#this beach has surprisingly good connection

[critt3r-xp]

ouch ouch yeowchie ouch oof ouch (im crawling around barefoot on very sharp rocks)

[hysteria-things]

KISS THE GIRL

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: chris x fem!reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: because of his biggest fear, chris has some trouble getting the courage to kiss the girl he’s been connecting with for months.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: FLUFF, swearing

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 662

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: okay i know i said a matt fluff but i finished watching the little mermaid an hour ago and thought about this…

commitment is chris’ worst nightmare. he’d rather step on hot coals than do anything with a girl, especially being a boyfriend for crying out loud. he’s getting ahead of himself here, but these are the exact thoughts pacing through his mind at this very moment. why is he acting like this? it’s all because of you.

the two of you met through a mutual friend and hit it off quickly, gaining a relationship to the point where you guys have been talking for months. old chris would say run for the hills and never turn back, but there’s something about you. it’s like you reeled him in without trying.

currently, you’re walking next to each other — not hand in hand but insanely close — on a path that separates the beach from the sidewalk. chris paid for dinner, although you insisted on splitting the check.

this isn’t the first time you guys are hanging out, but this time around feels different. he so badly wants to kiss you; feel his lips in sync with yours. he’d be lying if he said he’d never thought about it. on the other hand, he’s terrified to do so. what if he’s been getting mixed signals this whole time? what if you only see him as a brother?

“are you alright?” your voice startles him as he shakes his head to get out of his trance. “you seem to be thinking about something.”

“i’m fine.” he smiles. “want to walk on the pier? we can get a good view of the sunset from there.”

you nod as he leads the way, the sun making the ripples of the water an orangey-pink haze. you lean your back against the railing, your elbows propped on the metal beside you.

inhaling sharply, he then exhales. he’s surprisingly much calmer now, the moment beautiful along with the girl of his dreams. maybe he can kiss you after all—

PING.

groaning, chris reaches his hand into his pocket where the noise is coming from.

DA BOYZ

nick

did you smooch yet?

no

matt

what are you waiting for?

idk

nick

chris you can’t hear me but i just sighed really loudly i thought you’d like to know

we’re watching you by the way

you’re what

matt

[attachment: 1 image]

hi

bro

nick

KISS HER ALREADY

COME ON

matt

i’ll do it

fuck off matt

nick

i wish i brought my binoculars i can’t really see from here

matt

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

this is going to be me and y/n in like five minutes

stop that

matt

i’m getting out of the car as we speak

go home

nick

not until you 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋🥰

sighing, this was his reminder to turn his ringer off. he placed the phone back in its place and sighs. “sorry about that.” he mumbles, moving closer to you to place his hands where your elbows are, leaning down to rest his head on your shoulder. you snake your arms around his neck and play with his hair. “are you sure you’re okay? you’re tense.”

“i want to lay here for a bit, that’s all.”

it’s now quiet, except for the waves hitting the shore. you both are comfortable, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. feeling a peck on your shoulder, it travels to your collarbone… and then to your neck… and then… finally!

it’s hard to tell who pulled in who first, being that you pulled him in by the neck while chris pulled you in by the waist. god, your lips feel good. your mouths dance at a rhythm better than he’s ever imagined. unfortunately, it has to come to an end.

he pulls away to catch a breath, your cheeks and the tip of your ears flushed pink like crazy. alas, you’re grinning like a fool before you say a sentence chris wasn’t expecting at all. “you can tell them to stop staring at us now.”

𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!

@bunbunbl0gs @lexisecretaccx @thy-mission @angelic-sturniolos111 @sophssturn @moncherriis @janiellasblog @blahbel668 @meg-sturniolo @mattslolita @sturnbaby @imwetforyourmom @tillies33ssss @sturnifyed @raysmayhem-72 @ripmattitude @p1xieswrld @alorsxsturn @multiluvr @delilahprentiss @tworosesblackthorn @gnxosblog @junnniiieee07 @flowerxbunnie @imaslut4kehlani @sturniolosandmoree @hearrtsturns @stars4matt @freshsturns @etershine @tpvmz @sukiipjs @h3arts4harry @sturnioloblogs @creamoncreamoncream2 @ivyyyyyysposts @iluvm4ttsturni0l0 @mbsbaby @mattsdollie @thesturniolos @nononopenono1 @bitchydragonparadise @gdsvhtwa @hrt-attack @dwntwn-strnlo @venusbabysblog @meerkatzthings @bernardsbendystraws @hoes4matthew @fratbrochrisgf

[astrolovecosmos]

🫖

Aries Tea Party: You must come with an outfit or makeup that has flair, spices fill the air, everyone follows the host's lead, bright and airy atmosphere, loud voices and laughter, decisions are made here, a bold and maybe even conflict-fueling guest list.

Taurus Tea Party: In a beautiful garden, elegant dishes and teapots, roses and candles, soft attire, long dresses, good and close company, peaceful music, hand-crafted invitations, animals possibly invited too.

Gemini Tea Party: Picnic style in a meadow or in a lovely solarium, arboretum, or aviary, the tea is hot metaphorically and literally, matching outfits or themed outfits is encouraged, never-ending conversations, social games, maybe a book club gathering, a diverse guest list.

Cancer Tea Party: Family and close friends only, has gift bags, the best tea and hors d'oeuvres you've ever had, smile for the pictures, uplifting atmosphere, heirlooms possibly used, toss in a little magic whether it be 🏰 magic, grandma's recipes, the magic of family and love, or literal witchcraft, maybe a tea party by moonlight, maybe a tea party on the beach.

Leo Tea Party: Must dress extravagant or within a creative theme, rich flavors, royal gardens or tea rooms, watch out for the politics, be sure to compliment your host, there is room for indulgence and opulence, the best rumors you'll ever hear, the best service you've ever had too, there's time for a dance, for a reading, for croquet, for everything, drama may unfold but enjoy the show or ride, maybe a little wine with your tea?

Virgo Tea Party: An itinerary printed out and closely followed, please be punctual, dress nice, manners matter here, high-quality tea and food, entertaining and surprisingly decadent, there may be books to explore, you'll learn more than you expected at this gathering - whether it be about everyone's business or a new life hack, aesthetically pleasing and thoughtful decor, everything must be perfect, a place for stimulation but also respite.

Libra Tea Party: Plenty of sweets, the aesthetics 😍🤩, dainty and delicate, possibly a clever theme, personalized cups or napkins for the guests, has a guest list that is great for networking and matchmaking, comfortable chairs and couches, everything is pleasant from the decor to the fragrances to the temperature, will happen on a beautiful day.

Scorpio Tea Party: Private, exclusive guest list, spicy or strong flavors, may be inspired by fiction, crystals and witchy candles, maybe the perfect time for a tarot reading, a place where you'll hear secrets and hearts are spilled, maybe a sexy tea party. ;)

Sagittarius Tea Party: Fairy lights, maybe a tea party by candlelight, or by a beautiful fireplace - either way the lighting will be a centerpiece, cozy vibes, insightful conversations, plenty of laughs, possibly some excitement even if things seem like a quant tea party, a great time for show and tell, exotic or hard to find teas, very interesting company.

Capricorn Tea Party: Could be done in a traditional way, a beautiful chandelier or statues, maybe out in the woods, classical or indie music, only a few guests, VIP treatment, nothing of poor quality, moments happen here, some surprising secrets may accidentally come out, be sure to follow the dress code.

Aquarius Tea Party: Eclectic decorations, maybe retro vibes, plenty of light blankets and cute pillows, unusual or handcrafted teas, either has a large guest list or is having tea with one other person, could be doing the party for charity, people stay late due to captivating conversations, sneak in a game of chess or conspiracy theories, a gathering of like minds.

Pisces Tea Party: Aquamarine and coral colors, seafood may be served or a special diet, ocean themes, the most ornate cups and silverware, glitter and shimmers, maybe some time for poetry or painting, accommodating, moments to cry and share, only those that impress or connect with the host get invited back.

[deke-rivers-1957]

Fun In Acapulco Review

Elvis Presley never set a single foot in Mexico. And yet he was deemed a persona non grata due to a controversy involving quotes Elvis made that legitimately never happened. Unfortunately, because of this official status disallowing Elvis from entering the country all on site shooting had to be done with a body double. Elvis himself filmed the rest of the movie entirely on a Hollywood studio.

This movie marks the beginning of the rivalry between Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Beatlemania had taken hold in the UK in 1963 with the US quickly following behind it. While their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show wouldn't be until another few months, Elvis' place on top of the pop culture pyramid was being challenge. Does this movie put those fears at ease, or is this an early indication of Elvis' irrelevance? Let's find out.

"Fun in Acapulco" is surprisingly low key and pleasant. It genuinely gives you vibes that you're waking up in Acapulco at a resort by the beach. Then you see Elvis on a boat as a small group of Mexican singers come up and immediately realize none of his scenes will be in Acapulco. Instead, we're stuck with very obvious rear screen projections and Hollywood soundstages throughout the whole movie. There's a small moment of humor when Elvis just yells at the top of his lungs for the Mexican band to be quiet. It's not loud at all but you can tell he had to project to be heard.

Meanwhile we get a very uncomfortable interaction where a heavily implied teenaged girl named Janie is flirting with Mike Windgren. I don't like this plot point especially when we get a male gaze shot of her skirt as she walks away. Again she's heavily implied to be a minor and even in the movie it's seen as being inappropriate for an adult to show interest of any kind. It simply feels unnecessary to include that and doesn't age well at all given what we hear about Hollywood.

