#CAT Admit Card Released

[webdesigncompanyindubai]

CAT 2023 Exam Date Set for November 26: Admit Cards Released, Here's How to Download

Source:- https://www.teqts.com/cat-2023-exam-date-set-for-november-26-admit-cards-released-heres-how-to-download/

#CAT2023 #CAT Admit Card Released #cat exam

[raz-writes-the-thing]

The Odd Cuddle (Supernatural Drabble)

Casifer x GN!Reader / requests are open

Summary: Flirty Casifer cuddles. That's it, that's the fic.

A/N: I saw this post from @peacockwinchester and idk- it sparked some inspo

Fic type: fluff

Supernatural: @wereallbrokenangels @nervoussystemss (send an ask to be added to a tag list!)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Lucifer, your beloved. Your Liege, your Lord, your Prince of Darkness. To be quite frank, you'd never been worried about what he could do to you if he so pleased. You were nearly as old as he was and had seen him in many forms with many faces since the dawn of time. You'd loved them all the same.

You'd had many faces, too, of course. You'd tried them all. Like a card collection, almost. But Luci had always been most fond of your original- and when he'd finally been able to bust free of the Cage in Castiel's form, he'd used up some of his archangel juice to restore you a corporeal form true to your very old, very original body.

"Oh, how I missed this," you breathed out, feeling out those long-lost and yet familiar contours of your form.

"Mm, me too. No such views in the Cage, it would seem," your love replied, pulling you closer so he could wrap you up in his arms. Upon seeing your eye roll, he added, "Darling, no view anywhere could compare to the sight of you."

You allowed him to pull you closer and against his chest. Trailing a finger down his stubbled cheek, you teased him with the promise of a kiss only to pull back at the last moment.

"I quite like this face on you, dearest. It's handsome, and... cuddly," you said, trailing your hands down his chest to wrap around his middle. You sighed contentedly, settling into his chest as he wrapped his own tighter around you.

"Me too, pet," he answered, pressing a little kiss to your forehead. "I have to admit- after spending several millennia in the Cage, I've grown quite fond of the odd cuddle."

"And I am pleased for it. You know I am all for a good, long, cuddle," you told him affectionately. Luci released one arm from you and snapped his fingers. Suddenly you were both lying down in your shared, luxurious four-poster.

"Now this is the life," you stretched out like a cat, practically purring as you pressed your warm cheek to his colder, now-shirtless chest. He always did run cold.

"It sure is, cupcake," Luci tapped your nose, lips upturned in a cocky smile. "It sure is."

#casifer x reader #lucifer x reader #castiel x reader #casifer x you #casifer x y/n #supernatural fic #supernatural fanfic #supernatural fanfiction #misha collins #supernatural x reader #supernatural x you #supernatural fluff #spn #spn fluff #spn fic

[imjustbatshitcrazy]

Heartstopper headcanons that make me happy

Sarah got Charlie a "C" mug like the Nelsons have for Christmas

Elle sent everyone knitted gloves when winter came

Charlie talks in his sleep

Nick took Charlie to build-a-bear before he went to uni and they got teddies with each others' voices in them

Nick hides cheesy notes in Charlie's room

Charlie loves it when Nick draws on his hands or ankles but pretends to dislike it cos he doesn't want to admit it gives him goosebumps

The group goes to the park at night a lot

Nick folds the corners of books / comics and it makes Charlie do a cute disgraced face so Nick does it more

Tara gets really upset when someone kills a bug

Nick and Darcy are very chaotic if left unsupervised

Elle is mama hen

Tao finally came round to Nick when he sided with him against the rest of the group in a debate about Hawaiian pizza

Darcy got in trouble a lot as a kid for cutting random bits of her hair. She now has an exceptional layer of uneven baby hair

Charlie starts learning French on Duolingo before valentine's Day to be able to say a little paragraph about how much Nick means to him and writes Nick's card in French

Elle puts hair accessories in Nicks hair when he isn't looking - he often realises hours later when Charlie does that face of suppressed glee, like when you see a sleeping kitten but don't want to squeal in case you wake it up

Nick and Charlie always get fridge magnets from their trips

Darcy gets a wolf cut while at uni. The group collectively lose their shit over it

Elle gets some nail polish pens and does nail art on herself - Tao, Tara, and Nick regularly get her to paint theirs

Sarah hangs a pride flag in the living room window after Nick comes out

Elle has a big scar on the back of her thigh from accidentally sitting on a curling wand - she hates it and doesn't like anyone seeing it but Tao always kisses it when they're having fun time and it makes her melt

Nick breaks his right hand at the end of his first year of uni during a rugby match - over the start of summer, with Sarah at work, Charlie is proudly Nicks caregiver, helping him dress and shower and cooks for him. They both love it, as much as they tease one another

Charlie's style gets a grunge edge when he goes to uni - starts painting his nails black, gets a silver nose ring, a tattoo of a moon behind clouds on his left bicep (Jane is livid when she discovers it six months later), obviously a pair of Docs - it blends well with his chill wardrobe and isn't try hard like a few other vampiric people he encounters - Nick finds it very hot, especially when he visits Charlie for band gigs - while at said gigs Nick stands at the front and enjoys seeing people swooning at the "hot drummer" as he can go up to Charlie after and kiss him

Elle's drink of choice is vodka cranberry

Tao manages to keep his cat in his uni room for the first term without maintenance finding out - she was a great comfort to him when homesick but managed to leave her at home after returning back after the christmas break

Charlie gets hit on a lot but never realised it's flirting. Nick finds it very endearing

Tao takes over the uni meme page when he's in second year - it already had 3k followers but he managed to grow it to 5k in a few months

Darcy really loves LED lights

Tara has a salt lamp and lots of plants

Nick becomes the LGBTQ+ officer for the student union at Leeds uni

ps. I saw somewhere that Alice has released future!Narlie careers??? please someone tell me what their jobs are I'm desperate to know

#heartstopper #heartstopper comic #heartstopper netflix #alice oseman #osemanverse #tao xu #elle argent #charlie and nick #charlie spring #nick nelson #darcy olsson #tara jones #comfort character

[acreattaviacco]

My MLQC Experience Log#1

Welcome to my somewhat reaction, I just want to gush about this game. I didn't know anything about this game but I like the art and premise so yeah!

I am not gonna get attached to these characters real quick no I am not

First time doing this let's go

First things first, hello our cute MC❤️

I must admit I did not expect we would run a company let alone our parents died???? But glad to know we have a backstory for ourselves

Another thing that surprised me was that they did voice acting in English!

Unfortunately, we didn't meet Victor in person but the first one we did meet was KIRO!...Oh no....I'm in trouble

Sir you smell like sunshine and that innocent smile is making me melt

You are literally shinning aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh🔅

also-

Don't do this Kiro (Childhood) friends-to-lovers trope is my weakness so don't add more fuel to the fire but sure I can give the prize card inside the potato chips. He's so extroverted!! But he's so sweet 💕

After our separate ways, we try going back to our company and-

Hello there Victor sudden entrance but thanks for saving me. (Wait what do you mean I am an Evol?) Sadly it was short but now it's Gavin!!!

Wait!! Gavin!!...you just left

Okay new plan for the last episode of Miracle Finder instead of Kiro it's Lucien the Professor but

Not only that he was really good at being cheeky and a tease I might have gone red from that conversation alone! Can you blame me? The man slowly whispered in our ear and hahahahahahaha😳

Okay👍

Luckily He agreed to be on the show and I like this side of him as well

aaaaawww 10/10 Domestic life Husband material

After finishing the last episode some good news!

I didn't mention this earlier but the side characters have sprites, some even have voices which is really nice

Now we report the good news to our boss, negotiate and-

Can we trick him with puppy eyes? Oh he's a cat person sadge : (

Okay, seriously both Lucien and Victor's voices are so soothing to hear can you record an audiobook for us? no wait I would sleep through it

Though this is funny

I really like Victor, he's the right amount of tsundere that I like it's cute. Sadly he had the last laugh

We are going through places so fast and this is chapter 2 But we get to meet Gavin now!

You faced Victor you'll be fine...wait he works as a cop?

WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! GAVIN! WE ARE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS :D !!!!!

But at the same time aaawww Gavin what happened? What blood-soaked letter? I need to know more!!! (Also that scar, he doesn't hide it)

Hahahahahahaha I'm sorry why are you a lot cuter now? The fact we go to the same school and even after all these years? Shoot weren't we here on assignment?

After that investigation, there is this

It's sweet only to realize it's a tracker(Actually don't mind this, no I am not delulu) But hey the sentiment is there!

Now to report to Victor! But if he was my boss in real life I swear to you unless he makes moves first I would just be talking business and nothing else

I know we are in the entertainment industry but man our life is dramatic

Dammit why do you have to be our boss, still would romance you though, and 0 to 100 real quick

You call us from time to time and I wonder why Victor is so uh..."soft" to us. Don't stop though keep calling and texting even how much you deny it 💗

After that Business deal, we went out and dun dun dun trouble

!

Hooray! The sweet release of death! /j (Seriously I am joking but a lot of people want us dead)

Luckily Gavin (and Lucien's advice) saves the day!

I know the main story is linear but I still feel spoiled by all these CGs it feels unreal

Also did not expect I would fall for Gavin this hard, look at that warm smile!!! :D

It's nice to know we are still wearing our tracker, no I still don't mind this (Okay maybe I am a little delulu but let me have this)

I will gush on you later my sweet Kiro for now I will add you to the list of my bundle of sunshine characters I love and adore(It's a small list but I adore them aahhhhh)

Chapter two is done!

That's about it I haven't even touched the dates and events heck there are so many I just wanted to focus on the main story, for now, I need to figure out the game mechanics and grind to level up my cards

I should have looked at a tutorial first but now I will!!

@jozhenji , @celiciaa must taggy tag you :D

#mr love queen's choice #mlqc #mr love lucien #mr love kiro #mr love victor #mr love gavin #otome game

[honoka-marierose]

Pratt teases his future in the Marvel and DC worlds.

