#she's at the highest possible approval with all 3 of them

[simulation-machine]

The many faces of Ama'aria (AH-mah-AH-ree-AH) of Baldur's Gate, a cleric of Mystra. From the top left and clockwise from there: 1: "That... seems wrong?"

2: "Why am I not getting laid even though I am actively romancing 3 people at a time?" 3: "Okay, so I *know* that's bullshit." 4: "Oh gods, what now?"

[jeidafei]

Komui's Lounge: Vol. 28 (Part 4/4)

>> Part 1

>> Part 2

>> Part 3

Q16: I would like to know if Hoshino-sensei ever felt super hyped while drawing a scene?

Hoshino: Lavi’s “Infinite Flame!! (火加減無し!!)” scene (vol.13)

(T/N: Lavi vs Road battle, below)

Lavi: Whoa! Hoshino just popped outta nowhere!

Allen: Goes to show we’re already screwed in regards to the word count, I guess.

Hoshino: If you know, then watch it!

Reever: She was also pretty hyped during Krory’s “I don’t need no coffin” scene, as well (Vol.11). (T/N: Krory vs Jasdevi battle. Thanks @looniecartooni for the raw!)

Q17: So Jasdevi has been called “monster” before?

Lenalee: Krory did mention them when we had a tea party some time ago. “Those Noah twins and I, we’re similar, so I have this feeling we’d meet again someday,” he said. I guess he must have been thinking what you’re thinking at some point.

Lavi: They’re weirdly simple-minded for their age. I guess it’s possible they’re nursing a wound in their heart.

Q18: Are there ever instances where a new accommodator eventually appeared for the Innocence shards of exorcists who died in the line of duty?

Reever: Yeah. Loads of them, in fact. Next!

Lavi: That was quick!

Allen: Mr. Reever, are they that strict about the word count limit this time?

Reever: The designer’s already at their limit from the looks of it, Allen. Whether we get to do this Lounge again next volume could depend on this!

Q19: Does Fo consume human food?

Allen: Fo doesn’t eat anything. That’s what I’ve heard back at the Asian Branch.

Lavi: Aaah, the Asian Branch’s Guardian Deity system is so interesting, really. Even Bookmen of old regarded the Chang Clan as a subject requiring special attention. Any clues on why they had their guardian deity take the form of a young lady?

Allen and Lenalee: Eh? No.

Kanda: …Didn’t Branch Head Bak’s great-grandfather who created the Guardian Deity system have it take the form of his late daughter?

Lavi: Wait, so Yu knew!

Reever: Who have you heard that from, Kanda?

Kanda: Alma said so.

Q20: A question for Allen-kun! If Kanda and General Cross were drowning in a river and you could save only one, whom would you save?

Reever: Al~righty!! Let’s wrap it up with this question.

Lavi: Welp, can’t be helped!! Welp, can’t be helped!! (T/N: Try reading it with a rhythm XD)

Allen: There must have been a better one in there! Come on!

Lenalee: Looks like Ms. Hoshino’s so nervous about the word count, she’s on the verge of a panic attack…(sweating). Let’s make do with this one for her, okay?

Kanda: If she’s gonna panic that much, then don’t do this Lounge thing, then.

Allen: No can do, huh…Or rather, these two don’t look like they’d ever find themselves drowning, seriously! Erm...Let’s see…I’ll save Master.

Lavi: And your reason behind that?!

Allen: Because Master could’ve been squirreling away the secret stash I’ve been saving!

Reever: Aaaaand we’re done! Thank you so much for being with us today! Now break it up! Chop chop! (Two big handclaps)

Lenalee: Would be nice if we managed to scrape a pass on the word count this time.

Allen: Which I reckon…we probably didn’t…

Lavi: Gave it our best shot, though……Alas, poor Hoshino……

Closing T/N:

Aaaand that’s it! Thank you so much for all your comments and tags. I had so much fun reading them.

@shashaspeaks The original Japanese dialogue for Allen cussing is the following:

ラビてめぇこの野郎なに口走ってんだよコラァ（ドス声）

(Rabi temee kono yarou nani kuchi hashitten dayo koraa//threatening voice).

It’s written with no punctuation, likely indicating he said it all in one breath XD.

//Don’t even get me started on Lenalee’s records gaaaaah what’s up now, Hoshino-sensei?!!

@candy-crackpot Again, thanks for the raws! Also super happy someone got my sneaky ATLA reference XD.

//Don’t worry, I know Komurin’s weakness is at the nape.

//Nah I think Cross is fascinated by the heartbeat of living beings precisely because he doesn’t have one. /ooooohh I think General Tiedoll would have approved of that burn.

//Highest Sci. Div. turnover rate prolly during Akuma Egg arc /oof!

@sauvechouris Yeah, I’m confused about the “kids OK but lovers NO-K” thing too. Like aren’t kids supposed to be even harder to leave behind, idk? LOL poor Bookman’s children, must have been one hell of a Daddy’s Issue for you all. Anyway, Past!Allen is Bookman’s kid headcanon anyone lmao?

@metiredlr YAAAAAAS MILF LINK

[thecameronchronicles]

After Class 3: Punishments

TW: Spanking. Language. Dom!Rafe. 

SUMMARY: Your recent actions have consequences…

WORD COUNT: 1600

*Requested*

After Class 3: Punishment

“Good morn-”

“Sit.” Your greeting would be interrupted as you pressed your weight into the chair as he was quick to correct you. 

“The floor. You don’t get to be comfortable after how you acted yesterday…Putting my job in jeopardy-not to mention your own reputation…So let me ask you…Are you proud of yourself?”

“No-”

“No, what?!” Your eyes flashed to the door over your shoulder as it had been a habit for the need to be as silent as possible. But now, he was as vocal as he was domineering and you were left unable to adjust to that freedom. 

“I asked you here because nobody is going to hear you. Not when you answer me…not when you cry out when I teach you your lesson-”

“My lesson?” You interrupted. 

To this, he would take occupancy in the chair you had tried for, tapping his knee. 

“Bend over it…” You obliged as he positioned you so your knees were flush to the wood floor but your torso was at a rest across his thighs, the erection at attention against you as you were well aware of its conception having been due to your submission-a genesis of arousal in which you both shared. 

“The first is for forgetting my name. The one way to show absolute respect…and you can’t seem to remember that…” His fingers pulled up your skirt to reveal your ass, as a lack of panties made him grin, for this, he would smooth the skin prior to his first strike as you were sent forward with a gasp. 

“One.”

“You are my best student…You have the highest grades in a continuation I’ve never seen. So I trust you can count?” You nodded. 

“Yes, Mister Cameron.” His jaw clenched to the sound of your acquiescence, so beautiful and willing over his knee. 

“Good. Then I’ll explain why you deserve them. You’ll keep counting until I’m satisfied…understood?”

“Yes, Mister Cameron.” He nodded. 

“THIS is for being so bold without me telling you to be…” A strike thrust you over his leg as he kept you in place and returned you stationary. 

“THIS is for risking anybody else seeing what I do to you…” Once again, you were thrown and collected. 

“And THIS one is for touching yourself like that, looking at me that way, and thinking you could get away with it.” And for this you would be given three, counting out as expected. 

“Have I covered everything?” 

“Yes, Mister Cameron.” You breathed as he nodded, pulling you between his legs until your elbows rested on his thighs, while you watched him remove his belt. Immediately, you licked your lips in preparation for what you believed to be the next step to please him. But he would lay it flat over his legs. 

“Hands.” You obliged as he watched you, eyes set alight by your continued agreeability, before he quickly bound them in a tight wrap as you grinned. 

“You are a good girl…” He would pet your hair, pulling the loose strands towards him as he spoke, before snickering. 

“But you need to learn to behave because there’s more on the line here than fleeting orgasms…as we both know that, don’t we?”

“Yes, Mister Cameron.”

“Call me Rafe. Just for right now…Until I decide otherwise.” 

“Yes, Rafe.” Your body chilled to his name, making everything more personal as you were now taken to your feet. 

“I want you to come to my office every morning before class. I want you here without panties. And I want you here willingly. I want you to get out all of those little frustrations that I don’t want you to regret having been left unquelled when you look back on my class. Will THAT make you behave if I do that?”

“Yes Mister-Rafe, “ You quickly corrected as he nodded in approval. 

“Good girl.” He now let out a sigh before lifting his finger to his lips, playing with the bottom portion of a sly grin, before shaking his head. 

“Now what am I supposed to do with you? A good girl still needing to learn her lesson…Making eyebrows raise because she was testing me…” You parted your lips to speak before he continued. 

“Should I make you do it on my desk? Dance those fingers for me? Do all the work?” You nodded as he gave an alternative, moving to the chair and tracing his fingers over his fabric. 

“Or bend you over this? Let you cry out for me for the first time? Without having to worry about being heard?”

You bit your bottom lip and concealed a moan at the thought. 

“Or…” He moved behind you, his breath to your ear. 

“Should I leave you soaked and wondering just WHAT will happen next? When I’ll call you back in here, IF I do?”

“Please, Rafe…I’m sorry…I…I’m sorry.”

“I know you are…You’re too good to not be, aren’t you? But I have to trust this arrangement is understood so I want you to repeat what I told you…about what I want…and what you’re gonna give me.” You swallowed hard, your mouth suddenly left dry as you didn’t want to disappoint him. 

“Every morning before class. Without my underwear. Willingly.”

“Very good…Maybe I should reward you…Do you think you deserve that?”

“Yes.”

“Really? After yesterday? After anyone else could have opened their eyes and seen how dirty your fingers were getting when you looked at me? Imagining this very situation, I’d wager…After I had to interupt my class to fuck you? You STILL think you deserve it?”

You shook your head ‘no’. “But I want it.” The smile spread across his face was almost demonic as he slowly nodded. 

“How?”

“Anyway!” He chuckled before pulling you to the edge of his desk and leading you to his desk chair. 

“We’re going to compromise this morning, okay?” You bobbed your head. 

“You’re gonna…” He trailed his thumb on your bottom lip to pull apart your kiss as he would continue, “part these pretty little lips for me and make me feel real good in the back of that tight little throat of yours…”

“Yes…”

“And then I’ll make you come on my desk…Legs over my shoulders…where you can scream as loud as you need to…But you WILL not say my name and you will not come or touch yourself until I tell you, understood?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” You reached for the button and zipper of his pants before he forced your hands away. 

“Teeth.” He ordered as you struggled for a moment as he’d assist you, realizing the request was borderline impossible, before you pulled him between your lips. Moaning as you carried him to the deepest cavern allowed by your throat, gagging and gasping, his hand wrapped luxuriously through your hair as he steadied his breathing. 

“Look at me. Don't close those eyes on me…” You kept them to him, despite the way they’d try to close when he would activate your reflex. 

“You are such a good girl…Fuck…” You grinned in pride at how you allowed him such pleasure, endorsing you beyond your usual modesty and reservation, before he would guide you off of his shaft. With a thumb brushing your bottom lip, he would place you onto the desk. 

“I’m going to give you a choice here…Spit or swallow?” You paused. 

“Sw-swallow-”

“You don’t sound so sure. 

“Swallow.” You explained with conviction as his grin widened. 

“No hands…” You obliged, taking him once more, only this time without any guidance as you twisted and sucked, licked and moaned, driving him as close to that edge as possible as he released his own groans of pleasure and approval. 

“I’m close…Keep going…oh shit…” He grunted, twisting your hair deeper between his fingers as you nodded. 

“You’re gonna take all of it?” You nodded as he clenched his jaw. 

“Eyes to me!” He charged as you continued to show your acquiescence before he buckled between your cheeks, the warm saltiness dripping down your throat before he would withdraw. 

“Open…” You would do this with pride as he smiled wickedly. 

“My turn. Get on the desk. I wanna see how wet this all made you.” You climbed to its surface as he pulled you to its edge, making you gasp. 

“What aren’t you allowed to say?”

“Your name.”

“Good girl…But you can moan-I want it…and you’re gonna give it to me…right?”

