#so if I got 'many' asks. that would b different. I'd be happy if I could write4 at least some of them! making like 2 people happy maybe lol

[llawlieta]

I'd love some Opinions: would anyone be interested in requesting short writing from me? thinking about doing (most likely Lawlight, but also any Death Note) requests to celebrate my next follower milestone (<33), but I don't know if I'd even get any asks LOL

[the-possum-writes]

You may have gotten a request like this already so please ignore it if you have!

I really enjoy your works so far and I'd like to request the nsfw alphabet with Marshall Lee if that's something you'd like to do! Gender neutral or afab anatomy if that's okay but I really don't mind if you keep it fully gender neutral!

I hope this request finds you well and happy! Thank you for your time to read this ask and for sharing your work, it's very enjoyable to read! (It also helps that I adore possums hehe)

[Marshall Lee NS/FW Alphabet]

Tags: NS/FW, mentions of voyeurism, hcs, dirty alphabet

A/n: Thanks for requesting! Ya'll eating good tonight-! This is for the AT version of Marshall, the F&C Marshall would probs have some differences without the whole vampire thing.

A = Aftercare

Marshall doesn't need sleep so he'll help you clean up asap and lay in bed with you so his low body temperature can help ya cool off, he would also sing you to sleep in compensation if he went too rough on you.

B = Body part

Regarding his partner's, he's fond of your chest. He doesn't breathe so he likes seeing it rise and fall whenever you're panting, and enjoys listening  to your heartbeat during cuddle sessions.

As for his body, he likes every aspect of it but if he had to choose it would probably be his eyes. They're the first thing someone sees when he's lurking in the dark.

C= Cum

Slick like glue, and lacks any kind of odor or taste (I guess it's because he's a supernatural creature). He doesn't produce an exaggerated amount of cum in a single shot but he's determined enough to fill you up until it's sliding down your thigh, no matter how many rounds it takes.

D= Dirty Secret

Marshall snuck into your house once cause he wanted to gonna prank you by hiding your toothbrush and other stuff but he accidentally floated in on you in a private time and didn't leave until you finished. Nowadays he knocks before visiting you, but there are times where he touched himself to that memory.

E= Experience

Marshall has been around for thousand years, he knows his likes and dislikes regarding stuff done to him, and what he likes in a partner. He's confident in his performance as well, he has skill and learns fast, he knows that he'll find and exploit your weak points that'll have you sobbing in a good way.

F= Favourite Position

The dude can fly, he likes having you cowgirl (or reverse cowgirl) style while on mid air even though you've told him how dangerous it is.

G= Goofy

Though he gets heavily feral most of the time Marshall is a versatile man who can still crack a laugh even at the most heated times, if he's feeling playful and is on a full teasing rampage he'd use wordplay/puns that depend on the location you two are at.

H= Hair

Marshall is well trimmed but not fully shaved, his pubes are just as dark and wavy as his hair. However, sometimes he'd occasionally try to do funny patterns and would walk out of the bathroom bare ass naked and ask. "Does this look like a bat to you?"

I= Intimacy

Okay so we all know Marshall portrays himself as the residential bad boy and everyone buys it, but in reality he keeps his relationships at an arms length since he's lost people close to him. The guy craves intimacy and it's evident in the small affectionate gestures during sex like how he intertwineds his fingers in your hands, and after sex, he's got his legs tangled in yours, plays with your hair and rests his head on your beating chest.

J= Jack Off

In the early years of vampire hunting he couldn't allow himself a single moment of vulnerability even if his hormones were getting the best of him, but in current times in Aaa where he isn't always on guard he wanks it on occasion here and there when he's lacking company. Once he starts dating you he can't help but stoke himself in front of you when you touch yourself for him.

K= Kink

Pray/Predator play:

He loves playing the part so much. On a full moon he will give you a 10 minute headstart to let you run loose through the woods in that white transparent nightgown he likes so much (fits your role as the helpless victim) as he shape shifts into a wolf or a giant bat and hunts you down by the scent of your arousal alone.

Size difference:

Okay hear me out on this- The guy can shape shift, it would be impossible that he wouldn't develop a knack out of it (especially with the prey/predator thing) when he's near you. He gets a thrill out of it when he's in his bat form, slowly diving you down on his shaft until your thighs come in contact with his fur.

Blood kink:

At first he wasn't interested since he had enough fighting those bloodsuckers (and because it's an obvious thing for him to have). So everyday he fought the blood kink allegations but after years of denying it, its become a new curiosity. He doesn't need to drink the stuff to survive but there's something euphoric about yours that tastes better than any shade of crimson, he'd avoid your neck the first few times but would obtain it from you inner thigh, it's like biting into a lovely jelly donut.

Voyeurism:

It's rude to spy on others but Marshall is well known to watch over others regardless if they're aware of it or not, you'd learn it the hard way when he caught sight of you touching yourself in your private time. In recent times you purposely masturbate in front of him as he sits back in a comfy seat but only after kicking his ass for being a creep.

Exhibitionism: He doesn't mind taking things in a public space like a bathroom stall or just outside a party, he already has his initials marked all over Aaa so a quickie is just another way to mark his place as his.

Praise kink: can't get enough when hearing you say how much you love him, how good he feels inside you or the sensation of his mouth all over you.

L= Location

Anywhere, anytime. The only place he refuses to go is the Nightosphere cause his mom has eyes and ear everywhere and those pesky demons would rattle him out and before he know it his mom is asking for grandchildren.

M= Motivation

It takes so little to rile him up but the fastest way is when you're wearing on of his band shirts.

N= NO

Alright hot take. Although he jokes around with it sometimes; Marshall refuses to actually bite your neck with his fangs. Sure he'll nibble on your neck and bite your shoulder but his fangs never really pierce the skin of your jugular, it brings bad memories of his own forceful transformation and how it made him feel.

O= Oral

Appreciates anyone who's brave enough to let his teeth near their privates.

P= Pace

He goes rough and fast, he knows he gets too carried away but he forgets it right away when he sees you enjoy it as much as he does.

Q= Quickie

Doesn't mind them.

R= Risk

Definitely a risk taker. There's many ways to turn him on and he'd love to share them with you, his safe word is probably something like batshit or fries.

S= Stamia

Impecable. Unless you're a supernatural creature you can't match up with his subhuman self.

T= Toy

Marshall likes them both on himself and on his partner, he likes the dildo varities in particular (when he needs to prepare you for his bat form) and how crazy some designs can get.

U= Unfair

Ultimate tease, if you start taunting Marshall he's gonna return it in an instant. Doesn't care if you're out in public he'll get handsy with you as punishment, and dear glob have mercy on you in the bedroom cause he'd edge that bratty attitude out of you.

V= Volume

He isn't as vocal compared to you when he takes the lead, he would mostly let out an occasional hiss or groan intertwined with his dirty talk or teasing. Buuut, if he's the one on the receiving end he'll cry, whine and moan like a bish.

W= Wild Card

If it wasn't because of his vampire regeneration abilities he'd get dick piercings.

X= x-ray

A nice 9 inches long with a slight curve upwards, he's long but a bit on the slender side like most of his body, it's color is just as pale too but halfway it leads to a small dark gray tip.

Y= Yearning

High libido, watch out. Although he doesn't need to eat or sleep he can still feel lust and hunger which become stronger the longer his needs go unfulfilled.

Z= Zzz

He doesn't really sleep much nor does he get exhausted easily, if he's with a mortal partner he'd pretend to sleep just to keep you company or sing/ play a lullaby on his guitar for you.

[findafight]

Kinda want to write a one-sided ronance post S4 au (within a fix it obvs) where the older teens start actually hanging out and Stobin (eventually + Vickie)confuse literally everyone. They greet each other with cheek kisses, call each other babe (or "Stevie Baby". Listen. Robin calls him bud or buddy or bub or bubba or babe and it's like why so many B's?? Argyle is vibing with it though and joins the bud train) and one time at two in the morning had a coordinated ramble about the names of the cats they will eventually get. (Sassafras, moonshine, and Garborator)

Nancy and Steve haven't really talked about anything, other than Steve saying "hey. I'm sorry if whatever I said weirded you out. I was definitely a bit delirious and Robin and Eddie AND Dustin were all making comments about winning you back or whatever which is stupid, you made it clear where you stood with me. Which wasn't with me. That's fine. and like. Okay yeah when we were together I'd daydream about you being beside me in the motorhome but thats-- it was a daydream. I was sort of thinking I was gonna die and. I wanted to share a little dream that made me happy. And then got everything confused in my head and made it weird and I'm sorry. what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for being weird and making things uncomfortable. I'm over you. I loved you then, and you were my first real love, and maybe if things were different I could love you like that again but. But neither of us want that or the same things out of life. And we'd crash and burn again. Plus you and Jonathan are together which is a non-starter. Cannot believe I forgot that when it was happening. Jesus. So. Yeah. Sorry for being not a great friend and hitting on you in the Upside Down." And Nancy had nodded and told him not to worry about it. He had been sort of bleeding out and planning on going back into the upside down. They could both be normal about it.

Sometimes Nancy and Robin try to have "girl time" at Nancy's suggestion because they're the only girls in the older group (sometimes. But Robin is not going to let that slip out) but it's awkward without a buffer. Robin is too nervous and rambles and Nancy is too annoyed by it. But they do get on well in group settings, and Steve and Argyle are actually the keenest to smooth over any awkwardness.

Robin laughs more with the group, and grins at Steve and smirks at Eddie and has a sharp tongue Nancy can admire. She's more comfortable with Steve around, insisting he sit beside her or on the ground in front of her so she can play with his hair. (And Nancy is shocked the first time she sees it, because Steve was notoriously protective of his "best feature", but she'd asked and he'd hummed quietly as she takes her fingers through his hair and put tiny, lopsided braids in it.) It's nice to see Robin less jumpy, and wonders what it would take to see more of the side of her Nancy only sees when Steve's around. She just wants to get closer to Robin. Wants a friend.

And somehow, beyond Nancy's notice, Steve and Robin's friend Vickie slowly joins the group. She wasn't involved at all in the spring, but has been hanging around Family Video and a movie night or two often enough that when she settles more permanently in the group it isn't a very big surprise. Eddie and Argyle welcome her in with open arms, Jonathan is only his normal amount of weary of new people, and obviously Robin and Steve are excited for their friends to be friends.

But it just doesn't sit right with Nancy. She can't pinpoint why, it just doesn't. When she sees Robin and Vickie giggling together, or having some back and forth banter that seems to feed into both of them smiling, or Steve throwing his arm over her shoulder, or Vickie leaning into Robin's space as they talk. She always sits beside Robin, Steve on the other, with Eddie beside him. It's usually a tight fit for whatever couch they're on, but the four seem happy as clams to not have any personal space. Once Argyle decided to lay across all their laps, and they just...let him. Finangled themselves so everyone was mostly comfortable.

Nancy figures she is uncomfortable with it because she hasn't ever had a close friend since Barb, and was possibly hoping she could be close to Robin along those lines. So seeing her so close with the others and mildly uncomfortable around her hurt, and seeing her and Steve incorporate someone unversed in the Upside Down into their little trauma club also hurt. Because what did Vickie have that Nancy didn't? That made Steve and Robin and now Eddie stick to her like glue? That made them want her there when she didn't know anything about what they'd been through and could probably never understand?