Over the years, Chris Pratt has lent his talents to a wide array of projects, from Parks and Recreation to The Super Mario Bros Movie to the Jurassic World series. Following the release of last year's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which ended with a title card teasing that his character of Peter Quill / Star-Lord will return, fans have wondered if another Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance will be on the horizon. Additionally, with Guardians writer-director James Gunn now co-leading DC Studios, there have also been plenty of theories suggesting that Pratt could follow him to this new franchise. While speaking to ComicBook about his work on The Garfield Movie, Pratt argued that either option is equally likely, and that he could very well end up appearing in both superhero sagas.

"Well, it probably make more sense that I would be Star Lord again," Pratt said in our interview, which you can check out above. "But anything is possible, and especially with James over at DC. Maybe there's something that would be right over there. Maybe both. How about both? Let's do both. I think it's 100% both."

Is Chris Pratt Joining the DCU?

Gunn has already teased that a number of Guardians of the Galaxy cast members could end up joining the DCU, although no roles have been cast thus far. One popular fan theory has been that Pratt might play Michael Carter / Booster Gold, who is set to get his own exclusive Max series. In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Pratt addressed that possibility, and admitted that he would be open to it in the right circumstances.

"If James thought I was right for it, then you know that I would have to consider it," Pratt explained at the time.

What Is The Garfield Movie About?

In The Garfield Movie, Garfield (voiced by Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist. In addition to Pratt, The Garfield Movie features a star-studded voice cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang.

The Garfield Movie is directed by Mark Dindal (The Emperor's New Groove), from a screenplay by Paul A. Kaplan & Mark Torgove (Raising Hope) and David Reynolds (Finding Nemo). Producers on the film include John Cohen, Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Steven P. Wegner, Craig Sost, Namit Malhotra, and Crosby Clyse.

#dc #dc comics #dcu #dc universe #james gunn #dc studios #chris pratt #marvel #marvel comics #marvel universe #marvel studios #star lord #peter quill #the garfield movie #garfield #movies #movie news

[empty-cryptid]

Since AO3 is struggling at the moment, I'll post this here for now and put it on AO3 later. This is set before "Reading Glasses", a story I wrote some time ago.

Edit: Now posted to AO3! HERE

Step One (Reading Glasses)

When Antonio suddenly appeared beside him and excitedly held up a drawing he did, Bruno tipped backward in surprise. After a breath, he took the picture and held it further away from his face so he could see it properly. "Oh wow, this is great! Is it Chispi?"

"Yeah! Chispi sat and let me draw her even though I can't talk to her right now."

"That was nice of her. I wish my rats would sit still for a portrait. Very nice job, Antonio."

"Thanks, Tío!"

Antonio took his picture back and ran out of the house to show it to the next family member he wanted to see it. All of the Madrigals were in temporary accommodations until Casita was rebuilt, so he was running from house to house.

Pepa watched the interaction with a small smile, happy that her brother is finally back with them and can meet her little boy.

Beside her, Julieta, who usually noticed things first, hummed and lifted an eyebrow. "Bruno, how are your eyes?"

"Hmm?" He looked up, "What do you mean?"

"Well both Pepa and I have reading glasses now, so I was wondering if you also needed some."

"Oh. Hmm, no, I think I'm alright?" Bruno shrugged.

"Somehow I doubt that. Here, try my glasses." 

Julieta handed her glasses to her brother along with a recipe card. "Try reading this without the glasses, then with them."

"Alright." He held the card away from his face at arms length and read it.

Pepa chuckled. "Oh he definitely needs glasses." 

Bruno glanced at her, then placed the blue cat-eye frames on his nose before looking back at the card. "Oh wow."

"Do the glasses help?" Julieta smirked.

"Yeah." Bruno admitted while he looked at the card.

"We'll take you to the optometrist tomorrow."

He suddenly looked nervous as he looked up at her through the lenses, making his already big puppy dog eyes look even bigger. "Why do I have to go? Can't I just use yours sometimes?"

"You have to get a proper check up anyway, and yes that is a requirement, so let's start with the eye doctor. It's the easiest one," Julieta explained.

"It's to make sure you're healthy, Bruno. You've gone too long without a check up. We'll be right there beside you," Pepa said.

"W-well ok…I-I guess if you're there too…but I'm not excited about it." Bruno hunched down and pouted.

"You'll get some reading glasses out of it. With all the reading you do, I think you'll appreciate that," Pepa said.

"F-Fine…"

…

At the optometrists office, Bruno was sat behind a machine while he anxiously fiddled with the edge of his ruana. Julieta put a hand on his shoulder and Pepa smiled at him from the doorway. Having his sisters there with him helped keep him calmer but he was still nervous about leaving Casita.

The doctor came over to him after writing down a few notes. He was warned beforehand to tell his skittish patient what he's going to do before he does it to avoid too much flinching and possible panic by the anxious man.

"Alright let's get this over with, eh?" 

Bruno nodded and offered a pitiful smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"None of this will hurt, but I'm going to get fairly close to you, alright?" The doctor explained.

"O-o-okay…" Bruno stuttered. He released his ruana so he could cross his fingers. While in the office, he wasn't allowed to throw salt around in order to keep the equipment safe.

The whole process went smoothly besides a few of Bruno's more intense flinches knocking the equipment. The doctor calmly reset what was bumped and continued.

"How does that look?"

"That…that looks, um, clear. I-I can read it."

"Is this better?"

"Y-Yes."

After a few more tests, Bruno was free to go. He was thoroughly done with everything and hid underneath his hood while his sisters took over for him. They showed him a few frames they liked and he picked one after trying them on. Finally, he was taken home.

Bruno was completely exhausted from the whole ordeal, so he decided to take a nap in the borrowed room he shared with his sisters. The triplets refused to be separated for the first month at least.

…

A week later, at a picnic lunch with the whole family, Pepa presented a package and gave it to Bruno. 

"This arrived today." She pushed it into his hands and waited eagerly for him to open it.

He started to open it while the rest of the family watched curiously. The box held his new reading glasses. He pulled them out and tried them on, shyly smiling at his family.

A smattering of compliments and little jabs about getting old came from his various family members. 

"When did you go get your eyes checked?" Alma asked.

"Um, last week."

"We noticed he might need them when he was holding everything at arm's length," Pepa giggled.

"Turns out he has the worst eyes of the three of us," Julieta informed them.

Everyone processed that information quietly, knowing a few factors probably contributed to that before Félix broke the silence. "Lookin' good Bruno! You'll find it much easier to read now." He held up his own glasses that were usually sitting in his shirt pocket.

"Thanks," Bruno said with a smile. He put his glasses away and hugged his sisters. "Thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome, now eat hermano, you need to put on some weight." Julieta said as she filled his plate.

Pepa put a hat on his head. "And tell us if you're getting too hot, you're so pale you'll burn easily. Here, drink more water."

Bruno laughed then, thoroughly happy to be back with his family. The emotions overflowed into tears and he started crying. Both of his sisters hugged him tightly and he let it all out.

"I'm so sorry! I love you so much, I'm sorry!" Bruno wailed.

"It's ok, Bruno. We're here, let it go." Pepa said as she rubbed his back.

"We love you too, hermano. We love you so much." Julieta squeezed him and kissed his cheeks.

After a while, he calmed down and uttered one last apology, embarrassed at the display.

Agustín replaced the hat that fell off his head and said, "Don't worry about it. Everyone needs a moment sometimes."

Julieta stuffed a buñuelo into his mouth, effectively breaking any tension. "Now eat, you're too scrawny." 

So he did. They all got their fill of the good food and pleasant conversation, just enjoying the afternoon together. Camilo and Mirabel started a fútbol game and all the kids formed teams.

"C'mon, join us!" Camilo called to the adults still sitting comfortably.

"You guys have fun, we'll enjoy watching you!" Félix replied.

"You guys are no fun." Camilo rolled his eyes as he returned to the game.

"I'm far too stuffed to run around right now…" Bruno sighed tiredly.

"Get used to it, I'm going to put some weight back on you." Julieta said with determined finality.

"'M not complaining, I missed warm food," Bruno flinched, "Sorry…"

"No need to be sorry. We talk about things now," Alma said. She briefly looked at her daughters for confirmation and got two nods before returning to her book.

Pepa put a book in one of Bruno's hands and a glass of water in the other. "It's hot, drink more water. Now, this book is one I thought you would enjoy. I read it a few months ago and instantly thought of you."

After drinking his water, Bruno looked at the cover and turned it over to read the back. He held it out at arm's length for a moment before Pepa put his glasses on for him. 

"Oh, right…heh." Bruno chuckled at himself and brought the book closer. "Hey this looks pretty good! Thanks!" He immediately opened it up and started reading it. 

Julieta put an arepa into his hand and he automatically started nibbling on it, lost in the story. She and Pepa stifled their giggles at that before turning to watch their kids play their game. 

…

Bruno got used to pulling out his glasses eventually. He lost them sometimes and usually found them on his head where he had forgotten about them. 

The glasses caused Pepa to notice his colour was returning to the healthy dark olive tone he was supposed to have. He had gotten some tan lines where the arms of his glasses sat along the sides of his head from reading outside for hours on end. 

He had a much easier time seeing his sobrinos' drawings, writings, and whatever else they wanted to show him. He didn't notice the intricate detail of Mirabel's designs or the subtle additions of tiny rats on Chispi's back in Antonio's drawing before getting the glasses.

Some months later, they even contributed to Julieta noticing her determination was starting to pay off when he lifted his shirt to clean them, revealing the start of healthy weight returning to his middle. 

Bruno appreciated the glasses for allowing him to read comfortably, his family enjoyed seeing the positive changes in him. That visit to the eye doctor started him on his path to health and reconnecting with his family one small step at a time.

👓 💚 👓 💚 👓 💚 👓 💚 👓 💚 👓

#Fic: Step One (Reading Glasses) #encanto #my writing #fanfic #encanto fanfiction #viva la pancita de bruno #bruno madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #the madrigals

[kaus-quietis]

Greetings, Anon! Thank you for your questions. I have to admit, even in the past, I refrained from posting reactions or speculations as BSD chapters release, but you already knew that, so I will indulge you. I'll answer each part of your ask. BSD ch113 thoughts below, manga spoilers ahead.

