#platonic averse

[auggator]

shoutout to grumpy aplatonics, shout out to aplatonics who don't like having friends, shoutout to aplatonics that fit the cold stereotype, shoutout to aplatonics who are friendless, shoutout to aplatonics who want to be friendless but can't, shoutout to aplatonics that are in romantic relationships, shoutout to aplatonics that are aplatonic because of neurodivergency or trauma or mental illness, shoutout to aplatonics who are objectum and their objects are their only friends, shoutout to aplatonics who don't come out because they don't have the energy to explain their aplatonicism, shoutout to the aplatonics who don't come out because they're scared of others' reactions, shoutout to aplatonics who are only friends are their headmates, shoutout to aplatonics who are only friends with fictional characters, shoutout to aplatonics who can only make friends online, shoutout to aplatonics that do like making friends, shoutout to aplatonics who have a lot of friends, shoutout to aplatonics

[hoardmelt]

[thattheater-kid]

Wait, it’s not normal to feel really icky when people show affection? It’s not normal to hate seeing people kiss or hug or hold hands? It’s not normal to feel wildly uncomfortable when people talk about their friends or their partners?

That’s not normal?

[wittness]

not to be dramatic but i’d rather kms than have [thing]friend partner alts used on me.

[aventurineswife]

A Sip Too Far

Summary: You confront Jing Yuan when you see him drunk, expressing your disdain for alcohol and how it affects people. Despite the tension, Jing Yuan opens up about the burdens he carries, and you learn to understand his need for release while still maintaining your aversion to drinking.

Tags: @crownedwizard, Yuan x Reader, Teen!Reader, Platonic relationship, Respect and confrontation, Alcohol aversion, Slight angst, Healing and understanding, Lighthearted moments.

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol consumption, Light angst, Brief rudeness/disrespectful behavior (toward Jing Yuan, though resolved), Possible mild frustration or tension between characters.

The bustling air of the Cloud Knights' gathering hall on the Xianzhou Luofu was alive with voices, laughter, and clinking glasses. The evening had begun as a lighthearted celebration, with various factions within the Alliance coming together to honor their recent victories. However, for you, the celebration felt more like a suffocating weight than a joyous occasion.

You leaned against the stone railing, arms crossed tightly over your chest, scanning the crowd with sharp, discerning eyes. The clinking of glasses echoed in the distance, and the laughter of your comrades was loud and carefree, but none of it brought you comfort. In fact, it made your skin crawl.

You hated alcohol. The way it dulled minds, destroyed focus, and led people to act foolishly—it grated against your very core. You could never understand how people could drink so freely, so carelessly. And you loathed how it turned the most composed individuals into loud, bumbling messes.

And that was exactly what was happening now.

You noticed Jing Yuan across the room, his usual calm demeanor softened by the effects of too many glasses of wine. His eyes, once sharp and calculating, now glinted with a hazy warmth. He was surrounded by the other Arbiter-Generals, engaged in some casual conversation, though his words were becoming slower and less coherent with each passing minute.

You felt a pang of frustration. Jing Yuan, the very man who had commanded respect through his sharp foresight and composed leadership, now seemed to be unraveling before your eyes, all because of something so simple as alcohol. The thought made your stomach turn.

You walked over, your footsteps purposeful and firm. When you reached him, he grinned at you, though the smile was a little too wide, a little too unsteady. “Ah, [Name], my young friend. Come join us! We’re celebrating, after all!” His voice was warm but slurred, his hand lazily lifting his cup to you as though it were the most normal thing in the world.

You froze for a moment, your gaze fixed on the glass in his hand. The sight of it, the content of it, made something inside you snap. It was as if the very image of Jing Yuan—someone you deeply respected—was tarnished by the alcohol. You couldn't keep the disdain from your voice. “I don’t want to join your little celebration, Jing Yuan. Not while you’re like this.”

Jing Yuan blinked, a laugh bubbling up from his throat. "What do you mean, [Name]? I’m just... enjoying myself. A little wine never hurt anyone."

“No,” you snapped, your voice colder than you intended. “It turns you into a fool. You know better than this. You’re supposed to be the ‘Divine Foresight,’ a man who commands respect, not someone who can’t even hold his liquor.”

The words stung more than you’d planned. You had never been one to mince words, but now, seeing his eyes waver with a hint of hurt, you felt a brief moment of guilt. Still, the anger in your chest refused to subside.

Jing Yuan’s smile faltered for a brief second, his eyes studying you intently. “You... really don’t like drinking, do you?”

“No, I don’t,” you replied bluntly, turning away from him, your tone now laced with disgust. “And I don’t like seeing people I look up to like you act like this.” You threw a glance over your shoulder, making sure your words had hit home. “I’ll be over there if you decide to stop embarrassing yourself.”

With that, you stalked off, leaving Jing Yuan standing there, his expression unreadable. The room seemed to grow quieter in your wake, but your focus was elsewhere—on the shadows in the corner where you could gather your thoughts, away from the noise and the clinking of glasses.

