#we may understand each other but those posts are visible to everyone and you may want to be aware of how your words can be interpreted

[kosher-salt]

I resent the narrative of "it is unfair when bad things are done or said to Jews living outside of Israel, because they didn't even do anything" because it has an implication of "as opposed to Jews inside of Israel, who are inherently guilty and deserve it."

If you are saying the same things about us as antisemites trying to cover their own asses ("nooo I love Jews. Good Jews.") then you may want to reevaluate how you speak about us.

#and this goes for other Jews speaking about us #we may understand each other but those posts are visible to everyone and you may want to be aware of how your words can be interpreted #esp during a misinformation campaign being carried out across social media #its not a fair responsibility but its a responsibility nonetheless #jumblr #jewish #israel

[girderednerve]

i've seen that post about how homeless people don't cause problems in libraries going around a few times, & it's incredibly irritating to me

in my experience as a library worker, most of the people that were asked to leave or banned from the library were homeless. a few of these people did do genuinely disruptive things (shout at staff, make harassing comments, get into physical altercations), but most of them were banned from the library because the library's set of rules was fundamentally unfair and often enforced unfairly by staff, contracted security guards, and other patrons. people were banned for sleeping in the library, or eating in the library, or bringing too many bags into the library, or being quietly drunk in the library. none of these rules should result in banning someone from service & the only reason that they do is because our library rules were intended to make sure the library was 'safe for families' and 'not a day shelter.' if you feel that your public library doesn't do the same, i'd love to see the code of conduct.

there's a popular idea that libraries are havens for everyone, and they can be, but that's no guarantee that each one is; like every other public place, marginalized people are subject to the whims of the people who write and enforce building rules, and library workers aren't somehow exempt from bigotry. in addition, many front-line library staff are under pressure from administrators to aggressively enforce these deliberately unfair rules, because library administrators are personally bigoted or because they are themselves under pressure from library boards, local government, or vocal patrons.

i also think that post kind of valorizes the idea that homeless patrons behave well (whatever we may imagine that to mean) in the library because they are sensitive to how reactive rule enforcement can be & are trying not to get kicked out, which i find morally repugnant. why should we celebrate that someone is so used to being forcibly excluded that they work to placate us before we even express disapproval? i have had many interactions with library patrons who were clearly being polite to me in a way that, to me at least, felt like it was a performance directed at my white (presumed) womanhood. i found it jarring & unpleasant to be treated like a possible agent of harm, but that's my problem and not the patron's fault; i don't understand why anyone would take being treated that way as their due. i have had patrons apologize to me for being upset by clearly terrible circumstances or visibly shut down to avoid being emotional in public. i don't know how to navigate that from behind a service desk & frankly my perspective here is not the important one, but it feels worth pointing out that these are not a positive or neutral social interactions; they're evidence of a situation in which marginalized patrons are forced to treat library workers like a barrier & a threat. the fact that i personally would never eject someone from the library for being upset, much less for sleeping, doesn't come into it, because how could it? we met five minutes ago, if that.

library workers, in my experience, like to think of themselves as a part of a vital social infrastructure, performing a kind of secular (well, not always) missionary work. we tend to our communities. we nurture and guide. & i can't wholly exempt myself here: i was drawn to library work in part because i think it can be valuable, because i enjoy being helpful to other people. to some degree library workers, like social workers & nurses, all participate in the disciplinary arm of white womanhood, & i don't think it's professionally responsible or ethically defensible to decline to grapple with those implications, however uncomfortable. you don't have to lie about what a library is for libraries to be worthwhile, come on

#oh OP did it make you feel good that you got to help a poor unfortunate unhoused person & that you're not bigoted you just hate karens? #should we throw a party? should we invite jane addams #vocational awe diaries :') #sorry guys i am libraryposting despite being libraryunemployed rn. but that post is making me sooo annoyed lol #it's probably a better use of your time to just read the fobazi ettarh article which coins 'vocational awe' honestly #mean vagueposting :)

[walks-the-ages]

It's january, which means it's seed-buying time for many gardeners! So, here is your reminder: Do not buy anything from Baker Creek / Rareseeds. com ; they are racist, anti-vaxxers; they steal varieties from Native communities, are friends with Clive Bundy, wanted to invite Robert F Kennedy Jr to one of their seed expos. They've fundraised for the homophobic and misogynistic Salvation Army

They have adopted young children from asian countries to use as free advertising for their "~exotic Asian seed varieties~" by having them pose with all of the (stolen + renamed) Asian varieties as young children-- might have to check the Wayback Machine to see this in action, or look at physical seed packets for this, as they've cut back on it after coming underfire for such a gross practice.

Anyways, would you like to know who you SHOULD support this year when purchasing seeds?

Experimental Farm Network, who has been nothing but vocally supportive of Palestinians and calling for everyone to do what they can to end the genocide Israel is committing.

[ID: A facebook post by Experimental Farm Network, which shows a hand holding three young, fuzzy Yakteen gourds, which are oblong, light green fruits with a visible fuzz on the outside, with dried blossoms visible on the ends. The post reads: "These are 'Palestine Yakteen' gourds at almost the perfect size for harvest. I normally would've waited to pick them about twice as large, when they're still tender and delicious. But the first big frost (a couple months ago) had killed the plant, so these were officially done. The plant was a volunteer in my backyard. I didn't even know it was there until about September, and in November I was enjoying these first — and last — fruit (with garlic, parsley, salt, and Palestinian olive oil). It was, no doubt, the most bittersweet meal of my life. Today is the 100th day of unimaginable violence against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa is arguing in the International Court of Justice that Israel is committing genocide. Hundreds of Gazans are still dying every day, from bombings, yes, but now also from hunger, thirst, disease, and exposure. From the comfort of our heated homes, with our drinkable running water, working toilets, and well-stocked pantries, in communities with functioning clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies available to us should we need them, it's impossible to really understand what life is like in Gaza right now. It may seem incongruous — or even trite — to post a picture of some pretty vegetables in this context, but the Yakteen can serve as an important reminder of the humanity and beauty of Palestinian people and their ancient culture. They are not nameless, faceless nobodies. They tend gardens, smell flowers, celebrate with family and friends over steaming dishes of lovingly prepared food. They love deeply. They sing and dance and laugh. They are just like you or me. Please do not only remember them today. Take action to help them. Or resolve to take action. Or reach out and ask someone how you can take action. Do something. Please. Because you can. end ID]

This is just one of many posts they have shared on their social medias since the genocide began, and they have been partnered with Palestine Heirloom Seed Library to help raise funds; each packet of seeds from their Palestine collection has 50% of the proceeds going towards funding the Seed Library, and they

If you have friends or family who order from Baker Creek, please let them know exactly who they are supporting -- and reassure them that dozens of other seed companies with much better ethics are out there, offering those exact same "rare" varieties! Seedsavers.org is another great heirloom alternative, with the bonus that they regularly work on seed Rematriation- returning Native heirloom varieties to the indiginous communities who created them

#long post #free palestine #palestine #gardening #baker creek #rareseeds #antivaxx #racism #signal boost please #gardenblr #seeds #heirloom seeds

[three--rings]

I would *love* to hear your tropical storm Allison story when you're up for it. I was living halfway between Houston and Galveston when it blew through, reversed course, came back, and sat over the area like a big ol' rain conveyor belt, but was very, *very* fortunate that our house didn't flood. We stayed up all night watching, worrying, waiting to see how far the flooding would reach. My brother and his fiancee were visiting at the time, so there were a lot of cars in the driveway, (1/3)

and around 1-2 am we went out to try and get the cars as far up the driveway as we could to avoid the floodwaters, angling them and putting them like an inch next to each other, but one car still got water damage. Around 4 am we started gathering important things on the ground floor preparing to take them upstairs. At 5 am the water was at our doorstep but that's where it stopped. (2/3)

I ended up doing a project on it in a college science class on natural disasters, and I remember one source saying that the rain was falling so fast at times that it approached the upper limits of clouds to release rain. Anyways, uh, thanks for indulging my storytelling, I'd love to hear your Allison story. (3/3)

YES, hello friend!

Okay so Allison happened very soon after I graduated college. Like it was right after starting my post-college job, by a week or two. So the majority of the people in my office went out that Friday night to a bachelorette party at a club downtown for one of the people in the office who was about to leave (and who I was replacing.) But because I didn't really know those people yet and because I had other plans, I didn't go.

My plans were to go to downtown Houston to a DIFFERENT club to see my friend's sister's boyfriend's band from Austin.

People not from Houston may not understand that everyone I know was going clubbing when a tropical storm had hit two days before and was hitting again. But like, this was just NORMAL. We have hurricane parties. We don't stop our lives.

We just wore crappy shoes. Mr. Rings and I parked our cars on the higher ground spaces of our Montrose apartment complex and took the precaution of riding with a friend who had an SUV. This was storm planning. (I mean, Allison had already hit us two days before! No biggie. Except it went back to the Gulf and got more water and we were already saturated.)

We get to the club and dash across the street through standing water already. We're drinking Hurricanes, of course. And we see the band we're there for, but the storm is really hitting and sounding bad, so we are like, "hey, we're gonna head out" around 10:30. But my friend whose sister's boyfriend's band it was and the sister and the boyfriend had to stay until closing so the band could get paid.

So we said hey be safe good luck and left. It was ROUGH out there, very poor visibility extremely heavy rains. Cause we're driving through the center of a tropical storm like idiots, you know. So we get to our place (not far, 10 minutes away without a storm) and we're trying to convince the driver and her boyfriend not to drive across town but to stay with us. But they say no.

So we go inside and start watching the news and only then realize how BAD it's getting. So we sit and start watching the water rise. And at some point the local CBS station just has to stop broadcasting because they are flooding out. We watched them all the time because they were only a few blocks from us. But they just went to test pattern. And soon after the power went out anyway.

So after that we go out to the balcony and watch the water rise, very glad our cars are like 20 feet from the road and our apartment is on the second floor.

And we end up hanging out with a bunch of our neighbors. We offer some downstairs people to bring stuff up to our place in case they get flooded but they turn us down. We find out one of our neighbors is a cool artist and see his work and he passes around a joint. So we get high and watch the water rise. Luckily it stopped about 12 inches from the wall of the apartments.

Meanwhile, my friend, his sister, and her boyfriend are still at the club when water starts pouring into it, so everyone left at the club has to retreat to Some Dude's Apartment that happens to be over the club. Like 20-30 people in this guy's apartment, I think drinking alcohol from the club that they brought up with them. Sometime around dawn Some Dude and the club owner get in a fight and he kicks everyone out.

At which point my friend looks to the parking lot where he (and we) parked and can't see his car because it's fully submerged. He ends up walking home, which luckily he lived in Montrose, too so he was able to, given enough time.

Later that day there's talk the rain might start again, so we are afraid to move our cars, knowing the spots will be stolen, so we walk to the nearest grocery store for belated storm supplies.

Yeah, Allison was the one that taught me not to shrug off storms. Even if they're not Real Hurricanes. (This was pre-Katrina)

And here is my favorite photo from Allison.

This is not a river. This is US 59, one of Houston's major freeways, those bridges are overpasses. The city got between 25-35" of rain in a few days.

My supervisor at my new job, a like 50 year old woman with gray hair was at the bachelorette party and ended up getting stranded on the side of the road, flooded out, and was rescued by a random trucker in an 18 wheeler who drove her to a gas station on high ground where she spent the night. So lots of interesting stories around.

#Anonymous #threerings' stories #tropical storm allison #asks

[gatheringfiki]

They're back: Kink Bingo and H/C Bingo!

Hi everyone!

We might be slightly late with our announcement (apologies) but we are definitely ready to rock & roll with our much-loved twin events of a Kink and H/C Bingo! *confetti*

The rules are going to be exactly the same as last time, but here they are again, just to refresh our memory:

Yes, we are running both Kink Bingo and H/C (Hurt/Comfort) Bingo simultaneously. You can take part in both, switch between the two however takes your fancy, or take part in just one and totally ignore the other. They are unrelated to each other.

Basics:

We have 2 Collections: Kink Bingo and H/C Bingo

In each of those, on the 2nd of July, the prompts are going to appear on a 7x7 card, visible as the Collection's banner.

We are playing between the 2nd and 24th of July.

Your task is to create something for 7 consecutive fields (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) to achieve a bingo. 

... Or not. We really have no way of checking who’s completing which line, so you can use it as a free-for-all, pick and choose prompt board, if you prefer. But it’s good to challenge yourself and attempt prompts you wouldn’t normally pick - you may be surprised to find you like it!

Both Collections are fully Anonymous and will remain that way forever. However, you may choose to ‘reveal’ yourself as the author and ‘claim’ your work, if you wish. You don’t have to. More about this below. 

Usual pairings apply: FiKi or any fictional pairing portrayed by Dean or Aidan.

Tag your warnings and kinks R E L I G I O U S L Y

No kink-shaming or judgement, please. We are all grown-ups: don’t like, don’t read.

There are no word limits

Play as little or as much as you like; you can even attempt all 49 fields, if you wish.

This event is mostly aimed at Writers, but Artists can also take part. More about this below.

Details:

Q: But why run those two bingos together?

A: The common theme for these events is that they cover subjects that could be considered ‘guilty pleasures’ or ‘taboo’. We wanted to create a safe environment where these themes can be explored and shared. Plus, they will have identical rules, so it didn’t make sense to run another Bingo event, with a different theme, later in the year.

Q: Do I need to post each response in a separate work or can I have a single work with chapters?

A: We would suggest separate works, because it will make it easier for you to tag it appropriately, and for the readers to search for, or avoid.

Q: Can I create one thing (story or art) for multiple fields in a single bingo card?

A: You can, but we would encourage you not to. The aim of this event is to create as much new content as we can and that doesn’t help it. Having said that, we understand that sometimes brain just connects things and it wants a combo.

Q: Can I create one thing (story or art) that covers both a Kink and H/C scenario?

A: You can, but we would encourage you not to. See: above.

Q: Can I mix and match pairings, e.g. within a single line have 4 FiKi and 3 Britchell?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I create more than one response to a single prompt field, for example for different pairings?

A: Yes, just post them as separate works.

Q: Can I use a prompt that someone else has already used before me?

A: Absolutely.

Q: Can I somehow visualise which line I’m working on, or which prompts I managed to fill?

A: Sure. Feel free to copy the Bingo Card image and start marking off the ones you’ve done. You can then post your updated Bingo Card picture with each response.

Q: Can I comment on the works posted in the Collections?

A: Yes, please do! If you wish to comment anonymously though, you’ll need to log out of your account first and comment as Anon, or open the story in a private tab. The Collection won’t anonymise the commenter’s identity automatically.

Q: How does the ‘Anon’ thing work?

A: The author is displayed as ‘Anonymous’ to everyone, except you. Yes, this includes the mods - we don’t know either. If you wish to respond to your comments, it will automatically show as ‘Anonymous Creator’.

Q: When can I ‘claim’ my works and ‘de-anon’?

A: Please only do this after the event has ended, i.e. after the summary post has gone up. This is because otherwise there is no way to track which works are event responses and which ones aren’t, and we’ll need that for the summary post.

Q: How can I ‘claim’ my works and ‘de-anon’?

A: Please message @linane-art with the work you'd like to de-annon. There is a way to do this AND leave it in the Collection! You may then choose to make an accompanying Tumblr post, if you wish to promote it.

Q: Do I have to ‘de-anon’ at the end of the event?

A: No. you can leave your works as anonymous forever, if you wish.

Q: I am an Artist and I would also like to take part.

A: Great! Fantastic! We’re all dying here to see it! However, because we all have our distinctive art styles, we can’t think of any way to keep you anonymous. If this doesn’t bother you, just play like everyone else, using artwork inspired by the prompts for your responses.

Q: But how to post artwork as a part of event response?

A: Post your artwork on Tumblr or host it elsewhere (Tumblr doesn’t like sexytimes, so it might try to block you). That will give you a hyperlink to the picture itself. Then create a new AO3 work within Kink or H/C Collection, and add a picture (using hyperlink) into the body of the work. If in doubt, message @linane-art for help.

Any further questions? Please give us a shout!

This is the first time we’re running this event, so please be patient with us, should the things start going wonky.

Good luck!

~gatheringfiki

#GF Kink Bingo 2022 #GF H/C Bingo 2022 #Fili/Kili #FiKi #Durincest #the Hobbit #Mitchers #Britchell #DarkHawk #IoLuke

[cartilagexfluid]

hi!! i don’t wanna be weird (we’re mutuals and i don’t think what I’m about to say is actually that weird, i don’t know why i’m nervous to just message you off anon, lmao) but i started following you after my show (mcr sunrise) because of your post about it. sunrise is where i did my first half of growing up, but i’ve lived in north florida since i was 13, (other than college, but i had to come back after, and during covid). and after seeing the tags on your post earlier, again, not to be creepy, but like. i think we may have lived in the same town in north florida, or really, really close to each other. and i gotta say!!! it’s really fuckin cool seeing someone else from here. especially someone who got out. it can feel so isolating sometimes! your post still hits me really hard, and i think about it a lot, and i want you to know that sometimes i use it as a reminder that like. I’m gonna get out of here too! so like. thank you. this ask is also long as hell and you don’t have to publish it, but i just wanted to tell you! <3

hi anon um. this is so absurdly kind (and I can assure you it does not come off as weird or creepy at all - I was maybe actually secretly hoping someone would see that post and recognize it too because I love talking to people who Understand).

I guess just like yeah wow. north florida is a hell of a place to be, especially these days. I'm really glad to hear that post resonated with people because it IS such an inherently isolating experience when everyone who looks like you and everyone in your community is forced into hiding to survive. and also the like sweeping generalizations that people make about "the south" are really frustrating when there are marginalized people who are actively being harmed by the calculated bigotry that's perpetuated by those in power. it's like being erased from every angle and even to just have a few hours of visibility that isn't weaponized and relief from the fear in the form of concert where literally thousands of people are visibly in support of you and screaming the same words about carrying on and healing is everything. just getting to exist in space and take a breath from the pain is everything. even if you know it won't be the reality forever and are fighting tooth and nail to get out, as it happens it's really difficult and I hope you're able to find some pockets of joy.

plsplspls do not be afraid to reach out (my tumblr DMs should be on and my discord tag is in my about post) and thank you again for the kind message. it means more than you know. also we've probably been to at least a couple of the same shows isn't that wild?

you're not in this alone in the face of extermination say fuck you and all that y'know?

#just answer me #anon

[aivabrimanis]

Managing Differences

Many people enjoy traveling to new places, but do not realize all of the aspects that go into visiting a new country. Beyond the visible differences, are differences that affect communication and interaction between countries and cultures. 

Although I was young, I remember visiting the country of Latvia as a child. As I had grown up in Germany, the Latvian atmosphere was similar, but compared to America, was very different. From what I remember, and when I think about all I have learned while studying this country, I think that Latvia would be an easy place to vacation for a few weeks. I think in order to live there for longer than a year, one might have to have some knowledge regarding the Latvian language, or at least enough to get by while living there. Additionally, I think that it would be easy to live in Latvia for a longer period of time if you had been to other European countries that are similar. 

 Like I mentioned in my blog post regarding nonverbal messages, Latvians are very reserved and do not tend to show much care or help to outsiders. If one did not know that before visiting or living in Latvia, they could be offended by this. According to our class book, there are a few things to do while preparing to go to a new country that can be helpful in managing differences that you may face at some point in your journey. As I stated previously, learning about the language spoken in this host country and learning some phrases and words can be extremely beneficial. It is not expected that you learn the whole new language, but with knowledge of a few words and phrases, you might feel more welcome and comfortable in this new environment. It is also important to have a strong understanding of the cultural norms and expectations in the host country. Most importantly, you should remember that each country is unique in its own way and to realize that though you may think that America is the best country, that is not the way that everyone thinks. You need to be able to respect the cultures of others without boasting about your own. 

