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jouxlskaard · 3 days

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Strap in, fuckers. This is a long one.

I've seen a lot of discourse and discussion recently about why TMAGP isn't resonating with listeners as much as TMA did, with a lot of people pointing towards the infrequent structure of each episode and the lack of subtlety that TMA had once excelled in. And while both of these are true, I think the main culprit that has caused these problems for listeners is one thing: the pacing.

TMAGP is only going to be 60 (Edit: 90) episodes long, compared with TMA's absolute behemoth of 200. When I'd found out about this, I'd assumed that it meant TMAGP would have a much smaller story - not having to establish as much information as TMA did, and allowing the story to have lower stakes as a result. This certainly wasn't a bad thing, as many sequels that have tried to one-up their predecessors have gone disastrously wrong, but I knew that the structure would be different to TMA as a result.

However, from the 12 episodes that we've seen so far, it appears that TMAGP is going to have similar levels of stakes to TMA - not the same stakes, of course, but they'll likely be on close to equal footing. This means that TMAGP has to establish the same amount of information to listeners with significantly less time to do it in, and the pacing has to speed up to adhere to that. In the first 12 episodes of TMA, we had established one possible recurring statement character (Gerry), a disturbing worm woman (Prentiss), and the fact that Jon doesn't like his assistant and refuses to believe any of the statements. In the first 12 episodes of TMAGP, we've established every important protagonist and what they sound like, two recurring statement characters (Bonzo and Ink5oul) with one that has already physically appeared, much of Sam's backstory and his ties to the Magnus Institute and the fact that something is deeply wrong with their workplace. That is a big difference.

This difference in pacing is what I believe is turning listeners away from what they'd originally enjoyed about TMA, because there's no longer that warm, comforting atmosphere when you listen to it. Its sound isn't designed to come from a tape recorder and a tape recorder only anymore; it's no longer a sit-down and listen to the Archivist tell you spooky stories for 20 minutes anymore; and, like I mentioned earlier, the structure is no longer the same throughout each episode. The horror anthology aspect, whilst still being there, has now taken a back-burner to the metanarrative because so much has to be established in so little time. To many, that's a bad thing. They listened to the original because they liked the statements, and the little things connecting them hinted to a much larger story at play. When this story was revealed, we got to see Jonny Sims and his brilliant prose at its best, because there was no longer anything to hide and the statements were in their purest forms - no longer having to establish information to the audience, and simply basking in the fear.

I'm sure we'll get to see the same thing in TMAGP once the narrative reaches that point, but the current pacing has uprooted a lot of listeners' expectations for the show. I'm going to listen to the entire thing, personally; yeah, it's different, and it doesn't deliver the same vibes and comfort as TMA did, and I probably won't be able to fall asleep whilst relistening to the more obscure episodes like I could before, but in a frankly disturbing way, I'm still fascinated with what Jonny, Alex and the other writers have created. This type of horror is the only kind that I genuinely enjoy, and I'm excited to see what direction Protocol goes in.

Edit: I feel like I should clarify that I don't see this comparison as something that takes away from TMAGP. Alex has said that it's going to be different from the get-go, and I do think that comparing it to TMA is an exercise in futility to an extent. I just wanted to talk about the shows together because I feel like they complement one another, and the narrative beats that I've talked about are less to do with TMA on its own and more to do with general narrative structure. We have buildup, payoff and pacing no matter what show it is, because that's what makes a story. I think TMAGP could be taken a little bit like Deltarune in terms of its relation to the original source material: separate entities with some overlap in character and themes. At the end of the day, it's still early days for the show and this entire spiel could just end up gathering dust - I just think it's a cool thing to think about, and it gives me an excuse to infodump about how pacing can affect a narrative and the audience's response to it.

I wrote this while my cat was laying on me. Have a picture as a reward for reading this whole thing.

#the magnus protocol #tmagp #writing #tmagp theory #tmagp spoilers #tmagp vague #tma #the magnus archives #magnus archives #magnus pod #the magnus universe #the magnus institute #this isn't my usual post but i write fantasy and horror in my free time #i'm certainly not qualified enough for this to be considered the one and only take #but i've been thinking about it and i think it's kind of interesting #this pacing is actually pretty conventional for horror podcasts #but because we're used to tma levels of pacing it feels contrived #i'm just an aspiring writer guys don't take this too seriously

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hotvintagepoll · 3 days

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Propaganda

Chelo Alonso (Sign of Rome Morgan the Pirate La ragazza sotto il lenzuolo)— She was an international star, and she was so hot she had to turn down marrying a prince, and became so famous for being hot that Fidel Castro sent Che Guevara to beg her to go back to Cuba. She was also called the Cuban H-Bomb. She makes me light-headed.

Ingrid Bergman (Gaslight, Casablanca, Notorious)—Where do I even begin with Ingrid Bergman? I fell in love with her with her astounding performance in the 1956 version of Anastasia -- the best Anastasia movie in large part due to her wonderful and touching performance. She's got this amazing, fascinating intensity to her in whatever role she's in. She commits 100%, and she's got this light in whatever she's in that's stunning. She's utterly convincing no matter what she plays, from an amnesiac possible lost princess, from a nun, from a woman taking her revenge on the town that wronged her, to light romantic comedy. She's never missed in any role I've seen her in! Also she became quite the MILF.

This is round 4 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Chelo Alonso:

"forgive me sending in more pictures of her but i CANNOT be normal about here asdhgkljhahgjkhgkajshgajghshgjl"

Ingrid Bergman:

God, she's fantastic. She's both beautiful and a compelling actor who's more than capable of putting the whole movie on her shoulders if necessary. It's worth noting that while her beauty is conventional, she was seen as refreshingly "natural" with more eyebrows and less makeup than many other leading ladies of the time. She's well known for her role in Casablanca, but in Notorious, Spellbound, (both available on archive.org ) and Gaslight (1944) she shows how immensely capable she is.

I mean...she's Ingrid Bergman. I feel like that should be enough, you know? She's physically beautiful (her eyes!) but watching her is like a transcendent experience. Her voice, her expressions... beautiful woman, beautiful actor.

I'm a gay man but even I understand her appeal. I'll watch any movie she shows up in. Gorgeous woman.

Just try and watch her movies without sighing wistfully, then get back to me!

Choosing 1-3 movies where Bergman was at her hottest was agony because, of course, she was always at her hottest. Not just because she was beautiful but because she was absolutely willing to go up against the bs women in Hollywood were constantly dealing with. When exiled from Hollywood for having an affair with Roberto Rossellini, not only did she refuse to apologize at any point, but she went on to say that Hollywood's films had grown stagnant and boring to her. Though she said she appreciated her time working there, she wanted to try new, different techniques (hence starring in Italian neorealist films, working on stage, and acting under directors like Ingmar Bergman). She was not afraid to chase after her artistic ideals and go outside the box regardless of what society had to say about it. From her first movie to her last she killed it. There's so much more to say about Bergman's career and life, but I've already written five million words so I'll stop at that.

ion words so I'll stop at that.

One of the most incredible actors I've ever seen on film. Her facial expressions are so intricate and poignant that I cannot look away. I'm either ace or straight, but damn she made me question that.

