#there is definitely something that persists in the vibes through

[flowering-darkness]

I do love how you can look at my Splatoon self-insert and just go “okay yep you’ve been like this for most of your life, haven’t you” >w<

[chow0w]

The scorpion den is punk

walk with me... ↓

The big idea

First, let’s walk through punk: what is it? Cambridge Dictionary defines punk as “a style or culture popular among young people... expressing opposition to authority through shocking behavior, clothes, and hair.” Contrary to popular belief, it's more than fashion and music: it’s a longstanding subculture which has existed since the 1970s. While looking for more definitions of punk, I found that a lot of people were saying different things - some say punk originated as an anti-racist subculture, while others say it was anti-authoritarian first. Either way, most people seem to agree that punk is loudly against injustice of any kind.

But how does this tie into the scorpion den?

First, it's important to consider what the scorpion den is by the time we are introduced to it: a crowded sandy city populated mostly by outcasts, deserters and veterans of the sandwing succession war. Most dragons of the scorpion den (outside of the talons of power and kind of outclaws) are not wealthy by any means, with a general stance against war and authorities like the sand kingdom. So, perfect breeding grounds for a punk revolution. The ideals of the scorpion den align very strongly with the ideals of punk, and It would be very easy for punk culture to manifest alongside its subculture cousins like riot grrl and emo.

The logistics of scorpion punk

Sandwings and Skywings of the scorpion den would probably be the first purveyors of punk, with both tribes heavily affected by tyranny, war and authoritarianism around the same time (Sandwing succession + Queen scarlet both come to power in the same..ish... timeframe.) I imagine these dragons talked a lot in the den, realized they had something and common and began accessorizing to identify each other or themselves. The harsh, loud, spiky appearance gives a distinct style, while also making it harder for other dragons (or guards!) to grab hold of these dragons during a fight - which they would likely have a lot of. Wood was burnt to make charcoal, which could be combined with oils or water to make a cheap, effective dye when squid ink imports were unavailable/too expensive. Spikes were fashioned from cactus thorns or cheap smelted metals, sometimes even sewn into the scales for that extra weaponry.

These functional design choices must've caught like fire to a dead tree, becoming more and more popular until they were a commonality across the punks of all tribes. Eventually, Scorpion punk became more creative - dyes and paints were used on sandwing frills, and thin black linens could be pulled over the neck or arms to create a fishnet-like accessory. In some extreme cases, dragons would even bend or clip their frills/spikes to create a more thorny appearance.

What about the Outclaws?

The biggest issue with this idea is undoubtedly the presence of the outclaws: an authority in an anti-authority space. Most of the individual dragons that make up the outclaws would probably lean into scorpion punk: if you look at Six-claws, Thorn and Kindle, all of them could easily be punk. Still, their presence kind of disrupts the whole vibe... until you look a little closer at what the outclaws are actually doing.

As described by the wiki, the outclaws are described as a group of peacekeepers who control (and distribute) water from the oasis equally, as well as providing free meals and persistently giving resources to the scorpion den. These traits are still very comparable to punk, only softer on the anti-authoritarianism. I would suggest the outclaws are more alike a punk gang, upholding their community in spite of the mistrust other dragons have of them.

Speaking of, the general response to punk outclaws would probably be to call them posers. Its been stated in the books that some dragons in the scorpion den think the outclaws are secret recruiters for the war, and the same sentiment could easily carry over to the honesty of their punkness.

in conclusion, the punks of the scorpion den undoubtedly outlast the sandwing succession war: remaining and integrated part of their community and culture for decades to come.

If you made it this far, thank you so much for listening to me prattle! I tried to keep it short and leave room for imagination, so do with this what you will. I'll see you guys this weekend for some perfectly punk sandwing redesigns!

( ´ ω ` )ノﾞ

[yesimwriting]

Stawp!

Louis and bestie reader are so cute

They would be so satc coded and go out for drinks and vacays

Also i think reader would introduce him and call him "my beautiful louis" to other people

But imagine louis getting home and texting her with a smile on his face all cute 🥰

I like the idea of the person who makes vampirism good being her, a platonic relationship, in contrast of a romantic companion.

Also i imagine this convo:

Armand: do you have to go over to her apartment every other day?

Louis: first of, we have our movie night fridays together and you know this!

Armand: its 4 a.m

Louis: duh? I got to get there while the sun is down, besides we need to pick up thai food because she does not cook and she will starve herself before turning on the stove

AND ARMAND WITH HER

I feel like after he knows her, he would be jealous of any relationships/ one night stands she might have (louis knows about them obvi! She calls him all the time 💅🏻)

Im obsessed with this concept 😭

everything about this is so perfect!! i'm so happy you got the vibe! i feel like he just needs someone to pull him out of his (slightly subconscious) angst and something about that happening through a platonic relationship is so endearing to me

they're so satc coded too, just besties drinking and vacationing and having (slightly) delusional conversations <3

also bestie reader calling him "my beautiful louis" to others is everything to me 😭 they for sure love each other so much omg

armand is definitely so messy with this 😭 he's like a cat trying to gaslight their owner into thinking they don't want attention

bc i love this sm here's an actual drabble/fic:

pls be nice writing for new characters for the first few times is so daunting for no reason 😭, also armand is a bit messy here <3

----

Not unlike daylight's earliest hours seeping through shut curtains, the haziness--the easiness--you offer him is persistent.

Louis has grown accustomed to the feeling, to the consistent warmth of your friendship, but every once in awhile the sentimentality of it all digs at him.

"This is..." You trail off, legs crossed beneath you and television remote still loosely held between your fingers. "Complex."

Louis's focus flits between you and the screen you're intently staring at. The two of you hadn't set out to watch a documentary on some nature channel, but this is far from the first time you've gotten distracted by some default program while attempting to put on a movie. "Very."

His sarcasm is enough to break the spell. You turn your head, frowning, "Don't make fun of me."

The documentary cuts to a well lit, sparsely wooded forest. The camera focuses on a deer patiently grazing on the surrounding foliage.

"I’d never," he mumbles, suppressing a smile in an attempt at seeming as serious as he needs to be for the joke to work.

You let out a sound that's too gentle to be a laugh before straightening your shoulders and returning your attention to the television screen. There's something ironically pointed about the way the peaceful background melody fades into something more sinister. Looming Danger.

The deer, alerted by some sixth sense, stiffens, its body stretching to its full, insignificant height. The camera zooms in, focusing on the deer's wide eyes and unmenacing features. "That kind of reminds me of you."

This time, your laugh is full, sharpened by a partial scoff that's as amused as it is offended. "That's the weirdest thing you've ever said to me."

The comment is almost enough to ease him. The camera pans out, allowing the audience to see the other surrounding deer. "Maybe the deer from that one animated movie."

You're quiet for a moment, thinking through the implication of the words before turning your head towards him again. "You mean Bambi?"

He had been much too old to be interested in the film by the time it came out, but the name is vaguely familiar enough. "I think so."

You blink at that, tilting your head slightly. "How do you know Bambi?"

"I don't know Bambi," the argument is a relatively flat one. Louis turns to better face you, resting his arm against the back of your couch. "I've just seen some commercials."

That only seems to confuse you further. You straighten, pulling your legs towards your chest. "Where would you have seen Bambi commercials?"

"They were everywhere when it came out in the 40's."

You don't respond right away, your attention shifting away from Louis and towards your bent legs. As far as references that remind you of his lack of humanity, this is far from a drastic one. The 40’s weren’t long enough ago to be inconceivable to you.

Still, you’re quiet, as if thinking through the potential outcomes of your reaction. You nod once. “Right."

When you look up at him again, there's a hesitant sort of curiosity behind your eyes. It's an expression Louis's more accustomed to than he wants to be, it's the way you look at him when you're reminded of the reality of the differences between the two of you.

You tap your nails against your knee. "Does it feel weird?" The question comes out with a suddenness that doesn't suit you, the stiffness of the words sharp and uncertain. "All that time--carrying it inside your head?"

For a moment, all he can bring himself to do is sit with the question. Your question. It's a simple enough thing to ask, but not a exactly a straightforward thing to answer. Especially not to you, who has yet to experience a significant passage of time even by human standards.

"Well," he starts, "You know about the way that time has impacted aspects of my memory." You watch him patiently, saying nothing to prompt or rush him as he thinks through his response. "It does make things feel different--years spent with someone can feel like moments, and moments with others can feel like eternity."

You nod once, allowing his answer to sink in. "Which one am I?"

He knows his answer before he knows how to put it into words. You’re too familiar for either.

“You’re more like a memory.”

Your eyebrows briefly pinch together at that. You part your lips, but before you can respond the documentary’s music swells.

You turn your head in time to see the coyote lunge at a deer. You sigh, screwing your eyes shut before leaning forward, You press your forehead against his arm. “That’s depressing.”

Louis could have anticipated the reaction, you’re usually more bothered by animals dying in movies than people. Still, though, your ability to find comfort in him of all things will never not perplex him.

Instead of pointing out that you’re the one that chose to watch this, he gently reaches for the remote. “Fine, I’ll put on the movie.”

----

The familiar ringing is so muted, so low, Armand's certain that if it wasn't for his enhanced senses, he wouldn't have been able to hear anything at all. By the time he's turned his head, Louis is already reaching for his coat's pocket.

Armand frowns. If the late hour and limited number of people Louis talks to weren't enough to let Armand know who the message is from, Louis's smile as he unlocks his cell phone would be evidence enough. You--it's always you.

He continues forward, allowing Louis to type out a response without interruption. Once he's certain the message has been sent, Armand begins, "It's her again."

Louis's attention shifts away from the screen. "She's my friend."

"I know," he says, voice flat, "Your best friend."

"Stop it." There's nothing aggressive about Louis's response, but there's an underlying warning pressed into the syllables, the same almost-sharpness that Louis relies on whenever Armand implies a lack of fondness for Louis's latest source of entertainment. "It's not like that."

No, it really isn't. When you first began to weave yourself into Louis's life, Armand had almost convinced himself that this was a blatant betrayal that defied Louis's usual preferences. After about five minutes of assessment, Armand realized that the two of you really are as affectionately platonic as you claim to be.

"No," it's an easy enough concession. Armand continues forward, the coolness of the night's air sharp against his skin. Their walk hasn't exactly been the most exciting night of their companionship, but it has been non-contentious in a needed way after their latest session with Daniel. "You do spend a lot of time with her."

Louis's quiet for a moment, thinking through his response in a way that Armand finds unusual. "You could spend time with us, too."

The sentiment isn't as true as Louis intends it to be. While Armand's been around you regularly enough to consider you familiar, there are a few things that the two of you want to do on your own. Your weekly movie nights, casual drinking at bars, the surprise trip to Milan. And during the evenings in which Armand is there, Louis regards him with a subtle uneasiness that if you've noticed, you know better than to mention.

In your presence, what they are may only be portrayed in the softest of lights. The facets of vampirism must only ever be suggested, alluded to so faintly that they're rendered incapable of tarnishing that darling soul of yours Louis is so determined to preserve.

"And subject the poor, little fawn to an evening with two vampires?"

Armand keeps his gaze focused on what's ahead of them, but he can practically feel the lack of amusement radiating off of Louis. "Come on," he tries again, "She's not like that."

Although he'd love nothing more than to solely resent your existence, Armand does have to give you credit for that. You hadn't so much as missed a single step when Louis revealed the truth to you, never once treating him differently. You also barely flinched when Armand appeared in your home with no warning as a way of hurting Louis during a particularly lively argument. Armand's yet to determine if your bravery is a sign of idiocy or a testament to how certain you are in your connection to Louis.

It's far from rare for Louis to feel the need to defend you, but there's a determination there that seems urging. "She asked you to come over."

