#or just haven't paid attention to the tags etc.

[not-poignant]

If someone stopped reading your story, not because of anything wrong you've done, would you be interested to know why? Or would that just be unpleasant?

That would just be unpleasant, anon.

The reality is a lot of people just stop reading for a lot of reasons, and hearing someone's negative feedback isn't really that useful, because I'm writing the story for the people who really love it, and not for the people who got bored or stopped liking the themes etc. And then of course there are folks who just stop because life intervenes, which is normal.

Generally speaking there's a saying which is: If you wouldn't ask that person for personal advice, why are you listening to their criticism. And I tend to apply that pretty aggressively to strangers on the internet tbh!

Part of it is that I take negative critiques very personally, and can spend a really long time feeling like I should change an entire story for one person who's already stopped reading, or like I should be trying to fight to keep that one person's interest instead of like...focusing on all the readers who are actually just enjoying the writing as it is. And changing my writing for the people who aren't finding it interesting enough to keep reading (and/or who don't have time and/or who find it too upsetting etc.) is not going to help anyone!

So yeah, generally speaking telling a person why you've stopped reading a story is like...not really a thing to do (and that's true for most authors).

About the only time I don't mind it is when someone starts reading again after a period of absence where they've been stressed and I get a comment like 'Ah I haven't been around due to life/stress/illness but I'm so happy to be back and reading' lol, which I don't think is what you're referring to!

[leviackermanscleaningbuddy]

SKZ DRABBLE-Minho

Part II of Mafia!Minho

Tags: Lee Minho, Minho, Lee Know, Mafia!Minho, skz, stray kids, stay, skz x you, skz x reader, mafia au, femreader, y/n, skz fluff, skz angst, skz smut

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Light Smut

Warnings: Mafia shit-guns, shady dealings, etc., blood, miscarriage, pregnancy, childbirth.

"This one can be yours. If you want it."

Your eyes flash to Minho in surprise, and he chuckles at the look of shock on your face, stepping up behind where you sit to press the loaded handgun into your slack palm.

He leans over, and you catch a whiff of his cologne-heady and familiar.

"You've been antsy. Bored." He murmurs in your ear, his voice low, as the men keeping watch in every corner of the room silently look onward, not moving a muscle, hands on their guns.

The guy in the middle of the room, tied to a chair, groans.

"You're not meant to be a housewife, darling. It doesn't suit you."

Minho reaches up to push a lock of hair behind your ear, and you shiver, your fingers closing around the cool barrel of the gun.

Something inside you feels strange about the fact that he'd paid enough attention to you to notice how you were feeling before you'd even put a finger on it yourself.

But it's not bad strange.

"Because you may be my wife," Minho continues in a murmur, releasing the gun fully into your hold now. "But you were your father's daughter first."

He presses a kiss to your cheek and steps back.

Without having to think it through, you rise from your chair, level the gun at the man sitting dazed in the center of the room, and pull the trigger.

********************************************************************************

You step around a puddle of something on the floor, it's dark enough to be blood, or it's simply from the heavy rain last night, and continue down the hallway of the shipping warehouse.

It's easy to be quiet, your worn, bloodied converse padding noiselessly down the corridor in search of your target.

You knew some Bosses that insisted their wives wear their heels to 'business meetings' but Minho had never placed that expectation on you, and you'd always felt more comfortable donning tennis shoes when it was time to get nitty gritty.

The blood washed out a whole lot easier from the canvas of Converse than it did the suede of Christian Louboutin's.

Plus, most of the lowlifes you dealt with didn't deserve to have your favorite pair of heels be their last view of the world.

Those were for Minho anyway.

You step around another suspicious puddle of unknown origin, and see the door you're looking for at the end of the hall, fast approaching.

"God, he's going to kill me for letting you do this."

You glance over your shoulder at Felix with a raise of your brow, pausing outside the door, one hand already on the knob.

You give him the start of a smile and a shrug. "He doesn't know."

Felix's eyes go slightly wide, panic writing itself across his expression as he continues to stare at you. "Wait, he doesn't know you're here, doing this in his absence, or he doesn't know that you're pregnant?"

You shrug nonchalantly, reaching for the gun you keep tucked in your waistband. "Both."

Felix stares some more, and you heave a sigh, rolling your eyes, as you reach to push open the door, for real this time.

"I haven't found a good time to tell him, okay? I wanted it to be a surprise. It has to be perfect."

"Oh god."

"Now-" You turn back tot he situation at hand, alert and ready, ignoring Felix's disapproving looks in your direction. "Let's meet our mole, shall we?"

Felix mutters something under his breath that sounds awfully like a curse, but you ignore him, shoving open the door as you draw and ready your gun simultaneously.

Inside, tied to a chair in the middle of the room and waiting for you, just like Chan said he'd be, is the man you've been looking for.

You give him a relaxed smile as you enter, Felix on your heels, but instead of directing your attention to him, you glance behind him to the man leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his broad chest.

"You didn't rough him up too much before I got here, did you, Binnie?" You ask conversationally, as you make a circle around the man tied to the chair, inspecting his injuries.

Changbin grins at you, but doesn't move from his current spot on the wall. "Nah, I saved most of the fun for you. Just made him squeal a couple times like the pig bastard he is."

The man shifts and glares at Changbin, but you settle in front of him, crouched down to look up into his bruised and battered face with that same easy smile on your face.

You play with your gun as you stare at him silently for a few seconds, and he starts to squirm under your gaze.

Finally, you glance down at the weapon in your hand, and say casually, "He took it easy on you, Mr. Kang." You flick your gaze back up to his face, taking in the bruising around his eye, the split lip. "I won't be so considerate."

The man sneers at you, bloody spittle dripping from his lips, his gaze flashing to flick between Changbin and Felix, now leaning against the wall next to one another.

"Where'd you find the bitch? A street corner?" He flashes his angry, dark gaze back to you and leans forward as much as his bonds will allow, hatred dripping through his words. "Or did Boss Lee pussy out and send a woman to take care of his business?"

You see Changbin make a movement from the corner of your eye, but you hold out a hand, gaze never leaving the man before you, and he settles back into position, watching the interaction sharply.

You stand up, sighing, tsking slightly as you rise to full height in front of him.

"Honestly, I expected more out of you, Mr. Kang. Everything I've heard pointed to you being a man of greatness, someone capable of backstabbing the biggest mob boss and getting away with it, but this-" You wave your gun in his general direction with clear disappointment and dismissal. "This is just a tiny gnat spouting big words in hope of saving himself from the spider's web he's found himself irreversibly trapped in."

The man growls and thrashes against his bonds, and without warning, you press the gun into the underside of his jaw, and he winces, ceasing his movement almost immediately.

You lean over and get in his face, letting a smile slip once more across your lips at the sudden dark fear you read in his eyes.

He's finally putting it together.

"And just so we're clear-" You murmur, pressing the gun harder into the underside of his throat as you click the hammer back into place and he flinches. "-if you haven't already figured it out, Mr. Kang, I'm the fucking spider."

And you pull the trigger.

********************************************************************************

"Are you disappointed?" You ask in a whisper, as Minho holds the baby at the end of your bed, the doctor and nurses still hurrying around, cleaning up the room.

Minho's head snaps up, his gaze leaving the baby's face, and there's open confusion on his features as he stares at you.

"Why would I be disappointed?"

You shrug one shoulder, feeling stupid for having brought it up in the first place, but needing to know.

"My father never wanted a girl-"

Minho cradles the baby closer in his arms and steps up, settling beside you on the bed as he leans over and takes your chin in his hand, forcing you to look at him.

The baby makes a little noise of discontent at the movement, and settles back to sleep in her father's arms.

His expression is so serious it takes your breath away.

"Princess." He holds your gaze, and the warmth you see in his eyes has your aching body and mind feeling a hundred times lighter. "I am not your father. And if he was ever disappointed with you, then he's truly more of a monster than I thought. Because how could he, or I, be disappointed in something so-"

He glances down at the baby, a fond look settling over his rugged features, and reaches up an inked finger to stroke across her dark duck fuzz.

"-so incredibly beautiful and perfect?"

You let out the breath you've been holding and lean over to peer down at the baby as Minho continues to run his hand over her hair.

It's the first time since she was born that you've been able to get a good look at her, no machines plugged to you, no doctor or nurses trying to clean you up.

Minho's right.

She's beautiful.

You reach out carefully to touch the tiny, pink scrunch of her nose, and her eyes screw up, her lips pursing at the light contact.

She looks like Minho. But she also looks like you.

You glance up to see Minho watching you, and the corner of his lips lift into the hint of a smile, before he leans forward and kisses you gently.

"You did amazing, princess." He murmurs against your mouth, and all the hard work of the previous hours suddenly feels worth it at his genuine praise. "She's the perfect mixture of the two of us, and the best gift I've ever been willingly given. I'll spend our entire lives trying to repay you for bringing her into them."

And you know he means it.

********************************************************************************

"Mommy, do you think SuSu ever gets lonely?" Yeong-Ja asks, coming to sit beside you in the shade of the garden, making you look up from your book.

You consider for a moment, watching the dog in question roll around in the perfectly manicured grass with his toy bone held between his teeth.

"Hmm. I don't know." You finally muse back to your daughter, glancing over to her before you lean over and straighten the red bow at the end of her dark braid. "He has you, right? And he gets to go on trips with daddy sometimes and has a big important job of protecting us and our house. Do you think he even has time to be lonely with all that going on?"

Your daughter looks deeply thoughtful, and you bite back a smile as she turns to you seriously after a moment.

"I dunno. But maybe he'd like another puppy to play with?"

You laugh at her hopeful tone, glancing once more to the doberman, who has gotten up from his play to take a watchful patrol of the large garden, ears up and alert, strides purposeful.

"I'm sure he would. And I'm sure you would too." You lean over to tickle her sides briefly, making her squirm away as she laughs and shrieks. "But getting daddy on board with that plan will take more than a little bit convincing."

Yeong-Ja looks determined. "I'll ask him when he gets back."

You grin, leaning back on your hands as you lay your book to the side, and there is silence for a few moments, before you ask the little girl beside you, "Do you get lonely, baby?"

Yeong-Ja considers for a moment and then shrugs, playing with some grass between her fingers, still painted a bright purple from when Minho had done them for her before he left on his trip.

"Sometimes." She admits, glancing over at Suwon, who has resumed play with his ball.

She looks up at you then, her eyes large, dark and curious. "Do you get lonely when daddy's away, mommy?"

You feel a pang, and remind yourself Minho will be back tonight.

Gathering a smile once more, you lean over and press a kiss to her red, chubby cheek.

"Sometimes. But I have you. And Suwon. And daddy will be home before we know it."

********************************************************************************

"He's hopeless." Minho sighs in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he's getting a headache, another torn up dress shoe at his feet. "That fucking dog is a menace."

You laugh, pushing up from the bed to wrap your arms around his waist from behind as you nuzzle into his shoulder, breathing him in, relaxing into the way his back rises and falls against your chest.

"He's still learning. He's barely out of the puppy stage. Give him some time. Chan promises once he's done with training he'll be the best damn guard dog this side of the Han."

