#otp: when is a monster not a monster?

[auxiliarydetective]

Good morning, my dear Tumblrinas, I come to you with yet another crack idea and that is:

Varsha's Personal Radiator Ranking

aka: How good are the various League members for Varsha to cuddle with when she finds herself in a situation not befitting her temperature requirements as a snake?

I've mentioned it before, but Varsha has the habit of coiling around people for warmth. So, without further ado, here are the victims:

Let's begin, right to left because I will not start with Varsha’s literal boyfriend

Tom Sawyer

Literal golden retriever, but he might get nervous. Also complains about Varsha getting heavy after a while. Plus, he might still be a little scared of snakes and might feel a little awkward about it all. BUT look at this picture! This boy does not get cold. Perfect radiator. Also, it's not pictured here but he has one of those big film noir detective trenchcoat, which I imagine would be very nice to cuddle under. Final rating: 6/10

Rodney Skinner

Once again, the man doesn't freeze. He's also very okay with physical affection and avoiding people's personal space. Would probably ramble a little and make jokes all throughout if the situation calls for it. There's only one problem: The man is naked. He's wearing nothing under that coat. Veeery awkward and goes against Varsha’s common sense. 5/10

Mina Harker

Ah yes, the eternal question: Are vampires warm? I'd say, in Mina's case, yes? Because she needed a winter coat to keep warm and she wouldn't need that coat if there was no warmth to keep in the first place. But I'd also assume that her body temperature isn't that high, so she's not that good at keeping others warm. Also, her clothes are pretty form-fitting, so there aren't any coats to slide under. Still, I think she'd be pretty comfortable, and probably wouldn't think that Varsha cuddling with her for warmth is awkward. 7/10

Allan Quatermain

Uh... Yeah, no, he wouldn't be happy about it. But he would do it if it's really cold. He has a wide and comfy coat though! I dunno, uh... 4/10?

Captain Nemo

Well, you see, this man has a lot of dignity. But he also has protective dad instincts when Varsha is in danger. So, once again, he only really allows for cuddles when it's necessary. Also, no wide and comfy coat. 3/10 - I'm sorry, Nemo, this isn't your time

Dorian Gray

Yeah... no... For personal reasons, no. If he wasn't such a bastard, he could easily be a 7/10 or higher, but seeing that he is a bastard... 0/10

And finally...

Henry Jekyll

Henry/10. What am I even supposed to say? Henry and Varsha are cuddlebugs, and the excuse of "it's cold" is always good for sneaking in some socially appropriate PDA. Henry gets touch-starved, the slight bit of pressure helps with his anxiety, he's head-over-heels in love... And Varsha is very affectionate and touchy! Perfect!

Also, if you're wondering about Edward Hyde: I'd imagine that he's very warm and he also has the least issues with having Varsha's weight on his shoulders, but also, he has no patience for casual cuddling. If he's out, he's there to get things done and maybe carry Varsha out of danger, no more and no less. So, I'm not really including him here. But he's loved <3

Taglist: @starcrossedjedis @oneirataxia-girl @daughter-of-melpomene @bravelittleflower (also @waddlesworth because LXG content; hope you don't mind <3) - let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!

[nobleriver]

Doctor Who Season 7 Minisodes

Rain Gods

[missmungoe]

I give you: The Navigator’s Map of Shanties for the Weary Voyager!

So my husband got the idea to make a timeline map of my Shanks x Makino series ("Shanties" for short), so that readers could better see how the different fics are connected, and while I should have been prepared, knowing full well how brilliant he is, I was not prepared for the end result. I mean look at it!!!

Some descriptions of key fics and planned updates below! The fics are listed in the recommended reading order on AO3, but feel free to chart your own course! Beware rogue whirlpools and dangerous straits, and remember that however dark and treacherous the sea, at the end of the voyage is always a safe harbour ♥

Hoist the colours! 🏴‍☠️

Heed the Siren’s Call // Shanks and Makino’s origin story, and the starting point of Shanties. Setting is pre-series to the timeskip.

Sailor's Folly // Siren's Call from Shanks' perspective. Includes the origins of Makino's sword, Siren.

Sea Songs // Sequel to Siren’s Call, set during the canon timeskip and after.

Scylla // Pirate!Makino AU, where Makino leaves East Blue with the Red-Hair Pirates at the start of One Piece.

Charybdis // Sea Songs AU, where Blackbeard destroys Fuschia and Makino goes on a trek across the Grand Line looking for Shanks, who thinks she's dead.

Mnemosyne // Kuja!Makino AU, where after Siren's Call, a pregnant Makino ends up on Amazon Lily.

