#jem being an animal-lover

[corpsebasil]

NIKOLAI HUNGER GAMES PARTE DOS

dear God he's so handsome I can't do this

Maybe you shouldn't be, you know you shouldn't be, but you're happy to see your prep team regardless of how you're feeling on the inside.

"'The female tribute for District Two'" Lionus Treech, the announcer for your district, had cheered, reading the slip of paper inside the glass bowl. If you could've bet money you'd put your life's savings on every name in that bowl being yours. "'Y/N Y/L/N!'"

When you moved forward, exchanging one quick glance with the sharp-toothed Enobaria, you knew none of the other surviving victors would volunteer. Even Brutus, a nasty, violent man that still treats life like an arena, hadn't done much but lift his brows when Nikolai's name was read from the male bowl. (It helped that Nikolai was watching Brutus with an expression that promised unspeakable violence if the older man even blinked funny.)

"Darling!" The first voice cries; the trio of stylists that burst through the train door are as loud as their sense of style, all three clad in some sort of animal print. "You look stunning!" Lark gasps, bringing his warm hands to your face. The dark-skinned man is wearing bright purple liner, the color unfairly gorgeous on him. "Don't worry, we'll get these dark circles out of the way. Where's that handsome man of yours?"

"You won't believe the party you missed last month, Y/N. There were aerialists dressed like actual swans! And a frozen swan ice sculpture!" Jem adds, kissing your cheeks quickly. Her dark hair is pulled back in a spiky bun, the part of her hair zigzagging. "You would've looked glorious in this white little number I was working on--covered in feathers. Just glorious."

"I'm sure Y/N feels devastated she missed it." Xiomara, your most level-headed stylist, muses, her tattooed skin free of any makeup. She almost looks normal by Capitol standards--if it weren't for the ear-modding that leaves the tips of them pointed like a fairy's. Her golden eyes are amused when she pulls you into a soft hug, her voice soft. "Hello, darling. We've all missed you." When she pulls away it's clear she wants to say more but she doesn't. "The gem of the Capitol. We will do our best to make you shine."

"Oooh! That's an idea!" Lark snaps his fingers. "'Shine'!"

"What are you getting at?" Jem scoffs.

"Shiiiiiineee. We can cover her skin in gold dust! She'll look like a goddess."

"She'll look like a damn disco ball."

"Lets see you come up with--"

"Hello." The moment Nikolai speaks, his frame filling the empty doorway, all three preps whip their heads in his direction. Jem actually blushes. Then the cooing begins, Jem and Lark fussing over him while you and Xiomara watch with tiny smiles on your faces. Your prep team--Nikolai's biggest fans. "Yes, yes I did." Nikolai responds to a flurry of questions, Lark's biggest concern being whether your lover has cut his hair recently or not.

"With you and Finnick there I'll have to keep smelling salts around for the amount of swooning Capitol citizens." Lark sighs, fanning himself dramatically. "Just imagine him covered in gold dust, Jem."

"I am certainly imagining it."

"Picture it. Picture it vividly."

"Let's allow the two of them relax." Xiomara urges, calmly leading her fellow stylists out the door. She gives Nikolai a soft pat on the shoulder as they leave, still squawking about covering the two of you in gold dust. The second the door closes you sit on the nearest velvet-clad seat, a long sigh leaving you.

"Gold dust, hmm?" Nikolai hums, approaching you calmly. "Seems like your prep team is excited for the Quell."

"Maybe they're inspired. They get to style me, after all."

"Course they are." Nikolai smirks when he leans over you, arms caging you against the couch. Your eyebrows lift, chin raising a fraction as he crowds you, forcing you to look up. "You're utterly striking."

"Why thank you. I always say--"

"You always say--?"

"--'I am the gem of Panem'--"

"Yeah, yeah." Nikolai scoffs, cutting off your giggles with his mouth. He leans into you, lips roving over your own while you close your eyes, your hands tugging him even closer. "'Gem of Panem'. You certainly are." His words are spoken softly against your lips before his tongue moves to trace the curve of your throat.

"Yes..." You murmur, head tipping back. "That is....true."

"Mhmm."

"Nik."

If anyone overhears the moan you let out when he kisses his way down your neck, tugging the front of your dress down with him, they don't bother you.

Lol

I need him

#shadow and bone #nikolai lantsov #nikolai x reader #nikolai lantsov x reader #shadow and bone imagine #the hunger games au #catching fire #the hunger games

[metalandmagi]

Hello....If you don't mind me asking, who are your favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/manhwa/ anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon)? Why you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before....

Hope you don't mind if the same person ask a different questions. Thank you so much @metalandmagi .....

Funny you should ask, because I was just listening to a podcast episode about favorite fandom ships, and I had actually started making my own list that I was going to post anyway! And I don’t mind you asking, since I don't really have people to talk to about this stuff. I like looking at your blog and seeing other people’s answers too!

Here's my top ten! These are going to be kind of repetitive because I’ve already talked about these fandoms so much, but these are my favorite CANON SHIPS, meaning they’re actually together or at least have kissed or something. I have a million non canon ships.

10. Jem, Will, and Tessa from The Infernal Devices- I wanted to keep myself to one ship per fandom, but I couldn’t help it, I just love this OT3 so much. I don’t care what anyone says, they are a poly relationship, not a love triangle (and I maintain that if Jem wasn’t already dying, he and Will would have realized they loved each other romantically, and their parabatai bond would have fucked them over eventually). They all have an equal amount of love and respect for each other, and they balance each other so well. And I appreciate that none of them are relegated to being “the overly jealous partner who ruins everything for the other two.” We get time with each of them and love them all equally.

9. Patroclus and Achilles from The Song of Achilles- Call me a basic bitch, but these two are unparalleled in terms of doomed romances. I love friends to lovers, and the story is so widely spanning that it gives their relationship such gravitas.

8. Yona and Hak from Akatsuki no Yona- Still haven’t finished the manga, but these two are god tier for fantasy romances. I love that they completely lose their minds over each other whenever they are not within arm’s reach, and they’re another great example of childhood friends to lovers. Hak’s “teasing” attitude in the beginning of the series wasn’t my favorite, but it’s funny to look back on it later, knowing that he’s so in love with Yona and would murder the first person to disrespect her. 

7. Shigure and Akito from Fruits Basket- Because why would I choose one of the normal, healthy relationships when I could go for one of the most fucked up romances in shoujo? These two…I don’t even know where to start. They’re the definition of toxic for most of the series, but by the end, you’re really rooting for them to be together with the Sohma family curse broken. Shigure is desperate for the curse to be broken so he can prove to Akito that he loves her without them being tied together by fate. Akito feels like she needs the curse because otherwise everyone will leave her forever. Akito sleeps with Kureno. Shigure sleeps with her mom. They’re “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss” meets “mansplain, manipulate, man-whore.”

6. Sasaki and Miyano from Sasaki to Miyano- What can I say? They’re just so freaking cute! I think they represent the romance a lot of people in fandom want, because they bond over manga and slowly come to learn more about each other. Sasaki never pressures Miyano to return his feelings, and I appreciate the patience he has in waiting for Miyano to give him an honest answer to his confession.

5. Jesper and Wylan from Six of Crows- Another basic answer, but these two are so entertaining whenever they’re together. I love that Jesper starts out teasing Wylan relentlessly about looking like a pampered rich kid (despite the fact that Wylan also lives on the streets), but Wylan deadass saves the group time and time again, so Jesper comes to respect him more. This is how you do teasing in a relationship: they get under each other’s skin but aren’t complete dicks to each other. And I appreciate that the Shadow and Bone show changes their dynamic slightly while keeping the chaotic duo the same at their core. 

4. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase from the various Percy Jackson series- The pinnacle of middle grade/YA romance. Nobody else is doing it like these two. What works about their relationship is that we truly believe their friendship as 12 year olds before they start to have feelings for each other. So many times, authors shove two characters together because they feel like they need a romance, but Percy/Annabeth progress so naturally. They tease each other, but they know they’re both capable individuals at the end of the day (and their wildly different brands of intelligence work so well), and as long as they’re together, they can get through anything.

3. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian from Heaven Official's Blessing- I’ve shipped these two for much less time than these other ships, but they have smashed their way to my top 3 ships of all time. How do you compete with a god who’s fallen from grace and his eternally devoted follower who would burn the world down to see them smile? How do you compete with Hua Cheng, who has stayed by Xie Lian’s side for hundreds of years out of pure devotion, but not in a creepy or weird stalkery way? I think the biggest thing this ship has going for it is its sincerity. Hua Cheng doesn’t stay with Xie Lian because he’s hoping Xie Lian will fall for him eventually. He doesn’t believe he’s even worthy of Xie Lian’s love. But he stays anyway, because that’s what unconditional love is like. You stay when the one you love is at their lowest and you can’t do anything to help. You stay when they’re fighting the heavenly emperor and kick ass alongside them. You hold an umbrella over their head when it's raining blood and carry them across the ground when it's littered with corpses.

2. Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments/Shadowhunters- These two have destroyed me over the years. I think the best thing about this ship is how they bring out the best in each other and have changed each other’s lives for the better. Magnus is so outgoing and free spirited, but with Alec, he wants to “settle down” (lol) and raise a family. Alec started as the personification of the frowny face emoji, stuck in the closet with a stick up his ass, but now he’s basically running the shadowhunter world. They’re the perfect example of “opposites attract” who have changed their world simply by being in love.

1. Damen and Laurent from Captive Prince- Speaking of couples who change their world simply by being in love…I don’t know if any other ship will top them for me. All the other enemies to lovers ships can get the fuck out. They’re nothing compared to Damen and Laurent. So many times, people will write “enemies to lovers” or “hate to love” relationships that are just two characters snipping at each other or bullying each other for no reason. Get that shit out of here. These two start with the purest, most honest loathing possible. They hurt each other in countless ways, but they come to learn each other slowly. They have every reason to be enemies, but they come through each layer of trauma with love for each other. They’re the kings (pun intended) of this trope.

Honorable mentions: Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper- They’re just so wholesome and sweet. The progression of their relationship from like to love is so realistic, and they’re basically the live action/book version of Sasaki and Miyano.

Ronan and Adam from The Raven Cycle- (haven’t read the last book in the Dreamer trilogy, but I hope nothing bad happens). Their differing brands of chaotic energy compliment each other perfectly, and as a reader, the slow realization that Ronan is in love with Adam was so eye opening and satisfying in a way few other series have been able to capture.

