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#Seen Through a Glass Podcast
sinofwriting · 8 months
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Wine - Oscar Piastri (lover verse)
Words: 977 Summary: Oscar (and Apples) go on the screaming meals podcast after everyone finds out about their marriage. Note(s): This part of the lover verse and I recommend you read the first part before this one so it makes sense. Read lover here
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“We have an Aussie on the pod today.” James says. “Indeed we do. The wonder boy himself, Oscar Piastri!” Clement continues and the three guys clap while Oscar looks behind the camera where his wife is feeling a little awkward. “Thank you for coming, Oscar. Was a bit of bitch to get you on though.” Oscar chuckles, nodding. “Just a bit. I’m glad I could make it though. I’ve been watching since the first episode.” “That’s right.” Marcus says. “I remember you texting me about it.”
“Ladies, Gentleman, you may notice we have five glasses on the table in front of us. And that is because Oscar’s wife is here as well.” “Hello!” She greets from behind the camera, sending a smile James’ way. She and the insurance broker had spent a fair amount of time together when Oscar was in F2. “She also brought the wine for today.” Clem chimes in, picking the bottle up. “Really, Apples is just trying to prove that she is the best guest to have.” He lets out a laugh seeing the label. “Ah, a bit of DR3 wine. I haven’t actually had this yet. Is it good?” He turns his head a bit to ask her, knowing that between her and Oscar she’s the one who likes wine more. She nods. “My mom loves it as well and you know her, bit of a wine snob. I also brought another one though if we get through that one a bit too quickly.” Clem makes a small noise, hand coming over his heart and he looks back at Oscar. “Mate, I might have to steal your wife.” Oscar shakes his head at the Frenchman but chuckles. He hadn’t expected the friendship between her and Clem, but it had started from their shared interest in wine and had only grown.
“Do you mind if we actually talk about you, Apples?” James asks, as Marcus takes the wine from Clem to open it. Easily passing the cork over to Clem to smell. “Not at all.” She says, reaching somewhat into frame to take the glass of wine from Marcus, giving him a quick squeeze to the hand in silent thanks after.
“So the Australian Grand Prix.” Marcus starts, handing the next glass over to Oscar, who immediately groans at the words. “I mean, what a home race.” The younger man makes a face, shifting in place as he clutches the glass of wine. “It was something.” He allows. “It was a clusterfuck, mate.” James chuckles, taking the next glass of wine from Marcus. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I mean truly.” Marcus says, passing Clem a glass who gives a silent cheer to him, before finally pouring himself a glass. “I mean, the media ran fucking wild and it was nuts.” “I was there with Clem for the F2 race and oh yeah, the media was something.” “I mean,” Oscar huffs, running a hand over his face. It had been months but still he was bothered over this. “It wasn’t like a secret y’know? Everyone in F3 and F2 knew about it. I mean obviously.” He waves a hand at three guys. “So I’m just amazed at the press and social media just not knowing it.” Clem wags a finger at the camera. “And you call yourself a journalist. Couldn’t even do basic research.” “Seriously.” Oscar says, and Marcus can’t help but laugh at how bothered Oscar is. It was a change from the usual unflappable or unbothered way he was.
“I also found out from Mrs. Piastri herself that the drivers didn’t know?” James asks. “They didn’t.” She confirms. “Well, Logan obviously did.” Marcus says, remembering how Logan had taken a weird older brother role to the Aussie couple. “But the rest didn’t? Not even Ocon? Or Alonso?” Oscar looks over at her, raising an eyebrow and she gives a shrug. “Ocon didn’t, Alonso, I mean maybe? He congratulated me after the news broke when he saw me next, but I mean it’s Alonso, who ever knows with him.” “Fair point.” James chuckles, lifting his glass a bit.
Apples watches from behind the camera for the rest of the podcast, only coming into frame once more for a refill on her glass of wine. Though she occasionally says something, fake chiding one of the boys or urging Oscar to open up a bit more, her husband still a bit too aware of the camera on him. Makes her wish she had taken that shot that Clem offered her before they started rolling, knowing that Oscar would have also had one if she had.