Andromeda Unbound // Reverie Arc AU, where Makino, the Revolutionary Army, the Red-Hair Pirates, Straw-Hats and the Warlords join forces to crash Shanks’ execution.

On the Water // Pirate!Makino AU, where Makino and her child leave East Blue with the Red-Hair Pirates after the timeskip. Includes Shanks and Makino's floating bar, Siren's Call.

Salt Vows // Arrested!Makino AU, set during the current Egghead arc.

Tethered to Kinder Shores // Makino and the Red-Hair Pirates. Includes the origin of Makino's shanty, "Moored to Her Port".

Moon and Her Maiden // Selkie AU. Canon OP verse but Makino is a selkie.

Tideswept // Royal/Arranged Marriage AU.

Bind Me to the Tide // Soulmate AU, where soulmates feel each other's pain. Canon OP verse but with soulmates.

Love In Good Liquor // One-Shot collection set during the different Shanties verses.

Planned updates

This list is not comprehensive (meaning I have more fics that I plan to continue than the ones listed here), but it's the stories I'm focusing on right now:

Andromeda Unbound // Chapter 9/9 ✅ (Complete)

Bind Me to the Tide // Chapter 5/? ✅

Mnemosyne // Chapter 29/29 ✅ (Complete)

Salt Vows // Chapter 3/? ✅

Tideswept // Chapter 10/10 ✅ (Complete)

On the Water // Chapter 4/5

[salty-an-disco]

hi hello hi me again :3

❤️‍🔥 for the smitten and the nightmare. i find them funny

OK, OK, OK– last one before I go to sleep fr cuz now that I’m thinking about this, I need to put it out aimsdjdndjnd

Not sure if you meant individual headcanons for the both of them or them together so doing all two (three?)

❤️‍🔥 A romantic headcanon

Smitten: Despite the exuberant and overly romantic behavior, he finds more joy in the little things. The kinda person to watch their loved one pick lint off their clothes and thing about how incredible it is they’re on the same universe together.

Nightmare: She likes dancing, and seeing her flowy skirt swish around, and if someone were to approach and hold her as she spins without fear, she’d be the happiest ghost there is.

Smitten&Nightmare: I also headcanon that Nightmare’s organ shutting down is related to how afraid someone is of her, and so, Smitten isn’t affected at all when alone in her presence (except by her beauty!!!), that alone intrigues Nightmare, and I can see his earnest attitude quickly endearing him to her. I think Smitten would ask to take off her mask, and while he isn’t unaffected, he clings to his fortitude, and Nightmare is also actively trying not to break him. He find the beauty in what she is and then they kiss <3

[asknarashikari]

Gentaro: *uses Friendship blast on his Kouhai's* Thia only 3% of my power, my friend.

Kajiki Ryo: Teach me...

Kengo: *smh* This isn't DragonBall, babe...!

Gentaro: *laughs it off because he was just having fun* *hugs Kengo* Love you so much.

Kengo: *groans but hugs him back*

FourzeCast and GotchardCast reactions?

Kisaragi "Friendship Monster" Gentaro be friendship monstering and clinging onto his boyfriend, what else is new? The incorruptible pure pureness aura is almost stifling and blinding

Houtaro's eyes glow with fiery determination to match his senpai in friendship monster power

[valsilverhand-archive]

"Course I could give a rats ass what people think," Brick grinned down at the woman. "You think if I did I wouldn't be takin' you out on a date to a good restaurant?" ( His idea of a 'good date' was a hole in the wall deep in Japantown, but she couldn't find herself to complain. It had been delicious. Plus the conversation had flowed easy. ) Ze laughs as she leans into his chest, "was just curious since you're out with a 'normie' is all. Now you either kiss me or I'm pulling some wires, gonk ass."

[sparky-is-spiders]

Jonsasha is always delicious to me but there’s something special about a roleswap au that calls to me, y’know?

Like. Just their season four dynamic?? I stand firm in my belief that if the Eye didn’t take Jon then he’d be ripe for the Lonely. But even then I don’t think he would forget the appeal of Beholding. Would he understand her need to feed? Would she have told him about her hunger back before the Unknowing, when it looked like they would both sink into the Eye together?

Maybe I’ll come back to this later because right now I’m too tired to be coherent but I was just. gripped. by the idea of Jon getting the statement about Sasha feeding on others and covering it up. Because she’s good, and she needs this, and he loves her. Does he somehow send the statement to her? Hide it? Destroy it? I don’t even know but I’m just so caught up in the idea of it. Solidarity between the only two people in the Archives who truly feel the call of Beholding. A devotion that Sasha may never know about. An understanding Jon feels too strongly. I don’t know if amy of this even makes sense I’m just gone on the pining…

[lesbianmaxevans]

something something louis watched as lestat used his powers on paul, he saw lestat's vindictive streak up close, and yet he was still so down bad for lestat that they had sex later that night.