 Our reading also discusses intercultural ethics and some things to be aware of when conversing with other cultures. It is crucial that when you communicate with other cultures that you are aware that some of the things that you might find rude, might be normal in their culture. If they came to your country, you would want them to respect your ways, so you should do the same. 

While taking this Intercultural Communication class, I have learned all about unconscious habits that we may have about other cultures. I think that all of the things that I mentioned in this post, could be applied even without leaving the country. I could expand my horizons by talking to those who I may not seek out regularly. While doing so, I should remember that each person and culture is different, and I must always keep that in the back of my mind.

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT NEWS, RESOURCES AND STUDIES, early February 2023 (Part 2)

As promised, here is the second half of my early February news and resources update. This part includes general ecommerce news, social media, analytics and content marketing pieces, with a few other bits thrown in. 

You can find Part 1 here, including tops news stories, Etsy and general SEO news (mostly Google). 

Don’t forget to follow or connect with me on LinkedIn, where I will be posting more frequent news updates and articles, as Twitter is likely to become harder to use in the future.

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

General Before going further with your social media work, make sure you have figured out who your target audience is. Knowing who they are makes it easier to reach the right people. 

Making your social media accessible is a lot easier with this handy website Accessible Social, that explains all the best practices. For example, all hashtags should have caps at the beginning of subsequent words so that screen readers can pronounce them correctly. 

Mastodon is still growing, thanks to the exodus from Twitter, but the nature of the site means it is reaching some limits. “There are a lot of people who really don’t realize what they’re getting themselves into,” says Corey Silverstein, an attorney who specializes in internet law. “If you’re running these [instances], you have to run it like you’re the owner of Twitter. What people don’t understand is how complicated it is to run a platform like this and how expensive it is.”

Yet another “when to post” article (this one from Hubspot) but it also covers how often to post, which is a twist we don’t see all the time. Covers Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest. 

And because the sizes seem to change all the time, here is a list of the ideal image sizes for many social media sites, including Instagram and Pinterest.

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta) If you use Creator Studio, note that the main functions are moving over to Meta’s Business Suite, and Creator Studio will be closed permanently. Meta blames some of its layoffs in November on the lack of shopping growth.

Meta may have to make its data collection for personalized ads “opt-in” only, after they were fined €390m in Ireland. 

Instagram Turns out that not everyone wants to shop on Instagram after all; the “Shop” tab is being removed from the main page. Shopping will still be available, but will not be as obvious.

LinkedIn LinkedIn now allows users to select an SEO title and description for each article, including past ones.

TikTok TikTok is under fire for tracking journalists who publish stories on the social media company.  The company’s investigation, which was conducted by an outside law firm, revealed that the two journalists who had their data accessed by ByteDance’s Internal Audit team worked for BuzzFeed and The Financial Times. Forbes, however, says that three of its journalists were tracked: Emily Baker-White, Katharine Schwab, and Richard Nieva, all of whom worked for BuzzFeed until earlier this summer. The Financial Times says its reporter, Cristina Criddle, was tracked.”

TikTok staff have also been boosting their own videos as well as those of their family and friends. “

Yes, there is such a thing as TikTok SEO. And if you don’t like that article, here’s one that specifically focuses on the algorithm. 

YouTube When optimizing content on YouTube, you should be aiming for both Google and YouTube searches. The article includes several (free and paid) tools that give answers specific to YouTube.

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS (minus social media)

Amazon Amazon sellers now have access to great new analytics on how your buyers find you, and what people are searching for. 

Amazon’s weak 4th quarter mirrored that of Apple and Google. 

Amazon has agreed to settlements in EU anti-trust investigations. “The US ecommerce group has committed to increasing the visibility of rival products by giving them equal treatment on Amazon’s “buy box,” which generates the majority of purchases on the site. It will also create an alternative featured offer for those buyers where speed of delivery is less important.”

Did Amazon really bury Cheyenne, Wyoming post offices with too many packages the first weekend of 2023? They say no, but USPS had to shut 3 post offices due to the high volumes. 

Amazon’s new pilot program allows American customers to return their Amazon purchases at Staples locations.

BigCommerce BigCommerce site owners can now run ads with Microsoft without leaving BigCommerce.

eBay eBay is raising final value fees in many but not all categories as of February 15th. The biggest increases add another .35% to the existing fee, e.g, if the FVF is currently 12%, it will rise to 12.35%. 

eBay may be planning on using cell phones in account and bank verification in the future. Some sellers claim they were told they would need a cell phone by February, and an eBay employee confirmed phones that can receive text would be needed in some instances. It appears that only newer sellers need to worry about this. 

eBay is erroneously removing collectible stamp listings as it tries to enforce the rules on selling forever stamps.

eBay is updating item specifics requirements for numerous categories as of February 23, 2023; check out the list to make sure you are up to date. 

Shopify Shopify will be increasing all plan prices as of April 23. The yearly options have more than doubled. 

Walmart Walmart opened a new site to sell to small businesses. “The site focuses on products that would appeal to small business owners, like office supplies and furniture, snacks, food and beverages, restroom supplies, electronics and facility needs. Walmart says items are organized “in a way that makes sense to organizations.”

All Other Website Builders GoDaddy has introduced “managed” WooCommerce stores, which make it easier for Wordpress users to have an ecommerce site. The options apparently include integrations for marketplaces such as Google, Amazon and Etsy.

Payment Processing PayPal had a data breach back in December; around 35,000 affected members have been notified. 

Stripe will now be one of Amazon’s biggest payment processors in Canada, the US, and Europe, with Stripe now using more of Amazon Web Services in its business. 

Is the bloom already off the “buy now, pay later” rose? The major companies may have overextended themselves, and lawmakers and regulators are turning attention to the practice. 

Shipping Pitney Bowes released a combo printer/scale/rate checker for ecommerce businesses in the US. It currently costs $269 but will eventually go up to $369.

FedEx will no longer offer US SameDay City service after March 31. “Same day delivery will still be available through FedEx SameDay US and FedEx SameDay Freight.”

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

This article claims most people use dark mode for emails, so you need to optimize for it. Not so sure about "most"- I use dark mode most places, but none of my email providers offer dark mode for the individual emails, just the home page. Still, useful info! 

You still have time to plan some content marketing for February; here are a few suggestions. Don’t forget some women do celebrate Galentines (February 13) instead of Valentines. 

And March marketing ideas include “National Old Stuff Day” on March 2, which seems perfect for vintage sellers. 

It may be time to make some changes to your email list practices. One suggestion is to send fewer emails [I already do that]. 

Mailchimp has been hacked twice in the past 6 months, and one of the victims this time around was WooCommerce. That means the data of WooCommerce users may have been retrieved, not just the info about WooCommerce itself. During the previous breach in August, Mailchimp said it enacted “an additional set of enhanced security measures,” but declined to tell TechCrunch what those measures entailed. With a near-identical repeat of its past breach, it’s not clear if Mailchimp properly implemented those enhanced measures, or if those measures failed.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (NOT SOCIAL MEDIA OR ECOMMERCE SITES)

Google is being sued by the US federal and some state governments in an antitrust case regarding its advertising advantages. “The government alleges that Google’s plan to assert dominance has been to “neutralize or eliminate” rivals through acquisitions and to force advertisers to use its products by making it difficult to use competitors’ products. It’s part of a new, if slow and halting, push by the US to rein in big tech companies that have enjoyed largely unbridled growth in the past decade and a half.” Google makes 80% of its revenue from online ads. 

If you are thinking of running ads on Google but haven’t started yet, this article will help you set them up. 

Google Ads are now allowing negative keywords at the account level. 

Search Engine Land did an excellent review of 2022 in online advertising. 

Decisions such as the Meta fine in Ireland (mentioned above) are one of the reasons that online advertising is undergoing a sea change. “If the current targeting methods become obsolete, advertisers must find other ways to drive profitable sales. One option is building first-party databases to create audiences without necessarily tracking those users all over the internet.”

Analysts predict that Google and Facebook will earn less than half of all online advertising budgets in the US this year, after almost a decade of dominance. Amazon is currently in third place and rising, while TikTok is gaining on Microsoft for fourth place. Google’s ad revenue was actually down in the fourth quarter compared to 2021. 

STATS, DATA, TRACKING 

Google will be closing Google Optimize at the end of September, shuffling at least some of its testing capabilities to Google Analytics 4. 

Haven’t set up GA4 yet? Google will start doing it for you in March. 

GA4 now has new dimensions and metrics specific to ecommerce users. 

Some people are having issues with GA4 tracking custom UTM parameters; here’s some background and tips to get things working again.

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

The 2022 holiday season saw spending rise, but most of it seemed to be due to inflation, as volume actually dropped over Cyber Week and Christmas. Inflation also cut into business profits.

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Shutterstock has used member’s art to train its AI, but didn’t bother to tell users that. 

Looking for a new font? Check out these 20 free ones that came out in 2022.

Is your writing overly wordy and complicated? Try the Hemingway App as an editor. 

While we are discussing tools, I am posting this page again, as there are some new additions to Tiny Wow.

MISCELLANEOUS (including humour) 

Do you use a formula to set your product prices? If you use “cost-plus pricing”, be aware of its limitations. 

Web accessibility is about more than seeing and hearing. Cognitive differences and neurological differences can also limit some people’s use of your website.

#Social Media News #analytics #ecommerce #Content marketing #small business #microbusiness

[pearsonjoseph83]

What Is Content Marketing And How To Do It?

Some people are auditory learners, others favor video content, whereas other shoppers like long-form messaging. Usually, firms get comfortable with certain kinds of content, whether weblog posts, social media, infographics, or webinars. However, your brand won't stand out if you only use one or two types of content. One of essentially the most basic causes content creation is so integral to effective search engine marketing is that high-quality, relevant content is important to attract guests on the Web. It’s additionally the vital thing to persuading those very same visitors to take action – e.g. The only method to stay competitive is to stay aware and up-to-date with the present data. The type of deployment you select will depend upon what sort of purchaser you're. For example, massive companies on the lookout for an enterprise answer may be higher off with an integrated suite. ZMOT is the research that a buyer does earlier than making a choice. Cultural impact – Understanding the tradition of the audience performs a vital position in content creation when especially in a various nation like India. Getting this right eliminates communication and presentation mishaps. Future-proof Your Analytics and Data The world of analytics is changing. New types of data are coming in, and we don’t always know how to interpret it. With a strong, future-proof analytics platform, you probably can sustain with the altering world. Splendid helps you create the valuable thought-leadership content that you should execute an account based marketing method. This is the place our content strategy and planning plays a key position. We know that the best words can make all the difference in digital marketing. The primary focus of a content marketing strategy is to build content that the best customers will find related, engaging, and valuable. When you create good content, folks reach out to you as the written or visual material invokes their interest or curiosity. The best amongst content marketing examples isHubspot, a multinational firm that markets software merchandise useful for enterprise growth. Instead of simply writing blogs targeting their product, they make guides on sales and marketing methods in the form of informative e-books, webinars and even free courses. This high-quality content generates curiosity, will increase engagement and the guides convince individuals to check out Hubspot software. By creating an internet presence by way of social media, you can appeal to your targeted viewers each shortly and effectively. The more advance planning is undertaken, the easier it is to react quickly to tactical opportunities. It is necessary not just to understand what you could have and who accesses it, but additionally how it's presently organised, through which channels and how typically it is accessed by your viewers. These are areas of focus that assist the creation of content that match a consumer’s interest. These themes have to be true to the brand essence, not targeted directly on sales and must also converse to the pursuits of the audience. Their essential product is transportation, but the brand provides so much greater than that to its customers. Most importantly, ensure they know the place to go for brand spanking new content so that they don't appear to be stumbling looking for it when chatting with a customer. Whether you send the hyperlinks for the content posted or reminders that new content is coming and everyone is aware where this content is going to be. In regards to your individual weblog, everybody ought to know where that is and when posting will take place , however when it comes to third-party visitor posts, be positive to move the situation alongside. Plan your marketing across the tools you've at your disposal and the people at your corporation. Plan to create the type of visible content you could repurpose as wanted. Having more range and diversity in subjects gives you standing as a website authority. Additionally, content success is dependent upon your search engine optimization efforts in balancing the media you generate. Finally, it could function in your content marketing by making essential e-commerce web optimization issues for a successful online marketing marketing campaign. content marketing Consider how each component in your visual marketing content piece interacts with each other. Different types of visible content perform better on other platforms. You need to conduct thorough research, create totally different strategies for different channels, create a visual language that works in your brand, after which test and iterate, check and iterate. Visitors have shown interest within the product/service once earlier than, and typically all it takes is slightly reminder to push them to the checkout page. Stay up to date with the newest marketing, social media suggestions, guides and news. There are many promising e-mail marketing corporations to select from that may fit your goals and working finances. Most of them, corresponding to Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and Omnisend could be simply built-in with Shopify and other eCommerce platforms. Don’t overlook to create a video description to tell potential viewers what the video is about. Add key phrases and a hyperlink to your website or landing web page and have a clear name to action.

#content marketing #what is content marketing #content marketing strategy #content marketing services #types of content marketing #content marketing tools

[alpacaparkaseok]

Spooked

Requested by anon - a picture of your request will be at the bottom of the post! Thanks for sending it in, I had so much fun with it! :)

Pairing: best friend!BTS, maybe some secret crushes going on? 👀

Premise: You + all 7 members of BTS visiting a haunted house. What could go wrong?

So, so much.

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: they are touring a haunted house, so there’s gonna be some scary story/spooky things going on. hopefully there’s enough fun things/fluff to counter it? 

a/n: this was longer than I expected it to be...but I was having fun with ot7. hopefully nobody minds lol

It wasn't your fault that Hobi had never seen "A Quiet Place". He had mentioned it as you scrolled through the options on his TV while lounging on his couch like an overgrown cat. Everyone else was in the process of scarfing down their dinner, popping popcorn, and laughing over whatever Jimin and Yoongi were bickering about.

Obviously you had to watch it.

Naturally, the conversation had drifted to a bit more spooky topics. You'd come back from grabbing more popcorn surprised to find Jin talking about his friend that wanted to open up a house they'd inherited for ghost tours.

After nudging Jimin out of the way, you took up your usual spot next to Taehyung. They all watch you with amused eyes, knowing full well that Taehyung is the only one that willingly scratches your back on movie nights.

"Really, like is it the kind of haunted house where people dress up and scare you?" Jungkook asked, his interest piqued.

Jin shook his head. "No, not really. It sounds like they just walk you through the house and tell stories and stuff."

You and Jungkook share a look, already thinking the same thing. A glance at Hobi shows him clutching a blanket to his chest, caught between the events of the film and the conversation taking place.

"We should go," you ventured, immediately earning a startled stare from both Jin and Hobi. The others chuckle in response, Namjoon swatting Jungkook's hand half-heartedly as he tries to steal more popcorn from him.

"...noooo," Jin began. "It's not like it's up and running yet, they're just working on getting it ready for the fall-"

Jungkook picks up where you left off. "Perfect! We can be their test group. That way they'll know what they can do for the general public, get an idea of what works and what doesn't."

You jump in again before Jin can protest more. "C'mon! And besides, this may be your only chance just to go for fun! Otherwise you'd have to find a way to go without running into all of those people, and have to contact management about it..."

Jin sighs, looking at Hobi who stares back at him with an expression of defeat. You grin, Taehyung chuckling beside you.

"Fine."

It was all too easy. Standing here now, you can see just why they want to open this up for ghost tours. Of course you won't admit it, but you already have chills running down your spine.

Or maybe that's just because Jung Hoseok is currently breathing down your neck.

"Alright," Jin's friend, Gina stands at the top of the steps, smiling down at you all. "Everybody ready?"

Jungkook and Taehyung, completely riled up, let out whoops and cheers while everyone else grunts in acknowledgement. Hobi clings to the back of your jacket, whimpering like a lost puppy.

This should be fun.

Jungkook doesn't bother to wait for everyone else, heading straight inside after Gina. Taehyung and Jimin are hot on his heels, joking about something back and forth. You follow after them, glancing back at Hobi with an amused grin.

"Oh," he realizes that he's still clinging to you. "Right." Extracting his hand from your jacket, he lets you move forward. He remains close behind you, Jin at his side.

Namjoon and Yoongi bring up the rear, hardly paying attention to anything that's going on as they chat about a business they saw not far from here.

"We'll begin in the front study here," Gina adopts a spooky tone as she stands in the candlelight. Shadows dance along the walls, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up straight.

Suddenly you wish that Hobi was still holding onto you.

Slowly, so as to not draw the attention (and teasing) of the maknae line, you step back until you're between Namjoon and Yoongi.

The two of them smirk down at you, knowing full well that you're already spooked.

"What are you doing?" Jin whispers back to you, eyes wide while he rubs his arms as though he's cold. "Trying to abandon us to the ghosts?"

You shake your head fervently, hoping that they don't notice the way you're sneaking your hand into the pocket of Yoongi's jacket.

"No, the middle is the safest place," you argue. Yoongi gives a breathy chuckle beside you, his hand finding yours in the warmth of his pocket and giving it a squeeze. Thankfully the house is dark enough that the blush on your cheeks shouldn't be visible.

Absentmindedly you link your other arm through Namjoon's, hardly able to breathe properly when he instinctively moves closer.

What were you even saying?

"A-and now you've got three in front and three in back. You're totally safe."

Hobi and Jin look at each other like they know exactly what you’re up to, but don't push it as they suddenly begin walking again. Gina leads the way toward the dining room, weaving a tale of how the estranged wife of the owner of the house swore she would never leave the property.

"Did she?" Jungkook asks from the front, peeking in closed off rooms along the way. You can't help but marvel at his fearlessness.

Gina's eyes glow with excitement, almost as though she were waiting for someone to ask that. "No. Years later, when the owner sold the house, the new occupants said they found a sealed off room in the basement." You gasp, the sound echoing through the hallway. You miss the look Jimin gives you, too attached to the story.

"What..." you clutch Namjoon's arm, the fabric of his jacket bunching in your hand. "Did they ever open up the room?"

Gina grins. "They did. They hired someone to come and open the sealed door. However, the man they hired only got about halfway before quitting. He was terrified."

Yoongi leans down to whisper in your ear. "Are you trying to cut off my circulation?"

It's only then that you notice you've been squeezing his hand with startling strength. "Whoops." Going to remove your hand from his, he frowns, holding it tighter before you can move.

Well, if this isn't a rollercoaster of emotions.

"Why was he so scared?" Namjoon pipes up beside you, a hint of a smile gracing his features as he reads the expression on your face. Oh, you're so screwed. "Did he find something?"

"It's not so much what he found as what he didn't," Gina replies. "But we'll have to save that for last. For now, the dining room. Come on in, everyone."

Hobi looks back at you, a mixture of horror and overall curiosity on his face. “Oh, she’s good.”

Indeed, Gina definitely seems to have a way with words. You’re just having a hard time understanding them as your heart beats loudly enough to drown out any other noises. Yoongi has taken to tracing circles on the back of your hand, which you think are meant to be soothing. 

It only serves to send your heart rate skyrocketing. You stare at the portrait on the far end of the dining room, practically boring holes into the painting of the young woman. 

Breathe, don’t do anything stupid.

“...alright?”

You blink, finding yourself to be the sudden center of attention. Jungkook grins widely at you. 

“What?”

Jungkook repeats his question. “Are you doing alright?”

“Oh.”

Jimin bursts out laughing. “That’s not an answer, jagiya. Need us to protect you from the ghosts?”

