#so it may be somewhat inconsistent

[cubbihue]

Chimmy! Mr Turner, sir, your tie is loose. It’s always a bit loose. Hm. Not very professional…

Haha, oh Timmy! Always so sloppy!!! It’s a good thing his parents are there to help shape him up again! What a shame that he’s moving away from them. Who’ll keep Timmy Turner in line now??

Ah, well. I'm sure someone else will fill in that role. We can't let our changeling go about without supervision after all!

Bitties Series: [Start] > [Previous] > [Next]

[wonder-worker]

Margaret of Anjou’s visit to Coventry [in 1456], which was part of her dower and that of her son, Edward of Lancaster, was much more elaborate. It essentially reasserted Lancastrian power. The presence of Henry and the infant Edward was recognised in the pageantry. The ceremonial route between the Bablake gate and the commercial centre was short, skirting the area controlled by the cathedral priory, but it made up for its brevity with no fewer than fourteen pageants. Since Coventry had an established cycle of mystery plays, there were presumably enough local resources and experience to mount an impressive display; but one John Wetherby was summoned from Leicester to compose verses and stage the scenes. As at Margaret’s coronation the iconography was elaborate, though it built upon earlier developments.

Starting at Bablake gate, next to the Trinity Guild church of St. Michael, Bablake, the party was welcomed with a Tree of Jesse, set up on the gate itself, with the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah explaining the symbolism. Outside St. Michael’s church the party was greeted by Edward the Confessor and St. John the Evangelist; and proceeding to Smithford Street, they found on the conduit the four Cardinal Virtues—Righteousness (Justice?), Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude. In Cross Cheaping wine flowed freely, as in London, and angels stood on the cross, censing Margaret as she passed. Beyond the cross was pitched a series of pageants, each displaying one of the Nine Worthies, who offered to serve Margaret. Finally, the queen was shown a pageant of her patron saint, Margaret, slaying the dragon [which 'turned out to be strictly an intercessor on the queen's behalf', as Helen Maurer points out].

The meanings here are complex and have been variously interpreted. An initial reading of the programme found a message of messianic kingship: the Jesse tree equating royal genealogy with that of Christ had been used at the welcome for Henry VI on his return from Paris in 1432. A more recent, feminist view is that the symbolism is essentially Marian, and to be associated with Margaret both as queen and mother of the heir rather than Henry himself. The theme is shared sovereignty, with Margaret equal to her husband and son. Ideal kingship was symbolised by the presence of Edward the Confessor, but Margaret was the person to whom the speeches were specifically addressed and she, not Henry, was seen as the saviour of the house of Lancaster. This reading tips the balance too far the other way: the tableau of Edward the Confessor and St. John was a direct reference to the legend of the Ring and the Pilgrim, one of Henry III’s favourite stories, which was illustrated in Westminster Abbey, several of his houses, and in manuscript. It symbolised royal largesse, and its message at Coventry would certainly have encompassed the reigning king. Again, the presence of allegorical figures, first used for Henry, seems to acknowledge his presence. Yet, while the message of the Coventry pageants was directed at contemporary events it emphasised Margaret’s motherhood and duties as queen; and it was expressed as a traditional spiritual journey from the Old Testament, via the incarnation represented by the cross, to the final triumph over evil, with the help of the Virgin, allegory, and the Worthies. The only true thematic innovation was the commentary by the prophets.

[...] The messages of the pageants firmly reminded the royal women of their place as mothers and mediators, honoured but subordinate. Yet, if passive, these young women were not without significance. It is clear from the pageantry of 1392 and 1426 in London and 1456 in Coventry that when a crisis needed to be resolved, the queen (or regent’s wife) was accorded extra recognition. Her duty as mediator—or the good aspect of a misdirected man—suddenly became more than a pious wish. At Coventry, Margaret of Anjou was even presented as the rock upon which the monarchy rested. [However,] a crisis had to be sensed in order to provoke such emphasis [...].

— Nicola Coldstream, "Roles of Women in Late Medieval Civic Pageantry", Reassessing the Roles of Women as 'Makers' of Medieval Art and Culture

[plutosunshine]

Roasting your Moon sign

Emotional vulnerabilities of each sign

The Moon represents our emotional world, where all our inner needs, feelings, and weaknesses thrive. The Moon, especially the sign and house it is in, can reveal much about your inner world and what you subconsciously feel but cannot bring to the surface. Let’s explore together the emotional vulnerabilities hidden behind your Moon sign.

Moon in Aries

The Moon in Aries often doesn’t allow much time to process feelings deeply. A person with this placement may be inclined to react impulsively, even aggressively, to stressful situations or conflicts. This can lead to hasty actions and words they may later regret.

They want quick solutions and immediate results. Emotional processes that require time — like experiencing grief or considering forgiveness — can be particularly challenging for the Moon in Aries.

The Moon in Aries takes pride in its independence and often conceals vulnerabilities, not showing a need for support or understanding. This can lead to emotional isolation or a feeling that “I have to handle everything on my own.”

The Moon in Aries craves constant movement and novelty; monotony can quickly lead to boredom and irritation. This may manifest as dissatisfaction or a search for new emotional experiences in relationships.

People with the Moon in Aries can quickly feel “trapped” or restricted if someone tries to control them or influence their behavior. They may react strongly to any attempts to interfere with their personal space.

Moon in Taurus

The Moon in Taurus fears change and instability. This position endows a person with a strong attachment to a familiar environment, and any change can cause stress and a sense of losing ground. Such a Moon sometimes avoids the new, even if it would bring growth and development. Stepping out of the comfort zone can be one of the most challenging tasks.

Taurus is one of the most stubborn signs, and the Moon here can be very persistent in its emotions and attachments. Sometimes, this is expressed as an inability to let go of relationships, situations, or beliefs, even if they no longer serve or hinder progress.

The emotions of the Moon in Taurus are closely tied to material comfort, so dissatisfaction may arise when there is a lack of financial stability or material resources. This Moon placement can sometimes attach too strongly to the material world, causing fears and worries about finances and comfort.

The Moon in Taurus is often not inclined toward emotional outbursts, preferring calmness and balance. However, this can create problems, as you may suppress your true feelings until tension builds up. The Moon in Taurus often avoids deep emotional experiences, fearing they might disturb its sense of tranquility.

The Moon in Taurus may seek emotional comfort through material pleasures—good food, comfort, shopping. Sometimes, this can lead to excessive dependence on physical pleasures to cope with inner tension.

Moon in Gemini

People with the Moon in Gemini often prefer to discuss their feelings rather than experience them deeply. In challenging situations, this can manifest as a tendency to “talk through” or analyze emotions instead of sincerely feeling them.

The emotions of the Moon in Gemini are changeable, sometimes giving an impression of inconsistency. Such people can quickly switch from one state to another, which can occasionally lead to inner anxiety and instability.

The Moon in Gemini values intellectual communication more than emotional closeness, so expressions of warm feelings may come across as somewhat superficial. Communication and exchanging ideas are important, but reaching a deeper level can be difficult. Often, they rationalize their emotions, which doesn’t always facilitate emotional closeness.

Since the Moon in Gemini constantly processes and analyzes information, this can lead to mental and emotional overload. The tendency to worry and overthink can cause fatigue and tension.

To cope with complex emotions, the Moon in Gemini sometimes chooses detachment or humor, hiding their true feelings beneath it. This may create a sense of coldness or emotional unavailability.

Moon in Cancer

The Moon in Cancer often values memories, family, and roots. This attachment can become problematic if a person fixates on negative moments from the past, reliving them constantly and struggling to move forward.

Those with the Moon in Cancer are often highly sensitive to everything around them, including the words and actions of others. They can be easily hurt or take things personally, which may lead to painful emotional experiences.

When such individuals face difficult emotions or vulnerability, they naturally retreat and hide in their “shells.” This can lead to relationship challenges, as partners or friends may feel distance and lack understanding.

The Moon in Cancer is strongly drawn to people who provide a sense of security. Because of this, they may develop dependencies in relationships, becoming overly attached to a partner and fearing loss, even if the relationship is not particularly healthy.

The Moon in Cancer is inclined to care for others, sometimes at their own expense. This can lead to exhaustion, emotional burnout, and feeling undervalued if they feel their efforts are unnoticed or unappreciated.

Moon in Leo

The Moon in Leo feels calm and confident when others accept and appreciate its emotions. This can lead to a dependency on praise and approval, making the person sensitive to criticism or lack of attention. They may feel deprived or insignificant if they don’t receive the expected attention.

People with the Moon in Leo often tend to dramatize their emotions. They may exaggerate their experiences to attract more attention from those around them. This can create emotional outbursts and even conflicts, especially if others are unprepared to respond to such intensity of emotions.

The Moon in Leo typically prefers to appear strong and unwavering, even if they are internally feeling uncertain or hurt. This can make it difficult to acknowledge their own vulnerabilities and seek help in challenging times. The desire to appear independent and “regal” sometimes hinders them from sharing their feelings with others.

The emotions of the Moon in Leo are often centered on their own needs and desires, which can sometimes make it hard for them to understand or empathize with others’ feelings. This can be perceived as emotional self-centeredness and may create difficulties in relationships when understanding and support from loved ones are needed.

Behind the visible confidence, there is often a fear of rejection. The Moon in Leo is sensitive to recognizing its significance, and if it feels “invisible,” this can lead to intense emotions and a drop in self-esteem.

Moon in Virgo

People with the Moon in Virgo often seek order and control, which extends to their feelings. They may find it challenging to express emotions openly as they strive to avoid “mess” and chaos in their experiences. This can lead to emotional suppression, which may later manifest as inner tension or stress. Such individuals tend to be anxious and need control.

The Moon in Virgo often makes a person prone to self-criticism, especially if they feel their emotional responses are “imperfect.” This may express itself as a constant drive to analyze and correct themselves, which can be emotionally draining and lead to feelings of dissatisfaction.

Since the Moon in Virgo is dedicated to routine and order, it’s difficult for them to spontaneously respond to unexpected emotional situations. In times of emotional upheaval, such people may feel lost or confused as they are accustomed to stability.

The Moon in Virgo tends to rely on itself and often struggles to fully open up and trust others. They may fear appearing vulnerable and don’t count on support from others, which can ultimately lead to feelings of loneliness.

Internally, such individuals may fear depending on others or relying too heavily on external support, preferring to be the ones who take care of others. This makes them prone to taking on more than they can emotionally handle.

Moon in Libra

The Moon in Libra often fears being left alone with its emotions. Because of this, people with this Moon placement may rely too heavily on a partner or surroundings for emotional stability, leading to codependency in relationships.

The inner comfort and confidence of people with the Moon in Libra often depend on the opinions of others, making them vulnerable to criticism or disapproval, as their self-esteem is frequently based on external validation.

The Moon in Libra seeks diplomacy and avoids conflicts, sometimes hindering honest and direct expression of feelings. Instead, a person may hide their emotions to avoid arguments or tension, ultimately leading to internal stress.

As a sign, Libra tends toward long deliberations and weighing all pros and cons, often resulting in emotional uncertainty. Consequently, people with the Moon in Libra may hesitate on important matters, which generates inner instability and doubts.

The Moon in Libra values peace and harmony so much that it may avoid any form of conflict, even if it’s necessary for emotional growth or resolving issues. This can lead to superficial relationships or unresolved matters that gradually undermine their inner resilience.

Moon in Scorpio

People with the Moon in Scorpio often have difficulty with trust. They can be suspicious and find it hard to open up, especially if they've experienced betrayal before. This can lead them to keep their true feelings to themselves.

Such individuals' emotions are often extremely intense and sometimes overwhelming, making them prone to jealousy, resentment, and even inner aggression. Their emotions can overflow, leading them to introspection and self-examination.

Under tense aspects or other challenges in the chart, the Moon in Scorpio may manifest self-destructive thoughts or behaviors. These individuals can "get stuck" in their experiences, tending towards drama and intense feelings, especially when facing pain or loss.

People with the Moon in Scorpio often find it difficult to share their true feelings with others. They may choose to close themselves off, preferring to resolve internal issues alone.

Scorpio is a sign of transformation, and the Moon in Scorpio requires constant renewal and reevaluation of their emotions. Suppressed unpleasant emotions can lead to emotional crises if there is no way to seek self-awareness and spiritual growth. This Moon placement can lead to anxiety and a tendency toward depression if people with this Moon placement suppress all their emotional impulses.

Moon in Sagittarius

The Moon in Sagittarius tends to avoid deep emotional work. People with this placement may ignore their inner experiences, preferring to distract themselves with external events or activities that seem more engaging.

Instead of addressing emotional difficulties, the Moon in Sagittarius seeks to “escape” through travel, physical activity, or philosophical reflections. This can lead to a sense of unresolved feelings within. For the Moon in Sagittarius, it is mentally easier to distract oneself than to delve into and process deep emotional experiences.

Sometimes, such individuals are so confident that “everything will work out on its own” that they miss the opportunity to address challenging situations in time, which only intensifies emotional chaos.

The Moon in Sagittarius struggles with restrictions in relationships or life circumstances. Emotional instability may arise when they feel their freedom is being limited. At times, this can reach absurd levels, where the Moon in Sagittarius perceives restrictions even when the situation is greatly exaggerated.

A lack of novelty and variety can make them restless, dissatisfied, and irritable. They may avoid stability, viewing it as boring, which complicates their ability to maintain inner balance.

Moon in Capricorn

People with the Moon in Capricorn often feel that emotions must be controlled and kept under strict supervision. This can lead them to suppress their feelings, fearing they might appear vulnerable or dependent. Over time, such emotional suppression can result in anxiety and other challenges.

The Moon in Capricorn tends to incline individuals toward caution, especially in relationships. There is a subconscious belief that the world is a place where only the strong survive, making it difficult for them to open up and trust others.

The Moon in Capricorn fosters a strong desire to always “be on top.” Vulnerability is perceived as weakness, hindering them from expressing their true feelings freely.

People with the Moon in Capricorn often feel emotionally isolated despite their ability to appear independent. They may experience loneliness even when surrounded by loved ones as they struggle to reveal their true needs.

They can be very hard on themselves. The Moon in Capricorn strives for success and stability, so failures or deviations from their plans cause deep internal turmoil.

Moon in Aquarius

The Moon in Aquarius inclines a person towards emotional detachment. They often try to rationalize their feelings instead of experiencing them fully. This can create challenges in forming deep emotional bonds and hinder complete openness in relationships.

The desire for freedom and independence sometimes drives individuals with the Moon in Aquarius to avoid strong attachments. They may fear that emotional closeness could limit their freedom or force them to sacrifice their individuality.

The Moon in Aquarius is associated with intellect and abstract thinking, which can make it difficult for these individuals to understand or express their emotions. At times, emotions may be suppressed, leading to internal tension.