Minho sighs again, and glances over his shoulder at you, slight amusement warming his dark eyes.

"Are those his words or yours?"

You shrug a shoulder and bury your grin in between his shoulder blades. "Both."

"Well-" Minho gripes, kicking the ruined shoe away, before he turns and gathers you into his arms, putting a finger beneath your chin as he leans over to press a kiss to your lips. "-he has to live long enough to receive Chan's training. And with the way he's destroying my Prada collection-"

You laugh, leaning up on your toes to kiss him once more, cutting him off.

"Your daughter loves him. So you can't kill him."

"I'll get her another dog." Minho grumbles halfheartedly beneath his breath. "I can buy her every fucking dog in Seoul if she wants, she's one for fucks sake, she won't know the difference."

You shake your head, grinning, and pull from Minho's grasp.

"You may head one of the biggest crime organizations in this city, Boss Lee, but I know you and I know your secret, and faced with your daughter's tears or the loss of your entire closet of dress shoes, you'd choose the latter."

Minho sighs with heavy resignation and stares up at the ceiling.

His headache looks like it's coming back.

"Fuck. You're right."

You laugh and he gives you a halfhearted glare. "I'm always right. And life will be easier for you as soon as you accept it."

********************************************************************************

The moment Minho enters your bedroom, Suwon is dropping into a happy puddle at his feet, tongue out and lolling, rolling directly onto his back as he stares up at Minho with bright eyes full of excitement and hope.

Minho rolls his eyes, but leans down to give the dog a few belly scratches regardless, before he nudges him out of the way with the toe of his dress show.

"Okay, okay, mutt. That's enough. Get the fuck out."

Suwon obediently rises to his feet at your husband's gruffly affectionate dismissal, and trots out the open door, probably off to settle down for the night in Yeong-Ja's bed.

You glance up from where you're currently sat at the bathroom vanity, wiping down your face, as Minho leans against the doorway.

"How'd it go?" You ask curiously, tossing aside the rag you were using, as you reach for your moisturizer.

Minho nods, following your movements with an unreadable expression. "About as well as could be expected considering the little hang ups we've been experiencing lately."

You tilt your head, studying him in the mirror, the tired clench of his jaw, the circles staring to bruise beneath his eyes, the normally pristine suit rumpled from the plane.

Minho sighs, crossing his arms over his chest, and holds your gaze through the mirror.

"I heard you went on a little unsanctioned outing while I was away, princess."

You freeze, because you've never been good at hiding anything from Minho, and swear loudly beneath your breath.

"Fuck. I'm going to kill Felix."

Minho looks amused now, arching a brow at you as he steps into the bathroom to stand behind you, hands going down on your shoulders.

"Felix didn't narc."

His words catch you off guard. "What, but then-"

Minho leans down to meet your gaze in the mirror, his lips pulling up into the start of a smirk as he inclines his head.

You follow his pointed gaze and catch a glimpse of the bloodstained converse peeking out from beneath the hem of the bed skirt.

Fuck.

Minho snakes a hand around the front of your throat, his large palm warm against your skin, and you swallow as you feel his fingers put pressure there, soft enough to be affectionate, but firm enough to tilt your gaze back and up to his where he stands behind you.

"So now it's my turn to ask you, darling-" He murmurs, voice low and intense, leaning in to your space once more, his warm exhales dancing across your skin and making you shiver.

He meets your eyes in the mirror.

"-How'd it go?"

You swallow again, hard, heart pounding in your chest, and let your gaze slip down to his hand still around your throat, the ink of his tattoos dark against his tan skin, the gold of his rings glinting in the light from the lamp.

Warmth pools between your thighs the longer you stare.

Minho is still waiting for your answer, so you lick your lips and redirect your gaze to his once more, molten and dangerous in the reflection of the mirror.

"I handled it." You say quietly, voice firm and resolute. "With a bullet between the bastard's eyes."

Something flickers hotly across Minho's gaze at your blunt statement and then he chuckles, coarse and raw.

"That's my girl." He murmurs against your ear, and the praise has you squirming in your seat as heat gathers instantly in your core.

"Minho-" You whine out, and he flicks his gaze to yours in the mirror.

"Something you want to ask me, princess?" He asks innocently, as if he hasn't just incited all of this with a single look and a few uttered words.

"Is there something you want me to ask you, Boss Lee?" You quip back instantly, and Minho chuckles again, that throaty sound that makes you want to lead him into the bedroom and to the bed immediately.

"Ah, see, princess-" Minho murmurs, leaning in close as he takes your chin in his fingers roughly, wrenching your gaze back to his once more. "-that's what I like about you. Always willing to push back and match me step for step."

There's fire in his eyes, and it lets you know you're playing a dangerous game.

Your favorite kind.

Minho's dark eyes flash as he forces you to watch your silhouettes in the mirror, his fingers sliding down your throat and to the closure of your top, your chest rising and falling rapidly with your breaths.

"Now. Be a good girl and take this off. And when you're finished, you can get my gun."

********************************************************************************

"It's not your fault."

You don't even raise your eyes to look at Minho, standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

You clench your knees tighter to your chest and stare at the way the water is swirling around your naked body and down the drain at your feet.

It's not even pink tinged anymore.

"It is though." Your voice is hoarse from screaming and crying, and it's barely more than a whisper when you finally respond. "Just none of you will say it. Not to me. But I know you're saying it to each other when I'm not there, when I leave the room."

Minho sighs, and moves further into the steamy bathroom, leaning against the counter as he crosses his arms over his chest, watching you cautiously, expression unreadable.

You avoid his gaze, because he's got his emotions in control now, but you know that if you look at him, your mind will only replay the pain, the worry, the loss you'd seen in his eyes before.

And that will kill you.

Because you're the cause of it.

"Princess."

You curl tighter into a ball on the ridiculously large shower floor.

Minho crouches down in the corner of your vision, and his dark eyes flash sharply.

"(Y/N). Look at me."

He rarely uses your given name, and you flick your eyes miserably to meet his.

He sighs again, and his expression softens slightly.

"It is not your fault." He repeats, slowly and surely, and you know it should make you feel better, but it only makes you angry.

"It's not my fault?" You spit back, and to his credit, Minho remains steady, unmoving, in the face of your sudden fury. "It's my body that keeps losing them. I'm the one who can't seem to hold on. I'm the one who ruins our chances of ever meeting our babies before they're gone forever. I'm the one who's broken, who can't even give you what you want and it's not my fucking fault?"

You don't even realize you're crying until Minho slides into the shower beside you and gathers you into his arms.

You don't even have the strength to protest as he holds you and you sob into his chest, his dress shirt quickly growing heavy and drenched beneath your hands.

Finally, when you can catch your breath, Minho reaches up to wipe away the last of the tears from your eyes, stroking a soothing finger across your cheekbone before he says gently, softly, "You have absolutely given me everything I've ever wanted, princess. That little girl down the hall? She's my whole world. And you?"

He runs a thumb across your lips as you sniffle, fighting the tears once more.

"You will never understand what you've done for me. But I will never, ever need anything else in my life as long as I have you by my side."

********************************************************************************

"Is it someone's birthday?" Minho asks wryly when he comes downstairs and finds you and Yeong-Ja gathered in the kitchen, waiting for him.

"No, daddy." Yeong-Ja giggles, running to him as he swings her easily up into his arms and presses a kiss to the top of her dark hair. "You're so silly."

Minho tickles her a little, grinning down at her in his arms. "I don't know. It could be Uncle Felix's or Uncle Jisung's and I just forgot."

"That's why we have a calendar." You tease back, as Minho carries your daughter over to the table and sets her down on the counter, caging her in with the safety of his arms so she doesn't fall.

He gives you a wink. "You know, I never look at that thing, princess."

You mimic a sigh, but you're biting back a grin. "I know."

"Daddy, daddy, look!" Yeong-Ja, tired of being ignored, points out the cake sitting in the middle of the table, swinging her legs as she motions excitedly. "We made you a cake!"

Minho eyes the confection with open amusement and then glances between you and your daughter. "I see that. The question is why?"

Yeong-Ja squirms out of Minho's arms and jumps down from the counter with the help of her father's hand, running over to where Suwon lies beneath the large dining table.

She drags the sleepy dog out so Minho can see him and gestures to the red bowtie tied neatly around the black dogs throat, just beneath the large leather collar he wears.

"Look, SuSu got dressed up too!"

Minho crouches down, fingering the satin bow tie as the dog gives his hand a few lazy licks.

"Ah. And he looks very dapper." Minho replies seriously, before he reaches out and tweaks Yeong-Ja's nose, making her giggle. "But not as pretty as you."

"Yeong-Ja." You say, and your daughter glances up at you curiously, Minho following her gaze as you step out from behind the counter. You arch a brow at her and try to give her a pointed look. "Why don't you tell daddy why we made him a cake?"

"Oh!" Her eyes light up and she claps her hands, running back over to the counter and climbing up on one of the dozens of stools to pull the cake closer for Minho to see. "We have a surprise for you, daddy!"

Minho stands, brushing dog hair off his pants, and comes to stand beside you, his arm snaking around your waist as he watches Yeong-Ja.

"Did you really make that cake, or did you bribe cook to do it?" He murmurs to you beneath his breath as Yeong-Ja continues to chatter on excitedly.

You swat his chest lightly and try to muster up an offended look. "I'm actually hurt you would ask that."

He chuckles, shrugging a shoulder. "Just curious, princess, that's all."

"All right." Minho tugs you back against him, both arms going around your waist, his chin resting on your head as he looks to your daughter and the cake once more. "What's the surprise, baby girl?"

Yeong-Ja looks to you for confirmation, suddenly serious, and you nod slightly, telling her to go ahead.

Sudden butterflies swarm in your stomach.

Yeong-Ja, taking her job incredibly seriously, climbs down once more from her perch and makes her way across the kitchen, returning momentarily with the little gift bag the two of you had prepared earlier and hidden from Minho's view behind the cover of the counter.

Minho glances down at you curiously as she approaches, but you don't look up at him, worried the sudden wobble of your lip or the sheen of your eyes will give you away.

Your daughter presses the gift into Minho's waiting hands.

Minho stares at it for a moment, and you can see the wheels turning behind his eyes.

"Open it, daddy." Yeong-Ja finally says impatiently, stomping her foot, and Minho chuckles, breaking the tension.

"Okay, okay. Patience, baby girl."

He tugs the first ribbon off the bag, and you feel your entire body suddenly tense with nervous energy.

Shoving aside the tissue paper, he reaches in blind, giving Yeong-Ja a secret little smile and a wink as he does so, and when he pulls his hand back out, he uncurls his fingers to reveal what was inside.

Nestled in his large, ink covered palm is a tiny stuffed replica of a Doberman, one that looks awfully like a certain dog currently sleeping a few feet away under the dining room table.

Minho stares at the stuffed animal for a few beats, and then he glances up at you, confusion clear in his dark eyes.

"Please, for the love of god, don't tell me we're getting another puppy."

You laugh, but the sound is watery as you shake your head and open your mouth to respond, but Yeong-Ja beats you to the punch.

