#the story they established is just… not good

[remi-thirsts]

𝐅𝐀𝐕 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍?

pairing: gojo, geto, choso, and toji x fem!reader (separate) summary: celeb!au where the boys are interviewed and asked a pretty personal question ! (I took nanami out bc I don't think he would want to share your business with the world) content: kinda suggestive, established relationships, allusions to sexual themes, mentions of dacryphyilia in toji's, pet names, cursing, celebrity!au (model, singer, actor, etc) wc: 1.4k

♡ 𝐒. 𝐆𝐎𝐉𝐎

"Yes, yes! Thank you for joining us today, Gojo-san. All of your fans are excited to see you play the new lead role in this upcoming movie!" For the past hour Gojo has been answering questions many of his fans have with an interviewer who has gathered some of the most asked questions.

"Next question!" The women exclaims excitedly, when she reads the card she pauses in shock, "Um.. who put this card in there...?" Now the white haired actor was curious.

"Well, what does it say? I'm sure it can't be that bad." His cocky attitude is showing, but a huge percentage of his fans like when he's like this. It makes fantasizing him all the more creative and exciting; or so you hear.

"Uh...uh. Um-" She remembers the camera is rolling, and this is live TV. "Many fans know you have a girlfriend and a lot of them want to ask,

"What is your favorite position?"

Gojo knew his PR team would probably get on his ass for answering this question instead of moving on to a different one but he doesn't care- at all.

"This is a tough one... hm. I guess if I had to choose I'd say cowgirl. I love the way she rides," he pauses for a second before continuing with excitement, "She's hella good at it too! Every time I watch her bounce on it my eyes about roll to the back of my-"

"OKAY. Thank you, Mr. Gojo!" She interrupts, quickly turning to the camera with a very forced smile.

"There you have it! We'll be back after a brief commercial break!"

♡ 𝐒. 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐎

Your boyfriend, Suguru, started a podcast about his music life with his band mates two years ago. Since his group already had quite a huge fan base, it was no surprise they took to their podcast with excitement.

Usually the group would talk about funny backstage stories or moments where their performances were almost ruined. Today they're doing a Q&A, the questions that are most asked will be answered first, while less popular questions will be answered later.

"Oh shit, people wanna know Suguru." He quirks an eyebrow, the raven haired male leans his mic towards his lips so the people can hear his voice.

"Know what?" A sly smirk forms on his face because he knows there could be at least a million things 'the people wanna know.'

"They wanna know what's your favorite position to have your girl in." The lead singer snickers whilst asking the question. Suguru clicks his tongue and taps on the desk a few times.

"I really like to have her legs behind her head cuz I can reach really deep that way."

"Sooo, mating press?" Their lead singer is just as nosy as their fans so of course he's gonna press on.

"Hell yeah, man." Some of them clap and others laugh at Suguru's openness.

-----

You were really busy but you decided to tune into your boyfriend's podcast after a bunch of people tagged you on twitter to go listen to today's episode.

When you hear Suguru tell all 2 million of his podcast listeners what position he likes to fuck you in, you scream into your pillow and turn into a giggling mess.

He never knows how to keep his mouth shut, and you love it.

♡ 𝐂. 𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐎

You're laying on your boyfriend's bed listening to him play his game. Choso's a big time streamer at this point. Four years ago when he started his fan base was quite small and he just enjoyed the few who would join his gaming streams. Now, Choso streams as work and he still loves it just as much as he had long ago.

"Thank you for the tip 'prettyem0b0y22'," Usually Choso reads aloud whatever message they leave with their tips but he hesitates this time.

"Uh- you don't really expect me to answer that, right? She's laying on the bed right now."

That statement immediately grabs your attention, you glance at his monitor screens, trying to get a peek at whatever his fan was asking of him.

It seems plenty of others want to know the answer to this question too because the chat starts speeding up, meaning that they're spamming.

"Guys come on, I'll turn chat off if you guys don't stop." Choso is as scary as a cute little kitten, so they just keep at it, and now you're curious too. What could possibly be that bad that he didn't want to answer it and to be fair he has answered some pretty crazy questions before.

"Indulge me Cho, what did 'prettyem0b0y22' wanna know?" His head swings so fast he could have gotten whiplash from it. His cheeks are burning pink and his brows furrow in confusion.

"I promise it wasn't anything crazy, don't worry about it." Oh, you're worrying about it alright. His strange behavior prompts you to spring up off the bed and walk your way over to his desk.

Instead of just taking a quick look at the chat, you make yourself comfortable in your boyfriend's lap. Obviously the chat goes absolutely crazy when they see you make this gesture. Choso is no doubt embarrassed but he slings an arm around your waist anyway.

"So what was the question he couldn't answer in front of me?" Prettyem0b0y22 wastes no time sending another hefty tip.

"I asked him what's his fav postion with you." When you read the whole thing aloud some giggles leave your lips.

"He likes when I ride him while facing him. For what reason? He's a titty man." Choso gasps as you expose both of you. The risks are high, anyone, literally anyone could see this clip and think something about you, but you don't care. It's your body and his, people don't have power over how you two interact with each other.

The chat explodes with all kinds of things, most are shocked emojis, while others are spamming the cherry emoji. Luckily, Choso's moderator team puts slow chat on and does a few other precautions to settle the situation.

"Baby- I- what if your family sees this? Or worse your boss?!" His concern is absolutely adorable.

"Well I guess I'd have to start a streaming channel of my own?" Everyone in his chat is totally on board with that idea. They've seen you play for Choso before and they think your commentary on games is quite funny.

"I don't want you to lose your job though." This time he whines in pure worry.

"I won't, baby. It'll be alright. Don't overthink it."

♡ 𝐓. 𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐎

Toji's got what people want to see in model catalogs and magazines. The slutty waist, the well defined but not too defined muscles, his beautiful eyes and long lashes. Toji is a picture perfect model, which is what landed him his modeling gig and even a whole career a few years later.

A journalist, who's particularly interested in his dating life more than his modeling career asks him a bunch of dating related questions.

Some have speculated that Toji was dating, but he neither confirmed nor denied those allegations. You and Toji agreed to keep your relationship on the down low, because having a bunch of strangers in your personal business was not desirable.

The journalist woman words the questions in a way of inference.

"Assuming you had a girlfriend, Fushiguro-sama. What would your favorite position in bed be?" At first Toji groans but then when he registers the question he decides he'll answer it hypothetically when in reality it is something he likes to do with you.

"Hypothetically speaking, if I had a girlfriend my favorite position with her would be missionary, because I'd want to look at her pretty face when she's cryin' on my cock." The journalist writes that down, Toji knows everything he says will be censored but the people will still be able to figure it out.

"Missionary, really? Many people online have guessed you were a doggy-style kind of guy. Based off of your twitter statement that said and I quote 'Love it when her ass is phat. Love squeezing that thing.' End quote"

Toji lets out a deep laugh before answering the woman, "Doggy-style is for people I don't care about, people I don't want to look at, my girl- if I had a girl, she wouldn't be just any fuck."

More theories start to surface after Toji's slip up of words, and that's okay, because they don't know you and you don't know them.

divider: @/plutism

[sanjisblackasswife]

Gojo Hearing “I Love You” for the First Time

I gen. have no clue if anywhere in the series anybody has said they loved gojo. Whether platonic or not. Its interesting and I was just thinking.

CW: Mentions of Gojo’s Past(some canon some not…so spoilers ig if you haven’t read the inventory arc), Established Relationship, Mentioned Friends to Lovers, Fluff, Some Angst(?), Soft Gojo, Reader speaks Spanish because I’m projecting 😋, Kisses

Blk!Fem Reader in Mind

“AND THAT’S WHY I DO NOT LIKE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES!..IT WAS VOMIT EVERYWHERE!”

“Can’t believe you managed to eat 6 boxes of cookies in one sitting.”

“Hey! Don’t judge it was a marathon of Digimon playing all day…good times. Not as good as the time—“

And there he goes again, your big over 6’6” boyfriend laying on his back on the couch having another yap fest after a long trip. It started off with a quiet evening of you both eating and watching a childhood movie to then actually sharing stories of your past.

You really couldn’t be more enamored by how excited Satoru gets when he speaks to you. His smile is wide from ear to ear and his dimples grow deeper. He’s also so expressive with his hand gestures you really don’t know where to look as you lay comfortable on his big broad chest.

Usually when he begins to speak about his life before you, you try to absorb and savor every moment. Since your friendship in high school Gojo wasn’t much of a talker (ironically) about his life, but as you both grown closer since his big mission with Geto to watch over Riko he managed to get a bit more comfortable with telling you more about himself.

It’s been 11 years since then and after some therapy sessions with you, Geto, and Gojo three of you managed to learn how to express yourselves in a healthier way with each other.

You watch now, almost 1 year into your official relationship with him and noticed he doesn’t talk much about his parents. Nor an adult in his life that was like a parent to him at the very least. Even when in High School you never met his family. You knew of his clan and that was all.

You always wondered where did he get his wild energy from? His dad? Where did he become so affectionate through touch? His mom? It was all a mystery you wanted to understand.

You’ve even asked Geto, his closest best friend what does he know about his mom and dad, but he always ends with “It’s better you wait until he tells you himself.”

You didn’t question it more, you respected the decision so thats exactly why you’re here. Watching and listening attentively to what your boyfriend has to say. It makes you happy seeing how much he has grown more comfortable towards you towards the years.

“And when I was 8 I remember my folks always gave me free range to use my technique whenever to practice, but boy they regretted after an hour because I—-baby.”

Without noticing your eyes blinked back at him as if you began to come back to reality again, Gojo seen the relaxed look you given him as he spoke, how your eyes were on his, but he just knew you—

“‘ not even listeninggguhhhh.”

Putting your thumbs on his pouty bottom lip, they’re so soft you smile at him, it wasn’t really something you’d expect to say to him, but his pretty big smile, his deepened dimples, everything about him caught you in a moment of venerability you just decided to softly speak at him;

“I love you.”

…just like that it was a pause.

It just slipped off the tongue. You meant it, but finally saying it out loud was a bit of a shock to not just you, but more Satoru. He had an unreadable look on his face, almost as if he didn’t catch what you said, but he definitely did. He couldn’t miss the way his body tensed up hearing those three words.

“What?”

Gojo didn’t say anything, almost as if it was a staring contest you rise from his chest to straddle him, “Are you okay?”

You jumped feeling the pads of his thumb dig into the fattiness of your hips, almost as if he were trying to massage you….very painfully. He got up though, placing you down on the couch and walking to the nearest bathroom without saying a word or looking at you. You could’ve sworn he wiped his face momentarily.

“Go—?”

He didn’t mean to, it was almost a reflex. Your words though, kept replaying in his head . He felt a bit silly being so dramatic , ironically but he couldn’t properly process what you said.

“Satoru?” You knock on the door breaking him away from his thoughts, “You okay, papa? I—oh.”

He opened the door, putting back on his eye mask and giving you one of the fakest smiles you ever seen him do.

“What are you doing, you okay?”

“yeah yeah I’m fineeeee. Let’s go get something to eat.”

“W-wait!” You playfully scoff at his eagerness as he pulls you to the front door, “I’m sorry if what I said made you uncomfortable….I know it was sudden and random, but I meant it.”

Gojo turns and exhales, clearing his throat he begins to scratch the back of his head, you can tell he is scrambling for words so you continue; “I do love you Satoru. A lot. I think I always have since we were younger, but I don’t know…today made me realize I should verbalize it.”

He wants to speak, but for one of the first times you left him wanting to just listen to you. Honestly you took advantage of it because who knows when you’ll be able to get him this quiet.

“I love your smile, I love your laugh, I love the way you explain things, I love the way you are, I love the way you care, I love how you can get on my nerves.” You ends the last part with a giggle making him finally chuckle with you, and he brings you closer to his chest. “I love you, Satoru. You are an amazing person and I am very blessed to have you as not only a friend but a partner.”

It was all too much, he felt overwhelmed he had to lift his mask to wipe the tears welling on the side of his eyes, he chuckles again, the free hand on your waist tightening, “Well damn if I didn’t know better I’d think you have a crush on me.”

You laugh, “Maybeeee…..Now. “ You smooch his cheek before grabbing your phone, “Let’s go get some food—-“

You tried walking past him towards the door but he grabs you from behind to hug you close, you can hear his shallow breaths in your ear. You’re used to his tight squeezes from behind but this one was firm. Almost as if he let you go you’ll fly away.

“Say it again.”

You smirk, his voice quivering but trying to be masked by a fake pouting tone, “I love you, Satoru.”

“Again.”

“I love you.”

“Again, but in Spanish.”

“Oh brother.”

“C’mon you sound hot when speaking Spanish.”

“Te amaré para siempre, Satoru…”

If words could explain how he felt right now with you, the closeted would be a weight being lifted off his shoulders. For a moment he no longer was Gojo the strongest sorcerer, he was Satoru.

Just Satoru.

Something he wanted to be for a long time, and now you are helping him take the first step into that.

You inhale his scent; mint, expensive cologne and his natural musky smell you love so much and rub his head as he is still buried in your neck. You turn to face him and grab his cheeks, almost hesitantly to cup them because you weren’t sure if he’d left you see him cry. Though you felt your shoulder dampen.

However he let you, his big blue eyes surrounded by a tint of pink, he tried laughing it off and he actually broke eyes contact with you, “I …um…heh..fuck—“

You knew what he was trying to say but you don’t force him, instead you place your lips on his, you felt him exhale, his body relaxing in your touch, “I know, Satoru. I know.”

Gojo couldn’t properly register why he was so overwhelmed with whatever he is feeling right now but he wouldn’t trade this feeling in the world. He honestly wanted to replay the moment you said you loved him on repeat all day.

Later that day you both go out and have your own last minute date for the evening, he wanted so badly to tell you he loves you back by trying to incorporate more of the word “love “ in his vocabulary, by saying things like “I know you LOVE this.” Or “Wouldnt you LOVE for me to take you here.” but it was hard and he sounded silly.

Satoru wanted so badly to tell you he doesn’t just love you, but he has fallen IN love with you.

Gojo finally found just one more person that gave him something he didn’t realize he needed;

To feel human.

[hey-august]

This story comes to you from the May Event Week 1 results! Check out the full event here.

WC: ~650 (this got so out of hand. I can't guarantee the other poll losers will be this long 🙃) Warnings: NSFW, MDNI, Buggy x GN!reader, not an established relationship, profanity, male masturbation, shower masturbation, hint of a one-bed trope bc why not

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. The ship needed big repairs and everyone had to find rooms on shore. Of course there weren’t enough rooms for the whole crew. Of course he had to share a room with you. Of course there was only one bed. One fucking bed. And you.

The moment you two entered the room, the gravity in Buggy’s body increased tenfold. His stomach dropped and all the blood rushed below his belt. Sharing a bed with you… His swollen head began concocting all sorts of endless possibilities and fantasies. Your bodies touching, the feel of your warmth, skin against skin, leaving whispers of promises and praise all over your body, his shaking with need until you give into his begging, the sound of his name spilling from your mouth.

Buggy took sanctuary in the bathroom, truthfully claiming he needed to wash away the day’s filth. It was all dirt that accumulated within the past few minutes. Maybe he could fuck these feelings out of himself. He could choke the lust out of his own dick. It was already full to bursting, staining his red and white striped underwear with precum.

Standing under the showerhead, Buggy hoped for a moment that the hot water would bring relaxation and simply carry away the desire into the drain. It didn’t work. Of course not. The water felt too good on his aching hard-on, teasing his erection as it twitched for more. For something.

Feeling more pissed than horny, Buggy squirted some of the complimentary shower wash into his hand. This fucking place would rather spend more for unnecessary amenities, like lemongrass soap, than on more beds. That thought popped like a sudsy bubble as he smeared the viscous fluid on his sensitive member. It felt good. Really good.

