#ugh i never felt so accomplished in my life

[miiaocha]

>stickers<

#ugh i never felt so accomplished in my life #jujutsu kaisen #fan art #gojo satoru #geto suguru #miiaocha art #i feel embarrassed to say it but i like it so much

[universallychaoticpan]

Can u do the stages of Dazai and Reader's relationship through Kunikida's POV like from enemy/strangers to friendship to lovers♥️

This had been on my had for days and maybe you might like this idea. Imma write this down before I go to sleep bc I'm tired af😭.

You have no idea how much I loved writing this, it was so fun. Ugh I absolutely love it!! Sorry it's taken so long so get it out, but I hope you enjoy it regardless. Come back anytime. <33

I suggest listening to lovers rock by tv girl to set a nice little mood <3

(reader is gn)

Fukuzawa hadn't lied at all; you were a perfect addition to the agency. Even after just meeting you, Kunikida could tell: smart, accomplished, adept at combat, extensive knowledge in both weapons and hand to hand combat, plus a near deadly control over your ability- you were a dream. You were hardworking and on top of it all, shockingly, amazingly, seemingly immune to Osamu Dazai.

Now, you didn't dislike the man. You just weren't one to fawn over him or giggle like a schoolgirl any time he winked at you. You never really understood the girls who would fall all over themselves when he flirted with them, plus, since he flirted with anyone what was the point in giving in? To him, there were a million people like you; you were just another pretty face to him. So you made it your mission to never fall for his charms.

Unfortunately for Kunikida, neither of you quite understood how stubborn you both could be.

After three months, you found you liked him more than you thought. He made you laugh, with his stupid jokes and his antics. You found you liked being his friend. You would go out drinking with him, he would embarrass you in public until you shrieked with laughter, face burning red with your blush. He would make up nonsense songs to make you laugh and you would foil his attempts at flirting with yet another waitress each time you ate together. Quickly, you found yourself calling him your best friend- something that horrified Kunikida in quite a funny manner.

And after six months, Dazai realized something terrible- something awful, sweet, lovely and terrifying all at once. Osamu Dazai realized he was falling for you. He was falling faster than he could save himself, faster than he could stop it; he was falling for his best friend with the stunning smile, the sharp wit that would bite him playfully if he got to close, the pretty laugh and those eyes that melted him from the inside out.

Worst of all, he knew you would never believe him if he told you.

But Kunikida saw it all. He saw how Dazai's eyes would soften ever so slightly when you would walk in, how he would try to be close to you, how he would volunteer to do the most mundane tasks as long as it meant doing them with you. He saw the new way his lip would curl gently at the edges when he smiles at you, a smile different than his usual rakish grin. And god was it painful to watch. He nearly felt bad for the man, and he would if it wasn't so funny to watch. Kunikida wouldn't deny it was just the slightest bit entertaining to observe you.

Nearly a year had gone by since you had first met; nearly a year since you had promised yourself to never fall for him. Nearly a year since he had met you, clueless to the fact that you would change his life without even trying. And everyone could tell it was driving him mad; everyone, or so it seemed, except for you. A fact that Kunikida doubted to the extremes.

"They probably have figured it out by now," he muttered, sipping his drink as a moan sounded from Dazai. "They're quite intelligent, you know. Perceptive, too."

"Shut up," Dazai muttered, lifting his head from off the bar. "Don't tell me that like I don't already know it."

Kunikida shrugged. "Just checking. But in any case, what are you going to do about it?"

"That's just it," Dazai groaned. "Whatever I do, they won't believe it's real; they'll think I just want a fling or a one night stand and it would kill me to loose them over something so stupid."

"Well you'd best figure it out soon," Kunikida observed. "Time waits for no man."

And it hurt knowing he was right. It hurt Dazai, a dull throb forming in his chest because it was true; no one waited forever. No opportunity stayed open for long. So he shook Kunikida's hand, walked out of the bar, and turned for the direction of your apartment.

"Good luck, you lovestruck bastard."

//

You were alone when the knock at the door came; alone, your pajama pants sitting deliciously on your skin, a glass on wine barely held between your fingers. You felt the buzz of the stuff, warm and sweet, spreading through your body as you walked over the door, and opened it.

Revealing your best friend, panting with cheeks brushed pink from the night air. He ran a hand through his messy dark hair and you cocked your head slightly, your lips quirking up into a curious smile.

Oh that smile-

"What's the occasion for this lovely visit?"

He swallows hard, hands fiddling nervously as he tries to decide whether to move closer or not. But you choose for him, resting a hand on his shoulder, stepping so close your have to look up slightly for your concerned eyes to meet his.

"are you alright? Dazai, what's happened, is everything ok?-"

"Do you trust me?"

"What kind of question is that, of course I-"

"No. Do you trust me."

You looked into those eyes, and-

oh.

oh.

"Of course I do," you whispered.

And those were the last words you uttered before his hand lifted your face to his and his lips shaped themselves perfectly against yours. That was all you had to say before he stole the breath from your lungs with that kiss, a sigh leaving you so sweetly it made him fall for you again, more and more- he would devote himself to memorizing every sound that fell from your lips, give you every second if his life if that's what it took, as long as you promised to never take your touch away from him.

You smiled when you pulled away, lips still parted, laughing ever so slightly as you pulled him inside by the hand.

And when you walked into the office together the next morning, chatting and smiling like always, most people wouldn't have batted an eye.

But Doppo Kunikida wasn't most people. And even he had to indulge himself in smirking in the way Dazai followed at your heels like a puppy. Because even though you were not the first to fall for his charms...

you were the first to get him to fall for yours.

#dazai x reader #osamu dazai x reader #dazai osamu x reader #bsd x reader #bungo stray dogs x reader #bsd x gn reader

[captainremmington-13]

A Lady Made of Snow

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own The Hunger Games franchise, the images above, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, or any of the characters in this fic other than Bellova, Kallista, and Caesarus. I also do not condone the beliefs or actions of Coriolanus or Bellova.

SUMMARY: Dr. Gaul informs Bellova that her rival has returned from District 12. Upon hearing this, she forms a plan to ensure that he never affects her success again.

⚠️Warnings⚠️: spoilers for TBOSAS, swearing, implications of blackmail, mentions of death, vague allusion to sexual acts

A/n: This chapter takes place a couple months before the epilogue in TBOSAS occurs.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

“That’s all for today. If you have questions for me, stay behind and ask away. Otherwise, you are dismissed.” 

Bellova gathered her books and pens, tucking them safely into her leather school bag. She nodded politely at Professor Bingley before briskly exiting the lecture hall. It was finally lunchtime, and she was positively famished, for she hadn’t had time to eat a proper breakfast. She had gotten accustomed to sleeping in over the summer break. By the time her maid woke her up for her first day of University, she only had an hour to prepare for her first class.

Over the summer, she had officially decided to pursue a career in law. Her father assured her that it was a perfect fit, saying that her academic strengths and combative attitude would make her unstoppable in the field. The idea of creating laws for the entirety of the Capitol, or even all of Panem one day, was exhilarating to her. She knew she could make the country thousands of times better if she was given the chance. 

Despite only having attended three classes so far, Bellova loved being a University student. It was much more elite than the Academy, the professors were better, and there was no uniform. She found the last aspect particularly exciting, enjoying the looks of envy and adoration she had received as she walked down the halls for the first time.

Her social life had blossomed greatly in the span of just a few months. It was solid during her Academy days, as she was one of the most popular students. But since enrolling in the University, she had gained several new companions. She still talked to some of her old friends, like Lysistrata and Persephone. She even occasionally went on dates, for she was asked out left-and-right by men and women alike. Most of them she turned down, but for those who seemed promising, she accepted their invitations. However, none of them felt like the perfect match. She didn’t let that affect her, though. 

Her education was her top priority.

She saw Persephone Price and one of her new friends, Kallista Philo, waiting for her outside of the dining hall. Ignoring the lingering stairs of some of the people passing by, she approached them quickly.

“Hello,” she said, smiling brightly. “How are you both feeling? The first day of University treating you well?”

Persephone nodded. “I love it here already. I can’t wait to start working with other people who have the same major as me.” 

Kallista, who was a year older than Persephone and Bellova, gave them both an affectionate grin. “You both will excel in your fields, I’m positive. As long as you always try your hardest, the professors will do anything in their power to help you achieve your dream career.”

“Good to know,” Bellova said. “Now, shall we get lunch? I’m practically dying of starvation.”

They made their way through the dining hall, sitting at their usual table in the corner of the room. They discussed a variety of topics, including Kallista’s brother’s annoying fiancée and Persephone’s new pet dove. 

Persephone then asked how Bellova’s date with Caesarus Nottingham went. 

Bellova winced. “It was incredibly disappointing. He talked about nothing but his mediocre accomplishments and his…bedroom skills while we ate dinner. It completely ruined my appetite.”

Kallista gagged. “Ugh. That sounds awful.”

“Oh, it was. I was tempted to abandon the date all together to humiliate him, but I was able to embarrass him enough when he leaned in for a kiss and I stepped away. I left before he could say another word.” 

The girls laughed. Bellova was ruthless when it came to almost everything, including those she went on dates with.

“Miss Reginelle.” 

A young man wearing a University identification badge approached the table. Bellova looked up from her food.

“Yes?”

“Dr. Gaul wants to see you in her lab. She said it had to do with…reincarnation.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You wanted to see me?”

The doctor grinned, setting down her surgical scissors. “Ah yes, Miss Reginelle. Come, my dear. I wanted to ask your opinion on these new mutations I’m developing.” 

Bellova sat down next to Dr. Gaul on a lab stool. The older woman set a small glass terrarium in front of them. Inside housed what looked like normal flowers. 

