#slight throwback post

[traumainpyjamas]

NCT DREAM \\ at circle chart music awards 2023

[dragon-ascent]

slight suggestive stuff at the end! read at your own risk!

Zhongli, whose eyes gleam red and gold and whose wisdom is far, far beyond his years. There's no way he's human.

Zhongli, whom you grow close to over time as chats turn into conversations and acquaintanceship turns into friendship. There's more to it than this, but you would deny your feelings before you come to terms with them.

Zhongli, whose hands are warm, his smile soft, and his fondness of you apparent. His hugs for you get longer and tighter, and he buries his face in the crook of your neck, taking in your scent. He must feel something for you too.

Zhongli, who in that gentle voice of his asks for permission to come into your home one night, simply because he misses your company. His eyes crinkle tenderly when he gazes upon you, his hands clasped behind his back. Delightful banter is exchanged, and there is a spark. There must be.

Zhongli, who when asked what he would like for dinner, since you haven't prepared anything yet and you want to show him the hospitality he deserves, and he responds,

"You."

Zhongli, who asks permission before drinking your blood. He is calm during his explanation, and ensures you are comfortable with what he is before proceeding. His hands trail to your hips as he bites your neck, fangs sinking into your flesh and relishing the sweet lifeblood you willingly give him.

Zhongli, who takes good care of you after he licks your wounds clean, thanking you for the meal. He lays you down in bed and you beg him to touch you, to do far, far more than you had bargained for tonight, but he merely caresses you, tracing each contour of your body and your lovely face.

Zhongli, whose warm hand travels south, where you need it most, and offers you a slight reprieve amid gasps and sighs. Twice does he help you reach your peak, but it's not enough, you beg, it's not enough. Tomorrow, he tells you, when you have rested, he will give you as much as you need and more.

Zhongli, who puts his hand over your eyes and instructs you to sleep, and sleep you do, the man watching over you.

kind of a throwback to my very first post on this blog which was a vamp zhongli one :)

[petriplato]

“which hailey fit is your fav?”

if membership people dont pick outfit three…i will crash out 💔

haileys s2 redesign analysis below!!

hair:

her early gacha life design had her hair down, then she rocked the really messy ponytail for the rest of s1, and now shes canonically gonna have a half-up-half-down look for s2.

the messiness going away may be symbolic of the stress being taken away now that the competition is over and the music club drama has been resolved, the the half-down, free hair part may show the liberation, that freedom, that taking the stress off of her shoulders has given her.

i personally love the slight wave rosy gave her too…im a huge follower of the curly haired hailey agenda and we are slowly getting there!! this flowy wave may also symbolize the tranquility she now feels with the stress taken off.

^ i hope rosy did that on purpose and that hailey hair will change throughout the season depending on her situation…

accents: (jewelry + musical details)

the little music notes all around are cute, but they seem a bit over done and unnecessary…making haileys love for music seem more performative than anything else. which is fine if rosy wants to go down that route—the expectations and other different facets that come with being a musician…but i doubt rosy will, especially bc jaime wasnt exactly what she was going for (iykyk)

the jewelry (esp that stupid crystal necklace) are tacky and just another thing for rosy to animate and i feel like they add nothing to haileys character and instead retract from it being as basic and performative as they are.

the lil belt keychain tho…is that a carabiner i see?? hailey my lesbian queen?? rosy, you shouldnt have… (you didnt and you wont but you shouldve. free my masc lesbian queen).

i only had a very blurry screenshot for reference for the belt keychain and thought it was keys instead of sixteenth notes on there…and practicality wise i think hailey should put her house + car keys on there—driving the whole junior year thing home, and hailey is totally the type of person to carry keys on her belt, i mean, come on…

mole (?) :

there was a little tid bit of something up near haileys eye where the screenshot cuts off…and i think it might be a mole. i hope it isnt that fuckass star she drew on for the competition…bc yes, it was cute for the night…but ur in highschool girl…

idk what this could mean tho, bc luke has a mole in that same spot…maybe we will get more zander lore and discover more about his relationship to luke and hailey and we will see how similar luke and hailey are?? idk

design throwbacks: (/final thoughts)

i love how rosy incorporated haileys classic boots and her striped magenta sweater from her gacha life design…and the TIGHTS!! OH MY GOOD THE TIGHTS!! we can also deduce from haileys later s1 design that she loves layering, and rosy is really driving it home here, and in cases like outfit 4, its not half bad…

i also like how these fits look more summery, which makes sense bc its nearing the end of the school year now and in the states its usually warmer by then

rosy does still need help matching the characters to their environment tho, bc hailey looks like a preschool teacher in one, too formal in another, like a camp counselor in the next, and too stereotypical teenager in the last…more on that and how i would “fix” these outfits in my next post soon :)

thanks for reading!! if you made it this far and have no idea what im talking about here is what rosy posted for members only for free <3

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

🤔💥Can Gallifreyans get headaches?

Gallifreyans are pretty boss, but that doesn't mean they're immune to some of the annoying parts of being a sentient lifeform—like headaches. Although rare and tied to specific causes, they can still experience them. Here's when:

After Being Hit with a Stun Gun: Neural overload from stasers or stun guns causes headaches as the system recalibrates.

"Ice Cream" Headache with No Clear Cause: Time Lords sometimes report brain freeze sensations without a cause, possibly from neural misfires or slight temporal shifts.

Head Trauma: Injuries, especially to the time lobe, can trigger headaches or worse.

Awry Regenerations: Regeneration rewires the brain, often leading to disorientation, confusion, and severe headaches, especially after rough regenerations.

Changes in Magnetic Fields: Gallifreyans' sensitivity to space magnetic shifts can disrupt neural patterns, causing headaches.

Time Phenomena That Feels 'Not Right': Exposure to unstable time anomalies or paradoxes leads to temporal headaches.

Using the Respiratory Bypass: Extended use can deprive the brain of oxygen, leading to a dull, throbbing headache afterwards.

Mind Probe Aftereffects: Mind probes strain the brain, leading to lingering headaches as the brain recovers.

Gallifreyan Biology for Tuesday by GIL

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[justsayuluvmetn]

haechan needy boyfriend

pairings → bf!haechan x afab!reader

warnings  →  18+, masturbation, oral (f receiving), use of mommy, slight dirty talk, mentions of somnophilia

word count  → 1.3k

--------------------------------------------------------

The bedroom you and Haechan shared was dim. You were snuggled into your blankets, sound asleep, as Haechan flipped through the pages of his book.

After finishing his last chapter for the night, he put the book to the side and propped himself up on his elbow as he watched you sleep. He doesn't realize it, but he does this often. Looking at you sleeping peacefully next to him makes him feel at ease. While keeping his gaze on you, Haechan flickers the lamp off and lies next to you.

"You’re so pretty. Even when you sleep." Haechan whispers as he plants a soft kiss on your forehead.