When they finish up, Oscar goes to move, switch to the other couch so Clem and James can sit with Marcus to film yeah g’day mate, but Marcus stills him and waves her over. She raises an eyebrow aware of the still rolling cameras but she goes over, easily sitting on the arm of the couch that Oscar is pressed against. As soon as she sits the other two are also piling onto the couch, Clem diving in between Oscar and Marcus, elbowing the Kiwi as James tries to grab the back of the French’s shirt, just barely managing to pull him up off the couch.
“Sit on the arm mate. You’re tiny enough. And budge over, Marcus.” “Why do I have to move?” Marcus asks, but slides over, knocking his and Oscar’s elbows together. “Because you're small enough to be in the middle. It’ll look weird with me.”
As the three start to bicker, Oscar leans his head against her and she runs her fingers through his hair, smiling down at him as he tilts his head backwards to look up at her. “You alright, Os?” She murmurs, Marcus’ squawk of protest surely prevents the mic from picking up her question. He nods, flashing her a smile.
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@cixrosie @gemofthenight @copper-boom @boiohboii @iloveyou3000morgan @Benstormy @peachiicherries @topguncultleader @lpab
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scarletttries · 5 months
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NSFW Headcanon Request: Steven Grant (Moon Knight)
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Steven Grant + Professor Kink/AU: (prompt list here)
- Steven Grant thought there was no greater joy or honour in teaching young minds about ancient Egyptian history, and then he started teaching you.
- He had seen flocks of enthusiastic young people come and go from his halls over the last few years of teaching, and sure he'd had a few favourites here and there, but nothing compared to the first time his eyes locked on yours from behind his lectern. It was embarrassing how quickly he tripped up his speech as his eyes lingered on yours, unable to look away from the unique sparkle that flickered so clearly in them. He tried to remember where he got to in his introduction, blush rushing up his cheeks as his heart sped up far more than his usual presenting nerves, and when he watched you smile at the way he fumbled through his first attempt at a joke he started to think maybe this is what love at first sight must feel like.
- When you found him after class and asked one of the most creative questions he'd ever heard from a student in his years of teaching he couldn't quite believe how exhilarating it was to talk to you, butterflies stirring up inside him as if he'd made an instant old friend. He bit back his tongue as the thought of asking you to continue this conversation over dinner crossed his mind, trying to remind himself of his position as your professor despite how easy it was to view you as his true equal.
- You had been feeling more than a little frustrated that you had to take at least one history module as part of your studies, but at least Ancient Egypt had been your favourite time period when you were learning history in school. And when you noticed your adorably handsome professor stumble over his words with a sly smile when he caught your eye, you were pretty sure you'd never miss a lecture again.
- You'd find reasons to talk to him after class or during his office hours, and he'd send you articles or podcasts he thought you'd find interesting, telling you to call him any time to discuss your thoughts. He wanted to pretend that the power imbalance wasn't any part of his blatant attraction to you, but he couldn't ignore the way his pulse raced every time you called him professor. And finally as the spring turned to summer and you started wearing your favourite short dresses to his class, watching the way your legs would float down the stairs as you found a seat about halfway back, he knew he wasn't going to be able to wait until you graduated before he finally told you how he felt.
- It wasn't unusual for him to ask you to come to his office out of hours, usually just for an academic discussion over a cup of tea that inevitably turned to the two of you sharing more and more personal stories. But on this day you were greeted by a glass of wine and a bouquet of roses, rather than an academic text. He looked almost pale as he stumbled through the sweet confession that he had never felt like this before, and even though he knew it was improper, he couldn't bring himself to wait another minute to tell you how he felt.
- As he stares at you with the most hopeful eyes, you'd lunge forwards, wrapping your arms around his neck before landing your lips on his, finally giving him the sweetest relief of knowing how it feels to kiss you. He'd be so gentlemanly that first night, insisting he takes you on a real date so he can prove this isn't just a torrid love affair to him. You'd reluctantly agree to wait a little longer to rip his clothes off, surprised by the nervous giggle he'd let out in response, grabbing his keys so he can take you somewhere far enough away that you won't see anyone else from the university.