Aquarian energy strives for objectivity and fairness, sometimes making people with this Moon placement less sensitive to others’ emotional experiences. They may appear cold or indifferent, especially in situations that require emotional support.

The Moon in Aquarius craves recognition for its uniqueness but may simultaneously fear emotional vulnerability. This creates an internal conflict: the desire to be authentic while also fearing rejection for their unconventional nature.

Moon in Pisces

People with the Moon in Pisces often strive to see only the best in others, ignoring reality. This can lead to disappointment when their expectations are not met.

They easily “absorb” the emotions of others, which can sometimes drain them. This may result in emotional exhaustion or even depression if they do not know how to shield themselves from others’ pain.

Pisces are known for their tendency to escape difficulties. The Moon in this sign can amplify the inclination to avoid problems through daydreaming, fantasies, or even addictions.

People with the Moon in Pisces often feel that their emotions are “blurred.” They struggle to distinguish their own feelings from those of others, making them vulnerable to manipulation.

Due to their inner sensitivity, such individuals often seek validation of their worth from external sources. They are highly dependent on the approval and warmth of those around them.

Pisces have a natural desire for unity with others, and the Moon in this sign can evoke a deep fear of being abandoned or isolated.

[animelovelover123]

Could u do dmc readers + Sparda x male reader?????? PLEASE!!!!

I hope you like this! Because I was a bit confused by your request (not sure if you wanted a longer Sparda story or if you mistyped and wanted a bit off all the boys), and I am what I like to call gender blind in stories. The story uses different pronouns than what I use IRL? They have different body parts? They do things my gender can't do? Whatever, I almost never notice and when I do, I just keep reading while changing it in my mind. I have the same "blindness" when it comes to tense. If a story has incorrect or inconsistent tense, it apparently bothers a lot of people, but I legitimately almost never notice it. I understand what is happening in the story, that's all that matters. This is just how my brain works. All this is to say, I hope you like this. ^^;

Devil May Cry Boys Riding You

Pairings: Dante, Reboot Dante, Vergil, Reboot Vergil, Nero, V & Sparda x Male Reader

Trigger Warnings: brief reference to consensual knife play

Dante

Dante has always swung both ways; he just never makes a point to announce it. At most, Lady and Trish will drag him to gay bars, and the regulars there will call him the “gay cowboy”. He flirts with whoever and whenever he wants, when he feels like it, and as of late, you have his attention.

He is slow at first, becoming friends with you and slowly figuring out if you are open to the idea of being together. Once he finds out you are though, within 24 hours, he is straddling your hips.

Despite being a tall, muscular man confident in himself and his masculinity, Dante is a switch that likes to be filled sometimes. There was something comforting about it, being connected with someone, trusting them with your body, it felt nice.

When he finally shimmies his way down onto you, he sighs as if in relief and lets most of his weight sink into you. “How you doing there, beef cake?” He asks in a somewhat teasing tone. “Feeling okay?” This ends up starting a conversation. He needed a bit of time to adjust since he did not sleep around much, and silence just wasn’t an option right now, so he chatted. He makes jokes, talks about life, and odd things that come into his mind. It offered an interesting mix of relaxed conversation, like you were having a pleasant date and getting to know each other, and intense intimacy with occasional jolts of pleasure when Dante shifted over you.

When things did start to ramp up, with one hand on your stomach and the other on one of your thighs so he could easily switch between bouncing and rolling his hips, he kept talking, saying both dirty things and playful things.

And when you were both finished, he flopped down over your chest, your dick still buried inside him, and cuddled up like a big dog.

“Mmmm, mind if I sleep like this? Feels… nice~”

Our big strong boy wants to be close with someone. Please let him cuddle on you, even if he squishes you a bit.

Reboot Dante

Despite being known as a man whore who takes a new woman home every other night, he has messed around with men on occasion. He can suck a dick, knows how to take one.

So when you catch his eye at a club, your manhood doesn’t turn him off. He strides over and starts hitting on you confidently and without shame. He is aggressive in his flirting, like usual, and whether you are used to sleeping with guys or not, he will have you in a taxi heading to his place before the night is up.

When you arrive at his trailer, your cock still hard from the partial hand job you got in the car, Dante pushes you down onto the built in couch. He turns on some music and strips for you, taking his time so you can marvel at him with a smug grin on his face. And with a bit of spit in his palm and a couple strokes of your dick, he was ready to mount you.

Dante usually prefers to be serviced, having people dance for him and suck him off, so he did not have that much experience riding a guy, but what he lacked in technique he made up for in intensity and power.

He holds the back of the couch behind you and slams himself down onto your cock. His lips ravage yours, barely giving you the space to breathe, let alone say anything. The trailer bounces and rocks as he lets loose.

The only chance you got to catch your breath was after you both came. That was only for a couple minutes, though, as soon as he started bouncing his hips again.

“Come on, baby, turn that limp noodle back into a meat sword, I’m not done with you yet.”

When I write Reboot Dante, I purposely try to make the story seem a bit dirtier, more vulgar, because that represents him well. Sometimes though, like the last line, I am like “eww, you weirdo”.

Vergil

Vergil is not one for romance, seeing it as a waste of time that holds him back from gaining power. You, however, are different. You make him feel different.

That doesn’t change the fact that he will assert his power even when in the “submissive” position.

“Do not close your eyes.” Vergil demands when he notices your embarrassment, making you not look as your manhood is enveloped by your lover's tight hole. He grabs your chin and turns your face towards him. “Open them. Witness the gift you are receiving, taking in every sensation no matter how intense it gets.” He squeezes your cheeks just hard enough to cause a bit of pain and make you open your mouth so he could shove his tongue into it, even devil triggering that part to get a bit deeper. When he does pull away, his hot breath washes over you in a pant. “Because it WILL be intense.”

Vergil is in control the whole time. Even when the angle of his downward thrust does make him shudder, jolt, or moan, he won’t be passive.

He grabs your shoulders to force you to sit up. He’ll thread his fingers into your hair to move your head wherever he wants it, whether that be to his lips or his chest.

He moves your hands to his ass and orders you to grope him.

He tells you when and how hard to buck up into him.

And if you have already talked and consented to some intense play, then he will indulge in one of his favourite positions; him riding you while holding the Yamato to your throat.

The desire to have Vergil spit in your mouth was high people. You're welcome to those who don’t like it, and I am sorry for those who crave it.

Reboot Vergil

Vergil has always been a man that carves his own path forward, the masses and oppressors be damned. So when he falls for you, he has no qualms about publicly dating another man, knowing full well that the bigots would throw slurs and hatred at him for it. If anything, he enjoyed proving them wrong and shoving in their faces how their 3rd wife is also having an affair between botox shots they paid for while you're loyal and sexy naturally.

Despite this confidence in public, he was actually kind of shy when you take a more dominant role in intimacy. It is a mix of him not having much sexual experience (he has none but he tells you otherwise because he fears it will make him look pathetic), him being used to being in control, and how you make him feel things he has never felt before and at an intensity he can’t handle with composer (though this one he won’t admit to you, let alone himself).

When you do convince him to try riding you, he needs to face away from you to do it. In this reverse cowboy position, you can’t see his face, how it twisted up in that lewd, shy, embarrassed, but pleasured way. You can’t see how his chest heaved. You won’t be able to see how disheveled you make him.

You can still spot the blush on his face and ears, though. You can hear how heavy his breaths are. And you can see how often he runs his hands through his hair or just grabs it, messing the perfectly sculpted style up.

And if you really want to make him fall apart, and get a grumpy boyfriend for the next week, you can suddenly sit up, touching him and making it so that no matter what, you can see his red face and watery eyes.

Until then though, you get to watch his gauche movements, but you get a clear view of his pale ass and how your cock disappears into him.

Reboot Vergil acts cool, calm, and in control. He likes to dominate, but poor boy does not know how to take it and not be a mess.

Nero

Nero was unsure at first.

Riding you? Really? He knows you are both guys but…

Despite agreeing to date you, Nero was still self-conscious about being submissive. He has always tried to get strong, live up to others in his family, to prove himself to others. This desire for recognition has affected your relationship, making it hard for Nero to be submissive and vulnerable.

Him riding you becomes a middle ground where he can be in some control while still testing this potential side of your blossoming relationship. Unfortunately, he is still self-conscious.

After several adjustments, Nero is able to truly get into the moment. The lights are off, your hands are off him, and he has his headphones on playing his favourite tunes. It wasn’t his usual hard rock and metal tunes, but softer rock and some instrumentals.

This setup lets his mind drift, and his body move instinctually. Music flows through him as his body rolls back and forth, one hand holding his headphones and the other stroking his own cock to the beat of the song.

His eyes stay closed at first, and his expression flickers between focus, discomfort, and pleasure.

Once his confidence is up a bit, he opens his eyes to look down at you, as best he can in the dark, at least. He pulls one side of his headphones back so he can hear you and the noises you’re making.

“You like that? Feels good getting your cock fucked by me, doesn’t it?”

And finally, you’ll know when he is close when he takes off his headphones, leans over to slip them on you, letting your body be filled with music while he puts his hands on the mattress on either side of your head and slams down onto you in earnest.

It's kind of weird, but for some reason, the way I wrote this, with the music calming Nero and then him offering it to you, feels like a drug illusion. Not intentional. I was going off of this hot fanart I saw of Nero (with a pussy) riding someone with headphones on. It is a good piece of art, and if I ever find it again, I will link to it.

V

Even when doing something as primal as lovemaking, V was artistic. He may prefer being a bottom, but he still found that simply stripping down and bouncing over you was rather boring and could be much more exhilarating.

So, whenever you or he are in the mood for a sensual ride, he asks you to sit down. He, like most other times you two do it, goes slow to draw out the pleasure. He sits on your lap, fully clothed, facing away, his legs on either side of yours, and grinds his rear against your lap. Bit by bit, you two will shed your clothes, taking time between each removal to tantalize and stimulate, until finally your manhood slides between his small, tight cheeks with the help of a generous amount of lube.

Actually taking you inside is rather hard for him, his body always tensing up when it feels the intrusion. Just like with your clothes, he takes you in inch by agonizing inch until he is fully seated. He falls back against your chest, his own raising and falling as he drags in breaths. In this stressful moment for him, he would appreciate it if you would hold and care for him to ease his body and heart.

When he finds the strength, he will lean forward again, place both his hands you’re your knees, and undulates his hips. He moves them forward, back, in circles, stimulating not just his insides but every sensitive nerve along your shaft as his warm inner walls massage you. His back, and consequently his tattoos, move and roll in a mesmerizing way in front of you.

He goes slow, lost in a kind of trance, simply focusing on the sensations going through you both, the sounds falling from both your lips, not wanting to go too fast so that it ends too quickly. More often than not, you will have to bring up the intensity by wrapping an arm around him and grasping his own weeping prick. Despite trying so hard to go slow, once you have him in your hand, his body moves on its own, bucking up into you as it chases the high he had been trying to deny himself. He does not last long like this, throwing his head back and opening his mouth to let out a low, blissful moan as he covers your hand and dirties the floor.

Again, he needs a moment to recover, but as soon as he can, he leans forward and lifts himself a bit, leaving you halfway sheathed inside, and holds still. This was his signal for you to take over, to grasp his bonny hips and start thrusting up into him, chasing your own ecstasy.

For the finish, if you can pull it off, he prefers to take you bare back and you pulling out just before the end so he can feel your hot seed pant his back, mixing his black ink with your white seed.

This scene was actually from a short story idea I had that showed the difference between Dante/Nero, Dante/V, and Nero/V fucking. Never came to be, but at least I could use this scene I liked.

Sparda

Sparda is a demon. Even though he has become more human over time, sex still has an instinctual drive behind it. Copulation was for fathering spawn, that is what instincts dictate. However, you changed that, and, like many things in his life, you showed him a better way. A way that may not result in children, at least not without some trickery with his eggs, but was instead actually enjoyable. It was not a rough act done quickly to do what needed to be done. With you, it was beautiful, loving, and euphoric.

He trusts you with his heart and body, so when you bring up the possibility of doing this position, he is more than willing to try.

He acts rather differently depending on the circumstances. When you two are simply together casually, he's kind and sophisticated. When he is taking you, he becomes more aggressive, baring his fangs, growling, and grasping you roughly. When you take him, though, or in this case, as he takes you into his seemingly burning hot warmth, he acts more vulnerable and needy.

Perhaps it was his demonic instincts telling him to be more submissive when taking a cock, but he would take in shacky grasp, ask things like “am I pleasing you?”, and either leaning back to rub his stomach where he could feel you inside him or leaning over so he could place his hands on your chest.

There was one more quirk Sparda had when your cock was thrusting into him, and in this position it became a lot more dangerous. It sometimes made Sparda wonder if he was a hermaphrodite because when you take him, such as now, his hunger for your essence was beyond comprehension. And with you under him, you could not escape his holding you down by dropping his weight on you.

“Please, my love, I need it. I need you to finish inside me, to fill me up with your warmth. Mark me as yours, give me all the love that makes you humans so wonderful. I want it all, it is for me alone, every last drop. And when you are done, I want to do the same to you.”

It was shaping up to be another long night with your demon knight.

Honestly, this is my least favourite, which sucks because this was the one character that was specifically asked for. If you are unsatisfied original requester, let me know, and I can make a better, longer Sparda story with a male reader.

[dearceleste]

astro observation part 2.

hey guys! It’s been a while indeed! I hope you’d enjoy this post though rather short since I am bound by time :( I might be inconsistent but I would try my best! I am very inactive on tumblr but I do try to make posts here and there. I may post a pac soon! Send suggestions in askbox!! Also a congrats to my friend @astrocafecoffee on achieving a milestone!

♡ Sun in the houses can show super important, almost central themes of that year! Sun in 3rd: Siblings, media, technology and devices. Sun in 6th: Improving quality of your life, taking your life seriously and so on! I am considering making a post lmk if you guys would like to see it!

♡ Your ascendant is important, but should never be read alone, always with the house and ruler. for example I see many posts like “Leo Rising” is the year when you’d be centre of attention, people all around etc etc but this is not true…It’s rather like, if your Sun is in 10th or 1st then, yes! Attention and fame. In 4th? You are important but not to the public, but your family and friends and so on!

♡ A lot of placements in 6th house can indicate a few of the following things: being in your comfort zone, your own home, taking a break or maybe even being somewhat isolated putting down all your focus on you, yourself!

♡ Saturn in 5th/7th house does not necessarily mean that you would have no partner, but rather a desire to either avoid or dismiss that area of your life or become very critical and selective of it! It can often show yearning for a solid or long term, meaningful relationship.