Your wide eyes immediately give you away, and even Gina is offering you a look of pity before deciding to continue on with the tour. Before you embarrass yourself even more, you slip out of Yoongi and Namjoon’s grasp, sneaking up behind Jin and Hobi.

“Hello boys,” you drawl, making Hobi nearly jump out of his skin. You earn a laugh from the group, Jin chuckling at his scared friend. Hobi just glares at you. 

“This sucks,” he whispers to you, pulling you up to stand between him and Jin. Immediately they stick to your sides like magnets and you realize that you have indeed done something stupid as Jin’s breath ghosts over the shell of your ear as he goes to whisper something to you.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, it would seem. Your heart certainly agrees. 

“I’m not scared, you know,” Jin whispers. You take a deep breath, reminded yourself that these idiots are your best friends, not menu items. 

You shoot him an incredulous look. “I doubt that.”

He grins at you, eyes lingering a bit longer than usual. “You’ll see.”

Tearing your eyes away from his and hearing his deep chuckle, you wonder if it’s too late to ask Gina where the nearest exit is. 

Don’t do anything stupid.

“Shall we head up to the attic?” Gina asks. “It’s a small space, we can only go three at a time. However, there are some really interesting old photographs up there that we should look at.”

In the blink of an eye everyone is paired off, and you find yourself face to face with Jimin. He grins at you like the Cheshire Cat, making you wonder if he isn’t the most dangerous thing in this house. 

Jin and Hobi have the glorious opportunity to go up together while Gina leads the way, and several screams accompany their little trip. In the middle of the candlelight in the hallway, you chuckle with the rest of your friends. 

“It’s been interesting so far,” Jungkook muses. “I really want to know what they found in that sealed off basement room.”

Taehyung hums in agreement. “Mmm. Or rather, what they didn’t find.”

“What does that even mean?”

Nobody is given a chance to answer Jungkook’s question as Hobi and Jin come scrambling down the ladder, faces pale even as they laugh. Gina chuckles from above, beckoning the next pair to come up.

Jimin looks at you with an arched brow. “Wanna go next?”

“Sure.” You follow him up the ladder, laughing as Jin recounts how he swore the woman in the photograph blinked. 

The attic is filled with moonlight, and under other circumstances it might be pretty. However, amongst the old heirlooms sits an ominous scrapbook, filled with black and white photos of less-than-happy people. 

Jimin reaches down, grabbing your hand and helping you to your feet as you look around. When he lets go you aren’t sure whether or not to be disappointed. 

You’ve hardly made up your mind when he leads you to where Gina stands beside the scrapbook and slips behind you. A moment later his arms encircle your waist, chin propped up on your shoulder. 

So there’s that. 

Gina points to the first photo, a grim-looking man standing behind a chair where a young woman sits smiling. “This is the estranged wife, before she was estranged, of course. And this is the owner of the house. From what we’ve been able to dig up about his past - no pun intended - he was always deathly serious.”

Jimin hums in acknowledgement, the vibrations going straight into your spine. Unsure of what to do with your arms, you gently place them atop his arms around your middle. 

You swear he smiles for a moment before turning pensive again. “Why did they separate?” You manage to ask, applauding yourself for getting a complete sentence out while Park Jimin hugs you from behind. 

“Rumor has it she cheated on him with his best friend,” Gina whispers, pointing to another photo where the solemn owner stands beside a smiling man. “He was driven mad with jealousy. Terrible, isn’t it?”

Gina gives you a long look, and suddenly you straighten your spine. “I-uh, yeah. Horrible.”

She shows us another photo, explaining something about it while Jimin mumbles out a couple of questions. You hardly process any of it, staring at Gina and wondering if she thinks that you are somehow cheating.

But on who? Jin, maybe? Since that’s her friend?

“Alright, send up the next pair,” Gina croons. Jimin detaches himself from you, suddenly leaving you cold. You turn to follow him, but stop as Gina places a hand on your arm. 

“Yes?” You ask, struggling to keep your tone even. Gina motions for Jimin to keep going, pulling you back to the scrapbook. She tilts her head to one side. 

“Forgive me for maybe overstepping a boundary but...” she motions toward the ladder, where everyone waits below. “Don’t tell me you’re flirting with all of them.”

Your eyes widen, and a breathy laugh comes out. “Me? What? N-no. They’re my best friends, why would I-”

Gina laughs, the sound too loud for the small attic. “Well, they’re flirting with you.” She playfully elbows me. “Speaking from girl to girl...enjoy it. For the rest of us.”

Nearly choking, you frown but nod all the same. “...ok?” When she makes no move to say anything else, you head down the ladder. The boys look up at me with confused looks, Jimin waiting at the bottom to make sure you get down safely. 

“What was that about?” Jin asks, looking a little nervous. “She didn’t say anything to make you uncomfortable, did she?”

You blink at him, wondering for a moment if the boys have always been like this around you. Surely not. It’s just the haunted house bringing out this protective side, right?

Right?

“No, she just wanted to show me something else. She’s actually really nice.” You think.

The other groups go up, and nothing else happens to pique your interest. Gina comes down last of all, giving you a wink before walking down the hallway. 

“I think we’re ready to go down to the basement, everyone!”

Somehow you end up at the front, surrounded on all sides by the maknae line. You crane your neck, looking back to see the older boys all lost in a heated discussion. Hobi catches your eye after a moment, elbowing Namjoon who looks up at you with fake innocence. 

You frown, Gina’s words coming back to you. “They’re flirting with you.”

You must have lost your mind. Was the haunted house really that traumatizing as to make you start coming up with such ridiculous things? How silly of you. 

The feeling of a hand resting on the small of your back has you yelping, jumping to face forward again. Taehyung gives you a sheepish grin. 

“Sorry,” he mumbles, gently pushing you forward to stand in front of him. “Are you really that spooked?”

“I...no.” You fail to come up with a complete sentence, but shrug it off. Taehyung smiles brightly at you, gesturing for you to head down the stairs. 

“You seem distracted tonight, are you alright?” 

The way your heart had begun palpitating calms down as you notice the obvious concern on Taehyung’s face. You give him a small smile, allowing yourself to relish the feeling of his fingers splayed against your back as you move down the stairs. 

“I’m fine, don’t worry. Just distracted by the story.”

Taehyung looks at you for a moment longer, not quite believing you but shrugging it off. He brings both hands to your shoulders as you enter the basement, an obvious chill in the air. 

You fight off a shiver, Taehyung noticing and beginning to rub at your arms in an attempt to warm you up. Gina immediately notices the action, hiding a smile as she pretends to cough. 

“Well,” she says once her ‘coughing fit’ subsides. “We’ve made it to the final leg of the tour. How’s it been so far?”

This time everyone cheers with renewed vigor, although a part of you has a hunch that it’s because Hobi knows he’s nearing the end of this scary experience. The thought makes you grin. 

“Earlier, you guys asked me what was found in the sealed off room. It’s easier to show you, rather than explain.” Gina walks backward, motioning for everyone to follow her. It’s darker down here, only a few candles light the way. Despite being surrounded by people you trust, you can’t fight the fear that sneaks inside of you. 

Rounding a corner, you see a small hallway with a half-open door. Jin curses behind you, clearly feeling just as freaked out as you.

“Remember how the estranged wife said she’d never leave this place?” Gina nods toward the door and dark entryway. “In that room there’s evidence that she may have had an...extended stay here. It’s very small, and the door only opens to a certain point. Almost as though whoever designed it didn’t want to have an easy escape point.”

Chills run down your spine, and even Taehyung’s ministrations pause for a moment as he takes in this new information. 

Jungkook speaks up, ever the curious one. “Wait...her body isn’t still here, right?”

Gina shakes her head. “No, although we think that she may have been buried somewhere on the property. We have yet to find her, though.”

“That...” you shake your head, shuffling from foot to foot. “That sounds so ominous. Like she still walks the property or something.”

The smile Gina sends you is enough to make your blood run cold. “We haven’t ruled anything out.” She gestures toward the door. “Due to fire hazards, we can only have two people at a time in the hallway and in the room. Do I have any volunteers?”

Jungkook’s hand immediately shoots up in the air, and he looks at his hyungs pleadingly. You remain still as a statue, refusing to look up for fear of being called on. 

You swear you can almost hear Taehyung sigh before he speaks. “Well, obviously you have to go.” He nudges you forward, and you whirl on him in absolute horror. 

“What?!” You shout. “How could you betray me like this?! I- no way!”

The boys can’t help but laugh at you, Namjoon clapping Taehyung on the shoulder. Taehyung gives you an apologetic look, shrugging. 

“C’mon, I’ll keep you safe,” Jungkook promises, his big pleading eyes on yours.

You hate how you can never say no to him. 

Gina pats your shoulder as you walk past, laughing lightly. “Have fun,” she croons. “Ok everyone, let’s go into the open area just around the corner-”

“You’re leaving us?!” You shout again, stopping in your tracks. “Noooo, no no. Not happening.”

“Jungkook will take care of you,” Yoongi says over his shoulder. “Or do you not trust him?”

Jungkook pauses, looking at you with those big brown eyes. “You don’t trust me?”

Yoongi chuckles darkly before leaving the hallway, and you know he’s aware of what he did. You’ll have to make him pay for it later. 

Possibly in the form of food.

“No, I do Kook,” you sigh. He extends his hand out to you, waiting patiently. 

You take it a little too quickly.

Gina was right, the door only opens to a certain point, leaving you no choice but to shimmy through. Jungkook inspects the entire area, pointing out what looks to be scratches on the doorframe. You shiver. 

“It’s not real,” he reassures you, keeping his hand in yours as he shimmies into the room. You hesitate for a moment, daring to glance at where your hands are connected before following after him. 

It’s nearly pitch black in the room, hardly allowing for you to see anything. “Can you even see anything?”

Jungkook laughs, squeezing your hand. “Nope. I think we’ll have to wait for our eyes to adjust. You good?”

You squeeze back. “Yeah, I think-”

The door is shut.

The door is shut. 

Suddenly delved into complete darkness, your breath hitches in your throat. “Jungkook,” you whimper. “Jungkook, I’m scared-”

“Shhh,” Jungkook hushes you, pulling you closer until you bump into his chest. “You’re fine. They’re just pulling a prank on us.” 

Without thinking anything other than, I’m too young to die, you instinctively wrap your arms around his waist, burrowing your head against his chest as he chuckles. 

“I can’t die, Jungkook,” you mumble into his chest. “I’m too young. I have so much to do. I have a test this week to take, and I’ve studied so hard for it, I have to take it. That’d be so stupid to die before taking that dumb test. And I have to yell at Yoongi or something, I don’t know-”

Jungkook’s giddy laughter pulls you out of your daze, and if you weren’t so scared you would be glaring at him. He laces his fingers behind your back, pulling you impossibly closer.

“You’re so cute,” he whispers into the dark, making every last thought eddy out of your brain. “Have I ever told you that before?”

Finding just enough willpower to move, you shake your head. Jungkook harrumphs above you, the sound almost pulling a giggle from you. Then you remember the situation you’re currently in. 

Jungkook sighs. “Well, you are. That, and a lot of other things. Would you like me to tell you what else I think you are?”

Hands bunching in the fabric of his clothes, you find your voice. “...yes.”

Jungkook takes a deep breath. “Scary smart. It’s horrifying.” A chuckle bubbles up from your chest. “And inclusive. That’s so underrated these days, you know? But you’re always making sure everyone is involved and enjoying themselves.”

You can tell that he’s holding his breath from the way his chest has stopped moving, and you’re about to ask him if he’s alright when he hesitantly runs his fingers through your hair. 

If that wasn’t enough to send you over the edge, he lets out a shaky breath before continuing on. “I’m sorry I haven’t told you those things before.”

You manage a laugh. “I’m sorry that it took us going on a haunted house tour for you to say it.”

Jungkook smiles down at you, your eyes finally adjusted to the dim room. He stares at you for a long moment, and you wonder if he’s going to kiss you.

You wonder if you’d let him.

He must see the question in your eyes, but he gives you a knowing look before heading toward the door, making sure your hand is in his. 

“You don’t have to worry about that,” he says, testing the door and giggling at your sigh of relief when the door is unlocked. 

“Worry about what?” You feign ignorance. Jungkook sees right through your, tugging you along as you head out the door. 

He shrugs, suddenly unable to look you in the eyes as pink no doubt paints his cheeks. “You know...overstepping any boundaries.” He looks down at his feet. “Making a move.”

“Why?” The question comes out before you can stop it, and you inwardly curse yourself. Jungkook smiles softly at your inquiry. 

The sound of everyone chatting makes you almost want to cry with relief. They must be just around the corner, waiting for you to return. 

Jungkook leans over, whispering to you. “Because we have a pact.”

You turn to question him further, eyes wide. He anticipates this, taking long strides until you find yourselves back in the open area with everyone else. 

“We’re back!” Jungkook announces, shooting you a smirk. You can’t help but stare at him, mouth slightly agape. 

A pact?

Gina smiles broadly. “How was the room? Did you find anything interesting?”

You shake your head, trying and failing to stop yourself from overanalyzing every glance the boys give you. “...no. I was too freaked out to even look around after the door closed on us.”

“Yeah, who did that? We didn’t even hear you guys,” Jungkook asks. 

Everyone looks at the two of you before looking at Gina, clearly just as confused. 

Gina, on the other hand, looks absolutely terrified. 

“Ummm...” she begins, rubbing her arms in an effort to warm herself up. “Remember how I said that we haven’t ever found the body of the estranged wife?”

You nod your head but stop, the words sinking in. The hairs on the back of your neck rise up, and you find yourself shuffling over to stand next to Jin, clinging to his arm. 

“Yeah...” Namjoon says, eyes darting around the room.

Gina sighs. “Alright, everyone, single file line. Head out as quickly and quietly as possible.”

You don’t need to be told twice.

masterlist

this has been turned into a series!

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[babesonly]

fic recs 2.0!

hello kings (gn) ive got significantly more fic than last time which means this is gonna be a little more organized than the last post bc it is much longer <3 categories in order are non casefic canonverse, casefic/roadtrip fic, finale fixits, endverse, non supernatural aus, and then non destiel ones. titles will be in bold for my favs! also within each category they’re in order from shortest to longest

Canonverse

I’m a tulip in a cup by godtiering (1.2k)

I worry that I never really came back from hell. I wonder why, if I got remade by heaven, I’m still the same screwed up kid that I always was.

Sometimes I worry I’m not into women at all.

"Guess not,” he looks at his shoes.

a REALLY good fic that’s basically just a look inside dean’s head during my bloody valentine do not read this looking for a fun time but please do read it

on vessels by flightsofangels (1.9k)

“You know,” Cas mutters into Dean’s bare skin. “When I was still… an angel, I used to dream that I would take you as my vessel.”

hello consumehimnatural fans!!!!! read newt’s fic right now its incredible

dean winchester is not a nicholas sparks protagonist by microcomets (1.9k)

Dean fell in love with Cas the way you fall asleep--slowly, and then all at once. Or some other hackneyed and trite bullshit. God, this is embarrassing.

dean is in LOVE. he’s also a disaster who keeps staring at cas’ hands. sigh

Stay by aeli_kindara (2.5k)

Coda to 13.06 (Tombstone). In which Castiel reckons with the aftermath of Dean's grief.

hello fellow widow arc fans <3 click here to see cas find out abt the events of advanced thanatology !

walking on a string by swordfishtrombones (2.7k)

Between the doomed offensive at the Firmament and the impending retreat from the ravaged northeast border, Castiel left camp long enough to answer one of Dean Winchester's prayers.

S6 DEAN IS A WAR WIFE. been really into early seasons deancas lately and this one is very good. god

the flesh of the mighty by Mudprophet (2.7k)

Ezekiel 39:17 "you shall eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth."

MY GOD. anyone who saw the @autisticandroids​ purgatory cannibalism talk and was interested read this right now. also anyone who enjoyed nbc hannibal OR raw (2016). if romantic cannibalism is remotely aligned with your interests read this right now. god

Sam Winchester, Ally At Law by alittleduck (3.3k)

Sam was pretty sure he could read every single gay friendly guide to coming out or supporting queer family members ever written and literally none of them would even imply that arguing with gay people that they were actually just homophobic constituted as "ally behavior". However, Sam was equally sure that none of those book authors had found themselves accidentally watching their brother get pounded by an Angel of the Lord at 9 am on Tuesday, so Sam was pretty sure he might actually still have the higher ground. Now, if only Jack would stop trying to bond with Dean using gay slurs long enough for Sam to convince everyone of that, he might just be able to cobble together some remnant of sanity or, failing that, dignity.

Or, the one where Sam desperately wants to invent PFLAG but Dean won't stop teaching Jack gay slurs

JACK VOICE HEY COCKSUCKERS. 

hummed low by microcomets (3.3k)

Dean pulls the Impala over at a cider barn about thirty miles out; doesn't really think about it, just sees the hokey orange lettering off the roadside and lets his hands guide the Impala off the interstate with gravel spitting under the wheels.

they get a nice day out together and dean has a gay crisis and it’s written beautifully mwah

Vena Amoris and Other Old-Fashioned Bullshit by pyrebi (3.9k)

In which angelic marriage bonds are apparently stupidly easy to trigger, Cas wages multidimensional war in Heaven, Dean can't catch a break like ever, Sam rather enjoys being a dick, love saves the day, and nobody consummates anything.

sometimes i think about this fic and it hits that at this point dean and cas would have been married for more than a year. cas my beloved...

an exploration of gender; angelic by sometimeswelose (4k)

Castiel's true form is made of electromagnetic radiation. He has spent the majority of his life, if you really want to add it all up and average the whole thing out, as a wavelength of celestial intent.

The thing about being made of light: it's light in the physics sense of the word. Castiel's waves are gamma, x-ray, micro, and radio. He's visible light too, of course, a visible light so intense that it is blinding to most humans.

hello trans cas community <3 he’s literally trans he was assigned genderless and then went hm actually i will be a man! love of my life

Some Boys are Sleeping Alone by prosopopeya (4.2k)

This isn't something that's okay, not for him, but it chases him through the years until it turns into something he can't -- doesn't want to deny. 

ohhh deans tenuous relationship with his sexuality my beloved...

love. worship. consummation. consumption. by redeyedwrath (4.3k)

ConsumehimNatural (copyright marcusantonius) the Series!

These are all snapshots centered around the idea of you know. Hunger in Supernatural. Both carnal hunger and other kinds. Fics are shown in semi-chronological order but this series is generally nebulously early seasons.

for ANYONE who is a consumehimnaturual this is required reading it is INCREDIBLE and gorgeous and very visceral and i am so very obsessed with it. thank you redeyedwrath for enabling my brainrot

the reach of human sense by perilously (4.5k)

“You know what Jimmy Novak looked like. You think he was beautiful—gorgeous, hot, all of it. It’s him. Not me. This isn’t my face.”

“But,” Dean says. He doesn’t know where he’s going with it. Just that Cas’ face is right there, brows drawn together and cheekbones gleaming in the lamplight. It’s a face that’s made his heart skip probably a couple hundred beats collectively since they met.

And it used to belong to someone else.

this one is just very nice <3 cas gets uncomfortable w dean calling him attractive since dean has never seen his trueform and they work it out

Down in the River by Ias (4.7k)

Alone in Purgatory and hunted by Leviathans, Castiel finds himself praying to the one person who can't hear him.

cas i love you <3 cas alone in purgatory praying to dean bc dean is the only thing he still worships i love you so much

Creature of Habit by trinityofone (5.1k)

The more you love someone, the more you want to kill them. Or: How Cas developed some bad habits, and Dean coped surprisingly well.

written in s5 when cas was depowered and completely nails the later seasons bitchy husbands dynamic it’s very good and fun <3

sink by crackers4jenn (5.4k)

"Where to?" A 9.06 coda.

very bittersweet very well written and also canon compliant so do not go into this one looking for a happy ending but i DO recommend it it’s very good

Sensational by castiowl (6.1k)

“When I first came to earth, it was advised that we temper the senses bound to our vessels. They were a distraction, we were told. An antiquated form of experiencing existence that would hinder our ability to complete our missions, whatever that may be. My true form can better facilitate these experiences. What you would recognize as heightened senses of sight and sound, among other things.”