What made Vickie Summers so special that she's taken what should have been Nancy's place beside her friends? Because that's what really bothered her. It wasn't that Vickie didn't know, it's that Nancy felt she took her place. That Nancy wanted to be where Vickie was, and she didn't know how to ask for it. Asking, trying to talk about how Steve and Robin had bonded so well after Starcourt while she ignored them and then how they bonded with and absorbed Eddie halfway into their bizarre dynamic after vecna, would feel too much like begging or admitting that she isn't quite sure how to make friends.

Nancy is jealous. Jealous that she isn't friends like Vickie and Eddie and Steve and Robin are. That she isn't the one making Robin smile and giggle so cutely. So. She tries harder. Tries to be the friend that Robin and Eddie and even Steve deserve. She tries not to be annoyed by Robin rambling (it really isn't that bad, just. Not relevant. She likes heading Robin's voice, but thinks she could really work on having a filter.), or the way Steve always asks clarifying questions when he should really have known better, or Eddie talking half in different character voices. She thinks it's getting better, her relationship with them. But, still, Vickie is always there, glued to Robin's side almost as much as Steve is, and that always annoys Nancy. Niggles at her brain, that she doesn't deserve to be there because she didn't know what Robin had lived through and fought. Nancy did.

Eventually, Nancy figures out that she wants more from Robin. Doesn't want to be a friend she smiles at occasionally, wants to be the reason she smiles all the time. And that's terrifying. Because Nancy had never considered liking girls, never thought liking girls was a thing she could do. It was something other women did, not Nancy. She liked boys and always had, but. But maybe she always liked girls...too. maybe it wasn't something she that was one or the other. Being different in a town like Hawkins puts a target on your back, being queer in a town like Hawkins even moreso.

She's leaving Hawkins in the fall. But she thinks she wants someone to come home to. She wants Robin to come home to. Robin and Steve seem to be okay with it, from what she can glean of some veiled comments they've made that she's only caught now she's looking for them. They've made some remarks around the kids that make it seem like they'd be safe to come to, no matter what. And sometimes, some of the comments Robin makes about actresses seem a little...well. admiring.

They probably, hopefully, wouldn't hate her for this. And now Nancy and Robin have a friendship, she thinks she can. It's early July, and Nancy is going to ask Robin out.

She gets her alone, bites her lip, and asks Robin in no uncertain terms to go out on a date with her. Robin stares, mouth agape.

"oh," she says.

Nancy smiles, a little. "Yeah. So. What do you say?"

Robin blinks, and takes a shuddering breath. "Oh my god. I. Nancy I'm really flattered but I'm no-i dont- uhg. I'm dating someone." she groans, rubbing her hands over her face.

And oh. Nancy read the situation wrong "oh. Steve. It's fine! You don't like girls, thats--thats totally fine! Id just, um. That is,-"

Robin waves her hands. "No, no! I'm not dating Steve! You clocked me correctly. Definitely gay! Don't worry about that! Hah."

Something in Nancy twists. "Oh?"

"yeah. Yep. Not only am I a lesbian in a small town, I'm a lesbian in a small town that somehow also has a girlfriend." Robin says the word dreamily. Like she still can't believe it. Nancy's brain fills with static. She was too late. Too caught up with how she missed so many chances in the past, that she missed her chance now.

But Robin keeps talking. "And, like. Even if I didn't, I don't think it would have worked between us anyways. Too different, y'know?"

"what?"

Robin gestures with her hands between them. "Well, like. I like being your friend. But, I mean, I wouldn't date you?"

"why not?"

Blinking, Robin tilts her head. "Because of Steve?"

Something bubbles hot in Nancy. "What the fuck does Steve have to do with wether or not we would date?"

"Nancy. Steve's my best friend." As though that explains anything.

"yes? And?"

Robin looks uncomfortable, shifting sideways. "listen, Nancy. You're a good friend. And I've just rejected you. Maybe we should just. Ah. Leave this? I'm really sorry. I'll give you some space, just find me when you're ready?"

"no. What do you mean that we couldn't date because Steve is your best friend? Why would that have any effect on how you date?"

"it doesn't! Not really! Just. Nancy, you broke his heart. His soft, squishy heart! You kinda sorta cheated on him-details very unclear-and then just. Moved on. Pretended like nothing happened. I couldn't do that to Steve. Dating a friend's ex is a bad move. Dating an ex that broke a friend's heart is just cruel." She sighs. Looks sad. As though she isn't the one rejecting Nancy and tearing her apart for how a relationship ended almost two years ago. What did that matter, now? "You're my friend, Nancy. I like you! But even if Steve has moved on, forgiven and forgotten, and if things were a bit different given his full support for us dating if that's what I wanted, I think I'll always remember how he-- how much it hurt him."

"oh"

"I'm. Nancy I'm really sorry. I know how scary it is to put yourself out there, especially like this. It's not fair. I'm just sorry. But. It was true. Steve's the most important person to me. I couldn't ever hurt him. Not like that. Not even if he said he was fine with it."

Nancy stands and walks away. She doesn't cry until she locks her bedroom door.

[pocketramblr]

AU where Connor Kent mistakes Jon for another clone of Superman but since clones make Clark uncomfortable, the Young Justice... kinda kidnaps a child and is ready to raise him, please.

The Gang Kidnaps A Child!

It's been a while since I've watched yj the timeline will be even more of a mess

1- Conner is visiting Ma and Pa Kent for like, the second time ever, and Jon happens to be there. Conner was completely unaware of Jon's existence. He asks Ma who that is, and Ma says "oh that's your brother Jon, of course."

Conner, who knows how Clark feels about his clone, assumes Ma also knows how Clark feels about the clone. He doesn't even consider that she means Jon is Clark's son. She called him his brother, so he must be another clone- and there were so many others at CADMUS, so it makes sense.

2- Conner asks Ma where Jon stays. Ma, thinking about how Conner stays in a mountain hole, basically alone, purses her lips, but then moves on to say that Jon lives with Clark and Lois, though she does love when they visit, they should both do it more

Conner interprets that to mean that Clark is not happy or comfortable with Jon there, but has to, since he's too young to qualify to stay with YJ.

But that's not something that'd stop them!

3- Conner: hey M'gann can you hook up the mindlink real quick M'gann: sure Conner: hey team Kid Flash: yeah? What's this? Party in the base? Mission? Conner: There's another super clone Robin: where? Conner: about thirty feet in front of me, Smallville. He's younger. Unsure what powers. Robin: ... Aqualad: What do you suggest? Not hostile? Conner: not at all. But he's stuck living with Superman :/ probably would be happier here, but with CADMUS and the Light it can't be safe all the time. Robin: ... Aqualad: so we should consider other safe locations? Atlantis would be hospital, but I'm unsure that'd be the best for him. Kid Flash: what about our base? If you're cool with him moving in, I mean. Conner: ... I don't think I'd mind that much. Better than staying where he is. Robin: ... M'gann: great! We're in agreement. So should we tell Superman? Or Robin ask Batman? Could the Flash authorize the movement? Conner: I was thinking, just take him. Robin: GREAT IDEA UH PATROL NOW GOTTA GO M'GANN Kid Flash: isn't it like 4 pm in Gotham right now M'gann: focus, KF, we've got to get the base ready to raise a child in!

4- Robin is laughing so hard. But he's gonna encourage them to do it, and help sneak Jon in by covering the tech, cameras, zeta tubes, etc. And B is going to find this hilarious, even if he can't show it in the cowl.

5- Jon is totally happy to get an invitation to visit the YJ base with Superboy! His dad never takes him to any superhero stuff! He doesn't even notice Conner shoving their overnight bags into the base too, and extra snacks. The base is so cool, and most of the rest of the team zeta's in give him a tour, and his own guest room, and invite him for a sleepover! Conner says he texted Ma and got permission, so Jon rolls with it.

Ma did give permission. She did not mention that Clark and Lois were coming over to dinner before taking Jon home. (Just like she didn't mention Conner visiting later when Clark dropped Jon off.)

Clark gets there and is Concerned that he can't see Jon anywhere near them. Ma says he's fine, hanging out with Conner. Clark realizes he does in fact hear Jon's heartbeat in the base, but Lois stops him from flying off before dinner, since Jon must be having fun.

When Clark does finally get there, and announces he can take Jon home, Conner says the whole team is perfectly happy to let him stay. Jon is excited, and asks "can I stay, please, Dad?"

The whole team stiffens, very awkwardly. He's too young to know the difference between a son and a clone, and that hurts. Clark winces a moment after they do, but agrees, telling him to have fun, does he need anything from the farm first-

"Nope, I got all my stuff, and they gave me my own room to put it in!"

Clark realizes this was not the team throwing a surprise sleepover. This was the team trying a surprise adoption. They tried to surprise adopt his own kid!

"That's great. I'll see you tomorrow morning then!"

Then he goes off to call B, trying not to panic.

+1- B did, as Robin predicted, laugh when Robin told him about the plan and adding Jon to the zeta codes- "Superboy 2". He doesn't laugh when Clark calls him, but he's clearly amused, and smug. Now Clark has to face his opinions on his family, as B knew he would.

[nyxraex]

EDITED [ Canon & AU ] This has likely been asked before, but I got curious, soooo...

'Older sibling' MC is either: a) tired of having to clean up after the "kids" but would never actually hurt the Soul Riders in any way. More likely to bicker and less likely to have heart-to-heart convos. Usually awkward with emotions and more likely to keep physical contact minimal but will be there when needed. b) the more warm, guiding force who offers advice and a shoulder to cry on when times get rough. More comfortable with physical affection & showing emotions. More or less the Mom Friend™. 'Younger sibling' MC on the other hand: a) is a bit more naive and tends to look up to the Soul Riders and tries to be like them. b) tries to prove their worth to the Soul Riders, but usually needs to be saved due to MC's inexperience. [ And just to clarify: sibling = sibling-figure; not real siblings. ] [ Also; I personally am the oldest of 3 so apologies for lack of elaboration on the 'younger sibling' part... ]

/neg is a "I want nothing to do with you" and more akin to MC feeling surrounded by toxic, gaslighting narcissists and wants to get out. /NEG is the more visceral hatred that would make MC commit things that should never be committed, and would likely make them a villain. [ edit: Just to make it clear that I'm in no way shape or form calling the Soul Riders toxic here. I wrote these from viewing the MC as an unreliable narrator and mainly based on an AU pov that isn't 100% true to the canon. I'm also aware that the Soul Riders are just as much the 'victims' as the MC is when it comes to the Keepers. I also made this poll with the idea of not everyone in this fandom being fond of the Soul Riders in mind. Not that there even are that many cases of it on here on Tumblr when compared to, say, Instagram/TikTok/Reddit. ]

If you pick '???' I'd like to know what it is. :3 Please enlighten me! Or if it's a combination of different options, too!

[descubriendo-aurelia]

tl;dr trans origin story

So, what have I done so far? How did I arrive to this point? Well, I kind of always knew that I wished I had been born a girl, but for many years I suppressed these feelings. I can remember as far back as age 4, seeing my older female cousin Jaimie and wishing I could look like her.

(Warning: I talk briefly about a sexual encounter below.)

