. Your eyes nearly jump out of their sockets when you scroll through convenience job positions that require three million years of experience? No thanks.

It's been two hours of straight searching and you're nearly about to just suck it up and plead with your lovely parents for some extra money when a job listing pops out. It has no requirements that you can't fufill and the pay is not tht bad! Well, it does require you to be a pretty good cook but not to brag, youve cracked an egg or two into your instant noodles. You’re pretty sure you got this in the bag.

It was a little frightening how quickly they had accepted your application, were there no applications to be asked or did they need a new cook that bad? You couldnt complain and you were to start the following week, huzzah! There were some catches though, you were to live on site for some reason. You opened up the location the facility was at on maps and it was practically in the middle of nowhere. Simple problem with a simple solution, you dont have a car so you figured youd just call up a taxi- okay that's one down. What would you need to bring? Clothes maybe, would they allow you to return home every one and a while to do laundry or would you do it there? The contract they sent you was so vague..

You did what you could over the one week and once that was up, you called up a taxi and headed towards the facility. It was high in the mountains and honestly, you started thinking about the likelihood that you would get murdered. 

After paying the fare, you walked into the weirdly shaped facility with your luggage in tow, prepared to meet whatever freak was about to employ you. With no freak employer in sight to greet you, you let your curiosity get the best of you and let yourself start wandering. The whole building is built like some sort of maze, all its walls looking identical to each other. By this point, youre unable to piece together where you are anymore because youre convinced youve walked into a hundred different rooms with the same doors. That is, until you walk into what looks like a cafeteria! 

This is promising- you think. You're here as a cook so your job will probably be somewhere around here. You look around the huge room and note two things, one: it's very clean, every flat surface you can see is sparkling, and two: there's a chair flying towards you.

You wake up and the world around you is hazy, you can make out one figure in your peripheral vision and you grab onto it as hard as you can. It reacts with an ‘eek!” and you feel your upper body slumping to the ground. Apparently, they were trying to lift you up. Did they think you were dead? Maybe, and this was this horrible plan of trying to discard your body. You look infront of you to see another figure and with all the strength your disoriented state can muster, you slam your foot onto their face. 

It lets out a surprised yelp and backs away from you, now, you're laying on the ground trying to comprehend what has just happened. Is this the afterlife? No, because you just beat two people up and one of them is still in your grip. You notice that you're holding someone's hair, and immediately sober up. “Oh my-” you sit up, freeing the poor guy in the process.

“-Gosh.” the two look at you as if you’re some sort of animal, and you can't blame them. You dont doubt that the chair that hit you has left some sort of effect on your appearance. Just as you’re about to apologize, one of them has beat you too it. His highlights falling over his shoulder as he quickly bows, the other one follows suit.

“We’re so sorry!” One of them cries out, he has dark blue hair and you notice that his eyes are squeezed shut, too scared to meet your gaze. For lack of better words, you're speechless. Speechless that is until the greatest idea ever pops into that head of yours.

“Ladies, ladies. Calm down, there's enough of me to go around,” you pick yourself up looking all smug. You catch their faces of surprise as you dust yourself off and turn your heads towards the chair. “I guess the chair couldnt help it, all things naturally gravitate me because of my..beauty..” Well, you’re pretty sure that they just think they messed up your head, judging from their expressions. You shouldnt have said that, now it's just awkward. 

The blue-haired one tries to speak, but he's obviously hesitant to do so. A horrible silence engulfs the three of you as all just stare at each other, painfully waiting for the next interaction. “Do..do you play soccer?” He finally says.

How do you explain that you dont have an athletic bone in your body? Just the presence of any ball is guaranteed to make you sweat, but from what little research you did of the facility, you do not fit in at all. “No,” you state flatly, the room returns to a state of excruciating silence.

The one with what can only be described as a layered bob-cut with highlights claps his hands together, “then we’ll teach you!” You’re pretty sure you’re not supposed to be fraternizing with the players, but your employer still hasnt showed their face yet and you honestly couldnt give less than a fart. You shrug and he lights up, taking you by the arm and dragging you off to who knows where, the other one following close behind.

You’re zoned out for the most part, but you do catch the bob-cut guy saying some random things such as, “my monster this..my monster that..” It's a little concerning, should he be on some medications or did this place think that his ‘monster’ was beneficial to him? Well, you dont know and you really dont feel like finding out. Just as you’re going down the bob-cut monster rabbit hole, the three of you make it to a brightly lit room with artificial grass. It seems that you arent alone, as aside from the three of you, there's also some other people kicking around some balls. So athletic. You’re intimidated.

“Bachira, dont you think..” the quieter of the duo tries saying before ‘Bachira’ runs off to go grab a ball. It's now just the two of you, and impulsively, you say it outloud. “Heh..It's just you and me now..” you slowly turn to him, you're obviously trying to crack a joke but the guy's face heats up so quickly you’re afraid he's having a heat stroke or something.

Both of you have no idea what to say and it isnt until Bachira returns that there's finally a conversation. He brought along a few other people, three to be exact. What might be the most beautiful man you’ve ever laid eyes on, and this purple-haired guy who's so graciously carrying someone asleep. You’re unsure of how the purple-haired dude or the person hes carrying are going to help you play soccer, but you’ve been unsure about practically everything since you got here, so maybe you’ll just trust them on this.

It's not that you’re really that eager to learn, but apparently Bachira thinks so and you’re slightly afraid of what his ‘monster’ will do to you if you run away now. So for now, all you can do is smile and nod. The gorgeous man introduces himself as Chigiri, and the blue-haired one realizes he's yet to introduce himself and tells you that his name is Isagi. The purple-haired one introduces himself as Reo and the one asleep and Nagi. Wow, are you in middle school icebreakers again? You dont even realize for a few secondsd that everyone is waiting for you to introduce yourself.

“Oh, yeah. Hi, im [name].” You’re half expecting them to ask you to share a fact about yourself to the class but luckily it doesnt come to that. As if everyone forgot what they were there for, they slip into conversation instead of teaching you soccer and you’re relieved, you slickly open up your phone to do your daily logins when you notice a new voice talking to you.

Should you burst out into tears? Or challenge him to a 1v1 to reclaim your honor? You turn slowly to face the now awake Nagi whose still being carried and has noticeably left a small puddle of drool on Reos shoulder. “You suck at that game,” he repeats. Gasps heard around the room, not really, but basically.

“Excuse me?” You gasp, placing a hand over your heart to show that you took much offense to what he said. Hes so cool and nonchalant that he has the same expression as he did when he said such rude words to you: nothing. His face is literally devoid of any emotion except maybe for boredom and you feel the need to pummel him to the floor.

“Ill have you know, that I'm top 300 in arena, not only that-” he cuts you off. So rude. “Top 20.”

Oh, okay. So he's just a video game nerd, this isnt your fault you're just outmatched because he spends all his time on the game. You feel better now! Atleast you dont rot in this game all day like him. “We have a professional over here..” you lean towards the one closest to you, which so happens to be Chigiri. He looks at you weirdly and you can't tell if it's out of concern or if he's just judging you. Now with the judgement of your five minute crush, you now turn to one of Bachiras methods. You clap and you make sure its really loud. Then, out of embarrassment, you shout, “so, soccer!” 

Bachira lights up, did he seriously forget? You really dont know, but either way, you send another glare towards Nagi before turning towards the speaker. “Oh, yea! Totally slipped my mind. Okay..So this-” so he did forget, but no biggie because he gets cut off by a huge monitor hung up on the wall.

“There you are. Come to my office, now.” It's clear he's talking to you, and you take this chance to leave because, no, you really do not feel like learning how to play soccer, sorry Bachira. Despite the fact that you have no idea where the office is, you walk backwards out the door. What's that saying again? Saved by the bell, except you were saved by a huge TV by a man with a bowl-cut. Lots of peculiar hairstyles here.

