#i cannot describe to you the absolute JOY it brought me this week | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tavyliasin · 12 days

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I'm just going to say this quickly and quietly because it is becoming unavoidable in a corner of fandom I am highly active in and adore with all my heart: I am aware that there is an issue between some prominent people in our fandom. I have not looked into the details of the issue. I will not be looking into it either. I am dealing with a particularly intense and unpleasant time off-screen, one not connected to fandom and entirely personal and health related, and whilst I want to reassure you I am fine and there is nothing for anyone to be concerned about, I don't have the spoons to go diving through a mountain of interpersonal issues or whatever else is happening. I will trust that the servers I am a part of will manage things in the ways they see fit, and will remain within them for the people I know and love there, but I will not engage with anything regarding "fandom drama" (sorry if this sounds like it's minimising things I just have no better term for it) because I just cannot cope with it right now. If there becomes an issue in my own server, either I or the team that I trust will take care of it, but we don't generally allow for fandom issues to be discussed or brought up in there unless it is absolutely imperative. Our space is one for sharing our adoration of BG3 and all the creative works we can make together, and to provide a completely free and open place to discuss all NSFW aspects of the creative fandom. It's there to be our sanctuary, our refuge, and our joy~ So, please do not take silence from me as endorsement of anyone or anything, because I do not know what is going on, and I do not want to be pulled in to it. Please know that I adore and will continue to support all of the friends I have made through BG3 fandom. I will try to be here when you need me. But right now...right now I really need my fandom spaces to remain the positive, loving, and endlessly creative places they have been for a long time. I cannot begin to describe how much indulging in writing and sharing enthusiasm has been, and continues to be, a bright light even on the darkest of days. I know this is also going to sound infuriatingly vague, but I don't share a lot of personal details under this name for my own comfort. I'm less guarded than I was, and have come to trust a good number of you, so I'm trusting you now to put your faith in everything you know of me and the things that I do and do not support in general while I take my time to cope with the things off the screen. Naturally one coping mechanism is absorbing into my writing, so you'll see plenty of that still. So: I simply do not know what is going on, nor do I wish to know. I need to be a little selfish and take care of myself for now, so...long winded as it is, this is the shortest way that I can explain that and to request that nobody try to bring me in to any situations right now that don't immediately require my attention (this list would be extremely limited to things that are going to affect me directly or impact my server in ways that cannot wait a week or two). For anyone concerned for my well-being, please don't worry. I have a partner who cares deeply for me, as well as several very close friends who know what is going on with me and are providing their love, care and support. All I need from you, my darling and beloved fandom companions, is to know that I do adore you more than words could ever adequately express, and that I'm staying out of whatever is going on for my own health right now.

Gods I write too much when I'm stressed. TL;DR - Lia not well. Lia needs fandom to be comfort for a while. Lia cannot deal with anything heavy for a week or two at least. Thank you for your patience, Lia loves you.

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imjustwritingg · 2 years

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First of all, I’m glad it made you smile because the joy and comfort your writing has brought me on numerous occasions is absolutely UNMATCHED so you deserve a little bit of that joy and love in return (especially when the internet is as much of a cesspool as it can be sometimes 🙃). Your writing has completely changed the trajectory of my day or week on multiple occasions and I wish I could thank you in some way other than screaming in your ask box about asshole Jay and what my currently weekly schedule is 😂

That being said, I am definitely going to take you up on screaming at you some more because I’m not just invested… I’m ✨too✨ invested 😂

You’ve somehow managed to take all of my favourite tropes in writing and combine them into this incredible fic and I can’t handle it 90% of the time because the spiral is real!! Everything about that conversation at dinner absolutely sent me and I cannot wait for more Jay/Adam/Kevin conversations surrounding Hailey. Jay being an absolute douche canoe but knowing that underneath all of his hurt is the worlds largest teddy bear who just wants a hug (couldn’t help myself 😂) makes me lose my shit thinking about where you are going to take these characters. Protective older brother Adam is absolutely everything and Hailey telling him to step back because she is a grown ass woman was… uuuuugggggghhhhhh. The spiral is R E A L, Morgan, it’s real 😂

I can’t wait to see what happens with Hailey and mama Halstead because I just know you’ve included her with all of the chaos up your sleeve and I’m definitely not ready for it but I’m also so ready for it.

I’m also obsessed with all of the ways you’ve written Hailey challenging Jay and giving it right back to him, often better than she gets it. This new arrangement they’ve entered into is going to kill me. And then I’m going to come back from the dead to read the next chapter, and it’s going to kill my ghost. Even though Hailey ultimately initiated their fun time at wedding, and Jay made her admit that she wanted him (dead. I’m dead again just thinking about it), I CANNOT wait for Hailey to jump him out of the blue because of their new arrangement. Whether it’s at his office or the club or his place or wherever it ends up happening, I am ready for her to seek out Jay and initiate it completely and his response to that will kill me.

Hope you don’t regret inviting me to yell some more 😂 I reread the entire fic today and I’m spiralling and now you’ve gotten paragraphs of my word vomit thrown at you 😂🤷🏼‍♀️ the overarching gist is that I’m losing my shit over your story and I’m super grateful you are continuing to write and share 💕

Wow. You truly are invested and I was stunned for a moment when I saw this message, and then I teared up as I started reading.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I shall continue this below the cut so I don’t annoy anyone with our musings my friend. 😅

I’m always here for yelling and for chaos of any kind. I don’t know why, but I truly thrive in the chaos. It really is my brand and I don’t think that will ever change. 😅😂

The dinner scene in the last chapter was so much fun to write!! I had this very vivid picture in my head of it playing out and all of them sitting around the table and the scene unfolded just I had hoped. I’m so, so glad you enjoyed it!!

There will definitely be more scenes and conversations involving those three!

Describing Jay as a teddy bear who just wants a hug made me giggle. You’re not exactly wrong there, but it might take a little while before he gets his hug. That guy has got some walls up for sure that need a wrecking ball to be knocked down.

Hailey is a queen. I don’t know what else to say about her. She’s just wonderful and I love her. We always love a good spiral. 😉

Mama Halstead. I love her. I LOVE HER. I will forever be bitter about the fact that we didn’t get to meet her so I had to include her somehow, some way, if not for my own sanity and headcanons. I have absolutely included her for reasons which will be shown soon. Or soonish?

Hailey challenging Jay and throwing it all right back at him is some of the most fun I’ve written in fic. She’s just so sassy and stubborn, and she takes no shit. Not very different at all to how she is on the show honestly, but it still somehow feels a little different. If that makes sense.

Oh it is for sure Hailey’s turn to seek him out. Better be careful what you wish for friend. 😉

I never regret yelling about fic or Upstead or both. Those idiots have the tightest hold on me and I fear they ain’t ever letting go.

Your messages have made my night, my week, my everything. The response to this story has been so incredibly mind blowing and I cannot thank you enough for reading it and loving it and caring about anything my brain comes up with. Seriously. Thank you. 💜💜

#anon ask #upstead fic #chicago pd

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isabellehemlock · 2 years

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!! Just saw you're doing the game too! 🍓 please? <3

Ahhhhh Sarah, I'm finally catching up on all of these and what a joy it is to get an opportunity to gush about you properly! Thanks for sending me a strawberry 🍓

Thanks to Claz's comment earlier to my reblog of your absolutely lovely post, she mentioned how funny it is that she's basically like a Russian doll that revealed several other friends and now it's just one big circle of randoms you DM with. Here's a visual in case you needed to picture that 😎

In all seriousness, I'll start by saying the first thing I noticed about you is your welcoming, kind spirit - it would be completely understandable for you to have found that group of 38 people you follow, and close ranks and just stick to people you love and cherish and let that be that (really, really understandable!).

And yet you kindly reply to all, both with humor and joy, and help! I can honestly vouch for the hashtags you sent me - added to my own list - and I have literally not had anything slip up on my dash in months!! Cannot thank you enough for your insight in that regard. You basically didn't have to give me the time of day - but not only do you chat with me, tag me, and otherwise engage, you have helped me, and brought joy to my days 😊

Now without getting any more sappy than that, let me also go on about your humor and talent - the laughs I have gotten from your tags! And I adore how you talk to people within them, because I tend to do the same (especially in liveblogging/rambling comments on AO3, as you know lol). I've been thankful for added smiles to my day thanks to your blog 😎

As for the talent!! Goodness gracious what an impressive writer you are! Like holy heck ~ I was doing one of those writer tag games where it asked you to describe your own writing style, both strengths and weaknesses and I was sharing how I definitly feel like I'm fairly straightforward in my style sometimes - and I'll admit I am so utterly moved by these sort of sweeping, prose like, imagery type styles I see within the fandom . . . And one of the examples I was thinking of was you!!

I feel like reading one of your fics is like lying down under a cozy heated blanket, and holding art between your hands - comforting, and inspiring all at once 💕

Thank you for your wonderful contributions to the fandom, but even more so for who you are as a person, and thanks for the ask - I hope this brought a smile to your face, and that you have a lovely week ahead!

#answered ask #much love to you Sarah #🍓#for queue

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fatiguing-thoughts · 4 years

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“Prom Night” - Jacob Black

Request: The reader and Jacob are going to prom and you suprise him with your prom dress

Every little girl dreams about this night. Today was finally the day. Though, as I grew older I realized that today wasn’t going to be what I thought-- it would be far different than what my seven-year-old self would’ve expected.

Yes, I expected to be wearing a dress, a corsage on my wrist, and a handsome date to attend my prom with. I expected for me to be excited for this event, I expected excitement towards the main event of the night.

Though, if I were to be honest, the prom was no longer the main event of the night.

Ever since my life changed a year ago, my view on the world changed. I realized how sacred life was, how beautiful every experience could be. I learned that love was something beyond what I imagined. I thought love was going to be something incredible.

I was right, but I never knew how right I could be.

Jacob brought out a new side of me. Loving him was intense, it felt like I was being engulfed by something that was ten times the size of me, almost suffocating-- in the most beautiful way.

Loving Jacob was easy. Loving Jacob was beautiful. Loving Jacob was enticing. Loving Jacob was fate.

Yes I understand that I am only eighteen. However, an imprint bond is something that cannot even be described. It’s something that overpowers everything else. My senses are useless, taken over by this overpowering feeling, this strong bond.

I look in the mirror, observing the beading on my dress. The makeup on my face, the way my hair is falling upon my shoulders, draping around my back. My cousin stands behind me, fixing a bump in my hair, my hair that took her forty-five minutes.

I felt exhausted from all of this preparation. Why does it take forever to get ready for events as such? Was Jacob stressing as much as I? Was he able to get himself ready in fifteen minutes, opposed to my two and a half hours?

That’s when I heard the knocking on my front door coming from downstairs. I felt my smile beam, I felt the excitement I feel whenever Jake is around. I couldn’t wait to see him. I longed to see him handsome and dressed up, to finally feel his touch after spending the night alone in my bed for the first time in weeks.

I walk down the stairs, trying not to trip over my own feet, or the length of my gown. Jake still never saw the dress, I wanted to surprise him. Surprising Jake always gave me some joy, as his excitement would always beam from his face-- something I loved about him always.

“Oh honey, you look so beautiful.” My mom says, tearing up as I walk down the stairs.

“You really do.” My dad adds in, his eyes too beginning to well with tears.

“Thank you.” I smile at them, trying to hold my own emotions back.

That’s when I look at Jake, watching his eyes look at me like I’m the oxygen he needs to breathe. His mouth forming into a tight smile, eyes glistening with happiness. I could always count on Jake for expressing his happiness clear as day on his face.

I look at him, admiring how handsome he looks. He’s wearing all black, like we agreed upon. His long hair pulled back, looking absolutely beautiful.