I'd been somewhat familiar with feminizing HRT, FFS and vaginoplasty since I was an early adolescent thanks to cable TV, and transitioning seemed like such an extreme process (because it is) that it seemed impossibly expensive to achieve the results that I wanted for myself. I'd always been fascinated with hearing the stories of trans people and would watch anything related to them them any chance I got. My favourite movie since I was 16 years old was, and still is to this day, Breakfast on Pluto, a story about an Irish transwoman. How curious that it didn't occur to me until later in life that I loved this movie because I wanted to be like the main character.

Throughout the years there were other signs, like playing dress-up with my best friend and wearing their femme clothes, which led to the appearance of my Southern belle alter-ego Annabelle in our late teens while the True Blood series was still popular. Yes, with a big, floppy hat y todo. 👒

Shortly after moving to Seattle, I'd come to the realisation that I'd never been comfortable with a male identity and decided to start identifying as non-binary and using they/them pronouns.

There were two main catalysts that made me come to terms with my inner womanhood this past year. The first was a sexual encounter I had with a bisexual man who wanted me to wear panties for him. As we had sex, he sexualised me as a woman and referred to me as a woman. It made me feel validated and desired in a way that I had never been before, and it felt so right and perfect somehow. This encounter, as you might imagine, made me reflect long and hard about my gender identity.

The second catalyst was an Italki Spanish conversation class. My teacher is a trans woman, and the topic of discussion was gender identity. At one point during our discussion, she asked me, "What part of you wants to cling to the masculine?" and I realised that I didn't really have an answer for her. I realised that I was clinging to masculinity (or vestiges of it, lol) because I wanted to please other people, rather than make myself happy and discover my true identity.

A couple days later, on July 20th 2022, I decided that it was time to start doing something about it. I started by telling close friends, and it wasn't long before I settled on the name Aurelia and started to try presenting as female to the best of my ability. I'm very fortunate to work in a very trans-friendly city at a very trans-friendly business with exceptional health insurance for individuals who seek in gender affirming care. Having already worked alongside several trans people at my job, I felt comfortable enough to start coming out to my coworkers right away. They, of course, accepted me with open arms and have been amazing at using my preferred name and pronouns. A few of them even gave me clothes!

I then, of course, started shopping. In addition to makeup and clothes, I bought an epilator, silicone breast forms, mastectomy bras, a few different styles of gaffs as well as tucking tape. Not at all once, of course, 'cause all that shit was expensive. (Especially the gaffs! I tried two styles, a cheap $20 Amazon that was bulky and inaffective, and a $40 that works amaaazingly. $40 is a lot, but after I started ordering one every paycheque, I think she took notice and started sending me two per order, which was super sweet of her. Thanks, Lexy B Blair!)

I found a doctor who specialises in transgender care through my insurance and on September 6th, I started taking my HRT medications. After 5 weeks, I've seen slight (though not yet visible) breast tissue growth, skin softening, and thinning and softening of body hair. It's hard for me to gauge any emotional or psychological changes, since I was a very emotional person before HRT, lol. I guess I get angry way less often, but I also feel like this was true before I started HRT and has more to do with the relief I felt immediately after coming out that I was finally allowing myself to present female.

On October 13th, I got registered for laser hair removal, and I'll begin my first treatments in November! I'm so tired of shaving every day and having to use orange colour corrector and a full face of heavy foundation just to have a "natural" look. My facial hair comes in really dark, so no matter how close I shave, they leave behind a greenish undertone to my skin, which is why I need the colour corrector.

So, now what? We wait for the hormones to do their job. I probably won't notice any major changes until a year in, and the full effects could take 3-4 years. I asked my doctor about progesterone to help with breast development, and he wants to try it when I'm 6 months to a year in. Depending on how well that works, I may or may not eventually want breast augmentation.

Another procedure I'm definitely interested in is facial feminisation surgery. Because I went through a testosterone-based puberty during my adolescence, my jawline is very angular and I have a protruding brow bone compared to before I started puberty. HRT is supposed to help a little bit with rounding of the face via fat redistribution, but this won't be noticeable for at least a year. So, I suppose the plan will be to see how satisfied I am after the three year mark, and if not, look into getting the procedure.

And then, of course, there's the surgery that cispeople are most obsessed with: ✨vaginoplasty✨. Will I get it? First of all, if you don't already know this, please don't ever ask a trans person this question. As for me, I'm still conflicted. I don't believe in the concept of "completely transitioning" and don't think that genital surgery is a necessary step in a gender transition. I would be completely content keeping my genitals and would still feel as complete of a woman as any other. And yet, when it really comes down to it, I think I would still prefer a vagina to a penis if given the choice... which, I guess I have? But then, of course, there's the whole surgery itself, which is very extensive and scary, with a rough recovery. Plus the extensive dilations. Hmm, I just don't know about all that. If I did it, which I honestly don't think I will, I would want a very talented doctor who will perform a labiaplasty, clitoroplasty, and vaginoplasty, and who has multiple photographs of the results of former patients.

So, that's all, folks. If you're still reading this, thank you for listening to me overshare, lol.

[naranjapetrificada]

For the writers' ask game: 11, 18, 37, please?

Thanks for asking ♥️

Answers behind the cut to spare your dashboards. If you want to play the "get to know your fic writers" game, just pick your question(s) from this list!

11. Link your three favorite fics right now

I always have so many favorites but three recent favorites that I cannot recommend highly enough are:

The Tolling Bells by @edsbacktattoo, which was recently completed and an incredible experience to follow. As a writer, I will never have enough praise for what was accomplished here. As a reader, let me just say that if you like visceral longing and existential overwhelm that still has a happy ending, you've gotta give it a try.

As We Go Hand in Hand by @petrichorca, which is such a sweet, poignant, healing one-shot about Ed's post-canon headspace as he reckons with the size of his love for Stede, how badly he wants to marry him, and how unworthy he still feels of it. Ends with them in a believable but secure place.

The recently resumed Prevailing Winds by holograms. Not sure if they're on tumblr. Anyway, it's an alternate timeline AU, in which Blackbeard and The Gentleman Pirate die the deaths that happened IRL after having a completely different love story, but Ed comes back to do it all over again in the canon timeline. He seems to be the only one who knows what's going on and is desperate to protect Stede and himself from the fates they met before, and his new story is interspersed with flashbacks to the other one, where we get to see them fall in love and what ends up going wrong. It's fascinating as both a reader and a writer, and I'm so impressed with how they're handling telling such a complex story while managing to make every character believable in both timelines.

18. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

Titling usually happens like 2/3 of the way through? If it's a one-shot I usually figure out something that's relevant to what's been written so far that a) sounds good and b) sparks some curiosity. Although sometimes the titles are also just very prosaic.

That 2/3 rule applies for my current longfic as in I was 2/3 of my way through Chapter 1. The thing the title comes from is probably not going to actually come up in the fic until chapter 4 or 5, but the timing still works.

For the chapter titles I'm using songs, but I'm using them completely free of context. The content of the songs has mattered significantly less than their titles, and I have a whole doc full of song titles that I think I'm gonna use for future chapters. The exception, so far, might be Chapter 3. I had a non-song title for Chapter 2, then everything relevant to it got pushed back to 3. So there's a chance that anything could happen, really!

37. How do you choose where to end a chapter?

Oh my goodness this is such A Question for Chapter 2. With Chapter 1, I knew down to the exact line I wanted to end on, which meant I knew which scene it would be, which meant I just had to figure out what came before. For a first chapter I think that can work because that's when you're sort of presenting your thesis statement (if not to readers then at least to yourself). I don't think that will be viable going forward.

I had some idea of where I thought Chapter 2 could end, but these chucklefucks are so verbose (especially in their heads) that every single possibility I'd previously thought of ended up being wrong. All of those scenes got pushed back to Chapter 3 at least. I knew I didn't want chapter 2 to get too long or the trend of ever increasing chapter length would absolutely paralyze me and o would never get anything else written.

The end of Chapter 2 is literally, literally the first part of it that could have worked as a stopping point for me, and the whole chapter still ended up being ~1500 words longer than the previous one. I have a feeling that "finally a good stopping point!" might be the way it gets decided in the future, although I guess what makes a good stopping point is stuff like the end of a pivotal scene, the reveal of an important bit of information, a character resolving to do something, etc. We'll see!

[ro-is-struggling]

✨600 Followers Celebration✨

Welcome to the ro-is-struggling 600 Follower Celebration!!!

an event that I'm definitely not planning since I hit the 200 followers mark, nope of course not

Below the cut you will find a list of prompts that are divided into two parts. The first part consists of concepts based on scenes from sitcoms and some romcoms. The second part contains song lyrics that I have to use as reference for writing the stories. You guys will have one week, so from today January 5 until January 12 (though the deadline can be extended) to choose from the long list of prompts which ones you would like me to write and with which characters. All you have to do is leave me a ask with your request plus some details I explain below. 

As prompts are requested I will mark them as taken on the list and at the end of the week the requests will be closed and I will start working on the ones that I got up until that point. The prompt list is extensive and –I think– pretty diverse so that everyone will find something that catches their attention. Anything goes! Fluff, angst, smut, hurt/comfort, anything you guys like! (although I'd appreciate it if you read the blog rules first).

Below the cut you will also find the rules of the event. I ask you to read them carefully before making any request so we are all on the same page and avoid any confusion. If you have any questions, my private messages and ask box are always open so don't hesitate to ask!

Thank you all so much for the support you have given me and continue to give me in everything I post. When I created this blog almost a year ago I never imagined that anything I posted would get so much support –and part of me still can't believe it. I never imagined doing a Follower Celebration, certainly not for 600 followers! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, your constant love and support is what fuels my inspiration and keeps this blog going even in my worst moments!💜💜💜💜

The characters I write for are:

MCU: Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Peter Parker (all three of them), Matt Murdock, Peter/Pietro Maximoff, Stephen Strange

Harry Potter: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter

Stranger Things: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Billy Hargrove

The 100: Bellamy Blake

The Umbrella Academy: Diego Hargreeves

Criminal Minds: Spencer Reid

9-1-1: Evan Buckley

Rules:

- Prompts cannot be repeated. If a scenario is already taken by a character, it cannot be used with another character. I will update the post to mark the prompts that are already taken so everyone can see it before leaving a request.

- If the same prompt is requested for multiple characters I will choose which character to use it with depending on who requested it first or which character inspires me the most to write it.

- Prompts cannot be combined, neither between them nor between those based on movies/TV shows and those based on songs.

- Characters CAN be repeated. You can ask me for as many stories with the same character as there are prompts (always taking into account that the scenarios are not repeated).

- The stories can be of any genre you want. Obviously as there are prompts based on scenes from movies/TV shows I already have in mind a specific tone according to where they come from, but that doesn't mean that it can't be changed. You can ask for something specific if you wish. If you want it to be angst with no happy ending then that's what I'll write. If you want it to be fluffy or end in smut then that's what it will be. You can add your ideas as well!

- Please be clear when leaving a request. Specify the fandom, full name of the character you want me to write about, and if you have a specific idea, please detail it. Also clarify (if you have an idea) who you want to be Character A and Character B in the story. I need to be able to distinguish between characters that have the same name but are from different fandoms (example: Steve Rogers and Steve Harrington. If it just says Steve I don't know which one you mean). In case I don't understand which fandom/character you specifically want then I will choose or discard the request entirely. 