You thank whatever force is out there for helping you avoid this predicament and then run off with crossed fingers that the next room you enter, will be the office.

© miowyaa | please do not steal, repost, or translate any of my work.

[why-bless-your-heart]

FINALLY did some writing, but it's the wrong thing.

CHAPTER ONE

“A union?” Manly laughed.

“Well, why not?” Woody put down his drink. “It worked for our ancestors, why not for us?”

Manly laughed again, sitting back on his stool. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” he said, indicating the other patrons with a sweep of his arm, “But things are a little different for us as they were for them.”

They weren’t the only humans in the bar, but they were outnumbered. Outclassed. Outspent, outlasted, outsiders always. Sounders. 

Whoever heard of a Sounders’ Union?

“I’m not saying it would fix all our problems,” Woody said evenly, without so much a glance at the surrounding Renders, Trixies, Snufflings, or Flaunts. “But if we can get even an inch more protection, that could make all the difference.”

“Yeah, but what would that even look like? It’s not like there’s one fat-cat boss all us independent contractors can gang up against.” Down to the bar’s cat weaving his way around the bases of the stools: “No offense meant.”

The cat flicked his tail like he had better things to do than listen to a human’s mischosen idiom.

Woody folded his arms, leaning forward on the bar. “That’s what makes it even more important. Right now, somebody goes missing on a job, who knows? Family, maybe a couple of friends. But whoever he was working for can just hire another Sounder. A new one each trip, if he doesn’t care about humans. And you know precious few of them do.”

“So you’re thinking —”

“I’m thinking some beeping accountability.” Woody had turned the inflection into an art form. From him, the auto-decency’s censoring tone was as, if not more, obscene than the ancient syllable.

Manly shook his head, taking another sip of his drink. “Yeah, we’ll have them shaking in their boots.”

“I’m serious.”

Manly didn’t doubt he was. Woody was usually serious, about most things. But if seriousness was enough for anything, Woody would’ve gotten out of the business years ago instead of sitting late in a bar, talking to Manly about pie in the sky.

“Look,” Woody conceded to Manly’s skeptical silence. “I’m not pretending we’ve got a lot of leverage. But without a Sounder that’s what, one in five, one in four chance the whole ship goes down?”

“You’re talking strikes?”

“I’m talking a blacklist.”

Manly cocked his head. 

“Like that one crew, made you go out in a suit without a working defib? You and I know not to sign on with them, but what about the next sucker? At the very least, we’d be able to have some real information on the jobs we take.”

“Okay,” Manly said slowly. “Not saying I’m onboard, but if we did do this. How would it work?”

It was obviously the question Woody had been waiting for. Tipping the last of his drink down his esophagus, he straightened up and stuck out a thumb. “Number one. Nobody accepts a job without a contract, and every contract goes through the union.”

“Beepload of paperwork.”

“Number two,” Woody said, ignoring the comment and sticking out his index finger. “Union says not to accept a job, nobody accepts it.”

“Stop Sounders from working? Do you hear yourself?”

Middle finger: “Number three. A percentage of each job gets paid to the Union.”

“And there it is.” Manly took another sip. “You always were a money-grubbing scrounger.”

“I ask for what I want,” Woody told him, for the thousandth time.

He did, too. That was where his call sign came from: Woody always insisted on his payment “up front.” Let the auto-decency screen that.

Swirling the last of his drink, Manly watched the silver flakes spinning in the gold liquid. “I don’t know,” he told his friend slowly.  “It’s gonna be a hard sell.”

“It’s an idea. I happen to think that it’s a good one.”

“Not that you’re biased.”

“Not that I’m biased. All I’m asking is that you think it over instead of dismissing it out of hand.”

Manly sighed, poured down the last of his drink, and waved to the Flaunt behind the bar for another one. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

Woody grinned and signalled for another two.

CHAPTER TWO

In a comfortable blur, Manly winded his way home, trying to remember the words and the tune. 

Oh, something, something… save money you earn?

He thought about that for a second, then tried again.

Oh, something you should, do is save money….

Wait, that wasn’t right either.

He slumped against the wall, trying to remember. Then he had it.

Oh, why donchu save the money you earn? 

If I didon’t drink, I’d half money to burn!

Throwing his head back, he opened his throat to the chorus.

Halleluyeah, I’m a bum! 

Halleluyeah, bum again! 

Halleluyeah, givus a handout, 

To revive us again!

“Bum.” He snickered at that. Mom used to tell him to say “Bum” instead of “Ass,” back when she was the one telling him to mind his tone, long before he’d gotten used to the ones of the auto-decency punctuating his speech. He was a bum. All Sounders were. Asses, to a one. 

He belched pleasantly.

“Ass” used to mean something else, too. Beast of burden. Meant you stuck things on it and made it work and hit it when it tried not to. What’s the word. Apt. 

“Butt.” That was another word for “Ass,” or “Bum,” in deference to Mom. Butt in, butt out, butt off. Butt of the joke. That’s what they were.

He felt his happy haze dampen into the inevitable foggy gloom. For all humans talked about their long and proud history, it had just turned out to be the excruciating set-up to a painful punchline. 

Dropping his head, he continued to shuffle homewards, blinking away tears. The drink had filled him with enough pity for the whole species, start to finish. And sometimes he thought the finish would be pretty soon.

He bumped lightly against somebody and mumbled an apology without looking up.

That was a mistake.

[lullabyalikpoptarot]

Ateez Tea Session

Disclaimer: No facts, all alleged. Just my interpretation. I am just a messenger, so I can't always get every detail.

Aright, on to the next group for this series. This group tends to share a lot with me already, so not sure how much else they got to share, but let's see what I get.

Hongjoong

Okay, I see him as someone who kind of keeps his head in the books or just focuses on his work. He seems pretty serious about his work and what he does. Now, I am seeing a lot of cards with water, which can indicate those drinks that seem to like to pop up, but I am not sure he really dabbles in that too much. I see in both these cards. The person has their toes dipped in the water, but they aren't fully immersed in that practice. It is like he may have these drinks from time to time, but it doesn't consume him. He likes to stay clear of that and stay focused. He prefers balance and moderation of things.

Okay, got an interesting message, I kept hearing brown noser, have no clue wtf meant and ignore it, but decided to look it up, it is someone who acts a certain way to gain favor of authority figures, so he has that energy. He would be that type to do as he is told and maybe do things that give him an advantage.

I see him wanting independent freedom and finding ways to make money on his own. I can see him looking down at others and maybe judging them, not sure why I am getting that sense too. He seems to be a lone wolf. He kind of does his own thing. But he does seem to have a lot of wisdom and knowledge about things. I keep getting cards of people dipping their toes in water, that means something, but not sure what that is for him. I would say he dabbles in the occult. What that means, I don't know, but that is all I got.

He is very private, so it was hard to extract information from him. I couldn't make sense of what I was getting mostly. Just a messenger, can't always get the details.

Seonghwa

Why are there so many women around him, unless this is the same women, but I think it is different women that serve different purposes for him. He is also someone who is showing me taking these drinks. He kind of just does what he is told. It is kind of hard for him to move up and climb the ladder. It is also hard for him to improve and work on his skill. Things seems stagnant for him. I just get the vibe he does what they tell him to do, but he doesn't really hone his own skills.

I wanted to know more about these women, and they seem to cause him a lot of problems. They seem to have a lot of say when it comes to him. I think one offers the drinks and comes off as a nice person. The other is pretty harsh and hurtful, can be downright mean and degrading. The other can be erratic and aggressive. I like how he gave me the three of swords, and there are three women that popped up, so they are all a problem for him. They are physically and mentally draining for him. Do they have a female dance instructor. The QOW's is giving me that. Most of them can be pretty harsh around them.

