#‘We cohabitate its safe to say’

[nova--spark]

Earth 101 : A Manual for the Visiting Cybertronian

Introduction : Welcome to Earth !

To preface this manual, we would like to add that all Autobot and Decepticon alike who is found within these pages consented to their usage as an example of what NOT to do.

If you are said Autobot or Decepticon reading this manual once again, we simply hope the kind refresher truly remains within your memories this time.

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Greetings and welcome to Earth, the ‘Blue Planet’, ‘Gaia’ or ‘Terra’ if you prefer!

This comprehensive guide has been crafted with the aid of both native Earth inhabitants known as ‘humans’ and long-time Cybertronian residents of the planet, who have learned the curious planet’s customs, culture and general manners. With this guide, we hope to make your stay on Earth, no matter its length, smooth and relatively free of possible 'road bumps' as the Earth saying goes.

We will cover a number of topics in this extensive guide, ranging from Terran laws when driving on their roads to avoid detection by human authorities and locals, to explaining the native species of Earth and how to cohabitate with them, and the culture of the planet’s various continents.

Earth is a very small planet in comparison to our beloved home of Cybertron, but is still a planet rich in culture, technology, and life so different yet similar to our own all the same.

However, this does mean that we Cybertronians are to be cautious when it comes to interacting with the natives.

Earth’s native species, called Humans, number close to 8 billion, and average a height of five to six feet, and are generally divided into ‘female’ and ‘male’ categories , though there are sometimes outliers in this categorization due to genetic differences.

Humans are naturally curious creatures, and in the past, when Cybertronians encountered them, they reacted in varying degrees.

Most commonly was shock and fear, though some of their species likely originating from their warrior class reacted with aggression and were commonly those that used offensive techniques of their kinds battle strategies, seeking to protect their kind.

It is for this reasoning that the Autobot faction of our people has generally sought out human liaisons in the human militaristic factions.

There has however been small exceptions to this, in times where inadvertently, we created bonds with non military human liaisons, who perhaps found us in our vehicular forms and without our intentions, would find out our true nature.

These cases are highly monitored and we insist that newcomer Cybetronians to Earth maintain the following motto:

ROBOTS IN DISGUISE.

We implore that this motto be followed at all costs.

Countless breems (or hours as they are known on Earth) have been spent to ensure our utmost secrecy, and yet still we have found that many in our ranks fail to uphold this singular motto.

We have spent too much time scrubbing the entire datanet of Earth of our presence and even then, some of these incidents still are hard to cover up, especially as the human datanet is vast and ever evolving.

We hope that this guide to Earth and its customs is an enlightening and informative experience and aids in your adjustment to the vast differences of our homeworld and this new planet.

This guide was written in collaboration with various leaders, medics, researchers, native Terrans and Cybertronians who have lived here for decades, and is constantly evolving with the times and various eras lived through in our time here.

If there are subjects you believe should be added to this manual, please inform the correct officer, medic or official who has authority to create entries.

Please do not suggest entries which are : practical jokes, inside jokes, suggestive in nature, entirely misinformative, or may cause harm to your fellow Cybertronian and human alike.

Enjoy your time on Earth, and please remember to drive safely on the Terran roads.

#transformers #maccadam #maccadams #tf bayverse #tf rid 2015 #tf rid15 #transformers prime #tfp #tf prime #tf knightverse #earth 101 : a manual for the visiting cybertronian #nova writings #nova notes

[dwreader]

one of the few good faith questions about s1 gender roles is why louis is only paralleled with white women. why does the show make him iolanta, melisande, nora helmer, etc and not claire kendry or janie crawford, characters who also appear in literature from the show's time period. why is he reading flaubert, colette, edward carpenter and not claude mckay or nella larsen who actually writes a lot about interractial relationships. on one hand the showrunner is white and maybe those are the texts he feels most comfortable with, but there are more than a few black creatives working on the show who are contributing in significant ways.

first of all, characters like iolanta, stella kowalski and nora helmer do not need to be white. they are white in their original forms because the writers were white and sometimes based them on real people. tenessee williams always wanted to have streetcar performed by diverse casts even though he based the characters partly on people in his own family. many productions now have non-white actresses in these roles (assad zaman was in one of these productions of a doll's house). also we can safely say lestat assigns melisande to louis because that's the kind of shit he's into (french opera based on a belgian story) and he's not really well read.

beyond that though, to me the reason louis is paralleled with white women is because he's married to a white man in 1910 louisiana where not only was interracial marriage illegal but homosexual relations and even interractial cohabitation were banned. but because of lestat's power, money and their vampire powers, these roles don't really apply to them. people who were in interracial or homosexual relationships in the 1910s had very different struggles and conflicts from loustat, like most of them could barely step outside without worrying about their safety. they certainly wouldn't be parading around society together all the time while even the politicians and authorities know about their relationship. so how do you make sense of your marriage if its very existence is anachronistic?? who's writing about your experiences if your experience is such an outlier in your society literally due to supernatural forces? there's no shortage of black literature in this time period (which overlaps with the harlem renaissance!) but being married to a white man is quite fundamentally different to being married to a non-white man especially in early 20th century. a white man has complete control over his dominion which includes the home and the outside world. a non-white man may have control over his home but the minute he steps out the door he's at the mercy of white men, he could be killed for simply looking at someone the wrong way, which makes non-white men impossible to relate to lestat. and who was allowed to be married to white men in those days? white women.

and ultimately louis is nora because the conflict of needing to escape an overbearing husband was something allowed only to white women in literature/theater. the reason we find so many parallels between louis and white female characters like belle even now is because his role in this story is largely reserved for white women and this has clearly ruffled a lot of feathers because its unfamiliar. i'll be curious to see what the show does as time moves forward but for season 1 it's very clear to me why the show chose these specific intertextual references.

#the loumand dynamic in s2 intrigues so much for this reason #cause we are moving into a lot more liberated territory #for louis who is so well read especially how does he relate his story to the stories he's read #iwtv

[depraced]

hello all you lovely people and autonomous entities! I've noticed a fair bit of people don't know how freaky frogs, just as a creature, are! I wanna give you some cool frog facts to help you either flesh out the character or at least amuse you.

Frogs have no throat muscles to swallow and must pull their eyes in to push food down! It is entirely possible that Fake Peppino has trouble eating food due to his bad eye.

Frogs are notably cannibalistic but SOME frogs can co-hab(cohabitate) like the dumpy frog!

Frogs can care for their kids! One of my favorite frog parents are poison dart frogs that let their children suction cup on their backs to be carried down the trees they live on. Bullfrogs are notably stupid and cannibalistic BUT there is a chance one stays behind to save all of their children from drying out! (This is called a creche)

Frogs can have hair! BUT and this is a big one, that hair is really just tiny strips of skin filled with blood vessels. It is likely if you cut Fake Peppino's hair he would bleed.. Or whatever he does when injured. It's the wolverine frog, btw.

Frogs have been known to use sign language! Strange, but there is a type of frog that lives near a waterfall that is so loud the only way to communicate is by waving their legs to convey thoughts.

There are frogs that get so small that they become really bad at everything. They are so small they cannot jump right because their inner ear cannot use fluid in the way it is supposed to. THEY CANNOT HEAR but the silly things still make noise anyways.

There is a type of frog that breaks its fingers to use the sharp bones as claws. Metal. Also the wolverine frog.

Frogs shed! They love the taste of their own shed skin like geckos.

If frogs are gymnasts toads are wrestlers. Armed with impressive arm muscles and back legs as well as MANY species packing a potent poison and even special claws, the only reason we don't fear them is that we do not fit in their mouths. I kept toads and if they wanted to kill something they crushed it to death. Also the toad I kept had an extra toe in front to help them grab the females and screamed if you grabbed behind their ears. It's a reflex to say they are a male so other males do not grab them. Bufo Americanis, btw.

Some frogs have that reflex too. They can scream if you grab their back or head.

A frogs tounge is attached at the front of the mouth and flips like a hinge! Fake Peppino does not seem to do that but really hinge tounges are cooler so his loss.

A tadpole absorbs its tail after it grows in its legs. It will not eat during this period. It's tail is all the food it needs. Also tadpole tails are cool. Yes, that is a fact.

There is a frog that can freeze solid making it one of the VERY few animals to be able to do so. It's heart barely beats during this time.

The glass frog is see-through. Seriously. Look it up, it's cool as hell. Not as completely as the glass eel but enough to watch it's innards.

poison dart frogs raised in captivity are entirely safe to handle as their poison comes from their food. Toads just make their own through glands. They are always bad to eat.

Let me know if I missed any cool facts! I forget how much people do or don't know.

#pizza tower #Fake Peppino #Frog facts

[haggishlyhagging]

Far from being eternal, pair-unions developed slowly and precariously over a long period of time. The right of safe passage into the community of cross-cousins was a signal advance over earlier fleeting encounters between the sexes in the forest. But there were still many hesitations, suspicions, and fears between the men of the two moieties, and these were reflected in the relations between the young men and old women.

This precarious situation can be seen more clearly in what is sometimes called the "institution of the visiting husband." In the earliest stage of matrimony the husband was little more than a visitor to his wife's community. He did not start out by occupying a separate house or hut with his wife; he was given accommodations in the male clubhouse reserved for strangers and visiting husbands. There under the surveillance of his wife's male kin he slept and took his meals. A survival of this ancient practice is noted by Webster:

‘In Samoa . . . the young men slept by themselves and received the visitors to the community. In the Fiji Islands at least two Bures-ni-sa, or strangers' houses, were found in every village. In them all the male population passed the night. "The women and girls sleep at home; and it is quite against Fijian etiquette for a husband to take his night's repose anywhere except at one of the public bures of his town or village, though he will go to his family soon after dawn."’ (Primitive Secret Societies, pp. 11-12)

According to some reports, when a visiting husband arrived at the village of his wife, he parked his weapons outside before entering. Others say that he did not immediately walk into the wife's community; he sat down at the outskirts and waited until one of his wife's kinsmen summoned him to the male clubhouse where he was given accommodations.

Thus before men achieved the status of full-fledged husbands, living and sleeping under the same roof with their wives, they passed through an interim period of history in which they were only part-time visitors. Briffault refers to them as "surreptitious" husbands, and to matrimony at this stage of its evolution as "clandestine marriage":

‘Even more extraordinary in the light of our notions than the position of the husband as a stranger, guest or visitor within the group to which his wife belongs is the fact that he is commonly a clandestine and surreptitious visitor. One of the Japanese words for marriage is "Home-iri," which may be interpreted "to slip by night into the house," and the expression accurately describes the mode of connubial intercourse among a large proportion of primitive peoples.