Just for fun, here are some of my “less canon” ships too.

* Inej and Kaz (they're practically canon, but they never explicitly say they're together or in love...but we all know they are)

*Kylo Ren and Rey (also practically canonical since they've at least kissed)

* America and England from Hetalia (if I really want to go back to my fandom shipping roots. I read nothing but fics for them for like 2 years in high school 😅)

*Izaya Orihara and Shizuo Heiwajima 

*Hinata and Kageyama

*Carole and Tuesday

*Link and Sidon

#captive prince #shadowhunters #sasaki to miyano #tgcf #heaven official's blessing #percy jackson #pjo #six of crows #fruits basket #akatsuki no yona #tid #tmi

[seasonschange32]

I'm trying to watch Athena P lore videos because god are they entertaining and so funny. But here's some shows/movies I would love a lore deep dive on and why:

Inspector gadget reboot - the 'romance' between penny and Talon was so confusing yet endearing. Also, loving how chief Quimby just Disguises himself just to give gadget a misson

Total drama - not only was it a huge fan of gross out humor and has our overlord chris mclain, it literally introduced me to the ' bad boy x good girl' trope before ripping it out and taking a character ( who was literally perfect with another) and forcing them together due to aesthetics.

Transformers: robots in Disguise ( 2015) or Transformers prime - two shows that have fanbases debating ( seriously), each saying why each respective show is better. But other than that, both are fine for what they are and gave me two crushes that I hold dearly.

Mia and me - a fairy show that's not only animated but live action? With the main character having an ability to talk to unicorns? And with one of her bullies DISCOVERING HER SECRET LIFE??

Ben and hollies little kingdom - super wholesome and I love how the humans coinside with the fairies

Max and ruby - there's a tiktoker who made a whole series on why ruby was annoying. Need I say more?

Trollhunters and the spin off 3below - honestly from what I remember, I loved the stakes of the show and how cool the Armour the main character had. Regarding the spin off, loving how the bully I think was into the alien girl

Max steel ( not the 2000s one. sorry) - Max having to come up with the most unbelievable excuses as to why he has to go is cliche but also kind of funny? And the fact that the company Max's dad works for has lore as well is kind of interesting

Dino squad - I actually remembered this show through a cringe compilation of all things and had to add it. From the theme song, to the plotines, to the fact that I had a crush on Laruzo even though he was obviously queer coded ( his Dino form was cool though)

Jem and the holograms - the I am a giant song from the misfits lives in my head rent free. Also, jem practicing trying to reveal to that one guy only from him to yell at her is funny to me

Lolirock - same with jem as revolution is iconic as well as the villians. Plus, why is was eventually taken off

The tinker bell movies - forgot I was supposed to mention movies as well ( sorry). But I love them and how the fairies each have their own abilities ( as well as different kinds). From pirate fairies to winter fairies, it's really cool.

Barbie: a fashion fairytale - I love all barbie movies equally but this...this just takes the cake. What other movie will you see ken making a child cry, fairies with attitude, rotting dresses, and a roller skating aunt?

Zoom (2015) - the trailer showing a scene of the main character and her character arguing is honestly what made me want to watch it ( I haven't but I'm planning on it)

Super hero squad - kid me was laughing my butt off when falcon married his bird. So...

The little prince movie - I didn't even read the book but when I saw that the old man had died, I was emotionally devastated, especially after listening to all his stories which inspired the main character to go find the prince UGHHH

The book of life - is it cliche? Yes. Is it like coco? Yes. Do I like that in the end, the main boy has to sing a guitar version of creep to calm down a bull? Absolutely yes!

Epic - josh hutcherson, beyonce, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny knoxville, an enemies to lovers storyline, a snail, a royal guard having a love for the queen, the enemies being bugs, and ANDD a nerdy dad. That's it.

Rise of the guardians - I absolutely love it followed jack and his arc of being seen and when he finally is, the kid and him are just so excited! Also, the fact that a lot of people are simping for the Easter bunny is a testament to how many people will call anyone sexy.

Daniel spellbound - wanted to add this because there's an awesome creator ( cough cough @bonkalore) who's made an amazing au out of this show and I wanted to see what you thought of it and your theories

Bonus options ( just random one's I think could fit): the rainbow fairies series, Lego friends, the complicated life of Claudia Christina Cortez, sonic underground, drama or sisters ( but any book by rainia would be great), Junie b Jones, stoked, barney, goddess girls, glitter force ( that's what I remember it as), invisible sister, a monster in Paris, Maya and miguel, and Martha)

If you want anymore, let me know!

#nostalgic #Athena P #youtube #childhood #this took a lot of time because i have a really bad memory lol #girlblogging #remebering #rise of the guardians #epic 2013 movie #total drama #lolirock #transformers #max steel #tinkerbell #tv shows

[life-rewritten]

If you don't mind me asking, who are your favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon)? Feel free if you want to write the reasons of why you love those couples or not..... Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hi,

Thanks for the question, I actually did an answer to this that was pretty similar most of it had my favorite romantic relationships in there. Here's the link. But this since that question was focused on more about characters I'll try and give more information on the couples I tend to obsess about sometimes.

Books:

WangXian: I already explained about why I love the untamed in different forms, the books are one of my favorite ones.

Will/Tessa/Jem: The infernal devices. This is one of the best love triangles I have ever read, painful at places but it actually ended up really well. I am so happy about everything, I love all the characters in this, and each of the ways they helped each other in the relationships, their angst, and their memorable moments I love all of them.

Ty/Kit- Already one of my favorite relationship duo, and they haven't yet even been in a relationship but they're so good, and they're so angsty, and it's so good. Watched them grow and watched their childhood story unfold and how Kit realized about his feelings, urgh it's so good. Cannot wait for their series!

Bridgerton couples: This is a very unpopular opinion but I actually love Colin and Penelope in the books. I know Colin is very annoying and it takes a while to get him but I really enjoyed reading their story, their incident that led to them being forced to get married was incredible omg one of the best kissing scenes I read. I haven't read the next ones so I wouldn't say they're my all time fave but I really loved them.

Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth and Darcy, you'll never see me not love these two, love also their angst, love their longing, their enemies to lovers, their characterisation and their ending. One of the best historical romance books couples still to this day, and I can't fault it. I love most of Jane Austen's couples so I won't list them

Vegas/Pete: both book version and show version same reasons I stated in the previous one

Lee/Ke Luo: one of my all time favorite bl danmei book couples, makes me laugh so much, something so wholesome and innocent despite the darkness of the story. The plot twists and their relationship melts my heart. Watching Lee fall so selflessly in love with Ke Luo despite how like bad he is as a person was so beautiful, like his growth makes me so happy. Ke Luo later on getting what he deserved needing his own time to pine and pay for what he did, was so good, because Lee didn’t even know how much he was in love with him. The way they affect each other, make each other grow, the wholesome scenes they shared with each other even when they weren't together and the passion they also have, it was so great. Like typical BL novel, but hilarious and Lee is one of my favorite BL characters in a book boy do I love him! They make me so happy like I could easily read their story again, from the start to the end, and come out feeling so happy and cheesy and satisfied. It’s so cute 

Shows

Skam: Isak/Even, Noora/William, Sana/Yousef you can't make me choose I literally love all of them, I get so emotional thinking about the journey to each of their stories. Willam and Noora are my faves only for their season 1-season 2 storyline because the way they got butchered in the last seasons I'd like to forget but I bloody love them, toxic or not. Love the whole season so much. But Skam owns me so I'm not even surprised.

Maya Hart/Lucas Friar: didn't end up being a couple but was one of my favorite ships I actually was obsessed with them and they meant a lot to me, very much so, now it feels like a blur but I remember caring so much and wanting them to be together. I still believe they would, but not sure because we never even got a confirmation or truth if what people noticed and loved about the show was even planned or real. My question is there is no way it wasn't real there was far too much evidence for it but meh. I feel this way too about Riley and Farkle.

Fighter/Tutor from Why R U: as a BL show not my favorite BL show but as a story of these two? One of my best couples, they really got me to feel a lot of emotions and  I really enjoyed watching their story unfold. Can still always rewatch and get emotional at different scenes. 

I'm really not someone that has faves though it's even hard for me to remember couples I care about, I always love some couples but it never sticks unless I absolutely become obsessed with the story somehow, so my list isn't as detailed because there probably is much more but I can't remember atm, and it's always changing, depending on how I view or think about romance during that time.

#bl series #bl drama #thai bl #mo dao zu shi #skam #kinnporsche the series #vegaspete #shadowhunters #lucaya

[rockislandadultreads]

Staff Favorites: Classic Picks

In honor of Book Lovers Day on Tuesday, August 9th, this week’s recommendations will feature staff favorites here at the Rock Island Public Library!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the thirties. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is one of the best loved books of all time. Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, spoiled Amy: these are hard lessons of poverty and of growing up in New England during the Civil War. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family and have felt the deep sadness when Meg leaves the circle of sisters to be married at the end of Part I.

Part II, chronicles Meg's joys and mishaps as a young wife and mother, Jo's struggle to become a writer, Beth's tragedy, and Amy's artistic pursuits and unexpected romance. Based on Louise May Alcott's childhood, this lively portrait of nineteenth-century family life possesses a lasting vitality that has endeared it to generations of readers.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.

#fiction #classics #favorites #book lovers #book lovers day #book recs #book recommendations #reading recommendations #library books #TBR pile #tbr #to read #booklr #book tumblr

[neverendingtrove]

Jem Carstairs being a complete sweetheart

Dark Sisters House: *hosting a demon*

Jem Carstairs: I'll get the cat

#jem being an animal-lover #jem is the most precious and must be protected at all costs #jem castairs #will herondale #the infernal devices #tid #tlh #the last hours #heronstairs #will x jem #parabatai #the mortal instruments #tmi #tda #the dark artificies #cassandra clare #chain of gold #chain of iron #cog #coi #tessa gray #carstairs family

[lady-ragnvindr]

Hello there! I hope its okay, I just had this random idea, but can i request for some Hcs for Diluc and Childe with a GN! reader, who has been pretty sketchy lately? like they were being so secretive and stuff and theyd often leave and refuse to let them give them company when they do. So they start stalking them to see whats up only to see them checking something out at a store and they thought they wanted to buy it so they do, but in the end the reader ends up telling them that it was a gift they were eyeing for them not for themselves

I hope this makes sense, you can ignore it if its too much ><

Sketchy Reader HCs

Childe x GN!Reader x Diluc

Warnings: None

Didn't had any good title XD

Childe

Childe for most ppl is a very confident person, he thrives from the attention he gets especially when it comes to you

But since he is also a person with a very big title it is to be expected that he is very observant

So when you are very and I mean very (sus)picious he is concerned and also very wary

He has been betrayed and been labeled as a fooled from ppl he trusted, so yes he would be very cautious of you

Everytime he would look for you be it through the streets of Liyue or even on your own home, you would find any excuse to disappear from him

Wait hold on is that a Jewelry store

Until one day, Childe had enough and was planning to confront you, so when on a search for you

When he saw you in the middle of the street looking around and then entering a very suspic- wait

Childe looked slightly......confused but he kept looking, moving in closer hiding in between the crowd as he watched you closely through the window

You looked through each jewel, all shined bright, glowing at you tempting you to take them away but you had an eye for something else

Until you found it, a blue jem beautiful as the sea and it reminded you of a certain fatui but you soon stop your advances

1,000,000 Mora?!?!?