“Don’t let the pretty colors fool you,” Dr. Gaul said. “They can bite as lethally as the most dangerous snakes.”

Bellova briefly thought about the snakes that she had sent into the arena a year prior. The memory was unpleasant, not because of the mutts, but because of who she associated them with.

“That’s amazing,” Bellova said. “I assume these are for this year’s Games?”

She nodded. “Indeed. And, I plan on altering them so they regrow within mere minutes if they are snipped.”

“Reincarnation…” Bellova muttered.

“Precisely.” Dr. Gaul flashed her a twisted smile. “Speaking of that, I have some other news for you.”

Bellova cocked her head. “What is it?”

“A certain young Mr. Snow has returned to the Capitol.” 

Bellova briefly contemplated jumping into Dr. Gaul’s pool of sea serpents. “You’re fucking kidding.”

Dr. Gaul laughed. “I am not, Miss Reginelle.”

“Why? How? I thought he was sentenced to be a peacekeeper for the next twenty years?”

“He was. But I negotiated for him to return. He has far too much potential to be wasted in District 12. He returned less than a week ago, and is set to study under me for the rest of his time at the University.”

“Dr. Gaul,” Bellova said, trying her hardest not to scream. “He disgraced himself by cheating in the Games - in your Games. Why would you forgive such a thing?”

“Mr. Snow’s time in the districts has…transformed him. He has finally opened his eyes to the real nature of this world, and understands why our country operates the way it does.”

Bellova felt her jaw clench. “I see.” 

Dr. Gaul grabbed a pair of tweezers and dropped a small cricket into the glass enclosure that housed the flowers mutation. The flower immediately lunged towards the insect, devouring it in seconds. 

“Do you need anything else, Dr. Gaul?” Bellova asked. “My next class begins soon.”

She shook her head. “That is all. Run along, my dear. And if you see Mr. Snow, do give him a warm welcome home.”

Forcing a smile, Bellova nodded and walked out of the lab.

After leaving the building, she let out a frustrated snarl. Just a few weeks after Snow’s departure, she had realized she was beyond grateful that he was no longer in her life. She no longer had to worry about constantly one-upping him, she could just focus on herself and her happiness.

But now, he was back. 

Back to continue tormenting her. 

Was that his only life goal? To make her existence a living hell? 

‘Stop that,’ she chided herself. ‘You can’t let his presence affect you anymore. You’re a new woman now. A woman that holds too much power and status to give in to silly things like emotions.’

Of course, the idea of messing with Coriolanus again was tempting. She could expose several of his actions that would immediately tarnish any of his career plans. 

But it was wisest to keep that information to herself. 

For now, anyway.

Bellova smiled to herself. Instead of listening to Dr. Gaul’s suggestion to give Snow a “warm welcome”, she would give him the coldest shoulder possible. She would avoid him at all costs. 

He was no longer worthy of her attention. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Bellova! Oh, it’s so nice to see you, dear!”

Bellova whirled around, about to chew out wherever was bothering her. She was not in the mood to socialize. 

She refrained from doing so when she recognized the person approaching her was Mrs. Plinth, dressed in all black. This was uncharacteristic of her, as she usually donned bright colors. 

“Mrs. Plinth,” she greeted the older woman politely, despite wanting to tell her to leave her alone. She had decided to stop by a bakery on her way home from the University to grab a fresh pastry. She had hoped that it would lighten her mood after the unpleasant news she discovered earlier. She had not expected to run into “Ma” Plinth.

She didn’t really have anything against her, but she was still district in Bellova’s eyes. The same way her son was. She liked Sejanus most of the time, unless he was spouting on a useless tirade about the unfairness of the Capitol. But he was serving time as a Peacekeeper in 12. She had heard this from Clemensia, who heard it from Strabo Plinth himself. 

Mrs. Plinth looked her up and down, and her eyes began to fill with tears. 

“Are you alright?” Bellova asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She dabbed at her eyes with a red handkerchief, sniffling quietly. “You have grown into such a fine young woman. Ever since my family moved to the Capitol, my Sejanus adored you. He always referred to you as intelligent, and beautiful, and…” She trailed off, beginning to cry harder.

Bellova did her best not to appear uncomfortable. She didn’t like having to comfort people, it simply wasn’t in her nature. After a tense moment of silence, she asked, “Mrs. Plinth, what’s going on? Did something happen to Sejanus?”

Mrs. Plinth’s eyes widened slightly. “Has nobody told you yet?”

“Told me what?”

“H-he’s dead. Hanged in District 12 for treason against the Capitol.”

Bellova’s head spun. 

The heir to the Plinth fortune, dead.

Leaving behind two vulnerable, grieving parents. 

“What exactly was he accused of?” Bellova asked softly.

“I’m not sure. I just know that someone turned him in for traitorous conspiring. Someone who probably pretended to Sejanus’s friend just to stab him in the back,” Mrs. Plinth sobbed. “My poor boy…he deserved to die of old age after a long, prosperous life. Not in the gallows.”

Bellova pulled the hysterical woman into an awkward hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Plinth. If you need anything, just call, and I’ll do what I can.” 

The woman nodded. “Thank you, Bellova. Any friend of Sejanus is a friend to my family. Coriolanus, Sejanus’s best friend, has been such a great source of comfort to us. My husband formally declared him our heir just yesterday.”

Bellova barely held back a noise of disgust.

“That’s…very kind of you,” she said instead.

After Mrs. Plinth had left with a basket full of fresh bread, Bellova sat down at a small table, processing this new information.

Sejanus was dead. And he had been betrayed. 

Betrayed by someone he called a friend.

And she knew exactly who had sent him to the gallows. Undoubtedly, he did it for his own personal benefit. And now he had taken Sejanus’s place as the heir to the massive Plinth fortune.

He really was pathetic. 

As twisted as it sounded, Bellova was glad she was informed of Sejanus’s execution and why it had come about. 

It was one more thing to add to her list of blackmail against Coriolanus Snow.

✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊ ❆ ‧ ₊ ⊹˚✧ ‧˚₊

TAGLIST: @daenerysqueenofhearts, @squidscottjeans, @euphemiaamillais, @gracieroxzy, @effectwalker, @vxnilla-hxrddrugs, @mystargirl-interlude

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments! The tension within the story will only continue to build, until it finally snaps…

Also, let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

#coriolanus snow #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #coriolanus snow x oc #tbosas #the hunger games #original character #coriolanus snow x reader #dr gaul #the capitol #thg prequel #sejanus plinth #sejanus deserved better

[houseofhollows]

under the stars

pairing: theo nott x reader

genre: fluff

The wind was blowing through her hair, surrounding her with a breeze that she relished, closing her eyes and leaning her chin up. The radio was playing an 80’s song and she nodded her head to the beat of the music, her left arm propped up on the door of the convertible. The sun was setting, the red and orange hues spreading across the great expanse of the sky, reminding her of the magical world she got to live in. 

Theo was sitting beside her, concentrating on driving. The road was empty save for them. There wasn’t much scenery, just endless fields. 

The couple hadn’t been planning on leaving their home that night, wanting to stay in and enjoy each other’s company. But Y/N had been thinking about life and her future, and she felt as if she hadn’t done enough. Of course, she still had time, but those thoughts would drive her crazy if she didn’t get up to do something.

So, Theo suggested they drive somewhere new. It was simple but would hopefully fulfill one of Y/N’s accomplishments. No destination had been chosen, they would just wait and see where the world decided to place them. 

Y/N exhaled softly, shifting her gaze from the road to the man beside her. It was almost their three-year anniversary. She had never thought that this was how her life would have taken her. Theo was the only person she thought about since the moment they made eye contact in first year. The two pinned over each other for years, oblivious to the meaning of the stares, touches, and words they had sent to the other. 

Before they began dating, she had dreamt of a life where they were together, hoping that they had found each other in every life. When she first started having those thoughts, she felt embarrassed. They were just friends, why was she imagining them growing old together every night? But because she felt such strong feelings, she thanked the universe every night that it listened to her desires. 

“What are you thinking about,” Theo asked, briefly glancing her way. His tongue slid across his bottom lip. 

“Ugh, you,” she said, pretending to be disgusted.

“Damn, must’ve sucked seeing me in your head, I’m hideous,” he joked back.

“So hideous. Almost threw up.”

He laughed softly and his bright smile showed just how opposite of hideous he was. 

“You really are beautiful, Theo,” she said genuinely. 

“Good news. You’re beautiful too.”

Y/N turned her gaze back to the road. The space between them felt calm and comfortable. There had never been any awkwardness between them, she realized. Talking to him was the easiest thing she had ever done. 

“Thinking of me again?” he broke her silence.

“You know it,” she replied.

“Lucky for you, you’re always on my mind.”

“I could kiss you right now.”

“Please don't, I’m concentrating.”

“Hold my hand, then,” she said as she opened her palm.

Theo didn’t hesitate, moving his left hand to collide with her own, their fingers intertwining like they had done countless times before. 

It was dark now, and the stars looked down at her, knowing that the universe pulled many strings for them to end up together. No, they weren’t written in the stars. But their passion and love for one another had pushed aside destiny and had granted them their wishes. 

They wanted each other in such a deep way that the universe would’ve felt bad not allowing it to happen. It wasn’t physical desire, it was the need for something that would make life worth living. 

Their classmates had always thought of Theo to be heartless, but deep down he had a heart and he was just waiting for her to take it. 

#Theodore Nott #Theo Nott #theodore nott imagine #theodore nott x reader #theo nott imagine #harry potter fanfiction #Theodore nott blurb #theodore nott x fem!reader #theo nott x reader #theo nott x you #theo nott blurb #theo nott fanfiction #theo nott fluff #writing #creative writing

[writeradamanteve]

Lucy Carlyle & Holly Munro

I want to talk about this dynamic as it’s truly one of the most polarizing relationships in the book, for various reasons, and yet it’s really one of the best written ones, also for many reasons.

