#Visions of us on the Land

[thebansheeoflamordia]

#oh gd here we go #just gonna tag characters not fandoms #fi loz #susie haltmann #penny polendina #orianna league of legends #hera wolf 359 #edi mass effect #viv vision #annalee call #cortana #doris #val and isaac #ok i lied tagging that fandom cause idk which doris tag to use #jenny wakeman #monita nintendo land #aya #N.O.R.A #that's right i put my OC in this meme and you all will deal with it

[torgawl]

this is absolutely killing me *bombastic side eye, criminal offensive side eye playing in the background*

#zhongli probably thinks neuvillette will turn into that one kermit punch meme as soon as he lands eyes on him 😂 #this entire quest was peak humour #i really love genshin sometimes #also neuvi falling for a marketing strategy and ending up buying too much tea on the first time he goes out to another country is so him #there was so much going on during this quest #neuvi explaining an inside joke to wrio... that was so cynoesque ahjsgsjsgshs he's trying his best at fitting in 😭 cute #i love that old man so much #and the ladle?!!!!! picasso 🤌 #furina having a death note moment of reverse physchology trying to understand if zhongli knew who she was was only missing the #l's theme playing in the background #plus clorinde and navia being questionably lesbian in the mountain that was also nice 👍 #but i swear neuvi is so funny #what do you mean that man carried everyone's belongings and went to another country in half a day and managed to scare zhongli without #even trying agsjsh i'm gonna create a monsieur neuvillette fan club #he's the best ever #i need him to meet zhongli for scientific purposes. the world will stop when that day comes 😂 #i need to know what would happen #okay realistically neuvi would probably start wheezing the moment he saw the false vision #but still poking genshin so they give us the content we need they can't just tease us like this

[zeb-z]

Pixlriffs’ litematica ability to project and see the builds of the past to try and rebuild those bits of architecture in his attempt to preserve that history, except it’s not a watch or some sort of magic ability - it’s an old opaque projector, like a vitascope. almost ancient with just a little bit of magic from the land embedded in its lenses, able to project the history of the landscape. he’s got it up and running and it’s a little flicker-y but it works well enough, he’s taking notes of the grainy after images of empires from long before his time, building on the blueprint of historical importance

do you see my vision

#an opaque projector called litematica - leitmatica if you want to get fancy (because that’s how I thought that was spelled at first pfjdjfj) #maybe it’s something he’s found and uses to his advantage. maybe it’s something he’s had all along and something about the old powers of the #land help power it now showing things that have been long forgotten to time #I’m holding you by the shoulders look into my eyes. do you see do you understand the vision #it fits so well #pixlriffs #empires smp #mcyt #empires s2 #edit: so I’m not 100% sure on the vitascope being an opaque projector? ignore my silly little projector inaccuracy #google vitascope you’ll get what projector I’m getting at

[senotsuri]

Alice not getting Masquerade design motifs as Battle Brawlers progresses is a missed opportunity, I think.

Day 4

#bakujuly2022 #alice gehabich #Masquerade redesign implied through the mask she's holding #Also added the decorative chained buttons from Alice's prototype design. as seen in the battle brawlers height ref #I was going to redesign Spectra. Then I was going to redesign Masq. But then landed on Alice eventually #I'm not sketching first so much as throwing myself into these. so I couldn't get a good feel for those two #but I did with Alice #Her shirt and shorts are now a romper btw #Masquerade doesn't confirmedly have red eyes *but* #Alice's eyes did seemingly turn red when her vision went red-tinted. completely able to see the Gs of the bakugan she was looking at #so I'm using that scene to inform what colour Masq's eyes are #wait I just noticed the accidental bi flag in the back. I don't see Alice as bi personally but aksjhjsdhf #bakugan #love when I forget the literal main tag

[thelostboys87]

my very strong philosophy that i need to perceive my characters as real people in order to feel like i can write them at the depth a novel needs + i try to see expand my view of them as far as possible so they have a life an existence that a novel only snapshots a part of + this being a big part of my writers identity bc my relationship with my characters is very important to me is still very real but also very funny now because i've realised when it comes to short fiction i do not give a fuck like that. like i put everything into my characters bc i think making complex characters/relationships is my best skill but they are nothing but names to me (and i barely name my protagonists cause i just dont give a fuck if its not needed) and shadows reflecting an idea i thought was cool. like the way with novels i'll say felix and beau and dorothy are my best friends and they've just granted me access to their stories and i can't imagine how i'd go through life without thinking about them and their lives...then with short fiction the characters are just dolls that i throw out once i'm done with them

