#i love it when the chain burst is 8

[adhdvane]

new funny light team

lumi harp has stam on it and i haven't been able to get a lumi sword with stam to drop so the harp is better even tho i only need 5 harps

#sammy liveblogs about granblue #i got hercules for robin hood but realized i could kengo and use that one bow skill it's so funny #my charge gain and skill cooldowns is great #it's like a more selfish and damage oriented version of the ccw #bc the double skills and cooldown cuts make it ougi pretty consistently #i love it when the chain burst is 8

[cerastes]

Are there any notable supporters you reccomend? I kinda ignore the class except for gnosis (and I do use scene and deep color in IS a bit) and I wonder if I'm actually sleeping on some fun units.

YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD, MOTHER FUCKER, I LOVE SUPPORTERS.

Suzuran - 6* Decel Binder. The moral of Arknights is that children make excellent soldiers, and Suzuran proves this. Her two Talents are really good, as she serves as an incredibly potent SP accelerator for Supporters (+0.4 extra SP per second, so Supporters will charge 40% faster, herself included), and all enemies suffering from Slow (the actual status effect Slow, not the movement speed reduction effects one can find on Manticore or Chung the Hung, for example) in her range are also inflicted with 20% Fragile (so, they take 20% extra Phys, Arts and True damage from all sources). It doesn't have to be Slow inflicted by her, any Slow will do, so Angelina's S2 machinegun Slow will render an enemy vulnerable to an ass kicking quite effectively, as will Podenco's S2, and any source of Slow additional to Suzuran herself. S2 gives her an extra target on every attack, 2 extra targets with Masteries, alongside a minor Attack buff and, more importantly, infinite duration, meaning she can control more enemies at once and better prevent Slow Dilution (what I call when you Slow an enemy, then the next enemy passes them, making them the next target, and so on, diluting damage and clustering them; this isn't necessarily bad but it can be undesired depending on you strategy). Her spotlight stealer, however, is her S3, which expands her range, provides strong passive healing (so unhealables can be healed), doubles her Fragile Talent (40%), and Slows everything in range. Gnosis Fragile is bigger (50%) but he only maintains it in comparatively shorter bursts, Suzuran's S3 last 35 whopping seconds, and enemies that are Slow-immune are far fewer than Freeze-immune. This section is particularly big because, yeah, Suzuran just really does that much, she combos VERY well with other Supporters, can be slotted in any team, and just generally works, I'm not even a Suzuran fan, she's just that jacked.

Podenco - 4* Decel Binder, real name GODenco, also slots easily into any team, can switch to healing on her S1, or provide bursts of Silence, AoE Arts damage and Slow on good upkeep with her S2. She also provides a minor passive buff to other Supporters. If you need to Silence things, you think of the best Silencer, Lappland, but sometimes you need to Silence a LOT of things, enough that Lapp might get overwhelmed, well, that's when you use GODenco S2 and suddenly that entire cluster of 8 exploding spiders won't go boom no more. She's really good for Slow Dilution because of her single target into AoE skill, so she combos really good with AoE hitters like Artillerymen, Fortresses, Chain Casters, Qiu Bai S2, etc.

Shamare - 5* Hexer, a good execution support, as she applies 30% Fragile to enemies in range under 40% HP. Her main hat trick, however, is her S2, her signature Cursed Doll. At S2M3, the Cursed Doll, which you deploy on the field and it affects its tile and the 8 surrounding tiles, will provide an absolutely ungodly debuff of -50% ATK and DEF to all enemies in said range. One of the rare ATK% debuffs in the game, and in my opinion the best, it'll make even Gopnik hit like a wet noodle. What's more, since it's not an active skill, the moment you drop your Cursed Doll, Shamare will immediately begin charging the next one! With a charge of 30 and a doll timer of 15 seconds, her true charge time is 15 seconds. Basically, you can cycle 15 seconds of regular enemy stats and 15 seconds of halved enemy stats. This is legitimately insane. Since Shamare's stats are also unimportant, you can just leave her at E2Lv1 (unless you want her Module, which imo is not worth the lv2+ and I'd only get the lv1 if you really like her) so she can be a cheap and powerful investment.

U-Official - NUMERO UNO CAMPEAO DA PENTA

Quercus - 5* Abjurer. I'll keep it simple here: Her healing with Module is bonkers, and she provides Shelter (damage reduction%) to units in range above 70% HP, 60% with Module Lv3. S1 is her permanent Healer mode, toggable on a long cooldown, while S2 is her burst healing window skill, notable in that it provides SP to healed units throughout its duration. Quercus is sleeped upon, she's a REALLY strong Supporter that provides SP, healing and bulk.

Orchid - 3* Decel Binder. I include her here if you want to play Integrated Strategies, because she's always a good free pick there. She's the Slower that Slows.

Roberta - 4* Artificer. I include her here because my stream audience will disembowel me and chain my flayed corpse outside the Museum of Modern Arts if I don't, she's my meme unit. THOUGH, her Shield-providing, DEF enhancing tools can come in handy.

Valarqvin - 5* Ritualist. The IS4 free unit. Significantly stronger in IS4 due to built-in Necrosis Damage on autoattacks, but even outside of IS4, she can be useful for bursting or key enemy elimination with S2, as Necrosis is a strong effect with a built in, decaying ATK% debuff (again, rare) and unmitigated DoT (total of 12000 damage over 15 seconds, 800 dmg per second). Nothing so far in the game resists this, so go ham.

Angelina - 6* Decel Binder. Angelina's whole thing is that she's not a standout unit in any regard, but she can support practically every team, can so strong sustained damage and Slow against single targets with S2, strong multitarget Slow and reduced Weight for Shifting with S3, and passively increases party ASPD and gives them passive healing (works on unhealables). Angelina is kind of like a crowbar or a length of rope in that she's as useful as you can be creative with her, never as a stand out, but as a good brick in the overall house.

Ling - Limited 6* Summoner. Kind of an obligatory mention, but basically, God Mode. One of the gamebreakers, as she can produce 4-Block replenishable immensely powerful summons with multitarget equal to block, Arts damage, and damaging auras. Yeah. Even without that monster of an S3, she can sub Burst Damage and crowd control really well with S2. Her applications are insane, she's so strong that we can be here all day, so we won't do that, she's a very well documented unit.

Skadi the Corrupting Heart - Limited 6* Bard. Again, another well documented unit, but she can basically E3 your units with the sheer stat heft she provides through her S2 buff, can deploy an extension to this range with her Seaborn Summon, and if you really want to go ham, she can enter Microwave Mode with S3 so True Damage cook the shit out of anything, in addition to providing a really big Attack bonus to units in range while at it. Well documented unit so I'll keep it brief but yeah, godlike unit.

There's a few more, like Proviso and Scene, but that's enough for now. "Your forgot to mention--" I didn't forget, you do it.

I hope this helps, anon!

#arknights #supporters #dreamknights

[tw1l1te]

I didn't know you took asks! If it doesn't go against your rules, could you write a yandere reader trying to hide their more possesive/obsession side from the chain (Wind being seen as a younger brother, ofc), only to figure out they are all equally as obsessed with them? There's not enough yandere reader in the world 😔

Take care of yourself, and drink some water if you haven't in a long while ♥

Why have I never considered this. Like-

⊹ ࣪ ˖

Ok so like I envision this working well with a modern!reader/guide, since well, y'know, Zelda's a pretty large franchise in the gaming industry and in general

Reader has been a fan since they were young, maybe starting at the ages of 6-8 and have played through most, if not all of, the Zelda games. They become obsessed with the lore, characters, possible theories, the timeline, Link.

So if they land in Hyrule of all places one night? They are searching.

It doesn't take long though, its almost fate considering how fast the Chain find the reader.

Obviously the reader tries not to seem overly jumpy/fan-like, so they shut away their thoughts for now, trying to gain their trust

They are honest about how they're not from any of their Hyrule's, and eventually tell them about the franchise but don't tell them about the fact you've spent so much time, money and energy on them.

It takes another while for them to get used to that idea, but Reader was honest, so why wouldn't they trust them?

The growing bond, of course, causes... feelings, or rather more extreme feelings, to bubble up.

Longing smiles turn to sitting next to each other turn to holding hands turn to cuddles-

Reader's so jittery. Like, they've been waiting months for this to happen since they first met the Chain. And now that they are getting into romantic territory? There's no going back.

Once the Chain collectively admit their feelings to yandere!Reader, Reader is locked in. They get so overprotective, Wind in particular, as they view him as their little brother. Nothing can ever hurt him again.

Constantly cuddling or touching someone.

A reckless accident happens, mostly by your instigation, as something was going to harm Time and you had tunnel vision. This life was the one thing you wanted, and you wouldn't let a measly Lynel take away a part of it.

The battle was bloody, some of the Chain looking at Reader in shock in love after the battle, blood caked onto their chin, hands, anywhere that wasn't covered in clothing. They burst out crying, admiting to how attached and bonded they felt to each one of them and that they wren't going to let any more harm come to any of them.

They all had a bit of whiplash to how genuine and terrifying you sounded, but... they couldn't say they felt any different.

After all, they watched you when you slept, softly cooing at you when you were in the process of waking up or if you were having a nightmare

Wolfie was always with you, watching looking over you.

Wild almost always made your favorites, occasionaly adding some sleeping elixir to your portion so you could catch up on lost sleep so he could brush through your locks.

Time never allowed you to go anywhere alone, most times accompanying you to protect you, to be there with you.

Wind clung onto you, viewing you as his older sister/brother/sibling. He needed you there when the memories or nightmares came back in the night, petting his hair and singing a lullaby from his home.

The mutual attraction made it so much easier, for both you and the boys! No one had to worry about running away or leaving because they were never going to.

You were bonded forever.

⊹ ࣪ ˖

#twilite answers #linked universe au #yandere linked universe #yandere linked universe x reader #linked universe headcanons #linked universe x reader

[hiraya-rawr]

──── ❝ 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 2 ❞ ────

navigation || masterlist 1 || series m.list

*mature content is SFW (but may be have dark or suggestive themes)

M U L T I P L E .

I can go anywhere I want – just not home // fic // diluc, thoma, kaeya, kazuha // you confront someone homesick

lover from another nation // hcs // you're their foreign lover

I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs // multiple // nahida's story quest where they dream of lost loved ones

giving them a seelie pet // diluc, ayato, wanderer, zhongli

to pass the kamisato standards // multiple // kamisato mc introduces their lover to their siblings

Bloodsucker // mature fic // (crack) diluc, (angst) thoma, (horror) zhongli // they're a hungry vampire

Fix me up, lover boy // short fics // they like you and they help fix your appearance // elzer, zhongli, diluc, ayato

Blood Week // HCs // multiple // them on your period

Less than Lovers // mature fic // thoma, diluc // you're more than friends but less than lovers

You were the enemy all along // short // multiple // how they react to you betraying them

I wanna ruin our friendship // mature fic // diluc, kaeya, zhongli, xiao // a little burst of courage is all you need

Outburst // HCs // multiple // when elements reasonate with their emotions

Dragonspine (Playable AU) // fic // diluc + kaeya + klee // your player logs out, leaving the team in dragonspine

D I L U C .

Loyalties 01 // 02 // 03 // mature mini series // you're his lover but he found out you're a fatui spy distributing delusions, now you're chained to his basement (ft. Kaeya) // read more in series m.list

Family Agenda 00 // 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // 05 // concept series // having more than 8 kids with him // read more in series m.list

Sly Villain 01 // 02 // brainrot+fic // rewrite // you're a harbinger with an obsession

"Hands off! I'm taken!" // fluff fic // in which he gets drunk and you pick him up

Little Star // SAGAU fic // the creator doesn't want diluc, everyone knows this (everyone is wrong)

The painter’s muse // soft fic // where reader comes from a family of painters for the ragnvindr family

Suddenly // mature horror-mystery fic // he's trying to find you (he might be too late)

I love you in every universe // playable reader drabble // diluc never notices you, until your player co-ops with a diluc main

physiologically reactive // brainrot // dendro MC burns every time diluc touches

End game // short // Mondstadt is in ruins but he loves you

diluc gets a new skin // drabble // playable reader

s/o fell first, diluc fell harder // drunk brainrot

diluc's fashion; by the maids // ramble

diluc & attachments // brainrot

Enemies to lovers // brainrot

diluc has a king sized bed

baby fever // ramble

kätzlein mc + tcg

diluc's instagram

K A E Y A .

Stalker // mature fic // you seek his help from a stalker

red flag // brainrot // toxic relationship where he tests you

A Y A T O .

Chess Piece // drabble // you play along in his political game

Change of Pace // drabble // Ragnvindr Reader's attention is on Thoma

Ayato's Routine // brainrot // contract marriage reader

Competition // drabble // sagau, he comes home but childe is there

Z H O N G L I .