Mike goes to a Mexican tavern to meet up with the musicians wearing the ugliest shirt I've seen. Usually the wardrobe does a good job of making amazing outfits, but this is personally a miss. Along the way he meets a young Mexican boy named Raoul in an act of foreshadowing about the relationship they're going to have. "Vino, Dinero Y Amor" and "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" are both ok. This is when you realize the main goal of the movie is to sell a soundtrack. Mike also meets Dolores for the first time and I think this was a great way to establish their character dynamic since you easily believe that she's just looking to have fun while she's in town. It's also incredible how so many people smoked back then, to the point where the whole room looks hazy.

Before they get too involved in their dance, Mike sees Janie at the tavern drinking alcohol. I have no idea what the drinking laws in Acapulco was in 1963, but everyone treats this as being illegal. Janie's dad sees her at the tavern despite having no idea that she'd be there. She blames Mike for bringing her there and buying her the drink and of course gets him fired because that's the most obvious set up in the world. There are so many issues with this scene I won't take the time to explain it all. It's just so pointless to even have this plot point since we literally never see anyone outside of Dolores' camp ever again and only exists because we needed to have some reason to have Mike leave his job to team up with Raoul.

Raoul informs us with something that will never lead to anything important plot wise. Mike would need to have a very specific VISA to work in Mexico. This actually makes sense given that Mr. Harkins isn't a Mexican citizen and therefore didn't require Mike to have a VISA. But since Raoul has an insanely high amount of connections he's able to get Mike a singing job while he fills in for a singer we literally never see in person and is always "out".

The logic of this surprisingly works since it's clear Raoul has genuine connections with numerous businessmen, but I'm just bummed that we never see who the actual singer is since it could've added conflict. You would think that the conflict would involve Mike working without a proper VISA and his rival planning to reveal that fact. But no, it's never brought up in a way that makes you think Mike has to worry about possibly being deported.

Raoul picks up Mike on his bike. As much as it's cute to have them sing "Mexico" Raoul's singing vocals just didn't sound right. I know he's a pre-pubescent boy but at times you just cringe when he hits the high notes. So we get introduced to Moreno but uh oh Mike looks nervous about seeing him jump off a diving board because we need foreshadowing. Mike agrees to work as a lifeguard during the siesta so no laws are being broken. Mike gets on top of one of the diving boards and we surprisingly get a backstory. Mike is a trapeze artist and we see with no dialogue how during a performance he dropped his brother. The silent horror on his face when he saw his brother lying on the floor dead, was so well done by Elvis. It isn't realistic to have everyone react to a trauma by screaming. With Mike he felt instant shame to the point where he had to look away.

That memory was so brutal, Mike of course stepped down from the diving board feeling haunted. The worse thing about the incident is that it could've been avoided. Circuses started using safety nets in the mid 19th century, so the fact that you never saw one indicates overconfidence. Sadly when you're a trapeze artist, there are people who are so confident in what they do, basic safety precautions are neglected. In Mike's brother's case, it sadly costed him his life and Mike now has to live with that guilt. He sends a telegram to his parents and it's obvious that this is a deep trauma that he couldn't recover from at home. This should've been the focus of the whole movie because it's the only thing I feel invested in. The aftermath of someone's death, especially in avoidable circumstances, rarely gets to be the focus and this would've been the perfect way to change that.

Mike sees Moreno and a woman named Margarita Dauphin. Moreno has a lot of issues with Mike being interested in her, and it's genuinely reasonable since they're actually dating. Mike meets Margarita and her father where he works as the head chef. I'm impressed he can cook so well knowing that he's a former Duke. We get a brief history lesson that they came from an unnamed European country (I personally believe it was Hungary since their monarch was abolished in 1946). This basically means that Mike is talking to a Duchess despite no longer having the title.

"El Toro" is a great song with an even better outfit. In a way it really honors the history of bullfighting and the bravery bullfighters have to possess. After his performance, he turns down publicity pictures. As much as it's rude, you understand why he doesn't want the attention. He's still working through his grief and doesn't want word getting out that he's in Acapulco since that would result in people asking him very uncomfortable questions. Mike runs into both Dolores and Margarita. Despite dating Moreno, Margarita is clearly jealous that Dolores has Mike's attention as well. Mike goes to see a man dive, and he's clearly traumatized from looking over the railing. Raoul organizes for Mike to sing a song at the restaurant. "Margarita" while good, is just a drag in terms of the story. Mike tries again to dive, but of course is too scared. He climbs back down and I love that Margarita and Raoul don't make fun of him. They surprisingly handle his trauma with respect.

Mike performs "The Bullfighter Was a Lady" and he looks even better in this scene than "El Toro". This time he's specifically honoring Dolores since she's one of the best in the business. Female bullfighters even to this day are rare because of how dangerous it is. Margarita of course is jealous despite outright being on a date with Moreno. Dolores of course knows this and doesn't care. Because at the end of the day, Dolores isn't doing anything wrong. Margarita is the one who wants to 2 time with Mike.

So the two leave and we get a "serious conversation". Dolores makes it very clear that she has no interest in marriage and only wants to have casual relationships. I love that openness since for the 1960s, a career girl wasn't as well respected. "(There's) No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car" is the clunkiest song ever. You could just cut it and nothing is lost.

"Bossa Nova Baby" is great and there's a reason why it's so iconic. If you slowed down the playback you would see that the average person couldn't replicate this. After his performance, he wants to go see Margarita but notices Dolores is there too. Dolores is tied up with a tourist couple that I wanted to be Mike's parents so bad. Instead we never see them again. It just makes you wonder, what was the point?

In the morning, Raoul asks Mike what club he wants to work for. We see a different filming technique by showing these phone calls in a split screen which I thought was a neat touch. Mike however stalls since he still wants to get with Margarita. He meets with Moreno and Moreno things happen. Moreno meets up with Dolores manager, Jose. Jose reveals that he knows about the Flying Windgrens. Absolutely nothing important will happen because of this. Dolores arranges for a party to be arranged the next day. Margarita of course doesn't like it and makes an offhand remark to her dad that he should poison Dolores. The former Duke though has a dream to have her get married to an American so they can both get VISAs.

This is when the movie drags. Even though he reveals his trauma to Margarita it's just so shallow because the scene quick cuts to Moreno finding the truth. That's also so rushed since as soon as he finds the newspaper article we immediately cut to Dolores' party. This is the only time we see Mike's family and it's such a waste of a good story to not see them interact with Mike in person.

"You Can't Say No in Acapulco" is pretty good for a poolside ballad. In a way it really reflects the sadness Mike feels. We see Moreno dive in preparation for his upcoming cliff dive and to entertain Dolores' guests.

Raoul tells Mike about Margarita's desire to get a VISA, and Moreno tells Dolores about Mike's traumatizing past. Dolores becomes cold for no reason as she acts so disappointed that Mike is a "chicken". Mike despite feeling very hurt just walks away. Raoul meanwhile never leaves his side and it's pretty sweet that he does care about Mike beyond what he could do for him.

The former Duke clears things up with Mike. He explains that it was really his idea to get the VISAs. It was never meant to hurt anyone. He tells Mike that Margarita has gone to see Moreno dive for a famous astronaut.

As he leaves, Moreno somehow knew he would be there and follows him out of the staff's kitchen. He keeps making fun of Mike for being a coward and I have no idea what this is meant to accomplish. Moreno was already a jerk so him knowing this information doesn't change anything. While I can see how it'd be him going too far, the timing is so off. Mike should've confronted him about it as soon as told Dolores.

We see Red West in the background who cameos in a couple scenes and it's amazing that he doesn't interact with Elvis at all since usually Elvis' friends had a line or two when they did cameo. They get into a fight and I have no idea why no one's stopping them. This is essentially a crowded entrance so you would think security would break it up because of the other guests possibly getting hurt from it. Moreno gets badly injured and Mike is able to just walk away with no resistance which would never happen in real life. Unable to see Margarita he goes around the club and hears from Raoul that the dive would otherwise be canceled. I understand a lot of people think this was a cheap way to resolve his PTSD, but given how the 1960s didn't really acknowledge it outside of the military I thought it was a good shot.

The cliff scene is one of the best scenes in the movie. Mike had no obligation to fill in for Moreno, but he did it anyway. This wasn't a rash decision where in an act of heroics he stepped in. He knowingly did it with the full knowledge that it could get him killed. The near silence that comes with watching him ascend even though it's a body double for most of the scene is beautiful. Everyone watching this knows it's a risky thing to do.

Even though I'm not religious, it's very important in Mexican culture. Seeing Raoul cross himself and Mike pay tribute to the shrine on top of the cliff was absolutely necessary. Given the danger involved, it makes total sense to send a prayer. Mike had to do this before he made his jump. Symbolically speaking, he's asking for his brother's spirit to keep him safe and him diving into the water served as his baptism or rebirth. He's no longer consumed with the grief and guilt of his brother's death. He's a new man that's willing to go back to his family with his new love Margarita and his friend/manager Raoul.

"Guadalajara" is a well deserved happy ending. Moreno at least admits he was wrong to call Mike a coward. I guess with him being interested in Dolores, his relationship with Margarita is over. The song itself is good but it does drag a bit. It's almost like they didn't know how to fill in the runtime which is so weird.

Margarita despite somehow getting back with Mike still looked a little jealous when Dolores kissed his cheek. I don't think this couple will last. Mike had more chemistry with Dolores but she out of nowhere turned standoffish. It's all boring and forced to the point where Mike has his best relationship with Raoul who's a 10 year old. I just really wish that Mike's relationship with his family had more focus. The pieces were there. It's just very unfortunate that a man expressing grief wasn't something worth focusing on back then.