It is just interesting that he is showing me all these women around him that probably annoy him. Anyway, I wanted to know why all these women are around him, not sure I like the cards I got. He is used by the company to move ahead, so these women may be important to please for the company, so they use him as a ploy to get on these women's favor to get ahead. This could involve him sleeping with them, as the ace of wands was the last card on that spread. These women are highly involved with him and his career. They may monitor him a lot.

Had to get more cards, because he is interesting, got the Devil, The Emperor, King of Pentacles, The Lovers. It is like he is obligated to do these things. He is kind of put out to the wolves to help the company and CEO get rich. I look at the Devil and it gives me dirty business. And the CEO does assert his authority when need be. I look at the Lovers card and here it is in the contract. I just keep hearing, it is in the contract, so the CEO justifies his bull sh** and treatment of him, because he stresses to him that it is in the contract and he has to do these things, like entertain these women for whatever reason they may like. Alright, moving on.

Yunho

Hmm, I am seeing an arrangement with him. This could involve sleeping with someone as well. I don't particularly think it was a great experience for him. He seems to have regrets and shame around it. I do think he indulges in things, is that drinks or drugs to kind of escape things and dissociate.

I think he has been served these drinks as well, maybe has been involved in doing these casting spells. It helps them to project a certain image I am sensing. It is like they set an intention to be a certain way or be perceived a certain way by the masses when they do these spells, that is what I am picking up on here.

He seems to be in a place where he wants to distance from that and go his way and follow his own path. He doesn't want to be part of the herd anymore. He may not participate in that stuff anymore.

Okay, he gave me some tea, but he didn't share as much as the wo above.

Yeosang

I see him wanting to explore new territory. There seems to be something he is trying to reach or a goal he is trying to reach, but it seems far and hard to reach it. He seems to carry a lot of burdens. It seems like a struggle and a burden to get to where he wants to go. I am not sure what that is, but I see cards of someone moving towards something, but it just seems hard to get there, like a never-ending story that continues on and never ends. I see whoever is in power can be very hurtful towards him and may be the reason why he can't reach new heights or get to where he wants to.

It is like he may create another obstacle for him. It is like he wants to move ahead and advance, but he seems idealistic of how one climbs the ladder. It seems he is trying to balance the multiple things going on around him. There is a part of him that self-reflects and knows the direction he should take, maybe he wants to leave, but the other is mentally drained and feels weighed down and maybe thinks he can't leave.

It seems he has a plan and idea to step out and do his own thing or do what he wants, but there is still some hesitation with him. I can't pick up on what this High Priestess is for him, I pulled cards for clarification, but they did not help and got the high priestess again and the moon, which indicates hidden secrets and secret knowledge he has. It is about some sort of connection or compromise he may have made. I see him wanting to go on his own and in his own direction though.

San

Well, with him I am getting something about the past and being sold a fairytale and him figuring out things not being how he thought it would be. It is like when you first come in, they give you a fairytale version of what things will be like and then you are smacked with a harsh reality.

He shows me a lot of business and movement. He may not really like the busy schedule and constant moving. It can be too much at times, although it can be thrilling and exciting as well. He kind of prefers the stillness and quiet and prefers to be left alone. I am not sure he partakes in these drinks or they do offer them to him to pick him up or energize him, not sure he always takes it.

He does seem emotionally numb, and it is hard to get excitement and joy out of him. Yeah, so he is bringing up the death clauses again and that he is obligated to do that thing he does and practically has no choice. I don't think he likes the dirty business of it all. He may also feel a bit depressed about how things are. This industry is basically about money and selling yourself to get that, in whatever way that could mean, sorry can't get specifics. I see him being angry and frustrated with things. He may want to defend himself and fight for change. He might be the type to speak up or lash out, not sure how well that goes for him though.

There is this fighter in him. This determination to make changes or speak up on things for him. I don't think he is the type to just lay down and take things and be passive about how he feels. He wants the work to be more balanced and stable and less chaotic. A bit more simplistic in how they do things. But there seems to be a price for the work you do and there are cunning and deceitful people behind the scenes. He is kind of disappointed with how things came to be, and it is hard to see the good in being an idol. I just see him facing a lot of disappointment and regrets.

Mingi

Well, he is coming in strong, starting with the Death card, which gives me death clauses, or they will work you to death, maybe don't even care if they die. He is also showing pact and arrangements. I just got blood oath, ugh don't like the messages I get sometimes, but there could be that which is an alliance between two people that bind them to others. I see escapism with him as well, a need to disconnect from the harsh realities they have to face or even the dark realities they have to face.

He is also showing me obligations and being tied to money and trapped in this money scheme I heard. I get a sense he could also fall into that trap as well, once again, not sure what that entails, just a feeling. There is an inner light and brightness he still has, even through the darkness they won't seem to dim his light and energy.

I see him trying to bury his emotions. I don't think he wants to get too emotional about things and try to remain stable and calm through it all. He kind of keeps his guard up and tries not to get involved in things. He may keep things to himself. He kind of keeps his eyes on the prize. I just see him wanting to remain stable and grounded. I don't see him taking many drinks offers. He wants to remain clear headed. He seems to be cautious in how he moves and does things. I see him wanting to go on his own and maybe step outside the group, but he may not know for sure how to go about that. He just seems tired of how monotonous things are and how things are done in the industry or within the group and company.

Wooyoung

Well, he is a Sag, so this KOW's could represent him. This desire to shine and stand out. But his energy and creative energy may be hindered a bit as well. He may be cautious to let out his full potential. I don't think he particularly has the resources he needs, or they don't have much money or support from the company, or he feels he doesn't have much support there. Money seems to be an issue. I see him wanting to walk away from it.

He feels they hinder his growth and potential, but also concoct an image for him, or they project an image on to him. Whoever this KOS's is. He may want to go after him and come for him with his words if he hasn't already. He seems regretful and disappointed with things as well. I see him having words with this KOS here.

He may have been promised things that didn't come to fruition, but also sold a fantasy or dream that didn't come true. It seems it is very hard for him to climb the ladder or get any help for him to improve his skills or money situation. It is like he sees the opportunity, but nothing gets done about it. He feels there is much he can do, and opportunities there for him for financial growth and skill growth, but it gets lost. He is giving me they don't really help them or give them the tools to reach their full potential. He wants to represent that KOW's energy, of a creative visionary with lots of skills, but he has not been able to get to that level, due to the company and industry at hand.

Nothing too crazy there, but understand his pov here.

Jongho

He seems at odds, or unsure what to do or which direction to go in. I see him feeling stressed af, maybe he is unsure what to do, he may feel trapped and lost. He has to learn to keep things together and keep a united front and show a happy appearance, which could be hard for him. I think he would want things to be happy and a safe environment, but don't think that is the case.

This QOW's could be someone who directs him a lot. This person may have power over him and may tell him what to do, possible nag him a lot. I can see him being observed and watched a lot. I see him practicing over and over again. He probably doesn't like how monitored they are. So, with this 9 of cups, I kept getting the message head on a platter. I got this for Mingi as well, but ignored it, because wtf does that mean? But decided to stop ignoring it, it means harsh punishment, so they may receive that if they don't do what they are told. It is like do what they so or else mindset there.

I don't think he feels they get fair treatment or that they get scraps. It is like they give them enough and the company may think that is okay. It is like they say, we do this for you and that, they justify what they do, but it isn't right at the end of the day and they don't do enough. He also seems dejected and down, and it is hard for him to see the positive with his career. I see him trying to push emotions down, maybe trying hard not to breakdown from it all. I say all of this can be a bit overwhelming for him, but he does his best to keep his cool.

Okay, finally finished. It was a bit harder to pull information for them this time, maybe because they already gave me so much tea, but I feel I got some more out of them. It took me about 2 hours for this one, man what a ride. And although, I could have stopped, girl likes to get it done and over with, so I pushed through lol

[darkdrin6]

"Shut up"-rubric

So, Lin Kuei. A clan of assassins in the service of the Earthrealm. Dangerous and secretive masters of their craft.