“Do you like it?” I ask, slowly walking over to him. “You look absolutely amazing. I love it.” He says, bringing me into a tight hug.

“Thank you, handsome.” I say, leaving a kiss on his cheek.

“Okay, okay! Picture time!” My mother interrupts.

Jacob and I pose for what feels like hours before we’re finally able to get out of my house and head over to prom.

“(Y/N), you really do look beautiful.” Jake says as he rubs his thumb over the back of my hand, smiling to himself. His eyes seemed to dart off the road to give me another longing look.

“Thank you, Jacob.” I say, blushing like a thirteen-year-old who had just been complimented for the first time.

“I’m glad I get to spend the night with you. You’re the only reason that prom could seem fun to me.” Jacob laughed.

“Thank you. I think you’re gonna be the best part of this night, too.” I say, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

“I’m glad it was a surprise, babe. The dress isn’t what I thought of at all, it’s better than anything I imagined. You look amazing.”

I smile at him, gripping onto his hand tighter. Wondering how I could ever count my blessings enough that Jacob was in my life. Jacob was my forever. This was fate. I will never be able to understand how I have gotten so lucky, to have the privilege of loving this man.

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Word Count: 815

Sorry for the leave of absence, this was my first opportunity to write since my computer has been broken. Thank you all for understanding and I hope you all enjoyed :)

#jacob black #jacob black x reader #jacob black imagine #jacob black one shot #jacob black oneshot #jacob black fluff #jacob black drabble #Quil Ateara #embry call #sam uley #paul lahote #seth clearwater #leah clearwater #wolf pack #Jared Cameron #twilight #twilight x reader #jacob black imagines

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greenmegsnoham · 3 years

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TOP 5 OF 2020

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 (ish) favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

Thank you for the tag @pineau-noir 😘!!

So this was my first year writing fanfic...it’s only been a couple months actually...and I absolutely LOVE IT! It’s gotten me through this hell storm of a year. Never did I realize that diving into Harry Potter fanfiction would give me the community, friendship, and love I desperately needed. I was feeling lost and quite alone, having moved several times, leaving many friends hundreds of miles away. Now I’ve found new friends thousands of miles away, and I’ve never felt so socially fulfilled.

Thank you to everyone who inspire and encourage me to keep creating. Never would I thought I could bring so much joy (and paint 😂) to so many people! And FIND that joy in others. I have never felt a more sense of self, acceptance, and belonging.

Just. Thank you. 💕

SO. My top 5..ish!

1. Time Heals All Wounds - My ongoing Time Travel / Soulmate AU Snarry fic. I don’t know how or when I happened upon Snarry, but omg. I love it so much. I cannot begin to describe how much of myself I have poured into this fic, and how much I love it. It is definitely the embodiment of creating what you want to see in the world. Quite a few Snarry nay-sayers have converted after reading this. 😉 FULL of suspense / hurt / angst / just enough fluff. And, of course, smut. As one of my friends quoted, “It’s the fic you didn’t know you needed.”

@deaserkan even drew THE MOST BEAUTIFUL fic inspired (NSFW) fanart. Check it out here! It’s just... *chef kiss*

2. That Bloody Bathroom - My VERY FIRST fic! I happened upon a Halloween writing challenge in the Fanatical Fics podcast Discord and figured...what the hell! The WC limit was 2k and...well...it was pretty much 2k. I had no idea how easy it would be for me to write. I love Drarry so much, and it was so fun to write about my OTP! It even won the Classic Drarry award...which was pretty dang cool!

3. The Boy Who Loved - My second Drarry, but FIRST chapter fic. This one is also ongoing...with about 16 chapters in...but it’s on hold since THAW has become all-consuming. BUT I’m still in love with the story. Classic Slytherin!Harry and ChosenOne!Neville. Also my first attempt at smut, which has essentially established my brand: angst / hurt / cliffhangers EVERYWHERE / and ALLS the smut. I cannot wait to get around to finishing this one.

4. Good Evening, Prime Minister - Every week the Fanatical Fics discord has a headcanon discussion about some of the more obscure HP characters we don’t know too much about. I committed to writing a ficlet each week focused on said character. For the week of Kingsley Shacklebolt, I immediately thought about the possibility of a Kingsley/Muggle Prime Minister pairing. WOW! How was this not already a thing??? Apparently I created the pairing tag on AO3 😂. This was such a cute and steamy story! I wish it was something more people would have the chance to read! (maybe this post will help!)

5. Destroy Me - So as I’ve gotten more invested in reading / writing fic, a friend and I are developing a ship culture discussion podcast (@careofmagicalshippers) focusing on the extensive universe of HP ships. While researching, I happened up on Flintwood. And WOW. I SHIP THIS SO HARD! Quidditch Rivalry = UST, obviously! This story is mad spicy. You’ll love it.

I have to append my Drawble for the Drarry Discord Drawble Challenge. I haven’t drawn a full illustration in like.....oh gosh. MONTHS...maybe over a year. My new-found passion for fic spilled over into fanart, which I hope can continue! When @bluebutter-art left such lovely comments, I nearly died. 😭

6. This Christmas - accompanies an adorable Christmas Drabble as well!

I cannot wait to see what 2021 has to bring from all my talented friends (or friends I think I have in my head 🤣)!! I’m sorry if I miss a bajillion of you because I don’t remember everyone’s usernames well 🙈

@slytherco @veelawings @bluebutter-art @chickenpets @samunderthelights@ladderofyears @swisstae @p1013 @deaserkan @nevbo @upthehillart @nezumivi @davonysus @san-draws @serpenssemper @fw00shy @potionsmasters @erlasart @thesleepiesthufflepuff @blue--dreaming @alessiajontrunfio @aeshsar @cibeewastaken @hilunawrites @bisexualronaldweasley @rockmarina @the-starryknight @sunflower-swan

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sleepless-in-starbucks · 4 years

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Far Away but Not Apart

Ao3

Summary: Roman loved Logan with all of their heart, even if they had only ever seen him through a computer screen. Content: Nb!Roman, don’t think there’s anything else really Pairing: Romantic logince Notes: This is the amos prize minific for @averykedavra who requested long-distance logince. I’m not certain I stuck properly to the prompt, but I do hope you like it, Avery!

“-I’m just saying, there is no crueler mistress than the one that would place soulmates such as ourselves so far apart!”

Logan sighed, rolling his eyes in a way that Roman was fully aware was amused, not annoyed. Though he had started the facetime sitting up and back in his fancy office chair, he was now leaning forwards, elbows on the desk, supporting his chin with one of his hands. “If fate were as cruel a mistress as you claim, Roman, then why would she allow us to meet each other at all?”

“To torture us!” Roman replied dramatically, grinning when Logan chuckled. “It is only in knowing the other exists that we suffer! To be so close in heart but so far in distance-”

“A pity, yes, but one we will survive.” Logan said, scoffing when Roman pouted at him. “You will only make yourself feel worse about our situation the longer you dwell upon in it.”

“I have dwelled upon it every day since the one I met you, and suffered it every day since the one you allowed me to call you mine.”

“We’ve only been dating for four months, Roman.”

“And friends for two years!” Roman added on for him. “And never once during all of that time have I so much as held your hand! It is a crime, my beloved, a crime, a sin, a defiance against all that is good and pure!”

“You’re overexaggerating.”

Roman sighed and collapsed backwards on their bed, hand splayed over their forehead. “No, I’m suffering.”

Logan laughed, and Roman lifted their head just enough that they could see him as he did so, their faux pout dropping so that they could smile at their muse. People who didn’t really know Logan said he was cold, unfeeling, logical to a fault. That was because people who didn’t really know Logan had never seen him smile brighter than the sun and laugh prettier than any angel could.

Roman didn’t realize they had gotten lost in their thoughts of loving Logan until the object of their affections coughed and said, “You’re staring.”

“How could I not?” Roman replied without missing a beat. “You are beauty incarnate, my sweetness, figure carved from smoothest marble and face painted with finest hues. I cannot help but to stare.”

“You really are too much.” Logan told them, but his cheeks had flushed a dark red that let Roman know their words had had exactly the impact they had hoped for. “I was asking you what you were doing this weekend.”

“Losing myself within worlds far more interesting than ours for but the fact that they do not have you, my angelic love.”

“So… binging Netflix?”

“My way of describing it was better.”

Logan chuckled. “If you say so, dear.”

Roman smiled at the petname. They had always loved how it made them sound as if they were an old married couple (which Roman fully intended for them to be one day). “And what are you going to be doing over your break from work-aligned existence?”

“Not really a break, I’m afraid.” Logan said, prompting Roman’s smile to become a frown. “I’ve got a business meeting on Saturday, leaving Friday night.”

Roman’s frown deepened. “Does that mean virtual movie night is off?”

Logan nodded, now frowning himself. “I’m sorry to say, but yes. We’ll have to reschedule for another week.”

“Well that sucks.” Roman said, trying to keep the majority of their disappointment out of their voice. They knew it wasn’t anything that Logan could change, so they didn’t want to make him feel bad about it. “You better get me a souvenir though. To make it up to me.”

“If a ten dollar bobble-head will fill the hole in your life that is our Friday night virtual movie marathon, then I am glad to oblige.” Logan returned, briefly looking away from the camera to check a paper on his desk. “Your address is the same, yes?”

“Don’t know how I could’ve changed it without you knowing.”

“Just checking.” Logan said, marking something down before he turned back towards the camera. “Now, I hate to once more be the figurative bearer of bad news, but I must take my leave- I have a client call in a few minutes here.”

“Skip it.”

“I do have to keep my job, Ro.”

“Your new job can be loving me, twenty-four seven, benefits are spending all your time with me.”

“And how much does loving you pay?”

“Did you not hear about the benefits? They’re better than money!”

Logan just laughed fondly. “You are cute, I’ll give you that.’

“So you’ll take up my offer and your new job?”

“Sadly, to function in the real world, I need a cash-paying job.” Logan told them, smiling at Roman’s following pout. “But if it alleviates your pains, know that I already love you twenty-four seven.”

At that, Roman allowed their pout to morph into a smile. “Well, look at who’s being cute now.”

“I’m simply stating the facts.” Logan replied, glancing at his watch. “One of which is, unfortunately, that I really must go now. I’m worried I’ll be too busy tomorrow to chat- I’ll call you on Saturday, alright?”

“Oh, my star, my sun, my only light through the darkness and troubles that are this world, however will I survive a whole day without any contact with you?”

“You are strong, my knight, I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Logan told them in return, grinning when Roman blushed. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Roman responded, blowing Logan an imaginary kiss. Logan, as always, indulged them by ‘catching it’ before he turned his camera off, Roman’s screen going dark soon after. As soon as it darkened, Roman sighed, falling back against their bed and shutting their laptop as they did so.

It was going to be a long day and a half.

“Roman? Wh- Why are you calling?”

“Because I miss you!” Roman whined, not bothering with pretending to not be clingy. “Yesterday was long and dull and completely devoid of true joy and true love! I simply could not bear to wait til you called me! Oh, how I have missed you, my world, my stars, my universe-”

“It’s barely been a day, love.”

“Love!” Roman said, ignoring the majority of his sentence and latching onto the important part of it. “I haven’t heard you call me that in over a day! Possibly two! Hell, darling, I’ve been in absolute hell without you.”

Logan laughed at that, and Roman had never before so desperately wished they were on a facetime, just so they could see the absolute glory that would be Logan’s face while he was laughing. It didn’t matter how many times they had seen him laugh- it would never be enough. Before Roman could say something to that extent, however, their doorbell rang, grabbing their attention.

“Damnit.” They said, annoyed. Did they have packages coming today? They didn’t think so. And they really, really didn’t want to get up.

“What is it?”