The splashing water masked the sound of his hand roughly pumping his heavy cock. His balls bounced with each jerk. Knowing that you were on the other side of the bathroom door was fucking awful. And fucking wonderful.

Heavy breathing edged into soft groans. Before being beat down by the falling water, his voice echoed against the tiles. With each bouncing reverberation, Buggy felt delicious guilt. The sweetness of giving into temptation.

What if you could hear him? Did he want that? A part of him did. That’s fucked up. And a turn on. He squeezed tightly, pressing out endless beads of precum as his dick cried and cried, all for you. If you only knew. If you could see him like this, hunched over in the shower and pounding his fist just to the thought of you.

Buggy bit his bottom lip, keeping your name locked in his mouth as he released the rest of his want for you. His vision narrowed as he watched the thick cum shoot against the shower wall. Too much, there’s too much now. The air is too heavy, the shower is too hot, there’s too much water on his body, too much jizz pouring from his body. 

Throwing an arm against the wall, Buggy leaned in and pressed his forehead against a cool tile. Hopefully his knees wouldn’t give out. It would be impossible for him to survive the absolute mortification of blacking out, only for you to barge in and see him wet and naked on the ground, while the hot water cooked the spunk that didn’t drain away. Once the weakness passed, Buggy finished his shower, washed away any clumps of evidence, and stumbled out of the steamy room.

He mumbled something about probably using all the hot water before collapsing into the bed and falling into a deep sleep. When he finally woke up to the sound of seagulls welcoming the morning sun, Buggy felt victorious. He survived the night.

But as Buggy registered the light scent of lemongrass from your sleeping form, which was curled against his, he realized the trap he set for himself. A trap that had his body reacting to the smell, remembering how he took care of his needs yesterday, and wanting more.

[sleepyconfusedpotato]

Do Ghost and Jade's kids don't know about their careers (or in Jade's case, former career)? Cause the comic you made of Andrew seeing Ghost in the middle of the night sorta implies they don't know about their parents' military background.

HMMM HM HM Good catch right there 👀👀

So this is also a part of what I've been thinking inside the Riley family after they have kids.

- I feel like the kids would definitely know about Simon's career as a soldier. BUT, as they are still in their early teens, I'd imagine that Andrew, Gracie, and later Orion know that their dad is a soldier, but that's the extent of their knowledge. They do know about Simon's nickname "Ghost", but they don't know how Simon operates inside the Task Force, they're not aware that their dad is an officer of one of the most elite and dangerous task force in the world. As far as they know, their dad only has edgy hobbies that involves black outfits and skull/skeleton themed. Heck, they even made fun of his preferences in outfits.

- But dear God, they never saw him in a full-on combat gear, in the dark of the night.

- Ghost is an officer, so day by day, he'd left the house with open face, and only wears the mask inside the car. After work day, he'd take off the mask before entering the house. If he's too tired, he'd try to sneak in in the deep of the night without making a sound. He'd sworn to himself that 'Ghost' will never enter his family and children's house/lives. They do not need trouble and his dangerous line of work to enter the one thing he cherishes the most.

- However, once you have kids, you can't hide anything forever. They'll find out by themselves (in this case, Andrew is entering his puberty and needs some midnight munchies). Simon and Lottie knows this, so they already have everything figured out. What would Andrew's reaction be, what would Gracie's reaction be, what would Orion's reaction be. They've discussed what they'd reveal, and what they'd still keep a secret, again, until they're old enough to know. They tread VERY carefully about it.

- About their mother though, that's a whole different story. After their marriage, Jade has strictly commited to be a mother for her kids, and opened a branch of The Garden in Herefordshire. She's an ✨ entrepreneur ✨. She's not that active to be called into deployment as before she had kids. If she's used to be 60% florist and 40% TF141 ally, after she had kids she'd be 98% Mum and Florist, and 2% TF141 Ally. Her kids literally only knows her as a florist, and that's it. Up until their late teens, Andrew, Gracie, and Orion would have no clue nor idea about her past with MI6. She didn't lie, she's just holding the truth until they're big enough to understand.

- In fact, Ghost BEGGED and asked Jade to not be active inside the TF141 or any conflicts anymore, considering Ghost would be deployed a lot (and how he's promoted to Captain and above), he'd want his wife to be with her kids. Jade herself also agreed, but she also told Ghost to not die and do stupid stuff. Even though married and less involved in the TF141 business, her resolve stayed the same. If he's missing, she'd pick up the guns in a heartbeat.

- Now, back to the kids. I'd imagine that because of how eventful each of Simon and Lottie's lives are, it sort of like become a game to the family. Each birthdays of the kids, Simon has established a "3 Question" rule game, where the kids can ask their parents anything about their lives. From Andrew and Orion, it's usually trivial and simple stuffs like "What's the naughtiest things you've ever done" "What's your favorite bla bla bla". HOWEVER, with Gracie, its always "What's your favourite mission?" "What's the worst condition of a dead body you've ever find?" "Who's the most difficult bad man you've ever encountered?" "Where is he now?"

- Ghost and Jade would answer with only two sentences. Looking at each other for approval. Gracie is most definitely Simon's daughter with that line of questioning. BUT, again, with every birthdays, and with their increasing age and they become more mature, they'll reveal everything bit after bit.

- By the time they finally know everything about their parents, they'd be in college years, probably, and Simon would no longer be the Ghost (he might be one of the higher ranked officer at this point), and Lottie would be completely out of the Task Force 141 game, becoming a regular civilian. Still, it'd be a legendary story to tell.

WOOHOO I kinda yapped a bit there, but hope that answer your question!

[nikethestatue]

A Ballad of Sorrow and Love

Please enjoy my contribution to this year's Elriel Month. Please be advised this is HIGHLY EXPLICIT. No one under 18 should read this story. This will be a 3 part story.

TW: Extreme sexual content, graphic violence, language, death

NOT RECOMMENDED for those with sensitive dispositions. Not recommended to be read in public. Not recommended to be read in the company of others.

The first part is pure, graphic smut which includes but not limited to domination, submission, choking, rough language, rough sex, wing penetration, anal, vaginal, oral, triple penetration and more.

_____________

Part I:

Death and His Lovely Fawn

This very moment was Azriel’s favourite, and therefore he chose to savour it every time. 

The thick, bulbous head of his cock, slowly circling his girl’s tight little hole. He taunted her with it, his veiny long shaft gripped in his scarred hand, teasing her and keeping her on edge. The tiny pink hole quivered in anticipation and apprehension, as if knowing what was about to happen to it. But his Ellie was his good girl and she’d take it without complaint. She always took everything he gave her without a murmur of protest: welcoming and acquiescent. His Ellie submitted to him so beautifully and that always brought a lustful smile to his lips, and a warming sense of comfort enveloped him whenever he saw her, eager and ready to receive him.

She was so gorgeous beneath him, her soft belly folding on into itself, her breaths ragged and anxious. Her pale heavy breasts rose and fell with each breath and her brown eyes watched him unblinkingly. She licked her lips, watching and waiting. He was in no hurry though, dipping the tip of his cock into her wet opening and making her hiss a breath, though he only did it to keep her on edge. 

“You were a bad girl, Ellie,” he murmured to her, shaking his head, “making me worry for your safety like that.”

When they went on missions, when he meted his punishments, when it was time for him to be judge and executioner, his Elllie was right next to him, unflinching and regal, quiet and deadly–his sublime dark princess. However, just as she worried about him, he was even more concerned about her. Her safety, her well-being, her whole existence were the only things that tethered him to this life, to his Court, to his family. Without his Elain, life was meaningless and Azriel had learned this simple fact long ago. He lived for his princess, and she lived and walked with him, and at his side, no matter what life threw at them.

He was a cold and deviant male, his soul as dark as the shadows that swirled around him. Elain though, she was his sun, his light, his hope, the one who never judged him and never stepped away from him. Even when he was drenched in the blood of their enemies. Even when he was cruel and violent and descended upon his helpless adversaries like a storm cloud. Ellie knew her place. And it was with him, with her prince. She guided him and was loyal to him and to his cause, and she ruled alongside him in their kingdom of obsidian, firelight and night-blooming jasmine. 

Their roles were clear and long-established–in their marriage, he fucked her, and she submitted and she screamed and she asked him for more. And it was perfect. 

“Do you want to be filled, princess?” he asked, looking between her legs and watching her little hole twitch in anticipation. “I will ride you very hard,” he warned. She nodded shyly, knowing that there was no escaping him or his desires. She was going to be ridden, and he chuckled, adding, “keep those cheeks nice and open for me. If you take me well, I will keep you on my cock for the night.”

She smiled her sweet, luminous smile at him and nodded. He kept her on his cock every night: this was something he expected of her. Sometimes, she fell asleep holding him in her mouth, sucking sleepily and lightly on him all through the night. If she ever moved away from him, he made sure to find her pretty mouth and pump it a little, so she remembered not to release him even for a second. In the morning, he gave her his seed at last. By then, she was so desperate for it, she sucked greedily and sloppily on him, even before he was fully awake. His cock was never left long without her attention. Their life, their love was always just as it should’ve been. 

“Suck a little,” he ordered, as he swung over her and closer to her mouth, “make it ready for your pretty pink asshole so I can get in there and ruin it.”

Before she could say anything, he pushed the heft of his shaft between her waiting lips and sunk deep all at once. She choked on him, breathing heavily, but he didn’t care if she gasped or gagged. In fact, he preferred it. He liked it when she became messy for him–drunk on his seed, on his cock, saliva and tears streaking her face, her hair tangled, her skin flushed and bruised. He straddled her chest, and held the back of her head in his hand, gripping the base of his dick in his available hand and guiding it in and out of her mouth. 

“That’s good, Ellie,” he murmured his approval. “That’s good…Work for your pleasure, girl,” he urged her, watching his tattooed cock disappear in and out her mouth. She slurped all over his heavy dick, while he fucked her steadily, dipping into her throat and watching his cockhead bulge inside and protrude against her neck. 

“No one sucks cock like you, princess,” he complimented her and she blushed her lovely rosy blush, smiling over his shaft. “Gods, I love filling your mouth…all your holes, but your mouth is delicious…sucking me so well. Let me get down your throat, sweet girl,” he adjusted himself above her, and began plunging in her mouth in earnest. She was moaning, struggling beneath him, her sharp nails digging into his thighs and he relished in the pain that she offered him. His hips pistoned smoothly in and out of her mouth, rubbing against her tongue, pushing as deep as he could go, which was all the way. He loved feeling her little nose pressing into his pelvis, sliding against his stomach while he was buried in her throat. 

“Suck, princess,” he ordered, “suck your lord’s cock.”

He was thrusting hard and steady, watching her eyes roll back in her head, and she softened into the mattress of their marital bed, her breathing shallow as she fell into the sensation of bliss that he was offering. She was no longer so much as sucked him, but became a willing vessel for him to push his hungry cock into, her mouth and throat open to his rough thrusting. 

“Doing so well, my princess,” he caressed her damp cheek, while his movements became more punishing and he groaned,  “I can’t stop right now. Drink up,” and he pumped harder, before shuddering with his violent release and spilling his seed in her mouth. He held his cock firmly inside, watching her swallow and drink his cum. Her small, hot hands gripped his buttocks and she held onto him, latching hard on his dick and sucking hungrily. He smiled at her enthusiasm and stroked her head. “I have plenty for you, sweetness,” he assured her. “You can have as much as you like.” She wanted all of it, as she finally swallowed the very last bit and then began licking his cock, cleaning him up. He leaned back on her chest, enjoying her thorough, dedicated work, lazily pushing in and out of her cum-smeared lips.

“Keep licking,” he encouraged. “I love watching you, my beautiful girl. My Princess.”

He let her lick for a while longer, always hard for her, but her pretty ass needed to be fucked and he was ready for his favourite hole of hers. Holding his cock in her mouth, he shifted back and stood by the edge of the bed, while she got on her hands and knees. Cupping his balls in his hand, he pushed her face lower and then squeezed one between her lips. She licked on the pouch readily, before she proceeded to suck one ball after another. He smiled. Always so eager to please him. Gods, he fucking loved her. Loved her more than he thought possible. More than it was comprehensible.

She covered his ballsack with wet, deep kisses, always thanking him for giving her his cum–as if he’d ever deny her! Everything that he was, and everything that he had–it was all for her. Every drop of his seed, every kiss, his hands and his touch, his tongue, his lips–she had it all. He cupped her chin and cheek, so he could tilt her face the way he wanted to, and after a bit of work and adjusting, he squeezed his entire ballsack in her mouth. He gagged and grunted breathlessly, her mouth completely overflowing with him, but he firmly clasped her face in his hand, making her suck his balls. She gripped his hips, holding onto him while he instructed, “eyes on me, princess. Ass up.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks from her stunningly beautiful watery-eyes and he thumbed them, before bringing his thumb to his lips and licking the salt of her tears.

She curved her back for him, thrusting her round fabulous ass up, while she watched him, seeing his approval for the ball sucking that she was giving him.

Her wet hot tongue worked over each ball, licking and laving, rubbing against the seam in between, all the while managing to keep the whole pouch inside. 

“Who is my perfect girl?” he asked, indulging her efforts by pulling on her ripe, thick nipples and twisting them between his fingers. She whimpered, her heavy tits hanging low to the mattress, filling his hand nicely, as he continued to twist and rub her nipples, squeezing them until she cried out against his balls. 

“You are doing so well, sweetheart,” he praised, “sucking my balls like that.”

She blinked at him, wanting more. He lazily drew his shaft over her face, watching her closely.

His incredible wife. 

The love of his long, rotten, miserable life. 

Everything was wrong, until he saw her, still a human woman, in a cobalt gown.

These days, she loved walking next to him, down the spacious, imposing hallways of their Court, in her black silken gowns, strings of diamonds and pearls draped over her neck and her arms, the silk whispering its own secret song to his shadows. Her delicate lovely hand always lying over his forearm, his strength supporting his cherished wife, while she leaned into him, but also led them forward. They always balanced each other–his strength to her wisdom, his brutality to her unwavering sense of justice, his loyalty to her power. And as their courtiers greeted them, as they met with dignitaries and emissaries of other Courts, she dripped his cum out of her well-used openings. 

Their Court was unique–traditional, ancient, full of magic and impregnated with unimaginable power. How he loved Calanmai and how he loved taking her in front of their Court. She was shy at first–after they were wed and after the Power shifted to her and to him and they took their rightful places as the Prince and Princess of the Court of Nightmares, the Power demanded that the old Order be re-established. That meant that when Calanmai came, the Princess was expected to take her Prince’s seed in order to revive their Court, year after year. Nothing was more beautiful than his Princess walking down the Great Hall towards him, completely naked, thousands of pairs of eyes watching her every move. Her breasts swayed heavily, her sex on full display. He waited for her by their black throne, ready for her to kneel at his feet, offering him herself and her loyalty. And then he lifted her and placed her on the black throne, and kneeled at her feet, indicating their equal status and his devotion to her. Then it was up to the Princess to spread her legs for the Prince, offer him her womb to seed and take him inside of her in front of the Court. By the gods, did he love spreading that pussy in front of everyone with his cock, filling her fully and then hammering into her until she writhed like a mad woman on that black stone throne. Though she didn’t have to, it was his Ellie who took up a new custom of kissing his balls in gratitude after he was finished with her. He didn’t mind it at all. 

Now, she kissed and licked his balls every time he came inside of her. And frankly, as she should have. As she was doing right now, still occupied with sucking and licking on his ballsack. He watched her proudly, her stunning face peeking from under his hard cock, her lips wrapped around his balls. 

“Good girl,” he urged her on, “keep going like that, sweetheart. I can’t wait to fuck your little ass, my favourite ballsucker.” 

She laughed at that, and he patted her head. Then, leaning over her, he harshly spread her ass cheeks, pulling them apart until the tight hole puckered. At the sight of it, his wings flared with excitement, and he grabbed the left claw in his hand and pressed it into her hole. The claw was thick and blunt, a curved piece of smooth bone with nerve endings all over it. It was annoyingly sensitive at times, especially when he was aroused, and his wings filled with blood just like his dick. He tapped her asshole with the claw, pushing just a bit inside, only enough to feel his Ellie pause her sucking and still between his legs. 