[noctilionoidea]

Pitting the ghoulfriends against each other is wrong. Mattel should have them kiss instead

[jacensolodjo]

Shepard: I couldn't possibly screw up more than I already have.

Miranda, who is actually oddly trying to cheer Shepard up: Don't underestimate yourself.

Shepard: ...

Miranda: ...

Shepard: Thanks. I think.

[auxiliarydetective]

now for the otp asks !! from part five of the ask extravaganza, could i please ask about questions one, four, eight, twelve, and thirteen for my beloveds henry and varsha ? <3

terribly excited to see the answers, and i hope you're doing well !! <3

Remember this ask? Well, I have reasons to assume that my askbox might be fixed, so I'm gonna answer it now!

1. What are your OTP's love languages?

This is actually tough because these two are a little hard to put into the "traditional" love languages. But if I had to pick, Henry likes to give quality time because it's the least awkward one and the one you can do the least wrong with. He's content just spending time with Varsha, but he definitely doesn't say know to cuddles either. When it comes to receiving, he absolutely melts at words of affirmation. He's constantly doubting himself and feeling guilty, so hearing someone say the opposite really helps. Also he most definitely has at least a bit of a praise kink, but let's not get into that for his own good.

All of this is good though, because Varsha's love language is words of affirmation. She will constantly be praising and complimenting Henry at every opportunity she gets, partially because this is pretty much the only acceptable form of pda in their society. But she also loves physical touch. She adores getting to cuddle because humans are warm and the Nautilus is almost always a little chilly, but also because she's just a bit of a cuddlebug. She sleeps on Henry's chest a lot, either in human form or curled up as a snake. Henry's body heat keeps her warm and her weight on top of his chest calms Henry down like a weighted blanket. Also, Hyde miraculously keeps quiet if Varsha gives them attention, so that's nice.

4. What happens if the other gets sick?

This is actually a very interesting question because 1) Henry is a doctor and 2) Varsha can't get sick. The only kind of sick she can get is homesick, and if that happens, Henry either asks her to play him something on her sitar or they turn off the big lights in her room and dim the smaller ones, making the room look like the crystal caves in the underworld, which is where she's originally from.

If Henry gets sick - which he rarely does, he's pretty careful - Varsha is low-key worried. She knows it's probably nothing bad, but she's still worried and it has to still be unpleasant for him, right? So, she stays with Henry as much as she can. After all, whatever kind of infection he has, she can't catch it, and she can't transmit it because her body - which is used to neutralizing even the worst poisons fairly quickly - gets rid of the virus or bacteria in a flash. So, she nurses him back to health and keeps him company so that he doesn't get bored.

Fun fact: Hyde is a whiny baby when he gets sick. You most likely will never see him sick because Henry pretty much never takes the formula when he's sick - why would he? - but if you do, he's constantly complaining and essentially just waiting for the formula to run out. He's so dramatic. Let him sleep, for goodness' sake.

8. How do they treat the other's insecurities?

Varsha doesn't get insecure very often. Being a semi-divine being does a lot for her confidence. The only thing she gets embarrassed about is when her accent slips through or when she just can't pronounce a word correctly and it's getting on her nerves. Henry will gently teach her the word she's struggling with, and will take every opportunity he gets to tell her that he finds her accent endearing and that he loves hearing it.

Henry, on the other hand, gets insecure about literally everything. But, once again, Varsha "Words of Affirmation" Devi is there to compliment his insecurities away and remind him of everything great he has achieved and how much of a valuable member of the League he is.

12. Do they ever dance together?

Yes! Absolutely! I haven't figured out how they get to that point yet, but they definitely enjoy dancing together. I imagine Varsha either runs to Mina to ask her for dancing lessons or she asks Henry himself directly. Henry, I imagine, knows how to dance. He's probably from the upper middle class to upper class, he pretty much has to know how to dance. It's the sweetest thing to see them just gently swaying to the music of a gramophone.

13. What do they love the most about the other?

You mean everything??? These two are so in love it's almost sickening. But, here's what they like even more than everything else about their partner:

Henry is absolutely bewitched by Varsha's near-unconditional kindness. She's always there when someone needs help, always has something nice to say... Often, he finds himself wondering what he did to deserve someone like her.

Varsha loves how intelligent Henry is. She also finds him very attractive, but that's besides the point. What I'm trying to say is, she could listen to him talk about books he has read, research he has done or lectures he has attended for hours, even if she maybe doesn't understand everything.

So yeah, that's it! I love my babies <3 Thanks for the ask!

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Taglist: @starcrossedjedis @oneirataxia-girl @daughter-of-melpomene - let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!