“YES!” You gasped in desperation at his breath over your clit. 

“Then give it to me…You have two minutes…” He grinned as your eyes flahsed ot the clock before rolling back in pleasure. The flicks made by his tongue were done so in a frenzy, offering every ounce of his skillset as you allowed your body to respond. However, with the makeshift cuffs over your hands, you were left without the satisfaction of a grip and had instead dug your nails into your palms for that relief. 

“Louder.” He demanded as you obliged, these means turning more into whines and whimpers as his eyes rose from you to the clock. 

“One minute…” He warned as you begged. 

“Please! Please don’t stop! PLEASE!”

“You beg so fucking pretty.” He allowed his eyes to close in ecstasy before returning to you, those final words the only intelligible verbiage before led you to that curve between relinquishment and relishment; the orgasm and that afterglow. 

“Now…” He pulled you upwards from the desk, removing the binds from your hands, and pressing the softest of kisses on your lips that left you needy for more. 

“Class is about to start…And you’re gonna be a good girl, today, right?” You nodded. 

“Yes, Mister Cameron.”

“Good. Then I’ll see my favorite student in a few minutes…” He fixed your hair before you would retire from his office, turning back one final time to watch him try and compose himself as you realized you had an effect on him just as he had one on you. 

Taglist: @hopebaker @iovdrew @penny4yourthoughts @magnificantmermaid @pickingviolets @lovedetlost @trikigirl271 @my-baexht-ls @slut4starkey @slvtherinseeker @obxiskewl @obxxrxfes @bluesongbird @slut-era @ailee-celeste @rafesbae

[dolceaspidenera]

Hii! when I read your post about bg3 and what could be better, it’s like you I’ve read everything on my mind. I love this game, it’s an absolute masterpiece, that’s an undeniable truth. I desperately wanted sth like this after I fell in love with DA games. the minute I knew I can romance Astarion I jumped at the chance - because LOOK AT HIM!! and they’ve given him the BEST voice actor, the BEST character backstory- better and richer than any of the DA characters had. he feels alive, everything in his behaviour and motivations makes sense, the whole breaking the cycle of abuse is incredibly deep. And really makes me crave for more..more party banter, more things to talk about overall. there are certain shining moments between him and Shadowheart, moments where she teases him or is curious about certain things. YES GIVE ME MORE OF THIS overall with all the companions!

100% agree about how it is frustrating that companion reactions get overridden. I romanced Asta and wanted to hear his reaction to the owlbear and he got blocked by Shadowheart. why??? if anyone has sth to say let them say it.

Now I’m gonna rant a bit about Asta’s content in act 3. there’s quite a big difference between act 1 and 3 in terms of camp cutscenes. while in act 1 you have to long rest pretty much constantly to see everything that’s queued up, in act 3 it isn’t necessary. act 3 feels much emptier esp when it comes to Astarion or Karlach. Cazador isn’t involved in the main plotline so there’s no incentive to deal with him unless you really want to help Asty. Karlach and her soul coins - i didn’t understand their purpose, guess it was scrapped. same as the possibility for Asty to explore different ways to release himself from Cazador’s clutches, to be able to stay in the sun. as it is now there’s nothing for him, just a throwaway dialogue option added last minute that you’re going to look for the solution together. that solution should have been available in act 3–another scrapped content—necromancy of thay. as it stands now - I think mainly because of this missing content, there’s only one option to help Asty see reason to refuse the ritual and even that requires high persuasion check. all that we’re given is one good choice (which you can’t probably pass with a non-charismatic character) and two bad choices with one of them being No I won’t help you which does not give you any additional chances to reason with him. which there should’ve been especially if he’s romanced and on the highest approval. lastly, we should’ve been given a waaaay more satisfying conclusion - once again as it stands now, it deeply hurt me to watch him run away from the sun with nobody expressing any sort of concern for him whatsoever. he deserves better. and i’m too old and tired to write a fix-it fic about this 🙈

the end of rant 😅

Hi! Thank you for sharing your opinions with me 😊 I agree with you, I would've preferred, for example, fewer shiny objects and more party banters/cutscenes with our companions. Especially when it comes to friendship interactions, you really feel a lack of content. They are all amazing characters and I wish we could spend more time with them, it would have been cool to have something similar to the Citadel DLC in Mass Effect.

Regarding the companions' reactions that override each other, if Larian is hell-bent on leaving it like that, I hope there will be some saint modder out there who will be able to get rid of this mechanic. I'd do it myself but unfortunately I know nothing of how mods work 😭

And Yes, after completing the quest for the characters there's 0 content after that unfortunately when it comes to interactions in camp. Don't get me started on our best girl Karlach, they really did dirty to her. Her confrontation with Gortash is the most anti-climatic thing I've ever seen. She gets angry, understandably so, for like 5 minutes, and then that's it, everything is back to normal. AT least give us a cut scene with her stabbing the hell out of Gortash, them staring in each other eyes while he dies, give me some pathos, something! It's supposed to be the climax of her narrative arch, c'mon!

There's definitely a lot of cut content, I don't know if it's because they ran out of time or they were having budget issues, maybe a bit of both. I hope they will add them back later but I honestly doubt that. Unfortunately, the ending is really lacking as well, you can really see that they ran out of time there. Larian promised they would fix it, so I hope they manage to put together a satisfactory epilogue for all the characters. I reeeeeeally hate Astarion's ending in particular, there's no way my character wouldn't run after him to make sure he's okay and to comfort him. It would have been cool to have at least a party like the one with the tieflings in Act 1 to properly say goodbye to all characters (Dragon Age Origins really nailed it in that sense, even if it's brief you have the chance to speak with all characters and ask them for their future plans after the final battle).

[jahiera]

2, 3, and 5 under general for companion!emrys?also 12 for story-specific and 7 for romance if thats not too many fndhsh. i am so so curious, i adore emrys so much

tav as companion asks! thank you so much!!! reading about TAV was such a delight and. well. I kind of went off the rails in here, but I had fun, SO. thank YOU. <3

5. Are there any instances where your Tav can permanently leave the party, depending on player character actions?

-Slaughtering the tieflings at the Grove on purpose (if Arabella dies, she wants to fight Kagha & the druids right then and there, so there's... uhh. leeway here. for druid murder. sadly.) -Killing Isobel or Aylin outright and then doubling down on it, due to what happens to the whole inn (insert wild essay about the dark urge in here), and not by accident or circumstance + not without remorse.

and she won't leave, but disapproval for letting the hag keep mayrina or ditching the grove to be overrun or letting the tieflings be ousted by the druids, harming any of the tiefing kids, unnecessary cruelty toward victims or those weaker than you, generally dislikes conning it up with the zhentarim in act 1 (doesn't mind killing them.....), betraying another companion (so turning over astarion to the gur hunter, or karlach over to wyll, she would Not like that shit.) overall, being forthright with her and honest + be firm and resolute in your beliefs, even if she doesn't agree with you, will win her respect fastest. she's fairly, uhh. Violent? so she guns for smite first, think second, and over the course of the game she calms down more. act 1 she's like "and then I started smiting" at every other turn.

12. Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin? How is Orin's deception revealed? How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?

See I fucking LOVE this concept & I wish that orin would've taken your highest approval or RO companion ... it would've added so much more tension. Anyways, yes, of course, and her Orin Scene is her leveling a sword either at the player if they've been more ambiguous, or at another companion, stating that her oath demands they all die for what they've done, getting more and more vividly disgusted until of course. Orin mocks her ruthlessly for her oath-keeping. after everything that happens, emrys experiences a lot of internal shame & personal disgust for being taken, for being too weak to stop her; it weighs heavily. orin is someone she really, really wanted to strike down.

and I took the rest for ridiculous dialogue testing so... woe, DIALOGUE be upon ye.

7. What questions can Zethino ask the PC about Tav in the Love Test?

what is her most prized possession?

her sword -- Emrys grunts, looking askance. "Fair enough." but she's clearly not pleased.

her hair -- She runs a hand over her bound red curls, tied at the nape of her neck. "Was thinkin' of cutting it off, actually. Think that answers that question." and she rolls her eyes.

she doesn't have one -- Emrys chuckles softly, nodding. "Aye. No point in gettin' hung up on nonsense like that. Anything can be replaced."

2. where does she feel safest?

in a temple, praying -- Emrys shifts uncomfortably, looking away. No answer. She doesn't want to say no.

when she's impervious to most forms of physical attack -- A hard snort, and she shakes her head. "'s not wrong. 's not right either, though."

when she's alone -- A pause, then she slowly nods, "but I like bein' with you too. Sometimes." she gruffs out, though a small smile sits on her face.

3. what does emrys care for most?

tyr, of course. -- "Be praised." But there's a strain to her words and a flinch in her face.

saving squirrels in trees -- "Is that some kind of joke?" Emrys scowls a little, words biting, her voice losing its usual monotonous level.

protecting others. though sometimes she forgets herself. -- "I remember you." A soft, firm answer, tone low and warm.

3. Does your Tav have any comments or advice when you recruit other companions?

[ON RECRUITING ASTARION] hmm.... (long pause). 's your neck alright? that was a nasty trick he pulled. don't worry, I'll watch your back around the lad.

[ON RECRUITING GALE] haven't been around many wizards... do you think he'd-- no, never mind. (<- she was thinking about getting "fly" cast on her.)

[ON RECRUITING SHADOWHEART] shadowheart... 'bout as forthright as you'd expect with a name like that, huh. lovely, though.

[ON RECRUITING WYLL] the blade of frontiers, eh? heard of him. be interesting to see him in action.

[ON RECRUITING KARLACH] karlach’s got the kind of strength I could only hope for one day. glad she’s on our side.

[ON RECRUITING LAE'ZEL] I've never met a gith before... I've read of 'em, though. you think she'd mind if I asked her a few questions?

[ON RECRUITING HALSIN] Hm. (<- disapproving silence.) I only hope he left the grove in capable hands. abandoning post like that.... (she rolls her eyes, shakes her head; nothing else to say on that.)

[ON RECRUITING MINTHARA, without grove murder, ideal world] you ever think-- y'know, we've put down a lot of those absolutists... wonder if they'd all feel like she did if they had our--immunity, or what have you.

2. Do the other companions have special comments or reactions upon recruiting your Tav?

sorry I saw my chance to be REALLY insufferable & test some dialogue voices in the process. woe, DIALOGUE be upon ye.

ASTARION: we've picked up a paladin of tyr. isn't that... quaint. so long as she keeps all of-- well, that on the other side of the camp, I'm sure we'll get along fine. EMRYS: aye. I'll contain myself if you do.

SHADOWHEART: emrys certainly seems... hm, formidable. only time will tell if that code of hers will prove more hindrance than help to us.

WYLL: it will be interesting to fight alongside tarian. she seems to know her own heart, and that's plenty admirable.

GALE: I've known a few tyrrans in my time. they tend to be rather of the stiffer variety, but at least we can trust what to expect from her, and that certainly can't be taken for granted in times like these.

KARLACH: I hope she doesn't get offended at us, y'know, offing the bastards up at the tollhouse. EMRYS: why would I get in your way? they've wronged you, most terribly, and we'll see justice done by sundown. KARLACH: oh, fuck yeah. knew there was a reason I liked you.

LAE'ZEL: the paladin's battle prowess is to be commended, if nothing else. leave her with wyll, I am sure they will get along well enough. (<- intended as an insult toward the do-gooding.)

[neppednep]

So, why *would* Serafall solo all of Dragon Ball?

Damn, didn't think anyone would actually ask that. I'm going to try summarize this instead of going on a massive yapfest like before and finding out there's only a ten picture limit on Tumblr.

Also, slight spoilers for the DxD novels if you care about those things.

This is for fun and Serafall propaganda, so don't take the Serafall wank too seriously.

It still turned into a massive yapfest. So much for summarizing. It was fun enough to write, at least.

In any case, as the leader of the Cult of Serafall, almost 68 members strong, some of which may or may not be Discord bots, I approve this message.