Or, how Dean helps Cas experience all five human senses for the first time in one night.

early seasons deancas man. i love the sound part i love dean being so worried about doing a good job with this. god. read this please

Something to Protect by Sass_Master (6.2k)

Dean’s violent reaction to being unexpectedly woken has become something of a running joke among them, but Castiel can’t help but look past it to the underlying cause. It makes him ache to think that Dean feels so unsafe, so persecuted, before he’s even fully conscious.

Secretly, Castiel has been determined to work on that, to ease Dean into awareness in a less jarring way, smooth away one of the many stresses that follow him even in sleep. Now’s as good a time as any to try.

oh to sleep more soundly in the presence of someone you love...this fic is very nice i enjoyed it a lot

all this and heaven too by ftmsteverogers (7k)

“Hey,” Dean said. “I’m not ashamed of you, okay?”

Cas raised skeptical eyes to meet his.

“I mean it,” Dean insisted.

“I understand you mean it,” Cas said. “But I don’t think it’s any better if you’re only ashamed of yourself.”

hello trans dean community here is 7k of trans dean having to deal with his internalized homophobia now that he’s sleeping with cas <3 it is SO good

The wilderness. by orange_crushed (8k)

He takes a shower and the pressure is not especially good, but it doesn’t matter. It’s warm and he stands under the spray a long time. Human skin, he knows, constantly renews itself, shedding the dead cells of the epidermis. He wonders how long it will take until he is an entirely new person, until every cell on his surface is a new one. He looks at his hands under the water. It might take less than a month.

this might be the only post 9x03 fic on here with a happy ending actually? plenty of good melancholy leading up to it though <3 canon divergent after 9x03 though which means no 9x06 fanfiction gap but it is absolutely worth reading

till the juice runs by deathbanjo (8.4k)

Apparently whoever drew up the venn diagram of Dean’s sex life decided the circle labelled ‘good sex’ and the one labelled ‘sex with men’ should be kept far apart.

hello this one is SO funny dean finally gets comfortable enough with his bisexuality to start having sex with men and it goes so very bad every time so sorry about your shitty choices beloved </3

First Date by aeli_kindara (8.9k)

“We should go on a date. You and me.”

Castiel wishes he could see Dean’s face. He wishes he had any idea what to say.

“I’m asking you out, Cas.”

this one is very sweet i liked it a lot <3 good refreshing little fic where they just get to have a nice evening together

Entertaining Strangers by cadignan (9k)

Dean settles on to his side, lying in the bed facing Castiel. “So you had sex without me and you bit all my moves. I think I deserve to hear about it, at least. What was her name?”

op im in love with you. premise is established relationship deancas and cas mentions he did have sex before dean and not only that it was a threesome. good for him <3 this fic is cas describing the story of what led up to the threesome and what happened during it while dean interrupts regularly. incredible

the shape you take by noviembre (10k)

“What?” Dean says, fake-offended. “I’d be hot as a girl, you know I would.”

And this is when he really, really should have stopped talking. When he shouldn't have whipped back around and asked, “Cas, if I was a woman, you’d fuck me, right?”

Because if he hadn’t said that, then he wouldn’t have had to deal with this:

Cas, meeting his eyes, forehead wrinkles all smoothed out like there’s nothing to be confused about anymore. Cas with something at the corner of his mouth that might barely be called a smile.

Cas saying, calmly and without hesitation, “Yes, Dean.”

--

Dean Winchester fucks around and, with the inadvertent help of some witches, Finds Out.

dean winchester your gender is diabolical. this fic is insane and its the only thing that matters actually. dean fully convinced its normal and straight to think about being a woman so you can fuck your male friend. incredible. op im proposing to you

Sinnerman by a_good_soldier (10k)

Dean listens to Nina Simone, reads Anne Carson, and makes out with a dude (sort of).

yall want to read about dean realizing he’s in love with a man as a direct result of learning to better respect women right?

you’re fooling yourself by cowboydeanwinchester (13k)

Dean Winchester and Castiel retire from hunting to raise baby Jack. Dean struggles to allow himself the things he truly wants.

Jack is two, Castiel and Dean are idiots, and Sam's gotta solve everyone's problems.

love a married couple who doesn’t know they’re married <3 everyone say thank you sam for bullying dean 

The Girlfriend Experience by rageprufrock (15k)

While it's not like Dean hasn't had a couple of truly regrettable hit-and-runs in his sexual history, this is probably the saddest fucking thing that has ever happened to him.

a classic for good fucking reason. we’ve all talked about dean thinking holding hands is too gay after having just had gay sex but my personal favorite was sam accusing dean of cheating on cas because dean bought condoms. incredible

No Kingdom To Come by domesticadventures (16k)

“We should fuck,” Dean says.

Cas looks up from where he sits on his bed, hair still damp from the shower, frowning as he places a finger on the page of his book to mark where he left off.

There are a million things Cas could say here; Dean has rehearsed them. After lunch, his restlessness had given way to a vague panic, a dread that matched his every step and crept along with him from room to room. Eventually, he had returned to his bedroom and spent the rest of the afternoon pacing back and forth, playing out all the possible scenarios. When Cas asks him Why? or Are you being serious? or when he sighs and says, in that way he has, Dean, he knows exactly what he’s going to do. He’s going to shrug casually, like he isn’t invested in the answer, like he isn’t desperate for an outlet, and say, Why not? He’s going to raise an eyebrow and say, What, are you not interested? He’s going to crowd into Cas’ personal space, he’s going to shove himself right up in there and whisper Cas against his ear.

Instead, Cas says, carefully, “Okay.”

literally the only quarantine fic i’ve ever bothered to read in any fandom and completely worth it it’s SO good. they become fwb and dean has an existential crisis and he keeps bringing up meaninglessness and death during sex

Bodies by Speary (18k)

It was a secret they never acknowledged even with each other. It would change everything, end everything if either of them ever dropped the act. So they became very good at acting, at keeping up the lie that gave them what they wanted. Even if that lie involved constantly seeking out temporary, consenting female vessels, Cas would do it. He told himself it was worth it for Dean. He just hoped that he could stop wanting more, or maybe one day Dean might stop pretending that he wasn't really sleeping with Cas every time.

i don’t even have anything to add tbh if that summary did not immediately make you click we are very different this fic is incredible. god. fellas do you ever make yourself a woman so you can fuck the man you love without him having to talk about it or confront his sexuality

it’s such a mystery (the way you know me) by fleeceframe (20k)

So the man crouching in front of Castiel is named Dean. He wonders if that’s supposed to mean something to him.

“Cas must’ve got hit with something earlier. He just dropped like a sack of fucking potatoes a minute ago. By the time I was checking on him, he had already woken up again, but now he doesn’t fucking know who we are.”

“I’m right here you know,” Castiel says testily.

Sam’s eyes are wide even as his eyebrows are furrowed, and he looks between Dean and Castiel again.

“What do you remember, Cas?”

“Firstly, that I’m not Cas. I don’t know who Cas is, but it’s not me. I don’t know who either of you are, either."

or the one where castiel is hit with a memory curse that makes him forget the winchester brothers and is stunned to find out he has a family... also why can't he stop thinking about dean?

BEST amnesia fic oh my god. cas my beloved you deserve the world. everyone read this that is not a request.

More Than Ever by Sass_Master (20k)

Dean’s getting some pancakes together for breakfast when Cas saunters in after a run.

He’s trying to focus on whisking batter, unfairly distracted by Cas a few feet away, breathing heavily and shining with perspiration. Dean’s been painfully aware for a long time that Cas is pretty easy on the eyes, but he’s used to seeing Cas buttoned-up and unflappable, looking straight-laced in a stiff oxford and an unflattering trenchcoat.

Now Cas is sweating, Dean’s borrowed t-shirt clinging to his skin, flushed from exertion and Dean really can’t deal with that in his kitchen right now.

this entire series is really good i enjoyed it a lot, i’m just putting this one specifically on the list bc the rest of the series is very explicit and this is really good as a standalone for anyone who wouldn’t be into the rest of the series!!

Being Dean Winchester by Anonymous (20k)

"You should show me some respect. I dragged you out of hell. I can throw you back in."

Who the fuck was this bitchy "warrior of God" doing talking to him like that? Fuck Cas-tee-el and his dumbass trench coat and abrasive motherfucking attitude.

Dean was done with this shit.

***

Wherein a monster of the week steals the essence of Castiel's vessel, so he must use Dean, recently raised from hell, as a vessel instead.

it is at this point i realize that there are more fics than i expected there to be on this list that involves a threesome with only two people/using the presence of a female body to act like what’s happening is heterosexual. deangirlism is a disease 

I Shall Not Want by domesticadventures (20k)

His grace is burning out, and the wasteland it leaves inside him becomes an echo chamber for all the memories, all the fear and doubt and self-loathing he's collected over the years. Things said and done hound him on endless repeat until he's convinced they’ll break through his skin and fill the silence of the bunker.

His head is killing him, and he sits hunched over an open book, not really reading, just digging his fingers into his skull and praying nothing slips through the cracks.

this one is GORGEOUS i love it so so much. dean and cas are both struggling so much to get by and they’re trying to support each other but fucking it up and they have to grow together and learn to cope with the fact that this is where their lives are and they fall in love i need everyone to read this

To Boldly Go by 8daysuntiltheapocalypseiguess (24k)

Title: Just One of Those Things Author: Impala67 Series: TOS Rating: M Summary: Four years into their five-year mission, and all the planets start to look the same.

In which Dean is not Gene Roddenberry, but he does write Star Trek fanfiction.

mx winchester writing star trek fanfiction to process his own trauma <3 this is a wip but it’s SO good and i also have not consumed a single piece of star trek media so it IS definitely readable to anyone who isn’t a star trek fan. please read this

where the weeds take root by deathbanjo (30k)

“Are you happy? Y’know. Just—being here,” Dean says, gesturing to the yard with his beer bottle. “Being with—I mean, you used to fight in celestial wars and—and save the world. Now you’re growing vegetables and talking about chickens.”

this is on here just for the 1.5 people who were putting off this one like i did for no reason. it’s extremely good and it is just gentle. i enjoyed it a lot

Heroes for Ghosts by pantheon_of_discord (42k)

After Sam and Dean are arrested, Castiel is left alone and scrambling to find them. He knows they’re locked away in a government facility, and he’s still able to hear their prayers, but no matter how he tries Castiel can’t seem to track them. He chases leads and even attempts to hunt on his own, but Mary is AWOL, Crowley refuses to help, and Castiel’s options are running out.

Weeks pass, Castiel’s hope dwindles, and through it all Dean prays, keeping them connected. His voice is comforting, frustrating, and occasionally annoying, but in his solitude Castiel comes to cherish it. But then one day, without warning, Dean stops praying, and Castiel is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about his feelings.

yall ever wonder what it would’ve been like if the sam and dean arrest storyline in s12 was interesting? yeah <3

Teaching Poetry to Fish by aeli_kindara (52k)

In which Castiel teaches poetry to fish. Also, himself. Also, eventually, Dean.

(A series-long story, diverging slightly from canon after S14.)

cas learning about humanity through poetry before dean and thats what led to him developing enough emotion to be lobotomized....cas i love you so much

Emergence by ellispark (58k)

Something’s been missing from Dean’s life for the past three years, a void left after a hunt gone terribly wrong. He often feels a sense of longing with no discernible cause, a need to talk to someone who isn’t there.

A call from an acquaintance leads Dean to James Novak, a man who disappeared more than a decade ago, and suddenly Dean gets the feeling he’s found what he’s been missing. But James isn’t really James — he’s the angel Castiel, who’s wanted by angels, demons and hunters alike. And he may be at the center of the storm that wrecked Dean’s life all those years ago.

another cool amnesia fic!! for unknown reasons everyone forgot cas three years ago but cas didn’t forget anything. cas deserves so much love and support. god

a turn of the earth by microcomets (95k)

Dean’s your typical half-orphaned, monster-killing 22-year-old until a trenchcoated stranger crashes into his back windshield one September night, claiming he’s an angel that knows him from the future and that he’s on the run.

Frigging fantastic.

(Or, in which Castiel gets stuck in Dean’s timeline preseries and Dean kind of hates it—until he doesn’t.)

cas getting to meet and fall in love with pre hell dean just as much as he loves the dean he already knows oh my GOD. i love this fic so much. turn of the earth my beloved

Crossing Lines by sometimeswelose (122k)

Two Deans, one Cas - it's not as sexy as it sounds

Or

An ethics lesson from Hell

Or

The one where Dean from the past meets Dean in the present. They're not sure they like each other very much.

deans intense self hatred vs cas’ unwavering love for every version of dean oh my GOD also this is a wip fair warning but it’s so worth waiting for updates i’m having such a great time with this one i cannot wait to see how it gets ended

Plot Holes by saltyfeathers (160k)

Of course it wasn’t over after the apocalypse.

There was season six. Then there was season seven. Against all expectations, there was season eight. There were the alphas and purgatory, and then the Leviathans, and then the angels fell. Enter season nine. Loose threads Metatron, Abaddon, and Crowley have to be tied up. Sam, Dean, and Cas have to try to tie them while at the same time dealing with their evolving relationships and newfound graceless states.

Amidst all the chaos, someone has started publishing the Supernatural novels again. Convinced there’s something amiss in the pages, Charlie starts her own quest to suss out the truth behind the Winchester Gospels.

With the help of various faces, old and new, they must now not only deal with the typical runs of demons and recently fallen angels, but also reconcile the battles raging inside themselves, as the fate of the world, once again, quite literally lays in the palm of their hands.

saltyfeathers said i WILL make the plot holes in this show mean something because the showrunners are sure as shit never gonna adress them ! and i thank them for it bc this was a really cool read

Casefic/Roadtrip Fic

Deprived Of Every Planet by KelpietheThundergod (9k)

Dean's breathing is audible in the scant space between them, irregular. The motel room is dark, pale blue shadows falling in through the gaps in the blinds. Throwing a pattern of uneven white stripes over the bunched up covers. Over Dean's fingers twisted in the sheets. One half of him in shadow, softened by the dark. The heat of his skin. The tremble of him under Castiel's touch.

He caresses a hand over Dean's chest, slowly. Dean's mouth falls open, his body arching into Castiel's touch. Castiel stops over Dean's heart. Through the fever of his desire, he rejoices about the wonder of experiencing another's heartbeat through one's own senses.

Dean gasps, but then he turns his face away and towards the dark. Eyes closed tight and brows furrowed like something is hurting him.

Castiel stills.

“Dean?”

the case is background on this one but it Does take place over the course of a case so im putting it here. god touchstarved dean trying so hard to work through his shit for cas head in my hands i love this fic so much

before and after breakfast by spocklee (10k)

The monster of the week is a ghost who hates meat, alcohol, and feeling yourself. Guess who it is during the commercials.

chapter 2 of this one.....god. dean and cas you are both so unwell <3 i love everything abt this fic everyone read it now

we shovel all the ashes out by xylodemon (15k)

Dean’s always known things were headed this way. He just figured getting dragged under would be cleaner and easier than jumping in feet-first.

fics that make you go Oh they love each other...also there’s lesbians in it literally what else could you want.

thunder road by dothraki_shieldmaiden (20k)

After Chuck is defeated and the Winchesters settle into life without God, Dean Winchester is bored.

OR: Dean and Cas take a road trip and figure out some stuff along the way.

this fic is just like. it’s kind! this fic is kind it’s just a pleasant experience and i enjoyed it thoroughly. they’re in love and it’s good

Suck It, Judy Garland by GlitterDwarf, midrashic (20k)

It had to be St. Louis. Or, the one where Sam and Cas get fake married for a case, and Dean loses his mind.

actually im gonna defend dean here imagine youre dean and cas gives what definitely sounded like a deathbed love confession while making eye contact with you and then immediately afterwards fake dates your brother. who among us would not have been a bitch about this

best friends without benefits by lizbobjones (20k)

It’s nearing three a.m. and they’ve been on the road a long time. Sam’s been asleep in the back seat since eleven. Giving up and handing the wheel over to Cas and letting the guy who doesn’t sleep drive had seemed like a good idea.

the premise of this fic is so funny. cas voice dean you want to fuck me so bad it makes you look stupid. everyone read this

the taste of gravel in the mouth by deathbanjo (22k)

This is what Cas gave up Heaven for: greasy diner food, shitty motel rooms with even shittier cable, long car rides spent in complete silence except for the same six tapes playing over and over again, and a burnt-out husk of a man who can barely hold a conversation anymore.

alt version of getting rid of the mark of cain, the darkness never happens. this one is VERY heavy but it’s so good and it has a hopeful ending. ive read this one twice and loved it both times

Someone Who’s Feeling For Me by ellispark (45k)

Dean sees her for the first time in nearly six years in some no-name town in Idaho, and it's panic at first sight.

Lisa Braeden, the one woman Dean ever actually had a shot at a real life with, back from where he buried her in his mind. And her hand is on Cas's arm like it's no big deal, like it belongs there. Cas, Dean's dorky, sweet, badass, angelic best friend, and he's just standing there next to Lisa and not moving her hand away.

Dean feels the jealousy rising, and it's not directed where he expected it to be. Because it takes this exact moment for Dean to realize he's in love with his best friend. He's in love with his best friend, and Lisa is looking at Cas like he's the best thing since automatic rifles, and Dean is utterly fucked.

hello op please contact me. please contact me and let me see the inside of your brain. this fic was an unparalleled experience and everyone should also go through it. i love it so very much

Bumper Cars by mansikka (111k)

Two teenagers are missing from an abandoned carnival, and there’s enough to raise suspicion that their disappearance involves a ghost. Dean, Sam, and Cas arrive in town to investigate, though what they find leads them away from those teenagers, and on the trail of a ghost story that churns up things from their past.

Can newly-human Cas, and Dean, with the help of shipper!Sam, work out the mystery behind the abandoned carnival and its ghost, and along the way, figure out the riddle that is them?

one of my absolute fav case fics it forces dean to confront some aspects of johns parenting and work through some shit and also him and cas fall in love and it’s really well done. love this one a lot <3

Finale Fix-its/Finale Denial

Sorry Jimmy by K_K_TiBal (2.1k)

Based on the tumblr textpost:

jellydeans: so are cas and jimmy novak just up in heaven existing at the same time katebushstandean: #jimmy moves to heaven timbuku so that dean stops trying to make out with him every time they run into each other at the heaven grocery store

this one is just extremely funny. local midwestern heterosexual man is forced to play relationship counselor to the dumbest gay people in existence because one of them wore his face

Dean Winchester Really Needs To Make Some Gay Friends by AreYouReady (2.2k)

“Like, I’m trying to think if I’ve had, I don’t know, crushes. If I ever had a gay thing before you came along and just didn’t notice,” Dean said.

Cas suddenly looked down, and away from Dean. If Dean didn’t know better, he would swear Cas looked guilty.

“What is it, Cas?”

“You have had several… gay things before.” Cas still wouldn’t look at him.

“What? When? How come you know this better than I do?”

There was no way the answer to this question wasn’t funny as hell.

dean learning about gay ppl via the memories of dean smith...incredible.

tiny difference (between ending and starting to begin) by sunforgrace (2.4k)

Sometimes Dean catches Cas staring at the sky.

It doesn’t happen often. Not when Dean’s around to tell, anyway. But often enough that he starts to notice.