“The doorbell- it’s fine, probably just a package or some door-to-door salesperson. Just annoying, interrupting the melodic sound of your laughter-”

“You should probably get that.”

Roman groaned and threw their head back. “But I don’t want to!”

“It could be someone important.” Logan told them. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be here when you get back.”

Roman groaned louder, but they still swung themself off their couch. “Fiiiine. But when it turns out to be nothing, I’m going to… I’m going to…”

“Yes?” Logan asked, in a much too smug way that suggested he knew perfectly well Roman had no way to end their threat.

“...I’ll think of something.” Roman said vaguely, ignoring Logan’s following chuckle of disbelief and amusement. Shaking their head, Roman moved the phone from their ear to the side of their neck, muffling the speaker as they opened the door. “Okay, listen, I’ve got some important stuff going on so-”

Roman cut themself off as soon as they saw who was standing on their porch. Because it wasn’t a salesperson or a dropped-off package- it was a man with a suitcase by his feet, a phone in his hand, and a face Roman would sooner die than forget.

“Surprise?” Logan said, and that was all he was able to get out before Roman had flung themself at him and wrapped them up in what Roman was sure was the biggest, tightest, most important hug they had ever given.

“You’re here!” Roman said after a minute of just basking in the magnificence of the moment. They still refused to let go of him, having dropped their phone so that they could hold on solely to Logan, keeping him as close to their chest as possible. “You’re really here!”

“Well I’m certainly not a hallucination or someone pretending to be your boyfriend.” Logan said, having managed to get his phone into his pocket before returning Roman’s hug. “So I should hope I’m really here, yes.”

“Yes- but- you’re here! I can see you! I can hug you! I AM hugging you!” Roman exclaimed, knowing they were getting repetitive at that point but not caring at all. They were currently hugging their boyfriend for the first time ever, after all- how could they care about anything else?

“That you are.” Logan agreed, voice still a professional neutral before he tightened his grasp on Roman and added, “So I am as well.”

Roman giggled, a mostly involuntary sound that was brought about the sheer joy of the moment. They pulled back from Logan, just a bit, just enough that they could see his face- his beautiful, lovely, gorgeous face, a face that was a million times prettier in real life. “Can I kiss you?”

“Mhmm- not on the lips. Weird texture.” Logan said, but he was still smiling, unbothered by Roman’s question.

Happily, Roman pressed a kiss to Logan’s forehead, grinning when they saw Logan’s smile grow. “I can work with that.” They said before moving to pepper the rest of Logan’s face with kisses.

“If I- if I knew you were going to be this persistent I- I would’ve stayed home.” Logan protested, having broken down himself and begun giggling in between Roman’s kisses, rendering his protests unbelievable.

“My most beloved, you are a horrible liar.” Roman told him, pressing an extra special kiss to his nose before saying suddenly, “Hey, wait- don’t you have a business meeting you’re supposed to be at?! You can’t be here!”

Logan laughed. “Roman, my prinx, this is the business meeting. I lied so I could surprise you.”

Both Roman’s eyes and smile widened as they dived back into scattering kisses across Logan’s entire face, only stopping when Logan pulled far away enough they could no longer reach his face.

“We are going to get absolutely nothing done if I allow you to kiss me all day.” Logan said, though at Roman’s pout he did lean forwards to kiss Roman’s forehead. “I did take Monday and Tuesday off, but I can’t be here forever, you know.”

“You say that as if it would be a waste of our time if I used it for little more than showering you in all the affection you deserve.” Roman returned, attempting to resume their attack of Logan’s face.

Logan pulled back once more, chuckling when Roman immediately began to sulk. “There will be plenty of time for that. But there is also time for other activities, such as one that might have been missed recently…?”

Roman blinked at Logan, frowning for a moment in confusion before their face lit up in a grin. “Oh! Movie night! We can have a real life movie night!

“Only if we don’t spend our entire weekend standing on your porch.” Logan pointed out. “So… may I come in?”

“Of course!” Roman said, finally (albeit regrettably) letting go of Logan so that he could grab his suitcase and come inside. The moment he was within and Roman had closed their door, however, Roman had their arms wrapped around Logan’s waist, smiling as Logan laughed and put a hand backwards so that he could hold Roman’s shoulder.

“You’re very touchy.” Logan commented, though he didn’t sound annoyed.

Roman just held him closer. “Two and a half years, my heart and soul and life! So long have I waited for this moment- you wouldn’t hold it against me that I wish to cherish it, would you?”

“It’s actually been two years, four months, and three days since our first interaction.” Logan corrected them before softening, leaning back and more into Roman’s hold. “But no, I won’t hold it against you.”

“Good.” Roman said, pressing a kiss to the top of Logan’s head. “Because I have no plans of letting you go anytime soon.”

Logan tilted his head back so that he could smile at Roman. “Well I should hope you don’t.” He responded, looking fondly at Roman. “Four days aren’t that much time. It would be a shame to waste even a second of them.”

Roman grinned. “Aw, you do like being cuddled!”

At the claim, Logan looked down, trying (and failing) to hide the blush Roman could still see blooming in his cheeks. “Maybe just a little bit.”

Grin widening, Roman shifted as quickly as possible, eliciting a small yelp from Logan as they lifted him up and held him against their chest. “Don’t worry Lo,” Roman began, using their new position to kiss Logan’s forehead, “Four days may not be a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but it is plenty of cuddle time.”

Roman expected Logan to protest that, to say that time was the same whether it was in the ‘grand scheme of things’ or in ‘cuddle time’ or any other definiment of time, but he didn’t- instead, Logan just let out a small sigh and rested his head against Roman’s shoulder. “We’re watching Big Hero Six first.”

“Of course!” Roman agreed enthusiastically, leaving Logan’s luggage behind on the floor as they walked over to their couch before adding (just because he could), “Anything for you, my love.”

Because Logan was right- four days wasn’t that much time.

But Roman had plans to make the most of every second.

#logince #ts logan #ts roman #nb!roman #ts sides #sanders sides #fanfic #fanfiction #the cryptid speaks #amos minific #i haven't written logince in forever #gosh i missed these bois #averykedavra

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euclarisse · 3 years

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⟨ CAMILLE RAZAT. CIS FEMALE. SHE / HER. ⟩ though the mist might prevent some from seeing it, CLARISSE PROUVAIRE is actually a descendant of K H I O N E. it’s still a question of whether or not the TWENTY - SIX year old ART HISTORY MAJOR from AVIGNON, FRANCE has taken after their godly parent completely, but the demigod is still known to be quite EBULLIENT & HAUGHTY.

❄ DOSSIER. ❄ PINTEREST. ❄ PLAYLIST.

PERSONALITY.

a sunny disposition offsets clarisse’s frosty lineage. while one might expect her to brush you off, the girl is rarely seen without a smile on her face, and is welcoming to all she meets ⸺ just as long as they treat her well. after all, her name means ‘ bright ’, and she is ever - determined to prove herself as such ; clarisse is always happy to lend a hand where needed or offer a shoulder to cry on if someone is upset. she is a force of positive energy, forever trying to find the silver lining where there may not always be one. while she rarely lets things get to her, clarisse’s desire to trust and see the good in all means that she is often misled. she’s not always the best judge of character, and she has been hurt because of it in the past. people tend to mistake her trust for naivete, and while she can be quite oblivious to people’s intentions at times, she won’t allow them to walk all over her.

as the middle child in a family of three, clarisse has often felt like she has to prove herself in order to be seen. a perfectionist at heart and a dancer for most of her life, she tends to focus on the smaller details and gets frustrated when things become misaligned or fall out of place. she is extremely studious and hardworking as a result, and has always been at the top of her classes. she refuses to let herself be anything less than number one, and can occasionally come off as something of a snob when something ( or someone ) doesn’t meet her standards. once clarisse sets her heart on a goal, she will always see it through, no matter the outcome. she sees mistakes as a reason to learn and better herself. improvement is never out of reach for her and it is something that has always been encouraged by her loved ones.

being surrounded by people is one of clarisse’s great joys in life. she is fond of large crowds of people and seldom likes to be alone, having always been lucky enough to have at least one friend by her side. clarisse is usually seen as the mother figure in her friend groups, and has frequently been described as ‘ the sensible one ’. there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her loved ones, but be warned, once you have betrayed her trust and shown her your true colours, she’s not so easily swayed. she is a firm believer that second chances should be earned through actions, not freely given, and no one ⸺ not even herself ⸺ deserves to be excused purely on words alone.

FACTS.

clarisse’s mother is an art collector, often acquiring rare and exquisite pieces to sell to museums. both philippe and madelyn are benefactors of several large and infamous art galleries in france ( including the louvre ). their donations are annual, significant, and their names are almost synonymous with some of the most prominent art communities in europe.

clarisse has a grey long - haired cat named basile. he is of the norwegian forest breed, and was chosen with the knowledge that norwegian forest cats are adapted to colder climates, much like the siberian husky or alaskan malamute. the name basile means ‘ regal ’ in french, and clarisse frequently calls him her little prince. he is her emotional support animal due to her anxiety.

khione has visited her daughter many times over the years, though she would often disguise herself prior to clarisse’s official claiming, as she wanted to give her daughter some semblance of normalcy until then. she always brings her small gifts, often in the form of jewellery, and was usually introduced to her as a distant aunt. one gift in particular arrived on the eve of clarisse’s sixteeth birthday and was a silver necklace featuring a pendant of intricate snowflakes. clarisse has never taken it off and she treasures it immensely.

clarisse speaks with a heavy french accent, and it can be quite difficult to understand when she is speaking quickly. her language preference is french, as it is her main tongue, and it pleases her greatly when she runs into other people who can also speak french as she doesn’t have to be so self - conscious about her speech.

clarisse was a summer member of camp stark from 2010 – 2012, and left the camp when she was seventeen years old. she went on one quest in the first month of her final year, and was accompanied by two other camp members. their task was to seek out and return the diadem of mnemosyne to calliope, the leader of all muses. they were successful.

before arriving at eonia university, clarisse attended the ballet de l’opéra national de paris, where she went on to become one of their principal dancers. at the age of twenty - three, she was forced to quit, after a trio of harpies attacked her and several audience members during a performance.

POWERS.

aerokinesis : perhaps the one power clarisse has used before but still has yet to fully refine. occasionally, on a cold, stormy night, when the wind rattles the windows in their frames, she is able to brush it away as it it were a mere fly hovering about her head. she has summoned gusts of wind in the past, the most recent that she can recall being her final performance with the ballet de l’opéra national de paris. audience members and staff will say that it came from the hole in the ceiling, but she knows what she did, what she is capable of doing. the wind swept from her body as sharp as knives, whipping through the theatre like a winter gale. it tore a hole through the roof and blew the creatures away. she cannot forget. she will always remember what she is able to do.

cryokinesis : it comes as naturally to her as breathing. at five days old, she was creating small blizzards in her room. by eight years old, she was making slides down the staircase by pouring water over the steps and freezing it to ice. clarisse never found it particularly strange or peculiar that she was able to manipulate the cold with such ease. in fact, when she was younger, she assumed it was something that all children could do, and was left astonished when her brother informed her otherwise. she learned to embrace her unique gift from a young age, and taught herself how to hone her abilities without expert instruction, almost to the point of perfection. she’s learned how to create beautiful figures made of ice, sculptures that her parents would proudly display during dinner parties and family gatherings. she uses her cryokinesis habitually, and it is something she is completely unashamed of, even if the frequent demonstration of her power has brought her trouble in the past.

fearspeak : clarisse is too fair and too kind to ever willingly use this ability on someone who doesn’t deserve it, and every time she’s ever used her fearspeak in the past, she has felt nothing but the deepest of regret. for her, it is a shame she must carry. she never wishes to incite fear in anybody, but she can sometimes perceive what they are feeling. it speaks to her, calls out to her, and when it does, she can’t help but inform them of the worst.

other abilities :

heat sensitivity : the first ability that ever manifested in clarisse was a sensitivity to heat. her mother could never understand why her baby would cry relentlessly in the middle of summer, or by the fireplace in the living room when it was lit. the hottest days of the year were an endurance for the entire family. while she was as obedient and easygoing as they came, it was the one time of the year where she would fuss and stick up her nose. she’s gotten in frequent trouble with her father ( who has a weak disposition and bad circulation ) for turning down the heating during the coldest winter nights. extreme heat makes her skin feel itchy, like she’s about to break out in hives or burn to a crisp on the spot, but she’s learned not to complain.

immunity to cold : clarisse has never felt the cold the way that she felt the heat. she says it brushes over her like water ⸺ almost unfeeling, rippling over her skin. in the depths of winter, she can walk around in single layers ⸺ the thinnest silk dress, the shortest sleeved t - shirt ⸺ with a smile on her face, as if it were any other day of the year. she seldom wears thick winter jackets, but if she does, know that it’s for everyone else’s sake than for her own. it’s better to fit in than be judged.