#like i feel for them but with my novel characters i can envision them and their life expanded beyond the story #whereas with short fiction characters i feel like im only meant to know them for this moment. like i dont want to go further #meanwhile in novel land i was daydreaming earlier about what felix and dorothy would look like at 60 with grey hair and boring lives LOL #ghost of a 1970s leather daddy was fun because the ghost was like. the only character #the pov was more of a disembodied collective voice that represents a group of people living together but also can be applied #to the wider community #omg when i write an essay on a 300 word piece #between us girls is fun because the pov is also collective but fragmented in a way to give each character their moment #and i feel for them in the sense that i feel like i could write more and get to know them like novel characters but im not going to LOL #i feel like we know just enough about them for the fleeting vibe of the piece to work BUT I WONT SAY ANYTHING ELSE #and the way i dont name so many protagonists....like i just dont give a fuck like that #the way i see flash majority of the time is i'm so tunnel visioned on less of the character and more what they experience #their name doesnt matter unless it's important to the experience of the story

[muppenthings]

What if I nibbled on Keiki or Runt? How would they react

-Trick

You wouldn't be able to sneak up on Runt so he'd know you were around before your greeting. So he'd turn around, see your shark features, panic and dash away. He's really scared of sharks. It's a seal mer instinct. Sorry. :,)

Assuming you mean adult Keiki, he'll just be confused; 'Is this a greeting? Should I nibble back?' then proceed to say "Hi" and make an attempt to nibble back. It'd be awkward. ;p

#Ask #Trick anon #oc Runt #oc Keiki #The seal mers whiskers are sensetive and can detect water disturbances! #Real seals can hunt for food without vision even by using their whiskers! #so yep. No sneaking up on Runt underwater xD #on land is a diff question pfppfpfpf

[thefarminggoblin]

Another Elucien theory: what if Lucien isn’t just choosing gifts that he knows Elain would like, but also choosing them to help her keep her connection to her human life? He knows how important that connection is to her, how much she loved her human life. It’s almost like an apology of sorts.

But it also backfires: I feel like her reactions are more to do with being reminded of what happened rather than towards Lucien himself. She doesn’t look at him during these moments, but rather she looks at the gifts.

It may be an unhinged theory but I feel there’s more to it than “she would like this”. Lucien is much more thoughtful than that.

There’s so much miscommunication between them UGH just talk already.

#I also support the theory that Elain has been distant because she’s had a nasty vision of him dying or something #and all of their offscreen interactions #I need to see them from her POV #like after Hybern when they went to wash up #or when they were left alone together before Lucien left for the human lands #SARAH GIVE US THE GOODS #acotar #elucien #lucien vanserra #elain archeron

[todayisafridaynight]

I know it'll be a cold day in hell when Masato asks for Jo's input and actually listens but sometimes I like to think about Jo helping him pick out his new name. He never gave himself the opportunity when he was born and Arakawa had his turn yk... only he put actual thought into it and Jo's just like It Sounds Like Jo 😭😭

THAT WOULD BE CUTE WOLUDNT.... whenever i think of jo getting small chances to be a dad i feel my heart and soul grow 50 times its original size i SWEARRR (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)