Serafall doesn't solo the DBZ anime though, just the manga. You also can't really use guide statements as mixing/matching guides and taking them at their highest possible interpretation can get real wonky real fast. Looking at you immeasurable speed multiversal Frieza.

We will also be taking Serafall statements at their highest interpretation because I love her and she deserves the best.

TL;DR: Manga Goku is only multi-solar system and MFTL at best. Skip to the next bold text if you want to see what best girl can do.

Anyways, using only the manga Goku is surprisingly weak compared to his anime counterpart. The problem with the manga is, we don't really get many statements or filler that helps Goku, or really any character for that matter.

The best solid statement in the manga that I know of is about Cell who was going to destroy the universe. You have things like Frieza and Cell also being a threat to the universe, but taking the context of their lifespans and the fact they're very powerful with no one to really stop them, it becomes a matter of if they can do it in one attack or if they're going to threaten it overtime. Going with consistency and context, it's most likely the second.

If we do use guides at their highest possible interpretation, that's how we get the macrocosm destroying Frieza who is fast enough to move where time doesn't exist which is less than realistic, to say the least.

Going back to Buu and Goku, we don't even have one galaxy level statement or feat in the manga. In the anime it shows Buu destroying a galaxy and everything, but in the manga the best we get is Supreme Kai yapping about how he destroyed hundreds of planets.

This isn't a particularly good look on its own, so we'd have to scale them off Cell and Supreme Kai, as weird as that sounds.

Starting out, we have Cell as a solar system buster. We all know SS2 Gohan is stronger than that, as he pushed back Cell's blast and killed him. We have that infamous statement about how SS2 Goku is as strong as Gohan was in the Cell Games, but we'll go beyond that and give Goku the benefit of the doubt to give him a boost.

First, Supreme Kai did state he can one shot Frieza, he sensed SS2 Gohan's energy, and he knew the saiyans beat Frieza.

Fast forward to Babidi's ship, he saw Pui Pui and was spooked to the point where he thought himself, Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan would need to jump him. Keep in mind, four bare minimum Frieza level fighters to jump Pui Pui.

Vegeta then managed to completely dominate Pui Pui in his base.

Once again, giving Goku the benefit of the doubt, let's assume Gohan did not get any weaker over the seven years and say his SS2 form was the same power as in the Cell Games, meaning the Supreme Kai thought even SS2 Gohan wouldn't be enough for Pui Pui and base Vegeta would be at that level.

So after all that, base Goku should be a solar system buster.

The problem is even our milky way galaxy is approximately 800 million times larger than our solar system.

Using the x400 SS3 multiplier isn't really reaching that threshold.

Even if want to go off the rails and give mastered super saiyan something like a x5,000 multiplier because screw it, it's stronger than grade 3, it would still only be 40,000 which is far off from galaxy level.

Just quickly calculating speed with power levels assuming they're linear, Goku dodged the solar flare in DB with a power level of 180. We'll make that the baseline for light speed. Namek Goku has a power level of 150,000,000 which is a difference of 833,333 times, that's the last power level we have and I don't really want to speculate but we can safely place Goku above one million times light speed.

Even if you don't accept that and use the special beam canon used against Raditz which is light speed, it wouldn't make much of a difference. Trust me, it won't matter in the end anyway.

TL;DR: Serafall is bare minimum universal and immeasurable speed.

Totally no cope or bias, 100% legit. Trust me, bro.

In volume 18, life 1, Griselda states the third level of Heaven is so vast you can't tell where the end is. Obviously, we all know you can't see the end of it because there is no end. It's an infinite realm. Sure will be convenient for what's coming up.

What's coming up you ask?

Trihexa takes a casual stroll through Heaven in volume 21 and destroys that infinite dimension. In order to destroy an infinite 3D space, you'd need infinite 3D power, which Trihexa did.

I know you may be thinking:

'Hey, bozo. That's not consistent with anything in DxD at all. What drugs are you on?'

You may have forgotten about the 'Loli of the Week #2, 05/25/2022' (Yes, that's a real thing.) the Infinite Dragon God Ophis who has infinite power, and shares the spot for strongest in the world with Great Red and Trihexa which should also mean they have infinite power too.

Before anyone claims she got her power cut in half so she can't be infinite, shut up. Go to school and learn about set theory or alephs.

Great Red and Trihexa also can destroy the universe, as Azazel stated they would in their fight. Fan translations say it's world, but it can also be translated to universe. Plus, the two can really be used interchangeably.

Not gonna go into Trihexa wrecking other mythologies though as that gets wacky.

Now is the fun part where Serafall comes in.

Serafall is one of the people chosen to fight Trihexa for the next couple thousand years, being sealed away with it in a constant battle. Considering she can damage Trihexa and take attacks from it, using the AP = Durability rule we can safely put her on or around his level.

Obviously it's only still alive because it's regeneration. Serafall would have drop kicked that bozo otherwise. Universal Serafall confirmed.

She gets immeasurable speed through Gasper as he freezes time and she can still frolic around and talk about magical girls like nothing happened. She's just that powerful.

She should also be able to move in the dimensional gap which may not contain time as Gasper can't use his sacred gear that, as there isn't really any time to stop.

100% immeasurable speed.

If we really go want to go further, we can argue the Biblical God and all the Gods Trihexa defeated were as strong as they are in their real mythologies, but that's just bullying at that point.

You ain't ready for omnipotent Serafall.

Sorry to all you Goku fanboys but Serafall > Goku.

I'm also sorry to everyone who actually read to the end of this. Not really.

Next time omnipotent Serafall is coming to solo all of fiction. Trihexa was possibly the cause of the Biblical Gods' death, who is stated to be omnipotent in the Bible, making them strong enough to destroy omnipotence.

If anyone has any counter arguments, that's cool but look at this cat.

Here is some of the previous post I discarded because it got a bit boring and the 10 image limit. Behind the scenes content. This was using a hyperliteral Goku. Please do not use these arguments. Ever.

[timidgarden7]

Episode 2: Kay's truth

Part 2

The opening ceremony of the Waterpark can finally began. Everyone gathered here for the opening. It was very big water park. On the top was a main big squid shaped tank and small ones on west and east. There were 3 colored slides and tower where you can climb to slide from the highest one. In the pool there were decorations resembling pinball. The main front had blue tiles with a sun in the middle and the white marmur gate showcased the entrance of it with a bridge to cross the river.

As a leader Sharon had to gave a speech.

- My friends, today we open the biggest Waterpark in the Railworld. The construction took a long time and despite all the difficulties, now we can officially open this place.

She gave to scissors to Maxie and despite being confused, Sharon gave her approval and the white one cut the ribbon. Everyone cheered from the happiness and the railers can finally have fun.

"Now!" - Mos activated bomb which exploded in the middle of the pool in which railers had fun. It caused the water whirlpool in the middle.

"Success Mos" - Dos said happily

- Now Train X could be proud of us. Let's get outta here"

The twins run away and now all of the crisis in the Sector M began. Everyone gasped and start panicking.

- Everyone calm down - Sharon tried to calm down

everyone

- Turn the water off - Kay screamed to Jack and Jose who run towards it

Both Train tried to turn off the water, but the water pressure started to rose with possibility for tanks to explode. Looks like someone messed up the water system.

- Selly, Duck! Carry out the Evacuation of it!

Both noded their heads and started to evacuate the trains. Kay showed his skills which surprised Sharon.

- Alf, find the water system and turn it off! Victor, Jack, find something to blocked the supply temporary. The rest of us will save the railers. Ato K!

Kay took his units and was ready to rescue the railers.

Sharon and Duke did the same.

- Wait Kay!

- We don't have time, Genie!

- You aren't waterproof. Luckily I got solution for that! Ato G!

From Genie cargo some blue balls flew to her which she caught and gave one to Kay.

- What are those? - He asked confused

- Use them! - said Genie

Kay used them and he started to feel It's power

- Go try now! - said Genie and Kay went into the water. He felt like water didn't hurt him

"You too!" - she throw the balls towards Sharon and Duke who used It's power too.

At the same time Alf tried to find the water supply system.

- Where is it?! - said Alf - We don't have time

- Hurry Alf! - Genie screamed towards him

- You think It's easy to find it when you are under stress Genie!!! - he yelled back to her

He was very stressed about, but after a while he found it

- I hope this will work - said Alf and turned the wheel down of the water. The water pressure stopped rising and the water itself stood still.

- You did it Alf!! - Genie said happily

- I will fix the water supply... Looks like someone really damaged the

At that time Victor and Jack looked for something to stumble the whirlpool. During the search Victor noticed the strange behaviour in him who started to lost in thoughts.

- Jack, everything is okay? You were silent during the opening

- Victor... Before this whole chaos, I heard some noise and my gut was telling that someone's was there besides me, Jose and Maxie...

- Did you find them?

- No sadly... I guess the oldness made my instincts go crazy and the explosion which happened.

- No need to rely on your instincts usually. They aren't always right. Let's hurry. We need to close the whirlpool.

They are transformed into trains and with their units. Looking around for something, they found a big rock.

- It's here - said Victor - Let's pick it up

He used his blades to start to piece the rock to make it fall.

After some of the cuts, the boulder didn't fell down.

- Victor, let me help you - said Jack and activate a energy blades which finished the indigo trains's cuts and the boulder fall down. - We have the boulder, now let's return to others

Jose and Maxie who wanted to help make sure that water tanks don't broke with water pressure and after that they tried to turn off the water from the tanks. Selly and Duck evacuated all of the trains.

- Everything is now up to Kay, Sharon and Duke - said Genie worrying - Victor, Jack hurry up!

As for the first free they swam to save the railers. They rescued the few railers but there were 3 left who need help. However they were almost  too closed to the whirl.

- We need to watch out - said Sharon - The whirl could suck any of us and the energy ball power isn't eternal.

Duke suddenly rushed to rescued the railer who was on the edge.

- Duke, be careful... The vortex can suck you inside! - said Kay worried about his friend.

- Kay, one of them is almost drowning. Hurry! - Sharon called him.

Kay used his boosters to rescued the railer. Sharon did the same to try to rescue other one. In that same Duke grabbed the railer and pull him out of the water when he almost got closed to sucked by the vortex.

- DUKE, WATCH OUT!! - Kay screamed loudly

- Huh... Ka-

However the vortex started to suck him, but the blue one pushed him out of the way in the last minute, making vortex ready to suck blue one instead. Sharon was pulling the railers on the surface and when she saw Kay in danger.

- Kay!! - Both trains screamed at the same time and grabbed his hand.

- Hold on Kay- said Sharon - Duke, let's used the boosters and blasters at the same time.

He noded his head and both used boosters to grab Kay.

Despite theirs and Kay's effort effort, the vortex was stronger and the power of energy ball started to weakened down.

- No no no... Not Now!! - Sharon was now worried if they succeeded with rescuing Kay.

On the land all robot trains take care of all railers. Maxie tried to calm them down as much as she can and even trying to cheer them up.

- I wonder what it's happening underwater - said Genie - What took them so long?

- Kay... - said Duck who was ready to check on the water - He needs me.

- Duck wait... - said Genie but the boat train was on the water - Wait this will be a good idea. You can carry them once the power of energy ball will be gone.

Duck understood it so he will be waiting for the to come on the surface.

Underwater, Sharon and Duke continue to fight against the vortex.

- Guys, pls. Let it go. - said Kay

- No way!!! - Sharon refused to left her friend to die

- The power of the energy ball starts to weaken  down. I don't want you two to die in the water.

- Please don't...

- Unit tak-

- Not this time!! - said Duke angrily

Kay was speechless when Duke said that in anger voice.

- Don't you dare use the same technique again.

- Duke...

- I won't let you suck into another empty hole. I already watched you sucking into the time tunnel despite my efforts to save you from the time tunnel! I won't let it happened the second time!! Sharon was both shocked and puzzled what Duke just said, but she just agreed with Duke on this and both desperately used their power and pull the Kay out with max power.

In the same time both Victor and Jack arrived. 