Dear Osmanthus // mature fic // you're traumatized and he comforts you // father figure zhongli, slight yandere

Devotion // brainrot // being a Rex Lapis devotee, not knowing it’s him

Platonic Intimacy // drabble // Zhongli is there to comfort you

possessive vs jealous // word vomit

sacrificed to rex lapis // brainrot

mulan au with general zhongli

immovable zhongli

doodles // adepti mc, father figure zhongli

A L H A I T H A M .

everywhere, everything // fic // enemies to lovers / stuck in a broom closet with your rival

glasses // short / he likes you with his glasses on

pros & cons // ramble

alhaitham, what are we? // short

ditzy dumb mc // brainrot

sickly mc // brainrot

T H O M A .

You can't choose who to fall for // brainrot // noble reader falls for a simple housekeeper

G O R O U .

Poly with kazuha x cat!reader x gorou // HCs

does poly gorou kiss cat reader? // ramble

gorou's tragedy // ramble

D A I N S L E I F .

dainsleif royal guard x royalty reader // brainrot

DILUC & KAEYA (RAGBROS) .

dating diluc // brainrot // ft. protective little brother kaeya

ragnvindr reader's first crush // brainrot // crushing on albedo but your brothers are diluc and kaeya

youngest ragnvindr // 02 // brainrot // imagine the exhaustion of being their sibling

reassurance // not xReader brainrot

In Another Life // not xReader drabble

diluc has to choose between reader or kaeya // brainrot

crepus has to choose between kaeya or diluc // not xReader brainrot

diluc's your husband but kaeya is more present // brainrot

melt reactions with kaeya // not xReader brainrot

to appease diluc // not xReader short

M I S C .

secret relationship with albedo (but susbedo is there)

leap of faith from celestia, the final battle

arranged marriage with someone else

being a less intimidating harbinger

nosebleeds from overused visions

sumeru archon quest favorites

happy alternate dimension au

drinking culture + mond girls

modern au and cell phones

dendro/cryo yaksha reader

chongyun appreciation

how childe met zhongli

fake date // diluc, ayato

facts about osmanthus

tighnari fear of electro

lore + modern au

casual tragedies

endgame

#hira status #genshin masterlist

[da-proti-toku-grem]

kiss ask: 8 bojure:))

This idea popped into my mind the moment I read this request and I literally couldn't wait to finally write it, so... hope you like it as much as I loved writing it 🫶

Send me a Ship and a Number and I will Write a Kiss

8. …in secrecy.

Bojan and Jure had been dating for... well, quite a while now.

That didn't mean everyone knew about it, though. In fact, no one did.

Bojan still laughed every time he remembered the conversation that had led them to this situation.

They were lying on the couch at Jure's house after what had started as a friend's get-together but had ended up being their first date. Jure was lying on his back on the couch, Bojan lying on top of him, his head resting on the drummer's chest and their legs entangled with each other. The blond was running his fingers through his now boyfriend's hair, delicately untangling the knots that had been formed in it over the course of the evening, when the singer spoke up.

“Do you think we should tell the guys already or...?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

It's not that he was afraid of not being accepted. At the end of the day, they knew their friends would be more than supportive of their decision and would most likely be very happy for them, but he wanted to know that the other was ready to make the move as well. They were together, after all.

“Actually, I was thinking…” began Jure, letting out a little chuckle before continuing, “What if we don't tell them anything and wait to see how long it takes for them to figure it out?”

Bojan seemed to think about it for a moment and then giggled. “Okay, that could be fun.”

“Who do you think is going to be the first to notice?”

“Oh, probably Nace. He's always looking after everyone, he'll notice for sure,” the brunet stated.

“Nace? Nah, he's too busy staring at Jan,” Jure said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Bojan let out an amused chuckle. “My money’s on Kris - that man knows everything. I can literally feel him looking at me like he knows all my secrets every time I do something.”

“The Guštin Stare,” they both exclaimed at the same time, bursting into laughter right away.

Once the laughter subsided, the singer propped himself up with his hands on either side of Jure's torso, looking him in the eye.

“Though I can't assure you it's going to take them too long to figure it out,” he smiled, licking his lip.

“Uhmm and why's that?” The drummer asked, his hands coming to rest on Bojan's ass, squeezing it teasingly and giving him his big sunshine smile.

“Well, you see... I don't think I'll be able to keep my hands off you now that you're all mine,” Bojan whispered, his lips ghosting against the older's.

“Oh yeah? I guess there's only one way to find out then,” Jure declared, closing the distance between them with a kiss that made Bojan feel warm all over.

It turns out that Bojan had been wrong.

After two months in which they hadn't been all that subtle – holding hands, using affectionate nicknames, cuddling on the studio couch or backstage before and after concerts, occasionally sharing kisses, hugging each other from behind, or arriving at a rehearsal together with hickeys that clearly screamed "we spent the night together" being a few examples of how the weeks had gone by – neither of them had mentioned a single word about it.

Okay, it’s not like they were full-on making out in front of them, and yeah, they all did kiss each other every now and then just because, but come on… They couldn’t be that oblivious, could they?

Except apparently, they could.

After another successful concert, everyone was hanging out backstage. Jure was talking about something with Kiki, while Bojan was having a conversation with Damon.

What was the conversation about, you might wonder. Well, Bojan wouldn't know the answer to that question, if he was being completely honest. Not when his eyes couldn't stop wandering over to the blond across the room, shirtless and wearing big chains on his torso, his hair disheveled and eyeliner a bit messy.

He looked so damn good, and Bojan needed to do something about it ASAP.

Taking advantage of a moment when Damon turned to say something to Kris, Bojan excused himself and walked over to where the drummer was standing.

“Jure, honey, can you come with me for a moment, please?” Bojan asked as soon as he was by his side.

“Comin’ baby,” beamed Jure.

Once they were out of the common room, the singer grabbed him by the hand, dragging him along the corridors at a somewhat hurried pace.

“Where are you taking us, pup?” asked Jure, but he got no answer from the brunet, who seemed to be too busy looking for something.

As soon as he found what he was looking for – what had turned out to be an empty room – Bojan quickly dragged him inside, shutting the door behind them.

Before his brain could register it, Jure found himself with his back leaning against the door, Bojan's arms on either side of his face and his lips pressed against his in a fierce, hungry kiss, their tongues dancing together in a now all too familiar rhythm.

Quicker than Jure would have pleased, Bojan broke the kiss, starting a trail of kisses and nibbles down his jaw towards his neck, the soft, wet touch of his lips contrasting with the almost sharp graze of his teeth against his skin.

The singer grabbed a bit of skin in an area where he knew Jure was quite sensitive, pulling it a little between his teeth; not enough to leave a mark – after all, they still had more gigs to play and he knew that the ever shirtless drummer wearing a turtleneck on stage would raise suspicions – but enough to make the blond's knees go weak.

“Fuck, Bojan,” he breathed out, tilting his head back against the door to grant him more access.

“God, do you know what you're doing to me?” the other muttered, grabbing his hand and guiding it so he could feel his dick already half-hard inside his pants, causing Jure to draw in a shaky breath. “All day without getting to touch you, feel you, and having to see you like this, looking so fucking hot, just for me… but they don't know that, do they?” Bojan continued, his mind hazy with want.

And Jure wanted to tell him, to let him know that yes, it's just for you and you're driving me crazy too and please don't stop, you're making me feel so good, but the moment was cut short when they heard footsteps in the hallway.

Startled, Bojan stopped his actions and pulled away slightly. Jure's hands came to rest on the younger's shoulder blades, pulling him close again, warm bodies pressing against each other, trying to catch their breath as they waited for the footsteps to move away.

“You weren't completely wrong I guess,” said Jure, still a little out of breath.

“What?” Bojan asked, confused.

“About not being able to keep your hands off me,” he teased.

“Well yeah, I warned you,” Bojan smiled, his thumbs rubbing circles on either side of Jure's waist. “About the other part though…”

“They are really oblivious, aren't they?” Jure laughed, amused. “Like, okay, I understand Jan and Nace because they’re too deep into each other’s asses to even notice whatever is going on around them; but Kris?!”

“At this point I think we'll have to fuck in front of them or something for them to realize we're together,” joked the singer.

“I mean…”

“No. Stop there.”

“Just saying… Maybe they're into that,” he shrugged.

“We're not having sex in front of our friends, muca,” Bojan stated, a hint of a blush creeping up his cheeks.

“A blowjob?”

“Jureee.”

“Okay, okay, fine,” Jure said, raising his hands in surrender and making them both burst into laughter.

masterlist | ao3

#it's probably too late to post this but oh well #and yeah. it did end up being 1.1k in the end oops 🤭 #joker out #bojan cvjetićanin #jure maček #bojure #ask #mine #maca writes #kiss prompts

[ssinboo]

down bad.

summary: You and your long time bestfriend smoke together

or

in reply to this lovely ask!

pairing: DJ!Bad boy!Vernon x Fem!Reader

word count: 1.6k (8~ minute read)

warnings: drinking, partying, weed, very explicit making out, extremely inaccurate drug use (I have asthma, i have never come even close to a single weed)

a/n: Sooo incredibly thankful for the unending love on my previous fics! The past two months have been so hectic and all your comments gave me so much joy!! I apologise for being M.I.A, but I am working on the second part of As it was! as well as some very abandoned wips!

With a hypnotising smile, Vernon Chwe waltzed into your life like he belonged. A part-time DJ at the place you waited tables during your first semester, he was a womanising, chain smoking, asshole.

He was also your best – read: only, – friend.

You just got each other. his awkward, out of this world kind of humour was just up your alley. It wasn’t uncommon for you to burst out laughing at a stupid meme sent in your chat.

Tonight, he was DJing at a new club, a high-stakes sort of place downtown that had lines that wrapped around the block every Friday night.

This could very well be the moment he will make it to stardom.

Heading straight for the venue after your shift, you make quick work of wading through the crowd to find your bestie. And he’s talking to a guy, looking all important.

You blow him a kiss, which he makes a show out of catching and placing his palm over his lips.

The stubborn butterflies that find your stomach don’t go unnoticed.

You did have a teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy, little crush on your best friend. Maybe it wasn’t so little, after all. Not when he plagued your mind 24/7 with flirty smirks and caring gestures.

Vernon was a touchy guy by nature, his hands always finding their way to your body; Which wasn’t an issue at first but quickly developed into a problem as you found yourself falling for him.

“Hey, handsome,” You greet him, immediately getting pulled into his arms.

“There’s my girl,” Not a cell in your body can resist his warm words, you were his girl and would always be. Vernon wraps his arm around your neck, kissing your cheek.

You’d picked out his fit for tonight, an all-black ensemble with a knitted black top and cross jewellery, your favourite. But it still messes with your heart to see the chain draped over his collarbones.

“Thought you weren’t comin’.”

“Oh, please, I couldn’t miss your biggest gig yet.”

He smiles, nuzzling against your temple.

“Didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” The guy he was previously talking to finally makes his presence known.

“Nah…” Vernon laughs, “Man, you know I don’t do relationships– This is my homegirl, my best friend. She’s my ride or die.”

There’s only so many times you can hear those words and still have a reaction.

You force a smile, telling the stranger your name.

He’s a little shorter than Vernon with a slender figure and a defined chest that is visible even through his shirt. Bleached blond hair that falls over his forehead flawlessly and bedroom eyes. God, hot people only hung out with hotter people.

“I’m Chan, nice to meet ya.”

“Chan’s a dancer, you have to see him, man. He’s fucking amazin’” Despite his arm not leaving your shoulders, Vernon emphasises his words with large gestures, sending your head crashing against his chest more than once.

You slap at his arm, smoothing down your hair before turning to acknowledge Chan.

“Well, I’ll keep my eye out for you.”

Chan smiles.

You hear Vernon’s name being called out.

“That’s my cue,” He kisses your hair, and reaches out his hand to fist bump Chan.

“Give em’ hell, pretty boy,” You cheer, watching him walk away.

Before you can even dread the awkwardness of losing your common friend, Chan is easing you into conversation.

“Come on, let me get you a drink? I’ll show you the best spot on the floor.”

He takes you to a corner close enough to the stage where you can see Vernon but not insanely close to the booming speakers. You’re more than happy to have room to breathe in the packed club.

Chan returns with your drinks; he brings you a fruity cocktail with pretty colours and an undertaste you can’t be bothered to figure out.

Vernon is a master at reading a crowd.

He can and will pick out the exact song to fit the mood, he knows by heart every timing to drop the beat and get the best reaction. You always find your body moving against your will when you watch him.

“Do you dance?” Chan leans over, having to scream in your ears over the music.

You shake your head vigorously, denying this mischievous look he bears.

“Come on?” He reaches for your hand and since your drinks have long been discarded, you don’t have an excuse.

Chan escorts you to the floor, where it is a lot more packed than your excluded corner. The blinking LEDs are almost blinding, especially when they follow the beat.

