#in my head she doesn't even go by nora because she's like. THAT'S NOT ME. SHE DIED. WHY CAN'T YOU ACCEPT WHO I AM AND LOVE ME FOR ME

[k3n-dyll]

Vouyer [Abby A.]

||Men, minors, and ageless DNI

CW: 18+, wlw, a lot of porn - a pinch of plot if you squint and turn your head, subbottom!abby, domtop!reader, Abby getting caught, masturbation, voyeurism cus reader watches her for a hot minute, fingering(A!receiving), tribbing, perv!reader and perv!abby kinda, overstimulation, Abby cries a lil bit

AN: I feel like my brain fizzed out near the end idk. I think I'm cooked. Anyways, hope this doesn't suck ass as much as my brain is telling me it does!

Masterlist. Divider creds DON'T FORGET ABOUT PALESTINE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ "Just like that- fuck" the words escape her lips, sounding strained and breathless. A thin layer of sweat coats her toned body as she fills herself up to the best of her ability, her thick fingers ramming in and out of her used, sloppy cunt as she chases her orgasm for the third time tonight.

This was not how she had planned for her night to go, but if you could have only seen just how pretty you'd looked; drenched in sweat from head to toe, clothes sticking to every curve of your bruised and bloodied body after such a close call on patrol earlier that day. She'd almost compromised herself just to get a glimpse of you looking like that. Her piercing blue eyes tracked your every movement, once the threat - a pack of infected that had attacked while you were both searching for supplies - was gone.

Or at least she'd thought they were at the time until she felt a pair of gnarled and decaying hands grab onto her shoulders. She killed the thing herself, of course, knocking the stalker off balance with one hard whack of a steel pipe before throwing it onto the ground, forcing the heel of her boot down onto its sprouting head with a splat. Not realizing that it was you she had been distracted by, you gave her a disapproving eye roll and she winced.

It was her own fault you weren't that fond of her, the blonde has ignored you since you first showed up at the WLF a few months back. Even when you became roommates, Abby's demeanor towards you was always cold and disinterested. It was stupid but she figured it was best. She was unable to even think about saying a word to you without her palms sweating. She just knew she'd fuck up and stumble over her words, making herself look weak in front of you and she couldn't have that.

When Abby learned that you were going to spend part of your night drinking with Manny, Owen, and Nora, she took the opportunity to lie.

" 'm tired. Think I'm gonna just go to bed" she had mumbled, feigning exhaustion, going so far as to force a yawn out before she walked back to the room. Alone.

The girl didn't make it five minutes without touching herself, getting comfortable in bed, and shoving her hand down her underwear. Dumbly, she figured that maybe if she just got off once, she could get the image of you out of her brain.

That was how she got where she is now. Naked, driving her middle and ring fingers as deep as she can get them, pumping them in and out of her cunt, her other hand joining as she rubs feverishly over her sensitive clit. The scene is downright pornographic, the sloshing sounds coming from Abby's body as she fucks herself stupid on her own fingers, her jaw slack, your name spilling from her soft lips in sinful prayer.

She wants it to be you so bad, it's almost pathetic.

She can't bring herself to stop - she just knows it'd feel so much better if your hands replaced her own and the rest of her body seems to agree with that thought. So much so that every time she tries to stop or give herself a break that ache comes back full force, a heartbeat forming between her thick thighs. It gets so bad that she considers walking to your side of the room and grabbing one of your t-shirts because at this point your scent could get her there.

"Jus' one more, one more, baby pleasepleaseplease - holy shit"

That third orgasm hits Abby like a truck, her begging eventually becoming a mess of incoherent babbling under her breath, her body twitching as she comes down from her high. Again. And again, it isn't enough. She can't take her mind off of just how fucking good you would look on top of her - god - the mere thought of having your pretty pussy slotted up against hers is enough to make her crave more.

Abby lets out a deep sigh and plops her head back down onto the pillow underneath her as she tries to catch her breath, thinking maybe she should just try to sleep it off. Despite her better judgement though, she finds herself with the pads of her fingers back on her puffy, pulsing clit, stroking herself in languid circular motions.

You stood in the entryway of your room, peeking your head in the door to watch as Abby fucking Anderson of all people split herself on her fingers, letting out the prettiest moans as she chases her release. You knew that you should probably just close the door and quietly sneak away. Go back to the mess hall with your group, maybe pretend you forgot something, and then conveniently "lose track of time" while you were there so that your roommate could finish her little "session".

You really were going to leave. As a matter of fact, you were halfway through closing the door when you heard something that made you stop in your tracks. It was Abby.

And she was moaning your name.

The sound was unmistakable as it was one of the only words you were able to fully recognize through her stupor of bated breaths and blissed-out whining. The frigid, unstoppable force of a soldier that had been ignoring your existence for months was actually begging for you, crying out your name over and over again as she fucked herself.

You found yourself biting your lip at the sound, and before you knew it, you were tip-toeing all the way into your shared room. You practically held your breath as you closed the door behind you, freezing completely once it clicked shut and lightly punching the air in silent celebration once you had confirmed you managed to sneak in undetected.

It was all so perverted, and yet you couldn't stop staring

You were leaning up against the wall beside the door, trying your best to be quiet and resist the urge to shove your hand down your own pants as you watched Abby's naked body convulse under her fingers when she came, eyes trailing over her body as she rode out her high.

It became clear pretty quickly that she'd been at this for a while, unable to satisfy herself completely. You watched as she began to start herself up again, her hand making its way back down between her thighs, her legs twitching still from her previous climax. From what you can see of her face, she seems a bit frustrated, her eyebrows knotted together in almost anger as she lazily works her fingers on her clit. She looks and sounds so precious that, before you can fully think it through, you speak.

"Still not finished?"

Abby nearly falls out of her bed with how quickly she shoots upward, covering herself with her blanket, a deep red blush fanning out along her freckled cheeks. It doesn't take much for her to realize that you heard her, your expression telling her everything she needed to know.

"I was, uh-..."

"Yeah, I heard...and saw" you interrupt, making your way over to the blonde's bed, unable to contain your amusement at the situation as your eyes trail over her.

" 'S this why you've been avoiding me, baby?"

She just stares at you, not fully knowing why she can't bring herself to do anything - to deny your suspicion, yell at you, or do something that would make her stop feeling so vulnerable right now. But she just looks up at you, mouth slightly agape.

"You could have just asked me for some help with that if you wanted it, y'know." you continue, gently gripping her under her chin to make her look at you.

Her jaw clenches, and for a moment, Abby considers pulling away from you. Getting mad and reasserting her dominance or something but you both know that isn't going to happen. You catch a glimpse of her fingers, glistening and wrinkly from how long she's been trying to get herself off, and your suspicions are confirmed which only emboldens you to go further. You lean down a bit closer, your face so close to hers that your noses nearly touch.

"You can't satisfy yourself no matter how hard you try, can you?"

Abby squirms a little but she shakes her head slightly in response, eyes breaking contact with yours but your hand never releases her jaw. You've never seen her look this exposed before - not only in terms of her nakedness but she just looked so vulnerable and small right now, despite her actual size.

You press a kiss to her lips, and she practically melts into you, allowing you to lay her back down on the mattress and crawl on top of her, your hand caught in her loosened braid. The other hand wanders down between her legs, eager to feel the sticky mess that shes turned herself into over the thought of you.

The sweet little whines she gives you as you circle your fingers along her clit are so unfamiliar coming from her but oh so welcome as opposed to her usual stoicism. You almost feel bad for the fact that shes had to wait for so long to finally get that release shes in desperate need of. A release that can only seem to be triggered by your hand.

If Abby wasn't already embarrassed for having been caught, she was sure as hell embarrassed with how quickly you got her to cum on your fingers. You've barely gotten the chance to get them inside of her before her irises roll back, head thrown onto the pillow beneath her as her body twitches in ecstasy.

"S-sorry, I-"

You see her begin to apologize but she's cut off completely at the sight of you sucking her essence off of your fingers, her words being yanked right from her mouth as her arousal comes back with a force. She knows she's way too sensitive to do anything else, but the thought of saying no to you right now doesnt even cross her mind as an option once you start pulling off your clothes.

It's all she can do to keep her hands to herself while you strip. Those vivid blue eyes are glued to your body, enamored by the perfection being uncovered in front of her. You place yourself back on top of her, hiking her leg up over your shoulder and lowering yourself until her cunt is pressed flush against your own. You let out a simultaneous groan at the feeling, grinding yourself down onto her with little regard for how sensitive she is.

"Hnmn- fuck" Abby's hips buck upward involuntarily, her body telling her that she's had enough, but it feels too good to stop.

She couldn't tell you it was too much if she wanted to anyway, every attempted word coming out of her mouth as incoherent whines and half-finished syllables. You watch her face intently as a few tears begin to make their way down her reddened cheeks and it only makes you pick up the pace, pressing wet kisses against the side of her calf as your clit perfectly ruts against hers with each thrust.

"You've wanted this so fuckin' bad, haven't you?" You tease her through gritted teeth, the words spilling out without much thought.

"Want me to fuck you till you cant fuckin breathe, hm?"

All that comes out of Abby in response are breathless "yes's" all jumbled into one word followed desperate little whines, her fingernails digging into the flesh of your hips as if she's afraid you'll stop if she lets go.

"G'na cu- ohmygod" she tries to warn but the poor girl can barely think. You hear her loud and clear though, making a point to apply a bit more pressure, the sloppy noises coming from your bodies moving against one another in tandem bringing you close as well.

The orgasm that results sends electricity through your body, pleasure that's only heightened by the uncontained scream that pulls from Abby's throat when she cums with you, drenching your inner thighs even more. She doesn't even seem to care if anyone hears her, too fucked out to even try to keep her mouth shut. Mercifully, you take the responsibility away from her, crashing your lips onto hers and muffling the sound in the hard, wet kiss.

The euphoria lingers even after you've slowed to a stop, heavy, labored breathing and Abby's soft whimpers the only sounds that occupy the room. A low chuckle escapes you as you pepper soft kisses along her cheeks, your thumb accompanying to wipe up her pretty tears.

AN: One thing I suck at doing is thinking of a way to fuckin close these

reblogs appreciated☆requests open

Almost forgot, taglist: @half-of-a-gay, @porcelainmystery, @ikoinsblog

#lesbian #wlw #☆kennie's works #abby anderson #abby anderson x reader #abby anderson smut #abby anderson x female reader #abby the last of us #the last of us #abby tlou2 #tlou2 smut #tlou2

[andrewminyardslawyer]

Alright here's my predictions/wishful thinking for The Sunshine Court

- Jean showers differently because of the water boarding trauma

- he dissociates A Lot

- chronic pain. Especially his hands. I feel like he has migraine attacks all the time too (me?? Projecting?? Never!)