So, sit down and grab a cup of tea. This will take a while, and Reader, I don’t plan on holding back.

Race and Diversity

Let’s talk about diversity for a moment. For those of you who’ve read the books, you know that until Holly made an appearance in the series, the Lockwood & Co. books were lily white. It was so white. There wasn’t a whisper of there being any people of color.

I cannot claim to know Jonathan Stroud’s values, but having watched the show before reading the books, it was clear to me that Stroud, at least, wasn’t consciously or maliciously being racist when he first wrote these books, and that he did, in fact, acknowledge the lack of diversity by Doing Better, first by introducing Holly in The Hollow Boy, and then ultimately, while collaborating on the TV series, readily allowing for a wealth of diversity, even going so far as giving one of the lead roles, which was canonically white, to a man of Iranian ethnicity.

So whatever prompted Stroud to introduce a person of color in the Lockwood & Co. book series, he clearly wanted to do it right. He didn’t retcon existing characters like other writers I know (looking at She Who Must Not Be Named “He’s Actually Totally Gay! Even If It’s Not In The Books!” ~ugh~), nor did he tokenize them like Ms. Voldemort over there (“All The People Of Color in My Books Are Sidelined and If They Have a Speaking Part, Either Stereotyped or Tends to Be Mostly Unbearable.” ~what a cunt-). Holly was a real, fully fleshed out character, who had a positive, and/or complicated, impact in the story.

Now, if I didn’t read the books and just went by all the posts about Holly’s relationship with Lucy in my Tumblr stream, it would seem like a simple case of opposite personalities clashing, at best--jealousy at it worst, but this relationship is not simple like that. I don't want to call it complicated, either. What it is, is nuanced. There is a lot of nuance to Holly & Lucy.

"Welcome, Holly!" Said Lucy, Never

With Lockwood & Co. all narrated from Lucy’s POV, we are introduced to Holly with Lucy’s reactions, perceptions, and biases.

It is clear, then, that Holly’s sudden appearance in what Lucy considered her Safe Space was jarring and intrusive. Lucy was neither consulted on this nor forewarned, but in a world of landlines, archives, and dewey decimal shelving, there is no way to contact a person in transit, there is no instant messaging, and I don't even know if there are answering machines. In this case, Lucy was traveling to her rural hometown which was hours away, for a couple of days, for the obligatory visit to the family she had left behind.

Consider for a moment: Lucy’s trip home was not a leisure vacation by any means. In fact, it only cemented Lucy’s resolve that she belonged in London, and that she missed being in 35 Portland Row, her found family (a.k.a. Lockwood and George), and her independence—all of which Lucy fought HARD to attain and preserve. None of these things came easy for her, but she did earn it, and she was assured enough in her accomplishments to pay a visit to her hometown voluntarily. We all know how it is--when we're not in a good spot in life, we generally don't feel like reconnecting with people like former classmates or family we left behind. It's too humiliating to tell them that we aren't doing so well, but if we've been successful in our pursuits, those class and family reunions are So Welcome, like--"Sure! I'd love to see you all!" In Lucy's case, she wasn't terribly enthused to see her family again, but she felt strong enough to weather the doldrums of it, knowing full-well that she could tell her mother to Shove It.

So given all that background, Lucy is understandably pissed that Holly comes sashaying into Lockwood & Co., highly recommended, with Lockwood hastily making space for her and keeping her comfortable. Not to mention George instantly liking her.

Holly seemed to have effortlessly settled into Lockwood & Co. without the trials and tribulations Lucy had to endure. It probably didn’t help that by all appearances, Holly’s had it easy most of her life.

Holly was beautiful, refined, classy, and educated. We don’t know much about Holly at this point, but it is implied she is possessed of a pedigree equal to Lockwood, except that she wasn’t orphaned at a young age and that her parents were there to nurture her talents.

It absolutely did not help either that Lucy, as a person, has zero social skills. She, with her Blue Collar upbringing, was not raised to make nice or be diplomatic. We hear her thoughts because she is the narrator, and we think her thoughts judgmental, but thoughts, by their nature, are unguarded. If we’re being completely honest, we all make snap judgements about the people we meet. Some of us may be snarkier about it than others, but a lot of our thoughts are not always positive. I wouldn’t call non-positive thoughts negative, just stripped of the diplomacy and niceties we were taught worked best in social settings.

So Lucy does tend to sound a bit nasty sometimes, but is she, really? Or is it just that we see into her mind without the filter of social norms. The show portrayed it perfectly--Lucy is an observer, and some of those snap judgments make their appearance in her words and actions, but is it more extraordinary than some of ours?

So Lucy, for her part in the introduction of Holly, did pretty well, and her thoughts were quite straightforward: She was pissed about the whole situation with Holly, hired without a proper heads-up to her, without the hoops that Lucy had to jump through, and both Lockwood and George appeared to like Holly better than they ever did Lucy. That was Lucy’s knee-jerk reaction.

In the coming weeks, we see how Lucy fully acknowledges how beautiful and fashionable Holly was, and how efficient, doing exactly what she was hired to do with breezy, confident ease. She cleaned their disaster house, organized their schedule, fielded nuisance inquiries, and booked them profitable, resume-padding jobs. Oh, she can be a field agent, too, but she was a bit rusty, so it was the least of her talents.

Lucy clung to that last bit as her security blanket—something she had over Holly, who otherwise seemed so aggravatingly perfect. So when Lockwood, like the good boss he was, was very much willing to reignite Holly’s skills on the field with gentle support and enthusiasm, this again, made Lucy simmer in resentment.

Keep in mind that while all this was happening, Lucy was trying her best to make it work. She hated that Holly was trotting around like a responsible adult, cleaning and trying to make everyone eat healthy. But Lucy was mostly civil.

The tension between Lucy and Holly was palpable, but you can tell that Holly wasn’t trying to annoy her. They were both trying to make it work, and that Holly was sensitive to Lucy’s triggers.

Lockwood & George

Most of Lucy’s resentment stemmed from how much better Lockwood and George treated Holly than they did Lucy—at least from Lucy’s perception.

So I examined that. Is that true? Did they treat her so much better?

The immediate thought is that yes, they do treat Holly with a level of reverence and care that wasn’t exactly there with Lucy, but if Lucy thinks it’s because they liked Holly better, that would be an oversimplification of how Lockwood and George regards Lucy.

First of all, Lucy and George butted heads immediately. Lucy’s lack of social skills and George’s lack of filter was just an inevitably tumultos brew. They did eventually grow to appreciate one another, deeply and sincerely, but that's because they both saved each other's lives. That's what it took. They love one another now, but they had to go through a lot to get to that point. Also, they never stopped being snarky to each other, so there's that.

Lockwood, however, treated Lucy with respect. He was confident of her abilities and he made space for her, too. He offered her his room, for God's sake, and he didn't think twice about her missing 4th levels. He trusted in her skills well enough to bring her along for jobs, immediately. He was impressed by her Listening talent, and was even excited by how, with her, the agency would thrive.

So it wasn't that Holly was treated better; she was treated differently. Lucy is an field agent. By all appearances--her short brown, low-maintenance hair, her practical clothes, and the rapier at her hip, she was ready for action. She did not sweat details. She did not bother with the tidiness of her room. She certainly wasn't the type to pick up after the boys. Why the hell would she? She wasn't their mother. And she gave as good as she got. She didn't appear shocked or stymied by course language or behavior. She was not a delicate flower, so George and Lockwood treated her like the tough cookie that she was.

Lockwood and George respected Lucy this way, just as they respected Holly that way.

So while we understand Lucy's resentment, we have to keep things in perspective here.

Lucy vs. Holly

Lucy felt that Holly was patronizing, that she looked down on Lucy, and that Holly could do no wrong. It did not help that Lockwood was not acknowledging Lucy's feelings.

To Lockwood's mind, Holly was a godsend (she was), and that Lucy can try a little harder (she couldn't--that was truly the best she could do), and he seriously had very little time to make Lucy feel better about the entire thing. His patience was wearing thin.

Was it all Lucy's fault? No. Was it Holly's? No, but while Lockwood was making all the right moves for the agency as its founder and CEO, Lucy was not only doing her best to make her relationship with Holly work, but she was also grappling with her growing Talent and the use of it. Lockwood did not approve of what Lucy was trying to achieve with her Listening talents. It was dangerous to both Lucy and the rest of them--so much so that he threatened to fire her if she didn't stop.

We all know that Lockwood's threats of termination were empty, because in The Creeping Shadow, we were told that Lockwood did not want Lucy to leave and that he did everything to get her back. This threat was more a desperate attempt to curb Lucy. He is perfectly aware that Lucy cannot be stopped by normal means, but he needed her to stop, because what she was doing was risking her safety, and he would not have her killed because of it. Lockwood believed that by withholding his warmth, Lucy would realize how serious he was and come to her senses.

Because of all this, Lockwood grew distant and Lucy felt that keenly. That Lucy was turning to Skull as her confidante showed how lonely she grew in the midst of it all.

As we come back to Holly and Lucy's relationship, we begin to see that whatever Lucy's feelings for Holly were, they were being processed amidst all this upheaval, so Lucy was not having an easy time of it.

When we truly look at Lucy's and Holly's interactions, both of them were really doing their best, and they carried on well enough, but there was an inevitable breaking point.

Things would eventually come to a head at Aickmere's, brought there by the Chelsea Outbreak. Lucy and Holly would have it out, stirring the poltergeist.

From their argument, we find out that Holly was just as insecure about Lucy's gifts as Lucy was of Holly's. They both thought the other was being patronizing, and that neither of them actually looked down on the other. They picked a bad time to have this discussion, but it was had, and while it stirred the haunting to disastrous levels, it DID give Lucy and Holly a better understanding of one another. It was Growth at a Time of Poltergeist.

