#switched out my summer clothes for winter clothes

[femmesweetheart]

I have a closet full of grandma sweaters

[hiddenbysuccubi]

Snowmold covers the ground. At every turn. Every inch. The snow is gone, in the hellscape of Bozeman, for the most part. West is melting, the spring flood (from the insurmountable feet of snow piled high from plowing and other snow “removal” throughout the winter) is coming. In Bozeman it was 65 degrees, in Big Sky it was 54. The slopes are ‘sticky’ according to the skiiers. It’s slush at restaurant, mud at the resort base. It’ll snow again later this week. But ah, soon it will be True Spring. At least by the end of May. In all logic I know it’s snowed on any day in this vast uncultured wasteland from July 4th to mid August to Literally Any Day Any Time Of Year. And I fully expect some snow or mass flooding or earthquake or fires again this year.

[littlestlili]

Today, for the first time in a while, I am happy

Happy in the mundane

No special occasions to attribute it to

Just happy

I had almost forgotten how that felt

[spenzitz]

dazai with a scarred s/o

some headcannons and a little drabble! the headcanons are from a random brain dump i sent one of my moots... my bad

t/w ~ light mentions of blood, scars, fluff!! w/c ~ 1k

i headcanon dazai to have a pretty decent amount of scars under his bandages, self-inflicted or otherwise, so if he had a s/o who had lots of scars or stretch marks, he would be extremely supportive. esp beauty marks!!!! this man loves beauty marks tells you how even though it’s a permanent score of your bad experiences, it also paints a breathtaking picture of the person you are. in a way it’s also healing for himself, reassurance that if you, the person he loves dearly, have marks on their body, then his don’t have to be inherently bad either maybe you feel self-conscious about showing more skin during the summer, he’s so encouraging, tells you how proud he is of you for wearing that tank top you’ve had for ages

most days, especially in the winter, you forget about your scars. coats and jeans covering any permanent discoloration or texture variation on your body. they’re not something you actively think about, it’s not like you see them every day, and even if you do, it’s not for very long. you no longer get a stinging feeling when your shirt brushes against the scars across your chest. the blood has long dried up.

but, with melting snow comes sweltering heat. heat that makes your usual ensemble of sweaters and thick jeans, not an option this morning.

the agency had decided to take advantage of the warmth in the spring air and have a picnic. of course, you were excited, the agency was your family, and time with them was always time well spent. the only problem was what you were going to wear…

dazai has watched you come in and out of the bathroom almost four times this morning. switching between breathable and overly modest clothing every time. but even from inside your dorm with the blinds closed and the fan blowing on max, the heat was terrible.

you start to head back to the closet on your fourth attempt, inevitably picking another outfit too warm for the summer months, only to have your ankle grabbed by the sloth-like creature lying on the floor that you called your boyfriend.

“hey!” you laugh out, almost tripping before finding your balance and joining dazai on the floor. you sit criss-cross-applesauce in front of him as he emerges from your futon. you show a genuine smile as he yawns and takes your hands in his.

he wears a soft smile as he looks at you, his amazing partner, so capable, so attractive.

“can you just wear what you have on so we can leave already?” he says, kinda bossy, mostly annoyed. you were supposed to leave half an hour ago, he’s probably starving at this point.

“sorry, sorry… let me just put on what i was already wearing,” you say, starting to push yourself up off the floor.

again, dazai drags you back down to the floor with him, this time clutching you to his chest from behind and seating you in his lap. “nah, s’too hot for that,” he slurs his words as he pushes his face deeper into your neck. you squirm a little from the close proximity, not sure what to do with your body.

if you were being honest though, a part of you was anxious about where his hands would wander, as they usually did. you were currently dressed in shorts and a tank top, something you usually wouldn’t be caught dead in. even behind closed doors you opted to cover most of your skin, to your boyfriend’s dismay. so to say dazai was happy to see more of you in broad daylight was an understatement.

he had seen your scars before, but only once or twice, in the dead of night, with no one else around. they were fond memories of his. the first time was when you two weren’t dating but you certainly weren't just friends either. you had been pretty severely injured but you refused any kind of help. that was, until dazai walked you to your dorm and insisted he bandage you up stating that he’s “a professional at this point.”

he remembers how even though he found you very attractive and had probably thought about you with your shirt off in a different context, there was nothing even remotely sensual about that night. he didn’t ask any questions about your scars until you were dating, and even then, he was never pushy about it. the second time he’d seen your scars, it was very late, and you’d both had a few drinks. you both started asking questions about each other’s pasts and you both answered them as honestly as you could. you showed him your scars, and he showed you his.

dazai thinks about that night now, as he holds you close and traces a light finger across a particularly large gash on your shoulder, half covered by your top and the rest peaking out for anyone to see and ponder the origin.

”you told me you wanted to be more confident in your body right?” he asks you in a gentle voice, pressing a light kiss into your exposed shoulder blade. “yes…” you whisper back, fidgeting with your fingers as you’re suddenly much too aware of how much skin is showing.

“then this is a perfect start. you know everyone will be nothing but supportive.” he pauses to kiss your cheek before saying, “you really are your own worst enemy sometimes, you know that?”

his words had a twinge of harshness to them, but you knew he was right. not to mention there was no way you would enjoy yourself drenched in sweat.

you turn to face him in his lap and rest your head on his shoulder, which he gladly cradles. “i know you’re right.. it’s just hard y’know?” you start absentmindedly picking at the bandages peaking out of his sleeves. yeah, he does know.

“nothing my y/n can’t handle hm?”

you take a few breaths, enjoying the proximity. if only other people knew how sweet he could be.

“yeah, you’re right.” you sigh and sit up straight, parting from him with a kiss on his nose as you pull yourself up. he whines from the loss of contact but follows shortly after you.

you take one last pass by the mirror and push past your reservations. dazai was right, these people love and support you no matter what, you know that. what better direction to step out of your comfort zone than that?

masterlist

[rookthorne]

⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ 𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐟

To play games with wolves, one had to be cunning and willing to risk everything for the thrill. Gambling on a sense of safety was a foolish thing to do, but it didn’t stop you from trying — for when you lost a bet, they would collect, no matter what.

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 ➣ Bodyguard!CW!Bucky Barnes x F!Reader x Bodyguard!Winter Soldier

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 ➣ 2.3k

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ➣ Filth. ჻჻჻ SMUT: Dom!Bucky, Switch!James, Brat!Reader, uprotected piv, bodily restraints/held down, breathplay ჻჻჻ KINKS: Heavy degradation and dirty talk in Russian, sir/daddy, begging, praise

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 ➣ I yeeted myself into the sun while I wrote this. ➣ A very special thank you to a certain someone for the help with the Russian — lyublyu tebya, suka!

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 ➣ Keep It Down by Migrant Motel

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻ 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 ➣ @buckybarnesevents Hot Bucky Summer ჻჻჻ Week 7 — My Pet — Masterlist

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐨𝐯 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

It started as a game. 

James was in the living room with his arsenal while Bucky was out running an errand – he said he was meeting another possible client, and that he would pick up take out on his way home. You thought it would be safe to play, to tease.

You were so damn wrong.

“Kisa, darling,” James said, not looking up from his serrated knife. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing,” you replied, smiling coyly behind his back where he wouldn’t see. But your tone was off, you knew he noticed the playfulness when his shoulders became rigid.

“Does not sound like ‘nothing’, narushitel' poryadka.” A clink of metal sounded as James placed the knife down on the table, and picked another one up, twirling it in his hand with a deadly grace. “I will ask again. What are you doing?”

Slowly, deliberately, you moved into his field of vision and stood right next to him, running your hand over his shoulder. “Nothing, sir. Just wanted to see what you were doing–I was curious.”

“Ah,” James said lowly, wiping the knife with a cloth. “So that’s what it is, my kotenok was curious. Well, darling, I am maintaining my knives. Guns will be done later.”

“Uh-huh,” you hummed, sitting down next to him. He watched you with a curious gaze, and his mouth opened to speak, but you spoke quickly, “I want attention.”

James chuckled, raising a brow. “Attention? Is that all, Kisa?”

“Yeah, please.” Your hand moved his chest. “Sir.”

A heavy sigh flared his nostrils and he shook his head. “You can sit with me, darling. But I have to get this done. When Bucky gets back, we will convince him to play.”

You frowned. “But, sir-”

“I said wait, kotenok.” The knife in his hand flipped, and he continued to work. “Patience.”