OUT OF CHARACTER.

it’s your fave, nixie ( 24, gmt, she / her ) coming in with muse number two !!! very happy and excited to finally be writing clarisse, who I have thus dubbed as my lil sunshine winter baby. I know I’ve been hyping her up for the last few weeks, but I absolutely cannot wait to write her, so come and plot with me !

#euintro #╰ ` ❄ 𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 › intro.

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chasingshhadows · 4 years

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Ooh you foster kittens?!

I do!!! I signed up in April, a few weeks into the stay-at-home orders, and was matched with my first fosters in May! My work will be WFH likely until next spring/summer, so it seemed a perfect time to start <3

My first fosters were Cavi and Peppa, two orphan singletons of the same age. I was able to unite them after a couple weeks of quarantine and they were so bonded, it was absolutely adorable. Luckily, I was able to adopt them together 🥰

After a month off for some travel and recoup, I was paired with a very young, pregnant mamma kitty. She actually gave birth to her babies about 2-3 hours before I arrived to pick her up, so while I didn’t get to be there for the birth, I did get the babies on day 1 :D I posted about their first day here.

I kept most of my foster stuff on my foster insta, @chasingkittehs, which I can promise is a huge pick-me-up if you need a smile.

It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I cannot describe in words how much joy all those babies brought me. I have my own two adult cats and they bring me a lot of happiness and sanity, but having these little babies running around my living room and begging for my attention and snuggling with me was just... It was a mental health savior in the light of all the chaos in the world and in my country (US).

Everyone has been adopted into really wonderful forever homes (even Mamma Maddie!) and my apartment is currently foster-free for a couple months while I dive into some more travel, but I recommend it to anyone that has a little extra time and a lot of space for love in their hearts 💕(cheesy, I know). Hopefully I'll have some more babies to welcome in February 🥰

#theladyandthewolves #thanks for asking and hopefully this brought you a smile 😊#kittens #fostering #chasing rambles #notrnm

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fandom-collective-writers · 5 years

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Reader x Le Comte de Saint Germain {IkeVam} - Letters to You

Title: Letters to You

Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Character: Le Comte de Saint Germain

Genre: hOHOHOHOHOho smut

Warnings: sexy sex

Kinks: 18th century sexting: the telegraph, masturbating, biting (vampire biting), slight (very slight) choking, sensual ??? idk , internal cumshot, prob some other things idk

Intended Gender Audience: Female Audience

Word Count: 2290 words

POV: second person

Request: “I see youve started without me” by non

Written by: @mythiica

Other comments: HAH that was entertaining to write, sorry im late!

Before he left, Comte told you that he would only be traveling for a few days at most. He flashed you one of his irresistible smiles and his canines even sparkled in the lights. Like a gentleman, Comte embraced you tightly before stepping into the carriage and waving goodbye.

That was a week ago, and you are starting to get anxious now.

The moment you make it down the stairs, you call out for Sebastian and ask if any news about Comte has come. You know that he is getting tired of your antics – constantly inquiring about any mail or telegraphs from him – but instead of scowling at you, Sebastian extends a gloved hand and presents you with a slip of yellow paper.

Finally, news from Comte!

“Thank you, Sebastian!” you call over your shoulder as you run back upstairs. As you clutch the paper to your chest, you can even smell his scent embedded in the parchment. It is hard to mistake the beautiful combination of sharp earl grey tea mixed with the sublte sweetness of pastries and pen ink. It comforts you to have it in your hands, and you know that whatever message he has sent you is very important.

Back inside your room, you throw yourself across the bed, undoing Sebastian’s hard work to make it, an you tear open the envelop to pull out the letter. Your name is written in fine penmenshap across the length of the paper, making your heart ache for Comte. Upon beginning to read, it is almost as if you can hear your lover’s voice in your ear.

We have just passed through Romania from the east, and are headed back to the mansion. I warn you that my excursion might take longer than anticipated, mainly because of a storm that hit us in Moldova. Do not worry though, I will be back before you know it.

You had heard about the strange and powerful thunderstorm that blew through eastern Europe, but you are happy to know that Comte is well and safe. Brushing your finger over the cursive, you realize that the telegraph is dated three days ago. Perhaps it got lost and was not delivered in time? You hang on to the notion that, perhaps, Comte has sent you another message and that it will arrive later today.

As you go to set down the paper, another sheet comes loose from the back. The handwriting is less neat than his normal script, but you can still make it out.

I have to admit that I absolutely long for you. Although it has only been a few days since we last saw each other, my heart grows weary with every passing moment. Sometimes, there is a rush of warm air that sweeps through my chambers, and I imagine it to be your aura watching over me. But the other, less innocent notion, also crosses my mind, and I have indulged myself this evening.

This is for your eyes only, ma cherie, and I know it will bring you joy to read this from me: not only do I miss your beautiful smile and the sound of your laughter in the morning, but I desire the desperation that sparkls when our limbs entwine in front of the fireplace. How long has it been since I had the chance to see you unravel?

Your breath catches in your throat, and you have to stop reading for a moment to shift your legs and squeeze them together. This second letter, obviously more personal and… dirty… was Comte sexting you? Late eighteenth century style sexting, albeit, but the heat of arousal is already tempting you to satisfy yourself like Comte has.

It does not feel the same if it is not you giving me this carnal pleasure… your hands are much softer than my own and, by some kind of magic, you seem to know exactly what I need in the moment. It is beyond shameful to admit that I am consumed by this passion, and that it has lead me to do unspeakable things to the pillow… ah, and now the rush of embarassment. I wish that I could have brought you with me on this trip, for not only would you have the chance to witness the countryside in its winter glory, but I would also ensure to keep you warm during the night.

Without realizing, you have slipped your hand down past the elastic of your skirt to press against your underwear. There is already an obvious wet spot, and to think that Comte can do this to you from just a written message… you begin to share his fantasy and give in to desire. There is no harm in doing so, after all, he still has to return home. It feels heavenly to grind against anything, even if it is not your Comte.

I sometimes what is hotter: the crackling fire or inside of you. Surely, when I dip my fingers into your heat, it boils my blood and goes up my arm until I feel your burning warmth everywhere. It is not enough just to imagine it because there is nothing on this earth that compares to you as your walls clench around me. The lit in your voice teases me, but it soon melts into moans when I coax your release faster and faster. What a beautiful sound and what a heavenly sight: you, beneath me, unraveled and marked with the white stains of my love.

His words flow like poetry and seemingly guide your hand to follow the motions he describes. Your wetness welcomes your fingers with ease, and you contort your body in every direction, searching for the position that allows you to touch yourself more. Spreading your legs seems to be the best option as you delve your digits deeper into your core.

You very well know that I was against biting you at first, but upon doing it for the first time, it was like we were merging together in more ways than just physically. The blood – your blood – ignited me, and I knew that we were meant to be together. Not only our bodies, but our hearts and souls together. Can you feel my emotions as I write this? I sincerely hope you can, because I miss you so very much. We will see each other soon, ma cherie.

Now, you give in to the pleasure of the flesh, and every other sound is drowned out by your gasps for air and your drawn out moans. The room already smells like sex, but you wish it would smell like his cologne. Turning your head to his pillow, you bury your nose against it as your fingers rub your most sensitive spot. Bliss envelops you just like it does when he is the one giving it to you. It is wonderful – your release – and it sends you higher than you have gone on your own before.

As you remove your fingers from inside of you, you feel the slick dribbling down your inner thighs until they drip onto the bedsheets. Giggling at the mess you’ve made, you turn back to reach for the letter to read it again, but it is not there.

You turn over, looking for it, and think that maybe in the excitment of everything, it fell off the bed. From the corner of your eye, you see a whisp of a shadow and a flash of yellow.

“I see you’ve started without me, ma cherie–”

At first, you cannot believe that he’s standing in front of you. When you go to sit up and get out of bed, Comte holds out a hand, signalling to stop. The next moment, he is by your side. Comte brushes your hair back with one hand and starts removing his jacket with the other one. “I thought you would read that before I arrived home, but this is even better than I anticipated.”

You are compelled to look directly into his beautiful eyes – it is not that you would want to look at anything else, but you do not realize that his shirt is off until he presses his chest flush against yours. The next second, Comte is whispering how much he missed you as his belt clinks off. Snapping back into reality, you fumble with his trousers until they too land on the floor in an abandoned pile.

“Ah, yes, this is what I have been missing...” Comte’s voice is hot and heavy, and now that his own clothes are gone, he works at your bodice to remove it completely. You had gotten off while still wearing everything, and when his gaze falls to the wet spot that had soaked through the fabric of your skirt, Comte laughs heartidly. “How interesting. To think my words made you this wet. I do not know to be impressed with my own skill or yours~”

“Comte!”

His fingers lace across your throat as he leans over you, raw emotions seeping through his teeth as he nips your jaw. “Yes, do call my name like that. I think I longed for your voice the most of anything…” Comte drags his tongue across your neck, searching for your pulse like he forgot where it is in the time that he was away. Upon finding it, your lover suckles on it. His hand slips between your legs simultaneously to pull your thigh back, giving him space to grind against you.

“P-Please, I’ve been waiting so long for you!” you hiccup as you drag your nails acorss his back. A groan rumbles in the back of his throat – a sign of his own pleasure. You do it again to entice him and coax out another moan.

“Tell me, did you like my letters?”

“Yes!”

Applying the slightest big more pressure, Comte smiles, his fangs winking in the lamplight. They enter your flesh the same time his cock enters your wetness. It is a glorious sensation: the fluid motions of his tongue as it rolls over the puncture marks and the powerful thrusts that send your toes curling. A hand flies into Comte’s hair, and you tangle your fingers in his caramel locks to hold on to him, to ensure that this is not a dream.

He grips your thigh in such a way that you know there will be spots of beautiful purple left on your skin. You can already feel the knot building up in the pit of your stomach, but Comte is far from done with you.

Cuping your face gently, Comte runs his fingers over your cheek to brush your hair out of the way. His gaze is so loving and deep, you feel like you could get lost in the amber alone. Your hand falls to his jaw and you do the same to him before sitting up slightly. Your breasts are flush with his as you nuzzle against Comte.

He continues to thrust into you mercilessly, but the two of you are suspended in a loving moment. Having been reunited now, you cling to him and teeth on his earlobe. “Bite me again, Comte… I trust you, and I’ve missed you so so much.”

Obeying your command, Comte dips his head to the marks already at your pulse so he can run his tongue over it again. He presses dainty kisses down your neck, all the way to your collarbone where he bites you once more. This time, he is more gentle, but you are still hit with a wave of pleasure that makes you moan joyfully.