In Lucy and Holly's brief time working together to stay alive, we saw exactly how they would get along, how intuitive they were of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and how amidst the arguing, it was totally conceivable that they could come to like one another.

At the end of The Hollow Boy, when Lucy comes to the decision to leave Lockwood & Co., we know for sure it isn't because of Holly, even if everyone thinks it is.

Holly & Lucy

I am still absolutely tickled by the fact that Holly actually tells Lucy in The Creeping Shadow that she misses her, and that Holly wished Lucy had stuck around so that she would have someone to talk to. I did briefly, actually think that Holly might have had a crush on Lucy, because Lucy gives out bi-vibes (or maybe that's just me, Idon'tknow), but as I thought about it more, that would be a pretty annoying trope, where everyone falls in love with the heroine, so no. I think Holly was actually setting her sights on someone else, though Holly absolutely did miss Lucy, and she genuinely wanted to be besties with Lucy, especially because Holly thought Lockwood and George were so hard to crack (and by the way, this is so telling. Again, more proof of how differently George and Lockwood treats Lucy and Holly--not better, but differently. They are at their best behavior with Holly and as a result, they aren't vulnerable with her. The boys, however, treat Lucy like one of them, so she knows them the way Holly couldn't).

Holly's contributions to the narrative of The Hollow Boy were significant, in the same way that Kipps's contributions were significant in The Creeping Shadow. The Empty Grave treated us to the dynamic of having Kipps and Holly round out Lockwood & Co., fully entrenched into its maverick ways and the secret of the Whispering Skull.

Lucy and Holly's relationship found an easy cadence, and I especially loved how Lucy and Holly banded together instinctively to comandeer the two-bed room at the inn, leaving the boys to grapple with the second bedroom arrangements.

I cannot stress enough how well Holly and Lucy's relationship turned out, and how I will marvel at its development. I will always think of this relationship as well-earned. It was a journey, human and interesting. Stroud did a marvelous job forming it.

#lockwood & co #lockwood & co book spoilers #lockwood & co spoilers #holly munroe #lucy carlyle #The Hollow Boy spoilers #The Creeping Shadow spoilers #The Empty Grave spoilers

[dzamie-oc]

Voretober 7 - Costume

A little illness can take me out for two days, but I persevere!

Length: 1800 words Vore type: Absorption, M/?, willing prey, prey POV Fandom: None Other info: slime griffon/human, endosoma, digestion mention Summary: Your griffon friend has a great idea on what to wear: him!

Today was not going well for you. Not only did you hit every single red going from and to your apartment, your costume for tonight's party apparently decided to go AWOL. You'd just finished checking even the kitchen when a familiar sloshing noise hits your ears.

"Hey, dude, something wrong?" Galleon pokes his head around the corner, the slime griffon's "ears" flicked forward with curiosity. "Figure it's either that or you're making the most intense cake of your life."

You let out a frustrated sigh and brace your arms against the counter. "Y'know that Halloween party tonight? My stupid fucking costume's gone. I don't wanna go in just a normal getup, not for Halloween."

Galleon flows around into the kitchen and leans against the fridge. "Flowing" being the operative word; it had been a little difficult to get used to when you told him he didn't need to act like his non-slime counterparts, but these days it felt more out-of-place seeing him bounce with each step as though he had bones. "Bummer. Have you checked-"

"Yes!" It'ss faster and angrier than you'd intended, but… you sigh. "Ugh, yes. Sorry, it's just that I've checked literally everywhere it could be. I mean, I'm looking in the KITCHEN, for crying out loud!"

He doesn't seem all that fazed by your outburst, instead calmly raising a claw. "You wanna wear me?"

"What?"

The griffon shoots you a beaky grin and offers a slimy hand as he glides towards you. "If you don't mind the lack of privacy for the night, we'll be a double costume: predatory slime and unfortunate victim!"

You roll your eyes. "If I didn't know you so well, that would be unnerving. Anyway, I want to go to the party myself, not be trapped as you puppet me around."

Before you know it, his arm is around your shoulders, with his wing right behind it. For all his talk of how accomplished a hunter he is, subtlety sure isn't one of his strong points. "I figured, which is why you'd have control for most of the night. It's a lot of fun being an irresistible force on every inch of you, buuuuut I could just cling to you."

With a snicker, you pat his claw (relieved to pull it away dry this time) - but don't push it away. "Aren't you clingy enough already?"

"No such thing. So, yes or no?"

He's definitely pulling something. Not that Galleon's ever been very opaque about his love of being full of someone other than himself, but this is pretty forward, even for him - and especially around others. He initially chalked it up to having a better predatory advantage, but it's far more likely he's just shy when he's not around his close friends or imminent victims.

"If you wanted a friend to accompany you at the party, you can just say so. But alright, I'll wear you. What do I need to do?"

"Yes!" He quickly hugs you from behind, but you remain outside his body this time. "I mean, that's not necessary, but I'm glad to help with your costume issue. Um, go and get into some clothes you don't mind me ruining."

"…alright. Why, though? You've eaten me with clothes on before." He follows you as you push open the door to your room. "Probably more often on than off, even, and it's never been an issue."

"Tattered, acid-eaten clothes make a better prey-victim costume, no? …you can say "no" if you want," he adds after a moment.

It doesn't take long to find a shirt and pants that have already seen better days. To be perfectly honest, at this point, "acid-eaten" could well be a compliment. You grab them and hold them out to the slime griffon, who simply cocks his head at them. Confused, yourself, you gently push them against his chest until they and your hand sink into his admittedly comfortable, warm body. He still just stares down at them, floating unharmed in his eagle-colored slime.

Once he realizes you expect him to do something about them, he smiles and pats your shoulder. "I'm about to fuck these clothes up. There's a decent chance being in my slime will be key to keeping them together. So, unless you want to find out what putting on a shirt and pants while inside me is like…" His smile falters, and he glances away. "To be honest, I don't think I want to try that, actually."

You roll your eyes, but can't help but smile at the mental image of his body stretching to keep you contained while you dress. The outfit comes out as dry as you put it in, and it's not long to put it on. You take a breath - one of the last few breaths of air you'll get for most of the night - longer if you end up falling asleep in him again.

Galleon offers his hand, you take it, and he takes yours - in his case, drawing your fingers into his slimy talons, and then the rest. He drags you closer with superhuman strength, and with a turn of his wrist, the warm sense of wetness spreads quickly up your forearm. Like a dancer, the playful predator spins you into his embrace, and your back immediately sticks in his front. His beak presses against the top and back of your head as he pretends, just for a second, that that's how he eats. Another pull, this time along every inch of you stuck inside him, and your vision gains a light tint, with a couple patches colored more like his eyes. Gently, more of a suggestion, Galleon turns his head and yours with it, to look at yourselves in the mirror; the talons on his other hand interlace with your fingers, the last bit still free. With a careful squeeze, they join the rest of you, entirely submerged in griffon.

In the mirror, you float a few inches off the ground, suspended entirely in Galleon's body. You hear his hum all around you; he drops his and your arms to his sides, then forces yours further, against your consumed body. His slime swirls, a changing current against your body, until your feet nearly touch the floor and your head rests just under where his collarbone would be. Experimentally, you try to move your arms, and successfully do so, as long as you wouldn't stretch his body out too much - unfortunately, after just a few seconds, the slime making up his torso grips your wrists tightly.

"I'm going to run myself along your skin, okay? So I avoid burning you with your clothes." His voice doesn't originate from his beak above you, but rather from everywhere. You nod, and see his face in the mirror start to concentrate.

It starts at your hands, feet, and neck, a gentle pressure around each of them that slowly spreads inwards. Up your legs, along your arms, down against your collar. And then, he's under your clothes - not that he hadn't been, considering how these clothes certainly aren't waterproof, but this time you can feel his intent to be there, that he's focusing on sliding against you. Your pulse quickens, and you can just feel a rising blush as the griffon climbs your thighs and explores your crotch to lift away every wrinkle of fabric, while at the same time running down and around your back, over every inch of concealed skin. He goes no further than he has to, but it's more than enough to make you feel very naked, despite being able to see yourself clothed in front of you. And then, he starts.

You've never caught Galleon digesting anyone - the closest you'd come was a curious stare at a turkey sandwich fizzling into slime, or when, on a dare, he ate a chicken leg through his lion leg (bone and all). Not that you'd tried very hard, of course, and the sight in front of you reminds you why. A hissing sound fills your ears as, in the mirror, holes appear and grow on the sleeves, legs, and belly of your shirt and pants, and no matter how hard you try to avoid it, it fills you with the thought of those same burns and holes appearing on a person's body, or even your own. It doesn't take long at all, and Galleon soon stops the fizzing entirely, turning the well-worn clothes into veritable tatters - though thankfully leaving your modesty intact, at least visibly so.

With his work done, Galleon raises his arms over his head and arches his back as though stretching, and his hold on your body doesn't pull away so much as dissipates, a reminder that he's still there, should he choose to pay attention there. "Doesn't look half-bad!" he congratulates himself, "a much more unique costume than a mad scientist, if I do say so myself!"

…wait.

You throw a punch at his chest from within - it won't hurt him, but it does earn his attention. "Yeah?"

"Treacherous little catbird, I never told you what I was dressing up as."

He freezes, the only movement being a slow current against your body. "…lucky guess?" Damn, even his beak stayed still.

Sighing always felt weird inside him, but times like this called for one. "Just ask, next time. And as long as it's safe…"

"Yeah, it's in the fridge."

"It's-!" The incredible duality of this slime, to be so clever and so stupid at once. "Alright, I got it more to hand out candy than for a party. Speaking of, what time is it?"