♠ "What was your raw reaction?" It was not a calm, quiet one, I can tell you that. No, in fact I screamed with excitement as if I was in a Roman amphitheatre and my favourite gladiator just got back up on his feet, out of sheer force of will, grinning and sweaty. My scream was the fastest way I could "verbalize" the fact that I was overjoyed to see him alive again, even if it's in the 15th century, and on top of that he seemed to be some kind of spy monk all chained up and having what seems to be a ridiculous amount of fun getting caught and discussing with Bram. This is all very in-character for him.

♠ "Was that something you expected?" Absolutely not. Yes, yes, I truly did not expect a jump back in time and this infobomb drop, despite the fact that we did get a few hints that Fedya seemed present at past events when all the other character really appeared younger than him (near the end of S4ep3, where on a rooftop Fedya says "It's not V, it's Five" and I am seriously like bruh I give up what I want to say is I need more data to work with, what am I supposed to do with this, rationally speaking?). However, we can't yet extract anything conclusive from this. Is he ageless? A time-traveler? Immortal? Does he revive? When was he born? Was he born at all or created differently somehow? Is he of BSD's world, or an external one (Beast liveaction finale anyone?)? Is this all within the Book and he's just… idk flipping the pages? Anything is possible and I refuse to spend a lot of time working with incomplete data. This is not very follower-friendly (as in, my blog is basically inactive in-between), I know and I apologize, but if after many chapters there will be something worthwile to add to my essay (with what Fukuchi said in ch113 I already have important stuff to add), under those circumstances I will consider writing an update. It's not yet time.

♠ "<Was that> something you felt different for the characterization we all made for Fyodor?" Hmm, I would hesitate to refer to a characterization "we all made" for him (I wish! T o T), because my analysis and blog are but a tiny tiny part of the fandom (I think…? I wonder about my Fedya essay's reach or influence sometimes). But let's say here we refer to one that comes close to what I tried to show in my essay. In that case, I would say that there is nothing to fear here in this chapter, but it's very understandable to have massive trust issues at this point. We went through a miserable, miserable time when the previous ones made the guy who visually memorized a full deck of used cards somehow not notice Chuuya wearing contacts and fake vampire teeth, despite knowing the vampire race since… well, the 15th century! I cannot even begin to describe what I felt reading ch111.5-112, I was beyond repulsed. Lovers of "villain" characters understand the following thing well: in most media, our fav has to lose, he has to die or disappear at some point, with rare exceptions. I, too, know this well, but that was no compelling way to solve BSD's villain threat. I still don't know how BSD will wash away that narrative stain, as I consider it, but then again one of the reasons we love this manga is that it keeps us on the edge of our seats and the most absurd yet fun turns can happen out of the blue. We can reasonably ask ourselves: ok, what is the purpose of showing Fedya's backstory now? If it's for build-up, we can already start grinning like Cheshire cats. What could possibly be next? I'm cautiously optimistic, things look in-character and good to me. Very good, in fact.

♠ "Or do you think it is later on going add some depth to his character?" Backstories are shown usually for a very clear purpose. We don't know the purpose yet, but if it's done well, then… then my whole essay could be at risk lmao (and I love this sensation). New info could add so much depth to his character, in fact, that his previously observed traits could gain new meanings, or even contradictory ones. Whichever it will be, I think it's pretty safe to bet on "his backstory will be very relevant".

♠ Bonus: even if I enjoy going "full analytical" and enter conference speech mode when asked, I am driven by strong emotions, by which I want to say – I am not immune to assassin/spy monk Fedya chained up like that and having the time of his life again. I missed seeing him entertained like that, and his current …………. visual representation in the.. uh. ..chapter, yeah, well, it's doing things to my Depeche Mode-worshipping heart.

Anyway, to conclude with some facts we know as of now:

a. Fedya and Bram are inside the Bran Castle, close to the Romanian city of Brașov, "deep in the Carpathians" although not built at high altitude itself. It's basically a fortress built between 1377-1388, with several later additions. The BSD representation of it is very accurate to how it looks today. It's near perfect, actually, I applaud.

b. Bram mentions King Matthias, and in this context that can only mean Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary for 1458-1490. The meeting between Fedya and Bram thus happens some year during his reign, when Transylvania was still part of the Kingdom of Hungary. What is still strange to me is that I can't pinpoint Bram's exact position, as in… were his people independent? Or avoided? I feel like I need to re-read past Bram-related chapters to think about this.

c. Nevermind Bram, the things that Fukuchi says, those are the real goldmine here, but the gold is still… encrypted? I mean: Fedya made the DoA plan (more than confirmed now), and because Fukuchi asked for the condition to keep casualties under 500, Fedya respected that and we got entertained for like half of the whole BSD manga: using coin bombs for terror, for economic/political destabilization, using the vampire infection to avoid further violence, these things. The more you think about it, the more insane it gets. Since Fedya agreed to this condition, it means causing (more) deaths and violence were expendable things to him. (But imagine this: Fukuchi said "I want max. 500 deaths" and Fedya said "Yeah I can do that", now if Fukuchi would've said "I want max. 2 deaths" I really believe Fedya would've still said "Yeah I can do that". What can't he do, especially since murder for murder's sake isn't his goal?). This is in perfect harmony with his "necessary deaths only" approach so far, and much much more. There are far more implications in what Fukuchi said, which I won't type out here now. Gotta keep them and build around them for a future analysis update.

This was a rather long read, but still, I hope this satisfies your curiosities, Anon. *bows dramatically & disappears in a borderline insufferable ENTP way*

#Lav answers #I can't believe I wrote so much #yet still I will keep true to my principle of not over-speculating with insufficient data #a proper essay update would be much more valuable than making separate monthly posts even though in this way I can't contribute to the hype #or despair #or both #but fans of patient analysis will profit .. richly from this #someday! #sigh why is it I can talk about Fedya for hours #why can't I..... ugh....... #Iiiiiiii caaaaan't stooooop lovinggg youuuu #OTL................ #man I've chosen the best manga character of all time frfr #also as of ch113 my Philosopher!Fedya fanfic is basically.................canon-friendly to the highest degree and I can't believe it #it happens in like the 1440-1450s and I dont even know how to feel about this reveal skjdfng

[takeyourcyanide]

Cycle

(Soul Eater fanfiction)

Word count: 1 960

Summary: Spirit finds out about Blair giving her own lingerie to Maka as opposed to her favorite book. He decides to straighten things out with Maka. This fic also deals a lot with alcoholism.

Note:

I plan on tackling his relationship with Maka more in depth in future fics. It is fun.

……

The sound of a bottle cap being popped quickly off rung throughout Chupa Cabra’s, a shot of excitement running down Spirit’s spine.

“How did it go when you gave it to her? I bet she loved it, you know how my Maka loves her books,” Spirit smiled a large, bright smile - one filled with pure adoration and love for his precious daughter. He stared expectantly into Blair’s oddly guilty eyes, as she nervously chuckled, pouring them both drinks, and twirling her purple locks between her fingers anxiously.

“Uhh… About that,” Blair trailed off, mouth opening and closing repeatedly as she searched endlessly for a way to put her next confession.

“Oh, no, what happened?” The weapon’s smile faded fast, his expression contorting melodramatically into one of pure worry and almost fear.

“Well.. I sort of spent the money you gave me on some lingerie for myself.. and, well…” Blair guiltily began.

“Blair…?” He tilted his head, eyes filling with rage and annoyance.

“I ended up just giving the underwear to Maka, along with your card,” the cat admitted, her hair surely knotted by now.

“She thinks I gave her skimpy lingerie?!” Spirit shouted, his jaw having gone slack, and his eyes widening to an incredible size.

The flirtatiously fluorescent lights of Chupa Cabra’s only served to illuminate the sunk-in expression on Blair’s face. Her shoulders were slumped, and her right hand gently shook as she held her glass of champagne.

“Uh, yeah, kinda,” she rushed out in a hushed voice, her words slurring together as though she had already begun drinking long ago.

“You didn’t even tell her? What the hell?!” He exclaimed, his arms flailing around wildly. The pair most certainly garnered attention from the rest of the clients and employees, curious eyes observing the situation at the table closest to the door.

“Please keep your voice down, sir,” the polite lady working at the checkout desk scolded the man.

“Yes, sorry, ma’am,” he mumbled bashfully, shame rising to the tips of his ears as though he had been lectured by his parents.

A theatrical sigh shook Blair’s ashamed frame, as she said to Spirit, “I’m sorry, Death Scythe…”

Spirit, too, released a sigh in response, grabbing his glass and chugging it as fast as he possibly could.

“God,” he began, rubbing at his already throbbing temples. “I need to straighten this out, don’t it?”

“Probably,” she took a large sip from her own glass.

……

Spirit stumbled slightly as he trudged in the direction of Maka and Soul’s shared dorm, his cheeks burning brightly.

He couldn’t stand the fact that Maka might seriously believe he’d be so perverted as to send his own daughter lingerie. It physically pained him. He already had an extremely rocky - and practically nonexistent, at times - relationship with his daughter, they didn’t need this to make it worse.

Anxiety formed as a tight ball of chaos in his throat, or bile, rather, as he bent over, convulsing in on himself violently as he gagged. The crippling nervousness combined with all of the alcohol only led to an incredibly unsettled stomach.

As he slowly rose from that awkward position, one hand coming to soothe the pounding in his skull, and one arm wrapping around his pained abdomen, he eyed a young mother and her son looking down on him in pure disgust. He didn’t exactly blame them.

He rubbed his mouth, grimacing at the nasty taste. He was sure he had some sort of fever by now.

There was no way he was going to confront Maka in such a state. He’d have to wait until morning.

He made a right turn instead of a left, stomping about on the cobblestone path. He himself owned a cozy little apartment close by the students’ dormitories.