♡ Neptune can show the areas of life that may be messy, especially due to indecision! You need to be serious and clear and think objectively to take charge of those areas of your life

♡ I highly highly recommend checking your Varshaphal or Solar returns in Vedic Astrology and the ascendant for it can tell you quite something for the year ahead. Check which house does the sign fall into your natal Vedic chart for more ideas on how that year might be for you! Can make another post on this one someday!

♡ The biggest transformations usually happen when your natal 8th house or your 12th house end up being your ascendant. When the ascendant is related to your natal 12th, the year does not bring external chaos, but rather deep internal realisations.

♡ Virgo can show what you would end up being critical about and spend time perfecting. Virgo in 2nd? Food and maybe even skincare routine. Virgo in 3rd? Communication, studies and media. Virgo in 5th, your love life, dating and so on.

thats all, I hope you all are good btw

xx

[botanical-garden-system]

Some of the people I have seen say they have non-disordered plurality have a lot of extreme dissociative symptoms from what they post. System conflicts, huge memory gaps, inability to control switches, extreme depersonalization/derealization symptoms.

This is not to deny someone’s experience, but more of a gentle reminder that if your experiences with plurality causes genuine distress? You may want to learn more about how dissociative disorders impact functions.

I don’t really understand any labels outside of traumagenic and maybe endogenic. I can’t even begin to really wrap my head around plurality not causing dissociation—it’s just not my experience at all. It’s a big reason why I decline arguing in any debates, but I have a pretty good idea of how my DID has impacted me.

I will feel like shit and not understand why because my emotions are highly fragmented. There could be something wrong, I could feel it occasionally, but I have no clue at all why I am experiencing this level of distress.

I know of a major traumatic experience in my childhood that could have caused my DID, but I genuinely remember little to nothing about my life and the factors are endless. When I do find stuff talking about my experiences, it sets me back and almost “triggers me” back into a state where I was during that time (I have no recollection still even after these triggers happen).

Skills and knowledge are somewhat distinctive between parts. Some parts have had full blown meltdowns because they didn’t understand an assignment, and when someone else switched in, they knew exactly what to do.

“Wishing to be a system” played a huge part in my formation, but it wasn’t wishing to be a system. It was wishing I had someone to talk to/had friends surrounding me because I was emotionally neglected as a child—this was around ages 6-10, so this thought process had a lot of impacts. I verbally talked to these parts and they often knew information I never remembered learning, and they often came around the most when I was lonely.

I don’t have a stable identity, and I haven’t had one for the entirety of my life. If I try to sit and think about it, my head will turn to TV static and shut off any chance of understanding my situation. I spend about 80-90% of my time going through the motions of life without any acknowledgment of my identity, thoughts, feelings, sensations, or perceptions in life.

Trauma doesn’t have to be a serious case of SA or physical abuse, it is possible it could be years of emotional neglect causing you to turn inward. Bullying, oppression, poverty, disability, physical illness, messy divorces/parents NOT divorcing, war, and many other issues are extremely taxing on a child.

This disorder is covert and nearly undetectable in most cases. Sometimes this means that it’s nearly impossible to see in ourselves. The whole point is to hide and make sure we “function” correctly in society, even at the expense of ourselves. It’s a coping mechanism our brain decided was the safest route to survive.

Identity disruptions, memory gaps, and all these things are not stable, concrete experiences. They are fluid. They can be wildly inconsistent, and you don’t have to be on the far end of the spectrum to experience these issues.

I’m not saying this as a genuine diagnosis of “You MUST have DID” because there are many different aspects that could impact this. I know that there are also like- labels that encompass different aspects that include trauma. However, this is just something I have noticed while scrolling through tumblr recently. This also isn’t targeted in any way, but if it resonates with you, I think learning about DID in medical contexts isn’t a bad idea (or at least learning of dissociation).

I have seen that a big reason many people get nervous to interact with traumagenic spaces is because of how aggressive and toxic they can be, which I understand is definitely a problem we see. It’s definitely a product of how DID is and what societal hatred does to marginalized communities. I take a very chilled and laid back approach to pretty much anything, so if you feel too scared to interact with the traumagenic community, I don’t mind trying to help!

[elysiansparadise]

The gentleness that holds a strong and powerful soul. Moved by passion. They put their everything on things that set in motion their inner world. 

Taurus Rising: Strength & Softness

Consistency, loyalty, support and autonomy are perfect words to describe this rising. People with enchanting and natural beauty, accompanied by gorgeousness and a calm attitude in the eyes of others that protects a brave and passionate heart. Life encourages them to develop patience and a persevering attitude. They are people who remain strong and unbreakable, seek to appear stable, strong and very independent even if inside they feel that things are collapsing or if their surroundings are breaking, they want to show that they are strong and that they can handle anything. More easily being the support of others rather than being able to open themselves to being helped or seen vulnerable. 

With Gemini in the 2nd house are people who highly value their intelligence, they take great pride in their knowledge, especially in those topics that matter a lot to them. For them, learning is something crucial in their lives, so they try to know a lot about many different things. They may have a lot of interest in design, gardening, music [specifically singing], writing and reading. Financial topics can attract their attention and they can acquire a lot of knowledge about it. This position can show someone very skilled with money or sales. Being a house linked to value and self-esteem, this specific overlay tells us about people who find themselves constantly questioning their own value, however, it is not just something that only applies to them, as they will question value in those things in which they society puts value. They will question the values ​​of their home or the groups they interact with. Another common thing with them is this inconsistency in their sense of security, feeling unprotected on many occasions. Clear, honest and direct communication is something they deeply appreciate, they love the feeling of being able to have a long and pleasant talk for both parties. They tend to prefer those where they are one on one due to their reserved nature.

Later, we find Cancer in the 3rd house, a placement that could be one of the main reasons behind the soothing and soft essence of this particular Ascendant. With this overlay we see natives with such an appealing way of speaking, sweet and very pleasant, there is something about them that allows them to be very understandable with other people and their emotions. These people are very curious about knowing the depth and complexity behind everything and everyone. When it comes to relating to others, they put a lot of emphasis on knowing the core of others, their emotions, their past and everything that allows them to have a better and more personal understanding of others. They are people with a warm way of speaking, they aren't usually impulsive when communicating and they think very carefully about their words before speaking. We have very capable, talented writers and speakers with the ability to easily evoke feelings in others. They stand out for their good memory and a light touch of warmth in their speech. These people may have melancholy tendencies or may think a lot about the past. If the Moon is making tense aspects or if Saturn is in this house, a tendency to constant periods of depression is likely. Writing can be a way for them to better express their emotions, and reading can be very relaxing as well. One of their ways to better connect with others can be deep talks and in some cases sharing food. If they have siblings, they may have a somewhat variable relationship but they may have a deep affection for them or at least one of them. They can assume the role of older sibling regardless of their age.

Inside Leo in the 4th house, lies a person with a warm heart, a generous disposition towards all those with whom they have a strong emotional bond, and someone who fiercely protects those they consider family. They are without a doubt people who become restless, fun and very charismatic once they trust the person next to them, being more authentic and effusive with them, as well as more warmly open. In family matters, there may be a very strong connection with one of them in particular, likewise, it may indicate a very busy, somewhat dramatic and in some cases noisy environment. These people hide their hearts very well from others, making it visible only to those with whom they feel they really connect, they are capable of loving very strongly and publicly, they are not the type of people to hide their emotions. No matter how calm or reserved they may seem, deep down they are people with great brilliance, with a lot of emotion and great creativity and ideas that brighten the lives of those around them. From a very young age they learned to think about themselves, about doing things that make them happy before wanting to make other people happy. In some cases, it is likely that the native has had to deal with family members who thought only of themselves, who were egotistical, or who did not take into consideration what others or the native felt or wanted. These people may have a tendency to take things personally, they hate feeling that they or their feelings are not taken seriously or valued. Another likely thing is that they are relatively more independent than other members of their family. They hate feeling ignored more than anything in the world, they like to feel and make those they love feel that they are heard.

For Virgo in the 5th house, romance is something sublime when there is devotion and dedication on the part of both parties. These people are capable of loving too much, always establishing the importance of making their partner feel supported, understood and motivated, actions that they seek to receive in return. They are always looking for the relationship to improve, they will seek to know their partner better and more deeply, the conversations about ways to make each other feel better will be very constant as well as the small and significant details. They are people who notice the slightest thing about their partner, changes in their look, tastes, preferences and other areas of their personality. They are very loyal, stable and gentle when they love. They think a lot before allowing themselves to have a romance with someone, they analyze the person in question. They are quite demanding of themselves, and may have the mistaken idea that they could be loved until they are that way or achieve that thing, when the beautiful fact of being themselves already makes them worthy of that love that they so doubt if they can have. . As this is the home of talents and hobbies, it makes them people not only very dedicated to them, but also very perfectionist when it comes to dealing with them, practicing a lot and never settling, remaining willing to learn more and continue improving. They like to do things well and think that if they can't do it to the best they can, it's better not to do it. Their confidence, their gentleness and charm that they are not aware of, makes them people who can attract admiration from others, many even admiring them for all the hard.

In the workplace, people with Libra in the 6th house are extremely capable and excellent. They are very good people at finding solutions to all kinds of problems, from problems related to their work, such as problems of or among others. Diplomatic, responsible and willing to help and collaborate in their work and/or their co-workers. Even if they consider themselves independent and are very skilled on their own, they make teamwork enjoyable and comfortable for themselves and others. Self-care routines are something of utmost importance to them and they will always enjoy taking care of themselves in every way. Their body is their temple, one that they care for with delicacy and attention. These people are very likely to attract a lot of attention from their co-workers, a common placement for romances in the office or work area. They will be able to make good contacts through their work and will be seen as very approachable, helpful and polite people. They are people sensitive to noise or any negative hustle and bustle, preferring to work in quiet environments, with music they like in the background and, in general, in an environment where they do not feel so tense. They can have that tendency to be very perfectionistic, especially when it comes to doing their homework or activities that they really like. They have an excellent eye for aesthetics and decoration, they are very sensitive and appreciative of art, loving the idea of ​​personalizing and decorating the spaces in which they are.

To say that people with Scorpio in the 7th house take relationships seriously is an understatement, and I am not referring to the matter of seeking to get married quickly but to the level of emotional connection that they want with their partner. They are people who want to see beyond the sublime appearance of their partners, but rather the beauty, darkness, secrets, complexity and details of their soul. They long for a very deep emotional connection with that person to whom they swear forever. These people have the ability to make you feel completely loved, from those virtues that you have, to those things that you do not share due to fear or insecurity. They love completely and give absolutely everything in their relationships, which they expect in return. They can have a marriage in which the dynamic is very intense but above all very devoted, one in which your partner's matters become yours and vice versa, where you protect and show yourself completely to the other. Throughout their lives they may experience tense experiences in the field of love or even in any type of relationship. They may have a tendency to be overly wary of the intentions of others, bordering on distrust. They may fear never being able to be loved sincerely or never being able to enjoy the beauties and soft side of love. Future spouse is likely to be a person with very intense emotions, with a lot of appeal, self-confidence and a slightly more serious and mysterious appearance of that emotional and devoted interior.

The sensuality of those with Sagittarius in the 8th house is accompanied by a feeling of liberation, an insatiable curiosity and an open and inquisitive attitude towards sex. These natives are people who enjoy exploring every peak of all the pleasures of life. The emotion of connecting deeply with your partner, exploring every corner of your soul with each caress and reading the complex mind of your loved one with your gaze. Seduction becomes an exciting, fun and very enjoyable game for these natives. There is a deep desire to bring light to your partner's darkness and for your partner to do the same. Traveling through each part of their body becomes the journey they most fantasize about. For them, it is necessary that there be something deeper in the connections to be able to fully enjoy the relationship, that there is the feeling that they are on the same level, that the other person is interesting and open with them. There is a fear of getting lost in the superficiality of life, especially in the aspect of love. There is a feeling of hopelessness in them, the thought that faith is gradually disappearing from their being, the feeling of being left on their own, without guidance. They are very introspective people, sometimes they can spend a lot of time analyzing themselves in their minds. They have a very rich inner world, and a need to find deep and meaningful things in what seems to be a somewhat superficial life.

When we see Capricorn in the 9th house, we can be sure that we find a very intelligent person capable of standing out in the subject of their interest. A great mind that sees the harshness of the world and is aware of it from a very young age. Existential and deep questions are very common, and a tendency to pessimism can become greater if Saturn makes many harsh aspects. They are people who try to be realistic at all times, do not get carried away by the initial beauty of situations and seek to take into account all possible results. Their ambition leads them to want to acquire more and more knowledge, and they can have many academic achievements throughout their university years if they decide to attend it. They may have to work abroad, travel a lot thanks to work or interact with people from other countries because of it. They are very selective people with what they want to learn, they pass the information through filters and always prefer to create their own opinions on topics, especially the most complex or moral ones. As mentioned in the previous point, there may be a tendency to doubt that good things can happen to you, falling into a somewhat negative thinking regarding what you may or may not experience.

When Aquarius is in the 10th house, the native can work in fields related to science, astronomy, physics. It is a common placement for people with interests, skills and work as astrologers. They often choose a career different from what their family has chosen, or something that their family or others consider unusual. These people seek to make a change through their work, and they can also become very notable and remarkable in themselves. These people usually prefer and end up having a job that allows them to meet many people, experiment, learn new things and explore their originality and ideas. They tend to be people who attract attention very quickly, there is a peculiarity about them that makes them stand out from the crowd, likewise, from a young age they know that they want to be different compared to the people they grew up with or lived with when they were young. You can achieve great things if you work on your own, embrace your independence and authenticity. An idealistic and ambitious quality hides in them, these natives dream of achieving many things on their own and making themselves feel proud. They can more easily inspire the masses through their unique personality, perseverance, authenticity and ideas.

One of the things that is not usually mentioned with this rising is their enormous devotion to their friends and the great importance they give the natives in their life, this is given by Pisces in the 11th house. They are people who connect very deeply with their friends, being able to easily sense when they are emotionally bad and, likewise, knowing how to help them in the best way. It is very common for these people to send messages or seek to communicate with them just at the moments when their friends need it. They are the kind of friends who are there through thick and thin, who are a great emotional support and leave beautiful lessons in their friendships. For them it is crucial that their friendships can go through from the most lighthearted and fun moments to the deepest and most emotional ones. They stand out for their empathy and ease of understanding people well even if their experiences and background are completely different. They will seek to genuinely help those they see in poor conditions and treat them as equals instead of further marking their differences. They can have various incomes, but more in fields such as art, through activities in which they help others or even in esoteric matters. They have a great ability to solve other people's problems, usually problems that they find difficult to solve for themselves.