"About quarter to seven."

And that means time to go. You instinctively start walking towards the bedroom door as though Galleon wasn't surrounding you, but luckily, he moves with you, letting you lead. "Which of us is driving?"

"Both, I think." A slimy arm reaches out in front of you to pull open the front door. After stepping through, you hear a click, but see his keys in his other hand, and wisely decide to shelve that thought for later. "But you can. Lemme just get your arms back into mine once we sit down."

A few minutes later, the two of you cruise down the road, his head resting against the side of yours to let you see better. Galleon breaks the silence with a curious, "so… think we'll have the best costume there?"

You laugh. "If we aren't, I can't wait to see who does!"

#halloween #voretober #furry #anthro #v/ore #v.ore #safe vore #endosoma #furry griffon #human #willing prey #furry pred #human prey #pov #second person pov #costume #writers on tumblr #writing #vorefic

[chryblossomjjk]

bts fic recommendations | 01.10.23

→ hi friends! this is a little segment i do every tuesday (reviewsday get it, aren't i funny, pls tell me how funny i am) where i read and review two-three fics. as a content creator, i know how big of a role other creators play in your growth, therefore, i want to do my part in making sure everyone gets the recognition they deserve! so with that being said, please check out the amazing fics listed below. make sure to like, reblog, and leave feedback! ♡ #reviewsday #kikirecs

pina coladas (pt 1 + pt 2) - @han-nah-banana (jjk x reader | established relationship, smut, angst, fluff)

ok so um... the attention to detail is off the charts! like when the little things you mention about jungkook and oc, like them eating healthy foods, only having sex in the missionary position, etc. tells us so much about them and the status of their relationship. like you showed us that they were stuck in a boring, mundane relationship through little hints and i really love that. ALSO POV SHIFT IN PART ONE WAS SO GOOD! like the way their thoughts mirrored one another was such good storytelling ugh!!! also think you picked a great setting for this type of story, the 80s. it makes everything feel so real, like the sexual repression oof! so glad they got to bang it out in the sexiest way in pt 2! really really good for your first fanfic like WOW! loved it!

i can do better - @here4btsfics (pjm x reader | fwb, smut)

summary: your boyfriend of two years just dumped you and you’re angry and sad. so get hammered with your coworker at his place and eat bad food and watch trash tv which leads to some interesting conversations.

bro all you did is enforce my delusions that irl men cannot compete bc they are not park jimin. men should apologize for not being park jimin at this point. even kim taehyung... anywho lmao. DUDE and then oc listing all the things perfect about jimin. she is just like me fr!!! also like this is kind of how i picture jimin in real life ngl. THAT MAN IS A COCKY CONFIDENT DOM I WILL ARGUE THIS SHIT UNTIL IM BLUE IN THE FACE GTFO! and miss oc... no strings attached girl??? A WHOLE BLUFF. honestly, this entire fic is one of my daydreams when im in a lecture and i fucking loved every second of it bby! so so good. so glad you decided to start writing again, extremely proud of you.

darksided - @eoieopda (myg x reader | established relationship, smut)

summary: min yoongi adored you. he'd simply never hurt you.

i saw someone post about smut where the characters are so grossly in love is their fav genre. this is exactly that. this fic encompasses everything i love in fanfic. i felt like a fly on the wall, being dropped into the middle of the situation where i figure out who the characters are through their actions, words, etc. you do that so perfectly here. like the way i know everything i need to know about min yoongi through the FUCKING setting?? naur this is s tier writing right here. also there's just something you do with words thats v magical. can't put my finger on exactly what it is but here is an example:

"a quick survey of the landscape before you indicated that this was a criminal oversimplification."

LIKE IDK JUST SOMETHING ABOUT HOW YOU STRUCTURE SENTENCES IS GENIUS! like cannot even begin to describe how good this was. would die for this couple honestly. the smut had me clenching too OOF. so cool to see what you've accomplished on this platform in such a short period of time! it's so so deserved and i can't wait to see where you go from here. don't know how you can even get better than this like ur already at the moon um!!! but god it's only going to get better from here. like next thing u know u'll be a famous writer fr. wishing you nothing but the fucking best!!!!

#reviewsday #kikirecs #bts #min yoongi #park jimin #jeon jungkook #bts fic #bts fanfic #bts smut #bts scenarios #bts recs #jungkook smut #jimin smut #yoongi smut #bts fluff #bts jungkook #bts jimin #bts yoongi #bts imagines #bangtan #kpop #bts au #bts fic recs

[so-long-soldier-writes]

I have no irl friends or mutuals who are Kai Stans so I figured I’d send you an ask about it because you’re my fave Kai account. I just rewatched that episode after the merge where Kai tried to kill Liv with that candle and couldn’t bring himself to do it and I have never felt so emotionally conflicted in my life. Like on one hand, bad Kai don’t murder people. But on the other hand, he looked so genuinely upset to be wrestling with his conflicting emotions and I just wanted to hug him

Okay, first of all, I'm honored to be your fave. I feel like I say this a lot, but I'm absolutely melting!🩷Hearing that people enjoy the things I write always makes me smile, and I think about those kinds of comments on the daily. Second, I rarely answer asks this quickly; I usually write out a response over a few days and edit it over a few more, but this got me so freaking excited because I JUST watched that episode and had the same feelies you're describing. Third, I will gladly be a mutual with you, whether you want to stay on anon or not! (I am so shy and weird irl, but I love talking to people on here, especially fellow Kai stans!!) (I don't talk to anyone irl about Kai, not even my mom who's watching tvd, bc I just KNOW she's gonna be like... you like this guy? 🤨 and i'll be awkwardly trying to defend him like he's not the love of my life. also, i love my mom and we're super close, but every time she watches an episode, she needs to remind me how much she loves matt donovan 😵‍💫)

But back to the point, yes, I literally watched that same episode / scene last night! And ugh, it gives me so many different feelings, too.

We really got to see the internal struggle he was having in that moment. Earlier, he had mentioned he was writing to Jo, and that he was crying, but in this scene, we actually got to see the emotions he may have been feeling while writing it. He was already exhausted and overwhelmed from trying to astral project into 1994 to help Bonnie, which is another huge display of emotion, and now he's facing his innate need to protect himself verses a whole new slew of feelings he doesn't understand.

On top of that, I don't think he actually wanted any of his siblings dead. I think he was just so void of emotion from all his trauma and abuse that he came to believe the only way to survive was if they were to die. He is, and always will be a sociopath; there's no way to unwire his brain, but Luke's emotions gave him all these feelings he hasn't felt in decades. Part of not wanting to kill Liv was definitely Luke preventing him, but I think part of it, too, was his own feelings.

Just thinking about it… sociopathy develops around the ages of 14-16; Kai is technically 40 years old. He was completely isolated for so long, and then thrust into this loud, complicated, modern world that he doesn't understand. He still has to fight to survive; his family still hates him 18 years later. When he finally accomplishes his "task" - to survive, his family hates him even more, and, since survival equals the merge, he now has feelings to battle on top of all these other new struggles.

Then in that scene, he's trying to make up for the hurt he put his sister (Jo) through, and then Bonnie. He offers empathy to Jeremy, helping him reach Bonnie even after Liv stabs him. He's a bit puzzled on what he should feel for Liv. At the moment, she's just in his way of accomplishing these other "tasks," but Luke won't let him hurt her, and he's fighting with himself about it. And that's a lot. Luke is overwhelming him; his own emotions are overwhelming him.

He needs a hug. And a nap. Both. Personally, I wanted to jump through the screen and give him a hug, then let him fall asleep while I held him and promised to keep him safe.

He's just begging for some kind of security throughout the season. He looks to Bonnie and Damon for it, hoping the three of them can escape the prison world together; hoping he can trust them; that they won't leave him there any longer. He looks for it by merging, knowing if he wins, he secures his spot in the coven; he can't be killed. He tries to make amends with Damon, helping him find his mom, and Bonnie, trying to apologize. Even Jo; he feels sick and he goes to his sister, who's a doctor, because she knows her trade; she can help him; provide him with some clue of what's going on, because he doesn't understand. He doesn't want to be left behind on his own again. He wants someone to trust him, and trust that he's trying to be better. But that's exactly what happens when he's trapped in 1903, and then, of course, he snaps again, because he realizes no one is going to change their minds about him, and no one is going to offer the basic human needs he so desperately has wanted for decades.

If someone just gave him a freaking hug and a second chance, things would've went a lot differently for everyone involved.

It's their own fault, honestly, that the season ended the way it did, (speaking, of course, as if the writers were not writing, and that the characters chose the course of the story). Kai, I believe, is extremely intelligent, and knew exactly how to hurt every single person who directly or indirectly hurt him. He found a little bit of security in Lily Salvatore - all he really wanted - and with that little boost of confidence from the wrong person, was able to deliver absolute chaos and destruction where he deemed necessary.

But now, on a completely unrelated note, I also have three random things to say about this scene. Given the chance to talk about it, I feel I must. One, I find it absolutely hilarious how Kai and Liv throw silverware at each other almost every time they fight. The camera pans to a fork or a knife, and suddenly, it's in the other's neck. Makes me wonder how family dinners went in that household. 😅 Two, when he was pouring alcohol on her, all I could think was damn, he's just gonna set that whole mansion on fire and everyone in it. That huge, expensive, historic, mansion, just to burn one girl. Three, I also couldn't stop looking at that sadistic smile. How happy he seemed to get over the "prospect of getting to watch someone burn to death," right before he couldn't bring himself to do it. His dark eyes do something to me. And the fact that he was already covered in his own sweat and tears from, again, over-exhaustion, just had me watching with absolute heart eyes. Maybe I should go to therapy.