Louis's hesitation, though brief, is confirmation enough. He almost stills but seems to think better of it, placing his phone back into his pocket as if that will be enough to make Armand forget that you're the source of this. "She just ended things with the boy she's been seeing."

Hm. Not exactly an interesting update, but intriguing...more intriguing than why you usually call Louis, if nothing else.

"Alright," Armand agrees, "Let's visit your puppy."

----

The apartment building you live in is far from run down. You've slowly but surely transformed yourself into one of those rare artists with a curated following so obsessed with being able to credit themselves as the discoverer of the next big thing that they go out of their way to purchase anything that you've labeled as yours. Existing at the cusp of fame has allowed you to afford a decent apartment in the city, but it's nowhere near as nice as where you could be if you'd accept Louis's offer to get you a place closer to them.

Louis knocks on your door twice. In less than a second, you're clicking the lock out of place. You're beaming as you pull the door open, "Louis."

Armand watches Louis's expression melt into one of total warmth. There's a definiteness to your friendship that Armand might envy if he understood it any better. What's so special, so interesting about you that your presence is always desireable?

Louis extends an arm, offering you the bouquet of flowers he insisted on purchasing before visiting you.

Your smile widens even further at the arrangement. If it wasn't for the information that Louis gave him earlier, Armand would have no reason to think anything remotely upsetting happened to you tonight. "I love peonies. Thank you."

You lift a hand, your pointer finger gently brushing a thin petal as you examine the flowers. After a moment, you straighten, turning your head enough to acknowledge him. "Armand, hi." The greeting is cordial yet far from cold, the way you often are with him.

"Hello," he replies. You step back, pulling your front door open as a way of inviting them in. "I'm sorry about your boyfriend."

You pause at that, parting your lips as you look back at him. Louis speaks before you get the chance to, "I told you to look sad when we got here."

It's a playful chastising at best, but you react as if Louis had really meant it. In some ways, Armand believes he did. "Oh," the sound falls flat. You walk further into your home's entryway, giving them the space needed to enter. "Give me a second, I can do better." You turn slightly, holding onto the flowers a little tighter as you bring your free hand to your chest. "I'm distraught."

Your performance isn't worthy of a standing ovation, but there's a humor there that might have been charming if Armand's disinterest in you was less inherit.

"Nice try," Louis mumbles as he wanders towards your couch. He sits down with a casualness that highlights how used to existing in your space Louis really is. "Armand wasn't up for visiting anyone and I wanted you to at least look sympathetic."

You walk past your living room. Armand watches you for a moment before following, if for no other reason than to feel something resembling Louis's familiarity. He keeps his steps even, making a point of remaining a few paces behind you.

You stop in front of a cupboard. After opening the cabinet, you have to extend your arm so fully to reach a vase Armand's surprised when you manage to grab it without knocking it off its shelf.

"Trust me," you say, exaggerating the syllables as you approach the sink, "I'm very sympathetic." You place the vase beneath the sink before turning on the faucet.

Armand steps forward, setting a palm against the granite that makes up the island attached to your sink. "I'm sure." The words are spoken so lowly they're nearly drowned out by the sound of running water.

"What did he do?" Louis asks from his spot on the couch.

You lift the vase out of the sink's basin, shutting off the faucet as you move to set the glass onto the counter. "Broke up with me because he thought he had a chance with his ex-girlfriend."

"What?" Louis turns fully at that, craning his neck to look at you.

You nod sharply, completely validated by Louis's shock. "I know." You remove the plastic binding your bouquet together. "Men are the worst." You carefully pull a flower away from its bundle before placing it in the vase. The process of arranging the flowers must remind you who brought them to you, because after a second, you amend your statement, "Except you guys. Obviously."

"Obviously," Louis repeats in a way that only feels somewhat sarcastic. "So are you...upset? Angry?"

You pause, giving yourself a moment to really think about your response. "A little of everything, I guess." You pick up two smaller flowers by their long stems before placing them in the vase. "But not crushed." You reach for a filler flower. "I don't know...it's not like I was in love with him."

Louis rests an elbow against the back of your couch, propping his head up as he watches you continue to adjust your flowers. "I'm glad you weren't." You raise your eyebrows at that. "He wasn't the right person."

"You always say that."

"And I haven't been wrong yet."

You give him another look that would be threatening if it wasn't for the underlying fondness there. "Don't start." You don't wait for Louis's reaction before returning your attention to the flowers.

Armand watches you for a moment before allowing himself to take in your apartment. This place is a known entity, but it's not exactly familiar. He's never seen anything beyond the living but he has heard you talk about a room that you've converted into a studio space.

It's not as easy as it should be to imagine a space solely dedicated to your work when touches of it seem to cover your entire apartment. Two canvases too uniquely you to be purchased are hanging behind your couch, there's a ceramic vase on your dining table that reminds him of the way you paint, and then there's the abandoned palette and partially finished canvas still on its easel.

Armand walks forward slowly, approaching the painting as you and Louis begin discussing your least favorite things about the boy that ended things with you.

Even unfinished, the project is strong in its certainty, in its style. Your brush strokes are sharp, unafraid. Next to your well loved palette, there's a small photograph that parallels but doesn't exactly fully match the partially completed house on the canvas.

"That's an idea for a new collection--the repurposing of abandoned things, places..." Your explanation is abrupt in a way that borders on shy. "It's not meant to be as pretentious as it sounds."

There's a self deprecating quality to the disclaimer that doesn't fit you. Perhaps he's stumbled onto an actual insecurity. "Does someone seeing it like this make you uncomfortable?"

"Uh," you start, confused by his own suddenness, "No, not really. As long as you know to look it as a work in progress." You tap your nails against the counter. "I--I have a room down the hall that's full of half-finished stuff if you want to look at those, too."

The offer feels more like an attempt to convince yourself that you're okay with his analysis of your work before it's been polished than anything else. The concept of your uncertainty makes Armand curious enough for him to actively reach for your thoughts.

Armand's concentration shifts onto your mind, and he's immediately thrown by the vaguest implication of resistance. Your mental defense is so feeble it might as well not exist, but the fact that it does...that you're trying to at all is almost endearing enough to convince Armand to leave you be. Almost. "Are you attempting to block me out of your thoughts?"

You blink, the blood beneath your skin rushing its way up your neck at your embarrassment. "Are you trying to read them?" When your counter question doesn't impact him at all, you sheepishly offer an explanation, "Louis taught me."

Of course he'd teach his pet a new trick.

Louis lets out a small laugh at that. "The fact that he felt it at all tells me you're better at it than I'd thought you be."

Armand's gaze returns to your painting. You've managed to find a warmth, a beauty in the forgotten. "The implication of resistance isn't the same as resistance itself."

The criticism stings, but you don't let it impact your expression. You let out an exaggerated sigh, your shoulders slumping slightly to add to your point. "Be nice, I was just broken up with. Over text."

He continues to study the painting, his mind attempting to break the piece down by individual brush strokes. "That doesn't matter to you. Not really." Armand can almost imagine the creation of the house's boarders, of the formation of each individual stone and the heavy ivy covering them. "You're not 'crushed' because you're interesting and he's not, and a part of you knows that."

The sentiment behind the words leaves you desperate to push him away. Blood settles itself beneath your chest. Your feeble mental shield returns, this time determined enough for Armand to feel its desire to push him out.

"You don't know if I'm interesting," the response is too soft, too curious to reflect your unease.

You tap your nails against the counter, the gentle clicks of them hitting the granite echoing throughout the space. Armand refocuses on the canvas. "Louis wouldn't like you if you weren't."

Something about the statement seems to ease you. Armand's reminded of how almost overly genuine your friendship is. "Thanks."

Louis lets out an almost-scoff at that, his eyebrows briefly drawing together in a display of mock offense. "Don't make me sound so shallow."

"It's less about your shallowness and more about my winning personality."

"Uh-huh," Louis mumbles, pressing a synthetic lack of interest into syllables, "Well, as long as its about you."

----

a/n this is lowkey way longer than i expected it to be but i loved this dynamic so much so if you want to see more of them pls let me know <3

[floydira]

₊˚﹒✶﹒trolls headcanons .ᐟ

brozone, creek & king trollex with a reader going through a breakdown, overthinking and panicking and how they deal with them.

note ; I somehow(?) accidentally deleted the person's ask for this. I don't remember exactly what they asked word for word. (I'm down on my knees apologizing to you rn, I'm so sorry anon 🙏) so hopefully based on my memory this is at least close to what you asked for. I also hope this headcanon is to your liking.

☆★﹒🎧 ﹐BROZONE

John Dory

erm. well. let's just say when it comes to dealing with other people's emotions, he's not really the best guy to depend on...

BUT considering he spent years by himself (and rhonda) with no other socialization, plus leaving his brothers behind and coming back to them after awhile out of conscious but seeing them nowhere to be found, he definitely felt lonely and HAD his own breakdowns before.

so he'd understand how you're feeling, or at least try to understand.

when he first saw you breaking down, his first instinct was to ask you questions "why are you breaking down?" "did something happen?"

if he doesn't get a reply from you, he'll respect your boundaries and not ask any further questions. he'll just focus on comforting you in the present, awkwardly patting your back and giving you words of affirmation that he thinks would work. like those motivational phrases or quotes online, maybe even those ones that facebook moms use.

if you do give a reply, he'll sit down next to you and hear you out. sipping a drink and lending his ears for you to vent. he'll keep quiet (internally, he's restraining himself from outing his own opinions on whatever you vented to him about).

In summary, he's a listener. If you let him voice his own opinions, he'll tell you his thoughts and views. more often than not, if he does give advice, it's probably best you don't actually follow them. I feel like he's bad at giving advice...

at least, he's got the spirit!

Spruce/Bruce

this troll has a wife and kids. I'm sure he's knowledgeable in comforting someone when they are breaking down or overthinks a lot.

if you're overthinking, he'll support you and keep you company but he's also honest that helps you actually evaluate your overthinking thoughts and not stress too much about them.

once you come to him looking vulnerable, he'll immediately try to soothe you by rubbing your back gently. yk like those back rubs that puts babies to sleep? yeah, he'll do that.

while he rubs your back, he urges you to take a deep breath and let it all out. so you do. unknowingly you ranted and ranted, every little detail spoken word to word. he just has that affect on people.

lets you know that what you're going through is valid.

once you're all done, he'll give you advice to ease you or if you're not looking for advice, he'll just comfort you until you feel better.

Clay

he literally is in a sad book club, he'll have the knowledge about it and how to deal with it. except...he's slightly bad at executing it.

he'll snap you out of overthinking by yelling positive stuff to you, that are actually...effective???

if you rant to him, he'll listen to you attentively and pat your head afterwards. it's just something natural that he does, honestly head pats are soothing ok.

if you're okay with physical touch, he'll caress your face while giving you actually reassuring words. (LIKE. have you SEEN him literally pinching and squishing branch's face when he first met him after 20 years?!) of course, it's effective, combined with his already nice vibe (I feel like he naturally has a healing presence, he's just a sweet little boring cutie)

his method of comforting you naturally makes you feel better. he doesn't have to try hard because just watching his body language and mannerisms are dorky enough that it'll make you smile. he's unknowingly comforting in a silly dorky way. even with how badly he persists to be a very "serious" guy.

he'll definitely give you a big warm hug after everything.

Floyd

he's literally called the sensitive one. out of the brothers, he's definitely the one who understands you the most.

I don't think I even need to explain, you already know how perfect he is with dealing with stuff like that. like the time he talked to veneer about how his sister treats him and how he shouldn't let her be like that to him.

his face is full of worry if he sees you in a vulnerable state.

he literally gives the best hugs, it's canon, I know it's canon.

this emo mf knows exactly the right words to get you out of your vulnerable state for a while (bc the phrases he gives to others are probably what he wants to hear given to him).

he'll be really patient with you and help you with every step along the way even if you're having a hard time changing your bad traits.

he's also attentive at listening, he'll caress your hands with his thumb with a reassuring smile.

he'll be really sweet at tackling your situation and never makes you feel overwhelmed.

will cry with you tbh.

he's kind of helping himself when he helps you, because he's similar in a way.