SEVEN TIME OSCAR NOMINEE QUEEN. Girl also PULLED, having affairs with famously hot men Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck IN ADDITION to her three marriages...sexy

She has a very natural beauty to her, and she's from Sweden!

She left Hollywood and only became more beautiful. You could drown in her eyes. She can look innocent AND like she's seen it all. She is effortlessly elegant. She's played Joan of Arc (automatically hot) AND was in the movie that coined gaslight as a term. And where would we be without that!

She was known for being a breath of fresh air on the movie scene at the time with her windswept hair, dreamy smile and soulful eyes. I have loved her in every movie I have seen her in - she was just magnetic!

Where do I even start. There's a neighborly quality to this beautiful, talented actress that makes her hotness one of a kind and her looks impossible to forget

With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history. Known for her naturally luminous beauty, Bergman spoke five languages – Swedish, English, German, Italian and French – and acted in each.

She's hot, don't get me wrong, but I've always found her very approachable, like she could easily be a member of my friend group

A lot of the time hotness in a movie is just about words and framing. "You're the most beautiful person here" [vaseline lens] well I sure hope so because that's who you cast. But when, in Casablanca, they call Ingrid Bergman the most beautiful woman in the world... they were not fucking lying. And such a dynamite actor too!! I'd only seen Casablanca up until last year, and there she's confined to love interest. But in Gaslight she was maybe one of the most incredible actors I've ever seen!!!! Goddddd shes so fucking hot and cool.

#ingrid bergman #chelo alonso #hotvintagepoll #fuck that old woman #ladies 4

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doumadono · 2 days

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🌹🌹🌹 COOOOOONGRATULAAATIONNSSSS 🌹🌹🌹

Can I get a cone with vanilla flavour, topped with M&Ms and maple syrup? I want to ask for snow leopard Shoto 🐆

A/N: thank you so much for your ongoing support! I really enjoyed writing these headcanons for you, and I hope you'll like them as much as I do :3

5k FOLLOWERS EVENT MASTERLIST MY HERO ACADEMIA

Snow leopard!Shoto, who usually maintains a dignified demeanor, turns into a playful goofball when he's alone with you.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who often finds himself fascinated by his own fluffy tail, can be seen chasing it in playful circles. Whenever he catches it, he looks at you with a triumphant glint in his eyes, as if he's just accomplished the greatest feat.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who senses whenever you're feeling down or stressed, and curls up beside you, purring softly, his warm fur offering comfort and solace.

Snow leopard!Shoto has a penchant for being a bit goofy at times. He'll pounce on fallen leaves or playfully bat at floating feathers, his playful antics never failing to bring a smile to your face, and you can't help but laugh at his playful clumsiness.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who absolutely adores playing with balls, especially when you roll them across the floor for him. His mismatched eyes light up with excitement as he chases after them, his graceful leaps and bounds a joy to behold.

Snow leopard!Shoto and one of his favourite pastimes which is taking leisurely naps in the sunlit spots of your home. You often find him basking in the warm glow, napping with his head placed on the tip of his fluffy tail. You snap photos of him snoozing and send them to your friend with a captions like, "isn't he just adorable?!"

Snow leopard!Shoto, who is particularly fond of belly rubs, melts into a puddle of contentment when you stroke his soft fur, his purrs rumbling in satisfaction.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who also has a particular fondness for chin scratches. He tilts his head upwards, his eyes closing in bliss as you scratch under his chin, his purring intensifying with each loving touch.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who is deeply protective of you, often stands guard by your side, his watchful eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Snow leopard!Shoto is deeply attuned to your emotions, sensing when you need a comforting presence or a gentle nudge of encouragement.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who loves his nose being booped by you!

Snow leopard!Shoto, who values your companionship above all else, often nudges your hand with his head, silently asking for your attention and some head pats.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who is fond of exploring new places, and enjoys going on adventurous walks with you.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who absolutely loves rolling in the soft, lush grass. The sensation of the cool blades against his spotted fur brings him pure joy, his contented purrs filling the air as he revels in the simple pleasure.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who absolutely despises baths, will do anything to avoid them. At the mere mention of bath time, he'll slink away, his tail bushing in defiance as he seeks refuge in the farthest corner of the room.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who detests having his teeth cleaned, becomes a picture of stubbornness when it comes to dental hygiene. He'll clamp his jaws shut firmly, refusing to cooperate as you attempt to wield the toothbrush with patience. "Come on, Shoto, open your muzzle, I don't have the entire day!"

Snow leopard!Shoto, who prefers to maintain his grooming routine on his own terms, will often retreat to a secluded spot to lick his fur clean with meticulous care, glaring intently at you, making sure you're not trying to give him a bath.

Snow leopard!Shoto, who is quite picky about his food. He can and will be the drama king when it comes to his meals. You might present him with the fanciest of gourmet feeds, only for him to theatrically gag at the mere scent. For him, nothing quite compares to the delight of raw salmon or a juicy steak.

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borderlinebelle · 1 day

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🪄🧠

a brain busted lunacy letter to:

YOU AND UR VERY OWN HUMAN EYES- READING THIS RIGHT NOW

+ tumblr,

I need each and every one of you to pls hear me out: i want you to feel it too. Remember long form content? Alright, gather your tits. Let’s get into it. 😈 if you remember how to read … come down there and see it for yourself.

hey you little bag of flesh meat, cartridge, water and electricity… come closer i said… 🙂

I deeply find the tumblr space, as a whole, so vitally valuable to our current society. I, like all of you, have painstakingly enjoyed sifting, repurposing, creating, and displaying a woven unique tapestry… mine is currently over 10 years long. A historical virtual “scroll” 📜… Manila ironic in the worst way: the scroll 🤳🏾 that consumes us.

This isn’t MINDLESSLY scrolling… it feels like… peaking penetratingly into the minds of human beings through their own perceptions.

Every fucking photo, gif, text post, meme, story, song, collage, any and all of it … was put there purposely. Everything … means something to someone here. That’s … fucking incredible.

That’s … fucking human magic. 🪄 something no other social media platform can recreate in the world of TikTok’s, we remained tumblr.

Every single mf time I find a new blog or revisit a mutual’s blog… and I just burst with color and vibrance and wild wickedness and I … drift… loosing myself in the back of your brains, I’m saved.

I’m saved from my own brain, trauma, habits, hangups, mental health… I’m just safe.. tucked behind YOUR brain… and they always fucking feel JUST like mine… so thank you.

I love human beings so much and this is my MOST favorite way to experience them. I’m so fucking happy I haven’t been able to log back into my TIKTOK for months. This is the only place I want to be when I’m online.

The tumblr scroll is so much more healthy: i see these feeds as very distinct and endlessly versatile flip book of human ingenuity and stupidity and comradery and community stitched together to make a pattern that mirrors a portion of a person… can you imagine? IT’S FASCINATING! I mean I know It’s equally ugly here and often… yet outstandingly but overwhelmingly … this is a safe space for creators and the many fandoms we express and decompress with.

i remain almost speechless,on the brink of pure pleasure… on how absolutely embedded i am into all of your collective energy on this stupid little imperfectly perfect fucked up little platform.