- Finally!! - said Genie - Now, Put the Rock in the water

- That would be appreciated so much - said Sharon on call and she and Duke swam on the surface with blue one. Once Duck saw them he swim closer to them. Kay grabbed him and they swim towards the land when their friends awaited him.

Sharon and Duke also swam into the land and the reached it in the last minute before power of energy ball run out. Genie now coordinate where Victor and Jack should throw the rock on her signal.

- Almost...  Almost... Now!!! - Genie screamed towards them

On her signal Victor and Jack threw rock hitting in the hole blocking the whirlpool.

- We did it!! - Genie and Selly were happy

All Trains cheered up, happily, but now they had to take care of the water rescuers who almost wasted all of their power especially Kay.

Some hours later the blue one slowly open eyes. "Ugh..." He thought that he was in his base, but nope, It seemed that he was in tower and some hours have passed because now the night have almost started.

- Sharon?! Duke?! - He started to worry about his friends - Where ar-

- Glad you wake up Kay - said a voice that belonged to Alf

He looked around and saw most of his friends standing around him looking relieved that he is alright.

- Don't worry about them. - said Selly who was checking on him - They are fine, safe and sound.

- The water... And the whirlpool... If It wasn't for me, Duke would've been sucked... I... I..

- Calm down Kay - said Selly trying to him down - Now, now, Take a deep breathe... Take a deep breath You can talk to them, If you want.

- Where they are?! - Kay asked her angry and worried which shocked almost everyone especially Selly who stand nearby him.

- Duke went to train again, possibly three hours ago - said Victor - Sharon just return to her base to get some rest. But don't you wanna hear about what happened?

- What happened? - He asked

- We saved the Railers and evacuated Trains and remaining railers from here successfully. Selly checked on their condition and they are in stable condition. Jack and Jose went to check and close the Waterpark. We possibly will repair this place.

Kay sighed in relief. However in the same time, Jack appeared. He was really angry and ready to throw hands. Jose followed him while trying to calm him down

- It was sabotage! This wasn't a accident.

- Are you sure? - Victor asked -

- There were cracks in the outflow - said Jose - We will fix this and then railers would have a fun

- It was a bomb - said Jack calmer - It had to be pretty camouflaged and hided that we couldn't see it.

- It probably was putted, where no one was seeing us - said Selly

- Tomorrow we will check this. - said Jeffrey - And we start to look for the sabotages.

- You guys, go. - said Kay - I need to meet with Sharon and Duke right now.

- But, Kay?

- I'm fine Alf.

He left the base. decided to meet Sharon and Duke solo. First he decided to meet black train and later the yellow one. He drove through the tunnel to reach the plaza and then left the city. During the way, Kay saw him training solo as usual.

- Heh, May I join you?

The black one agreed. During the training, the blue robot train asked.

- Duke, what you said before... Was it true?

Duke was embarrassed what Kay just asked. He tried to hide it, but he can't deny. He actually values their friendship.

- Yeah... That's true - he sighed

Kay was surprised, but he smiled when Duke said it.

- Well... I'm glad that you are save and sound...

After few minutes later, she finished her training.

- Oh hey Duke! Hi Kay! 

- Are you okay Sharon?

- I'm alright, but Kay... I'm glad that you are safe - the yellow one said - We thought It would be over for you.

- I need you to thank you Sharon - he said

- Don't thank me. Thank Duke and especially Duck. - she said - If it wasn't for them, you would be sucked into the whirl. However I wanna ask you something. What was that Time Tunnel which Duke mentioned when we tried to save you.?

The blue one explained that to her one time he caused accidentally a tunnel because he ignored the black one and his platform's concerns which sucked him to the another world where he became evil and everyone feared them. Duke desperately tried to rescue him, but that failed and he jumped there being stuck into limbo before Kay opened it again and jumped into it.

Both of them continue their trains and after some time they finished.

- I need to see Sharon. Let's go Duke!

Duke just sighed.

- Come on! She helped me saving me.

- She's just not far away from me.

"Hm... Looks like I underestimated her since she also apparently trains too." - he said that to himself so Kay didn't heard it.

- Okay, let's check on her..

Sharon of course trained standing on one hand.

-998... 999... 1000! Done... Time for one with my inside balance.

On her own signal, she participated it with the small ball like in dancing choreography.

Kay and Duke were watching her, when they arrived to see her.

After few minutes later, she finished her training.

- Oh hey Duke! Hi Kay! 

- Are you okay Sharon?

- I'm alright, but Kay... I'm glad that you are safe - the yellow one said - We thought It would be over for you.

- I need you to thank you Sharon - he said

- Don't thank me. Thank Duke and especially Duck. - she said - If it wasn't for them, you would be sucked into the whirl. However I wanna ask you something. What was that Time Tunnel which Duke mentioned when we tried to save you.?

The blue one explained that to her one time he caused accidentally a tunnel because he ignored the black one and his platform's concerns which sucked him to the another world where he became evil and everyone feared them. Duke desperately tried to rescue him, but that failed and he jumped there being stuck into limbo before Kay opened it again and jumped into it. Thinking that this was the last time, he decided to spent it with Duke before the rails appeared making them able to leave the space and return to their Train World.

- That's not all, I need to tell you something - he decided to tell whole the truth

- Hu?

- I mentioned the whole story, but what I don't mentioned is that I also have a very powerful Alpha Train power which makes me a possibly the next Alpha Train. I gathered it during battle before we got there and now I'm possibly the fastest and strongest train in the world. I could open all tunnels now, solo and with help of Duke.

Sharon looked at him very impressed.

- Impressive, but you need to control it. You don't know what happened when It would go out of control

- Yes, I tested it on the evil forces. It was really powerful, but It was under my control.

Suddenly Sharon smiled from relief and with a smirk

- Who knows... Maybe I could got a power and be much more powerful than you

- Good luck with that - said Kay teasing her

- Hey!!

The two speedsters playfully teased each other and Duke just watched them, at first in confused, but the he chuckled at both of them.

The episode ends with last glimpse of them watching stars and ready for whenever adventure they had.

[j228]

anyway aside from all the valid rage and disappointment following the cancellation drama, here’s my actual concern, systemically -

taylor usually isn’t one to personally address fandom disasters. you could argue it’s her signature post-reputation but i think it’s more the scrutiny she received after the infamous “choose the right one” instagram post. she’s notorious for letting bigotry, bullying, misinformation, and worse run rampant in her millions strong global fan base. her standard for fandom drama has always been to pretend it’s not there and watch it fade. and it’s worked.

i assume at her level, voicing most any opinion guarantees loss of revenue. she’s a rare phenomenon where everybody who’s anybody will find an essence in her artwork to connect to, so in her case, this is a good PR move. this distances her from the controversy as much as possible (“she’s not chronically online guys she didn’t even know this was a thing” – remember this? when they’ve voiced their allegiance since the early days of her career. and now we’ve all forgotten that was ever a chapter in her career)

ticketmaster is a huge corporation. in 2019, they had a net worth of over 11 billion dollars. that is no prey in a school yard. however, taylor is the largest pop phenomenon worldwide, not only due to her enduring record sales, but her longevity in multiple global markets and genres. her fans have never failed to put their money where her mouth is (and she has worked painstakingly to make them feel like that is worth their time).

her last major tour, 2017-18, is one of the highest grossing tours of all time, attended by almost 3 million fans across the globe. after a 4 year long wait, three major releases, and 2 re-releases, any business strategist could have predicted the anticipation for the eras tour would eclipse all of her past tours, but big streaming numbers hardly equate to sold-out shows, and conservatively, she released a limited amount of tour dates to anticipate real demand.

tickets from loverfest qualified fans a “boost”, capital one members received pre-sale codes. over a million fans were sent these codes to be “first in line”, or at least some security that reassured them a spot. however, come actual pre-sale period, the system was not only unequipped to handle that sort of traffic, it was downright incompetent. resultant mass discourse drew more attention, generic markets (and lawmakers?) stuck their ears to the walls. it’s a scandal, her fans are angry, record traffic for ticketmaster, calls for abolishing and restructuring ticket selling monopolies. good attention? probably not, but she’s being talked about. and however negative the press, everyone seems to agree the cause for this hysteria is that the brand taylor swift is simply too big.

now that i’ve stated the obvious, here are two different scenarios:

this was planned / this was not planned and playing it safe made a hard situation impossible

1. This Was Planned

i won’t insult anyone reading this or the myth, the legend, the brand herself by ignoring the fact that taylor commanded the payroll practices of two of the largest streaming companies in the world. spotify v apple music doesn’t matter to her, because try as they did, none could best her in any of the issues raised regarding their practices towards compensation to artists. she attacked their money, and they had to listen. why? because they made more money with her despite larger payouts to everyone else, than without her. therefore, the mismanagement of presale, the creation of a separate new system despite demonstrated success of the old verified fan order, the limited dates, the reselling/scalpers nonsense on secondhand sites (good to spare $20,000 a pop, anyone?), and the silence:

1a. is all orchestrated to boost her name into bigger heights and notoriety than she has ever had. it is one thing to sell out stadiums consistently, yet another entirely to create as much scarcity as 9000 stadiums. artists have to approve dynamic pricing, which was one of the main concerns from fans. despite stating tickets would go as low as $49, most nosebleeds started at around $119. ticketmaster is no paper bag to poke at, but for taylor swift, it just might be. they’ve braved bad ux scandals before, and this one would be easy enough to wash down with their (frankly, absurd) service fees attached to every transaction. and when those transactions are 2 million tickets worth 300 dollars on average, they digest just fine.

1b. is where such her old forgive and forget strategy sails weak. the outcry and mass commentary, not unlike rep tour, this time caught wind of several loudmouths (said with the most benign of intentions) who are willing to publicize and push it forward as a rallying call. we have witnessed several calls to action regarding lawsuits, antitrust law adherence, and even federal investigations on ticketmaster. her image as a friend to fans is at the brink, because while most fans are directing their anger at tm, the fact of her own influence is also catching up to many. either she embraces a cold, distanced persona moving forward and maintains her silence, widening the gap between superstar and superfan, or goes all in and attempts to restructure the way tickets are sold and circulated once and for all. she has two options here: embrace her stardom at the expense of the image she’s sacrificed a lot to for the last two decades, or weaponize the situation towards creating yet another paradigm shift in the industry. either way, her image will never be the same. ticketmaster won’t be elated in the circumstance that she turns on them, but remember, most corporations are better with her, even at odds, than without her entirely. she will still allow them to sell her tickets, they will transform into an ethical oasis of suits and vip seats, the show(s) will go on.

1c. is her way of building up to her departure from the industry. i think we all get by now that none of us know taylor, and we never will. the carefully curated image she has to personify will get tiring one day, and that may be sooner than any of us (even her) called for. midnights is her 10th effort, and the biggest ever. once criticized for being a late bloomer to the streaming age, swift has the final say with all midnights’ success and pomp, and she can ride off into the sunset, weary, filthy rich, and an ever-blossomed figure in the industry. maybe she will have kids. maybe she will start a cult and weave flower crowns with blake and ryan, or maybe she’ll disappear and live inside 15-foot boundary walls for the rest of her live. she has nothing to prove anymore, enough money to last at least a dozen generations after her, and a face as recognizable as obama’s or britney spears’. she gets her happy ending (once, i’m assuming, she’s done releasing her re-records).