- either hates the dark or needs it because he's so out of his depth and it's familiar

- I'm desperately hoping the Trojans don't hate him for being short with his responses and general demeanor. Please love this boy with all your hearts I'm begging

- Jean and Renee don't work out because she saved his life and he feels like he owes her or something similar. To quote Nora "she is not his answer and he isn't hers"

- I know I said it back in November but the "love story" is Jean and learning that who is is isn't shameful. The love story is Jean and being alive (who/if he ends up with someone should be the least of our concerns. I just want him to be as close to happy as possible and healthy)

- Jean is going to have absolutely no idea how to function in the world. Everything about his life has been scheduled and decided for him and now he has zero guidance and no one who knows what happened to him to help. Classes, books, food, travel, down time, clothing, hygiene stuff, hair cut. He has never been able to choose for himself before

- I know Jeremy knows the very very basics but nothing even remotely close to the truth and he is going to be SO far in over his head

- idk what it will be but Jean finding a hobby that he genuinely loves will make me cry (everything is going to make me cry)

- if Jean doesn't have an eating disorder I will be shocked tbh

- starts some therapy with Bee or they at least try to have him talk to her before he leaves

- I'd love some Jean and Neil friendship

- some form of Kevin, Andrew, Neil hanging out at Abby's because of the snippet we got of Jean watching Neil and Andrew. Maybe they take him to California (or Renee but I feel like Kevin might be insistent on taking him)

- So. Much. Kevin. Angst. Jean either never wants to talk to him again or calls him all the time because he is so lost and has no idea how to function as his own person

- I want him to have his own room where he can lock the door

- Jean having major conflict over being bi because of the nest in general but mainly because of his sexual assault

- Jean goes to Renee's for holiday break

#aftg #tsc #the sunshine court #all for the game #jean moreau #jeremy knox #andrew minyard #neil josten #kevin day #ed mention #the tree talks

[rocknroll7575]

Return of the Traitor

Jaune stood in front of the Xiao-Long house where he waited for the two to come out, a few feet behind him were Nora and Ren, both with their bags packed and ready to go.

Finally coming out of the house were Ruby and Yang, Yang looked a lot worse for ware, not that Jaune could blame her.

"Jaune?" Ruby asked with a raised brow, "What are you doing here?" She asked.

Jaune let out a sigh, "We're leaving for Shade Academy, Ruby," Jaune told her.

Ruby's eyes widened with shock, "What!?" she cried, "Does Pyrrha know?"

Jaune shook his head, "No, and... we're leaving it like that," Jaune said.

Ruby was confused, "But-"

"Ruby," Jaune cut her off, "She's made it clear that whatever it is she's doing with your uncle and Ms. Goodwitch, it's more important than us," He said.

"You can't believe that," Ruby said, "Pyrrha... she... Jaune she loves you," Ruby said.

Jaune looked to the ground, he could feel the tears forming in his eyes, however, he tried not to cry and pushed the mess of emotions he was feeling to the back of his mind. "I know... but with what's happened and everything that's going on, we've been worried about her, Oum sakes she almost died, and yet ever call, every text... she doesn't answer, not Nora, not Ren, not me... so to us, as much as we hate to say this, she's made her choice," Jaune said sadly.

Ruby couldn't help but look upset, she wanted Jaune, Nora, and Ren to stay, to keep trying to get ahold of Pyrrha, but even if she tried, she felt that it wasn't going to help, she felt that everything around her was not how it was before. However, she had to be strong right now, she needed to be strong because she felt that if she faltered even once, she'd break. "So... this is goodbye?" Ruby said.

Jaune smiled sadly, "For now," He said, as he looked at Ruby, "But think of this more as a 'See you later' CraterFace,"

Ruby smiled sadly as she looked at her fellow team leader, "Yeah... see you later, VomitBoy," Ruby said.

the two hugged each other tightly for a minute before breaking apart and Jaune walked away, turning back to face his team and Ruby watched as he left.

As Ruby watched the blonde leave, she couldn't help but feel this would be the last time she would see him as she still remembered him...

"Ruby...?" came the voice of Nora.

Ruby was taken out of the memory as she looked at Nora with a dumbfounded face. "I...I don't believe it," She said.

Velvet sighed, knowing this was tough to hear for Ruby and the others. "I'm afraid it's all true," She told them, "Jaune... he's turned his back on us and... he killed Coco," Velvet said.

Pyrrha was aghast as she sat down to take a few breaths, unable to believe that the man she had loved, had done such a terrible deed. Weiss too was in shock and she looked down, unable to come to terms with the man whom she'd come to forgive for his persistent courting, who had done something as terrible as turn his back on his team and even kill a friend.

Yang was furious, knowing that someone she had once seen as a good person and deemed a rather good friend, had betrayed them all, Blake herself felt a bit of conflict, wondering how someone like Jaune, who she remembered being just as brave and optimistic as Ruby had taken such as dark path.

"It's my fault," Ren said, being able to read their emotions.

Yang looked at him with a glare, "Don't say that! The only person to blame here is Jaune!" she growled.

Ren shook his head, "No, I'm to blame for some of what made Jaune turn his back," Ren said. "I... I turned my back on him, I blamed him for the team's failures, for the deaths, I put all that on him, and I didn't even think he was already blaming himself," Ren said sadly.

"We're all to blame for Jaune turning his back on us," Nora said. "I should've been there too, I should've put an end to all tension between the three of us," Nora finished.

Pyrrha let out a long sigh, her face covered in sadness, "I never should've left," She said.

Nora nodded with a bit of a glare, "Yeah, maybe think about others before yourself,"

Ren looked at her, "Nora-"

Weiss glared at Nora with a raised brow, "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"It means that maybe instead of running off with Ruby's uncle, ignoring our calls and texts, and following some sort of "destiny" she set out for herself, running off you all playing fucking hero, our team wouldn't be like this! I wouldn't have to be the only one trying to hold the team together! Ren wouldn't have given up so easily! Jaune would still be around!" Nora cried.

"Nora, that's enough!" Ren pleaded, not wanting the situation to escalate.

Nora nodded, "You know what Ren, it is enough!" Nora cried, "I'm sick and tired of you all acting like your the fucking heroes of some story, like just because Pyrrha got some magic powers now, or the fact that our headmaster is now in some kid's head, you think you all are some fucking heroes in a fairy tale!"

"Last time I checked, we saved Atlas-"

Nora rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Right, you fucking saved it! Then why are the people of Atlas and Mantle here? Where's the Military? Where's Ironwood? Oh, that's right, they're all gone! All of it's at the bottom of the fucking ocean!" Nora cried, "So good work "heroes"!"

Yang charged at Nora and Nora was quick to charge at Yang too, but Blake, Ruby, and Ren got in the middle of them.

"That's enough!" Ruby cried, "There's no time for this!"

Blake nodded, "Ruby's right, what we need to do is start preparing for Salem's arrival," Blake said.

"We may not just have to prepare for Salem and the Grimm," Rumpole said. "If Salem is looking for allies, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that she or those that follow her, will try to find those that will join her cause, and right now, that would most likely be the crown,"

"Are they really that powerful?" Weiss asked.

"Most of southern Vacuo has joined them because the Crown provides protection, however, from what I hear, the crown is somewhat split," Sun said.

Ruby looked at him, "What do you mean?" She asked.

"Some are following the original leader of the group, Jax Asturias, who claims to be the rightful king of Vacuo, however, some have seen past Jax's false bravado and claim and instead have been trying to name Jaune their king, even calling him "The should-be King" of Vacuo,"

"So there's a possible civil war going on from the inside," Weiss said, "This could work to our advantage,"

"Maybe, but it doesn't matter, because if Jax kills Jaune and keeps leadership over the crown, he sides with Salem, and if Jaune takes control, he may side with Salem as well,"

Sage shook his head, "I don't think he will," Sage said, "Look, he may not be the same person who all knew him as, but from what I saw when I was his prisoner, he cared for the people around him, he cared for the villages they occupied, he still cares about people,"

"He killed Coco," Velvet said with a glare, "He doesn't care about us," she said.

Sage nodded, "Ok, yes, he cares little for us, but even then, I doubt he's going to side with some immortal Queen of Grimm bent on humanities destruction," Sage finished, "We don't have to forgive him, and I doubt you could, but perhaps, for now, we ask for his help," Sage said.

Yang glared, "And then what, we shake hands and go our separate ways?" She asked, "I don't care if he helps us in the end, he's going to pay for everything he's done,"

Velvet nodded in agreement, "I'm with Yang, he's not getting off scot-free after what he did,"

Sage shook his head, "No, I'm not asking you to do that, but-"

However, before any more could be said, Neptune burst into the meeting room and looked at them all with a shocked face, "Come out all of you! Quickly!" He cried.

Rumpole looked at him, "What is it!?" She cried.

Neptune looked at her, "It's Jaune!" He cried. "He showed up at the City gates on a camel! He's being taken to the infirmary!"

Nora looked worried, "Why!?" She asked as she followed Neptune outside.

"He's got three arrows in his back and he's out cold!" Neptune cried.

Rumpole looked at Ren, "Get Headmaster Theodore here! He needs to be informed about this quickly!" She said.

Ren nodded and ran for his office while the others all raced over to the infirmary where they hoped to see what state Jaune was in and hopefully, get answers from him about all that he's done...

#rwby #rwby au #rwby rising dawn au #rwby knightscrown #knightscrown #ruby rose #jaune arc x gillian asturias #rwby jaune x gillian #jaune x gillian #equilibrium aura #aura balance

[itsclydebitches]

Cinder is a lot more sexualized then the male parts of Salem's inner circle

Like tyrian is shirtless sometimes but that does not feel as...drawn attention to, as say, the lingering shots of Cinder's butt or thighs. Or her wearing short shorts and high boots you know what I mean?

I do, anon. RWBY got a lot of attention back in the day for its anti-upskirt technology, but that doesn't give it a free pass for all the other ways you might (and it does) sexualize the cast. I've never been inclined to give RWBY too much shit in this regard because it is pulling from media with a LONG history of such designs and cinematography - it feels unfair of me to act like RWBY is uniquely responsible for such problems when I'm simultaneously willing to overlook, say, the 90's "gag" of Yusuke flipping up Keiko's skirt - but there's nevertheless a voice in the back of my mind constantly asking things like, "Why are so many of the girls fighting in heels?" and "Why are they dressed like they're going to the club and not the literal TUNDRA??" I'd kill for the whole cast, but the girls in particular, to get a re-design that focuses on fashionably compelling practicality, rather than sexy fanservice. (Though Ice Kingdom did a good job overall, particularly for Ruby.) Sure, RWBY didn't give us panty-shots, but one of the first characters we're introduced to is literally designed like a dominatrix.

If we're talking about outfits though... I'd say Emerald gets hit the worst out of Salem's minions. Yeah, Cinder is definitely sexualized in a more general sense as the tall, white (that's not a coincidence), long-legged beauty who sensually conjures fire as she prowls towards the heroes, camera focused on her hips swaying. But Emerald?

She suffers from the same problem Yang has. AKA, if your woman isn't classically beautiful (like Wiess and to a different extent Blake), or cute / child-like (Ruby, Penny), but is instead going for a sporty, comparatively masculine-esque vibe... then they've got to show a LOT of skin. RWBY makes it sexy by just denying them clothes. You're entering dangerous battles on the daily? You want to protect yourself? Too bad. The audience needs a midriff and cleavage and your whole arms to stare at. Shorten the skin-tight pants so we can see some leg too. Oh, Yang has to have long pants because she's heading into the coldest Kingdom in Remnant? Never mind that, cut a strip out to show her thigh.

"But Clyde, the girls don't need to wear armor because of aura--" then why the hell does Jaune bother wearing that heavy-ass suit? Is it weight training? Does he just think it makes him look cool? ...or does it exist in case his aura breaks and he's allowed to wear more protective gear because there are different gender expectations attached to his design? The aura argument is just a modern rehashing of the Supergirl sun argument: using made up lore to "justify" getting your women characters into skimpy outfits, despite the men rarely being held to the same standards.