It wasn’t long before you heard footsteps approaching. You tensed, expecting some kind of reprimand or even worse, pity. Instead, you felt the presence of Jing Yuan standing beside you, no words exchanged at first. He simply stood there, his golden eyes reflecting an odd mix of amusement and understanding.

“You know, you don’t have to treat me like I’m a child,” he finally said, his voice now softer, though there was still the slightest hint of slurring. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own choices.”

You didn't meet his gaze. “That’s the problem, Jing Yuan. You are capable of making your own choices. And you’re choosing to throw everything away with a simple glass of wine. It’s beneath you.”

He sighed, long and deep, like he was weighing your words carefully. “I’m not trying to throw anything away, [Name]. Sometimes... sometimes I just need to forget for a moment. The weight of all those years, all those battles, the people I’ve lost...” His voice trailed off, and you saw a flicker of something deeper in his eyes, a weariness that you hadn’t noticed before.

You fell silent, your irritation cooling just slightly. You didn’t speak for a long time, the air between you both heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Finally, you turned to face him, your expression softening, though you kept your distance. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just... can’t stand seeing people I care about lose themselves like this.”

Jing Yuan smiled gently, his posture shifting as if to reassure you. “I understand. You’re protective, and I can respect that.” He paused for a moment, before adding with a small chuckle, “But you have to admit, [Name], I’m not as helpless as you think. A little bit of wine won’t stop me from getting back to my duties.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the sincerity in his voice, despite the slight waver. “I know. But maybe... next time, just take it easy. You’re still the ‘Divine Foresight’ to me, even if you’ve had a bit too much wine.”

He winked at you, his usual calm composure returning, and nodded. “Next time, I promise I’ll stick to tea.”

With that, you allowed yourself to relax a little, knowing that even though Jing Yuan had his moments of folly, his wisdom was as unshakable as ever. Perhaps you could learn to give him a little grace when it came to letting loose every now and then.

As for the alcohol? Well, that was still something you’d rather avoid entirely.

[growling]

I hate how every single post about how to be better towards certain marginalized groups nearly always just says that you should be friends with certain people, that if you aren't focusing on befriending these specific people and having friendships with them then you might as well be a bigot because it's a heinous thing to not have friendships. You ever saw an aplatonic person in your life??? Earlier today I saw a post about unlearning internalized ableism, which, at the end, listed all the practical ways you could help disabled people, and then stated that you don't have to do any of these but you should go out of your way to befriend people more severely disabled than you. Not anything else, just be friends with others.

Why are friendships getting put on such a big pedestal and treated as this Pure and inherently Good and even Activist thing to do? Why do I see so many posts along the lines of "if you care about x group then you need to have x friends, if you don't have any friends that are x then that shows you are unconsciously a bigot at best and downright dangerous at worst" like. What. If you can recognize that having sex with, or being in a romantic relationship with a person from a certain group does not automatically make you safe for that group (and is even sometimes met with downright suspicion), then the literal same goes for friendships. Being friends with someone isn't inherently better or least likely to treat someone like shit, be bigoted towards them, abuse them, harm them in other ways. You having insert number of friends that are disabled or whatever doesn't necessarily mean jackshit about you as a person.

It's just so fucking shitty having to see that in so many communities because guess what, my disabilities and disorders are what make me not experience platonic attraction and avoid most "conventional" relationships at all costs in the first place. I'm aware this makes me fucking evil and a lost cause apparently according to majority of all people, but there's literally nothing I can or even want to do about it. And if anybody ever approaches me, with the intent to become friends in order to fill in some "Diversity Quota" in their friendship circle, I'm going to be uncomfortable as fuck and not only because I'm aplatonic but also. It's fucking weird

[neverthebabysitter]

Eddie Munson and Sandwiches

Eddie has a weird way to eat sandwiches.

One of my bffs told us how he ate sandwiches in our last hang out and I decided that Eddie would eat his the same way.

I proceed to explain:

You cut your square sandwich into four triangles.

Then you choose the two parts with the most cheese and ham or whatever thing your sandwich is. And don't eat them.

You take the two left and proceed to eat them in a way that they would always be in a triangle shape.

When you finish those two, go back to the ones you didn't eat so you can pull apart the ingredients, eating the bread first and the cheese and ham second.

That's– that's it.

I imagine Eddie doing the same god-forsaken thing and having the whole Party watching with both stares of horror and amusement.

My bff and Eddie don't have many things in common but Eddie walks on tables and she was (is?) a theater kid so i think it's fair.

—

P.S. @m-de-mermelada told me she would walk on tables too if he was a DM after i asked for permission to post this so that's something.

[local-fire-dumpster]

The AroAce experience is vibing until your parents remind you that they expect you to get married and have children,consequently ruining the vibe.

[purplelapislazuli]

I've always been so proud and happy to be aroace, but I don't like that I'm kiss averse :(

What if my potential partner wants to kiss and I can't give that to them? What if that is a deal breaker? What if I kiss them to try and see if I like it, but I don't and hurt their feelings? :(

Has someone gotten over this aversion?

[estro-gem]

Jax x Gangle (Situation-ship): Raptors and Reptiles

The Amazing Digital Circus AU: Oasis

Author's note: Thank you all who showed your support for my previous fanfic! I didn't expect people to actually enjoy it, but I'm not complaining at all. You all made me blush like crazy! I'm really flattered.