Once you stop caring about your own inability to dance, you realise how right Vernon was: Chan is a fucking dancing machine.

His body is moving in ways you could never imagine someone could, every turn of his hips dripping in precision. Now, with the alcohol simmering in your bloodstream and Chan’s contagious moves, you can’t help but find yourself swaying along with the pounding bass.

Two hours.

That’s how long you’re having fun on the dance floor with Chan to the sound of Vernon’s carefully curated playlist.

You were so enraptured by the ambience, you happened to miss the way Vernon’s eyes did not leave your figures once.

And you think you might have gotten yourself a new friend. The night was so much fun in his presence and as Vernon is walking toward you both, it can only get more fun, right?

You smile, jumping in your place with open arms to congratulate him.

“You killed it!” You exclaim, clinging to his arm.

Vernon is burying himself in your arms, nuzzling at your neck.

“Dude, you are the best DJ they’ve ever had,” Chan taps at his shoulder, joining in on your praise.

“Oh, I’m sure of that!”

“Seriously?” Vernon questions, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. He can smell the lingering fruity scent of your drinks.

“Of course!” Chan agrees.

You nod.

“I’ll trust your judgement, then,” He chuckles. “Wanna get outta here?” Vernon turns to you before looking at Chan.

Shrugging, you both look at Chan – Who has the slyest smile ever.

“Oh, hell yeah, I got something for you.”

You weren’t a big smoker. Sure you ‘dabbled’ every now and then, mostly whenever Vernon had some and you were in the mood to relax. OKay, maybe every now and then means twice and the last time, you thought you were going to die because you stood up too fast and got dizzy.

But Vernon and Chan are so into it right now.

Vernon is splayed out on his beaten up couch, laying against you with his legs over the second-hand coffee table you had to gorilla glue back together after it broke during moving.

And Chan is spread over the armchair, blunt between his pointer and thumb as he talks about the artful choreography of Michael Jackson’s thriller – Though, you zoned out minutes ago.

It’s only when Vernon is nudging at your side, offering you the blunt when you wake up.

“I’m not sure…” You whisper quietly, “You remember last time, it was too much.”

Vernon licks at his chapped lips, leaning back straight. He glances at Chan for a second before he stares back at you. “ We can try something else, might be better than pullin’ straight from it.”

You have no idea what he means by that, but you trust him.

So when against your better judgement, Vernon brings the burning bud to his lips, chest rising as he pulls, you’re surprised. But he doesn’t inhale or exhale, no.

He reaches for your cheeks, pulling your lips toward his. So close, untouching yet you can feel him so clearly.

The smoke tickles at your lips, stinging at your eyes until you say fuck it and inhale. You feel its warmth at first, following its path through your system, lazily pooling into your lungs with its languid daze.

And you think it’s all he will do, just so you will smoke and that was the plan. But when Vernon watched your eyelids droop above your adoring gaze, he couldn’t hold it anymore.

So he crashes his tongue into your parted mouth, devouring your taste with an unfound hunger; Specially when you’re humming so sweetly into his lips. It’s nothing near a chaste peck. Saliva drips from your connected lips, his grip on your neck tightens, bringing you further into him so he can ravish every bit of your eager tongue.

There’s a heat that burns in your chest, hotter than the blunt he holds between his pointer and thumb. And you melt into the shape of his body, dripping, seeping into every crevice, fingers reaching for his chest, curious touch mapping out every inch of his skin you can grasp.

You’re moaning against his lips, brain hazy under the intoxicating drug that he exudes. You wrap your arms around his neck, closing yourself off to the world and diving deeply into the perfect bubble he has created for you two and leans into you, chest rising and falling into yours.

And when the kiss ends, you’re panting, lips covered in a mixture of your saliva and his, reddened and swollen with his attention. Vernon smiles, running his tongue along your lips.

“Do you feel it?” He whispers, pressing kisses along your jaw.

“Huh?”

Oh, you feel nothing but the bubbling desire that pools along your stomach, burning through your veins with its lingering longing. By kissing you, Vernon has given you a taste of heaven, so how must you go on, knowing what his lips feel like?

You’re so busy with your thoughts of his kisses, you don’t notice the show Vernon makes of running his lips along your neck or the wink he sends Chan.

Vernon liked to say he wasn’t a possessive person, especially when it came to material assets, he wasn’t attached to his laptop or phone, and would happily lend his clothes to friends.

But when it came to you, there weren’t limits to his possessiveness, you were his from the moment you first smiled at him.

“…Fuck,” Chan grunts, looking down at his very obvious hard-on.

#svt smut #seventeen smut #seventeen x reader #seventeen x reader smut #seventeen scenarios #seventeen imagines #seventeen x you #seventeen x you smut #svt x reader #svt x y/n #svt x you #svt x you smut #svt x reader smut #mingyu smut #kpop smut #kpop x reader smut #kpop x you #kpop x y/n #svt vernon #choi hansol smut #choi hansol #svt hansol #vernon smut #vernon x you #vernon x reader #🔖 requested #Down Bad #💎svt

[ladykailitha]

All My Roads Lead Back to You Part 15

Hello! We finally get to Kenny’s plan and the last puzzle of the past drops into place. I’m not sure how much more of this story there is. I don’t want to rush the ending but it feels pretty close to me. If you have any ideas of what you would like to see before I get to the ending and the epilogue, put it in the comments or tags. I might not include all of them, but if I see something I like I’ll let you know.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

***

What Kenny’s plan was, no one knew and when they would ask, he would just smile at them.

But they really didn’t have time to dwell on whatever he was planning because Junior Prom was upon them and the four of them decided to go as group. Both Mandy and Edie were lesbians but they both knew if they showed up with other girls or even with each other, they would be turned away from the door. So Harri and Kenny were playing their beards so that they could go and have a little fun for a night.

Steve and Miri, Jeff’s wife, took the girls out shopping while while Eddie and Jeff took the boys out to get their tuxes.

Edie and Mandy tried on several dresses, with Edie deciding on long grey, almost Grecian style dress. But Mandy was at a loss before the seamstress came up with an idea.

She got together a few things and then shoved Mandy into the dressing room.

When Mandy walked out, Steve and Edie whistled and clapped. Mira looked her over with a raised eyebrow

“Damn, girl,” Edie said, “give us a twirl.”

Mandy spun slowly in place. She was wearing a long black shirt with the slits up the side that stop in the middle of her thigh. She had on a white tuxedo shirt and black suit jacket.

“If we nip the waist a little,” the seamstress was saying, “and give it a little bit more of an hour glass, it would be perfect.”

Mira stood up and walked over to her daughter. “Do you like it?”

Mandy chewed on her lip. “You don’t?”

Mira grabbed her by the shoulders. “That wasn’t the question, honey. It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks, and that includes your dad. It passes that stupid fucking dress code list they gave us. Do. You. Like. It?”

Mandy nodded.

Mira turned to the seamstress. “How long will the alterations take?”

The seamstress cocked her and said, “Three days?”

Mira nodded. “Then we’ll buy the whole lot. Go pick out shoes and accessories, sweetie.”

Mandy jumped up and down excitedly. Edie grabbed her hand and they ran into the depths of the store to try on everything they could ever want to go with their dresses for prom.

“Ma’am?” the seamstress said. “Do you have the list with you? Of things that they have to adhere to?”

Mira shook her head.

“I do!” Steve said pulling it out of his pocket. “I brought it with me because I already tangled with the principal once this year, I figured two would be pushing it.”

He handed it to her.

The seamstress poured over the list very carefully. She grinned and turned to Mira.

“You want to make your daughter love you forever and still color inside the lines?”

Mira tilted her head. “I’m listening.”

After she told them her idea, Steve burst out laughing. “She’ll love it.”

Mira nodded. “Hell, yeah.”

*

The night of prom came along and everyone looked fucking fantastic. Kenny was in a traditional tux, while Harri paired his suit pants and black button up shirt with a leather jacket. The top three buttons were undone and he wore chains on his neck.

Edie paired her grey gown with a tarnished silver shrug jacket and matching kitten heels. She looked stunning, but the star of the night was Mandy. She wore black high heels with chunky crystal buckles on them which matched the rest of her jewelry. But what really set the outfit off was the tuxedo pants that she wore instead of the skirt.

The teacher at the door scoured the list for any sign that girls couldn’t wear slacks. But there wasn’t any and the teacher was forced to let them in. She scowled at them all for toeing the line without crossing it.

Edie and Harri stopped short when they saw who two of the parent chaperons were.

Standing on opposite sides of the gym trying to pretend the other wasn’t there were Steve and Eddie.

All three of Kenny’s friends turned to him in shock.

“How the hell did you managed that?”  Mandy asked, her eyes wide.

Kenny chuckled. “My mom is president of the PTA and on the dance committee. She is two things.” He held up two fingers. “Charming and persistent. My dad uses her to get the stingiest people to open their wallets for his pet charities all the time. I just merely suggested that your dads would be the perfect people for the job and let her do the work.”

Harri and Edie exchanged a glance.

“Huh,” Harri said. “Could work. Especially if you make them stop ignoring each other.”

Kenny looked over at them standing there awkwardly. “That might be the hardest part, yes.”

Harri ran his tongue over the top row of his teeth as a plan formed in his head. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

He marched up to his dad. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to a chaperon?”

Eddie winced. “I was hoping to get out of it, if I’m honest.” He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“It’s mortifying!” Harri insisted. “I’m going to be the talk of the school on Monday on how my lame ass dad was standing there awkwardly all night while Edie’s dad gets to be the cool chaperon!”

Eddie’s head reared back. “Hey! I can be cool too.”

Harri crossed his arms and leaned back on his foot. “We both know that you have been cool a single day in your life. The closest you get to cool is by proxy. Being in a rock band and working with cool people on their albums.”

“You little punk!” Eddie teased back, ruffling his son’s hair. “I’ll show you who’s cool.”

Harri scoffed. “Mr Harrington looks cooler than you and he’s just standing there.”

Eddie looked over at Steve who was wearing a classic tux. He had his hands shoved in his pockets as his eyes wandered over the throng of bouncing teenagers.

“After all according to Uncle Jeff,” Harri said, driving the point home, “he was prom king, super popular, and was actually called King Steve...you can’t get much cooler than that.”

Eddie scowled. “And did Uncle Jeff mention he was a bully, too?”

Harri half shrugged. “Kept the real bullies from doing real damage is what I heard.”

Eddie frowned. Okay, yeah. Fine.

“I can be cool.”

Harri lifted his chin. “Prove it.”

Eddie brushed past him and marched over to wear to Steve was standing.

Harri’s friends came up to him.

“What was that about?” Mandy asked.

“Yeah,” Kenny said. “Whatever you said seemed to light a fire under his ass.”

Harri just grinned. “One thing my dad can’t stand is being called uncool. So I may have poked the bear a bit.”  

Steve laughed and they all turned to see Eddie and him laughing at something Eddie had said.

“Congrats!” Edie said. “It worked.”

“Which means it’s party time!” Kenny said rubbing his hands together.

The other three cheered and got down to enjoying themselves.

*

Steve was going to get a migraine. Why did he agree to this? He had already caught three idiots trying to smuggle beer into the dance. This offended him greatly as he had managed to sneak in booze at all three dances he went to without being caught.

He just made sure that when he told the kid that, that he was out of hearing range of another chaperon or a student that might tattle. It was always the quiet ones you had look out for. They could be snitches or didn’t care and you were never sure which one you were going to get.

Eddie came up into him early in the dance and they had fun playing spot the idiot. Trying to figure out which ones had booze, which ones had weed, and which ones were out to do real harm.

Eddie actually managed to catch one kid with drugs. Actual drugs. They managed to confiscate it without alerting the principal or one of the other chaperons but that was a trip and half. One they weren’t going to tell their kids.

This was only one of the ‘highlights’ of the evening. The main one came when Edie saw Steve with a small plate of the little h'orderves and said something about it.

“I really hope that’s not all you’ve eaten today,” she said glaring at the plate.

Eddie who was nearby, frowned.

Steve scowled at her. “You had dinner with me earlier. You know it’s not.”

“But that was just a little meal to tide me over until I went out to eat with my friends,” Edie protested.

“And I ate more of it then you did,” Steve countered. “I’m fine, honey. Please just leave this alone. Go have fun with your friends. Don’t make tonight about this. Please.”

“I just don’t want you to faint again!” Edie hissed.

Steve turned and saw Eddie standing there. He turned to back her and said, “I’m done talking about this.”

He threw his food in the trash and stormed out the double doors. The banged shut behind him.

Edie gulped. Eddie raised an eyebrow at her and her shoulders slumped.

“I fucked up.”

“It certainly sounds that way,” Eddie said. “There is obviously something going on there, and you’re going to worry. But you have to understand, you’re his daughter. Not his wife or his mother or even his friend. You pushing him like this only making things worse.”

She folded her arms across her waist and looked away. “You sound like my therapist.”