#snap chats #i always wondered what jo wouldve named aoki if he decided to keep him like PLEAASE (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)(;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)(;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`) #its why im obsessed with the idea of jo in america with aoki yk.... just an actual period where solely jo is resposnible for aoki.. #i mean aoki would be like. TWENTY by then but stlil... a small sliver taste of true fatherhood... even if aoki being a dickhead #I CAN SEE IT I SEE THE VISION AND I MAY INFLICT EVEYRONE WITH IT AT SOME POINT BUT IN CASE I DONT ILL PRATTLE #like i just imagine them on the plane to the states- maybe masato's still. 👁️👁️ bout everything happening #hed PROBABLY try to play it off like hes fine but jo's already seen him at his lowest so it's kind of moot to try and act Whatever #i mean masato wouldnt know the first thing about starting a new life or any shady business like that. Yet. #so it's fair to assume that jo would probably be the first to bring up the subject of changing his identity when theyre alone #i mean i IMAGINE jo/arakawa/masato all talked about what they were going to do going forward but yk. #Gotta Actually Set Things In Motion Now. i see it in my minds eye so clearly byyyye #its a long flight til they land gotta use that time somehow... we thinkin a names now... #LEMME CALL IT THERE HOL UP IM DRAWING SOEMTHING RN if i come back with something done with. This. you didnt see any of this #OK BYEYBEYBEY

[phantomdecibel]

Emitting a long and continuous high-pitched aaaaa over the fact that I just had a VIVID idea for something I want to draw

But.

I’m currently unable to get started on it. This is slaughtering me it is turning me inside out I am dying. I want this image to exist outside of my head SO BADLY but I can’t yet and now I am in pain.

Send help.

(y e s it was inspired by an Epic: the musical song leave me alone. I’ve been consumed it’s not my fault)

#the epic the musical brainrot strikes again #the song I was listening to was Full Speed Ahead specifically but the playlist has since moved on. now Polyphemus echoes through my mind. #totally gonna throw together a sketch the SECOND I get my hands on a sketchbook #although for clarity this idea is a digital painting #I just don’t want to forget #I heard ‘follow the birds- they will lead us to land- there we’ll hunt for food my second in command’ #and an image of Odysseus standing on deck looking up at some birds in the distance or something took over my vision #I WILL make this a reality don’t even test me #wait no it was ‘watch where the birds fly’ yeah that was it #epic the musical #also I am no longer ‘a’ing thanks for asking #although I suppose it was more like an ‘e’ sound #it pains me to not have access to a SINGLE piece of paper for the moment #but rest assured I’m on a mission now #still feeling slightly inside out tho :/ #wish I didn’t have to get up so early tomorrow so I could actually sit down and work on it smh

[piduai]

Don't tell me it's about sugiripa. Nononononoooo

it's not about sugiripa. i wouldn't care if it were about sugiripa. tsurumi is confirmed as survived, which i was mad about for 2 days but i've gaslit myself into getting over it

#like i was sure that in noda's vision he did survive (if he were dead there'd be a body) but the ambiguous ending left me enough room #to pretend that he died for good. but noda decided to piss on my parade #i think it's weird to say that one of the biggest disappointments you have with a story is that your favorite character survived #but it is what it is. both tsurumi and sugimoto should have died and noda is a coward #like it's not only about tsurumi as a character (313 was about nothing) and about me as a reader (feeling cheated in a cheap way) #but the overall tone of this... like... all 3 main fascists not only survived their quest for forming a military state using indigenous #people's LAND AND MONEY. they bore no personal losses. and lived richly into old age. sorry but this is bullshit lol #oh and also saw no punishment no retribution no consequences. AT ALL #while a bunch of characters who fought ON the side of said indigenous people did lose their lives. kiroranke didn't even get a proper #burial lmfao he was left on the ice floe #there's much and more to say about that addition and it strikes me as not even lowkey nationalist like it's a very muh troops #making japan great again moment and also- you know what. i'll stop here. i hate everything about this <3 #admittedly that omake is also so hysterical it made me throw up like that guy does NOT have the term 'giving up' in his dictionary #anyway. i accepted it. whatever. #anon

[protagonistscum]

*gently holds hc* yes i love when the traveler is morally ambiguous but tends to lean towards morally good bc that’s how how their friends tend to lean towards. it’s about their connection to their friends; rather than what’s truly right or wrong 