Eventually Dean starts to recognize the pattern.

Cas just doesn’t watch the sky. He watches the birds.

Chuck is gone, Cas is human, and the world is safe. In the quiet aftermath Dean and Castiel find each other again.

i really don’t have much to say abt this one it is just very good and they love each other so much

Bring Home by cenotaphy (3.8k)

Dean's phone doesn't ring on the drive back to the Bunker, but that's okay. Because—well, maybe Cas lost his cell, what with getting shuffled back and forth between a cosmic void dimension and all. And anyway, Dean doesn't want this conversation to happen over the phone, he wants to—he wants to talk to Cas face-to-face. They should talk face-to-face.

Dean will tell him—

Dean doesn't know what he'll tell Cas. Dean is, in fact, terrified by how utterly and completely he does not know what he'll say to Cas.

cas being forced to face the consequences of sending the risky text that was despair <3

dean’s coworkers vs the heteronormative agenda by cowboydeanwinchester (4.1k)

Dean started working at a local auto repair shop in Lebanon, Kansas about a year ago. His coworkers don't know much about him. Except that he has a wife. Or maybe he doesn't. But he has a kid. Who is either a toddler or a high schooler. Who is either named Jack or Sammy. He also might have a best friend named Cas, but that also might be his wife.

Truth is nobody knows what to make of Dean.

obsessed w people not knowing a single fucking thing about dean because he talks so much and never explains anything. this fic is SO funny

Enhanced Extraction Techniques by goldenraeofsun (5.8k)

The Empty takes Meg’s shape, Samandriel’s, Duma’s, every one of the thousands of angels Cas killed up in heaven. But in the middle of lecturing Cas in the form of Balthazar, it explodes in a burst of light and sound.

Dean Winchester stands in the aftermath.

the empty playing mind games on an awake cas bc it can’t put him to sleep is a thing i like a lot and this is very very good 

Speak Silence No More by rea_sunshine (8.1k)

When Dean imagined this moment, it went like this:

Dean bursts into the Empty—guns blazing, chin high, righteous anger coursing through him. No matter what form his plans and fantasies and whiskey-drunk-whispered-promises took, he is always, always successful. When he imagined it, he was finally the hero Cas deserved.

The reality of the moment is this:

It’s fucking cold.

dean and cas STILL managing to not communicate with each other properly after the confession is so funny to me and this fic does it really well. also i like that a human being in the empty, where humans do NOT belong, had some like. consequences

my heart is a compass by lagaudiere (10k)

“There you are,” the Empty says, in Dean’s voice. It’s cold, like Dean’s eyes are cold, his expression set in contempt. It’s the expression Cas feared, he realizes, all the times he thought about saying it. Revulsion. It makes him feel sick in the way that goes beyond physical, here where there is nothing physical left.

The moment before it happened had been so sweet it covered up all the hurt. For years, Cas had been holding back those words, biting down on his tongue to keep from saying them. And now he had said it, and he knew that it was good, knew that it was worth it. But on the other side there is only this.

--

In the Empty, Cas dreams of his regrets, until someone comes looking for him.

one of thee best dean rescues cas from the empty fics out there i love the way his memories are written i love how many of them were ones that this fic came up with to give me new things to have brainworms over instead of just making me more fixated on He Watched Him Rake Leaves than i already am

killing time by orestespdf (11k)

It's been four years since Dean saved Cas from the Empty and confessed his feelings in return, and in their Vermont lakehouse, the retired couple is now learning how to heal. One morning, Dean gives Cas a haircut.

(A character study of Castiel.)

perfect fic perfect fic no notes no complaints they love each other so much and now dean is giving cas a haircut and they’re spending the day together. god.

and every time we kiss, i swear i can fly by knameless (14k)

Every time, Dean tells himself it’s the last.

--

aka, twelve times dean and cas kiss.

a just boy best friends kiss for every season <3 mwah

for which no words exist by MediaWhore (14k)

'a prayer for which no words exist' // richard siken

"Dear Cas who art in my bathtub, give me the strength to be honest about how I feel. For your sake and for mine. Forgive me all the times I wasn’t in the past, all the words I should have said but didn’t. And please stay. Please stay with me when all is said and done. Amen. "

Dean rescues a newly human Cas from the Empty. That's the easy step.

mediawhore i am in LOVE with you oh my god this fic. this fic. dean taking care of cas after rescuing him dean wrapping cas in a blanket oh my GOD

swimming with the fish pond fish by februyuri (17k)

Some time between Dean bleeding out on a makeshift hook in a barn in Ohio and Sam making marshmallows on his funeral pyre, Dean was brought back to life. By Castiel. Again. Dean agreed to it if only to give Jack time to work out the glitches up top. So, now Dean’s back in the land of the living and things are ... actually good, for once.

Or, as good as they can be when demons are attacking Earth, Dean’s failing to get over why he died in the first place, and Cas is suddenly, inexplicably taking every opportunity to casually tell Dean that he loves him.

this is a wip! but it is so good and so worth the read i love it a lot and am very excited for the last chapter. it IS pretty heavy though dean has a LOT to work through

looking like a true survivor (feeling like a little kid) by courfeyrac (20k)

"Jack’s a clever kid—has been ever since he was born, maybe even before that—but Dean’s pretty sure he hasn’t figured out where they’re going yet. And Dean’s… Dean’s excited about it. He remembers planning surprises for Sammy when they were little—saving up quarters and sneaking off to the arcade the year he turned seven, or slipping a book Dean had seen Sammy admiring into his jacket before sprinting out of the store the year he turned twelve. There was only so much Dean could give him back then, hindered by lack of finances and transportation and a father who paid attention. Now, though, Dean’s got a wallet full of cash, a tank full of gas, and the freedom to give his kid the kind of birthday he deserves."

Or, it's Jack's fourth birthday, and the kid wants to go to Build-A-Bear.

EVERYONE READ THIS RIGHT NOW. that is not a request this fic undid me. oh my god. oh my god. they’re a family and they’re going to build a bear and they love each other. oh my god. also no it isn’t a baby jack fic he is 4 and he is also alcal

what’s missing is found (our souls can exhale now) by sobsicles (27k)

It's not the first time Claire has ever gone missing. It is, however, the first time Kaia panics about it. Dean's dragged into the mess, but he soon finds that it's the best thing that could have happened to him.

~~~

"But have you ever just met someone and maybe it wasn't from the first moment, maybe it was after all these other moments that meant more than you ever expected them to, and it seems like your soul just—just—" Kaia makes a helpless gesture with her hands, pushing out, and she breathes out loudly. "Like it can finally exhale. And that person isn't guaranteed to make you happy, but they're—they're important. You just know it, you can't even escape it, you can't let them go. Ever met someone like that, Dean?"

"I—" Dean halts, his mouth hanging open. He's looking at Kaia, who's looking at him, and his heart is fluttering in his throat like a caged bird aching to soar again. His mind threatens to spiral out of control, but he focuses, swallowing hard. "Yeah. Um. I—yeah, I have."

deancas AND dreamhunter we love to see it also dean DOES smoke weed with kaia and apologizes for pulling a gun on her what more could you want in a fic

Command Me To Be Well by prospopeya (28k)

Dean did a lot of thinking about when and how he would get Cas back. Months of it, actually, stretching into a year, because while Sam and Eileen were settling into their new lives, Dean was stuck. He was stuck in a faraway corner of the bunker, dark and empty and hollow, ringing with the sound of a vibrating phone.

So when he falls to his knees in that same room, exhausted, hurting, breathless, and he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up to see Cas, he realizes that he doesn't have a single clue about what to do now. Getting Cas out had been easy--actually, it'd been the opposite of that--but the planning of it, the methodical desperation of one attempt after the other had been a familiar rhythm. It'd been soothing almost, solid, something to focus on that wasn't Cas's eyes, watery and jubilant in a way Dean hadn't ever seen that up close on anyone, let alone Cas.

And now Cas is pulling him to his feet, and Dean's stumbling, and he instinctually grabs Cas's arm, and his hand lights up with a fire that he isn't prepared for.

"Hello, Dean."

oh post despair lack of communication....oh dean refusing to work through his feelings...this fic is incredible i love it everyone who enjoys dean doing everything in his power to avoid talking about feelings up to and including having sex with the guy who’s in love with him multiple times should read this

break the skin (to break the barriers) by sobsicles (29k)

The first time she meets him, he's nothing more than an almost-missed appointment.

SOBSICLES TATTOO FIC MY BELOVED. dean grieving and getting tattoos and it turns into tattoo therapy. im SO in love with mitzi it’s insane. requires some suspension of disbelief for how long a tattoo takes but it’s an incredible fic and an unparalleled experience. sobsicles does not miss

ascend by quiettewandering (53k)

Something in the world is wrong.

Demon activity is rising where mysterious black substance oozes and unusual ecological events are shaking the world. Dean, grief hanging on his shoulders, restlessly searches for answers that might lead him to the Empty… and to Cas.

But what Chuck wrote can’t be undone. The narrative thread pulls Dean along, forcing him to comply. Because once a story already has an ending, it can’t be rewritten.

Or can it?

SUPER cool concept i liked this a lot i’m pretty sure everyone’s read it already but just in case someone hasn’t you absolutely should

oh sooner or later it all comes down to faith by sobsicles (62k)

Getting used to Heaven is something of a marvel. It ain't perfect, and Dean thinks he'd hate it if it was, which is probably why it isn't.

~~~

"You don't understand," Dean whispers, exhaling shakily. "I know you don't, because even I don't. The instant you were gone, I wanted you back. Cas, I wanted you back. I wanted—I wanted—"

Cas stares at him, searching his face. After a moment, his own face falls slack, eyes widening just so. "Oh," he breathes out.

Dean wants to be furious that Cas has figured it out before he has—whatever it is—but he's not even that surprised. Cas knows him too well, always has, even more than Dean knows himself. He's been kicking Dean in the goddamn teeth with how deeply he understands him, even about the things Dean doesn't, ever since they first met. You don't think you deserve to be saved, that's what Cas had said. All bundled up in impossibilities and power, this being that looked at Dean Winchester and knew every single inch of him, as if he had a right to each part.

"What?" Dean grits out.

"I love you, too."

the ONLY heaven fic. i do not read heaven fics bc i refuse to budge in my finale denialism i refuse to read fic where it is accepted that dean dies. i was hesitant to read this but god im glad i did it was so good. literally the best possible outcome of dean dying

Endverse

final fantasy. by orange_crushed (1.9k)

“If I’d actually been born human, would I have gotten sick like everyone else? Would I be running around gnawing on the neighbors?” Castiel tilts his head up and even from here Dean can see the black ring of his pupils, wide and dark as dead stars. He’s high as fuck and he’s been loading the guns for forty-five minutes. He stares into the space where Dean is. He smiles and shows his teeth. “Maybe you’d have already put a bullet in my head.”

"This is why you don’t lead storytime anymore," Dean says. "This kind of shit."

endverse last night on earth fics are something that can be so personal actually. god

The Last Song by Moorishflower (3.5k)

The very last song is the Song of Solomon, and Castiel sings it only for Dean. Set in "The End."

this is like. pre endverse and the tone is so like. wistful? is the best word ive got? it’s gorgeous i love it but fair warning there is graphic description of like. viscera and infected wounds

to think that we could stay the same by cipherwriter (6.5k)

cas has all he needs; himself, his creation, and enough power to continue this cycle for a long time. he's fine. dean wants to take care of him anyway.

oh my GOD this one is good it’s based off the thing of how originally endverse cas was supposed to be just sitting in a room killing and resurrecting the same cockroach over and over. very bittersweet at some points i love it a lot, do not read it if youre looking for something happy though lmao

the first church at the end of the world by withbloodstainedclothingon (11k)

The angels don’t eat the brain. Only Croats do that.

this one is fucked but it’s incredible it contains very heavy and violent subject matter and cas is an Actual cult leader he doesn’t just have orgies it is SO well done and i had a great time reading it i recommend it very highly if the warnings sound like something you can stomach

Down to Agincourt by seperis (1.1 million. i know. yes it’s a wip)

There is no such thing as a guarantee when it comes to war.

The outcome's known. Why try? Return your rusty sword to battered sheath, bow your head and bend your stubborn knee. Why take the field when you cannot win the war? But Harry -- he went down to Agincourt.

PLEASE. i know the length is intimidating i KNOW it’s a very long fic but please. please read down to agincourt i am begging you. head in my HANDS this series is incredible.

Non Supernatural AUS

Long-Term Relationship by bendingsignpost (2.7k)

Castiel says, budging over to make room for Dean on the couch, “I thought we should have a serious talk about our relationship.”

Reflexively, Dean laughs.

Castiel does not.

“Uh, Cas... you know we’re not dating, right?”

look man it’s bendingsignpost okay. it’s bendingsignpost it’s good and it’s sweet and you should read it

One White Lie by komodobits (11k)

Castiel takes a deep breath and rings the doorbell. He doesn’t need to run through what he’s going to say – he’s already planned and edited and rehearsed it a thousand times. He is going to ask Dean Winchester out to dinner. If it’s not too forward, he’ll say, perfectly charming. You see, I’ve seen you around the neighbourhood and you always seem so earnest and I’d really like to get to know you bette— The door swings open, and Castiel panics.

He intends to excuse himself. He means to apologise and come back some other time. However, in a moment of blind fear, what comes out of his mouth instead are the words, “Could you spare a moment for Jesus Christ?”

do you ever pretend to be a jehovahs witness for months to hang out with the guy you like because you fucked up asking him out? yeah.

separate ways and sleeping dogs by sobsicles (53k)