Turning over to scroll through his phone one last time before he goes to sleep, he notices a post from a friend of yours. It was a throwback post from the beach trip the group took last summer. When Haechan's eyes found you wearing the bikini you wore that day, he instantly bit his lip. He remembers exactly how he felt. You looked stunning. Haechan found himself hiding in the water most of the day to hide his erection from you. Sadly, it was before the two of you were dating, so he obviously couldn’t tell you how sexy he found you in the bikini you had on.

Haechan stared at the photo a little longer, feeling his cock harden as the dirty thoughts clouded his mind. The more he thought about it, he realized that it had been two weeks since you two had sex. Haechan didn't let that affect him until this very moment. Suddenly, he needs your attention. He desperately misses your touch.

Rolling over onto his stomach, Haechan turns his head towards you as he slowly starts rocking his hips into the mattress. Biting his lip to suppress the soft whimpers trying to leave his mouth. Grinding into the mattress, pretending it was you. Soon these thoughts become difficult, causing him to turn on his back. Using his finger to draw circles around his tip, he teased himself. Haechan's whimpers become less suppressed.

"Does that feel good, baby?" You asked as you shifted to rub your eyes. Surprising him in the process.

"Oh- Y/N. I’m Sorry. It feels too good. I’m going to cum soon." Haechan moans back to you. You reach out your hand to stop him. Groaning, he looks deep into your eyes while sticking out his lip.

"You woke me up." You began. "Babyyy, I’m sorry. I just got so turned on by a photo of you, and it made me miss you so so so much." Cutting off a whining Haechan, you looked him in the eye sincerely.

"Ohhh, I see. Do you need my attention? Do you miss me or the way I touch you?" You ask mockingly. "I-I miss both, but I need to touch you." He tells you.

"Is that what you were thinking about when you were touching yourself?" cocking an eyebrow at him, he shook his head in return. "I was thinking about teasing you while you were... sleeping." He got quieter as he reached the end of his sentence. Despite that, you heard him loud and clear. You loved when Haechan took control, which is why you haven’t had sex. As much as you love dominating him, you miss being touched by him. The two-week break was your silent protest to get Haechan to make a move on you. It felt like forever to you, but it finally worked.

"Hyuck.. Baby, we talked about this before. You always have my consent. There's a reason we have a safe word, and I’ll use it if need be." You took his face in your hands when he gave you a look of embarrassment. "Don’t be embarrassed now." Your thumbs glide over his cheeks as you lean in to kiss his soft lips.

Haechan pulls you onto his lap, causing you to deepen the kiss. Tugging at his hair, you begin to roll your hips, and Haechan lets out a loud groan. Pulling away, Haechan looks deep into your eyes. "I want to touch you so bad. Please let me play with you." He pleads.

Biting your lip, you pretend to consider his proposal. Of course you want him to touch you, but deep down, you still want control over him. "Only if you beg for it. I don’t know if you deserve it considering you woke me up at 2am to your pathetic moans." While it’s true that his moans were pathetic, they were also so pretty.

"Please let me touch you. Please." His begging was almost as pathetic as his moans. "You’re going to have to do better than that Hyuckie."

"Please, I promise to make you feel good, baby; please let me touch you." You roll your eyes, but really all you want is to rip your clothes off and let him get to work. "Are you even trying?" Haechan looks at you with hunger. Pulling you into a deep kiss, using one hand to keep your head still and the other to play with your already hard nipples. A small whimper leaves your lips.

Pressing his forehead against yours, he said, "See? I know how to make Mommy feel good. Don’t I?" You gulp at the name. He’s never called you that before. Haechan chuckles at you. "It looks like I was right."

Snaking your arms around his neck as you pull him back into another deep, lustful kiss, you say, "So make Mommy feel good, baby." Grinning widely, Haechan flips you onto your back.

Moving to the bottom of the mattress, Haechan pushes your legs apart. "You look so good waiting like this, Mommy. I could cum just from looking at your pretty pussy." Your stomach churned as Haechan bent down to press kisses along your stomach. "H-hyuckie, why are you teasing me?" You pout. He looks up at you but only smiles and continues on his way down to your heat. You let out a quiet groan when his lips leave your body. Taking his index finger lightly to your clit, you jerk forward at the new sensation. "What a slut. Making me beg, but you react like that to the slightest touch. Maybe you should beg." Haechan suggests.

Your eyes grow wide, not expecting him to say that. He’s full of surprises tonight, but so are you. "Hyuck, please touch me. Please, only you can make me feel this good. I need you to touch my pussy. I’m so wet for you, Hyuck. Don’t you want a taste?" You pout at a taken-back Haechan.

You were soaking. Haechan knew you were right when you said you were wet for him. You threw your head back as Haechan easily caved into your begging. He lightly blew on your wet clit leading you to sharply inhale, but you let out a breathy moan as he connected his tongue to your clit. While his tongue laps at your clit he looks up at you with big eyes through his eyelashes.

"You look so pretty like this, Hyuck." You praise him, using your hand to push his head down. He doesn’t stop what he’s doing, but you can see his cheeks begin to flush pink. Throwing your head back with closed eyes, you moan. "F-fuck Hyuckie, that feels so good, I’m going to cum." Taking fistfuls of his hair as he sucks tightly on your clit. "Cum on my tongue, Y/N. Please, baby, let me taste you, remember?"

Even in this moment, he’ll still beg you.

His tongue may be making you moan, but his words are what caused the tight knot in your stomach to explode all over Haechan's pretty face. Breathing heavily, you sit up to kiss him tasting yourself. "That felt so good, Hyuckie." You smiled softly.

[th3-0bjectivist]

Dear listener, on the incredibly rare occasions when I crave some old-fashioned rock n’ roll that also appeals to the very darkest shades of human nature, I immediately turn to The Raveonettes for elucidation and insight. This Danish duo manages to give me the exact audial drug I need when I’m in a mood, whether it be an upper or a downer, to put my troubled spirit back to a delicate balance. This isn’t music that I enjoy in a traditional sense. More like I can’t help but LOVE it because it’s just that damn good! Above this paragraph, you can smash play on Love In a Trashcan from their 2005 album Pretty in Black. And if you happen to find yourself in an uncontrollable full tilt boogie, join me down below for a little more on these feathered friends.