#also fics that write the traveler as ruthless... uhg my BELOVED #they only get involved if they care for the poeple who are in the situation OR the situation is fucking them up #ie. when REX LAPIS FELL FROM THE SKY. that situation fucked them up! so obviously they needed to get to the bottom of it. #the vision hunt decree? ayaka had to get the traveler to make connections to actually get involved in the entire situation. #i also hold onto the idea that they are not human. and therefore have a different connection to humanity and gods. #they are immortals themselves. but they're so used to traveling! did they ever actually get a chance to CONNECT to anyone besides their #sibling? like. home is where they are together. home isn't a place. it is a person. and they are always on the move. #is this like. the first time the traveler has gotten a chance to actually connect to people of different worlds? #like the abyss sibling CLEARLY got attached to this world while the traveler slept. #you dont want to destroy the heavenly principles if you weren't in love with the land that they destroyed. #was teyvat the first place they fell in love with? and is taking revenge for? #enough that they tell their sibling to figure out why they feel this way. by traveling the world. #despite the need to be together again. #and the traveler goes out and just. makes a connection to so many people. whom they would now drop anything for to help out. #the traveler is slowly falling in love with teyvat and the people in it #i know they're supposed to be the main character (therefore we are) but i project so much stuff that they are their own character now

[thrivingisthegoal]

Golf Courses ARE Being Converted

The Solarpunk "fantasy" that so many of us tout as a dream vision, converting golf courses into ecological wonderlands, is being implemented across the USA according to this NYT article!

The article covers courses in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, and New York that are being bought and turned into habitat and hiking trails.

The article goes more into detail about how sand traps are being turned into sand boxes for kids, endangered local species are being planted, rocks for owl habitat are being installed, and that as these courses become wilder, they are creating more areas for biodiversity to thrive.

Most of the courses in transition are being bought by Local Land Trusts. Apparently the supply of golf courses in the USA is way over the demand, and many have been shut down since the early 2000s. While many are bought up and paved over, land Trusts have been able to buy several and turn them into what the communities want: public areas for people and wildlife. It does make a point to say that not every hold course location lends itself well to habitat for animals (but that doesn't mean it wouldn't make great housing!)

So lets be excited by the fact that people we don't even know about are working on the solutions we love to see! Turning a private space that needs thousands of gallons of water and fertilizer into an ecologically oriented public space is the future I want to see! I can say when I used to work in water conservation, we were getting a lot of clients that were golf courses that were interested in cutting their resource input, and they ended up planting a lot of natives! So even the golf courses that still operate could be making an effort.

So what I'd encourage you to do is see if there's any land or community trusts in your area, and see if you can get involved! Maybe even look into how to start one in your community! Through land trusts it's not always golf course conversions, but community gardens, solar fields, disaster adaptation, or low cost housing! (Here's a link to the first locator I found, but that doesn't mean if something isn't on here it doesn't exist in your area, do some digging!)

#solarpunk #sustainability #climate change #gardening #activism #hope #climate justice #news #new york times #golf courses #habitat #conservation

[sttoru]

your boyfriend sleeps on the couch after an argument you both had earlier that day. after calming your nerves and taking time for yourself, you realise that you might have been a bit too harsh on him.

☀︎｜tags. older bf!gojo satoru x female reader. fluff / angst / hurt + comfort. age gap (reader early 20’s & satoru early 30’s). nicknames used; ‘(little) baby’. he’s honestly just the perfect combination of gentle and teasing. subtle mentions of size difference.

satoru shifts on the couch whilst letting out an inaudible yawn. he was tired after an entire day at work and finally had the chance to settle down in the comfort of his apartment.

though, he couldn’t really relax just yet. the reason why being the undeniable tension hanging in the air. he was in fact home, but it didn’t feel like it. not when you were missing.

you had holed yourself up in the master bedroom after an earlier argument the two of you had. it wasn’t a big fight — just a little squabble between lovers. satoru didn’t rush after you when you had decided to walk away midst argument. you clearly weren’t in the right headspace to properly articulate nor communicate your feelings.

he figured that you just needed some time alone and thus decided to leave you be. he didn’t want to risk losing you by annoying you any further.

satoru scrolls on his phone out of boredom. the light radiating off the screen starts to bother his already sensitive eyes. with a sigh, he shuts off the device and puts it down on the coffee table.

it was dead silent in the apartment that was usually filled with your lively chatter. the sorcerer wants nothing more than to cuddle up with you under the covers and fall asleep. but, you needed space and he wasn’t going to disturb you.

he drapes an arm over his eyes and pulls the thin blanket over his chest. his breaths were steady and his thoughts were surprisingly calm. satoru almost drifts off to sleep, however his body lightly jolts awake once he hears the creaking of a door.

careful footsteps echo throughout the hallway and stop right at the doorstep of the living room.

satoru moves his arm to the side so his vision wouldn’t be obstructed. his eyes land on the figure standing at the doorframe — one he could recognise instantly.

it was you, standing there with your head held low and your fingers curled around the hem of your nightgown. you didn’t take another step forwards and just lingered in your spot for a few seconds without saying anything.