- Prompts can be adjusted depending on the character being requested. I think this goes without saying but in most of the movies/tv shows where I got the prompts from the characters are adults so if the prompt says the action takes place at work but someone wants that prompt with idk the marauders for example then it would be changed to the school setting, you know what I mean?

Prompts:

Part 1: Concepts inspired by movies & tv shows

During a blackout Character A finds a cat wandering around the building and sets out to find its owner. That's how they meet Character B, who takes their breath away the moment their eyes fall on their figure (if someone doesn't ask for this one with Bucky to include Alpine I'm going to cry) {Friends 1x7}

Enemies to lovers in which Character A and Character B have a bet in which if Character B loses they have to go on a date with Character A. But it's not a normal date, but an event prepared to be remembered as the worst experience of their life. Only in the middle of the date they realize they can have fun together {Brooklyn 99 1x13}

Team A and Team B play a trivia game to see which group knows more about the other but they end up betting too much {Friends 4x12}

Character A and Character B realize they are the only ones who didn't have sex in the office (or anywhere else depending on the fandom) and seek to change that {The Office 7x18}

Character A and Character B have been dating for a while now. One day at the end of a date Character A says I love you for the first time and Character B, in complete shock, panics and ends up replying "I love cake" {That 70s show 2x7}

Character A asks Character B for help to get the attention of their crush since B has a lot of experience in the subject and A not so much. The problem is that in the middle of their arrangement they begin to develop feelings for each other and the plan for Character A to get a date with their crush is forgotten as they use their arrangement as an excuse to be together {The Duff}

Character A and Character B are secretly in love but times and fate were never on their side. Now that Character B is dating someone Character A does everything they can to move on. That is until one day ends up snapping and after getting drunk on a failed date they end up leaving a message to Character B where they confess how they feel {Friends 2x7}

Character A and Character B are in a secret relationship and make the mistake of kissing in a place where there are security cameras. When they realize it, they struggle to avoid being discovered while wondering if anyone already knows {Brooklyn 99 3x1}

Character A leaves a dirty message for Character B as part of a prank/dare, the problem is that Character B becomes obsessed with finding out who the mysterious person on the other end of the line is. When they finally find out, they can't look at Character A the same way again {Seinfeld 3x8}

Character A is in love with Character B, who is their best friend's partner. Character A suffers in silence when they see them together, flirting with Character B from time to time without realizing it, until one day A gets tired and confesses what they feel and they end up kissing ( + the dialogue prompt "Do you think I like flirting with my best friend's significant other?") {That 70s show 1x13}

Character A is nervous about going on their first date after being single for a long time so they turn to their friend for help. In a confusing turn of events Character A ends up drunk at the house of Character B, their date, the day before the event. The next morning Character A wakes up hungover and thinking their chances with Character B are ruined, but in the end Character B shows up at their house to drop off something they forgot the night before and assures them that they are looking forward to their date that night {Parks and Rec 2x4}

Character A and Character B are friends who fell in love and are now trying their luck as a couple. They have just begun to explore their relationship and experience intimacy, but begin to have problems when Character A bursts out laughing every time something remotely sexual is about to happen between them. That leads them to question their relationship and wonder if they did the right thing by becoming a couple {Friends 2x15}

Character A and Character B are in love but don't want to admit it because they are dating other people. Things are not going well and Character A plans to break up with their partner. The problem is that Character B doesn't know it and invites them to an event where everyone will be there. Then Character A ends up snapping and breaking up the relationship in front of everyone. In the middle of it all, their partner mentions the obvious feelings between Character A and Character B, creating problems in the latter's relationship even though both try to deny it {Brooklyn 99 2x9}

Character A and Character B have feelings for each other but can't bring themselves to admit it. That is until they have to pretend to be a couple (for a mission, a family party, whatever) and end up kissing on more than one occasion. Their feelings for each other become evident and they end up confessing their feelings - but not before acting like a couple of nervous, awkward idiots {Brooklyn 99 2x23}

Character A and Character B have been friends for years and have a little too much chemistry and romantic tension. After being teased about it by the rest of their friends, Character A decides to kiss Character B to "find out how it felt" {That 70 show 1x1}

A mysterious pair of black handcuffs is found which leads to a search for their owner, who ends up being the most innocent and least suspected person {Friends 10x16}

Character A is going through a breakup so as any sane person in their place would do they ask Character B, their best friend, to give them neck hickeys to make their ex jealous. Things escalate between them and for the first time in a long time Character A forgets about their ex {Parks and Rec 2x10}

Part 2: Song lyrics

“Last night I lay in bed so blue // 'Cause I realized the truth, they can't love me like you” (Love Me Like You by Little Mix)

“Why you always wanna act like lovers // But you never wanna be each other's?” (Light Switch by Charlie Puth)

“Just because it won't come easily // Doesn't mean we shouldn't try” (Easily by Bruno Major)

“Fed up of being the shoulder you cry on I want to be the shoulder you lie on” (If I Get My Way by Little Mix)

“I happen to know that what I felt you felt, too // But that makes no difference to me // I know this love is doomed” (You, Dear by Eloise) 

“Baby, I don't care if you got her in your heart // All I really care is you wake up in my arms” (One Last Time by Ariana Grande)

“If I get my way, I'mma take care of you // I can take her place, let me get my way // If you let me try, just one night, I can prove // I can take her place, let me get my way” (If I Get My Way by Little Mix)

“You crave attention and I need affection so let's walk the silver line” (Dear Lover by Little Mix)

“I'm not in love // So don't forget it // It's just a silly phase I'm going through” (I’m Not in Love by 10cc)

“It's not your fault I ruin everything // And it's not your fault I can't be what you need” (Angels Like You by Miley Cyrus)

“if I don't make it back from where I've gone just know I loved you all along" (Inkpot Gods by The Amazing Devil)

“It's four a.m. and I know that you're with him // I wonder if he knows that I touched your skin” (Happily by One Direction)

“The road that was broken brought us together” (The Joker And The Queen by Ed Sheeran)

[10holmes]

Thanks for the fanfic ask game qs, now it's your turn! :D

I hope these aren't too many qs, but I'd love to know your thoughts:

C, K, M, S, T, V, Y

Thank you :)

Yay! Thanks so much for asking! So excited to answer these questions 😍🙏🏼🎉

The full (very long - sorry!) answer to be found below the cut! 😁

C: What character do you identify with most?

Oooh that's a tricky question... I think I can't boil it down to just one character but a blend of characters? I think the characters I tend to stan and ship are a good indicator bc I usually fixate most on ships and characters that somehow speak to me or that I relate to.

For example with XueXiao, I really identify with Xiao Xingchen in the way that he is kind and helpful to others and follows this ideal of wanting to make the world a better place and leaving the mountain for that, aka a place he could stay placid and content in, to instead do something about the injustices he knows about in the "real world", even if that means facing hardships and pain and struggles.

As for Xue Yang, I really relate to him and see him as my deepest darkest side if I could throw my morality over board. I am someone who whole-heartedly proclaims "eat the rich" and means it, so if I was any more like Xue Yang in the way not to give a fuck, I'd also just kill the people that hurt me or others and go unhinged... 😅🙈 Slight difference between us being I would not kill indiscriminately and for the fun of it or for the slightest offense but really only target corrupt rich people and super capitalists and fascists that have it coming for them 🤭

K: What's the angstiest idea you've ever come up with?

I really don't want to spoil anything, but it has to do with an alternative chapter / ending I came up with for my LiuJiu A/B/O fic. I love happy endings as much as the next fanfic reader but sometimes I just want to make myself and others hurt. And this one will hopefully make my readers scream.

Also there's a XueXiao reincarnation fic WIP I can't wait to post. It's nearly finished and I wrote it while listening to Tom Odell's "Another Love" on repeat - which should give you enough of a vibe to imagine the angst level of this fic. I'll just say this much: unrequited love 🤭👍🏼

Sorry I can't be more specific but I really don't want to spoil anything more😅🙈

M: Got any premises on the back burner that you'd like to share?

Maybe it's because I'm too young to know that phrasing or maybe it's a native speaker thing but I had to google what this meant first and hope Google got it right 😅🤣

My WIP file is massive... To give you a glimpse: Next to the ones mentioned above I've also started:

- an angsty post-canon Beefleaf fic, where SQX is haunted by a hanging ghost and made to kill herself but HX intervenes and they start their journey of reconciling, don't know if I'll ever finish it...

- a VegasPete vampire / vampire hunter AU based on a Tumblr prompt and gif-set post but I'll very likely never continue that...

- a LiuJiu AU where SJ is present during the events of SVSSS and LQQ knows SY is an imposter and now tries to bring back SJ into his former body. This has angst and hurt written into every line. Sadly it's merely all in my head...

S: Any fandom tropes you can't resist?

Enemies to Lovers always hits! It's my jam!

Also the angstier the merrier! Hit me with the feels, the pain, the hurt, the agony! Doesn't even have to have a happy ending, I'm a sucker for being emotionally destroyed and also emotionally destroying my readers (though I tend to give them a happy ending at least) 😈🤣👍🏼

And, like you, omegaverse is my guilty pleasure - the smuttier the better 😏

And speaking of guilty pleasures I also have to say monster-fuck AUs are on the menu as well... There have been some really good SongXueXiao ones, I've read. Didn't know that was something I'd ever be into - my 14 year old self would probably be appalled. But here we are 🤣🤣

Soulmate and Fated Pair AUs are something I like to dig into as well.

And I'm also really into mermaid AUs. Especially when one is human and the fic gives off The Little Mermaid vibes.

T: Any fandom tropes you can't stand?

I don't know why but any modern day AUs especially High School AUs... I just can't read it. The most I will do is mob boss / mafia or reincarnation where they slowly uncover their past, but if canon events are set in modern times/contexts I don't really like it for some reason 😅

But I'm actually quite open to a lot of fics and it's mostly not the tropes I can't stand but characterisation or writing style 😅🙈

V: If you could write the sequel/prequel to any fanfic out there (not you own) which would it be?

Bruh... What a difficult question... I haven't ever thought about writing continuations or pre-quels for existing fic as I love them the way they are and mostly just in between imagine possible canon-divergences if the characters had made different choices...

But I guess, from the top of my head, I'd like to write a sequel to "Mark of Jasmine" to give LiuJiu an alternative or reincarnation happy ending because they've really been played in that one... 🙈😅

Y: A character you want to protect?

So many. All my little blorbos and meow meows. On the top of that list - obviously - Xue Yang. But I'd also step in front of my best bois Loki and Shen Jiu to shield them. They deserve so much better 💕😭

Now thanks again for the ask and for reading this long-ass reply, it was my pleasure 🤣

[nerdysleepybunny]

Can you write about a non binary reader who’s new to inkwell isles and becomes best friends with cuphead and mugman:D And it makes them happy bc they used to get bullied before they moved?

I’M FINALLY GETTING CUPHEAD REQUESTS LET’S GOOOOO!! Thanks for the request, hope you enjoy!

🩷☁️N E R D Y S L E E P Y B U N N Y☁️🩷

Fandom(s): The Cuphead Show

Character(s): Cuphead, Mugman (ft. Elder Kettle)

Reader: Gender neutral/Non-binary (They/You)

TW: None, just fluff!