The inner desire to be an independent person and capable of resisting everything that life brings to them is born from the need for protection. What is left to do when there is nowhere or no one to find that stability? Will there even be stability in this turbulence called life? Within them lies someone active, intent on striving until they can finally find and enjoy some peace. A resounding fear in them comes from always being in search of something they cannot have: inner peace, a comfy and peaceful life. With Aries in the 12th house, everything feels fast and spontaneous, from their deepest emotions to the environments in which they grow. In their mind and subconscious are recorded all those times in which they had to stand up for themselves, times in which perhaps there was no one to rely on, in which they came to the conclusion of never being able to rely on anyone other than them. them, in having to tame the tides of life on their own. The fear that it would always be like this grew in them. Not many are allowed to know their core/what they really are for fear of different things, of getting hurt, of being judged, but in them we can find people full of passion, ambitions and with an endearing quality of joviality. They are somewhat restless and spontaneous people deep down, something that is not usually perceived by their calm appearance. They are gifted with a strong temperament, and although they are sweet and kind, they will not be afraid to bring out that impetus and anger if you hurt or touch something very personal to them. These people focus a lot and use a large part of their energy in facing their inner struggles, to which they never give up no matter how tense they may be. It is likely that at many points in your life you felt that in some cases you were about to lose the battle, but your perseverance and inner strength will mean that in the end you will be able to overcome those problems that you usually do not talk to anyone about.

[garpen]

Is Starfire publicly dating nightwing if so how does public not connect Starfire to kori and nightwing to dick?

I think you're asking bc she visibly looks not human?

I think in the comics it's sometimes (albiet inconsistently) explained that she is able to make herself blend into human society/alter her appearance slightly (i.e. toning down/turning off the glowing of her eyes) but she rarely changes her appearance completely. And she goes by a civilian persona "Kory Anders"

I also think that the general public is somewhat used to seeing meta-humans, aliens, and other beings that may not look like a "normal" human. Which makes Kori's appearance less shocking than it might be in a more realistic setting like our universe.

So bc of that people just don't make the connections. I also think it would be funny though if they DID make the connections, but everyone just gaslights the public, like-

Random civilian, approaching Kori and Dick: OMG Starfire, I'm such a huge fan!!

Kori: I am not Starfire.

Random civilian: Yes you are?

Kori: No, but do not worry about it-I get that she is what you call my "celebrity look-a-like" a lot.

Random Civilian: You're literally giant and orange and have big red hair. you are CLEARLY Starfire.

Dick, interjecting: She's only 6'4! That is not giant and though it is above average it is perfectly normal thank you very much! And what, everybody you meet who is orange, is Starfire? Does that make the entire cast of Jersey Shore, all a bunch of Starfire's then? Every oompa-loompa? Every red head? My friend Wally is red-headed, is HE Starfire?

Random, spluttering and confused: Well...no! But her eyes are literally glowing green!

Dick: I remember when my itty bitty baby brother Jason's eyes would glow green, is HE Starfire? (he was a red head at some point too but moving on)

Random civilian, successfully gaslit: I...no? Oh gods, I-I'm so sorry for assuming...um...have a good day I guess...um bye?

[mycurrentobsessionis]

@pink-pearl-plain-jeans took a few days but here. hope this is something you actually wanted lol. this is lowkey a ramble but it is an informed ramble.

First, you are gonna seriously regret asking me, because I have nearly 300 hours logged between these two games and half a masters degree in clinical psychology.

Second, to be fair, you don't have know a lot about ballroom dancing -- I know almost nothing. Toward the end of Step 4 on Baxter's route, he will joke to Jamie about the irony of ballroom dancing, which requires both a partner and a certain level of intimacy, is his most beloved hobby, when the ability to form close, intimate relationships is his biggest struggle.

Baxter is a pretty good example of what disorganized, or fearful-avoidant, attachment looks like in adults. He both desperately wants to form emotional connections with others and intensely fears those same attachments, viewing them as inherently unsafe and unstable. The player can see this in the way Baxter attempts to form lots of superficial connections where he overshares personal details while also being evasive about his deeper feelings. He is aware that he needs some level of human interaction and works to fill that need without leaving himself vulnerable to being hurt or abandoned. This can occur in individuals who had inconsistent parents growing up. Baxter's relationship to dancing mirrors his emotional progression with attachment to others.

As a child, he has a stable group of friends and dances at the country club competitively, and thus likely has a stable, consistent partner with whom he performs. We know very little about Mr. and Mrs. Ward, except for the following:

They are older.

They are wealthy, and likely old money.

They are bigoted, like being queerphobic and racist.

They expected Baxter to behave with greater maturity than would have been typical for his age and "at times, as if he was even older [than them]."

He did not want to spend his first summer after college with them, so they shipped him off to a tiny beachside tourist town, either not caring or not knowing that he is petrified of the ocean.

Something about Baxter would be a problem, and they would hate him if he were someone else's child.

From this, we can garner a few things. The first is that the Wards were likely emotionally immature, possibly parentified him, and likely played "it's okay if it's you" card. When we meet Baxter as a child in OLNF, he is clearly very fond of Qiu, Ren, and possibly Tamarack and Franky as well. These relationships likely provided insulation from parents who alternated between being emotionally distant and overcontrolling. It also makes sense that Baxter would be drawn to younger children here. Baxter chalks it up to his own immaturity, but I would argue that it is in fact because he is precocious that he chooses a younger friend group. Kids his own age would likely be put off by his attitude and may take it as condescending, whereas younger children would appreciate him as older and wiser. Additionally, younger children give him the opportunity to play and engage in silly antics that he may have missed out the first time.

I also wouldn't be surprised if there was some cognitive dissonance as well, since his parents probably espoused queerphobic ideals while also professing to love Baxter, who himself is bisexual and knew very well that he was attracted to boys by the age of 12. Given this, and the amount of bitterness with which he later speaks about them, it also would not surprise me if they had some influence on his drifting apart from Ren and Qiu as they got older. Not that this has to be the case, but I could see Baxter avoiding bringing his very-visibly queer friends (including one who is also a POC) around his parents to avoid hurting them.

He grows up and appears in OLBA as a teen who is somewhat adrift. He doesn't appear to have a stable friend group or sense of identity, and he has limited his contact with his parents to the minimum amount that he feels obligated to contact them. Now, shifting identity is pretty normal for young adults, but Baxter's seems less stable than it should be. What I actually thought was really interesting is the subtle shift between Baxter as he presents himself and as he actually is. He presents himself as accommodating, complimentary, confident, and friendly. The person he actually is -- the one he thinks no one will like -- is sardonic, self-effacing, mischievous, and lonely. In his desire to be included, he avoids imposing his will on others -- Jamie can even convince him to wear a swimsuit and go into the ocean if they really want, something he is terrified to do. He is only able to be genuine if either (a) Jamie has made an explicit effort to show him he is accepted or (b) he is emotionally dysregulated enough that he is unable to keep up the charade

Anyway, at this point, he is presumably no longer competing, and no longer has a steady partner. In his first interaction with Jamie and Cove, he is immediately offering to be their partner, which is a deliberate double-entendre. He comes on strong, because he needs the relationship to begin quickly in order the get what he needs out of it. He has no intention of actually taking the time to get to know people or build a genuine connection with them. It's about control here. Also note that he offers this with the implication that he would be teaching them to dance. Even in asking for a temporary connection, he's framing it as him offering a service in exchange for their company because he doesn't see himself as valuable on his own (Qiu also does this btw). In summary, he is dancing with people he barely knows because while the steps won't be familiar or comforting, he doesn't have to worry about mistakes either. (dun dun dun, the mortifying ordeal of being known!)

As an adult, he shifts this into a more formalized version. He isn't stupid, nor does he enjoy hurting people. He knows that most people are unwilling to abandon relationships so quickly, and he knows he's hurt people. The thing about attachment styles is that you can develop a secure attachment style as an adult. The problem is that you do this by essentially re-parenting yourself. Learning to treat himself with self-compassion is really difficult, though, because that's a learned skill. He needs community or a therapist. The problem is that because of his disorganized attachment style, forming a community is difficult and he would probably also have trouble finding a therapist because that would require a level of vulnerability that he struggles with. Baxter also heavily relies on avoidance as a coping mechanism. When he enters into a relationship, because he is primed to view them as unpredictable and conditional, it activates his fight-flight-freeze response. He then attempts to escape the situation by (a) leaving, (b) ghosting/ignoring, and (c) distancing himself using social niceties to avoid confrontation. If he is cornered (like the end of step 3), he switches to fight mode and becomes caustic. This may indicate that if he entered a therapeutic relationship, he is likely to end therapy prematurely to avoid thinking about his loneliness and attachment issues.

So, because he knows he hurts people by doing all of this, and because he doesn't know how to maintain a relationship, he formalizes the arrangement. People literally pay him for a service (planning) and because he is "in" on such an intimate event, he still gets the feeling of getting to know people and be included, without the emotional risk. Same thing with dancing.

That's why dancing with him after the wedding is such a big deal. Yes, it's a callback to a very special moment for Baxter, but it's also a metaphor for re-entering a relationship. He's been looking at and judging his relationships on the ruptures not the repairs, and to be able to repair a relationship after the mask has come off, the set's been wrecked, and the crowd is gone means that he has lived a lonely life for no reason.

Anyway, all this is to say that Cove was 100% right when he clocked that Baxter was insincere and interacted with people in a really weird way. No one listened though.

[sirfrogsworth]

Froggie's Guide to Budget Headphones

@nimrella I am more well versed in traditional audio and home theater with big honking speakers, so I don't have much personal experience with headphones and headphone accessories. But I can tell you what I've learned from other people who are in the headphone world. And since you are starting more within the "budget" range I think I am somewhat qualified to guide you at this level.

You have three paths to choose from...

Wireless, low impedance wired (no amplification required), and high impedance wired (amplification required).

Basically... easy, medium, and hard.

But also... good, better, best.

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones have come a long way. Audiophiles used to scoff at them but now there are options that really do sound fantastic and the Bluetooth data rates are good enough to deliver high resolution audio. They also have noise cancellation options which may be desirable. If you do not have a quiet, dedicated space for listening to music you might find high end noise cancellation a godsend. People love them especially for planes, trains, and automobiles.

I don't know if everyone knows how noise cancellation works or not, but basically the headphones have microphones that listen to the world around you. They measure the incoming sound and then generate an opposite sound that just about kills ambient noise. If you play the same sound 180 degrees out of phase it basically nullifies those sound waves. The tech works best between 50 Hz and 1000 Hz. For reference we hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (lower if you are old). So anything super high or super low pitched can still get through.

In any case, if that sounds appealing, wireless headphones should be a consideration.

The other advantage of wireless headphones would be the ease of use. They pair to your phone, your laptop, your TV. They have controls to help you pause and skip songs and change volume. Some allow you to take phone calls.

But the big downside is the sound quality takes a bit of a hit. As I said, the bluetooth standards have actually gotten very very good. (Though there are audiophiles who will swear it still sounds like a 1990s MP3.) So streaming the actual media files are not really an issue. But trying to cram all of that tech into lightweight headphones you can wear around town all day requires compromises and added expense. Not to mention the battery has a limited lifespan. You may have more limited or inconsistent frequency response, poor dynamic range, distortion problems, weak output, and a high noise floor. Wireless options still can't match wired headphone systems in the same price range. And the wireless options that come close are quite spendy.

Wireless Headphones Suggestions

In your price range the two wireless options that I hear mentioned over and over again are the Sony WH-1000 series and the Bose QuietComfort. They are both well regarded for having a good mix of sound quality and noise cancellation while also being a decent value. You might be able to visit a Best Buy and demo them to see if you prefer the sound and comfort of one over the other.

The Apple AirPods Max are said to work really well within the Apple ecosystem. They have some interesting spatial sound modes and very good audio quality. I've heard the noise cancellation is some of the best currently available. But they seem too expensive and a lot of people feel they are too heavy. I also suspect they are due for an update. That said, if you wait for the new ones to come out and buy used, they could come into your price range. I'd really only suggest these if you have multiple Apple products that you will be streaming sound from.

Before we move into wired headphones, let's go over some terms that you might see pop up when doing research and reading reviews.

Froggie's Glossary of Audiophile Terminology

Driver A speaker is made up of drivers. Some speakers have a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter. Each individual thing is a driver. And with headphones you will often hear "headphone driver" instead of speaker because it is more specific. Headphones typically have an all-in-one driver that does all frequencies. A woofymidteet.

That's not a thing.

I made that up.

Frequency Response This is the range of frequencies produced by the drivers from low to high. You want to make sure your headphones have good, deep bass. That will make more of a difference than anything else. It's the foundation of all sound and what is sorely lacking in devices with small/cheap speakers.

Music typically doesn't go much below 40 Hz in the bass range. So if you are only interested in music listening, that is plenty deep. Movies can go down to 20 Hz, but this isn't necessary for a good immersive experience unless you have giant subwoofers. So if you find something that can play ~40 Hz with decent output, you should be all good. Every speaker has a frequency response curve. It looks something like this.

The X-axis represents the frequency and the Y-axis represents the volume in decibels. We are most concerned with the 40 to 10K Hz section, as most sound happens there.

I'm not going to go super in-depth and overwhelm everyone, but typically you want this graph to look fairly flat in that range. A flat-ish line will give you a "neutral" response.

The above graph gets a little bumpy in the high frequencies. That means those frequencies will have a higher volume than the lower frequencies. If a higher frequency has a big peak, that could make your sound seem too bright or tinny.

Or you could have the opposite problem. You could have a null in the bass where the output dips below everything else. This can make your sound a bit anemic and lacking punch.

Whereas a more flat speaker will output all frequencies at about the same volume and sound much more balanced and smooth.

Equalization or EQ A flat response is good because it will accept EQ well. Equalization is where you add peaks and dips in volume deliberately to taste.

This can be as simple as 3 knobs.

Or it can be a more complicated parametric EQ.

A lot of digital EQ methods have presets to help get you started. I promise it isn't as intimidating as it looks.

Some people like to buy speakers/headphones that are EQ'd how they prefer out of the box. (Or if you get Beats by Dre they just turn the bass all the way up and say "Fuck them other frequencies!") But this is often a bit of a crapshoot because it is hard to EQ a speaker that sounds good in every room or every environment or just to varying individual preferences.

By making the speaker more neutral, it can be much easier to equalize specifically to your needs and enjoyment.

So if you like the bass a little bassier and the mids a little quieter, you have the power to dial that in with great specificity on a neutral speaker. You can apply any EQ you wish and you won't be fighting the speaker's predetermined response.

Basically if you are reading reviews and the headphones are described as "flat" or "neutral" that's a good thing (in my opinion). Just remember nothing is going to be perfectly flat. We're shooting for flat-ish.