You squirm under his firm grip, making some of the blood run down to the bed. Comte catches it with a swift lick before the crimson has a chance to stain the pillowcase. “Careful..” he whispers as his lips fixate against the new puncture marks to suck on you.

Mewling, you shift your hips in such a way that allows Comte to bury himself deeply into you. His tip rubs against the spot that makes you unravel instantly – as he repeatedly thrusts against it, you entwine your fingers with his. “Comte, I’ve–”

“Sh, ma cherie, I know. And you are so beautiful.”

You remember his letter in the moment and clench harder around his length because you want him to climax with you. Comte moans and leans back slightly, giving you a full view of his muscular chest. He rakes his fingers through his hair and continues to thrust into you, dragging your orgasm out longer. A line of blood trickles down his lower lip, so you reach up to catch it with your thumb.

Comte grasps your hand and laps at your digit. You moan again, and Comte smirks before coming down to kiss you once more. He tenses a final time and releases inside of you. Crying out, Comte shushes you gently and nuzzles against your cheek. “Ma cherie, how wonderful it is to be home..”

There is a moment where everything is still and Comte still covers you with his body. But he shifts and takes his place next to you. His seed trickles out of you, making you feel incredibly dirty, but Comte pulls your leg over his hip to hold you close.

“You were supposed to receive those earlier than today, but I must say, I am not dismayed in the slightest.”

Pressing a hand against his chest, you nuzzle close to Comte and pull the blankets up over your shoulder. Comte gives you a quick kiss across the bite marks before holding you close. “Next time I leave, shall I send you more messages like that?”

“No, take me with you. I’ll keep you warm,” you reply with a grin.

#ikevam #ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevam comte #ikevam comte de saint germain #cybird #otome #ikevam smut #ikevam x reader

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lizparkcr · 3 years

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ok so im trying to avoid having emotions about the shitshow that is the local elections so i dont yknow breakdown and ive been meaning to make a post for ages abt muriel’s route i have so many thoughts. obvious spoilers ahead not that i have more than like 2 followers who play arcana game

firstly....i was kinda underwhelmed with the second half/ending of his route. disclaimer i haven’t replayed it and haven’t got the reversed ending, only upright, and my memory sucks and i played it a while ago. SO, things that I....don’t understand:

1. SUCH a massive deal is made out of muriel (and MC) having to learn to fight, the plot literally hinges on it, only for it to swing off the plot all together into oblivion and for the final showdown to be....a series of literal games.* And I wouldn’t disagree with this as an ending tbh!!!! I think it’s fucking great actually -- a non-violent resolution to further signify Muriel’s journey from violence and isolation to peace and fun and family, and tbh sort of a massive fuck you to lucio; LITERALLY RETURNING to the coliseum only to BEAT Lucio WITHOUT returning to the violence that lucio forced on him, turning it into a place of actual joy. Like fuck!! BUT with the whole first part it just doesn’t fucking fit lmao? Muriel could have faced his demons in the beginning without learning to fight at all, he still could have had that journey. Morga could have just traveled with them right? Or even better he could have refused to fight and then the ending would have been even better. We could have had a moment of Morga acknowledging their strength??? Acknowledging their non-violent victory WITH PRIDE??? Bringing her to reflect on her choices as a mother and a leader??? Devs why couldn’t we have had that :( I may be remembering wrong but the apparent necessity of Morga teaching them to fight is the biggest source of tension for at least a book. It’s the reason for his first kiss with the MC! Also yeah speaking of tension with Morga

2. SUCH a big deal is made out of morga becoming/reflecting as (?) a mother figure to muriel (which in itself is a very bold way to go story-wise)....only for her to be killed off. Again, I don’t disagree with this decision, I like her but story-wise it could fit. But I can’t help feel like it was really premature. This is something I feel all routes suffer from, and perhaps I am expecting too much from a game that can be played for free very easily, but every single route has pacing problems, none more than Muriel’s imo. Considering the maternal aspect of Morga (for both her and Muriel!) is sooooo fucking loaded and intense like, you cannot drop that and then kill her and not really mention her for the rest of the story. Her “ghost” made an appearance sometime later and a few sentences were said and that was it. Her and Muriel’s past was so brushed over and idk clearly they didn’t have the time or money or whatever to develop it which is a real shame. Their journeys could have run parallel or gone in opposite directions literally anything but Morga dying in a moment of weakness from a cheap trick by lucio :/ bc YEAH like that was not actually weakness but certainly what morga considers weakness!!! that mistake could have split her away from muriel+MC entirely OR brought them closer together. she could have been disgusted with herself and decided once and for all to let go of lucio as a son and go her own way to destroy him, or she could have woken up to what she can do differently now and work with Muriel and co and let go of lucio that way. idk man it was just a waste

Right then....onto the romance. or. lack of :( this is completely subjective, I know some people were v happy with it but like, this could not have been a drier route and im so fucking sad about it. There were definitely some sweet moments, but that was sort of it for me. I get what they were going for, but it’s personally sad to me that Muriel’s contentedness seems to have come at the expense of sensual intimacy/tension. like there was just absolutely no spice whatsoever. I saw someone describe the MC relationship as basically platonic and...yeah. Very little intimacy that wasn’t like, cuddling or holding hands, which since there wasn’t much to build on anyway just came across as nice but unexciting. It felt like it became too easy and too normal too quickly? Naturally touch was such a precious and important thing in the beginning as Muriel was learning to trust, but that just did not get explored imo. The first kiss wasn’t...the worst, but it was sort of OOC to me. They could have got so deep with that first kiss -- the opportunity, the trust, the choice. “Happy accident” scenarios can be great and definitely could have worked for his story, but for the first kiss i was like oh ok we’re here now?? and..muriel’s ok with that considering we were just uhh sobbing about his forced servitude and violence?? idk how i haven’t mentioned it yet but the way the tone was all over the fucking shop in that book gave me serious whiplash. Anyway it’s so disappointing bc c’monnnnn this whole relationship is brand new to BOTH mc and muriel. At the start every touch is a small turning point and i think they did that so well, you feel excited at the development and where it will go, but then it’s like “ok well we’re together now so everything is easy and breezy”. you can create emotional tension (the good kind) through touch EVEN if they’re both ace. which the MC is not bc its the self insert character so. yeah. i feel like im probably being a bit harsh in retrospect but this is what has stuck with me.

This leads me to Muriel himself, and what to me was the biggest opportunity to do blow everyone’s minds bc he was SUCH a mystery before his route. Dark and brooding but shy and caring, anti-social through anxiety and fear but lonely, his reluctant but consistent support of Asra and his friends. And that was all teased in the beginning! ....and then completely fell flat. Similar to my first point: they had some deep emotional development going, Muriel literally coming face to face with the past he never knew, and the past he wishes he could forget, learning to actually be around people, learning to trust people (and ngl i fucking loved the beginning stages with MC so much), and overcoming his anxiety and pessimism. He and MC literally travel together alone for weeks. WEEKS! And much of that is skipped by. We have big emotional scenes but not much in between. And then...and yknow im not sure where it changes...after khamgalai dies? (and dont get me started on that what the fuck was the point of THAT?) after MC goes to the arcane realms? I can’t remember but at some point it’s like...all tension is gone lmao. Including tension between MC and Muriel, and he becomes quite two dimensional. It was just rushed. Vesuvia is in ruins, Nadia and co chased out of the palace, Lucio taking control etc but like...it doesn’t feel like it matters? Im really not saying that his route has to be all doom and gloom at all but don’t MAKE it doom and gloom and then do a 180 yknow? I remember Julian’s route in particular being so fucking tense, even though I knew I got the upright ending, that dinner scene was...phew. (and i do get that naturally the first 3 routes are bound to be a more exciting experience bc i was less familiar w the game etc but still, there was just 0 tension).

im not even gonna talk about the MC’s past reveal bc i have issues with it in every route so whatever

so yeah i love muriel and i still like the arcana but it’s writing and pacing is just so inconsistent and it makes me sad. I will continue to fanon Muriel’s route to death.

*It’s occurred to me that the reversed ending may be more violent and actually fit with where the story seemed to be going in the start, but I stand by the opinion that it doesn’t matter because it still doesn’t make sense. I shouldn’t have to play the reverse ending to be like “oh ok that was the point of that” bc it should make sense and serve purpose in both endings, which i dont think it does.

#im absolutely not taggin this bc i dont want to be percieved by the devs lol #or muriel stans who love his route #these are just my onions #i really wanna replay asra's route tbh his was the best #i want that reversed CG so bad but dont wanna die for it #the arcana #this post is really long but it's 1:43am that's just how it is sometimes

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theradioghost · 4 years

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hey, can i pester you for some podcast recs? something with a good dose of humour and not too many episodes to catch up on. a sprinkle of queer romance would be a nice bonus. my fave so far is tsco starship iris, and i also loved greater boston, wooden overcoats, the bright sessions and caravan. and thanks always for all your great recs! you’ve brought many hours of joy into my life :)

We Fix Space Junk -- Two intergalactic repairpeople -- a knowledgeable cyborg veteran and a former socialite on the run -- travel the universe meeting people and fixing things at the behest of the terrifying intergalactic corporation they’re trying to work off their debts to. Hilarious British sci-fi sitcom featuring Evil Space Capitalism, many many wonderful AI characters, and an absolutely delightful teenage space wasp-human-cow hybrid princess who is probably off accomplishing her grandiose special destiny somewhere offscreen while the main characters deal with things like their bosses possibly trying to kill them (again).

Death by Dying -- People have a tendency to die in odd ways in the small town of Crestfall, Idaho. Luckily the town also has an Obituary Writer, an eccentric and nameless but impeccably stylish fellow whose closest friend is the Angel of Death, and who has a knack for solving murders even though that’s definitely not his job description. Throw in walrus haikus, extremely rude ravens, Something Mysterious And Malevolent Lurking In The Dark Woods Outside Of Town, disappearing childhood homes, silent nuns, ghost bicycles, and three man-eating cats, and you get something like a delightful cross between Wooden Overcoats and Lemony Snicket. (Also, OW is peak Canonically Bisexual Dumbass.)

Less is Morgue -- Riley is a paranoid, reclusive teenager with a fondness for conspiracy theories who lives in their parents’ basement. They’re also a predatory ghoul who feeds on human flesh. Evelyn is a cheerful, outgoing young woman with questionable tastes in media. She’s also a ghost, ever since she was killed by a falling stage light at a Nickelback concert 16 years ago. And since Riley dug up and ate Evelyn’s corpse, they’re roommates! Will they ever manage to record a coherent episode of their podcast without something going ridiculously wrong and/or Riley eating one of the guests? Probably not!

Victoriocity -- The steampunk buddy-cop comedy-mystery thriller you never knew you needed but definitely do! Featuring Inspector Fleet, a grouchy, extremely driven policeman looking for the murderer of the Empire’s greatest inventor, and Clara Entwhistle, an even more driven and unfailingly upbeat rookie journalist who has just arrived in the island-spanning, bizarre cityscape of alt-history Even Greater London. Come for some of my favorite sarcastic British narration since Adams and Pratchett, stay for characters-are-begrudgingly-forced-to-work-together-until-they-come-to-genuinely-and-deeply-care-about-one-another-as-friends trope. (Also for Tom “Eric Chapman” Crowley as the aforementioned grumpy detective.)

Quid Pro Euro -- From one of the other leads of Wooden Overcoats, this doesn’t have a typical plot as such but has made me laugh so hard I pulled a muscle despite the fact that I know nothing about the EU. Which is what this near-surreal, Look Around You-style comedy is about: Felix Trench’s vision of a simultaneously hilarious and terrifying alternate European Union, seen from the perspective of a serious of educational tapes from the ‘90s predicting what the EU would look like in the 21st century. It’s hard to describe this show in any way that does it justice, but it’s incredibly funny.