And they are absolutely incompetent in this very craft.

As they say: "I'll write down every minute who sucked a dick where" (с)

Let's just say - yes, Lin Kuei are hired killers, just like in the old timeline. Why? They are the defenders of their homeworld, a noble clan!.. Shut up and answer yourself a couple of important questions - what means do they exist for and how do they earn a living. To maintain the work of a complex organization, resources are needed - first of all, money. It is necessary to maintain a base (a temple or something else), train fighters, maintain a staff of informants, buy ammunition and medicines, weapons, equipment and everything else. All this requires funds. And Lin Kuei clearly does not enjoy the support of any state, does not produce something independently on a sufficient scale, they do not have the opportunity to be completely self-sufficient. So, probably, their mercenary activity is literally what allows them to survive, develop and prepare for the defense of the Earthrealm. To draw an analogy, this is similar to the system shown in Naruto, where ninja villages also traded contracts of varying complexity, so they literally had something to survive on. However, they were ready to defend the interests of their country, and this was literally their goal.

And if we have dealt with this, then we will move on.

There is every reason to believe that the main trio of Lin Kuei - Bi Han, Kuai and Tomas, are masters in their profession, with enough experience and knowledge to be considered professionals. Secretive, deadly, able to use both their combat power and the skills of quiet killers, isn't it true?

Not true.

And the trailer of Lin Kuei in all its glory shows his incompetence.

Let's start with the little things - the equipment. A specialist is as good as his tools are good. And the trailer throws us in the face…

…this.

In another frame (if you have seen an exclusive fragment of the story clip), you can see how massive this telescope is. Ergonomics? No, thanks.

Where do you wear it, dear? There are no pockets, no pouches, nothing on your uniform. Why complicate your life (and worsen the review) by using an unambiguously outdated device? Your new era is clearly the twenty-first century. Or is Lin Kuei in such a dire financial situation?

But okay, the equipment is not such a terrible mistake, and he could take it anywhere, take it from a corpse, for example. How about how Lin Kuei warriors act in practice?

Answer: it's fucked up.

Here we see the fortress where they are making their way. Knowing that there are opponents there (again, this was shown in an exclusive fragment). In the daytime. Wait until dark or dusk? No? Why didn't they do it? Okay, it's possible that they were hurried by time, but even so, they chose literally the most illuminated fucking wall for climbing. Although it is clear that there are enough shadow areas where they would not be so noticeable in their colored clothes. Especially Scorpion is just the pinnacle of invisibility (sarcasm) in his bright yellow robe.

Despite the fact that they clearly have no problem with climbing. You have a cryomancer, you have a flying dude. You have the owner of the longest damn rope for climbing up. The relief of the wall clearly did not play a decisive role here. It's just that our nice fools don't think with their heads.

Well, to hell with it, with this wall, they may have chosen a place with the least security (which is doubtful), but what do they do once inside, in the courtyard of the fortress?

They are literally walking in the most open place. If there were no plot necessity, they would have been noticed in no time, raised the alarm and stuffed with arrows for a change.

Stay in the shade, use shelters and landscape features, almost any sane person will say. Bullshit, we will do stupid things, the "professional killers" from Lin Kuei will tell you.

But Bi Han's behavior raises even more questions here. We're not even going to talk about the ice tackle, which he did for some shit without any need. Let's remember about the murder he commits in the frame.

A soldier in armor with an open neck, but with a breastplate. How to secretly kill him? So that he died quickly and quietly, without attracting attention to himself?

WELL, OF COURSE, TO POKE AN ICE KNIFE INTO THE MOST PROTECTED PART OF THE ARMOR, HOW DID YOU NOT GUESS

Bi Han, dear, it seems you are no stranger to taking people's lives quickly and quietly. Why didn't you punch him in the throat, which would have been safer and faster? He was standing with his back to you, you couldn't have known one hundred percent that your knife would pierce his armor. Why are you embarrassing yourself so much? You're a fucking professional.

Damn, we understand that it's really not the fault of the characters. But all their stupid actions really look very funny and sad. Well-coordinated, well-honed work would be much more spectacular than these pathetic attempts. In the end, it's simple… it's a sad sight. And once again, Lin Kuei are exposed as just stupid people who can only engage in head-on collisions, which negates their role as hired secretive killers.

[anonymous-ava]

Genshin Childe/Zhongli Fanfic Rec

A list of my fav childe/zhongli fics as I have read many and wanted to share. Fics with a heart (❤) are my all time favs. The list itself is in no particular order and except for two fics all of them are complete.

I’ve included trigger warnings in bold below the title, please read the tags before reading the fic.

❤ basket of knives | Oneshot (1/1) | Rated Teen (Angst, Hurt/Comfort)

TW: Depression, Self-Harm, Suicide Attempt

“I just want to be loved,” Childe says to himself, to whoever is listening. “Is that too much to ask?”

They are on the roof once more, this time Childe’s foot touches the edge of the building as he daydreams of something that cannot be. The sky is blank and cloudy and perhaps Lumine fears it’ll all end when he takes a step.

“Not at all,” she says. It’s still the truth.

Contrary to popular belief, Childe hates his family but loves them all the same.

the sister | Multi-Chapter (6/6)  | Rated Teen (Humour)

TW: None

The tragic and unexpected death of Zhongli-xiansheng of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor occurred to the sorrow of many and the deep skepticism of a few.

time flies like an arrow | Oneshot (1/1) | Rated Teen (AU Modern, Reincarnation)

TW: None

He’s tired, tired of the unbreakable loop of watching his loved ones pass on, tired of getting attached only for the connection to be violently ripped away from him. He wonders if the real victors during the Archon War were those who perished, who died long before their godhood turned into a curse that chained them to the land that they were fighting for.

But that is not a problem for Childe to worry about. That is Zhongli’s burden to bear, delivered to him in a pretty package years ago in the form of a gnosis.

His very first contract.

(Zhongli and Childe, across many lifetimes)

A Sight for Sore Eyes | Multi-Chapter (36/?) | Rated Mature (Canon Divergent, Slow Burn, Humour)

TW: Graphic Violence

Childe's purpose in Liyue was to play the part of the fool in Signora's plans, all the while ensuring she didn't completely fuck it up.

Given her idea to "test the people of Liyue" was to release a sealed god on them and call it a day, for whatever reason believing this was an entirely reasonable benchmark to test independence on, Childe had a lot of preparations to do to keep the entire thing from collapsing in on itself like his mental stability in the abyss. Fortunately, there seemed to be enough pieces on the board for Childe to maybe possibly hopefully swing this in a way where everything worked out.

Now, if only they would stop leaving jobs like this to the blind guy.

❤ Lungs full of Roses | Multi-Chapter (9/?) | Rated Mature (Hanahaki, Angst, Humour)

TW: Graphic Violence

Childe had always assumed that he would die young. He had accepted that a long time ago, ever since he accepted the mantle of a Fatui Harbinger. However, he always thought that he would die in a glorious fight, his body broken but spirit relishing the strong opponent that had bested him. He was okay with that type of death.

Unfortunately, it seemed like Fate had decided to add one last insult to injury, because, here Childe was, dying because he had fallen in love with the ex-Geo Archon. The same Archon who seemed to have discarded him like an old toy ever since the Osial Incident.

---

In which divine beings are cruel and a cursed Childe starts preparing for his inevitable death because no Archon could ever love a mortal.

...Right?

(NOTE: The tags promise a happy ending but it updates slow and sporadically so be prepared for the angst)

if i choose not to see it, it does not exist | Oneshot (1/1) | Rated Teen (Humour)

TW: None

Zhongli might as well have just straight up told Childe. He absolutely refuses to think too hard about it.

or

Tartaglia's accidental guide to why Zhongli is most definitely a hundred percent not Rex Lapis. There is nothing suspicious to see here.

[oceanblueeyes03]

I usually don't talk about these stuff, but there was something that really irked me , all from the beginning.