I think this is the first time reviewing these movies where I felt bored watching it. As much as I love the diving plot, the romance is a drag. It feels like the writing took a step backwards regarding what makes an Elvis vehicle interesting. Instead of making the romances engaging they're instead so forgettable that it's like they just included it because it's part of a checklist. I will say that it did do a good job highlighting La Quebrada Cliffs by making them integral to Mike's character arc since to this day it's a popular tourist attraction.

Because the diving plot gave me something to feel invested in, with the final dive providing a genuine sense of tension I give it a 7/10. If you're a new Elvis fan this should not be the first one you see since the songs can be very distracting, and nothing is developed enough to keep your attention. Now if you're a seasoned fan is it worth re-watching? Yes. I think you can watch it every now and then, but it's definitely the film equivalent of cotton candy: something you consume and forget relatively fast. Genuinely the first stumble in the road for Elvis' movie career where I didn't feel overly passionate about anything. And for someone in the entertainment industry, that's practically a death sentence.

Tagging: @thelonelyheart @whositmcwhatsit, @hooked-on-elvis, @smokeymountainboy, @atleastpleasetelephone,

@stitchlover0112, @tupelomiss, @vintagepresley, @eapep, @almightybigbrain,

@coltswael, @cieloestrelladoluna, @huhhhhsthings, @arrolyn1114, @peaceloveelvis,

@peskybedtime, @mercsandmonsters, @tacozebra051, @valloos, @ilovequeen978,

@elvisvideos, @presleyhearted, @depressedfairie, @kawaiiwitchy, @swingdownsweetchariot,

@ruggednessworld, @southcarolinawoman, @atrophyingaphrodite, @jrbrandi13, @summer56,

@elvismylove04, @eptodaytommorowforever, @lookingforrainbows, @araiarts, @fharysa,

@lett-them-eatt-cake, @fryb0rg, @wanderlustingtomboy, @slayingjd, @wildhorseinkansas,

@somethingaboutelvis, @jhoneybees, @elvisbooty76, @iloveelvisss, @presleyheart,

@anakinsvault, @illtakeyouhomeagain, @callieselvisobsessed, @50sexyshadesfashionista, @memphisflash,

@arianatheangel-girl, @madslovesmaws, @lucy114505, @presleygarden, @earthbaby-angelboy,

@nicferg068, @xanatenshi, @elvispresley1935, @iloveelvisss, @underthememphissun,

@cccayliexx, @thelonelyheart, @theelvisprincess and @ilovemyrockstarboyfriends.

[smizzy]

Jenna dating hcs

YOU BURNT MY HOUSE TO THE GROUND MY FAMILY'S DEAD WHAT DO I DO

She'd very much like to take you with her to set everyday

She misses you more often she stays sending photos and texts of what she's doin, what she's eating, who she's with

you too

She's made many playlists for you two for different occasions

she believes you are the funniest person and people should know that

even her cast mates love seeing you knowing you always have them laughing over anything

She'd try and cook your favorite dish and 1-up you because you made hers a 5-star Michelin dish

pictures pictures picturessss

shares her earphones with you because she likes you too much

younger and taller than her? you came to the right place

the height difference is so cute

dancing around the house at 2 AM

would 100% learn how to braid your hair if you got sum thick thick ifykyk

you are the finest mf she ever laid her eyes on

i know dasss rightttt

now that im high lets get to the real stuff

definitely has a little part of her room that belongs to you and your stuff

she's learned about the .5 photos from you

she won't stop doing them on you and her sister

disagreements only cus you take things to heart a lil too much

me fr

"dont talk to me" almost every time she (someone) hurts your (my) feelings

she likes that about us twinnn

tiktok drafts pile like bodies

going to the beach til nighttime w those bonfires

back to disagreements *more like hurt feelings*

serious ones don't happen often

and when they do, u puttin air pods in and listening loud

either way you're always in the right

surprisingly deep conversations you start bc of high rambling

cue the end loop of 'not allowed' by tv girl

when you text her she always responds faster than you can even swipe out of the conversation

unless filming

you send her photos of what you eat in a day

likes hugging u very much thanku

also eye contact

anywhere you wanna go she'd book a flight for you

hate to c u cry baby :(

rubbing your back, kissin your cheek, getting you what you wanna eat purr

school or if ur busy she'd she see on the weekends

and i mean every weekend

with new food to try with her

thinks of you as her whole heart, soul, mind, veins,and blood

definitely a deeper connection this aint no tomfoolery

never fails to blush at flowers you get her no matter what they are she's thankful and loves them no less

always up after 12 sending her tiktoks but its the comments that got you covering your mouth from laughing

"why are u up stop sending me tiktoks gts"

showing each other how the sky looks for both of you if you two are away from one another

she hates shopping apparently

cus when she with you its like ts flew out the window

any photo on good with you two on google has both of you two staring at each other with love

[fairytail-whathesays]

may i ask for some platonic lucy and juvia? or romantic whatever fits your fancy!

you know i'm gonna make it lesbian if i have the chance!

One of Lucy and Juvia's bonding activities is tutoring Lucy on how to cook. Lucy was surviving well enough to get by without help, but she doesn't have a chef's eye. Early on, when Juvia is still obsessed with Gray, she tries sabotaging a lot of Lucy's efforts...but Lucy turns out to be really intuitive and survives a lot of the lessons by getting resourceful.

This creative spark does not help her when learning to bake, however. Everything is very precise and Juvia doesn't have nearly as much success passing on her knowledge, so Lucy eventually has to pick up strict recipe reflexes from Levy instead.

Juvia's secret punk goth side clashes a lot with Lucy's pop princess enjoyer qualities. However, Lucy tends to appreciate it more when she looks at the state of pop music and all the chart obsession--thank heavens that aspect of the music industry didn't connect with Juvia's competitive streak. Juvia is surprisingly knowledgeable about music, genres, and subcultures, and is happy to talk to Lucy about them for hours.

Lucy is subject to the same embarrassing habit of Juvia's to make clothing for people she loves, that she knits herself. The difference between Lucy and Gray is that Lucy will actually wear them, because a) a girl gets cold sometimes and b) Juvia's actually really good at knitting and sometimes the stuff she makes is cute af.

Juvia tries not to over-idealize people anymore after getting over Gray. However, she does associate Lucy with stars and this ends up with a lot of affectionate nicknaming from her. Sun and star nicknames are particularly common.

Juvia and Lucy have performed Unison Raids before, to wildly different effects. Leo's version ended up hitting a bunch of baddies with rain that turned to falling stars, which was spectacular, but he took a long time to leave afterward due to being annoying about two pretty women summoning him.

Lucy is delighted by some of the sea facts Juvia knows and will actually take any opportunity she can to go to the aquarium with her, especially if there's moon jellies or stingrays she can pet.

Two girls go to the beach and you'd think the men there had never seen a woman before. It gets downright obnoxious, and if it gets bad enough, neither of them has qualms using their magic to force a clear zone. This beach is now the property of the aquatic lesbian community.

The two of them have a thing for lilies. Lucy gets Juvia a bouquet of water lilies for her birthday, and Juvia responds by getting a bouquet of stargazer lilies for Lucy's. Not only do their houses smell great, Happy very quickly learns not to damage them.

In fact, the two of them are pretty much nature lovers. They're very harmonious with plant and animal life, and between them and Lisanna, the zoological and botanical programs of Fiore are never without guests.

[atombonniebaby]

Atom Bonnie Baby's Rat Man Starter Pack

MacCadooldles:

The Playlist.

A mix of songs that I listen to when writing! Some remind me of Mac, some are songs I think he'd listen to, and some are HC and Fic specific!

Rat-Man Garbs:

DadCready Screens Masterlist:

Swings - Happy Tears - Bedtime Stories - Pulling Faces - Happy Tears 2 - Sleepy - Sanctuary - Protective - Duckie Boots - Sleepy 2 - New Dwellings - Off to the Beach - Mr Huggy

A MacCrady Profile

Name: Robert Joseph MacCready

Occupation: Gun for Hire

Experience: Gunner (don't hold it against him) Mayor (from 10-16) self proclaimed 'ruthless little bastard' (still applicable)

Nickname(s): RJ, Bobby-Joe, Mac, Sasshole, Mac n Cheesy, MacGreedy, MacSneezy, MacSleepy, MacWeepy, MacEaty, SnarkCready

Age: 22 years old (no really)

Height: 5'8'' (Short King)

Build: Scrawny (130 lbs.)

Eyes: Bright Blue (pwetty)

Hair: Light Brown, choppy (hella cute)

Features: All sharp edges and angles, rat-like (but in a sexy kinda way)

The best ways to annoy/piss him off:

-Trying to make him carry your junk.

-Leaving him in the dark about what is going on and not letting him have a say in important decisions

-Being irresponsible and not taking the situation seriously.

-Using chems in front of him, knowing he disapproves of them.

-Not taking proper care of yourself (i.e., not wearing armor, getting enough food and water, etc.)

Molerats (anything that looks, walks, or sounds like one)

Murdering Innocents and sadistic behavior.

Abuse of Power (this is probably the thing he hates the most)

What he likes:

Wit, sarcasm, and smart-assness (loves it!).

Making MacCready smile and laugh.

Playfulness (MacCready can't resist).

Cuddling and being held (He'd never admit it).

A good listener.

Surprising facts about MacCready:

His guilty pleasure is Sugar Bombs and Nuka Cola.

He started drinking when he was six years old.