If you do decide to get a neutral sounding pair of headphones you may find them a little bland out of the box. Do not panic. You just need to learn a bit about how to apply EQ, but thankfully YouTube is plentiful with tutorials.

The Harman Curve was researched to be most liked by the most people, so you might start there. (Also, SoundSource is a very popular EQ app for Mac.)

Dynamic Range This is the spectrum of how quiet to loud something can get. If you have speakers that can render both a pin drop and a big explosion with great fidelity and proper intensity, you will be in audio heaven. There is so much emotion and drama that can be expressed by expansive dynamic range and most cheap speakers compress it to an inch of its life. When the soft and the loud sounds are the same you miss out on so much audio information intended by the composer.

Distortion This is just how loud a speaker can go without breaking up. Low distortion is good. While every driver distorts at some point, usually that is at a much higher volume than you will use. This typically only plagues cheap, tiny drivers.

Sound Pressure Level (SPL) This is a measurement of how loud a speaker can get. While you don't want to listen to anything louder than a sustained average decibel level of 80 to 85, you do want peaks over 100, especially in the bass. Bass is less damaging to ears and hearing damage is all about sustained volume rather than quick peaks here and there. Most headphones can comfortably do an SPL between 90 and 110 dB. The ability to go louder is good, but only because that expands headroom, not because you should actually listen to them that loud. So if the headphones can get super loud, that means they will have a much easier time delivering normal levels.

Noise Floor Every sound system has background noise. You know that static you hear when you turn a radio up really loud when there is no sound playing? That is your noise floor. You want that to be as quiet as possible because if you turn up the volume, you don't just turn up the volume of the sounds you want to hear, you also turn up the volume of that background noise.

If you can find a headphone system with a decent low noise floor and you can also find a very quiet space to listen in, you could have a religious experience. I don't think people realize how much the room you are in matters, even when listening to headphones. When you are in a quiet room, you can play at lower volumes. And that can mitigate a lot of the problems associated with cranking the volume. You won't damage your ears for one thing. But the speakers won't have to work as hard so you'll have less distortion and better clarity.

Noise mostly comes from the amplifier, which I will talk about later on.

Froggie Pro Tip: If you want cheap speakers to perform better, go to a quiet room and move them as close as possible. This allows you to play them at a lower output while maintaining your desired perceived volume.

Okay, now we can finally talk about...

Wired Headphones

You have open back and closed back styles.

Open back tends to have a more natural sound and feels more comfortable. Like listening to regular speakers. People generally feel they are able to listen to them longer because they don't create a seal and cause pressure on your ear drum. However, if sound can get out, it can also get in. So with open back headphones people nearby will be able to hear what you are listening to. And if you are not in a quiet room, all of that sound will leak in. Meaning you have to increase the volume and the noise floor and the distortion.

Closed back seals off your ears and gives you a quiet and immersive experience. You can be in a noisier room without having to crank the volume as much. Some prefer this style just because it helps them feel like they are going into their own personal dimension of sound. These are great for ASMR too. But ear fatigue can become an issue and you may need to take little breaks to let your ears breathe and your ear drums rest.

And the last thing we need to discuss is impedance.

The impedance of headphones mostly determines how hard they are to amplify. Impedance is measured in ohms which is this little horseshoe symbol... Ω.

Lower ohms means less electrical resistance and easier to amplify.

Higher ohms means more electrical resistance and difficult to amplify.

If you get headphones rated below 100 ohms, they can typically be driven by smartphones and laptops just by plugging into a standard headphone jack. Though depending on the device, 100 may sound a little quiet so you may want to go lower. 30 ohms is fairly typical if you plan to drive your headphones with everyday electronics.

Above 100 ohms you are going to need some sort of amplification—usually a DAC with a headphone amplifier. (There are DACs without amplification so be sure to check that.)

A DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, is already built into your phone and laptop. But those are very small, don't have a lot of power, and might have a higher noise floor due to interference from other components and heat and just a lot of electrical signals nearby.

By getting an external DAC w/amplifier you separate out the components, make them larger and more powerful, and typically improve the sound quality. Because it is more isolated, the amplification can be much quieter despite being more powerful.

If you plan to stay in a static location and you have high impedance headphones, you can get a little box DAC that sits on your desk. It works like an external sound card for your computer. If you record music or stream, a digital audio interface works great as well (remember to check the Ω).

But if you need to be more mobile with your headphones you can get a little USB dongle DAC, though you will probably not get the same sound quality and power.

Both will be superior to the internal DAC built into your computing devices.

So, low impedance headphones are easier if you need to move around.

High impedance headphones are better for staying put in a single location unless you get a dongle DAC.

Just remember, high and low impedance doesn't necessarily indicate quality. It's just that in order to drive high impedance headphones you need the larger amplifier with the nicer components and, by necessity, you automatically get that quality bump.

You can get very good low impedance headphones. However, if you power them *only* with a smartphone, you may not use them to their full potential. Which is why getting an external DAC is a good idea regardless.

But the nice thing about low impedance is you can get the headphones and still use them until you save up for the DAC. Or you can use them as normal while out and about and have a special listening spot at home with the DAC.

To review...

Low impedance and high impedance can both be high quality.

Low impedance (less than 100 ohms) works with anything.

High impedance (more than 100 ohms) requires amplification.

Both will be used to their full potential with a DAC/headphone amplifier of some kind.

Wired Headphones Suggestions

Again, I have not personally listened to any of these. I am just relaying what experts I trust have mentioned as being nice quality in your price range.

The beyerdynamic DT 770 headphones are some of the most well-regarded budget headphones I've heard of. They come in low and high impedance versions.

The Sennheiser HD 560 high impedance headphones are also praised for their value and performance.

If you can go a little pricier...

The HIFIMAN Sundara headphones have low impedance and can be driven easily by all your devices.

And the HIFIMAN Edition XS are even lower impedance and about the same price.

And if you want to try a DAC, I've heard good things about both Fosi and Schiit (yes, like the poopies), though there are many different brands. Just make sure the DAC has a headphone amplifier rated for the ohms you need.

The FOSI K5 Pro is a cheap "beginner" DAC that will power anything up to 300 ohms. This is the kind that sits on your desk.

And if you want a more portable dongle DAC, you can get something like the iFi Go Link.

I've also heard good things about the AudioQuest Dragonfly, though I hate recommending AudioQuest products due to them claiming they can do magical things. They use scientific gobbledygook to scam customers most of the time. That said, the DragonFly might be their only valid product.

Note from Future Froggie: AudioQuest just can't help themselves. While the Dragonfly itself is a good product and not a scam, they developed the "DragonTail", which is a scam.

It's just a USB A to C Adapter for the Dragonfly. But they have to find a way to justify 30 fucking dollars so they came up with this bullshit.

Definitely need to stabilize my geometry. If I have unstable geometry that could lead to quixotic trigonometry. And we all know that could introduce vertices into dodecahedrons. Which leads straight to accelerated cosmotic entropy catalyzing the heat death of the universe.

Fucking AudioQuest.

ANYWAY...

An inexpensive DAC may be all you ever need but DACs can get crazy expensive—just like headphones. And if you are really fancy you can get a DAC and a headphone amplifier as separate items. Audiophiles claim when you simplify components to a singular function you increase quality. While I think there is some small truth to that, I suspect they just think the tubes look neat.

Froggie's Disclaimer: I am not telling you to get these specific things, but I do think you'll probably be happy with anything I've suggested. But sound is a subjective experience and it is always best to test things out before you buy them, if possible. Or make sure there is a return policy. You might see if there is a brick-and-mortar store nearby that allows you to demo headphones. Remember that comfort can be just as crucial as sound quality for long listening sessions.

Final Thoughts

Good sound has been life changing for me. And I am excited when anyone goes down this journey. While the stuff mentioned is considered "budget" by audiophiles, this can give you a good starting point if you want to upgrade down the road. You'll get to know your preferences and get a better understanding of how this all works and choose your own adventure from there.

Though it is very possible you'll be quite content with "budget" and the sound quality is more than enough.

Personally, while I am very happy with my current home theater setup, I am hopeful one day I can upgrade one budget tier above where I currently am and that will be my endgame. I've heard $10,000 speakers and it is mostly a land of diminishing returns once you reach that level.

I'm fine in "budget" land.

Further Research

I didn't mention the different types of headphone drivers because I didn't want to put too much data in everyone's head. But if you want to do additional research you can learn about the 4 main types... dynamic, planar magnetic, electrostatic, and balanced armature.

[redactedasmrproject]

"Setting Fires at the Elemental & Energetic Games"

ID: a digital drawing of Huxley, Damien, Lasko, and Freelancer. Huxley and Damien are in the center foreground, with Lasko and Freelancer to either side of them in the background. Huxley is a Black man with dark brown skin and black braided hair pulled back into a bun. He wears a black tank top with the earth elemental logo on it, and grey athletic shorts with green trim. He lifts Damien up off of the ground in a big hug, grinning. Damien is a man with brown skin with acne and black hair that is pulled into a low ponytail. He wears a red t-shirt, black sweatpants with the fire elemental logo on them, orange ankle boots, and glasses. His hands and face are glowing somewhat from heat, and he holds his hands up so as to not burn Huxley, looking surprised. To the left is Lasko- a white man with long, curly, red hair that is tied up into a ponytail, and he wears a white sweatshirt with the DAMN logo on it over a white button up shirt and light jeans. He holds a clipboard under his arm and claps, smiling. To the right is Freelancer- a white trans man with freckles, acne, and brown hair with shaved sides and grown out roots. He wears glasses, a black cropped hoodie, and matching sweatpants- which both have the freelancer symbol on them in white. He’s flapping his hands up by his chest, grinning with his eyes closed. They are in a concrete hallway. End ID.

—

This is just about the first drawing that’ll be posted as I make it! So from here on out, I no longer have the backlog of images, and you’re as caught up as my instagram page that I started this project on! Wahoo! That also means that posts will be more sporadic, as my drawing schedule is inconsistent (and will become even more inconsistent, as at the end of May I am graduating and moving and starting a new job). So!! Hi hi from here forward!! :3

[beebooca]

the “dragons having limited shots” in httyd is so incredibly inconsistent that I actually came up with a somewhat plausible headcanon for why that is (could also be common knowledge idk)

It’s only ever really mentioned in the first movie and then a few times during the shows for plot convenience, so my headcanon is that the dragons in the first movie consistently had shot limits because they were malnourished from only really feeding the red death and not themselves. Once they came to Berk and lived in peace with the Berkians, they were able to feed more regularly and get themselves taken care of, so the shot limit may not have been gone, but it was at the very least greatly extended.

Now in some moments the shot limit comes back, like in “Twintuition” (RTTE season 4, episode 10) where they all focus their fire on the chain but they run out right before breaking it. I believe that in that moment the dragons exhausted their fire by constantly using it without pause. That’s gotta be tiring and energy consuming. Even during battles they don’t shoot that much, that often, that quickly in succession. And of course, because of plot convenience, but my point still stands.

The exception for this is when they fought the Cavern Crasher, tho I do think they didn’t fire on it as long as they did the chains AND it was more firepower since Barf and Belch were participating as well.

[writingquestionsanswered]

i struggle with writing a continuous long scene. instead, i end up writing short scenes that show the core of that scene almost immediately and then time skip to the next scene. is there a way to cure this? it feels like a lot of "jumping around" and somewhat inconsistent because of that.

Scenes Are Too Short (How to Write a Scene)

The way to cure continuously short scenes is to get a better grasp on what a scene is, what they should contain, and how to structure them. :) What is a Scene?

Long fiction is broken up into narrative building blocks called "scenes," which are almost like mini-stories that build upon each other to advance the plot. Remember: stories are about someone who is trying to resolve a problem in their heart and mind, situation, life, or world. The thing they're trying to achieve in order to resolve that problem is their goal. Goals can be broken down into smaller goals (or steps) that must be completed in order to achieve the bigger goal. Scenes are like mini-stories that focus on each of those steps/smaller goals.

What is the Purpose of a Scene?

A good scene should accomplish at least one of the following:

-- advance the plot by completing smaller steps/goals that are needed in order to achieve the story goal -- advance character development to push them toward where they need to be mentally, emotionally, physically, knowledge-wise, relationship-wise, or situation-wise in order to achieve the story goal

-- advance setting and back story development in order to build toward the climax (where the character attempts to achieve the story goal once and for all)

-- deliver important back story or other information necessary to help the reader understand the plot, characters, or setting and to help move the pieces into place for the climax How Are Scenes Structured? Like any story, scenes have a beginning, middle, ending, and conflict/dilemma. The setting, characters, conflict/dilemma, and goal for resolution of the conflict/dilemma are established in the beginning of the scene. Through the middle of the scene, the characters take steps to resole the conflict/dilemma, encountering obstacles and challenges which they must overcome or find a way around, and making decisions and plans to help them tackle the next step/smaller goal. In the end of the scene, the characters attempt to do whatever they need to do in order to achieve that step/smaller goal. The attempt may end in success (the step/goal is achieved), failure (they do not successfully complete the step/achieve the goal), or the outcome may be left unknown (aka a "cliffhanger.) With the exception of cliffhanger endings, the very end of the scene is used to set things up for the next scene/create a smooth transition into the next scene.

A Note About Conflict, Dilemmas, and Goals

It's important to remember that a scene conflict/dilemma and resulting goal doesn't have to be some big, major thing. It can be something really simple, like maybe a character needs cash for a road trip, so they're trying to get a summer job. The problem is that, on paper, they're under qualified for the job they want to apply for. However, they know they have the knowledge to do the job well, so the scene goal is to convince the potential employer that they have what it takes to do the job. Another example: a character has a crush on another character but the problem is they're not sure the other character is interested. Others have said they might be, so the scene goal is to approach the crush and casually ask if they want to hang out sometime. How to Craft an Engaging Scene In order to keep your reader engaged in your scene, be sure to do the following in every scene:

-- reveal new information (character, setting, back story, plot) -- develop internal conflict, motivations, stakes, relationships -- advance the protagonist's progress toward their goal -- establish the setting (time, place, environment, atmosphere) -- establish the scene conflict/dilemma and necessary steps -- illustrate the obstacles in the character's way -- explore character thoughts/feelings/reactions to scene events -- use a relative balance of exposition, action, and dialogue -- use the proper pace for the scene to maintain flow and interest -- explore story themes and messages -- end with some type of resolution for the scene conflict -- transition smoothly into the next scene Happy writing!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[windandglory]

On Urara's evil cycle (is he a weirdo?)

It was a brief moment. Pretty easy to overlook. The rush of having just done something to gain the respect of Leviathan Leiji caused Urara to slip into an evil cycle. A natural evil cycle, given how quickly it went away.

We see Urara's eyes here, while he's still stuck in the water bubble. They look normal.

(For reference, these are definitively normal Urara eyes.)