These birds create a lot of retro-rock which is a big throwback to an American 50’s and 60’s style, all while touching upon some very dark themes like murder, lust, crime and betrayal. Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, this dynamic duo’s tracks are often tied to the past instrumentally and given a facelift through synth, distortion, and occasional hip-hop inspired beats. This is indie noise pop with a refreshing darksome lyrical twist. These corvids don’t just play well together, they sing well together as well, giving them a slight edge over the standard guy/girl, one is on instruments the other is on vocals model that I’m used to seeing everywhere in modern music. When you mash all of that up with some skilled guitar work and a clear fascination with vintage Americana, what you’re left with is a sound that somehow feels old school and new school simultaneously. Musically groovy, lyrically edgy and boasting a catalog that spans over two decades, these songbirds manage to consistently bang out tunes that are fun AND forlorn. Often combining catchy vocal harmonies with shoegaze stylishness, their work will keep you feeling as bipolar as Kayne West… only without the inflated ego and narcissistic God-complex as part of the total package. If you’re old enough or know enough about 60’s music to have heard of groups like The Velvet Underground, these winged wonders will provide you with a walk-down-memory-lane experience with their spicy topics, high-quality poetry and avant-garde approach to rock. A few years ago, I posted my very favorite song by these nutcrackers which either Soundcloud or Tumblr deleted for God-knows what reason, so now I’m posting it again. Click just below for Lust from their 2007 album Lust Lust Lust, its one hell of a melodic banger! Lots more music to come in 2024, folks. Thanks so much for tuning in to my personal radio station on Tumblr!

I don’t necessarily recommend a lot of bands that reach for a retro style, so I implore you to enjoy this week’s entry as it’s something of a rarity. And HEY, @t-underneaththeradardancing, as far as I’m concerned this one’s just for you my bird-lovin’ buddy. Image source: https://music.newcity.com/2024/06/06/harmonic-noise-is-real-explosive-and-fun-a-preview-of-the-raveonettes-at-the-bottom-lounge/

[sharksnshakes]

Bad Dream? - Stephen Strange

Gn! reader wakes up from a nightmare when taking a midday nap. Good thing a certain sorcerer (and a certain cloak) is around to ground them.

A/N; as a throwback to my very first post on this blog pls enjoy some stephen strange hurt/comfort that's been in my drafts for an actual eternity!! use of (y/n)

Wordcount; 542

TW; none i can think of! other than (some) mutual pining and stephen being emotionally constipated but what's new.

You jerked awake with a start, a strangled sound ripping itself from your throat.

"(y/n)?" Stephen's voice called.

Chest heaving, you pawed at your eyes, wiping away hot tears and cold sweat.

"Hey," Stephen said, louder this time. Your surroundings started coming back into focus--you were on the couch, you must've drifted off, and the cushion you were sitting on sagged slightly as the sorcerer sat down beside you. "(y/n)? Breathe, alright? Breathe."

You followed his instructions, attempting to steady your semi-hyperventilating. As you came down from your rude awakening, you looked around once more: you were in the Sanctum Sanctorum, curled up on the couch in the library. The grandfather clock boasted the time, it was just after three in the afternoon.

"Breathe," Stephen repeated.

Though you'd seen Stephen sit down beside you before, it took you until this moment to actually realize it.

He watched you with concern. The Cloak had wrapped itself around your shoulders--How did it get there? You sure didn't remember. You were clutching Stephen's hands in a clammy, shaky death grip.

Dropping his hands like they were hot stones, you stared into the oriental rug on the floor. This was not the way you wanted to end your nap.

"Sorry," you mumbled, voice raspy from sleep. "I didn't mean to... you know."

"Are you alright?"

You sighed. "Not really."

A steaming mug appeared in Stephen's hands a moment later, and he handed it to you. It was filled with a sweet-smelling tea.

"Rose," he supplemented, gesturing to the mug. "Good for nerves."

"Thanks," you echoed, taking a small sip. The near-scalding liquid was at an ideal temperature to warm up the cold that had buried itself deep within you. "...Sorry."

"For what?"

You glanced up at Stephen, confused as to why he seemed so nonchalant.

"For using your hands like a stress ball and making you go our of your way to get me tea?"

He chuckled, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "For starters, it wasn't so bad. And, secondly, conjuring tea is hardly going out of my way--though I certainly would've. For you."

"Did I interrupt anything important?"

"No."

"You, uh, don't have to stay-"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

You frowned. "Huh?"

"You're... not the only one who has nightmares," he supplemented, shrugging. "I've found that getting them out makes them a bit less intimidating."

You sighed, taking another sip of tea.

"It's up to you, though."

After another beat of silence, you explained the bad dream. Stephen nodded along as you explained. The Cloak rubbed your shoulders soothingly, and you found yourself leaning into its warmth.

"You're right, you know," you finally said, "I do feel marginally better."

"Told you so."

"Uh-huh. Rub it in, Doctor Strange."

You met his eyes. He was smiling at you, you were smiling at him... and you were instantly aware of just how close he was to you. Your thighs were touching, the Cloak drawing you closer together, the two of you sharing its warmth-

"I'll be in the study if you need anything," Stephen said, quickly standing up. He swallowed, shaking his head as if to clear it.

"I... yeah," you nodded, feeling warmth crawl up your neck. "Yeah. Thanks."

He gave you a nod, and disappeared through the door without another word.

It was safe to say you wouldn't be taking any naps for a while.

[saintjosie]

WAIT YOUR EYELINER IS SO CUTE WHAT (DROP THE TUTORIAL!!)

Also where did you or your spouse get the my melody plush in your pinned post? Asking for a friend

jess won the plush in a crane game so you’re probably SoL there

side note: jess is one of the most gifted crane game players i’ve ever seen and she regularly walks up to one, puts in a quarter, and comes back with a prize and it’s absolutely insane.

i’m assuming you’re talking about this eyeliner?

idk how to do makeup tutorials but as best i can describe, there’s a couple of things going on here.

i will add the caveat that this works for me bc of my asian almond eye shape and a lot of what i do is specifically for asian monolids

first, i am wearing false lashes. my eyelashes are good length but having the monolid and asian eye fold means that any eyeliner that goes into the fold essentially disappears when my eyes are at rest and then is wayyyy too dark when my eye brows go up. i use a very subtle false lash that looks like i’m wearing mascara instead of mascara because i’ve found that the band of the lash helps fill in the eyelid fold without using eyeliner.

second, nyx epic ink liner. waterproof, drugstore so it’s cheap and can find it anywhere, and comes with a nice thin tip, great for doing a subtle wing.

i very subtly line the inside corner of my eye all the way out to the outside corner of my eye, while being careful not to over line the fold of my eyelid too much. then i extend it ever so slightly into a wing that goes juuust outside the corner of my eye.

the trick to this particular style of eyeliner comes from the outside corner of the wing relative to your eye shape. i have an almond shaped eye that slants slightly upward, so the outside corner of the wing follows that natural shape and the corner of the wing comes out just slight past where my eye would if it continued in that shape. it accentuates the shape of my eye without being over the top. it might take a couple of tries to get the shape just right because if you go too high, it ends up looking like a wing proper instead of your natural eye shape and if you go too low, it looks like you have sad eyes. both are completely fine styles but just isn’t what i’m going for when i’m going for a more natural look. this is mostly how i do my eyeliner when i’m going out but don’t want to go full glam.