Eddie scoffed. “Then maybe you should have been listening. Go back to your friends, Edie. Have fun. Stop being your dad’s keeper for a single night. Leave it to me.”

Edie nodded. “Tell him I’m sorry, will you?”

Eddie smiled. “Sure thing.”

He went to go tell another chaperon that he was going out for a smoke and followed Steve out the double doors.

*

Steve was pissed. He had told her over and over again not say anything in front of other people. And yet, she still did it all the time. This was the last straw. There was no way that Eddie didn’t hear her.

Who was pretty much the last person Steve wanted to know. But it was out of the bag now. The question was to tell him why.

A shadow fell over him and he looked up to see the worried expression on Eddie’s face. Of course he was going to tell him. He deserved to know. He just wished it had been on his schedule.

Eddie sat down next to him on the ground and bumped him gently with his shoulder.

He pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Steve, who took it gratefully. Eddie lit both their cigarettes and they smoked in silence for a moment.

“I was going to tell you,” Steve murmured. “About the time I collapsed. Fainted. Whatever. Just...”

“Not in a crowded gymnasium filled with horny teenagers?” Eddie asked.

Steve huffed out a chuckle. “Yeah.”

Eddie looked at him a moment before it clicked. He rolled his head back and licked his lips. “Fuck. It was just before Jay’s funeral, wasn’t it?”

Steve hung his head in shame. “I was at the airport on my way to England when I collapsed in the fucking boarding area.”

Eddie’s head snapped in Steve’s direction. “What?!”

“Edie doesn’t know about that part,” he admitted quietly. “Dustin told her that we were at the house when I fainted. I still don’t know how Dustin kept it out of the press. I suspect Nancy was involved.”

Eddie sighed. “What happened, Stevie?”

Steve let out a sob. “After Andy, I just got so depressed. So...broken. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. I understand a lot people with depression actually sleep more. But not me. No, the Upside Down fucked that up too. Edie had just started school and Jeff had to take her.”

“Did he know why?” Eddie asked, gently. He wouldn’t be mad at Jeff if he knew about what happened and he didn’t. Look, he was fucked up, but he wasn’t that fucked up, you know? It was very personal for Steve and if Jeff and Dustin were the only people who knew, then Eddie was grateful damn it.

Steve shook his head. “Not until after the funeral.”

Eddie closed his eyes and opened them slowly. “I’m guessing he took Edie in while you were in the hospital?”

Steve nodded. “Dustin and Suzie couldn’t take her because he had to run the company. After the hospital I was put into on of those fancy rehab centers. Not for drugs or alcohol–”

“For your eating,” Eddie said getting it instantly.

Steve lifted his head as he tried to choke back tears. “Apparently the sports and my parents and the whole fucking Upside Down gave me a really unhealthy relationship with eating.”

Eddie flicked his cigarette out on the pavement and wrapped his arm around him. “I’m sorry you went through all that, sweetheart.”

Steve just started sobbing into his arm, unable to stop once the tears began.

“I’ve got you, Stevie,” Eddie murmured. “I’ve got you.” He kissed the top of Steve’s head fiercely. “I’m here now. It’s not okay and maybe it never will be, but I’m here now. I’ve got you.”

After awhile, Steve’s sobs slackened and he just finally relaxed.

“I didn’t tell you,” he murmured, “because I was afraid that if you knew, you’d pity me. I didn’t want to guilt you into being with me.”

Eddie’s eyes went wide. “You still...”

Steve nodded. “But not yet. I can’t–I just...not yet.”

Eddie hugged him tighter. “Oh sweetheart, I waited twenty years thinking you didn’t return my feelings, I think I can wait at least that knowing that you do.”

Steve took the ring off his hand and slipped it back on Eddie’s right hand, where it belonged. “This is my promise to you. I do want to be with you. Just...I need more time.”

Eddie looked at the ring on his finger and smiled up at Steve. “We’ll still be friends, right?”

Steve let out a watery laugh. “Oh yeah! You’ve got me for life, Munson. You’ll find I’m like a cockroach that way. You’ll never be rid of me now.”

Eddie grinned. “Yeah, okay. I think I can work with that.”

Steve lurched to his feet. “We should probably get back in there before someone decides to burn the school down.”

Eddie laughed. “Yeah, there is probably a version of me in there and I shouldn’t leave them alone for very long.”

Steve laughed too. “Yeah, but it’s the prom king you should look out for.”

Eddie put his arm around Steve’s shoulder and led them back into the gym. “Yeah, why’s that?”

“Because I’m pretty sure I saw him spike the teachers’ table’s punch.”

Eddie blinked. “You mean the punch that was already eighty percent alcohol?”

Steve hummed in response.

“Dead god,” Eddie said wide-eyed. “Those poor teachers are going to have the worst hangovers tomorrow.”

“Not you?” Steve asked, leaning into the warmth that was Eddie Munson.

“Nah, babe,” he said, pulling out a hip flask. “Rule number one of any high school dance is never trust the punch.”

Steve laughed as they walked back through the double doors and back to the dance.

***

Part 16 Part 17  Part 18  Epilogue

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk​ @trashpocket @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @plyerice27 @mightbeasleep @thedragonsaunt @chaoticlovingdreamer @trashpocket @sapphirecobalt-1 @a-little-unsteddie @i-must-potato @danili666  @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @steddie-as-they-go @lillemilly @callas-shitshow @bisexualdisastersworld @renaissan-vvitch @immortal-iratze @bookbinderbitch @cardigangoth @lilacrobin @nightmareglitter @nerdsconquerall @stxrcrossed186 

#My writing #steddie #stranger things #reconnecting years later AU #ladykailtiha writes

[strayflowersstarsandlove]

𝙴𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚆𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚞𝚝 - a Han Jisung short au!fanfic

PART 9

💫PART 10💫

2 weeks go by at the speed of light. You're barely getting used to share your life with Han, sharing your meals and your bathroom and your laughs and your heart with him, trying to numb out the ache residing in you, you're barely catching up to that when the day Felix has his flight to Vientiane arrives, pulling the rug out from the beneath your feet.

The guys are emotional, needless to say. The tight knit group huddled together at the gate, virtually occupying the entire area just the 8 of them. You and Han had revealed your relationship to all of your friends a few days earlier, the occasion turned into a farewell to Felix and a celebration for your young love all at once, the sappy tears wetting everyone's faces. Not as much as today though. Even Minho struggles to hold back the tears, though he jokes it's just sweat coming out of his tear ducts.

"United Airlines flight 404357 to Vientiane is now open. Passangers can proceed to security checks at gate 43".  The loud speakers boom and echo through the walls and just like the final beeping of a ticking bomb, it unravels a chain reaction where everone starts sobbing one after the other, much to Felix's already heavy heart, "that's me, guys", he says gingerly.

Hyunjin lurches himself at him, almost tackling him in his embrace, "Yongbokah don't forget about me yeah? Don't be a stranger, please don't", he says quietly, his voice broken as Felix holds him the best he can considering the sizable height difference, "I would never, man, I would never". They pat each other's back a few times and just when you think Hyunjin has finally let go of him, he wails and cries out and pulls Felix right back into his arms.

You break at that. The emotions running through each and everyone of you are so strong that seeing them all so clearly affected makes you want to sink into the ground. You can't help but wonder if you not corresponding Felix's feelings had catalyzed his decision to pursue his volunteer work.

Sure, he was always going to be doing that sometimes in the near future, but suddenly that future had become your very present. You wonder if you had just been completely unaware, blinded by you suppressed feelings for Han to notice that your best friend was slipping away right from your fingertips.

Changbin puts on the toughest act he can, tries to remain stoic and reliable for the very teary very emotional Jeongin who hides behind his back. Except he bursts into tears the second Felix embraces him, he tries his best to smile through the pain, repeatedly patting his younger friend back while also letting him squeeze his arm muscles for one last time, "thank you Yongbokah, never thought I'd say this but thank you for all the squeezes and the cookies and your warm smiles, I can't wait to experience them all again and then whine about it".

Everyone erupts into light, half choked giggles, a little breather in between the heartfelt goodbyes being exchanged. Felix has to then pry Jeongin away from his older friends arms to give him a proper hug, he even plops a little kiss to his temple which is uncharacteristically welcomed, and returned, even: "don't tell my girlfriend I did that", the younger one he manages, making everyone stifle their laughs.

"Oh I will Innie, first thing I do once I land will be calling her up and tell her all about it", Felix jokes, trying to make light of the situation despite his own eyes betraying just how meaningful it was for him to have Jeongin being so openly affectionate.

The next slightly reticent one is Seungmin, who blinks away tear after tear as he lets Felix hug him with full force, "I'm going to miss you, man. I didn't get tell you nearly enough but I do care about you, a lot", he says quietly, a little remorsefullness in his voice, "it's okay, I always knew you did Mong Mong, I'm going to miss you too".

Minho smiles awkwardly and tries to comfort his friends up until the moment it is his turn to say goodbye, he sniffles very very quietly, trying not to let everyone know he's been secretly crying a lot more than he lets on, and when Felix hugs him he picks him up from the ground and squeezes him tightly, "Yongbok you silly little thing, why do you have to go and  break my heart like this uh? ", he says only half jokingly, his voice ultimately breaking on his last syllables.

"I'm sorry, will you forgive me if I promise to feed in your name all the stray cats that I'll meet?", Felix rebukes laughing, and Minho shakes his head, smiling softly at him, "you are already forgiven. Feed yourself, a lot. And be good, alright?", he adds, patting his friend's head.

Chan is on a other level of heartbreak. Chan looks like he is physically in pain. Him and Felix hug the longest so far, they barely speak a word to one another, though something tells you they had a very long and deep talk prior to today. Their embrace looks like the safest, warmest little home created among themselves, it lingers as they rub each other's backs and hold each other's hands briefly, complicit, silent words being exchanged through their eyes only.

You look down at your feet, your heart sunken so deep down your stomach you're not sure you can witness anymore goodbyes for the rest of your life. One more, you think, anticipating Felix is going to go to Han next but he hugs you.

And there's no amount of time or self psyching into not crumbling into tiny pieces that could have ever prepared you for the wave of utter yearning that crushes you the second you're being engulfed into your best friends' arms, one last time, for a very long time. River like tears spilling from your eyes, you hug him so tight, cry so loud the guys around you shield your fragile frame from nosy passangers looking in on the scene.

Felix lets you cry all of your tears, never minding the wet patch forming on his shirt, he rubs your back soothingly and rests his chin on your shoulder, "I love you, I'll miss you so much, please be happy, please be so happy you forget what sadness feels like. Hannie's got you, the guys got you, you are so loved y/n, so loved", he reassures you quietly, a few of his own tears falling down your back.

"I love you Lix", is all you can manage in broken sobs, your voice dying in your throat before it ever has the chance to come out. It's like your brain goes blank, even if there are a million things you want to say to him, they all vanish in the moment, and all you're left with is this immense feeling of pure, ephimereal affection for him.

Felix carefully peels himself off of you and caresses your cheek, brushing away a few tears in the process, "time zones suck but I'll always be just one phone call away okay? You can reach out to me anytime, beasties get no time limitations, you get the no interruptions privileges, you call me and I'll pick up, no matter the weird hour", he asserts reassuringly, smiling kindly at you, to which you can only feebly smile back too, as you nod.

Han doesn't wait for Felix to come to him, he pulls him to his chest and cradles his head like he would with a baby, crying all the while, "I love you, man, I love you so fucking much it hurts, I'm so sorry for everything", "I love you too, jagi", Felix hugs him warmly, smiling lightly as he rubs Han's back.

"You are forgiven for anything you think you need forgiveness for, you are the light of this group, one of the brightest, kindest souls I've ever met, but don't forget to save some of that light for yourself too, and for her", he says softly, pointing at you as he lets go of Han who nods firmly, pulling you onto his side, "you're holding my world right now, please take care of her", Felix adds, a little more somber, "I solemnly promise you I will, I lost her once, I'm never letting that happen ever again. I swear to you, I swear on your beautiful heart too".

You take refuge into Han's chest and arms as the 8 of you watch Felix's plane soar to the sky, tears stricken faces and tender gazes as you all silently wish him the very best. It's bittersweet, knowing you had to let him go in order fro him to be truly happy, the same way he had to do the same for you.

"Am I selfish for thinking it's unfair I could never have both you and him close to my heart in different ways but at the same time? Like... I had Felix close, but you so far away, metaphorically speaking. And now I have you here, physically here, very much close to my heart, and Felix gone, physically 2 time zones away from me, isn't it tragically funny?", you ramble, knitting your eyebrows together as you air out your thoughts.

Han chuckles and kisses your cheek," it is, my love. But I don't think it's selfish, I think it's human nature. I guess sometimes we're just blind to the things we have, and only realise how valuable they are when they're already gone. But Felix isn't going to be gone forever, so keep that in mind, your heart will be full again. In the mean time I promised him I was going to make you happy no matter what, and I have every intention to".