He has a high level of intelligence and enjoys learning new things (he likes to spout out random facts)

Named all the dogs in Little Lamplight: Muttface, Pete, Hooligan, Ginger, Bandit, and Rex.

Headcanons!:

If there were one word he'd use to describe himself, it would be hardy. He's used to pushing himself to do whatever it takes to survive, even when doing things that others consider crazy. MacCready is sarcastic, stubborn, and guarded—he doesn't trust easily.

He affectionately refers to his rifle as 'Baby' (but only in private).

He is surprisingly insightful and observant, noticing details that others overlook.

MacCready's past has left scars on him emotionally and physically, and some days are worse than others.

When MacCready is ill, it the more clingy and needy he becomes.

Hates being cold, so bundling him in warm blankets helps make him feel better. Will accept hot soup (but NOT cave fungus)

Self-consciously hates how his knees knock together and his ribs poke under his shirt. (due to having rickets as a kid)

When genuinely happy, he's all toothy smiles until he thinks someone might notice, and then he reverts back to his usual stoic self. (doesn't like his teeth)

MacCready is always smoking, his cigarettes resting between his lips as he goes through one pack after another.

His guilty pleasures are Sugar Bombs and Nuka Cola. He loves sweet things but doesn't have time for much food.

His mind is full of cuss words.

He also has a habit of tapping his fingers against the side of his rifle whenever he's nervous.

MacCready and intimacy:

He misses physical intimacy and closeness and longs for that connection again but struggles to communicate it. Insecurity eats at MacCready; he feels guilty about moving on with his life and letting go of Lucy.

When MacCready does allow himself to get close to someone, the things that draw him to you aren't lost on him. How your presence brings him a sense of peace and makes him forget about all the problems in his life, if only for a while, how you make him smile when he wants nothing more than to cry, and how you somehow always manage to look at him with such kindness, even when he feels he doesn't deserve it.

MacCready finds sleep with a new partner extremely difficult. After losing Lucy the way he did, having trouble falling asleep is now a side effect of his traumatic experiences. He often wakes up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep, and if his companion stirs, he's instantly wide awake, unable to keep his eyes off them.

He tells himself it's because he's trying to protect them, but he knows deep down that part of him can't stop wondering what it would be like to lose another loved one in a heartbeat. To find himself alone yet again... and being alone scares the heck out of him.

MacCready can be very vulnerable at night, especially after a nightmare. When he comes back to his senses, it takes a moment for the memories to fade away. Once they do, he gets flustered and tries to push his nightmares out of his head. He doesn't want his partner to see him as weak and break down.

As MacCready starts trusting you, he eventually reveals his troubles. He's more willing to seek support rather than deal with everything alone. He may still shy away from physical contact or withdraw after the initial breakdown. Once MacCready starts opening up, he slowly becomes more comfortable, allowing you to show affection and comfort him.

An ongoing conflict with himself is his attraction to men, which he has repressed for many years, believing that acknowledging it would question his marriage to Lucy. In MacCready's eyes, you either like women or men and not both. So, the fact that he harbors these feelings of attraction to men makes him feel guilty, ashamed, and, most of all, confused about his identity.

[marinsawakening]

One of my favourite moments in the entirety of Link's Awakening is the meeting with the little ghost. Before entering the fifth dungeon, a ghost will start to follow you. When you talk to it, it asks you to bring it to the house on the beach. In a corner of the beach sits a dilapidated house; you've probably found it by now and wondered what it was for. You bring the ghost to the house, after which it flies around, sighing about nostalgia, how it's unchanged. Then it says that it's enough and asks you to bring it back to its grave. When you do, it thanks you. Afterwards, the Owl appears and points you towards the fifth dungeon, the Catfish's Maw.

This encounter is one that really stands out to me in the game, for a variety of reasons. Why is it in the game? It's mandatory for progressing the game, seemingly without reason; the ghost does not point you towards any dungeon key or other requirement for entering the dungeon, so why is this little quest mandatory? What's the purpose of its inclusion?

The purpose is symbolism. The little ghost is a miniature of the game's themes.

Death is something that pops up surprisingly often in discussions about Link's Awakening. Surprising, because such a morbid topic is seemingly at odds with the game's tone, but also unsurprising, because of the very premise of the game. Koholint is a dream, and dreams end. The whole game is structured around you coming to care for the island, and then having to say goodbye to it as it disappears. While I do think interpreting that as a literal death is oversimplified, the fact that people frame it as such and make this connection is not strange or even unwarranted. Maybe it's not a literal death, but the fact remains: there was an island, and then there wasn't. There were people, and then there weren't. Grief is the natural reaction.

But it's important to remember that Koholint's end is, at no point, framed as a bad thing. A sad thing, yes, but not a bad one. The little ghost is one of the many ways the game shows you what it wants to say.

The ghost has one last request for you, to let it indulge in nostalgia for one last time before finally helping it rest, and it is thankful that you did both things. Ghosts are not intended to linger in the realm of the living, not permanently; there are a lot of stories about ghosts being guided back to rest, and putting a ghost to rest is nearly always considered a good thing. I doubt many people felt as if they were killing someone when they helped the little ghost to rest, or felt as if this was a bad thing. It's melancholy, for sure, but not a bad thing. Ghosts are not meant to linger on; they are meant to leave.

As is Koholint. By the time you come there, it's already been here for too long. The Wind Fish is forcibly kept asleep by the Nightmares, malicious outside intruders. Like the ghost, it's been kept lingering when it should've left a long time ago. Your journey throughout the game is comparable to bringing the ghost to its home, though not 1:1; but both are last trips, necessary to find peace. And like you put the ghost to rest, you wake the Wind Fish, granting both Koholint and the little ghost the end they deserve.

This little moment is here to tell you that it's okay. That it's sad, but that in allowing the ghost and Koholint to find peace and leave this world, you are doing a good thing. Nobody is meant to live forever. Dreams are meant to end. Finding a peaceful end, rather than clinging to it beyond its time, is a good thing. That's what you are giving Koholint and the little ghost.

Link's Awakening is a game that asks you to appreciate transience. It wants you to know that you are doing a good thing by waking the Wind Fish, because it's not the ending that is bad; it is refusing to accept it. The little ghost is here as a metaphor for the game's themes, which is why it's an unskippable part of the game that's necessary for progression: the game wants to make sure you've seen it, because it wants you to understand what it is trying to say.

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Okay no so I need to get this out of my head and what better way than to plop it into somebody else's lap so that they can add their two cents: I am convinced that the Sully family, at some point, would have an intensely divided war amongst themselves following an argument regarding what pet to get. If it was a human AU, then you best bet they'd be split down the middle on whether to get a dog or cat.

Neteyam is fully in the cat corner and has compiled a hefty amount of research devoted specifically to how to care for/own a cat, along with all of the benefits of having a cat vs. having a dog (for some reason I feel like when Neteyam goes he goes all in or else why bother? He's the oldest in a line up of future deviants, he has no time for half-assed attempts). He already has a name picked out for it and everything (Mittens, because for some reason I picture him being both basic and valid at the same time) and assures his parents that his choice is the best one to go through with.

Kiri is team dog, though she would settle for a cat. A dog would just be so much better for all the outdoors-y shit she and her family does. A morning walk? You can take the dog! Going to the beach? You can take the dog! Camping? You can take the dog! Sure, cats are pretty self-sufficient, but do you really want to have to spend time wondering what you're going to do with the cat while planning every trip?

Lo'ak, surprisingly, is team cat. Why exactly? He couldn't tell you. He just likes their "fuck off" vibe (okay and maybe their fluffy fur and cute little paws and how they meow and how they lie in a sweet little ball of fluff and have you seen how they yawn oh my Eywa their eyes close so adorably and, oh fuck it, he admits it he's in love just get the cat already).

Tuk is team dog and it isn't even close. Dogs are do cute! Dogs are so friendly! Dogs would definitely play with her whenever she wanted and she could train their dog to do the cutest little tricks! It would be her best friend and love her forever!

Neytiri is team dog. She just feels like dogs connect more to their families than cats do and she thinks that the main thing a person should want in a pet is for them to become integrated deeply into the family and all they do. You can take a dog far more places than you can a cat, too, which is also preferable (much like in Kiri's opinion).

Jake is, strangely enough, team cat. I have this little headcanon that he and Tommy spent a good deal of their life in the foster system in this huge city and throughout the many miserable homes they were placed in their only constant was the plethora of stray cats skulking around the city (that has long since stopped trying to get the problem under control because I said so this it my fantasy thank you very much). I also like to imagine that his mother died when they were very young and one of the only memories he has of her is this one time when she was crouching down to try and coax a cat into taking some of her tuna sandwich so he's always just had a soft spot for them because one of the only things he remembers about her is that she must have at least liked cats. Anyways, there's just something about a cat's quiet comfort that he digs. They're warm and small and just feel amazing to hold (plus, he's a sucker for the purring maybe if dogs could purr there would be more of a contest). They already have four rambunctious children (plus Spider whenever Norm fucks off to wherever his research takes him next) and he's not about to get a dog and take a shot at five.

I imagine it gets so out of hand that pretty much everyone around them places bets on which side will win. Ao'nung has zero faith in Lo'ak, so he's betting on team dog. Tsireya has a cat of her own so she's biased, team cat. Neytiri terrifies Norm, team dog. Tonowari has to side with his bro despite being a dog person, team cat. Ronal refuses to participate in this (team cat to spite Neytiri). Kiri has the Spider advantage, team dog.

Who wins? Fuck if I know. I say let chaos reign, I hope they never come to a decision.