It was played , very well played from season 1 , at least from N's part , and it was probably in the contract to act that she and whoever actor that played Colin are friends.

Remember when she said she thought that the actor that played Colin was LT and how many pictures of the two were posted and even one with LT kissing N cheeks .

Then switched to LN less muchy ,because L had a gf and N obviously was not attracted to him , she obviously had a crush on LT .

I know it will break a lot of LL hearts and even people who says they appreciate their friendship but that's something I had in mind since she spit that fact .

N played it well and was a good employee to SL going as far as hiding L soho journey and hyping him up so none would notice how of a trash of a man he really is .

Going to work overtime to promote S3 even after , while her costar played the dead in a movie called "papwalk went wrong ." No wonder she is SL fave .

N said it herself""' she is a serious people pleaser .'"""and even said """I am no good , do as I say but NOT as I Do ."''which was real of her . At least she knows her problem

For L well , maybe Jade wasn't okay with that charade in the first place , and that's why they broke up , maybe L changed or something but a change like that is not without a cause and I don't have enough infos (maybe he thought he was played by independent women ) and opted for something less , I don't know .

Anyway, that's from N's part .

I think Nic wished LT was Colin.

[pretty-mik-97]

All it took was to make an official order and do a full investigation into the slavery and how bad it is, she doesn't even need to gaslight anyone, gurl you're the Empress and I'm pretty sure caring about the people no matter who they are is good and she could've saved so many lives, instead she just did it for herself and give no fucks about the rest cuz it ain't her problem after all, what are they gonna do about it? Kill her? Nah not when she has the Protag card

And some people wonder why these characters are hated cuz they just think partaking in slavery is one small flaw and since the characters didn't know any better- THE FUCK THEY DON'T KNOW BETTER, how is that an excuse even? Those characters are literally the people with the best access to education and suddenly it's irrelevant? Bruh THEY CAN BE EMPRESSES, one of the most powerful positions in the country and oh wow "They were never raised to know about those problems" is one good bloody excuse to give when your own people starved to death and suffered cruel abuse

Also hope you don't mind that my previous ask was pretty long, ig YEARS of studying how bad the feudal periods were only now to get slapped in the face with that shit of "you're being dramatic, this is normal back then", it was normal doesn't mean it was okay, y'know one of the hard parts when I studied literature in school is that I have to fully analyze the literatures itself, usually through the authors or characters, which means I have to put myself in their place and to do so it's experiencing the anguish they once did or imagined the experience, so basically I put myself in a hypothetical scenario where: I have no rights, no one gives a shit about me, the general public is bad for everyone, having different opinions can get you killed, bad things are normal and a thousand other things that made up the anguish that last timelessly, cuz these things even though written in the past scenarios at the time, it can still happen, did happen and is happening NOW, hence why I feel really irked up when I realized they were pushing for crimes to be legal cuz it's "the norms"

I wondered if the authors had the same thought as me when they wrote their works, because they can transpire such vivid pain, I think even they feel it's messed up and disgusting how mostly everyone is ignoring or enforcing all this dehumanization just cuz the rich man said so

Point -> "And some people wonder why these characters are hated cuz they just think partaking in slavery is one small flaw and since the characters didn't know any better- THE FUCK THEY DON'T KNOW BETTER, how is that an excuse even?"

This is unrelated to webtoons and manhwa, but this also reminds of the New Jeans situation. If you follow K-pop, then you know what's been going on between New Jeans and HYBE and Ador.

If not, to cut a long story short: there has been some back and forth going on between new jeans and HYBE and Ador ever since they removed Min Heejin as CEO after she was caught trying to make Ador independent through illegal means, and essentially New Jeans stepped in and "terminated" their contracts even though they didn't file for termination (which they should have).

So a couple weeks ago, New Jeans Hanni and Danielle faced backlash for meeting up with a problematic content creator who goes by Tallytokki who was exposed to be a racist after tweets of her using the N word resurfaced. And obviously, that's not a good look on them.

But then we got Bunnies being like: well, they didn't know about the tweets.

Well that's where they fucked up big time. They should have done their due diligence or had someone on their team to RESEARCH this person before meeting them. And you can't tell me that they're just kids. Hanni and Danielle are 20 and 19 years old respectively.

And even if they're kids, that shouldn't absolve them from consequences. We can cut them some slack, but they still need to be held accountable.

[flexible-student-accommodation]

The Ultimate Student Accommodation Checklist: Everything You Need to Know Before Moving In

Moving to a student dormitory is an interesting life phase for a person but sometimes, it can be confusing. When comments such as these are made by a lifetime academic who has more than ten years of education and lifestyle experience, I can say there are several students who, due to your questions and problems, attracted me to education. So, let's break down everything you need to know before you make that big move.

Essential Items to Pack

First things first, let's talk about what to bring. You'll want to pack:

1. Bedding: Sheets, pillows, and a comfy duvet or blanket

2. Towels and toiletries

3. Clothing for all seasons (don't forget those cozy pajamas!)

4. Kitchen basics: A few plates, cups, and utensils

5. Laptop and chargers

6. School supplies

7. Medicines and first aid kit

8. Some decorative items to make your space feel like home

Remember, less is often more. You can always buy things once you're there if you find you need them.

Paperwork and Documentation

Before you leave, make sure you have:

1. Your student ID

2. Accommodation contract and move-in instructions

3. Proof of address (for setting up bank accounts, etc.)

4. Health insurance information

5. Any visa documents (for international students)

Getting to Know Your New Home

Once you arrive, take some time to:

1. Familiarize yourself with the layout of your accommodation

2. Learn the rules and regulations (quiet hours, guest policies, etc.)

3. Find out where important facilities are located (laundry room, study areas, etc.)

4. Locate emergency exits and procedures

Safety First

Your well-being is paramount. Make sure to:

1. Save important phone numbers (campus security, local emergency services)

2. Check that all locks and safety features in your room are working

3. Be aware of fire safety procedures

4. Get to know your neighbors – they could be your first line of help if needed

Setting Up Your Space

Now for the fun part – making your room feel like home:

1. Clean thoroughly before unpacking

2. Organize your belongings in a way that makes sense for you

3. Add personal touches like photos or posters

4. Consider space-saving storage solutions

Budgeting and Finance

Living on your means managing your money. Here are some tips:

1. Set up a student bank account if you haven't already

2. Create a budget for essentials like food, toiletries, and school supplies

3. Look into student discounts for local shops and services

4. Consider a part-time job if your schedule allows

Getting Connected

In today's digital world, staying connected is crucial:

1. Set up your internet connection as soon as possible

2. Find out about on-campus Wi-Fi access

3. Check your phone plan and adjust if necessary

Settling In Socially

Meeting new people can be daunting, but it's also one of the best parts of student life:

1. Attend orientation events and welcome activities

2. Join clubs or societies that interest you

3. Be open to chatting with your neighbors and classmates

4. Remember, everyone's in the same boat – most people are eager to make friends!

Academics and Study Spaces

Don't forget why you're here:

1. Locate the library and other study areas on campus

2. Set up a comfortable study space in your room

3. Familiarize yourself with online learning platforms if applicable

Health and Wellbeing

Taking care of yourself is crucial:

1. Find out about on-campus health services

2. Locate the nearest grocery stores and plan for healthy meals

3. Establish a good sleep routine

4. Look into fitness facilities or sports clubs

Transportation

Getting around your new city or town is important:

1. Learn about public transportation options

2. Consider bringing a bike if it's practical

3. Familiarize yourself with campus shuttle services if available

Remember, it's okay to feel a bit overwhelmed at first. Everyone does. But before you know it, you'll be settled in and loving your new independence. And if you ever feel lost or unsure, don't hesitate to reach out to your accommodation staff or student services. They're there to help you navigate this exciting time.