Dean is three years sober when Cas comes back into town.

~~~

For a moment, they just stare at each other. Dean, once again, has to swallow the urge to offer to swallow something else. It's very hard to resist the gut-wrenching pull of want that hooks in his chest whenever he looks at Cas. And to think, he used to have him, used to be able to act on that want.

God, he's so fucking stupid.

Well, there's no point in kicking himself three years later for shit he can't change. He'll just sit right here and pretend that his fingers aren't twitching with the urge to reach out and touch. He can't do that anymore, and it's his own damn fault.

"Three years ago," Cas prompts.

Dean huffs a weak laugh. "Yeah. Eventful."

this fic hit me SO hard emotionally oh my god. don’t have much to say bc most of my thoughts on this fic are very personal but my god read this please

Everyone’s a Critic by Englandwouldfall (109k)

The one where uninspired chef Dean Winchester has a one night stand with the male (!) food critic who described the flavour of his garlic bread as 'closeted' and accidentally ends up dating him to try and prove that he's a kick ass chef, thank you very much.

(He may have a point about the 'closeted' thing).

this one is SO fun. dating the food critic who called your garlic bread closeted and lying about your career because you’re embarrassed and you want to redeem your food in his eyes but then you fall in love with him

Non Destiel Centric

gender? you mean that thing i have that pisses people off? by bigender dean winchester (homosexualitie) (946 words)

sam and dean paint each other's nails and dean abuses the technicalities of her gender. what more could you want? 

HELLO HE/SHE DEAN COMMUNITY oh my god the pure rush of euphoria reading this. oh my god. oh my god. 

the quiet road to a distant city by rottingbrains (1.2k)

Sam stares out the windshield again. They’re approaching a city, and she can see the lights in the distance. She’s past the danger zone, and she feels like the world around her reflects that in some way she can’t put into words- as if God is telling her that it’s okay. She did the right thing, and soon she will be past the lonely unknown and into the warm, forgiving light of acceptance. Or something. Come to think of it, the lights only look warm from far away, and she knows that the actual city will seem far less welcoming. Still. Best not to imagine the worst when it’s already going well.

required reading for transfem lesbian sam fans. fics that live in your ribcage to make your heart feel good

Four People Ruby Seduced & One She Actually Fell For (Or: Ruby's Epic Love Affair with Humanity in General and Sam in Specific) by tuesday (3.7k)

In which Ruby has a lot of sex, is not any kind of therapist that would be legal, and helps a few people out for her own reasons. (S4/S5 AU)

for everyone out there who enjoys ruby being a girlboss <3

Fractured Link by Trell (orphan_account) (5.5k)

Meg goes on, resolute despite the way Dean flinches, "He likes me. He likes me a lot, and I like him back, and that's probably good enough for both of us. But fuck me for saying so, Dean-o, he loves you, probably more than anything else on his daddy's green Earth, and you need to man up and give back what Clarence over there has been devoting to you for years."

this is meg/dean/cas which is not smth i really seek out but this was extremely good. set in s7 so it’s meg and dean and honey cas and it’s a lot of dean figuring his shit out and trying to forgive cas and i love meg a lot in this

#spn #supernatural #destiel #deancas #mine

[vecnawrites]

Jaune had expected a lot for his own, Coming of age celebration and he wasn't disappointed, not by the food, quest and certainly not his presents. His own father had gotten him not one, but two slaves, for him and him alone, with the knowledge he would be undisturbed in his new chambers. Looking them over, they had everything; Perfect Dark Skin, Flowy green Hair, sexy See-through outfits and best of all, they were a mother and daughter Pair!

The Second Chapter of “Meeting The Mothers”! This one has an OC character, Esmeralda Sustrai, Emerald’s mother. I will have an art piece on my AO3 account of her when I cross-post. Don’t want to risk it getting flagged and this pulled.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of Slavery, Pleasure Slaves, Non-Descriptive Beatings (Nothing visible, but mentioned)

Jaune Arc, only son and Scion of the Noble House of Arc, was finally reaching his Coming of Age Celebration. He had been training from a young age to eventually take over the house and lead it to an even higher amount of greatness, learning a multitude of things, ranging from Swordplay, to Tactics, to Diplomacy. All of the family allies, Clan Ren, Nomad Tribe Valkyrie, Vassal Clan Zedong, and fellow Noble Family, the Warrior Family Nikos had come.

Their children were his closest friends, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, who he was very sure would get “together-together” and bind their clans together, bringing the raw physical talent of the Valkyries and the guile and sneakiness of the Ren family.

May Zedong, one of his oldest and closest friends, large breasted and very timid but with a magnificent win record against their enemies. Her maroon locks covered her left eye, a scar from battle with a rival clan, the Branwen Tribe. She had lost it in a battle with Vernal, Raven Branwen’s second in command, but Vernal herself had lost far more, her life blood staining the Valean forest floor.

Next to her stood Pyrrha, his other closest friend, already a champion of gladiatorial combat and the strongest out of all of them in close quarters combat. He had no bitter feelings over that, none of them did. Pyrrha was a good friend, and just as human as the rest of them...even if she could beat all of them working together against her with ease.

The food was wonderful; the chefs of his family had gone out of their way to make sure that not only his favorites were there, but the favorites of his friends as well. It may have been his day, but he wanted them to enjoy it as well.

His presents had been grand, as well. A new set of Diplomatic robes for formal situations, some customized armor, both signifying his new station as upcoming head of house. His friends had given him great gifts as well.

Lie had given him a knife like one of his own, a wicked thing that was designed to slip through plates of armor to pierce skin. A fine groove along the blade led to the bolster where two minute holes were. It turned out that the butt of the handle unscrewed and liquid could be poured in, and with the depression of a small button underneath the finger guard, would flow out and coat the edge. A poison chamber. What one would expect from a family known for their assassins as much as their diplomats, really.

From Nora, he had received what looked like a shirt and pants, but he recognized the material. It was made out of Boarbatusk Leather, a very flexible, extremely durable, material that was highly resistant to cuts. He could tell from the make it was skintight and meant to go under his normal clothes. As he looked them over, he missed the bright cheeks of both Pyrrha and May, with Nora nudging them and winking.

From May, he had received a new custom sidearm, a heavy pistol that he knew was more was designed more around power, impact, and penetration than speed. He even saw on the grip their symbols, her Crosshairs and his Crescents, making him smile as he remembered them growing up together with the others, and all the trouble that they would get into.

From Pyrrha he received something similar, yet different. An arm bracer that expanded into a Xiphos Shield, much like her own, for when he used his sheath to turn Corcea Mors into a Broadsword. Etched into them were Pyrrha’s symbol of the Shield and Spear and the Arc Crescents.

As he was marveling over his gifts, he failed to see both Pyrrha and May being teased by not only Nora, but his sisters, both of them blushing brightly under the scrutiny.

The party continued well into the night, Jaune dancing with May, Pyrrha, Nora, and even Ren when Nora and his sister had shoved the two of them together as a joke, and the pair just went with it, much to the laughs and amusement of the others.

As the party wound down, and people began to retire to the guest bedrooms, his father gestured for him to follow. Jaune stood and began to follow, missing the saddened looks from Pyrrha and May, both knowing what was coming.

~x~x~x~x~

May and Pyrrha stared after the boy they had fallen for, had loved for years. They knew why his father was taking him away, and weren’t going to lie, it hurt knowing what was going to happen, what he was going to likely do.

Both turned as hands touched their shoulders. Seeing their mothers behind them, both with teasing smiles, the close friends felt heat creep up the back of their necks and into their cheeks at the knowing looks.

“No long faces, dears. You know that there is no competition, even if Jaune’s parents bought him a pair of slaves. They did the same for Alizaryn and Saphron, as well.” Athena Nikos murmured, patting her daughter’s cheek. Pyrrha tried to take comfort in those words, she truly did.

May, however, spoke what they were both feeling. Scowling off to the side, she muttered, “Yeah, but you have to remember, Saphron married and has a child with her slave...well, ex-slave now.” there was no heat in her tone. Terra Cotta, or Terra Cotta-Arc now, was the beloved wife of Saphron, the second child of the Arc clan, and everyone had been doting over the small baby boy that held a mix of Arc features and of Terra herself.

May squeaked as her mother thumped her gently on the forehead. “None of that, dear daughter. Focus on the fact that you still have a chance. Both of you do. Neither of you were taught to give up, why start now?”

Both May and Pyrrha felt a burst of renewed energy. That’s right, they had years on the two new servants. They’d get their husband! Though it might take a bit of work...Jaune hadn’t noticed their feelings yet, but they also knew that it was partially their own fault as well.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune walked with his father down the hallways of their home, heading towards his new bedroom, one that he had received for becoming an adult of the family, rather than a child in an adult’s body. The walk was silent, making him wonder what was happening.

Finally, his father spoke. “Jaune, as you know, there is an extra present that all members of the Arc family get upon their Coming of Age.” he said, getting a nod from the younger male. It had been tradition that all children had gotten slaves/servants upon their coming of age. His father had; Maria Calavera had been with them since his father had reached eighteen. Alizaryn, his eldest sister had her own, Elm Ederne, a powerfully built woman who was a warrior through and through.

Saphron, his other eldest sister, had her own slave as well, a lovely young woman named Terra Cotta...or Terra Cotta-Arc now. His sister had fallen for and married the woman, and even asked for him to donate so they could have a child of their own. So, he was no stranger to sex.

“You know what you were taught.” Jaune nodded, he had been trained in how they handled their slaves and servants. Kindness rather than cruelty. Compassion and understanding rather than an iron fist. It was why even if the slaves were released, they hardly ever wanted to leave the Arc Family.

“These two...they came from a bad place, son.” Jaune felt a bit of dread pool within his belly at his father’s words. “But, we knew you would treat them right.” his father’s hand rested on his shoulder. The moment was serious, before the elder Arc smirked. “And don’t worry, Maria and the others set them up on contraceptives~” he teased, bursting out into raucous laughter at his son’s sputtering.

~x~x~x~x~

Two green haired woman knelt on the floor, clad only in gauzy material that didn’t cover anything. Well it did, but the material was so sheer it was completely sheer, meaning nothing was truly covered. They were quiet, both fearing and wondering what was to come.

Esmeralda Sustrai, the older of the pair, glanced to see her daughter, Emerald, sitting deathly still. She understood why. Both of them had been through several masters at this point, and been returned each time. She longed to comfort her child, but didn’t know whether or not they were being watched. And even then, could she comfort her daughter?

She had known nothing but slavery her entire life, just like her. It was fortunate for both of them that in order to return them, their previous masters couldn’t cause a lot of damage to them...meaning, they had been slapped around and bruised, but nothing permanently scarring.

As it was, Emerald had been nursing an incredible black eye and split lip from their previous mistress for ‘looking haughty towards her’ when the Arcs had come, looking for servants for their son. Esmeralda had practically thrown herself forwards, regardless of the fact she could be punished later for acting out. She had grown up, all slaves had grown up, knowing of the Arc Family. It was a family any of them hoped to be purchased by.

She found that the rumors and stories that the slaves told one another weren’t just that. The mother had been quite upset that someone laid a hand on them-even healing them with her semblance!-before looking at her husband and nodding. They had been purchased only minutes later.

It had been a whirlwind of activity afterwards, the other servants of the family welcoming them, taking them to the baths to be cleaned, then having their new ownership marks applied (hers still tingled lightly against her skin) and dressed in the gauzy silks and golden jewelry they now were adorned with.

Part of Esmeralda marveled at what they wore, no matter how flimsy and barely there the material was, she had an eye for detail. These silk dancers outfits they wore were more expensive than anything they had ever worn before.

Glancing at her daughter again, she could see her face was stoic, but she was trembling. Finally giving in, she placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, making her eyes snap towards her. Esmeralda fought a wince. She could see the fear that her precious daughter was trying to hide.

“It will be okay, Emerald.” she whispered, her smoky voice easily heard in the silent room. “We won’t be hurt here.” she gently squeezed her shoulder, trying to give comfort, before pulling away as she heard the door click, bowing her head submissively towards her lap, Emerald doing the same next to her.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune thought about his father’s words as he reached the door of his new bedchambers, thinking on how he was going to handle this.

(Flashback)

“These two have had several ‘owners’ before, son.” the derisive tone of his father’s voice made Jaune squirm, even though he knew that the anger was directed at them. “Abusive louts, the lot of them! No care for human life!” His father shook his head, his slowly graying hair swaying. “Take care of them, son. They need your kindness and care.”

(Flashback End)

Jaune took a deep breath. He just needed to stay calm, keep a cool head, treat them like they were humans, even if they were his property. Grabbing the doorknob, he twisted it and stepped inside his room.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald Sustrai never knew a life outside of ownership. But she did know that owners varied. A lot. She still was haunted by how their last one had treated them. Cinder Fall was not a pleasant mistress, or even a pleasant woman. Others hadn’t been too bad, but too often they were resold because their owners got ‘bored’ with them. Emerald was still surprised that she was pure, the male masters they had instead preferring her mother’s skills (even if she had been forced to watch), but knew that her luck wasn’t going to hold out.

After all, only one thing could happen when during their primping and preparation session they had been given contraceptives. Expensive, fast acting, contraceptives. The flimsy garments that hid nothing only added to her belief. After all, the thin silk didn’t hide the darkness of their nipples or the slits of their pussies from even themselves, never mind anyone else who looked at them.

But if her mother was right, and the Arcs were like how she had heard stories of, this couldn’t be too bad...even if a thrill of terror was running down her spine at the thought of being fucked for the first time. Part of it was honestly, how was she, a virgin, to please her and her mother’s new master? Her stomach roiled at the thought of them being sent away due to her inadequacy.

Now, the fact that she had managed to remain a virgin this long seemed to be a sword hanging above her neck rather than a relief.

As the door opened, she chanced a glance up, hoping that he master didn’t notice, she didn’t want to be punished on her first day here, and her mouth went dry. He was...handsome. He wasn’t a fat old man, nor some waif of a girl. Before her stood a warrior, born and bred.

Light colored hair, the color of the sun itself, covered his head, shining in the dim light of the room, mixed with blue eyes shining like precious stones, like the ones she had seen previous masters wear and flaunt. His face was handsome, no extra fat whatsoever, but not so thin as to appear gaunt.

His body...she fought to not fidget as she gazed over him. The outfit may have been simple, but her and her mother’s new master had an impressive body, one of strong, cut muscles that pressed against the thin shirt that he wore.

She immediately glanced down when he started to turn from closing the door behind her, trying desperately to calm the rapid pounding of her heart and the burning in her cheeks. She rubbed her thighs together gently, trying to ease the heat in her belly. She had never felt this before…

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune almost felt his mouth go dry. They were beautiful. Not in the same way as Pyrrha or May, but an exotic beauty all the same. Skin a few shades lighter than either Terra’s or Elm’s, matching the color of the chocolates that his sisters and female friends loved to snack on. Flowing mint green hair that barely fell to their chins. Eyes the color of rich rubies. Button noses, full lips.

Unbidden, his eyes fell further. Full breasts with hard dark nipples. Flat, toned bellies. Wide, flaring, birthing hips. Toned legs. And the family symbol tattooed directly over their wombs. All of this beauty, wrapped up in gauzy, see through dancers silks. He knew that Terra and Elm had a hand in this. Those two loved teasing him.

He could feel his cock growing and sliding down his inner thigh. Licking his lips, he spoke. “Hello, you two. Names?” he could be forgiven for not being the most literate, after all, Alizaryn and Saphron had both been speechless when presented with Elm and Terra.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald did not swoon. Swooning was for the annoying waif girls that she and her mother had been forced to serve and attend to. She wasn’t one of those. However, she couldn’t deny that his voice did something to her. She swallowed, licking her lips. “E-Emerald Sustrai, Master.” she stumbled slightly over her own name, something that mortified her, but her new master didn’t notice the gaffe.

“Esmeralda Sustrai, Master.” she heard her mother purr next to her, making Emerald swallow. Her mother was definitely pulling out her tricks, like she had with their other male masters, likely hoping to draw attention onto herself rather than her...but Emerald realized two things. One, she likely wouldn’t get away from notice this time, even with her mother’s wiles, and two, she wasn’t sure she wanted to get away from his notice. The look that he was giving her wasn’t simply lust, it was...she couldn’t find a word for it.

~x~x~x~x~

Esmeralda easily slipped back into the simple mindset she had had since Emerald was born: Protect Your Daughter. It was very easy to do, no matter the gender of their master. For men, draw upon their lusts. For women, draw upon their lust, or ire, depending. Anything to protect her daughter. She could see the bulge growing in his pants, and despite her worry for what might be coming, found herself growing moist, arousal flowing through her body. It had been so long since she had been actually satisfied during sex, not since her she had been with the man who had given her her precious daughter.

But even still, she just needed to keep his attention on her, make him lust after her and her alone. Since they had been told that this was a ‘Coming of Age’ celebration, Esmeralda figured that their young master was a virgin, which meant he would be eager and have a lot of energy, but not have a lot of staying power.

...it also meant a likely lack of control once he got lost in the pleasure of a physical body. So, more reason to keep his attention on her.

But, seeing his well muscled and cared for body, Esmeralda couldn’t help but lick her lips. She couldn’t deny that he was much more appealing than any of her previous masters. Maybe...maybe this time wouldn’t be so bad…?

~x~x~x~x~

‘Firm hand, Jaune...firm, but gentle…’ the blond reminded himself. “What are your skills and talents? I know dancing is one of them.” he licked his lips again as the elder of the two, Esmeralda, shifted and raised her head to look at him, the daughter Emerald following suit. He didn’t miss the look of awe on Emerald’s face. It was something akin to how he saw both Terra and Saphron’s looks when they met.

“Yes, Master. Dancing was a skill taught to me when I was a girl, and I trained Emerald personally in the skill. As for other talents, I was trained extensively in the sexual arts, the skillset growing with every new master and mistress we’ve had. We have both also cared for ailing and children.” he could see a small bubble of dread fill her when she realized that dancing and sex were her two main skills, with some minor ability to care for the sick, and her own experience raising her own child being her other skills. But then, what other use was there for a pleasure slave?

He released a hum. “You said ‘I was trained extensively’, was Emerald not?” he saw her heart sank to her stomach, her skin loosing some of its color and taking on a more pallid look. He held up a hand to forestall any panic, turning to Emerald. “Emerald? Is this true?” he saw her tremble a bit, before weakly nodding her head. “Y-Yes, Master…”

He sighed softly, reaching out and gently cupping the girl’s, who couldn’t be older than him, face. Gently directing her face up, he gave her the gentlest smile he could. “It’s okay, there’s no shame in that. I’m surprised, certainly, you are quite beautiful.” he saw her smile weakly. “Thank you, Master.” she murmured, leaning into his palm.

~x~x~x~x~

Esmeralda watched in shock as their new master actually comforted Emerald. She had heard the Arcs were caring, but she never expected this! With any of their previous masters, weakness had been met with slaps and beatings! Not enough to scar, but enough to show them their place!

She was surprised that she hadn’t been stripped of her garments and thrown onto the expansive bed and fucked senseless already! Their last male master hadn’t even bothered doing this before attacking her body outright!

She looked up at her, their new master, as he gently pulled her daughter close like one would a lover, her precious gem curling up against him like an affectionate cat seeking attention. Normally, she would be horrified at the lack of decorum to their master, but he curled his arm around her and gently rubbed the bare skin between her dancer’s top and bottom. It was gentle, soothing, and surprisingly, non-sexual.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald snuggled into her master’s chest, inhaling his scent, the spicy aroma of sandalwood as his hand roamed over her back, his fingers, strong with callused tips, rubbing against her skin, gently following the extremely thin, shallow scars a careless master had given her long ago. Ones given for ‘not showing proper respect’.

She knew she should feel more worried, but she found that she couldn’t. Her new master radiated kindness and comfort, something she was very unused to. She wanted, needed, more. Eventually, though, she heard her mother speak.

“Emerald, my dear, why don’t we give our new master a dance?” part of her wanted to whine, but she knew that she had likely pushed her luck further than she should with touching their master without his express permission. Nodding against his chest, Emerald slowly pulled back, a frown tugging at her lips as she left her master’s warm embrace.

Giving her master as soft a smile as she could manage, she moved back toward her mother. “Yes, mother, lets give our master a dance he won’t forget!” her voice was low, but not from fear, but rather, lust and desire.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune swallowed as both exotic beauties stood smoothly and a set pace away from one another, no more than five steps he guessed, before they began to sway their bodies. Slowly starting, swinging their hips back and forth, the silks covering their intimates swaying, the gauzy fabric moving and giving him flashes of bare cocoa skinned lips, before being ‘covered’ again.

Breasts and hips swayed, arms moved and slowly roamed over their bodies, trailing over their torsos, cupping and squeezing and presenting their breasts to him, fingers circling their hard nipples.

The pair were obviously skilled at what they did, well practiced and a paired unit, perfectly in sync with one another. He swallowed hard as they spun slowly, the fabric that passed for a skirt fluttering, revealing the full and fat swells of their plump asses to him.

He licked his lips, his cock throbbing in his pants as he watched the pair spin again, arms behind their heads as they thrust their chests out towards him, their nipples almost pressing through the hyper thin material. Their hips rocked side to side like pendulums, both looking at him lustfully.

Jaune groaned, his dress pants almost tearing from how hard his cock was getting. Fuck, he needed relief! He knew that these two were his to do with how he wanted, but he wasn’t cruel. They may be his, but he wouldn’t force them. He was better than that.

~x~x~x~x~

Esmeralda knew that her master was aroused. She was sure that even Emerald knew; those slacks held his body well, and hid his manhood poorly. The swelling of flesh was making a distinct print along the inside of his leg. She felt herself getting moist between her thighs. It had been so long...and she could tell that her new master was caring. He would not mistreat her, or her daughter. Such kindness...needed to be rewarded.