Look at April Fool’s Day: Tumblr reminded us all.. to just exhale and have fun TOGETHER. Ugh. gut me gently with the sheer scale of talent and genius and curiosity and kindness and skill and silly and authentic and absurd and individual yet succinct creation of … art. Of feed art. 🖼️ the scale and silly of the creativity around that now HOLIDAY, was tremendous and stupid and clever and community and inclusive.

i hope to one day gain support in organizing and leading a team of experts to create a true con for us. i have experience in events and .. I care. 🧠🪄

tumblr… this … is one of my longest lasting relationships, and i cherish the time so very dearly. From screaming at porn bots to whispering to mutuals… I’m so grateful for all of it.

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mysebacielblog · 2 days

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In Depth Analysis: Sebastian and Elizabeth

I love the relationship that Lizzy and Sebastian have. If you know the fact that Sebastian is the Main Character of Black Butler (it’s in the title) and subscribe to the romance/intimacy that he and Ciel share, then this would make Lizzy one of the Biggest Antagonists of all of Black Butler. On the level of antagonism to the Undertaker, perhaps even more! Which is funny because, just, just LOOK AT HER. She’s just this preteen girl!! Who the heck would consider her an antagonist?!

These two have gone up against literal immortal forces that pose a great threat to them physically. The only person who holds this kind of sway is the real Ciel. However. I would consider him to be more of an antagonist to both Ciel and Sebastian, whereas Lizzy is an antagonist and a threat to Sebastian alone. And while Ciel’s Brother (R!ciel) reminds Ciel of his past, Lizzy reminds Ciel of his Future that he will never have. Although she is a bit of a nuisance and a hindrance to Ciel and his plans, Lizzy isn’t a full fledged antagonist for him.

She’s even a sweetheart to everyone, even Sebastian, despite how weird the entire Phantomhive estate is. Their cordial passive aggressiveness and pleasantness between them compared to more direct characters (such as Aunt Francis) is fascinating to watch.

But she has him absolutely TREMBLING in his leather boots, because not only is she the Main Antagonist, but no, a Love Antagonist Even. Because even though our Ciel still keeps her at an arms length and treats her more like family than a proper fiancé, he still cares tremendously about her and her emotions. She represents a life where our Ciel Lives, grows up, has a future, and doesn’t pursue his Revenge. Which is the biggest threat to their contract entirely. As a narrative foil, she’s sweet, loud and angelic, and based on the original story, could be the very salvation that could Save Ciel’s soul.

And the best part of it is she is also really, really good at fighting and can go toe to toe with Sebastian in a fight- and he Can’t even lay a finger on her!

The envy these two have for each other is palpable- each wants what the other has of Ciel’s Time and Affections. It’s the difference between wanting a Public Relationship for Appearances and desiring a private relationship for sharing one’s secrets.

I think the most interesting aspect of their relationship is that even though they’re rivals, Sebastian Lets Lizzy GO, going completely against Ciel’s Wishes, knowing that was “impossible to shackle one’s heart”. Was this some small mercy of growth or sympathy, distance the two from interacting, or simply a way to move the agenda forward?

The only character that would consider her an antagonist of any type would be a demon.

#kuro analysis #elizabeth midford #black butler analysis #kuroshitsuji #sebaciel #< for containment purposes #also drew some art about it (infected by the blorbos)

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forgeofthenine · 23 hours

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How do the bachelors react to insects and spiders? I mean sure, they'd probably be able to take them outside or just squash them, but ever since Farkas Skyrim, dude with the strength of a God said he's disgusted by and scared of spiders, I keep thinking about these sort of things. Like yes, they can kill them, but I feel like Rolan at the very least would make the crying cat meme face the entire time in disgust.

The bachelors (+Rugan) reacting to creepy crawlies

Dammon

Dammon never notices when spiders are hanging around, possibly because he has more than a few in his forge

Despite keeping it nice and clean and outside forge is still a perfect place for spiders to hang out

Should you need someone to take a spider outside for you, Dammon is your man

He just cups it in his hands, no thoughts as to if it's venomous

The type to tease you by holding out the spider and watching you try to get away from him

There is one type of bug that Dammon isn't keen on at all, though

Praying mantises

He can't explain why, but they creep him out

Maybe it's the head eating after copulation stuff, maybe it's the way they seem to look into your soul

Dammon squeals every time one touches him

Zevlor

This brave paladin is equally relaxed around insects for the most part

Bugs or beetles aren't enough to scare him, and he's always willing to help you

Zevlor is a true gentleman and is always available to remove any creepy crawlies that are bothering you

He likes using a cup and paper to trap them before moving them outside

He's also happy to tell the kids interesting things about some of the odd insects the refugees come across

The one bug he absolutely will not touch is a centipede

And a millipede, too

Nothing needs that many legs, in Zevlors mind

You can visibly see how he pales at the mere sight of the little pests

Sorry, you'll need to deal with them yourself

Rolan

Rolan hates bugs

Hates them with a passion

There is no way this man is carefully carrying a bug outside for you because his first reaction is to squish it

He makes a face every time he sees a spider and it's all scrunched up and funny

If you laugh at him Rolan will tell you to 'deal with the damned thing yourself'

He still relies on Cal or Lia to help remove spiders from Ramaziths Tower

The one bug he not only stands, but also quite likes, is the dragonfly

Rolan thinks they're both fascinating and quite beautiful, particularly those with jewel colours

He probably gets himself a dragonfly brooch at some point

Rugan

This man talks big game

He can take on anything, he's manly as hell

But, he disappears whenever you point out a spider

Big manly man Rugan HATES spiders

He doesn't particularly like other bugs but he can live with them

Spiders are the absolute worst, in his opinion

He's willing to fight an owlbear, weaponless, in a dark cave but removing a spider is just a step too far for him

If you end up doing it yourself he's quite blasé about it all, feigning disinterest in the whole situation

However, if both of you hate spiders then you're screwed, I'm sorry

Rugan just can't get past those eight, spindly legs and half a dozen eyes

#bri answers #can you tell dammons my favourite?#or that i dont really like bugs lmao #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 x reader #bg3 x reader #bg3 dammon #baldurs gate 3 dammon #dammon x reader #bg3 zevlor #baldurs gate 3 zevlor #zevlor x reader #bg3 rolan #baldurs gate 3 rolan #rolan x reader #bg3 rugan #baldurs gate 3 rugan #rugan x reader

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i4oba · 9 hours

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nct dream’s ideal types / MARK version! ✿..