Tyrian is actually an interesting exception here and if I were less tired I'd think through this argument more, but something something as the "crazy" character he's allowed more leeway in breaking those expectations. Also the open shirt shows off his scars, which likewise help sell how dangerous he is. With the exception of characters like Cinder and Nora - whose injuries are Important Character Moments the audience gets to see play out - scars are surprisingly uncommon in Remanent. Or, again, they're severely downplayed so as not to interfere with that classic beauty design (like Weiss', or even Yang who gets a perfect cut when losing her arm). So when you see a character with giant scars spanning the length of his chest, an open shirt drawing deliberate attention to them... that makes you go, "Oh shit. What's he been through to scar like that in a world where most people make it out of fights with no permanent damage?"

#rwde #rwby #mymetas #also sorry there's no readmore #tumblr won't bring it up for me :( #thanks tumblr

[choicesficwriterscreations]

January MC of the Month: Nora Rose

Please welcome January 2024's MC of the Month! Each month, we highlight one MC or OC on our Meet My MC / OC List. They are selected randomly on the Wheel of Names, and eligibility requirements can be found here. We accept MC / OC profiles on an ongoing basis. Please feel free to send yours in!

This month’s MC of the month is…

@inlocusmads's Nora Rose

More below...

In your own words, tell us what you like most about your MC / OC.

The thing I like the best about Nora is how she has a killswitch alternative to any plan she comes up with. Even if it is something as simple as coming up with dinner options. She has this interesting perceptive ability that's akin to playing 4D chess, but at the same time, she has elevator music running in her head.

At the same time, she's sometimes terribly wrong and isn't afraid to acknowledge that. The things she's able to do today - from keeping a level head and a calm composure in the hardest of situations come from her childhood where things were hard, and she had to grow up quite quickly. A lot of times, she'd have to think on her feet, run through options, remember new stuff, and be able to work with her constraints, not just pertinent to her job but in her adulthood as a whole. Her capacity to be able to stand up on her own feet came from so many instances where she couldn't even get off the floor or look straight ahead. 

Nora's also a slow learner but an avid one nonetheless. She was kicked out of so many schools when she was young, mostly because of her not being able to focus properly or standing up to her bullies (something the school calls ‘stirring trouble up’), and it kind of stunted the faith she had in herself. She had to build up an open mind to be able to differentiate between what is good and bad for her. She had to learn how to carve out her own path, despite dealing with so much grief she could never move on from. All of these things stuck to her when she grew up, which made her more aware and sponge-like to gather the mental ammunition needed to face all kinds of problems. 

Nora's far from what she pictured herself to be as a kid, but she's kind of bittersweet about making it this far. Optimistic that if she just doesn't think too much about stuff, the space and time around her would heal even the bloodiest of wounds, but also disappointed she can't deal with things more openly and faster, like in a brawling match. But I'm happy for her, given the circumstances she was in. Nora's always had this ability to chew her way out of things - by hook or by crook. If she can't decode a lock, she'd just give it a slight nudge. If the nudge doesn't work, she'll just straight-up shoot at it and deal with the fallout later. Her main motto is to “just keep going”. 

Do you feel your MC / OC is like you at all? How are you alike or different?

I'd say I took a lot from my experiences growing up and gave them to Nora - dealing with people at school, understanding where she truly “belongs” (before she realized that was a load of bull and she should just stop tunnel-visioning a perfect outcome and instead think about laying down a different road to her path). Nora and I share this trait where we can't sit still, but if something's up, we'd spend hours at the same place, even if it involves doing absolutely nothing. Plus, it takes both of us ages to respond to a message. Nora more than me, for sure, and half the time, she's just bored of the routine email chore (not a good sign in her line of work, but she manages.)

That's where the similarities stop haha.

She's a tough person. She throws a good punch, having undergone a lot of physical training to qualify for her NYPD officer job and more recently, for her private eye job (Mafalda had some strict requirements). She's also a great problem-solver as aforementioned. Besides the usual differences in physicality and all, she doesn't get startled easily - as in, the world could possibly end tomorrow and she'd still be at her desk, responding to a two-year old email. Her self-assurance at that instant (not anytime or anywhere else) but at that very instant is so strong, it is honestly remarkable. 

Nora also enjoys doing things on her own. Whether it be making dinner from scratch, down to the bread-baking, deducing information (without relying on scraping the bowels of the internet) or stitching her clothes if they don't fit her. It was one of the only lessons her mother taught her before she passed. Which is also the reason why she doesn't like frozen food. More on that later. 

What is most important to your MC / OC? What is their motivation in life?

Vengeance. 

Just kidding. 

It is actually vengeance. I don't know how else to put it. 

Nora's been wronged by a lot of people in her life. From losing her mother because the hospital in charge neglected her to losing her father also because her co-workers neglected him, she went through pretty much the same neglect-arc in school and college. She was always dismissed as a “traumatized kid” half the time and the other half the time, people didn't listen to her when she'd say, for example, report a bully for what they did or critique a faculty member for showing their bias. It resulted in a lot of things that went wrong in her life - from not having a good support system to being an actual orphan when she was barely thirteen. 

This kind of manifested in horrible ways when she was a kid. She suffered from a lot of anger issues and would immediately resort to physical violence if she were confronted. It isn't fair to blame her either, because she was so helpless. She'd wanted someone, just anyone to listen to her - to be there for her. This desire to help her child-self developed well into adulthood. Nora began building back the stability she never had. She's still doing it. She allows herself optimism even when she doesn't believe in anything. She puts her faith in the arbitrary workings of the universe so there's less burden to carry on her shoulders. Even though the things she tells herself aren't all perfect, they would be something her younger self would have appreciated so much. 

Taking revenge for the child in her to rest easy, for the teenage girl in her to find joys in stupid things such as trashy television shows and emo music and for her to be at peace in her own skin without wanting to explode every five minutes has always been her plan ever since she grew up. That and simply because she uses it to feel more proud of what she does. When something isn't getting anywhere, she's like “Yeah well, f it, we'll get it done. A setback ain't shit.” It was always about the “we”. 

Nora is also driven by the motivation to finish something as fast as possible. Everything is like cross-country running to her because she relishes in the satisfaction of getting a chunk of time just to herself right after getting something done. Which means she's either very good at jumping through hoops or crashes and burns. If something takes longer than her intended expectations, she'll drop it in an instant or table it until she gets her motivation back to finish it. It resulted in a lot of half-completed, archived projects but a few she's proud of, including having made her own quilts and bedsheets for the winter. 

This mentality is something she can never get rid of. At school, she was either the best player on her soccer team or the absolute worst. (Hey, at least there's no in-between to her.)

What are their biggest pet peeves/dislikes?

She hates frozen food with a burning passion. Being from a Chinese household, her parents, in the few good years they had with her - taught her the importance of a home-cooked meal or just any cooked meal. Nora, being the impressionable naive child she was, caught onto it and developed this visceral hatred for frozen anything. While she digs the convenience, she isn't a fan of how it tastes either - apart from her family values. This seeps into how Nora sees everything. She's the weird survivalist aunt with a shotgun in her closet because her personal goal is to make everything she consumes. From food, down to the clothes she wears or the curtains in her window, everything has to have had her work and hours put into it. 

Nora is also not a fan of people who don't listen first and just yap, yap and yap. This is why she often got into “creative differences” with her co-workers in her precinct. This is also the reason why Mafalda gives Nora full control of the wheel when she isn't there at the Agency, because the fewer people yapping, the happier Nora is and the better she works. 

As for visceral dislikes, boy oh boy does she have a lot:

Starting strong with the NYPD because they suck, point blank, period. She also thinks there's a special place in hell for people who just assume a lot and can get away with baseless accusations. She can understand broken promises - after all, people move on sometimes, and it's hard to keep track of them, but she draws the line at a proper betrayal. Words don't matter much to her, but actions do. Nora also isn't a fan of people who jump to the easiest conclusion just because it's easy. She’s seen a lot in her life not to automatically red-flag them. It’s worse when it comes from authorities, y’know people you’re taught to trust.

Also, people who gate-keep their expertise. She’s come across so many pretentious people who’d rather let an important investigation hit a dead end than worry about spilling their “trade secrets.” Kind of a niche dislike, but if you’re running out of time and your only hope banks on a mystery novelist’s ability to describe what he saw and tell the truth like his characters would have done, you too would be frustrated if he’d rather drink his coffee when he knows he’s purposefully jeopardizing the investigation’s momentum. And that’s just one of her ‘good’ experiences. Nora loathes academia and wouldn’t touch it even with a six-foot pole.

If your MC / OC could change one thing - anything - what would it be?

Be blessed with a readable medical textbook so she could diagnose her mother earlier than her doctors ever can (and) get magical surgery skills to revive her dad after he got stabbed. 

She still regrets not being able to do anything because she was “just a kid”.Nora has learned to cope with it, knowing she can't do anything about it but she still has this itching feeling of what if things had turned out for the better. It's this heavy rock she's gonna have to deal with for sometime now. 

Nora has this tricky relationship with her heritage. She isn't a fan of how different she is compared to the rest of her family and how they'd ostracized her after her settling down far from home. She wants to be able to change that aspect but knows it is too late to repair the damage. If she could go back in time and “pick a side,” she wouldn't have to feel the FOMO.

This regret of hers, however, is attributed to her never feeling she belonged somewhere among her family. Someday, she'd have to find her own family, own circle of friends, and culture to build. Someday, she'll learn that she's as valid to celebrate her heritage as her Aunt Mei or Uncle Tommy. That there aren't true extremes to anything there's no “one way” to be something, but until then, she's going to angrily sew back some loose stitches and groan about not being able to speak Cantonese as fluently as her relatives or being a “true” New Yorker. 

Also maybe her hair. (Also it is so hard to draw her hair consistently.) Sometimes it gets in the way. And maybe fix her eyesight without needing contacts or glasses. Automatically give herself 20/20 vision whenever needed and blur her eyes out when she doesn't want to.

What is your MC / OC’s favorite quote or song?

It's hard to pick one song, because Nora listens to anything and doesn't really have a music ‘taste’ as long as the song she's listening to has some spunk to it. Something she relates to would be I Talk To The Wind by King Crimson. Combined with the slow pace and the lyrics that basically put her life as a picture, it's a bop.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your MC / OC?  (It can be why you created them, how they’ve inspired you, or you could write a little blurb as if it is coming from your OC - an acceptance speech. :) )

I've struggled a lot with naming characters before but Nora's was the only time I knew her name wayyy before I could give her a personality. I was like “yep she's Nora, she's definitely one, yep.” and somehow I didn't anticipate how much she'd like, write herself and the story just writing itself. It literally popped into my head as outlandish as it may seem. And somehow that process worked because I don't ever run out of new headcanons to add.

Nora's also the first character I've created a 100k-worded introduction for (which will never see the light of day and is chucked into my files). I honestly expected her to just be fleeting. I'd make up something about her character, and I'd leave it at that, but nope. 

She's the most organized person in the universe. Her clothes never had a chance to get folded since 1999. She is so methodic and yet will pull off stupid shit like kickboxing a door because she doesn't want to open it. Nora is the character to every character but she stops charactering if she's in front of any screen with something playing on it. She can calculate the angle she needs to throw something so it can hit something, but she fails at basic math at the checkout line. She's masterful at cooking up a storm in the kitchen but enters her flop era when she forgets to take her stuff from the oven when the timer beeps.