Biting your lip, you considered how best to enact your plan – should you just push him back? Or should you get up and leave, then take him by surprise? No… Surprising him would end badly, you reasoned, so pushing him back against the couch it was. 

“Sir,” you began, tone pleading. James hummed, but continued to fiddle with the knife in his hands. “Sir, please, I just want attention. I want it. That’s all.”

James said nothing, though you watched intently while his shoulders and back straightened, and his thighs shifted in the sweats he was wearing. A tent had started to pitch in the crotch of them, and you knew you had won – he wouldn’t resist much longer.

You spread your fingers over his chest, lingering there for a second, and then quickly pushed with all your might. James landed back against the cushions with a grunt of surprise, and you leapt into his lap, straddling his thighs with a victorious grin on your lips. 

“So,” you purred, your hands pushing on his shoulders while he stared up at you, expression void of emotion. “The kitten can control the wolf after all.”

“Nyet, Pet,” James growled, his hands moving to grip your hips. “You cannot, and you will not. Let me finish-”

“No, sir,” you whined, dragging your clothed heat over his thighs. “Udelite mne vnimaniye, sir.”

“When the poimet' did you learn that?” he demanded, eyes narrowed. 

You licked your lips and increased the speed of your hips, revelling in the slight hitch of James’ breath. “Been practising, sir–needed to know-”

“Moy bog, you will be the death of me.” 

You giggled and brushed a thumb over his cheek, but the serenity was cut short by the sudden cold against your now bare ass and legs, and you squealed. 

“You did not need them anyway,” James said, tossing the ripped fabric of your leggings and panties over his shoulder. “Now open those legs for me.”

“No,” you whispered, and you clamped your thighs around his and sped up your hips. The strength you used rendered him speechless for a moment, and then you moved a hand to palm the tent at his crotch. “I wanna tease you, sir–like you did me.”

James glared at you through narrowed eyes, a snarl on his lips. “Oh, you-”

“Shh,” you hushed, moving your other hand from his shoulders to cover his mouth. “Quiet. You deserve this.” There was a muffled whine beneath your hand, and you smirked. “Good sir, you sit there and let your Kisa use you.”

Your movements turned deliberate, each pass of your now naked cunt rubbing closer and closer to his erection. You revelled in watching James’ gaze turn needy, his brows furrowing with barely restrained desperation, and his hands became restless. “Pozhaluysta, Kisa,” he begged, his voice muffled. 

“You heard him, sweetheart,” Bucky said behind you, and you squeaked in shock, your movements halting. You spun around and stared at him – hip cocked and leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and a frown on his lips. “What, you think you’d be safe to play a game with my shlyukha while I was gone?”

The term made a groan fall from James’ lips and your hand flew from his face like it was burned. “Bucky, I-”

“Bucky, Bucky, Bucky,” he mocked, his voice high in an imitation of you. “You won’t be able to talk your way out of this one, Kitten.” Bucky moved towards you, shucking his jacket from his broad shoulders and throwing it back into the entryway. “You wanna play games?”

“No-”

“That’s a fuckin’ lie, doll. Stand up,” Bucky ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. You complied quickly, and James whined quietly as you stood up. “Good girl. Lay down,” he said while pointing at the couch next to James – the four seater. “Go on.”

You padded over quickly to the couch, your heart racing all the while – when Bucky was in this mindset, it was exhilarating. The sound of James’ arm clicking while it recalibrated made you jump, and you rushed to lay down, following Bucky’s order to the tee. 

“Jamie, honey, c’mere,” Bucky said softly, and James got up, reaching out for Bucky and once within reach, attacked his neck with harsh kisses. Bucky’s hand squeezed his ass and you gulped. “Here, here,” he said, directing James so he could face you, and the two of them stared at you, gazes heated. “Ya budu derzhat' yeye, i ty yeye trakhnesh'. Prepodavat' yey urok.” 

“Da, da–pozhaluysta,” James whispered, and Bucky nodded. 

It all happened at once. 

James pounced – his form caging you against the cushions of the couch with a low growl, and you yelped. The feel of his lips attaching to the column of your throat, sucking and nipping at the skin made you moan and squirm. Bucky came and sat down by your head, his expression impassive. 

The blankness of his gaze screamed danger, and you squirmed harder, trying to dislodge James from above you. James only growled again and shifted to take off his sweats to reveal his cock – hard and weeping from your game. 

“Now, doll,” Bucky began, his thumb brushing against your cheek. You looked up at him through doe eyes, and he clicked his tongue. “Just who the fuck do you think you are? Teasin' our Jamie like the fucking whore you are, huh? It's a shame.” His words were followed by the feeling of James’ cold fingers forcing their way into your weeping cunt, and you cried out. “Now you have to take what you're given, and you thank your sir for fuckin' you so good."

“Oh, god,” you moaned, your eyes fluttering at the feel of James stretching you, his continuous assault on your throat. “Please–I just wanted attent- Oh!”

James’ fingers curled and you jolted, your shoulders lifting off the soft fabric of the cushion. “And you’re gettin’ it,” Bucky sneered. “Jamie, c’mon, take her.”

The words switched something in James, and he buried his face into the crook of your neck with a moan, his cockhead brushing against your folds. “Are you okay?” he whispered, loud enough for Bucky to hear too. “You know your words?”

“Mhm,” you hummed, nodding. 

A soft kiss met your cheek and James huffed. “Good kotenok.”

The initial burn of James’ cock slipping in made you hiss, and he slowed, allowing you a moment to adjust. “I’m good, move.”

Bucky grinned above you. “You heard him, honey. Take what’s yours.”

“What- Fuck!” you gasped, the sudden rush of James pumping his cock in and out of your heat. “Sir!”

“Quiet, Kitten,” Bucky snapped, his hands now on your shoulders. The pressure made you blink and look up at him – a predatory smirk on his lips. “You lie still while Jamie takes what he needs–you’ll learn not to tease him.”

A groan fell from James’ lips and his thrusts turned brutal, feral, the pace punishingly fast. Each pass of his cock over your walls made you whimper and moan – the brute force making the spiral coil tighter and tighter against your will. “Sir, pleasepleaseplease, you feel so fucking good, please don’t stop!”

“I said quiet,” Bucky huffed. The sudden feel of his right hand covering your mouth startled you, and your squeak of surprise came out muffled. His left hand held fast on your shoulder, pinning you to the cushions. “James, I have her. Let it go.”

“Fuck,” James moaned, and his legs shifted – the new angle made your eyes roll. “You feel amazing, Kisa, so fucking good for me.”

“Please!” you whined behind Bucky’s hand, though he didn’t move it. 

"Kisa, vot chto byvayet, ty igrayesh' v gryaznuyu grebanuyu igru, i tebya gryazno trakhayut," Bucky said, and the use of Russian made you sob – the words were filthy, you knew that by the tone, but not knowing made the coil fit to spring at any second. 

“Such a good boy, James,” Bucky praised, leaning over and kissing him. The exchange made James’ pace falter and you whimpered, your hands clutching at James’ elbows in an effort to make sure that he didn’t forget you. “Chertovski, razrush' yeye Dzheymi, razrush' etu kisku.”

A shuddered breath made James’ chest spasm, and his pace began in earnest – each thrust made you cry out into Bucky’s palm. 

“Just a fuckin’ attention whore, aren’t you?” Bucky asked, staring down into your face. You shook your head and whined – you wanted him to keep talking, you wanted James to keep fucking you. “What happened? Vy mozhete prigotovit' eto, no vy ne mozhete vzyat' eto? Eto problema?”

Instinct told you to nod, so you did, and Bucky laughed, finally moving his hand away from your mouth. James panted into the skin of your neck, each exhale turning into a low moan. 

“It feels s’good,” you moaned, your hands moving to grip James’ hair. “Please!”

Overtaken with the desire to move, you squirmed under James, and your calves came to rest on the back of James’ thighs. “Kisa, fuck-” 

Bucky whistled while James shuddered, his thrusts getting desperate. “Chert voz'mi,” Bucky breathed, “boyevoy Kotenok lyubit, kogda ty boresh'sya s nim. Delayet tvoyu kisku namnogo slashche.”

“Daddy,” you gasped.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Bucky cooed, “you gettin’ the attention you wanted?”

“Yes, oh my fucking-” You yelled, the sudden pressure on your clit taking you by surprise. While you were distracted looking at Bucky, James must have shifted his weight and moved his hand – of which now started rubbing tight, fast circles over your clit. “Sir!”