Nah you could go and mine that

Nope

And so you leave

But Childe seeing the pout you had, quickly swooped in the store and bought the shiny crystal

Later that day, he came to you with a box wrapped in a ribbon a huge boyish smile on his face

You looked at him, surprised as you looked up at him

"w-what is this?" He just gave you a big smile

"go on open it!" Excitement evident in his voice

You grabbed the box and opened it, seeing the familiar blue gem, you smiled

Looking up at him you let a small laugh out and Childe looked confused

"Have you been stalking me? Hmmm"

"Nooooo....maybee"

A sheepish grin covered his surprised face

You took out the blue gem while your other hand dig in into your pocket and pulled out a handmade bracelet with two piece cor lapis around it

Taking the blue gem, you used your pyro power to burn a small hole on the top of the gem and passed the bracelet through it

While you do that, Childe just watched, curiosity taking over

After you tied the bracelet, you handed it to a surprised (pikachu face) Childe

"I wanted to give you a gift something you could remember me for whenever I would go away..."

Let's just say Childe may had fainted....

Diluc

Diluc, like Childe is a very observant person but unlike him he doesn't look for attention much

So between the two of you, you are always the one to give him attention, sometimes he would be the one giving you attention but in most cases you are the one starting it

But that don't mean this man is blind

Nah nah nah, this man has eyes on everything

Especially when it comes to your every need

But when he doesn't get his cuddles as usual or doesn't even get to talk to you at all because you just wooshh from their he gets suspicious

So when me night you decide to sneak away, Diluc rises from the bed and changes int his Darknight hero mode and goes after you

You walked through the streets until you came to the door with a magical seal, while Diluc stays put on a roof, watching you and also wondering as to why are you at Mona's door

You knock and Mona opens the door and closes it

And Diluc waited

And waited

And more waiting

Until you finally walk out, burying something in your pocket as you waved at Mona goodbye

As you walk away, Diluc followed closely, jumping from roof to roof until you came into a stop at a Souvenir shop

As you were talking to the lady, you frowned

Diluc quickly getting upset seeing you pout wanted to go up to you and hug you but he kept hidden

With a final look at the item you wanted, you walked away

Diluc looked at your figure walking away, and as soon as you turned a corner, he took out his mask and landed right behind the store

The next morning, you woked up and rising from your bed, you looked behind you and noticed your lover calmly at sleep

Letting out a soft smile, you walked down the stairs and to the kitchen, the maids moved away from their, knowing your usual routine of making breakfast

As you were cooking some fried eggs, strong arms embraced you behind, a fluff of red hair fell on your shoulder as you giggled

"Lulu, your hair is going to get on the egg" he just let out a hum and snuggled closer into you

Letting a sigh out you tried to maneuver with a clingy man around the kitchen

Setting the plates down, you were about to sit down until Diluc pulled you into his lap

This man missed his cuddles ok?! He just needs his cuddles 😤

So while you guys were eating, Diluc pulled out a red crystal shaped as an eagle and slide it on the table, you recognizing the familiar object looked at him

"I had a nagging feeling you wanted it, so I bought it for you"

You looked at him until you let out a loud snort

Hugging a surprised Diluc, who wasn't expecting that reaction, you quickly went and grabbed a string with blue gems on it, pulling the red bird stone, you put it on the middle of the string

As you stood up and walked behind Diluc's chair, you pushed away his hair and wrapped the string filled of gems around his porcelain neck

Diluc looked at you, his red eyes wide as he waited for you to talk

"This was actually for you, I wanted to give you a gift, since I couldn't make it to your birthday....so happy late birthday!" You scratch the back of your head as you awaited his reaction

"Oh....um..,"clearing his throat, Diluc stood up and hugged you, "Thank you love, but a gift for me is for you to be here safe and sound, that is enough for me"

-

AIGHT, hope you liked it :)

Took me awhile to finish it since I was multitasking....I definitely wasnt watching anime

NUH uh

Anyways, this was very cute and fun to write, lov d the idea too so yahhh 👌😌

#genshin impact #diluc #genshin x reader #genshin x you #childe #genshin impact x reader #childe x reader #diluc x reader

[melanielocke]

Lost in the Shadows - Chapter 25

AO3

Taglist: @nott-the-best @foxglove-airmid @alastair-esfandiyar-carstairs1 @justanormaldemon @styxdrawings @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised@alastair-appreciation-month

Previous Chapter: Chapter 24

Next Chapter: Chapter 26

Uncle Jem had brought several of the Carstairs family’s old notebooks, and the past week they’d spend studying them to see if there was anything interesting. They’d rescued Grace, but no one had been able to find Tatiana since, nor did they know what they were up against exactly and if they could defeat it. Cordelia believed cortana could kill it, but walking in with no plan would just get them all killed.

Thomas felt like they were running out of time. He hadn’t told anyone yet, but he felt tired lately, much more than usual. For Alastair that was normal, he guessed, Alastair was always tired and therefore Thomas had no reason to complain. Still, it was odd and sudden. Then he’d gotten a bit of a headache, and right now he struggled to finish his lunch, which was already much smaller than what he usually ate. He’d eaten much less than he usually did the past days, truth to be told. He just didn’t have the same appetite. He was feeling a little chilly too, but guessed he should just put on a cardigan.

‘Are you alright, Tommy?’ his mother asked. ‘You’ve been eating so little lately.’

‘Just nervous, that’s all,’ Thomas said.

The thing was, Thomas didn’t usually eat less when he was nervous. If anything he ate more, he’d always been a stress eater. Instead he figured he was coming down with something. Someone else might just have said, ‘I think I’m getting sick, I’m going to rest a bit’, but after a childhood of frequent illness and worrying parents Thomas couldn’t get the words over his lips. He’d make sure to rest a bit more, he told himself. But he didn’t want to worry anymore, and he especially didn’t want his parents to start taking care of him like they used to when he was young.

Instead, he returned his attention to Alastair, who had long finished eating and gone outside to read. A ray of sunlight fell on his cheek, illuminating his warm golden brown skin. His eyes were fixated in a journal so old it looked like it might fall apart any moment. Not in Alastair’s careful hands though. He was holding the journal with meticulous care, so no damage would come to it. With his free hand, he pushed a lock of hair behind his ear, but it was not yet long enough to stay there so it fell back in front of his face. Back in school, Alastair would slick his hair back with hair gel, always perfectly in order, not a hair out of place. Thomas, who usually took a comb through his hair and left it at that, had wondered where he found the time. Now it was falling in soft wavy locks over his face. At school Thomas would never have guessed Alastair’s hair was wavy, but it was loose now and Thomas had grown to love gently running his fingers through it. He’d always loved Alastair’s dark hair, he thought. Alastair had shown him a picture from when he’d dyed it blonde, and although that looked alright, Thomas thought his dark hair was much more beautiful.

‘Anything interesting?’ Thomas asked, sitting down on the bench next to Alastair.

A gnome came up to his feet. Thomas and his mother had been feeding them to gain their trust, and not long since the gnomes had learnt that Thomas meant a chance for food. He guessed there were still plenty of cookies he didn’t feel like eating at the moment anyway, but he also wasn’t motivated to go into the kitchen and get anything. Thomas guessed resisting that adorable smile was good practice for when he got pets.

‘Nothing yet,’ Alastair said. ‘But I think I’m getting to the part that described that witch. It might give us some clues about what else Lucie can do.’

‘Have you discussed with Cordelia where you’ll live after the summer?’ Thomas asked.

Alastair had confided in him that even if his mother managed to get back the house and could go and live there, he was considering moving in with uncle Jem for the time being. His father’s house held too many bad memories, and Thomas could understand it would not be good for his recovery to live there again. Alastair had not yet made a decision, but Thomas thought it might be good for him.

‘She has not yet decided what she’ll do,’ Alastair said. ‘She is a bit young to live without her mother after all. Besides, with our mother pregnant it would be better to have someone with her. If she doesn’t get the house back, I presume she would stay with Risa and with me gone there might be enough space for Cordelia as well. But I’m almost nineteen, I figured it might be time to move out. Even if I’m moving in with another relative instead of getting my own place.’

‘That’s just practical, living on your own would be expensive. Besides, Jem won’t be another parent, will he? So you’ll still get to practice your adulting skills in a relatively safe environment. Does Jem live far away from your mother?’

‘Completely different part of London, but still in the city,’ Alastair said. ‘Easy to travel to university from there. It’s a big house, so I’ll really have my own space and get to take care of myself, with Jem still there in case I can’t. I’ve lived there until I was about six. When I was still happy, there are no bad memories tied up to that place. I thought maybe I could be happy again there.’

‘Where does Jem live exactly?’ Thomas asked.

Alastair gently put the notebook away, closing it carefully and putting it down in his lap. He took his phone out of the pocket of his jeans, showing him a screen of google maps with a marker where Jem lived.

‘Oh, that’s not far from where my parents live,’ Thomas said. ‘Only a few stops with the metro. We live close to the station.’

‘I didn’t realize. Well, that’s convenient. Makes it easy to have sleep overs or go out together if we don’t live too far away.’

‘Precisely,’ Thomas said. ‘Would you like to go for a walk when you’re finished here? A short one, I am a little tired. But I’d like some fresh air.’

Alastair carefully bound up his notebook and put it on the table inside with the others, before coming with him.

‘It’s safer to bring Lucie,’ Alastair said. ‘In case we get trapped in between again.’