“Did I say you can stop?” he asked sternly, and pushed the claw a bit deeper inside her ass. She moaned against his balls, breathing loudly. Azriel smiled to himself. Ellie could suck his cock, lick his balls and lave his own anus for hours if he wanted her to. She knew that it was her duty to please him, just like he pleased her. And she loved nothing more than to please him, care for him, adore him, service him…because as impossible as it was, but she loved him just as much as he loved her. Her devotion to him was complete. She loved him deeply and obsessively, on par with his own blind, fanatical adoration of her. 

Easily, he flipped her back on her back and raised her legs high in the air, pressing them together. Her lips were swollen from all the sucking she’s been doing, and she looked ready and wanton, eager to be taken. He wrapped his fingers around both of her ankles, smashing her under her legs and not caring. She was used to it and she could take it. Her pussy lips closed, but the hole was still perfectly visible, just like he wanted. The other hole winked at him impatiently, so tiny, it was almost a sin to think that he’d be sinking his whole massive shaft into it in about a minute. His girl was tense, knowing that the pain was about to come, secretly wanting it, yet still fearing it. She never knew how he was going to take her. Sometimes, he was slow and gentle, and worked her hole open with great care and patience. Sometimes, he rammed into her hard and made her cry out and whine and beg him to slow down. Other times, he took her by surprise and pushed his whole length into her tight channel in one brutal shove. Often, he began thrusting immediately, not letting her adjust and enjoying the sight of her struggle. And other times, he pushed to the end, and then emptied completely, forcing dozens of deep, savage penetrations into her poor rectum. 

Elain knew who she married when she married him. He was a hard, determined, unforgiving, fearsome male. He loved her, but he was a rough and demanding lover. He used her to the fullest whenever he wanted, and expected her to comply enthusiastically. 

He grabbed his cock and slapped her slit harshly, making her cry out pitifully. He did it again and again, slapping her pussy with his cock and his hand, spanking it roughly and mercilessly. She jerked and bounced on the bed with each hit, her toes curling from the pressure. 

Without warning, he squeezed her ankles harder and pressed his cockhead into her anus. His piercing snagged on the tight rim of her hole, and she winced, as he worked his cock deeper, pushing through the resistance. She wailed softly, biting her lips and squeezing her eyes shut. 

“Princess, you look so pretty with my cock in your ass,” he laughed a delighted laugh and then slapped her buttock playfully. “I know it hurts, sweetheart, but you are opening so well for me. You are so tight and hot–it feels incredible.” He decided to be a little gentler than usual–just a little–and screwed his dick into her amazingly snug hole with some consideration. He needed to reward her for sucking him off as well as she did, but also punish her ass for putting herself in danger on their last mission. 

He didn’t like it. He didn’t like worrying about her. Their enemies were many, and powerful too. He didn’t want to put her in danger, but she was always with him, no matter where he went and what he did, therefore, it was inevitable that she’d be exposed to a slew of threats. 

The punishment for lack of care and disobedience, especially on their missions, was usually something sexual. And Azriel’s deviant mind was never short of ideas. She both loved it, and feared it. Sometimes, it was as mild as him bending her over, and forcing a thick, and uncomfortably big butt plug in her ass and then having her meet dignitaries, dance, socialise and dine with them, while the thing stretched and tortured her rectum. Inevitably, he’d pull her into some corner of their palace, lift up her skirt and while guests and courtiers were just behind the wall or a drape, he’d pull the plug out. Then she’d receive a quick, hard fuck, and forced to remain quiet while he pumped her ass full of cum. He’d leave her unsatisfied and high strung, before placing the plug back in. Then, she spent the rest of the evening aching, overfilled, her anus hurting, while her passage was full of seed and ivory. 

His favourite ‘punishment’ was to have her in his office, or at a reception, kneeling under a desk or a table, holding his huge cock in her mouth for hours. She’d have to be quiet, so as not to alert others to her presence, and her only nourishment for a few of those hours consisted of his cum, after he allowed her to suck him off. 

Azriel was a sexual sadist–-appropriate, he supposed, for the Prince of Hewn City–and he enjoyed inflicting sweet torturous sexual pain on his girl. Thankfully, his girl craved submission and certainly did not mind a bit of pain along with it.

Azriel kept forcing his shaft deeper and deeper into her, while she clutched the sheets on their bed in her hands, her back bowing deeply, as she took him in. Her pretty nose was scrunched from the pressure and she was wincing and moaning, watching Azriel’s satisfied expression. And satisfied he was. Opening her lush ass up with his dick was pleasure unlike any other. 

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” he cursed, his voice gutteral and hoarse even to his own ears. He squeezed her ankles in his hands so hard, he knew he’d leave a mark, and then placed her legs on his shoulders, freeing his hands. He was trying not to blow his load immediately, though it was tempting. It’s not like he wouldn’t get hard almost instantly after he came, but he wanted to hold back and really wreck her perfect ass. 

She cried out and shook beneath him, her little hands pressing against his hips as if trying to push him back–which was adorable. Instead, he wrapped her arm around her fleshy soft thighs on his shoulder and leaned in, a wicked smile on his lips. 

“Opening for me like a flower,” he marvelled, looking between their bodies, watching her rim ripen and stretch around his dark shaft. He kissed her ankles and slapped her soft tit lightly, twisting her nipple until she screamed quietly. Clearly she was struggling today, his penetration more painful and uncomfortable than usual–which happened sometimes, particularly because she wasn’t prepared well–so he decided to take marginal pity on her. Catching his claw in his hand, he pulled his wing down and whispered, “open up, sweetness”. Obediently, Elain opened her mouth and wrapped her hands around the base of the claw, licking it with wide, hot swipes of her tongue.

“That’s a good girl!” Azriel approved, a shiver wracking his body from the dual stimulation. Her ass moved on his cock, as she settled in and relaxed her rectum in order for him to get deeper. Azriel sighed with enjoyment, watching her busy herself with his claw as he pumped in her tight passage, bottoming out at last. She groaned and winced, fully penetrated with his hot dick lodged in her ass, while sucking on his claw nervously. 

“Watch me as you suck, princess,” he reminded her, needing to see every expression of pain and pleasure on her delicate features. “You want your hole open nice and wide, right?”

She nodded eagerly, licking the tip of the claw, which was just as sensitive as his cockhead. Azriel placed one foot on the bed, giving himself better purchase, pulled the lips of her pussy wide apart with his finger, so he could see her pink, glistening slit and began fucking her ass roughly, with deep, hard strokes of his cock. She stilled, shocked into instant subservience by the barrage of his harsh pumps, squeezing his cock with her strong muscles, pulling it deeper inside with every thrust. 

“Fits well?” he winked at her, and she nodded, her body docile and soft, taking all of his cock obediently in her ass. Despite her cries and feeble protests, Azriel pushed a finger into her asshole, widening it even further, rubbing his thumb over the swollen, red rim, as he fucked her relentlessly. She was panting and screaming, damp with sweat, her tits bouncing wildly from how hard he was using her. “How about another?” he proposed, and before she could utter another protestation, he stuffed her mouth with his claw, making her suck on it. Meanwhile, he slowly inserted another finger into her anus, kissing her ankles and her foot, whispering, “you going to gape for me, treasure? I love this hole nice and wide open after I come in it. I want you leaking my cum tomorrow and I want the servants to know how well you were ridden by your lord.” He rubbed his fingers alongside his shaft inside of her, his thumb circling the rim for her enjoyment. But, today, he was in for a long ride, and because it took her a while to come from anal, he opted to start with that. He was going to savage her ass before he was going to allow her to climax.

Gods, he loved fucking his wife. 

It was a tight squeeze in her ass, with his dick and two fingers inside of her, but fuck, how he loved stretching her. He wiggled his fingers inside of her as much as he could in the tight heat of her passage and she shuddered and trembled, slobbering over the claw in her mouth. He didn’t stop, because he didn’t want to stave off her orgasm, which was barreling forth if the squeezing of her rectum was anything to go by. She deserved it. He’s used her hard and extensively today, and he wasn’t nearly done. But she deserved to come on his cock. 

“Come, sweetness,” he coaxed, “come on my dick. Come on my fingers. Look at me as you break.”

Her big brown doe eyes blinked, as she rubbed his claw in her fist, pumping it in her mouth, sucking on it, saliva spilling on her chin. 

“Work your ass on me, sweetheart. Show me how much you want it. Use my cock to get your ass off,” and she pushed down on him impatiently, moaning loudly, her head thrown back and her nipples sharp and puffy atop of her jolting tits. 

He watched her and let her do her thing for a moment, as she fucked herself on his thick dick, uncaring about the pain and the discomfort. But then it was time for him to take matters into his own hands and he began thrusting in her ravenously, his beastly nature overcoming his Fae self and his dark monster rising to the top and fluttering against his skin. The beast demanded more–never satisfied, never tired. While Elain screamed and cursed as her climax shook her body, he didn’t ease up his pounding. 

“I have to take all the holes,” he said by way of explanation, almost apologetically, as he grabbed his available wing and squeezed the base of the claw. She tensed, readying herself with this new invasion, gasping loudly for air, a sheen of sweat covering her brow and her chest. “Spread your legs, princess,” he ordered impatiently, “and hold them under your knees. Give me your tender pretty pussy to ride.”

She licked her lips, still and tight beneath him, the only motion between the two of them being his cock gliding in and out of her asshole. It wasn’t necessary, because she was already drenched, but Azriel spit in her pink slit and then slowly, but firmly eased his curved claw inside her welcoming opening. He worked the claw meticulously, feeding bit by bit into her, sinking into the blissful wet heat. He ignored her cries and teary whimpers, pushing the claw deeper and deeper, feeling his own scorching hot dick in her ass rubbing through the thin membrane. 

He leaned forward, his move causing both his cock and the claw to sink fully inside both of her holes and cupped her cheeks between his hands. 

“I love you. And I love it when you are double-penetrated. You are so beautiful. My lovely, perfect wife. My love.”

He wiped the tears that were slipping from her eyes and closed his own eyes, savouring the delicious, incredible sensation of being in both of her holes at once. Double penetration was never easy, but she took it willingly and allowed him to invade both of her tight passages whenever he wanted. And he wanted it pretty much all the time. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could ever compare to have his aching dick and his sensitive, tingling claws inside his wife at once. Wrapping his scarred palms over her silky, soft breasts he asked, “ready?”. She exhaled deeply, preparing herself and then nodded once. 

“Good girl. Letting her husband use her so well, letting him ride all her holes,” he cooed, forcing his wing to slide in and out of her pussy. He let her adjust, playing with her nipples, while she clawed at her forearms, still dazed and pained by the double penetration and wiggling her hips to get into a better position. While she tried to slow him down, he began thrusting in her ass again, pounding into her pussy at the same time, before bringing his other claw back to her lips. 

“That’s what good girls do,” he continued rambling, as he bottomed out in both of her holes again and again, “they let their husbands use them and their pretty holes, and get ridden hard and often. Fuck, treasure...you are so full of me! All your holes are stretched to the brim, but you are taking it so well.”

She was a vision, splayed in front of his eyes, her thighs open, having compliantly fallen to accommodate him. The rim of her asshole was swollen and red, and he watched his dick all but completely buried inside as he drilled her with short, powerful thrusts. The claw pumped in tandem to his cock, and he pushed it all the way inside of her, so that the smooth ivory disappeared entirely in her hole. Inside of her, he could feel the movement of both appendages, which was blowing his mind. He squeezed and pinched her nipples, while she sucked his other claw. He fucked her steadily and without pause for a while, finally coming inside her ass once, but he didn’t bother stopping or even pausing his thrusting. She was so compliant, completely unresisting, loving how he rode her so ferociously, that he didn’t dare change anything. He desperately wanted to see how big she’d gape for him with her used and abused anus, but he figured that she could take at least one more load of his cum in there before he pulled out.

“Do you want to ride me, princess?” he asked. Without interrupting her licking and sucking, she shook her head no. It wasn't surprising. His Ellie liked to be dominated in bed, and rarely took initiative to be on top of him. Unless he placed her on his dick and made her ride, she preferred him on top of her in any position. When it came to penetration, it was usually entirely his choice–where, how, how many holes and whether he wanted to be rough, or gentle. Her initiative was always with her mouth–she found the places she wanted to lick or suck or worship with her tongue and she went to work on him and his body. 

Before she could come, he withdrew and flipped her over, and she flopped on her front like a ragdoll. He shoved her legs wide apart and spread her thighs, positioning himself between them. Impatiently, he splayed her ass cheeks apart and whistled loudly. “Fuck. Me,” was all he could manage, as he watched with fascination the wide open hole that he’d drilled into her. He slapped both of her buttocks and told her, “I can see inside you, sweetness. Your asshole is full of cum, but I can see how tender and pink and pretty you are inside.”

He rubbed his dick urgently, eager to get back inside. 

“Your pussy needs my cum,” he decided. “I am going to fuck it now,”

She nodded obediently, knowing that he was going to put it in whatever hole he fancied at the moment.

He sunk into the tightness of her pussy in one strong, unwavering shove, filling her completely. Propping himself above her, he began fucking her hard and frantically, leaning closer and biting her neck. She mewled and sighed with pleasure, closing her eyes and enjoying the painful bite and the demanding pounding her pussy was receiving. He came inside of her quickly, filling her up, and then kneeled behind her and pulled her down by the hips, keeping his cock fully encased in her gloriously went centre. Spreading her cheeks apart, he then plunged his claw in her ass and used his hand to guide his thrusts, hammering the claw into her, while he began pumping her pussy with renewed enthusiasm. He wrapped his free hand around her neck and murmured into her ear, “I am going to choke you, sweetness, alright? I want you coming in both holes as I am choking you. When I am ready, I am going to come in your mouth so you can drink.”

He rubbed her neck in his huge hand and squeezed lightly. Whenever he took away her air, Elain orgasmed like she was possessed. The lack of oxygen made her climaxes last for minutes, and she trusted him to do it just right–squeeze hard enough for her to almost pass out, but not so tight that she didn’t feel the avalanche of her orgasms sweeping over her. Moving smoothly in her ass and her pussy, he squeezed her throat, careful to monitor how she responded and how her inner muscles tightened around him with every squeeze. He eased or increased the pressure of his fingers, while sliding his tongue in her mouth and making her suck on it. 

She was bleary-eyed and exhausted, her limbs soft and malleable, her holes succumbing to his savage thrusting, her breaths quiet and sharp. She just clutched her cheeks open for him, widening her hole for the claw as much as she could, but in these pre-orgasmic minutes she existed only for him and for his savagery. 

She came in her pussy first, crying and screaming loudly, bouncing beneath him as she shook and jerked, her passage spasming along his shaft. He fucked her through it, and then quickly withdrew and pushed her face in his lap, thrusting his wet dick in her mouth. 

“Suck until you come in your ass. I won’t give you any cum until you come all over my claw.”

-

Elain was standing by the mirror, putting in her earrings. She was completely naked, but she usually was in their Moon Palace, where they resided when they weren’t in Hewn City. In her Court, she usually wore slinky, flowing gowns, which enveloped her shapely body like second skin. Black or pearl-cream silk was her favourite. For formal occasions, she usually chose something with black and cobalt, the colours of her House and her husband. 

The Moon Palace was heated with magic, and only had three servants, while everything else was sustained by spells and various kinds of cardinal magic. Azriel’s responsibility centred around shields and wards, while Elain took care of everything else. 

Azriel was almost dressed, with only his suit jacket still draped over the chair. Elain would’ve been too, but he spent half an hour admiring the gaping hole of her ass, casually fingering her anus which was brimming with his cum. Then he dropped to his knees behind her and began licking her asshole like a man possessed. She had no other choice but to lean over the sink on her elbows and thrust her ass at him, while he licked the cum out of her. Once he was finally satisfied and she was messy from two orgasms, he let her dress. 