“hey, baby.” satoru breaks the silence. his voice was as soft as it could be, not an ounce of annoyance or frustration in it. even if he had all the reason to be upset according to you.

you remember just how childish you acted earlier; you had lost all rationality, shouted at your boyfriend out of frustration and ran off mid sentence instead of properly addressing the issue at hand. the way you handled that situation was wrong and immature.

in contrast to your immature behaviour, satoru had stayed calm and collected throughout the entirety of your argument. he hadn’t raised his voice at you even once nor did he blame you for anything. you felt bad for acting like a bratty kid who didn’t get her way.

you eventually move towards the couch, still not making eye contact with your boyfriend. he sits up and simply watches you with a raised eyebrow—curious as to what you were about to do.

you knew you had to apologise for your behaviour, but what you needed first was his validation. you wordlessly climb onto the couch and under the blanket satoru was using.

your arms wrap around his torso and you hug him tightly to your body, face buried in his shirt to cover your embarrassed and remorseful expression.

satoru’s eyes widen a bit at the sudden show of affection, though he wasn’t complaining. he reciprocates the gesture and nuzzles his cheek against the top of your head.

“my little baby.” he chuckles, hands rubbing your back in attempt to reassure you that everything was and will be fine, “i’m happy you decided to come back to me — thank you.”

again. that tender tone satoru uses only with you and for you. the guilt from earlier hits you like a truck and your eyes well up with tears before you could stop the process.

“sorry,” your voice cracks once you finally muster out an apology. the warmth engulfing your cold body was enough to make you sob in his comforting embrace. satoru sighs and closes his eyes. he rests his chin on top of your head whilst holding you like his life depended on it.

no words were exchanged between you two for a good minute. satoru silently encourages you to cry it out and so you do. after calming down, you sniffle and pull your head away from his chest. your eyes were watery and a bit red.

the pad of his thumb sweeps the stray tears away from your cheeks, his touch precise and careful. he smiles softly at the sight of his teary-eyed girlfriend. you were so adorable and precious to him. even when you looked like a mess — a pretty mess.

“i just..” you start off, small hiccups interrupting your sentence, “i wanted to apologise for acting so childish. i shouldn’t have said nor did any of those hurtful things. i apologise for that as well.”

your lover nods along to your words. he hums in delight and kisses your forehead, his lips lingering there for longer than intended, “don’t worry, baby. i understand. thank you for apologising, though.”

you mutter a small ‘of course’ in-between sniffles. that was all the reassurance you had needed to hear from your boyfriend. though, you still felt bad and the guilt of your immature actions seemed to linger in the back of your mind.

you lay your head back on satoru’s chest and listen to his heartbeat — hoping that the constant sound would drown out any other thoughts. your lover lays on his back and pulls you down on top of him. his hands rub your sides, slender fingers toying with the silky material of your nightgown.

“i’m sorry for being immature sometimes. i’m sure it must be troubling to deal with.” you whisper as you enjoy the feeling of being back in satoru’s arms.

he grins and shakes his head in response. he loves every side of yours — even your immature one. if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be here right now. he truly loves all of you.

the older man places another soft kiss on top of your head and closes his eyes afterwards, “heh, i’d be lying if i said that you trying to act all tough earlier wasn’t cute.”

satoru snickers at the memory. he remembers how you pointed that little finger of yours in front of his face and how you tried to subtly stand on the tips of your toes so you could look him in the eyes properly. your attempts at looking intimidating were quite endearing.

it’s not like he was invalidating your feelings with that comment — he was genuinely trying to lighten your mood. and it wasn’t like it didn’t work.