Among the Khasis "the husband came to his mother-in-law's home after dark only. . . . The Tipperah husband gains access to his wife's room like a burglar, and leaves it before dawn. Among the Yakut, the husband visits his wife in a similar manner after dark. . . . The Kuril never visit their wives publicly, "but steal to them privately in the night." Among the Tartars, the bride-groom likewise slips into the bride's house surreptitiously, and he is particularly careful not to be seen leaving it, for her male relatives are waiting, ready to administer a sound drubbing if they should happen to catch sight of him.’ (The Mothers, vol. I, pp. 513-14)

This indicates a certain advance on the part of the stranger seeking a bride; he has breached the "citadel," that is, the sector so carefully guarded because it is occupied by the older women and the children. He is now cohabiting with his wife, in the same sector and even under the same roof as that dangerous old witch, his mother-in-law. His chief concern now is to escape detection by his wife's male kinsmen. We learn from Briffault that often the mother-in-law herself acts as a "go-between" in the cause of love:

‘The Kirghis bridegroom is secretly introduced into the bride's chamber by the "go-between," and he must depart before dawn. . . . In Khorassan, it was the rule for the mother of the bride to introduce the bridegroom secretly into the house by the back door; the male relatives were not supposed to know anything of his visits, and he had to depart before dawn.’ (ibid., p. 514)

The fearsome old witch gradually became transformed into a proper mother-in-law, although she still remained a formidable figure, to be treated with great circumspection. This explains the curious remark made by an Australian aborigine which Radcliffe Brown reports as follows:

‘In its most extreme form there is complete avoidance of any social contact between a man and his mother-in-law. This avoidance must not be mistaken for a sign of hostility. One does, of course, if one is wise, avoid having too much to do with one's enemies, but that is quite a different matter. I once asked an Australian native why he had to avoid his mother-in-law, and his reply was, "Because she is my best friend in the world; she has given me my wife"’ (Structure and Function in Primitive Society, p. 92)

-Evelyn Reed, Woman’s Evolution: From Matriarchal Clan to Patriarchal Family

#Evelyn reed #anthropology #history of marriage #mothers in law #human history

[spicyliumang]

Hii! ♥ 8,9, 19 and 24 for the edgy oc ask game? :3

HI TRIXI!! ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝ꕤ*.ﾟ

8. Would your OC ostensibly be able to get away with murder?

Enya on her own? Definitely not 😭 the guilt would eat her alive SDLALSDFS but if she had an accomplice...with a certain experience of that expertise...maybe🤔 😭

9. Do you have a specific lyric or quote that you associate with your OC?

If there's any song that literally screams Enya its

Caitlyn Scarlett - Happy When (Miko Waye Remix)😭 there are a few segments from it that rly suits her 😩

[Verse 1]

Try to keep you, try to wrap you up and set the feelin' For when I really start to need you, you don't belong to anybody So I just wait, try to give you time to want the same things Say you don't believe in soulmates, I know it's real 'cause I feel the hole in me-e-e

[chorus]

I'm just a piece of a two-part puzzle Nothin on my own, only happy when I'm lovin' someone Happy when I'm lovin' someone I'm drinking singles but I see double Lonely but I know I'll be happy when I'm lovin' someone Happy when I'm lovin' someone

19. How does your OC behave when enraged?

Enya normally has really bad outbursts and she tends to have a huge meltdown afterward, the worst was finding out Tendo killed her bio parents 😭💔, In that case, she had to literally be pulled off of him after he got knocked because she was so mad she would have killed him with no hesitation😣 in the past though Sometimes it would consist of throwing small things and screaming in a pillow, but that's when she was much younger and had to live with her stepmom 😭😅 24. What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they'd made those decisions?

Honestly, I do think about that a lot 😭 In Y7 if her parents lived and time went on as usual, she possibly would have encountered the gang in Kamurocho years later, but chances are she would have had an office job or possibly married to a salaryman or even inherited her family's business.. there's no telling how her encounter with the gang would be or even if she'd really be close to them, but I like to think maybe fate would bring them together 😭 and in terms of her being with Zhao, it would really depend, but I rly love the soulmate theory you have and a huge fan of it too😭💙 so it would really depend on whether or not she's married by the time she encounters Zhao or even the state of it (since let's face it, Enya's has a bad boy streak and knows how to pick em 😭) Not to say the guy would be Shoji 2.0... but Enya likes excitement despite her meek personality, so she would always try to seek out someone spontaneous and full of life, an office worker she'd be complacent at first... not to say she has a wandering eye, but chances are she'd break it off if it would be too mundane, or at least if she doesn't feel that... spark

Ishin!Enya is a different story 😭

IF nothing happened to Todo that day or even if she managed to help him just in time for him to be able to recover, with no question she wouldn't leave his side. She would probably nag him if he did anything too strenuous while his wounds are trying to heal because we know he wouldn't sit still for the life of him 😭 he's probably attempting to brush it off and go back to fulfilling his duty, but Enya would care and tend to him once he's better. Ideally, I like the idea of them getting married, but at the same time, I feel them maybe cohabiting for a while would be great at first. Enya knows better than to beg Todo to settle down so she'd be willing to go anywhere he does, as long as he's safe 🥺 this is the good ending at least

THOUGH

IF she never encountered Todo at all and remained living with Shoji, unfortunately, it would be far worse. She'd still have to live under the same circumstances, but soon would officially be bonded to him legally. So there are no more excuses why she can't sleep with him much less avoid him at all. She would eventually bear his children. Even if she didn't want to be a mother she would still care and treat them well, look after them, and teach them the best she could. She would protect them any way she could and would fight back if need be. Eventually, it does become too much and Enya runs away with her children. Maybe she'd have 2 or 3? And she'd raise them alone. I'd like to think she'd be supportive of those in the city who would allow it since she still has a terrible rep because of her dad and naturally the children have the same fate because of Enya "breaking her sacred marriage" with Shoji or something dumb like that, which she would raise them to have thick skin and encourage them. They'd be raised well and would go very far because of that

IF the same fate happens to Todo no matter what and Enya doesn't pass from broken heart syndrome, she'd work at Teredaya as usual. Otose would keep her company and help her with her duties at the inn. On a mundane day though Shoji would reappear and cause a real scene Eventually finding his way to Enya back even against her will because of the arranged marriage. Unfortunately, even poor Otose can't save her. Enya would also find out Shoji was actually in cahoots with Takeda unbeknownst to her and he would not hold back giving every detail of Todo's suffering pretty much tormenting her every way he could. He would make it even harder for her to run off again, letting everyone know to "keep an eye on her" and anyone trying to get too friendly risks their lives in the process, which most people wouldn't do. Enya would still have to bear his children in the end and live under his means. She'd be miserable but would try to put on a brave face for them trying to be a good mom. In order to keep herself grounded, she would plant flowers, much like the ones in her hair and the ones on Todo's kimono. It would be a comfort since her love was snatched away. And it's the only covert way where Shoji won't attempt to destroy or ruin anything of sentimental value, especially if it is something that reminded her of Todo. Since she wasn't able to get Todo's kimono from Teredaya successfully from Otose, she held on to it. hoping one day Enya will be able to break free. That day wouldn't come. For a long time, so it was kept in storage hidden away.

#New lore unlocked :D #hashtag bad ending :'D #Enya's life is a rollercoaster 😭 #enya posting

[chayacat]

Remember, My Love. (26) Epilogue.

Fandom: Resident Evil 8 Village

Lycan Karl Heisenberg x Female Reader  

Rated M for Violence, language and Smut

WARNING: This chapter is the epilogue. Almost all content of this ultimate chapter will be dialogue because this is a video Chris receives. There will therefore be no action between the characters or even direct verbal exchange between them. I hope you enjoyed this fiction to its end and don't worry, all chapters are available in the Re8 master list! Happy reading!

***

“Hey Captain, we received this for you.”

Chris turned his head in the direction of the voice, only to see Tundra with a package in her hand. When he took the package and looked at the provenance, he couldn't help but smile. It had been a year since his mission in this village in Romania. And he hadn't forgotten what had happened, or the encounters he had. Even less the promises he made before leaving.  

For a year, Chris had somehow helped the village to rebuild itself and at the same time brought a little modernity. Aria for her part had promised to give him news. And that's the reason for this package in Redfield's hands. The funny thing about these videos was that contrary to appearances, Aria seemed much more comfortable than Karl for this kind of thing. Chris opened the package, took the small usb key inside and inserted it on his computer, before opening the most recent file, dating from 3 days ago.

“It's okay, does it record?” said Karl on the camera.

“Of course it records, this is not the first time I handle this computer, in one year I have had plenty of time to learn.” responds Aria, before sitting next to him.  

“Yeah yeah, I know. So... Hi Redfield. It's been a long time...”

“Hi Chris! Sorry that you haven't heard from us all this time. The reconstruction of the village... well, we say that Rome was not built in a day so... It was a bit complicated. But as you can see when you’ll see this... We're fine.”

“The village is resuming a normal life... And let's say that the little touch of modernity that you wanted to bring... is starting to take hold well among everyone.”

“Leonardo, Elena's father rejected all these technologies but... Since he got into it, especially with television... we can say that he has radically changed sides. Especially with football matches. Concerning... You know what, he's fine too. It's going to sound strange but... The place where it is, is covered with flowers and vegetation... Go find out how it happened. But... He feels pretty good. No one knows about it. Not even the villagers.”

“I still think it's a mistake not to tell them about it but hey...”

“Karl we already talk about it...we have to make sure that the mutamycete is safe. Imagine if the villagers know about it? They could kill it just by fear!” replied Aria.  

“I know I know. But we won't be able to keep it secret forever...Well, that’s way of speaking.”

“Yeah, that’s a way... But in the meantime, it's the best thing to do. I don't think the villagers are ready for that. Don't forget how long it took them to... adapt to the pack.”  

“It is true that cohabitation has not been... simple.”

“When we wanted to use the strength of lycans to help rebuild the village... The inhabitants were not very... Reassured. So, we had to show them that Karl in addition to his magnetic powers... was one too and that he could watch them. Even Urias got into it, I wish you had seen it with your own eyes!”

“It's true that it was funny to see.”

“Karl!”

“Haha sorry buttercup.”

“In any case as far as the village is concerned, everything is fine! Since... Moreau is no longer there, it is Donna who serves as our doctor! Hoping that a doctor from another town or village will come to replace her. She is very talented, but Angie scares people a little. And... Karl and I are going to... Maybe we'll travel a little bit in a while.”

“Hey hey sweetly my love...”

“Karl, you promise me!”  

“And I'll keep my promise. But we still have some details to be solved before.”

“I know...but I can wait to see all those beautiful things around the world! And maybe we’ll meet during our travels!” said Aria with a great smile before hearing someone crying. “Oh, I think she woke up... I'll look for her.”

“Sure Buttercup.”

Aria stood up before stepping out of the screen to head into another room. Karl couldn't help but smile before looking at the camera again and getting more serious.  

“I... I wanted to thank you again for what you did a year ago, Redfield. If you hadn't decided to come to this village to take care of Miranda... We would not be where we are today. And I think we'd all be dead. But thanks to you, everything is different. And it's better this way. It always hurts my ass to tell you that by the way. Aria's powers have greatly improved. She masters them almost perfectly. Even if she still has a little trouble controlling everything, she no longer freezes everything she touches and that's the most important thing. As soon as there is movement, I will warn you by letter as usual.” Said Karl taking a break.  

“I don't know where you are right now but... I suspect you must be pushing back the failed Umbrella experiment. And to say that it is with Miranda that everything starts. If she had never met this guy... this Spencer... Then nothing you explained to me would exist.  I have done the research you asked me for in your last letter. They are in the package you received. Make good use of it, because I wouldn't do it twice.” he replied.  

“heyyyy look who’s there~” said Aria, reappearing on the screen with a baby on her arms.

“Hey my little flower, that was a very long nap! Everything fine?”

“I had to change her, and she was very hungry. She drank her nursing bottle in no time!  And she arrives just in time to say hello to Uncle Chris! Isn't that true, my little heart?”