It was their weekly dinner at Rhysand and Feyre’s tonight, and while Azriel would’ve preferred to stay home, cook dinner and enjoy it with his wife, he knew that his brother would be disappointed if they didn’t show up. 

-

…Rhys and Cassian were lounging in the sitting room, enjoying brandy and the heat of the fireplace. 

“Az!” Rhysand greeted him. “You came!”

“Alright brother?” Cassian offered an easy nod.

“Alright,” Azriel responded in his usual laconic manner, before finding his usual seat in a large armchair. Elain sat next to him and he wrapped his arm around her.

“Anyone fancy greeting my wife?” he snapped.

Rhys pursed his lips, but inclined his head and nodded. “Good evening, Elain.”

Cassian waved a little wave. “Petal”.

Azriel wrapped his arms tighter around his wife’s soft form and watched Rhys sip his drink.

“Anything to report?” Cassian asked again.

Azriel nodded and said, “I think we’ve discovered who is responsible for setting fire to all the trade ships in the ports,”

Rhys perked up and leaned in, “You did?”

Azriel did not serve the High Lord in the same way he did before becoming the Prince of the Court of Nightmares, since he was now a Lord in his own right. However, for especially difficult espionage cases and information gathering, Rhys still relied on his former spymaster for help. Azriel didn’t mind it. He and his Ellie investigated cases together, and he loved spending that time together with her. Besides, she always liked to travel, and it allowed them the opportunity to visit various countries on the Continent. 

“So what? Talk to me!”

“We’ll have to check further,” Azriel stated vaguely. He hated giving incomplete information, but Rhys was always too eager and impatient.

“Can you give me a preliminary assessment?” Rhys insisted, his voice stern. It didn’t work on Azriel–the compulsion of the High Lord’s voice–which he used on others. Azriel had his own compulsion. 

“Rogue Fae who live in the Human Lands,” he explained. “Rebels, who are attempting to sow discord between the humans and the Prythian Fae. They are making it look like,”

“We are doing it,” Cassian concluded. “Prythian’s Fae, from above the former Wall,”

“Exactly,” Azriel agreed. 

The door opened and Nesta strolled in. 

“Oh, boy talk,” she scoffed.

“Male talk, Nes,” Cassian corrected his prickly mate. “Male.”

“Uh uh,” she muttered and made her way to Azriel and said, “Nice to see you, Az!” before stooping to kiss the top of his head. “Lainey girl, how are you?” she asked, kissing her sister as well. “I’ve missed you. You treating her well, Az?”

Rhys and Cassian watched her in silence, their expressions stony and sad somehow. 

“We are so good, Nesta,” he assured her. “My Ellie is very happy. Aren’t you, sweetness?”

“I overheard the last part of your conversation,” Nesta told them, taking her sister’s hand in hers. “Am I going on this mission with Az then?”

Azriel waved his hand, “I don’t think it’s necessary. Elain and I will do just fine. Won’t we, princess?”

Rhys interrupted them and said, “I think it might be prudent to go with Nesta, Az. Elain can go too, of course, but things could get dicey and Elain isn’t a fighter,”

“I just don’t think that Nesta needs to bother,” Azriel shrugged.

“Can you at least take Temal?” Cassian suggested.

Azriel bristled at the thought.

“I am not taking my son! By the gods, Cass. What the fuck? Why would we?”

Then he turned to Elain and asked, “unless you want him to accompany us, princess?”

He and his Ellie did not have biological children. They had tried for years, but then 100 years had passed, 200 years, and even longer, and she never conceived. They’ve been told that ‘it could happen at any time’ centuries ago, but lately, no one’s been giving those assurances anymore. Elain was young, but Azriel was over 800 years old, and it was unlikely that after all these years, he’d suddenly father a child. 

However, while he was trying to breed his wife year after year, they also went ahead and adopted an orphaned Illyrian boy named Temal. And somehow, along the way, Temal became perfectly enough for them. There was no need for other children for the two of them. Temal was a strapping lad, a capable five-syphon warrior, and an Illyrian Commander, who was married to an Illyrian princess. About two hundred years ago, they’d made Azriel and Elain grandparents for the first time, and Azriel absolutely adored his three grandchildren. But as for his own children–nah. Azriel was perfectly satisfied with what he had. Selfishly, he wasn’t too keen on sharing Elain with anyone, even his own offspring. His brothers and her sisters had five children between them and Azriel found himself long ago enjoying and relishing his role as an uncle. He was especially close to one of Nesta and Cassian’s daughters–Elena. She was the apple in his eye. However, when it came to Elain…there was something about childbirth that didn’t sit right with him. A gnawing thing in the back of his mind cautioned him…and he knew that something bad would happen…something sinister if she became pregnant. And he couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t risk Elain. Never. 

Rhys rose from the divan and said, “we’ll discuss it later. It’s dinner time. I don’t think that you going alone…well, the two of you…is enough. I want you to find someone in addition to,”

Irritated, Azriel interrupted,

“And when we find them? What then?”

Rhys shrugged.

“Obtain the necessary information and you can deal with them as you sit fit after that.”

[beesmygod]

today is webcomics day. i am bea and i make "A Ghost Story" - part 1: pre-gaming

webcomic day is a yearly celebration of the art form concocted by the screentones podcast team as a way for people to see how the sausage gets made. my webcomic "a ghost story" has been running for over 10 years, and yet i still don't think i can say i am good at making a webcomic. regardless, the comic is getting made because otherwise i become very, very sick in the head. today i would like to share with you the process of making a page of "A Ghost Story" from start to finish. either this demystifies the process or will make you think im so cool and strong for doing this 2x a week. instead of reblogging this one post until it gets very long, i will be posting individual updates that i will then compile and post on my personal website. block the tags now if you HATE comics and want them to EXPLODE.

if you have any questions, even things like "what the fuck are you even talking about" feel free to ask. i want to feel confident in what i make again and i think sometimes interrogation from an outside source is really

---

that said, let's get started. wait just kidding i want a cup of coffee first, hold on.

ok now im ready. i have a big glass of water. i have coffee. i have a headset for the parts of work that don't involve typing words. i can't type words and listen to some streamer babble in my ear at the same time, so it has to be instrumental music or nothing. i just took my meds so they should kick in after about 30 mins. i woke up late today, which is weird and annoying. but maybe i can work late instead.

first off, i need to know where i'm going beyond this one page. if i dont know where im going with something, then i usually create something that sucks that i have to deal with later. hold on my internet died, i have to reset the router. ok, anyway.

what's rattling around in my brain is that not only do i have to deal with maxine's current predicament, i am also dealing with multiple plot elements i need to wrap back around to from the previous chapter. luckily, im about to put maxine down for a nap, which means i can get back to those other elements:

i need to finish the exposition from the three ankou characters for this story arc establishing their motivations as the oppositional force in the story. the "villain" is not these three specifically, but their boss. they need to have a loose understanding of what's going on in order to communicate this to the audience. god this started turning into a huge ass paragraph so i'll just keep it short there.

we've jumped back to before jack's horrible day from the first chapter of this storyline so we have to make our way back toward that and then lapping it, which means wrapping up his various open threads like:

feeding victoria and learning something new about her

finding out alice is a very exceptional employee who is getting many awards

watching valdo call lily while interrupting her during something personal to ask her for help with maxine's situation.

jack meeting with valdo and lily the day after they first met so jack can just tell them straight up that lily has 4 sisters she doesnt know about.

help that girl with her poltergeist problem. remember that. i've had jokes for this rattling in my head for like 4 years. im going insane.

and also the fucking tilberi!!! that has a point its going somewhere!!! there's a larger menace here!!!

other things to set up the climax of this storyline. sexual tensions, hints at larger emotional problems not immediately evident to the reader

lots of moving parts. and i feel like im moving in slow motion to get to them. i can see them all weaving together in my head, its the process of putting that onto paper that's proving difficult.

ok that took an hour starting and stopping. -_- let me write the next part as i keep brainstorming on how to approach this page. taking a "rubber duck" approach to this might help. heres an image from the last page i worked on (i have a 5 page buffer rn so the site does not match the finished pages) to get us semi-situated.

also because images will help people understand what skill level we're working with here. i need to be able to communicate an idea to the audience; if the art also looks good on top of that, then that's just an added bonus. but the ability to communicate my ideas is sometimes hampered by my lack of artistic skill or comics language ineptitude. like those speech bubbles kind of fucking suck but at a certain point you have to just hit print on what you're working on in order to keep your already glacial pace.

webcomics is a tightrope act where you're also spinning 4 plates at once. the trick is to keep the audience from realizing how many actually fall or how wobbly they all are. the act sucks but technically its not a failure.

[prince-toffee]

L I F E I S A H I G H W A Y !

Written by Prince-Toffee (me)

Art by the absolutely supreme @themazziah @cosmiccanineart

Created as part of The @spopbang 2024

Before we begin, I just want to say thank you to @themazziah for creating this absolutely gorgeous piece of art that you're looking at right now. It was so good in fact that I was inspired to rewrite the story to incorporate it into the narrative. When writers and artists were being paired up, I was sure I'd be left without a partner, but after you said that I was your first choice I was honestly so moved and touched. Thank you for picking me. Nothing I write could ever express how lovely it feels to read a kind comment like that. And that's why I'll try to get back into writing Entrapdak fics, it's been a while, and I'd love to do more, the world can never have enough Entrapta and Hordak in it. (and Glimmadora, my first time writing them, hope I did okay) Thanks, Mazz, I hope this story gives you a good few chuckles.

Second of all, thank you to all the organisers of @spopbang I may not know many people there well, but right from the start people were nothing but kind and helpful, and this event is a beautiful gift to the fandom. You guys are absolutely amazing!

Finally, on a more personal note, this is a three parter, I could only manage to finish Act One before the deadlines as I was working on my final university assignments at the same time, and now I'm finished and free! And I can't think of a better way to celebrate! I'll try to get the rest of the story out as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy this little space road trip.

Life Is A Highway

Act One (of Three)

~One Year After The Defeat of Horde Prime

CloneTown, or as the inhabitants of the settlement chose to dub it, Doormat, was a small shanty town at the foot of Mount Dryl on top of which Castle Dryl stood. The doormat of Dryl, of Etheria, of the universe, Adora assumed that was the intended joke. The warrior of light examined the sign closely, a hastily put together sign stood before her, it read: ‘Welcome To’ with CloneTown crossed out. A separate board, made of wood not matching the rest of the sign, was nailed underneath, on it carved crudely was ‘Doormat’. Adora never knew clones had a sense of humour, then again, it wasn't like she spent much time among them. Or at all. As She-Ra, the Protector of Etheria, she visited many villages on the continent, observed as many cultures of as many people as she could, opened her heart and reached out a helping hand to all... all except the newest refugees of Etheria. Every time she had ventured to a clone settlement, she felt unease - most villages across Etheria worshipped her (so to speak, and that invited its own unique forms of exhaustion), but when she set foot on clone grounds, she felt unwanted, which of course, she was. Perhaps the unease emerged from the fact that all the staring eyes that silently watched her stroll into town as she did so now, all belonged to the same face, the face of her old master. One she worshipped in her youth, but no longer. But that didn't matter now, now she was walking down the muddy roads of Doormat, and attracting quite a few puzzled, angered glares. Adora approached in her normal form, strolling up as a 9-foot-tall glowing, radiant, goddess might have been a bit too much. Not that it mattered too much as she still stuck out like a sore thumb, she was the only non-clone in the village, nothing she could do about that. The warrior was cloaked in torn and tattered robes, a hood obscuring her face, so at least they didn't know who she was.

Soon enough the Warrior of Grayskull happened upon her destination, Bar Nefcy, a local, clone-ran establishment. She got a bit lost, but Entrapta’s directions were correct. There was a hanging sign spelling out the bar’s name in uncharacteristically bright pink paint. Almost acting as a centrepiece of the town. From what she heard about it, the establishment acted as a sort of neutral ground for clones: regs, defects, and whatever came between. And as she entered the establishment, she wondered whether that mentality and ideology would extend to her. And almost immediately she got her answer as the chatter throughout the room stopped, all the various patrons turned to look at her, a sea of red and green eyes staring into her. She wasn't exactly scared, if anything came down to violence, she had plenty to keep herself safe, including the enormous broadsword channelling cosmic energy that would transform her into the most powerful woman in the universe. Adora made her way over to the barline and sat herself down, each of her footsteps making the wooden floor creak, which could be heard over the silence.

She attempted to stay invisible and stay silent until her contact would show up, however that turned out to be unlikely as she caught a glimpse of her bartender, a small “Oh!” escaped her and she immediately regretted it, and felt awful about it. Adora’s bartender did not look like a regular clone, he was downright bizarre, he was overgrown with vines, flowers, and moss, all intertwined and weaved into the clone’s being. Where his eyes would be, now two thick vines ran outward spreading into a patch of moss and grass atop his head. Effectively rendering the man, blind. Admittedly, she stared for a bit too long, but she didn't think he'd know.

“Well?!”

“?”

“I may be as blind as a bat, but my hearing is as good as ever. I heard you walk in and sit down, the floorboards are on purpose. So? What’ya want?”

Adora gulped, and put on her best diplomatic voice, “No drink for me, sir. I only ask permission to stay in your bar for- I don't know, uh, a few more minutes. I'm meeting a... friend, shall we call him. A clone. I'm a friend! An ally!” Whoof. She never had to pull that card out before. The bartender didn't seem to look convinced. The diplomatic voice slipped halfway through all that. “Please.” She finished with an awkward smile on her pinched face.

“Uh huh, look this is a clone-establishment, not for… natives. You're unsettling my clientele, so if you'd be so kind and find the exit as I can't, ya know on the account of a magic flower growing out of my face. Good day, Princess.” Wait he knew? How? Was her voice that recognisable?

Just then another voice rose from the back of the bar, from a far corner booth, “Ah, come on Manny! I thought this was a ‘neutral ground’ and whatnot. You gonna denie the guy their poison? They're just trying to get through today like the rest of us.” The bartender, who Adora now knew was named Manny, groaned in annoyance, if he could roll his eyes, he would have. Adora turned around to see where the voice was coming from. There, far in the back, in the corner booth, set an elderly patron a clone no doubt, he spoke with the same voice. But he too looked downright bizarre, unlike all the other clones. This clone was thin, like a skeleton, he looked sickly. (A defect, they were called, she believed, though not entirely sure). The lower half of his face looked normal enough, well for a clone that was. But the top half of his head was a glass-like red dome with some strange displays flashing inside like a radar monitor. And not only that, protruding out of his face was a long witch-like nose, sharp as a knife. Almost as sharp as the red teeth that formed a, what was meant to be a friendly, smile.

The clone wore a mechanical suit (of armour?) that framed his skeletal features. His feet were kicked up on top of the table. His feet resembled… clamps? Like mechanical vulture talons. There was another clone at the corner booth with them, but they had their back turned to Adora, they were clearly uninterested in this interaction. The vulture-like clone stood up and wobblingly made his way over to Adora. It was clear he was drunk. But from Manny’s reaction she gauged that this was his default state. The bird-like man spoke up again, “Leave the freak alone. ‘Serve all, not one’, right?” The woman noticed that the clone acted as if he had a cup or glass in his hand... But he didn't, there was no drink in his curved hand.

“V,” Manny spoke, so that was his name, “Should have known this freak was with you, something always happens when you're around here. Trouble seems to follow you wherever you go, and you always bring it here. So why don't you take your royal friend, and go lead trouble away from here.”