His vision was mildly blurry as he walked, his stomach churning with fervor once he made it to his door, of which his inebriated brain almost caused him to knock on.

He stuck his hand in his pocket, pulling out and fumbling with his jingling keys.

As soon as the door opened, he tripped inside, shutting the door much too loudly for his liking behind himself.

Spirit audibly groaned as the lights in his living space practically burned out his retinas.

He marched his way into his bedroom, shuffling his suit jacket and tie off. He kicked his shoes off, one making it half way across the room, the other landing right by his clothed foot. He threw himself underneath his covers, making sure to lay on his side. Spirit balled his comforter up and cuddled with it, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the bubbling of not only torturous emotions within him, but also of all kinds of physical agony.

All he could truly be sure of in that moment was the fact that he was most definitely going to wake up to a horrendous nightmare of a hangover in the morning.

……

Spirit began to stir as the light of day flooded in and stabbed him in his head. He whined, cursing existence itself, as he shoved his head into the plush warmth of his pillow.

As Spirit lay miserable underneath his twisted and messy blankets, he begrudgingly recalled the events of the previous night. They came to him in short, humiliating, fuzzy bursts. A shade of red barely lighter than his crimson hair tinted his cheeks and ears as he fought the urge to throw a tantrum.

He threw the covers off of himself, very cautiously rising into a sitting position. He held his head gently in his own hand as his brows furrowed. Not only did he curse existence itself, but he also cursed Blair for her utter selfishness.

“Will I ever get on better terms with Maka?” Spirit thought hopelessly and depressingly to himself. He understood why Maka was so angry with him, but he truly wished she could simply see it from his perspective, as well. If a genie appeared before him right in that instance, the only thing he’d wish for - the only thing that would be on his mind in that moment would be forgiveness from Maka… He would wish for a repaired and functional relationship with the person most dear to him.

His eyes began to burn, his face, too, rising in temperature. It felt as though a mist of heat was smothering his cheeks. A fat and pitiful tear rolled fell gracefully downwards, as his lip quivered in a juvenile manner.

He was truly behaving like a child. Blubbering would surely not do him any good in speaking with Maka about the mishap with the gift.

Still, he couldn’t help himself. More and more droplets fell onto his knees, of which were still covered with the dress pants he was adorning the night before.

This was why Maka did not like him. Sure, she viewed him as a vile womanizer, too, but he was also an avid drinker who often couldn’t get a proper handle on his emotions. Yes, that was surely it. He was behaving as though he was still a kid whom didn’t have a kid himself, with all his drinking and sobbing and partying… Perhaps he’d work on that.

He stood, steadying himself using his nightstand as the room spun. He could feel a thumping in his head and fingers, as he moved toward his bathroom.

The scythe’s stomach felt as though it was being wrung out with each step he took. As a matter of fact, Spirit could feel each step reverberate throughout his entire body, similarly to a hard vibration - perhaps even that of loud music playing at a lively concert.

Spirit lifted the lid of the porcelain toilet, shoving his face nearly in the bowl, as he dry-heaved.

He certainly needed to eat, that should ease the nausea, though he certainly didn’t feel like nibbling on anything.

He stood once more, stumbling over his own feet, as he made his way over to the mirror.

He simply couldn’t help but stop and stare at his disheveled appearance. Maka would slam the door on him if he were to show up at her doorstep looking so… revolting.

Spirit retrieved his hairbrush, combing through the knots with a few groans here and there. He yanked his toothbrush from out of its holder, dousing it in water before putting the needed toothpaste on its bristles, and cleaning his alcohol-stained teeth.

He leaned from left and right, dozing off a bit, and evidently still dizzy and lightheaded, as he tried his hardest to make it through the full two minutes.

……

Spirit sat at his round dining table, taking impressively slow and melodic bites of his toast, chewing just the same.

After finishing his food, he changed his clothes, just as slowly as he ate, into more comfortable, casual clothing. Everyday wear that excluded his usual suit and tie. The suit jacket would’ve felt much too clunky in his current state, anyway. The tie would’ve felt more like a noose than apparel.

He cleaned his appearance up further, rehearsing his future conversation with Maka religiously in his hungover head, taking some much needed painkillers before exiting his apartment.

His empty and lonely apartment.

……

“Who could that be?” Maka asked Soul in response to a knocking at their door, placing her book down onto the coffee table in front of her.

Soul shrugged his shoulders, curiously watching Maka as she opened the door.

As soon as Spirit laid eyes on her, his own eyes lit up. Her hair was actually down for once, resting delicately on her clearly tense shoulders. She, too, adorned casual clothing, as it was only a Saturday morning. Her eyes were filled with the same fiery determination they always were. She was truly adorable.

“Hey, Maka,” Spirit spoke nervously, behaving rather neurotically. He fiddled with the inseams of his pockets as he stared at her bothered face.

“What do you want?” She said with the same look of pure repulsion of which that mother and her son had shot at him as he hurled onto the dark street.

“I just wanted you to know that I didn’t give you that lingerie,” he began, removing his hands from his pockets and holding them up in mock defense.

“Well, who else could it have been, then? You put a handwritten card in the bag, you know,” Maka raised an eyebrow, grimacing at her father, of whom reeked of alcohol.

“It was Blair. I gave her the money to go get whatever book was your favorite, and she ended up buying underwear for herself, and just giving it to you,” Spirit explained, focused intently on piecing the story together coherently.

“Oh, dick move, man, blaming it on Blair… And of course, you don’t know what my favorite book is!”

She did not even give Spirit a chance, resorting to slamming the door in his face.

His head banged with the same energy as the creaky, wooden door. But no headache could compare to the pure heartache he experienced in that moment.

He simply stood there for a moment. Questioning why he even tried in the first place. She always was so quick to blame him, he was always her scapegoat. Perhaps it was because he’d never stop trying to win his daughter back, even if he was met with the cacophonous noise of the slamming of a door.

Whatever the reason had been, Spirit found himself pathetically trudging right back to the same bar Maka often scolded him about frequenting; Chupa Cabra’s.

This was Spirit’s own personal Hell. He was ultimately doomed to repeat the same cycle over and over again, never to obtain what he truly desired. He’d only ever see glimpses of what could’ve been and what could be.

#soul eater #spirit soul eater #spirit #spirit Albarn #alcoholism #maka #maka albarn #maka and soul #excessive drinking #drinking #hangover

[catsafarithewriter]

A/N: PART 6 of the Bedlam au, introducing another familiar (?) face ;)

X

Haru doesn't even really see the button eyes anymore, not really.

Oh, she doesn't exactly forget but – well, it's the same way she doesn't really note Baron's feline face nor Toto's feathers. They are a part of the people here, a fond feature; it no longer makes them other, it just makes them them. And the Other Baron is expressive enough in a way her local Baron never quite was – at least where it mattered – that makes it delightfully easy to read him.

When she visits again, she knows he has good news before he can say a word; his movements are quick, excited, and he steers her into the Bureau with hands that tap along her shoulders.

(The Baron she had once known had never been quite so easy around her; contact had been cautious, concious, especially as her time with the Bureau had progressed.)

Nothing can prepare her, though, for the person sat on the sofa.

The Other Hiromi squeals as she leaps to her feet, soles barely touching the ground as she cannonballs into Haru. Laughing, the Other Baron releases Haru, a hand gracing her shoulder just long enough to ensure she isn't about to topple at the force of the embrace.

"You're alive! You're here! This is crazy, my god, we have so much to catch up on!" the Other Hiromi cries. "Baron told me you'd returned, but it seemed too good to be true!" Her eyes, like everyone else's, are buttoned. The thread running through them have a hazel sheen.

"Hiromi? You're here? But I thought–"

"In this world, you made the decision to include those close to you to your secret life," the Other Baron explains, correctly reading Haru's confusion. "Or not-so-secret, I guess," he adds with a smile. "Not to those who matter, anyway."

Haru holds her Other friend close, and for the first time in a very long time, there are no secrets between her and Hiromi. And all it took was stumbling into a whole Other world.

"So how are things?" Other Hiromi demands. The Other Baron is across the room from them, deliberately engrossed in a book. Other Hiromi lowers her voice conspiringly. "Enjoying being back with the Bureau?"

Haru glances at the Other Baron. He acts as though he doesn't notice. "How much has he told you about me?"

"Only that you come from another world – hence why your eyes are..." and she gestures to her face, "you know. And that the Baron from your world kept his cards much closer to his heart." She raises an eyebrow. "As did you, apparently."

Guilt settles on Haru's shoulders. "Things... worked out differently in my world. I didn't want to drag you into all this – to make you worry–"

"So you hid it all instead. Very adult of you."

"I wasn't sure you'd believe me!" Haru insists. "I mean, I'm not sure I'd believe it if I wasn't living it, and I actually talked to cats when I was a kid! And then, even if you did believe me, you'd probably just worry about me whenever I was off on a case, and I didn't want you to come wading in after me–"

"And if something did happen to you?" Other Hiromi asks. "Was I just meant to live the rest of my life wondering what happened to my best friend?" She curls her hand around Haru's, anchoring them together. "Don't you see how much better things are here, where I know the truth? Where you don't have to hide where you are or what you're doing?"

Haru has to admit, there is a lightness in her lungs, a happiness bubbling away, at the ease in which the two sides of her life have impossibly come together in this strange world. She sighs, and drops her head on the Other Hiromi's shoulder. "I must admit, if I had known how simple it would be, I'd have told you a long time ago."

"Yeah, well it seems like you made all the best decisions in this world," the Other Hiromi teases. "Guess you need buttons for eyes to see clearly, huh?"

Haru laughs, and in that moment there is a strange shift. A breeze ripples through the Other Sanctuary and rocks the hanging basket outside the window. Haru lazily watches it, distantly aware she hasn't felt a breeze in this Other Sanctuary before. She rolls her head back, ready to ask the Other Baron if all is okay, only to see he has frozen. Without eyes, it is impossible to tell whether his gaze is unfocused, but there is an uncanny stillness to him. It puts Haru in mind of the figurine he was carved from.

Fingers tighten around hers, and she snaps her attention back to Other Hiromi.