2. This Was Not Planned

alright, now let’s just assume none of this was planned. capitalist queen that she is, she allowed dynamic pricing, sure. she only released 27 tour dates despite having no smaller a fan base than a mid-sized country, okay. where maybe her silence is her team scrambling to rescue her from the several angles of scrutiny, crafting a nuanced yet no-one-side-leaning statement, and coordinating with tm and taylor nation to create enough reasonable solutions and anti-scalper passages for the fans feeling stranded… maybe. it all sounds very good except we have no reason to believe any of it.

all official press releases from official sources generally say any further sales are cancelled. finality is the word. she is letting the fervor pass. she is hoping day of, when fans are instagramming their costumes and their seats, and scalpers, grown desperate, are relenting to face value resales, everyone will eat their cake and remember it all as a happy little accident. however, this still remarks of an artist unequipped to handle their fame, and is an overtly overplayed motif in swift’s career already. there is no resolution here except that this single handledly indignifies any assertions of her business minded moves, or her calculatedness. it works, but only to a limit. is swift prepared to wear her new image out as proudly as her other ones? where in other senses she could (most often rightfully) claim victim, but for an artist on this level, it all seems naive.

even rep tour, with media scandals and disappearances, scheduled 6 more original stadium shows in the US – despite a minimized cultural influence, radio silence, and a fractured fan base, 6 more shows than the biggest era of her career, a reclaimed public image, and a dignified political and social network. sure, she added more dates; that is on par with general practices during high demand. but no canadian dates, let alone international tour announcements? it speaks either of a disenchanted, feeble step into touring again, or a rash, miscalculated jump in. all catastrophic for the people who have developed intense parasocial relationships with an artist who seems to have shut them out.

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Waughhh Ari!!😭😭 thank you so so much for such a sweet response to my silly lil jjk sona thoughts🥺 It was such a fun time sending in her info to chat about, a lot of my friends enjoy but are not super into jjk, especially not to the extent of making a sona/oc so I’ll generally just have ideas marinate in my mind because I don’t want to overwhelm them by trying to talk about it ^^;

And!! Thank you so so much for all of your wonderful support and offer to listen to all of her lore™️, I would just never want to bore you or clog up your inbox/blog!🥺 (But I cannot lie I do have some more😳) But anyways!!! I cannot get over how sweet your response is I’m glad her CT seems to be interesting enough, especially considering it’s more or less support based. I was struggling big time trying to think of something that would seem fitting AND work, so to hear that she has the esteemed Ari stamp of approval,,,,sobbing and screaming,,,the highest honor🥺

Omg omg I had never even considered her technique possibly weakening the side effects of Sugu having to consume the curses that is😳 so so big brain but also so <:( poor guy has to get his CT enrichment time so the curses don’t eat at him from the inside out </3 She’s just here to support her friends and protect them in any way she can, and if that means giving them silly friendship bracelets then so be it😤

And ramble aside!!! Pretty please know that I, as well as everyone else would love to hear about your sona if you ever feel like chatting about them! The more the merrier, jjk sonas are such a fun thing to create and I know yours is absolutely lovely! <:D As always there’s zero rush to respond or anything of the like, and thank you so so much for your time!🥺

-🍓

🍓 ANON MY LOVE !!!!!

PLS there’s no need to thank me at all!!!! thank you so much for being so sweet and for sharing such an awesome sona w me 🥺🥺 i love her already!!!! she’ll always always have the ari stamp of approval <33 AND PLS DON’T HOLD BACKKK i’d love to hear more abt her!!! genuinely!!!! it could never bore me!!!!! i’m alr so invested in her ct and relationships…. would LOVE to know what her dynamic w sashisu is like :0 if you’re open to sharing, obv!! <33

but wahhhh i just. really think she’s so lovely!!! and yeah my brain has a tendency to jump straight to sugu no matter the topic of discussion 😭😭 but i think he would be soooo fond of a sweet little reader……

She’s just here to support her friends and protect them in any way she can, and if that means giving them silly friendship bracelets then so be it😤

LIKE… she’s just such a lil angel T_T i’m such a sucker for characters who unabashedly adore their friends….. i just KNOW they never take those bracelets off too . hhhh they’re adorable…. i’m clutching my chest n falling to the ground….. pls have mercy 🍓 anon……….

[equestrianempire]

Breeding Spotlight: Leigh-ping Forward with OTTBs

Jeff Goodwin and Exactleigh compete at Galway Downs’ Eventing Championships in 2023. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Taking a glance at any entry list these days, there are quite a few prefixes and suffixes that we have come to know. The ever popular Irish Cooley, Ardeo, and Fernhill, the Belgian Zangersheide Z, the up-and-coming FE, Excel, HSH and Global, and even the Argentinian Solaguayre is on the rise. One could be forgiven for missing a lone “Leigh” here and there.

But not anymore.

In the 2023 edition of the annual Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, MT) — one of the top destination events on the West Coast — there were more “Leigh” horses than any other breeder, trainer, or seller. There were 14 Cooley horses, 10 Fernhill, 7 Ardeo, 6 Z, 4 Excel, 3 FE, and 1 Global.

Squeaking past them all, “Leigh” horses had 15 representatives, from CCI3*-L all the way to Beginner Novice.

Humor abounds in the names of these salwart partners: Pridefulleigh, Mixologeigh, Bankseigh, My Leighona, Casualleigh, Agatha Christeigh, and my personal favorite: Drunk & Disorderleigh.

Where do they come from?

Jil Walton operates JARBA Farms out of Rebecca Farm in Kailspell, MT where she breeds and trains her own homebreds and off the track thoroughbreds. A representative of the 1992 US Olympic Eventing team, she helped USA to a top 10 finish and finished 17th individually as the highest placed American on a self made mare called Patrona.

Embed from Getty Images

Patrona herself was an off-the-tracker who Jil, in partnership with her parents, sourced in Southern California where she grew up. Walton calls her “the beginning of it all.”

“My dad, my mom, and I would pick the ones that didn’t run and turn them into event horses and event them so I’ve been doing that my whole life,” Jil said. “Then I met one of my clients, Leigh Gray. [She] brought a horse to me to event for her [while] she worked at a vet hospital and had access to lots of Thoroughbreds. So [we] started developing a relationship with trainers, and good owners, that wanted them to go on to do something other than just sit in the field.”

Most of the horses carrying the “Leigh” in their name are former racers sourced by Jil herself, and her friend Gray. But it didn’t begin that way.

Among the horses Leigh sent to Jil to be retrained and homed was Truly Triton. A 1992 chestnut gelding out of Coastal Breeze and With Approval, it began as a rehabbing project when he came to Walton with a tendon injury. Over time however, the partnership competed to the highest levels, completing the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2004 and multiple top 10 finishes at the 4* level. As success came not only to Jil but with the horses Leigh was helping source, Jil felt a touch of inspiration.

“I decided I needed to give Leigh a little bit of credit,” she explains. “So then we started putting the Leigh on the end. I mean, it just kind of caught fire because there’s so many possibilities.”

The name options are pretty excellent (see above!). Indeed, Jil often gets messages with suggestions for Leigh names for future horses down the line.

She credits Leigh with an incredible eye for temperament and her own eye for confirmation, gleaned at her parents’ knees and her own 30+ years of experience. For soundness, she feels nothing can beat a good war horse — Thoroughbreds who have run for many years. Together, she and Leigh work in tandem to not only source successful sport horses but also to find the horse’s own passion.

“I tried to be responsible to the racehorses,” Jil says. “Some of them don’t want to jump. They don’t want to go eventing so we have one barrel racing, we have a couple that are ski-jouring.”

While Jil also breeds some of her own prospects (with the prefix JB for JARBA), her heart is firmly with the Thoroughbreds. The feeling of riding cross country on a horse with a high foundational level of fitness and forward training from their racing careers instills confidence and security. And she feels there is cause to be optimistic for the future of OTTBs in eventing.

“Before I felt like it was an uphill battle, 100%,” she says. “Thoroughbreds are getting so much more attention with the Thoroughbred Makeover and all of that. So I feel like people are more open to them now, which, for a long time, they haven’t been — so that’s rewarding to me.”

Leigh is winding down the non-profit that helped source these fine partners — the Thoroughbred Rehab Center — so there may not be a whole lot more “Leigh” horses coming through the pipeline. Jil herself is still trucking on with her part, having formed new connections and contacts in the racing industry to help retrain and rehome those horses who no longer can or want to race.

In an increasingly global sport where more and more often we see both professional and amateur members sourcing horses from outside our borders, we are seeing less and less of our own American Thoroughbred. While there is nothing wrong with finding quality wherever it may be, by casting a spotlight on our American professionals and trainers, our domestically bred horses can shine as well.

So next time you see that humor filled “Leigh” name, have a chuckle to yourself and maybe, just maybe, find your local OTTB trainer and see if you can find your next partner close to home.

Drop us a line if you know of another deserving barn, breeder, or trainer we can shine a light on!

[klinemartin7]

Gucci Belt Evaluation & Shopping For Guide

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[beakeoghan]

frustrations

Pairing: Druig x eternal!reader

Summary: Your nerves are on edge and Druig knows how to help you out.

Word count: 1.1 K words

Warnings: Suggestive dialogue, drinking and partying.

Author’s note: I watched a couple of episodes from Teen Wolf and I got so nostalgic that this was inspired by this scene in particular on episode 16, Season 3B! It's short and sweet and if you want I can try to do part 2, just to finish things in a more satisfying manner! <3 Thank you for reading!

Song recommendation: For the whole “scene” I pictured either Borderline by Tove Styrke or She Don’t Dance by Everyone You Know ! But it’s really a personal preference!

Thank you, my love Lu, for supporting it <3

Your distant gaze kept switching between your empty cup and the boys dealing the drinks behind the counter. You couldn't distinguish so well, but around you were loads of drunk people with partially naked bodies painted with neon colors, dancing to an intensely vibrant song. Somehow you found yourself in this house party with people you didn't even know.

The DJ seemed determined to keep people's voices stuffy with the speakers on the loudest volume possible. The chatter was almost indecipherable. To some extent, you were glad you couldn't even hear your thoughts because they kept coming back to your ex-boyfriend, who you knew would be here. One, two, three shots weren't enough to make them stop - not that the drink had that much effect on you.

Actually, why were you here? Sersi was kind enough to tell you that she didn't mind if you decided not to come since she knew what had happened between you two. He was a close friend of Dane's, and you had met between the travel back and forth to London while you visited Sersi and Sprite.

The relationship lasted for a while, but there was nothing you could do with him being human and having no clue about who you were. You didn't want to think too much about it, because if you did, all the doubts would creep in. You would hesitate, once again, the decision of leaving him, even though it had been more than eight months since it happened.

The heavy thumps were invading your rib cage as if the music was coming from inside you. You turned around with a fully stocked beer cup to face the crowd of people having a good time. The sudden realization of him being right in the middle of the dance floor almost made you drop it.

You found your breath hitching at the sight of him, fingers intertwined with a girl the same height as you, smiling with the brightest sheen of happiness on their faces. You couldn't cry, and you wouldn't shed a tear for this.

Nothing was wrong, he was moving on as you told him to. Yet, you couldn't shake the feeling of betrail from your heart. That's the problem with you - you always feel everything with the highest intensity, even when it seems unreasonable.

It was just a moment. He met your gaze for the first time that night, and you felt your cheeks burning because you were staring at them for too long by now and you were afraid people would notice. The heat from your tipsy body dissipated and you felt at ease, just for a second.

Even now, after all this time, he looked at you, searching for your approval. Like he wanted you to be okay with this, whatever this is. You smiled sweetly as if you had sealed a deal between you. As long as he was happy, you would be happy for him. It didn't matter with whom. So many unspoken words swiftly didn't need to be said anymore. It would be okay.

Looking to escape that burst of people, you found a small bench just by the DJ spot. You had a perfect vision of everyone dancing, laughing, drinking, and getting high in the dark. You knew your frame was timid, arms crossed over your chest, the cup still hanging on your hand.

"You okay?" Druig's unaware voice almost whispered in your ear. "Your frown is keeping me on edge here. Did you kill someone?"

"No, just my mood." You said, taking the last sip like a shot. You chuckled a bit now, realizing how that would sound to him. "Just saw my ex with his new girlfriend."

" I see." He responded, getting closer to you, shoulders almost touching. "You must be mad."

You nodded, the colorful beam lights flashing on both of your faces. You observed people making out on the corners of the room, only the neon painting highlighting their features. You felt an ache rushing through the pit of your stomach.

"I'm not mad." You said, finally taking your time to look at him. A sigh escaped your mouth before you could stop it. "I'm frustrated."

His eyes shifted focus, once on your eyes, now on your lips.

"Sexually?"