Chris couldn't help but smile when he saw Karl and Aria happy with their little girl. She had her father's eyes, but all her mother's beauty. The little girl was playing with Karl's beard which made him laugh.

“We.... We did the tests you asked us for... and they were sent to the BSAA. The results say she is completely normal... For now.” said Aria.

“Aria...” Said Karl.

“I Know, I know...but This can develop over time... you never know Karl. One thing is certain, she is not a lycan.”

“That's what also reassures me... I don't want to impose on her this... Curse.”

“A curse that saved me a lot of times... Maybe one day we can introduce her to you! But for now... Iris is still too small to make a big trip.”

“I think she would hold... if we plan everything necessary to feed her, change her and everything else.”

“We’ll see. In the meantime, we will take care of her as the most precious of our treasures.” replied Aria, kissing Iris’ head.

“Good... I don't think we have much more to say... Everything is fine in the village. Everything is fine with the three of us. And mutamycete is well protected. We pretty much went around.” said Karl.

“We hope all this will get to you soon, Chris. And again... Thank you. Thanks for everything. See you around!”

All three said goodbye to Chris, Aria gently holding her baby's hand to wave it. Then the video stopped with three smiling faces and Chris closed his computer. He looked at the package and noticed the folder that Karl had added inside. Information that will always be useful, Chris was convinced. Until now, Karl had always given them good information about what was happening in Europe. A simple and effective way to be even more present everywhere. He stood up, opened the door and took one last look, smiled before leaving the room for good. Oh yes, they will see each other again... He was sure of it.  

And deep down... He couldn't wait.

***

(There you go. This is the end of this second fiction! Shorter than the first, but written with as much pleasure and love! I will be able to rest a little before starting the 3rd one which will be on Road 96! the famous! Thank you to everyone who has read to the end and I wish you all a wonderful Halloween! Have a great week everyone! See ya!)  

#Chris Redfield #Re8 #re8 fanfiction #re8 village #karl x female reader #Karl Heisenberg #Lycan Karl Heisenberg

[flockofdoves]

i recognize that cats are like. infamous for begging for food and meowing like theyve never been fed in their lives

and also i recognize when i first moved in my roommate was like 'don't worry if the cat meows at you her old owner overfed her so she's always begging for food but i have her on a special diet with specific proportions on a regular schedule so you don't have to feed her when she begs at you'

but also with my roommate leaving for a week without telling us and just setting out extra food but then not responding at all to my texts (or acknowledging this at all after she got back) i sent 4 days into that week when the cat almost was out of food asking if she was coming back that day or should i start feeding her cat and if so what portions she feeds her cat and at what times. plus also that while idk how much cats poop per bowel movement, it does seem to me like the litter box looks almost as full as it was when i scooped it after 4 days of my roommate being gone and she pooped on the floor (i feel really bad about that i should have looked up how often litterboxes should be scooped as soon as i noticed my roommate set out extra food for her, even if ofc she should've given a heads up or timeline or any info when me and my gf have been clear we've never lived w cats before)

like. it makes me not sure what to trust :(

like i almost never see her feed her and i recognize we have kinda different schedules (although a lot of times shes home but just in her room and i cant hear her so dont even realize shes home) and that the cat eats fast the times i have seen her eat so its hard to figure out the situation

and it sucks bc theres like no safe side to lean on bc either way could be harmful for the cat if i'm mistaken

the only real way to know would be something deranged and unethical like a camera monitoring the litterbox and food bowl lmao. so like idk the only normal solutions i can think of are just like. trying to spend as much time as possible downstairs on days when me and my gf aren't doing anything to see what happens? taking pictures of the empty bowl to see if the crumb positions look different later and taking pictures of the litterbox to see if it looks worse later? but even then its not very conclusive

and of course i'd love to propose like. idk. putting up a little white board seeing if shes got fed yet but. shes not my cat and im not the one directly responsible for feeding her and proposing that potentially either could sound like i dont trust my roommate or some ridiculous thing to assuage my anxiety that makes her do extra work or if she really is hiding neglect that wouldn't necessarily do much depending on what her routine is compared to mine and also maybe proposing that would make boundaries unclear and make her think she could rely on me for stuff like that without having to communicate it first

idk part of me worries also considering that shes started just like. taking me and my gfs dishes (which are in an entirely separate cabinet) and using them when never asking if thats cool with us as roommates. and like theoretically i love to share things ofc as long as people are considerate but some of those dishes and pots have been sitting out dirty for over a week now so unless i see her around (feel insane like just jumping to texting about that) im sure at this rate me and my gf will have to clean these encrusted dirty dishes and pots and stuff whenever we need them again, that maybe despite her saying before that i wouldnt need to worry about feeding the cat, that somehow without communicating either that as an expectation when i've checked in with her about her preferences in cohabitating or communicating details to us as ppl w no experience taking care of cats that she expects taking care of her cat to be an equal task for all of us. and like of course the most important thing to me is that this cat is healthy and okay and i wouldn't mind helping out even if i'd slightly prefer not having the responsibility of a pet foisted on me at this point in my life and from past communication expected just like. vibing while she took care of it as her pet. but god that just needs to be communicated by her. itd be scary to me if there is neglect happening and if it was happening that it was happening bc she just expected me and my gf to know exactly when and what to do with every day cat care.

so yeah. ig just gonna try my best to monitor stuff over the next couple days to understand the situation better and just communicate from there :(

any advice appreciated tho tbh god idk

#cpost #animal neglect -

[cleaningproductnz]

The Rise of Eco Cleaning Products: Understanding their Environmental Impact and Benefits

Green Cleaning Alternatives: A Burst of Eco-Friendly Wisdom

The rise in popularity of eco-cleaning products in the context of the global environmental consciousness movement is evidence of people looking for environmentally friendly ways to meet their cleaning demands. Say goodbye to conventional cleaning solutions that are packed with dangerous chemicals and join us as we investigate the emergence, advantages, and effects on the environment of these greener substitutes.

The Environmental Symphony of Cleaning Products

Conventional cleaning agents endanger water and air sources with their hazardous mixtures of surfactants, chlorine, and phosphates. What happened after? Widespread pollution affects species and ecosystems. Presenting eco-friendly cleaning solutions made of natural and biodegradable materials. They contribute to a peaceful cohabitation with our earth by dancing with it and leaving no harmful trace.

The Ballet of Benefits: A Choreography of Health and Sustainability

A healthier indoor ballet: non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products provide a sanctuary for humans and pets alike. Say goodbye to respiratory issues and skin irritations caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by traditional cleaning products. Accept a more improved interior environment where you put your health first.

Diminished Effect on the Environment Part Deux: Eco-cleaning solutions are designed with sustainability in mind, limiting environmental damage at every step of the process, from manufacture to disposal. To help protect natural resources, wildlife habitats, and the health of our fragile ecosystem as a whole, choose eco-friendly substitutes.

All-Purpose Cleaning Waltz: Versatility is the key as eco-cleaning products cha-cha into various cleaning tasks. No need for a cluttered routine with specialized cleaners; these eco-friendly alternatives provide a one-stop solution. From surfaces to floors, they lead in simplifying and reducing waste.

Safer Water Rhapsody: Traditional cleaners may pollute our aquatic realms, but eco-cleaning products pirouette gracefully. Biodegradable and harmless, they protect rivers, lakes, and oceans, ensuring a water system free from harmful chemical residues.

Renewable and Sustainable Sonata: The components that go into eco-cleaning solutions are sustainability’s hymn. These items, which are made from renewable resources, encourage ecologically beneficial farming practices and the decrease of deforestation.

Sustainable Cleaning Solutions: A Symphony of Natural Elegance

Vinegar Crescendo: A natural virtuoso, vinegar harmonizes with cleaning tasks. From windows to stains, its powerful solution, when mixed with water, conducts a symphony that cleanses surfaces while being gentle on the environment.

Baking Soda Overture: Baking soda, the versatile maestro, scrubs, deodorizes and brightens. A non-toxic virtuoso that performs without harm to children, pets, or the environment — an excellent alternative to abrasive chemical cleaners.

Essential Oils Serenade: Lavender, tea tree, and lemon, the essential trio, not only grace us with a pleasant scent but also possess natural cleaning properties. A melody of freshness when added to homemade cleaning solutions.

Microfiber Cloth Intermezzo: The sustainable interlude to disposable paper towels. Highly absorbent and reusable, these cloths clean surfaces effectively without the need for additional products. An encore of reduced waste and environmental impact.

Finale for Eco-Friendly Dishwashing Liquid: Use an eco-friendly dishwashing liquid to say goodbye to harsh chemicals. It leaves a pleasing resonance and is biodegradable and composed of natural materials. It not only cleans but shields water systems from contamination.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products: The Grand Finale

Crescendo: An all-natural multi-surface cleaner that is safe for all surfaces and a symphony of natural ingredients. It is harmonic and biodegradable, and it is essential to building a cleaner, greener future.

Plant-Based Laundry Detergent Overture: The sustainable prelude to clean laundry. Made from renewable resources, this detergent serenades fabrics, tough on stains yet gentle on the environment.

Organic Floor Cleaner Waltz: A dance of cleanliness without harmful residues. Safe, non-toxic, and conducive to floor longevity, this organic cleaner twirls gracefully in the spotlight.

Natural Bathroom Cleaner Nocturne: Specifically formulated for bathrooms, this cleaner removes grime without emitting harsh fumes. A safer option, it conducts a nocturne of cleanliness for both you and the environment.

The last note in our environmentally friendly symphony is the eco-friendly window cleaner coda. It cleans windows and glass surfaces without streaks or residue because it is made of natural chemicals. A harmonious conclusion to a cleaner and greener narrative.

In conclusion, as the curtain falls on traditional cleaning practices, the rise of eco-cleaning products takes center stage. Let’s welcome the new era of cleaning solutions, where environmental responsibility and sustainability go hand in hand. We balance our actions with the environment by selecting eco-friendly substitutes and using sustainable cleaning techniques, guaranteeing a cleaner and more environmentally friendly future for future generations.

#eco-cleaning products

[antmantrash]

Week 3 Tumblr Case Study

For this week we had a introduction into what the public sphere was and how it has been implemented into society. It was coined by German philosopher Habermas in the 1990's to explain how the social and technological transformations occur within society. While outlining its importance that for something to be public it must be“open to all”, as a sphere must foster an environment that allows users to become engaged in “critical public debate”(Fuchs, C 2014). Where people as (Kruse 2018) stated in the lecture share equal and protected participation, without the influence of institutions and survellaince.

This image above shows a breakdown by Habermas as to what he believes the different roles and spheres of society are split up into. He not only deems these roles important but necessary as this is what as (Arendt 1958, 52) says "gathers us together and yet prevents us from falling over eachother".

However there is a rebuttal for the idea of a unifying pubic sphere, people like Bruns and Highfield, in essence believe that there are multiple spheres that coexist across multiple formats allowing people from all backgrounds to cohabitate no matter how diverse. These places known as 'micro publics' exist as Facebook Groups, hashtag activism or even the comments you leave on a instagram post.

What is BLOGGING?

Well the idea was coined by a man named Justin Hall in 1994 and took on many forms throughout its early foundational years.

Sites like Tumblr came along and revolutionized the social media landscape outperforming those that came before it being the 10th most popular social media site in Australia.

It has been able to corner the market of basic aesthetics with minimal survellaince and the ability for marginalised communities to feel safe to express their feelings and experiences without fear of vindication.