"No, daddy, silly!" She points at the toy held in his hand, eyes bright, expression beaming. "That's a toy for the baby!"

Without seeming to be able to stop himself, Minho murmurs out with clear relief beneath his breath, "Oh thank fuck."

You laugh again, and he looks to you for confirmation as Yeong-Ja steals the toy from his grasp, moving to show it to a very unimpressed Suwon who she has just woken from his nap.

You nod at the look on his face, the hesitance held in his eyes, and something changes at your silent acknowledgement, his expression growing incredibly soft and intense all at the same time.

He stands up and is to you in two strides, tugging you into his arms even as the tears run silently down your cheeks.

He buries his face in your hair and breathes you in for a few seconds, before he pulls back, reaching up to swipe away your tears as he asks quietly, voice hoarse, "Another murder baby?"

You laugh through the tears and lean up to kiss him, tasting the happiness on his lips as you confirm back breathlessly, "Another murder baby."

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[neoarchipelago]

Madripoor High (Part 1)

A/N: ok so hum... First part of something new... I have no idea for a title so please throw some ideas in the comments... Yes i have added a little hint of marvel but it is not in the marvel universe! I just love Madripoor. I kinda have the tittle 'Madripoor High' in mind but I'm not sure... Don't even know if I'll keep this going just... Let me know in the comments. Also edited this on my phone... Kinda sucky, I'll put it back correctly if I do keep it going.

Warnings: sexual talk, weapons etc.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Cars passing by and people walking to their destinations. The busy city boomed around you, muffled by the headphones on your head. Your music blocked the chaos of London. You enjoyed London. You found it beautiful. Amongst all the countries you've been to… and that list was quite long, you enjoyed the weather. Exactly. The gloomy, rainy weather. The black umbrella shielding you from the crystal droplets as you walked to a small cafe. You were greeted as you entered, dropping your shield at the entrance before taking place at a table in a corner far from others.

Your coat was removed, your backpack opened to free your laptop. The nice waitress walked to you after several minutes, asking for your order.

"I'd like a hazelnut cappuccino and… the crumble please" you answered with a smile.

As she walked away you looked around, the almost empty cafe was quiet, the few people chatting or working. You smirked, turning to your laptop you went to check for your payment. You smiled as you watched the enormous figure in your credit account. Yes. Credit. Because in the underground, money is important, but credits… Those are so much more valuable. The Madripoor currency.

Sighing, you let yourself lean back on the sofa chair, crossing your arms. You were proud. After everything you've gone through, you have managed to become one of the most prized citizens of Madripoor. The hard work you've put in has paid off, the contracts have piled up, the price tag always climbing up. Your speciality? Tracking. To get into details, it was hacking. Now you mostly used it to track down targets for big mean people who always have something against another big mean one. You were good. You were the fucking best. So yes. You were proud, even if you had no one to be proud of you.

Cup placed in front of you, you were taken out of your daydream. You smiled up, thanking the waitress, closing your laptop and pushing it to the side to bring your little treats closer to you. Contract over, now you were free until you accepted the next one. It would fall quite fast, yes, but you thought you might get some rest. Go back to Madripoor, to Hightown, and rest.

You took a bite of the crumble, feeling the sweetness of it making you relax. You thought you might go shopping once you'd got back. Maybe you'd stay in and play, watch some movies. Maybe you'd go to Downtown…

A soft buzz captured your attention. You grabbed your phone, looking at the screen. Someone was calling. No one called. Very few… barely anyone had this number. It was used for emergencies only and it had been a year and half since it rang. You frowned. It foreshadowed something entirely different than a break. You sighed. Curiosity eating at you. Before it was too late you answered.

"Hello?"

"Tracker."

You frowned. A woman's voice. A woman who knew your screen name. Only people from Madripoor knew it. Or people extremely close to Madripoor.

"Be quick." You said.

"You were never patient muñeca."

Muñeca. Doll. In Spanish. You sighed, closing your eyes.

"Valeria, you fucking bitch, I thought you were in jail."

"I was. I got out. Then that cabron de Alejandro trapped me."

You smirked. Alejandro. You haven't met the man, but by the amount of times she had complained about him, it's like you knew him already. A little voice was heard behind her, notifying you that she wasn't alone in that call.

"Where are you calling me from?"

"A military base. I need your help."

"No."

"You didn't listen."

"Go on I'm listening."

"We need help to find-"

"No."

She sighed. Helping her? It was already risky. You could. You could get her out and free her but she'd get herself into trouble again. Helping the military? You? Tangled in the deepest roots of criminality? It was the stupidest thing to ask of you.

"Come on. You love a challenge. And I have one just for you."

"It doesn't matter if I love a challenge. You're on high speaker aren't you?"

"Well-"

"Of course you are. They wouldn't let you call anyone without supervision. They know who I am? They know what I do?"

"They do." She said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"So what's going to happen? I help and then what? They got pretty little pink handcuffs for me?"

"Well you can ask the skull face to put them on. Or the ADHD Scot." She answered even more amusedly.

"Valeria… what?" You asked confused.

"Come on. It'll be very interesting. I know you're curious. And this… is like tracking a sin cara."

"A no face?"

Damn. She might succeed to make you interested. But she might be bluffing as well.

"Yes. We need to find Echo."

"Echo? The scientist working for various cartel's and Mafia bosses? The man that no one has ever met or even seen?" You asked, irony dripping from your tongue.

"Are you skeptical?"

"Echo doesn't exist. It's a stupid invention from some idiots to sell products at a higher price. You're wasting my time. Goodbye and good luck Valeria" You rolled your eyes.

"I have proof."

You froze. Proof? Now curiosity prickled your skin. What kind of proof? How did they get it?

"Hello?"

"Shut up. I'm thinking."

She chuckled on the other side.

"We've heard that your work is based on contracts. We'd like to offer you a contract." A voice rang.

The raspy voice was soft but commanding. A man, probably in his 40's. He sounded calm, determined.

"And who might you be?" You asked, taking a sip of your cappuccino who was growing cold.

"I'm Captain John Price."

A captain. Fair enough.

"What kind of contract?"

"You help us, we find Echo, we neutralize him and get Intel. You get immunity on this mission and after your part is done, you have 24 hours to vanish."

You thought about the question. Finding Echo. Might be the golden contract for you. Not that you needed it. But this… this was a challenge. Not the boring easy tracks that you had to do. You knew how even the high table of Madripoor was starting to get annoyed about this intriguing character. Countering rules in Hightown and Downtown. This might be an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. You looked around you, at the calm cafe. Fuck… you might not get that break after all. You closed your eyes, preparing yourself to accept a deal you might regret.

"48 hours. Full immunity from the moment I step into your base until the end of the contract. I do things my way. You get your guy, your Intel. That's it. I'm not getting in the middle of the cartel's and other big brainless gorillas." You stated.

"Fine." You heard after a few pending seconds.

"Alright. I'll think about it." You finished.

"Didn't you just agree?" Another voice rang.

This time it was more… alive. The Scottish accent meant it was one of the men Valeria had mentioned.

"I'll agree when you'll receive the contract. I have to check something before I agree. I'll contact you and travel to you. Don't worry, you'll get an answer in the next few hours." You explained, opening your laptop.

"Should we send you a location? An email?" Another voice again. British accent but cute voice.

"No. I know where you are. I know how to contact you. I'll do so when the time's come."

"How?" The Scottish voice echoed in your ear.

"Oh… she'll have no problem with it." Valeria answered.

"See you soon." You concluded, hanging up.

Entering the base was easy. The new recruits keeping the gates were easily distracted. You infiltrated the base, making sure to deviate the cameras and stealing a 'visitor' badge.

You walked around, white wool shirt, black shorts with tights. Thigh high socks over your tights and comfy running shoes. Your black backpack and phone in hand. Sometimes, the best way to hide is to get attention… especially from men. You'd feel the looks, the way they were directed to your thick thighs, or neck, in plain view as you had pulled your hair back.

You were chubby, not exactly thin, tummy showing and chubby cheeks. At least, that was what was usually romanticized, the thighs, ass and boobs being overly sexualized. You wanted to roll your eyes. But eventually sometimes, men or women easily fall for it.

You took your time to walk around, discovering the grounds, the badge often being watched by what seemed to be higher ups. You'd fain innocence and bat your lashes when getting caught in places you shouldn't be, before letting them turn their backs and walking straight to where you wanted to. You weren't exactly wanting to be hidden right now. You were good at it. Hiding. But right now you wanted to explore.

The contract had been sent, signed and sent. You had gotten a chance to engage with the high table who agreed to such a contract. You didn't really need their approval. But you didn't want your place in Madripoor to be compromised by working with 'the good guys'. Not only did the high table saw no problem in it but they greatly appreciated you going after Echo. You were right, the character was definitely getting on their nerves, the echoes of him creating some ruckus in downtown.

You walked around a huge warehouse, military gear sprawled around. Most were used for training. You heard some noise not too far, deciding to hide behind big wooden shipping boxes. Voices echoed through the big place. You tried not to look too much. If you can see them, they can see you. You'd rather use your other senses to localize them. You only took one glance at two men standing back to you near a table full of items. One was overly talking while the other one rummaged through what seemed to be his gear bag. The man talking had a mohawk. It made you smile. The other one… was obviously wearing something over his head, but with their backs turned to you, you couldn't make out any more details.

The light reflected into the shinny blade of a combat knife. You blinked, almost hypnotized by it. You wanted it. The two men walked away, still babbling. You waited a few minutes before stepping out of your hiding place, going straight for the bag. You opened it, looking through the different things, looking for the pretty black mat combat knife. You almost jumped in place when you found it, taking the thingy with you before skipping back to your little exploration. This time, in a much more concealed way.

You watched, you spied. You wanted to understand how the base worked before letting yourself meet your contractors. Above the training ground, higher up in some kind of level that was used to put away all the training mats and other training things. It was the perfect spot to look over the training grounds, inside of the warehouse. You watched the men fight each other. It was almost entertaining. Your eyes caught the mohawk boy again, teasing another man. The boy with a cap seemed to joyfully indulge in whatever he was saying.

They looked next to them, a big figure stepping into view. You frowned. The man's face was veiled with a mask, a skull… it wasn't printed. Was it a real skull? You put two and two together, now realizing this was the owner of the combat knife. You chuckled to yourself. As he stopped into the training ring, young recruits palling, your interest peaked.

Thirsty minutes passed by in a flash. You watched in amusement and almost in awe how the mountain of a man threw around the soldiers. He was strong. Fast. You could hear him scold every wrong move of the poor soldiers who faced him. He seemed to look around swiftly every time he had a break.

You stretched, feeling your limbs getting sore from sitting here watching the show. You blinked, watching down again, telling yourself that you should get going.

Eyes. Dark eyes. Looking straight at you. Your breath caught in your throat, a cold wave running through you. His gaze was cold looking up through the mask. You immediately rushed back behind something to hide. How? How?! You wore nothing shiny. You made sure that nothing could reflect light. You were hiding perfectly. How?!