She began to move, sauntering over, making sure to sashay her hips and subtly twist her shoulders, making her tits sway, her nipples aching as they rubbed against the thin silks she wore as she made her way towards their master, ready to use all of her talents to please their new owner.

Reaching him, she smoothly dropped to her knees before him, sitting her plump ass on her heels and placed her hands on his knees. “Allow this one to take care of your needs, master~” she purred, sliding her hands up his inner thighs, palming the thick cock and feeling the intense heat bleeding through the thin dress pants.

This close, she could already smell the musk of his body, a spicy aroma that was pleasing, nothing like the smell of her previous masters. Her hands crept up further to his belt, skillfully undoing it and reaching for his button, flicking it open to reveal...her mouth dropped open.

“…Wow…” Esmeralda turned to see her daughter had moved forwards, staring in unabashed awe at the large stalk of flesh that had snapped up and jutted out of his pants, straining hard and insistently, begging for any sort of attention.

Esmeralda smiled at her daughter. “Emerald, attend and learn.” she hummed, turning her eyes back to her master’s hard flesh. She didn’t need to turn to know that her daughter had sunk to her knees next to her obediently and was watching attentively.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune bit the inside of his cheek, having two beautiful women kneeling between his thighs, both staring at his cock with unashamed awe. He was surprised, knowing that Esmeralda had likely had a long list of lovers, and Emerald had at least watched, so he couldn’t be the most impressive they had ever seen. But their looks also didn’t seem faked.

Even then, his cock was screaming for some sort of sensation, some sort of relief. He hadn’t ached this much in almost two years, not since the time Saphron had pulled him into her bedroom with a naked Terra and begged him (on bent knee, at that!) to give them a baby that would be considered a full-blooded Arc.

He inhaled sharply as slender hands moved and pulled his pants down more, his heavy balls falling free of his garment as Esmeralda worked his dress slacks down and off of his body, leaving him bare below the waist.

He swallowed as soft hands moved up and cupped his heavy balls. “See, my daughter?” he heard her purr, her fingers gently moving over the sensitive skin covering the fragile orbs. “This is a wonderful way to start off teasing a man…” he bit his lower lip as she bounced his aching balls in her hands.

~x~x~x~x~

Esmeralda smiled softly as she saw their master trembling already, but he hadn’t attempted for more yet. So, not a virgin, but also not used to sexual contact. She could work with that. Moving her right hand up, she gently grasped the thick stalk of flesh, shivering as the heat seeped into her hand. “Gently, Emerald...like petting a kitten.” she instructed, moving her hand up and down in a smooth motion, making their master moan and arch his hips. “That sound? That means you’re doing it right.”

Esmeralda made a few more pumps with her hand, the dribbling precum acting as lubricant, making the glide of her hand smoother and easier along his shaft. “You want to keep a moderate speed unless you’re teasing or want them to cum quickly.” Emerald likely already knew by watching her all these years, but sex lessons always bore repeating...especially since her daughter was likely going to lose her virginity today.

Glancing back at Emerald, she saw that she was staring intently at what she was doing, a red tint to her cheeks, making the mother smile. She didn’t know why this was making her blush, she had watched her do so much more...speaking of which…

Esmeralda leaned down and licked a stripe up the length of the thick cock before her, from the balls to the tip, making sure to maintain eye contact with her master, satisfaction filling her as she he groaned. His taste was clean, salty and savory, a pleasure for her palate.

Moving her tongue up more, she pressed the flat of it just underneath his head and swirled it slowly, lapping the drops of precum that oozed out of the slit and began to drip down. Moving closer, she felt someone touch her, and glancing to the side to see Emerald moving forward almost eagerly. Leaning to the side, she allowed her daughter to get between their master’s legs as well.

“Now, trail your tongue like this-” Esmeralda dragged her tongue up from their master’s balls again, from base to tip, then moved back and watched her daughter attempt, nervously sticking her tongue out and dragging it along the pillar of flesh.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald was nervous, there was no other word for it! She had never done something like this before, despite her last mistress loving having her eat her out at all times. Her virginity may be hers in the strictest sense, but her mouth had certainly been used by her female owners. What if she was no good at it? She shook her head, casting her fear to the side and focusing on the tip, tasting the oddly sweet flavor on her tongue.

She knew she was wet, could feel her juices sliding down her inner thighs, and she knew that there was no way that she’d get away without losing her virginity today...but strangely, the thought didn’t bother her. Their new master hadn’t been rough at all with her mother...this...this would be worth it.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune was close to cracking, these two women were driving him nuts with their beauty, their actions, the slow teasing of his cock. Esmeralda seemed to notice this, and smiled. “Master, there’s no need to be so high strung…” he watched with wide eyes as the elder of the two slipped behind her daughter, tugging the flimsy covering between her thighs to the side and revealing her soaked core, her other hand reaching down and spreading her lips, revealing bright pink insides, dripping with want, to him. “My daughter wishes to attend to your needs.”

Jaune swallowed hard, looking into the younger woman’s eyes, seeing lust and want in her ruby orbs. But he was raised better. He would make sure. “Are you sure, Emerald? There’s no going back.” he rasped.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald’s anxiety left her, even though her heart sped up. Her master truly was kind to actually ask her if she was sure about this. But she wanted this. She actually wanted this. “Yes, master...please...take my purity as yours. All of me, all of my body, is yours. Please, claim me as yours.” she chanced a glance up, gasping as he cupped her cheek again.

She gasped again as her mother’s fingers rubbed her sensitive little core, swirling around her sensitive little button, making her pussy clench and drip. She felt her mother’s lips against her ear. “That’s it, baby...get nice and wet for our master…” Emerald’s hips bucked as she felt her mother tease that small bud with her longest finger, while her eyes locked on her master, seeing those deep blues filled with lust. All aimed at her.

Her lower lip shook, but she was no longer going to deny herself! “Please, master…” she whispered softly. She yelped as she was suddenly grabbed and pulled up, straddling her master’s thighs, his hard shaft pressing against her moist core; her eyes rolled up in her head as the thick stalk of flesh rubbed against her sensitive clit, making her shudder and shake on his lap. A large, strong hand clasped onto her rump, his fingers sinking into the soft, pliant flesh, making her whimper.

Slowly, she began to work her hips back and forth, up and down, spreading her slick fluids along the thick shaft pressed against her, gasping and shaking all the while. She...she never knew that sex was like this…

~x~x~x~x~

Esmeralda smiled softly as she watched her daughter rock her hips. There may be no penetration yet, but she knew that her daughter was in good hands. She just hoped that her master had enough in the tank to take care of her as well...she didn’t want to be left alone with her hands after this. But he was young; he was sure to be able to handle her virgin daughter and herself…

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune groaned as Emerald’s soaking core ground against his aching shaft, his hand sinking into the soft pillow of her ass. “Em...Emerald…” he fought from letting his voice be little more than a lustful growl, “I’m going to lift you up now…” he shifted his hands to her hips and began to lift her, toes curling as her slick cunt pressed down hard on his needy cock, her fluids dribbling down and running over his balls.

Positioning her above his cock, he shivered, feeling the head of his dick rubbing against almost criminally soft lips. “Emerald...you’re going to need to lower yourself...at your own pace, okay? Don’t go too fast, otherwise-!!” Jaune gasped as Emerald twisted her hips and shoved herself down, bottoming out as her bubbly ass smacked against his thighs.

He was forced to grab said rear and hold her against him as she shook and trembled on his lap, her eyes wide and unfocused, as her pussy squeezed, flexed, and rippled around his shaft. She was cumming just from being impaled on his cock. If that wasn’t an ego boost, he didn’t know what was.

~x~x~x~x~

Emerald’s eyes rolled up in her head as pleasure exploded through her body, starting at her core and moving its way up, through her belly, back, chest, legs, arms, and ending in her brain, fingers, and toes. She shook like she had touched a live wire, her core going wild around the beast that it held prison.

She inhaled and exhaled, breathing hard and fast, her breasts bouncing and nipples scraping against the thin silk she still wore, her toes curling as she shook on top of her master. Slowly coming back to herself, she looked at her master, before clenching down on the thick flesh within her. “Master~” she purred, the sound coming from her without any issue, so reminiscent of her mother, “Your pleasure slave is ready to fulfill all your desires...every. Last. One.”

For all her confidence, a squeak still escaped her as her master spun her around, and pressed her against the bed, making her whimper and her back go utterly limp as a cooked noodle on the comfortable bed. She reached up, clutching at him, her slim fingers digging into her master’s top as he began to thrust into her slowly, making her gasp and shake underneath him as he claimed her.

Was this what sex was like? Truly? Not the obviously faked stuff her mother did with their previous male masters, but being loved, cared for? Her eyes rolled up in her head again, her smooth legs, still partially covered in their silks, swinging around his hips and locking together, her toes curling as her master filled her with more pleasure than she had ever experienced. “MASTER~!!♥♥” she cried out, throwing her head back as she convulsed around him, arching up and trembling.

Her master kept moving through her orgasm, not stopping nor allowing her to catch her breath, making that crest of pleasure just rise and rise and rise, her pussy squeezing and flexing and rippling around him, trying to empty his body of his seed. She was going to go insane at this rate! Her master was going to turn her into a slut for his cock! Blackness creeping into her vision, she arched as she came for the third time in quick succession, passing out with a blissful smile on her face as her master groaned above her, going stiff and blistering heat filling her belly.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune groaned in pleasure as he came, shooting jet after jet of thick cum into Emerald’s belly, watching her tremble and shake in her third orgasm, slumping with a wide, almost delirious smile on her face, her ruby eyes rolled up in her head.

Grunting, Jaune slowly pulled out, hating leaving Emerald’s warm and tight pussy, but not wanting to fuck her while she was unconscious. Fortunately, he had another person here to help slake his needs...turning, he licked his lips as he saw an eager looking Esmeralda licking her lips. “Esmeralda is ready to tend to your needs, master~” she purred.

~x~x~x~x~

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Yes! Yes! More, Master! More~♥♥♥!!” Esmeralda cried out, on all fours above her daughter, although she might as well be lying on top of her as their master pounded into her needy, leaking pussy, his hips slamming into her rear with loud claps, making the thick flesh ripple and shake. She groaned, her own ruby eyes clenching shut as a powerful orgasm flew through her body.

Her master was the most attentive lover she had ever had, and considering that some of their previous masters had passed her around like a party favor at parties, that was saying something! But she forced those memories from her mind, focusing instead on the thick cock slamming into her body and giving her pleasure that she had never felt before.

“MmmmmmmMaaaasssstteeerrrrr~♥♥♥♥!!” she wailed, arching as his hand came down on her cheek, not to spank, but to grab and sink his fingers into the fat swell as he plunged into her faster and harder, making her cum and cum and cum. The only thing keeping her from outright collapsing was the knowledge that her daughter was underneath her.

“Mmmm...M-mom?” ruby eyes shot open and she looked down, to see her precious daughter looking up at her with a lazy smile on her face. “Is master making you feel as good as he did me?...I can barely feel my legs…” she moaned.

Esmeralda opened her mouth to speak, only for an extremely slutty moan to leave it, her legs quivering as she came yet again, her own cum drooling down her inner thighs. She blinked as her daughter’s arms looped around her neck and pulled her down in a loose hug. “Master...mommy’s womb needs your wonderful cum...can’t you please fill it like you did mine?” Esmeralda’s eyes widened as their master moved even faster, slamming against her pillowy rear, an undignified yelp escaping her lips as a hand (her own daughter’s hand, at that!) crept between her thighs and played with her clit, while she smiled up at her with that naughty little smile she always shared when they played with one another for their master’s entertainment...but she couldn’t help but think that it was far different this time around.

But those ponderings were driven from her mind as she flew into another orgasm, waling out, her pussy going wild around her master’s dick, trying to coax out his seed. Her master did not disappoint.

Esmeralda inhaled sharply as Emerald leaned up and pressed her lips to her own, soft and sweet, full of love and emotion. Part of her wanted to jerk back, but instead, she just leaned forwards and pressed her lips against her daughter’s just a bit firmer. Her eyes drifted shut once more. Whatever this was, she could worry about it later. For now, she was just going to enjoy what they were experiencing.

~x~x~x~x~

Jaune growled as he slammed himself to the base inside Esmeralda, her fat ass cheeks rippling as his balls snapped taut, erupting and spitting out every drop of cum still inside him into her womb. Focusing on the pleasure, he watched as Emerald leaned up and kissed her mother, gently and sweetly, making him smile.

Saphron was correct; the Coming Of Age Celebration really was the best birthday ever.

#Meeting The Mothers #Topaz #Jaune Arc #Emerald Sustrai #Esmeralda Sustrai #OC Character #AU

[startanewdream]

Captain Potter

Summary: Lily Evans has a secret that the army cannot know and it doesn't help that her captain is trying to be her friend.

Note: So I was watching Mulan and it's Shirtless JP May and this got me into googling shirtless army man, so please enjoy this piece of very much self-indulgence set in another AU. Also, I have no knowledge of military ranks, so bear with me.

Read on AO3 or below:

‘Evans’, the captain calls, and Lily turns to him, slightly afraid as she always feels when she hears her name. Maybe this is the day her secret will be found, this is the day she will be expelled and will fall in disgrace —

But Captain Potter has one of his carefree trademark grins, none at all looking as if he is about to arrest her. He looks at ease, leaning against one of the training posts, arms crossed lazily, watching her with interest shining in his hazel eyes as if she is a puzzle he will understand someday.

Lily truly wishes he won't, so she avoids looking at him directly in the eyes.

‘Captain’, she answers at least, saluting. That seems to amuse him.

‘I have a name, you know’.

‘Hum’, she stops, unsure. Her interactions with the captain have been restricted — well, her interactions with everyone have been limited —, but she has watched him from afar.

He is young and yet he never tries to act bossy with all the other soldiers, never tries to impose himself. He may have a more affinity with three of the soldiers (his friends for a long time, as she gathered), but he tries to treat everyone fairly, encouraging and teaching all soldiers equally, from the weakest of them to the strongest, and it’s not hard for her to see why everyone is willing to follow him into battle. The only one that he hadn’t been able to reach some sort of relationship was with her.

Something that had fit Lily’s plans and worries very well.

‘Captain Potter?’, she tries.

‘I am someone besides a rank’, he suggests.

‘Mr. Potter’.

‘That would be my father. I am James ’, he says at least, as if she is unfamiliar with the name of the youngest captain of the army.

‘I know , but — it would not be proper —’

‘Liam’, he stops her and, just as anytime someone uses that name, Lily wants to look around searching for that person until she remembers her situation. ‘Can I call you Liam?’

‘I’d rather Evans’, she answers, grimacing, and when he looks dismayed, she adds quickly: ‘It’s how everyone calls me. Not… it’s more personal, really’.

‘Fine, Evans’. He grins again. It’s a beautiful smile, so open and inviting, that again Lily has no difficulty understanding the success he makes with all the other soldiers, why their unity is unanimous in praising him. There is something on him that draws people to him — her included. ‘Well, call me James. I can order you to if it will make it more proper’.

Lily lets out a laugh before she stops herself, biting her lips, worried. She shouldn’t laugh; though she can disguise her voice mildly well, her laugh is too thin, too sparkling. It’s not a man’s grave laugh.

Fortunately, the captain doesn’t seem to find anything amiss. He looks just… glad with her reaction.

‘So you are capable of laughing’, he notes teasingly. ‘I had my doubts, you know’.

‘There has never been an occasion, Cap — James ’.

He opens his mouth in an offended expression; it’s so dramatic that, again, she wants to laugh. ‘I beg your pardon? Yesterday, when someone — a very clever someone, I might add — pretended to be shot by an arrow? That was an occasion!’

‘Wasn’t that you?’, she asks, raising her eyebrows. It had been a long tense one minute in which one of the other soldiers, Sirius, had been sure he had shot by mistake the captain and his best friend before James had revealed himself alive, laughing hysterically and showing the fake arrow attached to his badge.

Sirius had punched him, all rank forgotten, but then he was laughing too and everyone thought it was hilarious.

‘It was fun ’.

‘It was terrifying’.

‘Oh, so you were terrified I’d died?’, he jokes, his grin now very smug. ‘And I thought you didn’t like me’.

Lily blushes, lowering her head and hoping he hadn’t noticed it. Truth was she had misjudged him on the first day, annoyed by the way he acted with that captain badge pinned on his chest. He came from a long family of militars, after all, and he was very young, no matter what his father would praise about his grades in military school, so she had truly believed he didn’t deserve to be a captain, that he had only got there for his family name.

In the last few weeks, though, she was forced to admit he was a good captain. He had the vision for it, good ideas, an efficient way of training everyone and, of course, he was a leader.

‘I have nothing against you, sir — James’.

‘I’m glad to know’, he says, sounding earnest. ‘I am worried about you, you know’.

‘Have I done something wrong?’, she asks, surprised, fear involving her again. Lily had taken care of doing all exercises, overworking herself, all to prove that that stupid rule that forbid women in the army did not make any sense. They needed everyone in the fight against Voldemort, after all, and she would not wait patiently, especially when people like her were one of his targets.

‘No, no, you’ve been perfect, really, no one dedicates as much as you’, he assures her. ‘But you don’t socialize. You stay quiet during dinner. You don’t participate in any of the games', he pauses, before adding again dramatically: 'You don’t laugh at my pranks!’

All of it is true. Lily has purposefully gotten away from everyone, afraid they would notice something different about her, though that quiet soldier, Remus, had tried to talk to her. She just feels she can't risk.

‘I do not think it’s time for pranks, James’, she answers, deciding the last point was probably the easiest.

He shakes his head. ‘We are at war, Evans. If we don’t laugh now, we may not laugh after’.

She supposes he is right. And even though he enjoys more pranks than she thinks it’s reasonable, she knows he worries too. More than once, when she is on guard duty, she has noticed the light of his tent is on very late in the night. James may look carefree with everyone else, but he has concerns about the war — and what lies in his shoulder.

‘Your work has been impeccable’, he adds quietly. ‘I just want you to get to know more of your colleagues and for them to know more about you’. Lily presses her lips, hoping her worry doesn’t show on her face. That was all she was trying to avoid. ‘You will need to count on them in the battlefield and they will need to know you have their backs too. And the only way to do that is if we trust each other. Can we do that?’

James is waiting for her answer, his eyes boring into hers firmly, and Lily can’t turn away now. In the light of the morning, with the sun shining on his face, his hazel eyes seem to glint in gold, the pupil barely visible. He has wrinkles on the side of his eyes, and she suddenly wishes they weren’t meeting in the army while she is pretending to be an introverted thin young man.

He seems the kind of guy she would like to meet in college, or to grow up together with, or even in a dancing club with her friends; they would talk and she could be then fully herself, could share with him her witty side and even help him in a prank or two. In that other life she would appreciate how nice and beautiful he is, with that black hair that’s always messy no matter how much he tries to comb, and those hazel eyes that were made for laughing, not to be worried for the war.

But that’s not her life and she is sure that if he ever finds out about her, he will hate her. Somehow, with how much she has learned to admire him in the last weeks, she fears his rejection more than she fears being expelled from the army.

Lily knows she would trust James Potter with her life, knows she would do her duty and die for him if it was needed, and yet she also knows she can't ever tell him  her secret.

So she does what she has been doing best ever since she joined the army.

‘We can trust each other’, she lies.

He beams. ‘Great, Evans! And I thought we could start sharing your mourning runs’. He raises one eyebrow when she looks surprised. ‘I’ve noticed you awake at dawn to run’.

‘I like to train’, she admits. ‘I am… thinner than the others, so I am trying to get fitter’.

‘You look a lot better’, he compliments, touching her arm, where her biceps have been evolving nicely. It’s a pat, a soft brush, and yet it sends shivers down Lily’s spine; his hand is warm . ‘Mind if I join you?’

She hesitates just a little. ‘I will stay quiet’, she warns him. ‘I like to think while I run’.

‘Works for me. And if you want to share a thought or another, well, I’m here, Evans’.

He winks at her, again so friendly that she turns her eyes away, wishing she could tell him the truth. But she can’t, so she presses her lips, ties the ribbon around her hair so the bun stays in place, and kneels to make sure her shoes are tied. Then she raises and her heart stops for a full second.

James has taken out his shirt. She knows he is fit — there is no way he can’t be with all the years of training he had — and she has seen before shirtless, but only when she was far away in the line, hoping to get unnoticed as she trained the movements.

Now, it’s only him, his tanned skin glistening under the morning sun, a god coming out of her dreams. She is staring and she knows it, but there is no way she can avoid it; weeks at the army have made her lost a lot of discomfourt around men's body, but this... This doesn't seem fair.

She watches the muscles in his arms, his biceps far more evident than hers will ever be, and it suddenly occurs to Lily that she would like very much to feel them around her, involving her, holding her. There would be only benefits in hugging him, she realizes, as her eyes move to his torso, enjoying the firmness of his chest and the muscles in his abdomen, a six pack that seems drawn perfectly. In his arms, she would glide her hand through his chest, would place a kiss over his heart and then she would raise her head and they would be so close —

And then James stretches his arms, raising them above his head, and she notices the hair on his torso, a few patches near his chest that shine with a few drops of sweat she wouldn’t mind drying, and then the darked patch over his abdomen, in a path that goes on vanishing inside…

When she finds herself staring at his pants, Lily decides she has crossed more limits that it's reasonable.

She turns, all her concentration in avoiding glancing at him again, though she feels it's fruitless. The sight of him seems to be recorded in her mind. He will appear on her dream, she is sure of it.

‘Everything all right, Evans?’, he asks, right behind her, and she jumps. 'You look red'.

Lily knows it; her face is hot, burning even before she has started to run, and she won’t fool herself pretending she doesn’t know the reason.

‘I'm fine, let’s go’, she answers quickly, heart racing in her chest. This was a horrible idea; mourning runs with her very gorgeous hot captain will do no good for her keeping her secret.

She sprints without warning, but he catches up with her easily. She keeps her eyes ahead. Don't look, don't stare, don't ogle.

‘There is something special about you, Evans’, he declares, the run not seeming to disturb his breathing. ‘I will find out one day’.