“I won't cause any trouble, I promise.” Adora proclaimed, she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, she placed the page onto the table and slid it over to Manny. “I'm actually here on behalf of the Queen, to hand you this Establishment License to let you run your business officially... it was illegal before, just so you know. As a show of gratitude and togetherness.” Adora gave her best smile. Manny just looked at the piece of paper and groaned, he turned around and walked off with the paper in hand, grumpy. Adora swivelled around back to V, she awkwardly thanked them, “Hey, thanks, uh, V was it? For taking my side. And I'm sorry I caused a commotion here.”

“Eh,” He waved dismissively, “Don't take it too personally kid, Manny over there's still a little peeved that you turned him and a bunch of others into walking compost heaps back when you turned The Velvet Glove into a giant tree, heh.”

“I- I did that to him?”

“Oh, not just him, every clone hibernating in a pod and whatnot. Thousands.”

“Oh, gods, what have I done.” She murmured to herself, she combed through her hair, a thousand yard stare on her face. “I'm so sorry... I didn't know I was unwelcome.”

“Eh,” He shrugged, “Don't take that too personally either, neither is he.” V pointed behind him with his thumb towards the doorway. Adora followed the thumb to the silhouette in the door frame. Hordak. Her drinking partner had arrived.

The Ex-Lord of the Horde entered the establishment and silence befell the bar once more, the collective of eyes glared at him and followed him as he slowly made his way over to the warrior Princess. Not too different of a reaction that they greeted Adora with. V just then realised there wasn't a drink in his hand and so he moved out of the way to give Hordak room to sit down next to Adora. He did so. The villain maintained silence, Adora thought it was to seem intimidating, but in reality he simply had no idea how to talk to people, and was too awkward to be the one to begin the conversation.

Hordak was cloaked in a black cape and hood. His blue, curly, fringe poking out from under the hood. Another thing she just now noticed about Hordak was that his eyes were different, usually fully blood red with black makeup around, just now realising that those must have been contact lenses of some sort, because now she witnessed his real eyes. Soft and organic rather than the glass shields which is what their texture usually looked like. Now his corneas were fully pitch black with black pupils and bright blood red irises, the way they shifted about it somehow made him far more emotive. He was clad in matte black and gun metal grey plated armour with neon red highlights running throughout. No Horde symbol on his chest plate however, The Wings of The Vampire where nowhere to be seen. What Adora didn't see was the First One's crystal embedded within his armour powering his entire suit. He wore the same double slit dress he always wore, thighs on full display. That was certainly a choice.

Adora spoke up first, “Sooo, ahem, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked to meet with you.”

“Yes.” He spoke with his deep, smooth voice, “Entrapta, my dearest, did not disclose why you wished to meet. And why here of all places. I am usually summoned to BrightMoon by the Queen.”

“Weeeell, I thought meeting here might make you feel more comfortable. Heard this place serves drinks to anyone, guess... guess not.”

“Hmm, indeed. I do not drink here. I am unwelcome. I do not blame anyone for that belief. My shunning is just.”

“I thought you'd be a hero to your people, especially after killing Prime and all.”

“You killed Prime. I'm surprised many of my brothers haven't turned to worship you She-Ra Adora.”

“It's just Adora. And more people ‘worshipping’ me is the last thing I want.”

“And as to why many of my brothers hate me? Well, everyone has their own reasons. For many I will always be that authority figure, a High-General, sending them off to their deaths. For others, like Manny here, good man that Manny, they believe my... ‘campaign’ here has led to your people hating them. I destroyed any chance of a peaceful coexistence. I am keen to agree with him.”

Adora didn't disagree, but there was more to it. She did not want to unpack all of it just yet so she chose to instead change the topic of conversation, “Hordak. The reason I wanted to meet with you... I have a job for you.”

“I imagined as much. However, it is usually the Queen who imparts assignments upon me and my brothers. Why this- breaking of routine?”

“Because this concerns the Queen. This ‘job’ isn't her idea, it's mine, in fact, it took a lot of convincing to get her onboard.”

“And the mission is?”

“A road trip, so to speak.”

Hordak quirked his brow. “Ooooh-kay.”

“There is an Intergalactic Conference in the Summit solar system, few galaxies away. Glimmer needs to attend in the next few days. It's quite possibly the most important event in Etheria’s history.”

“And what does the conference pertain to? If I may ask?”

“Securing Etheria’s status in the universe. Glimmy wants to appeal to The Council of The Known Universe and have Etheria recognised as a developed-enough world to join The Council. Ever since Etheria had been freed from Despandos it has been at the mercy of the rest of the universe. As a magical mediaeval world, Etheria’s has been seen by the rest of the universe as ‘underdeveloped’ and ‘primitive’ and as ‘defenceless’. Becoming a part of The Council will grant us safety. Their technology advancements. Limitless food and medicine - access to planets they’ve constructed dedicated solely to agriculture and harvesting. Respect among other worlds. Protection from other tyrants across the cosmos like Prime. Make sure it never happens again. The Council of The Known Universe, turns out, was established to create a barricade against tyrant empires like Prime and The Galactic Horde. Etheria needs protection like that, but there's a problem.”

Hordak placed a hand against his chin as he pondered on the matter, “The Primusians.”

“Yes. You've heard?”

“I have, through the ‘grapevine’ as you would call it; clones talk, or think (telepathically), especially here. V doesn't keep anything to himself. Primus pirates have been assaulting crafts around the system, many of them clones seeking home off-world. They've been quite active since our ‘stunt’ with the Minister of Armament and Defence. You're afraid they have their sights set on the Queen. Making transporting her a major risk.”

“Yeah, you got it. I knew you'd catch on.” Hordak shot her an inquisitive look as well as a bombastic side eye, “Anyway, the plan is to send a new unmanned decoy ship on the route to the conference. Pirates explode it, and hopefully they'll think the bodies got incinerated.”

“That's that then.” Hordak remarked satisfied.

“Yeah, except Glim still needs to make it to Summit. And that's where you, and your... team comes in. I hear you have a ship, don't know how, but you do. You'll escort Glim on the longer way around the Black Donut system and deliver her to the conference on time.”

“That will take days.”

“One week exactly. One way each. That's why I’m here now, the Queen’s orders.”

“It does not sound like the Queen would be thrilled about this idea. My brothers can be... a lot.”

“She isn't. But she knows it's the right thing to do.”

Hordak sighed. “Adora why would I-“

“Because you owe me.” She suddenly became incredibly serious, her glare at Hordak hardened, and Hordak fell silent. He really did. Freeing him from Prime’s influence. Dropping in a good word for him at his trial. He most likely wouldn't have been with Entrapta at all without her. He simply nodded in agreement. “And... because I love her.”

“And you would trust me to keep her safe?”

“The same way I'll keep Entrapta safe while you're gone... So? Deal?”

-        - -

Day One (of Seven)

“No. No deal.” Glimmer remarked defeated. “This is a bad- ugh- I don't like this plan, just stating that for the record.” The Queen of BrightMoon spoke to the holo-pad, arguing with the screen. On the other side of the screen was a smiling but slightly scared Adora. Glimmer marched through the corridors of Castle Dryl, the never-ending labyrinth, that Glimmer was 80% sure was constantly shifting, trying to confuse her. It didn't help that she was constantly going down, deeper into the mountain. Entrapta was the master of traps after all. But Glimmer continued on her path anyhow. She had a map display hovering over the holo-pad that clearly outlined where to go. And surely this wasn't a trap, a planned scheme to assassinate her, right?

“I know what you're thinking; It's not a trap.”

“I- wasn't thinking... that.” She squinted at the map overhead, “I swear the corridors are moving, how is that even possible. It also doesn’t fill me with confidence that Entrapta called this, ‘The Basement’.” The monarch wore her traditional purple outfit, glittering cape, golden accents around the belt, shoulder pauldron, and of course her royal tiara. Her stern look faded away and a sadness took its place. “Why couldn't you’ve come with me?”

“~Oh, StarLight, I'm sorry. I want to always be at your side, and I would be if I could. But the strange signals emanating from the Crystal Castle, it could mean LightHope’s back. And if LightHope is back, which her is she? And why would she be transmitting off-world?”

“So you'll be on the other side of the universe.”

“As soon as I'm done I'll B-line it to you. Just- just wait for me. You're in good hands until then.”

“...I wish I could hold you, I miss you already.” Glimmer's words brought a warm smile to the She-Ra’s face. Adora turned away, avoiding eye contact, a blush rising across her face.

“I miss you too. But please, trust me, it'll be okay.” Adora turned to look at something out of the holo-pad’s view, she sighed, “I have to go. I love you. See you in a week.”

And the transmission terminated.

Glimmer sighed. Already missing Adora’s voice. She believed she was approaching her destination, a large mechanical door stood before her. The GPS on her holo-pad indicated that she had reached ‘The Hangar’. “Okay.” She accepted the journey ahead with one word. Glimmer swiped the touchscreen on her whole pad, the bypass code got transmitted to the control panel at the doors ahead. The green light indicated the door unlocking. And the metal doors slid upward with a hiss. A light spilled into the corridor, so much so Glimmer had to shield her eyes with her hand. She took a step inside and almost tripped over immediately. She looked back to see what it was, and noticed that the floor was littered with a variety of… strange and seemingly unrelated things; Pipes, cables, and various other pieces of machinery, she guessed. There were also art supplies; Paint buckets, brushes, canvases, and spray cans. As she turned around to face forward once again she ducked immediately as she was almost closelined by a low hanging clothing line, various photographs hung up along it. Various landscapes from the brief glimpse that Glimmer caught of it.

“Look out.” A familiar voice called out, but it came from an unfamiliar character. Glimmer followed the voice to match it to the clone face. The man wasn’t even looking at her, which meant she must have yelped quite loudly at some point. She re-composed herself and made her way to the clone, the closer she got, the more details revealed themselves to her. The man was, in fact, a clone, he had the same voice and Hordak’s face, but that was almost where the similarities ended. The tuft of hair on top of his head was dyed in a patchwork of every colour, it was quite strange seeing all that colour on a clone. But the most defining characteristic was the fact that he was wheelchair bound due to his two missing legs, amputated just above the knees. The defect was sat in front of a sizable canvas, a paintbrush in hand and in the middle of creating a new painting. The painting was, no doubt about it, gorgeous. It depicted Doormat, at the foot of Mount Dryl. The light that had blinded Glimmer earlier when she entered had come from the massive open hangar bay doors letting the daylight in. She assumed that was where he got the photos and references from.

“It's beautiful.” She remarked.

“What? This? Thank you, but no, it's just a warm up, and it's hideous. I think I might be having an off day. See that tree?” The clone pointed to a perfectly fine tree on the painting.

“Right.” She should have probably introduced herself, “I'm-“

“Cargo.” He finished.

“Not how I'd like to put it. But yeah, I- uh- I’m Glimmer.”

“I know. You’re the Queen. You send me and my brothers on suicide missions.”

“Yeah... uhmm, yes, soooorry about that, and you are?”

“Moe.”

“Moe. I'll- I'll remember that. Is Hordak here?”

“He's with Entrapta, doing… whatever mad-scientists do. Making time travelling microwaves that send your meal forward in time to when it's already done?”

“Heh, it's Entrapta, it wouldn't surprise me. She can do anything she sets her mind to.”

The joke seemed to resonate with the artist, he smiled, “We're taking off soon, Dak’ll be down in a bit, feel free to get set up on the ship, try getting used to it, the trip’ll be a few days long.”

“Thanks.”

Glimmer turned to the ship in question, The Annihilation it was called. It was a Horde troop carrier dropship repurposed as a mobile home to The Defects as they recently began calling themselves. Looks like they were really owning it. The dropship had a new paint job, no doubt thanks to Moe, an angry face painted over the cockpit, angry eyes and a row of sharp teeth. And a mural on the side of the hull, abstract, but unfinished, she presumed. The ship had Christmas lights hung up all along it, a TV satellite dish on top, and a footpath leading to the lowered ramp into the loading bay. The Annihilation was surrounded by a white picket fence, turf of fake grass, a small cheap fountain (kinda ugly, with a gnome spitting out water at the centre). And a mailbox at the front, not that anyone ever sent in any mail, it was all very cute however.

The Queen of Light made her way into the loading bay, up the ramp, and quickly realised it was... A living room? A TV, a couch, and a carpet. All bolted down so it wouldn't fly out presumably. She was surprised at the mundanity of it all, she was expecting something far more alien or militaristic. While her head was in the clouds she tripped yet again. She growled at her own clumsiness, “What? Do I have two left feet today? What now?” She looked down at what had tripped her up and she almost jumped out of her skin. It was a man, slumped over, on the ground, leaning against a wall, a cable lodged into the back of his head. He was silent, he wasn't moving. Glimmer’s thoughts raced madly; He's dead. They killed someone and stuffed him into their ship. She was looking at a corpse right now!

Then a voice came from above, “Heh, you know that happened to me once.” She looked up to see a skinny man hanging upside down from the ceiling like a bat, he smiled with his bright red fangs, “Mortar shell. Blew me into pieces. Turns out I grabbed someone else’s leg! HA!”

“...Wh- What?”

“Two left feet! We all match so the joints just pop in! Customizable action figures, batteries sold separately.” V cackled to himself as he descended from the ceiling and landed before the monarch. Glimmer wasn't sure how to respond, or what she was looking at, some sort of birdman? She was at a loss for words, since her mind was still on the potential corpse at her feet. “V.” He indicated himself with his hand.

“Is this a dead body?!” She pointed to the clone on the floor in panic and anguish. V craned his neck to look past the Queen. V waved it off matter of factly.

“Eh, don't worry about Drag. Kid’s just taking a nap.”

“So I shouldn't be worried?”

“Oh, well, no, you definitely should. ‘Nap’ so to speak. The truth is far more horrifying. You see little Drag is in a state of constant rapid brain degradation the curjigger he's hooked up to continuously recreates his brain through... woff nanobots? I don't know, Dak’s the one who does machines. The boy fainted not long ago, so he'll be out for a good while.”

“How long is he usually out for?” She still asked panicked.

“Uh, I don't know, varies, sometimes hours, sometimes days, whatever the story needs really. I'm sure he'll be back by the third act.”

“... What are you talking about?”

“I don't know. Anyways, make yourself at home, but not too much, the chaotic mess is on purpose.”

“The ‘I know where everything is’ type of organisation system?”

“What? No, I don't know where anything is, it's just to annoy Hordak. Sometimes I dump buckets of mud and dust inside just to see how furrowed his brows can get. Ha! He gets so angry.”

Glimmer just now noticed that V had patted the couch as he made his ‘make yourself at home’ statement. “Wait, I'm… sleeping on the couch?” She remarked in disbelief.

“Weeell, yeah, what did you expect?”

“A room?!”

“Ahhh... No. Heh. No.”

“Unbelievable.”

“Hey, it's not that bad, this is the best spot on Anni! You got a perfect view of the TV (which has channels from the next three galaxies). A few itchy blankets and who knows what wonders hide between the couch cushions; Just today I found Drag’s goldfish’s food... Oh shoot, I knew I forgot something.” He tapped his chin.

“I'm in Hel. I died, and now I'm in Hel.”

“HA! Not yet. But The End is coming. Soon!” V waltzed away saluting her away as he ventured off to check up on his younger brother’s fish.

“Wait! Can't I have Drag’s room? Or is his room the corridor?” She asked sarcastically.

“Sorry, Candy Floss, he ain't interchangeable. You’ll just have to deal with it.” The doors to Drag’s bedroom closed and he was out of earshot.

“...Great. Perfect. Great idea, Adora. Thanks, hun.”

-        - -

“I wish you could stay.” Entrapta sadly remarked.

Hordak took a moment to reply, he looked away and down, “... As do I, Beloved.”

It was another day, another mission and once again the universe had decided to tear them apart as it often did. It was especially bittersweet and tragic as the couple had plans for today, family picnic, so to speak. Entrapta sighed as she soldered the motherboard in front of her, their mask down and covering her face, “I was really looking forward to working on the power couplings for the hyper light telescope. I bet we can see the Lynks system from here! I heard rumours that they've managed to construct an entire artificial star! It powers their two nearest colonies!... I- I can wait for you... And we could do it together when you get back, how long can the escort be? Two?- Three days?” She tried to keep up a genuine smile.