If you're still in the process of finding the right student accommodation, consider checking out services like Uninist. As a student accommodation provider, they offer a range of options to suit different needs and budgets. I've seen many students find their perfect home-away-from-home through such services. They can often simplify the search process and help you find a place that ticks all your boxes.

Good luck, and enjoy this amazing experience! Whether you're moving into university halls, a private student house, or accommodation through a provider like Uninist, this checklist should help you feel prepared and excited for the journey ahead.

[cozza-frenzy]

how does unfusing consciously work? I thought that was soemthing that only happens in cases of splitting, and how does doing science in the inner world make you unfuse?

Terry: Okay so, full disclaimer I guess - this sort of thing is pretty much uncharted territory in terms of solid facts. Don't expect me to cite sources, because they literally don't exist. Dissociative Identity Disorder - as a lived experience from the perspective of a system - is not well-researched or well-documented. The only thing remotely similar to what we managed to do that I've seen mentioned in actual literature, is the use of "rituals" to achieve fusion or "revive" an alter the system is convinced has died. But that said... the reason I mention rituals, is because in "meta terms", we basically needed a way to trick our brain into having a reason to separate Roy and Bitter. But for details, I'm actually going to hand this one over to Roy and Bitter - given this directly involves them and was the result of their own will, they're the ones best qualified to talk about this.

Roy: Okay so, both me and Bitter still existed as individuals - he'd been dormant, but when he woke up he was sharing a body with me in the inner world. In more "meta" terms, our brain was making both of us occupy the same space; wherever my part went, it was dragging his part around with me. And whenever one of us became fully conscious (fronted) the other would be there along for the ride (in a semi-conscious state), and this was causing problems for the system. Bitter: Nobody was happy about this. I was dysphoric, being aware of being in my in-sys body inside another in-sys body was giving me a headache while at front, and given we both shared the same "pool" of energy, neither of us could do our jobs properly. Roy: So together, we made the conscious decision to re-separate - but we needed a way to convince our subconscious that something had caused this to happen. And with some help from Hyi, I took things back to my in-system laboratory, and spent a few days without sleep (never going fully unconscious) planning and building. In meta terms, as Terry put it, I suppose you could call it writing a damn good story to tell our uncooperative brain, so it would actually let us follow through on what we decided to do. One artificial body, some bottled lightning I'd been saving for a special occasion, and a modified version of my Mind Transfer Machine later, and we separated successfully. The effort knocked the body out for a period of more than 12 hours, but since then we've been able to behave independently without our consciousnesses being "conjoined". Bitter: As evident from the fact we're both co-conscious right now, but keep tripping over each other to front. It's honestly a huge relief that we could make this work; we've done "rituals" before to achieve fusion (which varied from a Steven Universe-like "fusion dance" to writing up and signing an adoption contract) but we've never heard of anyone consciously separating a failed one. Don't know if that makes us the first, but if anyone else is struggling with an unstable subsystem, I hope it gives them a possible way out.

Roy: Trying to live this way can be hard sometimes, but my source was a world where nobody got to decide anything for themselves - our lives were literally scripted, our episodes already written, our actions pre-determined. Once I showed up here and realized not only could I choose to do things but my choices mattered, I've made it my life's goal to stick two middle fingers up at anyone who says you can't. This is my home. This is my chosen family. And I'll tear our inner reality apart at the seams if if means they get to stay safe and happy.

[orbleglorb]

would like to add further evidence of misinfo:

(preface: im on mobile, so i apologize if this is wonky. thank you to @fans4wga for helping combat misinfo and spreading valuable resources that i used to figure this shit out)

this tweet from maggie lovitt expresses that one of the aforementioned tweets is wrong:

also, klaudia doesn't seem to have a great reputation...

tweet 1 | tweet 2 | tweet 3 | tweet 4 | tweet 5 | tweet 6

plus, the screenshots of the SAG-AFTRA site included are a little out of context. those are discussing paid works. most people doing things for fun are not getting paid. in fact, SAG-AFTRA seems okay with letting people who are being paid by parties other than the struck companies go to cons, as long as they do not promote struck material.

some quotes from the FAQ page for personal appearances and cons:

Q: Can I participate in personal appearances, conventions, and fan expos?

A: It depends. You cannot participate in conventions on behalf of or to promote companies we are striking against. This includes appearances, panels, fan meet and greets, etc. involving projects produced by struck companies, whether current or past, and current and past independent projects that are not signed to an interim agreement. You may participate in a convention in ways that are wholly independent of your work on struck projects and that are not sponsored by or connected to struck companies. Additionally, you may participate in appearances, conventions, and fan expos for work under contracts other than the TV and Theatrical Agreements, such as TV or New Media animation or video games. (Theatrical animation is struck work and you cannot participate in events relating to animated theatrical content during the strike.)

and

Q: How do I know if the convention or fan expo I am asked to attend is independent or is sponsored by or connected to a struck company?

A: In many cases, it will be obvious. They might have “official” or similar designation in the title or description. Often, but not always, these appearances will be at the request of the company that produced and/or distributed the project and might be part of your contractual obligations to the company. For example, programming related to a struck project or a struck company’s booth at San Diego Comic-Con is clearly related to those companies. An event like D23, is organized and run by Disney. Other conventions and expos are wholly independent of the struck companies. These are often, but not always, multi-fandom events you have been invited to based on your body of work, not as a contractual obligation to the producer or distributor of a project. They are typically run by small companies, or sometimes a group of fans, who work directly with you or your representative to host you. In most cases, you will be directly paid an appearance fee or a percentage of what the fan pays for the autograph signing, meet and greet, or other interaction with you.

this section about what qualifies as an OK event to attend mixed with the explicit permission to participate in cons & gatherings outside of struck material makes me think that it's okay for people to attend smaller cons (which is pretty much every con i have been to).

as someone who has helped organize cons, i can say that the guests we invite do typically act of their own volition and not their company's. in fact, i can't think of a single person that was there on behalf of a company (in the ways being described above). the company certainly didn't pay them. we did. however, i would like to state that i dealt mostly with artist alley stuff, and don't know too much about the intricacies of hiring actors/etc.

speaking of artist's alley, i couldn't immediately find anything on the SAG-AFTRA site referencing fanartists. however, there is this post from neil gaiman, a noted WGA member and huge supporter of the SAG-AFTRA strike:

If you are being well paid by a studio for promoting a show, I can see it might be a problem.

If you are a fan talking about how much you love a show, or making a fan video, or cosplaying, or writing fan fiction, or even crowdfunding to make something about one of your favourite shows, nobody is taking notes to stop you joining a union in the future, and nobody at SAG was aiming that at fans.

also, just like, from a logistics standpoint... SAG-AFTRA has not called for a boycott, which is more akin to what the original post is calling for. boycotting and striking are different! and it wouldn't be in SAG-AFTRA's best interests to hound on fans who are creating fan products, whether or not they're being sold. like, just logistically, that's not how you get support from the general public, and with how much the big companies are going to be campaigning against the unions, they'll need all the public support they can get!

plus, in the words of maggie lovitt:

Important news for cosplay and fan creators!

So @/estarguarstia on twitter recently emailed the folks at the SAGAFTRA on how fan creators/influencers can support the strike (also what should aspiring members follow to not impact their future membership) and here’s what they said.

“We are asking folks not to do cosplay if it would promote struck productions. Yes, you can promote comics, books, and games, as this is not struck work. That being said, performers are being asked to refrain from promotiong struck work, including past productions that would have been struck if produced today.”

@/KlaudiaSays clarifies further what this means as they’re a producer/writer

Furthermore here’s what SAGAFTRA has told deadline news

From the article

“And even if a social media influencer isn’t getting paid to push on social media for a studio/streamer, it’s best not to do so, even as a fan. “Influencers should refrain from posting on social media about any struck work regardless of whether they are posting organically or in a paid capacity,” reads Sagaftrastrike.org.”