to contrast, if i am going full glam, i’ll use a much heavier false lash but i’ll bring the wing out more and use a fun shape. but the trick is that i’m still following the natural shape of my eye with the wing.

here’s a pic of a more complex eyeliner for contrast (throwback to my blonde era). note that the wing still follows the natural shape of my eye and ends where the corner of my brow shape is so create these really satisfying lines.

damn i’m fucking hot

[torunarigha]

Hey MIAsanmia (😁), may i ask what you meant with those tags under ilkay's letter? no need to post this publicly btw!

sorry i took so long to answer this! i was mainly referring to racism and xenophobia in germany, that is becoming increasingly visible (see: far right party AfD getting a lot of votes in european elections, poll where 20% of germans wanted more white people on the national team, and the infamous video of white germans dancing and shouting "ausländer raus" or get out foreigners).

his letter makes a slight reference to this i think by mentioning the division in germany and emphasizing openness - which are pretty basic things but means more in this context to me considering the recent events that i mentioned. i think its great he is captain right now but i just hope, if the team falls on bad times again, that he is properly protected form the horrible shitstorm and scapegoating that would follow (throwback to the horrors of 2018... which i'm sure he remembers not too fondly)

[inventors-fair]

Hey, folks. Let's look a couple approaches to this week's contest!

@loreholdlesbian graced me with this Bantian benediction. Angel of the Shardic Empire has a lot of implications about the mechanics of this set:

Ability counters may or may not be present, and we're getting a new kind in the form of exalted counters; exalted, then, is probably gonna be back in the set!

Converge is working as flavorful glue here as well as a mechanical highlight. Presumably, all shards/factions are going to have access to converge in their own unique ways. This rewards multicolor deckbuilding.

And at the same time, the muticolor theme isn't going to be about permanents as much as it is exploratory deckbuilding through spells, mana bases, etc. In the same way that Alara cared about general multicolor, we're back to a similar kind of base without going as hog-wild as Alara Reborn.

As a rare as well, this is a top-end limited all-star for sure. Swinging for 4-8 damage in the air the turn after this comes out is no joke, and you can hold it back to spread out your damage elsewhere. Presumably there are gonna be a few other fliers, so we have that going for us as well. Bant-themed aggro!

The flavorful aspect of this card can be found in its dedication to rigidity despite the Conflux. The angels of Bant are eschewing vulnerability or exploration and, at least on this card, the determination to keep the hierarchy is important. From chaos, to order. From Conflux, to empire. Lorehold mentioned a slight antagonism to this angle, and I can buy it. I don't think this would be a strict villain-hero dichotomy throughout Alara in the same sense; there are good actions and bad actions, sure, dangers and survival, but everyone's trying in their own ways. Some (like Sedris) are definitely a little more on the villainous side, but it ain't great to be of a lowly caste in Bant either.

~

This morning, I had a few random ideas, but I wanted to share one more nostalgic/micro-view of a planar possibility. I don't know if this would necessarily be a winning kind of card, but it's a part of the limited exploration that might help some folks.

Mechanically, it's a removal spell for small things that then becomes a combat boost later in the game with aggressive possibilities. In retrospect, I might even have given it flying and deathtouch for that much mana—no, wait! Oh, that's fun. Okay, so, now I'm imagining deathtouch and menace, as a throwback to Kederekt Creeper. Ah well, too late in the day now. But regardless, that's one aspect: a common cycle (like the common cycle of spells from original ALA that gave benefits to massive color-themed cycling) of spells with minor boosts later in the game post-exile.

I suppose I was more looking to the flavor side of it all—because fleshcrafting doesn't stop just because worlds collide. The wizards and humans of Grixis have to rely on some smarts and scavenging in order to retain their power. Sedris made for himself a wicked empire, no doubt, but these living are indeed living. Mostly. Somewhat. Who's to say when and where it's safe to go out? Zombies are a hot commodity.

This is my favorite Zombie token of all time (in the link). It's horrific, it's experimental, it's imaginative, and it shows what one can do with the craft. What if the muscles underneath brought out the instincts of those from whom the flesh was taken? Not everyone can reanimate a dragon, but picking up new ways to eat and scavenge... I suppose that I wanted to show the ways, just like Lorehold, that reactions to change are different. These cards speak to a choice of inhabitants: "The world has changed, but I will spread my cause out to it" vs. "The world has changed, but I'll change with it here" deal.

So there we have it. Enjoy! -@abelzumi

[goodlawman]

{Be Brave} She holds her cone just over her shoulder where Raylan can easily lean forward for a lick or bite as it please him, while they sit on the back porch steps ~a throwback to their lives in Harlan~ and watch Willa doing Indy-500 laps on her bike. It still has training wheels and it wobbles a little on turns, but she's trying so hard. "Wha' ya gonna do or say, love, wen come dat day she tell you she applied an' got accepted at Glynco?"

Raylan's chest pressed against her back as he leaned forward to take a lick of the offered cone, pausing in his attempt to locate and massage out every knot in Beth's shoulders. She hadn't asked but as they sat in easy silence and watched Willa expend the last of her post-dinner energy, idle hands made their way to her shoulders, thumbs pressing into muscles and working them firmly. Truth be told, he took any excuse to lay hands on his Wildcat as long as she allowed.

He stayed leaning forward a little question as her question dug into concerns voiced before Willa had little more than wisps of fine blonde hair on her head, gumming tiny fists while she tried to make sense of the world she'd been newly delivered into. "Y'know Sutter's kid told him she was going to be a marshal just like him but the time she graduated, she decided to go into IT instead. Told him there was more stability in the field these days," Raylan murmured quietly, taking the indirect path to the answer instead of running at this one head on.

Willa came to a stop and planted both sneakered feet on the ground. She turned to wave at Raylan and Beth, blonde braids artfully constructed by Beth swinging 'round. At least they'd started out well done and hairs started to escape in the Miami humidity and activity of the day. He straightened up and gave her a wave back, a smile and a nod. A confirmation that he was indeed watching and approved of how well she was doing.

"The first time he mentioned it, I was still working out of Lexington and Willa wasn't but a recent born bean. I hadn't seen her yet, hadn't quite figured how much that first meeting would impact me. I told him that if Willa chose that path, well, there was nothing to be done for it. We all pick our own way and we go it alone." Looking back, he almost felt some shame in the way he'd shrugged it off.

Raylan resumed working Beth's shoulders, knees pressing in against her slight shoulders. "I don't know what I can say. Sort of frowned on these days to discourage your child from pursing the future they want but...there's reason why I don't involve Willa much in my side of the family. There's a cycle of violence that's been there a long time and I rather she was the first Givens that avoided that all, including taking up with a career involves not only receiving but unfortunately having to use it as well."