Honestly, Nora was such a good lesson in writing as well because people are not always black-and-white. Sometimes, their strengths are their weaknesses. Sometimes the things they are chasing after work against their benefit. Maybe their opinions are skewed after all, even though the narrative conditions into believing that they're the Hero character. They should be allowed to be terribly piss-pathetic poor at something before learning to solve the problem, and sometimes it's okay if they're just bad at something if they can improv a way forward.

Plus, she's cool and stuff. Sometimes. 

#cfwc mc of the month #crimes of passion #inlocusmads #meet my mc #choices fic writers creations #playchoices #choices stories you play #january mc of the month

[booppooo]

Can I request a fic where the reader and abby have been messing around for a while and everyone knows that they are both off limits because of one another. Kinda like fuck buddies but feelings are definitely involved.

Can this fic be stationed in college?

There's More to This

Abby Anderson x Fem! Reader

AN: uhm I didn't add any smut to this if that was what you were getting at I'm sorry....I hope you enjoy? Thanks for requesting nonetheless <3

Warnings: arguing, fwb to lovers, jealousy

-

There were no strings attached, so why did it hurt so much when Abby talked about her?

"Yeah she was kinda crazy, she wanted to handcuff me to the bed and shit - I wasn't into it." Abby explained while sipping on a beer in your apartment.

Little did you know, Abby was lying about the entire endeavor with Nora. She just wanted to see how you would react, make you jealous even.

And she succeeded, because you crossed your arms and leaned toward the opposite end of the couch distastefully, "That is pretty weird." It took more than you wanted to admit to not grumble.

Seeing you so defensive and with your nose stuck up in the air shamefully made Abby's heart leap in her chest. It was stupid how involved she got with you, because now - what was supposed to be another stupid hook up - turned into several late night booty calls, and now casual fuck buddies.

Before it was just, 'wyd?' texts at 3am, either both of you were drunk, or up stressing over homework. But as of late, you both would instinctually gravitate toward each other during the day. Walking each other to classes, getting something to eat together, even ending up going to parties together. This meant that those middle of the night texts were now fucking on each other's couch at 2 pm on a Wednesday.

And for a while that's how it was. More or less just you and Abby reaching out for one another to get a 'fix.' It was too easy and too familiar to want and branch out, at least that's what you told yourself. That was also the impression Abby gave you, because you used to laugh together at the desperate texts she'd get from old hook ups freshly after you two were done playing around in the sheets.

Until Nora.

Well, until Abby's story about Nora. A fable.

From your understanding, you two were on the path to becoming exclusive - possibly even dating, but this certainly threw a wrench in things. Honestly, a part of your heart broke over what she told you.

You glanced at the clock - 4PM. Was it too odd an hour to kick her out for 'homework' purposes?

"Hey uh, I got a paper I need to work on for my psych class." You reached for the remote on the coffee table and turned off Parks and Recreation.

"Yeah I get it, I can hang out here until you're done," then she glanced at the time, "You wanna get an early dinner first?"

You could just strangle her.

"Hm I would but I'm not hungry right now." You felt like you were scrambling to get her out, "And I'd be cool with you waiting but I'll probably be working on it all night, it's a pretty long paper."

Maybe it was the nervous tone in your voice, or the way you wouldn't make eye contact with her, but somehow she saw through your bullshit, "Oh yeah? And what's the paper about? Because you usually like to get dinner about this time."

Her words hit you like a frying pan over the head, "It's a research paper I've been putting off, it's like a whole semester long thing." Slowly you inched toward the front door.

"Uhm, okay? When do you plan on eating then?"

What was annoyance before, turned into anxiety, and now anger. Rage was beginning to simmer below your rib cage and in your cheeks.

"Probably around 6 or so. I'll see you later, I need to work on this." Your hand was on the door knob.

Abby stood from her seat and watched you with an arched brow, "You're being really weird. Did I do something wrong?"

"No just-" you we're getting upset, "I just want to get this paper done."

She started grinning, gradually approaching you like a lion hunting it's prey, "Doesn't seem like it."

Across from you she leaned against the wall and watched you teeter on the edge of seething. Her arms were crossed to show her muscles, a full fledged smirk on her face.

You didn't want to argue, you knew if you did you'd actually tell her what was nagging at you.

"You can show your way out." Then you left for your room.

Unfortunately, you only made it a few feet before she had your wrist and tugged you against her.

"Hey now - that's now way to treat your guest." It was evident in her voice she thought this was going in a certain direction, despite all your efforts to steer her the opposite way.

"Abby don't touch me!" You snagged your wrist away and frowned.

It seemed now she wanted to take you seriously.

"Okay you're definitely being weird. What's going on?"

"Just go Abby."

Tears began to form in your eyes, so you turned and headed for your bedroom.

She scoffed, "I'm not leaving until you tell me what the hell is wrong with you."

You stopped dead in your tracks. Jaw tense and tears brimming in your eyes, it would be an understatement to say you were frustrated.

"I'll call the cops."

She laughed. Your voice was meek and shaky.

"Listen, if I did something, just tell me. You're acting like a damn kid."

If you wanted to act like a kid you could. You wouldn't hesitate to scream and kick and throw yourself on the floor until someone called the police because of how much noise you made. Anything to make her leave.

"Are you jealous?"

Was she really that dense? No, she had to be doing this on purpose. There was no way she didn't think she was innocent.

"What an astute observation. Now get out." The rest of your journey to your bedroom was spent wiping away tears.

But you should've known better, because Abby was quick to throw herself in front of your door and keep tormenting you.

"Woah hey- are you crying?" She cupped your jaw and forced you to meet her eyes, but you averted her gaze, "Way to rub it in." You shoved her hand away.

Now Abby really felt shame. She didn't know it would make you cry, nor this angry. She just wanted to get a rise out of you, perhaps even test the waters on hate fucking.

Both of her hands held your melancholy expression now, "Y/n, hey, I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted to see how you'd react. Do you really think I slept with her?"

"What else was I supposed to think!?" You snapped, now sobbing.

"Shit I don't know? I thought you would get all jealous and then wanna fuck it out or something."

The words coming out of her mouth only fanned the flame behind your eyes. Beyond your miserable sobs was raw anger, and everything Abby did to try and tame it only exacerbated it.

Wriggling from her hold you tried to shove her aside to disappear into your room - the only thing you had been trying to do this entire time. If this continued any longer, you'd have a breakdown.

"Wait a second-" Abby reached for you once more and tried to restrain you against her chest, "I'm sorry, I know that was stupid."

You persisted against her, some of your tears wetting her shirt, "No shit!"

"Just calm down alright? I promise I won't do it again." In a desperate attempt to diffuse the situation she tried to wipe some tears from your wet skin.

"Abby-" you finally broke free," there isn't going to be 'again.' I don't want to fucking see you again! You're so oblivious and just want to use me for my body."

That seemed to strike a gnarly nerve inside her, because her brows dipped disdainfully and her nose scrunched.

"Are you - heh - are you breaking up with me?"

It was your turn to laugh, "Break up? Break up what exactly? You never asked me to be your girlfriend, every time you come over we fuck; there's nothing there! This is bullshit!"

"Oh! Oh so all those times I bought you dinner, and was late to my class so I could walk you to yours, and the countless hours we spent together laughing in bed was just nothing. Is that it? Is that the bullshit?"

This was the first time you had seen each other angry. You never thought you'd reach this point, truthfully you were okay with being fuck buddies and letting the label come naturally, but the nature of the argument had you expressing otherwise. You were afraid. Abby wasn't going to hit you, but she was a smart girl and knew what would strike you the wrong way as far as hurtful words. But you also had a few things up your sleeve.

"You never said otherwise. It's the same shit I'd do for my friends. As far as I'm concerned, we were barely casual."

"Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?"

"Oh- like you 'kidding' about fucking Nora?"

"Yes!" She was nearly as hysterical as you, "I already told you it was fake!"

You nodded, "Yeah, like whatever you thought we had."

She sighed out exhaustion, "Oh my god," and pinched the bridge of her nose, "What do you want from me Y/n? Hm?"

Reflecting her attitude, you crossed your arms, "Nothing now."

"Fuckin c'mon," she groaned, "Don't be like that, work with me a little bit."

After all this, she wanted you to be forward and honest? To suddenly come up with a solution and slap a band-aid on all of this? How were you supposed to think about any of that when knocking her front teeth in would feel so much better?

"How about you work yourself out of my apartment. I don't know what you're trying to hurry up and fix, but if you're scared you're gonna lose your fuck buddy then you should be."

"Stop saying that! I'm trying to apologize to you. If we were just fucking I wouldn't stand here and rip my hair out over you."

Now she looked completely frazzled. Her hair was messy, eyes red, chest rising and falling with her rapid breathing.

There was something that was going over your head, "Did you actually think we were dating?"

"You tell me." She deadpanned.

"Then why make up the stupid story about Nora?!"

She ran her fingers through her hair, "We've been over this. It was a dumb idea to turn you on. I already said sorry - can you please just get over it?"

Studying her features, you contemplated your argument. Matter of fact, you contemplated your dynamic as a whole. So much was brought up, more than you wanted to voice into the world, but it was too late to take it back now. Was it too late for you two? Was a relationship really a good idea?

There was one way to find out if she was really seriously about this, "Okay, I'll get over it, if you ask me."

A bit of your heart broke when you noticed how she was holding on by a thread, "Huh?"

You repeated yourself, serious in your gaze and jaw clenched.

"Wh-what?" Her eyes darted around your expression, "Do you want me to ask you out?" You didn't waiver, this was for her to figure out.

"Will you be my girlfriend...?"

It wasn't the most romantic, and the furthest from ideal, way to be asked out, but you accepted it. She sighed in relief and scooped you up in a hug, letting the tension naturally set, no further words spoken.

Bzz.

You both perked up. Abby slipped her phone from her pocket and let you read the message with her.

Unknown number: hey, been a while since we talked. What've you been up to? Busy tonight?

Abby: yeah I'm hanging out with my girlfriend

You smiled up at her and she planted a kiss on your forehead.

Unknown number: oh shit sorry, who?

Abby: Y/n

Unknown number: really? I thought you were just tapping that

Abby: uhm no?

"Do people think we were just fucking around?" You wondered out loud, watching as Abby blocked the number.

The blonde shrugged, "You did."

You clicked your tongue in disappointment and shoved her away.

"Hey! Don't be like that. I was just teasing you. Would dinner make you feel better?"

Looking over your shoulder at her, you carefully considered her offer.

"....let's go."

Abby chuckled and made her way back toward the front door, slipping on her shoes, "I have a few ideas for dessert then," her eyes lingered along your body.

You couldn't help but let your vision wander as well, "I actually like the sound of dessert before dinner."

"Oh yeah?" Her hand instinctively found your hip.

"Definitely."

#abby anderson #abby anderson x reader #abby anderson fan fiction #abby x reader #abby anderson smut

[howlingday]

Back to more silly and crazy antics!

How does your Jaune-ship react to Jaune nervously/seriously considering getting himself "fixed" in order to continue a (obviously) one-sided relationship with Cinder?

Calmly? Worryingly? Explosively?

Nora: I'm sorry, you what?

Jaune: I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it? Cinder said she wouldn't date a man like me, so...

Nora: So you're gonna get neutered to make her happy?

Jaune: Y-Yes..?

Nora: ...

Jaune: Look, I know it's not a perfect plan, but I think it's worth a shot. Everything else hasn't worked, so maybe-

Nora: She doesn't like you.