Time stopped a bit before you could cling to his words - Druig was a master of making you feel flustered. Your heart was pounding at the thought of him with you. His scent seemed stronger now, your eyes capturing his ever so slightly boyish smile.

You smoothly inched closer to him, never losing sight of his gaze. You smiled playfully as he mimic your expression.

"I just realized we are both with no paint on our bodies." You sighed loudly, shaking your head. "That's no fun."

"It isn't." He reached for your right hand, longing for your touch. "Maybe we could do something about it."

You nodded, taking his hand and embracing his fingers onto yours as you guided him to the corner where they make the body paintings.

As you arrived there, you asked him to remove his black shirt and in return, you would too. He complied and licked his bottom lip before saying: "Just because I agree to this, doesn't mean that I approve that you were suffering for that human boy."

"Agree to what?"

"To being your little distraction, love.”

"Oh, I see." You picked up a brush with a red-looking color paint damped on it. "You are just here to distract me, then?"

"Among other things." He looked around while provoking you with a silly hand on your waist. "You know pretty well that I can fix your frustrations."

You laughed, gazing down on both of your bodies so close. You put on a mysterious grin before returning to look at him again.

Being in public, you thought, that was the farthest you could go. "You mean, sexually?" You approached his ear, whispering.

"In any way that you want." His mouth was so thirsty for yours. It was almost like the desire was dangling, jiggling from your touch to his.

Druig knew what he was doing.

You giggled, your blood pumping at the same rhythm as the beat of the song. "Do you wanna keep talking about my frustrations or are you gonna do something to release them?”

"Oh, beautiful." His fingers gently stroked your cheek, patting from there to your lips. “You're gonna have to ask me nicely or you won't get it at all."

[fire-lady-ilah]

I would be fascinated in any ideas you had about how the hunt for Aang would go with 'good parent Ozai' AU!

Ask and ye shall receive! (@tiktokonaclock, here’s that part two you asked about). This continues from where I left off in part 1.

At first, Ozai says no. He has good reason to do so, Zuko is the Crown Prince, should he and Azula die then he will be heirless— he doesn’t know if Ursa would be able to bear another child, nor does he wish for another. In a less logical way, his mind protests because that is his son. Sixteen, yes, but still very much a child. That isn’t even the age of conscription.

He knows that the Avatar is a child, Commander Zhao’s report said that he appeared to be twelve, travelling with two other children that were closer to Azula’s age. He knows that his children make a formidable pair, he has no doubt that, together, they could be able to take on entire battalions of soldiers.

They are his children and they are Ursa’s children. How could he just let them go out to face an enemy such as the Avatar?

Zuko has Ozai’s charisma and awkwardness (as they come together, though few remember the way the Fire Lord used to stumble over his words as a teenager). Zuko looks so much like his father that sometimes older servants even refer to him by his name. But Zuko is equal parts his mother. He has his mother’s kinder nature, and he has her drive. Ursa’s persistence is one of the only reasons the Fire Nation is flourishing as it is now. Ozai knows that it had been suffering near the end of his father’s rule, he knows that he is an amazing military leader, just as he knows that it is better to leave his wife in charge of the majority of domestic policies.

It is that persistence combined with Azula’s carefully crafted wording that she also got from her mother that makes both Ozai and Ursa cave and give permission for their children to hunt the Avatar. Sometimes, Ozai wonders if his life would be easier if he didn’t love his family so much.

Zuko and Azula leave the Fire Nation together. Zuko is sixteen and looks the very image of a Crown Prince, even if a few hairs escape his top knot and fall across his face. Azula is fourteen and looks every bit the Princess she is. A single hair escapes it’s place and she leaves it be. She would not dare call attention to imperfections, just as Ozai himself wouldn’t. He is full of pride as he watches his children board the ship (the second newest design, as advanced as possible while having already been tested. He would not let untested technology take his children from him permanently). Captain Jee stands on the deck, greeting them. Apparently he had been demoted from his position at some point for assaulting an Admiral.

(He remembers the day he discovered the Captain’s existence well. Zuko had been eleven and helping him look over military documentation that had been sent to him to approve. One of such documents had been Jee’s demotion to lieutenant.

“I remember him. He was Lu Ten’s friend.” He heard his son mumble as he touched the included portrait of Jee. Closer examination showed that it had been drawn by his nephew himself. His son had loved his cousin, and he was not against doing things to make him happy. If Jee was loyal to Lu Ten, it only meant he would be more likely to be loyal to Zuko.

“I will have him transferred to the palace guard.”)

He proved to be honourable in the guard and had quickly been promoted back to captain after Ozai heard the true reasoning of the assault through Zuko’s horrified voice. He himself cared little for the affairs of military officers, but if it made his son happy to sign the papers for the Admiral’s dishonourable discharge and imprisonment, so be it.

That action had only solidified Jee’s loyalty to his son (and by extension, his daughter).

Now, I’m conflicted on whether or not Iroh would go with them. I’m leaning toward yes. Neither of them have been hurt by their father, but Zuko is still the most naturally kindhearted person in the royal family and he is destined to be Fire Lord. Azula has more empathy than she does in canon (although that’s not saying much), I doubt Iroh would comment that she’s “crazy and needs to go down”. After all, Ozai loves both his children here. That means that he doesn’t intentionally harm their mental health, nor does he encourage competition between them. They both want to make both their parents proud. If nothing else, Iroh would go with them so that he could stop them.

Thus, shortly after the Crown Prince and Princess of the Fire Nation step onto the ship, the Dragon of the West follows. It is filled with the best of the Fire Nation to seek the only bender of all four elements.

A stark contrast to canon, no?

The hunt progresses somewhat like in canon, though not. Lo and Li instruct further Zuko and Azula in lightning bending.

(“Only a hair out of place, Princess Azula.”

“That means I shall achieve perfection soon.”)

Iroh takes over his nephew and niece’s firebending training, though Azula is a master in her own right and Zuko is nearly a master as well. He forces them back to their basics.

Zuko yells and stomps and Iroh is reminded of his brother at the same age, back before his brother became the monster he is now. The same brother he sees glimpses of when Ozai is alone with his wife and children, the same brother that he sees none of in the Fire Lord. Azula is silent and moves to do her basics without complaint. She unnerves him, but he still loves her.

He loves them both. And he loves what remains of his brother in Ozai, even if he would choose the balance of the world over the Fire Lord in an instant.

They visit Admiral Zhao first. He declares that he has already captured the Avatar and that he would be more than willing to transfer his prisoner onto the royal family’s better equipped ship.

The siblings visit the chained Avatar. Zhao speaks of what he plans to do.

That is the thing about Ozai loving his children. Loving them means protecting them from certain cruelties, at least more than he did in canon. Zuko and Azula both see the Avatar, only twelve, and Zhao’s words overlap with Azulon’s orders to their father when Lu Ten dies. After all, Zuko had been only a year younger then.

That night, the Blue Spirit and the Dragon Emperor break the Avatar out of the stronghold with dual dao and twin daggers as the Prince and Princess sleep in their luxurious cabins. If that isn’t completely the truth, no one says anything to suggest as such. The Blue Spirit is knocked out by an arrow to the forehead. The Dragon Emperor does not allow the Avatar to remove the mask.

(“How did you not see that coming, Zuzu?”

“In my defence, you were supposed to be watching my back while I pulled the Avatar away.”)

They meet the Avatar’s companions briefly before the Emperor gestures to the rising sun and they disappear.

It is only after the escape of the Avatar that Iroh begins to consider the siblings further.

They pen a letter to their father.

Ozai reads between the lines and wonders, just once, if perhaps he had sheltered his children from the reality of war too much. He does not wonder again because he knows the alternative would have been far worse.

Instead, Ozai speaks with his wife. Ursa is a complex woman, but the Avatar is the reincarnation of her grandfather and she has an actress’s mind (and thus she has a politician’s mind).

As their children chase the Avatar, the Fire Lord and Lady put their own plan into motion. Canon Ozai may be content to lay all responsibility on his children, but this Ozai is actually a decent dad.

The siblings are free to enter Fire Nation territory as they wish and have no reason to sneak into the temple, even still they do. They watch as a Fire Sage, one of the highest religious authorities in the Fire Nation, disobeys the Fire Lord to help the Avatar.

Zuko’s quick fingers undo the water tribe boy’s restraints as Azula’s undo the girl’s. They share playful smirks, after all, neither of them are in any danger. They are a powerful team and they have their father’s unwavering support.

(“Why did you just untie us?”

“Zhao’s a dick.”)

Avatar Roku emerges in place of Avatar Aang. He pauses in front of the children, the girl that has Rina’s smile, the boy that has her hair (his own hair), always trying to escape from its confines.

They do not waver. They do, however, run when the Avatar begins to destroy the temple.

The siblings believe the Fire Nation is the greatest in the world. They believe that it is their duty to spread their glory to the other nations. But, late at night, taking tea together, they consider that perhaps Fire Lord Sozin went about it in the wrong way.

(Great-grandfather says hi, Ursa reads aloud from their children’s letter. Not for the first time, Ozai regrets sending his children on such a dangerous mission. He knew that Avatar Roku had been spotted on Crescent Island, he knew that he had blown up the temple. How close had his children come to being blown up?)

The Avatar sets course for Omashu. The siblings make a stop in the Fire Nation while they’re nearby. They have a friend to pick up.

Parts: [1] [3] [4]

[amymel86]

Hello! Do you have any bits of your awesome writing to share for WIP wednesday?😍

I just saw this anon!

And thank you for asking <3

This is a bit more of this as yet untitled 'post-apocalyptic/fertility/modern arranged relationship???' fic. The first bit I posted on tumblr is here and as before, some things are not yet decided (like town names) and things may change...

“Are you sure this is what you want to do, darling?” Her mother’s voice on the telephone was a balm to her soul.

Sansa’s finger brushed the soft vivid petals of the small potted iris she’d bought at the store today. The iris symbolises hope, wisdom and courage among other things and she prays that the pretty purple and yellow bloom will lend her some of those. “I’ve got to try something, Mum,” she says, turning her attention to the two separate bundles of paper in front of her. Two men, two candidates, two different futures. Sansa had filled out all the matching service’s extensive questionnaires and scrutinised all the information she could find on the program. It seemed simple enough – you’re rewarded for helping to repopulate. In turn, the authorities help to pair you with someone who should be a good match dependant on all the information they have about you. The aim is that this new generation of children are raised in the traditional family unit. That had appealed to Sansa. “I can’t seem to find the right guy all on my own anyway,” she said into her phone.

“How do you know it will be safe, though?”

“It says here that my situation will be monitored by my own caseworker. I can call them any time I want. They’re not just going to drop me at the guy’s house and just leave us get on with it.”

“Hmmm... tell me about them? These men that they’ve narrowed down for you.”

“One’s called Waymar, he’s a financial advisor here in the Vale,” Sasna pauses, looking at the man’s photograph on his paperwork before fishing out the other. “And the other is called Jon, he owns a farm in the Reach.”

“None in the north then?” Her mother has been itching to get her back home. “I just wish there was a way to know that either of them were good men, Sansa. That’s all I want for you.”

Sansa put the two photos together. Two possible fathers for her child.

“That’s what I want too.”

***

“Shit! Holy fucking shit!” Jon says to himself, hanging up from his phone-call. “Mance!” he yells, bursting out of his trailer to find the old man. “Mance! It worked! It fucking worked!”

He’d relented. When Mance first put it to him that he should sign up for that weird government breeding program or whatever the fuck it was, he thought the old man’s last brain-cell must’ve fried up in the sun. But if they were going to make it easier for them and it meant Mance could keep the farm (and Jon could carry on living there rent free), then it was worth a shot. So he had relented. He’d filled out what seemed to be a gazillion and one questions about himself, his politics, his views on family and finances and education and fucking... art and shit. These damned government people wanted to know everything about him down to whether he scrunched or folded his toilet paper it seemed. He’d even had to lie. He didn’t like doing it, but there was no way that a fertile was going to pick him if he didn’t. So, he fished out an old photograph – one taken before the bar brawl that lost him his sight in one eye, and he’d also lied his asscheeks off by claiming he had ownership of the farm. He knew – he knew – that these lies are just more things that were going to trip him up one of these days but with Mance urging him on, he’d signed that damn form and offered himself up for the program.