- A discussion over drinks with your fingers intertwined would feel more natural and comfortable than any interaction sweet Steven had ever had, as when you whisper in his ear that your ready for 'his private office hours, Professor' he'd be on his feet so quickly you'd have to stop him for tumbling over himself.
- That night, and every moment after, his office becomes his favourite place to be close to you. He takes so much joy in bending you over his desk and flipping up the skirt he's spent all lecture admiring. He makes sure to sink to his knees and run his tongue over your slit until he can feel your arousal dripping down his chin, wanting to treat you the way only an older man will, a tinge of insecurity running through him when he sees you talk to any of the idiot boys your own age around campus. When he starts slamming into you from behind he'll insist you call him professor, a swift palm slapping your ass if his first name leaves your lips. Sometimes he'll have you sit straddling his lap in his expensive leather armchair, instructing you to ride his thigh until he can see a glistening trail forming across his corduroy slacks, feeling both powerful and completely under your control.
- As much as he pretends there isn't something so fucking hot about being in a position of authority over you, when you come into his office asking for extra credit, you can guarantee he won't exactly have you writing an essay for him. Instead he'll take something else he wants from you, tossing all the papers off his desk and lifting you onto it, pulling off your clothes deliberately slowly so he can graze you with a dozen teasing touches before he instructs you to lie back and stay still for him. Still fully dressed he slides open a desk drawer, pulling out a small vibrator you're pretty sure he stole from your dorm room.
"Given you're already a star pupil, you're going to have to be really good for me to get some extra credit love."
"I'll do anything you want, Professor." Your voice quivers as he runs a finger slowly up your inner thigh, watching your chest rise and fall in response.
"I'll give you ten percent on the assignment for everytime you come for me." Before you can negotiate the details his fingers are rubbing over your clit ever so gently, and your body seems more than ready to give him anything he asks for. It takes almost all night, the first two coming quickly as he works his fingers over your entrance, only slipping his fingers inside for number three when your legs start twitching and trembling with every slight change in his movement.
"You're doing so well, gorgeous, already 30% through your extra credit assignment. But we've still got a long way to go." You can see the mischievous glint in his eye and swallow hard, already starting to feel overwhelmed by the way he expertly manipulates your body. Soon his tongue is nestled between your legs while his fingertips tweak your nipples, the extra sensation quickly driving you to the 50% point, starting to feel a bit unsure of how much more of this your overstimulated body can take. As you try and catch your breath, coming down from your latest high, you suddenly hear the buzz of vibrations as Steven slides the small device over your slick entrance, even the softest setting feeling overwhelming when you're already so wet and sensitive. You feel Steven start using his considerable strength to keep your hips pressed firmly against his desk, no respite or escape as the pressure inside you starts to climb again. Tears prick in the corner of your eyes as you start think there's no way you can come again, and you whimper out his name so softly you almost don't think he hears you, until you feel the intensity between your legs shift up a gear, making your whole body spasm in blissful agony.
"Now now, good girls don't call their professors by their first name. You're going to have to be more careful or I'll have to start counting again from zero." You can tell from his grin that he'd do it, finding unparalleled joy in forcing orgasm after orgasm out of you and watching you struggle to hold yourself together as you leak more and more across his desk and flinch at even the gentlest touch. You bite back your tongue as he works to make you cum twice more, finally pleading with him to give you a break, to let you take 80% on the assignment.
"Come on sweetheart, you're so close to full marks, I know you can give me just a couple more. You're doing so well for me. I just want to feel how good I've made you feel." You hear him unbuckle his belt as he coos softly at you, waiting for you to tentatively nod your head before his whole body is onto top of you, keeping you exactly where he wants you as slams into you with no mercy until finally you give him everything he wants and more.