I believe it begins here, after the worst of the danger has passed and he's getting more personalized attention from Leiji (baby gay! love it for him). The "water" at the bottom of his eyes has started to pool.

On this page, Urara's eyes are, likely intentionally, hidden except for panel 1 (the second-to-last panel is a flashback). It's not clear, and his eyes aren't drawn in detail, but you can still see the sort of wave pattern rather than the usual downward curve.

And here. The scene of the crime. We see his eyes in detail. there are bubbles in it, and it looks like pooling water. It's themed, kind of like his sister's. In fact, the pattern of it kind of looks like Clara's but inverted. I don't think it's a coincidence that these two mini-arcs were set up right beside each other.

Anyway, after Leiji chastizes Urara, the "water" seems to literally drain from his eyes. It's odd that this snapped him out of this evil cycle, given that our resident returned-to-origins demon seems to enjoy being scolded lots, and it's happiness and stress relief (see:akudols) said to keep demons out of their evil cycle, but whatever works for Urara, I suppose.

The next time we see Urara's eyes, they're back to normal entirely. The dark shading at the bottom of his eyes curves downwards, and he doesn't get that look on his face again.

However, I don't think he's out of the red yet. We see those bubbles come back here, when Leiji tells him to watch:

(again, it's Leiji! Urara really idolizes this jerk)

And here, when Urara goes on about how cool Leiji is:

And here, when Urara gets promoted (and poked in the ribs by Leiji):

And here, again when Leiji's addressing him directly:

It's important to note that Urara's eyes look somewhat like this earlier, after Leiji touches him for the first time:

As a counterpoint to everything I just said, the netherworld’s premier expert on evil cycles is present and never comments on it. The simplest explanation is that this is just a stylistic choice and Urara never entered an evil cycle at all. As for me, I think there might be multiple stages of an evil cycle. The stress may not have overwhelmed Urara, and Balam knows to worry more about behavior than the appearance of the eyes. Urara is responding to his demonic instincts as a reaction to stress but his rational thought is not impaired, something that may be a sign of a possible impending evil cycle without any urgency, which is why Balam didn’t bother to mention it as it reverts within a matter of minutes.

So: evil cycle or just a childhood crush? Or both? Honestly, I don't know.

The depiction of evil cycles has been a bit inconsistent. At the beginning of the manga, it sounded like demons just went through PMS every so often. Feels like an evil cycle sometimes, honestly.

Nowadays, it’s depicted more akin to a psychotic break. A demon’s body is stressed, either from negative stress or excitement, and an evil cycle is the culmination and in some cases release of that stress. Their view of the world is changed (see:Iruma in his artificial evil cycle suddenly finding the situation the abnormal class is in unfair) and previously present morals fall by the wayside (see:Clara finding trapping her best friends in a pocket dimension forever, draining their mana constantly, to be an entirely okay thing to do). Sometimes a demon in an evil cycle just needs to vent their stress (Asmodeus), sometimes they need to get rid of the primary stressor (Clara). However, like a psychotic break, the evil cycle itself is not a release of stress. The end of one is. Balam says that a (triggered) evil cycle puts a lot of strain on a demon’s body. I think this is why Kirio is so frail. The strain of consuming mana only counts for his exhaustion after using his barrier. Since he’s essentially in a constant evil cycle, his body is always in a constant state of activation. It’s not sustainable.

Most demons seem to go through an evil cycle just once or twice before they find a sustainable way to prevent it, or perhaps not at all. A bunch of demons going into an evil cycle at Levialon is a big deal rather than a natural coincidence. The entirety of demonic culture makes room for ways for demons to have outlets for stress to prevent evil cycles, as if it's some big societal problem. A demon that's returned to origins, basically one in a constant evil cycle, is something dangerous that just doesn't happen anymore, even though evil cycles seem to. Some demons, especially those with high mana and strong personalities (Asmodeus, Clara) get violent or otherwise hostile while in their evil cycle. Iruma at the point where he went into his simulated evil cycle had no strong personality but had access to a LOT of mana, and he just became a more confident, productive person. Though, they seem to have been making evil cycles a more important part of the story, so I'm excited to see what direction they take it in! PMS or psychotic break, we will see!

[pulisicsgirl]

christmas on my own - mason mount

summary: when Y/N finds herself spending Christmas alone for the first time in her life, a chance encounter with Mason may prove to be just the cure she needed for her holiday blues

pairing: Mason Mount x reader

word count: 6.3k

warnings/tags: semi-established relationship, the tiniest bit of angst at the beginning but overwhelming fluff for the rest of it, Christmas celebrations, awkward encounters with meeting the family for the first time

requested: no

notes: surprise!! Please ignore the fact that it's been three months since I last posted a fic. Life has been coming at me pretty fast this year, and it's made it incredibly difficult for me to find the time or motivation to write. But I've been thinking about and planning this one since almost October, so I wanted to be sure I was able to put this out as a little Christmas gift for you all!! Thank you for being so patient with my inconsistent posting schedule this year, and I hope you're all able to enjoy some time with your loved ones this holiday season! Also I know that Mila is still a baby, but for the sake of the fic, please pretend she's a toddler Merry Christmas to all of you, my loves!!

You blew hot air into your clenched fists in an attempt to warm them as you stood in the small Manchester café. The biting cold of the outdoors was still making your fingertips ache as you lingered near the counter, long after you had finished placing your order and paying.

You briefly surveyed the somewhat empty café, admiring the glowing lights and cheerful decorations that the owners had put out for the holiday season. A few sets of what you assumed to be grandparents and their grandchildren were also waiting alongside you, some of the children pressing their faces up against the glass display case as they relayed which pastries and treats they wanted to take home with them.

Today was the first Christmas that you had ever spent alone, and seeing the families happy and smiling together made your heart ache a bit, longing for your childhood when the season still felt magical and joyous.

To say that it had stung when your parents told you they would be travelling to spend the holiday with your brother would be an understatement. It had been unexpected, and they had only given you a little less than a week’s notice, meaning that as you were expected to work both the day before and after Christmas, you didn’t have enough time to make arrangements to go on the trip with them. You knew that your parents missed your brother as he had moved away a couple of years ago, and you understood why they would want to go see him and his wife that he had recently married. But it was hard to get left behind to spend the holiday that’s all about being together and giving to one another alone.

So now, on the afternoon of Christmas, you found yourself standing in a small bakery in Manchester, the very one that your family would always stop by on Christmas Day to get a few smalls treats to take back home after you had opened all of your gifts.

You had spent the morning at home, watching a couple Christmas films to try to put yourself in a festive mood and generally just feeling sorry for yourself. You had tried your best not to just mope about all day, but it proved difficult. By the time the afternoon rolled around, you decided that it just didn’t feel right to not make your annual trip to the bakery, even if it would be by yourself this year. So you had dragged yourself out of bed, put on a nice sweater and some black leggings and styled your hair a bit in the hopes of making yourself feel better, and decided to walk to the bakery in order to get a bit of fresh air.

You were lost in your own thoughts, fantasizing about the sweet taste of the coffee and pastry that would surely be coming your way soon when the bell above the entrance rang out. Your eyes naturally jumped over to the door to see where the noise was coming from, and your stomach sank to your feet when you saw who had stepped in.

It was Mason.

You and Mason had been going out for the last few weeks—not long enough to put an official label on it, but long enough that the two of you had gotten to know each other better and knew that you were both serious about this.

You had no idea what he was doing at the small bakery, but the last thing you wanted was for him to find out how pitiful you were, spending Christmas at home, alone on your couch.

Your hand darted up, scratching the side of your head in an attempt to hide your face from him as he approached the register only 10 feet away from you. Hoping that was enough to make sure he wouldn’t see you, your heart began to race as you realized that the worker would be calling out your name when your order was ready, and there would surely be no escape then.

You were beginning to contemplate the possibility of just leaving without the items you had paid for when his soft voice cut through your thoughts, thwarting any plans you’d had to run.

“Y/N?” he asked sweetly, and you could hear the smile in his voice. “Fancy seeing you here! Happy Christmas!”

You glanced up at him, his eyes bright as you tried to feign surprise at the sight of him.

“Mason, hi!” He drew you into a quick embrace, his scent surrounding you almost immediately. “Happy Christmas!” you mumbled into his chest before he released you.

“W-What are you doing here?” you rushed to ask, hoping to avoid any questions about your holiday celebrations.

“I’m actually on my way back home from training,” he spoke, scratching the back of his neck.

“Training? On Christmas?” you exclaimed. “That’s cruel!”

He laughed shortly, nodding along as he spoke. “I know, but we actually have a match tomorrow, so they couldn’t afford us a day off, unfortunately.” He shrugged, seeming like his cheery mood hadn’t been too phased by the interruption from his job. “But anyway, my family all came to mine for the holidays, and my nieces insisted I bring back a treat for them when I came home. I remembered you had mentioned this place, so I thought I should give it a try.”

Your heart fluttered at his mention of your conversation from a couple weeks ago. You had told him about the tradition in passing on a date when he had asked about how you and your family usually celebrated Christmas, and the fact that he had even remembered that detail meant the world to you.

“Oh, that’s so lovely that they were all still able to come up to celebrate with you,” you smiled at him.

“Yeah, they all arrived yesterday, and we did stockings this morning, but I’m sure my nieces are itching for me to get home so they can open the rest of their presents.”

Your chest felt warm at the way he always spoke about his family—especially his young nieces. Anyone could see from a mile off that he loved them all dearly.

“Are they going to be able to stay long?”

“They’ll be here for a couple of days, actually! Gonna be able to go to the game tomorrow as well, so I’m really excited to be able to have them there.” His grin spread nearly from ear to ear, the crinkles by his eyes becoming more pronounced. “But what about you? I’m assuming you’re here picking up the traditional Christmas pastries?”

Your heart sank, trying to find a way around the fact that you were alone for the holidays. You didn’t want him to pity you or to feel bad for expressing his joy over having his family with him. “Well, actually, I—um—”

“Y/N!” one of the bakery’s employees called out, placing a small to-go cup of coffee and a single, wrapped pastry on the counter. Your head dipped low, you walked over to the counter, picking up your order and quietly thanking the employee before you turned to walk back over to Mason. The look of confusion was unmistakable on his face as he looked at the single pastry in your hands, rather than the bulk order of treats that you had told him about weeks prior.

“My… parents actually went to visit my brother for the holidays,” you spoke quietly, having to force each word of your admission out. “So the order’s just for me today.” You forced a smile onto your face, hoping he wouldn’t see through the façade.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been on your own today,” Mason spoke, and you rushed to assure him that you were fine.

“I mean, yeah, but it’s—”

“Y/N, there’s no use in that. We have plenty of food and space at mine! You should’ve said something!”

“I—what?” His response caught you completely off-guard, not at all what you had expected him to say.

“Come over! We’d love to have you!” A huge smile spread across his face as he spoke to you. “There’s no reason for you to spend the holidays alone.”

“Mason, I couldn’t,” you immediately began trying to track back, but he didn’t seem at all discouraged by your protest. “I wouldn’t want to impose, and—”

“You’re not imposing, I’m inviting you,” he stated, matter-of-factly, as if it was just a simple matter. “My family would love to have you, and my nieces will be overjoyed to have someone new around!”

You were stumbling over your words, unable to fight against his persistence. “But… But I…”

“Look, we don’t have to say anything about us at all,” Mason said, sensing your resolve crumbling bit by bit. “You don’t have to meet my family as the girl that I’m dating, I’ll just introduce you as a friend. It’ll be completely fine.”

You bit your lip as you searched his face for any sign of hesitation. You couldn’t deny that the idea of joining in his family’s festivities did lift your spirits a little bit. The idea of being gathered around a Christmas tree and watching everyone opening gifts, maybe wrapped up in a warm blanket as you shared laughs with the others.

The final nail in the coffin for you was thinking about going back to your dreary apartment with the half-hearted decorations and spending the rest of the day by yourself.

“Please?” Mason pleaded with you one last time, his eyebrows raised as he gave you his best puppy dog eyes to convince you.

“You’re sure no one will mind?”

“I’m positive. My mum would be more upset with me if she found out I knew you were spending Christmas alone and didn’t bring you home.” The grin resumed its place on his lips as soon as you agreed, Mason bouncing slightly on his toes in giddy excitement.

Just at that moment, a voice rang out, calling Mason’s name, signaling that his order was ready to go. He quickly moved to the counter, scooping up the rather large box of pastries and holding it in one hand while he grabbed yours with the other and nearly dragged you out of the door of the bakery. You couldn’t help the giggle that slipped from your lips at his almost child-like glee at your agreement to join his family for the rest of their Christmas celebrations.

“Alright, you want to just follow me there?” he asked as the two of you strode into the parking lot. You had been to his place once before for a movie night, but he wanted to be certain you got there safely and didn’t lose your way.

“I actually walked here from my apartment, so would you mind if I just rode with you?” you asked sheepishly.

“Of course, love.” The pet name slipped out without him even thinking about it as he led you to the passenger side of his car, opening the door for you. Testing his luck a bit, Mason pressed a quick kiss to the top of your head as you stepped past him to get into the car, and you felt the heat rushing into your cheeks as he closed the door behind you.

He popped in the driver’s seat, starting the engine and turning the radio onto some station playing nonstop Christmas music, and the two of you were off, heading in the direction of his home.

You were thankful that his house was a little while away as it gave you time to collect yourself before walking into a room full of Mason’s closest family members. You thanked your lucky stars that you had gotten to urge to dress at least a little bit nice before leaving your apartment that morning so that you’d be presentable for meeting them.

After all, even if he introduced you to them as his friend this time around, if things with Mason went the way you hoped they would, you’d be seeing them many times again in the future, and you wanted to make a good first impression. 

The drive to his house was comfortable. The moments of silence were peaceful and never tense. The two of you caught up a bit since you hadn’t seen each other for a few days, and you tried your best not to think too hard about the nerve-wracking evening ahead of you. Mason kept glancing over at your bouncing knee—he could tell that you were nervous, and you could tell that he was fighting the urge to hold your hand.

So, in a moment of bravery, you reached over, bringing his free hand into your lap and intertwining your fingers. You couldn’t help the way your heart fluttered at the slight blush that crept up his cheeks and over the bridge of his nose as he began stroking his thumb across your knuckles, back and forth in a soothing motion.

Sooner than you were prepared for, Mason turned into the long driveway that wound back to his house, and you swallowed a nervous lump as his house came into view.

“You’re sure this is okay?” you asked as he put the car in park and turned off the engine, still somewhat nervous about intruding on their family holiday.

“Y/N, it’s fine,” Mason held your face in both of his hands for a moment, trying to reassure you to the best of his ability. “My mum loves hosting new people, so she’s gonna be super excited when I bring you in there!”