Jaune: H-Huh?

Nora: She doesn't like you. Not the way you like her. And no matter how hard you try, you can't change how she sees you, or treats you, or talks about you.

---------------------------------------------------

Cinder: Jaune? Oh, please! That loser is so head-over-heels for me, he'd jump in front of a bus to make me laugh!

Cinder: And he has! Mwahahahahaha~!

---------------------------------------------------

Jaune: I... I, uh... M-Maybe she just-

Nora: She doesn't like you.

Jaune: I... I guess I'm just a loser after all, huh?

Nora: No, you aren't.

Jaune: Huh? N-Nora?! What are you-?!

Nora: I'm hugging you, because hugs make me feel happy. They tell you someone is so close to me, they won't ever leave me like my mom did. They won't hurt me by leaving my side to be on my own.

Nora: That's my love language.

Jaune: Nora...

Nora: You mean a lot to me. You're willing to put yourself through a lot just to make someone happy, even if they don't deserve it. You step in and help others, even when they're a complete stranger to you and could easily protect themselves. Someone like you should be with someone who loves you for the Jaune Arc you are. You should go out on dates and get married and have a hundred babies together.

Nora: You deserve someone like me, Jaune...

Jaune: Nora, I... Thanks, Nora. I... I appreciate it. And I appreciate you, too.

Nora: Mm...

Jaune: ...

Nora: ...But seriously, if Cinder ever says something that awful about you again, I won't hesitate to break her like glass.

Jaune: Heh heh... You don't have to get so violent, Nora.

---------------------------------------------------

Sorry if this got too angsty there.

#rwby #jaune arc #imagine your jaune ship #imagine your otp #nora valkyrie #nora's arc #cinder fall #my answers

[velvet-vox]

The paradoxical nature of Qilby: part 2

Going back to the end of the previous part where I declared Qilby an autism icon, it came to me the realisation that autism is really the only way to justify some of Qilby's actions and odd behaviour; as a big brother and autistic person myself I also would force the people I care about to engage in my interests, I understand on a subconscious level that what I am doing is wrong, but I just care about it so much that I need to share it with them at all costs.

(Even though I would never go as far as starting a war with another species just to force my race to go on a family trip with me).

And like, no offence to Yugo or the Elatrope council but it is my theory that all the Yugo haters have begun popping up due to some people head cannon that him and his family is inadvertently ableist, which (although I might agree considering their dynamic and who their mother is) I don't think it's completely warranted; as someone else pointed out if mental health and psycho analysis existed in the Krosmoz then Nox would have never come to be; if somebody explained what autism is to Yugo then maybe he would be more lenient on Qilby (or maybe not, after all he is his brother), Nora also doesn't know about autism but she is more accepting of Qilby's oddities even if she doesn't like them, and Qilby SURE AS HECK DOESN'T KNOW WHAT AUTISM IS.

Side note: Shinonome is not necessarily autistic, since my sister understands me perfectly and she isn't on the autism spectrum herself, but she clearly has inherited her more passive personality from her mother while Qilby has probably taken more from his father meaning that even if she was she probably wouldn't go about it in the boisterous manner of his twin.

However all of this is just a head canon and not the focus of this post. What I instead want to point out and analyse is the list-like approach of Qilby to anything and how that reflects the way many autistic people approach mostly every conflict in their life. Let me explain:

The way this list-like methodology works is entirely centered around a priority system, so basically Qilby schematizes in his head what he needs to do and say in which order and he has to follow it religiously in order to get anything done, so like on his to do list there is:

First: Confront Adamai and Grougal. Second: Get Rushu's army and alliance. Third: Confront Yugo and Phaeris and take them out. Fourth (interchangeable with third): Get the Dofus. Fifth: Go the Emrumb to get the children. And Sixth: Leave the planet.

And he has to do them in this order because this is the way that he has envisioned them.

This is also reflected in the way that he goes about science and space travel: he reaches a planet, discovers his species, analyses them, classifies them, compartmentalizes them, collects some, rinse and repeat in the next world.

And finally, I want to bring up his two most famous sentences of season 4 to showcase how this priority based thought process carries on to his speech pattern and family view.

"My dear Yugo, we are brothers, before being enemies"

See?

Qilby realises on his relationship list that Yugo is its enemy, but that before that he is its brother, that's what has the biggest priority for him in this moment and in general. But that's not even the most interesting part:

"Farewell Yugo. My brother, my king."

This phrase of course has been plastered all over the fanbase, but like.... did anybody ever think about how weird this sentence is? You would expect Qilby to say brother as his last word, as a final acceptance nod to the fact that deep down he does care about Yugo. But no. Instead he says:

"Good luck"(the situation's dramatic, so he's giving Yugo an encouragement as the first thing)

"My brother,"(Yugo is his demigod brother born from another Dofus)

"My king."(lastly, Yugo is also his king, as sentenced by Chibi in a previous life)

Qilby could have just called Yugo brother as his last word to show that he cares, but instead he decides to call him king, a title that means very little to him on their relationship chart, to show that he values him so much that he is going to use a term that means very little to him just to let Yugo know that he is willing to acknowledge the part of their brotherhood that he doesn't care about as a substitute acceptance nod to the aspect of their dynamic that he values the most.

<<<<Previous part

#wakfu yugo #wakfu season 2 #wakfu qilby #wakfu season 4 #wakfu adamai #wakfu grougaloragran #wakfu phaeris #wakfu shinonome #krosmoz #ankama #autism #autistic traits #autistic trauma #wakfu nora #wakfu nox #wakfu eliatrope #wakfu chibi #wakfu

[kiwiana-writes]

for the AU fun facts game? Secret relationship taken to the next level: sercretly married AU

You have come to the RIGHT PLACE my friend because I once wrote fake divorce for another fandom lmfao

ONE: It's 2024, and nobody knows they're engaged.

Every milestone they've had as a couple has been splashed about for public consumption, dissected in thinkpieces and turned into quirky 'Times FirstPrince was just like every other early 20s relationship: a thread' social media posts. This is theirs, and they want to keep it that way for a while.

Just for a while.

TWO: The thing is. The thing is.

Technically, Henry is still in the process of giving up the title and removing himself from the line of succession. Everyone knows it's happening, and everyone and their dog has an opinion about it (David, Henry is fairly certain, feels quite positively about the whole thing); but the machinations of government are slow, and as it stands right now, Henry is still legally an HRH and fourth in line to the throne.

And as such, he can't marry without the sovereign's permission.

Ironically, the only punishment for doing so would be his (and his future children's) removal from the line of succession, the very thing he's in the process of doing anyway. It seems like it should be a win-win. But he's sure that once the media get wind of the engagement, the UK media narrative will focus even more strongly on how Henry's abandonment is That Evil (Brown) American's Fault, and he'll do everything in his power to protect Alex from as much of the blowback as they possibly can.

So they'll wait to tell everyone until Henry is no longer HRH Prince Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, but instead just Henry Fox, fiancé of Alex Claremont-Diaz.

THREE: They really don't mean to let it get as far as they do. They intend to tell Alex's family at Thanksgiving, but Oscar and Ellen start sniping at each other earlier than they usually do, and it kills the whole mood. Then Mary dies, and no family news can be announced during the mourning period unless absolutely unavoidable—and Henry doesn't want to burden his mum with news she can't share. Horrible old bigot or not, Mary was still her mother, and now Catherine is Queen Catherine I. She's got enough to deal with.

They'll try again in 2025.

FOUR: Bea announces she's pregnant at the end of January, and the rings go back in the drawer. She'd never ask them to delay announcing just because they know it will shift focus entirely, and that's exactly why Henry wants to.

"She took such a media beating for years," he tells Alex, his head resting on Alex's stomach, Alex's fingers running through his hair. "She deserves to enjoy all the positivity instead. But Christ, I want to be married to you."

Alex's hand stills for a moment. "I mean... we've kept secrets from the media before."

FIVE: Eleven weeks. They last eleven weeks before people start figuring it out, and Henry's fairly certain that's only because Nora is too busy with her job to piece it all together.

June nearly kills them when she finds out.

[Send me a potential AU and I’ll tell you five fun facts that would happen in a story.]

#au five fun facts game #ask meme response #naiveandwise #stole a little from the bonus chapter but for obvious reasons it isn't actually compatible lol

[novankenn]

Nora in : Tea with Jaune's family... Terra

Nora did not know how they were doing it, but it was starting to really piss her off. It had taken her another three-days to get the last dose of whatever the Arcs were putting into her tea out of her system. Three days and about thirty-six ice-cold showers.

Now she was ready to speak to Jaune about what has been going with his family. Yet every time she could get him alone, so they could have a private talk, somehow one of them would call! Day or night, any chance she tried to take to bring up the "Tea Sessions" someone would call!

His mom, his sister, his sister-in-law, his grandmother... if that was really what she was. The frustration was mounting, and it wasn't helping that now her dreams were being filled with visions of babies, and children. Very adorable and loving children. In her most recent lucid dream, she counted nine... NINE kids. Three sets of twins, one set of triplets, and she was pregnant again!

Her oldest set of twins... two adorable girls, who loved to have their pale strawberry blond hair in twin tails, were only eight! But for some reason the nights she had those dreams, lead to the mornings that she felt the most rested and refreshed.

Nora: This is getting out of hand. I need to talk to Jaune, about all this.

Nora currently was walking through Beacon's gardens. She wasn't much for gardening, but the place was often quiet and sparsely occupied. A perfect spot to plan out how to finally speak to Jaune about all this.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, she sighed and rubbed her face with her hand. As soon as she removed her hand, she knew things had changed. The hard bench was now soft and comfortable. The sounds of birds and insects were gone, as was the cool breeze. Looking about, she was back in that special tearoom. Nora turned her head to the left and saw the tuxedo clad Beowulf.

Nora: Hi Bob.

Bob(Beowulf): *Grunts

Nora: Can you tell me the truth?

Bob(Beowulf): *Grunt

Nora: Have they doctored my tea again?

Bob(Beowulf): *Whine

Nora: Why can't they just let me and Jaune be?

????: Because that is NOT how this family works.

Nora snapped her head about and her eyes narrowed on the dusky skinned young woman taking a seat across from her. Her smile was warm, and Nora had to admit the red rimmed glasses did suit her.

Nora: And who are you?

Terra: I'm Terra Cotta-Arc... you met my wife a few days ago. Saphron, Jaune's eldest sister.

Nora: Okay, and you're here to?

Terra: Just speak to you. Even if you don't believe it, I once was seated in that very chair, just like you are now. I think it was about three weeks after I started dating Saphie.

Nora: Three weeks? Jaune and I have been seeing each other for a few months now.

Terra: Well, the reason for that is Adrian. You remember him?

Nora: He was... adorable. But how?

Terra: Well... I sort of mentioned that I would like Adrian to have some cousins around his age... and seeing as none of Jaune's other sisters are in any sort of relationships... grandma and mom zeroed in on you. So sorry about that.

Nora: Well, thanks. Can't say I'm happy about all this, but at least I know why.

Terra: Again, I'm so sorry.

Nora: So what now? I mean, what do we do now? Every other time I was here, someone was trying to make me want to get preggers.

Terra: Well, I'm still here to do that.

Nora: WHAT?!?

Terra: Well, Adrian needs cousins... and maybe if that's not possible a sibling?

Nora: Sibling? (Nora's eyes grow wide in shock) You wouldn't! Your wife! What would she think?