The familiar fuzziness spreads in your chest, you reach up to him and kiss him, placing your hand on his chest, his hearbeat thrumming against your palm, "my heart is full, wide open for you", you murmur, resting your head on his chest, closing your eyes to the night.

🥀FIN🥀

#stray kids #Skz #skz fic #straykids fic #straykids fanfic #skz fanfic #skz aus #straykids au #hanjisung #bang chan #hyunjin #changbin #jeongin #lee felix #lee know #lee minho #seungmin #i.n #skz han jisung #han jisung #han skz #skz han #han fluff #han fanfic #skz x y/n #skz x reader #skz x you #straykids x y/n #straykids x reader #straykids x you

[cawille]

I slowly but surely finished my first project of the year; a labor of love cardigan that I feel like I'll be wearing for years to come.

Crocheting clothes take forever, and when I got to the part in the pattern that said chain 123 I just wanted to lie down and move onto something else but I told myself, no. Finish it, it'll be worth it. Some days I would go through bursts of energy and other days I wouldn't even work on it at all; but I kept going and now I've reached the finish line. 8+ weeks of this, but I'm really happy with the results.

Acrylic yarn in navy blue, checkered grey, pale orange, and maroon ish purple. 5.5mm and 6.5mm hooks, Willa Cardigan Pattern Here

#crochet #diy #cardigan #kimono #clothing #it took forever #but im glad i finished it #it came out awesome and it was a yuge project #lets go back to drawing now #im tired of counting

[not-a-space-alien]

Tinytopia Chapter 8: Endless Rebirth (Part 4)

Story Masterpost

On AO3

Thanks to my beta/sensitivity reader @appelsiinilight!

In this chapter: Thistle forces Moon into the horrors of personal growth.

***

“So how's it going?” Sierra's voice came from the tinny phone speaker.

Thistle groaned and rolled on the floor.

“That good, huh?”

“I feel like shit.”  Thistle put his hands to his face.  “Moon left the house, and he knows how to not be found when he doesn’t want to be.  So I can’t even chase after him to make up.”

Marcy, whose job had recently become mainly Sit nearby whatever Thistle is doing, was at the desk.  She tapped him with her foot.  “I’m sure he’ll come back.”

“He can’t stand that I’m paying more attention to someone else,” Thistle said.  “I’ve never had to deal with this before.”

“Well, it’s not like there’s anything you can really do about it,” Sierra said.  “It’s a, like…him problem.  Right?”

As much as Thistle loved Sierra, she wasn’t always good at giving advice.  He sighed.  “Yeah, maybe.  It’s just–there’s been so much going on, with Marigold, and Jax is–He’s so interesting, but I don’t know if I should–if he’s–and now Moon is mad at me, and the stupid dryad still won’t even come out!”

“And prom is tomorrow!” Sierra added.

“What?”

“It’s–nevermind, stupid joke.”

He sighed again.  “I told Jax we could talk about more pixie stuff later.  I think his first body is still in the walls with Violet.”

“Well, you should get Marcy to help,” Sierra said.  “Isn’t that what you were trying to do?  Have Marcy’s job be to manage everything at home?  That could include settling conflicts.”

“Oh, ah…” Marcy said.

“Come on, you’re super smart, I bet you’d be great at it!”

Marcy tapped her fingers.  “I could…try, I guess.  But I don’t know where Moon is, either.  Maybe we should just wait for him to come to us in his own time.  Pushing probably won’t make it any better.”  Right?

***

Marcy took Thistle around to look for Moon in and outside of the house.  It felt a lot safer now that they had the chain link fence up, but they didn’t find him.

They didn’t find him until he wanted to be found, which was later that day.  Thistle heard him shouting from the window by Colin’s desk.

Marcy took Thistle and rushed up there.  Moon’s magic wardrobe was set out on the roof adjacent to the window, along with a little stool, as though he’d been using the roof as a place to get dressed.  Borrower-Jax was on the desk, and Moon was dragging him by an iron grip on his wrist.  Moon was uncharacteristically frumpled and steaming mad.

“What are you doing!”  Thistle jumped down onto the desk and pulled Jax out of Moon’s grip.  Jax cowered, looking chastised.  

“I caught that ruffian going through my things!” Moon said hotly.  “I-I, you know, I set up my wardrobe to, well, for my apology–I was going to apologize to you, so I was just in the process of making myself beautiful for that.  And I turn my back for one second and this–this–this–hooligan helps himself to my hairbrush!”

“I wasn’t going to steal it,” Jax insisted.  “Honest, I wasn’t.  I’m sorry.  Please don’t yell at me.  I was just touching it.”

“I don’t care if you weren’t going to steal it!  Don’t touch my things!”

“All right,” Marcy said.  She held her hands out placatingly–but she knew better than to touch Moon when he was upset.  “Just calm down.  We can talk about it.”  Despite Sierra’s confidence in her, Marcy figured that was… probably the full extent of how she could actually help, otherwise being relegated to watching and hoping she didn’t have to grab anyone.

“Moon!” Thistle said, flabbergasted.  “You’re mad at Jax for touching your hairbrush?  Not even stealing it, but touching it?”

“He had no right!”

Thistle sat Jax down behind him, then crossed his arms.  “Moon.  Stop acting like this.”

“Acting jealous?” he sneered.

“Yes!”

“Tell Jax not to touch my things!”

“Moon, I will, but–Look, it was just a hairbrush!  It’s not a big deal!  Stop being a drama queen!”

Moon burst into tears and fluttered away.  Thistle’s heart sunk into his stomach.  This was bad.  His friendship with Moon was getting worse, and he had no idea how to fix it.

Marcy watched Moon fly out the window and dive out of sight, not even bothering to pack up his wardrobe.  She felt horrible about how this was going, and cradled Thistle and Jax in her palms.

Thistle sighed and turned around, helping Jax back up.  “I’m sorry he yelled at you.  He shouldn’t have.”

“I’m sorry I touched his hairbrush,” Jax said.  “I won’t do it again.”

“I don’t even see why it’s a big deal,” Thistle said.  “It’s not like you were going to do anything with a hairbrush.”

Jax bit his lip and looked away.  “Uh.  Yeah.”

Thistle stared at him.  “Unless… Jax… is there a reason why it would be a big deal?”

Jax’s ears pinned back to his head.  “Um… I…”

“Jax?!”

“I just wanted some of his hair!” Jax burst out.  “I wanted to make a third body and have it be like his!  It would have just been a few hairs!  He wouldn’t have even noticed if he hadn’t spotted me!  I want to sit in the moonlight and make magic, too!”

Thistle stared at him.

Jax scuffed his foot.  “Sorry.”

“His hair?” Marcy echoed.  “For wh….Oh.  Ooooh.  For his DNA?  Right?”

Thistle turned from Marcy to Jax.  “Jax…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is that what you meant by copying me?  Did you clone me?  Did you take some of my hair when I wasn’t looking?”

Jax’s face went bright red.  “I’m sorry.”

Thistle let out a deep breath.  “Jax, you understand that cloning someone without their permission is a lot less of not a big deal than just touching someone’s hairbrush?  Right?”

Jax bit his lip.

“Right?!”

“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal!  It’s not like it affects either of you at all!”

“Jax!” Thistle chastised.  “You can’t just steal someone’s hair and use it to clone them without asking and expect them to not be upset!”

“But you were happy to see me incarnated as a pixie!  It’s not like it’s a bad thing–right?”

Right.  They were dealing not only with a completely alien creature, with completely different ideas of morality–but a baby one at that, who still had to be taught how to interact with other people.

Thistle massaged his temples.  “This is–where to even begin.  This is a lot.”

“Go find Moon,” Marcy said, scooting Jax into her palm.  “I’ll stay here and try to explain this to Jax.”

Jax looked up at him through his eyebrows.  “Are you mad at me?”

“I’m–Maybe.  I don’t know.  Just… just stay here with Marcy for now, okay?”

***

He found Moon under a bush in the front yard, sitting with his knees to his chest, crying into his arms.

Thistle could probably count on one hand the number of times he’d seen Moon cry.  “Hey,” he said softly, ducking under the branches, bare feet padding in the dirt. 

Moon looked up, then away, ashamed.  He sniffled and wiped his face.  “I don’t want you to see me like this.  I’m too proud.”

“Well, that’s too bad.  I’ve already seen you, Mr. Pride.”  Thistle sat down next to him.  “Hey…  I think we both know this isn’t actually about the hairbrush.  Do you want to talk about it?  I’ll listen this time, instead of brushing you off.”

Moon kneaded his handkerchief.  His eyes were puffy–but he still managed to cry beautifully.  “It isn’t fair,” he whined.  “It’s not fair that he gets to be so carefree and make friends like it’s second nature!  I’ve been working so, so hard to–to… I don’t know.  Be more genuine.  Be a friend, instead of hiding behind lies.  But it’s so hard.  And then this guy comes along.”  He gestures to the house.  “And he’s just, apparently he’s just a better version of me.”

“Moon,” Thistle said sadly.  “No, come on.  Jax isn’t a better version of you.  That’s–it’s just not true.”

Moon sniffed loudly.  “That’s not–I mean, just look at him.  He can do everything I can do and then some.  He’s young and impressionable, enthusiastic and open and wholesome and energetic.  I’m none of those things.  He’s just more interesting than I am, now.  What am I going to do if you get bored of me?”

“I’m not going to get bored of you.  I’m sorry if I ever did anything to make you feel that way.  It wasn’t on purpose.  You’re great, Moon.  I like having you around.”

Moon gave a pained smile, looking at the ground and gently bumping Thistle with his shoulder.  “Probably a lot more when I’m not throwing little piss-fits, I imagine.”

Thistle giggled and bumped him back.  “A little, yeah.  I’m sorry, Moon.  Even if it didn’t seem like a big deal to me, it was obviously a big deal to you, and I should have seen that.”

“Well, nobody’s perfect, darling.  Except me of course.”  Moon wiped his eyes, smearing his eye makeup even further.  “I guess I felt… territorial, because I don’t know who I am or what I’m doing here if I’m not your favorite.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve just…spent so long pretending to be whatever someone else likes best that I don’t really know who I am when I’m just by myself.  And I had the worst introduction out of everyone here, so I guess I feel… like I have to prove that it’s worth letting me hang around.”

Thistle snickered.  “I don’t know about the worst introduction.  Severa tried to kill me.”

“Well…”

“Jewel hid for months and months and then had to be picked up out of the dust.”

“...Point taken.”  Moon groaned.  “Oh no, I’ve just done introspection.  The depths you force me to.”

Thistle smiled, took Moon’s hands, and pulled him up.  “But look, it didn’t kill you.  And I bet you feel better now.”

“I do sometimes forget things can get better instead of worse.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”  Thistle flickered his wings.  “We found out something about Jax, too.  Are you ready to go back and talk about what happened with them?”

“Only if you come with me.”

“Always.”

***

Marcy, meanwhile, had been prying Jax with questions to learn more.

Apparently Jax’s species picked up detritus leftover from other species to copy them–absorbing their DNA and, as far as she could tell based on his wording–residual magic that granted the hivemind access to some of the creature’s knowledge.  Which would explain how Jax had received a shotgun blast of information to learn a language and some basic details without even meeting a borrower.

She couldn’t figure out what sort of larval form he’d had, if any, that could have picked up some borrower hair to get him started.  He didn’t remember, of course, so maybe they’d never know.

It was incredibly difficult to pull her train of thought back on track to try and explain to Jax why being cloned would upset someone.  He obviously had no instinctual feeling of it being wrong or creepy, but in the end he seemed to accept Marcy’s explanation that it would make others feel bad, and he agreed that he didn’t want to make others feel bad.

“So from now on, no cloning anyone else without permission, okay?”

“Okay,” Jax said, scuffing his foot.  “I’m sorry.  I’ll ask next time.”

Thistle and Moon made their way back upstairs.

“Thistle,” Jax called nervously.  “Um, since I cloned you without permission, is it OK if I keep the pixie body, or do you want me to, um…”

Thistle stopped in his tracks.  “Um.  I don’t want you to kill my clone, if that’s what you’re asking.”  His clone would be sort of like family, wouldn’t it?  Either way, the thought of it dying upset him.

“Are you sure?” Jax offered.  “It wouldn’t be hard.  I could just-”

“I’m sure,” Thistle said quickly.  “Just–just don’t do it again, okay?”

Jax nodded.  “I will.  Won’t.  Thank you.  Sorry.”

Moon flew himself and Thistle back up onto the desk.  “You know, if you wanted to clone me, I might have let you if you’d just asked." Moon tossed his hair. "Who wouldn’t want to copy me?”

Jax swished his tail.

“...You can’t now, though.  You need to prove you’re trustworthy.  All you did by your approach was make me think you were up to something nefarious and get me all suspicious.”