Welcome to the Gangle-centred fic! These events happens after those of the previous oneshot, but you don't really need context for it to still make sense.

This story is a little less of a series of events and a little more of a descriptive narrative - definitely not everyone's cup of tea - but at least you get to see unhinged Gangle, I guess... And a little bunnydoll is sprinkled in there too....Maybe a speck of Zooble x Gangle to wrap it all in a nice little bow.

Ths fanfic is very much a situation-ship, instead of a romantic ship. I love the concept of Jax x Ragatha too much to break it in this AU. We are all free to ship whoever; we are all here to have fun!

I hope didn't make too many distracting mistakes in the grammar.

Warnings: Angst, easy on the fluff. All characters and the story of The Amazing Digital Circus belong to Gooseworx!

SUMMARY:

Gangle meets Jax in the hallway right after his long visit to Ragatha. It's been a hard day with a new face arriving so suddenly and Jax looks a little worse for wear.

One look at Gangle's face was enough to have him on edge again.

Please enjoy!

RAPTORS AND REPTILES

In the desert, there is a bird that, despite their wings and the ability to hunt mid-flight, nests beneath the very ground.

The burrowing owl.

It’s small, it’s quick, and it’s silent. The Amazing Digital Circus was a desert, inhabited by characters who banded together to form their own paradise. It was far from flawless, but together, they made a desolate hell into an inhabitable home.

The owl was fleeing back to its burrow after stalking the delicious fresh meat that graced them with their arrival earlier that day. The new arrival was known as Pomni and she had unfortunately proven to be a nuisance to their beloved Ragatha. Minutes prior to the raptor’s flight to her burrow, she spotted the jester loudly blubbering from the hall while standing just outside the ragdoll’s door. She can only imagine Ragatha’s face upon hearing Pomnni’s voice frantically try to apologize.

Of course, Ragatha wouldn’t let the jester in so soon; just as the owl suspected. Pomni had a lot to learn and a lot to prove before she was going to be accepted. The soft sobs that the burrowing owl had heard from Pomni’s mouth, before walking through her new room's door, gave enough of a clue for the raptor to find that the jester seemed to realize that.

But that was enough spying – she had a burrow waiting for her.

“We really need to get you a bell.”

Gangle halted at the sound of Jax’s voice. She was almost startled by it since she just passed his door without hearing it open next right to her. His voice came from further down the hall. Based on the today’s event’s, the petite character could easily deduce that the male paid a nice, long visit to Ragatha. She had the suspicion that he would, but it was nice to receive confirmation.

When Gangle turned around, she almost missed how he stiffened in alarm.

Jax’s smug expression was fixed, and he seemed to be the personification of ‘unbothered,’ but she knew better. When it came to one’s headspace or emotion, she always knew better – call it a blessing from being born with 2 faces.

Jax was deeply disturbed, but he wouldn’t show it. It was understandable, she thought to herself. Today was a rough day and they had fresh meat to worry about. The ribbonoid girl suffered greatly under the brutal bullying of Jax, with tears practically staining cheeks by the end of it all. She should’ve been broken down and crying. Jax was prepared to see her sulk until the following morning, but he wasn’t prepared for her to present as she had in her current state.

Jax wasn’t prepared to be faced with Gangle’s bright smile.

“Someone has a pep in their step.” He quipped sarcastically, “One wouldn’t be able to say that you spend the entirety of the day with tears streaming down your face.”

It didn’t matter how easily Jax was able to fool everyone. Sure, it wasn’t all a simple façade; he really did enjoy being the menace that would ruin anyone’s day, but to call him incapable of caring would be a crime. The snake struck because it was his role – his nature – and the snake was arguably the most dedicated to his role in the oasis.

She saw the rabbit shift into a wider stance as he suddenly took extreme interest in one of his now torn gloves. Gangle didn’t notice that little detail before – something must’ve gotten his skin. Him reacting the way he did, meant that he was immeasurably uncomfortable.

Something within her shifted. If anything, the sight of his torn gloves and the fact that he just left Ragatha’s room, prompted the burrowing owl to come out of its shelter.

She suddenly craved the meat of a reptile.

“I was crying all day…” Gangle slowly took a step forward. She wanted to see him squirm a bit more before she struck her talons into him, “No thanks to you, of course…”

“What can I say? My theatrics tend to bring people to tears.” Jax kept up his aloof demeanor. He didn’t seem to quite catch on to what had her ribbons in such a twist. All he could do in the meantime, was suppress the shudder that crawled up his back while witnessing Gangle’s positively, unsettling smile.

It’s one of the only ways she could express anger, after all. It was bone-chilling.

“Judging by the state of you gloves and your previous whereabouts,” the girl used her head to motion to the door behind Jax, as he did his best to block her view of it, “I’m assuming that you were responsible for tears other than mine, yes?”

THUMP

Now that did it.

Jax was so adorable when he lost his temper. Being the only ‘animal’ in the circus, Jax tended to revert to his feral instincts when he was overcome with emotion. Gangle always found it so queer.