ANON. THANK YOU FOR THIS GIFT HOLY SHIT. I AM ~OBSESSED~ WITH THE MINDMELDING WE ARE ALL DOING.

Okay, but consider this?? A dog AND a cat. Mo'at suggests it because it's the obvious solution and they are all dumb for not thinking of it earlier. So then they get a puppy and a kitten and it ends up being one of those fucked up situations where the cat turns out a little more dog like than usual and the dog gets a little bit more cat from the situation. All of a sudden they have a dog to take camping and on RV road trips and hiking and to the beach, and aLSO A FUCKING CAT. Mittens is basically free range dude, Neteyam straps the life vest on the cat and they go canoeing and shit. He and Lo'ak make fun of Kiri because her dog (River) barely fits in the canoe with her, and whenever he jumps out he capsizes her. Mittens can jump after him with little to no disruptions. It's all fun and games until River's trying to get up into Neteyam's canoe right after.

The cat and dog very much enjoy the Sully (and Spider and Mo'at)'s family cross country road trip. River sleeps with Kiri and to Neteyam's utter disappointment Mittens sleeps with Mo'at. Jake likes to throw Mittens overboard while he's throwing Tuk when they get to the sailing and wakeboarding part of their journey, and Mittens LOVEs it. He's the most broken cat of all time. Neytiri has a special raw food diet going for both animals, and they are both so obscenely well trained it's not even funny. They are better trained than Lo'ak, Kiri says. It also takes Lo'ak and Spider that entire summer roadtrip to teach River to skateboard so they can make a viral instagram account. They have to start all over when it comes to surfing, and Ao'nung is disturbingly dedicated to helping even though he "hates" them.

[wishmcker]

i've been thinking about my muse love languages and it's so interesting to think about. i'm just listing my four main muses here:

nami would be a little more reserved at first at expressing it vocally but very openly expresses love through physical touch; hugging her friends, leaning on them, being around them. i feel like she used to say "i love you" all the time to her mother and sister but after everything with arlong, it just became something difficult to say. so when she does feel comfortable, it's something she would express often. loves the little things of being able to spend time with her friends, talking about books or being allowed to express her interests while the others are doing their own thing. it's a good balance.

artemis is definitely an acts of service/physical touch kind of person. her dad clearly was a piece of sh*t, and while it's obvious her mother and her have a loving relationship, artemis has a lot of abandonment issues. she also grew up in the rougher side of gotham and around assassins, so showing emotion was considered weak. but she tries—she'll buy really thoughtful gifts, is surprisingly good with letters. she loves expressing her emotional connections through things like hugs and other physical acts. but the moment she says i love you, that's her solidifying everything. she never says it. she'd trace it on skin, sign it, but to vocalise it? oh god, she does love you. she trusts you.

misty is a quality time/words of affirmation person. while she loves gift giving and things like that, she likes people to know she's thinking of them and knowing that they think of her. send her a funny photo that made you think of her? yep. go to cerulean city just for a quick visit? yep. she'll surprise you by dropping in to wherever you are, even knowing how dedicated she is to her job, and will delve into your interests even if she isn't interested. read with her, go to the beach with her, train with her, tell her you love her, and she'll express all of that and more to you.

ochako is a little harder to pinpoint because at least to me, she can be considered all of them. she's so thoughtful and sweet, that i do think she would love gift-giving. but she's also the kind of person who loves what can be considered menial things, passing by "i love you"s, tracing of her fingers, simply cooking together, etc. and she has shown grand gestures where she is willing to defend her friends and give passionate speeches about how important they are, so words of affirmation to. she's a mixed goody bag. i think she'd adapt to those around her as well, but as long as she knows it in some way, ochako is happy.

[ask-princessandromeda]

The wind, smelling of ocean salt and light, swaying the hems of clothes, hair and the veil on his head. Kore feels uncomfortable. She always feels uncomfortable in the past, especially someone else's, sticking her nose in their business is not very good. And it's not pleasant. She lowers her head and hunches her shoulders, pulling the white veil tighter over her head - a light, slightly transparent silk hugs her shoulders and back as if wet - in visions she always wears Greek clothes. A white chiton, green himatias and a veil to protect her from the heat/hide her from her father's eyes and hide if necessary. Although she does it more for self-satisfaction, no one can see her anyway. She is a ghost, an ephemeral creature from the past or the future. She swallows and stubbornly walks forward, her bare feet are pleasantly caressed by the hot sand and yet, raising her head, she sees a giant ship - a real work of art, as if created by the hands of Hephaestus himself, this is definitely the best ship this century has to offer. But she doesn't care about the ship - Argo, the ship of the hero Jason, the favorite of Hera - she is attracted to the people standing next to him and their loud voices… She notices the bright golden sheen of long hair, the same as hers. She runs, letting go of her veil. She freezes just a few steps away from them, her eyes greedily absorbing the scene in front of her, the major moment of her brother's fate - Idmon Abaseis, the son of their father Apollo and Abas, mortal seer of his brother-king. He looks like her, really looks like her, even more than the other Apollo children. If they were the same age, he could have been her twin - Idmon was tall and slender on the verge of painful thinness, his silky golden hair shining down to his waist, even their clothes were similar. His golden-green eyes shone dimly. There was a slight smile on his lovely face. "Welcome Idmon!" Telamon's voice was booming and strong on the beach along with the wind, he carefully held a veil on his hands, embroidered at the edges with thin gold threads "The new seer of the Argonauts and advisor of Jason!". Idmon looked away from his friend and looked at her, his gaze warm and understanding. He moved slowly towards her, walking gracefully like a swan sacred to their father. He stood directly in front of her and leaned towards her, his kiss on her forehead was soft and pleasant, balm and comfort. The Argonauts looked confused, they'll get used to it. "My radiant sister," his voice sounded soft and affectionate, like basking in the rays of the setting sun, "You have done everything in your power... I'm sorry that you look like me" "It was an honor for me." she bends down and snuggles up to him, he is warm and soft, she absorbs his warmth like a hungry earth absorbs rainwater. They hug until her visions end.

[Kore was sitting on her bed - it was immaculately tucked in and covered with a soft woolen blanket. Kore wore a wide sweater, her long hair was pulled into a careless bun, loose thick strands streamed down her shoulder to her ribs. She was holding a steaming mug of tea in her hands]. Idmon was the Argonauts' seer and Jason's advisor.

[She took a sip of tea and smacked her lips a little, her breath sounded short and jerky]. He knew he was going to die, but he joined them anyway... I repeat his fate. Moirai really loves graceful repetition.

And... [She tapped the mug several times with her short nails, the sound was surprisingly melodious]. They greeted him the same way you greeted me.

Ethan: *his eye widens as he frowns in surprise and disbelief* Your… brother, you say?

Alabaster: *his gaze wonders somewhere above, as if he’s struggling to remember something* Idmon…argonaut, the knowing one, son of Abas… Oh, fuck.

Alabaster: I… I never made the connection! I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid, I should have. I know the story of the Argo by heart. I…

Alabaster: *pauses* Idmon died killed by a boar, didn’t he? He died knowing that he will, it was his fate, but… it wasn’t right. Although he’s your brother, your mirror, yeah, I know; even though you two should be the definition of “history repeats itself”… I still think that there’s a difference between you and your brother.

Alabaster: Jason never tried to help his Argonauts. Didn’t he leave Hilas to die on that island, abducted by nymphs? Didn’t he leave Heracles, his most valuable mate, behind? I’m nothing like Jason. I can still help you.

Ethan: *his empty gaze falls on Alabaster* You only say that to appease yourself, Al.

Alabaster: At least I’m trying to…

Ethan: *gestures to him to stop* *kneels down next to Kore* This is exactly like…

Ethan: *closes his eye, recalling the day Kore was welcomed on Princess Andromeda* You told me about what will happen after my death, about the Nemesis cabin, about Damien. I was too cowardly to think too much about it at the time. And I held your hand and raised it in the air: “Welcome Kore Pythia Hayashi to our ship! The new advisor of Kronos!”. I felt prideful, and for what? For guiding you to your own death?

Ethan: This damned ship is a grave in development. I have no clue how you could step in it so bravely, like a pig into the slaughter house. You might have lived longer if you weren’t so keen on helping us. And how this Idmon guy did the same entering the Argo. *a ghost of a smile crosses his face* I’ll need to have a little talk with him once I reach the afterlife, won’t I?

Alabaster: *wiping his eyes, now wet* If you do, tell him that I was stupid and couldn’t save you.

Ethan: For fuck’s sake, Al! Nobody asked you to be our savior! Stop beating yourself up and understand already; you’re not stronger than fucking fate!

*Al opens his mouth, but is soon stopped by the sound of a door. All three startle as Luke enters the room.*

Luke: Idmon, right?

Ethan: You’ve been listening to us?

Luke: *ignores him* It’s funny and cruel when fate does this. It repeats and repeats and repeats, like some sort of fucked up game that we have to take part in. This is all that the gods can do, repeat history over and over again. This is all we deserve, apparently… doesn’t this make you angry, Kore? Doesn’t this continuous tread of mindless fuckery that runs again and again like a river over the bloody millennias, doesn’t it make you want to…

Luke: *growls and stops himself from talking before he starts to shout* I pity you, Kore. I pity Idmon. And I pity myself, too.

Luke: *exits the room, leaving silence behind*

[clark-reviews]

Album Review: 👍🏼Recommend

Lana Del Rey, Incense, The #1 Male Sex Toy in the World, and the Auto Play feature on YouTube Music?