Style: Hcs

Summary: You meet the two twin idiots, Cuphead and Mugman and decide to befriend them!

You were a new citizen living in Inkwell Isles. You didn’t know much about the place, but you were exploring around and so far you loved it here! The people seemed lovely, and there were many fun areas to visit.

You were inside a paint shop, looking for a brush to decorate your new house. When suddenly you picked up the sound of two voices screaming, the noise getting closer and closer. Looking towards it, you see two boys barge into the once-quiet shop, the sound of panting filling the small building. The clerk at the counter rolled their eyes and continued doing whatever they were up to, it seemed these two did this often.

The boys looked rather similar in appearance, though they had their differences. One had a large round nose that was blue, with a black long sleeve turtleneck and blue shorts to match. His twin had a smaller red nose, with the same shirt and shorts except his shorts were red, and they both had on brown shoes. And they both had cup heads.

The one in blue walked up to the counter, placing his hands on the edge and placing some money in front of the clerk. The one in red then walked next to you, grabbing two buckets of white paint. He then looked over at you, noticing your staring at him and his brother.

"I've never seen you before... Are ya new?" You responded with a shy nod, and he smiled.

"Great! Mugman, look, this person's new here!" The one wearing blue, apparently named Mugman, looked over and the two of you locked eyes. He then grew a large smile and walked over, shaking your hand.

"Welcome to Inkwell Isles! I'm Mugman, and this is my brother Cuphead!" You nodded at the information, shaking his hand in return before the two of you let go.

"I'm Y/N. Thank you for the welcome!"

"Of course! We got some extra money, what'cha buyin'?" Cuphead walked over to the counter and placed the buckets on top, the worker scanning the labels and putting the money in the register before returning the buckets to Cuphead. You turned to the side and pointed at the wall of hanging paintbrushes. You wanted to find the perfect one to do exactly what you were hoping for.

"Oh! You're a painter?"

"Not exactly, I just wanted to paint my walls. I'm not really good at it..." Mugman patted your shoulder, giving you a reassuring smile. You smiled in return before finally picking a brush that seemed good enough, picking it up.

"If you're up for it, Cuphead and I got a fence that needs paintin'. Some extra hands would be helpful!" Well, you had nothing better to do.

"Sure, I'd love to help!"

"Great! I'll take that for you." Mugman said before gently grabbing the paintbrush from your hands, walking up to the counter that Cuphead was leaning against, watching the scene before him. The boys paid for you, and the three of you began walking to their house.

🩷☁️ T I M E S K I P ☁️🩷

The boys had barely finished one portion of the fence, and when they turned to work on another side, they saw you already finished!

“Gee Y/N, this looks amazing!” Mugman complimented, and you blushed at the praise with a giggle.

“Thank you, Mug.”

“Say, Y/N, I think we make a good team! We should hang out more!” Cuphead barged in, and you immediately agreed, already loving the brothers’ company.

“Yeah! Are you doing anything this weekend?” Mugman asked politely, looking at you with hopeful eyes.

“I’ll probably just be finishing up my unpacking.” Cuphead walked next to you, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you into his side.

“Well, I think you deserve a break then! How about we all go to the carnival together?”

“Sounds fun!”

“Oh, perfect! We can meet at our house on Saturday?” Mugman suggested since the two cups didn’t know where you lived.

“It’s a plan!” You hugged the boys before the three of you bid your goodbyes, grabbing your things and walking home.

“Bye Y/N!” The boys waved as your figure disappeared into the horizon. They walked back into the house, needing to be quiet due to the kettle that was sleeping soundly in his room. The boys laid on the wood floor in their room, staring at the ceiling as they thought and talked about you. For the first time, they had a true friend. And they planned to keep you around.

[tiredassmage]

Sorry if this sounds weird, but I hope it makes sense: Day, Formal, Wardrobe for Imp Leo vs Pub Leo

I GOT CHU, I GOT CHU! I think, at least, so let me take a swing at this. I am. so sorry it's taking me 800 years to get through everything. This semester be kickin' my butt, but I have been sitting on so many Leo questions for so long. Come back into the light, my favorite little smuggling goblin child...

[character design oc asks]

DAY - What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

I think even in just casual wear, Leo felt a lot of pressure from particularly their parents growing up about what kind of image they were putting out as a family to the rest of Imperial society. That probably meant still a fair bit of neutral colors - gotta love those Imperial grays. And probably a lot more long sleeved shirts, partially because of the cold periods on Ziost, but also because it means Leo could fidget with the ends of his sleeves. Things were likely a bit more properly fitted in contrast to now that he's defected and running his own life (not... always well, but... running!), he definitely prefers things that are maybe a size too big. He wants to be comfortable. I could totally see him as a band tee kind of kid. Assorted graphical t-shirts for the win.

Also, not exactly a part of any of this set, but... I do imagine he was also a lot neater with how he wore his hair when still Imperial, at least around family. If only because Vivienne and their mother probably fussed over him almost obsessively before letting him out anywhere and he grew tired of hearing about it all the time. He's picked up the habit since defecting (unintentionally) of keeping a stock of hair ties around his wrist. Not actively because he needs to use three at a time, but because he habitually abandons them on any flat surface when he lets his hair down and then forgets about them, so he ends up collecting them as he finds them in an effort to try not to forget them again.

FORMAL - What's your OC's formal look? Do they like dressing up? Do they have different looks for different occasions?

Leo would... actually cringe if you ever suggested him wear a suit ever again. As much as I'd love to see him in maybe a dark blue vest or something at least because it'd probably look very nice with his eyes, I think some kind of suit look tended to be the default to please the family. Or at least a sort of... business, fitted top and... honestly probably a bow tie. Can't see this man in the long neck tie to save my life. He probably knows how to do one, but blood of the Emperor would it kill his soul to wear one kdanflsadfnlsfd.

He has very little in formal wear these days. He's... glaringly lacked the need to since his defection and he's quite happy to keep it that way. You'd literally make him pout like a petulant teenager if you asked him to dress up. He hates it. (Because it is so buried in ties to the expectations his father had of him to live up to the family name and their standards and impressions of what he should do; a lot of it is from his father's expectations, but his mother and older sister contributed a fair bit, too.)

I'm so sorry to Dash that Leo still preens over Dash like... Leo could have bangs falling in his eyes while he's trying to perfectly part Dash's hair and just shrug off this glaring hypocrisy. Which is... something in there about Leo's perception of himself being not all that great (and thus having a bit of a hard time necessarily seeing whatever Dash might see in him as far as positive and admirable qualities) because the Family Disappointment syndrome, but that's.... a whole other thing to unpack dfkladsnfls.

WARDROBE - How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?

Listen. Leo probably has a selection of like five shirts that he loves to bits and, no, mending garments is not one of his little skills. He will wear things down and he'd also probably be the type to wear the same thing for several days straight because he got behind on laundry or just... because he was comfortable and not particularly seeing people. He still might honestly try even if neither of those things are exactly true. I don't think he... likes the idea of fashion shopping in general, given the connotations for him. And, again, for as much as he can preen about others, he's... not particularly always on top of his own appearances. He's... shit at taking his own advice, frankly. Including the bit that the way you dress yourself can affect how you think and feel about yourself. It's not necessarily about affording things, he just... has mixed feelings about the shopping bit. Sometimes it is liberating to add more one-size-too-large graphic prints to his collection by the handfuls and others the simple idea of having to replenish and update the wardrobe seems like the most insurmountable, horrible, terrible task you could ever ask him to do. How could you do this to him.

[ravendruidreads]

A Vicious Game - Review

Author: Melissa Blair Saga: The Halfling Saga Date Read: February 20, 2024 - February 24, 2024 Format: Physical Pages: 458

Characters: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Writing: 7/10 Plot: 8/10 Intrigue: 8/10 Logic: 7/10 Enjoyment: 8/10 Rating: 7.5/10 (4 stars) Spice Level: 2/5

The review is hidden below due to spoilers.

What changed from the previous books:

The first thing I can think of to mention is the main plot. I am a sucker for nature-based quests, so as soon as it was clear that Keera was going to have to travel around Elverath to unlock the seals, and that they would unlock possible nature-based powers, I was hooked. I even made a list of locations where I thought the seals would be, based on the map and the hints provided (my theory was that the seals were connected to the different woods, so I looked for water bodies near them. I only got one location right tho).

Despite this, there were some plot parts that I disliked or that confused me. One of them being Killian's presence in Myrelinth because I was 90% sure Damien had ordered him to be locked his in room in Koratha, and even more because no one (particularly Keera) seemed to ask any questions about this. Of course this would be answered toward the end of the book, but I'd still have preferred if there had been some sort of explanation or mention.

Another part I didn't like (as I mentioned in the review of A Shadow Crown) was the possibility of a love triangle with Killian, Keera and Riven (if only I knew...), so when Keera kissed Killian (and he kissed her back) because she was hellbent on pushing Riven away, I was so angry I almost stopped reading the book. Props to the author for writing the chemistry between them so well (again, if only I knew) that it made me question if Keera and Riven were endgame or if Riven was going to die and she would end with Killian.

However I wasn't just upset with the relationship side of this scene, but also with Keera's dumb behavior, which brings us to...

Even though there is a content warning list at the beginning of the book and I clearly read 'relapse', I was not emotionally ready to read about Keera's relapse. The first few chapters were hard to read, but I'm glad Gerarda was there to get Keera's head out of her ass (I cannot believe I'm saying this!).

That was another pleasant twist I wasn't expecting. Gerarda turned out to be a character that I grew to love and admire, and I was especially happy to see her as another symbol of representation.

Let's now address the elephant in the room, the plot twist to rule them all. I felt like I hit a brick wall headfirst. It was one of those plot twists where I had to close the book and take a moment to gather my thoughts before I could proceed, because all I could think about was EVERYTHING that happened in the other two books, and how much foreshadowing I missed (I can't wait to reread the saga with a different set of eyes.

I always had a feeling of suspicion about Killian, but honestly, I thought it was because he was going to turn out being a spy to the crown or something. I am very pleased with the plot twist, although it was a bit hard to read the spicy scene the way it happened.

Two honorable mentions before I move on to the theories:

Keera's depression is so relatable. How many times did I have the same thoughts of "The time of easy days is gone, but perhaps they would be easier without me"? For the same reason, "Your mother felt everything as deeply as she could. it made her a fierce leader and a loyal friend, but it also made her lonely" is also something I relate to a lot.

Keera holding lightning was hot. When I read "You will be able to call storms and lightning at will" I almost died. Give me as strong, powerful woman who can wield lightning and I will fall at her feet.

Theories:

My theory of the lock of the power being connected to the King proved itself wrong, but I don't even care because I preferred the way it happened. I figured early on in the book that Riven's power was connected to the seals and he was going to die when the last seal broke, so I wasn't expecting him to actually survive, nor that he would become a Halfling, which I guess makes sense.

Because of this, I think that the reason why Riven was the way he was (Fae and Mortal) was because of his miskwithir connection to Keera. Like he was born with this power because Keera would need it in the future, and once she "siphoned it" (which is not confirmed but it's my theory), Riven no longer needed to be Fae.