Willa, sweet, innocent and not yet ruined by the world, rode in circles before them with nary a care outside of which book she'd pick to read before bed and who would read it. Where to hide her green beans she didn't want to eat because Raylan and Beth didn't have a dog like Richard and Winona did. In a flash she lay on a bed before him, monotonous beep in the background indicative of a heartbeat, so still and covered in bandages. Receiving a call that something went wrong in the field -

Raylan snapped back to reality and immediately released the tight grip on Beth's shoulders. "Sorry," he muttered and leaned back into the step behind him, tilting his head back. "I would do it all again in a heartbeat but Willa ain't me. I want her to work in peace, not on the hunt like her old man."

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

what did the Doctor mean when he said the Time Lords invented black holes? (The Satan Pit)

Did the Time Lords invent black holes?

When the 10th Doctor claimed that the Time Lords 'invented black holes,' he implied that they created them. And although they have a lot to do with black holes, there's a slight problem with this statement.

Knowing 10 as well as we do, this is probably a bit of an exaggeration to be even more impressive, but his statement's rooted in some complex aspects of Gallifreyan history and the development of Time Lord technology.

🌌 The Time Lords and the 'Creation' of Black Holes

Omega and Rassilon were the key figures behind the Time Lords' mastery of black hole technology—during the Dark Times, a period when the universe did not yet fully obey the laws of physics as we know them, Omega and Rassilon, they say, destroyed the star Qqaba to create a black hole. This black hole was then suspended in a state of perpetual collapse, with its vast potential energy harnessed to power all of Gallifreyan society, particularly all the time travel technology. This suspended black hole is known as the Eye of Harmony.

🧑‍⚕️ The Doctor's Statement

However, as your thought trail would have uttered, 'But black holes happen when stars die. How could they invent something that already existed?' ... well...

If we take the Doctor's words at face value:

Because in the Dark Times, the laws of physics were so sporadic and lifeforms were essentially immortal for a bit, stars might not have naturally died, meaning black holes as we understand them today didn't exist. Omega and Rassilon's actions could then be the first instance of a star's destruction. In this sense, they 'invented' the process, setting the stage for the universe to follow similar rules once the Web of Time was in place and the Universe was much more rational.

If we think 10 might be exaggerating a bit:

If stars did naturally die and collapse into black holes before the Time Lords' went poking around Qqaba, then the Doctor's statement is a bit more fanciful—implying that the Time Lords were the first to harness and control black holes, rather than literally inventing them.

🌀 The Legacy of Black Hole Technology

Either way, the Time Lords became very fond of using black hole technology, like Black Hole Carriers, and also used black holes as gateways into hyperspace. The extent of their manipulation was far beyond anything that had been done before or since, making their achievements in this area so profound that the Doctor's boast about 'inventing' black holes doesn't seem that whacky.

🏫 So...

When the Doctor said the Time Lords 'invented' black holes, he was probably talking more about the lengths to which his people went to control and harness them. Whether they truly 'invented' black holes in the sense of causing the first one or simply perfected the art of utilising them is entirely down to you and the Doctor's conscience of how much lying he does to humans in the effort to sound impressive.

Related:

💬|📱🕸️What does the Web of Time look like?: Overview on the Web of Time and its relevance.

💬|📱👁️What’s Eye of Harmony?: What this is and how it works, and how crucial it is to Time Lords.

💬|👤👑Why is Rassilon everywhere?: Who Rassilon is and why he's so important.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[falloutbradreviews]

Settle Your Scores - Retrofit

During the 2010s, pop-punk was huge in the underground, and so many bands popped up throughout the span of six or seven years, but the genre eventually became saturated with too many bands that sounded the same and that tried to aim for the top spot, so it got boring and uninteresting. I got back into the genre a few years back, because I started hearing a lot of bands with a more unique sound, especially incorporating unique and diverse perspectives and ideas. One band that I was into during the 2010s was Cincinnati act Settle Your Scores, and their debut album, 2016’s The Wilderness, specifically. I liked their second album, too, but their debut is the one that I always enjoy more.

Truth be told, their debut is nothing more than a generic easycore record with some great vocals, hooks, and breakdowns. Their second album, however, is a record that tries to marry pop-punk and easycore, but it ultimately feels like they’re torn between two sounds, and it’s not a bad album, although it feels disjointed. Fast forward three years, and we got their third album, Retrofit. I listened to it when it came out, and I remember liking it, but I never went back to it, for whatever reason, so I’ve been wanting to rectify that.

I loved the lead single from Retrofit, entitled “1999,” which is basically a track that adults can very much relate to, but the album itself is very much a love letter to 00s pop-punk (in the best way). If you love that time in the genre, or if you love bands like New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, and a ton of other bands from that era, you’ll love this. These guys don’t necessarily bring new anything to the table, but they’re refined their sound to be a straightforward pop-punk band. If you like that sound, you’ll enjoy this a lot.

The thing is, though, there isn’t much else left to say, but that’s not a bad thing. Sometimes a band being straightforward is all you need, and these guys know what they’re doing, let alone doing it well. They do a couple of things that stick out from their first two albums, like they’ve got a dual vocal dynamic that works really well, and the major themes of this album are getting older, and looking back at the past, whether it’s fondly or regretfully looking back. This album surely would hit hard for the “elder emo” crowd, as much as I hate that phrase, because it deals with more adult themes.

I’m not going to pretend this album is a game changer, but it’s a really catchy, fun, and slick throwback-sounding album that works well for what it is. There’s a lot to get out of this album, especially for people that love 00s pop-punk (with a dash of post-hardcore, because a few songs have some slight screams), and want stuff that sounds like that, yet also has a modern sheen over it. This still sounds like it came out today, but you can tell they’re influenced by the past. It won’t blow you away, or change your mind if you’re not a fan, but it’s well done for what it is, and like I said, that’s all you need sometimes.

[goldenmusicmoments]

Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department (Part 1):

So finally this post is done. With how busy life has been it can be tricky doing these, however I do find it fun to go through a record and break it down. This being a double album made it feel really daunting and so doing it in two parts made the most sense. Taylor Swift announced at The Grammy’s that she was to release a new studio album and was met with quite the reaction. Now we will get into the standard version of The Tortured Poets Department.

Fortnight (Ft. Post Malone) - The album opens up with this rather moody moment with its prodding beat. The production stays fairly consistent for the most part of the song and then there is a slight lift for the bridge. The lyrical content seems to be a little dramatic with her expressing her desires to kill. On most part it revolves around wondering what could have been if things worked out in the way you hoped they would have. When Post Malone’s harmonies come in you presume it’ll be how he is utilised on the track. However when the bridge comes in he is given a part of his own and then Taylor closes the song out with a repetition of his part, with a slight alteration to the lyrics. The track closes on a dreamy note leaving you in a state of longing. A tender start to this journey that doesn’t give too much away just yet.