You wanted to take another glance but it was too dangerous. You decided to get moving, your position now compromised. You hopped around to reach ground level. You skipped your way into an empty part of the warehouse. You remained as silent as possible, making sure that even your steps were inaudible. After twenty long minutes you allowed yourself to breathe. Maybe he hadn't seen you in the darkness and you were fine. It had been three hours that you were on base, and you were getting slightly hungry. Perhaps you'd get a snack before finally meeting the contractors.

You looked around, trying to figure which way out could lead you to a building where there was food. The empty warehouse only seemed to echo the voices of soldiers outside, barely audible and muffled. You grabbed your phone, walking towards a back door. Maybe you'd get off base to eat and then come back. You were craving pizza, perhaps-

You slammed against a wall. Not exactly a wall. A wall of a man. You looked up. Eyes falling into a skull mask. Shit. Something told you. That playing innocent. Batting your lashes, won't help with this one. You took a step back, his brows furrowing. You both froze for a split second, tension giving you goosebumps before you reacted the only way your brain could at the moment. You ran.

Throughout the warehouse, jumping over gear, boxes and other stuff that you didn't mind to look at. Why were you running? You were supposed to have immunity. But he didn't know who you were. Not yet. The sound of his heavy boots was the only thing you could hear. Shit the man was swift. He was fast and nimble. You parkoured your way to the back door, almost reaching it until you were tackled against a wall. The shock made you wince, cursing out. You were stuck. Stuck in between a wall, and a strong body. Unfortunately you had both run to a dark corner of the warehouse. You could barely see his eyes in the darkness. You were panting.

He shared your gaze. Eyes never leaving yours. The darkness of them made you shiver. It was odd. That tingly feeling all over you. You barely realized how your wrists were pinned above your head, in his large hand. Didn't even notice his other hand… around your throat. He wasn't applying pressure. He was securing you in place, warning you. You were trapped. You have been trapped very often at the beginning of your… career. However, it had never made you feel like this. Small. Hunted. Like a prey under the claws of a predator. There was no ego, no dumb boy trying to prove something. He had chased you down on instinct, caught you in a primal way. Honestly. It was hot. Thrilling.

"Who are you?" His deep voice said.

Shit… even his voice was hot. Putting your new kink aside, you frowned, gaining back some composure.

"Santa Claus." You let out ironically.

The hand around your throat squeezed menacingly. You gasped. He remained silent awaiting your new answer.

"I.. I'm a visitor." You tried, maybe the innocent act would work.

He pulled on your wrists, having you on your toes now. A last warning.

"T..tracker…" you mumbled.

He seemed in thought for a few seconds before releasing the pressure on your neck and wrists, but keeping them in his hold.

"How did you get in?" He questioned.

Ah yes… the usual interrogation.

"The young boys at the entrance are easily distracted…" you mumbled again.

You weren't pissed. You weren't exactly pouting… maybe a bit. You weren't expecting to be caught, or to be put in your place. You weren't expecting to be under someone's hold like this. You looked away.

"You armed?" He asked.

"I have my phone. It's the only weapon I need." You said, keeping the combat knife a little secret. Mostly because you wanted to keep it and he won't let you. He straightened himself, towering over you.

"I'm going to let you go. You better behave." He warned.

God.. you wanted to brat. You wanted to anger him and test him. You rolled your eyes at him, as the hand holding your wrists released. However the other remained on your throat. You frowned looking up at him, as your hands wrapped around his wrist. He stepped closer to you, eyes never leaving yours. Now what was he doing? He said he was letting you go…

Eyes widening, you felt the other hand roam your waist. You tried to push him away but he squeezed at your throat keeping you in place, your hands flying to his chest to fist in shirt. The hand traveled to your sides, down your back, then back to your side to finally reach your thighs.

"S..stop!" You let out, blushing.

"Breathe… I'm checking for weapons." He said in a chuckle.

He frowned, his hand meeting the handle of… shit. The combat knife was tucked into the back of your shorts, hidden by your shirt. You closed your eyes as he pulled it out.

"No weapons huh? You're already-" he stopped looking at the handle. "That's my fucking knife. You stole it?"

"I borrowed it. Sharing is caring right? We're on the same team…" you answered with a smile.

He put away his knife before spinning you around, bringing your back to his chest. How the hell did he move so fast?! How did he manage to pin your wrists behind you… and HANDCUFF YOU?

"Hey! Where's my immunity?" You complained.

"I'm not arresting you."

"You're handcuffing me to satisfy a kink?" You teased him in a bitter tone.

"I'm keeping you from stealing again. And I'm taking you to Price."

"Who?"

No answer, he simply pulled you forward, holding your wrists behind your back. Well. Wasn't this the perfect start to a contract?

[goblin-social]

Since I'm already sending invite codes to some people, I thought it may be a good idea to write a post here as a quick intro of what to do in your first few minutes in Goblin!

Basically, once you have an invite code, you should go to https://goblin.band and click on the "register" button. And then, enter your invite code in this screen:

With that, you would get to the actual registration form. Heads up, unlike tumblr, username doesn't support dashes, but you can use low dashes instead:

You will land in this wonderful onboarding page with a pop-up window telling you "how to use Goblin" that it's entirely empty, because you no one can tell you how to use goblin (or maybe because I haven't paid any attention to the onboarding bits because I didn't think anyone would be using them for months):

From there, the first step would probably be going to 'Settings' and uploading an avatar, filling some profile info, etc.

I strongly suggest you setup an email (when you do it, you need to confirm the email, and the screen where you land to makes it seem as it hasn't worked: it has, don't worry) and take a general look at the options in your profile (for example, if you don't want to share who you are following or who are following you, go to 'privacy' and change the setting in there).

Once you are set-up, your dash is, obviously, empty, since you don't follow anyone. But you can already take a look at the rest of the timelines that area available for everyone: Local (things that people has posted on Goblin itself), Robots (rss feeds being imported), social (a mix between your own followings, local and robot), and Global (a feed with content from other servers in the fediverse, like Mastodon, etc)

You also can go to the "Explore" tab and get some idea of who is around Goblin (in the local tab) or get some suggestions of people to follow from the fediverse in general, take a look at popular tags, etc:

You can also follow Tumblr rss feeds from goblin: Just search for @tumblr-username.tumblr.com and, if they have a publicly open blog, you will be able to follow it from goblin:

And... that's it. The only thing I ask you if you get one of the invites is try to use it for a while: Post something, follow people, have fun!

[nerdylilpeebee]

I am not one to put myself into discourse but I really need to explain something to you,

As a Palestinian you need to understand that Hamas aren't killing babies, those 40 Israeli babies were made up, this had been confirmed over and over again. Palestine is older then Israel, Isreal only started existing after WW2, Palestinian's welcomed them but we're faced with Starvation,genocide, rape and bombing in return.

It is currently Ramadan, a time of fasting from sunrise till sundown, yet they have no food nor water to have before this period.

13,000 innocent children have died. Over 300+ not even making it to their first birthday. Girls and woman are experiencing periods and pregnancy without proper supplies. Isreal is not struggling, they have received over 300+ billion dollars in support from the U.S.A alone. You're ignorance isn't some "I'm better and different" stunt. You are actively supporting the death of entire bloodlines and families.

Don't you dare pull "Well, what if their Hamas" Isreal has proved they can bomb a specific room to kill them. This isn't about Hamas, Isreal is wiping out entire families, lives, homes, etc.

They're killing innocent animals too.

To put this in your shoes, imagine if you were bombed, raped and tortured, not knowing if you were going to make it to the next day, you're being starved. Whilst media is actively supporting your nightmare, funding it, even.

Before you pull the Hamas card on me, I have been raised with Western media and in America. I find myself lucky for this even though my people are struggling.

Please, scroll through pro-Palestine tags without bringing your opinion into the matter to see what is going on. I beg.

No, honey, actually it wasn't disproven. The people who tried said "yeah, babies were beheaded, but it wasn't 40 of them." XD

Palestine is not older than Israel. There are references to Israel in the Torah, which is older than Islam. And no, the Palestinians did not "welcome Israel". XD that is blatantly false.

And really? So tell me, why do they know for sure these 13k kids have died but can't name how many of their hostages are alive? Please explain that to me. How is that possible?

Okay? Israel not struggling doesn't mean anything. XD Being weak and having your government steal the billions in foreign aid to make themselves rich does not make a war against you a genocide.

I'm not supporting the deaths of anybody, and It is 100% about Hamas, Israel literally sends warnings in an effort to avoid civilian casualties. Even if Hamas isn't lying (incredibly unlikely) they have killed less than most wars have in the modern era.

Even if I was in their shoes, honey, I wouldn't want people siding with my oppressors because westerners decided the terrorists who'd murder me for speaking against them and consider everyone I know and love to be martyrs they're happy to sacrifice are resistance fighters. And hell, there are Palestinians who hold this very stance, who knows that Hamas is the fucking problem not Israel, westerners like you just ignore them.

You were raised in America and with western media? Cool. Doesn't change that you're falling for propaganda. XD being raised in the West does not make you immune to propaganda.

And no, I will not let idiots spread misinformation, and I will not let them villainize the Jews because Israel is actually defending itself when terrorists attack them and kidnap their people instead of laying down and dying.

I have paid plenty of attention to what's happening, including from the Pro-Pal side, I just happen to know terrorists aren't the good guys just cuz they play to people's sympathy and use their own people as human shields to make Israel look like the villain.

Just cuz it didn't lead me to agree with you doesn't mean I haven't been exposing myself to Pro-Pal talking points and "evidence."

[super-who-locked-me-in-here]

Okay I wanna figure a thing out

Honestly for me, realizing I was gender non-conforming was a combination of (all around the same time)

1. I saw a tiktok about how autism and being gnc coincide a lot

2. I experienced Suzy Izzard aka Dr. Abel Gideon (who is probably my favorite side character if you didn't know)

3. I heard Hannibal call Will a cunning boy and I felt some way about that that I don't think any cis woman in her right mind would

But honestly I've been realizing a lot since I came out almost a year ago that there were a couple signs in my childhood/teen years that maybe I should've paid more attention to lol.

[nyanashima]

The Brothers with an MC who has OCD

INCREDIBLY self-indulgent as I haven't seen many OCD MC posts, and I needed some blorbo comfort.

Since OCD is often misrepresented in media, feel free to write in with other obsessions/etc if you feel so inclined. I'll try my best to write about them in another post :)

Content warnings: contamination triggers, symmetry/perfection obsessions, self-destructive compulsions. Stay safe y'all <3

Please let me know if I missed any triggers in the tags!

Lucifer

He already knows.

Lucifer read up on you before you came. He knows what you struggle with and how it affects you, at least to some degree. He has to do Diavolo proud, and that includes staying on top of the exchange student’s wellbeing.

It's through living with you that really helps Lucifer get a better understanding of your triggers. After all, you can only get so much from reading the DSM-5

He sees you erase and rewrite your notes in class, over and over, until you’re completely behind on the lecture. He hovers silently in the doorway to the kitchen, watching you arrange the dishes symmetrically in the cupboard

He notices your hands, dry and cracked and sometimes bleeding from washing and sanitizing. He sees your midnight laundry runs after Mammon makes himself at home in your room, and how the bleach wipes disappear much faster than they did before. Lucifer watches your breathing quicken for all the wrong reasons when Asmo hangs off your arm.