Bucky chuckled. "Kisa, vot chto byvayet, ty igrayesh' v gryaznuyu grebanuyu igru,” he rasped, and while you still didn’t understand, you knew that tone. “i tebya gryazno trakhayut."

“Do that again,” James panted, still thrusting. “Shlyukha loved it.”

Bucky barked a laugh and you whined wordlessly. “Please, I wanna cum!”

“Chert, vot i vse, suka, voz'mi etot chlen," Bucky growled, and James moaned, his pace faltering. 

“I’m close, pozhaluysta, ne ostanavlivaytes',” James whimpered, and Bucky hummed. 

“You want to cum, huh, Jamie?” Bucky asked him, and your mouth fell open with a silent moan. The angle of James’ thrusts were hitting all the right places and you wouldn’t last at this rate. “You wanna teach her that she can’t fuck around, and not be punished for it?” 

“Da, need to teach this suka- Fuck,” James moaned again, “Need to-”

Bucky’s left hand moved to cup your throat, and he tilted your head back to better look into your eyes. “Sweetheart,” he growled, and you blinked. "Zamochite yego chlen, on ne ostanovitsya, poka ne nasytitsya, vy suka."

Your climax surprised you, and you keened as your back bowed to the ceiling, your chest meeting James’ as he groaned. “Sir! Sir, please–I’m cumming!”

“Atta girl,” Bucky praised, “doin’ so good for us.”

“Poimet'! Poimet',” James shouted, his breath heavy on your shoulder just as warmth bloomed in your cunt, and his cock twitched against your walls. “Oh, fucking- Kisa, fuck.”

Your heavy breaths with James’ whimpers and moans filled the room, and Bucky’s soft voice uttering praises soothed you back down to earth. “I’ll go get a towel,” Bucky said quietly, kissing James on his temple and brushing his thumb over your jaw. He stood up and left, leaving you and James alone. 

“Are you alright, darling?” James asked quietly, his face coming into view just as he pulled out gently. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” you breathed, smiling. “Promise. And I’m sorry, sir.”

James loomed over your body and kissed your forehead. “No need, Kisa. We all need a good fuck every now and then.” He pulled away and winked, a small smirk on his lips. “Let’s get you cleaned up, okay? Then we can cuddle.”

“Sounds good, Jamie,” you replied around a yawn. 

After cleaning you up, Bucky and James laid you across their laps, both of them not willing to leave you be, and both content to pay attention to your now sore muscles, soothing them with their hands and making your mind quiet with their words.

narushitel' poryadka = troublemaker kotenok = kitten udelite mne vnimaniye = pay attention to me poimet' = fuck YA budu derzhat' yeye, i ty yeye trakhnesh'. Prepodavat' yey urok. = I will hold her down, and you will fuck her. Teach her a lesson. chertovski, razrush' yeye Dzheymi, razrush' etu kisku = damn, ruin her Jamie, ruin that pussy. vy mozhete prigotovit' eto, no vy ne mozhete vzyat' eto? Eto problema? = you can dish it, but you can't take it? That the problem? chert voz'mi, boyevoy Kotenok lyubit, kogda ty boresh'sya s nim. Delayet tvoyu kisku namnogo slashche = damn it, keep fighting Kitten. Love it when you fight him. Makes your pussy much sweeter. Kotenok, vot chto byvayet, ty igrayesh' v gryaznuyu grebanuyu igru, i tebya gryazno trakhayut = Kitten, that's what happens, you play a dirty fucking game, and get fucked dirty. chert, vot i vse, suka, voz'mi etot chlen. = damn, that's it, bitch, take that dick. zamochite yego chlen, on ne ostanovitsya, poka ne nasytitsya, vy suka. = soak his dick, he won't stop until he's had his fill, you bitch.

and I oop—

⠈⠂⠄ 𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐱 | 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐚𝐨𝟑  ⠄⠂⠁

⠈⠂⠄𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 | 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ⠄⠂⠁

[abiiors]

we went to winter wonderland 🎄// matty healy x reader

twelve days of christmas - day 2

a/n: i've been slightly sad about...everything and writing is hard atm but i also don't want to abandon 12doc so have something that's loosely based on my irl relationship. it's really short, sorry :( cw: none, just fluff wc: 1k

the last ever winter they spend apart is quite shit to put it bluntly. 

matty’s a million kilometres away in LA where winter’s only a concept while she’s in their bed, alone and begrudgingly cuddling his hoodie in lieu of him and cussing out her boss and her boss’ boss and so on all the way to the top until she’s googled the ceo of the parent company that owns her firm and cussed him out too. matty laughs shamelessly the whole time. one, because she looks as threatening as a baby penguin all angry and swaddled in blankets, and two, because it’s her. 

she’s never failed to make him laugh. ever. 

“baby…” he tries to pacify, “it’s alright.”

“no it’s not!” her tone is firm. "i should be with you in LA! not rotting here in our bed because work got in the way."

her nose is slightly red from being out in the cold (it was the first snow of the season after all, matty knew she would be out) but he tells her to get tea regardless. and now, armed with a steaming mug of herbal tea and the saddest pout a girl could have, she looks all the more cuddly. 

“okay how about this,” he suggests, “you have your switch don’t you? go get it.” 

her face contorts in confusion. “you don’t have yours.”

“i’ll just steal hann’s.”

“matthew!”

but she gets up regardless, even if it’s after a few grumbles of “ugh, i just got cosy!”

matty, through their facetime call, wanders through the house with her. he has to admit—it’s lonely and quiet without him there. their home—perfect for two and too big for just her. he can’t wait to get back though. even sunny LA is a touch too cold without her there. 

“what do you wanna play?” she asks once she settles in bed again and matty’s ready with the answer. 

“animal crossing.”

“babe… we haven’t played that in ages, it’s gonna be so shit!”

he frowns at her stubbornness. “just turn it on will you? it will have snowed on there. you always love making those anatomically challenged snowmen!”

there’s a small giggle that follows. she’s well aware of what he’s referring to—they almost have a competition of sorts about who can make the most deranged-looking animal crossing snowman. 

as predicted, it’s weeds and more weeds everywhere the minute the game turns on. her little avatar exits her house, looking dishevelled and still in curated summer clothes. oh well… 

matty grins. “so i was thinking…”

“yeah?”

“we won’t get to go to a winter wonderland this year!”

“yeah,” she pouts again. 

“i was thinking we could make one.”

“in animal crossing?”

“in animal crossing!”

for a moment she’s quiet and matty worries that it’s a stupid idea. it is a little lame if he’s honest but there’s not much they can do with an entire ocean between them. but just as he feels his grin slipping, hers widens on her face. 

“matty! you are brilliant! i love you.”

“what was that?” he teases, laughing when she pokes her tongue out. 

“last to finish is the loser,” she declares. and before he’s even had a chance to plan a heist for adam’s switch, she’s shouting “go!” amidst protests from him and maniacal laughter from her. 

matty doesn’t care though—this is almost a complete 180 turnaround in her mood in quite a few days. 

two hours and a worrying amount of bickering later, they’re ready for the grand reveal. 

“mine is so much better!” she declares as soon as matty’s little avatar lands on her island. even her fucking avatar looks adorable, all bundled up in a big coat and matty’s ready to declare her the winner right there. still, he indulges her. 

he already knows it—hers is so much better! she’s always had an eye for all things cute (him included) but he stays and he listens. 

soft snow falls behind her on the facetime call and it’s clearly visible through the giant windows and the switch almost casts a perfect glow on her. not that matty’s entirely focussing on her tour of her animal crossing winter wonderland; he’d much rather stare at her while she’s talking but it’s over far too soon and before he knows it, her avatar is on his (hann’s) island and she’s laughing hysterically at his attempt of a wonderland. 

“matty!” she shrieks. “baby, this is so bad”

“what? how dare you, take that back!”

“there are weeds in the middle of your ‘skating rink’.” 

“uhhhh…” matty ends up shrugging much to her amusement. 

“yours is so shit!” she teases. “we agree that i’m the winner, right?”

“got you out of your grumpy mood though, didn’t i? so who’s the real winner here?”

“still me!”

and so he relents. two hours and a shit in game winter wonderland is a fantastic trade to make in exchange for her laugh. 

ten more minutes and she gets a little emotional again because of course she does. matty watches some of the joy in her eyes drain away, replaced by a tinge of the same sadness from before. 

“i hate being without you, especially during winters! it gets so cold.” the corners of her mouth turn down and a soft ache fills his chest. 

“i know, darling… i hate missing christmas but you’ll be with me next month, yeah?”