Alastair had a point, although Thomas would like some time alone with him. He was so busy at work all the time, ever since Jem had arrived he was preoccupied with the journals. Thomas missed their walks.

‘Alright, we’ll walk to uncle Will and aunt Tessa and ask her and Cordelia to come. I’m curious if uncle Gabriel and aunt Cecily are coming this way too. Jem said they were struggling to find a babysitter.’

‘Right, for little Alexander,’ Alastair said.

‘And Christopher,’ Thomas added. ‘My other cousin. He’s almost seven now.’

‘What’s he like?’ Alastair asked.

‘Different from Alexander, that’s for sure,’ Thomas said. ‘Alexander is a menace. Sweet, but fierce and hyperactive and if you don’t watch him for two seconds he’s swinging from the curtains somewhere. Christopher… he’s not as wild. He’s curious and is obsessed with science. He likes to do simple experiments, and we sometimes have to keep him from setting things on fire. I’m not sure he realizes “Don’t try this at home” applies to him as well. Fortunately, putting on a science show on tv usually keeps him from blowing anything up. Usually, my sisters and I babysit them when necessary, but he also adores uncle Henry, who is an inventor.’

It occurred to Thomas that Henry was Charles’ father. Sometimes children did not resemble their parents, he guessed. It had been a bit of a shock for everyone to learn that Charles had been Alastair’s former lover. Even if not everyone knew how awful he’d been to Alastair, they all had pieced together how much older Charles was. His father most of all had been horrified, since he’d known Charles since he was a baby. Thomas suspected he’d go confront Charles himself if Alastair hadn’t asked him not to. He knew Alastair was still ashamed of his past relationship and was still trying to make sense of it all. Thomas was glad he’d found trust in him and his parents, even if Thomas suspected Alastair still kept the worst of it to himself. Who could blame him? He wasn’t sure if Alastair finally believed his parents cared about him now, but at least he seemed to trust them which was a big step for Alastair. His mother had told him about her past and how she’d gotten her scar in an attempt to let him know he could talk about it and she understood.

‘As a child I had a phase where I liked science too,’ Alastair said. ‘I think I often had phases like that with different interests. When Cordelia and I were very young, we both loved architecture and played with all sorts of building toys and legos together. I also really liked math for a while. Then the animals from the forests in Devon. I lived there for a while in a small village. I think that’s when I grew a bit obsessed with hedgehogs.’

‘Christopher has been obsessed with science for some time now,’ Thomas said. ‘But we’ll see how it goes and what he’ll like in the future. He’s being assessed for autism and ADHD. He’s a sweet kid, but he struggles socially. Not a lot of friends unfortunately. I honestly think he prefers my company over his peers.’

‘I know what that’s like,’ Alastair said. ‘To be the child with the weird interests and never fit in with other children.’

‘You lived in Devon for a while. What was it like there?’

‘The scenery was amazing. The forests there are beautiful. The people… not so much, I prefer London.’

‘I lived in the countryside for a couple of years too when I was little, for my health. I think where I lived the people were nicer, more involved than in the city.’

Alastair made a face. ‘Not when you’re foreign and your mother wears a roosari. The people in Devon are mostly white. I don’t think Father really considered that when he moved us there, it was mostly about him. They might be kind if you’re part of their group, but they’re hostile to outsiders. Fortunately, we moved back after a couple of years.’

‘Ah, of course,’ Thomas said. ‘I’m sorry.’ He felt stupid for not considering that earlier.

‘Well, people are racist everywhere. But at least in London there are more people of color and people are at least used to the idea that not everyone’s white.’ My mother still gets dirty stares and comments for her roosari, but she’s not the only one who covers her hair. So while in Devon, I much preferred to spend my time in the woods looking for hedgehogs than with other people. I guess I still do.’

Thomas felt a bit numb in his head, shivering even if it wasn’t cold at all. Perhaps going for a walk wasn’t the best idea, but he wanted to spend some time outside just the same. He should have brought something warm to wear, was all. He wasn’t really sick, it was just not as warm as he’d expected. But Alastair wasn’t shivering at all, he seemed to enjoy the sun on his skin. Thomas did too but it didn’t bring him any warmth.

‘You need to go back for a cardigan?’ Alastair asked. ‘There are goosebumps all over your arms.’

‘Oh. No, I’ll be fine.’

Thomas felt faint in the head and by the time they made it to the Herondale’s house, his vision became a little blurry and he collapsed against the door. He was awfully nauseous yet didn’t feel like he was going to throw up. Alastair noticed his sudden movement and his reflexes were quick. He tried to catch him.

‘Why are you so goddamn heavy, Tom,’ he groaned, trying and failing to stop both of them from crashing into the door.

Leaning against Alastair and the door, Thomas pushed himself upright again, blinking a couple of times until he felt he could stand on his own feet again. Alastair’s soft fingers went from his cheek to his forehead, and Thomas immediately recognized what he was doing. It was the same thing his parents and sisters had done his entire childhood. If they didn’t have a thermometer at hand, they’d feel his forehead, his neck, and determine if he was allowed to go anywhere. Alastair was going to determine he was sick and then all that was left was for everyone to tuck him into bed and start taking care of him. Thomas had hoped to avoid that.

‘You’re burning up,’ Alastair said. ‘You should not be going outside, much less for a walk. Come, we’re here anyway, I’m sure you could use the couch.’

Alastair led him inside, one arm around his waist and the other in his hand, and packed him in blankets on the couch, fetching a thermometer and some paracetamol.

‘Alastair,’ Thomas said, trying to piece together words through the headache and light headedness.

‘Just let me get this,’ Alastair said, pushing the thermometer into Thomas’ ear.

‘Alastair,’ Thomas repeated.

’38,6,’ Alastair said. ‘Tom, you have a serious fever. Why didn’t you say anything? I’ll make you some tea, just relax.’

‘Alastair!’ Thomas yelled, startling the boy.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Please don’t. I can make my own tea, I can take my own temperature,’ Thomas said, trying to calm his breath. ‘I hate it when people take care of me. I told you about my sickness as a child. I don’t want things to be like that again, I don’t want to be taken care of. So please, don’t. Just let me do it.’

Alastair sat down next to him. ‘You were about to walk into the woods with a fever. I’ve seen how stubborn you are.’

‘Yes. I am stubborn. I didn’t realize it would be so bad. But please, let me make these mistakes by myself. I don’t want to be treated like a sick child again.’ Thomas paused, blinking away the tears in his eyes. He didn’t realize this would make him so emotional. ‘I always loved that about you, how you believed I could take anything. How you didn’t treat me as if I was fragile because I was small and used to get sick.’

Alastair sighed. ‘I was an ass to you, Tom. It had nothing to do with respect, or thinking you’re strong.’

‘I know, and it did hurt sometimes. But I loved that you believed I could take it. I knew you didn’t mean any of the things you said, and with me, it was always a bit more light hearted, teasing perhaps.

But you never forced me to go to bed and rest when I did not want it. Matthew grew up around me being sick all the time, and I think he learnt from a young age that I was fragile and to be taken care of. James too. But I never wanted that. I’ll rest, I promise. But I’ll make my own tea, alright?’

‘I’m sorry, Tom. You can make your own tea. Make some for me as well?’

Alastair settled onto the couch while Thomas went into the kitchen to put on the kettle, still wrapped in a blanket. He was too cold to go without it. While waiting for the kettle to boil, Thomas realized Alastair did have a point, he could barely stand upright. Still, he was determined to at least do this. If he wanted anything later, he could always ask Alastair. He picked out a selection of tea bags for Alastair and put in a herbal teabag for his own. Thomas didn’t believe herbal tea cured sickness, but it was worth a shot.

He settled back on the couch, wrapped the blankets back around himself and took two paracetamol, hoping that would at least lower the fever.

‘I really can’t believe you think of my being rude to you as something positive,’ Alastair said. ‘I made fun of your height all the time.’

Thomas shrugged from underneath the blanket. ‘I never minded when you called me pipsqueak or wee little Thomas, or, I don’t know, you had plenty to say.’

Alastair raised an eyebrow. ‘You certainly took your revenge.’

Thomas tried to find a comfortable position on the couch, blankets around him. Alastair did have a point with the paracetamol, and Thomas took two. Hopefully they’d lower his fever.

‘Perhaps I’ll start calling you pipsqueak,’ Thomas said. ‘The name suits you much better now.’

Alastair made an undignified sound. ‘I’m not that short.’

‘You’re plenty shorter than me,’ Thomas said. ‘I always kind of liked it, pipsqueak. It sounded sweet even if you meant it to be hurtful. Sometimes I feel like you never really did a good job at being mean anyway.’

‘I never wanted to hurt anyone,’ Alastair said, ‘and I did have a bit of a weak spot for you then. I can be even worse than what you’ve seen, but I save that for bigots.’

Thomas put his hand on Alastair’s cheek. ‘I always thought you were holding back on being mean, even if you could still be quite vicious. But pipsqueak is mine now.’

Alastair looked mortified. ‘I guess I can’t stop you, can I?’

Thomas lay down on the couch, head on a pillow. Why were all these blankets so small? His feet were still cold and he’d have to find a solution for that. Really, blankets should be made for tall people. Nobody short would complain about having a bit of leftover blanket.

‘It’s concerning, that you’re getting sick after all these years,’ Alastair said softly.

‘It’s nothing,’ Thomas said. ‘Everyone gets a fever every once in a while.’

‘I haven’t had a fever in years. Colds, at times, but rarely a fever,’ Alastair said.

‘You don’t get the flu?’ Thomas asked.

‘Not that I remember,’ Alastair said. ‘But I figured that’s just the age, as a child I would get the occasional fever like all children do, and I imagine I’ll get them again when I’m older.’

Thomas had gotten the flu a couple of time over the past years. Never anything serious or with abnormal frequency, but it had sent the entire family into a panic whenever it happened.

‘Please don’t tell my parents,’ Thomas said. ‘That I’m sick, I mean.’

‘How did you plan to keep it from them?’ Alastair asked.

‘Well, I was hoping I’d be better by the next morning,’ Thomas said. ‘I could sleep over here and then when I’m better pretend nothing happened.’

Alastair was skeptical. ‘I really don’t think you’ll feel better that soon, even if it is a normal flu.’