He feels bad. It’s not like he can comfort you, with him being emotionally constipated and all. So he does the next best thing: problem solve.

Lucifer calls you to his study one night. You poke your head in, anticipating some sort of punishment— instead, he invites you to sit down for an honest conversation.

He doesn’t pry. As a private person, he understands keeping your emotions guarded. He does, however, make it clear he sees the toll they're taking on you.

He offers treatment— if you’re unmedicated, would you like to see someone for the anxiety? Would you benefit from therapy? He’d be happy to accompany you to the human world for your appointments, if that’s what you need.

Of course, lecturing his brothers about their behaviour is always on the table.

If none of those sound right, he finds himself staring at his gloves. He offers to update your wardrobe to something that better suits your needs— your jacket buttoning in the middle rather than off to one side, gloves to avoid direct touch, you name it. It’s yours.

“I want to help you, MC. Not out of pity, I simply don’t want to see a loved one in pain. Tell me what you need, and you’ll get it— you have my word.”

Mammon

Hoo boy.

Yeah, you’re gonna have to tell him, or ask Lucifer to tell him for you.

He’s a tactile guy. He’s always dragging you by the arm, yanking your jacket, ruffling your hair, and Devil knows what else.

Once you tell him, you’re probably gonna have to explain it a bit. It’s been a while since he’s paid attention to human emotions lol.

After that, he’s fantastic– well, he tries. Old habits die hard.

He recoils like he just touched a hot stove the second his fingers brush your skin. He always follows it up with a “Shit– sorry.”

If you’re particular about how you keep your room, again, he tries not to touch anything impulse control strikes again.

He will get it eventually, but for the first little while it’s probably best to hang out in his room.

If you don’t want the others to know, he’ll be even more protective than before when they get touchy. It’s hard to bite his tongue, but he’ll play it off like his usual possessiveness. He’s surprisingly good at keeping it a secret.

If you’re fine with them knowing, he will NOT hesitate to give them an earful. You’re his human, and nobody touches you unless you say it’s okay!

Doesn’t really understand the symmetry or perfection stuff, but hey, everyone’s different. He’ll wait for you if you have to bump your other shoulder against the doorframe until it’s even.

Overall very supportive. A little confused, but he’s got the spirit.

“…Huh. Well, as yer first, it’s still my job to take care of ya. That means this, too– so don’t think The Great Mammon’s gonna let it bother ya again, y’hear?”

Leviathan

Picks up on it a little, but doesn’t quite connect the dots

Not super familiar with human mental illnesses… He’d notice some of your unusual behaviours, but assume they’re just quirks.

Somehow fails to realize some of his quirks are because he’s neurodivergent too (it’s okay buddy we’ve all been there)

TOTALLY understands when you tell him. Well, kind of. At first he thinks you just don’t want him touching you, but after you explain it he’ll rant with you for hours. It’s not the same as the existential dread that comes from lending someone a pencil, but he gets being particular and nervous about your stuff.

He’ll get a special blanket for you to sit on while gaming in his room, only for your ass and therefore your germs. Will get you your own controller for the same reason (and maybe a matching one for himself teehee). No one else is allowed to touch your stuff, not even him— he’ll pick them up with gloves or a Kleenex if he needs to move them, even when you’re not around.

I don’t really have much more to say about him? Just tell him what you need him to do and he’ll do it without hesitation. Super respectful and understanding.

“Y’know… You don’t have to feel bad about it, okay? You’ll always be my Henry, so as long as we can still play games and stuff, I’m happy. And even if we can’t! I’ll do what I can to make you more comfortable, so you can always hide out in here if outside becomes too much… AARAARRUGHGHHUG DSJVNALVBSLKJN WHAT AM I SAYING that was so cringe forget I said anything ok bye”

Satan

Surprisingly, he doesn’t diagnose you the second you fall through the portal.

Instead, he watches you go about your day, and notices something’s off. Then he researches.

And then he does tests.

Not exactly the most empathetic guy, considering the fact that he, y’know, tortured people. So at first he’s not opposed to giving you a spit wash. He wants to see how you’ll react, and how much you can take.

Once you get closer, he catches on and starts acting according to what he thinks you need.

He’ll set cutlery aside for you when he does the dishes, he’ll leave your laundry alone when you forget it in the dryer (but nag you to come get it so he can swap out his clothes), et cetera.

If you open up to him about it, his curious nature takes hold. Hope you’re ready for an interrogation interview, because he’s got LOTS of questions.

Lets you vent to him and will bitch in return. He’s neurodivergent as fuck so likelihood is he gets irked by the same stuff

“MC, I’ve lived with my brothers for millennia. If you think some odd habits are going to bother me, you’re sorely mistaken. All that matters is that you’re happy. If you ever need anything, please come to me first. I’ll do everything in my power to help.”

Asmodeus

Doesn’t really get it, but he’ll go along and be respectful.

He’ll have a hard time not getting touchy at first, but like Mammon, he jerks away and apologizes once he catches himself.

Kicks himself every time because consent is suuuuper important to him (same with the other bros but. Y’know). Learns to keep his hands to himself pretty quick

Gives you tons of lotions, salves, and moisturizers to keep your hands in good shape if they get dry from washing

Will modify your spa days to make them more comfortable for you

Interrogates you about your clothing needs.

What textures work best for you?

Are there any patterns or cuts you can’t wear, or any you prefer?

Tell him everything. He’ll keep it in mind when dressing you up

Will not hesitate to tear someone to shreds if they say anything rude to you. He can pinpoint someone’s biggest insecurities in two seconds flat, and he will.

He might not understand, but that doesn’t stop him from loving and protecting you fiercely and unconditionally.

“Oh, hon, why didn’t you say so before! I’ll try to keep my hands to myself from now on. It’ll be hard, though, considering just how cute you are~!”

Beelzebub

This boy…

He loves his family. We know this.

Beel’s devoted quite a bit of time to learning about how his brothers’ brains work. He’s probably one of the most prepared and mindful of the bunch.

When you tell him, he accepts it without question.

He’ll prod for more information, if you’re willing to share, but gets it if you don’t wanna talk about it. If you do, he’ll listen for hours.

Loves to learn about you, period. OCD can be such a complex and significant piece of someone’s feelings and behaviour, so while he doesn’t like the parts that upset you, he’ll take in any information you give. He remembers every single word and puts it all to use. Just wants you to feel more at ease

Examples of things I think he’d do:

Put the dishes away symmetrically when it’s his turn to wash them, and push them into place if he notices they’ve shifted

Put takeout onto a clean plate for you so you don’t have to touch the container

If he sees any of your things laying about the house, he’ll use the dog poop maneuver to pick it up with a plastic bag and stick it in your room so no one else touches it

He’s just. Really thoughtful. And he loves you so much

“Alright, I think I get it. That must be hard. I’m here if you need to talk, okay?”

Belphegor

Doesn’t really notice lol. Unless you’re recoiling every time he goes to touch you, he’s clueless

Familiar with human mental illness, but may need a refresher. It’s been a while since he’s seen a human, or, y’know, been allowed outside

Will IMMEDIATELY stop touching you as soon as you set your boundaries. Belphie is very good at breaking habits and doesn’t really rely on one specific way of showing affection, so it is what it is

He’s bummed if you can’t nap with him, of course. It doesn’t take him long to find a workaround, though— he gives you two stuffed animals. You cuddle one until it smells like you, then give it to him and take the other one. He snuggles the first until it loses its “MC smell,” washes it, and gives it back to you. You give him the second one, and the cycle continues

Can’t really empathize, but he can offer a shoulder to cry on and a “that sucks” when you need it. Great listener until he falls asleep lmao

Belphie isn’t considerate in the way Beel is, but he’s still considerate. The difference is energy, really— he can’t really put in much effort, but he does remember what your triggers are and to be respectful. So while he won’t reorganize any shelves for you, he’ll remind his brothers of little things to make your life easier.

“Damn that’s crazy. Anyway”

“Oh, okay. That kind of makes sense. Is there… anything you want me to do?”

[sapphicrpc]

do you have any tips on how to stop doing the same character in a different font or even like different characters but same font? i feel like i keep coming up with characters like this and it’s making me feel so uncreative and dumb :(

FIRST OF ALL!! you are not uncreative at all, rp is a hobby and as long as you enjoy playing your characters and you're not doing anything explicitly harmful, then keep living your best life! revamp old muses and change the font a little to your hearts content if that's what makes you happy.

with that said, if you want to try following my creative process, here's what i do when creating a character:

pick archetype(s) that you'd like to try writing (you can find inspo from tv tropes, labels/archetype masterlists, etc.)

develop a story for your character that relates to that archetype

pick a fc from a background that you haven't tried before (ie. a different ethnicity to what you usually play!)

develop their traits and personality to fit around the archetype, but don't lean too heavily into the archetype thing as you don't want them to be one dimensional

start playing them and remember to have fun with it!

beneath the cut i'll explain a little more on these points.

1 - pick an archetype that you'd like to try writing (you can find inspo from tv tropes, labels/archetype masterlists, etc.)

choosing archetypes/labels really helps me when creating a character that's different to the ones i usually play. i like to go through the tv tropes websites, or even just fandom wiki's to search for character types. labels masterlists can also be really helpful or if you love musings try looking through the character type tags from your favourite musing blog for inspo! this also helps because you can look through inspo on the blog. some of my favourite musing blogs here on tumblr are @uncommonmusing @museinspo @musepirations @muserhq @musefluence @musingco @musinghq

i normally try to start with one line about my character rather than like, just a single label. this adds depth in my opinion! some examples for where i started for some of my fave muses is below:

the bad boy who wants to be loved but doesn't know how

the disheartened muse who just lost it all

the reformed gangster who's trying their best

the softie skater muse that lives and breathes art

2 - develop a story for your character that relates to that archetype

okay so now you've chosen an end goal for your character, how did they get there? were they always like this? did something happen in their past to make them this way? were they born into a life they didn't choose or did they pick this for themselves? make their current scenario/archetype make sense for the muse by answering these questions as a backstory. here's an example in some bullet points for that bad boy muse who just wants to be loved.

his parents only ever paid attention to him when he got in trouble so he started acting out for that attention

had bad examples of love while growing up (parents were in a toxic relationship)

their relationships often end up toxic and hurting more than it helps

they got famous and get a lot of attention now from fans but never know when something is real or if people are just using them for money/fame

3 - pick a fc from a background that you haven't tried before (ie. a different ethnicity to what you usually play!)

check out my recommended fcs tag! (it's linked on my pinned post) this one is pretty self explanatory but it really helps take you out of your comfort zone and you should try it, for diversity reasons if nothing else.