“yeah.”

much to his relief she doesn’t let it get her down this time, she tries to change the topic and talk about everything she’s been up to and all the plans she has with her friends. matty’s mind is made up though—this is the last winter he's willing to spend without her. come january, the ring hidden in his suitcase will find its place on her finger. 

lemme know what you think <33

taglist: @scooby-doodoo @partoftheairforce @justgoatsbreakinghearts0855 @beachesgetpeaches @you-muppet @mcabister @alexmarie29 @at-her-very-foreign @hfkait @squishysoupy @sierraeslaprincesa @harrie-fic-center @alien-girl-violet @thereisaplaceintheheart @kennedy-brooke @lolidontknowanymore @theoriginalwhatsername @celestcies @sugarkane1001 @ari-turner @thewaywewereinsaigon @daphnesutton @beliefandsayingsomething @ros3chu @nothingrevealedeverythingdenied @zzzhealy @mattymybeloved @fck-off @indiaamars @sofaritsalrightt @k4tie75 @wondersecret @humptyhoran @indierockgirrl @hanbiior @moreyoulove-moreyouknow @rossgirly @if-my-heart-bleeds @little-lovely-darling @abriefnirvana @renitypoem

add yourself to the taglist

[ineffablebookgirl]

I noticed something on a rewatch about the arc of Aziraphale's coat. When it gets hit by that paintball, he says, "I've kept this in tip-top condition for over 180 years."

So, since 1839. 20-odd years before the fight / breakup in St. James's Park, which is the earliest we see it.

But wait, I says to myself, he wasn't wearing that coat in the 1940s Blitz scene in the church. He wears a different outer coat in that scene, one that looks new, made of a material that's stiffer and slightly shiny.

[Of course, one typically wears nicer and more uncomfortable clothes to one's wedding, and Crowley also looks very sharp and more buttoned-up than his typical look in this scene, but that's neither here nor there.]

After that, after Aziraphale realizes Crowley still cares for him despite their fight, and realizes he loves Crowley too, he switches back to the 1800s coat for good. When he appears in the Bentley in the 60s, he's back in the old coat, and he wears it every scene after that. [He does have that other gray cardigan-like jacket, but that's for relaxing in the bookshop only.]

In that argument in the park, he feels such a strong need to push Crowley away, for Crowley's own protection. (Every other resistance to collaboration, from the Globe onward, his argument is that *Crowley* would be in danger if they were found out; only in the park fight does he argue that *he* might be in danger. He's saying to Crowley that they need distance to protect him, Aziraphale, because even in his agitation he knows that Crowley's #1 motivator is protecting Aziraphale). Maybe after that, he tries to move on, switch to a modern new coat. And maybe Crowley coming for him again in the church lets him know it's okay to be himself again, to go as slow as he needs to, because Crowley will always come back for him.

~~~

AND ANOTHER THING

has to do with lapels.

Aziraphale's Blitz coat looks much more similar to the jackets worn by the other angels. Take a look at Michael and Uriel's jackets here. They are stiff and have that sheen to them, and the lapels point up.

Like Aziraphale's Blitz jacket.

Compare that to the lapels on his trusty old coat. This coat is soft, just like Az. And the lapels point down.

Okay, okay, so what about demons? We know they deliberately did the miracle gestures with Aziraphale's snap pulling something down from Heaven and Crowley's pulling something up from Hell. If the angels have upward-pointing lapels, it would make sense for demons to have downward-pointing lapels, if my theory is going to hold.

Yup, that checks out. Hastur and Ligur have floppy sad ugly lapels that droop down toward Hell.

So, the final piece to this puzzle.... how about Crowley's lapels?

Outrageously spiky upwards-pointing lapels. Because of course. I rest my case.

~~~

[Okay, a couple of caveats. (1) I'm not an expert on fashion or clothes, so I welcome corrections and additions. (2) It's possible that Az's soft, favorite jacket is a summer jacket and the stiffer one he wears in the Blitz is a winter jacket. Not clear what season it is in that scene. (3) Stay tuned for a follow-up post about Gabriel and Beelzebub's lapels. (4) Also, I haven't compared any of the other outfits throughout history, and I only looked at Crowley's 2019 jacket. (5) Sorry if the gifs are weird, I don't really know what I'm doing. (6) Also sorry if this has already been discussed; I try to only post stuff that I haven't seen elsewhere, but I know I'm late to this party!]

[toasttt11]

my au’s facts and favorites

sebastian boldy

favorites

pizza, specifically pepperoni

coffee or anything caffeinated

grilled chicken

is not a big fan of flowers but doesn’t mind roses

favorite color is a soft orange

fall is his favorite season because hockey season starts

facts

If Sebastian didn’t play hockey he could of made a career with his art abilities.

Sebastian was planning to live alone when he went to the NHL but Jack begged that Luke and Sebastian both lived with him for at least their first season.

Sebastian has a bad habit of being bored and starting to draw on himself or his shoes, Luke loves when Sebastian will draw on him or Luke will give him his hockey stick to draw on.

Sebastian can try to deny it but it was obvious to the whole Umich team that he did care for all of them like brothers.

julianna hughes

favorites

potstickers or any kind of dumplings

mint chip icecream

sugar cookies

daisies are her favorite flowers

her favorite color is anything pastel

summer is her favorite season

facts

Julianna absolutely loves self care, she’s very consistent with her skin care and always makes the boys do spa days with her.

Julianna almost flies out at least once every other month to visit her twin for a few days.

If she could she would wear a sundress everyday.

Julianna growing up was only ever called annie by her family but when she started making her own name and friends it switched to Jules or Julia but her family still calls her Annie.

lucia hughes

favorites

steak and vegetables is her absolute favorite

her moms cookies are her favorite sweet

any type of soft serve

her favorite flowers are tulips

favorite color is bright blue

warm weather is her favorite making summer her favorite season

facts

When she started played hockey her mom would put her hair into a braid crown so you could see the back of her jersey, it’s a hairstyle lucia still does most days and always her hair styled that way for games.

She’s always just had simple suits for game days and usually in comfortable clothes most days but she does enjoy dressing up.

Lucia never lets her brothers forget that their baby sister is taller than both of them.

lucia has always hated her name thinking it sounds like a old lady name and has demanded since she was young to be just Luce.

Lucia has never been a big jewelry person but she has a few rings from people that are important to her that she wears most days.

Lucia would willingly sleep 23 hours of the day if she could.

cameron crosby

favorites

absolutely loves her dad’s banana bread

loves goldfish

a big fan of watermelon

favorite color is purple

favorite season is summer

favorite flower is lavender

favorite animal has always been cats

facts

she barely knows how to do anything for her hair then very simple things because Sidney has always done her hair for her.

her cat mack loves wearing a harness and just being on cameron’s shoulders or in her arms, he’s always traveling with her.

cameron can be quite awkward around new people something she picked up from her dad.

she’s the oldest by a lot out of all of her cousins so they all look up to her a lot and always following her around like like ducklings.

while she doesn’t mind physical touch with her family, she doesn’t like cuddling and would always squirm away from anyone that wasn’t Sidney, fraser becomes the second person ever that cameron tolerates cuddles for.

asher leonard

favorites

pineapple is his favorite flavor for anything

coffee, specifically black iced coffee

favorite season is fall and winter

favorite color is black

favorite flower is irises

loves trail mix and cheese it’z

facts

has always been very interested in astronomy and knows so much about it, always likes to find places to see the stars.

doesn’t mind shopping to much and likes to put some thought into his clothes, can make just a hoodie look classy.

he has a lot of little white scars on his face that you can’t see unless you are right in front of him.

has always been a really good fighter, and while he does usually get some type of injury on him, he always wins his fight.

asher’s little niece daphne is a big fan of her uncle and she is always squealing when she sees him.

[v-i-r-i-d-i-a-n]

byler prompt: flirting god will and blushing mess mike accidentally switch roles momentarily but once mike realizes what he said and will seizes the opportunity to reciprocate, the roles go right back to normal, except it was just enough to get them to realize their feelings weren't as one sided as they thought.

TY SO MYCH FOR THE ASK WHOEVER YOU ARE

THIS IS SUPER SUPER ROUGH BECAUSE I HAVE NOT WRITTEN IN AGES AND WAS LITERALLY WORD VOMITING SO THIS IS TECHNICALLY A DRAFT SO IM SORRY IF IT DOESNT LIVE UP TO UR EXPECTATIONS

William Byers never used to be this…forward, maybe it was living in Cali, maybe it was because Jane and Mike had broken up, maybe it was Vecna finally being dead, the upside down no longer plaguing him with every movement he’d take, and with everything being over and done with, that creepy crawling feeling was gone and he could breath normally, and with that he finally got the confidence to actually speak like a normal person to his best friend.