“We estimate a week to the Summit system, and one week to return.” Hordak hid most of himself under his cape like a weighted blanket, “I know how much you love star gazing, you shouldn't have to wait for me. You should enjoy yourself without me.” He reached out for Entrapta’s hand. Entrapta let go of the soldering iron, and accepted the taloned hand of her partner. The Ex-Lord of the Horde softly massaged her hand, his thumb moving in circles.

She gently squeezed Hordak’s hand in return, “But I'd love for you to be with me. Us, together, you know?” She snuggled into Hordak’s chest, leaning her head against him. Dak held her hand and placing his other hand against Entrapta’s back, a gentle touch, “That's the life I wanted for us.” She murmured lowly, almost a purr.

“I know.” Hordak spoke solemnly.

“...It feels like we're apart every day now. I thought things would get better… and here you go again.”

“I know. But this request- it came from-“

“Adora, I know.” Entrapta lifted her mask, revealing a small smile, “That's the only thing I like about this.” That made Hordak raise one of his brows, “You, opening up to her, it's cute. She's a good girl. I'm glad you're making new friends.” She patted Hordak’s chest.

“Well, I wouldn't go that far-“

“Hordak.”

“Ah!” Hordak jumped, scared by the voice inside his head. The clone turned around to find Lee, another one of his brothers, just standing there – Menacingly. “Lee! How did you- ? Where? Why?!”

“We have a problem.”

*Italics indicate telepathy – Toffee*

“What?”

“The Queen is currently in our home.”

“Yes, she is the cargo.”

“…Why was I not informed of this?”

“Because you wouldn't have liked it.”

“We are transporting (possibly) the most powerful woman in the universe - that is going to turn heads, and paint a target on our backs. Are we not meant to be secret task force?”

“That is why we and the She-Ra are the only individuals aware of this mission. And, were you not the one who urged me to establish a more trusting relationship with the rulers of this world? Do you not think that a favour such as this would aid in improving relations between clones and natives?” Lee pondered on it, he nodded. He would have grunted if he could, unfortunately for Lee, his entire lower jaw was missing. By far his most noticeable and unique feature.

“...Sooo? Are we-? Is this-? Are we done? I'm just getting half of the conversation here, just so you know.” Entrapta poked in.

Suddenly V also appeared out of nowhere behind Hordak, “Hey we have a problem.”

“Gahhh! Where did you?! How- What?! Ugh. Yes, we know; the Queen.” Hordak face palmed.

“What? No. It's Drag’s goldfish, it's dead.”

“What? I thought you were feeding it.”

“I thought Lee was feeding it.”

“Well, I thought Moe was feeding it.”

Hordak sighed, face in his hands, “Fine, we'll figure it out on the road, just go, get out of here.”

Lee just looked at him, and turned away, “I'll be on the ship. I'm assuming all the relevant mission information is on board?” Hordak nodded. “Then I will be there, studying.” And the clone disappeared as soon as he appeared. V followed.

“He's scary good at that.” Entrapta remarked.

“Hmm.”

“I don't think he likes me.”

“They’ll come around...”

Both of them stood there for a moment, in silence. “So... you should probably get going.” Entrapta remarked sadly, not ready to let go again so quickly.

“Mmm.” Hordak looked around the lab, “Where is Imp? I wished to say goodbye to him before departing.”

“Probably hiding, lil rascal hates to see you go. He misses you you know.”

“I know…” A sadness washed over his face. 

“Look, I know you're at work, the last thing you need up there is me. But-”

“I would spend my entire life at your side! I love your voice. I adore your beautiful mind. And worship your heart for all the love you have offered me. You are not a hindrance!”

“Okay, okay, haha.” She looked down at the ground with a warm blush on her cheeks, “I know, I get it.”

“You think so little of yourself, I know how you are. And I do not appreciate it.” He landed a soft kiss on his partner's cheek. Which drew a chuckle from her.

“OK, OK, enough! You know I can't take compliments!” She exclaimed joyously as she smooshed his cheeks with her soft gloved hands.

“It is my duty as your lab partner to remind you of your worth, your beauty and your wonder, and that is just a scientific fact. Now, what- uh- what were you going to say before I rudely interrupted?”

From a large pouch on her utility belt Entrapta fished out a small Rubik’s cube-like object, which shifted in her palm and unfolded into a large two-handed holo-pad, and handed it over to Dak, “You know how I've been working on the intergalactic communications array?! So, I've been working on downsizing it and managed to incorporate it into a screened device - this holo-pad will allow us to stay in touch, even worlds apart. It’s only a prototype, of course, but it should work perfectly.”

What a loving gift. Entrapta always bestowed such wonderful presents, Perfuma proclaimed that it was her love-language. Hordak did not understand what that meant exactly, but his mind wondered, how could he further ‘communicate’ in this ‘language’? “Beloved, I- This is a most thoughtful gift, but... it is standard protocol to not take any contraband that could possibly link us to and could be traced back to Etheria in case the ship is breached... but, I suppose with the literal Queen of Etheria on board, that rule does not apply.” He smiled. Entrapta matched the smile.

“I will call you, when you're on your way, later today.” She raised on her tippy-toes and kissed her tall partner on the cheek, “Keep you company.”

“I would appreciate it.”

         Hordak and Entrapta lost themselves in each other's eyes as they often did, they wordlessly embraced in a warm hug. Their foreheads found each other, eyes closed, they allowed themselves to smile just a little.

         “I love you.”

         “I love you, more.”

         “Scientifically impossible, I love you far more.”

         “No, I love you more!” They giggled softly to each other.

-        - -

Glimmer had unpacked, to the best of her abilities, that is to say she was pecking at one of her packed lunch sandwiches and marked the couch as her territory by placing her luggage all over it. The Queen was now just sitting on the couch, slouched. This was going to be a long trip, she could tell. So she tried to distract herself by glueing herself to the TV. Unfortunately, the channel she was watching was broadcasting from an alien system with a language she did not understand. She could infer from the tone of the voice and the acting what was going on. It was some sort of telenovela, ooorr a reality TV show? No, Glimmer had no idea where the remote was. So that was it, her life for the next week. Hopefully Adora and the rest of the Princesses would take her on the way back after the conference.

         “Oh, nice, that's a good episode.”

         “What?” She turned back to see V standing behind her like a dad at a BBQ over a grill, a coffee mug in hand.

         “Sapphire Lakes. Great show. A handful of wealthy women who pretend to be friends are locked up in a small lake house for a week where they scream, lie and backstab each other for a cash prize. It's truly peak television. Tiffany's just confronting Jade about cheating with Keith.” He pointed gleefully at the screen.

         “How do you know all this? It's not even in Etherian?”

         V taped the side of his head, presumably where his ears would be, wait, did he even have ears? “Air-Vibration Translators. Convert any nearby language to clone speak.”

         “Huh.”

         “Your majesty.” Glimmer’s eyes followed the voice to the clone entering the drop ship, it was Hordak. Long black cape covering his body and draping behind him on the floor. His battle armour underneath, no longer bearing the symbol of the Horde, but rather the symbol of Dryl, purple gear with a star at its centre. Proud property of his wife. 

         “Hordak, finally. I wanted to speak with you.” Glimmer spoke up.

         “Lee here?” Dak turned to V.

         “Yeah, he’s in.” V replied, still glued to the TV screen.

         “What? I didn't see anyone enter.” Glim remarked confused.

         “Yeah, that's Lee. If he wants to, you won't see him all week.” V shrugged.

         “One can only hope.” She murmured.

         “I see you've already gotten acquainted with the crew. Uh- Make yourself at home, I suppose. We depart soon.”

         “Uh- Thanks...”

         “...”

         “...”

         “...Soooo, How- uh- how are you?...”

         “Yeah, I'm- I'm good- I'm alright... How... Are you?”

         “Good. Good...

         “... Yeah.”

         “... Alright, let's go.” He awkwardly turned around and departed to the ship's cockpit.

         V stopped on the way, “Hey, Daky, beloved brother of mine, my favourite person in the whole wide cosmos.”

         “What do you want?” Hordak sounded tired already.

         “Can I drive?”

         “No.”

         “I'm a pilot! I was a pilot back in the day! I'm good at flying. I'm a pilot... Can I-?”

         “You are not touching my ship.”

         “But you let Entrapta work on the ship!?”

         “That, dear brother, is because she's competent.”

         Glimmer huffed as she leaned against the couch cushions, “This is going to be a long week.” She returned to her slouching.

         Hordak marched up the small steps that led to the cockpit which was a narrow space; and sat one on the front seat, the pilot seat from which one would steer the ship via the steering wheel and the numerous unlabelled buttons covering the control panels on either side of the wheel, some blinking, some not. (How Hordak knew to press what, was beyond this trans-fourth-dimensional narrator.) V attempted to flick a switch, but his hand was slapped away by Dak, who didn't even take his eyes off the panel. V frowned like a toddler that was denied cookies from their mom, and he fell down onto the back seat of the cockpit, the navigator seat. The navigator would advise routes throughout space and monitor the status of the ship.

         A finger taped Glimmer on the shoulder, she turned to see Moe, now on board, “Can I take some of these?” He asked, pointing to the pillows on the couch.

         “Uh, yeah, sure.” She handed the clone the pillows, and watched him make his way to Drag. Moe climbed down from his wheelchair and gently moved his brother to lean forward, still unconscious, and placed a pillow behind his head. He wanted to lift his younger brother and place another pillow under him, but Moe, being a defect, was unable to lift his weight. So, he was surprised when Drag did lift up. He looked up surprised to see that Glimmer had lifted the comatose clone up by the underarms. Moe was pleasantly shocked for a moment, but continued and placed a pillow for Drag to sit on and one to lean against. Glimmer lowered him, and helped Moe up onto his wheelchair. And pushed his wheelchair to the couch.

         “Thanks- Bay doors.” He pointed to a big red button with a lock image on it. Glimmer pressed it, and the ship’s ramp receded in and the heavy shutter doors sealed them in, and would seal the void of space out. “Thanks.”

         “No problem.” They returned to the couch.

         “He's always sore when he wakes up.” He remarked worryingly. The gesture was cute, that little act of kindness surprised Glimmer.

         V’s voice echoed through the ship, “Non-clones and gentle-clones please take your seats as we're about to rocket ourselves into the void of space through a wall of fire surrounding the planet, so we're all probably going to die, so say your prayers to whatever deity you believe in, won't matter though because we live in a nightmare world where there truly is no god.” He announced cheerfully. A loud smack could be heard and an “Ouch.” from V.

         Hordak’s voice came through, “Ignore him.”

         “You’ll get used to that,” Moe spoke up, “That's like Dak’s catch phrase.”

         “Is your brother, the bird one, always like that?”

         “No, he's usually worse. He's on good behaviour since we have a guest over.”

         “Are we- going to experience some turbulence? No offence to your brother but anything he makes is usually held together by duct tape. Are we about to turn into a giant fireball? He loves big fiery explosions.” Glimmer asked concerned, recollecting about the Fright Zone.

         “HehHa! Yeah that sounds like Hordak, alright.” He wheeled himself over to a front corner of the ship which had a standing canvas, some small cabinets at the side supposedly housing some art supplies. There was also a small circular window at the corner framing the view of the outside. “The Annihilation has been through a lot, but you won't find a more reliable (and lucky) ship in The Holy Armada! You won't even feel the take off.”

         “How do you know?” Glimmer asked unconvinced.

         “Come take a look.” He just pointed to the window. Glimmer, confused, waltzed over to the window, her eyes widened in shock at what she saw. A blue surface, rippling and kicking up as the ship zoomed past; a river, then fields of trees, zipping by. They had already launched. Mount Dryl shrinking into the distance.

         They had launched from the side of the mountain, out of the hangar bay doors, cloaked by Entrapta’s holographic disguise field. Soon they surpassed the clouds, and pierced into the atmosphere. For a moment the window became coated in fire and flame. And then it passed, and now the Queen of Light stared out into an endless black void reaching out into infinity. Across the blackness were white speckles; stars, distant suns, sustaining worlds and civilizations all of their own, Etheria a distant speck to them all.

         Before they could leave Etheria behind there was one obstacle left; a barrier of warships guarding the planet from the upper atmosphere. An impenetrable wall of hull and fire power. The most powerful warships that side of the galaxy. After the Fall of Prime over a year ago the clones were freed from his control, left to aimlessly wander Etheria - for the first time in their lives without purpose. The clone population was stranded on Glimmer’s magical world, the Princess Alliance weren't about to just let their invaders take back their war machines and leave to who knows where, or worse, turn the weapons back against Etheria. So, at first the warships over Etheria were disabled. But over the following months, as Entrapta established communications with various systems, and rumours began to spill out. A sizeable number of them coming from the clone grapevine. The refugee clones slowly began to form pockets of community around Etheria. The Princess Alliance never stood against it, and even helped establish those pockets, BrightMoon was always involved in combating homelessness, a programme started by Glimmer’s mother, often allowing homeless citizens take shelter and live within the walls of BrightMoon castle.

         Within the clone settlements many managed to establish contact with the outside, smuggling becoming a major enterprise. Clones being the main item smuggled off world. Through Hordak various rumours reached her; Word of various larger neighbouring systems eyeing Etheria with watering mouths. Smaller less developed planets often fell prey to larger powers, Glimmer wasn't about to let that happen. And the answer was right under her nose. The clones knew how to operate the worships, of course they'd be supervised by BrightMoon knights, but to her pleasant surprise the clones dedicated themselves to their posts rather quickly and without much convincing or argument. They were desperate for a mission, for a purpose. And so, Glimmer gave them one; Protecting their new home.

Glimmer sighed, “I'm going to be honest I would’ve felt much better about this if the starships could escort us... No offence, uh…”

“Moe.”

“Moe.”

“Short for Mosquitor.”

“Oh.”

“I'm guessing the point of all of this is to stay unseen, and not to attract much unwanted attention.”

“It is. Heh, not to mention the reason why we're going to The Council of the Known Universe is to make allies, it’d be hard to do that if we just pulled up with a starship overhead. Don't want to prove the threats and fear mongering rumours correct.”

“Didn't you just reason your way out of the predicament?”

“I suppose I did.”

“Also, those aren't starships, heh, you haven't seen a Starship yet. Warships of The Holy Armada are impressive, no doubt about it. But starships are unfathomably enormous. Giant rings, large enough to surround an entire sun, draw power from it, often acting as a shipyard constructing warships for the Prime’s endless conquest. They’re pretty, in a horrifying kind of way.”

Glimmer couldn't even imagine something of that scale. Things like that often made Glimmer put things into perspective of how small and secluded Etheria was. How little she was in the vastness of the cosmos. It frightened her, but she chose not to think about it. But unbeknownst to the Queen that phobia had led her actions subconsciously. Many people are guided by fear, even kings and Queens, whether they know it or not. Glimmer, whether right or wrong, was stepping along the path of fear.

Glimmer’s eyes scoured the dark space and managed to spot a small brush of green among the canvas of black, the only spot of colour in space. “Huh.”

Moe took note of the response, “What? The Velvet Glove? Huh, looks different than when I last saw it, greener!”

“Yeah, that might have been my and my friends’ doing. My… friend, Adora, kinda,” Glimmer scratched the back of her head, “Turned the ship into a giant tree.”

“With many of our brothers still within.”

“Yeah, sorry about thaaAAHHH!” The Queen of Light embarrassingly shrieked as she noticed a third figure standing behind them silently. A man missing his lower jaw. He narrowed his blood red eyes, their wrinkles around his eyes more visible. Glimmer covered her mouth like an old Victorian maiden. “Sorry. My bad. Sorry. Hehe.” Lee seemed unamused. The old clone’s pupils lit up and he turned to Moe. Moe turned back to face him, his pupils lit up too. The two stared at each other without a single word spoken for a moment or two. Glimmer’s eyes shifted between the two. Are they buffering? What's going on?