So please support the WGA and SAGAFTRA strikers by not doing promo for stopped works.

Here is a current list of struck companies

And here’s the strike FAQ.

While yes the strike does specify not cosplaying for struck companies under their “influencer” page, it also does say non-members should not render services to struck companies either if they plan to be members in the future. And from the emails from SAG-AFTRA with suggestions I linked above as well, maybe just don’t do free promo for struck companies right now.

[whatsk-poppinhomies]

“It’s not easy! It’s not easy for me to see you with anyone else, if it’s not me. And maybe that’s selfish, but it’s true.” Pairing : Bangchan x F!Reader ft. Jeon Wonwoo (SVTN) TW : none really ; reader is a strong, independent woman and we love to see it ; general angst and one sided pining ; Word Count : 2.5k

“You really think your modeling career is going to take off?” Chan asked when you had come to him with the news that you had been picked up by a company to model their clothing. It wasn’t a big designer, they weren’t very well known, but it was a start, and you were proud of yourself, as you should be. “I thought you were going to go to college for teaching or something… When did this start?” 

He only looked away from his computer to scan over the contract that you had slid across his desk, his eyes drifting over every single line as he shook his head. “I just wanted to get into something that would make me even half as famous as you are… So people won’t judge us for being together. I can’t sing or dance… But I know I can do this.” No matter what he said, your pride would remain intact. He couldn’t sway you from your decision, the only thing he could do was cheer you on, or disagree with the choice, but that wouldn’t stop you. 

“I never wanted a famous girlfriend… I just wanted someone who would be there for me.” He responded, turning his attention back to his computer screen as he continued to tweak whatever song he was working on now. “If you get that job, if you get famous, you’ll be traveling all over the globe to do different shows. I wanted you here. With me. Always.” 

You rolled your eyes at the blunt selfishness of his words, snatching the contract from off his desk and crossing your arms over your chest. “So me traveling all over the world to do different shows would be a bad thing, but you do it and I’m supposed to just sit back and be okay with it? Hypocritical much?” 

Chans hands slid from his keyboard, dropping onto his lap as he swiveled the chair in your direction, his eyes had heavy bags underneath them from lack of sleep, but he still seemed to have enough energy to go against you on this. “I travel the world for my job. All you’d be getting is a couple gigs, it’s not the same thing. If this is what you want to do, fine… But I don’t like it, and I don’t want to be a part of you doing this.” 

It took you a couple seconds to really understand what he was saying, mainly because it was so foolish for him to even say something like that, but you could tell that he wasn’t joking either. “I supported you in your career choice… But mine is a problem? Great… you know what? This is better for the both of us. You do you, I can do what I want. Thanks Christopher.” And with that you walked out the door of his recording studio. You had walked in with pride, and you walked out with even more, knowing that you were making your choices for no one but yourself. This was your life, and you had simply allowed Chan to be a part of it. Now that he wasn’t, it wouldn’t make or break you, you just had more freedom to do what you wanted. 

That’s essentially where you had met your boyfriend of two years. He was an idol himself, one that was well known in the industry, and it had been like love at first sight as soon as the two of you locked eyes, and from that moment on, the two of you were inseparable. He supported you in everything you did, he’d hype you up when he got to go to your photoshoots, he’d cheer you on when he got to go to one of the modeling shows, and when he couldn’t make it, he’d text you the entire time about how amazing you were going to do. He was the support that you needed, but above all else, he held the calmness, the aura of relaxation that you so looked forward to when you came home after a busy day. 

That’s essentially where you had met your boyfriend of two years. He was an idol himself, one that was well known in the industry, and it had been like love at first sight as soon as the two of you locked eyes, and from that moment on, the two of you were inseparable. He supported you in everything you did, he’d hype you up when he got to go to your photoshoots, he’d cheer you on when he got to go to one of the modeling shows, and when he couldn’t make it, he’d text you the entire time about how amazing you were going to do. He was the support that you needed, but above all else, he held the calmness, the aura of relaxation that you so looked forward to when you came home after a busy day. 

That’s essentially where you had met your boyfriend of two years. He was an idol himself, one that was well known in the industry, and it had been like love at first sight as soon as the two of you locked eyes, and from that moment on, the two of you were inseparable. He supported you in everything you did, he’d hype you up when he got to go to your photoshoots, he’d cheer you on when he got to go to one of the modeling shows, and when he couldn’t make it, he’d text you the entire time about how amazing you were going to do. He was the support that you needed, but above all else, he held the calmness, the aura of relaxation that you so looked forward to when you came home after a busy day. 

“I got a call for another gig today.” You mumbled as you walked through the front door, placing your bag down on the bench beside the closet and slipping your shoes off, letting out a quiet yawn as you walked tiredly over to the couch and dropped down onto it beside your boyfriend, letting your head fall onto his lap. “It was for JYP entertainment… They wanted me to be in one of Stray Kids new videos.” 

Wonwoo hummed softly, closing up his book and placing it onto the end table to look down at you, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as he did. “Are you okay with doing that? You know that you can say no.” He knew what had happened between you and the leader of the group, but that had been years ago and you didn’t want what happened in the past to hinder your future. “I can go with you if you’d like me to. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable.” 

You nodded your head, already feeling much calmer after just listening to his voice. He just had that ability, it was one of the things that you loved the most about Wonwoo, the way he made you instantaneously feel at ease. “Thanks a bunch… This is why you’re the best.” You murmured, watching his cheeks turn a light shade of pink before he pushed his glasses up and grabbed his book again. “I’ll go wash up and then you can watch me make dinner.” 

His chuckle was soft, it sounded more like air being pushed through his nose, but he nodded slowly as his interest was quickly caught by the words on the pages. “Take your time… Wear something warm when you get out.” Those few words would usually make someone think that he was uninterested, and before, you had had the same thoughts, but you came to realize that those words were just his way of saying that he loved you, that he cared about you without actually saying them out loud. It was easier that way for him, and it was just one of the other things that you loved about him. He didn’t say he loved you too much, and the fact that he didn’t made hearing those three words all the more special. He was special to you. 

Chan watched as you walked onto the set, your coat pulled close around your frame as your eyes scanned the area, a small smile pulling at the corners of your lips whenever someone greeted you or walked by. He had followed your journey to stardom, and he had been proud of you, immensely proud, and oftentimes when he was with one of the guys and he came across a post of you on his phone, he’d shove his screen in their face and excitedly announce that he used to date you. Of course, the excitement would no sooner wear off as quickly as it came when he had that realization for the millionth time that he had blown things. 

It had been a miracle that JYP had managed to book you for the shoot, and they had to get your parts filmed and perfected immediately because your manager said that your schedule was pretty booked for the next week. He only had a short amount of time with you, and it had been so long since he had even seen you face to face that it had his stomach doing somersaults as he thought of what to say. 

“Is it okay if my boyfriend sits in for the filming?” You asked one of the producers, your voice flowing through the air and reaching Chans ears as if he were the target of your words instead of the man that you were actually talking to. His head whipped up as he watched you smile and bow, rushing over to the studio doors to push them open, and he about gasped when he saw who walked in. “Thank you for coming.” He heard you say, and his stomach, like an untrained trapeze artist, dropped like a brick when he watched you kiss the cheek of Jeon Wonwoo. 

It wasn’t shocking, Chan had seen the music video that you were in with them, and he had seen the scene, replayed it over a thousand times where you had to act with Wonwoo, and he could tell that it wasn’t acting… He had seen that look on your face many times when you were with him. He just didn’t think that the two of you would actually be together. “Of course. I’m here for you if you need me.” Was it nosy for Chan to listen in on the conversation? You were having it in a public place filled with people, it’s not like you were trying to keep anything a secret. 