"Go home," her friend whispers. "Please."

And then the wind drops and the white-knuckle grip around Haru's wrist releases her, and it's enough to make her wonder if she imagined it.

"She's right," the Other Baron says. That uncanny stillness has fled from his form, and he is once again the Other Baron she has come to know so well. And it is this knowing which betrays an edge of unease in him. "You should head home. It looks as though there is something abroad in the Sanctuary today."

"I can help," Haru protests.

"Any other time, I would accept, but this might be of a..." and his mouth twists, "personal nature."

His artisan, Haru thinks, and she understands. She has met Baron's artisan of her own world, no longer the impassioned apprentice who had crafted a pair of cat figurines with all his heart, but an embittered man, fighting against the tide of time by whatever means necessary. He has a possessiveness over his Creations, one which extends to meddling, regardless of whether he was invited.

She can understand why – if he is indeed the visitor – the Other Baron wants to keep her presence a secret. She nods, and gathers her stuff together, stealing one last hug from Other Hiromi before she goes.

There's always next time.

#bedlam au #the cat returns #cat writes

[mydarlingdearestdead]

My lady?

I'm obsessed with them. Luka and Doe

'How's my lady doing?' Luka asks, collapsing onto the sofa beside me. He makes a point of stretching out like a cat before laying his head in my lap. Like a reflex, I begin coming through his hair with my fingers. It's tough with the remnants of gel from his wig prep.

'We're not on stage.' I reply, closing my eyes.

Luka hums a confirmation. 'And?'

'And,' I repeat forcefully, 'I am no longer your lady. Or anyone elses, for that matter.'

Luka chuckles and I crack one eye open to see him, eyes firmly shut and grinning into empty space. Pushing down the instinct to return such an addictive smile, I realise he's speaking.

'You will be,' Luka informs me, 'Tomorrow night you will be my lady again.' I close my eyes again, having had enough of his teasing grin, but I can't deny the small smile creeping onto my own face.

'And never again.' I reply, because it's the truth. Luka hums again. He takes my hand, still carding through his hair, and brings it to his lips, just like he had in show. Was that really just an hour ago?

I don't open my eyes.

To open them is to admit this means something, anything, to me. And it doesn't, so I won't.

'You know what I think?' His voice is just a breath against my skin.

I can only hope his eyes are still closed for the flush I feel creeping into my cheeks and up my neck.

'Do tell.'

Now it's his smile I feel against my palm. Wide and endearing.

'I think you'll always be my lady, Doe.'

Every inch of my body is aflame with those words, aflame because I know it's true. 'If you say so.' I whisper.

'What was that?' The grin is obvious in his voice, even if I couldn't feel it.

'I said "Shut up".'

He snorts and releases my hand. As well as relaxing into me, letting go of some tension I didn't realising he held.

Luka doesn't move as I return to carding my fingers though his stupid red hair, or across his idiotically perfect jawline. Even over his nose and cheekbones (also perfect, if you're wondering). He's still as a statue.

I never open my eyes.

Eventually, but really far to soon, Marcus barges in. He's looking for Roman's suspenders. Luka bolts up instantly, disturbing our relative peace.

Finally free, I excuse myself to the bathroom as Luka starts talking Marcus through something or other.

When I come back, Luka and Marcus are no where to be seen. Only a bouquet of roses on my dresser. Red and white roses.

The tag is as it always has been.

From your secret (and biggest, though definitely not only) admirer xx

The roses are almost all red, with four white ones slipped it, almost as if an after thought.

Then I notice one final detail. Three playing cards, tucked inside the ribbon securing the roses.

The five, seven and two of spades.

'You remembered.' I murmur to no one but myself.

#Doe Harbours #Luka and Doe #my lovely ocs #writing #writblr #writers on Tumblr #author #authoring #authors on Tumblr #ocs #original characters #queer characters #trans Characters #luka is trans ftm #he/him #doe is cis and pansexual #she/her #lgtbq #queer #Luka Devine

[ingek73]

Public Relations Pros Are Spilling Alllll Their Thoughts On The Kate Middleton Situation, And I'm Somehow More Intrigued Than Ever

"I did a lot of PR work in London, and from what I understand of the British press, this is not a fumble."

Julia Corrigan

by Julia Corrigan

BuzzFeed Staff

At this point, everyone and their mother knows about the mystery surrounding Kate Middleton's whereabouts. Why did William suddenly cancel his appearance at his godfather's memorial service? What was up with the whole Photoshop scandal? And don't get me started on the discourse about the TMZ farm shop footage.

@princeandprincessofwales / Via instagram.com

But no matter which way you spin it, you can't deny that this whole thing has been a PR disaster. So, when Reddit user u/butteredgrapes asked members of the subreddit r/PublicRelations, "What are your thoughts on the Kate Middleton situation as a PR professional?" I couldn't help but read through all the commenters' opinions. Here are some of the most interesting:

1. "I would have never issued that short statement signed by 'C' (Princess Catherine) owning up to editing the photo. Bad move. [It] would have been better to let it fade to the next news cycle."

"What was already weird was made weirder, and provoked more criticism. They are also adding gasoline to the fire by not being transparent about her stomach condition or King Charles's cancer. Transparency is key to avoid speculation."

2. "Their strategy here is baffling; they're acting like people are asking her to post a video of her colonoscopy or something, when a vast majority of people want to know if she's okay."

"Charles's team handled [his medical issues] great! They said, 'It's cancer, but we're not going to tell you what kind! Get your prostate checked!' and posted pictures of him reading 'get well' cards, confirming he's alive and okay. Chef's kiss.

The obfuscation and weirdness from Will and Kate's team only created a vacuum that started this whole mess in the first place. Signs [indicate that] the most recent paparazzi shot in the car was at least tacitly approved by Will and Kate, and I can't for the life of me understand why she wouldn't just wave to the cameras to be like, 'I'm alive, move along!'"

—u/DifferentTea934

3. "On the PR side, [I think it's] totally idiotic that [the palace] released such a botched photo. This tells me they either have people around them who are just seeking to please them and say yes to everything, or Kate and Will are handling more of the day-to-day on their own than we think."

"To make this blow over, Kate needs to make a public appearance, but again, my sense is she is personally resisting. She has been such a trooper for so many years. One human can only take so much."

—u/Leading_Caramel9684

4. "Just goes to show you should not capitulate to Twitter mobs. They should have never posted a photo in the first place. If they were going to post a photo, it shouldn't have been doctored. If they were going to post a doctored photo, they shouldn't have admitted it was doctored. Stop trying to appease the mob."

—u/Creative-Disk563

5. "The statement admitting to the doctoring of the photo was absurd. Why say that? It’s like they're liking this cat and mouse game with the public."

—u/BeaGilmore

6. "CNN is now reporting that they are reviewing all past photos submitted by the palace for fraud. This is so much worse now. [The] truthfulness [of the palace] is now being called into question."

—u/purplelikethesky

7. "I roll my eyes every time I see someone blaming the 'PR team.' Internal politics [are] generally [what] dictate an organization's crisis communications decisions, and competing interests within that organization are generally invisible to the public. We can talk about the best way to handle this from an external perspective, but we have no idea what the true goals of the most powerful people within the institution (i.e. the King) are."

—u/crinklyplant

8. "I did a lot of PR work in London, and from what I understand of the British press, this is not a fumble. They always purposely create big discussion points and controversies to keep the general public distracted from something else, often at the expense of one of the women in their ranks, [like] Meghan [and] Kate."

—u/smolperson

9. "If I were her publicist, I would have had her make a 15-second video a few weeks after her surgery, in her garden, that said don’t worry everyone, I’m fine and just need to rest and recover. I’ll see you soon. Boom. Done. These vague statements, weird sightings, and long periods of silence are making it soooo much worse. Be first, be right, be credible. They have done none of those things."

—u/d_in_dc

10. And finally: "While I understand that the palace wanted to control the narrative, and gambled that the current action of saying nothing might have been (marginally) workable, things were changed by a raft of bad news from other family members: The King’s cancer, Sarah Ferguson’s cancer, and most tragically, the death of Thomas Kingston. This has led to a lot of speculation in general that has grown to the point where it was used as fodder with US chat show host Stephen Colbert. Hence, I think clear and plain communications from the start would have been (and still would be) best. Instead, what exists now is a furor amongst the press and the public who have been excluded."

—u/WesternTumbleweeds

Overall, it seems that with the Royal Family right now, about five stories are unfolding at once, and the details look messy. Hopefully, Kate's okay. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below!

Note: Some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.

#kate middleton #prince william #kensington palace #buzzfeed.

[manysmallhands]

My Favourite Songs of 2023 part 2: 30 - 21

Carrying on from yesterday's post, this is the second part of the countdown!

30. Claire Rosinkranz - Wes Anderson

I liked Wes Anderson the first time I heard it but couldn’t help thinking about how lightweight it is. A few months on i'm less picky: in fact I've come to think that insubstantiality is part of its charm. Rosinkranz is still a teenager and the bounce of youth comes through strongly in her music but she’s capable of adding a touch of ruefulness to stop it from floating away completely. Yes it’s froth, but in the very best way: indulgent for those of us with a sweet tooth and always extremely addictive.

29. Sabrina Carpenter - Feather

Sabrina Carpenter has a few songwriting modes but it's in the charming disco pop of Feather that I find her at her most listenable. Built around an elastic bassline, the music feels as airy as its title while Carpenter’s vocal is hilarious as she expertly drags an old boyfriend. Keeping you on the line with hook after hook while delivering barbs and punchlines with the skill of a stand up, Feather was a brilliant flipside to Carpenter's harder edged material.

28. The Clientele - Hey Siobhan

While much focus has been placed on their recent changes in style, I will admit to feeling happier when The Clientele stick to the basics and never more so than on Hey Siobhan. All your favourite Clientele sounds are there - the warm twilight majesty, the stately strings and climbing guitar arpeggios - but rather than feeling like a tired old retread, its greatness seems magnified by the novelty of new surroundings. Cosy maybe but in a good way, like some comfy old slippers you’d never dream of throwing out.