Branch

branch was quite the panicker himself during the times when bergens ate trolls.

so he'd also know how to help you deal with it because he understands you.

he had to figure it out himself and was mostly alone to deal with his own vulnerability so he's happy to help you.

he'll look calm, composed and collected externally but even he, himself is slightly panicking on the inside. afraid that he'll let you down or he won't be of much help. don't worry though, he has it all put together after a bit.

If you're panicking, he'll help you focus, calm down and ease your hyperventilation.

"concentrate on your breathing, okay?"

once you've calmed down, he'll provide you with reassuring words.

he'll keep you company and stay with you until you feel composed enough to talk about it with him. he'll lend you an ear.

afterwards, he pats you on the shoulder and gives you advice that worked on him before.

━━━━━━━━━━

Creek

as bad as he is, he's literally the best when it comes to relaxation. he has that zen-like wisdom, so he'll calm you down and help you relax if you're panicking or overthinking too much.

just like floyd, he also knows exactly what to say to reassure or cheer someone up.

he'll give you a more positive outlook on whatever happened to you so that you don't overthink it.

tbh his voice itself is enough to calm you down.

he encourages different methods and ways(that he knows of) to you that could help.

King Trollex

this sweet goober offers you all his emotional support.

he feels upset, if you're upset. he's all frowny when he sees you vulnerable.

"can I give you a hug?" ofc he asks for consent.

will hug you tightly (he thinks hugs are a remedy for everything, besides music), quiet sobs are heard as his face is smooshed against your chest. just like bruce, he'll also rub your back soothingly while hugging you.

Intertwines both of your hands and encourages you to put your thoughts into words so that he knows what's going on that head of yours that's overthinking a lot of stuff.

keeps eye contact with you as you rant to him.

"you can get through this." he'll say with his cute smile.

the most he can provide is listening and comfort. he wishes he could help you more.

[oopsiedaisydeer]

ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀʏ

…𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘺!𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵

phone call, angst, suggestive, fluff, mental health struggles, implied morning wood, unrequited love?, longing, vulnerability, intimacy, silly heartwarming vibes, anonymous relationship, crush, love square?

word count - 1.5k

The morning after the call, Chris woke up with an unfamiliar weight lifted off his chest. It was almost like the fog that had clouded his mind for so long had finally started to clear. He stretched, his thoughts drifting back to the night before. Her soothing words still rang in his head, but now, something else lingered with them, a sense of something unfinished.

It put his whole body on edge, in a way it hadn’t been in the longest time. A sensation Chris hadn’t felt in a while. He was hard, dick straining beneath the fabric. He shifts, uncomfortable, feeling the tension build in his body.

He glances at the clock, sighing quietly. Too early to get up, but the discomfort doesn’t go away. His hand moves under the covers, fingers grazing over the waistband of his sweatpants. He closes his eyes for a second, and he hears it. Daisy’s voice on the phone, the warmth of her words, the way she spoke as if they were already familiar. The thought of her, spreading like a blush, catches him off guard.

The pressure is still there, persistent. Slowly, he adjusts himself, a quiet sigh escaping him as he relieves the tension, the sensation of release giving him a moment of relief. For a moment, the memory of Daisy lingers in his mind, just a fleeting thought, but it’s enough to make him wonder what it would be like to have someone there beside him. The moment passes quickly, and he’s left with the quiet of the morning once again.

She sits in the bleachers, hugging her jacket tighter against the cool autumn air. She doesn’t belong here, not really, but she can’t help it. Chris is out on the field, moving with effortless grace, his focus sharp as he plays. Now that she knows he goes to the same university as her, she can’t stay away. It’s like high school again. She watches him, captivated by the way he carries himself, so confident, something quietly intense about him.

He doesn’t know her, of course. She’s just another face in the crowd, or maybe not even that. She’s hidden behind the anonymity of the bleachers, watching him from a distance where no one can see her. The way his hair falls over his forehead, the focus in his eyes when he talks to his teammates, the smirk that’s more a habit than anything else.

For a brief moment, she imagines what it would be like if they met outside of this… if he noticed her. But she stays still, heart racing slightly, and decides that it’s better to admire him from afar.

Later that night, after practice had ended, Chris found himself sitting in his dimly lit room, the familiar buzz of boredom creeping in. He’d tried distracting himself with music, scrolling through his phone, even watching some random youtube videos, but nothing seemed to click. His mind kept drifting back to two nights ago, the desperate phone call he’d made.

It had been a bit impulsive, a little reckless, but when he saw the hotline number online, he’d called without thinking twice. Now, as the silence wrapped around him, he couldn’t help but wonder who that voice had belonged to… the girl on the other end.

With a hesitant tap, Chris dialed the number again. His heart picked up speed this time, not sure what he was expecting, but definitely feeling a little nervous. How could he even be sure he’d speak to her again? Why was he so desperate to? He checked his watch… it was about the same time as when he’d called last. As the line clicked, he hoped, prayed to hear the same warm welcome.

“Hello, this is Daisy,” came the soft voice on the other end, like she’d been waiting for him.

“Hey,” Chris said, his voice almost quieter than usual. “It’s me again.”

“Again?” Daisy replied, a little confused, trying to place the voice. “...Oh, are you the guy who called two nights ago?”

Chris chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “That’s me. I, I don’t know, I just missed the sound of your voice. Practice was kinda rough tonight.”

“Oh no, what happened?” she asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “I hope you’re not hurt.”

“Nothing like that. Just... I couldn’t get anything right. Missed shots, bad passes, just not my night.”

“Yikes, sounds frustrating,” Daisy said with sympathy, though there was a hint of humor in her voice. “But hey, at least you’re trying, right? It’s better than sitting around moping.”

“True,” Chris said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I guess that’s something.”

There was a moment of silence, and Daisy’s thoughts drifted for a brief second. Why did he call again? Most people wouldn’t bother. She’d had a lot of callers, but this one felt... different. There was something in the way he spoke, something honest, like he really cared about how things came across. He wasn’t the typical kind of guy she talked to on the hotline. It was a thought that lingered in her mind, but she brushed it aside with a smile.

“What do you usually do to unwind after a rough day?” Daisy asked, her voice soft, almost like she was genuinely curious.

Chris leaned back in his chair, feeling a little more at ease now. “I don’t know... play some guitar, listen to music, watch movies. That kind of thing.”

“Oo, guitar, huh?” Daisy’s tone shifted, teasing. “That’s pretty cool. You know, it’s a little cliché, but I bet you play something like Wonderwall, don’t you?”

Chris snorted, shaking his head. “Not a chance. Not really my vibe.” He paused for a second, then added with a grin, “What about you? What do you do when you’re not…”

There was a slight pause on her end, then Daisy’s voice came back, a little sheepish but still flirty. “On the hotline? Well, I like to draw. Mostly sketching, though. And I’m kind of obsessed with old movies. You know, the really dramatic ones with black-and-white film?”

“Old movies, huh?” Chris raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. You don’t strike me as the vintage type.”

“Oh, I can be full of surprises,” she replied, a teasing lilt in her voice. “You should try watching one sometime. Casablanca is a good place to start.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Chris said with a grin. “I’m more of a comedy guy myself.”

“That makes sense,” Daisy said, laughing softly.

“Is that a compliment or a roast?” Chris teased, feeling a little bolder now.

Daisy’s laugh was light and flirty, the kind that made his heart skip. “It’s definitely a compliment. You just seem... fun.”

Chris felt his pulse race a little. “Well, I’m glad you think so. It’s fun talking to you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Daisy said, voice suddenly quieter, a touch of something playful in her words. “You know, I’m surprised you’re calling me again. Most people don’t call back after the first time.”

Chris leaned forward, curiosity piqued. “What makes you say that?”

Daisy’s voice dropped to a teasing whisper, though he could hear the flustered edge in it. “I don’t know. You sound like the type of guy who wouldn’t need someone like me.”

“Someone like you?” Chris smirked, now feeling more confident. He hesitated before speaking again, pondering his actions. “I think I like talking to someone like you.”

Daisy laughed, a little shy now. “Well, I’m glad you do. You’re nicer than most guys who call the hotline.”

Chris felt a small smile tug at his lips. “You’re very welcome, Daisy.”

There was a moment of silence before Daisy spoke again, her voice light but with a hint of curiosity. “So, can I ask... who am I talking to, exactly? You don’t have to tell me your real name, if you don’t want to.”

Chris’s heart skipped a beat. It had slipped his mind earlier, but now he realised he hadn’t even introduced himself. “Oh, yeah. Call me…”

“Wait,” Daisy interrupted him, not wanting to spoil the caller’s identity for herself. “I’m going to call you Sun.”

Chris grinned, feeling a rush of curiosity. “Sun?”

There was a small pause, and then Daisy’s voice came again, sounding a little shy, but still playful. “Warm voice, easy to talk to... plus, you could totally be secretly grumpy, and I wouldn’t know. It balances out”

He leaned back, a smirk playing at his lips. “Okay, Daisy.”

Daisy’s laughter floated through the phone again, light and teasing. “Nice to meet you, Sun.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Chris said, his voice softening, but still with that playful edge. “..I guess I should let you go," he murmured, even though he really didn't want to hang up.

“Alright, alright,” Daisy said with a mock pout. “But you better call again sometime.”

“Don’t worry, I will,” Chris said with a smile, his voice genuine.

As the call ended, Chris couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, like something about tonight had clicked into place. For the first time in a while, it felt like he was looking forward to something.

thank you to @bernardsbendystraws for the dividers <3

a/n: they're so sweet i wonder what will happen :p

taglist: @applecidersturniolo @throatgoat4u @sturnslutz @desreads @courta13 @kier-with-a-k @bluestriips @sturns-mermaid @ishasturnz @sweetshuga @snoopychris @st7rnioioss comment to be added to this au's taglist !!

much love xx

[leovenuslatina]

ENCHANTMENT

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

happy valentine’s day 💝

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

their seduction style

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

₊˚⊹ ᰔ౨ৎ₊this is just a reminder that tarot isn’t permanent or set in stone YOU decide how your life goes no one or nothing else now take a deep breath and choose the pile that calls to you ₊˚⊹ ᰔ౨ৎ₊˚⊹

book w me

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

PILE ONE

queen of pentacles, justice

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

the way your FS tries to seduce you is by hyping you up ! they want you to know that to them you’re the most beautiful person in the world to them ! like not even in a lustful way but in every single way possible you’re so gorgeous. Your FS thinks he’s won the lottery when he’s with you seriously he doesn’t even know someone as beautiful and stunning as you even exists. i don’t think your FS will necessarily buy your love but they definitely will go broke trying to impress you and make you happy they literally don’t care. To seduce you they will show you the finer things in life: fancy restaurants and luxurious hotels and trips. they wanna show you parts of life you’ve never seen before. To seduce you they make you feel like a queen. of course it’s not just about sex ! it’s also about making you theirs and they’ll wanna be the only one to make you feel like a fucking goddess. they wanna make sure that no one makes you feel as good as they do. when it comes to love making they’re every fair. feeling good is important to him but more than any they pride themselves on making you feel especially good about yourself. even in the bedroom he’s focused on you and how you feel about yourself they’re making sure that he’s telling you sweet nothings and that you repeat them back to him making sure there’s no mistake on how he feels about you.