And now a fertile had chosen him.

Him.

Fuck, he might throw up.

This can go one of two ways. Either completely up Shit Creek without a paddle – with his lies and reality crashing down on top of one another, leaving them exposed... or, his fertile somehow looks past his deceits and sticks with him and they-... well, shit, he could actually become a father. No-one becomes parents these days, especially not ‘round here. Fertiles flock to the big cities, to men with bigger pockets, or they work for couples who can afford to pay them off in exchange for a kid or two.

“It worked?” Mance asks, rolling out from under an old Ford pickup that needed a new exhaust. “They sendin’ us a peach?”

Jon shook his head. “They’re not sendin’ you anyone, old man. An’ don’t call her that – they’re-“ Fuck, what did the council call them on all that paperwork? “Reproductively abled.” He’ll have to remember that if he doesn’t want to offend her.

“Well, shit,” Mance grins. “What did I tell ya? Knew your pretty face was good for somethin’!”

Jon frowns. “Ain’t so pretty no more though.” He might have to go get himself a patch to cover his milky, sightless eye. It’s fine most of the time since Mance is the only one he sees unless he’s going to drink at Hobb’s, but he certainly doesn’t want to put off his ferti- reproductively abled friend who’ll be arriving in three weeks.

“She got a name? Your new peach?” Mance asked, earning him a glare.

“Sansa. Sansa Stark.”

Mance grunts and nods. “Sounds fancy.”

Yeah... It did sound kinda fancy he supposes. Jon’s first reaction had been that it was a mighty beautiful name, but now he thinks of it...

“Shame we can’t look her up – see if she’s a beauty or not.”

Jon can’t remember a time when that was an option. He was barely 11 at the highest point of the virus’s hold. Government officials had deemed certain channels on the internet were causing more harm than good by spreading false rumours, incorrect statistics and completely counterintuitive medical advice. The whole thing was shut down, now deemed illegal, only to be reconnected again three years later apparently looking like a foreign landscape from the one before. The internet was no longer a platform to socialise, only government approved informative sites remained. Mance says it’s better this way – that all people used to do was post vain images of themselves for attention anyway.

Jon wouldn’t mind seeing a vain image of Sansa Stark right about now though.

Not that it mattered terribly. As long as they get along and she decides to stick around she could be as ugly as sin. In fact, she probably will be, won’t she? Most pretty ferti- reproductively abled women stick to the cities and its high-fliers.

It doesn’t matter, he told himself. You just gotta keep her happy here and-

“Mance?” he asks, an issue coming to mind. The man grunts in acknowledgement. “Where the fuck is she gonna sleep? She’s not gonna want to stay in my trailer.”

The man grins in response. “I’m glad you asked, boy. I’m glad you asked.”

***

Her caseworker was meant to meet her at the train station. It was quite a drive to the farm and he was meant to pick her up, make sure she’s safe and happy and introduce her to Jon.

That hasn’t happened.

“Please accept my apologies, my dear,” Mr Baelish said down the other end of the phone. “There’s been a mix up with my schedule. We can set you up for the night at a local motel or ask your match to come and get you. Which would you prefer?”

Sansa eyes the dirty looking motel across the street from the train station. Everything here at [[INSERT TOWN NAME]] seems a little on the... rundown side. Maybe the sooner she gets to the farm, the better. Plus, her tummy is all a flutter with anticipation to actually meet Jon. She’d wound up swaying towards Jon as a match due to a few reasons; 1 – he does not live in, around, or anywhere near Harry or his crazy mother. 2 – he owns a farm, and that had conjured up hazy daydreams of idyllic country life. Sansa may enjoy big nights out in the city, drinking her dirty margaritas and feeling her bones vibrate against the base beat in a nightclub, but she knows that’s not what she wants to raise a child around. A child will want to run barefoot through wheat fields and chase chickens and milk cows and –

Let’s just say Sansa has a few ideas and that they all helped to sway her away from city pleasures and towards farmhouse life. And Jon

And last, but not least, reason number 3 – Jon himself. Put side-by-side, his and Waymar’s photographs looked rather similar if truth be told, but Jon won out on something that Sansa just couldn’t describe. Looking at his photograph gave her goosepimples along her forearms because it was like he was looking right back at her. There was something in the depths of his eyes – a kindness? A wit? A strength? She’s not sure, but she couldn’t find the same qualities when she stared at Waymar’s likeness. And his answers too. His questionnaire was full of how he’d like to teach a kid how to walk and ride a bike and fix a... a tractor for heaven’s sake! And so her head was flooded once more of this idyllic life where they got up to watch the dawn stretch over the farmland and they’d grow their own vegetables and she’d bake a pie every day and it would just be perfect.

Perfect, perfect, perfect.

Sansa glances around the near abandoned train station.

This doesn’t look so perfect right now.

“Could you please arrange for Jon to come and get me, Mr Baelish?”

***

It’s been an hour and fifty-six minutes precisely since Sansa last spoke to Mr Baelish to arrange her match coming to get her. An hour and fifty-six minutes of sitting on the curb, waiting, surrounded by her three suitcases. She’d started off by sitting at the nearby bus stop, purely because it was somewhere to sit and she had a clear view of the road, but after the rude bus driver insisted that if she’s sat there, she must be wanting to hop on his bus, Sansa decided to park her butt on the dusty, sun-baked curb instead. Her legs were beginning to numb and she was starting to get a headache from the sun beaming down on her head. The curls she’d styled into her copper locks have likely lost their hold by now. What a waste. Opposite, on the other side of the street, beside the dirty little motel, there was a tiny bar that advertised the fact that it hosted exotic dancers at the weekends with a blinking neon sign. Next to it was a hunting and fishing ‘emporium’ and beside that was a vacant store with an old dirty sign that read ‘Blouses & More!’. Presumably, the ‘& more’ still wasn’t enough to keep that fine establishment in business in this funny little town. At the end of the block was ‘Tarly’s Drugstore’ and Sansa had been debating with herself whether or not she should haul her suitcases over to go buy a drink and a magazine for about the last hour and fifty-five minutes.

But she hadn’t wanted to miss Jon Snow’s arrival.

Jon Snow, who seemed to be pulling up outside Tarly’s Drugstore in a dusty Ford pickup truck right about now. Sansa stood, expecting him to come right on over considering how long she’d been waiting for him, but she found herself wondering if she’d got it all wrong when she hadn’t caught a good enough look at him before he darted straight into the store.

Sansa is done with waiting. She grabs her smallest case and places it on top of her larger one, trying her darnedest to roll all her luggage across the road in a lady-like fashion. She could feel the eyes of several passers-by on her while her stiletto heels clip across the street. In turn, her own gaze fell to Jon’s cream-coloured truck. Its front bumper looked a little rusty and wonky too. There was a big gash in the leather of the bench seating on the passenger side. On the truck bed, there were a number of items, including a rocking chair that seems to have a couple of spindles on the chair-back missing, and a new double bed mattress wrapped in clear plastic. Sansa was almost done frowning at the state of the vehicle when the over-door bell of the drugstore tinkles.

“Holy shit,” he curses. And yes, it definitely was Jon standing right in front of her. Only... well... his hair was tied into a knot at the back of his head and.... and... he was wearing a black eye patch? “Uh,” he stood there, arms laden with bottles from the store as the gaze from his one good eye quickly darted down her frame and back up again. “You’re her, right? You’re Sansa Stark?”

Sansa found she could only nod, looking him up and down, like he was with her. He was in jeans with oil smears, some tough, heavy looking boots, a somehow pristine white vest and flannel shirt with the arms ripped off.

Speaking of arms...

Gods-damn! Sansa’s focus was momentarily derailed...

“Sorry, I-“ Jon starts before his grey eye drops to the floor and then returns to her, looking a little bashful. “I didn’t expect you to be so pretty.”

Oh boy. He may be wearing an eye patch right now but this man could win over a thousand girls with that smile, Sansa’s sure of it. She resists the urge to giggle like a schoolgirl. She’s here to find out if they’re well suited enough to start a family together – she needs to keep her head and think rationally, not allow herself to be swayed by his rugged country boy charm. It was Harry’s looks that enticed her in the first place – and look how well that turned out for her?

“Thank you,” Sansa says, blinking back at him before his words truly hit home. “Didn’t they give you my photograph?”

Jon shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

Huh.

“Did they show you mine?”

Sansa bites her lip and gives a nod.

Jon grimaces. “So I guess you weren’t expecting this?” He points to his patch.

Sansa shakes her head. “No... did you... did you do something to injure it?”

Jerking his head, Jon begins rubbing at the back of his neck with his free hand. “It’s a long story... but... it ain’t gonna get any better, if that’s what you’re askin’.”

“Oh.”

They stood, staring at one another for a heartbeat or five before Jon sucks in a breath over his teeth and glances down to the bottles he clutched to his chest with one arm. “I tried to get you some things to help you feel at home,” he says, “these are the nicest smellin’ soaps ‘n’ stuff from Tarly’s.”

“Thank you,” Sansa replies, knowing full well that she brought her Highgarden Floral Scents bathroom range with her.

Jon chews on his lip as he eyes her suitcases. “Lemme get those for you,” he offers before dumping the bottles in his arms into the truck bed and reaching for her luggage. Sansa’s heeled shoes seem welded to the spot. Jon notices. Scrubbing both hands down his face in resignation, he takes a step closer to her and Sansa realises for the first time, that he had dirt beneath his fingernails. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “It was a shitty thing for me to do,” he offers, his words low and husky. Sansa feels the timbre of his voice set off a trickle of gooseflesh down her spine. “I’m sorry.”

She blinks at him, momentarily confused.

“About this,” he explains, brows high on his head as he points to his patch. “I shouldn’t have sent that old photo of before this happened, but – fuck – even my ex-girl won’t acknowledge I exist anymore with this and I knew I shoulda been honest about it but-“

“This ex-girl...” Sansa suddenly found herself left with a sour taste in her mouth. “... does she still mean something to you?”

Jon licks at his lips, his eye falling briefly to her own. “No, ma’am,” he shakes his head.

[auroron]

Midnight, the Stars and You

I did it whaaaaaat?! This took me a while, specially since I've been on an artist block for weeks. And shit's been crazy I literally moved from South America to the US and my mom got married and suddenly I don't have to go to school online and I have 22 assignments I have due for next week but anyways I hope you enjoy this drabble I love you all

<3

Two weeks had passed since the war and things felt like they were somehow going back to normal. As if there was a normal, to begin with. Especially with the Weasley’s grief and Hermione’s parents being dispersed somewhere in a country she knew little about.

So she took it upon herself to find her parents, and she was ready to do it alone. She knew what she wanted, and she knew that even though it could take everything she had to find them, she was capable of doing so.

But it was hard. Especially because she knew she had to do it alone. She couldn't ask for Ron’s help, not when he had his mind somewhere else most of the time. Somewhere sad and dark, a place she had once known too well.

So she somehow understood. His and his family’s pain. Losing Fred had been a strike to everyone, especially George and Ron.

But even though things were complicated, she had still, maybe selfishly, enjoyed these two past weeks for the most part. All because of Ron.

They had talked for the first time since the end of the war the night after Fred’s funeral. She wasn't expecting anything, she had seen how he looked, how miserable he felt. And even having held his cold hands and whipping off his tears, she was expecting distance.

But he hadn't been distant at all. Boys used to confuse her so much, especially Ron. But now everything she knew when looking at him, was the truth. Who he was on the inside, beyond layers of repressed emotions she and probably most of the people had believed were the true Ron.

That night they kissed again. It was sweet and tender, and his lips had felt so soft, and his skin was shining from moonlight, and he had been perfect. Even thinking about it made her stomach fill with butterflies and her heart with some feelings she was yet to discover.