The Tortured Poets Department - The pace lifts on this title track, where she’s reminding him of her significance. Letting him know, that no one’s going to love him like her. The lyric giving Charlie Puth a shoutout caused quite the stir, however it’s randomness is meant to mimic how random a point of conversation at times can be. The kick drum tempts you to tap your feet to it. The specificity in the writing makes you feel as though you are part of the conversation. It fills the space around you making you feel encapsulated in its somber yet shimmery atmosphere. For the first part of the last chorus you get a question and answer type moment. This one has a bit of a throwback vibe due to its production.

My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys - You are immediately drawn in with the first line as it intrigues you into wanting to know what this repeat occurrence is. This through its sound seeks from what she explored in Midnights. The bridge feels exhilarating as her vocal delivery picks up speed. She’s been captured by this person of interest unexpectedly. However she feels that he’s going to end up hurting her as she’s his favourite, playing to the title. As she toys around the lure of a toy and how when it is new, you find yourself completely engrossed in it. However with time it deteriorates and you lose interest. A metaphor pointing to the height of desire at the start of a relationship and how that slowly diminishes. For the bridge the sense of emotion heightens. This one is one you’ll definitely find yourself singing along to the chorus instantly.

Down Bad - The beat is rather pretty as the track opens, however it shifts into one with a sense of hypnotic urgency. She’s captivated by someone who’s maybe not necessarily into her in the same way. She’s down bad for him and yet he seems to not be in it to the same extent. She’s trying to be nonchalant. By the end she seems mad at him for being the reason as to why the two couldn’t be together. The detail in the production is intriguing and really pulls your focus, as it compliments the extraterrestrial nature of the lyrics. It is a gentle moment that has a moody edge due to her delivery of the lyrics.

So Long, London - She’s angelic in the vocal delivery at the beginning where the repetition of the title sounds like wedding bells ringing. The beat shifts into throbbing that makes you feel on edge. A somber moment where she expresses how she feels he’s ended up wasting her time. She states she was left wondering if he actually loved her, as she was willing to marry him if he’d asked. However she doesn’t necessarily pin blame on him as she acknowledges that he could have been struggling and that in turn impacted how he was in the relationship. Her rage is depicted through her vocal delivery of the first couple of lines of the bridge. A rather sad goodbye to a relationship, but also to the place where the two formed prominent memories. The song really leaves you with chills and draws your focus as you try following the journey she’s taking you on. There is a resentful feeling to this track that leaves you as a listener feeling the frustration she must have felt whilst in this relationship.

But Daddy I Love Him - She speaks to the haters and fans alike here, letting them know that what they have to say plays no role in influencing how she feels. She’s aware that they pose as though they care, when in actuality they don’t. There is humour in the songwriting as she jokingly tells her father that she’s pregnant, only to see his reaction. Which in turn generated quite the reaction from those that heard the track. The production during the verses is pulled back, however lifts once the chorus comes in. The frantic production of the beat in the chorus emphasises the exhilarating feeling you have when you are certain of how you feel. You feel as though she’s smiling as she sings the lyrics and that elicits this sense of joy in what she is putting forth.

Fresh Out The Slammer - This track hosts a western feel and that snare drum keeps you focused. She points to how she felt caged in the relationship and once it was over she was free again. She eventually moves on, however that ends up being a short-lived moment. The chorus hosts a sensual touch due to her vocal delivery. The bridge in a way pays a nod to her track ‘Bejeweled’ in the way that it sounds. However there also is a lyrical moment that draws from that song which may not be intentional or actually have a link. Then there is a slight shift in the bridge which takes you by surprise. There is a brief pause and then the track comes back in as she sings a line and then the beat closes out the track.

Florida!!! (Ft. Florence + The Machine) - On this one the verses host this sinister edge and then the chorus booms with the hard hitting drums. Florence is given the second verse as she works her magic adding to the eeriness you already feel through the production and lyrics. The bridge features a back and forth between the two. As she sings about escaping to Florida whenever things go south. This is one of the more grander moments that feel gigantic through the production choices. Florence + The Machine definitely are a surprising choice for a collaboration, however their voices work well together. The tonal differences provide this track with more of a dynamic.

Guilty As Sin? - Taylor takes us down this dreamy road where she finds herself completely infatuated by this person. You find yourself captivated by the track and its one of those you’d want on repeat. A catchy moment that hooks itself in your mind, as you are instantly singing along. The bridge features her singing with a hint of drama as she uses religious imagery to show her devotion to the person of interest. Everything comes to a hold and then the chorus comes crashing in. With her ending it on a vulnerable note as she asks whether she’s allowed to cry. The percussion is the key instrument that carries the production here. A song that many overlooked upon release, however with time it has ended up become a favourite on the album.

Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me? - Here you get a sense of frustration as she feels like she’s being underestimated and that people think that she is an easy target. She’s letting them know that they should be afraid of her. Though on most part there is this pursuit of assertiveness in her letting it be known that she’s not one to be messed with, the end finds a sense of vulnerability peak through the cracks. The bridge heightens in intensity as she expresses her desire to let her feelings out, however she keeps her emotions restrained. The production has a dramatic touch which gives it a cinematic touch building as the track progresses. There is a sense of sarcasm in the calmer moment of the bridge through how she puts forth those lyrics. A powerful track that finds resonance.

I Can Fix Him (No I Really Can) - Taylor’s certain that she can fix him, even though people around her are warning her to stay away from him and she herself seems to be aware that he’s a dangerous man. Who this is about is pretty obvious as he was deemed problematic by the general public and even she was aware of his past actions. However she felt she could potentially change him. By the end she comes to the inevitable realisation that maybe she can’t alter who he is. This one brings back that western vibe. During most part of this track she has a level of certainty, by the end it wavers when realisation hits. 

LOML - This piano driven moment immediately shifts the mood and draws you into a pool of emotions. It feels heartbreaking not only through the lyrical content, however also her vocal delivery. You can tell she’s been through quite the emotional journey during this relationship that spanned over a good couple of years. When you dedicate so much time to one person and it comes to an end, you are left with a lot to deal with. The way that the piano is featured on the track plays to the journey being depicted. As on most part the keys being played are consistent, they only change when she sings about how the painful part has now come to an end. The relationship didn’t grow and stayed stagnant, she clearly hoped for it to become something more. One of the most saddest tracks of her career as she explores the themes of wasted time and the difficulty of letting go even when you are well aware that the relationship isn’t going anywhere. That the highs in the grand scheme of things end up seeming momentary. This one has you fully immersed in its dreamy sadness. The duality of the title is fascinating as it plays both ways as love of my life and then by the end the relationship felt like the loss of her life.