Lucie and Cordelia entered the room through the garden door, Cordelia turning her sword back into the familiar necklace. ‘Those are a lot of blankets,’ Lucie pointed out. She was right, and Thomas moved them around a bit so at least the biggest blanket would cover his feet, reaching up to his waist.

‘We wanted to revisit the ruins,’ Cordelia said. ‘See if there’s anything else that can give us information on Tatiana or the thief of souls. I was wondering if you would be coming.’

‘Thomas is sick,’ Alastair said.

‘Don’t stay behind on my behalf,’ Thomas said.

Alastair frowned. ‘You sure? I would gladly stay here with you.’

‘I think I’m going to get some sleep anyway,’ Thomas said. ‘Please don’t trouble yourself on my behalf. Go, I’ll still be here when you get back.’

‘Get well soon,’ Lucie said, putting her arms around him briefly. ‘You know how the tv works in case you want to watch a movie.’

‘I’ll be alright, Lu. Good luck with your mission.’

Thomas wanted to believe he had just caught the flu. Bad luck, nothing more. But perhaps that wasn’t the case. Perhaps he wouldn’t get better. Perhaps this meant they were running out of time.

#Thomas Lightwood #Alastair Carstairs #Lucie Herondale #Cordelia Carstairs #Thomastair #Lucelia #fanfiction #the last hours #tlh

[apostatesims]

. . . new legacy, babey ! 

james “jem” brightbriar (he/him) is a twenty two year spellcaster born and raised in the not-so-sleepy town of glimmerbrook. having recently lost the remaining few members of his estranged family (through increasingly unpleasant magical demises of their own making), jem decided to consider it a sign from the universe and promptly packed his bags, seeking out the greener, less gruesome pastures of henford-on-bagley.

jem is, among other things, a clumsy, family orientated animal lover, who struggles with mundane social interactions almost as much as he struggles with his two left feet. while still figuring himself out, jem can say with some confidence that he dislikes crowds and magic, and loves cooking, gardening, and his familiar cat, lottie. naturally, his inherited magical misfortune also translates into being a terrible cook, so it’s with great pleasure that i’ve tossed him head first into the unlucky chef scenario. “out of the cauldron, into the fry pan” or something like that.

his aspirations are . . . all over the place, but i’ve tentatively set him as wanting a big happy family. he is a legacy founder after all!

#legacy: brightbriar #ts4 #ts4 gameplay #we'll see how long my motivation lasts lmao #thankfully jem does Not require the insane amount of colour coordination and Aestheticisms that sara did #he's a simple boy ! #anyways my legacy style is fairly laid back and light hearted so idk im mostly just talking to myself over here #but it would be nice to not have him burn the house down before we get to gen 2 lol #cas

[heavenwontbethe-same]

I got more ideas for our series!

Jem luurvesss cats. He just loves them. Once he saw a cat on his way to home and brought him with himself. The cat, however, doesn't like anybody except Jem. Especially Will.

Will doesn't like the cat. Like at all. And the feeling is mutual. It all started when Jem brought the cat home with him and Will tried to pet him, but the cat scratched him on the face. Tessa and Jem burst out laughing, and Will started swearing incessantly. He had been swearing at the cat until he went to bed that night.

The remaining members of the group have no hate for the cat. But they don't dare go near him. Only Charlotte, besides Jem, can feed the cat.

The cat, Jem named him Church, might have a praise kink. Whenever someone calls him a "good boy" he visibly melts. Needless to say, only Charlotte and Jem call him that. The others, especially a certain Herondale, never do.

Church seems to secretly like Tessa. He always hisses protectively whenever someone, especially the aforementioned certain Herondale, comes near Jem, like he's going to attack them, but in Tessa's case it's different. And being near Jem means being near him because his permanent seat is Jem's lap.

Will is secretly planning to get That Devil Cat away from his best friend. Only Tessa knows about his intention.

Jem is such a cat person. When the others told him that, he denied it. After finding Church, however, he finally agrees that they had been right (though he doesn't think he'll ever tell it to their faces)

Will considered himself a lover of all animals except ducks. He now might have to add cats to the list. The bloody bastard scratched his beautiful face! As far as he was concerned, Church was right up there on his mortal enemies list with ducks. He would've tried to lightly kick him, but he didn't want to get scratched again so he held back.

Church definitely has a praise kink, and it is the subject of many of the group's laughs (sans Will, cause he's still angry). He looks at Jem like he is the love of his life, and is indifferent to the rest, though slightly less indifferent to Charlotte.

Whenever either Jem or Charlotte call Church a good boy and Will hears it, he lets out the loudest scoff and mumbles under his breath about how it was "unbelievable".

Will is getting more and more frustrated each day because he xan rarely spend any time with his best freaking friend because of that damned cat.

Since he heard the girls shipping Church with Magnus's cat, Chairman Meow, he's planning on getting rid of him by handing him off of to Magnus. Only Tessa knows because she found him scheming at 3 am one night.

@rosiesworldsblog, how many parts do you think this is?

#my archaeoweirdist #shoutout to nonnie #you're amazing ily #thanks for the ask 💙 #anon daydreaming series

[sharkfish]

ps i loved this one

(abo version) 

for the anonymouse that requested some abo recs!

Best Laid Plans by Persephoneshadow - 74k

Things are going well for Dean: he's landed the biggest design job of his architectural career and is about to get final approval on the project despite how difficult the development company, personified by Castiel Novak, has made it. It's not bad for a moody omega...except things are also going terribly for Dean because he has to get in a plane and fly to a meeting, and course ends up in heat a few hours before. Luckily, Castiel is there to help and both men discover the good that can come when nothing goes quite as intended.

dean is a bit of an anxious wreck, cas is the kind of stoic and precise that dean thinks cas can’t stand him, they accidentally spend dean’s heat together. good clean abo fun. 

For Science! by pm_lo - 22k

Selected transcripts and supporting materials from Dr. Castiel Williams and Dean Winchester’s seminal study on physiological and psychological sexual response by gender designation.

it is hard to write a dialogue-only and make it work. this is an awesome example of how tone can be inferred by the dialogue alone, adjective-free, and it was one of the first abo fics i ever loved. 

Friends Helping Friends (Telling Me What My Heart Meant) by Annie D - series is 15k

Dean and Cas have known each other for about a year now, and in that time, Cas has never gone into heat. So far.

yo i got nothing to say about annie d except that they’ve got some amazing stuff out there. 

Get a Whiff of This by @bendingsignpost - 27k 

When no good deed goes unpunished, Dean ends up sentenced to community service for physically defending another Omega at his job. That is, at his former job. It's all a steaming pile of shit, and that's exactly what he has to clean up at the joint animal shelter and clinic he's been assigned to.

With a face full of allergies and a horrific mood, all Dean has to do is get through six weeks of this sinus-assaulting torture. That's not so easy with a smartass Alpha receptionist, but at least the weird Beta vet might just end up being kinda cool.

this is soooo good. due to the whole allergy thing, dean’s scent blind during his volunteer hours. while making this list i am discovering that i really like abo fics that fuck around with the trope. but it does stay true to the consequences of the power dynamic between alphas and omegas. (it’s almost like... abo is.... a parallel to actual life gender discrimination......) 

Grown-Ups Making Grown-Up Choices by Carrieosity - series is 100k

Dean is a grown-ass man - he can take perfectly good care of himself, thank you very much. Except that sometimes the easier or more fun choices aren't always the right or best ones, and, all right, maybe thinking ahead and working the long game isn't his strongest suit. It's fine! He's fine.

When he meets Castiel, he realizes that flying by the seat of his pants may not be the best way to attract the super-serious (gorgeous, funny, genius) Alpha. Dean's shrink has been telling him he needs to start making "grown-up choices," and if that's what he has to think about in order to make Cas fall for him, then he'll give it a whirl.

this is an awesome fic about Dean Winchester’s Appallingly Low Self Esteem, being your best self without losing authenticity, and raging against harmful stereotypes. also, great sex. @carrieosity​ is really good at doing things. 

Heat of the Moment by RipUpTheEnding - 21k

In which Sam plans a family vacation at a horse ranch, Cas gets his first human illness (sort of), and Dean finally pulls his stupid alpha head out of his ass.

canon-adjacent abo au where they all find out that cas inhereited jimmy’s omega-ness. dean offers to help out, because that’s just what friends do, right? 

Lover by casbean - 27k 

Dean knows that Cas doesn't like him. They're not even friends, not really. But Dean can't help it, he wants to be around Cas, he wants to be his friends, he wants... more. But he has to respect that Cas is just not interested.

It's not until Cas gets into the first heat of his life in front of him that Dean is faced with the fact that maybe, just maybe, Cas doesn't hate him at all.

not a lot of people write about ace characters in abo fics (or, um, in general), but @casbeanwrites​ has created something really beautiful. i love to see this kind of trope subversion and am glad it exists in the world. 

Oddly Shaped Empty by jemariel - 65k

Dean grew up thinking -- knowing -- he'd be an alpha.

Until he failed to present. As a beta, he has no mating cycle, no noticeable pheromones, none of the physical markers that are so important in a world of alphas and omegas. He's out of place. How is he supposed to navigate his relationships and find love when he doesn't fit into the neatly-defined boxes he's used to?

By the time he meets his new roommate, Castiel, he's more or less given up on finding a mate. He wears his secondary gender like a chip on his shoulder. But you never know what the future holds, who will come into your life, and how they might change it forever.....

Queer themes, finding identity, reconciling the past, and a whole lot of smut.

you can’t go wrong with @jemariel​ and their exploration of queer themes in abo!!!

Picking Up Roses by jemariel - 26k

Castiel Smith has spent his life climbing the corporate ladder, and has sacrificed a lot to get where he is. Including pieces of his own identity. Nobody can know he's not actually an alpha....

Dean Winchester has carved out a life for himself in spite of his troubled past. When Castiel Smith shows up in his yoga class, there might finally be someone he can open up to, truly....

Hidden truths are intimate things, and you never know what you'll discover when you're honest with someone.

 you still can’t go wrong with jem!!! 

The Samhain Trials by jemariel - 8k

On Samhain night, the veil is thin, not only between the spirit world and our own, but between humankind and their inner natures.

Every year, the hunt is run. Alphas and omegas brave the woods in search of glory and passion. Every year, Dean Winchester comes out alone. The soulbrand on his neck means that he has a True Mate, and what should be a blessing has only been a curse.

He hopes, and he waits, and this year his soulbrand has been itching as if it were newly risen.

It's nearly sundown.

apparently i have all of jem’s fics bookmarked. i stand by it. 