References:

. Fuchs, C 2014, ‘Social Media and the Public Sphere’, TripleC, vol. 12, no. 1, TripleC Communication, Capitalism & Critique, published by Information Society Research, Salzburg, pp. 57–101.

. Arendt, Hannah. 1958. The Human Condition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2 nd edition pg52.

#MDA20009

[deysha]

Dream Girl

You slept in my room this time

Yours is across the hall

This is how we find purity in cohabitation

We venture to the living area to watch the sunrise

I’m brewing coffee and you’re staring into my eyes

He never knew love could be this beautiful

He always thought fairytales were lies

He tells me as a child he used to dream too

You know the way little girls do

Except he dreamed of being a hero

He dreams of being the provider

I think he’s living it

I feel so soft and feminine

It’s not about money,

It’s about safety,

I’m attracted to the security

The stability

Yes of course I’ve been doing it alone all for me

I know he prefers I be nurturing

I’ll always love working

I’ll always love creating

I want to fill my head with inwardness

The world wants its economy

To tear apart the beauty of motherhood

Of classic femininity

When the defining factor of feminism

Boils down to sexual violence

With him I feel so safe

It’s always been that way since when we first met

I would tell him my fears and he’d reassure

If anything ever happens you call me

It’s always been true

We’re on holiday to Japan soon

I’ve always dreamed of cherry blossoms

He’s taught me enough words/phrases

I hold pleasant conversations with his mother

At his grandfathers grave he prays

His grandmothers as well

He hasn’t been back since she passed

His heart is pure, his heart loves God / Universe

However we put it more than himself,

Hell more than me

It’s chilly, but he gives me his jacket

He takes my photo in front of cherry blossoms trees and Mount Fuji

It’s at this moment I know his eyes holding the camera think of Paris next

I’ve droned on and on about

“Whoever I marry if he doesn’t propose in Paris I’m saying no.”

Every time I laugh, but we know it’s no joke

I watch his eyes flash as he ponders

This beautifully, intelligent woman the prize of my slumbers

She’s here

He’s here

A shift in perspective

His intellect and the streets that he’s left with

His rough past and the classes he’s excelled in

Two scientists

Analyzing the present

#deyshawrites

[glindyupland]

Daniela: [drunkenly giving a speech at her and Carla’s own wedding] and I have to say, you know, getting married is the bravest, most wonderful thing you can do. Because everyday you come home and you’re just, like, “What? It’s you! I love you! You’re my sexy roommate. We love each other.”

Carla: [also drunk] Wooo! She’s talking about me!

#In the Heights #Carla #Daniela #Im fired im sorry #‘We cohabitate its safe to say’ #👀👀 #So sorry #I dont remember where i found this meme #Stage Lights #DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IVE BEEN WAITING TO POST THIS #DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG #DO YOU #LIKE SINCE THE BEGINING OF COVID #LIKE WHEN I WAS STILL FURLOUGHED #LIKE #ANYWAY HAPPY IN THE HEIGHTS IS OUT #This was about musical Carla and Daniela but if you're from the future I hope this works for movie them #update; this is absolutely correct for movie them

[s-brant]

Baby Names

(gif: @mishellejones) (SERIES MASTERLIST)

Summary: Y/N gets frustrated while putting the crib for her and JJ’s baby together and finds herself missing her dead brother more than ever.

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: Fluff and minor angst.

A/N: Asks and ye shall receive, here’s a little blurb about what happens after Tokens! You don’t really have to read the other parts to enjoy this fic if you don’t want to, but I do recommend it for some backstory. This was slightly inspired by this fic by @cognacdelights, so go give her stuff a read! Let me know if you liked this. Have fun!

Y/N Routledge thought she got over her brother's death long ago.

Though you never truly "get over" losing a loved one, though there will always be a small part of you, however small, that aches for their presence again, she thought she moved past the tragedy to the best of her ability...until last week.

To say that the pregnancy was a surprise would be the understatement of the century. She and JJ were both on the same page about children when their relationship began, and that page was that neither of them wanted them yet. Sure, the idea of it in the future stirred their hearts with fond emotion, but considering that they had yet to graduate high school and barely scraped by on their own, they weren't jumping headfirst into that aspect of adulthood.

They were meticulous about safe sex. They couldn't afford another mouth to feed, she wasn't sure she could handle the emotional trauma of having an abortion, and, underneath it all, he had some reservations about being a father. It wasn't that he didn't envision a future with kids in their relationship, he did, but the topic of fatherhood always took him down a dark path within his mind.

So, she went on birth control once they started dating and they went along with no scares for the next six years as they graduated and started figuring out what the next step for their lives was going to be.

Y/N could get lost thinking about it, honestly, but she tries not to get too swept up in the minor mistake that led to this.

"You, my friend, need to stop moving around in there," she whispers down at her protruding belly with a hand cradling the heavy weight of it, "I'm trying to get your crib set up without JJ yelling at me for not asking for help, and if you don't stop kicking me, I'm not gonna get anything done."

She's sprawled out on the floor in the living room of the Chateau with her legs stretched comfortably in each direction while she hunches over to read the directions of the Ikea furniture. The sugarcoated description makes her want to hunt down the company CEO for sport, because for how "simple and easy!" the construction of it claims to be, she is at her wits end.

The last thing she needed after having her grief over John B's death reignited by their decision to name their kid after him last week was to stress herself out over something as stupid as this, but she won't quit. With how much JJ has been coddling her the further into the pregnancy she gets, she wanted to prove that she could do something for herself.

Whenever she brings in the groceries from the car and goes to lift the bag of dog kibble out of the trunk, he rushes up behind her back and scoops it out of the trunk before she dares to touch it. It always ends with her hollering after him that it's under twenty pounds, the upwards limit of the weight she's allowed to carry according to her doctor, but he refuses to hear any of it.

Inside of her, she feels a sharp sensation of something hitting her right in the ribs in response to her comment, and she groans in frustration. It's as if he did it because he knows she wants it to stop, the feisty little fucker.

"You're definitely your daddy's son, aren't you? It's already enough having one of him, the last thing I need is a JJ clone."

Their three-year-old Rottweiler rescue huffs a sigh from where he lays, frog-legging it, on the floor next to the unboxed crib pieces she can't put together to save her life. His drooping jowls produce a puddle of slobber on the her favorite carpet that is past the point of saving from his constant wear and tear. After a year of having him, she decided to stop trying to prevent him from ruining it. There’s no point.

She smiles at him as she leans forward to read through the directions for the billionth time, saying, "I actually think he'll be a lot like his uncle, but that's just me. If he isn't, I'll feel a little stupid over the name situation."

John Booker Routledge-Maybank.

Hell of a name if you ask her yourself, but for every internal struggle it reopened inside of her, she couldn't help but love it as soon as JJ casually proposed the idea on his way out of the door for work one morning.

Going on without John B has been a learning experience in every aspect. Any time she wanted to turn to him for advice or tell him something about the recent events in her life, she had to walk out back to their dying magnolia tree and sit under the shade to talk to the wind. Then, once the tree finally died and they were forced to cut it down, she took to sitting on its stump and doing it there.

It got easier as time went on, but she can't keep herself from wondering what it'd be like if he didn't die ever since she saw the results on the pregnancy test six months ago. Whenever she does something like going to her OBGYN appointments or, case in point, setting up the crib, she pictures him there.

She can see him here now, petting Bowie's shiny coat until he falls asleep with his head propped onto John B's outstretched legs. He'd be twenty-three years old by now with his life barely starting to blossom to its full potential, yet here they are. Correction, here she is, and he's off somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, already decomposed to the extent that not even his bones can be salvaged anymore.

Her chest sinks in another sigh, and she flips through page after page of the instructions with increasing aggression.

"This crib is so fucking—"

"What are you doing?"

The sound of her yelping in surprise at JJ's voice coming from the door is enough to make him laugh to himself, though his amusement is buried partway by what he's walking in on. He specifically asked her to wait for him to put the crib together, knowing damn well it wouldn't be the easy task she thought it was, but he should've known she'd do it anyway.

She looks over her shoulder with a mixture of guilt and frustration painting her features as she throws her hands up in the air and gestures vaguely to the unassembled crib. Her eyes are shining with the rapid onset of hormone-induced tears.

"I can't put this crib together 'cause the instructions aren't right, all the pieces are labeled wrong, your son won't stop kicking me, and I miss my brother so much right now," she spews the words with no pauses to breathe until the very end, when she stops short to suck down a breath as soon as she gets the last part out.

It leaves JJ standing at the entrance to the house with this stunned expression.

There's no amusement to be found anymore. Once she turned and flashed those wide, teary eyes that never fail to spark an ache in his heart at him, his tired smile vanished and his feet started moving before he could say anything to her.

The floorboards creak beneath his half-laced boots on his way across the room to her. It prompts Bowie to pop his head up from around the side of the coffee table to catch a peek of whoever it is that's approaching his emotionally distraught owner. Upon seeing JJ's familiar face, the dog relaxes back into his lounging position atop the carpet and tracks JJ’s movements until he's seated next to her.

"This is about John B?" he asks.

Her cheeks are flushed in embarrassment at her sudden outburst, and she can't bear to meet his gaze right now. Despite him being her closest friend and husband, she feels as small and vulnerable as she did six years ago when she first learned of her brother's death from Shoupe. Time might as well be shaped in the form of a never-ending circle for them, directing them back to their seventeen-year-old state of mind every time things turn sour.

Y/N finally lifts her hanging head to look over at him after another few seconds and thinks she might crumble at the look on his face. He hates watching her cry.

"I guess," she says through a sniffle, "It's about the crib too, but I've been thinking about it a lot more since we picked the name. Our baby’s gonna grow up never knowing who his uncle was..."

With that, JJ takes it as his cue to pull her closer.

He scoots up behind her and lets his chin rest on the curve bridging her neck and shoulder together as he twines his arms around her body. It's a closeness that's as natural as breathing for him, so natural that he can hardly remember the years before it became normal for them to take part in little moments of intimacy like this. The warmth of their bodies cohabitates in the blurred line distinguishing where she ends and he begins, and he feels her relax, sagging in his embrace in appreciation of his miraculous ability to make her feel better no matter how worked up she is.

One of his hands rests on the swell of her bump in an absentminded effort to calm him too. Even though he isn't consciously thinking of it, he knows that her distress must upset the baby too. The contact steadies her, keeps her grounded to the moment rather than allowing her to slip away into the current of her negative thoughts, and she clings to every word he has to say.

He says, "You and I both know that isn’t true. He's gonna grow up seeing all the pictures you have of John B and ask about him all the time. And we'll tell him all the stories"—there's a pause of contemplation as he recalls a few particularly non-PG memories of his best friend—"Well, maybe not all of them, but you know what I mean."

This draws a soft bout of laughter from deep within her chest that he feels with how her body shakes ever so slightly with it. It seems so wrong to laugh with tears in her eyes but she can't help it. Her emotions have been scattered in every direction since the pregnancy began, and it has only gotten worse the further along she gets.

"If you ever tell him about the kief incident, I'm never giving you a bl—"

His free hand smushes over her mouth before she can say the rest.

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence.”

It's said so frantically, it makes her erupt in laughter hard enough to tickle her abdomen muscles with the aching sensation of it. The vibration of it under his palm makes him drop his hand a second later with the need to hear the beautiful sound. After seeing her cry, it's a welcome shift in mood, even if it's at his expense.