4 - develop their traits and personality to fit around the archetype, but don't lean too heavily into the archetype thing as you don't want them to be one dimensional

pick a few key traits that correspond to their archetype but don't stick to this too much. let yourself get inspired! if you need inspiration try looking at things like zodiacs, mbti's, enneagrams, moral alignments, and using those as building blocks to give your character a bit more depth and personality. i also love doing aesthetics at this point, "isms", personality blurbs, etc. all of this really helps me get to know my muse. something i find especially helpful is thinking about what motivates my muse to get out of bed every day, this helps me give them direction!

start playing them <3

enjoy - and remember, this is all just for fun, don't be hard on yourself if your new character isn't the most unique one ever. they're still amazing and so are you

[bravewolfvesperia]

GETTING TO KNOW YOU.

respond to the following prompts out of character. then, tag others that you'd like to get to know a little bit better!

tagged by: @altosk tagging: @mistralxsoul, @ourvoids, @ervaurem if you haven't done this, @pclitesse if you do these!

ROLEPLAYER NAME: Shi (ShiShi is fine but I tend to go with Shi. if you're thinking Shinon from a ninth and tenth entry in a particular franchise, your brain is in the right place. namesakes and beloveds, friends)

ROLEPLAYER PRONOUNS: she/her

MUSE NAME: Yuri Lowell (and assorted others on my Tales multimuse)

PREFERRED COMMUNICATION: depends how often we talk. Tumblr DMs is easiest if we have brief conversation/plotting. Discord is preferred if we're starting to have regular conversations/lengthy conversations. I'm open to talking to people more though if they're interested, so if you do want to talk or gush about our muses or games, feel free to ask for my Discord! we don't have to already be talking a whole lot if you do want to move to Discord.

EXPERIENCE: I've been RPing for like, idk, as long as I can remember, but I started on Tumblr specifically around 2012. Before that it was things like ye wee old forums, messengers, etc. Tales experience is the same thing because I used to RP Tales on forums LOL.

PREFERRED ROLEPLAY TYPE: a mix of everything more or less. I like fluff and happy things mixed into angst, and if there's no room for happiness in a specific thread/situation, I like to have gentle/soft/emotional aspects littered around. I also try to just follow my muse's whims, so if anything suddenly spikes his rage meter, that's what we're goin' with folks.

PET PEEVES & DEALBREAKERS:

(this isn't as scary as it looks I'm sorry LOL)

ignoring my rules and asking to ship with me when your character's name is not in my ship list (yes, this includes OCs. if OCs aren't mentioned it's very likely because my muse has a very specific romantic inclination and chemistry won't trump that the muse is already leaning toward someone/other people by default. should be obvious but I literally recently on another blog had someone completely ignore that muse's ship list and still send me an anon to ask to ship with me (and the whole thing was indicative that they only wanted to write with me to ship and didn't really see my muse as their own muse but just as another tool in the shed). my ship list tends to be very tiny for any muse and I prefer it that way anyway because it wards off the idea that people are only writing with me to ship. I love shipping with certain pairs, but I don't write explicitly for that and am much more comfortable with the idea that people aren't following me to ship with me/going into things assuming they will be able to convince me into it when they would have presumably read my rules and know their character is not on that list. again, as in my rules, one-sided your-muse-likes-mine is totally fine - just don't get mad when it remains one-sided because you were warned. if your muse is on the list (for any of my muses), yes, it means I'm open to discussing it/writing it./being receptive of it.

disrespecting other writers plain for everyone to see on their dashboards. this includes saying vague shit like "there are no good (character name) muses out there". that is very much not the same as "there are no writers for this character/I can't find any of this character". that's a very intentional dig at certain character writers and implies they're not good enough for you because nobody writes that character the way you want them to (versus simply expressing a desire to write with a certain character but not finding anyone who writes them).

using my muse as a blank slate who is just a base directly off the game you probably played if you're here. if any of you have paid attention to my threads with a specific Flynn (hi Natty!), you are probably aware my muse is heavily influenced by canon side material. that stuff is a core part of my muse. my muse is not just a rip taken right out of game-only canon. the more I write, the more formed he becomes as his own individual muse. if you cannot respect that and will consider it "ooc" for my muse not to be a blank slate direct rip from canon every time I write with a new muse, that's a hard dealbreaker. (on that above note, for any Flynn writers who are unfamiliar with the canon side material that Flynn is a primary part of (i.e. very directly relative to things that affect my muse), I do not hold that against you and am completely willing to work things out with you! that shit is hard to find and is JP media only. there's a slew of side content for Vesperia that the west never got so I know many if not most people won't even know a lot of it exists)

PLOTS OR MEMES: I do both, but I'm more likely to be able to work out plots with characters either in my muse's canon(s) or muses from other Tales games ("canons" is things such as canon side material, Tales gachas Yuri is in, etc). if I don't know your character well (canon or OC), memes tend to work better. I find it difficult to plot specific things out when I don't know a particular series well or at all. that said, I'll write with people who know my character and are okay with using one of his verses even if I don't know your character/series. I love memes for writing, but I will definitely struggle to actually plot if I don't know the franchise. I also love randomly sent memes just for the sake of writing things!

LONG REPLIES OR SHORT REPLIES: long. short for me is like three paragraphs and I just physically can't find myself doing less. things like one-liners might pop up in dash commentary and such, but for actual threads, I write long replies because that's what comes to me. sometimes motivation really hits me with muses my muse feels close to and you might end up with a ten+ paragraph reply, so uhhh... sorry about that in advance (and my paragraphs can get bulky so doubly sorry in advance!). typically this stuff happens in more emotion-driven threads though.

BEST TIME TO WRITE: NIGHT! NIGHT! NIGHT! I'm a night owl in general, but my writing energy tends to go yeehaw on me at night.

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSES: uhhhh uh uh for legal reasons i probably should not answer that. :)

[chigusaeyes]

was tagged back by @altairring for the fandom character meme

you know how to choose them 😘

putting things under a cut~

I'll go in Reverse Order & start with Clavis ~!

I haven't paid any attention to the cesspool of self-righteous idiocacy that makes up the majority of Otoge Fandoms on Tunglr dot com, only my dear moots & the few gems I have found along the way, but I am slamming my hand down right now & declaring with confidence that the fandom at large is Probably Most Definitely wrong about him.

About what exactly? Idk I just came out swinging bc Have you met him? Yeah. I mean, I did choose 'no.' for a reason and that reason is that I clocked him as someone who is going to give me Problems & I won't be able to stop myself from loving him anyways.

Clavis, Clavis, Clavis...we have a salad spinner that we call "Nikos's Boyfriend" bc Nikos is very attached to it? He likes to try laying atop it. Idk, cats, yanno? But were I able, I would throw Clavis into Nikos's Boyfriend and spin him in there with all the love in the world.

He's a poster child for Local Clown Actually Broken Inside. P clear him & all his brothers are traumatized on some level, it comes with the...everything. Refined for each of them.

Anyways, he's the most refined mess out there and I love him. And his beauty marks. Plus his color is purple and BINCH ME TOO.

And onto Saizo.

Saizo's a fuckin' binch and I love him, I do, but oh my god do I want to SQUEAK him. Playing his route is half me going AHHHH & half me going GDI Saizo Why Can't I Quit You (This is Why I Can't Quit You ).

The Cold Asshole trope isn't my preferrence honestly, as I'm not usually into beating my head against a wall. Talk about a man loaded with trauma. But the glimpses behind The Wall that Saizo has up before he finally opens up a bit to the MC always keep me hanging on. And then the side stories etc that are post-opening up etc make me forget how much of an ass he's been. Which is the point, I think.

I say this with wry affection bc imo, Saizo is like...the fave that doesn't need to be mentioned as your fave unless you gun for Saizo and Saizo alone. Bc just abt everyone has a soft spot for him, in my experience. Not always, but it's a thing yanno?

Also him & Yukkins will never not be one of my fave combos of all time. I deeply enjoy Saizo's commentary on any+everyone else. ESPECIALLY Nobuyuki.

And speaking of Nobuyuki...

Nobuyuki is probably definitely one of my favorite Genuinely Dangerous romance/love interests of all times in a game. The Gentle Yandere is probably definitely the most sinister & dangerous of the yandere archetype.

( Not to be mistaken for the yangire, who is the "if I can't have you, I will kill you" ( vs the Classique yandere tactic of imprisonment and/or isolation ), who is arguably the most dangerous any of the Obsessive (yan-) archetypes, if only bc you're Way more likely to just fuckin' die. )

Boy I really know how to choose them huh.

( In fairness to myself - tho this Really Needn't Be Said - Nobuyuki is my favorite LI who I would Never actually want to be with irl. )

Anyways.

The psychological power of the gentle yan is so dangerous bc it gives the illusion of free will & choice, without realizing your stage has been effectively set up around you. It takes an enormous amount of interpersonal skill via manipulation & tactics, etc, to do as such too. Especially without revealing his hand. He doesn't need to lock the one he decides he wants to be with up, bc she willingly walks into the cage and locks herself in there of her own fkn volition. Brilliant, I love him So Much, he's terrible and wonderful all at the same time.

There's always going to be a power differential between Buyan and his wife & it's not for everyone's fictional preference, but it certainly is for mine. Or at least my MC-OC, gdi. Plus there are ways in which the MC proves herself to be a capable wife that Buyan respects & actively adores.

Honestly, it's those positive feelings that make him so dangerous, bc this is a man used to sacrificing aspects of himself & his own desires for the sake of his clan. And the fact that he meets someone he actually develops feelings for & gets to keep her? Oh boy. She ends up being a cage for him to put his heart into while she locks herself into a cage of his making.

Ahhh, Nobuyuki let me count the ways...between the Gentle Yan aspects, his tender smile, willingness to sacrifice his personal honor & morals for the greater good of the family ( and skill in never revealing this ), and weight upon his heart in trying to keep Yukimura safe in whatever few ways he can...seriously I love him so much.

Is Nobuyuki good? Well, he's a dutiful son & a doting maternal brother figure & a very wise leader who values his people and hearing their input. And he'll use people as he needs in order to ensure the safety and longevity of his family and their land + the people under their rule. So like. Good by what definition? WHOSE definition?

If you asked Nobuyuki if he was "good", he'd probably laugh in that soft way of his and ask what makes someone Good, before likely saying that Yukkins is the pinnacle of Goodness by the Sanada standards or something. Just rip my heart out and stomp on it, huh?

All of this is to say that while thankfully many ppl have already spoken on Buyan & how wonderfully complex he is & helped spread recognition of that...I'm, as always, very confident that there are plenty of Wrong People out there - be it due to comprehensive or critical thinking issues.

I want to put him in a salad spinner until he finally lets some goddamn tears out. I've humored ( read: hurt ) myself thinking about Nobuyuki & his Wifey MC during Yukkins's funerary process etc and the sheer grief of it all for EVERYONE involved and I hate it SO MUCH. Hate hate hate HATE. But it's also an inevitably, so fuck it, have THAT be a part of a 2nd Season for Nobuyuki, Voltage, don't be cowards---

🥲

No seriously, Nobuyuki makes me think SO MUCH, too much really, and I just. Wanna eat my whole fist. When I think abt him. I haven't opened the app in literal ages ( on one hand, it's practical, on the other hand, I missed his bday stuff Again so fuck me right? ), but I still---I mean! *waves hands at my url* I still!!!