“Sorry,” Jax said.  “I’m still learning.”

Moon smiled gently.  “I suppose I am, too.  I’m sorry for getting upset with you.  You’re very special, and I was afraid that would make people think me less special.  But it doesn’t have to be a competition.”

Jax beamed and clung to Moon’s arm.

“All right, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”  Moon shook him off.

When they were done with their conversation, Thistle beckoned them to come into the living room.  Among the lineup with Thistle’s house and Severa’s, there were two new small wooden houses, blank and ready to be painted.

“So, Jax, you’re going to need a big place to sleep if you’re going to have, er… multiple people sleeping.  And Moon.  Well, you never got a house.”

“You offered, if you recall.  I’d said no.”  He looked chagrin.

“Well, tough.”  Thistle held out one of his very small paintbrushes.  “Give it a try.  If you don’t like it when we’re finished, you don’t have to keep it.  But I bet having a place to call your own, physically here in the house, will make you feel a lot less insecure about your place here.”

Moon looked from Thistle’s house, to Severa’s beside it, to the hole in the wall beyond that Thistle had decorated for the borrowers with a small welcome mat, to Jewel in the fishtank above.

“And who knows?  Maybe if you stop pretending you’re too cool to do the arts and crafts with us, you’ll find something you like that isn’t just Being Thistle’s favorite.”

Moon’s wings wilted.

“Come on, Moon.  I like you, and I like having you around.  But I want you to be happy outside of me, too.  I don’t want your self-worth to depend entirely on my opinion of you.  I don’t want you to get hurt like that.”

Moon thought for a moment, then smiled again.  “Well, when you put it that way…  All right.  I’ll give it a try.  Give me the brush.”

***

***

@static-stars

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#g/t #gt #gianttiny #fairy #giant/tiny #size difference

[andromebaa]

Just the Two of Us Horror Inspiration MegaPost

It's nearly Halloween so I'm going to spend an embarrassing amount of time explaining every single horror reference and inspiration in Just the Two of Us that I can recall. I'll try to include links where I can for more context.

Story in General

The biggest inspirations for Just the Two of Us were Silent Hill, Black Mirror and I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. I've always adored psychological horror and sci-fi horror and I think it reflects in this fic. Chapter 1

One of my favourite Silent Hill games is Silent Hill 4. The game is focused on a man who cannot leave his apartment. The concept of a house that cannot be escaped from is really fascinating to me and I think it played a big inspiration for the house in JtToU. I pretty much consider one of the game's songs, Tender Sugar, the unofficial theme of the fic. Time dilation in fiction is super interesting to me. I don't think it was necessarily a huge inspiration, but The Jaunt is a beautifully creepy short story that probably rolled around in my mind while I was writing this part. Chapter 3 Okay this isn't scary or intentional, but I legitimately cannot read the hydrazine cup scene anymore without thinking about that one scene from The Princess Bride. I can't believe I did not see that sooner and now I can't stop thinking about Kokichi screaming about how Greek philosophers are all morons. Chapter 4

Again, not intentionally a reference, but that scene in The Thing is Kokichi stuck in the chair lmao. Chapter 6

When the fake Shuichi talks to Kaito over the wall, one of his lines was taken directly from Waiting for You, another Silent Hill 4 song. Chapter 7 The short burst of static that Kaito hears from the phone at the end of this chapter was directly inspired by the radio from Silent Hill 2. It spurts out creepy, distorted static when an enemy is nearby. Chapter 8 Okay the good stuff now. This chapter, especially the first half of the house (a distorted version of Kokichi and/or Oma's apartment), was directly inspired by the movie Skinamarink. That movie follows a young child trapped in a house with no windows or doors and a weird, malevolent force lurking over them. I really wanted the whole vibe of that section to reflect this. There was also definitely heavy inspiration from Silent Hill, particularly Lakeview Hotel in Silent Hill 2. The design of Shadow Child was inspired by the Larval Stalkers in Silent Hill 1. Chapter 10 Mani-Kun is a love letter to every single creepy mannequin in every horror game ever. Love you, you absolute freaks <3 Chapter 11 Miu's copy being stuck in P.A.L was definitely inspired by a bunch of different things, especially SOMA and this fantastic animated short To Be. Love some of that existential am I real or just a copy sort of thing. Chapter 12 The horror movie that Kaito mentions during the game of Two Truths and a Lie is Event Horizon. I honestly don't know how he could have sat through it, let alone enjoyed it. He probably had nightmares for weeks afterward. Chapter 13 Miu standing in the corner like a creepy fuck was inspired by the ending of the Blair Witch Project. Her whole transformation was greatly inspired by AM from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, particularly the whole ghost without a machine idea. Chapter 14 This whole chapter was basically created as if it was a level in Silent Hill and Kaito was the protagonist lmao, especially when he explores the hospital. It even has a boss battle! I feel like the loop and the leech spouting terrifying stuff was definitely inspired by P.T in particular though. The dirty bathroom and the fact they are chained up in it is a very very obvious Saw reference lmao not even trying to hide that. Miu mentions she could turn one of them into a soft, jelly thing - that's taken word from word from the ending of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Chapter 16

This chapter, particularly when Kokichi is still trapped in the debug room, was definitely inspired by Omori. Just the concept of a character in denial over a very bad thing which makes them blank out any awfulness in an act of self-preservation. The whole talking to another version of yourself was also inspired by the Stephen King story Gerald's Game. I love the idea of an isolated character having to converse with themself in order to stay sane or rationalise things. The creepy Judas Cradle chair from the hospital flashback was definitely Saw-inspired. Also it was an actual torture device that has been used in the past so that's fun. Chapter 19

Momota's personality and traits were heavily inspired by Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. The scene where he ties up Kokichi and the whole conversation he has with Miu in the snowy cabin are probably the best examples of this lmao.

Also a guy chasing after his partner and kids with an ax in a bloodthirsty rampage in the snow? Guess we need to tick off yet another Stephen King reference lmao. I swear that one was unintentional though. Oh yeah, their kids are named after Satoshi Kon (creator of psychological horror masterpieces like Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent) and Koji Suzuki (author of The Ring and Dark Water).

Chapter 20

Kokichi's transformation into a leech was heavily inspired by I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Again, another reference to the soft, jelly line as well. Momota's rant about how much he hates Kaito was kind of inspired by AM's rant .

That's about it! At least, what I can recall ahaha. But yeah I love horror with all my heart and soul <3

#just the two of us #oumota #danganronpa #fic stuff #fic essays #horror #just the two of us lore

[butterflydm]

wot on prime rewatch: 1x5 - blood calls blood

spoilers through the end of season one of the wheel of time. I will do a reblog of this soon after I post it, with additional book-related spoilers. 

1. We open on the funeral for the fallen and I just love the bookends that this episode gives us. Lan is the one who bury the fallen king (appropriate!) and Stepin is the one to bury Kerene. Stepin also takes Kerene’s ring with him (to take back to the White Tower. In this burial, they go straight into the ground, with a shroud covering them. And Lan also puts a hand on Stepin’s shoulder to comfort him. Lan and Moiraine share a wordless moment after Kerene has been laid to rest. The way the burial site is structured as a wheel really plays into the theme of the Wheel and reincarnation. I love how often we get nods to the importance of the Wheel of Time in all of the customs of the westlands. It really does make the world feel so grounded in the metaphysics of how their world works.

2. And now we get our “one month later” time skip. This is the real place where I mourn Rafe not getting ten episodes (*shakes fist at amazon*), because I feel very sure that we would have had at least one episode set here during what is currently a big time skip of everyone traveling towards Tar Valon. But, to recap how their journeys are going: Nynaeve, Moiraine, & Lan - solemn but uneventful, with pretty much everything put on hold until the White Tower; Perrin & Egwene - chill and uneventful, company and dances and plenty of hot food; Rand and Mat - hellish trauma-bonding nightmare where Mat is constantly getting worse and worse and they don’t dare get to close to anyone lest that person get murdered by the Fade that is chasing them. Everyone else kinda gets to take a break during the travel to Tar Valon, but Mat and Rand are going through an extremely traumatic month together. Extreme prolonged trauma can literally rewire the way your brain works; just something to keep in mind for the future!

3. Now that he isn’t a channeler anymore, Logain isn’t being transported in a cage, only on a horse with a noose around around his neck. He is chained up, but it’s clear that he’s not being taken seriously as a danger anymore. And he looks so empty and blank here.

4. Lan and Moiraine have a brief conversation on the meaning of home -- Moiraine says that she views her life traveling with him as her companion as her home, not Tar Valon. We also get a brief update on Nynaeve’s status: eating every night at the Warders’ fire but not having any deep conversations with anyone. And probably avoiding the Aes Sedai as much as possible, lol. We also,know, from what Nynaeve said in episode 8, that she stops being able to ‘hear the wind’ after her burst of power at the end of episode 4, so she’s probably also struggling with that right now. She’s basically lost her ‘sixth sense’. But Lan can tell that Nynaeve is worrying over Stepin and his reaction to losing Kerene.

5. Something of interest to me is... the emptiness of losing an Aes Sedai kinda feels like it parallels the emptiness of an Aes Sedai losing their connection to the One Power? I guess it feels like Stepin and Logain have similar vibes right now -- they’ve both essentially lost their will to live, because of much of that will was tethered to this greater purpose that they’d had.

6. Next we check in on Rand and Mat. And, boy, Mat looks ROUGH. He also snaps at a child who accidentally runs into him, which of course worries Rand because Mat is so good with kids and very gentle with them, so this is majorly out of character. Rand worries over Mat and Mat tries to brush him off. It’s confirmed that they’ve spent “a month without a warm bed” during the time skip - they’ve just been on the run the whole time. They also lost their horses at some point  -- possibly traded so that they would have money for food and for the cloaks that they’re wearing over the clothes they had before, because I don’t think we saw those before.

7. When Rand sees Dragonmount, he feels struck by it, as if he’s seen it before. Another gorgeous landscape shot that shows us Tar Valon and Dragonmount behind it. Then they enter Tar Valon itself. I love this shot too. We can see the mountain in the distance again and the city itself has so many different people going on (camels! parrots!). Rand tries some of the sample street food, but Mat says he’s not hungry. Instead of going to the White Tower directly, Rand leads them to an inn that Thom told him about. We know from what Rand tells Nynaeve later that this is mostly due to worrying about what the idea of going to the White Tower might mean with Mat displaying so many symptoms of potentially being able to channel.

8. I do think we’re getting a big heap of “Rand in denial” during this episode. Mat is so visibly sick and so visibly not himself that it’s probably easy for Rand to believe that all this must mean that Mat is the Dragon, and that any oddities about Rand’s own past are just that - oddities that he can dismiss as important. Deep in the back of Rand’s mind, he’s worried that it has to be him, but Mat is just so CLEARLY unwell.

9. Oh! Fainspotting! I actually did notice the whistling first, and then you only see him from the back, but he’s watching as Rand and Mat make their way through the streets of Tar Valon. Given that Fain DOES use the dagger at the end of the season, I’m thinking that he did go through Shadar Logoth during his search for the kiddos? I must once again be a touch sad that we were lost the episode 8 Mat-Fain standoff that was likely written in the original, pre-covid version of the episode. I love the 7th & 8th episodes, but I definitely agree that they likely would have been even more epic if they hadn’t needed to do emergency re-writes for everything that they lost due to the covid delay (as a reminder, they lost: a whole entire main character actor (Mat); an important secondary character actor (Ingtar); an entire set location (the Blight); and their entire Trolloc stunt-team (which meant they needed to be CG instead of practical). It’s astonishing that episodes 7 & 8 are as good as they are, given how much they needed to scramble and replace. The fact that Rafe was able to do so well in such incredibly adverse circumstances made me MORE inclined to trust his hand on the tiller, not less. That is some tough showrunning to wrangle! Anyway, back to Fain -- guessing that he was called in by the Fade that Dana called? Rand and Mat’s group is really the only ones who are isolated enough that they can be spied on this way tbh.

10. They get a room for the night (which Rand notes is more expensive than a whole month would have been at the Winespring Inn back home), and Mat immediately lies down on one of the two beds, with Rand’s worry just radiating off him. Mat asks for reassurance from Rand, to tell him that he didn’t kill the family/the little girl back on the farm, and Rand reassures him that he didn’t. Mat is so full of self-loathing here and Rand is So Soft (amazingly enough, this still wasn’t what made me ship them, though I am completely heart-eyes over it now) when he tries to comfort Mat and tell him that he didn’t kill that family. It’s clear that Rand has needed to reassure Mat on this point many times over the course of their month together.