Her head is thrown back on his shoulder, mouth parted into a smile with the gleeful giggling filling the room. His stomach churns with butterflies at the sight of her. Even after all these years, he has the same reaction to her laughter every time. It makes him smile to himself and watch her in quiet reverence. It makes him ache with the same inklings of longing he felt for the first time when he was much younger.

Her laughter begins to die down by the time she can draw enough breath in to murmur a soft, "Sorry, angel," to him and reach down to hold the hand he rests on her belly as consolation for her joke.

They remain this way for another few minutes, tangled up in each other's arms on the floor of the living room with Bowie snoring a few feet away, before he manages to convince her to let him be the one to set up the crib instead. It takes a good five minutes of playful back and forth before she concedes under the condition that he'll let her paint the nursery by herself when the time comes, and that's all it takes for her to abandon the task in favor of finding something to snack on in the fridge.

In her defense, the crib is actually quite difficult to put together.

JJ doesn't consider himself an expert handyman by any means, at least not with anything outside of his area of expertise as an electrician, but he likes to think he knows enough to put together a "no assembly required" Ikea crib without wanting to bang his face against the wall.

In the end, it gets finished by the two of them in the middle of the night over a box of cold leftover pizza from the previous day. It takes them two hours of struggling before they get it fully assembled and placed where they want it in the room that'll soon belong to their son.

He pretends not to notice her sneaking back in to tie John B's old bandana around the wooden railing before they go to bed.

Tag List: @gabiatthedisco, @fangirlvoice, @black-syren, @apparrio, @particularcth, @planetdemon, @idk-ijustworkhere, @krisphann, @astrydis, @k-k0129, @zarahsloves, and @stilesflannels.

#jj maybank #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank smut #outer banks #obx #fanfiction #obx s2 #okay but ive been doing some thinking and i can formally declare that i think their song is call it what you want (by taylor swift) #it fits tbh

[clowndensation]

I hate that I'm taking a/b/o seriously and this is entirely your fault, but similar to your point about Roman, I think Kendall is an alpha who would have a lot of weight off him if he let himself be an omega. It's like exhibit 250 on Mr Strong just saying things to make us scream, but there's an interview where he says basically if Kendall was allowed to be softer and not raised with dino macho attitudes where strength has to be your language, he might have been better. (and now I will shower cos I can't stand omegaverse shit usually lmao)

Nxnxjxhxhsj very sorry for bringing omegaverse talk into your life. It will happen again unfortunately. Like right now. Because, yeah, literally Kendall would be SO much happier if he didn't hold himself to the alpha posturing he's been ingrained to believe he needs.

Obligatory "I'm taking omegaverse seriously again" cut.

Omegaverse is interesting to me, because essentially all it does is give people an excuse to write smut about cum inflation about pre-existing gender stereotypes, dial them up to 11, and then create a biological explanation/imperative for that behavior (which is... textbook gender essentialism but that's a COMPLETELY separate conversation so I'm benching that atm), and add in some animalistic traits and behaviors that play well with those stereotypes specifically for horny reasons.

And like it's absolutely just an excuse for horny animalistic primal sex and there's no need to look deeper into it at all, but, unfortunately, I love deconstructing tropes more than anything else in this world, and a society that operates like that as like... textbook normal, is so fucking funny that I simply have to turn it into something that makes sense to me. Which leads me to my personal internal logic when I think about an omegaverse world:

So you've got quasi-humans who have a primary gender that functions more or less the same as real life, complete with normal sexism and gender roles (on a slightly more muted scale, to make room for sexism 2 electric boogaloo) and then we have secondary genders on top of that, which dictate instinctual behavior and primal drives. And also come with more sexism and gender roles. And also also dictate how big your peepee gets when you get turned on.

So you've got Kendall, with his Alpha Instincts, but all those instincts really tell him is that he wants to protect his family and make people feel safe and also maybe he should preen a lil when Stewy or Rava comes around, and maybe show off how capable he is so they know how Good and Strong he is, and how well he'd be able to provide for them. Fine and normal alpha behavior, evolution has done its job, that's got all the makings of a good dad right there. Get this man laid, the species will survive another day.

Except omegaverse basically operates under the same principle as Rudolph Schenkel proposed wolves survive under (you know, the dude who stuck a bunch of wolves together, watched them all fight for dominance, and went "Yup. That's just how wolves are." Not realizing that wolves don't form packs out of strangers, they're just families) which is like. Fair, I guess, considering a workplace really is just a bunch of strangers being forced to cohabitate in the same space under extreme pressure. But is also very funny as a worldbuilding point, because that means society, much like Rudolph, went "Yup. That's just how we are." instead of doing literally anything else.

So instead of fostering Kendall's perfectly natural instincts, society forces him into the macho, aggressive, territorial alpha stereotype, and so now his more natural, nurturing instincts get perverted into the shallow presentations he can manage in canon, and he just suffers all the time. Woo!!

And Roman is just all fucked up, which brings me to my second omegaverse worlbuilding point: how do you function in a society where "alpha" is not a status, but a biological reality? Like in the misleading wolf research, you don't have 5 alphas fighting to form a hierarchy, you've got a handful of wolves fighting to obtain alpha status. So like. How does that work. How are there alphas working together and defaulting to other alpha's commands without things regularly turning into a brawl?

There's got to be a natural solution to that in a species that functions like this, which means that omegaverse humans have a way to form alpha hierarchies. So Roman probably has a fairly low hierarchal drive when it comes to interior relationships, but probably does fine in exterior relationships. In which case, the business world would actually suit him better than it does Kendall. He likes the combative environment and swinging his status around and showing dominance over strangers or coworkers, even though he's still less aggressive than his dad is. I think he probably considers business a type of play, tbh, whereas his dad clearly views every business deal as a kill or be killed situation. So exterior relationships are fine, although can lead to a toxic headspace (like in season 3) when you push those traits at the expense of every other type of interpersonal relationship.

As far as interior relationships go, I think he's actually naturally fairly willing to submit to another person if he respects them (and they aren't his siblings ndjdjdjd). Which is a feature, not a bug, of an omegaverse world (because AGAIN, you can not make a society where being an alpha is an innate part of you biology without putting in a way to allow alphas to coexist) but is also one of the least valued traits an alpha can have, in spite of being necessary to keep the human race from killing each other. There are psychological factors at play too, this doesn't "solve" that, but his overcompensation for his own willingness to back down and appease other alphas is definitely... like a sizable factor in his whole deal.

So yeah. Anyways. Much like real life, gender roles are a curse and the cause of like half of their problems. Woooo!!

#omegaverse #i might go tag the other post with that too just so ppl can block it if they want dnxnsbshsh #also all this talk makes it sound like i only like omegaverse stuff for the social dynamics at play #and like that is what i focus on most admittedly #because i think its Incredibly Funny #and also i love courtship behavior and the idea of roman hanging out in gerri's office all the time just so it smells like him #and him being like weirdly gentlemanly and asking to take her coat and such just as a half-subconscious desire to mix scents #and wanting to cook but not knowing how so he just brings takeout with him All The Time #is like. so so so unspeakably funny to me. #but also like i am just an abo enjoyer. sorry to disappoint the mutuals but i enjoy it when their peepees get big. #i understand if you'll never be able to look at me the same again. #succession

[100hearteyes]

Part 2 of Clarke And Lexa Make a Porno, because why the fuck not.

Part 1.

"No. Absolutely not."

Anya's wolfish grin is no good omen. Lexa feels a sense of dread wash over her and tries in vain to assuage her nerves by holding her friend's gaze. Anya wouldn't look this sure if she didn't have some card up her sleeve.

Lexa throws a furtive glance around, checks that her co-workers are still focused on the German porn telenovela. It's only when she's sure that the action on-screen will keep them rooted for a while that she turns back to Anya, trying but failing to meet her eyes.

She overcompensates with another glance around the room and a low hiss. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but am I not too," she licks her lips, gathering the courage, "'vanilla' to do it?"

Anya shrugs like it's a no-brainer; crosses her arms and props her booted feet on Lexa's desk. "That's exactly the point. You're a lesbian Disney princess. Pretty sure if you started singing the whole fucking fauna of Capitola would follow you around."

Lexa levels Anya with a glare and tries to push her feet off the desk, to no avail.

(Seriously, what's it worth being editor if she can't even have her subjects' respect? She wishes this job was less about the headaches and more about the self-indulgent moments of microscopic tyranny.)

The feet might not budge, but Anya will. Lexa is sure of it. She draws herself taller and tucks on her most authoritative scowl. "I won't do it."

Anya plucks an imaginary cigarette from her mouth and throws it away without a care in the world. She reaches behind her and drags forth a heavy wooden box, filled to the brim with—

"My vinyls."

Lexa is in a daze.

She thought she'd lost all her vinyls to time and moving. She mourned each one of them for at least a year, cried many a night away clutching her record player to dear life, lamenting their shared loss.

They had a real connection.

But it turns out her vinyls weren't lost after all, and her tears were for naught. They were safe all along, albeit in different hands, and she'd known nothing of it, like a mother who lets her children wander about without aim nor authority.

How can she ever have kids if she can't even take care of her prized vinyls?

Lexa feels a prick of self-righteous indignation at the betrayal and puffs out her chest. "Why do you have all my vinyls?"

"I think you mean all my vinyls," Anya corrects with a lazy flurry of one hand towards the box.

"You don't even own a record player."

"How the fuck would you know?"

Lexa raises an eyebrow at her friend. "I come over all the time?"

"I could hide it while you're there."

"And then you'd never find it again, because that's what happens every time you try to hide something from me."

Anya shrugs and watches as Lexa picks one of the vinyls and turns it over in her hands, reading the track list on the back with the reverence one would a millennium-old parchment. Then she looks up at Anya with a stern glare.

"Over half of these were stolen from my house."

Anya shrugs again with infuriating nonchalance and Lexa wishes she had a pencil nearby just so she could snap it in two with one hand. Or stab one of Anya's eyes with it.

"Maybe I just rescued them from the actual malefactor," drawls Anya.

"We both know the real culprit sits across from me and has been wearing the same socks for the past three weeks."

Nailed it.

When she looks at her friend, however, all she sees is that same old resting bitch face that never seems to go away.

"Wow, Lexa," Anya deadpans. "Now you've really hurt my feelings."

Sometimes, Lexa wonders if Anya really has a rock where her heart should be. A supernatural, blood-pumping rock, of course, but a rock nonetheless. Or, maybe, Anya is a psychopath. Maybe the blood money theory wasn't so far-fetched after all. That would explain the brazen lack of empathy for everyone else's feelings, most of all Lexa's. What does it say about Lexa that her one true friend is someone who sneezes literally every time Lexa says 'I love you'?

Not that Lexa says it a lot. Only once or twice every few years.

Just enough to have noticed the pattern.

"Are you really trying to blackmail me with vinyls?"

Anya fakes an affronted gasp, laying a hand on her heart. "Would I ever. Think of it as... an incentive."

Lexa really does love Anya, despite her friend's... unique demeanor. Anya helps her come out of her shell — by taking up all the space and forcing her out of her own metaphorical home — and every once in a while she likes to make sure Anya is aware of her gratitude. Sometimes, though, things get really fucking weird.

Lexa would still do anything for her best friend.