But yes, I feel the conflicting emotions. I really wanted him to not kill her, because I didn't want him to prove them all right. I really wanted him to be redeemed because he deserved it so much. But at the same time….. he just looked so hot doing it.

#asks #kai parker #the vampire diaries #me? going on a tangent? i'm so shocked #gjldnfdl i could talk about this boy FOREVER #loml <3

[disasterbijamietartt]

It hurts my heart how excited and happy Jamie was to go for a beer with Roy and whennRoy said how proud he was of him. I'm preferring to ignore the following part, but it did make me happy them realising they were being stupid and going for a kebab so Im hoping that was just a stupid lapse of sense. Although it is making me side eye Roy especially for behaving that way knowing Jamie's past.

Ugh, yes, the latter half of the bar talk really didn't sit right with me.

It started out so great, but then it made a u-turn …

You know, I understand why they brought up the love triangle with Roy and Jamie, since their feelings for Keeley was something that was still standing between the and that they needed to talk about, but I didn’t like the execution of them getting needlessly sexist about it (bringing up the sex tape, really? And Roy’s whole “stay away from her, we are talking again so she is clearly mine — although, women, who understands them?”).

I could even accept the fist fight as some sort of necessary catharsis for them, if it wouldn’t be for Jamie’s history with abuse and him just two minutes earlier saying how Roy gave him something positive he didn’t get from the other older men in his life. (I’ll assume Simon wasn’t that much into football, so he wasn’t as motivational and didn’t train with him etc., otherwise just … ouch.) And the thing is also, all of Roy’s jealousy aside … they never actually fought over Keeley, which was the part I found so refreshing about the way the love triangle was handled. But, yeah, I can see how there was some lingering animosity that had to get settled before they truly could be best friends. But they could done that without actually fist fighting …

The whole asking Keeley to choose thing was … quite arrogant of them and icky, but good for them to realise they were being idiots and that it apparently didn't mess with their friendship.

Still, I would have preferred if they hadn't come to the conclusion, that Keeley should chose (with her choice being neither for good reason), but that they had used this opportunity to talk with her about their feelings for her and that they needed to know where they were standing with her to find closure. And then them having an actual conversation adressing their conundrum and how it would be best for all of them to stay friends, yadda yadda.

Like, the thing that annoys me most is, that we didn’t get a follow up, no apology to Keeley for acting so stupid. She kicked them out, which was the right thing to do, but I'd wished they had actually talked things out.

It is nice to have it so open that you can interpret it whichever way you want, but after seeing the trio's blooming friendship last episode this felt like such a step back in their relationship. I just would have loved to get a little bit more resolution, to have them properly established as friends.

Especially if you read the montage as something only happening in Ted’s dream—like, that is the only way I can excuse Beard’s and Jane’s wedding (with Ted not being present on top?) and Jamie visiting James and laughing with him. (I saw so many people on reddit being moved to tears by Jamie reconciling with his “dad”, like, yeah, applause for years of abuse and trauma being ignored in order to get a sappy ending. Like, if the show had at least acknowledged the abuse and shown James taking accountability, BEFORE Jamie decides to reconnect, but yeah, no one has to ever be accountable to Jamie, soo … And it is especially upsetting considering they added sexual abuse to the long list of James’ crimes just to … completely drop this, as if it didn’t matter. They could have made Jamie’s first trip to Amsterdam traumatic in other ways, if the contrast between bad trip with dad and good trip with mum was all they wanted to accomplish …)

On a side note: Jamie enjoying and missing drinking beer threw me off, since he never seemed to be too fond of alcohol, but they probably wanted to get the Darsteiner callback in. Way more important than consistent characterisation.

#ted lasso spoilers #jamie tartt #roy kent #keeley jones #my answers

[miyuzarry]

Behind the Mirror (1)

LAST NEXT

Theodora: He told us to come to Octavia's old reading room. He didn't come...Again. When will this game stop?

Melody: I know you're angry, Theo. He lied to you so many times, but you have to calm down. We can't accomplish anything good out of this if we're overwhelmed with strong emotions.

Theodora: *sigh* It's not fair, Mels.

Melody: I know...But you have to keep in mind his past was problematic, and well, you know dramatic.

Theodora: Historically speaking most of my family had a problematic and dramatic life. I'm glad we don't.

Melody: I don't know, girl. Some stuff you've experienced was pretty lowkey problematic but that's not the point here.

What I'm trying to say is, if he is truly willing to show us his past with his own eyes, what else can we expect?

He is obviously trying to reveal the truth.

Theodora: While you have a good point, I still find it hard to believe he is. I have trust issues at this point.

Melody: I'm here, though, bestie. I've got you.

Theodora: Thank you, Mel. Wooa. Who turned the light off?

Melody: Uhhh, I don't know.

Theodora: Wait, look! The mirror! It's glowing like in the night I've seen Silas' memory of Octavia's pregnancy.

Melody: Why is it glowing though! Can't it just... well I don't know! Just show a picture.

Theodora: Don't worry, it's harmless. Silas just likes to have a dramatic entrance.

Theodora: See? What did I tell you.

Silas: Hello there.

Melody: Ugh, that was a pretty good entrance.

Silas: Well thank you, Princess Melody.

Theodora: Silas. Tell us what you wanted to tell us all along.

Silas: Alright. I will, but first, let me apologise for my behavior. I've heard you talking to Princess Melody. I didn't know you felt that way. I'm genuinely sorry.

Theodora: ...*sigh* It's okay. Just...tell us please.

Silas: Quick warning. These are my memories you'll see. You two will be inside of the mirror of memories.

Melody: That's the name of it?

Silas: Yes, well, it had plenty of names before- but that is irrelevant. You'll see everything I can still remember. Some things ... I didn't lie when I said that I don't remember everything.

Theodora: ...

Silas: However, it's interactive. Don't do anything silly, the mirror is magical and can send you through time. We don't want that.

Melody: Seriously is there any operation manual for this Mirror. Apparentally it has a lot of features!

Silas: Anyway... In case of time travel, take the bag in the closet right there. There is everything you need.

Theodora: We can interact with your memories? Does that mean we can be seen?

Melody: AND change time if we mess up?

Silas: Sadly, yes, i'm afraid so.

Theodora: What are we going to do in case of an emergency?

Silas: This is the reason I'm allowing you there. To explore a side of you that you've never known existed.

Melody: Silas. For the love of everything in this universe, why are you still talking in riddles?

Silas: ...It's just my thing. You'll figure it out. I'll appear in the mirrors if you need me.

Melody: I don't know about you, Theodora, but this sounds dangerous.

Theodora: It probably is. I mean, if it helps us find out what we need to help, then I say we should go for it, though Mels I don't know if you should come, because of your kids.

Melody: Theo, you're my bestfriend. I'll help you. Please just don't assume we're gonna die.

Theodora: *sigh* alright. Let's do this.

Silas: Good luck, Theodora.

Theodora: Thank you.

Note: Part 2 will be interactive. You can choose options in form of polls. Every option has a link underneath that will lead you to the next post. Remember: There are 3 options each, and only one can get Theodora and Melody out there safely. Choose wisely.

#elthonia #s4legacy #s4history #s4royalty #elthonianroyals #princesstheodora #braxtonbts #sims4 #s4 #PrincessMelody #MelodyMeora #MelodyofMoryk #DuchessMelody

[businesstiramisu]

Okay I rewrote the post. Thoughts on the last tenth (or so) of Worth the Candle:

[I don't really expect this to be interesting to anyone except me, but i do want to save these for future me, lol]

 I found the ttrpg Fel See Incident much more satisfying than the Aerb version. No, not satisfying, it was horrible. But it was exactly what the story had been building it up to be, for 1 million plus words, and that's quite an accomplishment. Whereas the Fel Seed of Aerb.... I think the problem is scope creep? When the stakes get Too High and the antagonists (or protagonists, for that matter) get Too Powerful my brain just gives up and I disengage. Like "sure, whatever, just tell me who wins". Whereas the ttrpg version, and the real world-level drama around it, felt horribly plausible.

I did like "we'll win the second time because, if Joon had gotten a second chance at the game, he would have let the players win." That was a nice bit of narrative reinforcement/article of faith.

 I love the Long Stairs. It's almost enough to make me think I should give SCP a more serious look, but I'm still worried the horror will be Too Scary for me. (And don't get me wrong I would hate to play a ttrpg campaign in it... actually, maybe it wouldn't be worse than usual? I could just follow the RDP instructions instead of my usual choice paralysis. well, depends on how often they come up. I probably wouldn't like having to make new characters constantly b/c they keep dying.) But like when Juniper wished they could've stayed in the labyrinth and explored the other cultures living there, I was right there with him.

The final reveal of Uther/Arthur..... hmmm, complicated feelings. On the one hand, ugh! why couldn't he just apologize, and admit to being terrible!! Well, he kinda did later... to Juniper, after they'd spent a long time rebuilding camaraderie and basically giving each other a pass for the horrible shit each considered the other to have done. And that was depressingly realistic. Well, idk that anything in my life compares (fortunately) but the most serious, scary arguments in my life have mostly gone like that.

Juniper and Arthur's ultimate goodbye felt appropriate, even cathartic. Raven and Bethel didn't get anything comparable though. Just Uther brushing them off (or in Ravens case saying "I understand this is hard for you but you've got to suck it up", basically). Which, yeah the world ain't fair. It wasn't justice, though. They didn't get their due like Juniper did.

The final conversation withe the dungeon master was also surprisingly satisfying! I liked it a lot more than when Sophie's World did the same thing. (And I've probably read more books that have the character confront the fact that they're characters in a novel, but that's what came to mind lol).

Maybe b/c it was really funny how the DM told Juniper "you're all characters in a novel I'm writing" and Juniper immediately rejected that explanation as bullshit.