Based off on that, I think Keera's blood is no longer Amber, because she went through a reverse transformation. Which means she's no longer Halfling but full Fae.

Let's talk about Collin (again). I should really trust my instincts. I had a feeling from the first moment that he was the mole, and turns out I was right, just... not in the way I wanted to be. Damien is a psycho and the way he used Collin is disgusting. I love it.

A quote that stayed:

A person only has as much power over our minds as we allow, Keera.

[mossfeathers]

Thank you for answering and welcoming my questions! ^^ (I sorta tried to pre-organize my thoughts so I hope the formating of this isn't too strange, sorry if is.)

Your sirens are very neat, I think. :3 I enjoyed reading about them. I'll definitely be ready when more info on them sprouts up. 

And ooo yes sweethearts is a very cute duo name for them. I like that a lot. ^^

I haven't actually played Stardew but I did grow up playing games in the series that inspired it so I think I'm picturing the vibe right, I feel like it could be very Harvest Moon, HM: Animal Parade especially. (I liked fishing too ^^ tho idk if it was so much a skill as it was just something you can do for recipes and money and got better at w/ better fishing rods)

& the setup overall seems like fun. Love the complete oblivion to start.

And since you welcomed my questions last time and said you'd like to hear if I have any more, here's some more questions! 

Can we hear a bit more about the dynamics the characters will have with each other so far? It'd be fun to here about, if you want to share that of course. ^^

You mentioned before that Scar & B are brothers in this au and that it'd also be a whole other post. Is that anything you can share with us yet? Or is it future info, It's fine if it is.

Oh but otherwise can I ask how you decided on a lionfish for Scar?

Also, are the others(like Lizzie & them) around as less important townies and seafolk?

Thank you for your time and sharing your ideas!

HI ANON I FORGOT TO RESPOND TO THIS IM SO SORRY OMG Literally always makes my entire day and week and month and also year tbh when you send in an ask and I love you so much (/p)

I've never checked out Harvest Moon before, I'll be sure to try and find a letsplay or something like that. From what I looked up of it, it looks adorable and I can totally see how it inspired Stardew :)

I think Grian and Jimmy are closer to their livestream/non-traffic dynamics, the main difference just being Grian cares a little more for Jimmy outside of the life series (apart from limited life). Grian bullies Jimmy but would do anything for him, Jimmy despises Grian but would do the same. Plus they make each other 500 times sillier and goofier. They're just really close friends, likely either grew up together or met in their late teens and were roomies for a while. Classic bullying friendship. Grian's quick to blame Jimmy, but quicker to take the actual blame if need be. Jimmy's quick to get frustrated with Grian but they're usually fine by the end of the day.

Grian and Scar are close to third life, Grian being exasperated with his attempts to scam him and Scar just being a silly little menace. Oddly enough, I haven't thought of many specific interactions, but based on Grian and B's first in-universe interaction I'd imagine Grian just threatens Scar if he ever tries to use his voice on him and that stops Scar from using it real quick. Doesn't mean that he won't tease G a lot. They're best friends. I gotta catch that grian+scar disease so I can more thoroughly think about them, I can only make them besties and happy forever. That doesn't slide in this AU, unfortunately.

Grian and B are really interesting, actually. In their first interaction (at least I think), Grian makes a very close threat on B's life if he ever uses his voice. He's rather aggressive in this au, but this is only because of the fact that sirens don't have a super awesome reputation and also because, in the context, Jimmy is missing and Grian suspects it's to do with sirens. I think. But after that, they bond a lot over their dumbass siblings and just the fact they like each other so much. Grian's oddly fanboy-ish over B in a really silly way and B just thinks Grian is awesome.

BIGB AND JIMMY!!!!!!!!! They're so incredibly underrated. They are SO silly. They just click with one another. I'm going to try to incorporate their super long friendship by just making them hit it off straight away when they first meet (in the life series, especially, they just constantly bring up inside jokes from hanging out, especially irl. they're absolutely adorable. i'll be genuinely shocked if they don't team next life series). They really like each other, and one of the main things about their dynamic is that Jimmy just thinks B is plain cool, and B thinks Jimmy is absolutely the funniest man alive. Really liking how Jimmy, quite possibly the most clueless man alive, is besties with the sirens. Very fitting.

I can totally talk about Scar and B being siblings! One of the reasons I didn't answer this in your previous asks (sorry about that btw) was just I didn't really know how to word it? Again, this au is very self-indulgent and I just really like the Scar and Bigb dynamic, and also really like weird sibling dynamics where they don't quite like each other and probably wouldn't be besties if they were allowed to not grow up together. But they did. And they're besties. And don't quite like each other. Except it's even more weird than this because B doesn't quite like Scar but absolutely loves him but also would really rather prefer to never interact with him ever (one of my favorite clips of them is b hanging out in third life, hearing scar's voice in the distance, and instantly saying 'oh no oh no oh no i gotta get out of here'. then scar comes to swindle him. a very similar thing happened in last life but scar didnt even come to swindle him, he just showed up at the shadow tower after the fairy fort burned down and b just runs and hides behind a little stone box. bugs to me). And Scar loves B soooo much but even more than that he loves teasing him. 'Life series best friend' has been referenced every single life series. And most of those times has been during a moment B is not red and Scar is. Very untrustworthy man. But at the same time I just know in my heart of hearts that given the chance (forcing them on a team together) they would be SO dynamic and interesting with a more haphazard trust and confused devotion type thing going on. So yeah: Guys who would absolutely never talk to one another again in their life if not for the fact they're siblings, but since they are they absolutely love each other. Oddly, that's inspired by how my mom talks about her and my aunt (her sister), and kind of how I feel about my own sibling. I haven't really thought out parental/other family ties, and i'm leaning towards either just having siren culture be very independent from parents or just never explicitly addressing it, as I don't really think it's that important, even though B and Scar's childhood is (I do not know what the details of their childhood are yet. i am such a good storyteller. clearly.)

Being completely honest, I chose a lionfish because I think they're cool, I just kinda got Scar vibes from it, and I associate him with orange. As with all good decisions, it was completely random and I'm actually super happy with it! I guess it also plays into his dangerous side, with the toxic needles and all that. If you happen to have any ideas for what B's tail could be (doesn't need to be blue tbh i'm just trying to get an idea), I would LOVE to hear it!

As for side characters, I have a few townsfolk planned out and kind of forgot to think of more seafolk. I think Gem and Impulse run a bakery (impulse bakes, gem decorates), Martyn and Ren co-own a pub (look up the stardrop saloon from stardew valley, kinda looks like that but they have little shows and a stage and all sorts of little entertainment things in it), Pearl has something to do with spirits and the supernatural (I'm toying with the idea of having an arc where she gets possessed and there's a whole red pearl thing with an angry spirit), and a number of other hermits/lifers (?) are villagers. Since the town is built on fishing and farming due to how rural it is, that's a lot of their occupations. Still, very few choose to live on the beach, as we know. In terms of merfolk, I just know that Etho is a sea slug and Iskall is a manta ray. Sorting some people into 'categories', Scott, Skizz, and Cleo are merfolk (sirens or not, undecided) and Bdubs, Tango, Joel, and Lizzie are townsfolk. I kinda want to explore other "supernatural" creatures (hence Pearl's potential ghost arc), so I might make a few of the villagers some other creatures. That's all up to fate, though.

I hope you don't mind, but i'll be leaving your other ask in my inbox just so I can go back and look at it easily. Thank you so much for the kind words and interest in my silly little au! More questions and ideas are always welcome!!

[randoimago]

fire emblem three houses for the ask game please

Got two people sending in requests for me to do FE3H so here it is!! I didn't add the fav headcanons to this one cause my brain is soup rn and I don't want to think

Ask Game Here

3 male characters I love: Ashe (my baby), Dedue (I married him🥰), oh god i'm limited to three Linhardt

3 female characters I love: Lysithea (I always try to recruit her, she's my MVP), Bernadetta (also my baby), Marianne

3 romantic ships I love:

Yuri/Bernadetta (childhood friends where one is an assassin that's supposed to kill the other?? I want more of that dynamic ngl)

Mercedes/Sylvain (the support these two have always makes me smile, they're so cute)

Dimitri/Marianne ("I would not trade our time together or the happiness we knew for anything." 😭)

3 platonic dynamics I love:

Annette/Mercedes

Sylvain/Felix (I know these two are shipped a lot and I like seeing them shipped too, I also just like them being brothers and supporting the other when they lost theirs)

Hapi/Constance (they're adorable)

3 favorite moments in canon:

I haven't played this game is so long so I'm trying to remember the different supports and canon events >.<

Flayn and Seteth's paralogue was so good. Idk, I'm a huge momma's girl so learning that they're Father/Daughter and visiting the mom's grave hit me in the feelings. (I also always like watching characters visiting the graves of those they cared a lot for, idk it's a small thing that I enjoy seeing)

As sad as losing Jeralt was in game, the fact that there were so many characters giving support to Byleth was really nice to see. Even if they weren't recruited, it was cute. (Bernie coming out of her room to visit the grave?? 😭😭)

Not really a moment, but I really did enjoy the cast of characters and how different they all felt. Like none of them felt like a copy/paste or lesser of other characters to me. It was nice. And while I might not have connected with some characters over others, I know that they still got their love from others.

3 least favorite things about it:

The DLC boss fight oh my god fuck that guy

Kind of unfortunate that there isn't a "Secret" route where everyone is united and they all fight together. I mean, I know they made the Warriors-esque game, but I'd like to keep playing as Byleth and recruit everyone and see the supports of characters that you normally can't really see supports of from choosing certain houses over others.

I really wish there could've been better supports/endings for some characters. I'm still upset Ingrid and Dorothea only got to B rank. They're best friends and Dorothea so very obviously cares for her and they only make it to B?? I would've just liked more romantic endings over "And they stayed best friends forever"

[mikelogan]

9, 24 and 27 for the creator asks!

9: Would you say your style has changed a lot since you first started creating? oh for SURE. regardless of what i consider my start bc i used to gif from like 2015-2017 and then i didn't start up again until april of 2023. this time around, i have learned SO much, and i'm sure part of that is just bc of how much gif styles have changed in the last 6-8 years, but also bc i joined a couple gifmaking networks and have gotten so much help through them, found so many resources, and learned tons! to compare, here's one of the sets i was proudest of from Back In The Day. now, it's definitely not horrible, but the coloring and the slow framerate make me borderline homicidal. this one is marginally better, and i remember thinking i was really Doing Something with that typography 😂 here are some of the sets i made early on in my Return to Gifmaking this past April/May. this was one of the first times i'd ever combined multiple gifs into one and girl. what the fuck happened. why are the framerates Like That? what is this typography? i had no business making early l&o gifs 540px wide bc the quality is bad enough at 268px 💀and i think this one is a good example of i got the spirit! the execution just wasn't quite there. i like the main gif with the overlay of the sky, but i'd do the typography very differently and idk if i'd do it in b&w? i could try and remake it tbh, it's been 9 months since i made and posted it.