[aka who i think would suit the members :D]

i feel like, since mark is pretty laid back most of the time, someone a little more.. adventurous? would suit him a lot, just to get him out of the comfort zone

i’m not talking literally, you don’t have to be indiana jones or something, just someone who’s open to try many many new things ? constantly seeking some type of rush from everything New (if that makes sense)

i can totally envision him with someone who’s like… it may sound weird, but doesn’t view themself as “pretty” or “attractive” yk… i’m not talking about the usual lack of confidence tho

it’s just that they never really prioritize their looks and all. i mean, of course they would CARE but wouldn’t think it’s that important

i also think that someone, who’s always deemed as “weird” and “unusual” would TOTALLY be something mark would go for

not only because of the doses of something extraordinary but because he’s interested. you can pique his interest if you say something so outta pocket that would normally cause a few harsh replies

i feel like mark is the type that doesn’t want to be limited, who knows he has limitless potential, not just talent wise but overall, as in… he knows he’s got greater purposes on this world

hence why i said a partner who’s curious enough to bring that out of him—sometimes he can get caught up on work and stuff so he needs Relax time, but not like the laying down and not doing anything kind

the type where you go round and round, finding the deeper meaning of things, such as talking about philosophical questions etcetera

that’s why i partly feel like he would be into someone who’s really really smart. he would love the constant feeling of fascination whenever his partner would say some random, niche fact on a topic he’s never heard of

he’s the type of guy, in my eyes, who loves to absorb knowledge and always tries to do so, which makes place for a partner who’s able to kind of stimulate him in that way?

if you know what i mean LMFAO

i feel like opening up fully for mark, would take a bit longer…? and he would absolutely stay in this “bro zone” kind of situation as well, so someone chill has to be the one he finds

he’s all about keeping it lowkey and if you’re impatient… well, your loss

and it’s not because he’s ashamed of you or something, it’s just that it’s more comfortable for him? in a way? feelings can be a little bit scary sometimes so you gotta leave him to handle it himself

so the keyword here is Patience

you cannot rush things!!!!!!!

especially since i genuinely believe that he… wouldn’t necessary look for love, you know

i can totally envision him just befriending someone and then comes all the cliché, him falling in love blah blah

he’s SO friends to lovers in my eyes, what can i say… falling for the bros is NOT on the list LMFAO and then here we go

but you know, it’s easier like that, and he works sooo hard, he never really focuses on finding a partner, not dating that actively because he’s busy

(i can totally see him panicking when he first realizes that he’s in love with one of his closest friends… he would be Shocked AHAH)

so yeah, developing feelings for him would definitely not take that much of time?? in my opinion?? it’s just him accepting it kinda, you know

being chill and pretty cool is something he would definitely find attractive, especially because, i think??? he doesn’t care about looks that much

he’s the type of guy who’s all about what’s on the inside :) so he needs someone who’s got the same mindset????

that’s a big thing for him anyways.. he wants to feel secure? like he’s not alone!

don’t leave him alone!!!!!!! he’s a cutie patootie, he needs love!!!!!!! even if he doesn’t show it!!!!!!!! he Does need it!!!!!

have so much love for him, be easy going and open minded and honestly, you’ve goz mark lee on his knees :,)

FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE THOUGH!!! this is only my perception of him! :)

& for some visual representation — STYLEBOARDS! :) <3

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aranarumei · 3 days

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on love (and basketball): hirano to kagiura, ch 23b

if the title's not obvious, SPOILERS BEWARE! I'll be putting this under the cut for extra safety and also because. i have a tendency to not shutting up

so i recently saw this wonderful post by @kalpalatas talking about how basketball is central to hirano and kagiura's relationship, and there's a lot of wonderful add-ons to it as well, so highly recommend checking it out (i may be one of them ;p)

anyways, to me, a lot of hirano to kagiura as a manga centers on the complications of the fact that hirano and kagiura both have deep feelings for each other, but the way they express these feelings and the way they're received hasn't quite aligned. hirano's confused by why kagiura isn't happy to be touched, and kagiura is absolutely in the dark regarding hirano's feelings, judging by the way he immediately thinks hirano's trying to officially turn him down. we saw it in that chapter with the distrail and we see it now--despite all that kagi's been doing, he's remained so careful about not crossing that line. that silly little love fortune has haunted him.

so here, it's a breath of fresh air for kagiura to just notice how much hirano loves "the kagi-kun that plays basketball." and for kagiura, who plays basketball morning, day, and night, the version of him that plays basketball is just. himself, entirely. it's this passion that hirano responds really positively to--because hirano responds positively to passion and drive in general--and it's probably the point in which they connect the most, I think. side note: though it's not explicitly said, kagiura zeroing on not missing any shots (the thing that cost them the game last time) really shows how much that loss affected him. i think this moment's really lovely because we get to see what we see in the first chapters of hirano to kagiura--that hirano's a genuinely affirming and uplifting presence in kagiura's life. for a moment, when it's basketball, it feels like that confusion between them suffuses into pure warmth.

anyways, when they're talking with ichinose, the question that gets cut off seems to be kagiura asking about hirano's passion, which I'm very excited about... if hirano understands kagiura's love through the lens of his passion for basketball, how much kagiura's understanding of hirano develop when he understands hirano's dreams? hirano's approached kagiura's feelings with a lot of curiousity (wondering about his expression in this chapter) and I like it when they discover and ask things about each other. it's very them. i also have a lot of crazy feelings about ichinose but uh. haha! perhaps another post. i don't wanna sound too unhinged yet...

I'd love to have formatted this post better but I hope my main points have got across... this is really just half a reaction post to the ch since it's a really cool chapter overall. also just for fun i'll let everyone know that a lot of the moments where kagiura gets blushy or something really romantic happens often has kagiura like... below hirano in perspective or height. seriously if you go back through the chapters you'll notice it. it happened again this chapter which I was so excited about. this chapter's so awesome. so many different things to talk about.

(like... how kagiura almost kissed him...! and hirano's reaction is. fascinating. i always love how it's so delayed. it's like... how do i explain it. when it's delayed, it feels like hirano's reacting to the feeling more than the physical situation, which is... wonderful to me. the way he talks about kagiura having dated before also makes me think he hasn't, which checks out to me.)

#kiri.txt #hirano to kagiura #in this essay i will #kagiura akira #hirano taigi #harusono

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gabessquishytum · 2 hours

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hello! i just wanted to start off by saying how much i absolutely adore your blog and the community you have created! i’ve been in fandom spaces for about a decade and this is the first time i’ve ever come across such an interactive and collaborative space where everyone is just so lovely and loves sharing their ideas with each other. you doing such wonderful things in the dreamling/sandman fandom gabe 💖💖

so, i’ve had this idea rolling around in my head for a while now and a couple asks have touched on the topic as well but i’ve become a little obsessed with it! sheltered/virgin!dream and kinda-experienced-but mostly knows his way around a sex toy!hob are roommates in uni and of course dream has the biggest crush on hob. he thinks that hob has a lot more experience than he does just because of how charming hob is whenever they go out. dream has never actually seen hob take anyone home but that doesn’t really correlate in his head. because dream is slowly becoming obsessed with hob he decides he needs more experience but he doesn’t want to have sex with just anyone. he goes snooping through their dorm/apartment and finds hobs quite extensive collection of sex toys. he rifles through it and picks out a couple that he definitely knows what to do with and leaves those he is clueless about. he starts experimenting and finally experiences his first orgasm with (unknown to him) hobs favorite dildo stuffed in him. very quickly hob realizes that dream has found his stash of sex toys and taken a few (he was very horny about dream taking his favorite toy, even if that means he couldn’t use it until he talked with dream). hob is just as obsessed with dream and has been trying to work up the courage to put his charms on dream without making it awkward since they already live together. this all cumulates one day when hob gets home early to see dream “practicing” for when he’s finally with hob and hob sees his favorite toy stuffed in dream and his horny brain just melts completely as he watches dream finish and hob comes in his pants

This is so kind, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to say nice things <3 it always means a lot to know that people can find a home here.