The secret recipe for turning people into Taylor Swift fans isn't once size fits all, in fact, when it comes to the moment a talented artist grabs your attention for the first time, I think of it more like a meet cute. Cupid doesn't care who you're with either, he's sneaky like that. I had no intention of listening to "Midnights". In fact, Taylor Swift wasn't even on my Pop music radar until she infiltrated my bedroom solo act, with Lana's masterpiece, "Born To Die", as the sonic backdrop I had consented to.

As though Lana had lovingly snuck Taylor into the room and revealed her as a surprise birthday gift, "Snow On The Beach" auto played right after Lana's album ending track, "Lucky Ones". I have to admit, as though I was audibly blindfolded, when Taylor's track started, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I couldn't tell them apart! "Snow On The Beach" has Lana's red lipstick-stained cigarette butts all over it. She seamlessly weaves in and out of Taylor's (surprisingly) sultry vocal delivery, never taking control of the song. But she's there in the room, the whole time, making sure I'm still okay with this cunning sleight of hand.

My second order of business for the night was to check and see if Lana had just silently dropped an album on me without telling me first. One that included this new song. To my surprise, it's on Taylor Swift's new album!? As a man who appreciates a good musical rabbit hole, I delved further and started "Midnights" from the top. Because "What's the big idea?" and whatnot.

To be perfectly honest, I chuckled at the title of the first track "Lavender Haze". My mind immediately connected it to "Purple Rain" and well... It was a cute moment. I've since read that this album contains Easter eggs, albeit, this may not be one of them. I hit play though and I got smacked in the face with the most uncannily Dua Lipa sounding song on the whole album. This is a good thing though, we like Dua Lipa. And it's refreshing to know that Taylor might have taken some influence from her, and chose to give her a lovely nod to begin the album.

"Maroon" is an interesting track as well, because it's always the second track that sets the pace of an album, in my opinion. Just as a single note isn't a melody until there's a second note to compliment it. In music theory this is called an interval. And in this case, the previous track was in B-flat Major, and "Maroon' is in G Major. Not to get too technical, but this interval the first two tracks created is called a "minor 3rd" (m3). For reference, the first two notes of Moonlight Sonata form a minor 3rd. I already know this album is going to be a little bit sad. And boy did it deliver! Because "Anti-Hero" is in E Major, and we now have a descending diminished arpeggio taking us into the third song. Taylor is building suspence with this track order!

In most albums, you'll find that the third track is almost always a single. "Anti-Hero" comes in loud and clear. Taylor's voice is now front and center with that gorgeous verse melody. The starting lyric is "I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser" and her command of that falsetto on the word "thing" sells the lyric to me at full-price every time. What a mature delivery, to attach to such a doubtful line about oneself, but sing it so confidently. There's something special about this song. It's a song about insecurities, and I'm humbled to hear it sung so proudly. Whatever she was going through, seems now resolved. We enjoy those moments, don't we.

After "Snow On The Beach" we have a few more tracks that seem to explore even further -Taylor's latest pop sensibilities, with "Bejeweled" being the bubbliest one of all. For my personal preference, I wasn't too impressed with it. The song seems a bit crowded with too many lyrics and Taylor seems to breathe between words at odd moments. It's probably more suitable for fans of her previous bodies of work. Let's just say that if "Bejeweled" had played after "Lucky Ones", I wouldn't be writing this review, and I would have never heard one of the most hauntingly beautiful pop songs I've ever listened to, and it's been on repeat since 11:47pm last night...

*Song Spotlight*

That song is "Labyrinth", and it has the honor of a spotlight. Let's listen together.

If Labyrinth doesn't successfully heal any emotional wounds of yours, then it'll proceed to inflict one, clean it, dress it, and kiss it for you.

This song took me back to 2012. I'd met a beautiful young lady at an airport terminal in Copenhagen on my way back from visiting my mother in Norway. We had a meet cute that led to us spending the next 32 hours holding hands, loitering the airport, waiting for her to tell me to smile again and again, and wishing to never go home. As I finally boarded the flight that separated us, she kissed me on the lips for the first time since we'd met. It was at that moment that "Labyrinth" should have started playing over the loudspeakers. Because in my mind, when I think of that moment, this song belongs to it. This song gave me closure, and I'm grateful.

To close out the album, we have the cleverly celebratory lyrics of "Karma", the rich and sweet nostalgia-inducing "Sweet Nothings", and "Mastermind" could have very well been the first song on the album, because it perfectly encapsulates the lyrical pretenses of every song on this album. She's acknowledging that she's in control of every rushing memory she penned to the sheet, every winding road she willingly drove while sitting in the driver's seat.

Taylor Swift took me on a ride with this album, and I'm inspired to take her up on her next foray into the throws of adult womanhood. I have trust in her now.

[fingersinmyhair]

WHOLE NSFW ASK MEME POST FOR GABRIEL MAY!!! ❤️

of course <3 for you and @pixiehoneyccfinds

ALL of my nsfw hcs for gabriel may under the cut <3

cum headcanon with gabriel may:

he cums fast and he cums hard, touch starved from years of living vicariously through his sister

he prefers anal orgasms, as it feels more intimate, and he can face his sexual opponent

first time hc:

his first time, he somehow finds two lucky people to fuck and take care of him, fucking both holes while he gives madison the best dream of her life, while he drools and appreciates every minute he can get of the body being his

masturbation hc:

picturing him stradding a chair, madison facing the chair and him facing out, as he rides two toys in both holes, fucking so desperately that the chair creaks and moans under him

oral hc:

giving: he's a messy head giver, sure of himself but wanting as much as he can get, eating you out/blowing you through multiple orgasms for his own good

receiving: he's a head pusher in a sexy, demanding way and he always wants more

kinky hc:

his favorite kinks are knifeplay and biting

dangerous hc:

he's killed several of his sexual partners after the deed has been done, sometimes during

soft sex:

he loves eye contact and holding your head close, forehead to forehead, as you fuck him nice and deep

birthday sex:

he never expects birthday anything so he's appalled and needy when you wake him up with head

making love:

he tells you with he loves you while he's twisted up like a pretzel taking your cock/strap, begging for more and keeping you as close as possible

music he has sex to:

heavy metal for sure

fave time of day to have sex:

as the sun is going down and the room is full of pinks and oranges

how he eats pussy:

with fervor and desperation, two fingers shoved inside you

how he sucks cock:

sloppy and perhaps with a little bit of teeth

something they're really shy asking for:

being choked surprisingly makes him so so weak and flustered

phone sex:

he telekinetically connects to your phone while you're in the middle of phone calls and by the end of the phone call with him you always have a hand shoved in your pants, fucking yourself for him

naughty pictures:

sends you tasteful nudes in lingerie belonging to madison, contorting and flexing for you

shower/bath sex:

gabriel pressed with his front to the shower wall while you hold him up, fucking his ass from behind, his wet hair effectively hiding madison's face and existence

car sex:

demands you pull over on the side of the road so he can give you head then ride you like no tomorrow

how loud he is:

very very growly, very vocal but not too loud

sex toys:

absolutely loves buttplugs and those thrusting ones especially

an after sex snack:

you if you are not careful

joking, he fucking loves oatmeal raisin cookies

tipsy sex:

loves loves giving you head while you're drunk, but if he's drunk ypu're not getting your genitals away from his mouth /lh

silly sex:

he's very ticklish, almost everywhere

sex that sent you to the ER:

he has strangled you and gone overboard before, as well as accidentally cutting yourself on one of his knives under the pillow

sex on the beach:

he HATES it

orgasm:

arches his back deeply, contorting through strong orgasms, gripping the sheets and keening for you

morning sex:

loves being woken up with head almost as much as he loves waking you up by pleasuring you slow and steady until you're gasping awake

filming sex:

he asks for it very very rarely, but when he does, he wants something very specific each time, building a video for his viewing pleasure and to torture you with later

celebration sex:

fucks you hard and fast with either his fingers or your shared strap, making you really feel him after he succeeds in hunting an enemy down

sending/receiving nudes:

he covets every single picture you send him, having even a small shrine dedicated to you and your body in the attic

making out:

he is so sensitive to you groping his tits while you kiss him, and he lovvvess his tongue being sucked on. he loves sloppy kisses, lots of drool

[thehistoriangirl]

The Tides Have Veiled [Two]

I MISSED YOU BABYYYYYYYY  🥹 🥹 🥹  I’m sorry to everyone who reads my “spooky” (not really spooky tbh) fics because I take so long to post, but my IQ doesn’t let me write these plots that easily 🤡 🤡 Anyway, I hope you like it :D

Viktor x fem!Reader------/Gothic AU ft. Spooky Sea/-----2.9K-----SFW

>  M A S T E R L I S T  <    

← Previous // Next →

Chapter summary: Is your first night as the lighthouse keeper. What lurks beneath the sea? But perhaps the most important question is if you’re willing to discover it.

Gnral. synopsis:  Piltover the Old has an old lighthouse that looms over an abandoned port. From the house in the wailing cliff’s edge, the lighthouse owner watches that the beacon is being lighten up each time darkness arrives, so that monsters wouldn't dare to crawl inland, or so legends say. Both building are haunted, maybe even the man himself, by both past and present ghosts. Surprisingly, the keeper’s work is beyond turning on the beacon every night— but the rest is on you to discover.

Tags (still a lil spoileryyy): Curse| Ghosts| Sea Monsters/Sea Cryptids| Sirens| Arranged Marriage| Slow Burn| Forced Proximity| Mystery| Dark Magic|  Nightmares| Mentions of Death, Violence, and Blood| Eventual Happy Ending|

Chapter Two: What Conquers Fear

The night passed like haunting dreams did. Frozen in time, so cold the sweat tickling in the nape of your neck originated only from paranoia. Every sound was amplificated by the fright sensation of something lurking near, hidden in the thick mist, in the muffled, disfigured human voice that seemed to pour out the cliff to lure you close. Crawling up the spiraling stairs in the lighthouse, looking for you.