- Luckily you have a chance to get him back a couple of weeks later, when your makeout session gets cut short by another student coming in to ask a genuine question. Steven doesn't think twice about the way you hide under his desk to give him some privacy, that is until he realises his trousers are still undone and you're planning on taking full advantage of that. He keeps his eyes trained on the student in front of him as he feels your tongue lap as his tip, his fingers digging into the arms of his chair in a desperate attempt to remain composed. He manages okay as you run your tongue over the length of him, but when you give him no warning and slide him between your lips straight to the back of your throat he has to stifle an uncontrollable groan and awkwardly blame it on a stomach ache. His hips start twitching in his seat as you suck him as hard and fast as you can without making a sound, and as you start to feel his stomach muscles tense under your touch you notice Steven shooting you a startled look whenever he thinks he can. You don't pay him any notice, choking him back and running your hands over his lap and stomach until you watch his eyes clench shut and feel the taste of him spilling over your tongue, impressed by how quickly he blames his reaction on the fact that he must be coming down with something. When finally the student leaves and you two are alone once again, Steven sinks to his knees with the biggest smile on his face, telling you 'Just how brilliant you are, even if you will absolutely be the death of him.'
- With his own student days being far more tame and isolated than he would have liked, Steven feels like he's making up for lost time in the sweetest way when he sneaks into your dorm room for the night, or finds some weak excuse to attend a student party just so he can spend the night somewhere fun with you. He'll find excuses to bring you to the events in his calendar too, saying he's making a tradition of bringing his best students to events, even if it's always just you held tight by his side in a dress he genuinely forgets how to breathe around when he first sees you.
- While he may have a huge professor kink thanks to you, and gain some thrill in sneaking around with his reputation on the line, he also can't help but daydream about a time after your graduation when the two of you won't have to sneak any more and he'll be free to walk hand in hand with you everywhere to two of you want to go.
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uhohdad · 9 months
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EXPERIMENTAL
it’s been awhile since i’ve written please mind the rust
to be continued? maybe?? let me know if you want more
Summary: Konig helps Researcher!Reader with a new technology they’ve been developing.
AO3 Link: X
PART TWO: X
Word Count: 5,4k
Warnings: Flirting, Sexual Content, NSFW, Reader x Konig, talk of standard war stuff, Reader is a bit of a pervert. Non-con Voyeurism. Reader has anxious thoughts/low-self esteem-ish? No use of y/n, reader’s gender/sex is incomprehensible, cause I do for the girls the gays and the theys.
NSFW UNDER CUT
You never thought you’d end up working for the government, but the opportunity was too good. Where else would you find a grant to experiment if not for the generous funding of the military industrial complex? You should have known. Research is research, you told yourself, and the pay is too good to pass up on.
Most of your time was spent in the lab. For the most part, you had worked alone, spending up to 14 hours a day working on your project. It had been months, but you’re sure your developments will forever change warfare.
How many deaths will your creations be responsible for? How much blood on your hands?
No. It’s just a job.
You let out a deep sigh. Usually you have background noise - music, a show, a podcast - something to help ward off the obsessive thoughts. But today you had visitors coming.
You had requested a test subject for a beta version of your project. A soldier to help work out the bugs before the final version gets sent on the battlefield.
Battlefield.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about-
A knock interrupted your internal conflict. You looked up, your eyes meeting the visitor through the circular glass pane of the swinging door. Just his eyes, as the visitor wore a black mask that draped from underneath a helmet, flowing over his shoulders and down his chest. You couldn’t help the concerned look that crossed your face as you hesitantly waved him in.
The door creaked as it opened and the man stepped in. You shoulders eased a bit when you noticed the uniform previously obscured by the door, confirming he was a soldier from the base and not an intruder in a mask. You couldn’t help but tense again once you noticed his stature. Even from across the room you could tell he was well over 6’5. You’re sure he could reach his hand up and touch the ceiling with ease. Muscles with enough mass and definition to be seen even under the uniform.
What are they feeding these boys?
“Hi! I mean- hi. Uh,” Your introduction was shaky, but it was on par for your typical social interactions. After giving him your name, you asked for his.
“Konig,” He responded, his deep voice and coarse accent catching you off guard once again.
“Ha, yes. Nice to meet you.” You took a deep breath in hopes to conceal your fluster before continuing, “You’re here to help me test the new tech, right?”