Something about the way he said that made your ears perk up. “Wait, Mason—Mason!” you exclaimed as he quickly got out of the driver’s seat. You threw open your door, leaping to your feet despite the fact that Mason was on his way around to your side to open the door for you. “Did you not at least text them to let them know I was coming with you?” you asked, exasperated.

Mason shrugged as if he didn’t see what the big deal was, shaking his head ‘no.’

“Mason! I can’t just—”

He cut you off by pressing his finger to your lips, gently shushing you. “Hey, trust me,” he looked intensely into your eyes. “It’s okay,” he said slowly.

Your shoulders slumped slightly, resigning yourself to him as you whispered a soft “okay.”

He tapped the tip of your nose and a quiet giggle escaped from your lips. You hated and loved how this boy could turn you into complete mush in mere moments. It made you feel so giddy but also so vulnerable at the same time, and it was a feeling you were still getting used to.

He held onto the car door, letting you step out from behind it before closing it and gestured for you to head toward his front door once he had retrieved the box of pastries from his back seat. He reassured you of his presence just behind you with his hand placed gently on the small of your back.

You hesitated at the front door, letting out a shuddery breath.

“Hey, it’s no biggie. Don’t freak yourself out, okay?” Mason spoke as if he had been able to read your mind, sneaking one final kiss to your forehead before stepping toward the door and reaching for the doorknob. Even though you hadn’t been seeing each other for very long, you noticed how Mason couldn’t seem to help himself from those small touches—the little gestures of reassurance like the forehead kisses, a hand on your back, and gentle touch on your knee—and it kind of surprised you how much they settled you, as you had never been big on copious amounts of physical touch in your past relationships.

Mason stepped through the doorway into his home, and you followed behind him, doing your best to still your racing heart.

It was only seconds after the sound of the door opening could be heard within the house that you hear the sound of tiny feet slapping on the floor, heading in your direction. Moments later, two little girls rounded the corner and came bolting toward you and Mason as he closed the door behind the two of you, the air filled with their squeals and giggles.

“Uncle Masey! Uncle Masey!” they screamed, wrapping their arms around each of his legs. Mason immediately matched their energy, clearly just as excited to be coming home to them as he squeezed them close to his body with his free hand. You took the box of pastries from him so that he could bend down, scooping them both up in his arms and pressing kisses all over their faces. The girls giggled and screamed as he told them how much he had missed them between kisses.

Mason finally pulled back after one final, dramatic kiss that had the older of the two wiping at her cheek and she laughed at him. If you had thought the way Mason spoke about his nieces was sweet, it was nothing compared to the way he acted around them.

“Summer, Mila, this is Y/N,” Mason spoke once the girls’ giggles had quieted.

“Is she your wife?” the older girl asked, and your mouth dropped open in shock.

Mason, clearly amused by her question, threw his head back and laughed. “No, Summer. Y/N is just my friend.”

“Oh, okay,” Summer shrugged, quickly moving on from the conversation, wiggling so that Mason would set her back on the floor. Immediately she took off, running out of sight and Mason followed behind her with Mila still in his arms.

Voices could be heard coming from the kitchen, and you remained just behind Mason as you followed him, hoping that his body would shield you from the rest of his family.

When you found the others, you first saw Summer crawling up into one of the tall chairs at the kitchen bar, surrounded by numerous others. Perfectly-shaped gingerbread cookies lined the countertop, placed on sheets of wax paper, and bags of differently-colored icing were strewn around the countertop, along with various shapes and sizes of sprinkles. Cheerful Christmas music was ringing out through the room, and a warm feeling spread through your chest at the sight of it all.

Several of Mason’s family members greeted him as soon as the three of you entered the spacious kitchen, happy to see him back home from training.

Mason wasted no time in bringing you around to his side with a gentle hand between your shoulders before he let his hand fall to his side, not wanting to make you feel self-conscious in front of his family.

“Guys, this is my friend, Y/N,” Mason smiled at you reassuringly. “She’s gonna be joining us for the rest of the day.”

His introduction irked you slightly, wanting to give more of an explanation for why you were crashing their holiday when Summer piped up from where she was very focused on decorating her gingerbread man. “And she’s not Uncle Masey’s wife.”

A chorus of laughs rang through the room, and you felt your cheeks heat up, forcing a laugh to try to play off the fact that you felt like you were about to pee your pants.

A woman who you could only assume was Mason’s mother wiped her hands off on a dish towel, walking in your direction with open arms.

“Oh, it’s so lovely to meet you, Y/N! I’m Debbie—Mason’s mum,” she spoke, confirming your guess. Mason quickly snatched the box of pastries from you so your hands were free and Debbie pulled you into a tight embrace—it was one of those hugs where you felt every muscle in your body relax a bit, and immediately you felt a little bit more settled in the unfamiliar environment.

“Thank you so much for having me.” You felt a bit silly, thanking her for being willing to do something she hadn’t even really agreed to in the first place.

“No, no, it’s nothing!” Debbie pulled back from the hug, waving her hand at you before she led you further into the kitchen, beginning to introduce you to everyone.  You met Mason’s father, Tony, who had greeted you with the same warm embrace that Debbie had, and then she introduced you to Mason’s brother, Lewis, and his sister Jaz and her husband before repeating the young girls’ names to you. Everyone had greeted you cheerfully, not even blinking an eye at the fact that Mason had brought a stranger home to join their Christmas celebration.

It wasn’t long before Debbie had you set up with your own sheet of wax paper and a cookie to decorate. You caught Mason’s eye, a sweet smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye that said I told you so.

You were surprised at how easy it was to settle in with Mason’s family. You had never been someone that was good at meeting new people, and it typically took you a while to warm up to them. But Mason’s family wasted no time in treating you as one of their own, and it almost felt natural to be there with them within minutes.

Playful banter was exchanged, Summer and Mila were shouting for everyone to look at their sprinkle-covered cookies, and everyone was laughing. Mason settled into his spot next to you, nudging you gently with his shoulder.

Mason’s family asked a little bit about yourself, but they kept the questions light, and you were thankful that they didn’t try to dig into why Mason had brought you home.

Once all the cookies had been decorated, the girls began shouting that it was time to open presents and Jaz had to wrestle them into wiping their hands and faces clean of icing before they took off, sprinting in the direction of the living room.

Once everyone had settled in the living room, some on the couch, some sitting on the floor, Tony donned a large Santa hat and beard before he began to distribute the gifts that were under and around the tree. You had kicked your shoes off by the door and tucked your legs up under you as you settled into the cushions next to Mason, a respectable amount of space still between you as you still didn’t really know how to handle yourselves around his family.

Each person opened their presents as Tony handed them out, one by one, and everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed as each gift was uncovered. Debbie and Jaz were taking lots of photos of everyone as they tore into their gifts. Your heart swelled at the thoughtful gifts that were exchanged. It became quickly apparent that remembering small details about the things people said was something that Mason had gotten from his family.

Mason kept silently checking in on you, glancing over to make sure you doing okay. You could feel his gaze on the side of your face, glancing over and making eye contact with him before shooting him an assuring smile.

By the time all of the presents were open and the wrapping paper and ribbons had been collected and put into trash bags, it was nearing dinner time and Debbie disappeared back into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the food. You sprang to your feet, naturally wanting to help her as a thank you for having you as a guest (despite her insistence that you didn’t need to), and Jaz joined the two of you soon after.

Conversation flowed naturally between the three of you, and you felt completely at ease talking with them as you worked to finish the finals bits of the Christmas dinner, most of it having been prepared before and very little needing to be done to finish it.

The fated question finally came up as the three of you were carrying everything to the table.

“So, Y/N, I don’t mean to pry, but I’ve got to ask.” Your heart leapt immediately at Debbie’s words. “Are you and Mason only friends, or is there something more going on there?”

You pondered for a moment how to answer her question. At the beginning of the day, you would never have dreamed of admitting the nature of your relationship with Mason to his mother. But now, after the time you had spent with him, you settled on telling her the truth. You knew you were serious about the budding relationship between the two of you, and you knew he was, too. Though you hadn’t officially put any labels on it, having decided to take things slow, you had started being more open about it with your circle of friends.

“Well, I… we’ve… gone on a few dates,” you started, and a pleased smile took over Debbie’s face. “We’re taking things slow, but he’s been an absolute gentleman and he’s been nothing short of amazing to me.”

Debbie beamed with pride at your words. “Well, I didn’t raise him to be anything less than that, so I’m glad to hear it.”

“We haven’t been going out for very long, and I really wasn’t planning on crashing your family’s Christmas today,” you felt the need to explain yourself, now that you were putting all of your cards on the table. “My family… they actually are out of town visiting my brother this holiday season, and I happened to run into Mason at the bakery this afternoon. As soon as he found out I was spending Christmas on my own, he insisted I come back here with him, and he was not taking no for an answer,” you chuckled at the recent memory.

“Oh, love,” Debbie’s face held a slight pout as she instantly read the sadness that you tried to hide over not spending the holiday with your family. She pulled you into another of her amazing hugs, placing a quick kiss on your cheek as she drew away. “Well I speak for everyone when I say we’ve loved having you here with us.”

Your mind flashed back to how unphased everyone had been by your arrival. “Does Mason do this a lot? Picking up strays for the holidays?” you tried to play off your question with a laugh, momentarily wondering if you were just another girl on a long list.

Debbie shook her head. “No, he’s never done anything like this before. And he’s certainly never brought a girl home for something like this,” she spoke, calming your nerves. You had felt a bit silly for asking in the first place, but her words soothed your fleeting insecurities. “But hopefully we can look forward to having you at many Christmases in the future,” she beamed, patting your cheek before she wandered back into the kitchen and refraining from prying any further.

You blew out a long breath that you didn’t even realize you had been holding, trying to wrap your head around the conversation you had just had—with a woman you had only met a few hours ago. And it wasn’t just some normal thing for Mason to bring girls home during the holidays, but everyone had just been that welcoming to you, despite showing up without warning. Your chest felt full, swelling with love for Mason and his family.

Debbie called the others to the table to eat, and you wandered in the direction of the living room, hoping to catch Mason for a moment before you joined the others. The rest of his family filtered out of the room, leaving you and Mason alone for the first time in the last few hours.

“You doing okay?” Mason asked, and you wordlessly wrapped your arms around him, burying your face in his chest and holding onto him tighter than you ever had before. Caught a bit off-guard by the affection, Mason wrapped his arms gently around your body, running his fingers up and down your spine.

His heart sank when you pulled your head back to look at him, arms still wrapped around his torso, and he saw the tears welling in your eyes.

“What happened, love?! Did someone say something—”

“Thank you,” you whispered, your lower lip trembling.

“For what, love?” Mason cradled your cheek in one of his hands, swiping his thumb under your eye to wipe away a tear. You noticed that he used the pet name more frequently when he was concerned.

“For bringing me here. For introducing me to your family. They’re amazing, Mason.”

A look of relief and adoration washed over Mason’s face and he smiled at you, leaning down to press his forehead to yours. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Me, too,” you let your eyes slip closed, allowing yourself to take a moment to yourselves and let your heart settle a bit.

“You know your mom asked me about us?” you broke the silence after a few seconds.

“Yeah?” he pulled back to look at your face, trying to gauge your reaction. “And what did you tell her?”

“The truth,” you gently shrugged your shoulders. “That we’ve gone out a few times and we’re taking things pretty slow, but that I think I’ll probably keep you around.”

“Yeah?” he grinned, and you nodded in response.

“Come on, we should probably head in there before Summer comes looking,” you pulled back, wiping away any stray tears with the sleeve of your sweater, hoping that no one would be able to tell how emotional you had just gotten.

The two of you joined the others at the table, taking your place between Mason and Summer after she had insisted you sit beside her, much to Mason’s fake offense. The food was incredible, as it had been a while since you’d had a big home-cooked meal like this, and you were sure to let Debbie know how much you enjoyed it. When everyone’s plates were empty, everyone took part in the freshly-decorated cookies and Mason and Lewis cleared the dishes, being sure to push you, Debbie, and Jaz toward the living room before any of you tried to help.

You were just returning from a quick trip to the bathroom when the boys walked back in from the kitchen, and you noticed everyone settling back down on the couch.

“We always watch a Christmas film after dinner, but I can take you home if you’re ready to leave,” Mason explained to you.

You thought over the offer for a moment, deciding you weren’t really ready to part from Mason and his family just yet.

“I mean… I wouldn’t mind sticking around a little while longer—unless you guys were wanting it to be just a family thing,” you rushed to add, not wanting to overstay your welcome.

Your words were met with immediate protest from the rest of Mason’s family, each of them insisting that you stay, and Mason smiled down at you. “Yeah, what they said.”

You giggled, letting him lead you around to sit next to him on the couch, allowing yourself to sit a bit closer to him than you had earlier that afternoon.

Tony even offered for you to pick the film, but as soon as Summer had shouted her desire to watch Elf, you were all agreed.

Mason threw a fluffy blanket over both of your legs as the movie’s opening scene played. “Is this okay?” he whispered, trying not to draw anyone else’s attention and you nodded in return.

You tucked your legs under your body, allowing your knee to rest slightly on his thigh and your shoulder to lean onto his, now feeling more comfortable showing some affection around Mason’s family.

The movie played on, and your heart soared listening to Summer and Mila giggle and clap their hands at their favorite bits. You felt at home there with Mason and his family, all cozied up in his living room on the night of Christmas as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Your heart swelled with the love that you already felt for all of them, and though you knew it was still a bit soon, you couldn’t wait to get to know them and get to spend more time with them as your relationship with Mason developed.

As comfortable as you were and with all of the lights in the house turned off for the movie, you didn’t even realize your eyes were slipping closed until you jolted awake, recognizing the scene on the TV as one that was near to the end of the movie. Mason must have felt the sudden movement from where your head was resting on his shoulder, and he took your hand in his, running his thumbs over your knuckles to calm you, the same way he had done in the car earlier that day.

You nestled your head further into his shoulder, savoring the last few moments you had with Mason and his family before the movie ended.

It was over sooner than you would have liked, and everyone sat up from where they had sunk into the couch cushions, stretching and yawning. It was clear that everyone was exhausted from the day’s festivities. You rubbed the sleep from your eyes, noticing Jaz and her husband quietly scooping up the girls from where they, too, had fallen asleep, and carried them down the hallway, seemingly to put them to bed.

“You ready to go home?” Mason asked you quietly as everyone began to rise from the couch. You nodded. “Okay, let me go grab my keys and we can head out.”

“Oh, Mason, I can just call an Uber or something, I don’t want to take you away from your family—”

“Absolutely not,” he cut you off. “You think I’m gonna let some stranger come pick you up and drive your back to your apartment?” You grinned at him, unable to find the words to answer him. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” His voice held an air of playful sarcasm.