#Shirtless JP May #Jily #Jily AU #Pining Lily #Captain James Potter #Army James Potter #Lily is a soldier #Lily would never stand out a fight #James would just be smitten with his recruit #oh the pining

[lifeofclonewars]

Fives and Echo in Clone Cadets

Okay, buckle in if you're gonna read this. I'm an English major and you can tell bc this started out as a quick rant with a few points in my head at midnight and turned into a full analytical essay on the Domino Twins throughout the entirety of Clone Cadets in one sitting plus some next-day editing. What can I say, I analyze everything I watch even when I'm not consciously doing so. Some pictures and links included.

----

I get the whole “Fives and Echo weren't close until after Rishi” thing because of the poetic-ness of the narrative of brothers who aren't close going through trauma and coming out of it stronger and as best friends all that but listen to what I have to say.

We’ll start chronologically: with their final run-through before the finals. As you may know, I made a list (here) of who argues with whom during Clone Cadets. The other three constantly nag Echo about his habit of repeating things. Hevy and Cutup both call Echo, well, Echo but before he accepts it as a name and more as an insult. Cutup’s the first one to do it, literally almost right off the bat. Hevy does it to purposefully pick a fight after the practice test. DB responds to Echo's “stop calling me that” with “stop repeating every order.” 

Fives argues a bit with the rest of Domino when they're all arguing, but he only says one negative thing toward Echo. But there are so many things that make it different from the things aimed at Echo from the rest of the squad.

He tells him “Will you shut up with instructions? You're not in charge.” Domino’s nagging Echo about the repeating, Fives... doesn't quite do that. The narrative makes it look like Fives is also mad about the repeating orders, given both DB and Cutup have at this point. However, what Fives says doesn't make a direct reference to Echo’s habit, at least. He's definitely frustrated here (they all are, they’re failing again), but, at least to me, he's frustrated because Echo's focused more on getting them to follow exact orders instead of moving forward or working together. And yeah, he snaps a bit while reminding Echo he's not squad leader and not focusing on the right thing. But he never mentions the echoing, and, after this one moment, he never makes a negative comment toward Echo again during Clone Cadets. Also, important to note, Echo wasn’t repeating orders or anything when Fives snapped at him, just saying they’re not following orders again (which is different).

So, basically: everyone’s arguing about everything. Everyone argues with Echo about various things. Fives is the only one that doesn’t go and make a comment about Echo’s repeating during it, though.

That signifies something. Fives has got a better understanding or acceptance or trust in Echo than the rest of Domino. He doesn't mock him for what makes him him. He gets why Echo does it, maybe. Even if he doesn't, he knows it helps Echo and that Echo repeating orders is his way of trying to help his brothers. And this comes into play at a point farther along in the episode that we’ll get to soon. 

Next comes the, like, one moment we see the clones have some downtime. It’s when, once again, they start arguing. Despite DB being the one to tell Echo “stop repeating every order” during the run-through, we see them getting along here. We see them chatting with each other and 99 very briefly when Fives' gives his “you never even met a girl” line and Hevy comes barging in. Hevy insults 99, Echo tells the squad to follow orders, an argument starts, yada yada.

Then, Hevy gives his “care to repeat that, Echo?” line, which I mentioned earlier as Hevy doing it to purposefully pick a fight. When they start to fight, we hear the other members of Domino start cheering Hevy on. One says “Come on. Get him, Hevy!” The other says, “Smack that know-it-all.”

Here’s the thing, though. They show a shot of DB, Cutup, and Fives. Cutup can be seen pumping his fist but his accent isn’t heard. There are two voices speaking, but they’re layered on top of each other so it’s hard to tell who’s speaking and how many people are speaking if you aren’t paying attention. Together, this comes out to look like Fives and DB could be the ones talking, and Cutup’s not actually speaking. 

However, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Cutup’s accent drops in and out all throughout Clone Cadets. Especially during impromptu moments. With this, it is also possible to conclude that he is speaking during the fight, just without a different accent, especially since he’s pumping his fist. 

That leaves Fives or Droidbait as the other person speaking. As you can see, both of them seem to be watching. Now, you could argue that Fives is the one who said something. You can argue the DB is the one who said something. Since they’re showing the fight when the lines overlap (the “Get him” one starting about a second earlier), there’s no conclusive evidence for either. For the point of this argument, you can’t argue that it proves Fives and Echo were close, you can’t argue that it proves they weren’t.

Following that comes Colt’s speech before the final. As I’ve noted multiple times, nobody in Domino is happy with Echo the first time he makes a comment.

Going back and watching it happen in time reveals a bit more, though. They’ve all got facial expressions kinda similar to it when it cuts back to them after Colt speaks. Echo says “thinks he means us, boys?” Hevy seems to be the only one truly angry about the comment. The other three seem to be more of “what are you talking about, you know we’re not that great.” Plus, you know, they’re all nervous about their final. Even more so with how they didn’t make it through the day before. (Here’s a link if you wanna see it for yourself. 0:45; it’s all quick reactions, but you can see what I mean)

(Hmm so maybe I was wrong about that screenshot before. Go figure. There’s a reason screenshots aren’t always completely reliable sources for shows, since none of what I just talked about is visible in a standstill moment. This is why I’ve rewatched Clone Cadets 48209832 times. I’m still picking up new things about Domino while doing it.)

When Echo says, “well bravo for Bravo Squad,” some other things happen. Firstly, Echo’s rolling his eyes. He’s either being flippant about Bravo or he’s being self-aware enough to know it’s a bad pun and that his brothers don’t like his comments. But Fives actually looks over, concerned, when he makes the comment.

That definitely counts for something. Especially since the other three don’t look very concerned about how Echo’s feeling with the comments. (Hevy’s definitely not looking over here.) But Fives seems to be wondering how anxious Echo’s feeling or something along those lines and how Echo’s expressing it. Especially since Echo doesn’t purposely pick fights like Hevy. He’s just making comments that happen to aggravate the Squad more than he’s usually trying to use as his way of showing he cares about his brothers and how well they perform.

After that comes their first run of the final. And with it comes a moment I love so much. Echo’s standing at one of the cover blocks when Fives runs up to him. Not only does this happen, but Echo smiles so much at seeing his brother do so.

He’s just! So happy that Fives is there. I love that. Anyway, Fives tells him, “you flank right, I’ll flank left.” Then comes Echo’s lil pun moment. Fives rolls his eyes, but he looks more fond but exasperated than truly annoyed. 

Right after that, Fives runs off again. Which means he took Echo’s comment about staying on the same side and went with it, even though that wasn’t his initial plan. He’s trusting in Echo’s combat planning there. After DB gets shot down, we can actually see this happen as they meet Hevy at another one of the blocks. They come from the same side, Fives, then Echo. So, it worked out successfully.

When Colt tells them they failed not too long after that, another thing happens! Fives and Echo share a look. They didn’t have to — Hevy was behind Fives and Cutup was in front of Echo. They could’ve shared a look with them. But they didn’t. It’s definitely an “oh crap” kind of look they share with each other. Something that’s usually shared with those your closer to in situations like that, ya know?

“But wait!” you might say. “These are mostly examples of Fives being a good brother than of them being close.” Well, that’s where Echo and Fives talking to Shaak Ti about transferring squads comes into play! Of course, since I’m going chronologically, it’s not the immediate next point on this, but it happens during this conversation.

The two of them talking to her is a pretty big deal, especially since constantly up to that point we see Echo not getting along with the squad. He definitely wouldn't do it with Hevy, who he fights with most. Cutup and Echo don't fight as much as Echo and Hevy but we don't see them actually talk to each other besides whenever they do the sim, right before the second final, and Rishi. And Rishi is Hevy and Cutup making fun of Echo a bit. (Main difference then is that they do understand each other better to some degree and it doesn't escalate like it once might've.) DB, I touched on some points earlier. 

But there’s a reason it’s Echo and Fives here, and it’s more than just Fives fighting with him less.

When they talk to Shaak Ti Fives trusts Echo to do the talking for them (he only speaks up twice with small comments then). While it’s a short conversation, most of the talking is done by Echo. The duo most likely had a conversation beforehand about what they were asking and why. While we don’t know who asked the other if they wanted to do it, they’re both there, and Fives trusted Echo and his memory and ability to repeat the points they wanted to make. It's the exact opposite of what the squad has been doing. Instead of mocking the repetition, he gives Echo a chance to do it without judgment and as a positive thing.

Echo also goes on to do some things that show it’s not just Fives being a good brother, it goes both ways with them. 

There are only two instances where we see Echo touch someone. One is when he fights with Hevy (and Hevy starts it). The other instance is with Fives, during this talk. The two of them had been standing at parade rest and Echo — who's whole thing as a cadet is following orders — breaks it to set a comforting hand on Fives' shoulder! 

He's the one to do it! Echo’s the one that takes the opportunity to comfort Fives and Fives doesn’t shy away from it. And not only did he recognize what Fives was feeling, but he also acted on it. They know each other well enough at this point to understand each other’s emotions and how to react to them accordingly.

And it's not like the other clones don't nudge and pat each other on the back and whatnot. Hevy pats 99 on the head (condescendingly smh Hevy you know better but whatever that's not the point).Both Fives and DB nudge Cutup for a comment he makes.

Echo just... doesn't do it during Clone Cadets. (I will point out he gives 99 a light excited punch on the shoulder during Arc Troopers — but that's after he's been with Torrent and trusts 99 even more than he did on Kamino for helping Hevy out) But he does voluntarily set a hand on Fives' shoulder. He’s comfortable enough with Fives to do it when we don’t see him do it with the rest of Domino or even 99.

Also, we all know Fives smacks some of his brothers, we've all seen that post by now. But he never does it with Echo. Instead, he lets Echo do what he's comfortable with. I just think that's important to note.

There’re also multiple times in this scene where they share looks while they’re speaking or when Shaak Ti says something. If you watch Arc Troopers or the first half of the Citadel Arc, even some parts of Rookies, Fives and Echo have a lot of nonverbal communication. This is just planting the seeds for that.

This scene can also be used for some “Fives and Echo aren’t that close” arguments, especially if you go with the “they are literal twins” hc. The whole “they wanted to stick together because they were twins, not necessarily because they got along better” argument. There are some other points here, like the fact that Fives did say something rude to Echo, or that Fives was talking to Cutup in their downtime and Echo with DB.

The thing is, with these things I've talked about, it shows that they were close on Kamino, regardless of that hc. I highly doubt LF and Filoni actually write them as twins (they probably would've mentioned it by now if they were). So while I personally like to take some of these things as them being twins, mostly they just show that either way, they were close. And the points Echo makes while asking Shaak Ti come into play as well.

Echo states, “Which is why Fives and I are looking out for each other,” when told that the clones, like the Jedi, have individuals and the group be one and the same. He makes it a clear point that they’re looking out for each other, that they’re trying to make the decision they think is best for the other. That’s! A big deal and sign that they’re close, if you ask me. 

Right at the end of the scene, Fives once again shows his trust in Echo. After hearing that they’ve been given another shot at the final, he looks skeptical. What does he do right after? Look at Echo. He didn’t need to, he could’ve stared at the wall, ground, given Shaak’s back a funny look. But he looks to his brother for comfort again. And we see Echo look back at him, doing so, right as it transitions to Cutup’s scene.

(“Wow this is really long, you must be obsessed with Domino Squad,” you might also say. That would be correct lol. We’re almost done, though.)

The next time we see either of them is when they think Hevy hasn’t shown up but then does. This is a nice little moment. Domino must’ve had a conversation or something because Cutup, DB, Fives, and Echo seem to be more at ease beside the whole missing Hevy thing. I should write that conversation someday. Echo even repeats what Fives said and nobody makes a comment about it.

Hevy eventually surprises everyone with his dramatic entrance and marches through their bench area to head to the simulation room. After that, the three of them turn and look at Echo, who shrugs. Not really a moment between Echo and Fives and more about the whole squad, but it’s there. Domino’s getting along better as a whole, matching more of what the dynamic between those two has been the entire time. 

And finally, the second final. Like how the practice test is slightly focused on Echo’s comments and the reactions to it, this one’s focused on Hevy being the natural leader he is. Also, just, Domino Working Together.

When they take cover in the little slit thingies, Fives and Echo take cover in the same one. Part of it was probably which one was closest. Part of it definitely was production trying to make it easier to fit more of them in the same frame there. But also, it says something about how they trust and understand each other on the battlefield. Partially from growing up training together, partially they've got the trust and understanding the whole squad is just finally starting to get within the rest of their dynamics. 

The only scene in this whole episode I don’t know who’s who is during the medal scene. If we base it on where Hevy stands, Echo and Cutup are the ones to talk. However, the second clone doesn’t have Cutup’s accent and it’s not one of those situations that Cutup tends to drop his accent. So I’m not really sure, other than that Domino is very clearly all proud of each other. I’m not really sure why I wrote this paragraph then… aNyWaY, that’s the episode!

TL;DR Throughout the episode, the Domino Twins show multiple signs of them being close to each other. I really think that the episode is supposed to show us that they're close from the beginning and Rishi just made them form an even stronger bond. Paraphrasing Shaak Ti, their journey is about them connecting to the rest of their squad throughout the episode, not necessarily about them also learning to connect with each other. They’ve got that down, after all.

#b talks #arc trooper echo #arc trooper fives #domino twins #domino squad #echo #fives #clone cadets #star wars meta #clone wars meta

[drabbles-of-writing]

Adopted AU

Same anon as before, let us see that post of Hunter and King as brothers

Eda pops in with a very traumatized child who may have left Belos at 11, but was still covered in physical and mental scars, and puts him in the same general area as a three year old demon with a napoleon complex. cue Hunter occasionally sneaking up behind King and curiously poking him until the demon gets annoyed and starts trying to grab him and Hunter scurries back to the corner to hiss at him, meanwhile King just wants to know Who The Weird Witch Is. its like trying to introduce cats but you forgot they gotta smell each other through the door first.

more under the cut

Hunter was very much Not on board with King calling him a minion or a subject, because you know, Belos trauma with him feeling like a lesser pawn in his plan, and after yelling at the itty bitty boy a few times and King feeling kind of bad when Eda scolded Hunter for doing so since King is Young and Hunter has no other idea how to express his emotions since he had no real healthy outlets at that point, King settled on calling him "the vagrant witch who remains in my kingdom but at a Price" and that price is the two of them teaming up to steal cookies, stuffed animals for King's kingdom, and hiding in small impossible spots around the Owl House which ends up in Eda whacking them with a broom to get 'em out. Hunter may have used King as a stuffed animal to sleep with in random spots around the house before he realized he had an actual bed now and King may have been forced to put up with it. kids went from mortal enemies to best partners in crime in the span of like 6 months. Hunter I imagine also would've felt he and King could bond over the fact they both have scars, Hunter's being literal and King's being his broken horn. he assumed King never brought it up because it was hard for him like how Belos was a tough topic for Belos but by the time he was like 13 he realized King just. didn't know

King also grew up with Hunter having night terrors and some ptsd. kids messed up as all hell and has had moments where he wakes up freaked out or starts suddenly shaking and falling to the floor seemingly out of the blue. took him a few years until he stopped getting terrified if someones voice raised even a little at him but even at 16 he still gets visibly nervous and his hands can shake sometimes. King didn't understand what was happening when those happened or why Eda looked so scared for him. first few times were a nightmare, and Hunter would curl up in the furthest corner where nobody could reach him and shrink away from everyone. King could almost always get to the same places as Hunter, so eventually he just started. crawling up to Hunter. wouldn't touch him, but he'd sit there quietly until Hunter calmed down or decided he Did actually want to hug the fluffy demon. King never really completely understood it because he only ever asked when he was like 4-5 and Eda has no idea how to explain to him that Hunter went through a lot of shit. so she best explained it as that certain things scare Hunter more than others because he had a bad experience with them, and thus he needed some help with it. worked enough for King. its also due to this and Hunter's aversion to any topics on Belos that King doesn't know Eda or Hunter's backstory. He grew up believing that most witches were like Hunter (not all, but a good few) and would go out of his way to not do certain things in public or to other witches he knew that upset Hunter. he thought that Hunter's scars were normal and that they were the coolest thing, because they meant he'd been in a lot of battles and he had to be really powerful to get that many scars. and he told Hunter as such, and it helped, just a bit.

Hunter and Luz have a 'god you annoy the hell out of me but unfortunately we also bond over similar things and I love you' sibling bond whereas Hunter and King is a 'we don't understand a thing about each other but we work well in crime and doing our best. also mildly bullying each others failures' sibling bond. King was more than a little shocked to learn that Emperor Belos was Hunter's uncle, and was 100% ready to dethrone him on the spot when he realized Belos was the cause of his trauma. he absolutely claimed that Hunter clearly must've beat Belos hard to come out alive after getting all those scars and Hunter wasn't going to dispute him. Hunter also didn't much get why King was so insistent on finding his father, what with Hunter having a pretty iffy bio family, but it was important to King, so he added research on demons like King to his never ending list of things to study for hours on in the dead of night. don't even get me STARTED on when King legally changed his last name to Clawthorne.

#asks #adopted au #the owl house #eda clawthorne #hunter #king #golden guard #the golden guard #eda #brothers #siblings #found family #bonding #owl fam #king clawthorne #emperor belos #belos #text post #tw trauma #tw mentioned child abuse #scars #luz noceda #ideas #headcanons #GOD i love these 2 they are BROTHERS #king has decided that if he ever sees belos again hes biting his ankles #king 'dw i can get my dad to beat up belos for you' clawthorne #if anyone wants to ask me what hunter thinks of raine i am all for it fellas im READY

[upthewitchypunx]

im really confused on how people say both that there are rules to witchcraft and how to interact with the spiritual world while also saying its all up to your beliefs and you dont have to do certain things if you dont want to. I'm confused as to where the line is drawn here.

I think about this, like, a lot. Someone responded to one of my posts with a "lol! Whatever, witchcraft doesn't have any rules!" and, like, maybe their version of witchcraft doesn't? I could have responded to it but I didn't because I didn't think they wanted to have an actual conversation about it, I’ve found that most people don’t.  But since you seem generally interested, let's talk about this. The first two things to understand are that there is no one way to practice witchcraft and that everyone comes to witchcraft for different reasons. Most existing magical traditions do indeed have rules or at least existing structures and ethics, that's what makes them a tradition and most of these are religious in nature if that helps you understand more of a context of rules. Not like Christianity where you go to hell or whatever if you break rules, more that they are guidelines to follow. These witchcraft and magical traditions get passed down and that keeps them in the same form.

The elephant in the room when we are discussing modern witchcraft is WIcca, which is a specific neo-pagan religion beginning in the middle of the last century. It was originally initiatory based, meaning you had to study to be initiated into a specific existing  group of the mystery religion. Wicca is even conflated with witchcraft where some people use it interchangeably. Wicca is pretty much how witchcraft entered the modern mainstream and there are several varieties even in Wicca. This led to several books being published but all under the idea that Wicca was a witchcraft religion. There was lots of this in the 90s and many books that claim to be witchcraft are based in Wicca. So, the "rules" of Wicca permeated modern witchcraft because it was the most visible. Not to say that there weren't other magical traditions existing like Traditional Witchcraft, Appalachian folk magic traditions, African Diasporic traditions (the ones that actually identify as witchcraft), and other traditions. These all have rules and connections to land and culture and community.

The second part I said was that we all come to witchcraft for different reasons. For some it is seeking religion, some it is community, some it is a general interest in the occult, some it is a drawn to alternative spirituality, and for some it is self-care, some it is a deep love of science and a search for ways to see the world differently using our brains. All of these reasons are valid and each of those reasons would look for something different in a practice they see to enter or build.

So, I think the "no rulez!" crowd are doing some knee-jerk reacting to what they perceive to be Wiccan like the "Wiccan Rede" with the phrase " An ye harm none, do what ye will" . "rede" literally means advice, not a rule. Or "the three-fold law" that suggests whatever you send out into the world you will get back x3. Which, again, is more like advice but also started specifically Wiccan and has permeated into general pagan spaces. Not all witches follow it, but it doesn't stop some Wiccans from assuming everyone does.  I generally don't take the "no rulez!" crowd very seriously. I'm an agnostic secular witch witch with a background in philosophy and religious studies. I may be silly in a lot of places in my practice like making a pizza with a specific magical purpose in mind, but I also take building my practice very seriously. It's not so much "rules", but my practice is based on my own ethics and understanding of the world around me, including my politics as an anarchist. If you are not entering a specific existing magical tradition. building a practice requires work to figure out what that means to you. I have deep cultural roots in the DIY Punk community. It helped form my ethics and cosmologies. Do-it-Yourself punk is about creating your own communities, making your own music and art, not waiting for people to give you permission to be creative, supporting other people who do the same, and doing these things because you love them. There are fashion punks who show up in a costume with no real attachment and maybe just like music and getting drunk. Maybe there are witchcraft practices with "no rules!", but I guess I see them like the fashion punks who may stay that way, may move on quickly to something else that suits them better, or may grow and change in their experience. Honestly, when someone says "lol, there's no rules in witchcraft!" I pretty much assume that I'm not going to get a very thoughtful conversation out of them so I tend to avoid it.

So, where does that leave you? If you want to enter a witchcraft tradition that has an existing framework, you can do that. If you want to make your own, you can do that too, but it will be a lot more work.

#secular witchcraft #no rulez #Anonymous #greatest hits