Tech. When did you start using slang? Trying to be cool, huh?
Shut up.
Konig shifts in his spot a few paces from the door, not daring to step any closer to you. You’re wonder if you were coming off as too cold. “Uh, yes.” He clears his throat, “Just let me know what you need from me.”
Okay, straight to the point. You can do that. You’re happy to move on from the unsteady introduction. “Right,” You turn your attention from him to your laptop and the project in front of you. You hold up your device for him to see. He takes this as his invitation to move closer to get a better look, his black boots making their presence known as they stepped across the tile. The device resembled an earpiece - a small black strip attached to a coiled wire that ends with a sensible black base. “It doesn’t have a name. Yet.” You find yourself struggling to make eye contact with Konig, “Uh, here, it might be easier to just show you.” You flip the laptop around so he can see the screen. He’s standing right next to you now, and it’s hard not to notice how small you feel standing next to this giant of a man.
His bicep is the width of my head.
Stop it.
You try to smother your distracted thoughts as you put the device behind your ear and turn it on. A transparent projection in the shape of a curved rectangle covers your eyes, overlaying your view of the lab.
Konig watched silently as the screen on your laptop changed, now displaying your view through the lens. “This device is powered by AI.” You felt more confident now. You weren’t great at small talk but your work was your comfort zone.
“The possibilities are endless. Without being fed blueprints or GPS - it’s able to scan & provide a map of a building before you even set foot in it, and give you the safest path trajectories.” You make some adjustments from the laptop, and the projection overlays filters on your vision. Directional arrows appear, showing the easiest exit from the lab with coordinates and distance countdown to destination.
You continue, “Target identification.” You look at Konig from behind the transparent projection. He meets your eyes before quickly shifting his gaze back to the laptop, where he could see himself outlined in a bright red overlay.
“Scanning capabilities, even through solid objects. It can identify any object you want. Not just objects, either.” You turn your gaze toward the lab wall. Konig watches carefully as the faded outlines of workers on the base from rooms away appear, their heart rates and heat map registering from beyond the cold tile walls.
Konig stares, impossible to read.
“And uhm,” you pick up an additional device from the table, a thin square chip, “This is an attachment for your, er, weapon.” You cringe a bit at this feature, “The AI has aim assist, too. You know self driving cars? Ah, well, it hasn’t been fully tested yet, but in addition to auto aim it- uhm,” You can’t help but let out a nervous laugh, trailing off.
“It shoots for you.” Konig finishes so you don’t have to.
You wonder if the guilt is obvious.
It might as well be you out there in the field, taking lives. He’s probably disgusted with you under that hood, you think.
You purse your lips for a moment, “Yes. But we’re just scratching the surface. This technology is capable of-“
“It’s brilliant,”
Konig is skilled in the art of catching you off guard. He tilts his head, curiously eyeing in your direction. You wonder if he’s looking at your features or the projection,
“You made this yourself?”
You study him back, trying to figure out if he was mocking you, but unable to decipher his expression from under his hood. The AI continued to monitor him on your vision, and you felt as if you were violating his privacy by watching his heart rate slightly spike as he looked you over.
He must be lying.
You turned the device off and set it on the table, “Yes. It’s not perfect, but I’m hoping you can help me work out all the flaws.”
His stared quietly for a moment and you felt dread pool in your stomach, wishing you could see his expression under his hood. “I’d be honored to.”
A shaky smile formed on your face. You could no longer read his heart rate, but you found yourself wanting to believe the sincerity of his voice. “Let’s get started.”
You pick up another matching set of devices, two thin c-shaped bands, before continuing, “Obviously you can’t take a laptop out in the field. These are portable remotes.” Konig watches attentively as you place one of the bracelet shaped device on your wrist, tapping on it to summon another projection. “I tried to make it as user-friendly as possible. We can make adjustments if needed before launch.” You hold out the device toward him. “For you.”
He looks hesitantly at the device. Instead of taking it from you, he places his arm out on the table in front of you.