Similarly, the Narrator, as the actual Juniper who was writing WTC

Heaven!Fenn though, felt overly self-indulgent to me. Which is maybe ridiculous, b/c the whole story is an exercise in self-indulgence/self-examination, but i dunno she just didn't work for me

Well, it's pretty hilarious that she was The One Person In Aerb Ever To Go To Heaven, and was always destined to be that one person. Hilarious in a pretty arbitrary way.

Someone in the comments to Ch. 245 or 246 said that "Worth the Candle but Reimer died instead of Arthur" is a great fanfic premise and... i dunno, it would be a massive amount of work, but it's tantalizing to think about. Seems like Aerb would have to be very different with--well, idk, would it be a whole collection of Reimer's characters, since he never seemed as devoted to one of them?-- instead of Uthur Penndraig, but with the themes of putting people on a pedestal, using their tragedies as an excuse to wallow in your own grief and depression and rage, and also the DM presumably having the same goals, I have to wonder how much it would even matter?!

Wow, the void beast was a metaphor for global warming?! kinda kicking myself for not picking up on that. Unless I just forgot about it; this story is really long.

#worth the candle #my own liveblogging #justice for bethel #justice for raven

[princessquinnella]

Elizabeth (belongs to @aili-chan ) pulling a Parent Trap scenario on her Uncle and Quinnella (bonus if Dawson / Mrs. Judson assist some services to help strengthen the mood lol)

A fancy candlelit dinner in the dining room with sweet music and their favorite foods lain upon the table.

The two are lured with sweet little cards - Basil’s even written in a broken leaf lettering coded alphabet, which basically tips him off early on to his dear niece’s part in this little game but… Dangit it’s a push he realizes he needs.

*~*~*~*~*

Basil is taken aback as he enters the dining room and sees the illustrious form fitting evening gown she’s dawned, jewels and ribbons shining in her hair. And here he was worrying he’d overdressed. She always seemed to have that effect upon him.

She’s… enchanting. As always.

It takes all his efforts not to give in to his desire to flee the room - this is a mistake a damned mistake but… he finds himself pulling out her chair before stiffly taking his own seat.

Checkmate.

It’s polite, painfully awkward conversation for the most part - compliments paid to one another’s handsomeness / beauty amidst long silences aside from the clatter of silverware as they both try to fight their nervousness.

Enough of this. Basil leans dangerously back in his chair, resting his feet up as he lazily swirls his wine glass. “You do realize what they’re hoping to accomplish with this little…”

“…Charade.” Quinnella remarks.

“…Manipulation.” He finishes.

He takes a long sip. “So we’re in agreement.”

Quinnella smiles mischievously. “I’ve pulled quite a few similar stunts of my own for plenty of couples back in Pixie Hollow.” Many of whom were still quite happily together.

“Well, now I see where she got the idea.” Basil scoffs, taking a glance at the door slightly ajar. “I expected better from you, Dr.!” He calls out, taking another sip.

True, he can’t be certain they’re watching how their little play is working out but… oh to hell with it, of course they are. His deduction is proven right with the sudden clicking of the door shutting behind them.

“It’s sweet.” Quinnella smiles, playing with the petals of a rose in the vase.

“It’s pathetic. As if we can’t make up our own minds…”

“Can’t we?” If anything the fairy was quite glad for the push.

Ever since their lovely late little night of passion the tension between them had simply been… unbearable. On both of their sides. Even worse than before as they both dared try and act as if nothing had happened.

As if the rest of the household didn’t see the increase in constant pining looks or nervous glances, gentle touches… didn’t notice the two of them sneaking off for quick stolen kisses or ‘private’ moments in the night in the small corners of the flat whenever they dared felt brave enough to act upon that tension - so thick you could cut it with a knife - yet still never felt brave enough to speak properly of it or the true deeper meaning behind their actions and silent affections.

It was maddening.

“That’s my point.”

Quinnella holds back a laugh. “You haven’t made one.”

“It’s…” he sighs. “I don’t need anyone - least of all my niece - meddling in my love life…”

Shit.

“Oh, so you do still have affections for me.” She smiles playfully, leaning closer. “Here I was beginning to think I was just some sweet satisfaction…”

“Don’t.” He leans close, taking her hand in his. Despite the playful jesting in her tone, it was no small matter of deducing the pained truth behind her eyes. “You know you’re worth more than that to me. So much more. I… I… ugh.” He falls flat.

Why was this so damningly difficult?

He cared for her greatly. Obviously more than words could express.

Just fucking say it.

“Miss Quinnella I…”

“Me too.”

She smiles sweetly. Her patience and consideration - the kindness of her heart - was tremendously unwavering. He would give her the very stars if he could.

Quinnella giggles at his bewildered expression, kissing the back of his hand. “There’s no hurry. We have all the time in the world.”

A terrifyingly naïvely optimistic perspective. Just how long would Professor Ratigan continue lying in wait? Just how long could he continue to keep her safe…

“It’s alright.” She cups his cheek with her hand, sensing his unease. It always seemed to be on the forefront of his mind. That fear, that paranoia amidst their affections. She knew it well. Felt those same fears. But with him… she felt utterly safe. She hopes to make him feel the same safety and comfort with her company. “Everything’s alright.”

Before he can even register his own motions he’s pulling her gingerly into his lap. The meal long forgotten in favor of a far more tantalizing dessert in store as her lips meet his, her legs wrapping around his waist as his fingers rove beneath the shining fabric of her gown.

#It’s No Mystery That I Love You 🔎🎻⚜️ #he’s taking her on that table lol #Suggestive #wanted to do more with this but it got away from me as always lol

[trashydemigodmess]

"They told me all of my cages were mental, So I got wasted like all my potential. And my words shoot to kill when I'm mad, I have a lot of regrets about that. I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere, Fell behind on my classmates, and I ended up here." - this is me trying, taylor swift

Rae passed it everyday on her way to the gym. The sign in the window. With its big, bold letters. Taunting her, haunting her. It followed her through her workout; contemplating, scheming, then pushing it away again. Maybe it’d resolve itself? Someone else would handle it and she wouldn’t have to worry about it gnawing at the back of her brain anymore. But she’d pass it again the next day, and the next, never changing. It had crawled under her skin like an itch. 

Today it made her stop in her tracks. She hoisted her gym bag up on her shoulder and sighed.

“AVAILABLE” The sign on the storefront read, “See Chiron for details”

It was on a corner, with a large front display window and a pretty, vintage white door. Just the right size for something small like a bakery or boutique or—

“Ugh.” Rae squinted. Then, after a pause, turned towards Camp.

———

She held her breath after speaking, expecting some sort of smug response, some sort of knowing glance. It felt like there were constant eyes on her back, everyone waiting for the other shoe to drop; To get her shit together, or teeter the other way and completely fall apart. It was a precarious line to balance, and she’d been going out of her way to balance on it for ages now, if out of spite and nothing else.

But, it was exhausting.

She saw people like Brent, happy and fulfilled and growing into their life. Hazel, with a house and an insane job and hopelessly in love. Even Ben, for fucks sake, falling in love with a celebrity! How’d she go from having it all together and getting out of Camp first, to now losing the race and falling all the way behind? She’d gone to Harvard, accomplished everything she was supposed to, and yet she still felt unsatisfied. There was always something just out of her reach, something she couldn’t put a finger on. Like she was unmoored and lost at sea, trying to follow the mirage in the distance. Showing back up in New Athens was supposed to be a victory lap. But two years later all she had to show for it was a big, empty apartment full of plants and her Dad breathing down her neck to find something to do with her life. It sounded stupid, but Rae felt terribly alone.

While so much else in Camp and New Athens had changed, The Big House looked exactly as it did the day she showed up at sixteen. Lots of dark wood, ancient texts, and artifacts she knew better than to touch mixed with pool noodles and clipboards and craft supplies. But, sitting in Chiron’s office was stained with bad memories. So she found herself fidgeting in the cushy chair in front of his desk, just as she had all the times she’d been there before.

“Oh, how wonderful,” Chiron smiled in reply, “I’m surprised none of your family has done this yet.”

Rae blinked, glanced around as if it were a prank. “That’s it?”

“Well, there is the paperwork and all of the legalities, of course.” The centaur adjusted his glasses as he sorted through some files in his desk, “However,” He glanced at her full gym attire, “If you don’t have time right now we can always schedule a time for you to come and do that later.”

“Oh.” Rae cleared her throat. Why was her heart racing? “Um, yeah, I can come in sometime this week. Whenever works best for you.” 

“Excellent,” Chiron pulled out his calendar—of course he still used a physical calendar—“Congratulations, Reagan, the shop is all yours.”

It was a terrible, crashing realization mixed with overwhelming relief as she walked back out into the sunshine. Rae hated it, but maybe it had always been that easy. Maybe the only thing that’d been in her way was…herself.

Not that she’d ever admit that to anyone, of course.

When she passed the shop on her way back to the gym she stopped again. This time, she pulled the sign off of the window, a small smile on her face as she shoved it in her purse and continued on her way.

#sp: rae #wdym i cant make the font smaller on this new post editor i hate it here smh #ANYWAYS! character development!