Terra: She's the one that suggested it. (Nora watches as Terra gently strokes her belly) Jaune was too young to help with Adrian... but now...

Nora: You're just going to ask him to donate, right? That's how it works, right? DO it all at a clinic, I heard they have those...

Terra: No. Been there... done that... this time I think I want the ... natural experience.

Nora: You can't!

Terra: And why not?

Nora: Jaune's MY boyfriend!

Terra: That doesn't mean he can't be my baby daddy.

Nora: I... I...

Terra: (Leaning forward, a mischievous grin on her lips) Is it really the thought that I would like Jaune to father Adrian's brother or sister... or is it that... YOU want to have his first child?

Nora: I... I... no... I...

Terra: Don't lie to yourself... which is it? You've been around Jaune long enough to know he would make a great father. He's loving, caring, selfless and devoted...

Nora: I...

Terra: Winter Holiday's are coming up, Ms Valkyrie. Jaune's already been invited to come to Argus... that's where Saphie and I live...

Nora: You... you... you wouldn't!

Terra: Adrian needs cousins or siblings... I'll be happy with the former over the latter... but someone needs to make a choice.

Nora: But...

Terra: The choice is yours, Nora. I'm just letting you know what I have planned.

Terra rose from her seat, and walked up to Nora, who was breathing heavily. Placing a soft hand on her shoulder, Terra leaned in and whispered into her ear...

Terra: We all know you love him. Grandma has seen it. Mother approves of you... the question now is... what would make you happier?

Nora: Happier?

Terra: Being a huntress... or

Nora: Or?

Terra: Being a member of a large, loving family... with a large family of your own.

Nora: Family...

Terra: Then drink your tea, Mrs Arc... and I'll see you in Argus in a few weeks.

Nora's hand shook as she reached for the teacup. Grasping it tightly, she tilted her eyes to see Terra's soft warm smile, and then brought it to her lips. Nora downed the entire cup in a single swallow.

Terra: (Runs her fingers gently through Nora's hair.) Everything will be okay. Everything will work out, don't you worry.

Nora: Are you sure.

Terra: Positive. Now close your eyes.

Nora closed her eyes slowly and seconds afterwards she could once again hear the sounds of the garden. Opening her eyes, she took, a deep breath. She could feel the heat of the tea working on her. She had to find Jaune. Make her dreams a reality. Slowly, she stood up and started to make her way back to the dorm.

(Master List)

#Nora in : Tea with Jaune's family #rwby #jaune arc #nora valkyrie #nora's arc #salem #saphron cotta arc #adrian cotta arc #terra cotta arc #jaune is salem's descendant #jaune is a descendant of salem theory #jaune's mom is just as baby crazy as grandma salem #is saph baby crazy too? #terra wants a REAL baby daddy

[stormbreaker101]

Music(ology) headcanons! Part 2

My friend @klaraflamez and I have been writing a shared story based upon the wizard101 AUs we made independently. Things go somewhat off the rails, and so these headcanons that we made for Music absolutely do not work for canon, which is part of why I'm making this post separate.

An overview of our AUs:

In both Corrupted Spiral (my AU) and the Cleaved AU (Klara's), the Spiral learned so heavily on its dependency upon its Wizard that it led to the Wizards' demises. In CS, before Arc 4 could properly begin, Nora lashed out in fury, sick of being Nothing but a title and weapon, and abandons the Spiral. In Cleaved, Scarlet was killed in the final fight of Lemuria, a 1v8, abandoned and alone because the Spiral assumed she would have handled it.

The main characters of the next generation after the two Wizards (~0-5 years after Nora's departure and 25 years after Scarlet's death) each realize that even though they're not The Wizard, they still have a duty to serve the good of the Spiral.

Overall there's a major theme of destiny and responsibility not falling on just one person's shoulders. The Wizard is not the only Paradox, and the primordial magics of Light, Shadow, and Music are no longer reserved for the Wizard and the gods. They become proper schools, integrated with the other ten (7 playable schools + 3 Astrals).

I've written and come up with spells for the Music school, as one of the characters I'm writing ends up as the Scion of Music, while Klara's writing the revamped Shadow and Light schools because her OCs become the Scions for those.

More details on Music as its own school in CCSAU (both lorewise and mechanicswise because i am gamerpilled), and all the spells themselves plus their explanations (where I derived inspiration from) are under the cut!

Music is the magic of creation. 'Outgoing' mechanics are the name of the game. It is a major hitter like Fire and Storm, but also has access to heals like the more defensive Life magic that came from the Song of Creation. Music's greatest weakness is that it is a major glass cannon, with no spells in its repertoire able to mitigate incoming damage.

The reason Music is tied to Fire and Storm alongside Life lorewise is because the Scion of Music first studied Fire and Storm magic alongside Musicology, before Music was its own school. Our Scion shaped Music as much as Music shaped him.

Now onto the spells themselves!

MAINLINE (primarily ATTACKING) SPELLS:

1 pip - Lyrebird - 90-130 damage. Based on the lyre instrument, and also a nod to Lyra, the fanon Music school tree in the Cleaved AU.

2 pip - Trombun - 220-260 damage. A pun on trombone and bunny.

3 pip - Earworm - 500 damage over 3 turns. Colloquially, earworms are catchy bits of song that just stay in your head and WON'T GET OUT, which is the inspiration for making this spell a pesky overtime. Also, taken from the Earworm/Brainworm mobs in Empyrea.

4 pip - Melodeer -  465-525, + 20% heal OR damage blade to self. Melody + deer. Here we begin to see some utility and niche poke its way into spells so that they're not plain and pure damage. Also, just to balance Music against the other 'hitter' schools a little bit more, it doesn't get a 4-pip AoE.

5 pip - Volta Bracken - 400 damage AND 400 health to self. A reference to volta brackets (an element in musical notation), with language nodding at Storm and Life magic (volt as in electricity, bracken as in a kind of plant). Yes this spell is an objectively better version of Beary Surprise. I hate Beary Surprise so much why is the bear both anthro and nude. why does he fucking smile like that. why can i see the whites of his eyes. WHY THE HUG?

6 pip - Resonance - 525-610 damage + remove all blades on 1 target. A single-target version of Myth's dreaded Earthquake.

7 pip - Horschestra - 700 damage to all enemies. Your classic 7-pip AOE. Horse + Orchestra, taken from a song in the Homestuck OST because it made me laugh tbh.

8 pip - Revivace - 1200 Heal to all allies. Name derived from Revive (synonym of Rebirth) and Vivace (musical mood). Meant to be a parallel to Life’s Rebirth spell, since Bartleby is the closest thing to a Music school tree in CS. However Rebirth gives an absorb-shield, which counts as temporary HP even if the spell heals someone to full, while Revivace has no extra defense.

9 pip - Crescendo! -  100 damage turn 1, then a DoT for 200, 300, then 400 damage, to all enemies. Crescendo is a musical term for "get gradually louder"

10 pip (Azteca) - Ceramic Drake - 1000 damage to 1 target, then 625 damage to all enemies over 3 rounds. The first of Music's spells that take on aesthetics derived from the world they're learned in. It takes inspiration from the tlapitzalli, an Aztec flute-like instrument made of ceramic.

5 pip + Shadow (Darkmoor) - Rehubution - 810 damage + 25% Music trap to all enemies. The spell's name comes from the word Retribution and the rehu, an instrument made by the Māori of Aotearoa. All of the canon Darkmoor spells are actually Khrysalis themed, and @chrono101 (now deactivated) made a really cool post about how the Hoppers had Aotearoan references that I remembered while coming up with this post. The effect in combat is derived from Fire from Above before it was nerfed and then slaughtered.

6 pip + Shadow (Polaris) - Luphilymn - 1260 damage, +1 turn to Damage over Times (DoTs) on enemy and +1 turn to Heal over Times (HoTs) on self. Luphilim + Hymn.

4 pip + Shadow (Mirage) - Spirit of the Groove - 900 damage, divided between targets (like all other Mirage spells). This spell is less a reference to something Miragian, and more a nod to a character who had a major impact on the Scion of Music's development. Ceramic Drake, Luphilhymn, and the upcoming spells of Ramalong and Jungle Drum Jam also are nods to characters that the Scion of Music was greatly supported by.

X-pip + Shadow (Karamelle) - Ramalong - 220 damage per pip. A blend of sing-along and the candy rams. This spell is an X-pip because there are a handful of songs/lullabies about counting sheep. Count your pips up!

6 pip + Shadow (Lemuria) - Jungle Drum Jam - 850 damage to all enemies, +40% Music blade AND +40% heal blade to self. Taken from this once-off moment in Lemuria where Bantam says that he and the Koolakamba just casually use advanced musicology for the sake of boogieing.

The effect is taken DIRECTLY from the far superior path of the Life Lemuria spell, Lord of the Jungle, before KI nerfed it to bits. I am so fucking mad about the nerf. I fucking liked having a decent shadow AoE on my Life and now it's useless again. <- had to get my gamer rage out sorry.

1 pip + Fire pip + Storm pip (Novus) - Tempo Inferno - 800 damage, gambit 1 blade into a DoT for 500 over 4 turns, gambit 1 trap into a HoT for 500 HP over 4 turns. Tempo refers to the speed of a musical piece, and both pieces of this spell's name are nods to Storm and Fire as well (Temp- for tempest, Storm's most iconic spell, Inferno for fire). This spell would also hold visual reference to that one sidequest about how clocks don't work on Novus.

1 pip + Death pip + Myth pip (Wallaru) - Crab Grave - 575 damage to all enemies. A reference to the extinct Juggernaut crabs of Wallaru, the still living Tasmanian giant crab, and the legendary Crab Rave meme. Given that all of the Wallaru spells' archmastery pips are the ones backwards from the Novus spells' pips, it made sense to make Crab Grave's pips the roshambo opposite to Tempo Inferno's. Myth is the roshambo opposite of Storm, and Death is the roshambo opposite of Fire. Don't believe me on Death and Fire? Look at how Balance's Novus gear has 3 variants that pair Ice-Life, Storm-Myth, and Fire-Death as its archschools. No I don't know why the Balance Wallaru spell is Death-Storm instead of Death-Fire I don't get it <- gamer raging again.

UTILITY SPELLS:

There are some utility spells that every school gets access to, simply changed per school: the basic Blade and Trap and Shield are simply named Music Blade, Music Trap, and Music Shield, because they're standardized for all the schools (Except Ice Shield, which is actually Snow Shield, for whatever reason?). Though, to put a wrinkle into things and keep with Music's theming as hyper-outgoing, Music Trap is the only ward spell (a spell that affects incoming damage rather than outgoing) that Music gets permanent access to. Music Shield would be TC only. Traps get special treatment because of Maulwurf von Trap existing. I like the guy don't @ me.

Then there's the utility spells that are just about the same for each school but with unique names. These include:

the 2 pip damage bubble - Circle of Fifths, after an important element in music theory. +25% damage to all outgoing Music spells AND +25% to all outgoing Music heals (the boost to healing alongside damage is unique to Music. Life gets Circle of Thorns (+25% damage) and Sanctuary (+60% healing) as two different bubbles.)

the 4-pip critical and pierce bubble - Acoustic Arena, +15% Music critical and +20% Music pierce.

the dispel - Mute

the Taunt/Pacify - Soloist, Taunts the enemy for 2 turns, making you the only target they can hit. Yes, having a glass cannon school gain taunt is a bit poor in game design, typically you want your glass cannons to have some form of Pacify so that they're not killed as quickly, but thematically Music becoming a loud center of attention makes more sense to me.

the complementary triad shield - Eclipse Shield, -70% incoming Light and Shadow damage. The parallel to Storm's Thermic Shield (-70% Fire and Ice) or Death's Dream Shield (-70% Life and Myth). Like Music Shield, because this spell is both a staple piece of utility that every school should have access to and a defensive ward that goes against Music's school identity, it would only exist as a treasure card.