#alpha/beta/omega dynamics #destiel #sharkrecs #sharklist

[saizoswifey]

(How about that Shingen fic?) 😏😏😏 OR a little something from your beautiful prose for Inuchiyo! CONGRATULATIONS again. All my love.

Thank you so much, dear!! Alright, alright! Shingen fic it is! For the loveliest Jem  ( ᵕ̤ ‧̫̮ ᵕ̤ )

What I Was, Once

{ShingenxReader}

Genre: Sadness, deathWord Count: 1,905  A/N: This is an AU of sorts, wherein Shingen passes away on his own time. My take on his thoughts and feelings, and how he would handle his passing and the aftermath. 

Life doesn’t stop just because you’re dying.

In a period of constant war and turbulence you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who was not aware of this fact, but even so, Takeda Shingen perhaps understood this more than most. Knew there were still plenty of ups and even more downs. When he thought about his impending death and leaving this world it was not about the world itself as a whole; he wasn’t as selfish as all that, but instead the individual things that he would be abandoning. You, his retainers—that went without saying.

It was even smaller things he found to be the hardest to grasp letting go of. How could he come to terms with the fact that one day he would not have the feel of your small hands brushing his hair before breakfast, caressing his scalp before tying his hair up in just the perfect way. 

Or the pleasant dreams of his younger days when his shoulders were not yet aware of the profound burden they would one day carry. Wind whistling through his ears and bringing a pleasant moisture to his eyes as he recklessly raced through the mountains with his brother. He’d look back, saying something boisterous and cocky and young though he could not remember exactly what, and laugh, though it was not as deep and hearty as it was today. He would miss the heaving power of the animal beneath him and the sound of hooves like the rhythm of freedom.  

Of course, some things were easier to leave. The memories and hardships he had faced in his life; the regrets. Eyes of fear from those at the other end of his sword. The searing pain in his lungs, the feeling of cold sweats and the way the illness swept in waves and seemed to erode every muscle and tendon in his body until he felt as weak as a newborn, unable to dress or walk outside and take a proper piss without assistance. The pity.

Yes, these things he would not miss.

“Yukimura would make a fine partner to warm your bed once I pass,” Shingen said one night while you brushed his hair from behind him. The brush stopped halfway down his back. Abrupt. Inward he was smiling, but his face remained serious and stoic. He knew it was a terrible thing to say but he meant it.

“I told you not to talk like that.” The brush resumed its course.

Ah, you were upset. He would miss that. The same tone you used to scold him in the middle of the night when the morning light was approaching and he still had not come to bed. Behind his shield of books and maps and writing desk he would hear the shoji open and know for certain, it would only be a matter of seconds before you dragged him to bed while giving him an earful about his health, how he should care more, and rest. Did you know your voice was always too full of caring and love to ever be threatening? He hid a small smile at the thought.  

“It’s true,” he continued. “He’s loyal and kind. Honest to a fault. He may not be as good a lover as I am-“

“No one is as good a lover as you are,” you cut him off.

He let a deep laugh trickle out through the pain it caused his lungs. Despite the hints of rasp, it was still very much Shingen. Not young Shingen or healthy Shingen, but Shingen. He never grew tired of the way you fueled his ego, even if it wasn’t the truth.

“I hope you won’t forget that…” It was quiet and doleful, uncharacteristically melancholy, but he smiled as he said it.

“There’s nothing for me to forget in the first place. You remind me every day. You’re still here.”

Shingen reached behind him and took hold of your hand, bringing the back of it to his cheek. He had to remind himself that you were not cold, he was simply warm.

“That’s right. I’m here.”

Though, not forever. Not even for long, he thought. In his heart, he truly hoped you would move on and find another man to love. Another man to protect you and live with you in the ways Shingen wished he could have. If he could, he would bring you and Yukimura together while he was still alive just so he could rest assured you would be taken care of. But conversely, it lit a jealous fire in his belly thinking of any–other than himself–getting to touch you and caress you, to claim you in the most intimate ways.

And when he turned to face you he tossed the brush from your hand and, fever be damned, latched his lips to your neck and lowered you underneath him.

He would miss this as well.

__

He wasn’t even gone and yet he missed eating. He missed having an appetite for anything at all, really. Before, the smell would at least draw a rumble from his belly but now…now even that was not enough to elicit a response from him. A grave sign. But he kept this to himself. He didn’t want to worry you. How could he? How could he steal the light from your eyes? You, who smiled and the bud of your lips opened up like a flower in bloom. And he was just so tired. So very tired. The sharpness of his features even more apparent with his thinning frame. The exhaustion would be easy to let go of.

Flowers sprung and snow fell.

While I gazed out,

barely conscious that I too

was growing old,

how many times have blossoms

scattered on the spring wind?

Helpless. He was a prisoner to the passing of time. While his body moved at an increasingly slow pace, the seasons passed as quickly as he ever remembered. Funny, how the years shortened the older your age. He’d say it was cruel but he knew that was not really true. The autumn breeze brought a chill straight to his bones and Shingen sat awake in the night, alone. Every shudder of breath sent a thick anxiety coursing through his veins, choking him. He had never felt so weak. His arm rested on his writing desk, propping him up with all the strength he had left. The light from the oil lamp was so dim that it wouldn’t matter if it had not been lit at all.

Despite his feverish shaking, the haori remained draped over his shoulders. He alternated dotting at the bit of sweat lingering on his brow and then his eyes as he wept softly in solitude, staring out into the moonlight. The moon, full and bright, reminded him of the rocks from the river he used to play in as a child. As if perhaps one day he had skipped one a bit too hard, and it flew into the sky to remain for the rest of his days. The thought was comforting in its nostalgia. He continued to bring brush to paper, shaky hands be damned.

When he finished, he lay next to your sleeping frame. He caressed a warm hand along your belly. Not enough to rouse you, but enough to feel connected to the life inside, stirring and responding against his flattened palm.

This. He would miss this the most, he thought. And the easiest to let go—the indescribable agony he felt with the knowledge that he would not be around long enough to see it’s face.

___

Although Shingen was gone, his spirit and love were left in traces all around you. 

The first time you found a note, the tears welling from your eyes kept you from reading the words properly. This one tiny paper, gently nestled in a new hairpin inside your dark lacquered box.

‘Wear this today, my love. Go outside for a walk. And when you hear the birds song, know they will be singing only for you, and your beauty on this day.’

And you did. Though you didn’t make it very far before giving in to a heavy sob.

Two infant swaddles left on your bedding when you returned from the kitchens one evening. Saizo. One for a boy and one for a girl. And a note.

‘Forgive me, I wanted to give our child a gift but I was not sure which would end up being used… Though, I am sure you’ll make use of both when you start to have more children. At least, I hope you would.’

Little notes in curious places.

Married with bolts of fine cloth that were delivered after he was gone.

“There must be a mistake…I have not requested these,” you protested.

“Forgive me milady, but it is no mistake. Lord Shingen personally instructed us to make these and deliver them here at this time.”

They came with the seasons, patterns for spring, patterns for summer and thick cloth for winter, all beautiful.

Pieces of parchment under your bedding, anywhere he could think of to reach you even when he was not there. Some brought by those in his service he trusted most—when you needed them the most. Some for your child to read in the future.

You breathed in the sun-drenched air.

In front of you in the lush garden grass, plump, shaky legs brought your child closer to your feet.

“My lady, she’s escaped again,” a maid appeared from the veranda.

“Alright then,” you sighed.

You took off, heading in the only direction that made sense. The same place she always ended up. The sun was traveling towards the horizon and the chance breezes caught your hair and cooled your skin. Through trees and over rocky paths you made your way to high ground until you found her.

“Kurokumo,” you called in exasperation when you finally saw her, calm and grazing on the familiar hill overlooking Kai.

She looked back and flicked her tail in annoyance.

“You’ve got to stop doing this.” She ignored you and returned her face to the grass. You gave her a couple long strokes down her neck. “I know, I miss him too.”

She snorted in response.

Perhaps this shared feeling of loneliness was the closest thing bonding you two.

Inside a deep hollow of the tree, you retrieved a glass bottle, unrolling the parchment hidden inside.

‘Are you sad? Is that why you’ve come here? Whatever you are feeling, I am always with you in this spot. If you feel the warmth of the sun, close your eyes and look up to the sky, think of it is as my hands upon your cheeks. The wind moving through your hair is my fingers. Raindrops upon your skin are each a kiss from my lips. And when it’s cold, wrap your haori around yourself and it will be my warm embrace. Whatever your burden, I am there to share it. Look out upon the vastness in front of you and smile for me, and for all of the wonderful life around you.

And know I am smiling, too.’

Kurokumo nudged your shoulder with enough strength to knock you off balance and you wiped the newfound wetness from your cheek.

“Alright,” you gave her a smile and tucked the vial back into the tree. “We can stay. Just a little longer…”

#slbp #samurai love ballad party #slbp fic #shingen #takeda shingen #shingen fic #my writing #jemchew #k talks

[attina-the-responsible]

JEFF Triton -- Character Sheet

Archetype — The Ruler Birthday — April 25, 1967 Zodiac Sign — Taurus MBTI — ISTJ Enneagram — 6; the Loyalist Temperament — Melancholy Hogwarts House — Huffleclaw (with a Slyth model) Moral Alignment — Lawful Good Primary Vice — Pride Primary Virtue — Diligence Element — Earth

Overview:

Mother — JODY Triton (nee Poole) Father — Cyrus Triton Mother’s Occupation — homemaker? Father’s Occupation — mer-government? Family Finances — uh all mermaids are rich are mermaids a communist dictatorshiP? Birth Order — Oldest Brothers —  None Sisters — JEAN, JUNE, JULY, JANE, JILL, JADE Other Close Family — Octopian, Trent -- brothers in law; Jewel, Jasmine, Jetta, Jem, Jennite, Jasperine, Julia -- nieces; Jordan -- nephew; Athena’s family. Best Friend — Sebastian and Scuttle Other Friends — Mufasa, The Prince ??, Benjamin Enemies — uh humans? lmao Pets — nah fam. Home Life During Childhood — More introverted but still friendly, didn’t get in much trouble (Athena was the #rebel). Kind of a nerd, his sisters’ deaths made him stoic. He loved them a lot and was kind of the peacemaker of them. Liked to explore, spent time collecting things/cleaning. Loved the environment.   Town or City Name(s) — Boscombe Reef off the coast of Bournemouth; Swynlake, England What Did His or Her Bedroom Look Like — it was under the ocean?? do they live in caves?? do they have infrastructure? do mermaids sleep in dens do they have "blankets" (makes no sense) and mirrors and toys??? BUT UH pretty clean and neat?? like if he did have toys and, sure, he had toys, they were always put away. Any Sports or Clubs — mer-debate, mer-student council, stuff like that Favorite Toy or Game — mer-chess, mer-monopoly (and the regular versions) Schooling — fish school? HAHA get it? puns. Favorite Subject — history but also really liked science and finds it v applicable to his job Popular or Loner — was very friendly and had friends, but they were mostly “school” friends. liked to be rather solitary, but lots of people liked him. Important Experiences or Events — his sisters’ deaths, moving to land, marrying/meeting athena, athena’s death, his daughters’ births Nationality — er English? I guess? Culture — Merculture Religion and beliefs — Merreligion  

