#yeah I can't draw scott any more

[jodragen]

I have been going some thinking... Now that Scott has said he no longer wishes to have his characters drawn suggestively, I might redraw some of my older scott fan art with either ocs or other characters.

This thought came about because I still fucking adore my vampire Scott picture from last year. It's still my phone background even. Just it's no longer allowed so I thought instead of letting it just rot in the back of my gallery to be forgotten I'll just redo it with a new character so I can at least still feel ok using it at my phone back ground.

So.... what do you guys think? Should I redraw some of my other Scott pictures? Would that be alright or should I just let them gather dust in the dark?

[9w1ft]

I'm a gaylor myself so this isn't coming from a place of hate but I really don't think karlie and taylor are still together, I think taylor still references her in her art and probably will for quite some time because that relationship -- whatever the nature of it was -- left such a deep impact on her. but I really can't see them still being together, I think she's forced herself to move on from karlie and has since dated a lot of other women. that doesn't mean her feelings for karlie have faded, just that they will probably always be there but they broke up for sure before 2019, I think. folklore and evermore, midnights even, are all breakup albums, I just can't see how they could still be together. especially all her anger and sadness in those songs that are thought of to be for karlie (like my tears ricochet or exile or mad woman) also the cover art being shoot in bedfords, new york, the exact same place where karlie got married feels more like taylor revisiting this place to really say goodbye and mourn her for one last final time so she can move on

sorry, this got a bit long, I just don't understand the appeal or the reasoning for lsk's because taylor has indicated so many times that they are over, she's been mourning her relationship with karlie quite publicly since 2019 (wearing all black during the lover era) so yeah

hi! i don’t usually respond to these but i’m not sensing any ill will so i’ve decided to give a reply a go.

first off, for me, i kinda just interpret her wearing black in the back end of lover era because her masters had gotten bought by scooter. and maybe the fact that she decided to not come out. there can be other reasons, but i really do not think that her breaking up with karlie has to be one of them.

another thing i can’t shake is the fact that it was a very notorious troll/manipulative person on tumblr who spread the first rumor that they broke up in 2019, a fact that is well understood by a lot of OG’s, and this troll got in the head of a few popular kaylor and gaylor swift accounts at the time and in doing so she got a lot of people to fold. she then went on to write all this progressively unhinged fanfiction about taylor and karlie trying to make one another jealous and sleeping with all these women, presented with the same level of seriousness with which she pushed the breakup agenda. even to this day, i see present day gaylors talk about stuff that stems from narratives this account and a few other power hungry accounts spread around many years ago and it honestly just goes to show how a lot of well known gaylors may be platformmed up but that don’t really know what they’re talking about.. i only write this because the troll deactivated about a year ago (maybe they’re lurking on platforms with more malleable minds—once a troll always a troll—but at least they’ve left here), they were a really dangerous person.. and several have wild receipts to prove it.

anyways sorry i recognize that’s a tangent, i guess what i mean to say by it is, a lot of the sentiment surrounding the idea of a 2019 breakup and the reinforcement of the narrative by a gaylor community none the wiser stems from the work of someone with disingenuous intentions. a lot of “masterposts” or “realistic timelines” draw from what this person made up and it’s gone through enough filters for it to seem like credible sentiment but like, if you were there and you read all of what she wrote you know how silly it all sounded and how incoherently it was all written.

okay so to circle back to more of a content-centric angle, in my interpretation of the events that gave us folklore, evermore, and midnights, taylor had so much to be sad about. her mom had been very sick, the pandemic arrived and she had to cancel lover fest, she had to come to terms with scott b having sold her work to her sworn enemy… songs on midnights and folklore, and on her lover era apple music playlist allude to certain other things that may have had her in a mournful mood. things were bad! and i don’t doubt that her and karlie have been through a lot. but for me, when you’ve got a ride or die love, you don’t just break up. this has been something frustrating for me and others, i think, to see so many people treat a relationship as either being all systems go or broken up, as if long term partners can’t experience sadness together, difficulty together, even heartbreak together.

i don’t like getting in to touchy subjects so much but there’s just been too much pointing towards what i consider to be a rather simple narrative that is a natural progression for people committed and in love. how did the lover music video begin and end? whats a randomly specific word in a song she performed at the grammys minutes after someone was announced to the world? what about taylor’s envisioned future stands out about the anti hero music video? i think i’ll stop here but idk man 😆 poke around my archive if you feel like wasting a few days of your life… there’s just been a consistent flow of the same kind of hijinks that we’ve seen from them for years, and i’d say that there are many songs that back up everything i’d want in order to stay invested in seeing if what i believe is true.

now, i know i just wrote what reads like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to people not following kaylor. but im okay with that. i’ve accepted that. and i know that the whole patterns and koincidences and twinning and symbolism beat isn’t for everyone and so i respect people’s decisions to believe they aren’t together, but in closing i’ll just say im sometimes at a loss to see time and time again people suggest that kaylors believe in kaylor because they find it appealing or because they want to ship it. when it’s literally not that— it just makes the most sense to a lot of us!

also, does this look like the face of someone mourning?

[kat-thepoet]

Veins of Violet

Logan Howlett X Female Reader

Part 22: Dawn

A/N: Sorry for not posting! I was busy with finals. Enjoy <3

Previous chapters ☞ HERE ☜

6.5k words

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred in bed, feeling the warmth of Logan beside me, his arm draped protectively over my waist. For a moment, I allowed myself to savor the peace of the morning, the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back, the way his presence grounded me in a way nothing else could. But as much as I wanted to stay wrapped up in this cocoon of comfort, reality was quick to intrude. 

The events of the previous day came rushing back-Erik's behavior, the looming danger that hung over us like a dark cloud. I knew we couldn't afford to stay in this bubble for long. There was too much at stake. I gently shifted, turning to face Logan. His eyes were still closed, but I could tell he was awake by the way his grip on me tightened slightly, as if he didn't want to let go.

"Good morning," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from his face. His eyes fluttered open, a sleepy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Morning, Bub," he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the warmth of his affection. But the weight of what lay ahead was impossible to ignore. I sighed softly, resting my head against his chest.

"We can't stay here forever, can we?"Logan's hand stroked my back in soothing circles, but there was a tension in his muscles that told me he was thinking the same thing. "No, we can't," he admitted, his voice tinged with reluctance. 

"But we'll take this one step at a time. We'll figure it out."I nodded, drawing strength from his words. "We'll deal with Erik, and then... we can finally be together in peace." He kissed the top of my head, his voice filled with determination. "We will. I promise you that." 

After a few more moments of quiet, we finally got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. The mansion was still quiet, most of the team likely still asleep or just starting to stir and the older kids where taken to the mountains for a field trip by Peter, storm and alongside Laura, which I was eager to see and apologize. 

Logans quickly got dressed while I flicked my wrist to change my clothes into something appropriate. "Wow thats... new", he says in a shock manner. I looked up with a smirk. "Yeah, I'm sill getting used to these new powers myself." He nodded in awe and we walked out the door holding his hand as we walked to the kitchen. 

When we finally made our way to the kitchen, we found Hank already there, sipping his morning coffee while reading through a stack of papers. He looked up as we entered, giving us a small nod of acknowledgment.

"Morning," he greeted, his tone neutral but friendly.

"Good morning, Hank," I replied, trying to muster a smile despite the weight on my shoulders. "Any updates?"

Hank set his coffee down, a serious expression crossing his features. "Nothing significant yet, but I've been monitoring the situation closely. We're preparing for all contingencies, just in case Erik decides to make a move."

Logan pulled out a chair for me before taking a seat across from Hank. "Good. We need to be ready for anything."

Hank nodded in agreement. "We'll need to strategize with the rest of the team once they're up. But I have to ask, Violet-are you feeling ready for this? I know you've been through a lot."

I appreciated the concern in Hank's voice, but I also knew that this wasn't the time for hesitation. "I'm ready," I said firmly. 

Hank gave me a reassuring smile. "That's good to hear. We're all in this together, and we'll do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe."

As we continued discussing the plans for the day, Scott and Charles joined us in the kitchen, their expressions mirroring the seriousness of the situation. The weight of the impending confrontation with Erik was palpable, and I could feel the tension growing among us as we prepared for what might come.

By the time the rest of the team had gathered, the atmosphere had shifted into one of focused determination. We all knew what was at stake, and there was an unspoken understanding that we needed to be united, stronger than ever, if we were going to stand a chance against Erik.

Charles took charge of the discussion, his voice calm and authoritative. "We need to ensure that the mansion is secure, and that everyone is prepared for any potential threats. Hank, I want you to oversee the security measures. Scott, I'll need you to coordinate the training sessions for the team. We'll need everyone at their best."

Scott nodded, already planning out the drills in his mind. "Consider it done."

Charles then turned to Logan and me, his gaze steady. "Logan, Violet-I need you both to be on alert. Erik may try to target you specifically, especially after what happened at the sanctuary. We can't afford to let our guard down."

Logan's expression hardened, his protective instincts kicking in. "We'll be ready, Charles. He won't catch us off guard."

I could feel the resolve in the room, the way everyone was focused and determined. It gave me strength, knowing that I wasn't facing this alone. But there was still a part of me that couldn't shake the fear-the fear of what Erik might do, the fear of losing the people I cared about.

As the meeting came to a close, Charles gave us all a final, reassuring look. "We've faced challenges before, and we've come through stronger each time. This will be no different. Remember, we're a team. We'll get through this together."

With the meeting adjourned, the team dispersed, each of us heading off to our respective tasks. Logan stayed by my side as we walked down the hallway, his presence a constant source of comfort.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.I nodded, giving him a small smile.

"I am. Just... nervous, I guess."

Logan stopped walking and turned to face me, his hands gently gripping my shoulders as he looked into my eyes. "I will protect you, Violet. We've got each other, and we've got the team. Erik doesn't stand a chance against that."

His words warmed my heart, and I leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Logan. I don't know what I'd do without you," I said as my fingers intertwined with his.

"You won't ever have to find out," he replied, his voice filled with quiet determination.

After lunch, I made my way to the training room, needing to clear my head and prepare for whatever lay ahead. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the sight of Scott flying across the room, his body slamming into the padded wall with a force that made me flinch. I froze in the doorway, my heart skipping a beat.

But to my surprise, Scott quickly got to his feet, brushing off the impact as if it were nothing. He looked over at me, a grin spreading across his face despite the obvious intensity of the sparring session.

"Hey, Violet, glad you could join us," he called out, his tone light, as if getting thrown around by an unseen force was just another day at the office.

I stared at him in disbelief, still trying to process what I had just witnessed. "Are you okay? You just flew across the room."

Scott laughed at my concern, waving off my question with a casual shrug. "I'm alright. Just sparring against these robots Hank created for training. They're pretty tough, but nothing I can't handle. You should give it a try."