The level 75 minion from The Professor - Baronness Webberfeld - 5 pips, summon a minion of Music. She is a reference to Baronness Elberfeld, a minor character from the Sound of Music. Because I had to get a reference to that in. Because I am normal about Maulwurf von Trap and his source media.

And then we get to the unique utility spells, the gimmicks that gives Music its identity in-game or give it thematic support.

Tune Up - 0 pips, +20% accuracy to the next outgoing Music spell. A parallel to Storm's Lightning Strike (which back in my day only gave +10% accuracy, not +25%). Music spells have a base accuracy of 70% like Storm, so the accuracy buff would be greatly needed at lower levels.

Bangsnap! - 2 pips, Confuse or stun each enemy for 1 turn.

Gurdy-hurdy - 3 pips, Confuse or stun each enemy for 2 turns.

Bangsnap and Gurdyhurdy go together, I'm thinking of them being from the Grizzleheim and Wintertusk spell quests at level 35 and 55. Bang snaps are small explosives that only release a loud sound but do no damage. Gurdy-hurdy is a reference to another in-game moment.

(The hurdy-gurdy, un-reversed, is a kind of musical instrument.)

And, yep! Myth is no longer the only school with the Confusion mechanic! Yippee! (I can hear the gamerbro players scream.) This is because before Music became a standalone school in CCSAU, Klara had the idea that, the way some Wizard101 spells are musicological despite not being in the school of Music, some Pirate101 abilities are inherently musicological as well, namely Blast of Discord.

And this is an ability that our Scion of Music was able to learn before Music became an independent school, so rather than take that ability away from him, we decided to incorporate it into Music's entire repertoire.

Leitmotif - 2 pips, 305 HP to 1 target, then 305 more HP 3 turns later. A leitmotif is a snippet of a musical melody that comes back later in a piece or in another piece (Toby Fox, one of my favorite composers, uses leitmotifs to the MAX.)

Sonatyr - 4 pip, 650 Health + 30% Healing Blade to all. Satyr + Sonata. Does less health than Life's Satyr because I don't want to completely upstage Life, but giving an extra blade to everyone is useful. It buffs every healer, and would count for any blade-based gambits/secondary effects.

Adagio - 1 pip, +1 turn to a HoT on an ally or to a DoT on an enemy. Adagio means for a piece of music to slow down.

Allegro - 1 pip, -1 turn to a HoT on an enemy or to a DoT on an ally. Allegro means for a piece of music to speed up.

Adagio and Allegro are spells that go together. If they were to be implemented in-game, I'd have them be learned at the same time. Having a spell that does different things depending on whether it's on an ally or enemy is really interesting to me, though it would be a pain in the ass to code.

Encore - 5 pips, force your target to cast the same spell for the next 2 turns. Encore, of course, means "to play again". Taken directly from Pokemon because why not?

Baton Pass - X pips, give your blades to an ally, universal and at half-value, (1 pip per blade). Also derived from Pokemon because why not? The half-value gimmick comes from Bantam's cheat of "I'll be taking that, thanks!" Where he replaces a blade you cast on someone else with a universal blade of half value. The devs intended that cheat to be annoying and discourage buffing one player to the max, but it's actually a REALLY HANDY mechanic when used correctly. The half-value blade would count as a unique blade that therefore stacks with whatever other blades your ally has.

Perfect Pitch - 1 pip, +20% accuracy to all allies. Perfect pitch is defined as the ability to tell exactly what note(s) a sound is without any reference. This spell would be copy-pasted over from Life, and also derived from the Pirate101 abilities Call to Arms and Esprit de Corps, which both boost your team's accuracy. (Esprit also gives dodge, a stat that I cannot find any way to translate into Wizard101 that wouldn't be a defensive ward, which Music does not do). The animations for those two powers feature musical instruments (a drum and a trumpet), which makes it feel very musicological to me and therefore fitting for Music itself.

Fortissimo! - 2 pips, +15% Critical chance to all allies. Fortissimo is music speak for "BE FUCKING LOUD!" This spell is derived from the Pirate101 abilities Discipline and Enduring Discipline, which (are supposed to) give +5% and +10% critical chance to all allies. (I have heard that the abilities that purely increase critical chance rather than another stat simply don't work because Pirate101's code is made out of silly string, but that's besides the point). There are very few spells that affect critical, so it's a niche that Music could fill in if it wanted to.

This probably isn't even enough utility, Wizard101 has a SURPRISING amount of spells it throws at you. It's such an in-depth game. I love it. I am normal about Wizard101.

Also, Klara was absolutely AMAZING and drew some of the spells!

#wizard101 #headcanon #musicology #i wrote this all through yesterday up until like. 12:30 am and then wrote some more this morning. #i got incredibly rambly and jargony and for that i am sorry #i am unfortunately a gamer and i know wiz mechanics #i have THOUGHTS #i am. so normal. <- lie #corrupted spiral #cleaved au #CCSAU #leah speaks :3

[fallenstarzz]

would love to know more about Stuart and wip #4 <3

I have so many thoughts about Stuart it's not even funny. I remember always being a bit fascinated with him in my original read of AFTG in 2019 because he is, and I say this with all the love in my heart, kind of an Uncle Ex Machina. And this year when I came back and did my reread (re-listen?) of the books that fascinaiton returned tenfolds.

The thing about Stuart that keeps getting me is that his original revenge plan against Nathan was insane. And the way that he went about it was even worse. Like, here is the list of steps he went through: 1) Found out Kengo was diyng, calculated that he could deal a blow to Nathan as long as it doesn't piss off the Moriyamas too much 2) Allied himself with the FBI, a foreign government agency, despite being himself the head of a criminal syndicate, even though that could have very easily gotten him branded as a narc 3) Planned to wait until Nathan was released, invade his house while he was killing someone, massacre his inner circle, and probably deliver a dramatic speech as he beat up Nathan and left him for the FBI to find 4) Upon getting to point 3, found his nephew being tortured, confirmed his sister was dead, and promptly changed his plans to kill Nathan on the spot 5) Has now broken his deal with the FBI and permanently removed a Moriyama asset instead of just incapacitating him 6) Left his recently-tortured 19yo nephew to sort things out with the FBI and dipped back to England fully expecting to be executed by Ichirou 7) Somehow managed to talk himself out of this and not only stay alive but become an asset to a syndicate bigger and more powerful than his 8) Profit.

That is insane. He cannot keep getting away with this. How can a man with three appearences have this much chaos going on.

So this WIP is mostly an character study, following Stuart as he grieves Mary and tries to adjust to the changes being part of the Moriyamas bring. It is also about him trying to find out how far he can Manipulate Manspain Manwhore out of situations.

Reason number two behind this WIP was that I was actually surprised to find out that this entire fandom was sleeping on Ichirou/Stuart. They have like 19 tagged fics! That is a crime! Have we lost all respect for toxic yaoi?

I really like playing with foils and parallels and contrasts and in the process of plotting this fic I found a lot of them in the Stuart and Ichirou dynamic. For one, they do have a pretty big age gap (14 years in this fic), but while Stuart has all the experience, it's Ichirou who has all the power in their relantionship. Ichirou who has inherited an empire but is stuck in his father's shadow and Stuart who has an established reputation but lost all his autonomy. Stuart who risked everything to avenge his sisters and Ichirou who killed his brother.

Also, I have a pretty strict Death of the Author stance and thus don't consider Nora's tweets or the EC canon, but I do find the fact she said that eventually Ichirou gets Stuart killed in a suicide mission so he can get a younger head on the Hatford branch (and that Stuart knew that it was going to happen eventually and was fine with it) very intriguing. They are two very ruthless, manipulative people, and I want to play with them like barbie dolls.

#their evil chancelor/young tyrant dynamic has enchanted me #i love writing about terrible people doing terrible things the power games these two are playing are on another level #literally. there is a scene of this fic that is labeled as 'shrimp power games' on my docs. like shrimp colors #i also created a lot of worldbuilding for the Moriyamas in this fic and it was a great exercise on my political romance loving muscles #its probably going to be a chonky oneshot #and im considering a Ichirou POV companion oneshot too but that one isnt a guarantee #stuart hatford #ichirou moriyama #my wips #this one's a fave #fic: the art of failing up

[backgroundagent3]

My Emily Henry Rankings

@brekker-by-brekkerr you asked here if I had a ranking of the Emily Henry books and couples, so after way too long, here's my opinions, along with some really bad explanations. <3 Spoilers ahead!!

Books:

Happy Place. This was the first Emily Henry book I read, and the first book that ever made me cry. Harriet was so relatable, and it was probably my favourite setting out of the four books. The characters were all so interesting, and they had such a great dynamic. I love the found family trope, and she absolutely nailed it.

Book Lovers. I loved the plot so much, and Nora was also so relatable in a different way. I loved how even though she isn't perfect, she doesn't have to change and give up her job to get what she wants. Her relationship with Libby reminded me a lot of me and my sister, which was so nice to read about.

People We Meet On Vacation. I really liked the structure of this book, and I think it made the reveal so much better. I also loved reading about all the places they went to.

Beach Read. I loved this book so much, so the only reason it's ranked in last place is because I somehow loved the other ones even more. The plot felt a little slower, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I only managed to read about 5 minutes a day.

Couples:

These were much easier to rank for some reason.

Nora and Charlie. I just love them so much, I don't even know what to say. I love how they respect each other's choices and make their decisions according to what they want/need, not what the other one wants. I usually really like the quiet, more mature relationships where they know they love each other without needing to shout it from the rooftops.

January and Gus. I though the way they learned to communicate without pushing each other was really sweet, even if it led to some misunderstandings. Enemies to lovers is always great, especially if one if then doesn't even realize they were never actually enemies.

Harriet and Wyn. I was a little annoyed at Wyn for most of the book to be honest, and so frustrated with their miscommunication. That's not to say I didn't like them. I think they were so sweet and had some of my favourite lines.

Poppy and Alex. Again with the terrible communication skills. I get that it's an important trope for the genre and it made sense in this book, but I'm a very impatient person. I did love how well they know and understand each other, but I think I preferred the scenes when they were just friends.

I'm also going to do main characters, because why not:

Nora Stephens.

Harriet Kilpatrick.

January Andrews.

Poppy Wright.

The reasoning here is purely relatability. I can see a bit of myself in all four of them, but some more than others. As I was writing this I realised the ones at the top I find relatable because of more negative things, like my insecurities, or qualities I have that I don't like. I share a lot of qualities with the ones at the bottom, but at the end of the day, I like reading about people who share my struggles and doubts because it's comforting to know I'm not alone. I don't know if this makes any sense, but it was very interesting in my head.

So anyways, these are my opinions. How would you rank them?