“whatever.” you huff, playfully swatting his biceps and gaining an over exaggerated ‘ow!’ in response. you’re glad that things have gone back to normal between you two. if the situation had continued for any longer, you’d have lost your mind.

you aren’t the only one who is extremely relieved. satoru is beaming with joy because he gets to hold and talk to you again. that small period of silence between the both of you felt like an eternity to him.

no matter how many times you have those little arguments, satoru will still love you all the same.

#sttoru writes. #jjk x reader #gojo x reader #gojo satoru x reader #jjk x you #jjk fluff #gojo x you #jjk x y/n #gojo x y/n #jjk fanfic #jjk fic #jjk angst

[kangaracha]

the thing about being a Certified Horse Girl is that i don't know if this is really painful or i'm being dramatic lmfao

#a bit of both #the fact that i can't actually get on a horse speaks volumes i think #if you're using a bucket to get on breakers you're in trouble #anyway in other news can you tell no one has talked to me all day #i n t e r a c t i o n i need it #what else do i have to say on this #oh this reminds me of the time i somersaulted off a horse and landed flat on my back #and i rode three horses after that right #and i got off the last one and suddenly my vision was blacking out and i was like about to pass out my boss was like #'you just went really pale really fast' and i'm like 'yeah i'm about to pass out and there's a weird pain in my side?' #anyway this was at 9am five hours of riding no breakfast and i left the hospital at 8pm and no one gave me a meal that whole time #and my organs were just like bruised. extremely unhappy at being thrown in the air. but like damn if we're gonna not eat for like 16 hours #you could at least actually be ruptured you know what i mean #this is horse girl life anyway #oh yeah and i sprained my ankle innnnn june or some shit #took me three weeks to realise it was sprained and not #i don't even have an excuse i just ignored the pain until someone was like 'why are you still limping' anywa #rode on a sprained ankle for five weeks because there is no one who can replace me #horse girl tingz #i could go on #OH hahahahahaha i jumped a metre and my dog ran under my horse's legs when we landed and he like piledrivered me into the ground right #i tried to land on my feet cause the ground at home is like concrete. failed. landed on my knees. realised immediately walking across the #paddock to catch him that my legs were uhhhh not going to be great #got back on. jumped this fairly high jump again which sounds like madness but hear me out if i didn't make it over after that i was gonna b #scared of it later #anyway yes my legs were fucked i could not twist or anything just limpin around and i started having headaches #and eventually i went to a physio and she was like 'yeah i have no idea how you didn't dislocate at least one hip and your whole body is #completely out of whack' hahaha oh so that's what the headaches are who knew #the more i talk the more stories i think of anyway #my legs hurt

[thestuffedalligator]

The goblin looked at the orc. The orc looked at the goblin. They both looked down at the crumpled shape of the Overlord, His Unholy Majesty, in his obsidian armor.

His final spasms had been mesmerizingly acrobatic. The fall down the steps leading up to his iron throne had pretzelled his body quite impressively, both arms folded behind his back and one leg bent at a jaunty angle.

The goblin looked at the orc. The orc looked at the goblin.

"Shit," said the goblin.

"Shit," said the orc.

"We're likely to get blamed for this," the goblin said. She walked over to the head of the glittering mangled heap and started pulling the helmet off.

"It's not our fault," the orc said. "It's hard to help someone choking when they wear two-hundred pounds of spiked armor at all times."

"Yeah, well," the goblin grunted. The helmet came free, and the bald head of the Overlord bounced on the stone with a hollow, coconut noise. "You know how it is in this bloody country - thieves get their heads cut off so they can't think about thieving, and all that." She fished in the Overlord's mouth with a finger and pulled out the obstructing olive on the end of her claw.

She popped it into her mouth and chewed. "What do you reckon they do for a regicide?" she said.

"We should run," the orc said. She had started bouncing her leg. "I hear that there's some places in the Alliance where they just kill you and let you stay dead. That's got to be nicer than what'll happen if we stay here."

The goblin started to nod - and then her gaze fell on the helmet.

It looked like a pineapple designed by a deranged blacksmith. It was all thorns and spikes and hard edges, as though the maker had been very determined to not let pigeons roost on it. The only bits that weren't solid iron were eyeholes. Nobody had ever seen the Overlord's face.

She held up the helmet and squinted from it to the orc. One of the thorns had been bent badly in the fall.