Slowly, the two of you made your way to the front entrance. Everyone bade you goodbye as you made to leave. Debbie was sure to get a couple more hugs in before you left, insisting that you come around the next time they were up to visit, and you promised that you would.

Before long, you found yourself sitting in Mason’s car once again as he backed out into the street and set out on the route to your apartment. You were leaning across the center console of his car, leaning your head on his shoulder, and holding his free hand in yours.

You were feeling especially affectionate after the day you had, full of love for him and his family. The drive was silent as you listened to the music softly playing from his radio, no words needed to communicate to each other how you were feeling.

Before long, Mason pulled into the parking lot of your apartment complex and insisted upon walking you up to your door, like the gentleman he always was.

As you reached your door, you turned to face him, giggling at the cliché of it all as you wrapped your arms around his torso. He pulled you in close to him, holding you tightly as he beamed down at you.

“Was your Christmas okay, then? Even though you didn’t get to spend it the way you usually do?”

“Mason, it was wonderful,” you smiled up at him, feeling like there were no words that would do justice for how the day had made you feel. “It was better than I ever could have imagined. Thank you for bringing me home with you today. I was honestly feeling awful after spending the morning by myself and this was the best Christmas miracle I could’ve ever dreamed up.”

Mason squeezed you a little tighter, pleased that his impulsive decision at the bakery to invite you to his home had worked out. “I’m so glad you were there. I’m so glad you got to meet them.”

“I am, too. And I’m glad I got to share this day with you.” Your heart felt like it was overflowing, and you could barely hold yourself together.

You snaked one of your hands around the back of Mason’s neck, threading your fingers into his hair and pulling him down to join your lips in a long but gentle kiss. It was the first one you had shared all day, as Mason had been waiting for you to initiate it first, but you couldn’t refrain from indulging yourself any longer. This was surely your favorite kiss that the two of you had shared, even more so than your first. It was so full of unspoken passion and love, and it left your head spinning when you finally pulled apart for air, foreheads still pressed together.

Mason couldn’t help but press two more quick pecks on your lips before finally pulling back to look at you. The two of you just smiled at each other for a moment, and you studied Mason’s features as you stood there.

“Goodnight, Y/N,” Mason whispered, breaking the silence.

“Goodnight, Mason,” you replied. “Thank you for everything today.” Mason’s only response was a firm kiss on your forehead before he unwound his arms from your body, taking a couple of steps backward as he began heading back to his car.

You watched him walk down the hallway, glancing back at you with a wave before he rounded the corner, and you entered your apartment.

Closing your eyes and leaning against the closed door, you smiled to yourself. You may not have known Mason for long, but already, you were certain that this boy meant the absolute world to you, and his family had found their place securely in your heart.

tag list: @landoslover @thoseboysinblue @lovelynikol16 @swimmingismywholelife @masonsrem @brasiliangp @neverinadream @lizzypotter14 @notsoattractivearenti @chilwellspulisic @mm-vii @captainpulisic

[tigerarainbowra-blog]

WALUIGI HEADCANONS!!

My brain is FULL with Waluigi thoughts and I NEED to express them and I want PEOPLE to read about them so I thought I might just make a long ass post expressing all my thoughts so long post incoming!! Also DISCLAIMERS: I might sometimes write in a format that presents those points as if they were fun facts, but THEY ARE NOT FACTS!! Just things I like to imagine about the character, and may or may not be based on ideas in canon. Also these thoughts might be a bit disorganised but I hope it's still easy to read! ANYWAYS!!

I like to think Waluigi is not from the Mushroom Kingdom, but instead comes from faraway, and I like to think it's Sarasaland because I picked some details where he and Daisy are somewhat similar in some aspects (they both have something to do with plants/flowers, they both had this odd thing where their skin tone varied as time goes on, and they both were used as characters to complement other established characters, with Daisy being reintroduced in golf to be Luigi's caddie and Waluigi being made to be Wario's tennis partner). Yeah I know those are very loose and don't prove anything really, but I just think it'd be neat, would give him more potential history with Daisy. Video thumbnail I found showing what I mean with the skin tone inconsistency:

source link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzBoTM5Wxuk

Him being from far away might explain why he doesn't seem to know anyone (and no one seems to know him), and has a hard time fitting in.

I like to think he lived on a land area close to the Muda Kingdom, making him have a high affinity with water, and making him a very good swimmer. He can swim quite fast and dive extremely deep!

There's a very cool timeline that place Waluigi's first appearance in universe in Mario Party 3 (instead of the game order where he is introduced in Mario Tennis), where he introduces himself and also steals Luigi's island and make his own. I like to think he came to the Mushroom Kingdom itching a ride illegally on Daisy's boat and saw this island first and just went to it and got to work (and yes, he jumped off the boat and swam to it). Also here's the timeline in question check it out it's very cool and well put together:

https://seandwalsh.tumblr.com/timeline

He left shortly after the events of Super Mario Land (where Tatanga hypnotised the whole population of Sarasaland and kidnapped Daisy), after hearing about the heroic feats of Mario, and he also hears about Luigi. This was the point where he decided he was tired of living in shadows and wanted recognition and popularity too.

Unlike Daisy who goes back to Sarasaland when she isn't participating in events in the Mushroom Kingdom due to her role and responsibilites, Waluigi does not want to go back and elected permanent residence in the Mushroom Kingdom.

He found Luigi's island completely left unchecked, as it was mid construction on a day where nobody was there, all the tools and materials were just left here so he just went "well don't mind if I do >:)"

The piranha plants that he works with on his island are not just any random plants, they were native to the island and Waluigi essentially befriended them and convinced them to join him and go against Luigi, who might have gotten rid of them if he was to finish the constructions on his island.

He kept those plants ever since and now keeps raising them, there's a surprising high demand across the kingdom for them, so he makes a living giving plants new homes in various gardens, or doing piranha plant relocation when one spots a plant where it shouldn't be and could be dangerous.

Luigi never really did anything to get the island back because it was just simpler to move back in with Mario and he really couldn't be bothered to try and fix the whole mess, or have to fight over it against Waluigi.

Luigi left some personal belongings on the island that Waluigi just sold off. So yes, this happened:

Speaking of, he didn't expect THAT to actually sell and he even put on a ridiculous price on it for the sake of the joke, and yet somebody DID BUY IT. He sometimes remembers that and jokes about it (he would tell Luigi his fans are freaks) or tries very hard not to laugh at random when it comes to his mind.

The Luigi VS Waluigi rivalry started quickly after Waluigi stole the island, of course. Waluigi also sees Luigi as having an unfair advantage in life because he has Mario as a brother, and he considers Luigi as someone who is just "using his brother's popularity" to be popular in return. Waluigi doesn't have this chance, which makes him want to challenge Luigi and be better than him even more, to prove to him that you can win by your own self and without any help.

Daisy met Waluigi during MP3 and was not aware of him prior to that. She certainly used to despise him (gonna assume mostly because he is mean to Luigi), not sure if that evolved or not, but here are some recent images with them:

Out of topic but that reminds me that it seems Charles Martinet is convinced Daisy's favorite color is purple, it doesn't really add to anything I'm just wondering why or where did he get that? What's the origin of that?? Also Luigi immediately going "nuh huh nope nobody is a fan of Waluigi" omigod man

Back on topic, prior to MP3, Waluigi didn't own anything at all and lived a wanderer's life. Unlike Wario who might steal out of greed and simply because he wants a LOT of precious things, Waluigi started stealing out of necessity (and later on pettiness sometimes), and he got VERY good at it. Speaking of...

He has this ability (that he sees as a curse) to just not get noticed. He can steal something and no one would ever know it was him. It's very ironic since he is so tall, but if he decides he wants to take something discreetly, no one will be none the wiser. This allowed him to avoid a lot of trouble in the past.

Of course since he wants to be popular this is not very handy at all for his goals. He overcompensates by being as showy and boastful as possible to get attention on him. This is also due to the fact that he lived a long lonely life in shadows, he is pulling every attention seeking tricks he can.

However, when Waluigi is not participating in events or in public, and is instead in the privacy and comfort of his island, he does a complete 180. He has always been described as a hard worker:

He is a perfectionist too and can be very hard on himself when it comes to training in anything. All of the boast and fun goes away, and he is at his most serious when training. The piranha plants of the island often help him train and can be pretty concerned about him.

He is his worst critic and has a very negative self talk.

He DOES NOT GIVE UP. If he needs to hit a certain milestone in training, he will try again and again and again until he gets it, even if it takes him all day, or more. And yeah, that moonwalk? That funny spin he does? He spent DAYS getting those right.

sauce: https://mario.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000282529 , it might be a repost itself though I'm not sure?

Out of topic but it made me think of this and I have to post it now:

BACK ON TOPIC, he is a very sore loser not only because losing obviously isn't fun to him (and also because he plays the games TO WIN), but also because it puts into question all of his hard training. So much so he'd rather blame anyone/anything else but himself. The others do not know this, but as soon as he goes back home after a loss, he IMMEDIATELY trains again and even harder.

He lives the "no pain, no gain".

When alone, he also has moments where he is eerily silent and lost deep in thoughts. Nobody knows what he might be thinking about, and the only ones who saw him like this are his plants. He does it most at the beach of the island he lives on, while looking at the mainland of the Mushroom Kingdom in the horizon.

About the pipeplaza Waluigi's backstory: I like to think "standoffish to everyone's kindness" also means he has a very "loner" and "I'm doing it myself" personality if that makes sense, basically he will refuse help and want to do anything on his own.

Speaking of being a loner, Waluigi is most likely the one guy with the LEAST connections with the other characters in the games. The only one where he has some form of connection is Wario, and even then, it's not a particularly close one (also shoutout thepipeplaza, absolutely goated):

The only reason Wario got close to Waluigi was because he is good at sports and could help him win, as for Waluigi he simply tolerates Wario since it's his best ticket to get into any big events.

And yes, Waluigi is quite lonely...

He doesn't help himself much about that though, he is so stuck in his own self pity he tends to believe it's him against the world, and again, HE REFUSES TO GET HELP!

I don't think he's doing ok??

I forgot my train of thoughts, so time for various random things! Waluigi is about 231cm, here's an image picturing the scale here, with Mario (155cm), an average man at 175cm, and the faded black block behind him is an average door at about 203cm.

Speaking of, I like to think the reason he crouches all the time is so he can pass by doorways without having to worry about whether or not he'll bonk his head. Also the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom are Toads. THEY ARE SMALL, he ISN'T.

There is a course in Mario Kart 8 called Water Park, I like to think that, although you mostly see Wario's Wheel on the course, it was originally Waluigi's idea, and he designed most things in the park, including the robotics. Wario however took care of the largest part of the park such as infrastructure and, of course, the economic aspects.

Speaking of robots, HE LOVES ROBOTS, and studies very hard to make his own machines, that he implements in his own stadiums/courses.

Also yeah, he LOVES PINBALL. The reason he loves it is not only because of the fun, the colors, the funny noises, and the skill required, it's also because it's a solo game! Fits very well with him always wanting to do better (and beat his own highscore) too. It also genuinely gives him a break from being competitive all the time. He cheats at them sometimes by grabbing the entire pinball table and moving it around, but WHO CARES! It's his game and he does what he wants. He also builds his very own pinball games of course, shoutout Mario Party Jamboree!

His favorite aesthetic is neon, or anything that glows in the dark.

Dancing is something he enjoys but trains very hard at. He dabbles in various styles (being very studious), this includes ballet. He is VERY GOOD at it, however...

...He lost in DDR Mario Mix because of one minor mistep which bothered him for the rest of the dance and the day, and again, because he focused too much on winning.

He is ironically at his best when he is not being competitive and is just having fun, but he can't help and be competitive and feel a constant need to prove himself.

He not only raises piranha plants in his garden, he also grows various other things such as his own food (again, self sufficient mindset), and flowers, especially roses and other flowers with a sting.

His favorite piranha plant specie is the piranha creeper: it's spiky, purple, it moves like snakes, and he likes their sneaky nature and thinks it's very cute when they borrow:

If Luigi is scared of anything remotly creepy, Waluigi probably LOVES it. I can see him like the horror genre too. Waluigi would just hold the spider and place it outside ("DON'T-A KILL IT!! do you know how much pests this will take care of???").

He sometimes also like scaring people himself as a prank, he hides and jumpscares people, especially Luigi.

Speaking of, he is VERY GOOD at hide and seek when it comes to being the one who hides. The way he can cram himself into some spots is quite impressive. However, he also suffers the fact that people often forget about finding him.

His perfectionism extends to how he looks by the way, I mean look at his hair, he has the most well combed hair amongst the main 4 (why is it so hard to find a clear image of Wario's hair in 3d??):

When not combed properly, his hair looks like this:

Unlike Wario, Waluigi has very good hygiene (and again with the water, he loves bathes).

His favorite thing is after he is done training hard, he treats himself to a hot bath, complete with various pleasantly smelling flowers from his own garden, clay mask, some music, and would just stay here and relax for a good hour. Coincidentally, his MP4 present room includes his washroom:

Due to living on an island, he owns a small boat to get back and forth to the mainland and his home. He, of course, made it himself. He is also capable of swimming from his island to the mainland and back.

Waluigi studies magic and can teleport small items (such as a rose) magically. He also studies illusion magic and anything considered tricky. He can also summon thorny vines, but only when he is charged up or VERY angry, or water when he is very sad.

In Mario Golf Super Rush, at some point during a boss fight, Wario and Waluigi assist the player by summoning lightning clouds to strike the boss or the ground and produce electric spheres for the player to shoot. While Wario is the one holding the sword, Waluigi is still doing some kind of work, and I like to think that while the sword and Wario provides the lightning, Waluigi provides the rain cloud:

While he despises Luigi and opposes the Mario bros, or can try and sabotage his opponents in competitions, he is actually very chill when not in these conditions.

He can move his ears slightly, they can slightly move towards the source of sound (it's very slight tho), and they flop around when he gets excited and jumps in place.

I feel like I haven't talked enough about the "blame" part of his character there. It's well known Waluigi tends to blame others (or anything other than himself really) when things don't go his ways. He also knows all his hard work HAS to make him good, so in his mind the only explanation that he fails to win is that everyone else is doing, or having, something unfair, and so he jumps into doing unfair things too. However when he is alone and in training, he tends to blame himself for mistakes more.

He does not know he is his own undoing and how much he self sabotages because he is again stuck in the mindset that it's not him, it's everyone else. To him the world is and has always been unfair and against him.

He LOVES PRAISE, and seeks it constantly.

I think that's it for now... although I might have forgotten some points that I might come back to edit in later. Hope you enjoyed my LONG ASS ramblings! Thanks for reading! :)