#emily henry #happy place #book lovers #people we meet on vacation #pwmov #beach read #nora stephens #charlie lastra #january andrews #gus everett #harriet kilpatrick #wyn connor #poppy wright #alex nilsen #books #brekker-by-brekkerr #background agent 3

[andrewminyardslawyer]

Ok resharing my Sunshine Court predictions/wishful thinking with adding commentary after finishing it! I got 15/18 correct and some of the "wrong" ones just didn't have a chance to happen in book one so I'm pretty happy with myself

- Jean showers differently because of the water boarding trauma ✔️

- he dissociates A Lot ✔️

- chronic pain. Especially his hands. I feel like he has migraine attacks all the time too (me?? Projecting?? Never!) ✔️ : I'm sticking with yes on this one because he dissociates and is not present in his body a lot so he might not even realize how much he hurts/is just so use to it it's background noise (again me??? Projecting??)

- either hates the dark or needs it because he's so out of his depth and it's familiar ✔️

- I'm desperately hoping the Trojans don't hate him for being short with his responses and general demeanor. Please love this boy with all your hearts I'm begging ✔️

- Jean and Renee don't work out because she saved his life and he feels like he owes her or something similar. To quote Nora "she is not his answer and he isn't hers"✔️

- I know I said it back in November but the "love story" is Jean and learning that who is is isn't shameful. The love story is Jean and being alive (who/if he ends up with someone should be the least of our concerns. I just want him to be as close to happy as possible and healthy): not wrong but not right, yet. Waiting to see what happens in the 2nd one

- Jean is going to have absolutely no idea how to function in the world. Everything about his life has been scheduled and decided for him and now he has zero guidance and no one who knows what happened to him to help. Classes, books, food, travel, down time, clothing, hygiene stuff, hair cut. He has never been able to choose for himself before ✔️

- I know Jeremy knows the very very basics but nothing even remotely close to the truth and he is going to be SO far in over his head✔️

- idk what it will be but Jean finding a hobby that he genuinely loves will make me cry (everything is going to make me cry)✔️: I know this wasn't a prediction and I'm sure his actual hobby is going to be ceramics BUT Cat teaching him to cook and take care of himself and how to have a better relationship with food and him actually enjoying it made me want to cry

- if Jean doesn't have an eating disorder I will be shocked tbh ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️

- starts some therapy with Bee or they at least try to have him talk to her before he leaves ✔️: thank god. Someone please help him

- I'd love some Jean and Neil friendship ✔️: well as close to friendship as they're going to get. I mean paying for someone's abuser to be killed is ride or die material

- I want him to have his own room where he can lock the door ✔️: even though he didn't want to be alone he still has it

- some form of Kevin, Andrew, Neil hanging out at Abby's because of the snippet we got of Jean watching Neil and Andrew. Maybe they take him to California (or Renee but I feel like Kevin might be insistent on taking him) ✔️

- So. Much. Kevin. Angst. Jean either never wants to talk to him again or calls him all the time because he is so lost and has no idea how to function as his own person ✔️

- Jean having major conflict over being bi because of the nest in general but mainly because of his sexual assault✔️

- Jean goes to Renee's for holiday break: glad this one didn't come true (I know we're still in the summer but still) and that he isnt in the dorms and has a home!!!

#tsc spoilers #tsc #the sunshine court #the tree talks

[finniestoncrane]

Finnie do you agree all Gotham rogues should have their whole body worshipped like a holy figure

yes! and i finally found the time to tell you the order in which i am going to suck off heal wounds with love and adoration (and also i did't know if you meant gotham tv show or just gotham in general so i've just gone general because honestly a lot of the ones in the tv show need a smack on the head and a time out more than worship)

riddler: absolute loser, needs someone to pet him on the head and tell him continuously what a very good boy he is, someone on their knees for him, telling him how absolutely marvellous he is, a fine specimen, the finest

two face: look i have said it before and i'll say it again but harvey deserves to have his face cradled between both my hands and told that he's a good, good handsome boy, make him feel whole instead of two parts y'know?

scarecrow: can you reverse the gremlin-ification process and turn someone back into a mogwai? anyway that's what i'm hoping to achieve here

harley: ok someone needs to start worshipping at her feet, and like yeah i'm all about that, wanna caress every inch of her but also, wanna tell her how intelligent she is, let me get you back on track babygirl

mad hatter: i'm worried about him crumbling at the slightest touch of someone, but i'm running at him and tackling his tiny body into the ground and putting a soft kiss on every bit EVERY. BIT.

bane: a controversial addition so far down the list i feel, but i think he would deny the need to be worshipped like that. he seems like a giver rather than a taker

penguin: i think oswald deserves it but i don't think he needs it. he's fine, he could have anyone hang onto his lil round body and tell him he's cute, he doesn't need me

killer croc: am i about to make my less-than-triumphant return to regular writing with the addition of waylon on my list? probably oops. but i think he needs to know how absolutely sexy he is, wanna scritch those scales!!

mr. freeze: boy needs a hug and a frozen blanket. will he let me? probably not, not if he still has nora on ice, so he's down the list here

victor zsasz: sometimes i think too much self-confidence can be a bad thing, and as much as i want to kiss all of his little tally marks and maybe even get real kinky and add some, i think it'd just make him worse

poison ivy: if i told ivy i thought she was beautiful she would say "i know" and then crush me, and i would die happily for sure, but i'd still die and i'm having fun just now so not on my agenda

#friends being friends #finnie writes #kind of...

[syrena-del-mar]

Balancing Self-Absorption and Love in La Pluie

This week there's not much left for me theorize as the pieces of the puzzle that La Pluie has set up since the very first episode are finally coming together. There's something so good about a show that takes you exactly where you expect it, but still delivers in a way that is beyond expectation. La Pluie has hit every romance trope but has able to subvert it in ways that are unexpected.

I think it's been long established that Tai spends his time with his nose in Nora Roberts novels for far too long. So often the characters in her book get swept up by the idea of love and falling in love. As a reader you forget about the family and friends of the characters (sometimes even the romantic partner), because the characters, themselves, forget about them as they're so focused on their dizzying romance and are focused in on their own emotions. So it's not surprising that Tai only focuses on his own romantic problems and his own feelings, to the detriment of his family and even Patts.

[Disclaimer: I had been working on this before I read @slayerkitty's important post delineating that he likely acts how he does due to his trauma with how his parents divorced. I do think this is a point of view that is important to keep in mind.]

Wow, never have I felt so vindicated than with this episode of La Pluie. It really hit the last nail in the coffin for me about the way Tai and Tien's sibling relationship works. Last week, when talking about the differences between the four and when it came to Tien I couldn't help but say, "He'll go back to being the doting and hard-headed brother of Tai, not even seeking an apology for leaving him behind, for not checking up on him, because he'll never expect that out of his brother. He's Tai's emotional caretaker, not the other way around." And when I first delved into the birth order theory of the Saeng brothers, I posed the question of who would be the first to notice that Tien is fragile and hurting. I got my answer now. It's definitely not Tai and it'll never be Tai if he never learns to look outside of his own emotional needs and wants.

The thing about Tai is that he's nice, but he's not necessarily kind. Self-absorbed and self-centered both have a very negative connotation, typically because they're terms that tend to be connected with characters that are portrayed as vapid, so when I utilize these terms to describe Tai I don't intend for any of that extremely negative undertone. The reality is that Tai is self-absorbed and self-centered, in the plainest sense of those words. He's so preoccupied with his own emotions and his affairs that he forgets about those that he cares about. And if he does remember them, more often than not, he'll lash out or throw a jab at them. Tai makes choices that he believes will protect him, not necessarily the most rational ones and it's aggravating. @sunshinechay put it succinctly, Tai's making the most ugly choices and La Pluie is letting him be unlikeable without making him out to be the villain.

La Pluie has repeatedly been showing us that this is Tai's major character flaw. We saw this with how he treats his mother, blaming her for the divorce without knowing how hard both parents tried to make the marriage work. We saw this with Patts, from ignoring him for two years to expecting Patts to read his mind with no verbal confirmation of Tai's feelings. We heard from Bow how he closed himself off and didn't interact with co-workers. Hell, today's conversation with her, she tries to help Tai see it from Patts point of view, but he cuts her off because he doesn't want to be hurt by love again. And Tien... Tien who reaches out to him first, who looks out for Tai, who goes to Tai in search of a safe space but won't every fully get it.

I whole-heartedly believe it's intentional that they showed Tien and Tai getting together only after a whole week has passed by. Tien and Tai are close siblings, but a lot of it is has been depicted to show that Tien is the one that does most of the legwork with Tai, even with Nuea and Jan. Tien is the liaison between the four brothers, communicating and delivering messages between them when they're not all under the same roof. [I would dare say Tien is the liaison for the whole family and it continues to be proven by the fact that he's the one that invites Uncle Nu into the family hug.] Out of the four, Tien and Tai are likely the closest, but that's because Tien is the one that goes looking for Tai, he's the one that invites him out, he's the one that looks out for Tai's emotional wellbeing. Tai was clueless as to why Tien was so out of it, because Tai likely closed himself off for that whole week caring only for his own emotional, likely never asking if he had made it back home safely. He might have not even registered that Tien was even there. Tien truly was alone in the remnants of that fallout.

Tien had divulged to Tai before that he was developing romantic feelings, but it's not like Tai ever shared any interest in finding out who Tien liked, because it wasn't knowledge that affected him personally. He never bothered to inquire and it's not surprising that he never clocked it, because even when he was with Lomfon and Tien, his attention was never given to Tien. He takes Tien at face value, not exactly bothering to dive deeper. And it's apparent in how Tai deals with Tien's confession of love and how he little he really asks him about how he's coping, but turns the conversation to his relationship. There's a noticeable difference in how Tien inquires after hearing the news and how Tai does.

Yes, Tai apologized. Tien doesn't expect an apology, because that's his big brother that he cares for, so he doesn't necessarily want an apology. Even so, it's important that he feels like he needed to apologize, but all the same, it's still disappointing that he doesn't necessarily recognize why he's apologizing. It's frustratingly slow growth that we're getting from him and it's a side-effect of being so self-involved. Now I don't think this takes away from the brotherhood or the love that they have for one another, because they obviously do love each other. But I think that Tai's self-absorption and Tien's self-sacrifice will always cause their relationship to be unbalanced. But an apology and recognition is still growth and Tai has to be the one to choose to continue to grow.

Any relationship takes work, whether it be romantic, friendship or familial. It's a choice everyday to put in the energy and the work that it takes to make a relationship work. No amount of paranormal idea of fate and destiny is going to allow for a relationship to fully work and thrive. Tai has had people that love him walk the tightrope, fully cognizant of his emotional state, so it's not surprised that he's become coddled and has an expectation of people to know his feelings. Yes, actions speak louder than words, especially in a world where you may lose your hearing the moment rainfalls, but when you're making actions that are contradictory to your words, those original actions are drowned out.

It's likely a trauma response, as @slayerkitty said, and it helps provide context as to why Tai ticks the way he does. It provides reasoning behind his actions, but it doesn't mitigate the fact that he was hurting people, particularly Patts and his family. Now it's Tai's turn to make the choice of working hard for the love that he wants, to saying and putting the effort of making his love known. He's started with his family, he's worked it out with Lomfon, now he needs to put that same energy in salvaging his relationship with Patts.

(tagging @lurkingshan for their weekly round up)

#la pluie thoughts #la pluie analysis #la pluie meta #la pluie the series #la pluie #saengtien #Saengtai #pattstai #tien x lomfon #tienlomfon #saengtien x lomfon #patts x saengtai #la pluie theory #steph rambles #steph overanalyzes #la pluie ep 11