11. Moiraine and Lan escort Nynaeve into the White Tower. She’s going to be staying in the Warders quarters. I am, again, loving this thing that S1 has set up where Nynaeve clearly feels a much strong bond (lol) to the Warders than to the Aes Sedai. Love it. Moiraine tells her that this is the safest place for her to hide from all the other Sisters, and Nynaeve breaks in to tell her that she doesn’t care at all about Aes Sedai politics - she cares about the missing kiddos. Moiraine says that she has eyes-and-ears in the city itself, so she’ll know when/if the kiddos arrive. Nynaeve, though, doesn’t trust that Moiraine will actually tell her and, tbh, she probably would not have. Moiraine warns Nynaeve to be careful around the Aes Sedai in the Tower, and that the Aes Sedai will want her to be a novice.

12. Moiraine tries to bond with Nynaeve here and Nynaeve is Not Ready for this bonding experience. It really is kinda funny here how obvious it feels that Moiraine definitely has become fond of Nynaeve and that Nynaeve really doesn’t see it at all. 

13. Perrin and Egwene as they travel on with the Tuatha’an. Perrin is still trying to poke holes in their life philosophy. Perrin says they’re being hypocrites by preaching non-violence but letting their dogs eat meat; Aram says that they don’t deny that violence exists - they accept it. Egwene is so bubbly and happy here. Even though some things were adjusted so that Egwene HAD to go rather than choosing to go, we do see here her delight in engaging with another culture and getting to go on an adventure. It’s pretty clear that Egwene has had a relaxing and enjoyable month. We also get a fun wolf joke here “One more turnip curry and I’ll be joining the dogs”.

14. They are in sight of the White Tower and Egwene reaffirms to Perrin that she’s sure their friends will be waiting for them (and she’s being very cute here, jumping on Perrin and then holding his arm). But! They are now about to face their own trauma after getting to have a relaxing month: Whitecloaks are blocking them. But not just any Whitecloaks, but the ones that they met back during episode 2 - including Valda, who promised that he would remember all their faces.

15. Valda spots them from a distance and orders them to be brought to him. The Tuatha’an stand in the Whitecloaks way to give Perrin and Egwene a chance to get out of there. The Whitecloaks get violent with the Tuatha’an but Aram reassures Egwene that they won’t KILL them, only hurt them. Unfortunately, despite the Tuatha’an best efforts, the Whitecloaks do capture Egwene and Perrin.

16. Just an easter egg at this point, but Rand is looking at the Prophecies of the Dragon right before he meets Loial. We see that Rand is on a hair-trigger as well, not just Mat. There’s also an interesting canon change here where Ogier are unknown by the general people of Tar Valon. Poor Rand is just deeply confused by Loial and a bit put-off by Loial’s insistence that he’s Aiel. I’m also fine with how they made Loial look -- it’s much more cost-effective to have practical make-up than CG for his ears, etc, so it will hopefully mean we get more scenes with him in S2 & the future. Loial has already decided that he likes Rand, because Rand is an oddity.

17. We got a bit of nostalgia from Egwene in the last episode, and now another bit of it from Rand here. But then he spots Mat outside the window and dashes out to keep an eye on him. Mat climbs up to sit in a window to watch the official procession of Logain being brought back to the Tower (now back in a cage). They are basically pretending to the city that he can still channel and that they’re doing things The Proper Way. People are jeering at him and throwing vegetables. Mat is watching with quite a lot of melancholy.

18. I really love this scene between Rand and Mat so much. The Promise (TM). The worry that Rand has towards Mat, and the muted worry that he has about himself as well. You can feel Rand’s affection towards Mat so strongly here. But the focus here is on Rand’s worry for Mat, and not on himself. Given what we see in the PoV, I do think that Logain does ‘actually’ laugh here, but he doesn’t press his face against the bars. But, yes, this moment between Mat and Rand is... just so good. Mat desperately not wanting to end up like Logain and Rand trying to reassure him about it. And Rand’s hair is so fluffy and curly here. And, also, the contrast between the way Mat reacts to literally anyone else vs how he reacts to Rand.

19. More of the show fleshing out the Warders! I love it! We do get confirmation here that white is the funeral color in at least some of the countries in the westlands (possibly all?). I like getting to hear Stepin’s backstory, because it tells us more about what sort of people end up becoming Warders. Kerene became friends with Stepin before she asked him to become her Warder, which I really like. The show seeds in a LOT of useful information here, too -- that bonding another Warder could help Stepin with his feelings of loss, but that he doesn’t want that. I also love the Warder Hall in general.

20. And this entire thing where the rings for the new Aes Sedai are made out of the rings of Aes Sedai who have died? Galaxy-brained idea. Fits so perfectly into the reincarnation cycle.

21. Then we have that gorgeous wordless scene afterwards where Lan goes to Moiraine in her room and they silently comfort and grieve with each other and think about the task ahead of them. Beautiful, beautiful scene.

22. The scenes with the Whitecloaks are well-done but I’m not sure I can talk much about them. Valda is awful, the Questioners are awful. But this storyline leads both of them to embracing their respective powers (Egwene channels and Perrin communicates with the wolves to get them to help). Egwene and Perrin are great in these scenes but they are tough to watch.

23. We can hear the wolves howling in the distance as Valda tortures Perrin. He also tries to set them against each other, by basically saying “well, one of you is going to die no matter what, so let’s see who cracks first by giving me what I want”.

24. Stepin goes to Nynaeve for more of her herbs that help with sleeping, and we get to see more of how difficult it is for Warders to deal with not having their Aes Sedai. Nynaeve has a very good bedside manner with her patients which is... not always the case in the books, lol. But it works well here. And then she goes wandering in the Warder Hall and who should pop up but Liandrin, ready for another try at trying to bond with Nynaeve.

25. Nynaeve pokes at Red Sisters not having Warders, and we get to hear some of Liandrin’s justifications for her path in life. Again, I really like this. Liandrin was not a terribly fleshed-out character in the books and she feels so vivid and real in the show.

26. Nynaeve goes to the White Tower gardens, runs into Loial, who recognizes her as “a woman from the Two Rivers” and brings her to Rand (assuming she was the woman that Rand was talking about in the library aka Egwene; “I found the woman you spoke of”). It is definitely a convenient plot beat but this city currently has three ta’veren in it. There should be convenient plot beats (I’d love the show to talk more about ta’veren next season; they only briefly mention it in S1).

27. Nynaeve’s reunion with Rand and Mat here is so wonderful! Her tight hug with Rand <3. I love the super-sweet moment of surprised joy that we can see on Mat’s face when he realizes that Nynaeve is alive and here. I’m really glad we get that moment before we get the reaction of him snapping at her, so we can see the contrast. Outside the room, Rand tells Nynaeve about his worries -- he’s worried that Mat can channel, he’s not sure he can trust Moiraine, he’s worried that Mat will end up like Logain. And Nynaeve does a wonderful job trying to reassure him here, both about Mat and then about Egwene.

28. In an effort to try to convince Egwene to simply let him get killed by Valda so that she can be let go, he confesses to her about accidentally killing his wife in the heat of the battle. But, yeah, this is so much more emotional and more effective than “I killed two Whitecloaks in self-defense”. And, in the end, Egwene is able to trick Valda, while Perrin (accidentally) calls wolves, and they are able to escape. Sadly, Egwene does not kill Valda but she does stab him in the shoulder. (I am okay with Valda getting freaked-out by Perrin’s color-changing eyes; that is outside his experience in a way that Aes Sedai are not). And then the wolves cover their escape.

29. Liandrin lets us know that Moiraine has been gone from the Tower for the past two years. Liandrin continues to have Weird Vibes with people. Here is the first place that I think the show confirms that Yellow Ajah does healing. Liandrin is wrong that Nynaeve has any inclination towards Red Ajah, but Nyaneve DOES want everyone to follow her rules, lol.

30. Another big lore drop here -- Stepin is doing offerings “to ward off the Forsaken”. Stepin namedrops “Ishamael; Father of Lies”, which the show already mentioned in episode 3 -- Dana notes that Ishamael “brought the Dragon before the Dark One” in the last Age and is still famous now. We’re told that they were sealed away by the last Dragon but that they had sold their souls to the Dark One for eternal llife.

31. Now we have a conversation between Alanna and Moiraine about Warders. Alanna has offered to take Stepin on as a Warder, but she’s not certain if she’ll accept. When Moiraine wonders about the possibility of the bond being released, Alanna tries to reassure her that she doesn’t have to worry about dying anytime soon. Moiraine sidesteps the conversation to ask why Alanna is visiting her now. We get the news that the Amrylin has returned from Caemlyn (!) and is going to be summoning their group to answer for gentling Logain without a trial.

32. We get another reminder of Moiraine’s relative strength in the Power and also how ~mysterious~ her goals are to everyone around her. I do really love this relationship between Moiraine and Alanna in the show. They’re friends, but Alanna isn’t within her secret heart. I love that Moiraine goes and looks at the picture after this, too. But I’ll talk more about the picture next time. <3

33. Stepin and Lan talk, and we get another nod at being queer being considered more accepted here, as Stepin casually talks about the idea of being with Ivron and Maksim ‘when’ he bonds with Alanna (though this is a bit of a ruse on Stepin’s behalf, of course). But this is a nice quiet conversation, where Stepin tries to encourage Lan to explore his feelings for Nynaeve if he gets the chance (but then becomes bittersweet as we realize that Stepin drugged him because he’s about to go kill himself). Heartbreaking.

34. And then we get a Warder funeral to mirror the funeral at the start of the episode. This bookending of the episode with two funerals worked really well for me and it still does. It really, again, does a good job to ground the Warder culture by showing us that they have their own traditions, separate from the Aes Sedai (though there are Sisters present, presumably to support their Warders). The giving of a role of an official mourner who expresses the emotion for the rest of the group works effectively here as well, for me.

35. Ultimately, I really loved this episode expanding on Warders and Warder culture so much, and I feel like it will pay dividends in the future as well. We also get some strong trauma-bonding with both the Mat&Rand and Perrin&Egwene pairs. I really wonder how that argument in episode 7 would have shaken out with Mat present too.

#wot #wheel of time #wot on prime #wot rewatch #nynaeve al'meara #lan mandragoran #moiraine damodred #egwene al'vere #perrin aybara #rand al'thor #mat cauthon #wot show

[chaifootsteps]

Got any favorite "kill scenes" from our boy Michael Myers, regardless of Halloween movie?

In no particular order.

1. The ghost sheet. I love when Michael gets these sudden inexplicable bursts of theater kid flair. Did a Halloween costume based on this one.

2. Ditto the pumpkin head.

3. When he kills Judith. I'm fascinated by the look in his eyes afterwards and utterly obsessed with the annoyed, exasperated, normal way she says his name. For that last moment, that last split second, he's just a normal little boy bothering his sister.

4. The Dr. Sartain head stomp. To quote someone on YouTube, "You know Michael really hates you when he'd rather ignore the young teenage girl trapped beside him in favor of crushing your head like a watermelon."

5. The gas station bathroom. It feels weird to watch him kill without his mask on, but in an interesting way, and it’s amazing to see him back in his element after the chained, half blind old man in white prisoner scrubs. Plus, the scene where he reunites with his mask is one of my favorites in all the trilogy, and almost brings tears to my eyes.

6. Bob’s death. That moment when he admires his handiwork. So good.

7. The death of nurse what’s-her-face in Halloween Ends. I’m cheating on this one, I absolutely hated that scene, but it’s shot in a way that really emphasizes how strong and how fucking massive Michael is, and for a second it took me away to a kinder, hornier place.

8. When he snaps Corey’s stupid godawful bitch boy neck like he should have when they first met.

9. The firefighters in Kills.

10. The mob in Kills. Just puts his mask back on like a boss, soaks up every blow they dish out, and then casually slaughters them. God, I fucking love Michael Myers so fucking much.

#Anonymous #Halloween #Michael Myers #Halloween 2018 #Halloween Kills #Halloween Ends #actual blog post

[countrymusiclover]

8 - He's Actually Alive

Part 9

Her Life Means Everything

@mrs-fanfiction-2001 @the-big-bad-klaus

"Elijah...he's gone...Klaus's gone!" I shutter stumbling into his waiting arms still sobbing where I stained his suit shirt with tears. He wrapped his arms around my frame feeling my body collapse into his embrace.

The bedroom bursts open for me to see a moarning Becca. Her eyes bloodshot from crying with a bottle of wine in her hands. I get on the edge of my bed, dragging the covers wrapped around me along. "Rebekah-" I trailed off my nose still stopped up from hours of sobbing, eyes bloodshot red and marks from where I was digging my nails into my skin.

She embraces me in a hug and I death grip her yellow jacket as we both cry in tears. I didn't have a connection with Finn so his death only physical hurt me. Instead Klaus has hurt me mentally inside too. Rebekah breaks the hug warning me suddenly. "Maddie duck!"

We barely let go of one another and she pushes hair behind my ear. I spin around to see a dart shoot into my arm and Becca gets one in her stomach dropping to the floor before me. Everyone around me blues as I fall on my knees mumbling out as everything went dark. "Becca...."