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

PILE TWO

seven of wands

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

your FS is veryyyy long term. their seduction style is very patient. he doesn’t mind waiting for you if you’re not ready to do anything physical. he doesn’t mind waiting for you if you’re in a relationship 😬. because they know at the end of the day you’re worth it to them he makes sure to know everything and anything there is to know about you as to impress you as much as that can just to make you theirs. before you guys get serious he wants to make sure you both are compatible it’s giving friends to lovers vibes ?? and in no time they’re madly in love with you. you’re like his favorite book he can’t stop reading. i feel like they’re the type to have all you favorite things written down just so they can always get you your favorite things. To seduce you Pile 2 your FS will always try to get your attention in anyway they can. doing anything to make sure you’re always paying attention to them. to seduce you your FS is very persistent they don’t care about what fights or challenges you two go through they will ALWAYS be there for you. especially when you two are doing it and if there’s any problems they won’t care or make you feel bad they’ll just keep trying and with any problems outside of that they just wanna hear you out and work with you. they’re overly committed to you like their loyalty is unshakeable.

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

PILE THREE

wheel of fortune & page of cups

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Your FS seduction style is very spontaneous. wot they you’ll never know what’s next and that’s so exciting to you ! it’s always something go with them so you don’t mind being surprised or whisked away. Your FS doesn’t want you to ever get bored of them so they keep things very interesting and they like to keep things spicy. they’re the type to just text you “be ready at 6” and pick you up for like a spontaneous date in a different state. they just really wanna make sure you’re always guessing. i also think you may have told him that you get bored easily or that your last relationship was boring to you in some way and now they’ll do anything to keep you on your toes. To seduce you pile 3your FS will always be ready to just sweep you off your feet. it’s giving the great Gatsby very grand and extremely extravagant.

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

[incorrect-green-lantern-quotes]

hi! i've seen a lot of bat-centric animal shifter AUs and id like to write one about the gls too. i've got a rough idea of what i want everyone to be but i'd love to hear your input as to which animal they're the most like

Welp I know nothing of these animal shifter AUs, so I'm just gonna assign animals to the GLs based on vibes and hope that helps!

Starting with the old man, Alan reminds me very much of a lion. Maybe it's the beard As a member of the JSA, he's one of the most respected figures among DC's heroes, so the King of the Jungle seems fitting.

(yeah it's definitely the beard)

You probably saw this coming a mile away but Hal is a bird. His whole schtick is flying, so how could he not be? Anyway my first thought was something majestic and grand like an eagle, but upon further consideration I think he'd be a peregrine falcon, the fastest bird in the world.

(the plumage kinda looks like Hal's leather jacket)

Y'know that one honey badger that kept breaking out of its enclosure to pick fights with the lions that were at the same zoo? Yeah that's 100% Guy. Absolute bastard that fears nothing and lives for the fight.

(He's even got the bowl cut lmaooo)

Now John as a beaver may seem weird, but hear me out. You ever seen those pictures of beavers chewing through trees thicker than their entire bodies? That's John in his element. Persistence and endurance at its finest. Plus there's the whole thing about building that both of them are known for.

(John no that's a Xanshi tree!)

Kyle is a horse. Actually, he's the White Lantern, so I'm gonna upgrade him to unicorn. With wings too, because he's just that gloriously majestic. As Graf Toren once put it, Kyle is the angel of the Corps and his animal form reflects that.

(ok maybe I'm a little biased...)

Simon is a dog, a Dobermann to be exact. It's no secret that he's often outshined by his fellow Green Lanterns, but he's just as fearless and loyal as the rest of them. It's an often overlooked aspect of his character that he can go just about anywhere and befriend anyone, so I think man's best friend is a fitting reflection of Simon.

(he's just happy to be here)

Jessica gives me hare vibes. Often mistaken for similarly skittish and shy rabbits, but can be unexpectedly fierce and fight back when pressed.

(she's either gonna bolt faster than you can see or kick you into next week)

Look down. See that little baby racoon? Yeah that's Keli. Tiny trash panda scavenger who found her gauntlet in a junkyard.

("She is our baby Batman, you can't have this one!")

For Jo, I'm drawing pretty heavily from Far Sector, where she was a lone Green Lantern operating as a detective in the deepest reaches of space. A solitary creature that thrives in the darkest depths, and is incredibly intelligent? Yeah that's a deep sea octopus.

(and just as fabulous as the real Jo)

[coervus]

After finishing a book, I normally try to write up brief thoughts in my journal and leave it there, but my thoughts about this book are not brief. I guess I was never really gonna let this book go without capital-P Posting about it online (though I may wish I hadn't later!).

REIGN OF THE EMPIRE I: THE MASK OF FEAR by Alexander Freed

Overall, of course, this was a very good book. Freed had a tall order to fill, juggling multiple canon sources, timelines, personalities, the need for entertainment value, and leaving space for two authors after him in the series. It's like one of those over-the-top jigsaw puzzles with pieces numbering in the thousands—fitting all of it together must've been a huge task. I think he pulled it off. It all feels delicately, delicately balanced, and I can only be impressed when I think about everything accomplished here.

(spoilers for character dynamics and vibes, but not major plot points)

—

I have some quibbles, and I know I'll seem overly critical but it's only because I looked forward to this so much and needed it to be everything when of course it could not be. This should not be taken as a book review, this is truly just my personal reaction with no claim to objectivity.

ALPHABET SQUADRON is the only piece of Freed's SW writing I haven't read, and I'm feeling trepidation about starting it now. Because if it weren't for familiar characters I loved and wanted to know more about, this book was otherwise more of a slog than I thought it'd be, and I found myself dragging my feet to get back to it at times. Full disclosure, part of it was also me being visited by stray depressive moods that periodically sucked away my interest in things (yay). Either way, I trudged through the middle section of this book the way I trudged through TWILIGHT COMPANY. In contrast, I don't have a single bad thing to say about the author's ROGUE ONE novelization, what a wonderful book that was.

I felt minor but persistent frustration over characters, particularly the original ones, not being entirely convincing. A lot of his characters come across as—how do I put this?—overly gritty and/or too smart? I felt the absence of unapologetically innocent, unclever, funny characters. (ANDOR has the very same issue, by the way.) A related frustration was spending too much time inside characters' heads. I say that as a big lover of introspection and interiority in storytelling. Something about it just didn't work here, maybe in terms of pacing. I don't remember feeling this way about the RO novelization, and I'm sure it helped that Freed was working with a variety of characters originating outside his own head plus an action-packed plot made for the screen. It made his moments of character introspection in RO excitingly compelling in contrast.

That said, he does make it work for his original characters often enough. Like, even though Soujen made me roll my eyes from time to time (and just seemed like a bit of a sociopath), he definitely had his moments, too.

—

Freed's worldbuilding, his ability to set a scene, is spectacular. There are some Star Wars authors (I'm staring unblinkingly at James Luceno) who go on and on about their made-up alien landscapes and make me just fucking skip paragraphs, lol. But Freed knows how to write a damn visual and keep you wanting a little more. There were SO many cool, original little concepts and settings sprinkled throughout this book that made me go, wow, that's the kind of thing that could and should totally be in Star Wars.

—

Finally, the core trio of legacy characters, the indisputable main draw of this book. To repeat myself again as a disclaimer, it's only because I was so excited about this story that I am word-vomiting about it like this!

For me, Saw was the least surprising character. In each of his appearances throughout this story I was just like, yup, that sure sounds like Saw. Impressive and imposing, dangerous and smart, persuasive and passionate. The way other characters observed him, whether complimentary or not, also had me nodding in recognition. And it made me go like, oh… he really didn't change his ways that whole time. Even at the end (by the time of ANDOR and ROGUE ONE), he still has these blind spots, the shit he can't let go of. But we love a consistent man. Saw never changes much, but whenever he's on the screen or page, I know it's going to be good.

Bail in some ways surprised me the most. I had not thought very deeply about Bail before, though I certainly liked him. The thing that smacked me over the head in the best way here was his view of the Jedi. Bail recalls how he grew up in an environment without any real role models until a Jedi Knight came to stay in his household on an investigatory mission. That brush with the Jedi, and every encounter after that, informed his own values and ideals in clearly a very powerful way. And all of this I felt to the bone. I related so deeply. It wasn't until I encountered role models outside my family sphere (they were in books and at the front of classrooms) that I realized I could be a different kind of person than who I come from. Those external influences can be so powerful on a young person and be carried through your entire fucking life. Like, oh, people can have principles. They can abide by a moral code that goes beyond the mere protection of what's good for oneself and one's family. There can be something higher.

The Jedi are that ideal, plus they're "dashing" and "mysterious" and basically cool as hell, is what Bail is saying. And I just kept thinking, I feel that so hard, dude. You're so right. It made me instantly much more sympathetic to his quixotic quest of exonerating the Jedi than I might have been otherwise (because he does go to some pretty insane lengths). His acceptance of reality at the end was heartbreaking.

Lastly, Mon Mothma… Her characterization here leans heavily on how she's presented in ANDOR, while also seamless with her portrayal in Freed's previous work. This "post-Andor" interpretation of Mon Mothma is one that I like but don't always love, but it's what we have and I'll take it. It does paint her with extraordinary depth, vulnerability, and intelligence. What I find missing is the reason why, in the end, she becomes the leader of the rebellion and holds the New Republic together. I think in RETURN OF THE JEDI and ROGUE ONE, Mon Mothma has an intangible gravitational pull. She has a presence that commands the entire room without raising her voice once. She has an aura, and it's suffused with calm. I don't see that here or in ANDOR, and at this moment before we've seen season two or the rest of this book trilogy, I can only hope that there's an intent to build towards it.

With that off my chest… I relished her scenes. This was again a very vulnerable Mon, similar to the one I remember being surprised by in the AFTERMATH trilogy. She's been through shit. She's almost died. The Empire detains her at least three goddamn times in this novel, like bro, who's ready to FIGHT over this. Her relationship with Perrin is unsentimental, unserious, and oddly satisfying, a perfect reflection of their history as partners from an awkward young age. Her relationships with other characters were also rich: Bail (her inconvenient colleague and proxy friend through Padme), Lud Marroi (her what if), Zhuna (the aide she earnestly wanted to get to know).

At one point, she says to Bail, "On my best day, my allies are invested in working with me. They're excited to follow you." Now, maybe she's just selling herself short here. Or maybe this is actually meant to lay the groundwork for her transformation into the inspirational leader of the Alliance and New Republic, the last one standing among the original rebel founders. I would hope it isn't this: that Mon, despite apparently being the least charismatic, was the only one to survive and lead thanks to her purely pragmatic skills as a parliamentarian and striker of compromises. Look, I understand that the contrasts between Mon and other rebel founders have been sharply drawn for narrative effect. Bail is an idealist while she's a pragmatist; he attracts people naturally while she has to work for it. Saw doesn't compromise on much but she does; he answers the Empire in their language of violence and she doesn't. I'm sure the daylight between her and Luthen will also be further magnified in ANDOR.

But at what point have we drifted away from, you know, the established character of Mon Mothma? There are some qualities I don't think she should lose just to fit into a story better. You don't know anyone who's happier than me that ANDOR and this book trilogy have finally given us Main Character Mon Mothma. But somehow, I still miss her:

From LEIA, PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN by Claudia Gray

[clementine-thedestroyer]

Without You

Warnings/tags: John Price x F!reader, mentions of terminal illness (not specific it’s for neither John or Reader), themes of death and the world ending. The world is technically science fiction I guess but really it’s based on a Tub Ring song. Definitely angst, I cried so much writing it.

Read on AO3

Completely based on the song “Without You” by Tub Ring on the A Choice of Catastrophes album, but I just didn’t want to do the little music inserting thing because it just kinda ruins the vibe

There’s something so beautiful about facing death- or even a fate much worse- and finding all the comfort you need in the fact that wherever you’re going, you’ll be with the one you love. I’ve always thought this song was incredibly heart wrenching, so I wrote a fic for it.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [826_DAYS]

The Earth is dying. 

Space travel didn’t work out. There’s no “Earth 2” for us to run to, and the future is unfathomably bleak. Death is a certainty, and in the face of that, there remains one hope: even if our bodies cannot persist, perhaps our minds can live on.