24: What’s your step by step? How do you organise your editing process? buckle up 😂

make clips of the scene(s) i want to use if i don't already have them

import video frames to layers

action 1: grouping and timing (groups all layers and sets frame rate to 0.05)

delete any extra frames

crop to whatever dimensions i'm using

action 2: sharpening (two smart sharpen layers) + vivid sharpening (i used this tutorial and i usually keep that folder at 30% but sometimes drop it down to 10-15%)

coloring! it depends on what i'm giffing, but i color everything from scratch at least the first time. i save a LOT of my psds, like there's one psd that i use for almost all my tfothou gifs, a couple for hill house depending on the tint of the scene i'm giffing, one for law & order that sometimes needs to be adjusted just a little, one for the good wife, one or two for satc, etc. but they're all psds that i created myself.

typography (if applicable) which almost always involves scrolling through the entire list of fonts just to use one of my go-tos

action 3: this save action from anyataylorjoy

export > save for web!

upload to hellsite (derogatory) and gifsets always immediately go to my drafts, even if i want to post them right away, just so i can make sure i'm happy with everything and try to catch any last-minute mistakes

as for general organization, i'm organized on my computer to a near-ridiculous standard, but it works for me lmao. my psds, templates, and project psds (where i save an entire finished gif if it's for a larger, complex set and then never get rid of them lmao), and all overlays, textures, icons, graphics, transitions, etc. are meticulously organized. my finished gifs are also organized into their own folders.

27: What’s your favourite font to use? in general, monsterrat. i use it for everything in google docs, and it's my fave sans serif to go with serif or script fonts. when i'm using it for giffing, i usually use semibold.

[thesherrinfordfacility]

would love to know your thoughts!!! ask and ye shall receive; i have many! your responses are great food for thought.

firstly, please accept my humble apologies for the late-late answer to this!!! i got into a hyperfocus with an amv first things first, i'm pretty sure given the length of my ask your answer doesn't qualify as late. i'll take the dance though lol. also the amv is fantastic! meat loaf is one of my favourite artists and your editing is amazing. p.s. should you decide to do another meat loaf song at some point may i cast my vote for original sin? imo his best song and well. on the nose title is on the nose.

im firmly of the opinion that god in GO is omniscient, but strictly amoral. anything else has rather concerning implications i think. i mean, if it's all just god's plan then free will - which angels and demons do act as though they have - is fictitious and if she doesn't approve i'm not really sure how aziraphale and crowley are a) still alive and b) ever going to be able to have a happy ending because i don't think you can exactly defeat an omniscient omnipotent being.

especially if anyone subscribes to some variant of the scapegoat theory - that being crowley, aziraphale, lucifer, or any combination of them. i think i might just subscribe to every variant of this theory. including the possibility that some of the stuff you noticed is relevant not to the fall but to the modern day. really hoping something like this'll be true. (also really hoping for a pieta; those promo photos are ominous and they have me in a chokehold.)

now, i can see metatron's rationale going in two different directions (so far, and might be both or neither): this was definitely helpful for parsing my own thoughts on the metatron. i'd be inclined towards a mix of both but with the former weighing more heavily: less 'i follow what i think is god's plan and if it benefits me then that must be part of it without considering the subconscious influence of my desires' and more 'i do what i want and since i am an infallible vessel of god's plan my will must be hers'. i find that would make a more compelling villain but that's just me. i'm not exactly sure how and whether this fits with my fall theories though. i do think crowley's fall was something personal which makes me think whatever he did be it just asking the wrong questions or also finding the wrong answers - i prefer the latter because i'd love to see the forbidden knowledge thing pay off but i think the wrong questions are plenty dangerous enough for my speculation to still work - it threatened not just god's plan/authority but also specifically the metatron's. although this does open the question whether he sees taking over heaven as subverting god. you could probably make an argument that the two aren't necessarily equated. i'm still intrigued by the demons discussing the final victory of hell over heaven - and following the plan they believed to be god's to do so?!

hell are short-staffed - irrespective of why, we know this is an issue. which. how did that even happen? as of the airbase there are 10 million demons around according to beelzebub. assuming they're not lying what happened in the last four year to change that?

i think there's something there. something something if it happens twice it's an institutional problem. there can't be another rebellion because of what that would say about heaven so all issues are neatly swept under the rug before anyone finds out about them. crowley's extremely public execution vs aziraphale being quietly made to disappear. *

well, it's actually somewhat understandable how they regard aziraphale. it makes sense i'm just not sure it doesn't make it worse. harking back to what i said about the metatron antagonists who fully believe they're doing the right thing are chilling.

so, to watch as aziraphale presumably treads the same path must be terrifying, because of what it could precipitate. * sweeping issues under the rug before anyone finds out and the situation escalates.

all of this to say that i don't think it's inconclusive at this time to implicate the archangels in what, as the hypothesis above indicates, is entirely metatron's doing. i'm not sure what you mean with this sentence, sorry! would you mind clarifying? trying to give as vague a response as possible so it fits in any case: i don't think the archangels are completely innocent, but the metatron clearly outranks them and presumably has plans that they're not privy to.

bear in mind that despite the recent trial, uriel and michael don't even recognise metatron. which is distinctly odd. wonder if there's something going on there.

it might not necessarily change anything about the fall retrospectively, but it does inform on how they punish angels, that step out of line, in a post-fall era. those dynamics could also end up being relevant to season 3's plot it's just that i was trying - and let's be honest failing - to stay at least somewhat on track.

and in any case - im not convinced that either of them, or indeed anyone(?) fully remembers the fall. hmmmm. the metatron might have blurred everyone's memories a bit especially regarding the specifics of how falling worked, but you'd think if a full wipe happened to every single angel, fallen or not, there'd be more awareness of it as a phenomenon? based off dagon's rallying in season 1 the other demons do seem to recall fighting and aziraphale also remembers details from the war with the halo thing. while we get crowley quite specifically and directly emphathising with gabriel's situation there's no indication aziraphale relates in the same way. an institutional scale wipe makes sense from the metatron's perspective but i feel more like it's being set up more as a directly targeted at crowley thing - maybe aziraphale if that version of the scapegoat theory is true - which would fit with knowing something he shouldn't have, which is probably still my leading theory on why he fell. i think if the scapegoat theory shows up it's more likely to be in the form of how the narrative was framed afterwards and not with that being the actual reason for him falling. but i will fully admit that my speculating is heavily influenced by what i would like to be true and my brain sank its teeth into the thematic-ness of the angel who would become the serpent of eden falling for acquiring forbidden knowledge fall of man style and won't let go.

but i am still fairly convinced that crowley is going to own a lucifer-ish narrative as concerns his fall. fingers crossed that you're right! i want this so badly. although my ideal scenario if i'm not theorising but just going by what i'd find cool to see is that the lucifer-ish narrative is something that was at least partially imposed on him afterwards after he got mind-wiped to distract him from the real reason (see above, i'm trying not to repeat myself too much lol).

but i think he massively downplays his part. and if the memory loss theory is true, i really think that might be the reason why he does it. he can't consider that he might have done something a little bad because he's scared he did something that would horrify him *. brace yourself tangent incoming. i started thinking about whether you can exend that to the present day and i think you just might be able to. he's stuck in a very strange in between where he can't admit to any of his positive traits or softer emotions because hell would come for him but he also can't acknowledge his flaws because for all that's he's got plenty he's not bad or evil or whatever which is precisely why the thought that if he started digging into his flaws he might find out exactly that about himself terrifies him so much. he did something bad enough to warrant falling and apparently he himself was/is so bad he didn't even realise how bad it was (thank you job!) so if he starts with self examination what if it just keeps going and going and he finds out he's no better than hastur or ligur or dagon or any of the other demons he reports to who all delight in suffering. feeling sorry for him.

i think perhaps lucifer and the gang start to panic, panic at the concept of falling (regardless of who is dolling out the sentence, god or metatron), and they pin the blame on AWCW. i hadn't even considered that the scapegoat aspect might come from the rebels. i always figured that if such a narrative was implemented it was the archangels who did so. there's a post floating around talking about what happened that crowley stopped being friends with the other rebels and i don't think i like what i get when i put your and their ideas together. ouch.

but that would potentially be a big chunk of his character core that once realised could make a lot of things about him suddenly make sense. i mean you saw my ramble on the psychological ramifications of something like that in the lucifer theory interlude. how the fuck do you reconcile six millenia + however much 'time' elapsed between the fall and the beginning living with the knowledge that you're essentially the root of all evil and suffering in this universe? (* aka the even more painful alternative explanation for the downplaying.) if this is true i'm amazed he isn't more messed up. feeling even more sorry for him.

in terms of crowley's rank... sigh. i know i did argue for it in my last ask but honestly? i have pretty mixed feelings. if i'm trying to simplify them they mostly boil down to that i think there's a case to be made in either direction and that on the whole i can really take or leave the theory. high ranked characters who are nonetheless regarded as utterly irrelevant is a very specific dynamic that i really enjoy, i think at some point you move past red herring into 'well now you do have to deliver something' territory and there are some interesting character/narrative implications this opens up. on the other hand there are other character/narrative possibilities that would get shut down and i can offer a counter argument for all the hints. so. overall i think it's probably the theory that affects the circumstances of his fall the least. if he was an archangel then the metatron's disdain is because someone he disliked anyway nearly exposed him. if he wasn't then it's because some nobody nearly exposed him. he can still have been a threat without needing the clearance. the scapegoat theory isn't changed. like it works if he was an archangel but it also doesn't really matter all that much if he wasn't.

but my understanding is that a lot of his themes work with the concept of being "ordinary" which... this theory would arguably shoot out of the park i've seen a few people argue this and i have to say i disagree. his power is clearly tied to his imagination and not his rank so that wouldn't be affected. and so i personally feel it would actually reinforce the ordinariness. he protested the end date of the universe as a high ranking angel and achieved nothing beyond a sulfur bath for his troubles whereas as a demonic nobody he successfully helped avert the apocalypse. he accomplished things as someone ordinary that he didn't manage when he was still somebody.

we know that shax is not the sharpest of demons in this respect *snorts*

in which case, i personally think gabriel was just being sarcastic and childish, and simply reinstating "hey, im the top dog here, im the only one at my level, so what i say goes'. i mean you may very well be right. but, and maybe it's just because of the way it made me do the mental equivalent of slamming face first into a wall on my second rewatch, i can't shake the feeling that there's something going on with this line. of course the cut to crowley could just mean that he knows something to contradict it; not necessarily that he is the contradiction. (or it's just a very painful piece of foreshadowing that aziraphale's going to take the metatron's offer but i'm hoping there's more to it than that.)

there's a whole, obviously interesting, conversation missing there, and i dont think that's inconsequential... potentially. oooo i hadn't even gotten around to considering the potential content and consequences of that conversation yet. the whole thing felt oddly like there was some kind of history there to me. that doesn't have to mean he was an archangel but i did find it noticeable. did the circumstances surrounding his fall warrant the entire council of archangels getting involved as well as the metatron? could be a point in favour of the scapegoat theory and/or my forbidden knowledge thing.

so morning stars... might just be morning stars? probably lol. even in a show with as much to discover as good omens i'd imagine a good third of the things we find didn't actually mean anything deeper. so yes most likely answer. the more boring one too though. i will say that despite my suggesting the more literal meaning i'm pretty sure that if it does somehow end up pertaining to crowley then it's just metaphorical: a nod at a lucifer reminscent fall narrative. 🦭

p.s. you certainly didn't forget or ignore anything (your responses are amazingly thorough!) but i did figure since you've been, as you say, biased towards being more critical of crowley, i figured i'd have a shot at tempting/challenging you to analyse a positive aspect of his character to balance it out again ;)

p.p.s. obviously only if you want to; i don't mean to pressure you or anything!