“Cut the crap.” Jax spat, averting his gaze in embarrassment, before glaring back sternly, “I didn’t do anything to her. I wouldn’t!”

“Your outburst doesn’t support your case, Bunny~” her voice chimed smoothly as Gangle’s smile stretched inhumanly wide in response. She knew just how to drive into her personalized predatory charms. As a burrowing owl, it’s impossible to believe that Gangle was above anything. She spent most of her time stalking underground, below their feet. Unnoticed, until she revealed herself.

And reveal herself she did.

“You know that only I do what I have to do – nothing more!” Jax’s grin widened in kind, like a snake baring his fangs as he poised to strike. He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper, “Our little dolly needed some special attention. Since you were M.I.A. I bit the bullet. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Gangle’s eyes narrowed to slits, “I dealt with Caine to get my mask fixed. He drew it out more than necessary. I was about to pay Ragatha a visit before I saw you slip into her room.”

“And you figured that 2 is compony and 3 is a crowd, right?” His sarcasm never let up, even when he was rattled by her unwavering gaze.

“We both know that you just loved every minute you had with our sweet Ragatha…” Gangle leaned in closer, until she was too close for comfort. She intended to bait Jax into losing himself. If he did, she could take it… until she could wrap her ribbons around him as restraints. She would scream for someone to help; to check on Ragatha. Until then, she needed him to give her reason to do so, “Want me to believe that it's a chore for you to manhandle your doll?”

“Want me to wipe that smile off your face, Ribbons?”

Silence.

Tension.

Feral looks that could kill.

All, but no violence. No claws or teeth. Jax was perfectly composed, despite being as disheveled as he was. Yes, the rabbit was on edge and oozing with anger and frustration, but I kept his hands to himself, and his claws retracted. He only displayed his wide, feral smile – inches away from Gangle’s face. The snake’s threat display.

That was all Gangle needed to calm her racing mind.

Jax was still sane and merely acting within his role. Nobody got hurt, despite Jax having felt the need to bare his claws at some point this evening. A wave of relief washed over her as she allowed herself to pull back and deflate her stance.

No need for talons to sink into snakes tonight.

Jax drew back as well, mirroring her stance. Gangle could see his eyes soften slowly, upon realization that she was just fulfilling her role as his was fulfilling his. Unbeknownst to the ribbinoid, Jax heart swelled as the moment lingered. He felt the urge to display his appreciation to Gangle for wanting to protect their Ragatha.

Their precious water spring.

Sure, he was offended that she would think him capable of even thinking of harming the ragdoll, but it was the sentiment that won him over. Gangle was the raptor with the bird’s eye view, after all.

She poked and prodded; she searched and tracked for anything and any sign of Jax falling out of line. The masked girl’s mind was racing and calculating, as she was assigned to; with a brilliant mind such as her own. A certain gleam in Jax gaze had Gangle deduce that his mind was called back to a fond memory of them, operating in sync.

Maybe back to when Gangle first arrived in the circus…

Since no one could remember anything before entering The Amazing Digital Circus, Gangle considered her memories to be precious. She was prone to cling to as many as she could.

Her memory was actually brilliant. The mess of ribbons she was, with nothing more than a mask for a head, would leave one thinking that Gangle’s mind was as empty as the space behind her mask was, but her memory was practically photographic. Every shift, every twitch, every mannerism and every micro-expression along with the extensive description of what it all meant – enabled Gangle to easily read and understand her peers.

She could practically read their minds with a single glance.

She’d recall almost anything to the finest detail, but no one needed to know that. It didn’t concern them… and being frail and weak in stature, means that her mental ability was her greatest strength.

Her only strength.

She could still precisely recall her arrival in this forsaken hellscape.  

When she first arrived in the digital realm, she ripped off her comedy mask – thinking that it was her headset that she put on moments before.

However, instead of escaping the new virtual reality that she ungracefully stumbled into, she was just overwhelmed with an undeniable sense of dread and sorrow. The negative emotions brought her to her knees as she scrambled to maintain her grip on the smiling mask. Back then, she didn’t know that it was just because of her tragedy mask fronting. It wasn’t until she saw herself in the mirror, when she could fully comprehend her masks’ ties to her emotions.

Ragatha remained by her side throughout her first day, gently providing a safe space for Gangle to breathe. She did her best to shoo away the chaos that always possessed the tent, whether it be the NPC's the Caine cooked up for them or the other's curious, prying eyes. Gangle couldn't voice it then, but the doll was her saving grace.

They all thought that the ribbinoid wouldn’t last a week.

It felt like hours as Gangle sat in front of that mirror, wearing and removing the respective masks… growing used to the internal waves of emotions that ebbed and flowed from joy to sorrow. It was uncanny how she could feel an indescribable, undeniable joy in the most unfortunate circumstances.

A part of her wanted to believe that she had already lost her mind... but she could never experience the full range of emotions all at once. Maybe, for that reason, Gangle held out for so long.

Maybe she couldn’t abstract, no matter how hard she tried to.

Can one experience a mental breakdown if you already had 2 heads?