The project had been a stretch. The mere idea of uploading human consciousness to a computer brings with it a load of ethical, moral, and scientific questions- many concerning the very nature of life itself. The proposal alone had sounded far-fetched. Adding on the fact that they were looking at a development timeframe of a little under a year and it was a miracle they’d managed to secure the council's backing. 

But they had, and with the green light they needed, the group spearheading the project had hit the ground running, beginning the largest recruitment campaign in the shelter’s history. 

It was described as the citizen's duty, and at the start, it had been well received. Hundreds of doctors, scientists, and engineers agreed to come work on the project under reduced salaries- you’d been one of them- and even more citizens donated their time and expertise to the project free of charge. 

It was an effort unlike any other. For possibly the first time, the entire human race pulled together to work towards a common goal. It was historic, really, and perhaps to those of a more cynical disposition, deeply ironic, considering the context.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [463_DAYS]

Early trials began this month

Others had gone before you in the early trials, but the only volunteers for a project like this were ones with nothing to lose. The project’s early trial participants had all been people whose bodies were giving out on them. Most had some form of terminal illness- usually an advanced cancer- and were projected to have only months left to live.

You’d had the chance to speak with some of them throughout your time on the project. Some told you it was a last attempt to save themselves, but others told you they never believed in the technology in the first place- at least not in its current form. Many of those conversations left you torn up emotionally. You struggled to find where you even stood on the project. Sure, you were one of the people working on it, but did you really believe that it’d be what had been promised?

Those initial tests had confirmed that yes, there was something transferred over in the process, but whether whatever had made it over was truly the same person as had gone in? It was impossible to tell.

However, given the circumstances, no one had much of a choice.

The Earth had been heating up for centuries. Even if humanity had only retreated underground in the past three, you were all painfully aware of the state of the climate above you…. Being unable to repair the cooling system was the nail in the coffin, but the signs had been there all along. Losing the ability to make surface excursions, increasing levels of toxins leaking through the air filtration system, the water rations- everyone knew it was coming.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [357_DAYS]

The possibility to be uploaded to the system had been opened to the general public only days ago, but the fact of the matter was that people were scared. They had doubts about the safety of the system, many of which were valid concerns you held yourself. But, with it being only a matter of months until the earth’s surface was projected to reach temperatures higher than what the shelter’s life support systems could counteract, there wasn’t time for people to wait.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [351_DAYS]

Within the week, people began calling for government officials and forerunners of the project to go first, but no one stepped forward.

Prove to us that you trust in this technology the public cried. Prove to us that you trust it with your life before we trust it with ours they said, but only silence answered.

If the entire human population- which although it was nowhere near its formal peak, was still no insignificant figure- waited until the very week of the projected life support failure, it would be impossible for everyone to undergo the procedure in time. There’d be hundreds of thousands left behind. They needed people to trust the technology- and they needed them to trust it now.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [329_DAYS]

Exactly a month after the program had been opened up and the tensions had only been rising. The population of the shelter bordered on civil unrest, and public opinion on the project had soured greatly.

A general attitude of distrust towards the project and all those involved began to permeate the shelter. Calls were being made to cut funding and scrap the project. The media began to call into question the credentials and capabilities of those at the helm, and tensions between the scientific community and the public were higher than ever. 

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. This was supposed to be a chance for humanity to come together and work towards a common goal. Instead, it’s looking more and more like our last days as a species will be ones of fear, pain, and inevitable violence rather than the salvation we hoped.

That night, you laid in bed beside your husband, tracing your fingers idly over his large, solid chest and admiring the way his deep blue eyes skimmed across the text of the book he held.

“John?”

“Love?”

You swallow thickly, your eyes meeting his as you work up the courage to admit what you’ve been thinking about for weeks now.

“I was going to volunteer myself… to try and encourage others.”

Immediately, John put the book down, dropping it carelessly to the side and cupping your cheek tenderly with his hand.

“Oh baby… no… no no no-“ He mutters, and your heart breaks at the sight of tears in his eyes.

You feel your own eyes start to water and throw your arms around his neck, pulling him close and tucking your face into the crook of his neck, letting your tears smear against his skin.

“You don’t have to do this.” He says softly, carding his hand gently through your hair as he holds you tight.

“I want to.” You assure him, face burning as you struggle not to sob. “I could help people- I could save them.”

“Not you… it doesn’t have to be you… just let someone else make that sacrifice. Let someone else carry the burden for once, please, love.” John whispers, his voice strained and pleading.

You pull away, stroking his cheek and looking at him with all the love in the world.

“John…” You say, your words caught in your throat. “We'll all be dead this time next year no matter what. We agreed we’d do it eventually… better to go quickly when you’re expecting it than to live for months just waiting for the cooling system to give out and for you to be baked to death…”

“Please love- no. I can’t lose you.” John whispers, his hands trembling as he brushes a strand of your hair from your face. “I can’t live without you.”

You start to cry in earnest. Thick, ugly tears stream down your face as you pull John back towards you, planting yourself firmly back into his embrace as you sob.

“I- I don’t want to just wait around to die!!” You bawl, voice cracking with emotion as you feel John’s arms tighten around you, his whole body shaking as tears of his own soak into the back of your shirt.

“I’m going with you.”

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [322_DAYS]

The week after moves in a blur. There’s a lot of crying between you and John. A lot of I love you’s, a lot of holding each other, and a lot of the softest sex you’ve ever had with the man.

You eventually announce your intentions to your boss- who passes the information on to their boss, who passes the information on to their boss, who then passes the information on to the press manager of the project, who asks you and John if you’d be willing to do the whole thing publicly.

You talk to John and end up declining to have the procedure filmed, but agree to do an interview to allow yourself to be shown off as “proof” the technology is safe.

That’s the whole reason you’re doing this in the first place, isn’t it? To encourage others to take this step?

It’s a question of faith, it’s a question of trust, but you’re not sure where you stand on either, and maybe that’s why you’ll be the first- or at least, the first person with much of a choice- to submit yourself to the procedure.

You and John, of course.

And, of course, it’s John who’s your biggest comfort through it all. Never have you been more sure that you married the right man.

For every interview you struggle through, he’s sitting beside you, answering any questions he can for the both of you and holding your hand tightly in his the entire time, squeezing it affectionately every so often.

Then at night he holds you tightly, his scratchy beard tickling your forehead as he whispers words of love and reassurance to you. You couldn’t do it without his support. You hardly can even with it.

TOTAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FAILURE PROJECTED IN [298_DAYS]

The day of arrives, and you’re both given a simple white uniform to change into. The two of you stand together in the cramped changing room, pressed close together in a space really only meant for one person as you share one final private moment.

John strokes your hair, his eyes staring lovingly into yours as his mouth tugs upwards into a small smile.

“I love you.” He says softly, and the simple words nearly break you.

“I’m scared.” You whisper, and the admission is like a crack in a dam- the first hint of doubt quickly followed by a barrage of fear. “I’m scared that I’ve dragged you into this. I’m scared that it was never really those people who we were communicating with after they were uploaded, but just digitized copies of their memories and personalities. I’m scared we’ll die with our bodies and it’ll just be nothingness once we do. I’m scared that even if it works, it won’t be like they said. I’m scared it’ll just be a jumble of all of us and our thoughts and voices- that I won’t be able to tell where I end and someone else begins- or even find you.”

John wraps his arms around you, holding you tight to his chest and pressing your head to his chest, soothingly rocking the two of you back and forth as he comforts you.

“Oh love..” he murmurs, rubbing big circles into your back as your hands clutch at his waist, desperately trying to somehow pull him even closer.

“If we all become a single voice, I will seek you out. If we die with our bodies, I will be there to greet you in whatever afterlife exists out there, and if one doesn’t, I’ll still be there with you. I will always find you. I will always be with you.”

John tilts your head back, having you look at him.

“I will always find you. You hear me? Nothing in this world or the next could ever keep me away from you.”

You stifle a sob, nodding and leaning forward to kiss him. You taste your own tears on his lips, but despite that, it’s tender and loving, and right now, it’s everything you’ve ever needed.

“A-and you promise you don’t feel forced or pressured to do this without me? Because you don’t- you can come later-” 

John cuts you off, shaking his head. “I couldn’t let you do this without me, not when it’s inevitable anyways. Wherever we're going, Love. I'm not joining in without you.”

Again, you cry, only managing to collect yourself after nearly ten minutes of telling John how much you love him.

When the two of you exit the changing room, you keep your hands firmly intertwined. Your eyes are red and puffy, and it’s fairly obvious to anyone looking that you’ve been crying, but no one calls any attention to it.

The room is crowded, with a doctor standing off to one corner and a man and woman you vaguely recognize from working with in the past off to the other.

You’re both offered the chance to pray before you’re instructed to lay down on a pair of exam beds, where a doctor performs a quick examination on the both of you.

The cold swipe of an alcohol pad over your forehead startles you, but you’re quick to settle, looking over to where John lays beside you and jerking out your hand, retaking his and squeezing tightly.

He smiles and you force yourself to smile back, a stray tear threatening to escape despite it all.

An electrode pad is stuck against your forehead once the alcohol dries, then the process is repeated for another four locations.

“I love you.” You say, giving John’s hand a quick squeeze.

“I love you too.” John replies, returning your squeeze with one of his own.

You watch as the process with the electrodes is repeated on John, your smile becoming slightly less forced as his own doesn’t waiver.

The woman who’d been waiting by the door until now steps forward, taking a seat to the side of the beds and introducing herself as she taps away at a screen angled away from you.

“Alright, my name is Madeline and I’m going to be the one doing your transfer. I’m going to count you off, backwards from three, is that alright?” The woman asks, and you look at John, both of you nodding in confirmation to each other before John speaks up.

“We’re ready.”

The woman nods, pressing something on the screen in front of her before she begins.

“Alright… Three.”

“I love you. I love you so much.” You say to John, the words you have feeling completely inadequate to describe the depth of what you feel for the man lying beside you.

“I love you more than you could ever know.” John says back, and you can see it in his eyes that he feels the same way.

“Two.”

A metallic taste fills your mouth and a funny, almost tingling sensation starts at the nape of your neck, radiating slowly out towards the rest of your body, but you pay it no mind, only giving John’s hand another quick squeeze.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

“One.”

“I love you”

“I love yo-”

“I love you…”

“I love...”

“I…”

…..