I hesitated, glancing around the room at the various training bots that were scattered about. They were sleek and menacing, their eyes glowing with an eerie light as they awaited their next command. The idea of facing off against them was daunting, but I knew that I needed to be prepared-both physically and mentally-for whatever Erik might throw our way.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I mean, they look... intense."

Scott's grin widened, and he gave me an encouraging nod. "Trust me, it's great practice. Besides, you've got some pretty powerful abilities. This will help you sharpen them. And don't worry, Hank programmed them with safety protocols. They're not going to hurt you."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

Scott activated one of the robots with a quick command, and it immediately sprang to life, its movements fluid and precise as it approached me. My heart raced as I faced off against the mechanical opponent, but I knew I had to stay focused. This was just a training exercise-a way to prepare for the real threats we might face.

The robot moved quickly, its attacks coming in a blur of motion. I dodged the first strike, feeling the rush of adrenaline course through my veins. Instinctively, I tapped into my powers, sending a telekinetic blast at the robot, pushing it back several feet. It recovered almost instantly, advancing again with renewed determination.

Scott watched from the sidelines, offering tips and encouragement as I fought to hold my own against the relentless machine. "Keep your focus, Violet! Don't let it overwhelm you. Use your agility and stay one step ahead!"

I nodded, gritting my teeth as I dodged another swipe from the robot's metallic arm. I could feel the strain of the battle starting to wear on me, but I refused to back down. With each movement, I tried to channel my energy, honing my abilities and pushing myself to the limit.

The robot lunged at me, and I countered with a burst of energy that sent it crashing into the wall. But just as I thought I had the upper hand, it sprang back to its feet, unfazed by the attack.

"These things are relentless," I muttered under my breath, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead.

Scott chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "That's the point! Keep going, you're doing great!"

I took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. I had to remember that this was just training-a way to prepare myself for the challenges ahead. As the robot advanced once more, I reached deep within, drawing on the strength I had discovered over the past few weeks.

With a powerful surge of telekinesis, I lifted the robot off its feet, suspending it in the air for a moment before slamming it back down onto the mat with a resounding crash. The lights in its eyes flickered and then went dark as the training bot powered down, finally defeated.

I stood there for a moment, panting slightly as I took in what I had just accomplished. The room was still, the only sound my own heavy breathing as I tried to steady my racing heart. Just as I was beginning to catch my breath, the doors to the training room slid open, revealing Logan and Raven, with Hank and Charles close behind.

"There you guys are," Raven said, her tone light.

Logan's eyes immediately found mine, a mix of concern and pride evident in his gaze. He quickly crossed the room to my side, his hand reaching out to gently touch my arm. "You alright, Violet?" he asked, his voice low and filled with genuine worry.

I nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little winded from the training."

Raven stepped forward, her keen eyes taking in the sight of the powered-down robot. "Looks like you gave it a good run. These things are no joke, especially with the intensity Hank programmed into them."

Hank, ever the scientist, gave a small nod of approval as he looked over the robot. "You handled it well, Violet. These training bots are designed to push you to your limits, and you clearly rose to the challenge."

Charles, who had been observing quietly from the doorway, rolled his wheelchair further into the room. His calm, thoughtful gaze settled on me, and I could sense the weight of his thoughts. "Violet, you've shown incredible growth in your abilities. But I must ask-how do you feel, truly? Both physically and emotionally?"

I was taken aback by their behavior, the concern in their eyes making me feel slightly out of place. "Guys, I'm alright," I said, trying to sound reassuring, though I could hear the slight edge of defensiveness in my voice.

Raven raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall. "We know you're tough, Violet. But it's okay to admit when things are weighing on you."

Logan's grip on my arm tightened ever so slightly, a silent reminder that I didn't have to face everything alone. "They're just worried about you, Bub. We all are."

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude. It was hard to accept concern when I was so used to being the one who pushed through, the one who handled things on her own. But looking around at the faces of my friends, I realized that this was different. They weren't questioning my strength-they were offering their support.

"I appreciate it, really," I said, softening my tone. "But I am okay. I've been through a lot, and yeah, it's been tough, but I'm not about to break. We've got bigger things to worry about right now, like Erik. We need to stay focused."

Charles gave me a knowing smile, his eyes full of understanding. "And that focus is what makes you a valuable member of this team. But remember, even the strongest of us need to lean on others sometimes. We're here for you, Violet. Whatever you need."

Raven nodded in agreement, her tough exterior softening just a bit. "We've got your back. All of us."

Hank cleared his throat, moving the attention towards him, but before he could say anything, a loud bang echoed from outside, shaking the walls of the mansion. The sound was so sudden and powerful that it made everyone in the room freeze for a moment, their expressions instantly turning from focused to alarmed.

"What the hell was that?" Logan growled, his body tensing as he instinctively moved closer to me, his protective instincts kicking in.

Charles immediately closed his eyes, focusing his telepathic abilities to scan the area outside. His face grew grim as he opened his eyes again. "We're under attack. It's Erik."

The room erupted into action. Logan unsheathed his claws with a familiar snikt  sound, his eyes narrowing with determination. Raven shifted into her battle-ready form, her blue skin shimmering in the low light. Hank's usually calm demeanor was replaced by a focused intensity as he quickly moved towards the control panel to assess the situation.

"Get the team ready!" Charles commanded, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "We need to secure the mansion and protect the students."

I felt a surge of adrenaline as the reality of the situation hit me. This was it-Erik was making his move, and we had to be ready for whatever he had planned. I glanced at Logan, who gave me a quick, reassuring nod. "Stay close, Bub," he said, his voice low and protective.

"Always," I replied, feeling a mixture of fear and determination rising within me. 

As we all rushed toward the door, ready to face the threat outside, I couldn't help but feel a sense of inevitability. This confrontation had been building ever since I left the sanctuary, and now it was here, staring us down with the full force of Erik's power.

We burst through the doors of the mansion and into the courtyard, where the scene before us was one of chaos. Erik stood at the forefront, his eyes blazing with determination and power. Beside him were a group of his followers, their faces set with the same grim resolve. 

"You should have stayed at the sanctuary, Violet," Erik called out, his voice carrying over the din of the chaos around us. "You've forced my hand."

I stepped forward, feeling the power within me surge to the surface. "I won't let you use me, Erik. This ends now."

Charles moved up beside me, his voice calm yet filled with an underlying plea. "Erik, please, you don't have to do this. There's still time to-"

But Erik cut him off sharply. "Save it. Enough with the pleading and convincing. I don't care anymore."

Charles's gaze locked onto Erik, his eyes glistening with pain. "If you do this now, Erik, there's no going back."

As Erik stood resolute, the tension in the air grew heavier. From behind him, mutants began to emerge from the trees, forming a line of support. Some of the faces were familiar, ones I had seen during my time at the sanctuary. They were people I had shared meals with, trained with-now they stood on the opposite side, their expressions hardened by Erik's influence.

The sight of them sent a pang of sadness through me, but I couldn't afford to dwell on it. This was no longer about who was right or wrong; it was about survival, about stopping Erik from using us as tools for his agenda. I could feel the energy crackling around me, the anticipation of what was about to unfold hanging heavy in the air.

Raven glanced at Charles, her voice low but firm. "He's not going to listen, Charles. He's made up his mind."

Hank, standing beside her, nodded in agreement, his expression grim. "We have to fight. It's the only way to stop him now."

Charles closed his eyes for a moment, as if absorbing the weight of those words, then slowly nodded. The pain of the situation was evident in his eyes, but so was his resolve. "I know," he said quietly, the sorrow in his voice unmistakable. "But remember, we're not just fighting Erik. These mutants behind him-they're being manipulated. We need to protect them as much as ourselves."

Logan stepped forward, his claws unsheathing with a familiar metallic snikt, his gaze locked on Erik. "We'll do what we have to, Charles. But we can't hold back. Erik's too dangerous."

I could feel the energy in the room shift as everyone prepared themselves for the inevitable confrontation. My heart pounded in my chest, not out of fear, but out of a fierce determination. I glanced at Logan, who gave me a small nod, a silent promise that he would be by my side no matter what.

Erik stepped forward, his magnetic power crackling around him as he lifted a hand. "You think you can stop me, Charles? You think any of you can?" His voice was laced with disdain, his eyes narrowing as he looked over our group.

"We have to try," I said, stepping up beside Charles, my power flaring to life, creating a protective barrier around us.

Erik's eyes narrowed as he saw the barrier shimmer into existence around us. He sneered, his voice cold and calculating. "Very well. But know this, Violet-whatever happens today, the blood will be on your hands."

His words were like ice, but I refused to let them shake me. I met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I won't let you hurt anyone else, Erik. Not the X-Men, not those you've manipulated, and not me."

Erik's expression darkened, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of magnetic force crashing against my barrier. The impact reverberated through me, but I held firm, strengthening the shield with every ounce of power I could muster.

Logan stepped forward, claws ready, his voice a low growl. "If you want a fight, Erik, you've got one."

Before Erik could respond, the mutants behind him surged forward, their faces a mix of confusion and determination.

Hank and Raven moved into position, ready to defend against the oncoming attack. Raven shifted into a more agile form, her movements fluid and precise as she prepared for the fight ahead. Hank, in his Beast form, let out a low growl, his muscles tensing in anticipation and Scott took a deep before speaking, " We could really use storm and Peter right now." 

Charles, still at my side, reached out telepathically, trying to calm the minds of those under Erik's control. "You don't have to do this," he projected, his mental voice soothing but firm. "Erik is using you. You have a choice."

Some of the mutants hesitated, their steps faltering as Charles's words reached them. But Erik, sensing the wavering resolve, raised his arms, amplifying his magnetic field and sending debris from the surrounding area hurtling toward us.

I expanded the barrier, catching the flying metal and debris, but the strain was immense. My powers were growing, but so was the challenge before us.

Logan darted forward, taking advantage of Erik's focus on me, his claws slashing through the metal projectiles as he closed the distance. "Erik!" Logan roared

Erik turned his attention to Logan, sending a concentrated blast of magnetic energy toward him. Logan dodged, but the force of the blast sent him skidding across the ground, his claws digging into the earth to slow his momentum.

"Logan!" I called out, my heart clenching as I saw him struggle to regain his footing. But I couldn't afford to lose focus-not now.

Raven and Hank engaged the other mutants, doing their best to incapacitate them without causing serious harm. It was a delicate balance, fighting to protect while also trying to free them from Erik's influence.

Charles's mental presence was strong beside me, but I could feel the strain it was putting on him to maintain control over his own mind while trying to reach out to the others. "Violet," he said, his voice tight with concentration, "we need to get through to Erik. If we can break his hold, the others might stand down."

I nodded, knowing he was right. But getting through to Erik seemed like an impossible task-he was too far gone, too consumed by his own power and anger.