resending this because i think the wifi might have eaten it (you do not want to know how often that happens); apologies if that wasn't the case and you've now got it twice!

hello again 🦭 anon!!! hope you're good!!!✨ i did get your first one but no matter! i ended up having to make notes in order to be able to plan my response to you - literally 5 pages, but i think better pen to paper - and just as i was about to start typing it all up, you re-sent!!!✨💕

also thank you re: the amv, haha!!! i ended up doing another using The Darkness, but your suggestion of using Original Sin is inspired, ive put it on the list!!! as for being on the nose... well, i did one to lewis capaldi's heavenly kind of state of mind, so make of that what you will!

anyway!!! once more unto the breach✨

(previous ask)

i completely agree with your remarks on the implications of god - i discussed this at some length with LWA, but i'll say it again; i have some major reservations about the God Ships It trope in the fandom for this very reason. now, don't get me wrong, in the world of fic etc., i totally get it's just for fun, and i 100% stand by the notion that everyone should just get to write what they like for the purposes of entertainment (and they're legends for doing so!!!), but in the case of discussing god in general in GO, and her involvement in crowley/aziraphale, i simply... can't get on board with it, nor with the idea that god created them specifically to find each other, or that they were meant to work together/fall for each other. it, for me personally, just feels incongruous with other aspects of god's characterisation or indeed the theme of the story - to my interpretation, anyway.

i do however consider that aziraphale may perhaps - however funny the idea is and therefore the plethora of jokes that have been made about it - may have somewhat of a special place in god's esteem. i still consider the thoughts that:

aziraphale was a cherub at the time of and before eden, and if we consider both hebrew and christian angelologies, cherubim are consider to be the throne-bearers of god, and attendants to god, respectively

obviously this is not confirmed in GO, but if we work with the understanding that humanity is god's greatest creation, built in her image, it indicates some level of trust and prestige that aziraphale would be working on building them

aziraphale seems to understand the ineffable plan on a profound level, even if he doesn't quite consciously realise it. let's go with my rationale that ineffable plan = no plan = free will of everyone else, aziraphale has shown repeatedly that he follows this, and is never punished for it. examples: giving the sword away, lying to god about it, lying to the archangels, preventing armageddon. all instances, i'd wager, all directly contravene the Great Plan, and yet aziraphale is - to my recollection/understanding - never once punished for it.

so essentially, in my eyes, aziraphale is sort of the embodiment of god's will; again, even if he doesn't realise or know that, his decisions made out of the Right Thing To Do all indicate him thinking for himself, going where his moral compass is pointing him. he arguably resists it, finding it hard to reconcile this with what he thinks god's plan is (ie he thinks he's disobeying her - and by extension heaven's - will), but that's where crowley comes in. it's all a little main-character-ish, even for me, but it's currently the only thing that makes sense for a lot of god's actions and inactions in the narrative; that free will is her greatest gift, if only her creations would use it. i also love the metaphorical imagery, the poetry, of crowley being the question, and aziraphale being the answer (this sparks narrative analytical joy).

so let's segue back to the metatron; i know i said it in my previous answer, but personally my thinking on his motive is the other way around 😂 i really like your thoughts, especially on 'infallible vessel', and whilst that certainly speaks to me as being his behaviour, im not personally convinced that is his motive. imo (so please do ignore this if preferable!!!), i don't think it's narratively compelling in GO to actually have a villain, so to speak; obviously metatron fulfils the role of it, he's the Big Bad, but i can't help but feel that "blur the edges... something to said for shades of grey" speaks about more than just crowley and aziraphale's grapple with their moral identities, or indeed that of hell and heaven; for me, it's the specific, simplified concept that moral absolutism doesn't exist. noone is completely evil, just as noone is wholly good.

it would make sense, to me, for this to extend to metatron; whilst his actions are - to the audience especially - objectively immoral, i can't help but see the angle where if your whole purpose as you understood it was to be the voice of god, and to enact her will as she left it in her handover (ie. the great plan) before FO'ing out of heaven, i don't think it's beyond comprehension that his actions to preserve that will are understandable... to some extent. i want to see metatron's arse kicked as much as the next person, but at the same time i interpret GO as posing the dichotomy of conflicting morality, of good and evil, and exploring how far the two are intertwined... it therefore doesn't personally make sense to me that metatron would completely fall outside of this. his actions are detestable, but i want to see a story that makes me think about why he does what he does, and question my evaluation of whether - in context - he did the right or wrong thing... or maybe a bit of both. every villain is a hero in their own story.

as for his beef with crowley, well... i think it depends on what you (general) would consider personal. i think it could totally be personal in the perspective of 'im doing what i can to follow god's will and preserve the sanctity of heaven, and you're getting in the way of that - you are therefore a threat', and also the alternative of 'im the voice of god, im literally the highest authority, and you are directly challenging me". i think both absolutely could be correct, a mix of them - for me, the former being personal against metatron's motive, and the latter against his character.

where crowley/AWCW is specifically concerned re: his questions, i think again for me it makes for a more compelling character arc that crowley has existed throughout his fall and being a demon as not getting any answers, constantly questioning, and instead in s3 he gets the answers (albeit, i have a feeling that the answer will essentially be that there are no answers, and it's 'up to each of you to find your own ones'). AWCW not getting any answers to his questions would, imo, also make more sense for the dialogue on the wall of eden (again, reluctant to chalk everything up to a memory wipe).

right, ten million demons!!! this one is absolutely boggling me, and i did, at some point in a shitpost, question this - someone quite logically said that the demons were pushing for armageddon so that everyone dies and demons wouldnt have to work anymore, and that as the human population kept going up, so did the number of the damned (compared with the static number of demons to govern them), but im still... undecided. crackpot thought: perhaps in contrast to how aziraphale is treated post-retiring from heaven in s2, demons have taken inspiration from crowley, especially as armageddon 2.0 kept getting postponed after s1, and they've gone AWOL?

couple of things in this: it has the potential to tie into the various nina/maggie theories. we also have a lot more insight into demon dynamics in s2, and a common theme im seeing is demons... asking questions. eric (my beloved) in ep5, beelzebub's PA/bodyguard, furfur, even shax... they all feel very different to hastur and ligur in s1 in terms of characterisation, and even very different from dagon as we see them in s2, and i wonder if this has any correlation - any cause and effect relationship - with the decreasing demon population. it also seems to follow the trajectory of beelzebub losing interest in ruling hell; again, i wonder if essentially demons have had mass walk-outs and they're basically floating around earth, staying under the radar... similar to crowley. thoughts?

re: the archangels... i meant 'conclusive' haha!!! (edited on the previous ask, apologies!!!). what i mean is that i don't think we can necessarily, at this time, assign the same level of culpability or blame to the archangels as we do to metatron. it's the 'following orders' thing again, but put it this way - aziraphale arguably has the benefit of being assigned to earth, and being around crowley, to fully realise that he can think for himself and according to his own sense of morality. the archangels have not known anything other than heaven, god's plan, and the metatron's voice. they're not innocent by any stretch, but the bottom line - as i see it - for them is to preserve heaven. we can view their actions as deplorable, and that is true, but in their unique circumstances, what other action would, could, or should they have taken? i refer back to my thoughts above on moral absolutism and its place - if it has any - in GO and its characters.

re: memory of their time as angels, this is where i largely fluctuate on how much i subscribe to the memory wipe theory - but i don't think it's a full wipe, but potentially partial? im soooo not sure because there are so many counterpoints to each eventuality, but here are some scattered thoughts:

im personally not 100% convinced that metatron necessarily has anything directly to do with the memory issue thing. i know michael and uriel don't remember him (saraqael presumably does, same as crowley, because they had just watched the trial footage), and that is one part i can't quite get my head around... but i think perhaps that the memory wipe is attributable more to the BOL than to the metatron himself - i do think there's potentially a link between falling/erasure of grace and divinity, and to memories of being an angel

as i said (iirc) in the last response, there's the question of how crowley and - we can assume from the dialogue - beelzebub both remember the detail of frightening cherubs with the extreme sanctions threat. this makes me wonder if it's a case of them forgetting the fall specifically rather than their entire time as angels - or if their ability to recollect some memories is linked to their particular levels of power or rank. ie. the higher the angelic rank/individual power, the more they're able to remember? idk

as for demons not being aware of a wider issue, that's a fair point - but do demons really talk to each other? wouldn't that indicate a weakness, vulnerability? if there is a large-scale memory problem going on, which is a very tentative thought anyway, im not sure that any of the demons would in fact talk to others about it. also - quite right to point out dagon's rallying speech, but (and im probably flogging a dead horse here but im trying to work stuff out, so bear with me!!!) if the war occurred before the fall, the 'rebels' lost and fell, ending up in hell, i don't think there's any reason why the fall specifically might not have been wiped. idk, this whole thing needs so much more thought and research in general

one thing that i do think is interesting is that aziraphale hasnt ever spoken about his experience in the war, except to nina and maggie. this could just be how the narrative evolved organically, sure, but could it also indicate some level of guilt? some level of aziraphale feeling like he was to blame, the fact that he remembers the war where crowley doesn't fully seem to? i have my #halo theory wherein i wonder if aziraphale was the specific angel to actually declare the war in heaven - and this kind of links in with a couple of recent asks ive had where aziraphale may have had a judas iscariot-type role in the fall itself... (discussed here and here) i think him carrying some degree of shame and responsibility for the fall on his shoulders could make a lot of sense in regards to his characterisation after the fact, particularly on the wall of eden (this could arguably negate any scapegoat theory for aziraphale pre-fall, but i also think it could work concurrently. hmm.)

i absolutely love your interpretation of crowley's inner conflict, i think that's so well put, and i like it a lot!!! i certainly don't think crowley is willfully ignorant or in denial of his potential part in his own - or the wider - fall, but perhaps just doesn't want to examine or confront it, as you said... or perhaps doesn't remember altogether, and has just cobbled together why he thinks he fell. but similarly, i think it's also fair to assess crowley as having some measure of the same mentality as he did before he fell; that he can be quite blinkered, self-assured, and at times quite arrogant. there are quite a few instances where i think, to some degree, that he shows this, but i think that's another post!!! (and please, please do not think im hating on him - critique of a character does not mean i dislike him or find him reprehensible, i promise; it's quite the opposite honestly!!!)

last couple of bits, re: AWCW's rank - i think there's a distinction in the conferment of importance on AWCW by way of rank, vs by way of power, and that the two are not necessarily the same. you're exactly right - AWCW had an imagination, same as crowley does, and i too think this is the source from which all his power stems; nothing to do with his prospective rank in heaven. personally, i think it reads more poetically to have, essentially, a nobody be the one to precipitate an event that rocks the stability of heaven, and being the first (?) to question the system. but ultimately, like you said, it's immaterial, and the narrative would still hold and be profound if it were the other way around. just personally i like the idea of him being a heavenly Nobody to becoming a hellish Somebody is rather compelling!!!✨