01001001 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101

[neonscandal]

9 Anime to Watch to Feel Like This 👇🏾

The alternative title/concept for this list was "Anime Featuring The Zaddiests of Daddies" but, you know. Consistency or whatever. When I saw the gif, however, I cackled so loud that I figured it still captured The Vibe ✨ (that being #fatherless) Considering this context, some recommendations are slightly longer than the usual bite size serving of 12-24 episodes but you won't regret indulging. Each show is recommended for the plot which is very evident with the teaser gifs. Happy Fathers' Day, you degenerates. And remember, you don't have to have kids to be a Daddy. 😈❤️

Spy x Family (series) - There is something so wholesome about the fate of the world as he knows it relying on how convincingly he can portray a Good Father despite his own origin story. Loid Forger, in a mission to maintain peace, creates the perfect family through any means necessary. Doubt he realized, in doing so, he'd create a home for himself and the oddballs helping to keep up the ruze.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu

Buddy Daddies (series) - The life of hitmen Rei Suwa and Kazuki Kurusu get a bit more messy when one of their hits leaves them with a pretty sizable loose end. Regardless of their occupation, their lives change around a little girl and trying to provide as good a home as two, single twenty-something men can. The rest, they'll figure out.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll

My Senpai is Annoying (series) - Very capable working woman finds herself kohai to an older, overly chummy colleague who DEFINITELY does not know how to PDF documents unsupervised. This is a show about their day to day interactions. If you're wondering if Takeda is the only contender in this series, hold out for Futaba's grandfather. Just trust me.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll

Jujutsu Kaisen (series + movie) - *Gestures vaguely to my blog* This show has plenty of compelling reasons to become obsessed. Trying to train strong child soldiers to protect the balance of humans vs curses so they don’t see a grisly demise is just one of them. Not your average shonen, not your average found families.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu

My Hero Academia (series + movies) - Something about kids needing guidance so as not to die while in the pursuit of some great civic duty really creates an environment for some skrunkly father figures. 😘👌🏾 Never mind that the climax of this story is one that tangles generations of families as society adapts to the advent of super powers.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix

Fire Force (series) - in a world where humans can spontaneously combust, Shinra, who is blamed for the fire that killed his mother and younger brother, seeks to overcome the stigma of his power and joins Fire Force Company 8. In training to fight Infernals, he learns to control his pyrokineses under the guidance of many talented fighters while trying to understand the world around him and the invisible hand that manipulates everything.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu

Attack on Titan (series) - Unpredictable violence at the vicious jaws of larger than life monsters, the last remaining humans seek refuse behind hallowed walls. Until one day, the day the first wall fell, which made what once provided security feel more like a holding pen ahead of the slaughter. As resources dwindle and the indomitable curiosity of humans persist, the brave minority pushes the boundaries of the walls that house them and seek to uncover the shroud of mystery as of how they found themselves prisoners to titans in the first place.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu, Sling TV

Chainsaw Man (series) - Human fears strengthen devils which threaten to overrun the world. Enter the Public Safety Devil Hunters responsible for exterminating devils before they become bigger problems and keeping a bead on larger threats, namely, the Gun Devil. The titular character eventually falls under the supervision of Aki Hayakawa (and later Kishibe *swoon*) who has a strong single-dad-who-works-two-jobs-who-loves-his-kids-and-never-stops type vibe.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu

Blue Exorcist (series + movie) - When your dad is Satan, the bar is literally in hell for the man who steps up to raise you. Even so, LOOK AT THE DRIP. There's a narrow line to walk when trying to overcome your own parentage and twin brothers, Rin and Yukio, seek to do so by following in their adoptive father, Shiro Fujimoto's, footsteps despite obvious adversity. Just remember to skip to Season 2 after episode 17 or Google the proper order to watch.

Sub/Dub | Crunchyroll, Hulu

[bonovox91]

★·.·´★Bucky Barnes Vibing songs ★·.·´★

No Time To Die by Billie Eilish - Okay, this song is sad, angsty and mysterious, which reminds me 100% of Bucky, it's originally from Agent 007: No Time To Die, or James Bond.

Skyfall by Adele - Okay this is also 007, and it gives off the same vibes as the previous, and I'm very satisfied with the slight orchestra in the background, DrAmaTiC!

Panic Room by Au/Ra - This song just catches a panic attack perfectly, the monsters from his trauma. Gives me chills.

Soldier by Tommee Profitt and Fleurie - Soldier, well you got it, the Winter Soldier, and that he was in the 107th.

Way Down We Go by KALEO - As Au/Ra and Tommee Profitt and Fleurie they're kind sub, not very famous but often it's this kind of music used. Way Down We Go has some kind of sound that just makes me think about Bucky. I dunno but there's some sort of aesthetic I quite can't place the name on, guess I'm gonna call it "Bucky Barnes" aesthetic.

Lost On You by LP - Same vibes as always, this kind of melancholy and sad comfy in it, I can recall vibing to this song as a 8 year old little girl.

lovely (With Khalid) by Billie Eilish - It makes me cry, quite literally, beautiful piano, beautiful everything.

Still Don't Know My Name by Labrinth - Due to that he's being brainwashed every split second the name kinda give it away, but definitely a Bucky song!

Where Is My Mind? by Pixies - Yupp, the song is kinda creepy and faces some kind of confusion, he must've been confused in the time between Cap the Winter Soldier and Civil War?

Somebody I Used To Know by Elliott Smith - I could imagine this being played in the background where Bucky is being thrown back by Steve and the mask goes off, Bucky looks back and the two best lines in the movie is being uttered: "Bucky?" "Who The Hell Is Bucky?" *Murder strutt*.

Washing Machine Heart by Mitski - Something with it just fits so well when you think about him as The Winter Soldier and his metal arm.

I Follow Rivers by Lykke Li - Swedish yayy!!! (proud swede over here), However it feels like the song is a Winter Soldier mission, so-

A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay - This song makes me think of how Bucky never wanted to fight - he fought because he had to, but he never wanted to be a Super Soldier, never wanted to be the Winter Soldier, never wanted to kill all these people, he just wanted peace, live in his time and live it as it was supposed to be.

Elastic Heart by Sia - The lyrics about being strong and persistent fit, both the things like what he lost and what he'd gone through.

My Love Mine All Mine by Mitski - After listing all these sad songs I'm feeling too guilty to quit without some calm song. As it seems he found some sort of safety at the end of TFATWS, finishing his amends, being happy with Sam and getting things off his mind.

We love you Bucky carry on!

(Manifesting that he survives Thunderbolts)

[sincerelyamee]

Your Life As A Tokyo Jujutsu High Background Student

| Megumi x Reader | Reader's third year & Gender-neutral |

You had not known Fushiguro Megumi for very long, perhaps a few months at best, but you had already grown fond of the boy. That little sea urchin, with his aloof glare and standoffish body language, was always so irritated with the world. 

He definitely didn’t seem to like you much in the beginning… if he liked anyone at all. He had that palpable “leave me alone” vibe - spiky hair hiding his face, arms habitually crossed in an invisible barrier, one-word answers to attempts at small talk. Anyone else would have taken the hint after a few rebuffs and kept their distance. But not you. 

There was a wariness there, a carefully contained fragility that resonated with your own. You recognized that cold glare all too well, having worn it like armor yourself once upon a time, before Gojo had broken through your walls with his irritating persistence and arrogant cheerfulness.

You knew—beneath the hostile exterior, Megumi was just a boy thrown alone into the cruel world of jujutsu, trying desperately to survive. You could relate all too painfully. So you persisted. Offering your quiet presence like a comforting blanket, you'd hover at the edges of Megumi's personal bubble, reading, snacking, giving him the wide berth he clearly craved. Never demanding attention. During meal time, you would add an extra pudding cup to your tray, then silently offload it into Megumi’s as you plopped down next to him, talking lightly about Gojo’s recent antics as you ate.  In the library, you'd claim the seat beside him, the two of you reading in a comfortable silence broken only by the occasional turn of a page. Now and then you simply occupied nearby space, tapping idly at your phone screen whenever he sought out an empty corner to avoid company. 

Then one day between training sessions he fell into step beside you, wordlessly holding out an ice-cold bottle of mint chocolate milk. Your favorite. From that small olive branch on, a new ease settled into your interactions. His rejection of the pudding cups turned into acceptance turned into quietly waiting for them every day. Rolling eyes at your appearance in the library softened into furtive peeks over book spines to see if you’d come to keep him company. He held himself stiffly at first when you claimed the armchair adjacent to his in the common room, but soon began leaning into your idle chatter on curse techniques.

Most times the two of you spent together were still in silence rather than actual conversation. But the quietness somehow felt warmer now, more intimate than isolating. And every so often, when he thought you weren’t paying attention, you’d notice the flicker of a barely-there smile softening Megumi’s face at something you’d said. In those moments, you felt a fierce affection and protectiveness swell brightly in your chest...

You are a third year student at Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School.

You are Gojo’s most spoiled third year. Not that he has many options, since your classmates have all been suspended.

You are Nanami’s most favorite jujutsu sorcerer thanks to your mutual distaste of the jujutsu world and burning desire for early retirement.

You are Shoko’s most beloved unofficial assistant who does all her paperwork. Don’t let Principal Yaga hear about that though.

You are the first years’ most adored senpai, because Gojo has the audacity to dump most if not all of his teaching responsibilities on you.

But most importantly, you are a background character. Sometimes, they bring you along. Sometimes, you do your own things in the background while watching them doing important, heroic things.

You are no protagonist. You are just here for the ride.

[senka-mesecine]

platoon boys with a person who always tries to see the good side of everything, like good vibes yk?

---

― Chris downright admires you in his own slightly bashful, school boy way; sees much of himself in you, because see, he used to be like you, or still is, or at least was to some degree, depending of what period in his life he encounters you, be it pre war, post war, during the war or some weird in-between period --- you name it. Chances are, though, he never really lets you know openly what a high opinion he actually has of your positive outlook on life in the face of adversity. Keeps his feelings mainly to himself. Which is undoubtedly a pretty realistic thing to do. Do you go around telling everyone you look up to how much you look to them? No? I thought as much. Probably writes about you to excess, admittedly, journaling about you, writing letters about you back home, scribbling notes on the subject of you to settle his thoughts, putting far more gravitas into you than you'd ever guess someone who maintains to themselves would. In Chris Taylor, it is guaranteed you have something of a secret fan because you serve as his constant reminder that while good and bad coexist and are at odds constantly as a natural way of things, goodness still has a small yet persistent way of winning out in the grand scheme of things.

― O'Neill makes fun of you. Lets be real. He teases you. Prods at you. Pokes at you. Mocks you. Talks crap about you behind your back and to your face in equal measure. That's just his manner. Negging and being mean to the newcomers or anyone he sees as vulnerable and beneath him, but truth of the matter is, in this really bizarre sense someone like Red was undoubtedly around the rough around the edges side of camp for so long he has become rough around the edges himself...or maybe he always like this. Who knows? But, that is to say, your kindness and positivity are a novelty and he puts up defenses through being an asshole to hide how much it affects him by being, for a lack of a better descriptor, a rude piece of shit. You believe in a better tomorrow, that everything will pan out alright, that there's always hope and he's stuck with the Lifers (himself included) who are always prepared to die on a whim, if need be --- he begs the likes of Barnes for a day off because he has a bad feeling he'll be killed in battle and you're here espousing the philosophy of new chances and new opportunities. See, no wonder he is so antagonistic towards you. You literally remind him of all the things that are entirely out of reach.

― In a funny (and really harrowing?) twist of things, Bunny is all positivity and good vibes too...except in the most nihilistic, destructive, unhealthy way humanly imaginable. Chances are, you won't meet a more happy-go-lucky person who finds the best in the most traumatizing, horrible events, actually. He thinks war is fun and that nothing done there really matters because when you die you won't even realize you're dying seeing as how it all happens in a flash anyway, rendering everything but the adrenaline of the moment irrelevant, putting him in a frame of mind of an overly happy, zealous, sociopathic child who cannot be dissuaded that conflict isn't a blast, akin to a fun-ride at a carnival. Both you and him are seeing the good side of everything, sure, except his way of seeing the good side of everything is entirely based in madness and yours is based in, well...normality, meaning that despite having a similar approach to life, you and Bunny don't necessarily have to have anything in common. You use small, scarce joys discovered in the worst of circumstances and drawing on them to survive and he uses carnage, sidesteps in, and feels content even as it happens. He's the type to roast marshmallows next to a burning village.

― Rhah is the opposite of Bunny. While Bunny might find delight in human suffering and discovers 'good vibes' where he definitely shouldn't (laughing at the dead after he's already killed them singlehandedly) Vermucci is the realistic and even grim type of person who, rather than stubbornly seeing the good in everything regardless of everything, sees a way of surviving through everything and saving his own soul and sanity. Sure. You wanna be a residential do-gooder? So, go be a do-gooder if that makes you feel better and helps you sleep at night. Go preach the men about hope, new sunrises and new chapters! Bah! Rhah doesn't care. Your lot's a dime a dozen. Can be found in every church sermon and every commune. You'll only be perpetually positive until something truly awful you can't philosophize away happens to you and when it does, you'll realize how being positive and being negative are very relative concepts and how getting out of here alive one way or another is what matters most, because to Rhah excessive optimism is a clear indicator of someone who is still privileged enough to not have been through the worst of it all. When it happens to you? He is convinced your third eye will open wide and that you'll sing a different tune.