The fight was intensifying, and I could feel the pressure mounting. The barrier around us flickered as I struggled to maintain it under the continuous onslaught of Erik's power. I needed to do something-something that would turn the tide in our favor.

Gathering every bit of strength I had left, I reached out with my powers, focusing on the magnetic field Erik was generating. I could feel the energy, the raw power he was channeling, and I knew I had to disrupt it somehow.

"Erik!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the battlefield. "Please, listen to Charles." 

For a brief moment, his eyes met mine, and I thought I saw a flicker of something-hesitation, doubt, maybe even regret. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold, steely resolve.

"Violet, you've always been naive," Erik said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "This is the only way."

With a final surge of power, I focused all my energy on Erik's helmet, trying to remove it, to break his concentration. I could feel the strain, and finally I removed it, chattering in pieces. 

"Charles, now!" I called out, hoping he could use the opening I was creating to reach Erik's mind.

Charles's telepathic presence intensified, pushing through the mental barriers Erik had erected. "Erik, stop this! It doesn't have to end this way!"

Erik staggered as his helmet shattered into pieces, the metal fragments falling to the ground around him. The sudden exposure to Charles's telepathy caught him off guard, and I could see the conflict in his eyes as Charles's voice echoed in his mind.

"Erik, listen to me," Charles's voice was calm but filled with a sense of urgency. "This path leads to nothing but destruction-for you, for all of us. There is still time to change, to make a different choice."

Erik's hand went to his temple as if trying to block out the words. His face contorted with pain, and for a brief moment, I saw the man he used to be-the man who fought for mutantkind out of a genuine desire to protect them, not to dominate them.

But then his expression hardened, and he straightened, the determination in his eyes returning. "No, Charles," he ground out, his voice laced with anguish. "You don't understand. You've never understood. This is the only way to ensure our survival."

With a furious roar, Erik unleashed a massive wave of magnetic energy, the force of it sending shockwaves through the ground. The trees around us trembled, and the metal debris that littered the battlefield was ripped into the air, swirling around him in a chaotic storm.

I stumbled back, trying to regain my footing as the energy around us intensified. Logan was at my side in an instant, his claws out, ready to protect me from the onslaught.

"Erik, stop!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the cacophony of metal and energy. "This isn't the way! We can find another path, together!"

For a brief moment, Erik hesitated again, his eyes locking onto mine. I could see the inner turmoil in his gaze, the war being waged within his mind. Charles was still there, pushing, pleading with him to see reason.

But Erik's resolve was ironclad. "You don't understand, Violet. You don't see the threats we face-the lengths they will go to destroy us. I'm doing this for all of us."

His words were filled with desperation, and I could see that he truly believed he was doing the right thing. But that didn't make it any less wrong.

With a final burst of energy, Erik sent a concentrated blast of magnetic force directly at me and Logan. I barely had time to react, throwing up a shield just in time to deflect the worst of the blast. The force of it sent me sprawling, the impact reverberating through my entire body.

Logan was at my side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern. "Violet!"

"I'm okay," I gasped, struggling to catch my breath. But I knew we were running out of time. Erik's rage was growing, and if we didn't stop him soon, it would be too late.

I looked over at Charles, who was still trying to reach Erik's mind. His face was pale with the effort, sweat beading on his forehead. "Charles, I don't know how much longer I can hold out," I said, my voice trembling with the strain.

Charles nodded, his expression grim. "I know, Violet. But we have to try one last time."

With renewed determination, I pushed myself to my feet, standing tall despite the pain that wracked my body. I focused all my energy on Erik, reaching out with my powers once more. This time, I didn't just try to disrupt his magnetic field-I tried to connect with him, to show him the truth of what he was doing.

"Erik, please," I called out, my voice filled with all the emotion I could muster. "You're not alone in this. We can fight together, find a way to protect our people without losing ourselves in the process. Don't let your fear and anger consume you."

For a moment, it seemed like my words had reached him. Erik's expression softened, and the storm of energy around us began to waver.

But then, as if the moment had passed, his face twisted in anguish, and the storm returned with renewed fury. "I can't stop now, Violet! I've come too far!"

Logan growled, stepping forward, ready to attack, but I placed a hand on his arm, holding him back. "No, Logan. We can't give up on him-not yet."

I reached out with my powers again, this time focusing not on disrupting Erik's energy, but on channeling my own. I could feel the strength within me, the power that had been growing ever since I first came to the mansion. I had the ability to change reality, to alter the world around me. And now, I was going to use it.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on Erik, on the magnetic energy that surrounded him. I focused on his mind, on the fear and pain that drove him to this point. And with all the strength I had, I pushed against it, trying to show him a different way.

The energy around us began to shift, the storm of metal and debris slowing as I exerted my will. I could feel the resistance, the pushback from Erik's power, but I didn't back down.

"Erik," I said, my voice soft but firm. "You're not alone. We're here with you. You don't have to do this."

For a moment, the storm stopped. The metal fragments that had been swirling around Erik fell to the ground, the energy dissipating as he stood there, staring at me with wide eyes.

As the mutants and x-men continued to battle around us, their powers clashing in a chaotic dance, I took a deep breath and walked towards Erik. His expression was a mixture of pain and confusion, the battle within him evident in the way he clenched his fists and pressed a hand to his temple.

"Let me help you take the pain away, Erik," I whispered, my voice filled with compassion. "Let me set you free."

"How?" he asked, his voice strained, as if he could barely hold himself together.

Slowly, I raised my hands, hovering them just above his head. I could feel the turmoil in his mind, the overwhelming grief, anger, and fear that had driven him for so long. My heart ached for him, for the boy who had lost everything and the man who had been shaped by that loss.

As I delved into his mind, memories began to flood my consciousness-memories of a young Erik in Poland, his mother's death in front of him, the horrors of being experimented on. The raw agony of those moments had scarred him deeply, creating a well of pain that had only grown over time. My eyes filled with tears as I witnessed his suffering, understanding, perhaps for the first time, just how deeply it had consumed him.

But I also knew that beneath that pain, there was still a part of Erik that longed for peace, for release from the burden he had carried for so long.

I focused on that part of him, reaching out with my power to bring him the peace he so desperately needed. I didn't erase his memories-those experiences were a part of him, just as Logan's past was a part of him. But I did what I had done for Logan so many times when his nightmares threatened to overwhelm him. I soothed the raw edges of Erik's pain, calming the storm inside him, and gave him the chance to finally let go of the grudge that had consumed him for so long.

As I worked, I felt Erik's resistance begin to crumble. The tension in his body eased, and the tightness in his expression softened. His hand slowly dropped from his temple, and his gaze met mine, filled with a vulnerability that he had spent years hiding.

Tears streamed down my face as I continued to pour my energy into him, offering him the peace that had eluded him for so long. "You don't have to fight anymore, Erik," I murmured. "You can let it go. You can be free."

A tear slipped down Erik's cheek, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something I had never seen in him before-relief. He closed his eyes, and I could feel the weight of his pain begin to lift, the anger and bitterness that had fueled him slowly dissipating.

The battle around us began to quiet as the other mutants noticed the change in Erik. They hesitated, uncertain of what was happening, but sensing that something profound had shifted.

Charles, who had been watching intently, rolled closer, his expression a mixture of hope and sadness. "Erik, it's over. You don't have to carry this burden anymore."

Erik opened his eyes and looked at Charles, the hardness that had been there for so long replaced by a deep weariness. "I've done terrible things," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can ever atone for them."

Charles nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "We all have our demons, Erik. But redemption is always possible. It's never too late to choose a different path."

Erik looked around at the battlefield, at the mutants who had fought for him and against him, and then back at me. His eyes were filled with a sorrow that ran deep, but also with a glimmer of hope. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice breaking. 

I nodded, my heart full as I lowered my hands, the connection between us fading as Erik's mind settled into a state of calm. He took a deep, shuddering breath, and I could see the tension leave his body, replaced by a quiet acceptance.

The other mutants began to step back, the fight leaving them as they realized that the battle was truly over. The storm of energy that had surrounded Erik dissipated completely, leaving only the quiet aftermath of what had been a fierce conflict.

As the dust settled, the remaining mutants stepped closer, their expressions a mix of relief and uncertainty. The tension that had gripped the battlefield slowly began to fade, replaced by a sense of quiet introspection. Erik, his energy drained but his mind finally at peace, began to hover slightly above the ground, his body lifting gently as if buoyed by an invisible force.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions-gratitude, sorrow, and perhaps even a touch of hope. With a slight nod, he acknowledged the role I had played in his release from the darkness that had consumed him for so long. I returned the gesture, understanding the significance of this moment for both of us.

Erik then turned his gaze to Charles, who had been watching the entire scene with a mixture of sadness and understanding. The two old friends locked eyes, and for a moment, it was as if time itself had paused, allowing them to silently communicate all the things that had been left unsaid over the years.

"Farewell, old friend," Erik said, his voice steady but tinged with a deep, lingering regret. There was no malice, no anger-only the quiet acceptance of a man who had finally found the peace he had sought for so long.

Charles nodded, his eyes filled with the weight of their shared history, of all the battles they had fought together and against each other. "Farewell, Erik," he replied softly, his voice filled with the compassion and understanding that had always defined him. "May you find the peace you've been searching for."

With that, Erik began to ascend higher into the sky, his figure slowly diminishing as he drifted away from the battlefield, away from the pain and conflict that had defined so much of his life. The mutants below watched in silence, a collective understanding passing between them that this was the end of an era.

As Erik disappeared into the horizon, a profound stillness settled over the battlefield. The air was thick with the weight of what had just transpired, but also with the promise of a new beginning-a future that was no longer bound by the shadows of the past.

I turned to look at Logan, who was standing beside me, his expression a mixture of pride and relief. He reached out, taking my hand in his, and I felt the warmth of his touch grounding me in the present moment.

"Finally" I whispered, my voice filled with a sense of finality and hope.

As the other mutants began to disperse, we turned and started walking back to the mansion, the weight of the battle slowly lifting off our shoulders. The sun was now fully risen, casting a warm, golden light over the grounds, as if nature itself was acknowledging the peace that had finally been restored.

As we neared the entrance of the mansion, Charles rolled up beside us, stopping me with a gentle touch on my arm. I turned to face him, seeing a mix of emotions in his eyes-gratitude, relief, and a touch of sorrow.

"Thank you, Violet," Charles said, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for doing what I should have done a long time ago."

I placed my hand on his shoulder, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to thank me for anything, Charles," I replied softly. "We all did what we had to do. Erik found peace, and that's what matters."

Charles nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You've shown great strength and compassion, Violet. You've given Erik something I feared he would never find-peace within himself."

I squeezed his shoulder gently, feeling a deep sense of connection and understanding pass between us. "We all carry our own burdens, Charles. But we're not alone. We have each other."

He smiled at that, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Indeed, we do."