Well, maybe more than just a “normal person” but hey, seeing Mike get a bit flustered at his senseless flirting was always a plus, even if it didn’t mean anything in the end.

He’d always known how to get people riled up, in California he’d use the tactic to throw people off when they’d be rude to him or Jane. Throw a comment out there to make them stop in their tracks, blubbering like a fish out of water. It was amusing when it was them. But god with Mike it was different, cus he actually meant the words coming out of his mouth, and loved the flush that would spread over his best friends cheeks as he stared at Will with those wide eyes, looking vaguely like he’d had his first thought in a week, like he’d suddenly gained consciousness. His jaw would drop slightly his lips pursing in that way that made Will want so desperately to kiss him.

…..

He was awful.

He shouldn’t be using Mike like that, but he couldn’t stop himself, flirting with him was fun and easy and everything love should be. So he smiled and quipped and made little gestures and said his full name in that way that. It had gotten to the point he’d take almost every opportunity he could.

Hawkins was awful in the summer, any long fabrics or hair sticking to your skin uncomfortably, too cold in winter and too hot in summer. Too wet in Spring, too dry in Fall.

Ah the Midwest.

He was pulling at his pants as the party sat around him at their lunch table, chatting away about something or another. Mike sat at his side, way closer than he had too, almost the entire bench free to his right, but it’d been like that recently, and. Will definitely wasn’t complaining, he usually liked the contact, Mikes legs and side pressed against his in a way that made his cheeks flare.

“Jane, remind mom we gotta go summer clothes shopping.” He groaned dramatically, pushing Mike’s side. “Mike I know we both love you being in my personal space but please.” He whined, pouting at the boy.

“H-huh?” Mike’s eyes widened, his lips parting, “o-oh yeah of course yeah sorry-“ he stuttered over his words, shimmying away from Will, just enough so that they were no longer touching.

Max snickered in that knowing way of hers, despite her impaired vision, she seemed to read them like an open book. See right through them and the game they were playing. She looked…? between them for a moment. Will suddenly had a very bad feeling.

“Do any of you guys remember those short shorts Will would wear in middle school?” She said, fitting her chin onto her palm. “You should get some of those again,” she suggested.

“The ones from the mall?” Will pulled a face, his lips pursing in not exactly disgust but something close enough. Moving his gaze to Max as she nodded, a knowing look in her eyes.

Traitor.

Lucas made a wolf-whistle sound, “yeah man you looked good in those! I remember girls used to be practically tripping over themselves when you walked by,” he teased. Dustin snickered along with them.

All of them. Traitors.

“It was not like that.” Will huffed, glaring at Max despite the fact she couldn’t see it, she smiled at him widely, mischievous and playful.

Sometimes Will wondered if she was faking being blind.

Mike made a little sound, tilting his head to the side as he shrugged, absentmindedly moving his food around on his plate. “I meannn, a lot of people did stare at you,” he said, almost teasing as he smiled to his friend, “you looked good in them.” He added.

Will’s attention was almost immediately on him, as it so often was, leaning his head to the side, returning the teasing nature, “Micheal Wheeler,” he said playfully, teasing and light with his words. He loved the way Mikes lips twitched up at the use of his name. One of the easiest ways to flirt with Mike Wheeler. “Did you just so happen to be one of the people staring at lil ole me?” He asked innocently, fluttering his eyelashes at him, simply searching for a reaction.

Instead of stuttering or blushing like Will had expected, Mike merely looked up, as if recalling the events of that summer. He straightened his posture so that their height difference was more notable. Forcing Will to look up if he wanted to look at his face, which he did, of course.

“Would it be so bad if I was?” He asked, looking back down at Will with a deceivingly neutral expression, his voice sounding light and contemplative in a way. “I did say you looked good in them, didn’t I? It’s obvious people would stare.”

For once, it was Wills turn to blink rapidly, a blush spreading over his cheeks his lips openinghe breathed in the sentiment. Unsure what to make of it, was Mike calling him attractive? It felt like it. Warmth pooled in his stomach and spread throughout his body, all the way down his arms to his fingers and toes.

All he could do for a few long moments was stare, but with the way Mike was looking at him, expectantly, as if waiting for an answer to a question Will had to take a moment to recall. Mike eyes flitted down to the bottom half of his face, letting out a little huffy breath through his lips, impatience.

Right, right, Will needed to respond. “I guess I wouldn’t mind.” He finally said, so quiet he’d be surprised if Mike even heard it. His voice felt fleeting in his throat, like he was scared he’d break whatever bubble was around them if he was too loud, too obnoxious.

Mikes soft contemplative look quickly turned to fluster once more, as if his words and the implication of them finally caught up to him. And they both seemed to notice they’d been staring at each other for too long for it to be considered normal.

Mike quickly looked away from him, his Adam’s apple bobbing as the boy gulped, his cheeks still flushed. Will watched him for a moment, the implication of Mike finding his attractive in short shorts kept turning in his head. He looked away then too, trying to focus back in on the conversation their friends had continued without them.

Max huffed loudly at something Lucas said. “We all know Will doesn’t give any of the girls who are into him the time of day.” She said. “He’s too focused on…other things.” Her non-existent stare looked between him and Mike, before shrugging, “like his grades, and college.”

Will was gonna murder her.

[princessbrunette]

what’s ur style of clothes?

a lot of pink n white. usually baby pink! sometimes entirely pink or entirely white looks. sometimes things that have ribbons or bows on them too. in the summer i wear primarily cute tops n mini skirts or dresses. the pink n white usually goes with my nails bc my nails are always those colours. in winter i wear a lot of knit jumpsuits / two pieces with bailey bow uggs and fluffy coats and earmuffs etc. for spring / summer it’s either glittery sandals or little kitten heels because im short but i enjoy the comfort of not wearing a full out heel. i have a lot of shoulder bags that im always switching up <3

[bomberqueen17]

Must Farm musings, cont'd

As I've continued to mull over what I wrote in the last post, it strikes me that it'd be good to kind of inventory what was, and what was not, found in the settlement, so that we can more effectively speculate on what we can't know, which is: what actually happened.

Some things weren't found in the settlement because they would not have been preserved. Animal fiber textiles, for example; wool would burn differently than linen or lime fiber; the plant-based stuff was charred and preserved, but wool burns to a crumbly ash, and furthermore the ph of the mud was such that protein-based things like wool and skin would not have survived even if they were not burnt to ash. There were potentially as many bobbins of spun wool thread as linen, but the wool would not have survived at all, so we have no way to know. Likewise, certainly these people knew how to work leather, but there is no evidence of it-- but it would not have survived, and so there being no sign of it doesn't mean it wasn't there. Every bed could have had a sheepskin coverlet and we just wouldn't know.

(I personally think, if they built this site over the winter, and were there through high summer, but it burned in late summer or early autumn-- see the flax processing debris from late July, emmer wheat spikelets from July or August, but no hazelnuts or berry seeds?-- they didn't have much wool from their flock in storage. They'd've sheared them in the spring, though I'd have to look up Bronze Age sheep to be sure-- they might be the kind you roo rather than shearing? i don't know if we know, but it seems reasonable that the wool would be a springtime product, and so would all have been spun/woven by now, and they'd recently switched over to linen because the flax had come ripe. So there were likely many finished items of wool lost in the fire-- bedding, clothing, wall hangings??-- but not bobbins or in-progress weavings, that was all likely flax.)

Some things were not found in the settlement that absolutely would have been preserved-- buckles, pins, clothing accessories. Things we know from other Bronze Age artifact assemblages, preserved in other contexts-- often as grave goods. They would be there, if they'd been left behind.

So it's safe to assume that the people left wearing most of their clothing and normal accessories. Even a wealthy person of this era would likely not have multiples of accessories like belt buckles and shawl pins, so we can assume they'd have worn them more or less daily. This doesn't necessarily mean anything, except that the fire did not happen at night. They weren't rousted out in their pajamas. But that goes with my earlier conclusion, that they weren't home at all when the fire began.