Nobody had ever seen the Overlord's face...

"Right," she muttered. "Right. Could work - or."

The orc had a sudden vision of the immediate future. "No," she said.

"I mean you're about his height-"

"No."

"It would just be for a-"

"Absolutely not."

"Just hear me out," the goblin said. "Outside of this room are two-thousand men and orcs and goblins who are absolutely gonzo about this man, and there's a whole country of them outside of the castle, and at any moment someone's going to walk in that door and see one dead tit in black armor and two unbelievably dead idiots next to him.

"Or." She tossed the helmet up like a basketball to the orc, who fumbled and tried to find somewhere to hold it that wasn't a knife's edge. "We chuck him out the window now, walk out the door in the armor, and ditch the armor as soon as nobody sees us."

The orc had started bouncing her leg again. "They'll know something's up the second I walk out of the room."

"No worries," said the goblin. "Leave that to me."

---

It had been a very strange year for the Empire.

Change had rolled across the land as slow and inevitable as a glacier. Roads and bridges carved the gray, blasted wildlands, and a number of social reforms had made the country a place where you could be miserable, yes, but miserable in comfort and safety, and that was an improvement.

Barely anyone got boiled alive in molten metal, and even if the disgusted sun never rose to light the Empire, at least you had a roof over your head to protect yourself from the acid rain.

"Your empire flourishes, Your Unholy Majesty," the magician said over her wine glass. She looked down from the tower's balcony over the gleaming stone battlements. Some work had been done to line the castle and surrounding city with sizzling, crackling alchemical lights at night. The whole thing glowed like something dangerously radioactive.

The suit of armor waved a languid, glittering gauntlet over to the goblin, who bowed.

"His Abominable Gloriousness Thanks You," the goblin recited. "The Prosperity Of His Empire Can Only Be Achieved Through The Prosperity Of His People."

"If I may be so bold, I am quite pleased that you had chosen to take my counsel under consideration," said the magician. "We have accomplished many things together."

Another wave. Another bow. "The Overlord, May His Presence Swallow The Sun And Stars, Thanks You As Well."

"It was quite gratifying to see you change your mind, after so many centuries of denial." The wine was swirled. "Tell me, what was it that finally gave you cause to listen to me?"

There was the slightest hesitation. The goblin's eyes flicked to the armor, then to the magician. She puffed out her chest. "Do you question the wisdom of His Austere Lugubriousness?" she asked.

The magician looked at the goblin. She looked at the armor. She tipped her head back and drank the wine too quickly.

She looked back at the armor. "I know you're the orc, you moron," she said.

The room went deathly still. An alchemical light fizzled.

The orc pulled off the helmet, sending long, untied hair down tangling, and said: "How could you possibly-"

"Because you're both idiots!" the magician said. The goblin jumped. The orc jumped with a noise like a dropped stove. "What kind of a plan was this?! If it wasn't for me, you would have been turned into fertilizer months ago."

She closed her eyes. She took a long, dramatic breath. She set the wine glass down on the balcony rail.

"How did the Overlord die?" she asked when she seemed like she had gotten a hold over herself.

"Choked on an olive," said the goblin.

"Threw his body out the window," said the orc.

"You don't have to mention the window," said the goblin.

"Right," said the orc. "Sorry."

The magician looked out over the city, hand curled thoughtfully under her nose. "Who knows about this?"

"Just us. And, uh. You. Apparently."

"And why did you accept my counsel?"

The orc blinked. "Sorry?"

"Why did you accept my counsel?" the magician repeated.

"Well," the orc said. "Well - you seemed like you had good ideas-"

"Great ideas!" the goblin said with an edge of desperation. "Don't know why the old bastard didn't listen to you!"

"Right - right," said the orc. "And when we figured we were stuck doing this - well, it just made sense, really."

The magician seemed to absorb this. She nodded. "All right," she said, striding between the two and grabbing the crystal decanter.

"Um," said the orc. "Sorry. What happens now?"

"What happens is that you two will continue to serve as Overlord," said the magician. "You will continue to take my counsel. We will continue to reform this bloody country, and gods willing, we will turn it into the crown jewel of the world by next Midwinter."