You were coming closer to him now, and he could feel his heart racing like it was about to burst from his chest. Were you coming over to say hi to him? It felt like his tongue had gone numb, how embarrassing. You looked great too, and he felt like a fool for giving it all up. “Ahh! Hi, Y/N!” Chan called out once you were close enough, and you paused for a second to wave at him… And then you kept walking. It was humiliating, and when he glanced over at Wonwoo, he could see the older man smirking, his shoulders bouncing slightly with his silent laughter. 

How was he supposed to film with you when you made him feel like this? When he felt the eyes of Wonwoo on him whenever he got close to you. You shouldn’t bring your boyfriend onto the set, it probably made the other guys uncomfortable too. 

“It’s pretty cool that Y/N brought Wonwoo with her. He’s a chill guy.” Jisung said during a break between shoots, only proving that Chan was wrong in his assumption. He was the only one uncomfortable with it, and that only further proved that the feeling of discomfort was from the jealousy that he felt. “Have you talked to him? I mean… I know that… Well�� You know. But, that’s all in the past, right? She agreed to do the shoot still, that means everything is alright.” 

Oh, Jisung was poorly mistaken. Everything might be okay for you, but for Chan… It was watching the one girl that he wanted, the one girl that he once had, be with another man. It only made it worse to watch because he knew it was all his fault that he had to see you in the arms of someone else, and he had to be okay with it… Which was easier said than done. “Yeah… everything is alright. I’m gonna go talk to her now.” Chan said, trying to keep his composure as he walked away from his member, he had to focus highly on his steps to make sure he didn’t trip over his own feet as he walked over to where you stood. Wonwoos arm was wrapped around your waist as you stood beside the chair he was sitting in, his thumb grazing over your side and his fingers intermittently tugging at the fabric of your shirt which had you giggling. It should have been him… It could have been him. “Hey, Y/N. Can I talk to you… About the shoot?” Chan spoke up after clearing his throat to get your attention, and his attention was on Wonwoo, watching as the man's eyes narrowed just slightly behind his glasses. 

“Sure… What about it?” You asked, not moving from Wonwoos side, but this was something that Chan needed to say to you in private, so he motioned with his head for you to follow him, and you reluctantly patted Wonwoos hand to let you go before the sound of your heels against the hard floor let Chan know that you were right behind him. “So… What about the shoot? Is there something wrong?” 

Chan took a deep breath before nodding his head, glancing around you to look at Wonwoo who was staring straight at him. “Yeah… You have your boyfriend here.” He said flatly, and your eyebrows furrowed as you looked between Chan and Wonwoo. “It’s hard enough for me to see you again in person… But now I have to see you with him?! It’s not easy! It’s not easy to see you with someone else, if it’s not me. And maybe that’s selfish, but it’s true.” 

You scoffed, shaking your head as rolled your eyes, all the signs of your annoyance being played out in a quick second. “I knew this was a bad idea.” You grumbled, your head falling back as you groaned loudly. “You’ve always been selfish, Christopher. That’s the reason I’m not with you anymore. It’s always been about you… What you wanted, how you wanted me to be, what you wanted me to do. That’s who you are… And that’s who he’s not… That’s why I’m with him.” You turned to smile back at Wonwoo who looked like he was slowly but surely making his way off the chair as his eyes now glared daggers at Chan. “He’s here for me… Not for anything else. So deal with it, or we can both leave the set. Make your decision quickly, break ends soon.” 

Both of you had spoken your minds, and while he didn’t really expect the conversation to go well, he hadn’t expected that. It wasn’t easy… If anything, it was almost impossible to shoot any scene with you when Wonwoo was watching, when he knew that after the shot was finished you’d run right back over to Wonwoo and his arm would wrap around you and he’d smile at you like you were the only person in the room. It was jealousy, it was the fact that seeing you with someone else made him feel absolutely stupid… You had moved on, and you had done it quite easily too. You were living in the present and looking towards the future, and Chan was stuck in the past, reliving the moment where he had fucked it all up, and imagining the future that he could have had with you if he hadn’t been so selfish.

[neonthewrite]

The prompt challenge continues! And I have some more things to share! Idk where this one is going really, or where it came from. But y'know sometimes you need some characters learning to be just a tad nicer to each other. As a treat.

~~~

The rain and the mud were bad enough; Alex didn’t need his smirk, too. She winced as she tried to take another step in the mud, but the thick substance clung to her legs like glue. Somehow, having an audience only made it worse. It was like Dorian’s amused spectating encouraged it to be worse. “You,” she said, gritting her teeth as she took another labored step, “are not helping. It’s bad enough you don’t sink into the mud, you have to laugh when I do?”

As if to drive home her point, his next step was a harsh stomp. Despite having soles the size of a child’s bed and heavy boots thick enough to weather all the elements, he barely broke the surface of the mud. The impact shook the ground nonetheless, though, and Alex wobbled. Dorian stood tall over her, not flaunting his twenty foot height but not really needing to.

“I do have to laugh,” he said, watching the path ahead. “Because I offered to carry you across this stretch of the road. And you said no, because your pride is more important than keeping your shoes in any kind of good repair.”

Alex clenched her jaw. She couldn’t argue that point. When he’d suggested carrying her until they found more stable ground, she’d balked at the idea. And if she really gave it any amount of thought, he was right about her reasoning, too. She was prideful, and the thought of being carried around by someone, even a titan who by all accounts couldn’t help how big he was, grated against her independence.

She fought her way through a few more steps in the mud before a feeling of dread curled in her stomach. She was sinking further, and after the last step the mud was up to her thighs. It felt like a grip had closed around her legs.

“O-okay, fine,” she said, excusing her stammer as a side effect of the chill from the rain. “I could use your mud-immunity. I can’t move.”

Dorian, who already walked atop the mud at a leisurely pace, came to an equally leisurely stop. He barely glanced back at her but she saw that smirk still stuck in place. “What was that? All worn out now and want my help?”

She grimaced. “Dorian, I don’t have time. I’m sinking.”

“Why not just back up a bit and go around? Or better yet, just ignore the problem and be more stubborn, surely that’ll work‒”

“Dorian, please just help me out!”

He turned his focus on her at last and found her trying and failing to use her hands to dig away some of the mud, but it was steadily pulling her down. Alex wasn’t looking at him anymore; she was only watching with a frantic heart as her efforts did nothing. Where she normally came almost to his knees, now she was barely past his ankles.

Until he took a few steps towards her and knelt down at last. Both of his large hands wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up; defying the pull of the mud as if it were water. He hadn’t yet explained why he could ignore a simple fact of nature, but at the moment Alex didn’t care. The mud didn’t behave right for him and that meant she was free of it at last. It even sloughed off of her far quicker than it ought to, dropping back to the ground with several plops though she merely dangled gently from Dorian’s grip.

“Thank you,” she said, avoiding his gaze and trying not to sound too pouty about needing the rescue in the first place. “If you don’t mind setting me down on some more solid ground…”

Dorian’s smirk returned at last. “Not a chance, princess. You’re hopeless out here in this weather.”

She glared at him and opened her mouth, but only a yelp came out as he shifted his grip and held her closer to his chest in the crook of his arm. She was so startled by the move that she forgot to squirm for a moment. “Dorian! This is unnecessary! And embarrassing!”

He sighed, and from this close she felt how his chest expanded and contracted. “Alex, there is no reason at all to deny help in this situation. I know I was teasing you, but really. I’m more equipped than you are to deal with this terrain. Just relax for now and we’ll cover plenty of ground.”

She grumbled and crossed her arms, sulking but inevitably reclining in the safe cradle of his arm. She’d gone so much of her life not pulling her own weight. It was only recently she’d been able to understand that about herself and start working to improve it. “I could have made it myself. Just so we’re clear.”

Dorian hummed, his smooth voice rumbling in his nearby chest. “Maybe, but isn’t this so much easier?”

“I …” she couldn’t come up with a rebuttal. As he strode forward, unaffected by the rain and the mud and the fog, Alex frowned with more contemplation than consternation. “Yes. I suppose it is.”