I am totally enamoured with the idea of Dream getting fascinated by Hob’s sex toy collection! Also the idea that Dream unintentionally takes Hob’s favourite toy, thus accidentally leaving Hob in a very horny but very frustrated position because he wants his special dildo back but the idea of Dream using it is so. Fucking. Arousing.

Another idea that this sparked off for me: Dream and Hob sharing a pocket-pussy type toy. Maybe it's the same kind of scenario - Dream is inexperienced and ends up confessing to Hob about his lack of knowledge (they're both a little drunk at the time). Hob has the brilliant idea of fetching his pocket-pussy from his room and telling Dream that he can totally borrow it! Just to get some practice, you know? Dream uses it that very night, but he doesn't do a very good job of cleaning it up... when Hob comes to collect his toy, it's still wet. And sticky. And of course, Hob puts his dick inside it and gets off to the slick slide of his gorgeous roommate's cum. They trade the toy back and forth for weeks, neither of them willing to admit that they might as well just fuck each other at this point...

I just really like the idea of them being nasty and oversharing with each other when they're still "just friends". Getting off in bed next to each other, watching porn together, just generally being gross <333 Hell, maybe Dream tries a vibrator for the first time ever and gives Hob control of the remote - they still claim to be in a totally platonic relationship while Dream writhes naked on the couch and Hob jerks himself off.

It's only when both of them simultaneously realise that the idea of their "totally platonic best friend" fucking anyone else makes them physically sick... that they mutually figure out that they're in love. And sharing sex toys suddenly seems a whole lot more acceptable... when one day they might also be sharing a last name <3

#the sandman #dreamling #nsft

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koisuko · 7 hours

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Can you do headcanons Mk1 male characters of Liu Kang, Kuai Liang, Tomas Vbrada, Bi Han, Shang Tsung, Havik, Syzoth, Rain, Kenshi and Baraka with fem s/o who has the power of the Scarlet Witch (Marvel) please?

Ooo spicy! I love scarlets powers so much, they are so sick <3 (a draft I struggled to finish, had a brain blank and couldn’t figure out most characters, sorry severe 🥹)

Tw: none, maybe blood or fear but that’s it, fem reader

Liu Kang

He had already known about your powers, given the keeper of time and all. You often kept your mind reading ability to yourself, for your own benefit, so you already knew that he knew.

He was your main support and guide in honing your abilities, bringing you to the monks for daily training. He was uplifting and gave you gentle praise constantly.

The monks, on the other hand, had never seen such power. They were fascinated beyond belief, and couldn’t help but look on in awe at your prowess.

Bi-han

Your power had intrigued him, brought him out of his shell enough to let you in before closing it again. His gentler side a stranger to all but yourself.

You two were an absolute unit of a team. Often mingling your powers together during battle, such as lifting him a little bit higher, creating energy to strengthen icy projectiles and what not.

You were valuable when it came to enemies of the Lin Kuei. An intruder in the base? He’ll have you interrogate them for information, whether that be straight mind reading or bending reality was entirely up to you.

And once the job was done successfully, he was right by your side to praise you for your work, in private mostly.

He could never really hide his feelings, with your mind reading and all, it was all right there on paper for you. Something troubling him? You know.

Shang Tsung

To him, you’d be quite the fascinating specimen at first meeting. Love is a bit of a bottom of the list fort of thing.

He was taken aback himself when he landed you as his s/o. And such a powerful s/o you are.

He almost considered using your love for him to his advantage. Just his little toy to manipulate and bend to his will, carefully of course, who knows how much damage you could do to him if you found out his plan.

Your power fascinated him, often taking you to his lab to watch you move various objects and terrify his subjects with waking nightmares.

You were a lethal weapon to him, and one he could use in his quest for realm domination and power. How afraid others would be of his loyal pet, breaking others with fear and pain with just a snap of his finger.

“Something the matter, my love?” You’d place a hand on his arm, breaking him of his deep daydreaming. He reply with his usual cocky smirk, “of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

He had it all planned out, except one thing he missed, a small but vital detail. You could read his plan every time he thought it up, his mind open and obedient to skim at your will.

Havik

Power, and liberation, were his priorities in life, no matter how extended his mortality would be.

It would be a surprise to many, including himself, that he even had a s/o. However, I surprised no one that he chose such a powerful woman.

He thought of using you, at first, but eventually grew to accept you. You two were a team, and you would help him more than anyone in liberating order realm.

Given his backround, your abilities likely wouldn’t strike him as strange. He would be fascinated by how someone seeming so delicate held so much power in the palms of their hands.

Syzoth

Fascinated, in awe to say the least. He is absolutely gobsmacked by the sheer control you have over such abilities.

He almost felt like he was in the presence of a goddess, and felt slightly inferior. You had to tell him to stop formalities and to stop treating you like he isn’t worthy of you.

His nerves were erratic, when the time came to show his true form. He was worried you would be afraid, or dislike that form. Boy was he surprised, and in love, when you accepted him regardless of his true self.

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sometimes-love-is-enough · 11 hours

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Syzygy: Some Closing Thoughts

I'm writing this at 8pm on my backyard porch, under the wavering light of a distant full moon. Hello, moon! Please don't kidnap me. I just wanted to hang out with you for a while as I collect my final thoughts. It's a pretty cloudy night tonight, so it's not properly visible, which I suppose is the cloud cover shielding me from a terrible lunar fate. It gives a deliciously hazy atmosphere for the absolute essay I'm about to write.

Apparently, the Farmer's Almanac says that tonight's full moon is a 'Pink Moon', which sounds like it'd be a very pleasant viewing experience. I imagine pastel frangipanis spontaneously sprouting all over the moon's surface, covering every inch of its rocks and crags until the soft pink glow is visible from all the way down here on Earth. Unfortunately it's not named 'Pink Moon' because of that; there's some American environmental factors, etc.

I think it's kind of charming that there's a list of names for every possible full moon, as if the moon's putting on different masks or incarnations every time it tilts just enough that we can see its full face. I'm looking at a list of them now instead of writing these final notes like I probably should. The names are so delightful. Strawberry Moon. Sturgeon Moon. Apparently last month's full moon was Worm Moon. WORM MOON. I could go on. I won't. Let's talk about Syzygy instead.

Syzygy is... Man, where do I even start with this? Let's try the beginning. I started writing Syzygy in February of 2021, after ruminating on it for probably a few months before that, as I often do. That's three years ago, so my memories of the reasons why are a bit fuzzy, but I think I did it for two reasons: one, a desire to have a long-form meaty slowburn fic for a beloved rarepair in the tag so other people could enjoy it, and two, a fascination with the idea of fractured identity, what it means to be a Side without a Centre. The whole thing with the alternate-history steampunk swapped-around Earth came about naturally from that.

Except that's actually kind of a lie, because that's not the beginning, this began in 2020, when I wrote a pitch for a local station that was accepting radio play submissions (rejected, of course) featuring a hardboiled noir detective in a starlit city whose latest client was a tiny shiny girl asking him to solve her father's murder. And that's also a lie, because I think it really began when I tried to write an original novel in high school where the protagonist's name was Avery Allen, because I liked the way the name tripped off my lips.