Time:Bombs -- A miniseries by the exalted creators of Wolf 359, which (because they are madmen) was written, recorded, and produced in the space of one week. Also, a comedy about an NYC bomb retrieval squad on New Year’s Eve, most of whom are just trying to get through the night while their leader attempts to break a record for most bombs cleared before the calendar ticks over. Chaos and hilarity ensure.

Superstition -- Wisecracking, bi, Jewish, definitely-a-private-eye-just-don’t-check-her-qualifications Jacqueline St. James receives a message from her father, which is weird, because her parents disappeared years ago. Following the trail leads Jack to Superstition, Arizona, a town in the middle of the desert where everyone’s got secrets, assorted ghosts/monsters/cryptids harrass the locals, and the missing persons rate is the highest in the nation. As a protagonist Jack is Looking For Trouble And If She Cannot Find It She Will Create It, so while Superstition isn’t a comedy per se, it’s got a fair share of laughs and is also just so, so excellent in general.

Standard Docking Procedure -- A self-declared hopepunk scifi workplace comedy about the somewhat dysfunctional staff of Pseudopolis Station, effectively a high-tech interstellar truck stop. It’s funny and heartwarming, nothing truly bad happens, and Julia Schifini is there.

Solutions to Problems -- A morally-questionable human named Janet who has defintely never done any illegal time travel and an easygoing, physically indescribably alien who likes to go by Loaf host an intergalactic advice podcast. Are you tired of your species’ insistence on solving everything via ritual combat? Not sure how to talk to your partner about whether body-swapping has a place in your sex life? Dealing with being a superpowered teenager summoned into being by the collective will of an apocalyptic groupthink cult? Janet and Loaf have you covered! Provided that Janet’s on-and-off girlfriend, the AI who supplies the air they breathe, doesn’t kill them all first. Oddly heartfelt comedy in the form of a relationship advice radio show from the Space Future.

Middle:Below -- This show’s tagline is “Remember: bad things WILL happen,” and that is basically a lie. This is actually a short, incredibly heartwarming and frequently funny show about Taylor Quinn, the only human with the ability to pass between the land of the living (aka the Middle) and the land of ghosts (the Below). Meaning, of course, that the dead call on him to fix all their problems, with the help of a girl named Heather, a ghost named Gil, and a cat named Sans. (Also, some of the most comparatively wild live shows I’ve ever heard.)

Inn Between -- Ever wonder what fantasy characters get up to between adventures, during all that time they seem to spend at inns? This show skips all the adventuring, question, and action, instead focusing on the quiet moments between where what is Definitely Not A D&D Party meet and progress from bickering strangers brought together by circumstance to close-knit found family -- all at the inn, of course. (Lots of queer folks in here also, although there’s no romance at least in the first couple seasons.)

The Godshead Incidental -- A relatively new but very exciting and so far really enjoyable show!! Following a young woman who writes an advice column through her life in a familiar, and yet strange city where anyone might be a minor god -- your editor, your landlord, that weird guy on the street who was shouting about how he’s the God of Memory and you got into a fight with him and now you keep forgetting everything? Also, your apartment is full of pigeons now because you found out the aforementioned landlord is secretly the god of doorknobs and he’s panicking. Good luck! (Starring Ishani Kanetkar, aka Arkady from Starship Iris!)

Gal Pals Present: Overkill -- Madison, a middle schooler at a Girl Scout camp, agrees to play a game with a somewhat tastelessly bright-pink Ouija board. However, Madison doesn’t know that she’s a natural medium, and now sarcastic mid-2000s 19-year-old Aya Velasquez has joined the many ghosts who are for some reason haunting scenic Harding Park. Aya, however, will not rest until she can solve her own murder (and possibly get to know that other ghost girl a bit better, who says romance has to stop when you’re dead?). Absolutely hilarious writing of a narrator who is almost definitely wearing spectral Uggs during the entire show.

Dark Ages -- The Rivercliffe Museum of Mostly Natural History is one of the finest museums anywhere! Or it would be, if anyone ever actually visited it. Or maybe if the staff weren’t a disastrous and dysfunctional collection of criminals, weirdos, wannabe immortals, idiot bisexuals who can’t just admit they like each other, and one extremely uptight elf with no people skills. Also, it would probably help if the legendary and fearsome Dark Lord, finally returned from his millennia of dormancy to complete his prophesied conquest of the world, wasn’t hanging around watching the chaos unfold because they’ve got his crown on display. (Fantasy workplace comedy with a theme song that did not need to go that hard?)

Brimstone Valley Mall -- It’s mid-December 1999, and at one mall in South Central Pennsylvania, a group of demons are going about their evil work -- namely, working at various dinky kiosks and restaurants, hoping of achieving every demon’s dream of getting to work at Hot Topic, trying not to do too much evil because Earth is way more fun than Hell and no one wants to get promoted back home, and preparing for their band's triumphant opening performance at the upcoming Y2K party. Just one problem: their lead singer is missing. Another absolute masterwork from The Whisperforge.

Arden -- 10 years ago, Hollywood starlet Julie Capsom vanished into the woods of northern California, leaving behind a car containing a human torso that may or may not have belonged to one Ralph Montgomery. Now, private eye Brenda Bentley and reporter Bea Casely, both of whom were among the first at the scene and both of whom have their own very strong opinions on the case, are setting out to solve the mystery on their true crime podcast, Arden. Providing, of course, they can stop arguing with each other long enough to solve it. (Or, a not-really-parody-but-definitely-comedy “true crime” podcast where the crime is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet -- and even knowing that, it’s still a genuine mystery with twists and a surprise ending! -- and the hosts are wlw Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. In other words, it’s perfect. Season 2 is upcoming soon and is adapting Hamlet!!)

Alba Salix/The Axe and Crown -- Another high fantasy workplace sitcom, this one a medical comedy about the titular not-very-personable witch who runs the kingdom’s House of Healing and the various shenanigans she gets into, between her somewhat scatterbrained sister and brother-in-law the king and queen and her assistants, an overly-whimsical fairy and a wannabe monk forced to do community service. The same feed contains The Axe and Crown, a spinoff set in the same world that manages to simultaneously be a sitcom about the staff of a local pub trying to stave off foreclosure and come up with schemes to beat their business rivals, and a heartfelt story about gentrification and recovery starring a gay veteran with PTSD? Which is possibly one of my favorite podcasts? (Also contains one of the most unbelievable crossover cameos possible: Leon Stamatis.)

The Adventures of Sir Rodney the Root -- Also a high fantasy comedy! When a witch transforms heroic Sir Rodney into a small piece of wood, his closest companion Sir Gilbert must set out to cure him by collecting several highly powerful and dangerous relics, accompanied by a snarky dwarfen thief, an imperious princess, a slightly creepy human child raised by fairies, a picky elf sorcerer, a dead unicorn possessed by the ghost of a stoner, and a bard who breaks the fourth wall too much for his own good. So far as I can tell, nobody is straight.

The Amelia Project -- A dark comedy about a secret organization that helps people fake their deaths. Which is honestly a pretty full summary, barring the two important points that 1. this show contains possibly the most continuity-warping crossover event of all time (it’s the center point of this absolutely chaotic diagram), and 2. in one episode Felix Trench plays a character named Bartholomew Fuckface Chucklepants Knucklecracker.

#podcast recs #bobbie recommends things #yujacha #asks #my posts

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fix-ated · 3 years

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dear beloved,

this is not a sad letter, but it does feel quite like it. through this year i’ve realized that absolutely nothing is permanent, and nothing really belongs to you. my closest friends have turned into silent strangers, and people i thought i knew became someone i couldn’t recognize. but i found you.

it’s strange, the way you bring me undeniable sadness every time i see you even though you’re the same person who has brought me so much joy. it’s devastating to me that i will one day lose you, no matter how hard i try, that one day i may not love you as much as i do now. the feeling of inevitable doom is a familiar presence in my heart now, for i have no clue what will happen when you no longer exist in my waking life. i’ve always been a big believer in fate, and i know nothing can last forever, but god, i have never wanted something to last so much until i met you. it’s a hopeless dream, of course, yet i can’t seem to let go of it.

but this is not a sad letter, because i’ve come to realize that even though the inevitability of falling out of love is something no one can really escape, i will still have known you by the end. perhaps someday i will no longer love you the way i do now, but i will know you the way i do no one else. i’ll know the way you laugh at yourself when you do something stupid. i’ll know the way you always raise an eyebrow when you’re stressed. i’ll know the way the pitch of your voice rises when you’re excited, and that you chew gum during competitions. i’ll know that you get embarrassed easily when you’re praised, yet that you love it secretly.

it’s evidence that i loved you once upon a time, and it’s evidence that cannot be erased no matter what happens. so maybe i’ll stop loving you someday, but you’ll always have a place in my heart, and that knowledge is comforting.

there isn’t quite a way to fully describe the way i love you, but i will put it like this— there is a quote that goes “you dreamt of me?” “no, i thought of you.” i choose to love you, day after day, week after week, month after month. i make that choice everyday, because you’re worth it.

yours, always, forever.

#spilled thoughts #my words #words #prose #poetry #spilled words #letters #i love you #love letters #to: my love

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clippedwingsmusic · 4 years

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Ashton’s Top Releases of 2019

Chris Farren - Born Hot

One of my favorite things in the world is the juxtaposition between Chris Farren's online presence/stage persona and his lyrical content/actual personality. 'Born Hot' is the perfect example of everything I love about Farren starting with the music and going all the way down to the oven mitts and hot sauce that were released as part of his merchandise line. All jokes and bits aside, this record reminds you that it's ok to feel everything on the entire spectrum of emotions and that it's relation to you and the ones you love does not define your life- just that tiny moment in time.

The Band Camino - tryhard

Since I already touched on this EP earlier in the year, I'll just leave everyone with this: It is absolutely ridiculous how much I listened to this release this year (so much that The Band Camino topped my top artists on Spotify). These boys found exactly where they were meant to be this whole time while writing this EP and that alone has made these songs shine brighter than every star in the sky. It's been months and these perfect pop songs are still floating around my head on a constant basis.

Briston Maroney - Indiana

Last year's 'Carnival' (and a couple live shows) introduced me to Briston Maroney as 2018 came to a close, and as this decade is now wrapping up, I'm back again at his doorstep. Not often do I find a release that has me enthralled from top to bottom, but this release is the 2nd one in a row from Maroney that has done so. Many of the tracks on this project carry a slower tempo and a nostalgic tone, allowing you to fall deeply into the intricacies of guitar-driven melodies and heart-wrenching storytelling. I can't imagine my year, or my life, without these songs.

The Greeting Committee - I’m Afraid, I’m Not Angry

An absolute kick in the chest is the only way that I can think to describe this EP. A full range of sound and sanity is held within the tracks of this project, and every little detail leaves traces of who you were at the time and who you feel like you're becoming in your memory. I feel as though it's crucial to listen to this EP front to back every single time I'm reminded of it because the flow and production between each track and transition is impeccably executed and cannot be missed. The Greeting Committee has become one of my favorite bands for many a reason, and this EP is a huge one.

Renny Conti - The Horse

With 5 of his songs gracing my top listens of the year, it's safe to say that Renny Conti is one of my favorite songwriters that I've had the pleasure of finding in the past few years. 2018's 'People Floating' and this year's 'The Horse' offer a full spectrum of lovely, lonesome, and lively tunes, this time around being hosted by a full band arrangement. The varied tempos and complete lack of genre are the unlikely strings linking each track on this release; the variety simply adding to how genuine every tiny detail feels with each listen.