I Can Do It With A Broken Heart - She picks up the pace in this track that has a hint of urgency to it through the throbbing production. The chorus shifts into this glittery vibe and she’s letting it be known that though she’s going through it with feeling down about the break up, she ends up putting up a front that she’s happy in order to get through the things she has to do. It plays to how life keeps moving regardless of how you feel and you just have to get on with things. The choice of production to be lively, verse the meaning of the lyrics is an interesting contrast and it plays to what the lyrics are depicting really well. The bridge has a lot going on production wise giving it a chaotic touch. 

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived - The piano returns and the track gradually builds in production. She opens up with a sigh as here she seems resentful throwing all these accusations towards the person of interest who’s clearly disappointed her. She really tells him that he isn’t all that he thinks he is and that though she may forget, she will not be so quick to forgive. The lyric ‘You are what you did’ is an interesting moment here, it reminds you of her track ‘Innocent’ from her album Speak Now, where she had an opposing take on that line. The production reminds you of her sister records, as it remains tender throughout. It lifts for the bridge in both production and her vocal delivery, where she gets even more intense. You feel caught up in this track as you pay attention to the lyrical content. 

The Alchemy - Now we are changing up the mood once again with this dreamy feeling moment that captivates you through its sensual nature. Judging by the football references it is definitely about Travis Kelce and she’s letting it be known that she’s completely taken by him. The lift in the chorus makes you feel as though you are being raised up by the beat. She’s risen from the period of sadness as she finds connection with someone knew and it feels thrilling to her. Every aspect of the track lets you feel her level of infatuation.

Clara Bow - The last track on the standard version of the album and this is a rather sombre moment. Here she sings about the constant comparing she’s experienced throughout her career. This entirety of how people keep saying that she reminds them of an artist that came before. Not only that but the expectations that you have to be this dazzling being that draws an audience into wanting to worshiping you. At the end she switches things and now people are telling the new artists that they look like her. It is an interesting note to bring the standard edition to a close, as it feels like a chapter closing in one way for her, whilst a new one begins for someone else. It draws from the person who’s name is the title of the track, as she makes correlations between Clara’s experiences and her own. 

This first part is a solid album and one that continues to highlight Taylor Swift’s talent for songwriting. It is personal as it journals her recent experiences particular in relation to her love life. She keeps things on the lighter side when it comes to production choices on most part. Though she does draw from sounds that she has explored before, it still feels fresh and new. She clearly still has so much to offer as an artist and she doesn’t intend on stopping anytime soon. Music has always been her passion and thus she is constantly creating. Stick around for the second half of the album.

[thetruthbetween]

Wrote this almost a year ago (February) on discord and started thinking about it today so figured I'd post it. This isn't really a fic, it's more like a description of a fic. One day I'd like to truly write it, but since that hasn't happened yet, I figure I might as well post my ramblings instead of continuing to sit on 'em so as to not spoil anything LOL

s13 AU, Mary/Mary selfcest (canon Mary and apocalypse AU Mary), omegaverse

*

So throwback to that time SPN made #AlphaMary an official show hashtag and put out a Women of SPN calendar with pics and motivational comments and hers was "be your own alpha" and anyway, now I'm planning out a fic where AU Mary Campbell was still alive when Mary went to the AU and Mary Campbell is an alpha and Mary Winchester is an omega and Mary is her own alpha

Mary Campbell is also a lot more… outwardly queer LOL Like she's kinda butch? But like as a defense mechanism to keep people away. Be rough and rude and nobody gets too close. So like her hair's short (cuz long hair's a bitch in an apocalypse) and grey and she's got frown lines, and she's a good person and all, but she's just kinda mean about it. And Mary Winchester, of course, much softer, much nicer. Less trauma (which is saying something considering she burned to death but y'know. It's Supernatural LOL), or at least different trauma. She doesn't have that level of old trauma that Mary Campbell does.

Thinking about apocalypse AU alpha!Mary and standard canon omega!Mary selfcest again. Where Mary knows about the cupid mark and got hers removed, and Mary Campbell is all angsty over losing John like 45 years ago, so Mary tells her about the cupid mark and she's pissed because angels are murdering all the humans they can and that's bad enough, but this was personal and it effectively ruined her life. So Jack removes her cupid mark, and suddenly she's like, unblocked. Like she can suddenly feel again. The crippling emotional pain is gone. She smiles like for the first time that she can remember.

And like, I already had this headcanon that alpha!Mary called omega!Mary "sunshine" kinda mockingly, cuz she's so much happier of a person. (Specifically she and Bobby were having a drink and watching omega!Mary talking to a few people, laughing and joking around, and Bobby asked alpha!Mary what she thought of her, and she was like "<wry smile, slight eyeroll> she's a ray of fuckin' sunshine" and just started calling her that, cuz it was weird to call her Mary and it hurt to call her Winchester, so she starts calling her Sunshine. Then after the cupid mark is removed, calling her that actually becomes sincere, because she brought light back into her life.

Interestingly, after getting the mark removed, alpha!Mary starts noticing people's scents more. Like, she'd smell them before, but they didn't appeal to her. She'd go into rut, but couldn't be bothered to seek out an omega. (It was a function of the mark to cloud her pheromone receptors, because John was a beta and the angels couldn't have this alpha who was supposed to carry the vessels for the apocalypse get distracted by a nice-smelling omega.) But now that the mark's removed, there's so many omegas and they all smell so good. And it weirds her out, so she avoids them -- except omega!Mary. She smells good, too, but alpha!Mary doesn't really think to avoid her because 1) they're the same person, so it doesn't even occur to her that she could find her attractive, and 2) she wants to know more about her, to know what her life would've been like, if she'd taken the demon deal, what the world would've been like if she'd taken the deal.

So they pair up on patrols, they bunk together, eat together. It basically turns into A Thing around camp, if you're looking for Mary, just keep an eye out for Mary. And one day they're getting ready to sleep, and it's gotten a little colder, so they huddle up a little, and alpha!Mary makes this off-handed comment like "y'know, you really do smell good. It's distracting as hell sometimes" and omega!Mary is just like "oh thank god, I thought it was just me, but you smell good, too. Nice to know I would've been a nice-smelling alpha if the angels hadn't changed my dynamic" (oh yeah, part of the headcanon is that it was literally just the difference between alpha and omega that made Mary take the deal -- since she passed it up as an alpha, the angels changed her to omega in the main timeline, and that's why she took it)

And they're a little shy and like, "is this weird? it feels like it should be weird, but it doesn't actually feel weird" and they start scenting each other a little. Just like as a soothing/calming thing. At first it's just at night, when they're doing to sleep. But then one day there's an attack, and they fight off the angels and all that, but they get separated during the fight, and afterward, when they find each other again, they scent each other. (There's a few people from the camp like "uh wut?" at them about it, but they don't notice)