Physical Appearance:

Face Claim —  Sean Bean Complexion — had acne and has scars, but otherwise dark, tan, leathery skin and kinda red sometimes Hair Colour — Copper-y brown/red but going grey Eye Colour — Blue Height — 5’10 Build — Stocky and powerful Tattoos — a whale across his chest, multiple smaller ones--probably all the girls’ birthdays somewhere listed under a fancy letter “A” Piercings — had a nip piercing, ear piercings -- still wears ear piercings when dressing up Common Hairstyle — on the longer side but nicely groomed--def going grey but still pretty brown/red, beard is super nicely groomed it is his best feature ofc (alana makes him special beard cream) Clothing Style — DAD™ wears cargo pants, sandals and socks, CROCS, hawaiian shirts, etc Mannerisms — strokes beard when thinking, talks with hands, frowns when deep in thought Usual Expression — resting bitch face, but he’s actually so soft

Health:

Overall (do they get sick easily)? — decent, probably gets colds every now and then but overall pretty robust health-wise Physical Ailments — n/a Neurological Conditions — depression, PTSD, anxiety Allergies —  seasonal allergies Grooming Habits — rather good, sometimes falls to the wayside bc depression, but mermaids pride themselves on their appearance, esp concerning their hair Sleeping Habits — insomnia which gets worse the more worried he is. Goes and sits in his office a lot at night. Doesn’t sleep very well at all. It makes him tired. Probably falls asleep watching TV in the evenings Eating Habits — eh, he can forget to eat if he’s busy and is a snack addict. But he always has dinner with the girls when he is home.   Exercise Habits —  not suppppppper active, but he swims which is really good for you, isn’t unhealthy but isnt like JACKED Emotional Stability — about a 7. He’s pretty stable unless the girls are giving him hell or something happens in Swynlake that throws off the sense of safety. Body Temperature — Normalish Sociability — 4-5, pretty average. He has been masquerading as a human for al ong time but sometimes he makes little mistakes and says weird things. Doesn’t really seek out conversation but can hold one very well. Not shy, just quiet. Addictions — uhh coffee probably Drug Use — nah Alcohol Use —  occasionally, likes a good craft beer; RARELY gets drunk

Your Character’s Character:

Bad Habits — indulges with food, dwelling on the past Good Habits — good grooming, good listener, organized, quick learner Best Characteristic — the biggest heart, he cares deeply about his fam and community Worst Characteristic — stubborn, suspicious, anxious Worst Memory — his sisters and athena’s death Best Memory — marrying athena! His daughters’ births! Proud of — his daughters, his company Embarrassed by — his daughters -- benjamin probably lol Driving Style —  too damn cautious, grandma, soccer moms you if the car stops too fast, Safe Driver ™ Strong Points — resilient, strong, detail-oriented, smart, studious, hard worker, meticulous, community-oriented/family-oriented Temperament — stoic, laidback til u piss him off Attitude — cautious, realistic, lil sassy but like subtle Weakness — his fears and anxieties Fears — losing his daughters Phobias — ?? Secrets — he’s a MERMAID Regrets — not being with athena/being able to save his sisters/wife, def relationships w lana and ariel Feels Vulnerable When — when he doesn’t know what is going on, lack of control, when his girls are upset with him Pet Peeves — littering, not being listened to, putting their feet on the dashboard Conflicts — wants his daughters to be independent v wants them to be safe; family versus community: mermaids are community oriented and it is hard for him to not fully be himseLF and not be useful -- would choose fam over community. Motivation — be a good community leader, keep his daughters safe, give back, keep the lake/ocean/community safe and clean, be a good dad Short Term Goals and Hopes — daughters succeed academically, board stuff, community safe Long Term Goals and Hopes — safe and happy for his fam, WANTS GRANDBABIES Sexuality — heteroflexible/demisexual Exercise Routine  — swims p regularly Day or Night Person — wants to be a day person, but his depression/insomnia force him to be a night person Introvert or Extrovert — extroverted introvert Optimist or Pessimist — pessimist with realist leanings

Likes and Styles:

Music — Jimmy Buffet and dad rock, also Jazz Books — biographies! Magazines — nat geo, home improvement magazines, men’s health, takes teen vogue quizzes w the girls Foods — p much likes everything, lots of fish, also likes sweets and junk food Drinks — craft beer, water, coffee Animals — his marine counterpart is a turtle!! But he likes most animals--just not in the house w a bunch of daughters,, Sports — eh not particularly Social Issues — left-leaning on most social issues, but more fiscally conservative. Big running points are always SAFETY SAFETY. Big on environmental stuff Favorite Saying — “if life gives you limes, make margaritas” - Jimmy Buffett Color — Green, like Athena’s eyes /tear Jewelry — wears bracelets, rings, necklaces, mostly hemp and beaded stuff, occasionally metal if Dressing Up Websites — watches TED talks, loves youtube (for animal vids), is that dad that comments on everything on facebooks, decent w the internet bc y’know he runs a company, TV Shows — home improvement, cooking shows, bad reality telly, historical dramas (mad men, house of cards), sitcoms Movies — tbh likes romcoms on the lowkey, hates horror, will watch anything hte girls want (but horror) Greatest Want — keep his family safe, happiness for his girls Greatest Need — learn to let go, safety/security/peace

Where and How Does Your Character Live Now:

Home — lives in the Woods, five bedroom, three floors, mansion Household furnishings — relatively modern but also homey Favorite Possession — his photo albums and his wedding ring Most Cherished Possession — HIS DAUGHTERS!!! Married Before — to the LOVE OF HIS LIFE Athena Significant Other Before — probably one girlfriend Children — Attina, Andrina, Adella, Arista, Aquata, Alana, Ariel Relationship with Family — has a good relationship with his sister who is still alive and that fam, they live on land these days tho closer to the shore tbh?? They probably work together. Really close with Attina, Andrina, Aquata. Has a good relationship with Arista too. Strained relationships with Ariel and Adella and Alana (in that order of most to least strained lol) Car — 2012 Honda Odyssey in grey -- “The Humpback” Career — CEO of Triton Industries, a nonprofit that works towards ocean clean up. Dream Career — Uh, probably exactly what he is doing tbh Dream Life — being able to move between the land and the ocean freely without fear of repercussion, athena alive, all his daughters happy, retired with grandbabies Love Life — non-existent /tear; tho tbh probably gets hit on all the time. This makes him uncomfortable. Talents or Skills — good at chess, good cook, handy around the house, knows sign language/french/spanish, can sew a bit, play an instrument ?? (something brassy maybe the trumpet or drums) Intelligence Level — 8, he’s v intelligent. Finances — they rich af holla @ sunken treasure

Your Character’s Life Before Your Story:

Past Careers — uhhh worked in mer-government tbh probabyl like environment conservation   Past Lovers — like one girlfriend, he was not very smooth w the ladies Biggest Mistakes — being too controlling, letting athena out of his sight Biggest Achievements — watching attina and adella graduate, all his daughters being safe and (mostly) happy!!, his company, his solid place on the board

#character sheet #featuring triton #triton #inspiration

[sktchy]

Movies every artist should see, picked by artists

We asked the Sktchy community, “What is one movie every artist should see?” Here is a selection of their recommendations.

Loving Vincent

The world’s first fully oil painted feature film, Loving Vincent explores the mysterious death of Vincent Van Gogh. Thanks to artist Robin Ramirez for the recommendation.

Museum Hours

At the Kunsthistorisches Art Museum in Vienna, a museum guard and a visiting out-of-towner find refuge in life, art and each other in Jem Cohen's painterly rumination on how art influences and echoes contemporary society. Thanks to artist Jude Hoffperson for the recommendation.

Big Eyes

Directed by Tim Burton, this drama chronicles the awakening of painter Margaret Keane, her enormous success in the ‘50s and the later legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the ‘60s. Thanks to artist Amanda Pacheco for the recommendation.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

“When it comes to movie color palettes, you can’t beat Wes Anderson,” says artist Helen Leigh-Phippard. “Most of my Procreate color palettes are based on his movies.”

Amélie

Thanks to artist Benjamin Zayas for the recommendation and explanation:

It’s the movie I associate most with being told from the viewpoint of a sensitive, loner, artistically minded person who is trying to interact with the chaos of the world around her and find her own place in all of it. Best part is, the movie is totally accessible to anyone but will illustrate to any of your non-artistic friends what it feels like to view the world artistically. Every shot in the film tells stories with every available sense, bright vivid colors, wonderfully rich sounds and very unique style and imagery. There are even moments where the senses film can’t explore are described to you by the narrator and lead character so well, you’d swear you can feel, taste and smell the film too! Stick with it. It’s in French so there’s a lot to read, and it has some sad moments that will make you cry. But I promise you will feel rejuvenated and alive when it’s over.

Grave of the Fireflies

Thanks to artist Locarno Art for the recommendation: 

Get lost in the animation and prepare to cry. A perfect example of art and emotion working together.

Here’s the official synopsis:

In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year-old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring.

Pleasantville

Thanks to artist Jerel Cardona for the recommendation:

One of my all time favorite movies  is Pleasantville. The film touches on so many important topics: art, family, self discovery and expression while faced with adversary to do so, and the power of change. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, especially in the transformation from everything slowly turning black and white to color. Also, the Randy Newman score is quite gorgeous and impactful. It can make you laugh, make you cry, make you FEEL! For an artist or an art lover, it really is a total package.

To see many more movie recommendations from artists, check out this post on Sktchy. You need the app to view it properly. If you don’t have the app, download it for free in the App Store. 