Logan, who had been standing quietly beside me, gave Charles a nod of respect. Charles looked at him, his expression filled with gratitude. "I've never got the chance to properly thank you Logan for coming back to us," Charles said, his voice sincere and filled with warmth.

Logan looked at him, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face. For a moment, it seemed as though he was searching for the right words. Finally, he simply nodded, his voice gruff but genuine. "I'm glad to be here, Charles."

Charles smiled, a gentle, knowing smile that spoke of the deep bond they shared. "We're stronger with you here. Don't ever forget that."

Logan's gaze softened, and he nodded again, his grip on my hand tightening slightly as if to reaffirm his place with us, with the family he had found once more.

Charles rolled away, leaving Logan and me alone at the entrance of the mansion. I looked up at Logan, giving him a small peck on his soft lips, feeling the warmth of his breath against mine. His hand held mine tightly, a silent promise of the future we now had before us.

"What now?" Logan asked, his voice low and filled with the weight of everything we had been through.

I looked into his eyes, my heart swelling with a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time. The scent of him, comforting and familiar, filled my senses, grounding me in the moment. I smiled softly, feeling the corners of my lips lift as I spoke.

"We can finally live," I replied, the words a simple yet profound declaration of the life we had fought so hard to reclaim.

Logan's expression softened, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to something tender and unguarded. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine, his breath warm on my skin.

"Yeah, we can," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet determination.

As we stood there, hand in hand, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in our shared moment of tranquility. The battles we had fought, the pain we had endured-it all felt distant now, overshadowed by the bright promise of what was to come.

New chapter: 23: A new beginning

[riding-the-sunset-bird]

This is a kinda random question, but do you know of any random chance events in the game? Like one thing can happen or the other? I played Barbecue recently, and I was surprised when I tried to reload a moment from there, I was the one tripping on a rock instead of Lizzie. I feel like there must be other moments like this in the game that I never notice because I don’t reload super often, and I’m curious where they are.

This is such an interesting question! :o

But yeah, I could help you out~!

Step 1

Barbecue

As the anon said, if the MC chose to help pick a spot instead of helping carry things, who trips on the rock (or if no one trips at all) is random.

Step 2

Wave

If the MC has a surfing competition with Cove, is "awesome at surfing," and Cove is at all Sporty, it's random who wins.

Dinner

If the MC did not tell Cove about the deal here, thus allowing them to play cards with the Holdens, and chooses that they were either "decent at go-fish" or "left it to luck," the game randomizes whether or not the MC was lucky. If the MC was decent at go-fish specifically, they are guaranteed to win the first round regardless, but if they simply left it to luck then it's random if they win the first round or not. Being lucky entails winning multiple rounds afterwards whereas the opposite goes for being unlucky.

Birthday

If the MC didn't pick the exact right choice in pin the tail on the donkey, it's random whether the MC (only if the MC was still close/not that far off), Cove, or someone else wins.

Summerwork

If the MC said "I dunno" or "I don't care" in response to what assignment they'll work on, what they pick out of their bag is random.

Siblings

If the MC suggests hanging out to Elizabeth, the winner of the board game (or if it's a tie) is random.

Step 3

Hang (Baxter's Version)

Baxter's comment on the MC's room will be random if the MC has a ukelele (he finds the sound it makes charming) and/or a telescope (which he finds very nice); he'll comment of either one of those if the MC has them or the MC's room in general.

Boating

If rock-paper-scissors was chosen to decide who goes first, Cove's choice between rock, paper, and scissors is random.

If Cove is helping the MC make drinks, his addition is semi-random (partly based on what the MC put in).

Happiness

The show the MC and Cove go to see can be random if the MC suggests letting chance decide.

Where Cove decides to take the MC to for the second outing/date is random as elaborated on here.

Ending

If the MC chooses to make jewelry but wants to wait and see, not having a plan, it's random what they end up with (which can be any of the other options).

Step 4

Cove's Step 4

If the MC isn't sharing a bed with Cove and tells him that they want the window bed, who wins the coin flip is random.

As stated here, Cove's proposal can be random under certain circumstances. What Cove thanks the MC for can also be random.

Cove's Wedding DLC

Cove's suggestion of cake is random if the MC admits that they don't know what type of wedding cake they want.

The winner of the bouquet toss can be random depending on who's participating and who's not. For example, if Jeremy was invited and dragged into participating (if Shiloh was also invited and has the "Shiloh" or "Mr. Fields" personality; see the "Other" section for more details), then the tricky side toss will end on either Cliff or Jeremy. If Shiloh was invited (only participating if he has the "Shiloh" or "Mr. Fields" personality), then a high toss can give it to either Liz or Shiloh. If both the MC and Cove threw, then who got the MC's bouquet is totally random (only condition being that it can't be the person who caught the first bouquet).

Baxter's Step 4

Both the MC's first round results in bowling (depending on their choices) as well as whether Jude or Scott win if the MC plays along with Miranda is random. More detail here.

If the MC does not have a hobby in drawing (painting or digital art counts for drawing as well) but offers to help Baxter with the cake stencil, it's random whether the MC or Baxter comes out with the most usable stencil first.

Other

Cove's choices when playing tic-tac-toe are random.

What kind of person Shiloh becomes is random. I go into more detail here.

[akronus-writes]

Natures wrath

he can't remember what his "real" name was, but he can remember what his mother called him "her little crow" which made sense, he was relatively small compared to the other kids and fond of all forms of nature. Mother was a lovely woman, she always helped him when he didn't really know how to garden or take care of his pet crow, Corvius.

He always spent his time gardening and roaming the woods with Corvius, even as he entered Highschool and the other kids became more obsessed with cars, partying, and sex. which led to some expected bullying.

while he was used to this bullying, he always found some comfort with Corvius, no matter what the bullies tried, until one day they went too far. after he offhandedly compared the lead bully to a pathetic bird, he earned a harsh beating from his peers, their positions as the star players of the schools football team allowing them to get off scott free.

later, Crow would spend his after school time on walking through the woods, Corvius a few metres in front of him. Crow couldn't help but appreciate the way his closest friend flew through the air gracefully, and he couldn't help but envy his friends freedom and power to fly through the air.

suddenly, he was broken out of his stupor by a sickening "Crunch", as a rock hit Corvius and sent the corvid directly into the ground. panicked, Crow ran up to his injured friend, to focused on the bird to notice the group that surrounded him.

Crow felt every single kick and punch, as he struggled to shield his injured friend. and as the teenagers left, he continued to lay there, crying next to the bird, even as the sun fell below the horizon, and a search party came looking for him.

the search party was only slightly successful, finding the dead corpse of a bird which neighbours would later identify as the missing boys pet crow. but never found the actual child.

three weeks later, the star players of the local football team disappeared, one of the boys trucks was found destroyed in the woods, somehow already overgrown by plant life.

the next day the 8 boys were found in the same clearing of Corvius, their feet and legs either horrifically mangled or severed, covered by hundreds upon hundreds of crows which has cut into the boys skin with their claws, which refused too move from on top of the boys until police shot at them.

it took another 5 weeks to get a single one of the boys to talk, and even then police can draw no real conclusions.

"w-we were driving on the road, yeah some of us where drinking, but johnny (the owner of the truck) wasn't, but suddenly the damned car just... swerved off the road! we were thrown into the woods when the truck crashed, and I can barely r-remember anything but that, that thing. I-it was like a man, but it had giant wings, like a crows, and th-those crows they were under its control! I-it had them tear into our legs and scratch at us, it wanted to torment us"

the boy would refuse to make any further comment, though one would later draw what he claimed too be the attacker. the drawing was that of a man wearing a plague doctors outfit with a hood instead of any hat, covered in vines and other plant life, with a large pair of crow wings behind him.

authorities would later ban entering the woods due to the strange, and unexplainable hostility that the local wildlife showed to anyone who entered.

@f4y3w00d5 @gobodegoblin @good-wizard @monsterfucker-research-wizard

[mochiwrites]

Guess who's back? Back again? Anons back! Tell a friend.

Lol sorry I'm once again back. The same anon who sent a bunch of questions about night life a while ago since I was rereading songbirds blood au. Soo uhm here's more

1. Mochi why does scar say in villainous thing that he has put his head in a werewolfs mouth??!?!?!?!?!? Scar mah dude u ok???? (Lowkey would wanna try it but I probably would leave the werewolfs mouth with a head 😊)

2. Grian.Trans.Canon? (Or scar? Or maybe both???)

3. With the glyphs is there only one way to use them or could you possible make them a tattoo and still you them. Since they are then constantly touching the glyphs they could possible do the magic of a mage. If they had multiple glyphs he could mix the glyphs somehow.(like how Luz mixes the glyphs by drawing them with eachother but instead they do it with their ✨️MIND✨️)

4. Also I love the idea of papapulse. Like I imagine Pearl or grian (most likely grian:^P) and Impulse going full demon mode tl protect them. (I saw that you tagged "Parent impulseSV (Video Blogging RPF)" in troubke in the dead of night🥺👏😍) Also is there different types of demons and what type of powers do they have?

5. In the fic "sitting in the garden at your feet" they have a whole picnic and all the adorableness. Do they go on more picnics frequently? (I really hope soo) I would guess they do since in villainous things they were also on their way to a picnic...but then yeah...poor birb tbh and poor scar

6. Have Ren and Martyn already have their wedding or are they still waiting? I wanna see treebark and I want to see mumbo ask grian go with him as his plus one to the wedding<3

(Though treebark owns my heart, Grumbo will always win) Don't talk about scarian I've never left the desert and don't plan to either😘

7. Okay soo in the fic "weight of living" there was this one scene where etho stared at grian. Here's the quote: "Etho eyes him for a moment, his gaze unreadable as he does so. It leaves Grian with chills. Weird."

Is it possible that etho is a Watcher? I'm mean   he is definitely not human(or maybe he is an immortal human?)  Etho may recognize grian, either as an old Watcher or a new Watcher to be made. Or maybe etho just thinks it is weird to see scar with grian(A HUMAN) The last one is more logical <:^)

8. On that note with Etho. You never confirm nor deny if grian is the "lost watcher" but what if I were to ask you if EFFO is the lost Watcher. I don't have proof but-...yeah idk

Wait wait just had another thought what if Pearl is the Watcher???? When the dream bugs ate her dreams there was a purple mist! Huh huh gotcha!/silly this is purely a joke🤣

9. Will we see a bad boy grian phase or possibly a drag queen phase🥺👉👈. Since it often mention that grian was a dare devil(still is:^P) or did grian have such phases. One of my friends is kinda a dare devil and he did drag once and I feel since grian might be the same there...

10. What did Scott do with the shard? Did he just entirely get rid of it? Also is Scott pure evil or broken. Maybe with the lost of his brother(Xornoth) did he turn evil or was evil just in his genes?