(Why were beads left behind? Well, evidently, they weren't worn daily. Possibly they were part of the decor of the houses, or were incorporated into protective amulets over the door, or incorporated into some kind of altar-like area within the house, or something along those lines. Possibly these people had even more beads than what were left here, and did wear necklaces as part of their daily adornment! Possibly the other beads we've found as jewelry in grave offerings from the period are not representational of what people actually would wear, and they're ceremonial adornments! Maybe the necklace needed restringing and was hung up waiting for someone to take it apart and get to it. There are many things that we cannot know.)

And likewise, swords and other weapons. (There's a bronze knife, among the discovered artifacts, but it is for various reasons likely not to have belonged to anyone in the settlement. The older Middle Bronze Age causeway that runs straight through the site was a place where offerings were deposited, and the sole knife was one such offering.) But this could either mean that there weren't warriors living in this settlement, OR that the warriors had taken their weapons with them when they walked out for the last time and never came back.

As far as religion/spiritual beliefs, we know very little of course. But we do know a couple of things from the wider context. One is that culture-wide, there were complicated beliefs about death. We know that some bodies in that era were enbalmed or in other ways given ritualistic treatments immediately after death-- put in bogs and then later recovered, or defleshed with knives, or exposed to birds to be defleshed. There's evidence that some people were eviscerated soon after death, to slow decay-- a person's gut flora sort of digests them after death, to an extent (which leaves traces in the bones), and the people of this era clearly knew that and for their own reasons, sought to prevent it in some cases (which we know, from the absence of those traces). Fragments of bone were then curated, kept among people's possessions, and later deposited in other contexts. (A paper about this, mentioned in the Must Farm report, is here, from Cambridge University Press, published in Antiquity in 2020.)

The Must Farm settlement was no exception: the only human remains found in the site are just such curated bits of bone, most of them likely deposited during the construction of the site, or possibly even during its brief occupation. (This is discussed in chapter 27 of Vol II.) A near-entire human skull with extensive wear-handling was deposited near what we think was the gate of the site. The bones were radiocarbon dated and are roughly contemporaneous with the site. They also had been handled in ways that to us seem disrespectful-- one fragment of tibia had been gnawed by dogs, and had wear as if it had been trampled. Like it had been kept on the floor of an occupied house for a time. The near-complete skull was that of a youngish person, probably in her twenties, likely female, and she'd had her jaw and part of her cheekbone cut off right around the time of death, and had also had the base of her skull chopped around the same time to make it sit flat on a surface, as if for display. She was not a venerated ancestor-- at least not as we'd understand it. She likely had been dead less than twenty years when the settlement was built, though the radiocarbon dating isn't precise. And there's part of a human femur from just outside the palisade, worn and much-handled, that seems to have been deposited after the site was abandoned, which is really interesting.

Another thing we know is that pile-dwelling settlements like this were, in Central mainland Europe where they were quite common, frequently deliberately burned. The inhabitants would remove all their belongings, then they'd set fires in a number of places, piling fuel near the walls to make the fire burn hotter. They'd wait until it died down entirely, then come clean up the site, and rebuild over it. This was possibly a spiritual practice, but it was also practical: these kinds of dwellings are not terribly durable and are very hard to repair. It was just more economical to destroy them and start fresh, about every ten to twenty years-- much more labor-intensive to pull down the old buildings, and if it was a good site then the inhabitants would want to stay in the same place, so burning was the quick easy way to do it. (Interesting echoes of the southeastern European Neolithic phenomenon of the Burned House Horizon, but much more straightforward actually.) Must Farm's settlement was built in a similar way to those European ones, clearly not designed for long-term use-- many of the pilings were ash, which doesn't hold up all that well to alternately wet and dry conditions. The buildings would have decayed, would have needed repair within five years, would have needed major repairs in ten, would have possibly been beyond repair in fifteen. And the builders were experienced enough to surely know that.

But it made no sense to burn it down after less than a year, the wood still green and completely free of insects, and it certainly made no sense to leave so much in them, including the live animals. And there are no signs of the kind of deliberate burning found in those European sites, the extra fuel and multiple ignition points, so it's highly unlikely this settlement was burned intentionally. I really do think it was abandoned, and then immediately accidentally burned from an improperly-extinguished cooking fire. If this was done because of some spiritual or other belief, it was an unusual example. Perhaps there was something dramatic, perhaps some event the inhabitants interpreted as supernatural.

Maybe there was a really big spider.

[katyaromanoffpetrova]

Do you ever just clean out your closet and find clothes you didn’t even know you had. Or u find stuff and ur like 🤨why did I keep this. Like I threw out 5 pairs of converse that were falling apart 😭

Also you mentioned you like fashion right? I think you did, I may have imagined it. But what kind of styles are you into and what’s your own style like?

I clean out my closet twice a year when I switch everything from summer to winter clothes or vise versa so yes I can relate to that so badly 😭😭 So much stuff I haven't worn in years but is way too cute to get rid of. Also I have a shopping addiction 😬 Rip the Converse tho 🥲 They break down so quickly I feel like.

Yes I love fashion! My style is definitely streetstyle. Cargos, parachute pants, baby tees, big sweaters, platform combat boots. I feel most comfortable wearing wider clothes because I feel like men look at me less that way 😅 But for work I wear business casual. Lots of suits, lots of suit jackets with jeans and a turtleneck. Blouses etc. Here are some pics I found from last year to give you an example 😊

[kaeyx]

do you think demon!dazai and demon!chuuya can control their body temperature ?? if so, do you think they would always switch their temperature to reader’s preferred temp…. like say it’s winter and you’ve always refused to let them into your bed (at least while you’re aware) but it’s just soo cold in the house, they’re the only source of heat you have and besides dazai keeps stealing the blankets and hiding them so you’re really left with no other choice… or !! if it’s summer and it’s super hot in the house, they’re the only source of coldness. ice cubes don’t help, ice packs melts, the fan somehow broke and now you have to cling onto these two demons with you wearing thin clothes or little to no clothes !! chuuya’s more nice than dazai is, he probably wouldn’t break your AC but make it so it only reaches a certain temperature that’s not quite where you want it to be

dazai is a little shit though, he’ll keep poking fun at you for being so clingy all the time but he adores how much you need him. you’re just too cute !! chuuya just likes to pamper on you but also be the reason why things are so inconvenient. they both just love it when you go to them, whether you have a choice or not

also im not sure if this has been talked about bUT. hear me out yall. demon! beast dazai?? like not as in beast dazai just so happens to be a demon but im talking personality wise is beast dazai AND hes a demon. i feel like not much would change really but lord is it hot thinking about him like that. he’s not as playful and childish as regular demon!dazai , but he’s very unsettling and is very much obsessed with everything about you. he gets more creepier but is just as soft , if not more so than he already is with you as just regular beast!dazai

DEMON BEASTZAI DEMON BEASTZAI I agree with the other things you're saying but oh my GOD demon Beastzai......... Huge and dark and creepy..... Stalking you from the shadows..... Putting his claws all over you at the first chance he gets...... Nuzzling against you constantly and using his superior strength and size to hold you down if you try to escape...... He's so sad and clingy and weird......

[insertdisc5]

Devlog #10: Questions and Answers

Hello everyone! Welcome to this month’s devlog!

If you just stumbled upon this, I am Adrienne, also known as insertdisc5! I’m the developer, writer, artist, main programmer, etc of the game. The game being In Stars and Time, which is the next and final game in the START AGAIN series, following START AGAIN: a prologue (available here!).  You can find out more about In Stars and Time here!!! 

LET’S GET TO IT. This devlog is all about questions!!! So many questions!!! I’m gonna answer them all!!!

Happy 2023, everyone! It’s the year of In Stars and Time! In Stars and Time will release sometime this year on PC and Nintendo Switch! I hope you’re excited!!! In the meantime…

Nothing much to talk about this month! I am still fixing bugs, playtesters are still playing, etc. So… here’s another Q&A (Tumblr asks edition)! They're mostly characters/story based, because that's what Tumblr is all about. No spoilers though, I promise!!!

(PS: you can ask me questions whenever on tumblr btw teehee)

Anonymous asks: Hi!! Thank you for making such a wonderful game with lovely little characters!! I spin them in my head like microwaved macaroni. Can I ask what everyone's hobbies are? And their deepest fears? (If that's not too spoilery) Also have a good day!!

Siffrin likes to do wood carvings! Isabeau likes fashion, designing clothes, sewing them, that sort of thing. Bonnie likes to cook! Mirabelle and Odile both like to read- Mirabelle is a horror fan/YA type stuff, while Odile prefers non-fiction.

As for their fears, most of them are spoilery, but Odile is really afraid of heights.