One mask would always nullify the other – and that, in itself, was Gangle’s own personal hell. As time progressed and days went by, she’d wear her comedy mask for the kick of it. A close friend abstracted? She’d pop that bad boy on and revel in the horrified faces of her fellow inhabitants as she laughs and smiles like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

That little trick had even brought Jax to unadulterated unease.

She was addicted to the control she had in her self-expression, as it was the only control she believed to have at the time. A smile amidst that tragedy. It drove everyone around her to the brink of insanity. She apparently left them to question the urgency and distress of the ones they lost by the day, but that only had her bursting with uncontrollable cackles.

Nothing mattered anyway.

Everything was so much funnier and lighter with her comedy mask – a high she couldn’t live without at the time. Upon having it broken by Jax for the first time, forced a tsunami of the pent-up negativity to crash into her being. The bunny presumably couldn't stand another minute of living with the girls cold, chilling smile.

This was when Gangle realized that any of her emotions were banked until she wore the relevant mask to let them out.

It was a never-ending dive from the previous high.

Once she recovered after days of crying, screaming, and wailing in fear, agony and sorrow, she accepted and welcomed the bitter melancholy of her existential crises. For the first time since she woke up in the digital world, Gangle found comfort in sadness.

And she realized her need for Jax.

He was the panic button she needed but didn’t always want. He was happy to bask in her tears. She knew that he would be on the prowl to hunt her down, desperate to still the ever-growing hunger he had; to be the greater evil. Gangle would always welcome him with open arms, because in the end, she couldn’t trust herself anymore. She needed her friends.

Because without them, she would turn to that undeniable happiness once again – and she would lose herself in it. This was the very beginning of Jax’s new role of ‘snake’ and her new role of ‘owl.’

Jax and his charming, fiendish stunts operated the groundwork by biting everyone in an attempt to be the occupational hazard. Gangle and her bird’s eye view could oversee it all and silently direct or divert Jax to and from suitable victims. She was the only one who could unnerve the bunny into having him take someone seriously. She was the only one whose eyes and mind he could trust when reading into their behavior. The owl snatched the snake who carelessly parades his antics.

On the other hand, Jax was the only one that could read her state of managing her… ‘addiction.’ He was the only one who would dare bash into her shield – her comedy mask - because the snake strikes the owl weighing heavy with neglect of self-reflection.

Two predators with each other as prey.

Gangle blinked to find Jax searching for something in her expression. Even though their dispute was quietly resolved, Jax still seemed to be bothered by something. The girl made quick work to figure out what it could be – starting with today’s events.

He took such good care of her, Zooble and Kinger today.

This day was stressful and disorienting with Pomni’s arrival. Gangle felt the phantom urge to reach for her comedy mask; her smiling shield of denial. By some devine intervention, her mask was broken due to unfortunate circumstances and without her consent or control. At least, when Jax broke it, it was because it was her choice to plead for his intervention with her eyes – desperate not to fall into old, destructive habits again.

Today, her mask broke, because of her clumsiness.

Her mistakes.

Luckily, Jax was quick to fix that! He purposefully stepped onto it, effectively rubbing salt into the fresh wound. Suddenly, it was him that was the problem! Yes, he didn’t need to do that - that was just evil!

The greater evil – the menace.

Throughout the day, Jax kept them under his heel and stomped on them for good measure. The day’s stress and uncertainty regarding the arrival of Pomni and some fake exit door was gradually drowned by Jax’s antics, and they all fell into routine once again. It was a crying shame that Ragatha had to suffer alone. If only they could’ve done something more…

Something clicked.

Gangle paid attention to Jax’s face again. He looked so tired, but desperate all the same. The masked girl blinked again and suddenly she knew exactly what he needed. What he yearned for.

He needed to see that he’d done enough.

...

With slow movements, Gangle reached for the edges of her comedy mask and removed it from her face. Jax fixed his gaze on her current, sad expression and found no suddenly overflow of tears, no uncontrollable sobbing and no screaming. It was just Gangle’s calm, sad, yet content expression staring back at him. There was no repressed emotion for her to show.

“You asked me if I want you to wipe the smile off of my face...” Gangle spoke, voice wobbly due to her sad expression, “It’s not necessary, I don’t need to be smiling to be ok.”

Jax eyes widened by a fraction, but that was all she needed to understand that he was truly surprised, as if he didn’t expect her to really be content and coping.

She gave a bitter smile; the friendliest one she could muster on her tragedy mask, “You won’t see me crying, though. You’ve already done enough of that today.”

You’ve already done enough.

To an outsider, Gangle's words would sound bitter and petty, but with the way she looked at him, she wanted Jax to feel nothing but reassurance.

You've done enough.

Gangle wasn’t surprised to see Jax stare at her in disbelief, but she was surprised to see sudden, spontaneous tears sprout from his eyes. She almost missed it with how quickly he ripped away his gaze. She couldn’t say or do anything fast enough, before Jax swung around and ripped Ragatha’s door open, entered, then throw it shut just as fast. The ribbinoid stood awestruck in the silent hallway.

She wasn’t upset; she felt honored.