The nights get colder, they're snuggled closer. And man, when you're touch-starved after 44 years pining for a dead man you didn't know you never actually loved, not allowing anyone to get close… those snuggles feel awful good. And even for omega!Mary, y'know, she's only like a year and a half out from a decade of sleeping next to someone. It's nice, it's comforting, to have arms wrapped around her again as she sleeps, to wake up in the cold morning air all nice and toasty from the body along her back and if there's a morning erection against her ass, well, she's used to that, too, and neither of them mention it, although they both blushed like crazy the first time it happened

One morning, omega!Mary wakes up to find alpha!Mary looking at her intently, then she starts lightly tracing over her features. Says something like "I don't think I ever looked like you. I've been an angry mess since I was 18. Pretty sure I already had scowl lines when I was 30" And omega!Mary smiles up at her and says something cheesy like "you've still got time to make some smile lines" and alpha!Mary says something cheesier like "it's easier to smile with you around" and maybe they realize that they're basically flirting, that these are words and tones best used with mates or potential mates. And the moment draws out, a guitar string pulled tight, waiting to be plucked, and they don't know if the sound it makes will be in tune or not. And then alpha!Mary blinks, and omega!Mary rolls away and they get up and pretend nothing happened.

Later they're on patrol, and they keep sneaking looks at each other, keep remembering being a teenager in love -- not with John, they're remembering someone else, with soft hands and softer lips and the waxy taste of pink lipstick. They break for lunch, rations carried with them, and eat in silence. When they're done, as they're getting up from the rock or stump or log they'd found to sit on, omega!Mary steps close and scents alpha!Mary. She's done that before, it's no big deal. Except this time it's not just the tip of her nose brushing up the bare neck, her lips graze, too. Not a kiss, just a touch, a hint. Open lips pulling in the taste of alpha on the air. She pulls back, their eyes meet.

And it's not unbridled passion. One would think it would be, right? When everything's built up to the breaking point, when they tip past the boundaries. But it's not. It's alpha!Mary gently cradling omega!Mary's face in her callused hands. It's a soft brush of lips together, slow and light, but not tentative. How could she be tentative when she's so sure? It's a melting of their bodies together, candles in the sun. One became two becomes one.

After the kiss, after several kisses, of varying degrees of passion, alpha!Mary presses her face against omega!Mary's neck, nips sharp-edged teeth against the faded scar John's beta teeth had ripped into Mary's scent gland. And omega!Mary tilts her head, supplicating, says "please, Alpha" and it's the first time she's called her alpha, the first time they've really even acknowledged their dynamics beyond "weird that we're different" and who could possibly resist that? A beautiful omega who's never had an alpha, who's never truly been mated, offering herself as a mate.

They're mated before they even have sex. Hell, with the lack of privacy in camp, they don't really expect to be able to have sex, at least not until heat or rut forces the issue. (They want to, tho. And when they wrap up together for warmth in their little nook, their scents turn aroused, their hands wander for the first time, and alpha!Mary kisses her new mate into silence before sucking the slick from her fingers)

Sam and Dean show up, and isn't that a bitch and a mindfuck to explain to them.

When everyone's back at the bunker, suddenly there's privacy, Mary has her own room, and just in time, too, because she's starting to feel rather warm, and her scent is starting to deepen, to sweeten, the other alphas starting to look at her, making her alpha rather grumpy. So they retreat to the room and lock the door and don't come out for days. Omega!Mary goes through her first heat with an alpha. Alpha!Mary is triggered into rut by a mate's heat for the first time.

And the two that became one becomes three.

*

And, because I'm fairly certain that I'm not gonna end up using this bit if/when I ever do get around to truly writing this, here, have the only lines I've actually written, cuz I like them a lot even tho I don't think they'd end up fitting LOL

She was dead for 33 years; they're 33 years apart in age. But it doesn't matter, because Mary Campbell is someone Mary Winchester never knew, and something about her slithers down her spine to curl between her thighs.

It should be like looking into a mirror, but Mary Campbell is nothing like her with her grey hair cut short and permanent frown lines carved into her face, a far cry from Mary Winchester's blonde curls that dance around her shoulders, the hint of smile lines just beginning at the corners of her eyes and mouth.

[yuuana]

Music Monday #225: ATEEZ - BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) release: June 2023 genre: Kpop cw: violence, blood

Of course I had to come back to talk about my best boys, of course I did. And oh boy is there a lot to say ... assuming I can stay coherent long enough to say it all. XD

So after the slight side trip that was SPIN OFF: FROM THE WITNESS, we are now back to THE WORLD with episode 2: Outlaw and as is typical of these middle episodes, there's neither intro nor outro, but rather six tracks that go full out from the first beat and only ever sort of slows down in the shortest 19.5 minutes of the summer so far. Putting the title track in the #3 slot is a Choice all right, one that works well ... but then of course it does - these guys don't play games with anything promo ... unless they're literally playing games to promote. see also: KQ renting pepper trucks for roaming album promotions at the start of the month. ;)

BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) (hereafter referred to solely as Bouncy) starts off with all three rapping members (Seonghwa, Mingi, and Hongjoong) trading lines, low-key taking shit in English, which is pretty much the attitude of the whole song. Early money says this is going to join Pirate King and Say My Name as a "this is the core of ATEEZ" track. The attitude, the vocal range, the energy ... it's a solid three minutes of ATEEZ's musical and lore essences. And sure, it won't be to everyone's tastes - there's quite a few lines that have been run through effectors, making the live stages something to experience all right - but this auntie is both pleased and so very, very proud.

As for the music video ... it's a lot. So much story packed into four minutes, it's kind of a lot to take in and try to parse. And a hint for episode 3? That's usually (though not always) what those post-action teasers are, although some of the Bouncy promo materials also hint at a possible future lore-based webtoon. Either way, I have so many questions ... like how the hell they got a huge-ass smart bullet in that damn pepper. It's a little unclear where in the Halateez revolution this is, whether it's meant to be towards the beginning or the end - that final shot of the main action could mean either and the proliferation of wanted posters is also no help with that. This feels like it's probably set before the major actions in Guerrilla and HALAZIA, though, so my inclination is to think this is towards the beginning of active revolution, especially with the way we're seeing the members acting in independent cells (as opposed to everyone working together) for most of the video.

On a more technical note, between the choice of aspect ratio and several of the visual affects, there's a bit of a retro, late-80s to mid-90s action-thriller vibe going on here that I, an old person with fond memories of 80s and 90s action-thriller movies, simply adore. We're still dealing with a dystopia, but it's a brightly colored one, lit well enough that we can see everything we're meant to see.

THE WORLD, ep 2: OUTLAW is available now in a range of physical versions, including several store-exclusives, plus available for online streaming at all the usual suspects. Promotions are just starting, as it just dropped last week Friday (Thursday on this side of the planet), so no music show wins yet, but streamtiny are working diligently to match the hard work that went into this release!

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