But contrary to dreams, you wouldn’t wake up here, the sun too scared to come out. It wouldn’t rise to combat the terrors peeking from beneath the waves.

And you didn’t wish to wake up Julio from his nap at the ground level of the lighthouse—a terrible idea to offer yourself as a vigil for the night in the first place—, but you wanted to make a good impression.

You couldn’t ruin this opportunity. 

The control room was on the same level as the beacon, the domed place divided in two, where the lamp was built in the far end of the room, a wall in the middle to block the intense light suspended in the air and warmth of the lamp, where the panels were mounted on the wall, dusty wires hanging from the wall like black vines.

Contrary to the well-kept wide base of the tower where the main room contained the living room, a kitchen, and a humble bedroom; the upper floor possessed the familiar look of abandonment.

The precarious staircase connecting the floor with the beacon’s room, its balustrade as thin as your fingers’ circumference; the acute angle of the tower making the space eerie, slightly claustrophobic, with shadows elongated or changed against the round, impossibly tall walls. Even the blue wallpaper with wildflowers felt alien, the edges chipping off with the humidity of the environment.

You felt your toes cold as they dangled off the tiny couch that seemed to have been in the control room forever, its cushions morphed after the silhouette of another body. Cold wind filtered from the beacon room to the panels through an ajar windowsill covered in saltpeter that wouldn't let you close it.

Wind howled outside with the same rage that a storming sea, though the storm had gone away, leaving only a drizzle behind.

The beacon room was almost like a greenhouse, with a domed-glass roof and windows that almost covered the entire wall. You supposed the view must have been breathtaking if it weren't for the mist covering everything in an eerie, endless blanket of nothingness.

With sunlight, the beach around the lighthouse was a steep mass of sand with rocks pocking like fingers, trapping algae, shells, and even some fishes in shallow pools, waiting to be found by the lighthouse keeper when the tide resides every morning during the full moon.

You supposed that was the origin of Viktor’s shell, and the mere thought of it made your pocket heavier.

You could almost imagine Julio looking at the offering the sea brought to him. It was just… the image of the old man thinking about his boss while gifting him such a thing was odd. Viktor, with the shelves of his office filled with books, didn’t seem like the superstitious type.

But he did live in that house by the cliff; who knows what he had seen through the years.

It would bring you luck. You sighed, stepping into the beacon room, peeking at the windows as your breath misted the glass, the cold wind fighting with the warmth of your breath as it hit the other side of the crystal.

The sea next to Piltover the Old was beautiful, a navy blanket with boats scattered across the rippling fabric outlined with white foam and gold sunlight. At night, however, mist covered the waves like a ghostly veil, moving at the command of the water—the things below. Only the beacon of the lighthouse managed to cut over the mist, showing the bottomless black inkwell that was the sea, the desertic sand coast.

You wanted to see the otherworldly landscape outside, but the breeze had become the glass into a fuzzy surface, and the fog didn’t help to paint a seashore for your eyes. Some sick, twisted part of you wanted to see a strange, off-place figure peeking beneath the waves as if you could recognize the source of the mournful cries as something more outside your paranoic head.

It was like a primal, stupid whim of wanting to look back at the sinister to state that you weren’t scared of it. A lie, but a foolish move to declare a victory with the logical part of the mind over the other.

Because that other part of your brain conjured all those creatures hidden beneath the waves in woven, fragmentary stories blurred inside your brain into a big, floating shadow moving silently, smoothly among the waves. It was funny, you thought, how such stories reached every soul in the town despite how inland and wary of the sea they were.

People loved to scare each other, that wasn’t something strange to you. That type of malice seeped inside your uncle and aunt’s heart as they shared such stories with you when you were a child.

The first one they told you was about cold, black waves that kept hidden a monster that lured people deep into the water with fishes of vibrant pink and copper fins as luminous as the sunlight; only for the monster to envelop its prey with sticky tentacles. First their ankles, quickly creeping up their thighs and chest, until the person couldn’t scream anymore, water reclaiming every inch of their bodies until they sunk.

It was only a matter of time before you encountered some algae that got tangled on your ankle while you were helping your family find crabs. You felt the sticky sensation brushing your skin and start to cry as if a jellyfish had stung you.

Many years had passed since that, but the fear never really left. Growing cautious as you stood in the family's fishing boat, always looking at the sea as if something would stare back.

You knew—almost certainly—that there was no monster lurking near the beach, and they wouldn't be interested in you if they were, anyway. That was another thing that your uncle and aunt repeatedly told you, tucked in secrecy in a corner of your little bedroom so your grandparents wouldn’t hear it.

The sea didn’t want you, that’s why it sent you back when it decided to take your parents.

You stumbled away from the window, the sea becoming the focus of the rage curling in your stomach. They had always been like that, and you never understood why. The favoritism your grandparents had for you evaporated as time went on, as you became a bigger burden for them.

At least the anger against the sea maintained you away from your initial fatal inclination toward the sea. A hate-love relationship as you had spent every night with the lull of the waves crashing against the shore.

You wish you could ask the sea: Why did you only take them?

“I… miss them,” you muttered, your lips barely open, not wanting the echo to magnify the sensation of the loss. You were little when it happened, the stories of your loving family eroding until only an amorph collage of broken recollections, a puzzle with missing pieces, making some of them with colorless cardboard as your grandparents nurtured you those occurrences to print them in your memory as they forgot them with their growing age.

All it came down to choices. They didn't give you in adoption. They tried to make you happy. And now, they were trying to marry you off the best bidder, as if they were trying to recollect all their effort in raising you with that single transaction.

Just like it was your choice right now, the one that kept you standing so close to the haunting cliffside so you could have a chance of writing your story.

The keeper should be awake all night, monitoring the light and the fog signal. To waste time away, you found a book tucked in a wobbly shelf. A worn-out logbook, its tiny handwriting deformed by water drops in the upper end where the dates were scribbled.  

…Flooding: state of damage. You tried to read between the smudged words. Reinforcing the foundations of the ground floor. Beacon is in good condition, the wiring had had a short circuit.

You frowned. The writing was only concise for the writer's mind but ambiguous for everyone else. Was this from Julio? Or another past lightkeeper?

You flipped around the pages, seeing lists of materials and food, budgets calculated as the recourses had to come from very far away in both boat or carriage. Some calculous of food rationing.

Storm upcoming.

Food:

1/2 kg of dry meat.

One half-empty full potato sack.

2 porbeagle sharks.

5 tomatoes.

8 carrots.

Mr. Stell would send provisions in two days.

The storm is due to hit tonight.

Lightning tore the sky open, making you throw the logbook away as if by reading it you would be summoning the storm the keeper had written down.

You went to check the levers that kept the lighthouse and the fog signal active, deciding to brighten the light as the mist seemed to conglomerate even more. The control room was a tiny half-circle, the wiring, and the panel rusty from the humid air filtering from the perpetually ajar window, the levers squeaky when you pushed them up to adjust the Fresnel lens.  

Besides the control panel, the room contained the old couch, and a table with uneven legs where a deck of cards was tossed uncarefully on it, a solitary game half-finished.

Even as you increased the brightness of the lighthouse, you couldn't see the house on the other side. Was Viktor still awake? Was he, just like you were thinking about him, thinking about how you were doing? If you even could find your way down toward the lighthouse without falling off the cliff?

You pinched yourself with the shell as you took it from your pocket, fingers curled around the smooth surface.

Not that it mattered, any of the questions or any of the answers.

You gazed toward the foggy shore, cutting in with the beacon of the lighthouse. For a moment, the water moved, the ripples a natural echo of something moving below. A glimpse of white against the bottomless black, like a dorsal spine.

Goosebumps covered your arms. A shark? It must be a trick of the light.Your fingers grasped the shell violently, the wave of pain keeping you afloat as you recollected your cool with a deep breath.

You quickly turned around, to the same window, but the glass only reflected your hunched position against the table. The beacon had turned away.

Fear kept you frozen in place, waiting for the lighthouse to rotate again, showing the empty beach below. Then again, the same result.

A knot plunged into your stomach. Paranoia was the one to blame for building such fantasies.

And then, the beacon illuminated the beach again.

There was a concave pattern of the sand from a dragging body against the soft surface, a ripple of ink meters away from the coast, where something just submerged. Or surfaced.

At the next turn of the light, the marks in the sand were gone.

The light continued to rotate, the cries of the cliff fading until eerie, off-putting silence filled your ears; and you only blinked away when your eyes started watering at seeing the orange light of the dawn over the horizon.

*~*~*~*

A dream, half-hollow with echoing sounds traveling to supposedly nothingness, too-much full of water filling every corner of the infinite black landscape.

It must had been cold, but you didn’t feel that way. You should’ve been scared, but the dream was still, a moment of utter calm where all things hold their breath, waiting.

From above the water, you saw light converting the black water into navy blue. Only with the light it was possible to see the white figure plunging into the abyss, with the foam covering the body which made it so difficult for you to identify.

But your instinct was raging, building a memory that you had never seen.

Mother?

Moments after, when the foam was gone, and the bubbles were drifting away, you finally started swimming toward it.

And even underwater, you could hear a whispering voice against your ear, telling you that you shouldn’t have done that.

*~*~*~*

You felt the pressure of a cold hand over your shoulder, making you jump, your mouth opened as if gasping for air.