"Let's imagine, hypothetically - very hypothetically," she stresses, although Anya's burgeoning smirk tells Lexa she isn't so easily fooled, "that I agreed. What would happen next?"

Anya takes her feet off Lexa's desk and sits up straighter, perhaps aware of the importance of this moment. This, Lexa decides, will determine her answer.

"Well first, I'd have to get you a costar. Then we'd sign some legally binding shit, find a crew, and make the damn movie. Simple as that."

Anya leans forward, looking into her eyes. In Anya's, she sees honesty and a pressing need to reassure. It takes some of the pressure off her shoulders right away.

"Look, Lexa, you can say no. But your name won't be on anything related to the movie and I promise no one in this shitty town will ever find out you did this."

This is why Anya is Lexa's best friend. And it's why Lexa would do anything for her.

Even star in a porno.

"Okay."

Anya's inner smile must be really, really big, because Lexa knows how hard she tries to tamper its outward expression — and still her lips manage to lift into a grotesque grimace. Coming from Anya, it's the equivalent of a blissful grin.

"Okay?"

Lexa nods and closes her eyes, bracing herself for a bone-crushing hug. It never comes. When she opens her eyes, Anya's resting bitch face is back on.

"What, did you want a fucking hug?"

It's a blessing to have her rude friend back, Lexa guesses, because seeing Anya almost smile is fifty shades of unsettling. So she rolls her eyes and rolls with it.

Her next question demands her full focus, lest she makes an even bigger fool of herself than usual.

Lexa breathes in, makes sure all her co-workers are still otherwise entertained, breathes out. Smooths out a non-existent wrinkle in her pants, wets her lips for courage.

"Anyway," she treads with caution, "do you have someone in mind for the other main role?"

It's fitting that Harper McIntyre's hit song One More Betyreyal (one of her less inspired titles, if Lexa may say so) starts playing in that moment, for the look in Anya's eyes speaks of nothing but danger. Lexa wonders how much planning went into this conversation, so Anya could plan all her gut punches in advance.

"Clarke Griffin."

No. No. Anyone but her.

Clarke Griffin is the new recruit, although Lexa hardly understands how there can be someone new considering the station is broke and they’re already overstaffed — and none of them make nearly enough money for how much they laze around all day.

Clarke came from out of town with a fancy degree and was directly hired as an editor. She voices the early afternoon newscasts and Lexa curses the one-hour period during which she's forced to cohabitate with Clarke every day.

Apparently, Clarke had taken a liking to unnerving her, be it by smirking at her every time she catches Lexa staring or by making all sorts of inappropriate comments — to her ear. Lexa hates how much it affects her, but how can she possibly focus on reporting about Lionel "Real Sight" Foster swallowing his own wooden eye or how Jasper Jordan rescued his own private parts from the jaws of two slats of an unassuming park bench if someone keeps doing everything in their power to distract her?

Lexa has a theory (an iron-clad theory, if she may say so herself), and it's that Clarke is trying to get her fired so she can take her shift. It's the best shift of the day. There is no other possible explanation.

"You know what, I take it back. Now you need to convince two people to star in your porno."

"Oh, there's no need." Anya waves her argument away with staggering nonchalance. "Clarke's already said yes."

Wait, what? "But you told me we'd need to get me a costar."

Anya shrugs and Lexa is now seriously considering revisiting her psychopath theory. "I lied."

"You conniving, lying b—"

"Careful," Anya cuts in with a raised eyebrow. "I am under protection of the Capitola Astrologers Union."

"Of which you are president, treasurer, and the only legal member," Lexa reminds her. "And I think any upstanding judge would love to know how exactly every other name on the list has joined said union posthumously."

"I am an astrologer, Lexa. I can communicate with the dead. It's in my job description."

"It scares me that you're not even aware you're describing an entirely different profession."

Lexa sits back, staring at the ceiling (and the chewing gum Murphy glued there a year ago — he could've been an Olympic jumper if he committed to work the way he does to being an asshole), trying to come to terms with a single, harrowing probability: she's going to star in a porno with Clarke Griffin.

"l don't understand why it has to be Clarke."

Anya leans forward, propping her elbows on her knees, expression serious and ready to talk shop. The last time Lexa saw her like this was— actually, Lexa doesn't think she's ever seen Anya like this.

"Look, I've done some market analysis and most girl on girl pairings are a blonde and a brunette." Anya raises both her hands and starts counting off fingers, "Brittana, Petramos, Holstein, Wayhaught, Supercorp, Joanarty, Choni, the inaptly named Shoni, Deanoru, Dana and Alice, Bette and Tina, Catradora, Villaneve, Clexa—"

"What's Clexa?"

"I don't know, some chicks from this fucking terrible CW show."

"Do you like it?"

"Do I like what?"

"Clexa."

"Dude, I don't even know their fucking names!" Anya exclaims, exasperated. As if she's the victim here. "The only Clexa I ship is you and Blondie. Naked. On my porno. Clarke and Lexa. Clexa. Havin' very hot sexa."

"Smart," Lexa deadpans.

"I know."

"Why can't it be Niylah? She's blonde, too."

Anya's smirk is five hundred shades of gross. "I know you'd love to get up close and personal with Niylah's knick-knacks, but no."

Lexa decides to let the comment fly for the sake of her own sanity.

"Why Clarke, though?"

"Because you two have chemistry, you fucking dimwit."

Lexa snorts. Chemistry. Lexa has never heard of something so absurd. She and Clarke have as much chemistry as Harper McIntyre and any semblance of originality.

Which is to say, none at all.

"She makes very inappropriate comments," she argues instead, knowing full well that pressing on the topic of chemistry will only open way for some trademark crass joke from Anya.

"Yeah," her friend agrees, like it's obvious. "Because she knows you love them."

She most certainly does not.

"I most certainly do not."

"You do. Your freakishly tiny ears go red whenever she flirts with you. Your step falters when she makes one of those comments, for fuck's sake," Anya observes, pointing in Lexa's general direction, before leaving forward and laying a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you, my friend, are a walking lesbian cliché."

Lexa takes Anya's hand off her shoulder. "Can you please stop insulting my tragically conspicuous homosexuality?"

"Oh please," Anya scoffs. "I'm bisexual, I can say whatever I want."

"If my step actually faltered - which they don't - it would be because her comments are annoying, off-putting, unprofessional, inopportune, and... and inappropriate", she finishes lamely.

"And you fucking love them."

"I don't."

Anya leans back on her chair with an evil smirk, propping her feet on the table and crossing them at the ankles. Lexa tries to push them off to no avail.

"Legalities aside, it's very simple. Clarke has already said yes. I just recorded you saying yes."

Lexa sputters, "You what--"

"You're both legally bound now." Anya shrugs. "Look at it this way: it will be very educational. You'll finally learn how to make a girl come, and get paid for it. Sort of."

A beat of silence.

"Anya, are you aware that you say something at least vaguely criminal every five sentences? Something that could actually put you in prison?"

Anya clicks her tongue, sinking farther into her chair, and lowers her sunglasses to her eyes.

"I've got friends everywhere, Lex. Let's just say I've dipped more than my fingers in my fair share of pies, if you catch my drift." A second later, she lowers her sunglasses just enough to reveal her eyes. "That means my tongue. My tongue's been in a lot of pies, too."

Lexa doesn't doubt that for a second.

"What I need to know is," Anya adds, taking off her sunglasses and throwing them across the room, "will you dip your fingers in the porn pie?"

Like this conversation hasn't caused enough trauma for thirty lifetimes.

"If I say no, will you still give me back my vinyls?"

"Absolutely fucking not."

Lexa swallows, clenches her jaw, and thinks of all those lonely nights spent in the couch clutching her record player and sharing cookie dough ice cream with it, longing for long-gone times when she'd dance to the mellow voices of the likes Billy Ocean and Ella Fitzgerald.

"My answer is yes."

#that moodboard is way too serious for this lol #clexa #clexa au #clexa fic #clexa fanfiction #clexa fanfic #calmap #my fics #mine

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

Comte AU Event

Aight because I have Comte brainworms (is this a surprise to anybody I sure hope not), there’s something I’ve just been thinking about a lot ever since completing one of the story events a month ago:

The cover art being very sexy aside, I naturally did Comte’s story event and I have yet to move on. Namely because of one specific line. (Disclaimer: Keep in mind I don’t mean to say I’m an expert, I just translate for fun--I don’t have the same prowess as an official linguist. That being said starts the circus music let the show go on)

"...it amazed me. You never stopped trying, never stopped helping others or gave up on them--even while every day was a living hell for you."

This is the line I want to dive into, but before I can really talk about it, we need proper context. 

Event spoilers below:

This event is a little different since it’s an AU, so the mansion and its residents don’t exist. (Comte lives in the mansion on his own, but it’s not the same one we know.) Instead Comte, Leo, and Arthur are stand alone suitors who have turned MC into a vampire. Because MC has no clear memory of how and/or why it happened, MC is seeking vengeance against her paired hottie--and fully intends to end their life one way or another.

Aside from how sexy revenge is and how much I love the enemies to lovers trope, Comte’s entire storyline gave me more life than I can humanly convey. Here goes nothing!

So it begins with MC knocking on his door and Comte answers it and literally just stares at her silently like some kind of Furby. MC starts out by saying she’s been trying to narrow down the bastard that ruined her life and her search has finally brought her to his doorstep. She basically demands the truth from him and he just keeps. Staring owlishly (lmao). He eventually relents and tells her that a conversation is much better held inside, and invites her into his home to talk. 

She's sus as hell but enters the house, and he asks if she's had blood. This stops her in her tracks, shook, and her monologue drifts to explain a few things. When she woke up years ago, a new vampire, she had instructions to approach the Rouge/Blanc dispensary for what she needed. The staff there told her that everything was paid for, and she continued to receive support from an unnamed benefactor. She asked them for the identity of this person, but they were beholden to customer confidentiality. As such, she's been searching for information to narrow down her target for years until she finally found him tonight.

Despite the years it doesn't mean she's any more comfortable with her new existence. She notes that she still tends to stick to drinking Blanc--only drinking Rouge (in other words, blood) when she has no other choice. When Comte puts the Rouge on the table, she becomes notably unsettled. She's thirsty, but she won't concede to his request that she drink it; she refuses.

(I feel like he can probably tell because he's her sire/because of his experience with vampires). Comte--naturally--refuses to let her go hungry, so he knocks it back and kisses her to get her to drink it. He lets go as soon as she's swallowed it, and doesn't resist when she shoves him off. She rails at him about how awful he is for doing that, he agrees. She asks if he was the one that killed her parents, he confirms with blasé indifference. She's fuming quietly, but she notes that he doesn't really look happy or triumphant about it. What he's saying isn't reaching his eyes; his gaze is distant and sad. And it's confusing her. Isn't he supposed to be the enemy?

She's lost in her thoughts and unresponsive until there's a loud cry from outside the house, the shriek of a nearby owl. She snaps out of her daze to see that she still has his hand in a vice grip from when she shoved him off, and his skin is blanched--she cut off his circulation from the pressure. She releases him, startled, but he says nothing. 

She's trying to sort out what's going on, and doesn't have enough information to really piece anything together. She wants to hate him but things aren't making sense. Why did her parents have to die in the first place? Why does he bother keeping her alive at his own expense? Even just now, what he did felt more like an attempt to get her to eat than anything else. Why isn’t he more malicious? This MC is desperate for answers, and she says as much: "What are you hiding…?" 