27. Dua Lipa - Dance The Night

Dance The Night felt a touch identikit on first hearing, a bit too close to the Future Nostalgia sound to mark a genuine move forward, but it’s sounded better as the year’s gone on, especially in comparison to the oddly formless Houdini. Built on a combination of glossy hooks and Dua’s commanding presence, her second solo number one feels just as effortless as its subject. It's an incessantly dynamic track but one which, for all the work on display, still manages to leave not one hair out of place.

26. Peggy Gou - (It goes like) Nanana

Peggy’s breakthrough single is fairly typical of her oeuvre, a belting 90s style house banger with a sketchy but endearing vocal and the catchiest of choruses. Has she done this better? Yes, absolutely she has, but it’s still pretty great, a hit is always worth celebrating and never before has she made a video with such a well drilled shoulder dancing routine.

25. Doja Cat - Ouchies

One of my favourite cuts from the Scarlet album, Ouchies has the kind of punchy sound that really ought to have sustained Doja's audience levels. Punctuated with a beat that feels like a repeated prod to the chest, Doja shouts “Fight!” as she stops worrying about the fangirls and takes a pop at everyone else instead. The vibraphone provides a sinister background swirl while everything else kicks off hard in this perfect expression of her confrontational schtick.

24. Dominic Fike - Hey Blondie

The lower card on the Barbie soundtrack is full of hidden gems and Dominic Fike’s sunny dissection of our plastic heroine is one of the finest. Deceptively cheerful with its shuffling rhythms and arpeggios, it's the sharp lyrics and extraordinary chorus hook that really leave their mark. A song so catchy that, once heard, it can surely never leave the brain again.

23. SZA - Too Late

Released in the tricksy end of year spot last December, I’m unsure if it’s cheating to bring SZA in but i’ve done it here anyway. Too Late is sad girl music that somehow doesn’t feel all that sad; there’s cheer in its folksy guitar sound and SZA’s vocal seems as much about her hopes for the future as the relationship she can't save. As is so often the case on the SOS album, it seems to span three or four different genres without sounding in the least bit awkward or ungainly. Instead, it’s as gorgeous a melancholy pop song as you're ever likely to hear, whether this year or last.

22. Kenya Grace - Strangers

Kenya Grace’s surprise #1 felt like the kind of thing you might hear in a 90s version of the 2020s, with its shuffling rhythms and icy synths coming off like retro futurism in a pop context. But what draws me back to Strangers is the vulnerability of its tone, with its vision of a world that isn’t quite hook-up culture but where connection remains impermanent and disappointment is always a click away. Few songs this year felt so hauntingly open hearted.

21. Sweeping Promises - Good Living is Coming For You

Sweeping Promises' spiky new wave sound got a bubblegum makeover for their second album and hit a new peak on the title track. Essentially a dubby, claustrophobic rant about a menacing interior design plan, Lira Mondal’s vocal alternately holds back and ferociously lets go while the whole thing sounds oddly triumphant in all its strangled, squalid glory. 

More tomorrow (i hope).

#Claire Rosinkranz #Sabrina Carpenter #The Clientele #Dua Lipa #Peggy Gou #Doja Cat #Dominic Fike #SZA #Kenya Grace #Sweeping Promises #Pop #Indie Rock #RnB #Hip Hop #Best Songs Of 2023 #Best Of 2023 #Songs Of 2023 #Best Music Of 2023

[lesbiancressidacowper]

cassandra is the funniest person in the whole world remember before tlh came out and someone asked her which characters in tlh would be gay and she was like umm i'm not telling <3 because LAST time i told you who was gay in one of my little trilogies before it came out you were ANNOYING AS FUCK about it.... just read the book when it drops lmao goddamn..... and i for one think she was so real for that. because i was there before tda when she told everybody about ty and kit. and we WERE annoying as fuck. and it was her fault actually because. ok let me explain to you how this went down. ok so before tda was out two things happened that are relavent to this journey. first thing was someone asked her if any of the blackthorns were gay, and she was like. ok well first of all all faeries are bisexual so jot that down, secondly yes one more of them is but it's so so super secret and i won't tell you teehee just try and guess..... reminder. here is a list of the blackthorn siblings: helen (half faerie, bisexual, exempt), mark (half faerie, inherently bisexual, exempt), julian (lesbian but a teenage boy. in other words he's literally the male lead in a ya romance. straight as can be), livvy (is a girl, cassie is lesbophobic (joke)), ty (skinny little weirdo with a cringe sherlock holmes obsession), dru (girl), and tavvy (literal toddler). so. you know. you guess. and the second thing that happened was cassie told everybody in vague terms that ty would have a love interest and she said and i quote, (i don't quote i paraphrase who the fuck can remember the exact wording of a tumblr post they read 7 years ago. oh my god 7 years. that's not right. hold on. it is. what the fuck. anyway.) she said these characters would have her favorite ship name she's ever come up with (and can we be so for real and admit that's why she named them what she did. girl wanted to make her little jokes soooooo bad. she is such a fucking cat person it's embarassing). anyway so she said this, like months before lady midnight came out, but we didn't forget.... ty girls don't forget.... (me when i'm 14 and have NO problems whatsoever) and then it was like, three days before the release? i don't remember but it was a little bit before the book came out, she dropped one last flower card and was like oh hey btw there's this brand new guy in this book i didn't ever tell you about before just now his name's kit he's blonde ok bye. and then within, what? 30 seconds? we'd all put the pieces together and were like cassandra what the fuck. so of course everybody was annoying under those circumstances....

#but she was still so funny for the tlh one. she was like um actually i won't tell u because u bitches r ANNOYING <3 #and i stand with her!!! #beth.txt

[merryfortune]

Rhapsody in Kalopsia

Title: Rhapsody in Kalopsia

Ship: Rockdustshipping | Earth/Spectre/Ryoken

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,614

Tags: Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Fluff, Established Relationship, Polyamory, V-Shape Relationship

   The thing about Spectre, Ryoken had long since observed, and usually with great suffering, was that he was an incorrigible optimist. An unyielding idealist. Usually to the point of denial or delusion but it kept him alive so why complain?

   Well, Ryoken would like to complain actually because he was the one who had to exist alongside this kalopsia of Spectre’s. 

   Though he did have to admit. Of Spectre’s ability to transmute anything into a positive, this should be the easiest one for Ryoken to bear and yet… it somehow got on his nerves the most. Which is quite the insane admission, even for Ryoken to make considering how he had been through thick and thin with Spectre for the past ten years.

   From the very moment Ryoken had met Spectre, face to face, he could tell that there was something more than a little off about this child. He was beaming and he was more than eager to join Ryoken, follow after him like a lost puppy. As far as he was concerned, even though they were in the cold, drenching rain, it was all sunshine and rainbows.

   Then he began to explain the circumstances of how he had got here, waiting for something - someone - outside the base of operations for the Hanoi Project. How he was an orphan. How he was bullied. How the only things he felt were worth living for had been taken from him. The first, the Hanoi Project and then the second… which was a tree he considered his mother that had been cut and felled for unknown reasons.

   Yes, well, Ryoken had a lot of questions after that. Not many he wanted to ask but certainly they swarmed in his head, clogged on his tongue. There was something very incredibly, direly strange and wrong with this child. Though, Ryoken had always quietly suspected such. 

   Ryoken was the witness to the crimes of the Hanoi Project and the suffering the children had endured throughout but the boy in Box Number Four… He was always the quickest to stand up again, the quickest to grin and laugh and shrug off the pain and hop back into another Duel. Win or lose, it seemed all the same to him as it gave him great, if twisted, joy.

   Ryoken thought it was resilience at the time. That Spectre, this particular child, was just so driven that nothing could knock him down, that his courage was to be considered admirable. That yes, it was resilience and nothing less, that prevented him from breaking where the other children hadn’t. Or, either that, he was simply not present when he did breakdown in tears, unable to get up again, rocking and self-soothing like the others, banging to be released from their captivity.

   Now, Ryoken saw that it sort of was resilience but it sort of wasn’t, either. There was no upside to having his Mother Tree cut down but he did get to meet Ryoken. There was, however, an upside to being unlawfully detained, starved, and electrocuted, though. For whatever reason, that was fun to Spectre. Ryoken wasn’t going to claim that he understood it but the way in which Spectre adapted was incredibly remarkable. 

   No matter what happened, what cards he was dealt, Spectre took it on the chin and with a smile. And also probably rose coloured glasses but whatever helped. Ryoken was in no position to judge considering what he increasingly asked for from Spectre.

   Everything from undying loyalty to killing the very reason he had been kidnapped in the first place, Spectre did it all with a blithe expression on his face. Well, usually it was more twisted than “blithe” but close enough. Spectre never asked for a thing in return for his service to either Ryoken or the Knights of Hanoi, he was just happy to have a place to belong. 

   That was, until, curiosity killed the cat.

   Or well, curiosity tried to kill the cat but other happenstance killed it first and that was that. (Or was meant to be that.)

   When Spectre began questioning why his Ignis never sought him out. In one way or another, all the other Ignis had sought out their Origins but Spectre did his best to put a lid on this curiosity. Even if it did burn him up inside, it soon became too little too late when SOL Tech got their hands on the Earth Ignis first. Before the rogue Ignises could or even before the Knights of Hanoi could and that kept Spectre’s curiosity - and more importantly, to Ryoken at least, his loyalty - in check.

   To further cement and salt the ground, Ryoken had said some things around this point in time that he would later regret and would later justify again. The Earth Ignis wasn’t problematic but he was still very, very painful in Ryoken’s eyes. Maybe not quite so painful that the death penalty for his existence was warranted but almost close enough, by a country mile or two or three. Maybe even as many as six.

   Still, after this Incident, there was none for Spectre to wish for. The Earth Ignis was dead. All but one of the six Ignis were dead, actually, and the Dark Ignis was not particularly interested in living on as the sole survivor of his own kind and thus, calculated his own end by his own volition at the hand of his own Origin.