Anonymous asks: I am DYING to know what that rope is on Mirabelle's outfit is, it's sometimes visible and sometimes not and I don't know what it's attached to?? I want to draw her but this rope!! Is getting me

It’s a rope that works as a belt! It goes around her waist, not her hips. It’s so her dress isn’t all flat and boring

Anonymous asks: oh DOES Sif like wearing slippers?? They seem like a slippers guy. Also what small things ticks the characters off?

YOU FELL INTO MY TRAP!!!!!!!!!!! Siffrin prefers socks. Mirabelle is the one who wears slippers.

Hm… I think saying those would be spoilers also, so I’ll just say that Odile hates when people keep secrets from her.

Anonymous asks: What is each party member's favourite season? While we're at it, what's their favourite kind of weather?

Hm… I think Siffrin is split between winter and summer (they have a good cloak that works for all kinds of weather!). Mirabelle’s and Odile’s are fall. Bonnie’s is summer (coastal kid!). Isabeau hears everyone say every season except spring and picks spring.

They all prefer sunny weather for different reasons. Siffrin because it’s easier to travel when it’s nice outside. Bonnie because they like the sun. Mirabelle because she likes to read outside under a tree, same with Odile. Isabeau because “being under the sun gives your skin a healthy glow!”

Anonymous asks: Questions! Do you have a rough estimate for how long the game will be? If this isn’t a spoiler, how did the gang all first meet? And if it is a spoiler then… what’s each of the gang’s favourite colour? 

I don't want to give any numbers just because playtimes will vary drastically depending on the way you play, but I can confirm ISAT is SIGNIFICANTLY longer than START AGAIN: a prologue!!!

For the gang meeting, first Mirabelle went traveling to try to save Vaugarde, then she met Isabeau in Jouvente, then they met Odile while traveling, then they met Siffrin, and then they met Bonnie. The nitty-gritty details aren’t really that important so I haven’t thought about it much. Most of the details on how they met will be found early in the game, so you won’t have to wait hours to know!

As for their favorite colors (Looks at the game. The game is in black and white) Think you’re funny, huh? HUH!?!???! NEXT QUESTION!!!!!

felikatze asks: how did siffrin obtain their fantabulous hat? and who is your favorite character to draw?

Siffrin was born with this cool hat. Popped right off with it on. And Siffrin is my favorite to draw, with Mirabelle a close second. Bonnie is my least favorite to draw within the gang but I still love them dearly. The King is my least favorite to draw period

inverts asks: why does siffrin wear gloves? what's loop's favourite food? what's the KING's favourite food? teehee

Bunch of reasons, but really the two main ones are 1. Looks cool and 2. Keeps them from biting their nails.

Thank you for the Loop question. No one asked about Loop!!! If Siffrin asked them their favorite food, Loop would say “bananas”. But is it true? Yes. But is it? Yes, for sure. But? Yes.

The King’s favorite food are uuuh (I go through my rolodex of foods) carambolas. Yeah

Anonymous asks: what are the gang's favorite hot cocoa toppings?

I don’t know enough about hot cocoa toppings to answer this, so have their favorite nonalcoholic drinks instead. Siffrin doesn’t think they have a favorite drink but really it’s sugarcane juice, Mirabelle’s is either tea or orange juice, Isabeau’s is probably milk or something, Odile’s is tea (but it’s gotta be expensive), Bonnie’s is pineapple juice.

Anonymous asks: whos the shortest (besides the kid) and tallest of them all?

Within the crew, Siffrin is the shortest (besides Bonnie), and Isabeau is the tallest! The real tallest is the King, of course.

Jovial-gender-jester asks: did the kid & their sister ever cook together?

Their sister taught them how to cook, so yes!

Anonymous asks: will we learn more about how Siffrin damaged one of their eyes? 

Yes :)

Anonymous asks: what’s your opinion on speedrunning isat/saap from a lore perspective? as in, what do you think goes through siffrin’s head when they decide to do it?

>:3c teehees evil-y (⬅has added an item and lore made specifically for speedrunners)

Anonymous asks: is the gang gonna be okay. are they gonna be happy

>:3c I teehee evil-y once more

Anonymous asks: Is there a map of the world? Where are things exactly (e.g. where is Ka Bue compared to Vaugarde (?) ?)

Have this map I drew early in development of the countries around Vaugarde. The story doesn’t really need me to know about The Whole Map so I didn’t think about it. I only figured out two neighboring countries’ names too so I could say other countries’ names for Worldbuilding Reasons (as in, to show Vaugarde is a country inside a world, and not just The Only Country In The World), but I do see Vaugarde as being surrounded with many other ones. Could’ve figured out more country names, but two is a good number. Ka Bue is on the other side of the world- Odile has been traveling for A While. For country sizes here, think European countries!

jovial-gender-jester asks: is it alright to ask how you came up with craftonomy? it was cool realizing it's different from craftology, and maybe has no bearing? the concept's fascinating!

Welcome to insertdisc5’s brainstorm theater

Hi I am insertdisc5 and I am making the prologue> ok i need a magic system for this world > fuck i can’t use basic fire water grass because one of my puzzles is all around finding a fire > ok well every magic system in rpg games is just rock paper scissors really > so… why not… just… rock paper scissors > ok but what kind of world comes up with that tho > so maybe it’s all around Creating Things… you can make all kinds of art with rock (sculpting) paper (art, writing) and scissors (uh… idk cutting things) and i kind of like the idea of magic being something similar to art, so let’s call it Craft > ok now i need to create events with every fucking thing i added to the maps, and also explain the world a bit more > the study of craft… craftonomy > hey you know how you have astronomy (studying space) and astrology (adding meanings to constellations, horoscope) so it’d be funny if it was the same, it would be a funny joke > craftonomy (studying craft) and craftology (“if you’re rock type you’re probably very strong but gullible hehe”) are born

Punkitt-is-here asks: How is RPGMaker treating you ⬅(best wishes)

Rpgmaker is my little cat that stays on my lap cutely and doesn’t even scratch me anymore. This is in big part thanks to my programmer who takes care of the really hard code for me teehee (THANK YOU ISABELLA!!!)

hummingcrows asks: How do you stay motivated!

I genuinely don’t have a helpful answer for this, I don’t find it hard to stay motivated to finish things in general… The few times I felt discouraged, I just either went “ok what’s like A Small Thing I can finish today, so this day isnt a total wash” even if it’s just doing one sprite, or “what’s one thing that would make me really happy to add” like a small scene or something, or just making the chairs’ backs rounder for Lore Reasons, and then I do it, and I am happy, and I am motivated

Anonymous asks: what was it like converting the character designs to game sprites? did they transfer easily or was it difficult?

Pretty easy! Outside of Siffrin (who already has a very simple design), I knew I would have to convert them into sprites, so I knew I couldn’t go too detailed with them. Even with their first concept art, I made sure to doodle them as sprites as well so I could make sure they would look distinct from one another!

(Very First Concept Art for everyone except Siffrin. Got their faces first try! (Except Bonnie))

Honestly the main problem was with their height… In the prologue, they all are very small, since I used a 48x48 size, and Siffrin has a MASSIVE hat that takes almost half his size, so all the other characters had to be drawn relative to Siffrin’s size, which meant I couldn’t add as many details as I wanted. I’m glad that for In Stars and Time I found a way to make the sprites taller (they’re 48x96 now, but I’m not using the full height), so now they are all cute and not squished.

(Some of the first sprites I did for the prologue. Look at how squished everyone looks!)

(Profile sprites for In Stars and Time)

roebeanstalk asks: Have you run into any mechanics you've been excited about, but have decided it's better to save them for a future project to keep this one going? Kind of a "kill your darlings" but for game mechanics?

I’m very happy to say that I’ve managed to add all the things I wanted to add to the game! It helped that there weren’t that many mechanics I wanted to add in the first place lol. I even had time to add one I scrapped early in development because it wasn’t that important! But it made me happy to add it so it’s in now!!!!

galaksyz asks: how many siffrins must be stacked on top of each other until they overtake the eiffel tower in height (ok i just wanted to give you the mental image of the Siffrin Pillar)

actual question: once the game is released, what part of fan reactions & creations would you look forward to most/what would you hope for most?

i think it would be awesome to see fan comics or animations, or OST remixes, or YT playthroughs, analysis/essay videos, maybe AUs... if you had to pick just one of those sorts of things, what would it be that you'd like the most?