My stories are always built on each other, especially stories I never get to write. They all recycle into each other in a weird blend of concepts and characters. 2021 was when I sat down and told myself I was going to write the Thomceit time loop fic, and I dove into it with aplomb. I can't recall the exact timeline of events, but at some point I underwent some truly gnarly health problems that left me unable to use my hands for extended periods of time, and so the fic that was meant to be for a Big Bang ended up... Just sitting in a folder for a while. But me and my beta managed to pull it the fuck together, and after adding some extra bits and pieces (the cutaways were a LAST MINUTE ADDITION even though I think they're some of my favorite bits in the whole thing) I started putting it all up.

Okay, there we go, that's enough of an abridged history of this thing. Let's just say: I never expected as many people to like it as it turned out, I thought that it would be a niche little fic for a rarepair, and I was honestly pretty content with that. So it was delightful to see so many people getting so into it, I have enjoyed the FUCK out of all of your comments and theories and predictions. It's been delightful when people predicted a plot point correctly, and honestly even more delightful when they predicted incorrectly. I've had such a blast.

As for the writing... Suffice to say I have many notebooks full of notes and thoughts, more than one spreadsheet to keep track of time loops and lore, and a semi-complete list of all of Virgil's tarot cards, which one day I'll probably polish and share properly, because I think the concept is neat. But that's kind of how it always goes with my writing.

Naming every inspiration for this would take forever and I'd still miss a few, but I'll just throw out a key few ones, because I gotta:

17776: What Will Football Look Like In The Future, because when I first read it I got the wrong idea and thought that Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) was short for Betelgeuse (the star), and that sparked a whole thing about living stars in my brain. Also, just the general way that the worldbuilding and absurdity is handled in that world, it scratches my brain just right.

Welcome To Night Vale. I don't think I need to explain this one.

Madeleine L'Engle's writing, particularly A Wind In The Door, particularly-particularly the bit of it where Proginoskes explains why, precisely, he has to remember and Name every star in the universe. Fucking beautiful book.

A particular Untamed/Mo Dao Zu Shi fic I read years ago and haven't been able to track down again, which also features two people stuck in a time loop who are initially unaware that they're in it together AND dying at the same time. I believe they also meet on a bus? The details are fuzzy. The worldbuilding and descriptions of that fic were so stunning to me, it had me unable to read anything for a solid few weeks, it is definitely a superior work to mine in every respect. If anyone finds it, let me know, I don't think I finished reading it and want to know how it ends.

An unpublished fic that I had the privilege to read while it was being written, that changed my brain chemistry re: the Sides unknowingly existing without Thomas. The Flowerwall Cafe originally hails from this one, too, graciously borrowed and greatly beloved.

Both Ghibli films in general AND Dianna Wynne Jones books in general, and obviously the intersection between the two, Howl's Moving Castle, which is fascinating in how both mediums handle the setting.

The Doctor Who audio drama Scherzo, which is a wild ride, and there's a major plot point revolving around the two main characters holding hands and fusing gruesomely into each other - and another involving an in-story fairy tale.

There was no huge inspiration for the clockwork city and weird steampunk carriages, apart from (perhaps) Fallen London. Certainly, the idea of a background organization that wants to kill the sun, who also happens to be a sentient being, is cribbed from the Liberation of Night.

Syzygy also happens to be packed full of many obscure references to... like... personal projects of mine, some published and some unpublished, as well as a lot of my friends and co-writers, and some really REALLY niche stuff that only I will ever properly understand. I buried a lot of myself into this story, is what I'm saying. Juice hails from a completely different project (a TTRPG with my friends, of which she is a beloved and cherished NPC), the in-universe author for Avery Allen (and Mallory Wynn too) are named for a fictional TV author I created when the writing discord was making a nonexistent fandom, Logan's dumpling recipe is my favorite recipe of all time.

I have an apartment ghost, too. I talk to it regularly.

Final thank-yous, because I want to post this very very soon, I've been typing for too long and the mosquitoes are starting to get to me. Thank you to:

Everyone on the TSS writing server who listened to me complain while I was writing it the first time round, and has subsequently listened to me complain while editing it these past two years. So many people in there are responsible for little bits and pieces - phrasings, words, nicknames, jokes - and I couldn't begin to name everyone who helped.

Saphira and the rest of the people who are currently working on making a full-cast audio drama out of this fic (???) (???!!!!??) (!!!!). It is SO baffling to me that it's happening, I'm in complete disbelief whenever we talk about it or I see the script or I get asked logistics questions, I'm terrified and thrilled to see how it turns out, what the fuck! The very existence of that project has ended up influencing a few things about this fic's endgame, too.

Everyone who's commented extensively, commented entire academic analyses, commented numbered lists, commented laconically, left a single emoji in the comments, left kudos, bookmarked it, sent me asks on Tumblr, given me thumbs-ups on Discord, or even just silently read the fic without interacting at all. Your witness brings my words to existence. Love you love you love you.

And Len, who lives in my brain and my body and my heart and my throat, and who is honestly singlehandedly responsible for dragging this fic out of the depths of Google Docs and into the arms of AO3. They've already said I don't need to thank them, but come on, I totally do. Len is the best beta, and puts up with all sorts of deranged nonsense from me, because I have an unhinged writing process where I don't think about anything before I put it down on the page, and I use way too many connecting-dashes and not enough semicolons. Kisses kisses kisses. Thanks for doing this with me, and I can't wait to do it again.

Myself. I managed to write this and I managed to finish it. That makes me a pretty cool person, all things considered. I'm glad I did this.

What next? I've got to rest. Well, I need to get some things done... and then rest. I've been juggling a hellish amount of projects for a while now, and now Syzygy's finally cleared from my plate, I'm going to try to let the others get cleared too so I can take some time and be less stressed. The Locked Tomb AU will be ongoing, as I get through final edits of chapters, so keep an eye out for that - if you're interested in a fic that's rather less starry and shiny, but very much Thomceit and death themes, check it out - and then....... Well, whatever comes next, whenever I have the energy to do it. I adore writing in this fandom. I'll be back with something weird soon enough.

Ad astra, baby! It's been a blast.

- Min (2024)

#Syzygy #author's note

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iamnmbr3 · 3 days

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On the topic of Harry describing other male characters as handsome but not Draco. I think maybe Draco doesn’t fit that mold of masculinity. May be Harry finds Draco attractive but he doesn’t have the vocabulary to distill the essence of Draco’s allure so he resorts to using detailed descriptions instead.

I think it's more to do with who Draco is and that Harry absolutely does not want to admit to himself that he finds himself drawn to Draco in any way.

And it's more than just his looks btw. They really do spend 7 books orbiting each other. Look at how little Harry knows about Zacharias Smith or Zabini or Goyle. He feels uncomplicated, simple dislike for them so yeah he's annoyed by them but he doesn't spend every second cataloguing their appearances and activities and expressions and actions and emotions and personal relationships and habits and likes and dislikes.

With Draco on the other hand, he's fascinated. Draco's eye color and how his hair looks at any given moment doesn't just get mentioned once. It's mentioned multiple times PER BOOK. Harry is looking at him. A lot.