    It was just a shame that Playmaker was not cut from the same cloth as Spectre. Spectre was content to cloud gaze, to look for that silver lining and be done with it. Admire it from afar even whilst wasting no time on the what could have been’s because that would make him feel sad and uncomfortable, something he was loath to feel as an innate pleasure seeker. 

   Fujiki Yusaku, however, dove head first into the worst of it and made the changes he wanted to see.

   He was not content with a world where his partner had been taken from him. So Ai had to come back, he would force it, he would put all the pieces together and it would make for a happy ending. But as previously established, Ai could not be the only one of his kind. 

   So one by one, the other five Ignis were found and put into place again so they could live. It was an abomination but it was a happy abomination. And now, the end result of all that hard work was that Ryoken really, badly, desperately needed… ear plugs. 

   Good quality ear plugs that felt soft and squishy and let him sleep in peace and harmony. That would make Ryoken very happy in this change of circumstances.

   There was more explanation for this, of course. It was a bit of a strange leap to simply go from the most sarcastic yay possible that the Earth Ignis was alive and well again to needing ear plugs. An unsarcastic yay was, however, necessary because the end of warfare with the Ignis and his own Father’s influence receding over the Knights of Hanoi meant that a new, happy ending was in order.

   And that overjoyed Spectre.

   Against all odds, in the face of impossibility, Earth had resurrected and been returned to Spectre.

   Well, returned mightn’t be the most accurate way to describe it. They had never met after all. Separated, yes, technically, twice even. In the wake of the dissolution of the Hanoi Project when police and rescue had descended after Ryoken’s phone call and again ten years later when Earth had been vivisected by SOL Tech but it still wasn’t entirely accurate. But it was how Spectre wanted to call things and describe things.

   Totally ignoring the fact that the baseline of happiness that he wanted which balanced his loyalties and his desires was for Earth to simply be with his own kind, never interacting but now that all paths had well and truly crossed… It was a return to how it perhaps should have been. Even if the Ignis had been deemed a successful and profitable business venture. The Origins and Ignis were partners. They belonged together. It was truly as simple as that.

   The happiness that Spectre felt when he was finally introduced to Earth was near euphoria. The glitter in his eyes, the rapid beating of his heart in his chest, the smile from ear to ear, unhinged and free and surprisingly requited from the Ignis, too. It had all the hallmarks of a bonafide honeymoon phase, Ryoken realised from the sidelines, seeing echoes of his own first meeting with Spectre in that between him and his Ignis. It would fade eventually. Become a norm.

   And it did but gosh Ryoken wished that it hadn’t.

   It was selfish of him to say so but it all returned to Ryoken’s original point. He had an irritant to vent when it came to Earth and Spectre’s relationship as it affected him.

   The entry of Earth into Spectre’s life, of course, also meant an entry into the lives of Ryoken and the scientists of the project and it was, as Earth would put it, socially awkward. They had created him and then in the next breath decreed that he ought to be destroyed and now here he was. Helping out with things like laundry and even assisting in their activities in the Link VRAINS to monitor it from threats who weren’t them.

   It was strange to say the least but much like Yusaku and Ai, Takeru with Flame, and Aqua with both Aoi and Miyu, it seems that the relationship between Spectre and Earth really was a match made in heaven. The jury was still out on the other two Ignis not accounted for in this metric but it was safe to say that there was some sort of effort towards healing and reconciliation was on-going. It was not going to be instantaneous like the other four Ignis and their partners but it didn’t seem impossible. It was just going to take time.

   Meanwhile, it had taken no time at all for Spectre to adapt and for Earth to adapt, as well.

   The other Ignis - namely Ai, Aqua, and Flame - were not thrilled at the idea of Earth being submerged into the hierarchies and echelons of the Knights of Hanoi and Ryoken was much the same. It did seem to be playing a dangerous game but given how petty Ryoken’s grievances currently were, it was probably fine. Ryoken was doing his best to tamp down on this issue so as to prove that he and the other Knights had turned over a leaf but damn if it wasn’t difficult.

   See, all the Ignis have a certain quirk of movement. When they moved, the mechanisations of their artificial bodies produced certain noises respective to their element of their attribute. Rushing water, flickering fires, strong winds. That sort of thing and in Earth’s case, it was the harsh noise of grinding stones.

   It was a terrible, horrible, no good, and very annoying noise. Ryoken hated it. Spectre, in his infinite wisdom, loved it. In fact, Spectre considered it to be a most marvellous white noise and it was exactly in the bedroom, when they were trying to sleep, when it annoyed Ryoken the most. Earth was completely and utterly oblivious to this problem as he just did what he was told.

   And what he was told was that he couldn’t leave Spectre’s side.

   This was for a multitude of reasons. 

   Ryoken didn’t like the idea of Earth having free roam of the ship whilst he and the others slept. Ryoken doubted Earth would do anything which would be considered an issue globally or on a scale far grander than they of the Knights of Hanoi would worry about. 

   However, his earnest attitude got him in trouble anyway. He was klutzy and awkward, causing problems in the plumbing when he tried to do a good deed and clean the toilet unasked or other such scenarios. There was a way for every chore to go wrong and go wrong disastrously at his command. He wanted to help a little bit too much and that caused annoyance or trouble unintentionally.

   And the other reason why Ryoken didn’t want Earth to stray too far from Spectre because, well, Spectre loved him dearly and the novelty of him still hadn’t worn off. Earth was far superior to a new toy to cuddle and squeeze and that made Ryoken’s skin crawl but letting Spectre have him made him happy so… Ryoken obliged. 

   Through not only gritted teeth but a pillow fixed over his head so he could try to get some sleep in peace and silence. 

   The Ignis didn’t need to sleep, after all. Humans did. Earth couldn’t go too far but he needed to keep himself entertained. Most of the time he stayed put, read a book but even that sometimes proved too noisy given every page turn was accompanied by the ear-splitting noise of grinding stones.

   Well, Ryoken thought they were ear-splitting noises. Spectre, meanwhile, thought they sounded quite pleasant. The compromise was obvious. Ryoken needed ear plugs because there was no way he was going to ruffle Spectre’s feathers by suggesting that no, his new favourite sound in the whole wide world was awful and terrible. 

   Lying in bed with Spectre, it was a simple pleasure. The sort of pleasure Ryoken had once thought would be impossible for him. There was too much in the way of their relationship, surely, despite the more than budding attraction. They were master and second-in-command. Witness and victim. There was guilt and suicidality but here they were.

   Snuggled up, cuddled up under the sheets. It was too kind. All of it was impossible, surely, and yet here Ryoken was, breathing in the scent of plants that had been watered or body soaps that smelt like roses. His heart skipped a beat as he felt Spectre lift an arm over him and peck the side of his face with a kiss.

   “Good night.” Spectre murmured.

   “Good night.” Ryoken replied.

   “Good night!” Earth piped up, making third and making Ryoken groan.

   “Just put them in already.” Spectre laughed.

   “I will.” Ryoken complained.

   Now he shuffled over, pulling out his draw, fishing for the container he kept his ear plugs in but by his side, Spectre was still relaxed and on the other of Spectre’s side, as was Earth. He sat with a very big book which should keep him busy until morning, he was perched on the side of Spectre’s Duel Disc, more like a nightlight himself than anything else. This had become their nightly ritual.

   Never in a million years, in a billion simulations, Ryoken ever guessed there was a route which would lead him to be in a V-shape relationship with Spectre and an Ignis. But he was at least a little happy about this impossible scenario that was made real on the piggyback of Playmaker’s efforts. Even if Ryoken was a grouch about it, some of it performative, some of it coming from a place of genuine dread but it made Spectre happy and his happiness meant a lot to Ryoken.

   Sure, a lot of it was bizarre and inexplicable. Sometimes even twisted and vicious. It sometimes even seemed like it was more denial than it was genuine joy but when it was sincere, Ryoken cherished it. Even if it meant that he had to wear ear plugs to bed nowadays, it was so unbelievably worth it to see Spectre so happy and that the sound of grinding stones as Earth moved became rhapsody in kalopsia for him.

#rhapsody in kalopsia #yugioh vrains #vrains #rockdustshipping #yugioh #ryoken kogami #kogami ryoken #spectre (vrains) #earth (vrains) #writing tag #another fic title bingo i can square off is kalopsia #i have had a note in my fic ideas channel on my discord reading spectre + kalopsia and no elaboration for years #so i am happy to think that i've squared the prompt off even if it was likely meant to be spectre's pov #but i like using ryoken's for this ship <3

[kirsdoesstuff]

I might as well say how I learned about TWST and my journey through it so far with my thoughts. Slight spoilers ahead for the following a bit not much.

So to point it out, I learned about it before it’s release in eng on TikTok. I forget who’s video it was but it was like a year prior with the magical archives. I always loved some of the villains concepts as a kid, so this had me excited.

I followed the count down and the website, the pre order/downloads rewards were pretty good and they added more since the goals got hit so fast. Very interested in the fact that I was only taller than one of our main cast (Ortho).

When it came time to pick a hand, I picked Malleus. Maleficent was one of my favourite villains growing up. I don’t regret picking him to start, his CR (ceremonial robes) SR is still on my main team due to strength and Birthday Azul’s duo magic.

The free SSR I didn’t really have much preference, ended up going with Jack and he’s also a main on my team. He’s max on both spells, 2/3 friendships and close to his current max level 88/90. Currently still recovering the expenses in game, but I saved plenty beforehand.

I’ll be honest, I crush on Leona. I see the first years as kids and the second years. Most are taller than me, but I’m gonna be 20 in October so they kids. I totally first was into Malleus and Idia at first, but then book 6 in jp kinda changed things to me personally. Before it I totally would listen to the voice lines and the growl in Leona’s voice already had me. So it switched to being Malleus and Leona rather easily.

As sorta said earlier, I do look up translations for the main story mostly, haven’t looked up the full part 1 of 7 yet though. Most of my experience has been with the eng server, there are events I’m looking forward to for various reasons whether cute or Malleus in a mask (arms on show).