Those are all the questions and theories for now thank you for listing to my literal brain rot<3

This time it was numbered

(There will possible be more to come>:^] )

YIPPEE WELCOME BACK NONNIE :D

see me rubbing my paws together with a big grin >:3c no apologies needed !!!! I love questions hehe. as always, I can't answer everything clearly, because of spoilers but I'll certainly answer as much as I can!

1- WHEEZE scar just feels like the kinda guy to me to stick his head into the mouth of a werewolf for fun, y'know? he'd try it once just to see what would happen (and I mean, he's got no reason to fear dying, all things considered LOL)

2- GRIAN TRANS CANON !! honestly, just operate under the assumption that any grian I write is trans JFGDHFKKJDFG it's my comfort character and I get to project on him /silly (no trans scar though </3)

3- WAUG OKAY -- I've answered this kind of question before but for the life of me I can't find it D: I'm gonna keep searching for it, and when I find it I'll reblog this with that information mjfdhkfghfjg I don't wanna contradict myself LMAO

4- PAPAPULSE MY BELOVED 🥺I really wanna write more with him ueueue. I actually haven't done much world building for sb!demons but I'm going to say that yes, there are different types of demons! and they all have a wide range of different abilities :3

5- they def go on picnics yeah!!! I think it becomes one of grian's default methods to drag mumbo out of the manor when he can <33

6- ren and martyn haven't had their wedding yet :3 I actually hadn't thought about when their wedding would take place but ;w; oh that gives me some ideas....

7- etho isn't a watcher! the current lore is well. no one really knows what etho is. except maybe bdubs and joel. but their lips are Sealed (he's not the lost watcher either I'm afraid </3)

9- so currently I don't have any plans for a bad boy or drag queen phase to pop up in the story (though that could change, if any ideas come up) but they were certainly things he did when he was wayyy younger

10- what scott did with the shard hm? he broke it :) and I'm afraid evil is just in his genes unfortunately </3

hehe thank you for your questions!! :D

[fandomshatepeoplewdisabilities]

So in this amazing, sadly quite niche space opera I recently read ("The Risen Empire" by Scott Westerfeld) there are two, three if you stretch the definition a bit, disabled characters, and I want to draw art and write fic of them, maybe even nsfw stuff of both categories.

Problem is, while I am neurodivergent, I am able-bodied, and one of these characters is Laurent Zai, Captain of a spaceship, tactical genius, and lost both legs and one arm in an intensely traumatic war captivity. While yeah, thanks to the high-tech in this future his prostheses can do things real life prostheses can't do, like sending tactile information back to his brain, as far as I can tell this book avoids most of the usual pitfalls when writing amputees: They do not fully replace his limbs, there are situations where they malfunction or do not work just quite as well as his original limbs or do not work at all, they need to be carefully maintained and they have weak spots. Most of the time Zai deals with them just fine, but from time to time they are different than what he knew, and it is bothering him, and giving him body dysmorphia, and he also does deal with phantom pain.

There is a beautiful and touching and tender and sensual scene where he finally confesses his trauma to his lover, and she reassures him that it's okay when he is "broken" and lets the trauma affect him, and he lets her take off his prostheses, and they have sex. Its not described particularly detailed, but it is a beautiful scene where he finally stops fighting against his trauma and is finally able to see his body as a source of joy and pleasure again, not just a tool he uses or a source of pain.

I am specifically thinking about making fanworks about that scene, but I don't want to fall into this "fetishizing amputees" trap, like the disgusting ableist "art" I once accidentally stumbled across online.

What are some things I have to look out for, apart from the obvious not depicting him as helplessly at mercy and powerless against his lover because he could not move away or fight back as well as her if it was necessary? Both small practical things like how one moves in such a situation that might not be apparent to me as an able bodied person, and more general things?

So I had a really hard time tracking down The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld. (It wasn't available through hoopla or libby at my local library). I might ask mod laina if they have some piratical hookups for it. But like I do want to boost this for our followers to weigh in on (or hey if you know any amputees that might be up for explaining a few things for us I'd also be grateful).

In the mean time I'll do my own digging and hope I can read the source material soon.

Please please boost this followers!

mod ali

[wolfboy88]

for the make me write thingy: can i ask for all of them? all of them are so cool

Of course you can darling. It just took a hot minute!

🪦Graveyard Secrets/Hook Up (Thiam/Thisaac/ Thiaac)

"But there's someone there," Liam insists, breathless as the figure draws near, emerging from the mist with a sinister glint in their eyes and a wicked grin on their face.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Isaac chimes in, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.

"Theo and I are just getting to know each other a little better," Liam tries to explain, his nerves getting the best of him while Theo remains cool and collected.

"I see," Isaac responds dryly. "It's about time. I was starting to think I'd drown in all that homoerotic rivalry nonsense."

"What are you doing here?" Liam finally finds his voice.

"Just making sure you two haven't killed each other," Isaac replies, his smirk unyielding.

"Kill each other? No, we've moved past that," Theo jokes with a smirk. "I'm just about to make him mine."

"That'll be a first," Isaac snickers. "Usually, it's you who's on the receiving end."

🏡 The Hellhound(s) Next Door (Liam/Halwyn/ Jordan)

So this one’s changed from a Liam/Halwyn pairing to a Liam + married Halwyn/Jordan. And it’s more smutty than spooky with the whole neighbour/voyeurism thing again.

"Well, that sounds like a recipe for boredom or mischief," Halwyn interjects. "Why don't you come join us for a swim later? Cool off and let us get to know you.”

Liam tries to hide his eager enthusiasm. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'd love to."

Jordan grins. "Awesome. We'll fire up the grill too, make it a proper pool party."

"Oh, uh, that sounds perfect," Liam says, already imagining the toned, glistening bodies of his new neighbours as they lounge poolside.

🐺 An Omega & his Alpha (Thiam/Dark Theo)

Slowly, Liam begins to regain consciousness. His eyelids flutter as he adjusts to the dimly lit surroundings. As he tries to sit up, he realizes that he is restrained and unable to move. His wrists are bound to a table, but it's not just any table —it's an operating table. And it soon becomes clear to him that he is not in a hospital; instead, he finds himself in a dark and eerie underground lair, resembling an operating theater from a horror film.

🐈‍⬛ Cat Got Your Tongue

So, this one I can’t decide on who I wanna pair Scott up with. I really wanted to do my favourite Scott rarepair Scosh (Scott x Josh) but there’s a hint of Lahey Brothers in this one and Scott either needs to end up with Isaac or Jordan. Thoughts guys?

Unfortunately, the hottest guy at the party seems oblivious to Scott's existence. Yet, he is the one person Scott would willingly allow to touch him all night long.

He's so hot and distracting, that every time he gets near Scott, accidents happen. Drinks spill, food drops, and Scott's job is hanging by a thread.

But as the night goes on and the party progresses, Scott notices the attractive man watching him. The man can't seem to take his eyes off Scott, and it makes Scott feel tingly and more clumsy than ever.

🧞‍♂️I Dream of Theo (Thiam)

Liam's heart races, torn between confusion, shock, and...something else he didn't dare name. "How is this possible? Am I hallucinating?"

"You never heard of a genie, Dunbar. Or a djinn, if you want to get technical." Theo's grin is downright predatory. "Should I call you master?”

Liam's mouth goes dry. "Master?" he squeaks, cheeks feeling warm.

🕳️ The Mythical Bathhouse (Thiam/Monsters)

Summoning his courage, Liam approaches the Berserker, his steps steady and determined. The creature's gaze follows him, its expression unreadable beneath its mask. Liam's heart races, but he refuses to let fear consume him. He has come too far to back down now.

As he approaches the entrance, the Berserker graciously steps aside, granting him passage. Liam's heartbeat quickens, and he cautiously steps through the entrance and into a seemingly ordinary locker room.

🏚️ The Horny Phantoms of Hale House (Thiam/ Hale Men)

Late into the night, after hours of setting up their gear, Liam and Theo finally retired in their shared sleeping bag, nestled together like they normally would back in their bed.

Theo, however, took comfort to a new level, snuggling against Liam and using his chest as a pillow. His hand roams down, playfully skimming over Liam's stomach before slipping into his pants.

Amused, Liam chuckles, “I can’t believe you’re getting frisky in a supposedly haunted house.”

“Got to past the time somehow,” Theo replies with a mischievous grin.

“You’re unbelievable,” Liam laughs. “Only you would think to use this a place to hookup.”

“Don’t lie, you’re thinking the same thing,” Theo teases, now boldly caressing Liam’s hard cock. “And I saw you sneakily checking out those pictures of our phantoms”

“Apparent phantoms,” Liam reminds him.

“So, who’s your favourite?”

🧛‍♂️The Vampire’s Vice (Thiam/Dark Liam)

“Mmm, is that a stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” Liam taunts, grinding his thigh against Theo’s hardening length.

“Fuck you,” Theo mutters, though his heart isn’t really in it; the friction sends him spiraling deeper into the vampire’s intoxicating grasp.

“Fuck you? That’s an intriguing proposition, but I think it’ll be the other way around,” Liam teases, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “You won’t be the one doing the sticking, hunter boy,” he chuckles, and Theo shivers in response. “I’d much prefer to take you,” Liam whispers, his gaze intense as he holds Theo’s eyes.

[sheasshovel]

gotta ask, tbh can't believe someone hasn't done this, BUT-

lifers as genshin characters, who's who

omg WAITTTT this is so hard cuz so few genshin characters have actual writing and like each life series has wildly different vibes for each character BUT ILL DO MY BEST (fanon save me) ((and im doing majority sl since I remember it the most)) ((((ill do it based on vibes i think))))

Etho -> weirdly… im thinking Cyno. “Did you jump?” And him trying to mimic the aha jokes and being “pathetic and quirky” in sl matches cynos nerdy energy OH WAIR I SHOULDVE SAID KAZUHA CUZ OF CANADA UM

Cleo-> beidou.. “I WILL FRONT STAB MY FRIENDS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.” Pirate slay lady and has a big cool ship in s6 hc

Grian -> erm like. traveller💀 IM SORRY HES AETHER TO ME AND GRIAN ISNT EVEN THE MAIN CHARACTER but yeah he FR just goes with everything happening around him

Lizzie -> pink haired lady with underwater empire u say…….. kokomi (I haven’t watched empires) but like kokomi if she was written well and emphasizing the war general girl failure parts of her

Scar -> itto cuz I love him next question. also ITTO is an immortal and scar never died in sl imagine the angst potential “the last one standing”

Martyn -> he’s so self aware so this is super hard but like. Maybe uh um HEIZOU cuz he’s always like thinking ahead but sometimes silly but he’s also like smart and a detective too! or maybe HEIZOU is Grian u choose

Jimmy -> BENNETS luck and Mika’s everything else I JUST THINK ITS SO FUNNY

Skizz -> whos a funny father figure in genshin. Ill get back to u on tha oh my god he’s dionas npc father HELP IDK I CANT ANIME GAME HIM HES TOO STRONG

Tango -> THOMA IS HE THOMA? blond nice team player kind of dense AND THOMAS PET DOG IS LIKE TORCHY TO ME or is he childe cuz of the rage. I dont know!