Nightly - Twenty Something

I don't have much to say about this track because my appreciation of it is simply overwhelming. If you've kept up with this site at all since it's creation 4 years ago, you've seen Nightly's name quite a few times, and that is obviously not going to end anytime soon (sorry not sorry). With a hypnotizing instrumental and lyrics that read like the transcript of a late night phonecall, this ambient-inspired track is one of Nightly's best efforts thus far. My personal biases aside, this is one damn good pop song.

Liily - I Can Fool Anyone In This Town

Liily is by far my favorite band that I have seen perform this year. End of story. This EP was their first collective release and was written during the band’s teen years, but now into their 20s, they’ve hunkered down and honed in on all of their successes and amplified them by 10 fold. It’s nearly impossible to throw this release on and not let it replay for days due to the consistent flow of energy between every track from start to finish. Although most of the songs from this release have already been phased out of the band’s live set, that doesn’t mean that they should be overlooked from this list.

Dayglow - Fuzzybrain

At this point in time, I don't think that any record has ever brought me as much joy just from it's integral sound than 'Fuzzybrain' has. The whimsy of this record is right in the surface from the start but is just one of the thousands of little things to love. The perspective of each track's lyrics is one not found in a lot of music- one of acceptance, calling out your own bullshit, getting a little sad from time to time, but knowing that's ok. Each song walks you through a feeling you know you've had in the past but maybe didn't know how to handle, and now you can take it in stride (or in dance due to how groovy this record is) and look towards brighter days.

Valley - MAYBE

One of the things I always look forward to when diving into a new record is the variety of tracks included, and 'MAYBE' gave me one of my favorite grab-bags of the year. Each and every track sounds like none other than Valley, but just as you can feel like a new person in a new outfit, they transform into a new band with each concept. With this record also including acoustic and orchestral versions of a few tracks, Valley really left no musical stone unturned with this record but still somehow stayed the course with their sound. This record (as well as 'Fuzzybrain') won my vote for "Most Fun Had While Listening".

SWMRS - Berkeley’s On Fire

Overall, I'd say that 2019 was a pretty angry year for the majority of people my age, and all that was summed up better than any of us could've done it with this record. SWMRS are always on top of social and political issues, but that doesn't mean my jaw will avoid falling to the floor every time they release a rock record for the gods using those themes. On top of the importance of the content of most of the songs, each one is crafted perfectly as to never leave your head or your car stereo. This record was one of my sleeper favorites of the year because I would go a period without listening to it, be reminded of one of the songs, then suddenly be swept back into the midst of the record for the next 3 weeks as if it had never gone away. SWMRS is one of the most powerful bands of our generation- this record and this year proved that.

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sliceannarbor · 4 years

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Ruth Reichl

Food Writer/Culinary Editor/Author Former editor-in-chief, Gourmet magazine Former restaurant critic for The New York Times/Los Angeles Times Spencertown, New York ruthreichl.com

Photo: Michael Singer

SPECIAL GUEST SERIES

In this, our 124th issue of SLICE ANN ARBOR, we are honored to present acclaimed food writer, culinary editor, and author Ruth Reichl. Reichl talks with SLICE about her long and storied career at Gourmet magazine, her passion for memoir writing — and life.

Special to this issue and time, Reichl shares some thoughts about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently self-quarantined at her home in Spencertown, New York.

_________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

Ruth Reichl is a food writer, culinary editor, and the author of five critically acclaimed memoirs: Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir, For You, Mom. Finally, Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table, and Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table. Reichl served as editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine from 1999 to 2009. Prior to this, she was a restaurant critic for The New York Times and the food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. Reichl is the recipient of six James Beard Foundation Awards for her journalism, magazine feature writing, and criticism. In 2015, she provided commentary for the Chef's Table (Netflix) series featuring Dan Barber, chef and co-owner of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York. Reichl also served as a judge on Top Chef Masters. She is the author of the novel Delicious!, and the cookbooks: My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life, and Mmmmm: A Feastiary. Reichl earned a B.A. and an M.A. in art history from the University of Michigan. When she's not working, you can find her cooking, walking, or reading. Reichl resides in upstate New York in a house on top of a mountain with deer, wild turkey, and the occasional bear prowling around outside, with her husband, Michael Singer, a television news producer, and two cats.

FAVORITES

Book: You must be joking! One book? It's usually whatever I'm reading at the moment, which is, right now, Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light.

Destination: Any urban city with good walks and great museums.

Motto: The secret to happiness is finding joy in ordinary things.

Sanctuary: My writing cabin

THE QUERY

Where were you born?

Greenwich Village, New York City

What were some of the passions and pastimes of your early years?

I have loved reading, cooking, and prowling the streets of the city since I was a very small child.

What is your first memory of food as an experience?

I am two. My mother feeds me a spoonful of something so disgusting I cannot swallow it. It is cold and fuzzy on my tongue and if I could have named the flavor I would have compared it to moldy herring. I spit it out. My mother looks surprised, takes a taste of the vile substance and says, ‘What is wrong with you? This is delicious!’ In that moment I understand that my mother cannot be trusted; she and I do not taste the same way. My mother was, in fact, totally taste blind. She had combined the dregs of three different cartons of melted ice cream, poured them into an ice tray, put it in the freezer and left it, uncovered, for weeks to absorb the various flavors of every leftover in the refrigerator. This was her idea of ‘dessert.’ Now, seventy years later, I can still taste it.

What intrigues you most about the art and science of food?

I believe that absolutely everything about food is interesting. The culture of cooking is what distinguishes us from other animals; we cook, they don't. We define ourselves as individuals and as members of society by what we choose to eat. Food brings us together — and sets us apart. And, above all, food is a source of immense happiness.

How would you describe the significance of Gourmet in the history of American culinary culture?

Gourmet was America's first epicurean magazine, and for almost 70 years it chronicled the way Americans were eating. If you want a snapshot of American history from 1941 to 2009, you could do worse than flip through the pages of the magazine. What you see is a country becoming increasingly conscious of the place that food has in our society. I was enormously fortunate to have been given the magazine just as Americans were beginning to understand that food is much more than something to eat, and that an epicurean magazine might offer more than recipes and travel articles. I hope that, at that pivotal moment in our history, Gourmet was able to help steer the national conversation about food to include issues of climate change, ethical eating, farm policy, gender and race — along with all the pleasures of the table.

Was there a period along the way [at the magazine] that presented an especially important learning curve?

For me the seminal moment was publishing David Foster Wallace's essay, Consider the Lobster. When he turned in what was, essentially, a piece about bioethics, I was stunned. It was a beautiful and important piece of writing, but I was also terrified. Were Americans ready to read about the morality of eating animals in a mainstream epicurean publication? As it turned out, they were not only ready, but eager to consider those questions — and it emboldened all of us to tackle the increasingly complicated issues that cooks face every day.

How did you begin to realize your fascination with the art of memoir writing?

I'd been a newspaper journalist for most of my career, and I wanted to see if I could write long. When I thought about what to write, it occurred to me that I wanted to write about growing up at the table — about the many extraordinary people who had influenced my ideas about cooking and eating. I intended it as a group of short stories, but it grew into a memoir. As I was writing I began to see that memoir really was my genre. It's not that I think my own life is so interesting; everyone's life is interesting, but mine is the one I know best. And isn't the point, really, to underline our common humanity?

Do you have a creative process you typically follow as you begin a project?

I wish! All I can say is that I just sit at my desk and wait for it to happen. And then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

How do you envision the future of the culinary enterprise?

We're at a turning point right now and the future very much depends on how we go forward. Since the end of World War II, when the American government made food a crucial part of the cold war, our country has been focused on cheap food. The result of these policies — which involved the industrialization of farming, the overuse of antibiotics and fertilizers, the creation of animal confinement facilities, the overfishing of the oceans, I could go on and on — has given us the cheapest and most abundant food in the world. It has also contributed to climate change, the destruction of rural America, the devastation of our waters and a crisis of obesity and diabetes. The result is that six out of 10 Americans suffer from chronic disease. We are only beginning to realize the consequences of the policies of the last 75 years. We can change. My hope is that the generation of young people who have been brought up in a culture of food, a generation who understand that eating is an ethical act, will do their best to undo the damage and create a more sustainable world.

In all your travels, what stands out as the most memorable meal you shared with others?

It was in Crete. I was on my honeymoon, visiting a beloved art professor who taught a course called "Light and Motion." He took us up a mountain for dinner. We came to a tumbledown shack, with a huge pile of onions standing next to it. An old lady came out, set some chairs on the porch, and poured some olive oil into a dish. She picked herbs on the hillside and sprinkled them into the oil. She sliced onions. Set out some olives from her own trees. Gave us a loaf of bread she'd baked, and wine made by her neighbor. Then she picked up a fishing pole and went down the mountain. We drank wine. We ate bread and olive oil. We talked. The sun set. The air was fragrant with thyme. The moon was rising as the old lady returned and lit a fire of grape vines to grill the fish.There were some greens that she'd grown, more onions, and more wine. And for dessert, yogurt from her own sheep. It was a very simple meal. It was perfect. It could only have happened in that place, at that moment. And I realized that the professor had wordlessly made his point: in the right hands, food is art.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life, and why?

My parents. From my mother, who suffered from bipolar disease, I learned to be deeply grateful for my own sanity. And from my father, a book designer who loved what he did, I learned that if you follow your passions there is great joy in work.

Is there a book or film that has changed you?

I read The Grapes of Wrath when I was eight or nine, and it made me think about where our food comes from and all the people who grow it. As a city girl, I hadn't really considered that before. It made me see how much our community depends on food and farming — and it gave me a real desire for social justice for the people who work the land.

What do you consider your greatest life lesson?

Life lesson; it's such an odd concept. One of those words they always use to describe books. Not quite sure how to answer this, but I'll say that the word that I try to live by is generosity. If you always follow your most generous impulses, you can't go wrong. I mean that in every sense: be kind, be available, give away as much as you can. Be there — for your family, your friends, your co-workers. Even when your instinct is to say no, say yes instead.

How would you define a life well lived?

All you can ask, of anyone, is to live up to the best in themselves. Realize your own potential. Work hard, be kind, and have as much fun as you can.

What are you most proud of in your long and storied career?

Sometime in the late 80s I became the food editor of the Los Angeles Times (I was already the restaurant critic). At the time it was the biggest food section in the country with two sections, 60 pages every week. For the next five years, Laurie Ochoa and I reimagined what a newspaper food section could be. We thought of food as culture, not just recipes, and we tried to take as big a bite out of the world as we could. We covered the politics of food, science, agriculture, history, and anthropology. We did profiles. We brought in great people: Jonathan Gold, Charles Perry, Russ Parsons, and David Karp. We encouraged Toni Tipton to stop writing about nutrition and think bigger. We begged writers who'd never written about food to write stories for us. The paper's editor, Shelby Coffey, was skeptical at first, but after a while he said, ‘You've shown me that food can be a great way for a paper to cover the city.’ It was enormous fun. I was really proud of that section, and it ultimately became the template for what we would do with Gourmet magazine.

How would you like to be remembered?

I've been writing about food for fifty years. I hope I had some part in making other people think that it's an important subject. As MFK Fisher said, ‘I cannot count the good people I know who, to my mind, would be even better if they bent their spirits to the study of their own hungers.’

_________________________________________________________

Special to this issue and time, Reichl shares some thoughts about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently self-quarantined at her home in Spencertown, New York.

How are you weathering life in the days of COVID-19?

Like everyone else I'm edgy and irritable. As the days go by, it comes closer; people I love have died, others have tested positive. And I know this is only the beginning. At the moment I'm in self-quarantine. I read, I write, I do a lot of cooking.

What are you cooking in your home kitchen?