She’d savor this moment until the day she’d abstract, like so many of them had before her. Brief worry flashed in her mind, but it dissipated upon looking at Ragatha’s face on the door. Jax was where he needed to be at this very moment. Although she couldn’t hear Jax sobbing into his arms as he sat against the door with his knees brought to his chest, she was sure that his doll sat right next to him.

Even though Ragatha would be tired and drained after today’s events, she would always make room for someone in need to wash away their sorrow in her clean water.

Knowing the doll, Gangle could only guess that Ragatha ended up eavesdropping on their whole encounter - biding time before splashing into action once things got too heated.

Gangle loved Ragatha for that.

She turned slowly, still dumbstruck and touched by what she had witnessed from Jax and then walked down the hall without a worry in the world. Maybe she will pay her beloved Zooble a visit before retiring for the night. She'd love to let her guard down.

She'd love for something to wrap around.

Gangle looked down at her comedy mask, smiling at her. It felt like a warm, welcoming smile... and she couldn’t help but feel content.

She didn’t feel like wearing a smile anyway.

Oasis: TADC AU list

Masterlist

[sunflowerprompts]

I wish I was a better writer so that I could rid the world of the 'omg you're like a sibling to me' plague in platonic prompts. I Get it, it's Cute, but it's not my thing bc i like friendships that r close enough they can kiss on the mouth, share a bed, and do all the gooey romance stuff without it being weird. Being siblings is Not Really what I'm looking for.

[our-arospec-experience]

sorry, I'm questioning if i might be aro... Most times I feel disgusted towards romance but i can imagine it sometimes, or roleplay romantically. But I don't want to experience romantic relationships, I mean, I want a relationship but not a romantic one and I'd rather have a relationship where we , for example, act and behave as 'best friends' or something more chill like that. I don't know how to explain i hope it makes sense...

I really don't know for sure. You sound arospec, but remember that only you can decide what you are comfortable with.

Here's some identities you could maybe look into?

Aroflux:

"Describes a person who is on the aromantic spectrum and who experiences their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing romantic attraction and not experiencing it, and/or experiencing romantic attraction to varying degrees."

source

Romance-repulsed:

"describes a person who is disgusted by the idea of themself being in a romantic relationship or by being exposed to romantic content or situations"

Romance-averse:

"Romance-averse describes someone who does not want to enter a romantic relationship."

source

It definitely sounds like you'd like a queer-platonic relationship. I recommend @our-queerplatonic-experience if you'd like to learn more about those.

Again, you are the only one who can decide what labels are best for you, if any, and no-one should force you to identify with anything you don't want to.

Good luck on your journey of self discovery, and remember you are valid no matter what :)

[mousy-nona]

All of God's Angels p. 2

I think you will like His newest creation, Gabriel mused. I’ve foreseen a challenge for you. An equal. A partner, tall and beautiful and terrible, and crowned in red. // Or Lucifer tries his damned best to ignore Gabriel's prophecy, then finds Alastor after Extermination Day.

All parts up on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53800450/chapters/136173307

Lucifer was Not Impressed by his supposed perfect match. 

As he watched Alastor toss a few grunts into his mouth with a glee that Lucifer could only describe as satanic, he broke his resolution to never pray again for the second time in a row and sent a quick message up to Heaven.

Dear Father, he beseeched – nay, begged – Dear Father, for the love of all that is unholy, please let it be someone else.  

Maybe he was wrong. Maybe it was another false alarm, like Lilith had been. Hell was full of red-faced bastards, and as much as he hated to admit it (and as Alastor had so smugly reminded him), most of them were taller than he was. Not Alastor tall, of course, but Gabriel had never specified ye verily, thy fated companion shall be approximately seven feet high, if thou art judging by the imperial system. 

(Curse that stuffy excuse for a messenger pigeon! If he hadn’t been so annoyingly vague, Lucifer wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place!) 

But there was something about the demon that made him think this time – this time would be the one that stuck. 

Maybe it was the way the demon seemed to have an uncanny sixth sense for knowing exactly how to get under his skin. He’d picked on his height, which was a low (ha!) blow, but then he’d honed in on his one true weakness with a swift, savage efficiency even Lucifer had to admire. Within less than a minute, he’d focused all his witty one liners on his relationship with Charlie – or lack thereof. 

Maybe it was the thrill that crept up his back as they fired insults at each other – “that’s why they call it the ‘Has-Been Hotel’!” “It was actually my idea!” – and Alastor didn’t once miss a beat. He returned each one of Lucifer’s barbs with a grace and silky condescension that made his own retorts look clumsy by comparison. He was excited in a way he hadn’t in years, filled with an electricity that could have been hate or delight or anything in between. 

Most importantly, he felt alive . Awake and alert. And when he placed his hand on the apple topping his staff, he felt it vibrate the way it had that first morning, and his mouth filled with the crisp, clean sparkle of potential.

It almost tasted like static. 

It was all too much for one day and Lucifer – the Prince of Darkness, the Morning Star, the Light Bringer – retreated. In front of a former human. 