Moe returned his gaze to the Queen, “He– ugh, welcomes you on board and wishes you a pleasant stay. And is honoured to be in the presence of royalty, especially one of whom allows us to stay on your world.”

Lee signed with his hands, clearly some sort of sign language, Glimmer managed to make out some of it, but not enough to further the conversation, “I'm sorry I don't know sign language, I- I should but I don't.” She remarked sadly.

Moe translated for his brother, “He just wants to discuss with you- uh- some matters.” He sounded a little awkward and nervous. Lee gave him an angry look for not translating fully. Moe just shrugged.

Outside across the depthless night a streak of light zipped across their view, Hordak spotted it, and moved to tail the craft. It was the decoy ship. As a mediaeval planet-locked civilization BrightMoon had no spaceships with which to cross galaxies. Which was why Adora got Entrapta to step in, and she was all too overjoyed about it. Being the genius she was, Entrapta fished out a crashed Horde ship fixed it up and customised it, now sporting the colour scheme of BrightMoon; purple, pink, and gold, even a painted mural of Glimmer on the hull. You couldn't get more overt than that, if this bait wouldn't work, Entrapta didn't know what would.

That was a lovely day, Entrapta and Hordak made a whole day of it, a date, that was what normal couples did so they thought they'd try it out too. And it was wonderful. Just them working together, bouncing ideas off of each other, problem solving, like two lobes of the same brain working in tandem. It was like a dream. Hordak would cherish this memory for years to come.

Hordak pulled up behind the decoy ship. With a single press of a button the clearance codes were transmitted from The Annihilation to the warships. Then; quiet. This moment was always horrifying. The silence. The wait. Hordak and the rest of the crew knew the codes were correct, Glimmer approved them herself, but each time Hordak’s mind briefly flashed to the thought of; What if the codes were wrong? If the warships would open fire, they would be dead in seconds - if not instantaneously vaporised by the battery lasers then they would freeze in the void of space. Seconds ticked away. They waited for the go-ahead; Hordak tense, V, behind him, completely relaxed and indifferent - the fear of death had left the old clone long ago, and then...

A green light lit up on the control panel. And the barricade of warships began to part like the Red Sea. And the tightness in Hordak’s chest disappeared and he released a sigh of relief. The two ships bypassed the armada wall and soon after separated, Glimmer watched the bait craft shrink into a dot out of the window and disappear. Soon the armada faded from visibility as well, and they were off on their voyage, no turning back now. Nothing but an endless stretch of darkness.

“Well, I guess there's no going back now.” She stepped up to the cockpit and looked on at the eternal night ahead.

V put his feet up on the pilot chair ahead, annoying Hordak, “Why so gloomy your highness. They should call you Gloomer. We’re here to have a good time! You know this is a road trip, and you know what that means!”

Dak: “No.”

Moe: “Oh Prime.”

Lee just turned around and left to his room.

V opened a compartment in the chair he was sitting on and pulled out a CD, and practically crawled over Hordak to get to the front control panel and slid the disc into a rectangular device. Glimmer believed it was called a CD player. And so music began to play from it. A country song come on not that our protagonists knew what that was exactly. The song began:

‘Life is like a road that you travel on,

When there is one day here and then the next day gone,

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand,

Sometimes you turn your back to the wind’

Hordak face palmed, unable to escape the sound of the song, trapped in the pilot's seat. He had clearly heard this song a thousand times before. “I can't believe this.”

‘There is a world outside every darkened door,

Where the blues will not haunt you anymore,

Where brave are free and lovers soar,

Come ride with me to the distant shore’

Glimmer bowed her head down and sighed, “This is my life now... for the next week... No going back.” She echoed the words to herself once more. She turned and waltzed back to the couch defeated.

‘We won't hesitate, to break down the garden gate,

There's not much time left today, yeah –

THE DEFECTS, FEATURING QUEEN GLIMMER OF ETHERIA, STARRING IN:

‘L I F E   I S   A   H I G H W A Y  !’

‘And I want to ride it all night long.’

End of Act One (of Three)

___

Next Time on LIAH

"I've been checking our food cabinets, some thing's eating our supplies, some thing's here with us."

Dun. Dun. DUN!

---

"Don't be mad!"

"What did you do?!"

"I said don't be mad!!!"

---

"Is that a shotgun?!?!"

---

"Fifty Romulaks?! Where are we crossing over to Terabithia?!!"

---

"Keith... I'm pregnant."

"I knew it."

To Be Continued

[cripplecharacters]

Hey! Thanks so much for all your work — seeing your answers has helped me be a lot more conscious of ableism in media. I have a question about a character I’m writing.

The story is a climate fiction story set in the fairly near future, and the origins of their disability is traced back to water pollution. The effects of the disability are that they are in a scooter.

One of the things you say all the time that I really appreciate is when writing disabled characters make sure they have a specific disability which characteristics you can research — but I’m not totally sure how to research disabilities connected to pollution? I am thinking the character’s disability will be connected with lung issues, which then connect with certain types of muscular atrophy, hence the wheelchair. But this is kind of just guesswork based on some inconclusive googling and what I know of pollution-related health conditions.

Any thoughts or tips?

Thanks!

Hi!

I think that a disability related to pollution is a very interesting premise! I myself have a family member who has a congenital disability due to radiation pollution (Chernobyl), it's nice to see it represented :-)

Some things to consider that could help you with further research;

Were they born with it or is it progressive? Some pollution conditions, like Minamata Disease, could be both but the symptoms can vary between them. E.g. it wouldn't make sense to give your character microcephaly if they became disabled at 23, but it would if it's congenital.

If possible, try to pinpoint what specifically is causing the water pollution. Heavy metals? Radiation? Chemical spill? There are a lot of incredibly specific pollution conditions. If you can think of it, it probably already happened. This can be research of the incredibly boring variety, but once you find something that works "enough" it will make things easier going forward.

Examples: heavy metals will often cause neurological problems (including ataxia), radiation will cause extremely high rates of various (blood and thyroid, for example) cancers even decades after the exposure, chemical spills can cause almost anything.

If you're going for lung issues, I would research Pneumoconiosis. Apologies for the link to Wikipedia, but it leads to a ton of different subtypes that you could be useful to look into. It talks about dust pollution, but generally if it's in the air then it's going to be in the water very soon too.

Using a scooter can be helpful for an incredibly wide range of conditions, including COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) which is a common symptom of various pollution diseases.

Establishing the exact cause will also help you with worldbuilding - if the chemical polluting has a 90% fatality rate, it will be very different from one with <1%. If there's radiation, are unaffected people going through health anxiety due to the obvious cancer risk? Are local animals going extinct, how is the vegetation changing?

For water pollution specifically, think of how it affects the whole community - is rainwater safe to drink, are there ways to clean it, are there any fish to eat? Etc.!

I would also research the conditions that you might not necessarily think about, like bacterial or fungal ones. Here's a page on water-based diseases and their effects, as well as potential causes.

This is a very hard to exhaust topic as there's probably a million ways to pollute water, but I tried my best! I wish you good luck with writing! I think it's important to bring attention to these kinds of things.

I hope this helps! :-)

mod Sasza

[sessakag]

So I’m trying to get into sasunaruhina and I was wondering if you had any fic or blog recs? I’m primarily a Hinata and naruhina fan and often with the ship the vibes I get are sasunaru with Hinata on the side 😕. Since you’re also mainly a naruhina fan I thought you might have some suggestions.

I wouldn't say I'm a NaruHina fan, more of a NaruHina obsessed addict that lives and breathes NaruHina, lmao.

There aren't many true NaruHinaSasu fics I can in good conscience rec to you, (as in the endgame will be a throuple and there is equal love among all) because as you said, most are not really NaruHinaSasu fics, they're SasuNaru with Hinata on the side as garnish, if that, or SasuHina with Naruto as an optional side dish and I can't get down with any of those. Unfortunately there aren't enough fics to choose from in the first place as the NaruHinaSasu pairing is severely under-loved 😩it's something me, demonofthefridge and @opal-chan are trying to rectify though🤭As far as where to get started on this throuple, anything @opal-chan has written is a safe, true NaruHinaSasu throuple fic for sure. Stories written by me alone are also safe and will be equal affection when the throuple is established, and any angst or plot has been resolved. I have 4 upcoming NaruHinaSasu fics that will be posted soon. One of which will be ready by Wednesday of next week, so look out for those.

Now for a few recs! From Opal: Choices Follow Me

From Me: A Cure For Love Secrets of the Hidden Leaf You'll see another fic attached to me called A New Dream where I'm listed as co-writer with @mrs-messy, that one I'd say hold off on for right now. This is a re-write of a story @mrs-messy has already written out that wasn't a throuple. This second version is planned to be an equal throuple, but Mrs.Messy is more of a SasuNaru or SasuHina fan, so that plan may change depending on where she wants to take the endgame. This story was originally hers and I want her to be able to retain her creative liberties to take it where she needs to, so I can't mark that one as safe, so just a hold off on it until that one is a bit further into the trenches.

From Demonofthefridge: In Another Life

Just read this one today and it's quick, cute and I absolutely adore it. It gave me a NaruHinaSasu high school AU idea so there may be 5 throuple stories coming up: Reality Check

These I haven't had a chance to read since I spend most of my time writing, but they look promising and seem to be permanent throuple endgame. Can't vouch for them being safe though. The Beauty of Blue Bones All In The Eyes Butterfly Effect

Hope this helps! I'm getting ready to update A Cure For Love though, so feel free to start on that one sooner because it has definitely caught my eye and I'm already starting to obsess over it again, lol.

[thekatebridgerton]

Today on another episode of stories I'm too sleep deprived to write: Jekyll and Hyde Bridgerton boys au

Since the Bridgerton boys tend to get so bipolar around their love interest, what if it was actually a day/night curse that only true love can... blend in.

Take Anthony, Benedict and Colin, respectable gentlemen by day, rakes by night.

During daylight, Anthony is respectfully courting Edwina and trading barbs with Kate, but during any night time ball he's cornering Kate in dark libraries and whispering sensually in her ear about all the things he wants to do to her. Kate finds him distasteful at first, easily cluing in that during daylight hours, Anthony is too rational to attempt to seduce her, and running away from him during night time balls, but his changes in mood are getting out of hand, she's taken to staying at home for the past number of balls and Edwina swears that Viscount Bridgerton is beginning to scare her. The less of Kate he sees at night, the more his ungentleman side wants to have her. And Kate is running out of options to avoid him, she's falling for him and if she doesn't do something drastic she's going to end up ruined, or worse, married to the insufferable man, so in a last ditch attempt to save herself she's just announced she's going to India... Now Anthony's unrestrained side has started blending in with his good one in an attempt to stop Kate from leaving him and it's not good, not good at all

Benedict thought he was spared the most unsavory sides of the curse, some night time debauchery here and there was a small price to pay for keeping his reputation as the ton's darling. That until he met the lady in silver, and for the first time the wild side of the curse got out of control. The one that got away drove his nocturnal self mad with want. For 2 years he fought against it only for Sophie Beckett to bring it out of him more strongly than before. Sophie Beckett isn't scared of anything, she should be scared of Benedict, who gets her a job in the morning, then demands she be his mistress at night. But she's figured that even at his worst she can push him back and he won't hurt her. Sure he's determined to help her establish herself independently during daylight and demands she depend only on him during his nighttime adventures, but Sophie is strong, she's dealt with worse. At least until gentlemen daylight Benedict starts seducing her in a very rakish way. And wild untamed nighttime Benedict starts romancing her like a gentleman in love

Colin... Well Colin has always known he's cursed. He learned to work around it, keeping his darker nature under control with decadent food and debauched travels and the occasional gambling. Until Penelope Featherington asked his nighttime self for a kiss and got in the way of his neatly laid plans. Penelope is clever, too clever, his daylight self might hate her, but oh his nighttime self can't live without her and she thrives on it. Truly it irks Colin to know that she prefers him at his worst during the night and rejects his at his best during daylight. She with her lady Whistledown secrets, smiling as she indulges his every hungry whim during secret nighttime meetings and then pretends the man she's taken for lover is not Colin Bridgerton. If she didn't frustrate him so, he might think himself inlove with her. Penelope Featherington knows Colin's secret, truthfully she doesn't mind if he knows hers, as lady Whistledown its only fair that he knows she can ruin his life if he dares to ruin hers. His nighttime self is fun, savage, and completely enamored with her body, nothing like daylight Colin. Penelope adores that side of him. Part of her doesn't even want to admit they're the same person because Daylight Colin is the popular charmer of the ton who can't even look her in the eye and calls her his dear friend. But nighttime Colin is hers and he doesn't demand anything out of her as her lover, truly its the best arrangement in the world... That is until an overprotective Colin Bridgerton ravishes her in a carriage and proposes marriage in front of all her family, all in the same morning. Could it be his two personalities are blending??

And Gregory Bridgerton, he's seventeen and afraid, very afraid about when he'll reach a point where his curse will be triggered and what that will mean for his best friend Lucy Abernathy. Because Greg knows he's going to respect Lucy till the day he dies, but he also knows he can't live without her and he can almost feel the want in his bones, how little it would take for his Lucy to be his undoing and the reason he needs to lock himself up at night... It's going to happen eventually but Gregory hopes it takes longer than a few years, for Lucy's sake and for his own.

[vickyvicarious]

You may be interested in this article about ine if the "unpublished" letters in Dracula. It's the letter from Mina to Lucy that we don't get to see.

https://www.mpw.ac.uk/2021/03/18/the-suppressed-letter-in-dracula/

(I've not read all of it yet, but the author takes jabs at the literary critics who call Lucy frivolous and empty headed)

(Link for ease of clicking.) Okay, so this is another instance of the author raising several interesting points but then interpreting them in ways that go wildly against my view of the book and the characters.

Mina's missing letter to Lucy is indeed interesting. I love the defense of Lucy's intelligence. The idea of condolences being given in some capacity as well is quite interesting. There are certainly hints towards bisexuality/polyamory throughout the story. Lucy's search for the key vs. Jonathan's search for the key is something I've noted myself.

However...

Then the article begins to suggest that Dracula/vampires are liberating in some way. They don't come right out and say it but there are hints with the suspicion at Mina's description of her attack (I read it as her guilt complex, not her in denial about having actual complicity) or remarking that Dracula is Lucy's key and generally leads to freedom in the various escape scenes except with Jonathan (Lucy tries to take a literal key from Mina; when she leaves she is put in a position of danger. There is something to be discussed about 'freedom from the cage' with Lucy, Renfield, Bersicker leaving the home/asylum/zoo... but it's notable that they never actually become free, just puppeted by or drawn to Dracula, and they're all hurt in the process). I don't think Mina blushing in that scene where she asked if her entry was necessary to add was because she felt guilty about possibly having cheated/wanted to with Arthur - I think she didn't want to embarrass people, and also maybe was embarrassed at her own excitement/gushing. I don't believe Mina's letter about her wedding was trying to convince Lucy to follow her duty and marry a man she doesn't love, but instead meant as a comfort in advance for the loss of her mother that Mina knew would soon occur.

I don't think that Lucy doesn't love Arthur. If anything, I think her difficulty speaking about him in too great detail suggests her love for him is deeper and more genuine. The lack of detail in the proposal scene is actually a match with a pattern in books like Jane Austen, where bad proposals are delivered exactly and good ones are summarized. I think Lucy loves Arthur a lot, and her line about marrying three men is more reflective of her not wanting to disappoint them than her genuinely being romantically inclined towards them. I did a whole analysis of that entry last year, talking about how Lucy and Arthur are shown to be more in sync than she is with either other suitor.