Fortunately I'm a condiment whore and my pantry is full of wonderful flavor enhancers. My freezer is filled with fruits and vegetables I put up last summer, and I live in the country, surrounded by farms and dairies so meat, milk, and eggs are easy to come by. And since it's just me and Michael, I basically get up every morning and ask, ‘What do you want to eat today?’ And then I make it. Lately it's been a lot of pizza, pasta, and Asian stir-fries. And of course, I'm baking bread. Isn't everyone?

How do you envision the future of the restaurant industry as it tries to rebuild in the months ahead?

I think it's going to be grim; restaurants are very low-margin businesses, and most squeak by in the good times. Many will never reopen. And many that do will become take-out only. That's the down-side. But a remarkable thing has been happening: independent restaurateurs have pulled together in ways they never have before. For the first time they're starting to understand what a huge industry they are part of, and they're using their political clout. Coming on the heels of the me-too movement it means that restaurants will be very different places on the other side of this pandemic. And I think customers will want different restaurants when this is all over. They'll cherish the ability to come together in groups. They'll want to talk, so restaurants will be cozier, quieter, and more comfortable. And I'm pretty sure the ridiculous excesses we've seen lately will vanish; people will want comfort food, not crazy food. And, of course, they'll be more demanding customers because they will all have learned to cook.

#ruthreichl #savemetheplums #gourmet

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The Names and Faces of the Florida School Shooting Victims

As gunshots echoed through the high school, a geography teacher, Scott Beigel, 35, paused to usher stragglers into his classroom before locking the door, only to be shot and killed himself as the shooter strode by.

A parent, Jennifer Zeif, credited Mr. Beigel for saving her son’s life. Short Term Loans Her son, Matthew, 14, had been the last one to slip inside the class, just ahead of Mr. Beigel. Seconds later, the room filled with a smoky haze, Matthew said, and he turned to see his teacher lying near the door, pale and bleeding. Consumer Banking | Personal Banking | U.S. Bank

Scott Beigel.

“Mr. Beigel could have passed Matthew up and gone in the classroom first,” Ms. Zeif said. “In that case, Matthew would have been the one in the doorway.”

On Thursday, as officials identified 17 people killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., some of the victims, like Mr. Beigel, were remembered for having tried to spare others in the moments of chaos that unfolded inside the school.

Aaron Feis, a popular football coach who was killed, also had tried to protect students, officials said. “He was that kind of guy,” said Jack Fris, a former football player at the school.

Friends said they were not surprised that Mr. Beigel, a much-beloved figure at a Pennsylvania summer camp that he attended and later helped to run, had put his students’ safety above his own.

“Thousands of people at Camp Starlight looked up to Scott,” said Grant Williams, 33, an emergency room nurse who worked with Mr. Beigel at the camp for several summers and was mourning long-distance with former camp counselors and campers on Thursday. “He was someone you strive to be like,” said another former Starlight counselor.

At the Florida high school, teachers and students were among the dead. There was a soccer player, a student nicknamed Guac and a trombonist in the marching band. Eight of the victims were girls and young women; nine were boys and men. They ranged from 14 years old to 49.

These are some of their stories.

Alyssa Alhadeff.Alyssa Alhadeff

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, had played competitive soccer since she was 3 years old. Like any athlete, she had her ups and downs. But when her club, Parkland, faced off against the rival team from Coral Springs on Feb. 13, she was at the top of her game.

“Her passing was on, her shooting was on, her decision-making was on,” her mother, Lori Alhadeff, recalled. With her outgoing personality, Alyssa had a wide circle of friends at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She placed first in a debate tournament, was taking Algebra 2 and Spanish 3, and was honing her skills as an attacking midfielder. The score at what was to be her last time on the soccer field was 1-0, Parkland.

“I was so proud of her,” her mother said. “I told her it was the best game of her life.”

Martin Duque Anguiano.Martin Duque Anguiano

Martin Duque Anguiano, a 14-year-old freshman, was “a very funny kid, outgoing and sometimes really quiet,” his brother, Miguel Duque, wrote on a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses.

“He was sweet and caring and loved by all his family,” Miguel wrote. “Most of all he was my baby brother.”

Nicholas Dworet.Credit...via ReutersNicholas Dworet

Nicholas Dworet, a promising high school swimmer, took a recruiting visit to the University of Indianapolis a few weeks ago. After a group dinner, he pulled the coach aside and said he wanted to compete there after he graduated this spring.

“He was an instant part of our family,” said Jason Hite, the university’s swim coach. Mr. Hite said Nicholas, 17, had received an academic scholarship and planned to study physical therapy.

University officials and a youth swim team in Florida said Nicholas was among those killed on Wednesday. A post on the Facebook page for TS Aquatics, the Florida club where he swam, described Nicholas as an amazing person who had been “on a major upswing in his life.”

Nicholas had improved academically and athletically since starting high school, Mr. Hite said, and his mentors in Florida “felt like the best was still to come for him.”

“We were going to continue to groom him to be a future leader for our team,” Mr. Hite said.

Mr. Hite said he sent Nicholas a text message on Wednesday afternoon after hearing about the shooting at his school. He got no response.

“The saddest thing to me is how much life this kid had and how hard he had worked to change directions and change paths,” Mr. Hite said. “He was really going in the right direction and he had really created some opportunities for himself.”

Aaron Feis.Aaron Feis

At Stoneman Douglas, Mr. Feis was known to all — an assistant football coach and a security monitor. But he too had graduated from the school, played on the football team, and knew exactly what it was like to be a student in these halls.

So he was seen as someone who looked out for students who got in trouble, those who were struggling, those without fathers at home. “They said he was like another father,” Mr. Feis’s grandfather, Raymond, recalled. “He’d go out of his way to help anybody.”

School officials said that Mr. Feis, 37, did the same on Wednesday. When there were signs of trouble, they said, he responded immediately to help. “When Aaron Feis died, when he was killed — tragically, inhumanely — he did it protecting others; you can guarantee that,” said Scott Israel, the sheriff of Broward County.

“I don’t know when Aaron’s funeral is,” Sheriff Israel said. “I don’t know how many adults are going to go, but you’ll get 2,000 kids there.”

In Parkland, Austin Lazar, a student, recalled his former coach as cheery and selfless. “He always put everybody before himself.”

Mr. Feis was married, his family said, and had a daughter, Arielle.

Jaime Guttenberg.Credit...via Associated PressJaime Guttenberg

Jaime Guttenberg, 14, danced nonstop. Sometimes she went on for hours, her aunt, Ellyn Guttenberg, said. Jaime was warm, too, always taking Ms. Guttenberg’s son, who has special needs, under her wing.

Jaime’s Facebook page, now memorialized, shows photos of her dancing, hanging out with friends, enjoying the beach and snuggling a dog.

Her father, Fred Guttenberg, posted this on Facebook: “I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this.”

Christopher Hixon.Credit...Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun SentinelChristopher Hixon

Christopher Hixon, 49, the school’s athletic director, was a well-known figure in Florida high school sports. One man, Jose Roman, posted on social media that Mr. Hixon was “a great coach and an awesome motivator” when he was a freshman athlete years ago.

Mr. Hixon was named athletic director of the year in 2017 by the Broward County Athletics Association.

Luke Hoyer.Luke Hoyer

Luke Hoyer, 15, spent last Christmas with his extended family in South Carolina, where he bowled, joined in a big holiday meal and swapped stories with relatives.

A cousin, Grant Cox, who was at the Christmas gathering said the family had been told by the police that Luke, a freshman at Stoneman Douglas, was among those killed on Wednesday.

Mr. Cox said Luke was a basketball player who was ambitious about the sport and admired N.B.A. stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

“I know Luke loved his family,” Mr. Cox said. “I know he did. He had a huge heart.”

“He was quiet, but a very happy individual,” he said.

Cara LoughranCara Loughran

Cara Loughran, 14, loved the beach. She adored her cousins. And she was an excellent student, her family said.

“We are absolutely gutted,” by her death, her aunt, Lindsay Fontana, wrote in a Facebook post. “While your thoughts are appreciated, I beg you to DO SOMETHING. This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other people’s families.”

Gina Montalto.Credit...via Associated PressGina Montalto

Gina Montalto, 14, was identified in local news accounts as a member of her school’s winter color guard team.

Andy Mroczek, who has worked as a choreographer at Stoneman Douglas, posted a tribute to Gina on Facebook. “We lost a beautiful soul tonight,” he wrote.

Joaquin Oliver.Joaquin Oliver

People often spelled Joaquin Oliver’s first name wrong, so he went with a snappy nickname: Guac.

He played basketball in the city recreational league — his jersey number was 2 — and he loved to write, filling a notebook with poetry, said Julien Decoste, a close friend of Joaquin’s and a fellow senior at Stoneman Douglas.

“Guac and I always wanted to graduate together and prove everyone wrong, that we would be successful together,” Julien said.

On Tuesday, Joaquin, 17, asked Julien to help out at his next basketball game, which was scheduled for Thursday.

“I’ll be there,” Julien texted his friend. “Good looks brotha,” Joaquin responded.

On Wednesday, as he hid inside a closet during the shooting, Julien texted Joaquin to check in.

“You good?” Julien texted. “Bro I need you to answer me please.”

Alaina Petty.Alaina Petty

Alaina Petty, 14, had helped do cleanup work in Florida after Hurricane Irma, her family said in a statement, and she was an active member of a volunteer group with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Her selfless service brought peace and joy to those that had lost everything during the storm,” the family’s statement said. “While we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal perspective.”

Alaina was also a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, her family said.

Meadow Pollack.Meadow Pollack

Meadow Pollack, 18, was a senior at the high school who was planning to go to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., next year, according to her father, Andrew Pollack, who said his daughter was among the dead.

“She was just unbelievable,” Mr. Pollack said. “She was a very strong-willed young girl who had everything going for her.”

Mr. Pollack described his daughter as smart, beautiful and caring. She worked at her boyfriend’s family’s motorcycle repair business.

“She just knew how to get what she wanted all the time,” Mr. Pollack said. “Nothing could ever stop her from what she wanted to achieve.”

Helena Ramsay.Helena Ramsay

Helena Ramsay, 17, was smart, kindhearted and thoughtful, her relative, Curtis Page, wrote on Facebook.

“Though she was somewhat reserved, she had a relentless motivation towards her academic studies, and her soft warm demeanor brought the best out in all who knew her,” he said, later adding: “She would have started college next year.”

Alex Schachter.Alex Schachter

Alex Schachter, 14, played the trombone in the Stoneman Douglas marching band, and was proud to have participated in winning a state championship last year. A freshman at the high school, he often played basketball with friends and was “a sweetheart of a kid,” his father, Max Schachter, said. Earlier this week, the two had discussed which classes Alex would take next semester.

Mr. Schachter said Alex had loved his mother, who died when he was five years old. His older brother also attends Stoneman Douglas and survived the shooting. Alex “just wanted to do well and make his parents happy,” his father said.

Carmen SchentrupCarmen Schentrup

Carmen Schentrup, a 2018 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, was the smartest 16-year-old that her cousin, Matt Brandow, had ever met, he said in a Facebook post.

“I’m in a daze right now,” he wrote.

Peter WangPeter Wang.

Peter Wang, 15, a freshman, helped his cousin, Aaron Chen, adjust when he settled in Florida.

“He was always so nice and so generous,” Aaron, 16, said, adding that even though Peter was younger he had worked to be sure Aaron didn’t get bullied when he first arrived.

Peter was last seen in his gray uniform for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, or J.R.O.T.C., on Wednesday. On Thursday, Aaron and another cousin said the authorities had informed the family that Peter was among those killed in the shooting.

“He was the kid in school who would be friends with anyone,” said the other cousin, Lin Chen, 24. “He didn’t care about popularity.”

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