Also that sexy scene of his where he instructs MC to meet his eyes before he will Initiate Physical Consummation of their Relationship & then having her keep her eyes locked with his during, etc? Boy that still gets me a-flustered if only bc like. Just looking AT someone during sex can be difficult at times, but maintaining eye contact?

Actually did u kno that apparently, accordingly, staring your partner in the eyes while kissing them helps to build + strengthen intimacy? I'll fuckin' say. Buyan seems like the type who would enjoy that too, what a Gigacha--- 🤣

I could keep going but seriously I love Nobuyuki and people can pull him from my cold, dead hands.

[thatonesongyouretryingtoremember]

hiii what does the angela is jane ives reuther mean in ur bio 👀

hiiii🌸💖 thank you for asking anon! I love talking about this topic<2

I've answered this a few times as well as expanded on my theories, so at the end I will explain where more information is.

BASICALLY Terry Ives has one memory of giving birth to her daughter, "Jane" via C-section

and El gets a memory triggered sitting NINA of being birthed vaginally.

This already raises the issue that El is obviously not Jane Ives, but rather that Terry gave birth to a different baby. [this wasn't my find, I believe it was either @/demadogs or @/pinkeoni ]

there are even clues in ST2 that point to this! Terry does not have any reason to believe Kali escaped HNL, so if she was doing all that going out of the way to talk to her daughter who she hasn't seen in thirteen years, why would she send her back to a triggering environment in HNL by herself to fetch Kali? Don't get me wrong, there's a good chance Terry cared about getting the other girl free, but the message was very clear that she wanted El to find a girl who was in the rainbow room, or at the very least to show El the girl in the rainbow room.

so that's where my theory comes in. Terry was either telling El "The blonde one is Jane!" or all that plus "Go find her and bring her home because she's my daughter!"

Even when El says to Terry that she is Jane and that she is home, Terry verbally says "No." which is not part of her normal pattern, but rather something she is specifically saying in the moment. No, El is not Jane, and neither El nor Jane is home either.

so that brings us to why Angela specifically is actualy Jane. First of some technical things and then to the clued.

It is most likely that Jane Ives has blonde hair because her mother retained blondeness well into adulthood. If her hair did change from being light blonde, it would take years for the color to be recognizable as even dark blonde, let alone light brown. As an ex-blonde myself, I had a similar color to the toddler Jane from the memory of Terry breaking in to HNL. By the time I was fourteen, El's and Jane's age in 1986, I had dark blonde hair while my blonde peers retained a light blonde color. This would transition to a light brunette by sixteen.

El, on the other hand, has dark brown hair already at age eight. She likely never had blonde hair at all unless her hair quickly changed in infancy, if I'm remembering this right. Either way, age four to age eight is WAY too quick of time to transition to a completely opposite hair color! (@/henrysglock has a few things on the hair color too, as well as hair color as an indication of the timeline split!) Angela on the other hand has light blonde hair at age fourteen, just like Terry would have. There's a similar thing to be said of her eye color, but I honestly haven't paid as closely of attention.

More the conceptual boy! the thing that makes this theory so brain zappy!

"Jane" as a concept represents everything El missed out on. Phrases like "Plain Jane", which means ordinary person, or simply "Jane" being the catchall girl to "Joe"'s catchall boy, and "Jane Doe", an unidentifiable woman, come to mind. "Jane" is femininity, normalcy, popularity, and ease.

Angela represents all of the same things! El is literally copying Angela so she can try and be all those things!

so not only is El copying Angela because Angela has what "Jane" represents- but she is trying to embody a "Jane" persona simultaneously! SHE IS COPYING ANGELA TO BECOME JANE.

There is also alot more to this theory, including Angela parallelig 002, her being obsessed with the "good dad" version of Hopper El speaks of, her appearance being an opposite/shadowself version of El, her name having "Angel" in it, etc.

all that plus some other explanatory posts that go deeper into it (I'll try and link some) can be found in #angela ives, and #angela is jane, plus I've got some more meme-y posts tagged #angieposting, for more fun :3

I hope this answered some of your questions! yes, when I say Angela is Jane, I do mean it literally. Well, not in like a "her name is Jane" way, but in the sense that the baby Terry gave birth to is actually Angela.

If you have any more specific questions or observations feel free to leave them or post in the tags obviously, I love hearing new input on my fave theory!!

(oh yeah and it's kind of intertwined with timeline theory, so Angela and El are alt timelines of eachother as well. there's more on that in a whole other post though)

IMPORTANT LINK NO. 1

I'm on the hunt for a few others

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[salthien]

hey.tell me about seblandry

okay. alright. hello hi i care about them a lot. this is going under a readmore because i'm about to get super fucking rambly

first i wanna say even though these two literally occupy my thoughts more often than they don't, it was cedar and fable who have pioneered this ship and i am simply someone who tripped and fell ass deep into it. a lot of this was first established by them and this is just kind of my take on it. also note my embarrassment is purely because of their status as like… Well Established Characters in popular fanon and that's all. i am simply shy

so this kind of all hinges on s3 (and also kind of on landry having his own form outside the jacket, in case "literally only present while inhabiting someone during a game" is still as common a hc as it used to be?). jess gets stolen by the Tigers at the end of s2 and, seb being seb, is of course going to help jess move from philly to hades. they've seen each other around (steaks and tigers have played at least one series by this point) but they haven't really interacted.

jess is settling in, seb is tagging along because he has time to spare before next season - to quote cedar, seb uses this time as "oh, time to flirt with someone who i have heard of and think is cool". landry is thrown by this a little bit if only because he's not used to that sort of attention from people (even attention from Hadeans errs less on the side of "wow he's handsome" and more on the side of general veneration/respect for one of Hades' guardian spirits). but seb is sweet and earnest (if a little mischievous) so landry gets very catlike about it. gets close/touchy but isn't really a natural flirt. bonus: jess fucking hates this the whole time. she doesn't know what's worse: him blatantly flirting with her new teammate or landry actually being into it. she hates that they are making her perceive this. that's about as far as it gets pre-season imo but i'm not 100% married to that idea either

s3 starts and the tigers & steaks only have one series together, days 16 17 and 18 out in dallas. seblandry kind of gravitate back together, seb invites landry over after a game (i like to put this after the first game) and this is where it kind of catalyzes/solidifies enough that they're both like. okay so there's something here. it's kind of casual but it's also easy and comfortable enough that it's easy to go 'oops feelings keep happening' - seb doesn't have any of the expectations of landry that someone from hades might, and imo (informed a LOT by cedar's characterization of him) landry is the kind of person that has spent a very long time learning and connecting with people, and seb appreciates having that same close attention paid to him. theyre both very caring people at heart. this is the crux of it.

they spend the rest of the season making excuses to see one another when they can. once the steaks are eliminated from the postseason seb goes to all the tigers games. and then landry explodes :) and seb has to deal with the emotional fallout :)

more thoughts, somewhat less expanded upon post-seb alting at the end of s4. altseb did not have this thing w/landry because he doesn't have the same closeness with jess that led him to go to hades in the first place. landry finds him in the hall when he dies and it Hurts when seb doesn't recognize him. imo seb does not do well mentally in the hall, at least between s7 and s10 (and for awhile after) and landry like - tries to help him, not in a "if i do this you will care about me again" way and completely in a "no one here deserves to suffer, and you are one of the ones i feel like i can maybe help" way. altseb sort of accepts it but it's. tense? it's not romantic. it's landry trying to help keep him from drowning and altseb getting more and more frustrated by the circumstances of the trench/the hall as a whole. altseb thru s10 gets more and more antsy up until day 10/X, he tackles an ump and gets incinerated again, etc etc. so now they've both watched the other die even if one was technically an alternate. from here on it gets even more nebulous and i am also much more familiar with discipline than expansion so. i don't have a lot for in there

but, because i am like a dog with a bone and cannot let this go, i have thoughts about memories and the Alternate and what the black hole does to realities and what it might do specifically to fanloreweird outliers like the phones (this would take another several hundred words. oops) and what life was like while trapped in the black hole. & for the new era i need to see what they're going to do with the currently-dead players, if anything, or if the black hole is just going to exist in perpetuity, before i solidify anything there. but i want seb to remember things and i want them to reunite properly and if i see my chance in the new era i will grab it with both hands and not let go. i may also eventually consider the branching path of 'let's pretend alternation doesn't exist' for some fun hall stuff in the future.

[plugs this into a word counter] yup. that sure is almost a thousand words about them. also this doesn't preclude my interest in other ships for them because i do like multishipping, they are just the one i've grown the most attached to

[narastories]

For the ship bingo:

Lord John / Stephan von Namtzen

William Ransom / John Cinnamon

Claire / Frank

(I don’t know enough about the Dresden files to send you ships so it’s just OL ships)

Aah, thank you for asking! Don't worry, I'm happy to talk OL ships. Just because I've lost my mind to DF and Sunder City, I'm still happy to chat about Outlander <3

Lord John / Stephan von Namtzen:

Relationship goals: I think this is probably John's healthiest canon relationship. I also think that part is amazing when Stephan is going a bit crazy after losing his arm and John helps him snap out of it even though he's also dealing with his own heartbreak at that point. I think they are generally good for each other.

their story is more interesting than the ship itself: to me at least. Here I mostly think how John is Percy's superior and Stephan is Webers, etc. that whole mess.

I like it in theory; in practice - it's cute but missing that special something: this is not a critique, I like my food way too spicy and my ships way too problematic

would and have read fic about them and I liked those fics

overall open to it

William Ransom / John Cinnamon:

I'm neutral + open to it: I know people started shipping them after Bees and the thing is I still haven't read more than like 1/4 of that book and even that has been overshadowed by trauma/drama/heartbreak/rage. So I don't feel like I have much to say on this ship bc I haven't paid much attention to them. Eventually I do plan on maybe somehow tackling Bees and then we'll see.

Claire / Frank:

fandom is ruining them: not as in ruined them for me that I can't enjoy them now, but as in people have really-really strange notions about who is at fault here (a little bit both of them but Claire is definitely more the villain here for me ngl). Another thing is that I absolutely hate how people keep tagging their Claire/Jamie fics Claire/Frank and then it's only just bashing Frank about how bad and abusive he is (hello??? are we consuming the same source material???). It makes it really hard to find those few and far between actual Claire/Frank fics and it's infuriating.

would/do read fic about them: I would read a hell of a lot more if not for the above problem and general lack of fics

aesthetically it's GREAT: come on, Tobias Menzies and Caitriona Balfe. Pretty, pretty people.

this ship can fit so much projection in it: I think it's romantic that they got married spontaneously. I think it's admirable that they went through a long-distance relationship period, stayed together, and tried again. I think their age difference is perfectly fine. I think they would have had so much potential had Claire not fallen through some fucking magic stones and [redacted]

I love them. I'm not super involved in OL rn as you know and I don't have plans of writing with them anytime soon but I do love them and can still get quite passionate about them as you can see.

Thanks for asking!!