For a moment, your vision was filled with strange figures, places that you didn't recognize, unfamiliar faces, and alien voices. But no—you obliged yourself to focus, to remember.

You were in the lighthouse, sleeping in the cot tucked at the corner of the ground floor. And Viktor was sitting at the edge of a chair, his hand hovering over your shoulder. So it was his hand.

You looked at it, pale and slender. Why was it so cold?

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to wake you up," he said, putting both hands on the handle of his cane as he reclined on the chair, creaking wood against his weight. “I came to see if you were still here." Viktor put his watch out of the inner pocket of his coat. It was 4 PM.

You’ve been sleeping for more than ten hours.

The walls became blurry when you propelled yourself up the cot, pressing your lips together to muffle the groan that crept out your mouth when your sore back tilted in its correct position. How were you sleeping? All your body felt lethargic, every movement of your arms and legs straining your muscles from end to end.

“I—I’m so sorry, Si—I mean Viktor. I’m sorry, Viktor.” Your brow was slightly hot when you rested it on your fingertips, the pulse of your heart reverberating inside your skull. “It wasn’t on my plans to sleep in.”

His eyes reflected the sunlight pooling inside from the tiny windows at the entrance of the lighthouse, squinting golden hues centering on you.

"It's alright. Julio told me you kept vigil last night. I just…" He shrugged, the brushing of his coat against the chair being the only sound in the lighthouse while you tried to come up with an answer, only to find your brain empty. "I just wanted to see if you were here."

You looked at him, eyes wandering without knowing where they should lay their vision on. Perhaps the mole under his right eye was a good spot.

"You thought I quit, didn't you?" Part of you felt hurt about his assumption, as if he didn't believe the sincerity of your words and actions. Because you did spend the night here, looking at the water and—

And whatever that dorsal spine belonged to.

“Julio had been the keeper for more than fifty years, why do you think he hasn’t retired?” he asked lightly. “It isn’t because he likes this job, but rather, nobody had wanted to fill his place. Until you, of course.”

“But I’m not going to be here for long.” The words were supposed to sound hopeful, but the echo of the almost-empty tower magnify it, morphing it into a doomed augury.

Viktor nodded, ignoring how the color had drained from your cheeks. “I’m aware of it—but what can I do? Julio is moving in two weeks with his granddaughter. You’re the only one left.” The thumping of his cane against the floor stomped it sounded like a heart, reverberating in the walls, making the tower in a gargantuan chest, and the beacon, its eye. “I hope I can find another keeper before you leave.”

Julio told you days ago that Viktor frequented Piltover the New for work, so you said: “Perhaps in the city there’s someone interested in the job.”

He tilted his head, locks of chestnut hair covering his brow. “I’m afraid that plan is fruitless. People inland may be charmed by the idea of being a keeper, but between imagining it and doing it… it doesn’t end well.”

Before you could meddle your nose in his business, Viktor fabricated a folded contract inside a fancy envelope, without a seal.

“Here,” he said, extending you the beige paper. “Please read it carefully, I’ll wait. And do not doubt about asking me if there’s something you need me to clarify.”

It was a straightforward contract, if only because Viktor hadn’t written his last name on it. The hours you’d have to work were from dusk to dawn, varying depending on the season—paid by the hour.

Viktor would send supplies for the lighthouse, to clean and maintain the engines, with a monthly ration of food. It was on you if the food run scarce before the end of the month. But you had to buy your clothes and personal items, of course.

For a fleeting moment, you remembered the ghostly landscape outside the lighthouse, the howling cliff. Were you truly going to do it?

Which thing was the one that scared you the most? The uncertainty of a future where you didn't have a saying in, or the decision of making company to the beacon as it illuminated the eerie sea below?

You asked for a pen, and Viktor gave you one that had been inside the pocket of his shirt, warm metal against your fingers, the black ink staining the paper in smooth traces.

And with so easy movement, the sequence coming natural to your wrist as it fluttered, scribbling your name, you had just sealed your fate. But at least it was you the one who decided it.

[frannyzooey]

Huge fan of yours. SDLN and ITD are some of my fav stories. And don't get me started on Weeknights... But, I recently read your Dave/Intern story and just would like to say I'm deceased. I actually don't know how I missed it. I took my first crack at Dave and now my one-shot makes me want to write a part 2. And basically, I've accepted that I'll probably attempt to write more one-shots of him.

But basically, just thanking you for your service. And just tryna know where my Dave girlies are at.

But let me get to the question since I'm babbling.

Any future Dave stories in your future?

-Kiwi

okay, first of all, ily ❤ this entire thing is so sweet and kind, so thoughtful and generous - I wish you could have seen me grinning while reading it, looking all soft ❤

second of all - HELL YEA, I'M A DAVE GIRLIE

I am so glad you liked the intern series! I am such a sucker for dave in that way -- trying to be a good man, a good father - but just needing that connection in his life with someone who truly gets the weight of what he has to deal with? And in turn, can handle the darker aspects of him 💀

I don't have anything actively planned, but I do have a one shot in the docs about you, renting a cabin for the summer alone, and meeting the neighbor next door when his two little girls wander over to your beach one day...it sounds so soft but it's surprisingly filthy lol

[phoenixradiant]

What, pray tell, do you mean by "Maiph has been to the 'beach' before but it wasn't real and doesn't count"? Mind beach shenanigans? Illusion? Something else?

Hey, thanks for the ask! So the gist of it is that she experienced Cellic's memory of a beach. Full context is, in fact, full, and so will be below the cut.

Context for the context, bullet points edition:

Thaccia has a large assortment of largely unused magic items (Which is actually really odd considering enchantment is not a magic native to the continent, and so stuff like that has to be imported), and while sorting through them one day Maiph found a pair of essentially sending stones and gives one to Cellic so they can talk even when he's gone.

Cellic has visited the beach three times (all as part of the same assignment), but it's been a long time, so his memory is fuzzy.

At the end of act one, Cellic accidentally shatters his sending stone.

About halfway through act two, for plot reasons Cellic and Narra make a pilgrimage to mythological tree that supposedly functions as a panacea, nature's weaponsmith, and ultrawise sage. Basically no one knows where it is or how it works, and how Cellic figured out is a long story that surprisingly enough involves Narra's mother.

Alright so the tree is magic and the vessel for the home of some kind of vaguely celestial being (if I tried to explain the entire cosmo-mythology here this post would be long enough that it could stop a bullet if you printed it out and folded it up). Narra enters and reaches a turning point in her character arc while also resolving a pressing plot problem, and then she leaves. Cellic was mostly just there to escort Narra, but after she leaves the tree remains open (think the tree portal at the end of the Prince Caspian movie) and he feels a gentle tug on his mind telling him to enter. He does so and gets his butt kicked by said vaguely celestial being. This butt-kicking is conducive to his growth as a person. I promise. Anyway afterwards he's given a gemstone that houses a lesser aspect of the celestial being that'll help him "remember what he had once known" (uh now I think about it it's like a spren but without a name and with less personality).

Alright, so how does any of this have to do with Maiph and beaches? Well the gemstone Cellic got is the exact same size as the sending stone he used to have (coincidence? I think not!), and he keeps it on the same place (the back of the gauntlet of his shield hand). He touches it out of habit and it works like a sending stone, and it specifically connects to Maiph's (there is a good explanation for this, but again, would take forever). She answers out of habit and their minds are both transported to a kind of dream realm, only with this stone the dream realm is constructed based off of Cellic's memories of a particular beach. The reasoning for this is that beach is where Cellic had had a conversation with Relpir exemplifying the very traits he'd lost, the very truths he'd forgotten, and so it's where the spirit in the stone chose to put them. Cellic and Maiph and the Spirit of the Brand spend a lot of time there trying to figure out what the issue is. It gets resolved eventually (but it's like a climax moment so no spoilers lol), but until Cellic relives that memory and regains that part of himself that had been broken, the memory of the beach is fuzzy and indistinct, and the sand doesn't shift, it's all one piece like a great mound of stone, and the sea doesn't smell salty, and the wind is stale. It's only an imitation, based off a memory of something better. Just like Cellic's present emotional state.

I feel like it's important to note that this remembrance, despite the emphasis I'm putting on it, is only half of how Cellic grows. Part of the message of his arc is that while where he was was certainly better at the start than the middle, he was still clearly not okay. It's just that he begins by fighting his fatal flaw first, and then rebuilding his virtues on top of that victory. The order is a bit funky, but I think it'll work well enough.

And while I'm making disclaimers, you might also point out that a question about Maiph spent way more time talking about Cellic. This is true for two reasons: 1) Cellic is a protagonist. Maiph exists to further his character just like Radiaten exists to further Narra's and Lutian exists to further Kar's. 2) Maiph has issues. She actually spends the latter half of act I and most of act II specifically pondering who she actually is. She used to be her parents' daughter, then when they died, the healer's apprentice, then when she finished that, Cellic's loosely-defined s/o, but when faced with the increasingly likely possibility that he's dead now too, she has a kind of "what now?" moment and she and Lycoris spend a decent amount of time helping the other understand themselves. She and Cellic still end up a thing, but both of them have much clearer ideas of who they are as people, rather than defining themselves solely by those around them (specifically one another). And here, why not a third reason while I'm at it? 3) Cellic spends a lot of time helping Maiph out too, there's just less murder involved and so it comes up less in discussions of events. It's still there but (just like several other characters who I haven't seen fit to even mention yet) it's not as crucial or attention-grabbing. What shows up here is not perfectly proportional to what happens in the book itself.

So yeah. That's the gist of it.