[lunar-years]

Jonathan x Nancy l celebrating each other’s birthdays 🪅🎂

[sanchoyo]

reread Ekleipsis bc I got some very nice comments on it and wanted to revisit it 2 years later and u know what?? I think it still holds up p well! There are slight typos and parts I wish I could’ve lengthened, foreshadowed more, or gotten Deep into the lore/characters abt, but considering I was busting out a chapter a day and had it done in a dang month I do think it’s pretty good as a lil story!! Would love to do more art for it or revisit the world in some way some day. Babies first real Big Original work 🥺 in my mind it’s still kind of the first draft version, but I’m still proud regardless… ❣️

[morning]

OH , I PREFER IT IN YOUR BED , TELEVISION SET ...

( @nottivaghe​ )

[valsilverhand-archive]

When is a monster not a monster? When you see him as a person.

[jevilowo]

MY OPINIONS ON VARIOUS TF2 SHIPS

For funsies

SCIENCE PARTY:

fun ship, but they're GodComplex4GodComplex and I fear that would only end in disaster

TOASTED SANDVICH:

if there is one heavypyro fan on this stupid baka planet it is me. shout out to menacing quiet individuals who like violence but have a soft side fr.

BLOODY SUIT:

literally The Original toxic yaoi rivals to lovers red blue combo ship. speeding bullet and napoleon complex fans WISH they had our shared update and corresponding voice lines

BATTING HELMET: (scout n solly)

i just think it's really funny trust me on this one guys. have you seen them in the fourth comic it's a constant "yes, and" bit between the two of them. soldier's love language is choking people out.

HIT AND A MISS: (scout n pauling)

like most ms pauling ships, i'm only into it if scout's a cool lesbian. which he is not most of the time.

RED OKTOBERFEST:

AAAAAAAAAAAAA literally the ship of all time save me heavymedic save me. if they don't smooch in the next comic i will become jay pinkerton's personal sleep paralysis demon.

SPEEDING BULLET:

my feelings on it are Complicated. twas my first love (otp) in this fandom, but the overabundance of twinky uwu scout and daddy dom snoipah has built up some resentment on my part. call me back when people stop making up imaginary life problems for sniper to comfort scout over.

NAPOLEON COMPLEX: (Spy n Engie)

literally just rarjack if they were boys and not horses to me and i'm not even an mlp fan. it's alright, just doesn't really stick out to me.

SPYMA:

LITERALLY THE POWERCOUPLE EVER TRULY A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES or at least the version that exists in my head is. i have so much made up spyma lore it's crazyyy. bonus points if they're polying up they cule with sniper it's quickly becoming my favourite genre of fanart (i have seen at maximum three)

SUPPORT SANDWICH: (spy n sniper n medic)

in my opinion, it is healthy for everyone to have at least one ship they just like bc they think it's hot. for me, that is support sandwich. not much else to say on that the fics are all banging go look them up.

SNIDOS: (sniper n GLaDOS)

hell yeah.

ADMINPAULING:

i used to like it a lot, but timelining implies ms pauling's been working for helen since her mid teens at the latest so i no longer like it. 4chan leaks my beloathed pleaseee don't make them kiss i think it would kill me in a bad way

URINE SAMPLE: (medic n sniper)

there's a lot of werewolf and vampire stuff for these two on ao3 which is pretty fun. and i'm way more likely to find sniper angst under the medicsniper tag than sb and bs which is always a plus.

FRENCH TOAST: (spyro)

have you seen that one animation where pyro gives birth to spy's child and gordon freeman is there at one point. yeahhhh. the ship's pretty cute tho spy would be sooo soft for pyro they'd light his cigarettes for him.

BOOTS AND BOMBS:

THE FORBIDDEN RED/BLU ROMANCE GOES CRAZY I ADORE IT. same team bnb is pretty banging too. bonus points if they're polying up they cule with zhanna.

SPYPAULING:

HEAR ME OUT ON THIS ONE. imagine. spy x pauling. yuri. that will be all.

SWORDVAN:

SWORDVAN MY LOVE!!! idk what it is about demo and sniper together but HELL YEAH TOP 5 SHIPS FR FR. shout out to the guy still writing monsterous intent, they're like single handedly carrying the swordvandom.

TEXAS TOAST:

I used to think "this is cute" but then my friend got really really into it and that hyped me up into "THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SHIPS OF ALL TIME" territory. bonus points if they're yuri! shout out to Technicolor California, my current favourite fanfic of all time (it overtook running blind in the interal rankings). oh yeah insert mandatory "no hate to engie and pyro father son dynamic preferers" message here lol.

Ok that's enough I will cover more at some point maybe.