That night, she was so sure he was it for her. The moment she realized maybe he wasn't just a friend three years prior was the moment she knew she was done for. It was her perdition, and also her salvation. Because he had been, since forever, her forever.

That night, she knew she had to protect him. She knew he was at the edge of being truly broken, that his mind wasn't in the right place. His heart was though, he had made sure to tell her that.

“I like you, Hermione” he had broken the silence that filled the room since she had joined him, right after everyone "went to sleep" even if they knew no one was going to be capable of that.

“I really, really like you” he looked right into her eyes, seeking for some sort of approval that his feelings were returned.

She was so lost that no words escaped her lips. That made him step back, looking down like she knew he did when he wasn't sure of things.

“I’m sorry Hermione, didn’t mean to-”

He was stopped. She held his had, interwining them, connecting them, making him look at her the way she loved to be seen.

No words flung around. And no words were needed. She kissed him, softly but surely, then passionately until their breaths were taken away.

“I like you too” she lied.

She knew deep down she didn’t just like him. It was deeper, stronger. But she also knew deep down that right now, what she had said was enough.

She wasn’t sure of many things in life. Boys certainly weren't one of them. But she knew for certain that Ron needed calm. And she was going to leave him just because it was the right thing to do.

Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she immediately packed all the necessary things for her travel and was sure to go. Now at the Burrow's front door, she said goodbye to Arthur, whom she had trusted to tell about her search, and who had supported her and sworn to not tell a living soul.

But then something stopped her. Someone.

"What's this?" said a loid but sleepy voice that came from the stairs, and soon she saw a now awoken Ron in his Chudley Cannons orange shirt.

“What's what?” Hermione responded, her eyes avoiding his.

“You’re leaving? Without me?” he sounded a bit sad.

“Ron I have to find my parents, I need to know they are okay, that they aren’t, you know.”

“They aren't, Hermione.”

“But they could be! I don't want to lose them.”

“I know you don't, but you cannot go alone. They are still out there. Who knows what could happen.”

“I can manage myself” They were now very close, moonlighting filling the room, stars shinning behind them decorating the sky, just like his freckles did with him.

“Trust me, I know that. Very well indeed. But I don’t want you to do this alone. I mean, you don't have to do this alone.”

“I” she hesitated. “I can’t ask such a thing from you, I can’t expect you to leave your family. Not for me.”

“He wouldn't,” said Arthur, whom Hermione had forgotten was there, watching, but now from a safe distance.

They both turned around at the same time, and Arthur flinched for a second. “You don't have to worry about us. We'll be fine. Your mom will be fine. Besides, you are going to find your parents, we are certain of that." he breathed, now looking directly at Hermione. "He won't leave you alone if you don't let him go with you, I know this one pretty well, trust me.”

She turned around to see Ron blushing, cheeks and ears as red as they could get. He whispered something to his dad she couldn't quite understand.

Then he turned to her sweetly, puppy 'not at all convincing' eyes looking directly at her.

“Uh fine!”

Ron smiled, mostly to himself.

“You scared me, you know” he came closer to her the instant Arthur disappeared into the kitchen.

“And why’s that”

“Well, you wrote me a letter as if you weren't going to see me ever again. I mean I always thought you were eventually going to get tired of me, but this soon? Evil.”

“Oh shush it, will you?” She couldn't help a light giggle escape her, and seconds later they were both laughing, still shyly as if they were 11 years old again.

“You really must be crazy about me, are you? said Ron while they were going up the stairs, the hallway quiet as it had never been before this early in the night.

“What makes you think so highly of yourself, mister Weasley?”

“Well you just laughed at a half-joke that wasn't even that funny.”

They walked into the highest room in the Burrow, Hermione watching as Ron packed his most necessary things (basically his Cannons shirts, toothpaste, shampoo, and underwear), and left as soon as possible to get to their apparition point as quickly as possible.

When they got there, Hermione saw an opportunity and took his hand on hers, tight and firm. She swore she saw his ears turn scarlet red, just like hers.

She summoned all the courage there was left in her, and stood on her tiptoes, leaning in and whispering in his ear before apparating in what she considered a "seductive" tone. “You are right you know, I am indeed crazy about you.”

[fresh-bag-of-ham]

ok let’s talk SUNSCREEN

SO the UV filters available in the US can at this point be considered truly terrible. One of the main reasons you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen every two hours is that many of the filters we use are destroyed by the very UV radiation they are designed to block. Killed in the line of duty, thank you for your sacrifice, etc. Counterpoint: sunscreen is gross and reapplying it every two hours is the worst. I am not doing that. Fortunately, Europe and Japan/Korea have been much quicker to approve newly developed more stable UV filters for use and at this point they have some really good ones. They also have much better UVA protection, both because of the better filters available and better labeling regulations.

A quick simplified summary: UVB causes sunburns, is directly absorbed by DNA strands which causes the mutations that lead to skin cancer, SPF measures protection against this only. UVA does more generic damage, creates free radicals associated with aging, wrinkles, collagen loss, pigmentation, etc. etc., but can also contribute to immunosuppression and therefore skin cancer. It’s more complex than this obviously but that’s not really the point of this post.

My sunscreen criteria: I hate wearing sunscreen. However, Accutane + sun = an extremely bad time. My ideal sunscreen is something that doesn’t feel disgusting to wear so I will wear it regularly in the first place (i.e. dry-touch), something I ideally don’t have to reapply super often under normal daily use (i.e. photostable UV filters, water-resistant when necessary), and has maximum protection. As long as I’m wearing it, I also want as much UVA protection as I can find, without compromising the former criteria.

Note: The sunscreens I tried are almost all chemical UV filters and several are loaded with alcohol, so if that upsets your skin then proceed with caution/ask me for a specific rec!

Note 2: All of these are SPF50+ (the highest rating allowed in the EU (meaning they tested at at least SPF60) unless otherwise specified *cough*Supergoop*cough*)

Best Face: Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence (x)

Best feel, best protection, best price point. This gets recommended everywhere for a reason. Bit of a silicone feel on the face. No white cast. Smells like alcohol at first. Really, really quality daily face sunscreen. Water resistant. Caveat that because of the alcohol I would make sure to throw a layer of moisturizer on beforehand to make sure I’m not totally drying myself out.

Also make sure you get the name exactly right, there’s a blah blah Watery Gel that’s totally different consistency, totally different filters, etc. etc. It has to be Watery Essence.

Best Body: Eucerin Sun Sensitive Protect Dry Touch Sun Gel-Cream (x)

This was a sleeper hit, so shout-out to Eucerin for the greatest body sunscreen I’ve ever tried. This stuff is SO protective and dries SO. DAMN. DRY. Zero grease somehow, feels like nothing. It’s even water resistant. I tried a couple LRP body sunscreens but they honestly aren’t worth mentioning. Eucerin or bust babey!

More Face Sunscreens:

I’ve also tried all top five sunscreens from this Stylevana listicle of Asian face SPF (x). The thing about face sunscreens that they’ve started doing is loading them up with silicones and acrylate polymers, which leaves a silicone-y feel on your skin like a makeup primer. As far as I can tell from poking through various patents, these polymers are doing a few things in the formula: a) emulsifying/stabilizing the newer/bigger UV filter molecules, and creating an occlusive layer over the UV filter molecules on the skin to a) improve water resistance and b) reduce eye stingy-ness. At first I thought I wanted to avoid these seemingly unnecessary additives but considering their function, these are all features I want/need in a face sunscreen so we’re living with them.

1. Shiseido - Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk: really good, sliiight white cast but absolutely no streaks, more like a foundation just a hair too light for my skin tone. However I can’t imagine buying this because #2 on the list is better and 1/3 the price. Medium silicone feel. Something I’d probably only break out for when I went to an outdoor summer wedding.

2. Kao - Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence: I have already sung its praises.

3. MISSHA - All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk: closest to a US milky/greasy sunscreen experience here, though very fluid and still absorbs nicely. No silicone feel. Not a bad choice but nothing special.

4. Canmake - Mermaid Skin Gel UV: probably second favorite after Biore. Similar, bit less of a silicone feel. I’ve gotten red a couple times using this though, possibly because less silicone feel = no layer of protection against sweat/physically rubbing off? I bet this would be perfect under makeup though, it’s super light.

5. COSRX - Aloe Soothing Sun Cream: SO moisturizing, almost a dewy feel that sits on your skin and never dries. I wanted to love her, but unfortunately she is so loaded with the aforementioned polymers that when you reapply/put the appropriate amount on to begin with, it completely gums up and pills and you lose all protection. Also definitely not water resistant. Probably my top pick for a winter daily face sunscreen that I wouldn’t ever be worrying about reapplying though.

Other Contenders:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid (x) and Bioderma Photoderm Max Milk (x)

These two bad boys have the highest rated UVA protection currently on the market, 46 PPD for La Roche-Posay and 42 PPD for Bioderma. The LRP is extremely watery (technically alcohol-y) and comes in a teeny bottle(though same size as a lot of these I guess) but it is The Best UVA protection money can buy. The texture is really nice too, and feels super water resistant. If I’m outside sweating or on the water in the summer, this is going on my face. I've also seen it on sale multiple times since I’ve started researching sunscreens (because it’s extremely popular) so you can definitely find it in the $0.30/mL-or-less tier if you keep an eye out.

This Bioderma is cheaper and also extremely protective (thanks Helena @bronyraurmp3 for the rec!) but unfortunately it stung both my and Mr T’s eyes like a BITCH. Extremely unpleasant experiences for both of us. TBH if I’m out in midday sun, swimming or kayaking or something, I’m gonna be wearing a long-sleeved UPF rashguard to protect my arms and upper body and not worrying too much about whatever cheap greasy sunscreen I put on my legs. This Bioderma stuff would be going on my neck, ears, and hands though bc it’s super water resistant.

Eucerin Sun Sensitive Protect Mattifying Fluid : bit of a white cast, really slippy texture going on and nice dry touch texture when it dried down, but drying down took foreeever. Probably really nice if you’re sensitive and pale.

Eucerin Sun Oil Control Gel-Cream Dry Touch : VERY matte and dry-touch, would have loved it if I hadn’t gotten burned using it (doesn’t have all the newest most stable UV filters). Approaching the expensive end of things too, but would be a lovely option if you really prioritize non-greasiness and don’t need the premium protection? Mr T really liked using it on his bald head lol.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF40 (US): This is recommended many places but it has to be a joke that people are actually paying Shiseido Anessa prices for old American UV filter selection, only SPF 40, and no UVA rating to speak of, right??? (ok they do have a PA+++ rating meaning a PPD of 8-16, so. this is acceptable.) I did not test this one but damn wtf. The texture is probably nice though and it looks perfectly sheer in the photos on their website, so maybe as a last resort for darker skintones that show a white cast with everything else? At that price tho... you do you but damn.

Jigott Snail UV Sun Block : This had good reviews on Yesstyle but it sucked. White streaks, bad.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF60 (US): Another in the outdoor-wedding only price range. There’s a tinted and a non-tinted mineral version and I ended up mixing them together to get a shade that looked pretty good on me, but needing two bottles for that puts it in the extremely ridiculous price category. Really slippy nice texture that takes a bit to dry but dries down perfectly matte. I guess the person who wants to shell out for a high end all-mineral tinted sunscreen exists somewhere out there but I would bet there are many nice cheaper mineral options out there that I haven’t tried.

And that’s it! For EU sunscreens, I was able to order them on caretobeauty.com, and Japanese/Korean ones from yesstyle.com or stylevana.com, though I had to go to eBay for the Biore and Anessa. I ordered some Biore from a seller on Amazon but they shipped from Japan and I think they got taken by customs because the last known location on the tracking info is Chicago, so finding a seller in the US that has already imported them seems like a good idea (vendor lullabellabeauty on eBay worked great for me, fwiw, I will definitely order my Biore from there in the future).

If you have specific questions about any of these, or if you have any recs you think I should try, hmu! You will be shocked I’m sure to hear I have a whole sunscreen database at this point.