The orc looked at the goblin. The goblin looked at the orc.

"Really?" the goblin asked.

"Oh yes," said the magician. "I've worked hard to be counsel to the Overlord, and I have no reason to stop now. And besides-"

She looked the orc up and down with a deliberate slowness, poring over every microscopic detail, eyes tracing over every jagged line, and grinned like a panther.

"You look much better in the armor than he ever did," she said. Dark robes swirled like a becleavaged thundercloud, and she strode out through the high iron doors, decanter in hand.

The goblin looked at the orc. The orc looked at the goblin.

"Shit," said the goblin.

"Shit," said the orc.

#short story #fantasy writing #narrativia #10k

[oceantornadoo]

bad day (simon riley x reader, best friends to lovers)

honestly, you should have seen it coming. staying in a safe house with four men who have never ending stomachs? but today, it was the last straw.

“you ate my last cookie?”

soap’s face dropped, jaw open. your voice was on the verge of breaking, tears forming in your eyes. you never showed this much vulnerability in front of the team, and he was flabbergasted. he shot a look at gaz, who was equally as confused. “‘m sorry, bonnie, i didnae ken-“ you pushed your hands on the table, shoving your chair back and out. “it’s ok. gonna take a nap.” you were wiping your eyes furiously, feeling unstable. first you got your period four days early (asking price to add pads to the shopping list was something you never wanted to experience again), then you couldn’t find your heating pad, and now your cookies were out? maybe it was the hormones, but you were done.

“oof.” you had ran into a thick wall. scratch that, the wall was moving. your vision was blurred by tears you refused to shed that you didn’t even realize it was your closest friend ghost. “dove?” you hiccuped. why did he always have to be so nice to you? gruff and mean-sounding to everyone else, but an avid listener and sweet talker when it came to you. “jus’ trying to get to my room, didn’t see you. sorry l.t..” you tried to maneuver around him, but unfortunately a 6’4 machine of a man did not move easily.

“why you cryin’, baby?” shit, simon did not mean to call you that. he did not want to have this conversation right now, especially when you looked like you were about to break down. you were always so strong, having to work ten times harder as a woman in the military, and he was always careful to not undermine you or your struggles. unfortunately, that landed him firmly in the friendzone for the past year, unable to confess his feelings without breaking your trust. he maneuvered you to the closest room, which happened to be his. he sat down on the bed, intending to sit you down next to him, but instead you still stood, walking in between his parted legs.

“‘m sorry, just on my period and everything hurts and it’s all hitting at once.” your eyes were red, avoiding his. he could see you were in pain, and as someone who had endured enemy torture and the hardest forms of training, his heart never hurt as much as it did now. he reached a gloved hand towards your face, brushing away your tears. his other hand came to your lower belly, rubbing circles over your clothes. “shhh, ‘s okay. you wanna sit down?” you shook your head in disagreement. you felt like a child, but you were never allowed to be weak outside of your own room. for some reason today, you let simon riley see you weak.

you walked around his body and laid on top of his covers, curling into a fetal position. he let you get comfy, finding a way to lay down that lessened your cramps. finally, you were done moving. “si?” you never called him that unless you absolutely needed him. he got up and locked the door, not wanting to disturb your peace. “yeah, baby?” might as well use it now, you hadn’t complained. if anything your face softened when he said it, and simon riley would die a thousand deaths just to see a moment of relief on your face. “will you lay with me?”

he eagerly stripped out of his gear, climbing on top of his bed to lay down with you. he placed a hand on your arm, letting you choose where you wanted him. you dragged his hand under your sweatshirt, using it like a heating pad for your cramps. you let out a soft moan of pleasure and he answered it with a low growl, pulling you into him by the stomach. his thumb caressed your bare skin with small circles, memorizing every dip and valley. he strived to commit the moment to memory, not knowing if you’d ever be this vulnerable again. “feel better, dove?” you nodded, finally succumbing to sleep that had evaded you the past night. he smiled under his mask, placing a small kiss to the back of your head.

finally you were at peace, and all because of him.

#simon ghost riley #simon riley x reader #simon riley x you #cod 141 #fluff #ghost call of duty #tornadothoughts #best friends to lovers #period cramps #john soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #captain john price