I think it's less about the fact that Draco is attractive in a different way than other people because of a different physique and more that he's attractive in a different way because he and Harry are rivals and Draco is absolutely not someone Harry should want. And certainly there are many things about Draco's behavior that Harry dislikes, but something always draws him back - and Harry cannot, and probably does not want to, put it into words.

At least until after the War when Draco's changed his ways and the barriers between them are broken down at last...

#asks #drarry #Harry Potter #Draco Malfoy #hpdm

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thelittlepoetprincess · 3 days

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More Gale Brainrot

Idk man. I put my pussy on the keyboard, and it started writing for me. CW: Fingers in mouth, Gagging, Tears, General Feral, absolute rutting, restrained Gale, subby!Gale/switch!Gale for the soul. Implied size difference ig There was no proofreading and no grammar corrections.

Susur blooms—beautiful flowers you'd manage to sneak out of the Underdark that cast antimagic fields, granted they didn't touch sunlight. Given Gale's propensity for magic and the arcane arts, he absolutely hated your fascination with flowers. He could feel the weave slipping away from him, leaving him dreadfully empty inside, devoid of all-purpose. It felt dehumanizing for him to a degree—a wizard with no weave. You'd avoid keeping them around him for this purpose because you only wanted him to be happy. Until you started thinking and thinking with both your head and your groin. As brilliant as Gale was, his mind was his only strength at times, and you sought to take advantage of that right now. His hands looked so much better pinned above his head to keep him from using any of those pretty spells he loved so much. His wrists fit so perfectly together, slotted against your palm. While one hand kept his hands up, another was busy between his perfectly kissable lips. You could feel his tongue lapping shamelessly at your index and middle finger pressed into his lips to keep his mouth busy from weaving such intricate vocal spells. But you couldn't risk him getting wise on you, so the soft blue petals of the flower he hated so much were tucked into your back pocket. He hated how hard he was, how he couldn't stop himself from suckling on your fingers and rutting on your thigh, desperate for friction. He would give anything to be freed and turn the tables on you, let you experience how it felt to be utterly degraded and put on display. He hated your smug smirk and wanted to fuck it off your face. Hells, he wanted to fuck your face. Your voice cooed sweet nothings in his ear, promises of sex, promises of cumming; all he had to do was be good. Good. Yes, he could do that. He could behave and bark like you wanted him to just until you let your guard down. He pleaded with you, voice soft and yearning, with big brown eyes blown wide and hungry. Inside his head, he was already bending you over, vines binding your wrists and ankles while he paid you back for every second he had endured your endless teasing.

#gale dekarios #bg3 gale #gale of waterdeep #baldurs gate gale #gale x tav #gale x reader

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lacroixqueen · 2 days

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embers and earth ch. 1 (zuko x jin angst)

Summary: jin finds out "lee" is actually firelord zuko, the new leader of the fire nation. angst and mental breakdown ensues

Word Count: 1.2k

Pairing: zuko x jin

Tags: angst, jealousy, yearning, prince x peasant

Author's Note: this was inspired by fan art but I for the life of me cannot find the artist's name just if you are out there just know you inspired this fic so thank u :v

Jin was absolutely furious the day that she found out.

She remembered being over the moon the night before when the Earth King announced that the Hundred Year War was finally over. That the fire nation inherited a new leader who would forge peace between all four nations at long last. She recalled sleeping a little bit more deeply that night. A sigh of relief. A breath of fresh air.

She even had a pep in her step when she ambled into the main marketplace of the Lower Ring in the morning. For the first time in her life, she didn’t need to worry about her safety. She remembered having to escape with her family when fire nation soldiers attacked her village when she was only a little girl. The fear in her father’s eyes. Her mother holding her tight and telling her not to make a sound when she cried.

But today was a new day. A fresh start.

She was picking out the ripest cabbage in the stall when she noticed a couple of Dai Li agents putting up posters around the square. She swore to herself she saw a glimpse of a face that looked all too familiar for comfort. She almost didn’t want it to be true. Because if it was, it would confirm too many questions she would stay up asking herself over and over again.

A small crowd was already beginning to form around one of the posters. She eventually elbowed her way through and made it to the very front. And there it was.

Firelord Zuko. Future of the Fire Nation. Forging an era of peace.

Except it wasn’t “Zuko”, or whoever that was. It was Lee. The boy with the scar from the tea shop. She reached out reluctantly, as if she touched the poster he would come walking off the page. She placed the tips of her fingertips over the purple scar that ran across his triumphant face.

But it’s not possible. Lee said he was of the Earth Kingdom. A traveling circus, was it? Now that she thinks of it, it did sound a little bit too barbaric to be real. But none of that mattered.

She was fascinated by him. She hung onto his every word. Even though it’s not like he had much to say in the first place.

After their date, she remembered how excited she was to see him again. She planned out an entire day with him in her mind, replaying the scenarios in her dreams like she was the director of a play. She recalled feeling a bit ridiculous about it, like some giddy fangirl. But she didn’t care. She had never wanted anything more in her life.

But surprise quickly melted into confusion, which devolved into anger.

How could he? she thought to herself, trying to piece together the puzzle but it still didn’t make any sense.

The last time she tried to reach out to him, she burst through the doors of the tea shop, wearing her heart on her sleeve and ready to confess her undying love to him, without so much of a care in the world. But he was gone. In the blink of an eye, tossed away into the wind.

“Where did he go?” she asked one of the workers, almost dissociated from reality.

“To the Upper Ring,” he replied, sweeping some dust out of a corner. “His uncle got a job offer to run his own tea business. The Jasmine Dragon, was it? Yeah something like that.”

She felt her own blood run cold. She would only ever occasionally venture up to the Middle Ring, but Upper? She wouldn’t stand a chance. She would be ushered out as quickly as she came in. Not to mention she had no idea where this new store was even located.

She was inconsolable for several days, of course, but in the back of her mind she knew she couldn’t cry forever. Because time heals all wounds, as her mother would say.

And she eventually moved on, even though there was always longing within her that she could never quite shake. An ache that pulsated every time she remembered that she would most likely never see him again.

Her thoughts were beginning to spiral at a rate of a million miles per second. Was he lying to her that entire time? Was that what he meant when he said “it’s complicated”?

She paused, her entire body frozen.

Was that how he lit up the lanterns at Firelight Fountain?

She couldn’t even process what was happening, but next thing she knew, she had already scrunched up that stupid poster, much to the crowd’s bickering and dismay, and shred it all up into several pieces.

Tears were beginning to bud at the bottoms of her eyes. So that’s it. He was a firebender this entire time. But why lie about it? Why keep something so important from her, when he knew how much the fire nation had hurt her family.

Why was she acting like some sort of dramatic schoolgirl? It’s not like they were officially together or anything. It was just one silly date. Why did it mean so much to her anyway?

She walked briskly home, attempting, but failing horribly to conceal her tearstained face.

She opened the door to her modest home, without even bothering to close it gently, and stormed up the stairs to her bedroom.

“Jin, were you able to get the vegetables I needed?” her mother called from the kitchen but she wasn’t even able to muster up a response.