Comte doesn't answer her, just averts his gaze and remains silent. MC decides she won't do anything until she learns the full extent of what happened the night she was turned. Furthermore, she's well aware of Comte’s status being a problem. If she goes too far without proper motive, the aristocracy could come back to bite her in the ass. (The implication here is that she's more concerned about being wrong and living with that regret, rather than any necessity to protect herself. The state of his gaze--the melancholy there--keeps eating at her. Until she knows why, she won't move forward.) 

Comte is shocked that she demands to live alongside him in the mansion, but he doesn't take any issue with it. He says the mansion is pointlessly huge for one person anyway--she's welcome to stay. Either way she wins with this arrangement: either she gets the truth or she finds an effective way to destroy him by the end. And so their little cohabitation begins!

After a timeskip, MC recounts how she's been spending her days in the mansion. She's been tidying around the house, both in the hopes of finding evidence and/or in the hopes of repaying all the years of living on his assistance. He doesn't stop her, letting her do as she pleases and keeping his distance.

One day, she's about to step out into town to grab some groceries. Comte approaches at the front door, cautioning her to be safe--there have been many reports of scuffles/dangerous encounters. MC brushes him off, unsurprised he knows what's going on in town. He's very well connected to the aristocracy, and she notes that he's often at dinner gatherings and parties when he's not home. She insists she can't let her guard down, that he can't be trusted; no matter how kind he is to her face.

Another day, he asks her to attend a ball later in the week. He tells her she's under no obligation to stay with him while they're there, just that he wants her to take some time and relax--to have fun. She tries to insist that going to something like that would be more stressful than fun but he won’t hear of any protest, walking away before she can fully reject the outing. (Comte, an idiot, speed-walking out of the room: and that is what we call finessed). She sighs, thinking she'll be nothing but a burden to him given her lack of knowledge about events like that. She doesn't really know the proper etiquette or how to dance, it’s completely out of her depth.

Surprising no one at all Comte buys MC a dress and accessories to match regardless, and when she comes down the staircase leading to the front door he's awestruck. He tells her she's beautiful and she's miffed by the raw sincerity, trying to remind herself that he is eeeeevil. He knows how to talk to women given his status, he's just smooth talking... (She's trying to convince herself, essentially.)

And so they go, and she's a bit of a wallflower. He leaves her alone--doesn't want to bother her--while she sticks close to one wall. Several men ask her to dance, but she politely declines. Her monologue explains that, given what she is and the fact that she’s only living for revenge, she sees no merit in trying to court human men. She sees it as irresponsible and inevitably disastrous, and…

[Given the nature of what I am I just can't. I can't fall in love with a human man. Besides, the only person I really want to dance with is...as much as I hate it, my line of sight keeps drifting to Comte. Suddenly he looks up and meets my gaze, but I hurriedly look away--my heart pounding in my chest. Why. In a room full to the brim with people, why do my eyes keep looking for him. Whatever, time to go cool off for a bit.]

She leaves the ballroom--mortified at herself--to get some fresh air. Not five minutes into trying to figure out whatever the hell is going on with her shitshow of a life, a man appears asking what she’s doing alone. And da da da d a Zelda treasure chest sound effect he whips out a knife covered in blood and tries to stab MC. Naturally, because I’m an idiot, my first thought was:

TW: knife attack

TW: homicides by serial killer

But it turns out our local serial killer remains nameless in this event, so I can point no fingers. MC is panicking about needing to run and frozen in place from the shock, but Comte appears to pull her out of range--knife sinking into his back. He doesn’t react much to the violence as the attacker runs away, yanking out the knife and focused on checking her for any wounds. She’s still reeling from how quickly he reacted, and he reassures her (probably at the sight of her bewildered/worried look) that law enforcement is on alert in the area. They’ll find him, they’ll arrest him. 

She tries to ask him why. Why would he protect her like that? His first instinct was to take the hit and ensure her safety first, and it doesn’t make sense. Comte reassures her again, joking that purebloods are sturdy. See? The wound’s already healed c:

[Even though I've been spending all this time trying to get my revenge on him, my heart stopped when he was attacked. As if to reassure me, frozen and speechless, Comte smiles gently. This person.......I can't do it. I can't kill him without meaning, without being sure of the truth.]

"...Comte, I can tell you're a good person. What happened that night, so many years ago?" Because even now, he's still protecting me. "Please...tell me the truth. I want to know." 

[I know this isn't the time or place, but if I don't know I can't worry about him with a clear head.]

TW: human trafficking and drugging unconscious

Comte concedes and goes into what happened that night so many years ago. Apparently he was acquainted with her parents long before the incident, and they fell into debt as a result of gambling. He approached their home in the hopes of paying them a visit, checking up on them, only to encounter tragedy. They intended to sell their daughter off and the man they ended up making a deal with more or less slaughtered them all in cold blood. The reason MC doesn’t remember any of this was because her parents drugged her the night it happened. No consciousness, no resistance.

"In that room suffused in the odor of blood and despair, I found you, MC." Her pained, struggling cry is what led him into that room--and seeing how desperately she was fighting to survive, he turned her against all his better judgement. Feeling certain she would hate him forever for the choice he made compounded by her terrible circumstance, he bailed, leaving her instructions and resources to survive on her own. 

"Sold off by your own parents, attacked by a serial killer, seconds from death. I thought....I thought telling you about it would only bring you pain, that it would leave you numb from the shock and despair. That's why I kept it from you.”

"...After turning you, I was consumed by regret. I felt certain you would hate me for the choice I made. So I left." [When I don't know what to say, he keeps talking.] "But I was worried about you even so. I tailed you quietly, making sure you were getting along okay. I was fully aware you wanted to kill me for what I'd done. Even so, I wanted to check on you." 

And that is where the line comes in.

"...it amazed me. You never stopped trying, never stopped helping others or gave up on them--even while every day was a living hell for you."

He admits that he fell in love with her after a point. And she’s baffled, considering she’s been looking for every reason to tear him apart--assuming he was the perpetrator when he actually saved her life. She protests immediately, asking how he could possibly feel that way after the level of vitriol and judgement she’s levied against him when he was only trying to help.

"That's not true at all. At heart, you're a very kind young lady. You haven't raised a hand against me all this time. And even when you considered me to be a repulsive presence, you were worried about me." 

At this MC is conflicted--because his words are a further extension of his equanimity. He’s well aware that he brought about all the confusion by not being honest, but it’s also clear there was no ill intent involved in that decision. He was concerned; hitting her with that level of misfortune and senseless terror all at once could have been incredibly destructive to her health. (This isn’t to say he made the ‘right’ decision; I don’t think there is any right decision in the face of such a complex situation. Given he takes full responsibility for what happened and does his best to help her, I think that’s a fair response.)

This is essentially where the common rt ends. But because I’m feral for Comte and enjoy talking about him, I’ll finish up the summary and then go on to do my analysis.

After that riveting assault, MC is feeling very lost about how to move forward. Her fury at Comte’s injustice has all but evaporated, which means a complete re-evaluation of how she’s going to move forward from now on. Does she continue with her revenge anyway, still angry for the dishonesty? Or does she try something new?

If you do the premium end that means choosing to forgive Comte and climb him (as he deserves). Therefore I, being an intellectual, chose to ride him into the sunset.

The premium end begins with Comte taking her to another ball because the first one kind of went to shit and he feels bad about it (retraumatization was not in the plan...). And so MC basically does the same thing as the first time, just vibin and taking in the scenery, thinking things over. Comte’s concerned about her not having fun, so he approaches her to ask if she’s feeling okay. He makes it clear that he really doesn’t mind if she dances with someone else--even if he admitted his feelings for her. She doesn’t owe him anything, and he has no intention of imposing on her future.

"Whatever it is you choose to do, I don't mind. I just want you to be happy"

[This person is so, so gentle...His words penetrate deep and settle with warmth over my heart, my chest light.] "Comte I.......I don't want to dance with anyone but you." [I still don't know what to do about the future, but for now I think following what my heart is telling me is the best move] 

"!!!....well then, if you insist..."

Comte’s just:

He’s beyond shocked, but accepts her invitation when she confirms it’s what she wants to do. Leading her in all his infinite grace, MC marvels at his ability to dance so elegantly--even with a partner who’s deadweight, like her. She also finds it astounding how easily he makes her forget what they are, how easily she just enjoys the moment; no turmoil, no lingering in the worst of her miseries. She’s just...having fun? For the first time in so very long.

[Comte murmurs in the short distance, clear remorse on his face--as though he can't help it.] 

"MC, it's kind of you, honestly. That you'd give me the time of day, that you'd agree to dance with me. But I...I'm the one that turned you. There's no denying or escaping that fact. If it's you, I'm ready to accept any consequence. If you want me gone, you're free to attack me. If you just want to be as far away from me as possible--to live your life in peace and solitude--I will do everything in my power to help you." 

[He said it as if he was trying to convince himself. Like he was trying to remember why he couldn't assume more of this single dance together, why he couldn't let hope emerge from this single shared moment.] 

[.....I'm not that kind, Comte. I asked because it's you.....Feeling his warmth beneath my hands, I come to a decision.]

There’s a timeskip, and then MC--being the badass that she is--knocks on Comte’s door the night of the crescent moon. He lets her inside more than ready to accept her judgement, whatever it may be. MC asks about his feelings, seeks to confirm that he still loves her before she confesses herself. 

"Comte. Comte you said--that you loved me right?" 

"Yes that's correct...no matter how much you might hate me, these feelings won't change. I love you." 

[Hearing those words again sets my chest on fire. And I decide to tell him my honest feelings.] 

"I love you too. But......I've held a misguided grudge against you for so long, is it okay for me to love you now?" 

[Can that misunderstanding really be forgiven? Am I allowed to love you? Comte's eyes widen, and the breathtaking gold of his eyes shimmer/waver.] 

"...shouldn't that be my line? I mean even despite the circumstances, I still made the choice to turn you :o Can you really forgive me?" 

"...If I'm honest, I still have a hard time drinking blood and I'm a little scared of an immortal life. But......I think if I could spend that eternity at your side, I could find the means to smile again. And....the thing is....I also want to see you smile, to make sure you remember how to smile." 

".................." [Le Comte stared at me, before extending his hand. And he hugged me so, so tightly.] "MC......." 

[In that single word all the raw emotion of ten years can be heard. It was an indescribable sound--one that spoke of an unimaginable, impossible love. This person loves me so very dearly.]

The event ends with them biting each other as proof of their bond, essentially a vow to stay together moving forward. It felt very much like the shared act of biting was a promise of love, how vampires might get married or commit to each other romantically. The summary essentially ends here.

Here’s where the semi-meta comes in, because I literally just can’t stop thinking about the implications of this event. 

"...it amazed me. You never stopped trying, never stopped helping others or gave up on them--even while every day was a living hell for you."

I just...I just don’t even know where to begin with how hard this line hits. Comte’s MS conveys this sentiment powerfully too, but there’s just something about them choosing to emphasize it yet again. The reason Comte falls in love every time has to do with his MC’s strength, her ability to surmount remarkable obstacles with so much poise. She’s deeply in tune with her reality, but no less relentlessly positive. She won’t burden others with her problems, and she’ll do everything in her power to move forward in constructive ways.