― Wolfe never lets on, but he really, really likes you. You're a relief. A safe space. A nice change of pace compared to the usual back-and-forth drudgery around camp. A balm even. In a division full of rough, tough, mean ass motherfuckers who out-experience him, outmatch him in seniority, exclude him and in front of who he has to overcompensate with an overinflated sense of authority to get any vestige of respect back from them whatsoever, someone who is just naturally nice for the sake of it and seems forgiving of circumstances makes him feel covertly at ease, albeit secretly --- sure, he might be occasionally abrasive towards you, snappy, distant, then flip around and awkwardly try to engage with you and joke during leisure hours when social conduct calls for it, but deep down your presence around camp is like a true north in ways. When faced with shit-your-pants scary individuals like Barnes, someone hugely respected like Elias who sees through his bullshit, mean motherfuckers like O'Neill, psychopaths like Bunny, there's always the one constant that there's you who just sees the good in everything. He exhales relieved at the thought of that even if he seems like he never thinks about you at all.

― King likes you and he, unlike most, actually lets you know it. He gets you. You're exactly and precisely his type of person. The type of person he'd befriend on his own because he'd get a good feeling out of you. Approach first. Take an interest in getting to know better. Invite to hang out in The Underworld with all the other boys. All the good shit. Possibly the first companion you actually make around base with no trouble at all; it is a connection that just clicks naturally. See, he is just as optimistic as you are. Possibly thinks that's the only real way of surviving wars and keeping a healthy outlook on the life that comes afterwards, once a man rotates back to the world, because that's when the real fighting begins; not in the literal sense, but in the social sense. Out there. And you gotta stay normal for that part. Not loose your marbles out in the jungle. Give in to the darkness. Because if you do? And you go back to civilization in that state of mind? You might as well be dead. No use going back anyway if you're gonna go back all sorts of crazy and mean. Your philosophy and his is much the same and he might very well recognize that instantly rendering you and him kindred spirits.

― Contrary to popular belief, Elias isn't as positive as he looks; sure, he is nice to newbies, is tender when faced with their inexperience, is kind enough to help them, is protective of the weaker and flares up at injustices, has good ethics, is forgiving enough to understand cherries will make mistakes because he's simply a good man, and generally maintains an air of good faith, but no, Elias Grodin isn't perpetually optimistic. In fact, someone might even call him a concealed pessimist because the impression is gained that a lot of life's ideals might've shattered in his eyes at one point in time, making him realize a great many of them were lies, overinflated or make belief; a fact he doesn't flaunts around, especially in front of the boys, possibly to avoid damaging their morale or make them lose hope because he understands how crucial hope is for survival, keeping his melancholy mainly to himself. In spite of that, I think he'll see what you do, recognize it and understand it is for the best. People need people like you. He might think you're somewhat naive or that you have some qualities he's long since lost somewhere along the way, but he'll still think the world of you.

― You're full of shit according to Barnes. You're worse than a crusader and a waterwalker --- you're still a civilian at heart and that is perhaps the most offensive thing of all. You need your eyes opened to the harsh reality of things. You need someone to grab you, shake you and remind you that sometimes, there is no brighter side of anything. There's no new chapters. No pleasant way of escaping. No new dawns. No hope. No nothing. You're deluded to think otherwise. A naive child. An irritant. Someone who doesn't belong here. Someone who has a lot of mental growing up to do. So, why does his mind linger on you so frequently if he dislikes you so? Chances are, Barnes chooses to deliberately ignore you to a degree that could be called cold and aloof because he's long since decided some wannabe saint and him have nothing to talk outside the comings and goings of formal order giving and order accepting but fact is this man cannot be fully indifferent to you no matter how hard he tries seeing as how his philosophy of death seeking and nihilism is at total odds with yours and you're everything he can no longer be and your existence is a reminder of that, rendering him unsure if he'd rather harshly pack you up and send you home or take a bullet for you. Maybe put one in you. Maybe put one in anyone who dared looking at you wrong.

[thewandererh]

Ecosystem Hell rw au x Elemental Iterator Local Group!

i swear this is interesting chat. i’m really proud ‘o these sketches 🫶 and writing! i’m sprinkling in some character psyche too so oooo you wanna read this ooooo👻👻

so. @rna-world / tarigon’s au “where iterators become hybrids of rw creatures that fit them and then are forced to survive in the wacky wild as organisms” idea is cool. very cool. cool enough for me to have reblogged nearly all of it 3 weeks back. and now its coming back to me… oh goodness gracious

so!! in this post! i’m going to scribble down my thoughts on these barely-shared ocs of mine, and how they’d be integrated into which animal and survive in what way. exciting! LETTUCE BEGIN:

reblogs>likes

these are the first few i came up with! was in a little funk so i wasn’t proud of them at the time, but thats changed ^_^

DeeDee isn’t related to the group at all—his design was just a brainwave i needed to get out. but the others! oh boy the others:

Weaving Currents is a ghostlike fusion with the very overseer that lends him his voice. this body enables soundless stealth and camouflage through translucent flesh. i wanted to emulate the deep sea vibe he has goin for him, which was especially built upon with his redesign! Currents is tricky and slinky, working as the perfect assistant and spy in Shadows’ search for power. and his peculiar quest for one specific little “traitorous” guy.

Six Colorful Strings (behold, our timid protagonist!) is a blue lizard. she is fragile and agile and always carries a weapon. whatever sort of process she underwent to become this was prepared with haste, and she’s still getting used to the new systems. and this rapid change and cell death has her rot spiking in activity. now, since a risk of spread is now prominent through coughing fits, she has attempted a makeshift mask out of an old cloth scrap. i honestly wanted to emulate some of tarigon’s AGS-orangeliz vibes through Strings here because. hello? peak??

Seven Even Windy Cycles always wanted to fly away. the wish arose from past circumstances, but remained as a whimsical dream. his can is placed in the run-down suburbs of abandoned architecture that crawl with bugs and bats after his weather modules go…missing? perhaps it was the bugs and the bats that he likes to watch. (insert segue) so he got squidcada-beamed because i said so. there was a running sorta-vulture mask idea that made it halfway, but he’s so underdeveloped as a fella that i need to straighten a few things up first.

Broken Gears over Grinding Gravel is definitely the techhead here. integrated so heavily into his work that anything he’s not good at he’s just accepted as failure. and that’s not a good mindset to have in the wild, but who cares! he’s in the highchair now. and the two things he’s good at are self preserval and working his mech. Gears is a tired old father who tries to forget regret—especially the involvement he had with Shadows’ greed. little beast grew out of control. what was he supposed to do??

Deeper Darker Shadows is the main antagonist and a persistent one at that! with his quest to rejuvenate his disordered systems with other iterators’ rarefaction cells, and having succeeded multiple times thus far, he’s earned the status of something to be feared. however he’s the brains of the operation, not the brawn. especially with a recent development lending him a maw-like wound in his face. giving him all the more reason to seek power to overcome the hurt. with the hushed judgmental fear all around his name, he’d have to appear as something imposing in the wild—right? LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER. this man is a stinky younger brother who’s too self entitled for his own good. but his looming presence is like a shadow (heh) despite the hidden truth. so he also gets bugbeamed. jackass! hope he isn’t too stupid and gets himself killed. a second time.

below is even more character sketches for a select few that i’m extremely proud of. eat up folks!

if you enjoyed the concept of iterators surviving in the wild itself, i’d consider checking out tarigon’s incredible art and thoughts over on zeir blog! featuring both canon and iterator logs interpretations unlike anything i’ve ever seen. there’s a reason i reblogged it all so many times 😔/positive

[gunnrblze]

Till death, pt 2

Back again with my questionably written homosexually repressed marine boys! Also this is set pre-Caracas so Rorke is Captain and still good guy lol. Like a quarter proof read? Idk it’s just vibes over here.

༄1550k+ words, SFW, more longing and sickly sweet yearning, just making them suffer atp. Mentions of blood/wounds.

“Keeg!? Keegan!?” Ajax’s voice echoed through Keegans eardrums, a cacophony of voices surrounding him. But only one sticking out enough to bring him back down to earth.

“You took a bullet, they’re gonna fix you, alright? Got medevac on the way, just hold on brother” Ajax would tactfully hide the panic in his voice, the torn cloth in his hand attempting to plug the bullet wound in Keegan’s gut, wine colored blood spilling onto the ground. It wasn’t the blue eyed man’s first injury, and it certainly wouldn’t be his last.

But something about it always made Ajax shiver a bit. Seeing the dazed look in the man’s eyes as he fought to stay conscious, the way they’d roll back and forth whenever Ajax would slap a hand to his cheek, trying to buy time until he passed out.

It wasn’t any better for Keegan, of course. They train a marine to take a bullet, a knife, just about anything you could think of. But below all that training, there was a natural fear response you simply couldn’t turn off, not when your life was flashing before your eyes and your head felt like it was being crushed beneath a steel toe boot. Something uniquely primal and mammalian laces itself between any rational thought.

How much of Ajax was Keegan imagining, and how much of it was the real him? Was it the real man that was holding the flat of his palm to Keegan’s stomach? The man that was pushing his mask up for him so he could breath a little easier, the man making him take breaths as deep as he could muster, doing everything he could to keep him alive while Merrick and Elias radioed in and out of his ear?

Keegan could hardly tell, what with the sounds of gunfire surrounding him, accompanied only second by the blood rushing in his ears, and third by the frantic sound of Ajax demanding extraction. His voice raw and almost angry, how dare Keegan get hurt in a dangerous situation that the man himself signed up for? The physically injured aren’t the only ones that think irrationally, perhaps.

“C’mon man, you’re gonna be alright, just stay awake, you hear me?” Keegan definitely heard his words, but comprehension was another story. The blood drained from his wound and he could feel his life slipping with it too. His very essence coating his uniform and the gravel below, coloring Ajax’s hands crimson.

Ajax was too composed to actually freak out. Too professional, too well trained, and too competent. He was prepared for this. Part of his job, just as taking a life was, included knowing how to keep one intact. If he ever doubted himself, he’d falter.

So he didn’t. He didn’t doubt that the pressure he applied to Keegan’s wound may not be of any help. He knew it would be. He didn’t doubt that evac would get there in time. He knew they would.

He didn’t doubt that the sounds of Keegan’s grunting would stop. He knew they’d persist. He knew and knew and knew.

What he didn’t know, was if Keegan’s strained “love you” was a mere pain and adrenaline induced pleasantry, or something he’d imagined hearing for the last decade and a half coming to fruition. Was this simply the final remark in what felt like the face of death from the bleeding man lying on the rubble below? A goodbye? A friend, a soldier, a brother’s last call to the void?

Or was it more? Was it the only words Keegan could muster, not because he was on the brink, but because it was the only thing that mattered to him? Mind and body begging to be put out of its misery, soul begging for the man keeping his life afloat to hear the confession he not even dare admit in a booth?

Ajax didn’t know. For all the things he was sure of, that question persisted through the night. Going unanswered for far too long, long enough to make the man feel sick until he had to purge the doubt and the unknown from his body.

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The steady hum of machinery and chattering voices filled Keegan’s fuzzy brain as he lie on a cot in a makeshift hospital tent. It was humid enough to make his uniform cling uncomfortably to his sticky skin. A throbbing, aching little pain that had settled deep in his stomach, wrapped by bandages and tied by stitches underneath.

The white ceilings were only amplified by the bright lights that dangle above him, searing into his retinas and causing his body to reject any other stimuli.