#art #artist #artists on tumblr #movies #movie recommendation #art movies #Amélie #Pleasantville #Grave of the Fireflies #grand budapest hotel #wes anderson #Big Eyes #vincent van gogh

[supercultshow]

Hello Supercult West! This is Supercult South Bad Movie Professor Cameron Coker (BS in “Anime Legwarmers” with a minor in “Have a McNice McDay!”) and I’m reaching out to you from across the country to help hype the Anime OVA Megazone 23, part 1!

In the distant future…and apparently in the 80s…teenager Shogo Yahagi finds himself in possession of an experimental motorcycle, like Akira (1988). It isn’t long before men in dark suits come for Shogo, murder his friend, and force Shogo deeper and deeper into a city-wide conspiracy to keep the entire populace ignorant of the truth, like Dark City (1998). That’s not even mentioning the artificial intelligence being used to control the populace, like the Matrix (1999), or the fact that the bike transforms into a humanoid robot.

“What if the entire world that we live in was being controlled from outside? What if everything was a illusion run by a computer? And what if all the air turned into mayonnaise? What then, huh?

So, it’s somewhere between Gundam Wing and Jem and the Holograms? Gotcha. I’m in.

Want to save the world from G-men trying to enslave the populace in a simulation? All you need is a COKE!

“What? He drop-kicked a cop car?”

For a crazy fast experimental bike, it sure has a lot of curiously foreshadowing dead weight hanging off the sides…

Stick with me and my outrageous anime hair. We’re goin’ places. Not aerodynamically, but definitely goin!

Woah, there buddy, we’re trying to capture you, but I don’t skin your knees.

Oh, no, which one do I choose? Mint legwarmer swirl, or flamin’ hot videography nacho?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJYRv9IOjSk

And that’s just part 1! Megazone 23 is a four-part Japanese Cyberpunk original video animation released on VHS, Betamax, Laserdisk, and VHD formats. Originally meant for as a 26 episode TV series, titled Omega City 23, investment pull outs forced the studio to shift the production to a direct to video release. Nevertheless, it was wildly successful in Japan, grossing over $21 million from video sales. But, the crazy thing is that the concepts introduced in the show, namely simulated reality, cyberpunk dystopias, and artificial intelligence aren’t cliché, they’re sort of groundbreaking. See, this thing was released in 1985, years or even decades prior to the films that popularized these tropes. Of course people like the Wachowskis completely deny ripping off or even being influenced by Megazone 23…but that’s exactly what Disney said about the Lion King and Kimba the White Lion!!

Megazone 23, or Megazone Two Three depending on how much of a weeb you are and whether or not you believe the name is a reference to the 23 districts of Japan, has a respectable 80% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.9 on IMDB putting it on par ratings-wise with other great films like Top Gun, Captain Marvel, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, or Supercult Classic The Last Dragon…uh…hmmm. Maybe I should stop using that as a measure of quality.

Depending on which version of the film you get your hands on here in America you will get an absolute garbage cut released by Harmony Gold USA and the infamous Cannon films group that has about 20% of the film cut out, an entirely rewritten storyline, a new ending, and spliced in footage from the series Space Cavalry Southern Cross as a way of releasing Megazone 23 as part of a completely different series, Robotech: The Movie – The Untold Story. If you’re lucky though, that story is left untold and you find yourself holding the 2004 ADV Films release with a new English dub that has some real treats for Anime lovers. It features the voice talents of Vic Mignogna of Full Metal Alchemist Edward Elric fame, Allison Keith-Shipp who played Misato Kasturagi in Neon Genesis Evangelion, as well as Monica Rial who plays Bulma in the more recent adaptations of the Dragonball franchise. With the closure of ADV in 2008 the series is now out-of-print in the US and is only available as a Japanese import. Regardless of the make and model of Megazone you subject yourself to, you’re in for a wild ride.

  Get ready for all the 80s fashion and music smashed together with all the classic 80s anime tropes smashed together with a plot ripped straight out of an edgy 90s blockbuster along with healthy doses of gore, violence, and nudity encouraged by the studio after time and budget forced the project out of the mainstream and into the more risqué direct to video market. Some would say we don’t watch enough animated stuff here at Supercult. Eve would just smile, wink and say, “If you’ve got the scoop give us the poop!”…which I think is some sort of 80s future slang for “Submit more wacky anime, Supercultists!”

Supercult West is proud to present, Megazone 23!

Megazone 23 Hello Supercult West! This is Supercult South Bad Movie Professor Cameron Coker (BS in “Anime Legwarmers” with a minor in “Have a McNice McDay!”) and I’m reaching out to you from across the country to help hype the Anime OVA Megazone 23, part 1!

#1980s #Akira #Allison Keith-Shipp #animated #Anime #Cannon Films #Dark City #Direct to Video #Dragon Ball #Full Metal Alchemist #Harmony Gold USA #Matrix #Megazone 23 #Monica Rial #Neon Genesis Evangelion #OVA #Robotech: The Movie - The Untold Story #Space Cavalry Southern Cross #Vic Mignogna #Wachowski

[cutshawsnidowoa]

Top Cat Names: What to Name Your New Cat

The post Top Cat Names: What to Name Your New Cat by Annie Butler Shirreffs appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Naming your cat might seem simple, but sometimes it can really take a lot of time and effort.  My husband and I tend to give our cats and foster kittens human names, especially old-timey English ones (I’m a bit of an Anglophile) – Agatha and Alastair got those. Mathilda got her name because it reminded my husband of one of his favorite old songs – Waltzing Mathilda. Poor Jack got the most simple name. He was a foundling, and we tried desperately to find a home for him. After a couple of months it became obvious that his home was ours. We made up for his plain name by making his middle name Bartholomew.

Out of our four cats, Jack has the simplest name – but it fits him perfectly! © Annie Butler Shirreffs

Naming foster kittens is where we really have some fun. Most of them get human names. We’ve had Millicent, Bertie and Rupert, Frances and Oliver, Sinclair, Winston and Ainsley, Nigel, Harriet and Louise. Sometimes we name them in themes: The “candy crew” consisted of Jujube, Skittles and Zagnut. Then we had some “weeds” named Clover, Dandelion and Fern. Our “spice kittens” were Dill, Sage and Paprika. We also like to go for some literary names: Jem and Scout, Alice and Gertie (Gertrude), Ginsberg, Jeeves and Wooster, and Edgar, Allan and Poe (we were pretty proud of that one). And sometimes we just ditch the idea of human names. Two sets of Halloween kittens were Grimm and Boo, and Tarot, Rune and Ouija. A Christmas kitten was Eggnog. And a ridiculously cute pair of black kittens were Pixie and Puff.

The “candy crew” – Jujube, Skittles and Zagnut. © Annie Butler Shirreffs

Do cats really know their names?

This is the big question. Do cats know their names or are they responding to their human’s voice? Mikel Delgado, a cat behavior expert with Rover.com, says, “I personally think that animals tend to respond more to our tone of voice (at least initially) than to a specific name. Many of us call cats by several cute nicknames, so I don’t think that changing a cat’s name or calling them a nickname is inherently problematic.”

Mikel also points out that over time, our pets do learn to associate their name with certain things – like attention or food. “You can help your cat learn their name faster by NOT using tons of nicknames,” she says. “If you are inconsistent about using the same name when you are speaking to them, they may not always know that you are speaking to them.”

I use nicknames for my cats but the root of the name is still there. Mathilda is usually Tildy (or Tildebeest when she’s in a wild mood). Agatha is Waggie or Wags (shortened from Wagatha when we saw her wagging her tail like a dog). And Jack is usually Jackie or Jackster. When we use these nicknames, though, we’re usually talking ABOUT them, not TO them.

Cat naming advice

There are lots of pros and cons when it comes to naming your cat. © Getty Images

We don’t know if names harm cats or affect our perception of them, but Mikel believes that words matter in how we think of others. “I would suggest NOT giving your cat a ‘mean’ name or a name that implies they are dangerous, even if it seems funny to you.” After all, the majority of people love cats, but there are always some cat haters out there.

Mikel adds that when we give our pets names, we are recognizing that they are individuals, and so we feel more connected to them. “Just as we use names with people we interact with, it is part of what builds a relationship with another individual (whether cat, dog, human, etc.)”

And beware some naming pitfalls. For example, pop culture names are hugely popular – whether it’s a celebrity, a music group, sports figure, or TV or movie characters. Be careful, though. You probably don’t personally know your favorite celebrity, and the next big scandal could be theirs. Athletes get traded to other teams. And you never know how a beloved TV character is going to change. I’ve heard of so many kittens named Khaleesi and Daenerys – and we Game of Thrones fans know how that turned out!

Clever names are fun, but they might not always be appropriate – Chairman Meow for instance. Or anything overtly political, for that matter. And sometimes you can be TOO clever. My friend had a cat whose full name was Melba Edith Toast. Some people didn’t quite get it.

Popular cat names

Rover.com’s top names for 2019 include Oliver, Leo, Luna and Bella. © Igor_Murunov | Getty Images.

According to Rover.com’s annual pet name survey, this year’s trends “are a true reflection of what we care most about, from the food we eat to the celebrities we love.” After surveying 1,500 pet owners, some of the most popular cat names are Oliver, Leo, Milo and Charlie for male cats; and Luna, Bella and Kitty for female cats.

For some cat parents, it’s all about food and beverages, with names like Oreo, Pumpkin, Ginger, Peanut, Cookie, Snickers, Sugar and Mocha topping the list. And healthy food-themed names are on the rise, too, like Chia and Boba.

With all the news about CBD and Cannabis, Rover.com found that marijuana-themed names are on the rise, with Kush, Doobie and Blaze trending upward.

No matter what you name your cat, don’t try to overthink it. I’ve spent hours trying to come up with names for foster kittens only to start all over again with something completely different and more fitting. Sometimes the perfect name will just hit me out of the blue. Just try to relax and look for your cat’s personality traits, and you’re sure to be inspired.

Annie Butler Shirreffs has worked in the pet industry for 20 years and is currently the senior editor of Catster and Dogster magazines. A cat lover since she was a little girl, she has always had feline friends in her life. She and her husband share their Southern California home with their four cats and an ever-changing clowder of foster kittens, all of whom enjoy being testers for cool, new products.

Thumbnail image: Rover.com’s cat behaviorist gives us tips on naming cats. Courtesy Rover.com.

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