[quaranmine]

As someone who has posted fic on a03 what would you say a successful drabble is? And how normal is it to get author subs

honestly, this is a difficult question to answer! and what is successful to you may vary--do you value hits, kudos, etc? you also need to have a healthy relationship with your stats page! if i get too fixated on how successful one of my pieces is, it starts to suck the fun out of it, and makes me feel bad. but it's also only natural to want engagement on your work! i think setting reasonable expectations on your work is valuable--for example, when i post art, i don't expect it to get thousands or even hundreds of notes. if i do, i'll get upset, because it's just not gonna happen (probably....) instead i shifted my expectations to consider something "successful" if i got one nice comment in the tags, and i can almost always guarantee someone, likely a mutual, will leave me a great comment. this is also one of the reasons why i try to add supplementary/commentary tags on everything i reblog as well!

now that i've said my disclaimers, i'll try to answer your question best i can? i've honestly never paid attention to this myself until the last couple of weeks

i associate drabbles with fanfics that are usually only a couple hundred words, and i haven't posted any of those. all my ao3 fics are over 1k, but most of them are oneshots. so, i can only speak for longer works. my most popular fanfic is New World, New Faces with 5.2k hits and 840 kudos. How to Be a Human Being has about 4.2k hits and 326 kudos--it is much newer than NWNF though, which is nearly a year old. however, NWNF only has 8 comment threads, while HTBAHB has 74 comment threads. that's the difference in a oneshot versus a multichaptered work with 8 chapters currently. multichaptered works are inherently going to get more attention due to having updates that people come back for, and i expect HTBAHB will take the top spot with a little time.

anyway, those are my most successful works. i think they're pretty good/average benchmarks for what is "popular but not earthshakingly so" in this fandom. by contrast, my least popular fic is take (his) life which has about 121 hits and 28 kudos. it was posted months after last life ended though, and was much more successful when originally posted on tumblr, so that's to be expected. it's definitely not a fic that i considered as doing well on ao3, but it has one of my highest note counts on tumblr, so it's all relative. timing definitely played a factor on that too.

basically, i tend to consider it to be "successful" if it gets over 1k hits. but really the line is very arbitrary and also i mostly made it up just for this post. it's also worth noting that my 3rd life fics tend to get lower stats, presumably due to it being a smaller fandom than hermitcraft. but it's hard to judge these things.

as for author subs, i have no idea. i only realized i could see that count like three weeks ago. i have 30 right now. i do know that it's probably doubled since i first saw it, because i've been posting more things and updating htbahb.

anyway, novel length post. go forth and create and try not to stress too much about your stats lol

[asideinitially]

Imagine Andrew getting y/n a cat due him being far from home to filming, interviews etc.,

Soon the cat stealing all the attention from her....Andrew returns home from filming....

Reader notices Andrew getting jealous of their cat and y/n teases him....and assures him there's nothing to worry about.... 😍😁❤ !!!

Andrew gives a playful warning to their cat "You're lucky, you're so cute....but she's mine! " ..... The cat meows back.... ❤❤❤

Andrew being a cutie and being jealous of little animals; my heart is full and love this idea. Also my first ever ask; so this is extra special. Thank you so much 💕

It's been a few weeks since Andrew left for set on his new film; and you've been missing his body, his touch, his soft kisses. You sighed and began flicking through his photoshoot photos; a least you can pretend he's here, right? His name appeared on top of your lockscreen; he sent a long video message; you sat up on your double bed and played the video. "Hey baby, I miss you so much" His voice was like melted butter to your ears. You missed him so much. You wanted to grab his cheeks and plant kisses everywhere and he couldn't complain about it. "I'm sending this terrible video to you because, I did something and I know you say don't buy me gifts. Your love is all I need, but that doesn't stop me. I'm Andrew, the dork you fell in love with" he said, spinning the camera around and walking somewhere else on the set. "I wish I could see your beautiful eyes, but our time will come soon princess, I promise" You let out a small laugh and holding your knees watching him on the video, you wished it was sooner he came back into your arms. "Anyways, I'm in bit of rush that's why I can't facetime you, but the present; should be outside our apartment door.. I hope no one has stolen it" You giggled, seeing him panic and knitting his eyebrows together, "Hey rob, no one took Y/N present right?" "No" "Good old rob, I swear he doesn't like me.. off topic, but I hope you enjoy the gift and I miss you." He began to kiss the phone over and over and the video randomly stopped. Pushing up slowly from the double bed you share, you walk to the entrance of the apartment and open the door. You saw a box, and, oddly enough, Andrew didn't put spiderman stickers on it. He did it on all of your Christmas presents last year as a joke. He spent a lot of money on stickers; You never really understood why he thought it was a cool idea. Slowly kneeling you put your hands on the box; it had a note on "I LOVE YOU Y/N" from Andrew. You felt the smile re-appear on your face. Slowly lifting off the lid, and saw the sleeping kitten, it had brown and white fur and cute tiny point ears. If Andrew was a cat, it would just look like this one; You gasped, admiring the little kitten in the box and giggled lightly as the kitten purred under your arm. "I'm going to name you." You thought for a second and smiled softly. "Peter, I don't care If Andrew thinks it's corny" you giggled as the kitten snuggled into you. -few weeks later- You were playing around with Peter on the carpet in the living. room, and heard the door swing open "I'M HOME" Andrew shouted and dropped his bags on the floor. "Where's my baby at?" he asked, looking around, confused. Running over you jumped onto him and gave him a long soft kiss; he smiled in the kiss and held you up, kissing back. "Missed you to princess" You jumped down slowly as Peter came trotting over and started to purr by Y/N ankles. Andrew looked at his collar tag and knitted his eyebrows together. "Peter, huh" he said with a small smile. "I thought it was cute okay" you protested and watched Peter play with a ball of yarn. Andrew shook his head; "no baby it is cute, I'm glad you love him". -few hours later- You and Peter the kitten were playing in the living room, and Andrew sat on the couch arms crossed, watching. You haven't really paid any attention to him. "okay Y/N, I'm going get naked" he said, thinking it make you turn your head. "Okay, have fun baby" you said, patting Peter's paws softly, playing with him. Andrew blinked and huffed, crossing his arms again, "baby.." He whined as you still played with the kitten. He huffed, getting sad and pushed up from the couch and stomped into his little office; You notice him getting upset and placing the kitten into his bed. "Baby are you jealous" you asked, following behind him, with a skip on your feet. "No I'm not" "Yes you are!" You laughed softly and leaned on the office door. Andrew shaking his head and arms crossed; "I'm not jealous of a.. tiny.. tiny fluff ball" he scoffed. "tiny, tiny, fluff ball" you mocked him and laughed harder. "Y/N" he whined and sat in the chair, looking at you. You slowly sat on his lap and ran your fingers down his jaw. He sighed softly, closing his eyes and leaning into your touch. "You know you always my peter parker, you dork." You kissed his lips slowly and messed with his hair. He began to kiss back and hold you softly, snaking his arm around your waist. "I love you Y/N so much" he whispered, looking into your eyes. "I love you the most"



I'm so sorry this took so long; I tried to give it all the cuteness I could.

 💌

[lucy90712]

REQUEST!

Wilbur his girlfriend(y/n) finally moved in together and u bought a new Apartment/house and ur shopping for new stuff to put in it like couch’s kitchen wear etc. u haven’t told your fans yet and as ur shopping ur fans spot u and ask for pics. Like normal when u get home and set everything u bought up Twitter is going crazy tagging in in post like “Wilbur and y/n moving together” and u to just laugh it off u end up streaming at his office that night saying what’s going on

Moving in

Finally I collapsed the last box of our things and out it un the pile of all the others in the spare room. It's been a long process but me and Wilbur have finally moved into our own house together which is a weird thought because the whole time we've been together we have lived in our own apartments so the first time we are going to live together is in our own house. Walking around the place and just seeing Wilbur all the time although I have spent time with him at his place or him at mine it feels different that everyday we get to be together.

The whole place is very empty because we don't have that much of our own furniture and what we do have doesn't really fit because the house is bigger than our apartments so we really need to get some furniture. Which is why our plan for the day is to go out and sort as much as we can especially things for the kitchen because we haven't really been able to cook that much because all of our plates got broken while moving. Together we made a list of all the things we needed in hopes that we can at least sort most of them because we won't be able to get everything today as some things will need to be ordered.

Wilbur grabbed my hand as we walked through the streets of Brighton enjoying some fresh air after spending the past few days indoors packing and then unpacking. Luckily Wilbur's fans know that we are together so we can go about our lives relatively normal and just walk about holding hands without having to worry about people seeing us. I actually really enjoy meeting people and getting to take pictures because everyone is always super nice.

We started by going to a furniture store to try and order sofas and other bigger furniture that we needed, there is a lot of choice like more than you would expect and everything is such different sizes that we had to measure all the sofas we liked to make sure they would fit how we wanted. Once we had ordered all the things we wanted to we left the and went to a more normal store to get the smaller things which I was very excited about. Together we looked at decorations and stuff picking out things to put on the shelves we have and on the surfaces which we seems to have a lot of now that we have a house, we also brought canvases which is a little random but we wanted to paint things to put on our walls instead of buying paintings to make them more special.

By the time we were going home we both had our hands full with all sorts of things which is so exciting hence why we had huge smiles on our faces. The two of us practically skipped home we were that excited to put all of the things we had brought up around the house and start on our paintings which meant we paid no attention to anyone around us. Until someone stopped us asking for a picture which of course we took before continuing our walk home without really thinking about it.

Once we made it home we went round the house putting things in the places we envisioned them and moving some if they didn't look right until everything was exactly where we waste it and the place felt more homely. Although a lot of the things we brought looked like just clutter that's what we wanted because the house looked so empty and we wanted to make it look loved in. After a good while of sorting things out we sat down and I checked on my phone and the first thing I did was look at Twitter which gave me a real surprise. There was about a million tweets of people sharing photos of me and Wilbur around town and the one we took with a fan speculating about us moving in together, so much has been going on that I forgot we had never mentioned it to the fans.

Wilbur must have also heard about what was going down on twitter and in our friends stream chats apparently because he leant over to show me a message from Phil on discord about his chat being filled with messages about us and one from Tommy about how insane twitter was. The both of us kind of laughed to ourselves that we had caused such a stir without really meaning to all because we brought a house. The internet is really a strange place to be. The two of us decided we should probably do something about this to stop people harassing our friends so we are going to head to Wilbur’s office to stream together.

~~~~~~~~~~

I was watching the little loading screen Wilbur had as the bar filled up getting closer to the actual stream starting for some reason I was quite nervous about being on stream and I don’t know why because I’ve been on stream many times but for some reason having something to announce made me more anxious to see the response.

There was no need to be worried because everyone was so excited that me and Wilbur finally moved in together in hopes they will get more content of us together which we don’t plan on doing but I guess we will go out together more so in that sense they will. The stream was fun though because we watched media shares together and I just laughed while Wilbur tried not to even though I was making it harder.

Overall its been a super busy day but it’s been a lot of fun and I can’t wait to have more days like this now that me and Will have moved in together and it will be easier. More excitement is to come tomorrow as we are going to attempt to paint on the canvases we brought and put them up.