[pebblysand]

the end of feeling like shit.

tl;dr: i've decided to stop the monthly posts for the time being.

the truth is that i started writing them in the spring of 2021, at a time when i was really struggling with my mental health. i was in the midst of taking the bar exam (and thinking i would never pass), jobless, experiencing a very significant and scary bout of writer's block, single, and trying to survive through all of that, and a global pandemic. i felt the need to anchor myself in a world that felt like i was just floating by. i blamed myself for not being enough - constantly - and when i noticed those behaviours, i decided it would be good for me to take time out of my day, once a month, to pause. to reflect on the time passed, on the things i did accomplish, on what made me sad, or happy, or excited, or angry, on my feelings and where i was at in life, etc. writing these posts felt welcome and grounding, and just like journaling for some people, they were a way to watch time go by, be kind to myself where i felt lonely and isolated away from family and friends, etc.

lately, as you might have noticed, they've more or less turned into rec posts. and, to be honest, the reason for that is that i ... no longer feel like shit? it's been a few months now that writing these posts has felt sort of superflous, like time taken out of my day to write in a way that i don't really need to write anymore. i'm fine. i mean, obviously work is a hellscape (#capitalism) and i still blame myself for not doing enough (the guilt i feel about not updating castles as regularly as i would like is reeeeeaaaal) but overall, i'm happy. much happier than i was last year. and now, writing these posts feels like a chore and while i do like doing recs and stuff, i feel like that can be done whenever i feel like it, rather than on the basis of a strict, monthly schedule.

i think i just made the decision now because: i'm in london this weekend. the sun is shining, and thank god the heatwave has stopped. i walked 9km this morning, went to the natural history museum (looooved it!), came back to my hotel to pee/change and was like: ugh, i need to write the monthly post before going back out, i won't have time to next week. and then, thought: you know what, i actually don't have to? i mean, the posts were good while they lasted, and i'm glad to have written them all, to have that piece of history to look back on, but they don't serve me anymore ❤️. i might get back to them in the future but at this point, i no longer need them and i think that's a good thing :).

plus, now that the podcast has happened, i feel like i can rec things i wanna rec on there whenever. same thing for updating you on how writing is going. plus, you can always (and please do) reach out through asks, etc. if you have any questions, i love to answer those. and, if i have a longer opinion/take i want to express, i can always do it on here, whenever i have time/feel like it.

as for castles, i had a little bit of a PANIC last week when i realised that july is hovering dangerously close and i've still so much work to do (basically: finish editing 11, finish the first draft of 12, write 13 from scratch 😱) and so little time until august. so: i've booked a couple of days off from work next week, which i'm really hoping will 1) allow me to finish the drafts and only have to edit in july? a girl can dream and 2) rest a little bit. my sleep has been all over the place lately and return to the office has hit me like a tonne of bricks. so, expect more ramble-y updates as i work through castles next week, and hopefully make progress.

anyway, i hope you're all doing well. i know the last couple of days have been hard on the world, so take care of yourselves.

love,

pebbles.

#the last #monthly post

[hanakihan]

Felt like drafting salieri and jalter’s meeting after salieri was guided and allowed into manor, nothing fancy honestly

‘Who the hell are you!?’

Salieri didn’t even notice how he fell asleep on a sofa in a main hall - maybe that’s a result of his aged body, maybe a result of his tired mind - and he absolutely didn’t expect to be awakened so suddenly and loudly. He opened his bleary eyes to be greeted by a shaped blob in color of sand and dried wine, not tall yet not small either. And oh it still continued to yell.

‘I asked - who the hell are you!?’

It’s definitely a girl’s voice - relatively young, not yet reaching stage of aging, like a gentle chime of a hand bell. After blinking couple of times and adjusting glasses on his nose Salieri finally had a clear picture - a petite blond girl with rather angry look on her face and a frying pan in her tiny pale hands. Despite her glare, it was quite obvious she was nervous, if slightly shaking hands were any indication.

‘Old man I won’t ask third time—‘

‘O-oh, excuse me. I’m…’ He needed to give her an answer, to at least calm her down, yet nothing reasonable came to mind. ‘I’m… I was allowed here? A big lone wolf lead me to a mansion and a hospitable house fire allowed me to stay?..’

Oh great, his own explanation of events sounded pathetic and unreal. Who in their bright mind will believe this—

‘Ugh, to think that Lobo and Oglasa will guide you here.’ At least unknown lady lowered frying pan and now was tousling her wild blond hair, visibly troubled. ‘I guess you’re good to be here then. Why an old man like you will wander Wastes in the first place?’

Salieri had no idea if girl was interested in his answer at all, considering she already turned away from him and was heading out of main hall to an adjoined room which was probably a kitchen. She, however, was moving relatively slowly as if waiting for him to follow, and after straightening his cracking back and picking up his cane, Salieri got up from sofa and followed her. As he followed and passed Oglasa, temperamental flame cracked as if laughing and spit out some sparks. All Salieri could do is to give a clearly having fun flame a side eye and continue on his way, after all young lady seemed to be a rather impatient person.

‘There was never a place for me in a city. Not before, not now, since I accomplished what I wanted in my life. Maybe you can call it a small adventure.’

She clearly didn’t buy it. Not at all, if her intense stare of any indication. But it’s also not like he can openly tell her that he was cursed and really badly - tell someone and they’ll die, and then he’ll die too, eventually. There’s no point to end a life so young over some unnecessary truth.

‘… I see. Well then, we shall wait until imbécile returns and then decide if you’ll stay here with us.’ Just like that intensity in her eyes disappeared and lurking annoyance took its place. She continued her way, frying pan still clutched in her right hand as if a weapon of war, ready to be used either for cooking or for combat. ‘For now I want to eat. Old man, can you cook?’

‘I lived alone, so I can do basic dishes. Nothing fancy.’

‘Fancy or not, food is still a food, so if you cook decently enough you’re good to go.’ She’s strangely pleased with knowledge of him having at least some basic cooking skills, which is weird but he’s not going to question nature of it. ‘Then I’ll leave you to it and Oglasa, because this little fiend rarely listens to me and I don’t want more burns on my hands. All stuff for cooking is here, Oglasa is in main hall, you get it. I’ll go and prepare table. And maybe welcome this imbécile so he won’t fall asleep on a doorstep like last time.’

Salieri has no idea who’s this mysterious ‘imbécile’ little lady continues to mention - but from the sound of it he may be the owner of this manor. Which means Salieri will also need to somehow explain his presence here to said person. Wonderful, especially when Salieri himself is not good at lying.

#jalter in this AU is like what around 12 #old salieri wears glasses and has a cane #jalter is cool with him rather quickly because there’s ain’t no way anyone can casually enter manor and even sleep here #cookie for those who find a reference ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) #also yes lobo is here as a turniphead (but also more than that) #we can say it overgrown howl’s moving castle AU #it’s everything at this point HDBHDNDJDND

[away-ward]

hey ko, i was that prev anon, and thanks for redirecting me to that blog!

and just want to make some comments here about:

"The op in the screenshots seemed to ask for a guy that wasn't a jerk, and PD was like "well, I tried and nobody liked it."

and

"PD seems to struggle with understanding what really makes their MLI seem like jerks."

i honest to god disagree with PD on this because birthday girl solely existed and written for the "nice guy who works hard in life, and deserves good things to happen to him" trope. Like pd literally wrote this for their fans who wanted something differently. And while pike lawson, the mmc, was not the most clean mmc ever, he really was overally just a good and great man.

-

here's some author's note about birthday girl from the recently re-released paperback of birthday girl:

BIRTHDAY GIRL Q AND A

Birthday Girl is different from your usual work. Did you worry that it would disappoint readers?

I think I'm always nervous. Especially when my editor gets ahold of a book! She's brutal.

But honestly, I never feel like I have a choice but to be who I am. I loved the idea, and it felt really good—a nice change of pace to write a kinder hero, someone who works hard for a living and deserves to come home to a person who loves him. I remember a reader saying, "This is the book I didn't know I needed from Penelope Douglas," and that was great to hear, because readers, I think, needed to see that I could write a man like Pike. He has his moments, but he's not a bully. He has no real trauma. He's a good man.

-

and guess what, birthday girl was actually loved by a lot of fans, even if theyre not fans of taboo romances, dark romances or bully romances. The only criticisms this book get was because of is 1. Age gap, 2. Light Misogyny, and 3. If they're just not into smutty taboo indie romances. Literally. So if PD KNOWS how to write mmc like pike and fmc like jordan, wtf do they mean they dont know how to write jerks? Like wh does what they said always dont make sense?

but then they also almost only seem like will grayson is a cute quirky guy acting as if he did not assault rika in corrupt so? Idk. And them being confused when people dont understand why tuernan in credence ended up with kaleb because kaleb was not given enough space in the books at the other two potential love imterest is so? Like why are you surprised? Putting aside all the taboo or problematic aspects of the book, kaleb still was not around tiernan a lot and their development was shite.

i just ugh, wtv haha idkew to think rn, i shouldve jjst read and move on

Ah see, I haven't read any of their other books, but I have heard birthday girl is one of their more well received even if credence is better known. I apologize for talking about what I didn't know.

So it seems they do understand how to write a character that isn't a jerk. But then why did the reader ask for a mmc that isn't a jerk, and why didn't PD just point to birthday girl instead of bringing up nightfall, which they should know their fans are divided on?

PD isn't an author I give a lot of mind to. For the most part, I'm not into what they write, so their reasonings don't often make sense to me. They really took a misstep here by asking for feedback and then immediately rejecting it when someone brought up a topic they didn't want to discuss (Alex). If that's the case, don't bring up the topic (nightfall) first.

Edited paragraph: It would be one thing if they actually wanted to learn and expand their understanding of what the issue is, but I truly don't think they care. They like what they wrote. They're proud of what they wrote. And they have a right to enjoy it. Writing takes so much time and energy, to reach a finished product is an accomplishment. I have no doubt it hurts to present your work to "fans" and then have them riot. Which is why they're wanting to shut down conversations about it; it hurts. But no body is conceding their side, and we shouldn't be expected to.

I don't feel there is a lot here to make sense of, and I don't understand enough PD to even attempt to explain a reason. It's unfortunate, really. Sometimes the best thing to do is just ignore the author and like you said, move on.

#asked and answered 281 #asked and answered #devil's night series stuff #devil's night series #related to prev ask #asked and answered 280