BigB -> AYATO he’s secretive but also :3 and ayato would probably gaslight people for fun. and ayato is related to ayaka the most :3 girl ever. they are insane and wildly charismatic and also silly. Like imagine of ayato presented himself as more wholesome on the outside. Or if bigb became royalty do u see the vision

Scott -> Self sacrificial… trustworthy…. “I still might kill myself but now its less likely”…. team player… blue hair? idk I think it has to be like IDK IM DRAWING A BLANK IM GETTING KAEYA FROM HIM IF KAEYA WAS MORE LOYAL? IDK

Impulse -> Erm uh uh uh uh let’s say uh let’s say uh uh uh uh uh bro who’s a smart dad in the genshin lineup someone help me NUEVILETTE??? WTF IS HE NUEVI WHAT NO NUEVI ISNT SILLY idk what to do here

Gem -> Navia SHES A BUBBLY GIRLBOSS with so many emotions and omg when gem killed Scott and was like shocked. I thought of how navia would react to silver and Meluse dissolving in front of her eyes and having to ignore it. In both of their cases, having to ignore it to focus on the task (haha) at hand. Also both should join the mafia anyways

Pearl -> ERM Hu Tao. insane. SUPER STRONG and heavily misunderstood “sorry i think I gotta little bit crazy” from dl is so perfect but honestly I CANT see hu tao as the self sacrificial type, or forgiving type like in sl so idk

Bdubs -> tiny. Easy to enrage. segond in command….let’s make him UGH HOW DO I MAKE BDUBS A ONE NOTE GENSHIN CHARACTER WITHOUT TAKING ANOTHER MONTH okay errmmmmmmm let’s put him as xiao but if xiao was less traumatized and sillier

Joel tiny heinz-> Childe… blood lust and trauma but he also kind of gives ALHAITHAM cuz of his sarcasm

Mumbolio -> thoma he’s so sweettttt but also kind of cray cray like is thoma not insane for protecting the TRAVELLER in front of RAIDEN hello?¿ 0 self preservation skills

RENDIGGITY DAWG -> theatre kid furry. he’s Lyney next question

if I missed any lifers pls lmk I am stupid and this is driving me crazy

[gamesception]

Sception Reads Cass Cain #30

Batgirl (2000) #13 Writer: Puckett Art: Scott & Campanella

Event Crossover's done for now, and the immediate fallout - Gordon's & Alfred's retirements - don't directly impact Cass, so we're back to one shot Batgirl stories with the usual creative team. Or, well, sort of. While this issue works as a stand alone story, it will have some fallout that pushes Cass's story forward a bit.

So yeah, this is the one where Cass saves the repentant sniper from his US government handlers who are out to kill him now that he's become a loose end by growing a conscience. Yes, you can draw a parallel to Cass herself, also a repentant assassin, and point out that thematically she's saving herself here - or at least attempting to, given what follows. Plus this issue is set up for coming issues that will examine the theme of Cass's isolation and Bruce's role in keeping her isolated, a topic I recently discussed in a reply to a post by @but-a-humble-goon over here.

But most of that deeper thematic stuff is attached to the fallout from this issues events that we'll see going forward. So for the moment, especially considering this post is half a week late already, I'd instead like to just take a moment to acknowledge that his issue has some really iconic moments, both from the art and the writing.

Like this bit of Cass dodging bullets.

Or this bit of the gov't agents openly laughing at the sniper for believing the story he had been given for why he was supposed to kill his target.

Like, these agent guys are super cliche, sure, but they're also so perfectly hate-able. They're kind of fantastic, and I wish Cass had feuded with them more.

Cass no-selling the agent's threats is great.

And uno-reversing the threat immediately after is even better, because unlike this agent guy we know who her friends are.

Though, I mean, honestly, they're in Gotham. Dude should be able to put 2 and 2 together.

And this panel of Cass leaping off a building is fantastic.

At the end, when the guy asks her why Cass would do all that to help a complete stranger, how it was she knew he was somebody who deserved to be saved when he himself just found out he'd been killing innocent people.

And her answer directly calls back to the end of issue 6...

Where her instinct to protect others even at the cost of her own life was what had, at least for the moment, overcome Bruce's doubts about her.

And this great bit at the very end, where he asks her name and the ending title card answers for her. Who is she? She's Batgirl.

Of course, follow up to this story in future issues will examine how the fact that she has no identity, no name, no life besides being Batgirl is kind of a bad thing actually, but for the moment, treating this issue as a one of story, it feels kind of triumphant. She knows who she is, she likes who she is. She's happy! She's thriving! She's having adventures where she saves a symbolic representation of herself!

But yeah, this fun high spirited story that ends on this upbeat triumphant note is just building her up so the coming issues can tear all that down. She's not 'living in the moment' - she's running from a past that's too painful to think about and a future that she fully expects will see her dead at Shiva's hands in less than a year. She's not happy just being Batgirl because that's everything she needs, she just doesn't know any other life because first David and now Bruce have kept her from having one outside of their own ambitions for her.

She's not even symbolically saving herself through the metaphorical stand in of this sniper guy because he /isn't/ her and she /didn't/ save him. He has connections and a life outside of his past as an assassin, the kind of connections Cass was never allowed to develop, ties he can't just walk away from to start a new life, ties that the people Cass rescued him from today can use to go after him again tomorrow.

Again, though, that's discussion for future issues. In this moment Cass is happy, as happy as we've seen her in a while, and we can let her have that for a week or so.

[forest-falcon]

WIP Wednesday

Given that Virgil is into music and art, I thought, why not writing? I have a fair bit more written for this fic but I'm still tweaking it. Anyway, a bit of FishTank for WIP Wednesday!

Night Shift 

An alarm sounded and Gordon Tracy woke, ready for duty. Thankfully, it wasn't the piercing IR alert designed to wake even the likes of Virgil; so he stretched, kicked off his covers, then lay back, allowing himself a moment or two to appreciate his diverse collection of tropical fish, despite the ungodly hour. Most of his diurnal species had chosen to tuck themselves away into various crevices within the coral. He envied their option to rest as he forced himself out of bed and grabbed the nearest clothes to hand. 

The aquanaut followed his feet towards the comms room; his brain slow to shake the dregs of sleep. A warm breeze greeted him as he entered. 

Damn, does Scott never sleep?  

He looked to his Father's desk, but found it empty so scanned the balcony and spotted Virgil scribbling away. Grabbing a bowl of cereal, he headed over to join the brother who should have long been in bed. 

"What are you drawing?"

"Not drawing. Writing...well, trying to." 

Gordon attempted to read the room...balcony. Virgil didn't seem to mind his intrusion, so he perched on the neighbouring lounger and took another bite of his cereal.

"I thought you were an artist?"

"Can't I be both?" 

Virgil's baritone was mumbled out from around a pencil held between his lips. If Grandma could see them now, she'd clout the pair of them.

"Besides, I wouldn't really call myself an artist. I dabble..." His older brother shrugged.

"Don't you sell your art to studios for like four figures?"

"Sometimes five."

"Wow, imposter syndrome much?"

Virgil snorted.

"Who made you my therapist?"

"Just calling it as I see it bro. You should give yourself more credit."

He was rewarded with one of his brother's heartwarming smiles.

"Thanks." 

Virgil returned to silently re-reading one of his pages for possibly the fifth time in as many minutes. The paper was littered with arrows leading to hastily scribbled notes and no shortage of question marks. The engineer made a couple of sharp intakes of breath, as if calculating possible additions to his plot, before letting out a long exhale in defeat. The dog-eared journal, discarded in disgust, fell open at the floor. Gordon was quick to scoop it up.

"Don't!" A wall of muscle scrambled off the chair.

It was a weird combination to see something so big and powerful so...vulnerable? His brother gave the impression of a startled horse ready to turn and bolt.

"Aren't stories meant to be read?"

"It's not finished yet."

"I don't mind."

"Yeah but I'm not sure I want anyone I know reading it."

"Why, is it about us?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Gordon wasn't entirely sure why he was pushing his brother on this. Virgil's art was exquisite, so a part of him was genuinely curious to know what new masterpiece his brother had created. Another part of him almost felt the need for his brother to trust him. They put their lives in each other's hands on a regular basis. Why would Virgil not trust him with this?

"I...don't know." The engineer in Virgil always liked to give people a proper answer to any queries, but his brain denied him any real reason not to share his work, maybe other than the quiet fear of being judged. But Gordon wasn't like that. His brother had an arsenal of practical jokes, but they were matched by just as many compliments.

"Isn't your art 'n' music the same sorta thing though?"

"Yes. No. I don't know."

A shrug.

"Somehow, it doesn't feel the same. I can't explain why. I guess...I'm new to writing. I'm used to you guys hearing me play."

Gordon smiled. Trust had to be earned and he had no intention of pressuring his wingman to dive beyond his comfort zone.

"Fair enough. I won't pry. You have your secrets and I have mine."

"What secrets?"

Truth be told, he didn't have any, but it was fun to keep his brother guessing, so he gave an impish grin, and wiggled his eyebrows for good measure. "Wouldn't you like to know?" 

"Fine." Virgil shrugged with a smile.

Gordon shoveled another spoonful. "Doesn't look like much fun though. Looks like you've more variables to solve in that little journal of yours than Brains tackles in his lab."

"Meh, the characters keep taking charge of the story and it derails my plot."

"Virgil?"

"What?"

"They're. Not. Real." He whispered emphatically.

"That's what I keep telling them."

"Dude..." Gordon shook his head with mock disbelief.

Virgil ignored him, but continued to erode the end of his pencil with his teeth. 

"You know you'll be blaming Brains for how those look in a few days. Why don't you take a break? Sleep. You'll be fresher in the morning."

"Can't sleep."

"Peru?"

"All of it."

There was a pause.

Virgil's shoulders slumped, his eyebrows knitting in a way that darkened his already silhouetted features. "It's never... about the one bad rescue though, is it? ...They're just the catalyst to unleash the rest of the sh*tty iceberg we keep trying to bury below the surface." 

"Just as well you have the most talented and by far the most handsome aquanaut here to come 'n' pick you up! I'll have you know that navigating treacherous seas is kinda my speciality."

[rodolfoparras]

I typically get very painful cramps and not much helps it😔💔 so I've learned to just do whatever my brain says I need for comfort and also let myself rage at silly things to feel better😋 I also learned painkillers don't help me much cause the amount I need to take to help the pain😭😭😭 bro I was on another planet😭 my friends sent me clips of me playing the game and you could tell I was not using my brain in the slightest💀

So yeah I gotta rawdog my period cramps😧

But !!!