My eyes open slowly and once I'm awake I tug my wrists up on to feel a shock of pain shoot through my body. Rebecca thrashes next to me but my sister's voice stopped her. "Vervain ropes. Looks like Alaric outed us all out to the council." She paused seeing needles sticking into my skin. "They thought you were a vampire like me, Mads."

Suddenly a truck crashes into the front of us, knocking the three of us around when the truck gets tipped over. Tyler broke open the door, snapping my chains with ease. My twin asks in disbelief that her boyfriend was actually alive. "You're alive?" He broke her free as I go for Becca but he pulls at my forearm once Care is out of the truck.

"Wait Mads, what about me?" Becca asked struggling with her restraints. Tyler gets me out of the truck where I grabbed his arm holding him still.

"We have to free her too, Tyler." He grabbed mine and Caroline's hand vamping us into the woods seeing a police car coming towards us.

Caroline started getting it on with Tyler and I turn away looking at the woods, not sure of what to do. But I picked up on something Tyler said to her. "Easy, love. Wrong time, wrong place and wrong equipment." Tyler would never call her that - he's not British. The only 2 people who are is klaus and kol. Oh my god....it can't be.

I take a few steps up towards the pair when she pulled away realizing what he'd said. "Did you just call me 'Love?"

Tyler or maybe Klaus replied looking at her. "I don't know, love. Did I?" He leans his back against the tree still wearing no shirt. "Listen... I didn't have to risk exposure to come save you."

"Oh, you do one semi-decent thing and now you're my hero?" She puts her top back on scoffing at him. "Put Tyler back!"

I gasped in a breath nearly stumbling and fall against a tree for support. My vision started to blur so I pressed my back against the tree trunk in shock that he's somehow alive right now. My sister runs her fingers through her hair until Tyler/Klaus vamped over to me arms on either side of my head blocking me in. "Maddie.." He smirks in Tyler's body and I clearly show I don't like it with look of discomfort. He cups my face in his hands as I labored out in full disbelief.

"Klaus - Nik...you're alive...I...this isn't possible." Shaking my head side to side my chest heaving up and down. "I felt the stake go through your heart...you...you should be dead!" He gently wiped my tears away with his thumbs seeing a shocked smile on my face that he's here right now. He leaned down to kiss me but I push my hands against Tyler's chest. "Sorry too werid, get back in your own body first please..."

He nods finishing my note "Gladly, my love." Caroline watched us trying not to throw up at the sight then spinning around on her feet throwing her arms up in the air.

"Wait what is happening here. What did you mean when you said you felt him die!" Klaus and I just stared at her while she freaks out stomping around in her boots. "Are you two together, gag. Mads, how could you not tell me!"

Moving out from underneath his arm I take my sister's hand in hers only telling her half the truth. If I told her I might be falling for him she might try and kill him which would result in her getting hurt by him instead. "Care, lisen when Esther tried to kill the Originals I found out that I am linked to all the brothers. I can feel their desires and when they die I feel their pain too. That's why he's close to me and I to him...are you mad?"

"I should be...but you didn't have a choice in the matter. So all I can hope is that they treat you well." She glanced over my shoulder towards Klaus who just smiled our direction now wearing a shirt again. "If you ever hurt her or any of your brothers do the same I will shove a stake in you. Understand that Klaus!" She flashed her fangs at him when he nodded.

Night had come I lay on my bed about to fall asleep until something hits my window making me shoot up. Caroline was asleep in her room down the hall. Sliding off my bed I opened the window seeing Klaus standing on the ground in his actual body finally. Covering my mouth with my hands I giggled as quietly as I could knowing he would hear me still. "Klaus Mikaelson, what are you doing. It's the middle of the night. You can't be here."

He shakes his head vamping off the ground now sitting on my windowseal grinning a proud smile. "I couldn't wait another second to see you. Elijah told me that you hadn't been leaving your room for a few days. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you that it was all taken care of. That I would come back Maddie." He rests his hand against my face that I leaned into.

Not wasting a secound I grab the collar of his black jacket pulling him inside my bedroom crashing my lips onto his. He gasped taken back at first then cups my face in his hands deepening it slowly. Wrapping my arms around his neck I moved my fingers through his hair driving him crazy where he breaks the kiss. "Jump love." Following his words I wrapped my legs around his waist putting my lips back onto his tugging at the collar of his shirt until we fell back onto my bed never breaking the kiss.

"Maddie, as much as this is tempting we can't. I promised that I'd wait until your fully ready." He finally broke the kiss hovering above me for a second. His hair is a curly mess with a small smirk on his face where he flopped beside me on the bed.

Throwing my head back on the pillows I rolled over laying my head in the crook of his neck sighing in relief. "Please don't die again, Nik. I couldn't handle it." I whispered feeling my eyes getting heavier so he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer to him.

"I don't plan on it. Goodnight Mads." He whispered kissing my forehead closing his eyes too.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

Do you all want Maddie to have scenes with Kol and Elijah??? If so give me ideas I am not sure on scenes for them with her

#her life means everything #klaus mikaelson fic #klaus mikaelson x forbes reader #klaus mikaelson x reader fanfiction #klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson #joseph morgan #oc : maddie forbes #britt robertson #caroline forbes x sister reader #caroline forbes #candice king #rebekah mikaelson #elijah mikealson x reader #elijah mikaelson #kol mikaelson x reader #kol mikaelson #damon salvatore #bonnie bennett #elena gilbert #tvd soulmate #soulmates #tvd fanfiction #tvd fandom #tvd x reader #tvd #tvdu #wattpad fanfiction #ask box is open for feedback #comments really appreciated

[metal-patches-vinyl]

Albums of the Week! It was an Alice In Chains marathon for the holidays here, with the Music Bank box set on heavy rotation. Also, Black Sabbath’s Cross Purposes - Live got a lot of love. I maintain that the Tony Martin era is criminally underrated, and I curse all the burnout Ozzy diehards that gave me false warnings about it when I was a young metalhead. If you like Dio, good chance you’ll like Martin. 2023 reissues were confirmed by Tony Iommi this week. ☠️ 1. Alice In Chains - Music Bank 2. Alice In Chains - s/t (Tripod) 3. Black Sabbath - Cross Purposes - Live 4. Firtan - Marter (2022) 5. Savage Master - With Whips and Chains 6. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules 7. Ettinskjalf - Depraved and Deceived 8. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers 9. Haunt - Burst Into Flame ☠️ What did you play during the break?

#aliceinchains #blacksabbath #firtan #savagemaster #ettinskjalf #haunt #thebeatles #aotw

[cyanide-latte]

Got to thinking again today about pirating media and how many people make it about a moral quandary and how we here on Tumblr tend to be very gung-ho about pirating and this time in particular it boiled down to what I think the root is of why I'm largely okay with it.*

(*please take note, this post is about pirating platform-exclusive movies and shows. I do not support or condone piracy of books, comics/graphic novels or manga unless literally no other option is available to you. I've been a teen who had no choice but to read awful scanlations for manga growing up because I wasn't able to or allowed to purchase physical copies or even borrow them from the library. So I know that struggle, and I'm sympathetic to a degree. But please support your libraries, ask the librarians to teach you how to use the system, and use it to help support authors and artists before it is a legal and free way that actually helps. If you are in a situation where you have literally no choice for now, I recommend being responsible and trying to either buy the physical books when you can to help make things up or use a library when you are finally able to and borrow the materials, in order to still show support.)

This is probably my age showing but when I was a kid, we recorded shit on the VCR all the time. Buying actual movies was still something we did when we could, but in the 90s, stuff on VHS could get as high as $40 [USD] sometimes. Not all of them were, but the prices tended to be high enough we couldn't really afford to buy them ourselves; those had to be asked for as Christmas or birthday gifts, and even that wasn't a guarantee we'd open a rectangular gift to find a brand-new clamshell of the newest Disney movie.

But you know what we could afford to get? Blank video tapes. Depending on the brand and the length of the tape strip, they could cost as little as $3.99, and you could often get multiple blank tapes for a decent price. (I vaguely recall a half-dozen pack of tapes for maybe $25? We got a few of those when I was around 7 or 8 y.o.) And we would use that "Record" function on the VCR. We caught movies on the TV way less often than we would have liked because without a TVGuide or knowing someone who kept up with movie showtimes on various channels, you were kind of at the mercy of fate and fortune. Plus, we rarely tried to record a TV run of a movie if it was one we knew we REALLY wanted to buy on VHS.

Ah but shows! Shows we could generally depend on. You learned what channel(s) it played on and when, and you'd time it so you could record your episode(s), commercials included, and stop recording at the end of it. Presto! I could watch my episodes of Batman the Animated Series or Wishbone whenever I wanted. I'd have it forever (well, for as long as the tape can last anyway) even if the show went off the air and it didn't get any real VHS release. Lots of shows did get VHS releases, but they were limited to maybe three random episodes per tape, and were not usually for regular sale at most retailers; they were on the shelves of rental video stores and we couldn't keep them.

Until we got a special VCR that allowed us to record a copy of a tape onto one of our blanks. Again, not an endeavor we really did with movies, but when the family decided we were going to move in the future and wouldn't be sure we'd have a Blockbuster or Hollywood Video or Family Video wherever we were moving to, there'd be a burst of going to the nearest rental chain and carefully picking the tapes we knew we loved and wanted to be able to watch again, renting them for a couple of days, and putting that copy/record VCR to work before returning the proper copy back to the video store. Or if some friends had a movie and we wouldn't see them again, there was often an offer to record copies of their tapes. Didn't happen often but it was a handy solution to the desire to have access to the media in the long-term, and it wasn't looked down on as far as I can ever remember, because everyone recorded stuff on blank tapes and none of those people had no major moral crises about making copies in order to have the movies/shows they loved.

Now, when DVDs came out, things got a little bit different. DVD players and DVDs were expensive at the start, so the cost of all VHS tapes gradually started dropping. As with pretty much anything, pirating DVDs took off before long and soon just about every DVD had that in-your-face message about piracy, reminding you that copying and selling bootleg DVDs was illegal and "piracy isn't a victimless crime". I only vaguely recall being annoyed with DVD piracy, because what bootlegs I tended to see were extremely bad quality, and it was more annoyance at the idea that you could be swindled out of your money for something of barely-watchable quality. (I was 10 at the time and had not ever yet had to face the idea I could one day fall victim to being swindled myself, cut me just a little bit of slack there.) But to me it didn't really seem any different than what everyone I knew or ever interacted with did with VHS tapes. Selling the bootlegs to make your own profit, that I did eventually get; a chunk of a movie or show's success soon came to depend on DVD sales, and for a while I was very anti-piracy in that regard. But I never saw an issue with like, making DVD copies to trade with friends if we were able to do that.

Now it's 2022 and we are so inundated with streaming platforms left-right-and-center, I don't have regular TV channels or cable or satellite. I use a streaming platform to find what I want to watch, or a pirating site if what I want to watch isn't available otherwise. I also have a very large DVD and Blu-ray collection, and I use them regularly. And, the more and more so many streaming platforms release "exclusive" movies or shows that you won't be able to watch anywhere else and that they have no intent of making physical releases of? The more and more I find myself reverting to the mindset I had as a kid, wanting to make a copy of that Swan Princess tape we could only find at Blockbuster but couldn't afford to constantly rent. It isn't that I don't want to support the movies or shows themselves, or the people who pour themselves into making something I love. I want to support them in any way I can, including watching it on the platform if I have access to said platform.

But sometimes those platforms just...quietly remove the titles they've carried. Sometimes they jack their prices too high and I can't afford to keep paying that fee month after month because it stacks over time. Most often, I want to collect the media physically so I have the opportunity to revisit it in the future whenever I want, especially if I have a friend who has never seen it or even had access to it before. Physical media is wonderful, and there's something special about owning it. It's the same kind of special magic that it's always been about when I was 10 and could hold a freshly recorded VHS tape with episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess on it and know it was mine now for keeps.

This has already been quite a lengthy ramble and it's very colored by a sense of nostalgia, but for once I think that nostalgia really has come in handy for explaining why my outlook on something like pirating shows and movies is the way it is. I don't like this platform-exclusive direction; it's more or less just another paywall that can prevent entire swathes of potential audiences from connecting with movies and shows, and at this point, it's becoming almost too much for me to keep up with. So no, I have no moral quandary about cancelling subscriptions at some point and pirating episodes and movies and burning them onto a physical copy for keeps, and any reservations I used to have about buying bootlegs? Gone. I've seen blu-ray bootleg releases of platform-exclusive media that are much higher and more accessible quality than some official stuff, especially the made-on-demand stuff. At this point, I gotta respect the hustle and I can't complain about someone who burns a DVD better than I could.

Yo ho ho, y'all.

#long post #physical media #piracy #platform exclusivity #pirating media #streaming services #VHS nostalgia #personal experience #personal post #not sure what else to tag this #Cyanide speaks