However, his alignment with Mrs. Westenra is really interesting, and I do agree that he is the definitely the one that there would be pressure towards. Quincey is rich, Jack has had an impressive career - but Arthur is rich, titled, established in local society, and of the same/greater social class. I think, however, that the tension here revolves around Lucy and Mrs. Westenra, not Lucy and Arthur. Mrs. Westenra clearly wants them to be married, and I suspect is going to a fair bit of effort to push them together. I wonder if she is the chaperone for them, and in fact is not allowing them alone together (something Lucy mentions about Arthur's proposal, that he had tried a couple times but didn't get the chance). But Lucy's mother isn't just pushy about Arthur. She infantilizes Lucy and doesn't tell her things, and I think is a major contributor to Lucy's own difficulty about speaking up about her own feelings.

I've spoken in the past about how key the fundamental truthfulness of our authors is to this book. And that's something the article discusses as well, remarking how they all align with one another to tell a single agreed story despite different authors. However, I don't think we're intended to try and read between the lines to find places where they are lying/hiding from one another. And I also just don't think they are for the most part. It ties into the themes of the book more for them to be open where they can, and thus makes them sharing these documents more significant as well. Admittedly, the author of this article isn't suggesting that Lucy is outright lying to Mina here... more that she is forcing herself into playing a role, and Mina sees through it. But I still think that undercuts the primarily happy tone of this letter in a real way.

I do love the idea that Mina's letter does have some actual commiseration about things that are bothering Lucy. But I would read that as being much more about Mrs. Westenra and Lucy's expected role in society. Lucy wants to speak more of Arthur but she can't, because of the type of restrictions a lady has to follow. That sort of thing, more than doubting Lucy's feelings for Arthur are genuine. She's obviously stressed about marrying him, hence the sleepwalking, but again I don't doubt her feelings for him. I think it's the major shift in role and also concern for her mother, possibly mixed in with resentment of her.

Mina and duty is also an interesting topic and there is plenty to discuss there. But I don't see her as forcing herself in her various relationships. She genuinely loves Jonathan, her support for Lucy and Arthur is genuine too. She actually assigns things she does for fun to dutiful reasoning several times. I just... don't agree with the way this article interprets its topic.

Relatedly, there are several other letters alluded to that we never get to see. I recently noticed Jonathan's short letter to Mina before arriving at the castle, but there are more to come. Some of them also seem relevant to the plot, perhaps even more so than some of these letters between Lucy and Mina. But I think these are included because they establish things that become relevant, such as Mina's plan to keep a journal, Mina's knowledge of the three suitors before she meets them, Lucy's health at various points, and such details. Why things make it in or don't can still be interesting to discuss, but I just don't interpret them as ever holding some key that will unlock a secret hidden in the rest of the book. Whether that be about relationships or events.

[mochiwrites]

was feeling soft over mushy domestic scarian again so have some secret husbands thoughts <3

I keep thinking about the two of them in their lil apartment together, and scar curiously asking grian about his family one day. scar’s noticed that grian doesn’t really talk about them much. so scar decides to give it a little poke of curiosity

grian’s story isn’t really all that interesting. he was the black sheep of the family, his parents expected way too much from him and his siblings. he was constantly rebelling against them while his parents held his siblings achievements over his head. pearl and jimmy hated it just as much as he did

eventually, when grian couldn’t take it anymore, he ran off. still kept in loose contact with his siblings, but made them swear not to tell their parents. he saved up some diamonds to eventually run off to hypixel and got himself established living on his own. he was living like that right up until he met scar

a few things about grian start to click into place for scar — his harshness on himself, the high standards he holds himself to, the slight perfectionism (that one only worsens after the watchers) and he feels bad that grian had to grow up like that

and it’s not like grian is particularly upset or bothered by any of it. he’s still in contact with his siblings, even if it’s not as often as he’d like. but he can’t complain, really

(that is until scar pokes and prods enough that grian lets his frustration spill over, and “why was I never good enough for them?!” )

he decides to smother grian with some hugs after, because grian deserves so many hugs (and kisses). scar makes it a point to tell grian how good he is every chance he gets

[measlyfurball13]

Seeing as your one of the only people I know who is into Transformers, would you mind info dumping about it?

I know very little of anything about it besides the old "Micheal Bay!" Joke, and that it was initially made to sell toys, but that doesn't really mean anything.

So tell me, is there "more than meets the eye" to this franchise?

HOOOOOOOOO BOY

The single most important thing to know about Transformers is that there is no singular canon. Rather, there's a TON of different continuities, or basically alternate versions of the same universe. Transformers is a franchise that basically tells the same story over and over again, altering each time while keeping some very basic core themes and characters.

Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots. Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. The Autobots are the good guys, the Decepticons are the bad guys, and they have been fighting a war for millions of years. It is rare for continuities to change these core facts. They might be modified, but they will never be unrecognizable.

In one continuity, Optimus might be a younger, more inexperienced leader. In another, he may be old, wise, and powerful. In some continuities, Optimus and Megatron have personal beef with each other through their backstories, making them almost lost brothers of a sort. In others, Megatron is a stranger and Optimus is an impersonal victim of his cruelty. Each time this story, the story of Transformers, is told, little details like this change.

Generally, continuities try to keep a certain "feel" to them. While sometimes a continuity will completely reinvent a character, most of the time it will try to keep a character within a few (arbitrarily chosen) character traits and/or role.

So, if this story has been told over and over again, and there's certain established expectations for characters, what was this all based on? The answer is the original 1984 animated cartoon! This cartoon is referred to as "Generation 1", or just "G1" for short. This is the cartoon made to sell toys. The animation quality is poor, the dialogue and music are cheesy, and I absolutely love it to pieces. I would highly, highly recommend that you watch the first three episodes, which basically acts as the pilot for the whole show. It really writes the characters at their most iconic and introduces the setting.

Now that you understand that G1 is the base, you can go from there and explore other continuities! Remember, continuities don't connect across different mediums (with the very distinct exception of one specific continuity, which I'll get to right after this) so feel free to find one that interests you. In general, each cartoon (or close series of cartoons) is a continuity. Allow me to list some of the more popular ones:

Transformers Beast Wars. This is arguably the continuity that follows the established G1 pattern the least, since this is the cartoon that followed right after it. In this one, the transformers turn into animals and battle on a prehistoric earth. This one is well-renowned for its surprisingly deep character writing, but the antique 3D animation is the biggest hurdle to enjoyment. It's kinda the continuity that's the most forgotten.

Transformers Armada, Energon, and Cybertron. Also known as the Unicron Trilogy (no, not "unicorn"!), this one was made in Japan and then dubbed and exported. They introduce a lot of anime-inspired features into the lore such as powerups and the like. Armada is regarded very highly with good writing, the other two not so much. The continuity between them is fairly loose. You could absolutely get away with watching just that one. Here's a link to Armada.

The Michael Bay films. You already know this one. These live action films are in a continuity of their own. In all absolutely fairness, the first movie is pretty good, barring Bay's more childish flairs. If you don't mind the U.S. military being portrayed as the absolute good guys, I think you'll genuinely like it.

The Bumblebee movie. Special shoutout to this one! This live action movie is in its own continuity that's really fun. This is an excellent movie and I love it so much, please watch it at some point.

Transformers Animated. This is one of the most widely beloved continuities in the entire franchise. People really, really like this show. It takes the franchise in a refreshing new direction, with the first season feeling almost a bit more like a superhero cartoon than a "traditional" transformers cartoon. The Autobots are the absolute underdogs in this one and it's hard not to root for them. Here's a link. This one's a good one to start with.

Transformers Cyberverse. This one is a web series that was focused for a younger audience for the first season, gets decent in the second but then gets absolutely and insanely fucking unhinged in season 3. I. . . don't recommend this one for any beginners? It's a trip. That first season is pretty unbearable. The second season starts out feeling like you missed something, and then gradually gets kinda better. Season 3 is insane. Look, just tackle this one after you've tackled the others. Don't start here.

Transformers Earthspark. The newest of the bunch, this one is releasing on Paramount Plus. I've really enjoyed what I've seen of it! It's a much more down-to-earth approach to the story. It changes some characters but in interesting ways. The new characters are excellent as well. You can definitely start with this one.

And finally, without further ado:

Transformers Prime.

I fucking LOVE this one.

This one is my favorite and was what really got me into the Transformers fandom. This cartoon takes the good innovations from the Michael Bay movies and then actually tells an amazingly competent story with it. It's the Transformers cartoon with the darkest tone by a long shot, and it really sells that this story is about a war. Characters die! The serialization is suuuuuuuper tight- one of my favorite examples is that injured characters have to spend time onscreen healing back up.

This cartoon also gives a significant amount of focus and exploration of the Decepticons as a faction as well, which is rare for the franchise. Both the Autobot and Decepticon characters will charm their way into your heart.

This show is equivalent in quality to Avatar the Last Airbender to me. I know that's probably overhyping it. You may not like it as much. But I really really really love it.

Here is a link to the first season.

But wait! There's more. Welcome to the Aligned Continuity!

Transformers Prime is actually part of the franchise's first attempt to really connect a story across media platforms. The result was. . . mostly successful? Definitely a lot of plot holes/errors, and some of the continuity is trash, but I want to highlight two videogames specifically:

Transformers: War for Cybertron. This game is a third-person shooter by High Moon studios. They do an absolutely stellar job with this one. Taking place on Cybertron, the home planet of the transformers, this one acts as the first part of an indirect prequel to Transformers Prime.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. If the first game is good, then this game is amazing. The devs layer on more amazing mechanics to those introduced in the first game, with some of my absolute most favorite moments in all of gaming happening in this one. It acts as a second part of the prequel to Transformers Prime.

The writing in both of these games is so amazing, and the gameplay is so much fun. I know you love videogames, so that's why I'm recommending these two you. HOWEVER, the cost is that these games are stupid difficult to get ahold of. You'll most likely have to sail the high seas, yo-ho-ho, if you catch my drift. I play these on my Xbox 360. Best of luck to you!

Anyways, there are other entries into the Aligned Continuity. There's a set of three novels that I've heard are stellar. If you're looking for a show for young kids but that is also fun for you to watch, you could always check out Transformers: Rescue Bots. That one has a small but devoted fanbase of older fans.

But do NOT touch the cartoon in this continuity called Robots in Disguise. Do not. It's marketed as a sequel to Transformers Prime. It is not. Not really. It's like the Halo 5 of Transformers. Every day I am reminded that it exists I am in pain.

---

And there lies the end of my introduction! If you actually did read all of this, congrats to you. Ironically, I'm not sure that you've really ended up more knowledgeable than you started. I didn't really go over anything specific about characters or plot or lore or anything. But I hope I've illustrated my point that to do so would be fruitless- this story exists in so many different iterations that you just have to go out and find the one that resonates the most with you, y'know?

My recommendation for getting acquainted with the franchise is to start with those first three G1 episodes, then move on to either Animated or Prime. You could also pick Beast Wars if you're looking for something with a more retro 90s charm, which I know you like from Marathon.

[thelovelydoggycatmadi]

A comprehensive thought dump by two idiots about MCD season 1 upon recent rewatch 9 years later.

Aphblr has lied to me.

for years I have been told that Jessica Bravura’s Minecraft diaries is the superior watch to her other main series Mystreet which is just simply untrue as of my rewatch of the series 9 years after watching it for the first time.

true to the art form and writing style popular at the time MCD is a jumbled mess of things just happening with no clear connection and in some cases direction.

so many wasted opportunities because we are put promptly into the perspective of Aphmau. A character with very little substance and is shaped by the characters around her rather than the characters own actions.

the most interesting characters and concepts remaining firmly in the background. Such as Dale and Molly’s struggle with their daughter being turned into a shadow knight.

Brian’s sudden and barely built up betrayal of his family.

Kiki’s daughter being Zane lets be so real that child is literally just Zianna 2.0 (oh but Madi she’s a werewolf! Idc Cope.)

to Logan and Donna’s love story.

Most characters in the for front don’t talk about there own trauma’s or really anything there feeling outside of there love feelings for or about Aphmau.

Even as the production value went up I find the most interesting arc is the pikoro arc. As it showed genuine comradely between our main characters and established a clear dynamic. Only for the Scaleswind war arc to completely ruin that by making Garroth lose all rational thinking and an extreme entitlement to Aphmau. Writing it as if Zane brainwashed it doesn’t make the uncomfortable and frustration go away.

Zane was a good villain, while motives are fairly unclear he had a genuine presence and had fairly smart well executed plans. (Ein is definitely not a better villain.)

Something that stuck out to me; was how much of the plot probably could’ve been solved with the poorly thought out magic system, specifically Kawaii-Chan.

Kawaii-Chan practices forbidden soul magic and is able to give inanimate objects a conscious. So Lion point out something interesting; couldn’t she just trap parts of the main characters soul in a doll and just, save them incase the worst happens? Imagine what she could do with relics.

Every time Lucinda is on screen I fear what comes out of her mouth. Because I’m just going to ask later “why can’t she just do this?”.

anyway here’s a list of our favorite characters in no particular order;

chicken shamen

Brendan

Logan

Yip

Donna

Katelyn

[smilesrobotlover]

I played the demo to the princess peach game. It’s entertaining and cute, just not worth $60 so I probably won’t get it

[beesmygod]

today is webcomics day. i am bea and i make "A Ghost Story" - part 3: sketch 1

ed note from the future: this got long. its going mostly under a readmore for everyone's sake. and i didnt even finish sketching, just trying to explain what is going through my mind while trying to sketch. look, if i write down my process in exhausting detail people will realize im completely insane. this is a net benefit to anyone trying to interact with me in the future who thinks i can be reasoned with. community service. thank you for allowing me to post this shit lol

hmmm. giving up on the first few panels for right now. here's what i'm thinking about as i sketch this:

too many of my panels were talking heads or constantly relied on one point perspective. i have been trying to work against this for a while with mixed results. sometimes the result is so bad i have to scrap what i did and start over but sometimes it's "good enough for TV"* and i hit publish on it. no risks, no reward after all. can't get better if you don't try.

in this first panel, i have two people having a back and forth conversation through a weird magic hole in the floor/wall. maxine is laying on a couch with hole right above her head. homestar runner will demonstrate what i mean:

however, there are logistical problems with maxine that homestar runner doesnt have. maxine's right shoulder is dislocated, so she can't lay on that side, or any side that would put pressure on the joint. im realizing i don't actually know what position would be most comfortable in her situation or how she would instinctually arrange her body to avoid pain. i start looking up videos from physical therapists on how they recommend patients sleep for some ideas.

also i start looking up what women look like sleeping on couches. how does the human body fold up. because this isn't it.

anyway, this was my first effort with the first panels.

for reference, the last page ends like this:

the top left of the sketch would have been the hopi clown back on the shelf with the "camera" tilting above it to reveal maxine. while this keeps the relevant object from the previous page in frame as a piece of connective tissue between updates....i'm struggling to fit the second character in. the one talking from the hole. maybe there's still hope for this? it's not terrible. initially i nuked it but maybe i can make this work.

fuck! she needs a pillow or two to make this work. this video is right, that DOES look naturally comfortable compared to the standard fetal position that would pull the affected shoulder inward. i didn't draw any pillows into the stupid establishing shot of the office bc its not the kind of couch you are expected to sleep on!!! this is a man's business office!!! i thought i was so smart!!

basically every couch comes with decorative pillows though, and the shot of the room didn't include the wall the "camera" was up against. my 2-point perspective failure might have paid off here lol. if i can establish that the second character is talking through the hole, he can use his rayman hands to reach across the room and get the pillow for her. it can be part of his personal campaign to show maxine he means her no immediate harm. the pillows were just out of frame. lurking. ok let's try it again. uhhhh after i eat some lunch

---

*my friend kelly had an anecdote from working in animation that im going to retell badly from memory. her boss would take the work she labored over to meet by deadline and would laugh at it, saying "ah, its terrible! but good enough for TV". and while extremely mean, he had a salient point: it never has to be perfect. it just needs to be good enough to be seen. sometimes i seriously think about this anecdote when im dissatisfied with my own art. it's bad. but it's good enough for tv.