Time flowed differently for a being that had existed since before the creation of the world. A blink of an eye could last a decade, or it could last a heartbeat of a second. He’d forced himself to get better at keeping track after Charlie’s birth, knowing time didn’t misbehave for her like it did for him. Being a father meant not wanting to miss a single moment – a lesson he’d learned the hard way. 

It was a mark of how badly Alastor had shaken him that he forgot all of his self-imposed rituals. He didn’t set the alarm at night. He didn’t mark off the days on the calendar. He didn’t even bother to darken and brighten the room to match the cycles of Hell. In the half-submerged gloom of his circus tent, surrounded on all sides by mountains of fire-breathing duckies, he could freak out in peace and quiet as the hours slid by like endless grains of sand.

That was why he didn’t realize what day it was until it was almost too late. 

If it wasn’t for the half-dead angel that crashed through the main hall, he might have missed the whole thing altogether. For the first time in days, his mind was strong and clear as he stared at the cherubim twitching on his floor. 

Extermination Day.

Charlie.

It was as if he’d mainlined a lightning bolt straight into his veins. He didn’t bother with a portal. He didn’t even bother to think. His six great wings unfurled and carried him towards the hotel faster than sound itself. And perhaps he hadn’t fallen out of favor after all, because he got there just in time to whisk Charlie out of harm’s way. Adam’s beady little eyes widened when he saw who it was.

Lucifer was so giddy with relief that he couldn’t resist a few jabs as he flew circles around the First Man. Adam fought to keep up, stuttering and spitting out profanities as he struggled to come up with a single clever comeback. 

“You’ve really let yourself go since Eden,” Lucifer couldn’t help but remark, rather sadly. What a shame – even after a millennia, Adam still possessed the conversational skills of a rock. What the Hell were they teaching the humans up there? Less than a few minutes had passed, and he was already growing bored of this exchange. He found his attention drifting to a far more enjoyable battle of wits from a few days ago…

Speaking of which, where was Alastor? 

He was distracted by Charlie, always Charlie, who transformed into a form he’d never seen before to stop Adam’s charge with one hand. An almighty rage that had lain dormant in him since the Fall reared its ugly head, and for a moment, all other thoughts were wiped from his mind. 

He dares? This pathetic, empty excuse for a human being dares threaten my Charlie? 

It was only later, after the battle, when there was time to talk and mourn for the fallen, that he heard Alastor hadn’t been seen since his battle with Adam. 

Alastor…fallen to Adam? It made logical sense, of course – as powerful as Alastor was, he was only an Overlord, and a young one to boot. Adam had had the entirety of human history to strengthen his power, and the angels had afforded him special abilities due to his status as the first human to enter Heaven. But still his mind struggled to comprehend it. It was like trying to understand how a Neanderthal had beaten an elegant war machine. 

A Neanderthal with a huge angelic blaster gun, he groused as he magicked a wall of timber into being. It was a good thing he hadn’t seen Alastor fall — he didn’t think he would have been able to stop himself from gutting Adam with his two bare hands if he had.

But at the same time, his limbs were suffused with a strange sense of relief. If Alastor had been taken out so easily, there was no way he was his fated companion. This was a good thing. A blessed turn of events. His equal match was still out there somewhere, and with any luck they would be free of unsightly defects like pointy teeth and cannibalistic tastes and a predilection for sadism. He was free! 

(So why was his chest aching so much?)

Then Alastor deigned to show his face, his smile as sharp as ever, his suit impeccably pressed, and Lucifer felt his heart beat again. Charlie and the rest of the hotel (except for Husk – strange, that) pressed in to touch him, to hug him, to bask in his strange enigmatic presence. To the untrained eye, he looked as good as new, as if he’d risen from a restful nap instead of a grueling battle. 

But Lucifer had spent the past few days agonizing over this demon. Going over every last detail in his mind until his features were firmly etched into his memory. And he knew, he knew something was wrong. There wasn’t any outward sign that gave it away – Alastor was even better at hiding pain than handing it out – but there was something in the careful way he slipped out of Charlie’s overenthusiastic embrace, the millisecond twitch of his shadow, the grin that was a shade too large that set Lucifer’s teeth on edge.

He’d ignored signs before. He’d tinkered on ducks and stupid useless things as Lilith had disappeared into the ether. He’d missed half of Charlie’s teenage years on projects that he couldn’t even remember. He wasn’t going to repeat the same mistakes again.

He ushered Charlie and Vaggie up to bed, insisting they take the master, brushing away their worried suggestions – “but we should help you get unpacked!” and “are you sure you’ll be able to find your room okay?”

He slipped Cherri a twenty to make herself scarce, and he made pointed suggestions to Husk and Angel Dust about where they could find some of the truly good booze back at his palace. His heart warmed a little as he watched Angel Dust slip a not-so-sneaky arm around Husk’s shoulders and bring him in close. Husk’s hard facade cracked a bit, his lips quirking up a bit as he pretended not to notice it. 

He couldn’t find Niffty or figure out where the odd creature slept at nights (did she even have a room?), but he figured she knew Alastor well enough by this point to leave him alone. 