I love Wren so every much, would love to draw him but I have the worst art block everything looked so bad😭💀 I sorta made a picrew of him? It's not that accurate as he's more grey, older, has shark teeth and his tail isn't so cat like but I worked with what I had💪

https://cdn.picrew.me/shareImg/org/202409/6453_09Fe4KRf.png

And I liked the idea of the all white ethereal glowing look so I'm making another X-Men oc!!!

https://cdn.picrew.me/shareImg/org/202409/6453_J7nNpcUh.png

Have nothing besides they go by Seer, non binary and they're sorta on Magnetos side (Their opinion of him suffers greatly as he sacrifices Rouge in the first movie :< ) They're like 19 and are basically Wren's little sibling !!! They grew up on the streets together, Wren would always take all the hits and cruel things people did because of their mutations :(

While Wren hates humans, he also doesn't want whatever innocent humans there are to suffer because of all the mean ones.

Seer, however, despises humans and can't see how they're worth saving because they witnessed everything those mean people would do to Wren but also never saw any other humans trying to stop or help. But Seer does start realizing Magnetos methods are a bit extreme.

Siblings on opposite sides😔💔 good angst trope but !!! Wren and Seer still text and call frequently, neither go out on missions either so they rarely get hurt or have to fight. But even if they did, both already told Charles/Magneto they refuse to fight each other and they also don't want them to get hurt :<

Wren would absolutely take a blast aimmed for Seer 😭 also Seer loves showing Magneto their favourite music/memes and Magneto is just... So lost??? He doesn't understand. But they're kinda like a silly grandpa grandchild duo. Seer gets along with Mystique a little more, she keeps more up to date with the trends😋

But back to the sillies !!! (Wren, Scott and Logan)

Wren doesn't sleep much, he doesn't really need to so he just doesn't ( He had to stay awake as a kid to keep Seer safe :< Wren can't bring himself to sleep because what if someone needs him?) So Wren just watches like those stop motion lego cooking videos while Scott is cuddled up to him, Logan somewhat cuddled but with his back turned so his claws don't potentially hurt Wren and Scott. Even though Wren would be fine, with Scott sometimes sleeping halfway on top of Wren, Logan doesn't wanna risk hurting him :<

But Wren always gives Logan extra cuddles since Scott always wakes up before Logan :> and Scott and Logan aren't huge on cuddling each other😭 like every so often they will but their love language is bickering and shoving each other🙄

One night though Wren actually lets himself fall asleep after Scott insisted he should at least try and bro he was knocked out🔥🔥🔥 passed out with his face buried in Scotts tiddies (me next me next!!) Wren still doesn't sleep much but if he does, his face is buried in Logan or Scotts tiddies🙏

-🌱

Sugae bee with all due respect I think I’m obligated to fight your period cramps there’s no other way around it I’m loading up my fists and it’s me against the devils river

Sugar bee the picrew is so cute!! I love love love his eyes and the little unicorn horn it’s the cutest combo ever 😭😭😭 and the all white x man is just as beautiful!! I think my favorite is the hair style and the horns!!

I cannot say I know much about the actual x man lore of the story to pitch in my thoughts on their backstory but I do have to say I love protective sibling tropes on opposite sides sm!!!! Especially when the show is about them meeting in some kind of middle ground!! And also it’s kind of sweet how wren has some sympathy for good humans while seer doesn’t have any towards any human because humans have always been so unkind to their brother

Also I love my two silly men getting loved by a wonderful little dude🥹 all three of them deserve all the cuddles in the world and I’m glad they’re getting it from each other 😤 AND WREN EVEN GETS RO SLEEPY IN LOGAN OR SCOTTS TIDDIES?? WHEN IS IT MYTURN

[dominickeating-source]

Star Trek Magazine Issue 121 (2005)

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK  Abbie Bernstein catches up with Dominic Keating - Star Trek: Enterprise's Security Officer Malcolm Reed 

At the time of this interview, the bad news hadn't officially broken, but Dominic Keating already seemed adjusted to the idea that after four years, his tenure playing Lt. Malcolm Reed on Star Trek:Enterprise was drawing to a close. "There's a definite sense that this could easily be it," he says, philosophically. "There's no one at Paramount any more that has any interest in the show. There's no one at UPN who has any interest in the show, there's no one at Paramount who could talk to anyone at UPN, even if they did have an interest in the show, in having it remain. I'm planning my life that we're off. Financially and otherwise, I'm moving ahead like [a fifth season is] not going to happen." 

Keating is happy with the fourth season so far: "It's going good. I've finally got a little bit more to do, which is nice. About the first 10 or 11 episodes, I'm not doing very much at all, just perfunctory stuff, and then it hots up. I've got quite a nice little four-episode, five-episode run." 

What's been the hardest thing Keating's had to do this season? "Wear the blessed spacesuit!" he laughs, referring to the Romulan arc stories. "I did two episodes, back to back, four or five days in a row in that spacesuit. Man, I tell you, it grates! A long day in that spacesuit is a long day." 

Even after the spacesuit has been physically doffed, it continues to plague the actors in post-production, Keating reveals: "Even when you take the helmets off, the suits themselves are so thick, with the rubber they use, they creak and crinkle, so you have to loop it [re-record the dialogue] anyway. If you move at all in that suit, you're looping. I just looped United today - it took two hours!" 

The spacesuit episodes - Babel One and United - see a return to the Shuttlepod One dynamics of Reed and Connor Trinneer's Trip finding themselves facing life-threatening jeopardy while separated from their colleagues. Keating still finds this a blast : "Oh, definitely. Connor's my mate now. We got the dynamic more than ever, because we're friends outside of the show now. We live around the corner from each other. We're chums. He's the guy I rang to help me take my car to the shop today - it's got to that," he laughs. "So yeah, the chemistry - we don't even have to think about that now." 

Keating is pleased with the turns the series has taken since Writer/Producer Manny Coto has taken on Show-runner responsibilities : "Manny's really stepped up," he feels. "In some ways - I'm not the one best really to say this - but I understand that he has righted some of the wrongs that some of the stalwart fans felt were made by the show in our early episodes. Some fans felt that we took certain liberties and apparently he's righted those and made it look like the liberties were taken for a reason. So that's fairly clever. And some of the stuff he's given us to do - the two episodes I just got to play were some of the best I've ever done on the show, and they were Manny's stories." 

There's also enjoyment to be had in the Mirror Universe two-part arc, In a Mirror Darkly, with a first episode scripted by Mike Sussman. "We're in this [parallel] universe where we're all bad mother******s. I played my first scene as a badass Reed with aspirations to - I can't tell you what - and it was great fun!" 

This called for a slight alteration in Reed's usual look, Keating adds: "I accentuated the scar I already have on my lip - a dog bit me when I was 17 - and I slicked my hair down a bit more severely than usual. Anthony [ Montgomery] went through a transformation - he looks amazing. Scott, too." 

Although it hasn't happened on ST:ENT, Keating reveals "I have a dream to direct, so whenever I'm not in a scene, you'll generally find me behind the monitor, watching what's going on." 

What are some of the things he's learned through observation? "Trust the Director of Photography and just be interested in the story and direct the story. I got very immersed in shot-making. That comes with experience. But let the Director of Photography make the shot. Ask the actors to come somewhere with you and have a vision, obviously, but when you actually think about the myriad and multitude of choices you've got, let the Director of Photography be that guy choosing the lenses. That's his job. You'll have a much better run, too, if you give the DP something to do, because he's involved. It's a consensus, with one guy - the Director - steering the ship." 

Does Keating have an ST:ENT Director he' d especially like to emulate? "That's a very difficult question," he considers. "They're all so unique. If I could pinch a bit from here and steal a bit from there...I like the way David Straiton is on the set. He has a lovely way with him. I like the passion that LeVar Burton has on set. I like the attention to detail that David Livingston has, and I like the efficiency and workmanlike attitude - that's not to say that he doesn't have all of the above as well or that the others don't have all of the above, either. Jim Conway has a very efficient, workmanlike attitude that threw me for a bit of a loop during the filming of the pilot, but he's actually directing again today, and it was very refreshing to be around that no-nonsense style. 

"When you've done a show for four years, I want to come to work, get it done and go home," Keating adds. "I have a great time doing it, but I don't need to spend three extra hours!" he laughs. 

What does Keating see himself doing next? "Lining up other work,"! he says. "Going out auditioning like a nutter!"

Source: www.dominickeating.com

[scribeoffate]

sciles or scilira or scydia... i cant pick 🥺 ---

No. 3: “Like crying out in empty rooms; with no-one there except the moon.” (any of those prompts below it chgcgc)

No. 3: “Like crying out in empty rooms; with no-one there except the moon.”

Journal | Solitary Confinement | “Make it stop.”

Thank you for the prompt!

Stiles/Scott/Kira/Lydia for the best of all possible worlds, with the prompter's approval <3

No cut- but erm, warning for heavy angst and no happy ending Scott sits in the corner. The window in the tall tower lets in the faintest stream of moonlight, and if he moves just right he can feel the barest taste of its power. It's not enough to feel like real strength; he can't remember the last time anyone slid food through his door, but it's almost comforting.

Lying in front of him is a book, his pencil worn almost to nothing, the pages filled with memories, science facts, feelings, drawings, anything he could think of to pass the time. Water drips from the faucet in the corner. At first, he'd thought the sound would drive him to distraction.

Now, it's the only thing he has left. The pages are full. The pencil is gone, his clothes are little more than rags, barely enough to cover his flesh, which barely covers his bones. He wraps his arms around himself and shivers as the moonlight fades away.

He misses them.

Kira's bright smile. Her eyes shining as he kissed her goodbye and quietly asked him to stay safe and come back to them.

Lydia's matter-of-fact: "You'll return. If you don't you'll regret it." She'd squeezed his hand and he'd stroked his thumb along her wrist.

Stiles's angry answer and glare. "Yeah, don't you dare think you aren't coming back from this."

Stiles had hugged him like it might be the last time, though, lingering longer and tighter until Scott felt like he was prying himself from his best friend's arms.

"I'll see you all in a few days," Scott had said, confident in his ability to escape anything that was thrown at him.

He hadn't expected a solitary tower coated in mountain ash. He hadn't expected to be so alone and hungry and exhausted. He hadn't expected to never see them again.

Scott closes his eyes. The dripping sound of the water echoes through the tower.

Request a Whump Fic

[safyresky]

Scrimbly Jacqueline 9/52: Jacquie's term as Jack Frost in the Santa Clauses.

Yeah, you heard me right! I am stepping my toes into the series with my beloved blorbos. ME! WHO HAS NOT STOPPED COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW BAD THE SERIES IS!

Lore/musings and pre-edited scrimbly under the cut!