She flung herself onto the cot splayed out in the middle of the floor, grabbing her pillow and holding it close to her chest.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, she kept telling herself. Why did she care so much anyway? It doesn’t even matter. None of it.

Lee or Zuko, what difference did it make?

He was still going to be a million worlds apart. Whether that was the Jasmine Dragon in the Upper Ring or the palace in the Fire Nation.

She could weep and yearn for her entire life, and then what? He would just descend into the dilapidated shacks of the Lower Ring and sweep her off her feet? She knew the chance of that happening was zero to none. So why hope? Why cling onto this tiny shred of faith that had no meaning otherwise?

She played with the thought a little bit, after all, she was a hopeless romantic at heart. But the fantasy dissipated as quickly as it formed.

It’s best to forget any of this ever happened, she decided for herself after an entire afternoon of contemplation. There’s no use in staying in the past. Besides, he probably never thinks of her these days. He’s busy running his own country, and creating a new era for the world.

After all, why would some Earth Kingdom peasant ever cross the firelord’s mind?

#atla #avatar netflix #avatar the last airbender #zuko #prince zuko #fire lord zuko #atla zuko #jin x zuko #zuko x jin #zuko x reader #zuko fanfic #zuko fic #zuko atla #the gaang #atla gaang #netflix avatar

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darkwolf989 · 2 days

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Outside The Office Part Twenty Eight

Hi all!

Take a peek at part twenty eight- enjoy and as always, feedback is welcome!

“I told you to stay away from her!”

The anger in Valentino’s voice startled me awake. I shifted under a blanket that wasn’t there before and I tried to raise my arm to wipe the sleepiness away. I felt like I had been asleep for hours, and my entire body ached. I sat up slowly and looked around the room. The curtain was pushed back, and I watched as Valentino took a step towards the nurse. I didn’t need to see the absolute fury written on his face- his tone was more than enough.

“I told you I would be back, I told you to call me when she woke up and you not only ignored my orders, you ignored them because you fucking felt like it,” he snarled.

Red wings exploded from his back as he stepped closer to the nurse. I froze and watched in a mix of fear and fascination. I knew the Vee’s kept parts of them hidden, the darker parts, the parts that defined them as demons. But I never expected Valentino to have wings hidden, well, like mine were.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t taken my wings out since my arrival in hell. Or thought about them really. They were a part of me, but a part I kept hidden. And when I looked to Valentino’s

blood red, moth-like wings, I wondered if our reasons for tucking them away were similar.

My thoughts were interrupted as Valentino stepped closer to the nurse and lifted her by the front of her too short dress.

“Not only did you directly violate my orders, you violated my consent clause. And for that, our deal is done,” he continued.

“I- I didn’t-” she began to plead.

Valentino wasn’t having it. “You know damn well giving a patient, one entrusted in your care, drugs without medical cause or patient permission is a violation of consent.” His voice dropped to something darker, more dangerous.

Above her head, a contract, similar to the one that appeared when I signed a soul on. I watched as it tore in half and Valentino’s gun came out. I knew better than to interfere this time.

A single shot. A smoking gun. A scream and the vanishing of her form. As if she had never existed.

Valentino turned around and I saw him for the first time in his full overlord form. Bright red wings spread out. White fluff around his neck, dotted with small black hearts. Sharp red teeth. And an expression that contained nothing but soulless rage.

Behind his heart shaped glasses, our eyes met. Realization struck. In a moment, his form changed back to the Valentino I knew.

“Princessa, how much of that did you see?” He asked in what I assumed to be him attempting to be soothing.

“A-all of it.” I replied shakily. “What happened?”

He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure I would want him to come closer. I reached my arms out to him and he came right to my side and took my hand in his.

“She gave you something- something to make you sleep. I trusted her to watch over you while I handled an issue, and, instead of notifying me when you woke up, she decided to keep you asleep. And then said things to me that don’t bear repeating, mi amore. So I made an example out of her to the rest of my staff. Just in case I haven’t made my position clear enough.” He pressed the palm of his hand to my forehead and studied me. “How do you feel, mi amore?”

“You have wings,” I said slowly.

He let go of my hand. “I do. I’m sorry- I’m sorry you had to see that side of me, my love. I promise, I will never give you that anger- that rage, that power that you just witnessed.”

I studied him. For the first time in a long time, Valentino looked uneasy. And if I didn’t know Valentino as well as I did, I would even suggest he looked uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, Valentino- those two words didn’t belong in the same sentence.

“I have them too, you know.” I began as I searched for the words that would show him I was comfortable with him. That I trusted him. That I wasn’t afraid of what I had seen. “Wings, I mean.Haven’t thought much of them since, well, since I got down here. We really only used them in battle, otherwise they’re a liability. Easy to tell I’m an angel if my wings are out, right?” I knew I was beginning to ramble. “Can you control that side of you? Do you control when they come out, how much of you changes in your…other form?”

“I control it all,” he answered slowly. “Princessa, I-”

“I want to see it again. That side of you. Even- even just your wings.” I interrupted. “Show me. Please? I know- I know you won’t hurt me.”

He gave me a wary look but sighed. “As you wish.”

He took a step back and his wings sprang forth from his back, casting a dark shadow over where I sat. He watched me carefully, waiting for my reaction.

“They’re…beautiful..” I breathed. “Do they feel pain? Are they sensitive? Are they flexible?”

If he seemed uneasy before, my line of questions definitely caught him off guard.

“Yes, yes, and yes?” He answered. “I mean, I wouldn’t appreciate them being yanked on, but I also…I also don’t think it would hurt me if you touched them.”

“Can I?” I asked. “Touch them, I mean.”

I waited for him to nod before I reached out and ran my fingers over just the edges. They felt silky smooth, soft and rigid all at the same time. Much, much different than the sharp feathers that made up mine.

“Mine are different. Really different. I’ll show you someday, I don’t think…I mean, I think I’m too tired to call them forward. That happens sometimes.” I said softly as I began to trace the bright heart shaped pattern. “Hearts for love?”

“You’re not sacred, Princessa?” He asked softly. “You’re not terrified by what you just saw? By what I just looked like- by what I just did?”

“No. You would never hurt me,” I replied carefully as I leaned my body forward to move my hands down his wings. “You’ve proven that, more so today than ever before. I trust you, Val.”

His expression softened. “Princessa.” He took another step forward. “To answer your question, yes- hearts for love.”

I ran my hands down to the base of his wings. To love someone meant to love every part of them- good, the bad. The beautiful.The ugly. He loved me enough to want to care for me, even when I made shitty decisions. He loved me, despite my scars, my emotions, my fears. He embraced every part of who I was- and I wanted to do the same. I tried to sit up, the wave of exhaustion flowed through me.

I saw his wings begin to retract as he came closer.

“No, Val.” I pleaded. “Keep them out.”

He balked. “Princessa, I want to hold you. I don’t want…”

“Does it cause you pain to sit with them out?”

“No, they don’t feel pain.” He answered softly.

“Then hold me. Don’t hide them away…”

He shook his head. “Let me get you upstairs, mi amore. Then if you so badly want to explore this side of me, I will allow you to. But right now, I want you out of my studio and into our bedroom.” His wings vanished from sight. “Can you agree to that, princessa?”

I absolutely could.

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