212.9 Siffrins. Thank you for asking

And I genuinely love every single fan reaction/creation I've seen so far!!!! I have many folders filled with everyone's reactions/creations that I love to look at when I feel down :')

Fan comics definitely have a special spot for me in my heart tho... Those were always my favorite kind of fanarts to make, as a fanartist myself. The comics I’ve seen from the prologue already make me so so so happy!!!

And also, people just writing about the game… Like, just about things they like, things they’ve noticed, or theories they have, there’s also been a few and they just make me so happy. My brain goes on a loop of “yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah”. This is why I love the theories channel on the discord so much hehe, I tried really hard to add little breadcrumbs so it makes me happy when people pick up on it!!! And someone made a post that was just a list of everything they liked about the prologue and it made me so happy it felt like I was floating for a week hehe

pixxyofice asks: I am always curious about gamedev struggles. So... how hard is it to fix bugs for this game in particular? With the time looping I bet it would be hard to figure out maybe.

Uhhh and also what are each member's favorite colors?

Not that hard! I haven’t done a lot of Big Weird Code inside of rpgmaker, so any bugs are usually because I messed up a switch or variable, so it’s just a matter of figuring out the problem and changing one (1) thing. As for finding out there’s even a bug, that’s what QA and playtesting are for!

Bugs related to the time loop mechanic have (FOR NOW?!?) all been taken care of, so the bugs now are mostly related to choices, since some choices appear/disappear depending on where you are in the story. So sometimes I get a playtester like “hey Adrienne, i don't understand this choice i'm getting here”, and it’s because i messed up and it shouldn't be here yet. OOPS!

As for their favorite colors (I look again. The game is STILL in black and white. I try to run towards you but I'm held back) lemme at ‘em, LEMME AT ‘EM– (a few minutes pass, I calm down) Ok. What's the last question?

itr13 asks: what's everyone's favourite colors?

…..

Mirabelle’s would be a warm pink, Siffrin’s black, Odile’s dark green, Isabeau’s sunflower yellow, and Bonnie's black (but really, light blue). ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!?!?

That’s all I have to say for today! Let me know if you have any questions, or if there’s any aspect of the game development struggle you’d like me to talk about! See you next time!!!

AND DON’T FORGET TO WISHLIST THE GAME ON STEAM ALSO IT REALLY HELPS BECAUSE STEAM’S ALGORITHM IS MORE LIKELY TO SHOW OFF GAMES WITH A HIGH AMOUNT OF WISHLISTS THAT’S THE REASON WHY GAME DEVS ALWAYS ASK TO WISHLIST!!! OKAY BYE!!!!

[fsfghgee]

I think that in an AU maybe their father/Grandmaster was actually harsh on Bi-Han because he's the first born and the moment Kuai Liang came he only shows care to him. When Tomas is now part of it, he became another favorite.

Bi-Han would have felt horrible and angry at his father for such emotional switch up.

Maybe later Tomas tries to comfort his older brother and seek friendship. Emotional things bad or good can happen and both had the sex.

For Bi han it was a relief and freedom, for Tomas it was everything. Then quick bi han harshly rejects Tomas and leaves, leaving Tomas with a broken heart!

Bi Han being too angry again when someone tries to flirt with Tomas.

Bi Han needs help at this point!

HOT SPRING

Bi-Han x Tomas

- You will make the Lin Kuei stronger than ever. I have faith in you.

After another day of hard training under his father's command, Bi-Han leaned on the memories of his dear mother combing his hair, whispering words of comfort, strengthening their resolve...

- What if I don't make it, mother? A-And if they…

- No one is better than a Lin Kuei. - His mother's sweet voice intoned, but Bi-Han knew well that she wasn't angry.

He relaxes even more when he feels the pressure of his mother's soft lips on the back of his head, closing his eyes to enjoy the affection. There was no better place in the world to go back to his old self than protected, wrapped and caressed by the matriarch's arms.

- You will bring glory to our clan and make them proud to have you as their leader, in the same way I am proud to have you as my son.

- Mother…

No. He couldn't fall apart...

He would not fail the Lin Kuei...

He wouldn't let her down now...

She had taught him to be strong and withstand all the trials imposed by his father. All the hours of studying, all the hard training…

Missions that challenged the limits of his body and mind, all to make him, the heir to the clan, a perfect Grandmaster.

- You remain unworthy.

“I will show you.”

________

- I love winter!

- Shouldn't you wear warmer clothes? - Looking Tomas up and down, he was worried about the youngest wearing the summer uniform as if the extreme low temperature and snow that surrounded them didn't affect him at all. - How can you not feel cold when you are just a…

Swallowing the words before they all came out, Kuai Liang looked away. He didn't want to offend his younger brother or put him down like Bi-Han often did.

- You forget that I grew up hunting in temperatures even colder than this, Kuai Liang. - With his back to his brother from another mother, he leaned down just to make a snowball. - The cold has never affected me negatively. On the contrary, just fuels my combat 'till these days.

- Oh, no... - Kuai Liang was indignant when he was caught off guard by Tomas' quick movement, wiping the remaining snow from his hair and face. - You won't get away with this!

Tomas laughed as he ran away from the other, stopping a few times to quickly create other snowballs and counterattack.

- There's no point in hiding! - The pryomancer went deeper into the forest, looking for the typhomancer who had run inside first. Tomas hadn't specialized in Typhomancy for nothing, since his first trainings he had left masters impressed with his natural talent for stealth. - I'll find you...

- Tomas.

- Too slow. - He laughed, imagining how angry the pryomancer would be at being hit with yet another snowball, but his smile soon faded when he saw who he had hit. - Bi-Han? -The growl and deadly glare directed at him caused a shiver of fear to run through his insides. - S-Sorry. I'm so sorry! I thought you were...

- Still wasting my brother's time with your stupid jokes?! - Before he could get any closer, Bi-Han pushed him away with a gust of icy wind. - Let him know that father wants to see him. I'll be back in a few days.

- W-Where are you going?

- Do what some of us were born to do. Something you will never be able to understand. - He stated snobbishly, looking him up and down. - Hunting dog.

________

  “Bi-Han!”

“Help me, son!”

“Bi-Han!”

- It's better this way. - Bi-Han immersed himself in the thermal water, letting the heat undo the knots in his back, ease the tension in his muscles, caress his skin and comfort him in the midst of his disturbing thoughts.

He did what had to be done.

The Lin Kuei would always fight for him, his most loyal followers would always watch his back and his brother would always be by his side.

The future would be perfect.

- I must train harder. - Tomas muttered to himself as he undressed. Having been defeated once again by Cyrax, he wondered why his older brother refused to help him with his training. - If Bi-Han wasn't so selfish, he would… - He had already taken off all his clothes, leaving his skin exposed to the heat of the place, when the sight of another person in the fountain frightened him, causing his muscles to tense up again. - Bi-Han?

Only family members of the Grandmaster had access to that place. And Kuai Liang had just left when he said goodbye on the way to the hot spring.

- Keep silent or get out of here.

- R-Really? You don't mind that I... - Noticing the older man's increasingly hard gaze, he fell silent and took a deep breath to calm down.

A calm that was short-lived, anxiety growing as he became more lost in thought as he observed the older man's relaxed features.

He was so different that way…

Almost vulnerable.

Tomas had promised himself to protect his new family.

He swore a public oath to the Lin Kuei, but the oath in his heart and mind that day was different.

A personal, silent and secret vote.

Even if unrequited, he would be faithful to that vow until his last breath.

[homunculus-argument]

I take great pleasure in shining my shoes.

I've got black leather boots that I wear from autumn to spring, and reluctantly give up wearing during the hottest part of summer. They weren't anything particularly fancy, I bought them from like k-market while getting groceries because my old winter shoes were worn to the point where I could throw them straight to the trash while switching to new ones - the way I generally wear shoes. 'Till death do us part, and I've yet to buy a pair that outlived me.

They're a couple of years old now, but save for a few scrapes look as good as new. I shine them after every single time they get wet or muddy, which is at least twice a month at this time of the year. I don't skimp on polish, it's not cheap but it's ten times cheaper per jar than a new pair of shoes. I don't buff them to a mirror shine, I like the natural dim sheen that they get just from the simple polishing. I've learned to know the boots personally, the indiviual, asymmetrical creases on each one, and which one dries up more at the heel, which at the toe. Leather is an organic material after all, those boots were made out of a living thing, which can never be as perfectly even and uniform as synthetic surfaces.

There's something so soothing about clothing maintenance. Nobody suspects you've got none of your shit together if you've got shined shoes.