Preparations complete, Lucifer ascended the staircase. At the top floor, instead of going left, towards his rooms, he took a deep breath and turned right. The hall got progressively darker as he closed in on the menacing radio tower. The shadows were deep here. They breathed and pulsed, as if he’d stepped into the maw of some giant beast. The air was humid, heavy with old mud and the ghostly aroma of a thousand dead bodies. 

It felt like Alastor was all around him, pressing against his bare skin, invading his lungs. A thrill went down his back as he raised his hand and knocked, just once. It sounded muffled in the damp and the dark. 

“Yes?” The radio static was so heavy he could hardly hear Alastor under it. He got as close to the door as possible.

“It’s me.” He didn’t say who it was. Alastor knew. 

There was a pause. “And what does the King of Hell want with a lowly facility manager at this late hour?”

Again, the tone of his voice crackled and popped, as if it was going in and out of signal. It sounded…weaker this time. Suddenly gripped with concern, Lucifer wrapped his hand around the knob and –

“DON’T.” 

The high frequency static ripped through the air like a sonic blast. He winced as a ringing in his ears momentarily knocked him off balance. Something wet dripped onto his shoulder. He swept his finger across it, surprised when it came up red. Alastor had burst his eardrums. 

That nasty, annoying, hard headed–!

“Okay, no more Mr. Nice Demon,” he muttered under his breath. Louder, so Alastor could hear him, he announced, “I’m coming in!”

He threw the door open. Or tried to, at least. Neon green threads made it impossible to open it more than a crack. He could slice them open, of course, but he didn’t really want to strain Alastor any further. 

“Are you serious?” He exclaimed, just a few seconds away from stomping his foot like a little kid. He wouldn’t let Alastor get the satisfaction of pushing him to such depths. “Something’s going on with you, don’t try to deny it. I can help. So let me in.” 

“Why?” The static had abated a bit, enough so that Lucifer could hear Alastor’s true voice. It sounded tired, as if their little exchange had exhausted him.

Because I might have been waiting for you since Creation Day. Ha! That would scare him off for good. Besides, it wasn’t like he was sure Gabriel had been talking about Alastor. No reason irritating them both before he was sure of it. 

“For Charlie,” he said simply. It was half-true. He might have been willing to help the irritating demon for his daughter’s sake even without this accursed prophecy. Maybe. 

To his surprise, the glowing green threads fell away, and the door swung open. The room was darker even than the hallway. He couldn’t see a thing. He stepped inside, flinching when the static washed over him again, as sharp as a slap. 

“Stop there.” 

“How am I supposed to do anything from here?” He asked, frustrated at the unbending wall of darkness in front of him. 

“Look. But do not touch.” 

A swarm of fireflies blinked into being, and Lucifer raged. 

[aroaceconfessions]

I think I'm poly in a queer platonic way. I'm interested in multiple people in like, a not romantic but intimate way. I kinda have a partner and I'm not sure how to explain this to them, it'd have been easier if we were still just friends with fluid boundaries, but now we're kinda something more. the whole time I've been seriously assessing my relationship with them, I've thought that if they needed someone closer to them to meet the needs I can't meet (sexually in particular, me being usually adverse) I wouldn't mind, but that didn't click as particularly poly for me. I don't want to be weird about it, I want to be honest about it, but being demiromantic/aroflux complicates things so much as well because I've known them for ages and def have off/on (fluctuating) romantic feelings towards them. we're gonna be long-distance for a long time, and we've been friends long-distance for a while and my love language is physical touch and I crave that with friends in general, some more intimately than others (the ones I like in an either sibling or queer platonic way) and I don't want to give anyone the wrong idea. I don't even know what the right idea is because I don't know what I want. I want multiple queer platonic/emotionally/sensually intimate relationships (not sexually!! not necessarily romantically!!) basically, but feelings are weird and I don't want anyone to get hurt. this is all so complicated. can't get everything I want.

Submitted May 24, 2023

[fakesorbet]

saying this on twt but i truly still can’t get over how much love and grief there is in cacao kingdom , the dichotomy of it , and how it all relates to dark cacao as a character .

it’s very impactful to know that there is a moment where the dead gray trees become cherry blossoms l full of life, that years after white lily’s disappearance cacao kingdom ensures the lilys are persevered, and that sunflowers also appear in the kingdom . they aren’t meant to survive , the conditions are not meant for them , but the strength they have to stay alive reflects on cacao and the citizens . realistically , there is an easier life where agriculture and survival isn’t a struggle , but they planted it their home and continue to both fight and love the home they have .

remembrance and symbolism are also very much connected - like how the flowers are related to his loved ones and also how theres literal slabs of chocolate to remember the fallen , and of course the choco portrait . it still drives me crazy how cacao berates choco by saying he won’t be remembered but also keeps a memorial for his child ;_; cacao still loves choco , but he also grieves for the actions both and and choco have done but regardless cacao will always hold onto memories , good or bad . cacao kingdom - and cacao especially - holds out for the good that can come from grief . if a flower can bloom in snow then maybe one day cacao can too heal from his pain . or smth like that

[ausrache]

also, mali when she loves you — (don't worry, she has make-up remover in her hand bag)