RIGHT SO. YEAH! AFTER TWO SEASONS OF JUST THE WORST WRITING AND NONE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND BONES BUT NO MEAT, I HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW EXACTLY CS WOULD WORK IN A TSCS UNIVERSE bc, imo, there's no way these two are from the same universe. NO way.

Right, so here's what's going on with Jack and the Frosts in tscs, and why Jacquie is ROCKING this fit. I will try to be succinct:

Jack thaws, changes, reunites with the fam, blah blah blah. Santa's very untrusting and this does not change, and I think maybe the events of CS happen the same way but Santa is a HUGE DICK the ENTIRE TIME.

Blah, blah, Pyros happens, yadda yadda, things go on and Santa just keeps getting worse--refuses to see that Jack has changed, starts saying boomer-esque things in Council meetings, to the point where every Council member can't stand him--and Jack gets the brunt of it

He complains to the fam. Winter and Blaise are like, we do NOT fuck with this Santa guy. Jacqueline is ready to throw down the more Jack tells her about things he says/does at meetings

She's like "Jack. Jack. Please. Let me at him. PLEASE."

Jack's like "We'll file that away for later."

Finally Jack has HAD it, he is too cute and pretty and has worked far too hard for this ABUSE to be levelled at him at the hands of Santa Claus. He's worth it! He knows when to take care of HIMSELF. This is a TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT and he will NOT be having ANY MORE OF IT

He steps tf down, Jacqueline takes over, and she is FERAL. She's WORSE than Jack. She makes things a NIGHTMARE for Santa. I have a whole THING planned for how s2 goes with her in Jack's place >:3

And THAT is what's going on here! Jacqueline has stepped up and is ready to THROW DOWN WITH SANTA who is wholly, wholly unprepared

OUTFIT BACKGROUND TIME!

The vest IS JACK'S! She steals it from him! (Santa thinks the vest works the way the Santa jacket does. Jacqueline does not correct him. In fact, she spins a terrifying tall tale of how she killed her predecessor for the spot and took the vest off his slushy, dead, body. Jack thinks it's gd hilarious. Santa is fear.jpeg)

Her hair is still snowy but with more blue and is POOFIER. It is constantly tangled/windswept. POOF BABY.

Speaking of poof: apparently it is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for Jacqueline to NOT wear poofy sleeves. Idk why. SO! Poof sleeve dress shirt! I used to have one just like it and I MISS it, it was so elegant~

Skirt is FIT AND FLARE BABY! Or skater skirt style. She thought of bringing back the pencil skirt and went "fuck that", she needs to MOVE and GROOVE

BIKE SHORTS! I am so sorry everyone who has done Jacquie art for this lil fact I'm about to drop on you all: she wears BIKE SHORTS under her dresses and skirts ALL THE TIME. Stops chafing and if she does a flip she's not worried about flashing people, and they are way more comfy than LEGGINGS. Cold doesn't bug her, anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(She is also prone to overheating easily. Summer sprite blood, everyone expects; I think she's just got too much energy all the time and it keeps her warm)

I did not draw them BUT with this cool work casual ish fit, she still wears her worn grimy leather boots. She's truly the messiest icon.

GREAT friends with the rest of the Claus fam btw; but NOT Scott. And the more she hears from his fam, the angrier she gets lol

AH I am SO EXCITED to unleash this design on y'all. I have been thinking about tscs!cs NON STOP this month! NON STOP! Also, February appears to be the month of FASHION JACQUELINE scrimbles, lol

I tried a lil something different with the hair! Did the messy lines in a light blue then went over it with my very light blue almost white watercolour marker. I like it!

Jack's vest is SO low cut tbh, WILDIN. Very excited when I saw that I DID have a metallic silver prismacolour pencil crayon! It looks GREAT on the VEST and it SHOWED UP IN THE PHOTO! I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD! :D

Very proud of her hands!! And the way the watercolours worked on her glowy magic hand was AMAZING. I cackled the entire time I coloured this post lining it >:)

Anyway that's all the ramblies for this scrimbly for now. I have a bunch of other silly doods for this lil au? ??? ??? of sorts??? I uh, I prepped for this scrimbly unintentionally. Just started doodling the scenes in my head from this version of cs, so there's some funny lil scrimbles coming your way, eh. Thursday? We'll see! I have one more I NEED to draw out then I will be at peace.

Or I'm a big ol' liar and I will 100% write this whole thing and wake up 100k words later very confused.

Anyway, take the non-edited scrimble! I have yet to find a bright enough place in my house OR at work to take a decent photo of art without shadow or fucky lighting. Ah well. Maybe one day ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[fountainpenguin]

"See, I am a legend and I always win! The stars in the cosmos, they bow to my whim!" (x)

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New Dog's Life chapter today! ~ 3rd Life series fan-season

Chapter 24 - “Jolt (Cleo, Scott)”

❤️ Read on AO3

💛 Start from Chapter 1

💚 More Pixels Imperfect fics

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Martyn buries Cleo alive while talking about pacing structure and roleplay plot points. Also, Mayor Scott gets a reality check about running a utopian server hub that no one ever leaves.

(First 1,000 words under the cut)

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ZombieCleo - Zombie

Status: Mentally stimulated

Historian, museum curator, and stadium gamemaster

💙  🧡  💚

They're up in the tunnels, lying on their back on exposed tweenstone while the opals glitter in the walls above them. It's dead dark in here. She's got decent night vision and Martyn probably does too. Glowing eyes do help with that. She's got dirt coating most of her body. Martyn's patting more into place and really going off on a long-winded spiel. Yeah, he does that. Cleo rests with one hand on her stomach and lets him talk. Martyn just wants someone to talk to and she just wants to touch the loamy black soil outside the perimeter. They have to do this together or not at all.

"-enough foreshadowing, d'you think?" Martyn makes a vague swirl with his hand. "I mean, when I look at the storyboards, it seems a little bathtub-y, but I wanted to have fun with it. I think I can swing it- It's better to have fun."

"Mmhm," she says. "I mean, if you want to avoid info-dumping, tension's always going to be the best fix. The first thing I think of is just… Adding weapons. Or maybe slide the scene somewhere else, like a cliff. Or maybe you have a build or private room the viewers have never seen inside before, so it feels exciting even if it's full of talking."

"There's a thought!"

"Or- or, here's an idea- Give them a solid reason they can't actually leave. It doesn't even have to be physical restraints, right? Maybe one character has an item the other wants. Maybe it's just information. Or someone's hurt? You have that whole treasure-hunting schtick going on, right? Adding a collectible to the mix could amp the stakes."

"Oh, that's good. I like that… Withholding information is killer, dude."

"Not too much, though."

"No, no! It'll be clear well before the end. Hmm. Maybe it just needs a pacing restructure. A little more to draw things out, yeah? I might slip in an extra scene upfront that doesn't look important at the time, but should really tie things together down the road." He sprinkles dirt around her neck, making some stupid drawn-out show of it just because it gets his wings up, apparently. Cleo sticks out their tongue. He laughs, giving the wings a flap. "Ooh, actually- You know that respawn idea I had last Friday? What are your Week 2 thoughts on that?"

"Kill your darlings. Not the character- I mean the scene. Just opt for a near-death experience instead. I think the punch will hit harder."

"What hits harder than a respawn?"

Cleo shrugs, which waterfalls black dirt down their shoulders and across Martyn's skinned knees. "I mean, delays don't do you any good. You'll have dead space anyway because of all that travel time to get back to the main scene. Remember your Limited Life ending with the lava buckets? Just work around it. Set it up so you can stay around, even if you're injured. Respawns feel like cheating anyway- I mean, they refresh you back to full energy. It's a little cheap."

Martyn exhales. It leaves him like a swirl. "Hmm… Yeah, I can see that."

"Just think about it, at least. You don't have to throw the scene out."

"Yeah, I know. I do see your point. Spawn is so far away." He takes the spilled dirt and pats it into place again, pressing on the wrinkles until the stuff is sealed against her like a freshly frosted chocolate cake. "The thing is, I feel like I'm getting nowhere with the storyboards. I think I need to get into the dialogue. Maybe do some test drafts. A few bullet points, at least. I'll run them by you again next week and we can do a pros and cons list."

"Mmhm!"

That seems to satisfy him. See, Martyn likes to talk through plot points without spilling spoilers to the people he actually roleplays with. And he's always hungry. These are the two most important facts you need to know about Martyn, at least as far as Cleo and the gemstone cave are concerned. See, so long as they only allofeed him snippets at a time, he'll patiently wait until she's run out of souls to share before he finally takes her out. Even when she's well down in the depths of phantom hour, he'll let her push the boundary. Maybe farther than he should. Throw a soul in front of a phantom and you'll really wreck their aggro.

It's a balance of carrots and sticks. It's yin and yang. It's push and pull. Teamwork is essential. She never would've managed to carve out this secret cave without Martyn's wings lifting her past the bullet path moat or into the ceiling tunnel. Scott can poke around all he wants, but unless he thinks to look up, he's never going to find her hideaway.

The thing is, Martyn can whisk his help away any time he likes. At any time. He didn't withdraw when Double Life split them apart, though Cleo firmly told him chatting about Double Life was off the table the first time he opened his mouth. The third time, maybe. Sure, he whined and groveled about roleplay decompression for a bit (for "the" bit?), but she gave him a cornflower from her hair that he can keep in Between to match the one she gave him on the server. That's all the "We're okay; it's just a game" aftercare he really wanted. He eased up.

He never wore it, though, even though it was the start of the 100-day block back then, which is… confusing. She dropped by his and Jimmy's place once for a game night though, and there it was… in a vase. And honestly, it doesn't get any more clear than that: Thanks for the gift! Your friendship's important to me, but I reject your courtship. I'll keep it as a memento to show there's nothing weird between us, but I'm not wearing this. I don't want you to get the wrong idea.

Martyn's full of wrong ideas. He does what he thinks is "funny." That's the polite way to put it. And since hanging out with Martyn in the caves is really just a business transaction, she should probably make an effort to be polite.

"What's so funny?" he asks, looking up from her dirt-covered arm.

"Bad joke."

"Share or it didn't happen."

Cleo blinks up, his form in shadow apart from the lapis-like glow of his eyes. "I gave you a flower a while back. During Double Life."

"Yeah?"

"You never wore it, but I saw it in your room. Just thought it was funny to interpret that as you saying 'I don't want Cleo to get the wrong idea' when you're full of wrong-"

"Whoa, whoa," he says, throwing his hands in the air. Cleo snorts and Martyn tsk-tsks, thwacking his tail against the dirt. "And this when I'm putting dirt on you."

"I do appreciate that, yeah."

He slaps the next clump down hard. Cleo jolts, but the glitter in his eyes tells them straight away that he's not really mad. "I can't believe that's what you think of me even in your private thoughts. And after all this time!"

"I'm petty, rude, and I commit to the bit. I'm not sure why you're surprised."

"I'm not."

[Full chapter on AO3 - Link at top]