A nurse intercepted his attempt to sit up just yet, trying to kindly explain that he needed to lie down and rest before even standing up again. With a grumble, and a dry cough, Keegan obliged, lying down and closing his eyes to avoid the light, lest his eyes melt from his sockets right there on the table.

Merrick was at his side before he realized it, a hand on his shoulder, briefly explaining away what happened. He and Ajax were escaping Federation territory, on standby waiting for their superior officer and Lieutenant to come extract them, when a bullet clipped him in the stomach.

He distantly remembers the sound of gunfire near him, Ajax warding off any lasting enemy appearances before tending to his wound. He couldn’t forget the veneration that consumed Ajax, much as he forgot most everything else. The way the man’s hand slipped right into his. The other applying pressure on his bleeding stomach, crouched right beside him and hovering over his body. As if even the moonlight could harm him, shielding him from the sticky damp air.

“On me! Focus on me, Keeg, stay awake!” he could hear the words bounce around off his eardrums even now, Ajax’s desperate pleas for Keegan to stay awake, stay alive, “stay with me”.

Merrick had enough tact to realize he needed some rest, and left him be. Keegan didn’t have the voice to ask about Ajax, he knew the man was okay since Merrick hadn’t brought him up otherwise. But it gnawed at him. Needing to know where he was and if he was okay lingered in his mind like a candy that sticks to your molars, a pestering, annoying little thing.

But Ajax didn’t show. Not for the rest of the day, until Keegan was deemed stable enough to head back home by the field medic. Keegan expected the man’s arm to sling around his shoulder in that friendly fashion of his, but it was all quiet. Boots on the pavement and silence on the heli ride back to base. They both knew it was out of order, Ajax’s silence, Keegan just didn’t know why.

“Love you” the words croaked from his lips, shocking Ajax into silence again. His “stay awake” and “you’ll be okay” mantras being cut off like a whip across the back. Keegan’s hand was clammy and warm in his, his other bloodied hand plugging Keegan’s wound up with the scrap of his own mask, flat expanse of his palm stretched across his stomach, pressing and pressing as if it would will the wound to close right up.

Keegan didn’t dare speak, of course. He had nothing to say, really. It was difficult to watch your fellow man on the edge of death, even one you didn’t know. But this was Ajax’s person. Keegan couldn’t be defined in any word that existed in the dictionary, that wouldn’t be doing him justice, no.

He was, in a manner of speaking, Ajax’s necessity. They’d known one another far too long, been through far too much to pretend the word best friend or comrade was sufficient enough for the indelible connection they shared.

The tension was silent, almost not even there if you didn’t read between the lines. But Merrick and Kick were more than literate, sensing some disturbance in the duo as they all shared the heli ride back to base.

“Love you too” is all Ajax could supply back. Afraid if he said anymore, Keegan would remember it, and afraid if he said nothing at all, the blue eyed man below him would die without knowing that whatever it was, it was reciprocated. Ajax had more than enough blood on his hands in this line of work, but Keegan’s was precious. Viscous and warm and slick in his hands, and he felt responsible for him in every way.

The heli landed, and Rorke was waiting for them all. He didn’t look angry, or concerned, he looked relieved. He’d not so patiently waited to be informed on whether Keegan had made it or not, Elias opting to leave the room whenever he and Merrick had lost connection with them. The Captains worry was like a poison. It needed an antidote before it spread.

Keegans physical arrival, in one piece, seemed to satiate everybody. Except the gnawing pain in the pit of Ajax’s stomach.

Love you. Love you too.

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It almost killed him to pretend what was said hadn’t been.

Ajax could handle watching Keegan’s exhausted body lying on the cot in the field tent. He could handle the tense, silent ride back to base. He could even handle going to bed that night, confused and angry and feeling something nameable.

Want.

He wanted Keegan, in any and every manner he could have him. The realization hitting him like a freight train as he lay in his squeaky little bed in the barracks, tossing and turning and rethinking every single moment with the man since they’d met years ago.

Memories of the contours of Keegan’s jaw, his dark hair always flattened by his mask after missions, the way his voice got more gruff in the morning and the way he moved without making a sound filled Ajax’s mind.

The quiet man hadn’t spoken much since they got back, being ordered by the Captain to get some rest. His only response being a gruff rumble and a nod of acknowledgement, pretending his stitches didn’t ache as much as they did and that he wasn’t as upset about being put out of the field as he was.

The mission had been a success, anyways. They had an objective and they completed it, per usual. Just within an inch of Keegan’s life, is all.

Ajax fell asleep wondering just how coherent Keegan had been after getting hit, the question that plagued his mind nearly every second of the day that he wasn’t busy. Did he understand what he said? Did he actually even say it? “Am I imagining this shit?” He’d mutter to himself, deep in thought and earning a raised eyebrow from Kick. But nothing more.

Nothing more, nothing to say, nothing to do.

Ajax went on a recon mission with Merrick the next day. Uniforms soaked with rainwater, boots squishing in puddles of thick mud as he trudged along with the gruff man.

“Keegan should be back in business within the week” he’d tell Ajax casually. Too casual, for a fact that Ajax already knew, of course. He didn’t want to read too much into it.

“Right on” Ajax nodded, wiping the mixture of sweat and rainwater from his brow, going without his normal mask until he can secure a new one. He hadn’t been able to wash Keegan’s blood out of his, even though Elias explained exactly how to get it out of the fibrous material. Unnecessary, he decided. He’d simply fashion a new one.

The two men trudged along, rifles slung over their shoulders, heavy packs weighed down further due to the earlier rain that soaked them. Ajax was exhausted, as usual. And his mind kept returning to the man back at base. Mine, his brain would supply, only to be hit with a rebuttal. His mind swirling with the feelings he’d done so well with repressing for the last decade. How could he be so stupid? Keegan was a comrade, a brother.

Ajax knew where this would lead, and he couldn’t alter the course one bit.

[mysticinsightstarot]

🐯Taehyung New Single "Winter Ahead" Reading🐯

Hey ARMY! 💜 It’s time for a tarot dive into what’s coming with Winter Ahead! From how it will perform on the charts to the deeper messages it carries, this reading is here to spill the tea on everything you need to know. So grab a cozy drink, settle in, and let’s break down the cards! 💫

1. Song’s Performance on the Charts 🎶📈

3 of Pentacles: First things first, this song is going to shine because of all the effort and teamwork behind it. We’re talking serious collaboration! Think music industry support, strong promotional work, and—of course—ARMY’s unwavering dedication. Winter Ahead has the potential to be a chart-topping hit, and you better believe it’s going to make waves with the right backing. 👏

Page of Cups & 7 of Pentacles: There’s a youthful, emotional vibe here—this is going to be a song that tugs at your heartstrings. But remember, chart performance takes time to build up. It might not explode overnight, but Winter Ahead is definitely one that’s going to grow on us. Give it some space, and you’ll see it soar. ⏳💖

Justice & Death: Hold on tight because this song is going to bring a powerful transformation! The balance of what Taehyung has been doing with his artistry, mixed with something deep and transformative, will resonate with both old and new listeners. Expect a big shift—there’s going to be a lot of buzz around this song, and it’s going to leave a lasting impact! ⚖️🔥

2. Song’s Concept 🎤✨

9 of Wands & 8 of Pentacles: Taehyung has worked so hard on this one, and it shows! There’s an undercurrent of persistence and effort. The concept may feel a bit raw—like he's fought through challenges to bring us something really special. The 8 of Pentacles confirms it’s something he’s put a lot of dedication into. So if you're ready for a heartfelt, deep journey, this is it. 💪🎶

The Hanged Man: There’s something unexpected about this concept. Don’t expect the typical—this card says it’s going to flip your perspective. It’s like Taehyung is pushing boundaries and challenging norms. Prepare for something that might catch you off guard, but in the most beautiful way possible. 😲💡

8 of Wands: This song is going to take off fast once it hits! Expect it to spread quickly—just like wildfire. ARMY’s support + the emotional charge behind the song? Yeah, it’s going to fly! 🚀

3. Knetz Reaction 👀

10 of Cups & 7 of Wands: Knetz are going to feel the emotion in this song—they’ll connect to it deeply, but they might be a little protective of their own expectations. They’re going to be guarded at first, wanting to be sure it lives up to the hype. But overall, they’ll appreciate the depth of the song’s emotional impact. ❤️💥

2 of Wands: Curiosity is the word here! Knetz are going to wonder about the direction Taehyung is taking with this release. They’ll be eager to see if this marks a new chapter in his artistry. This song will definitely spark conversation. 🌍✨

4. ARMY’s Reaction 💜

2 of Swords & Devil: At first, there might be a little bit of hesitation from ARMY. Some might feel torn between wanting to love it and not being sure if it’s right for them. But don’t worry, ARMY! Once you really dive into it, you’re going to get it. This song will have that addictive, emotional pull. 🔥💭

9 of Swords: Let’s be real—ARMY might feel a bit anxious or uncertain at first. But this isn’t a bad thing! It’s just that Taehyung is pushing boundaries, and we’re all processing how we feel about it. You know how it is—new things always feel a bit scary at first. 😬💓

5 of Swords & Ace of Swords: Ultimately, ARMY will find clarity. The song will speak truth to us—it’s going to cut through the noise and reach us on a deeper level. Expect a moment of "Aha!" when everything clicks into place. 💫🗣️

5. Message of the Song ✨

2 of Cups, Tower, Knight of Swords: This is all about connection—not just romantic, but on a deeper soul level. Taehyung is giving us a song that might shake things up a little (hello, Tower!), but it’s ultimately a deep message about love and transformation. Think of it as a wake-up call—expect things to get real. 💔💥

Knight of Cups: Winter Ahead is pure emotion—it’s vulnerability, passion, and sincerity all wrapped into one. Taehyung is giving us his heart with this one. Get ready for an emotional journey, because the message is all about being true to your feelings and letting them flow freely. 🦋💖

6. Message for ARMY 💜

Page of Pentacles: Taehyung wants us to take a leap of faith with him. This song is an invitation to explore new territory, emotionally and artistically. Don’t be afraid to take that step! 🏅✨

6 of Swords & 4 of Swords: There’s a healing message here for ARMY. It’s like Taehyung is helping us move away from old struggles and find peace in the journey. The song is about renewal, resting, and healing—emotionally, we’re all in this together. 🌊💆‍♀️

7. How the Song Relates to Taehyung’s Future Spouse (FS) 💕✨

Strength: This song speaks to Taehyung’s future spouse in a big way. It shows his inner strength, the kind that comes from love and resilience. He’s not just waiting for them; he’s building himself up, ready to stand strong beside them. 💪💖

Queen of Swords & Queen of Pentacles: Taehyung’s future spouse will be someone strong and grounded. They’ll be incredibly intelligent, able to balance practical matters with deep emotional understanding. Taehyung’s connection with them will be filled with mutual respect and support. 🌸👑

4 of Cups: Taehyung might not be actively seeking out his future spouse just yet, but when the time comes, it’ll feel like everything—like they’ve been meant to cross paths all along. It might be a quiet beginning, but it’s going to grow into something truly beautiful. 🌙💞

Bottom of the Deck: 6 of Pentacles 💸

This is the energy of balance and giving. Taehyung is ready to give ARMY all he’s got, and Winter Ahead is his gift. We, as ARMY, are going to give right back in the most loving way possible. It’s all about mutual love and energy exchange. 💜💫

Take this reading with a grain of salt, guys! Tarot is just a snapshot of what’s possible and not set in stone. 💫

So, ARMY, let’s make sure we support Winter Ahead to the moon and back! 🌙💖 Stream it as soon as it drops, and let’s show Taehyung the love he deserves! 🚀🔥

Like, follow, and reblog if you’re excited for this new chapter! Let’s manifest success, love, and endless support for Taehyung and ARMY! 💜✨

#WinterAhead #Taehyung #TarotReading #ARMY #StreamTheSong #TaehyungTarot