The eng translations in the official game have been, interesting to say the least. Cater got all those hashtags and social media language. Idia saying all his internet slang and the bunch. Epel is fine, he’s a country boy saying country things.

There’d be a lot I’d personally do if I were actually Yuu in there. Might be tempted to do what Ace did to the other Overblots. Not everyone, but a good punch on Jamil and Vil. Perhaps a slap to Leona and someone would need to hold me back from Idia in book 6. Kidnapping already traumatized ppl who were in therapy and starting to work. Plus you took the annoying but kinda lovable flame cat like monster and destroyed the dorm.

I like most of the fandom and try my best to interact. Of course I’ve seen a few accounts that were great on other platforms and then it started to have issues. I just hope most people remember this is an all boys high school.

When it’s ships, there’s plenty of cute ones and ones that make some sense. AppleJack and AppleJuice are pretty cute. ADeuce is a great team over time and plenty holding the other accountable when it counts. As long as it’s not illegal, uncomfy or I really don’t like it for whatever reason. I’m generally fine with the ships, that goes for most things tbh. Cuddles and kisses are typical safe things for all. NSFW is for 18+ characters.

Been a while since I made one, but on TikTok I have a little series of my honest opinions on characters from TWST with numbers to each one so a random number generator can pick who. I don’t have any RSA characters in it, but the staff and Grim are there. So 28 total there in that list and I’ve done 3 total (Deuce, Grim and silver).

I definitely recommend TWST when I’m talking to people about it, of course I warn that you have to pull for characters.

I do my best to use my Genshin pull luck, but I will admit I’ve spent money on this game and not the other. I spent like $40CAD trying to get Fairy Gala Leona. I’ve currently saved up some 10 pull keys for birthday Malleus. I only have Cater, Azul, Ruggie and Lilia for the birthday cards so far. I do the monthly card.

I think I’ll leave this here though, I’ll be sure to share what other item I preordered from AmiAmi in April.

Though enjoy the wallpaper edits, top for tablets and bottom for phones more. I post these on wit too.

Otherwise, what did you think about the game at first?

Edit: added a read more line

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst opinions #leona kingscholar #malleus draconia #jack howl #honest opinion #twst journey

[velvetineblue]

a Valentines date with Taiquinn, @uroborosymphony your local trouble-maker vigilantes in love ~~ ( aka I was supposed to send a smol Valentines ask, but Tai muse got soo carried away with the dATE & it became so long that I had no choice but to turn it into a drabble. or, self-para ??? a self-para, I think, bc I can't write other people's muses, it scare me-- so i think self-para. but idek what the definition of those are, rly asjajj. anyway, i now RELEASE THE HOUNDS CATS -- )

he has to admit: when you've tasted a love like theirs-- a dark, brimming passion that could singe the world, if stoked-- all the simple, classical acts of romance that traditioned Valentines Day... they fell just a little flat, for him. he couldn't bring himself to give her nothing but heart-shaped candies, oversized plushes, or bouquets of flowers. there was nothing wrong with them, but they failed to represent his feelings for her. of course, no gift, no card, ( and no combination of words strung together, no matter how artful ) really could come close to expressing the depth of his feeling for Jung Ara …

but, never one to be bested by a challenge, and in the spirit of the holiday of LOVE ( and his never-ending quest to assure her of his utmost adoration and devotion to Ara, and Ara alone … ) he had planned for them a grand Valentines DATE !

it had started with all the makings of your typical St. Valentines' evening: all dressed up for a late night, intimate dinner at a restaurant. it was nothing overstated: a small local spot, a hidden gem that they didn't even need a reservation to get into on this busiest of busy nights-- it was that under the radar. and what kept it there was only it's 'undesirable' location: it was on the other side of town, the side where Tai and Ara had lived in their old, tiny apartment... and on their lazy no-cook nights, this had been one of their favorites places to patronize for a warm meal. the owners were a sweet older married pair, with two adults kids-- one that passed away tragically, and the other living overseas, with little time to visit their ma and pa. their shoes were old and worn, and the kitchen equipment was outdated, but their food was the nevertheless the best. they had gotten to know Tai and Ara by name and well-recognized their faces; always kind and paternal to the two regulars, even giving them extra food from their kitchen at no charge. and they never accepted a tip, no matter how many times Tai tried to foist one on them as a thanks… so, he'd once told them he'd invite them to his and Ara's future wedding as a gracious thank you, instead-- mostly because he wanted to see her reaction. would she laugh? would she blush? or was she down to go to the courthouse RIGHT THAT SECOND? because Tai was.

but those were the dates of the past. tonight, red lilies decorated the table, and coy looks were exchanged from across it. he steals a bite of her dessert, but mostly as an excuse to brush hands with her. and from the outside, they probably don't look all that different from any other couple out on the town that night. ( maybe more expensively dressed for the area, more effortlessly glamorous, but otherwise, one of many young lovers engrossed in one another… )

but when the meal is done, he motions for his beloved date to follow him to the back door. effortlessly, the two sneak in, and with hushed smiles, he leads her on a reverse scavenger hunt: he has stacks upon stacks of 50,000 Won bills, every one brought for them to hide in the backrooms of this cherished restaurant of theirs. he stashes paper bills in the cleaning closet, the freezer, hidden among big bags of dry goods on their shelves… it was enough money for the elderly couple to go into early retirement, if they wanted to. a little 'thank you' for all the good memories they'd made here; and another day of Tai and Ara putting money into the hands of the modest, hard-working people who actually deserved it…

evading detection with the stealth they'd mastered, they watched as the old man found a bill they had dropped in the kitchen-- asking himself out loud where it had come from. had he dropped it? after some contemplation, he pocketed it absentmindedly-- thinking nothing more of it, completely unaware of the bounty that awaited him. Tai and Quinn snuck out the back in fits of laughter, giddy from their good deed…

in the dark, dimly lit night, he pulled her into his arms to press a kiss to the bridge of her nose. he was still grinning with delight. " you're so cute when you're being good, and not scaring people with knives… " he was warmly and affectionately joking, and it's clear from his tone that he likes her just as much when she's 'good' and when she's 'bad'. it was true: she was cute when they were playing Robin Hood together … but she was also hot when she was defending their turf.

" . . . and now for something completely different ! " he announced with a dramatic flourish, like the ringleader of the circus that was their crazy life. leading her by the small of her back to the car-- almost excitedly, urging her onward with a gentle push. the sound of her heels clicking against the concrete was strangely exhilarating to him. " come on, come on-- you're gonna love this next spot. " it would be a long drive across the city, but never boring. the car glided down the highway late at night on relatively empty streets, enriching the mystery of what their destination would be. it became clear, however, that they were heading into the ritzy-RICH part of Seoul, all glitzy and beaming with white lights.

but when the car was stopped and parked, they were secluded. like they were hiding. nearby was a hilltop, grassy with sparse trees. he lead Ara up the hill by the hand-- a bit of a long walk, but they were used to this sort of thing. scoping. it would be obvious to Ara that they were scoping out a place: somewhere he intended to break into, most likely. ( they'd done this very thing a million times together, always hand-in-hand like this, and with adrenaline pumping in his blood. ) when they come to a stop near the cliffside, a huge sprawling white mansion is in view below them. he observed it ( with subtle disdain ) for a few moments, before turning to face Ara. he smiled at her. back to the good old Valentines classics, he pulled a giftbox out of his pocket. inside was a necklace, a heart-shaped design from Vivienne Westwood: silver, pretty, and dripping with modern luxury... he doesn't really explain why he got it, just clasps it around her neck admiringly. it does look good on her, but what doesn't? when the necklace was fastened, his palms drifted from the nape of her neck to the front, where her pulse beat in her throat. the delicate, vulnerable skin that it takes trust to let another person touch, and his hands massage affectionately.

" so, do you know whose house this is... ? " she might, he thinks. few would recognize it as anything more than a random mansion in Seoul, but she's the cleverest person he knows, and she probably keeps track of guys like him... " he's that stock executive who was in the news a couple weeks ago… and not for something good, like winning the world record for most hot dogs eaten. no… this is the douchebag who stole money from that orphanage in Sinchon. he set up a 'charity' in their name and took donations for the kids, but really, it was all a big tax break for him; it was a scam. the orphanage only got scraps of the money, and the rest… well, I guess it probably went into building this monster of a house. worst part is, he got away with it, pretty much. the judge gave him house arrest-- the guy's related to some high-up there politician, so you know how that goes… " it's how this city was: corruption, from the top down. this man had basically stolen candy from babies, and because of who he knew, he didn't have to do a damn thing to pay for it… " i mean, how bad can house arrest even be in a house like that ? " he looked it's way: the pool could be visible from where they were standing. big glass windows suggested luxurious insides. house arrest? more like a STAY-CATION...

Tai turned back to Quinn, taking out the last of his gifts. he placed it gingerly into her palm, let her examine it. it had a similarly branded design to her necklace, but it didn't exist only to be pretty; it was practical, too. a lighter. made of silver, but the flame flickered gold when you lit it up. Tai's grin sparkled in white. was she catching his drift?

him, her, fire, a rich piece of garbage in a house that was just begging to be burned to the ground…

he thinks he knows what gifts Quinn would covet the most. jewelry was nice… flowers were pretty... but JUSTICE was better. he could give her that. he could give her all three, and he would.

digits tangled into the strands of silky black hair at her nape, eyes lost in hers. in love with everything that she was: her chaos and her softness, her ruthless idealism… she was perfect. his voice had turned to a conspiratory, honeyed whisper. " what do you say, Valentine ? want to finish this date at his place? " and when they were done, all that should be left in the rubble where a mansion used to be, would be a paper Valentines' Day card left behind, slowly burning to a crisp. signed with love, from yours truly: Black Fang . . .

#not the prettiest written bc... how do u even write these days?? idk. i just fling words at the wall wildly like a monkey does with...... #nvm. #but we love taiquinn sm in this house asjjaj forever grateful to lynnie for us setting these little hellions loose on the world !! #uroborosymphony #┍━━━━━»•» ♡զմιɳɳ ╭──╯ . . . ❤ 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 ━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━ 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