Even when every day was a living hell. Both Comte and Leonardo perceive eternity to be something of a curse; an endless sentence. Whether it means suffering boredom, reliving tragedy, or going nigh numb from the loneliness--being an immortal creature isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. 

And that’s exactly why I think he fell in love with this MC? I don’t think his feelings would have run half as deep if it was just anyone. He doesn’t strike me as the type to get attached easily. Because if he’s going to have a life partner, he needs someone who's going to be able to roll with whatever life throws their way for conceivable lifetimes. Somebody that loses heart quickly or is easily prone to delusion would suffer eternally, and the last thing he wants is to subject a person to that. MC gives him hope certainly, but she’s also emblematic of a kind of fortitude he both needs on a personal level and she would need to be beside him. It’s interesting because it’s a responsible choice on his part, but also just very befitting of his nature. He’s somebody that staunchly believes in the ability of good to prevail, but he’s also realistic about it. He knows doing the right thing isn’t necessarily easy; he does it because he could never live with himself if he did otherwise. 

(Think about Comte’s approach with Jeanne. It meant years of being on the receiving end of hatred he didn’t deserve, but he didn’t mind if it meant Jeanne could find a way to heal. It’s not the most practical or immediate solution, but it is the most restorative option. Comte doesn’t care that he spends years living alongside Jeanne’s outspoken displeasure and even violent outbursts. Why? Because it’s all a means to a greater, better end. If he has to suffer a little discomfort, he’s willing to make that sacrifice. That’s the thing with Comte; intentionality is everything. Comte’s intention is to help. Whether that’s a short or long process, a smooth or rough process, he’s going to do what he can within his means.)

That dynamic is reflected in his respect for this MC who is filled with fury on behalf of all the life that she lost unfairly, her relentless pursuit for the truth of what happened to her. Notice, she’s more interested in truth than retaliation. She refuses to lay an intentionally violent hand on Comte until she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was worthy of being on the receiving end of that retribution. Who does that sound like? If you guessed Comte himself, then you see where I’m going with this. What MC and Comte have in common is that they have a sharp emotional fortitude that they keep under tight, rational control. They will react with sizable passion or hurt or warmth--but their externalized reaction will vary depending on the situation. If it’s a minor annoyance, they have the patience to diffuse and try to alleviate the problem. If it’s on a larger scale or it’s an egregious violation of their personhood, then they up the ante accordingly.

Think about it. MC appears on Comte’s doorstep full of righteous rage and even when he confirms what he’s “done,” she hesitates. Her emotional intelligence is telling her something isn’t aligning properly; something isn’t quite right. She forgoes immediate revenge for proper answers instead. MC and Comte have this kind of balance, where they are more than happy to hear people out--but there is a limit to that propensity. Push them too far? They’ll bust your head. I guess I’m particularly interested in the way Comte seems to yearn for that kind of identification with a partner. Somebody who has similar values: not merciless, but also won’t bend when a situation requires confrontation.

All that being said, there was one more aspect of the story that I was endlessly interested in. I’m going to link the post here, in that it’s tangentially related to this meta; it really made me better able to articulate what I mean to say. 

“Never let generosity hold hostages; courtesy is an essential tool, but a cruel master.”

I’m gonna let that sink in for a moment.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, because it’s very rare that I read something once and I’m forced to read it several more times before I begin to understand it. My interpretation of that line is to say that benevolence can showcase your good will to others; it can be a reliable proof of good character, and a way to help someone. But the problem comes when people do conventionally/perceived generous things with the explicit intent of repayment by some measure. While it is only responsible to care for others as they care for you, you shouldn’t make impossible sacrifices with the expectation that the other person is indebted to you--especially if the other party had no ability to consent to that sacrifice.

How does this apply to Comte in this event story? Er, in almost every way humanly (vampirely?) possible, in my view. Comte turns MC into a vampire after seeing her plight, largely because he gets the impression that she was fighting for her life--had impossibly survived against all odds. The situation is complicated though. MC wasn’t fully conscious when it happened, so she doesn’t have a proper understanding of how everything went down. So what does Comte do? If he can’t bear to face her or reveal the truth of how horribly she died, he at least gives her every means to survive and makes sure she’s doing okay since she’s technically an orphan now. He doesn’t interfere with her life, or demand recognition for the life he gave her. He fully understands that she wasn’t able to properly consent to his decision in that split second moment, and even if she had he doesn’t see it as a debt she owes him now. He was able to help save her life for at least a little while longer, and so he did. It was as simple as that. He had the ability, she had the need. That’s the end.

But Comte’s emotional acuity doesn’t just end here. Even when she comes after him to kill him, he doesn’t respond with anger because he knows full well he hasn’t explained. Sure he’s sacrificing their relationship (the ability to get along on half-decent terms) but if it means she can find a reason to live, then so be it. He doesn’t lord that sacrifice over her head by any extension; he’s just sad about it because he thinks she’s a wonderful person, and he doesn’t want to be estranged from her. But in his view, her needs supercede his wants.

He doesn’t force her to do chores around the house during her stay, she does it to keep herself busy and search for the truth about his intentions. He even asks her to take breaks and look after herself first, more concerned with her well-being than the state of the mansion. At the ball, he doesn’t force her to linger around him or dance with him despite inviting her there and giving her the dress/jewelry to attend. He leaves her alone as she wishes, only glancing at her to make sure she’s doing okay. When he takes the hit from the violent stranger--a knife straight to the back--he jokes about being s t r o n k, never once blaming her for the wound he sustains no matter how brief.

He explains that he didn’t tell her the truth because it was incredibly traumatic, and it’s only in the safety of the moment--after years of having conceived of her own selfhood beyond the event--that she’s able to take the weight of what happened without falling apart. The premium end just keeps hammering this shit home. He openly tells her she doesn’t have to dance with him at all, that she doesn’t owe him anything just because he likes her. He’s aware it’s unrequited (he thinks) and he doesn’t go on and on about all the sacrifices he made for her with the expectation she’ll reciprocate. He just did what he wanted to do, nothing more. If she feels the same way by some miracle, that’s amazing! If she doesn’t, as it would be valid if not, that’s fair too; no hard feelings.

She has to be the one to invite him to dance and insist. She’s the one that smiles fondly when he’s telling her that she can choose whatever outcome she pleases, even if it means wanting to live as far as possible from him. There is no guilt trip, no expectation, and no pressure. She has the freedom to leave or stay. It is entirely dependent on her own will. For the first time in a lifetime of loss, her agency is restored to her. That’s huge.

She even admits that she feels bad about being so angry when he really was just trying to help, now that she can understand what he’s doing. And he’s openly shocked to hear it. He had no intention of expecting or asking for an apology. He understands it was his own imposition, both biting her and obscuring the truth, that led to her setting her mind on vengeance. 

I’ve probably hit it home harder than necessary, but Comte just feels like the epitome of good will in the best way possible. One can argue he’s a little selfish for keeping the truth from her for so long, but honestly? Given the horrific trauma of her situation--and his personal fear of making her miserable for an eternity when all he wanted was to give her a second chance away from all that hurt--I feel like his reaction was closer to considerate and reasonable. Comte doesn’t sacrifice anything he isn’t unwilling to give, or anything that would cripple him to give. Furthermore, he doesn’t make love out to be a kind of 1:1. He recognizes that while he might know her well, she doesn’t know squat about him. And, as such, he doesn’t expect her to trust his intentions or reciprocate his feelings in any capacity. It’s just a delightful surprise when she does. When he tells her that he loves her that first time, it’s an explanation. Not a guilt trip. He knows she won’t be satisfied years of protecting her simply because “he wanted to” and he promised her the truth, so he tells her. Not only that, in the aftermath he repeatedly reminds her she isn’t bound to him. She commits to him before he relies on any kind of active bond between both of them.

I don’t know, maybe I think too hard about it, but I feel like the older I get the more I see a shortage of this kind of fine-tuned caring about the other person in a relationship. I guess I just enjoy seeing a man give a woman her health and agency without treating her wellness/happiness like it’s a burden to his life? First and foremost Comte really is concerned with her self-actualization before his feelings can have any place in their relationship. And even when he does confess his love, it isn’t a way to force her to feel indebted to him; it’s an attempt to erase any false pretenses. MC loves him, not because she has nowhere else to go, but because he’s proven himself time and again a worthy companion. Always putting her first, always worried about her feelings, paying such close attention that he sees her to the core of who she is despite her iron front--kind, beneath all that hurt. They spend so much of this event really listening to each other despite such difficult circumstances, and it leads to a deep and abiding love against all odds. And I find that incredibly moving...

Oh and, before I forget? Let me circle back for a moment:

"...it amazed me. You never stopped trying, never stopped helping others or gave up on them--even while every day was a living hell for you."

The best part about this event is that--while Comte says this about MC--this is also precisely the reason MC falls in love with Comte too, even if it’s never stated outright. Because despite how lonely and tired he may be of eternity, no matter how many troubles he’s facing himself, he never stops trying to help and support others (namely MC) in any way he can.

Drops mic

#ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp comte #ikevamp saint germain #ikevamp jpn spoilers #ikevamp meta #ikevamp au event #comte propaganda #fangdad propaganda #i love him so very dearly #this event just made the feelings come rushing back #can't have five minutes without comte giving me heart palpitations huh #i feel so personally attacked #anywho i hope yall enjoy this wild ride as much as i did #minnie finna peace out and sleep for 70 hrs #**dives into bed beside comte** #rambles #not incorrect quotes

[kanmom51]

I agree that jikook knowing things about each other that the members don’t..

Like even in ITS, when hobi says he’s going to share with JK, Jimin says “by the way, Jungkook snores”. Assuming that hobi wouldn’t know this fact. If they all lived at the dorm, why would jimin need to tell him that? Even if he did at the dorm, jimin probably would have had to share bedrooms with Jungkook at some point to have to know he snores..cos clearly it wasn’t complete common knowledge. And showering habits .. 👀 even what jimin says/tried to say during festa about jk singing karaoke before the mic rudely interrupted him

And the car sharing doesn’t really make sense to me.. they might just have different schedules if they’re not sharing a car. Recently one of the txt members said he went to gym with Jungkook and they went down to the car park together, meaning jk was probably alone and went home alone after gumming. Stuff like this is normal.. they might have a lot of overlapping schedule but they probably also do a lot of things on their own too. Don’t know why people are so hung up over car sharing.

Not to mention the fact that just because they have media releases about their properties, it doesn’t mean they actually live there or have lived there ever..? It really baffles me that people take everything too seriously - these guys are multimillionaires and can probably afford to buy multiple properties and only live in one of them. And probably would prefer to keep where they live a secret

Sorry this ask became way too long cos I decided to rant 😅 anyway I live in Australia too!

Hello hello to my fellow Aussie. :) Hope all's well up on your end. Just stay safe. At the moment things are better back here at our hometown.

JK & JM keep sharing with us personal info that could indicate cohabitation. JK's snoring, JM's brushing teeth in the shower, JK's alarm clock setting, JM happy to wake up and see Jungkookie...

The car ride sharing, we don't know who they are riding with because there is no footage. So them not sharing a ride a couple of times in March doesn't make it into them never sharing rides ever again or even more than those specific 2 times, and besides, as you said, different schedules can lead to different ride needs and thus not sharing a car for those specific occasions.

As for the properties, you are right. Owning a property doesn't mean they actually live in it.

#ask #anon