You’re distracted by your own remote and a moment passes before you register he hasn’t taken it from you. You glance over at his outstretched arm before meeting his eyes.
He sees your confused look and explains, “I just- I don’t want to break it.” Konig knows his own strength and he knows the worth of your project. He doesn’t want to accidentally apply too much pressure and ruin your work.
A nervous laugh escapes you, but you oblige him. You made this device for the battlefield, it’s meant to withstand more than a man. Even an extra large, muscular-
Stop it.
You’re not going to push. You carefully take his forearm in your hand, adjusting the device to his wrist. You try not think about how muscular and hard his forearms are, and try even harder not to think about how hard his biceps would be. And you definitively try not to think about how hard his-
Stop it.
“That comfortable?”
His voice is low, “Yes. Thank you.”
“Of course,” leaves your mouth, a little breathier than you intended.
Your face burns and you’re sure he’s got you pinned. You wish you could ask to borrow his mask.
It’s been a long time since you’ve experienced intimacy, okay? You’ve been confined to these four walls for months now, devoid of human touch. You’d be frothing at the mouth for anything bipedal at this point, let alone the mysterious superhuman sitting across from you.
You’re at a disadvantage, to say the least.
You can’t even look at him.
Konig carefully taps on the device on his wrist, activating his remote. The projection appears and he moves his arm to get a closer look. “This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”
If he didn’t notice your blush before he was sure to now. “Oh! I don’t-“ Another nervous laugh, “It’s nothing. Let’s get you calibrated.”
You pick up the earpiece and hand it to him, still avoiding his gaze. You’re forced to meet his eyes again when he doesn’t take it. There’s no way you could handle putting this one on for him. This time you reassure him, “It’s okay. I know it’s small, but it’s durable. I promise.”
He carefully takes it from you, and you try not to notice the electricity you feel when his fingers graze yours. He reaches under his hood, the fabric warping as he places the device behind his ear and turned it on, the same way he watched you do it. He then waited patiently for your guidance.
You put your earpiece on before making a few adjustments on your bracelets projection. “Okay! We should be synced now. Go ahead and pull up your settings.”
You take him through the customizations, telling him how to switch between visual overlays, how to use multiple at once. Display adjustments, how to use the intercom. He watches intently, never interrupting.
“I hope I’m not boring you.”
“Boring me?” Konig stares at you, eyes saturated with disbelief at your doubt. “It’s incredible.”
You feel the warmth creep up on your cheeks again. All of the doubts and moral dilemmas you’ve been mulling over the past few years seem to melt away when Konig compliments you.
“Want to take it for a drive?”
“Absolutely.”
—————————————————-
It’s been awhile since you’ve been out on the field. The passed months have been spent under the florescent lights of the lab, hunched over your laptop as you fought with code. Feeling accomplished when you made a step forward in progress, followed quickly by a sinking feeling as you tried not to think of the consequences of each development.
It was nice to feel the sun for a change.
Konig followed a few steps behind you, both sets of boots crunching on the gravel beneath you. Few words had been exchanged. There was something about unreadable people made you nervous, but you tried not to let it show.
You stopped once in front of the empty shoot house, looking up to the soldier that towered over you.
“I had weapons development make us a prototype gun to pair with the AI. It’s for testing purposes only, so it doesn’t shoot real bullets.” You pointed at the faux shotgun propped up against the outer wall of the shoot house. “The auto aim chip is already attached. It’s going to be something to get used to.”
You continue, “I’ve placed the AI on test. It will simulate the conditions of a mission in a way that adjusts to your learning speed. Obviously once you get used the system we’ll have test runs with real people, but for now I just want you to get used to the overlays. If you get stumped, just let me know. I’ll be able to hear and see what you can from out here. I’m synced in to your device, too, so if you can’t figure out the adjustments, or can’t access your device, I can take care of that for you remotely.”
“Understood.”
You couldn’t help but smile at the way he spoke to you like you had seniority, with the utmost respect. It made you feel important. Really it should be the other way around - a nerdy weakling in the presence of an experienced and powerful soldier. You briefly wonder what exactly a man of his stature is capable of. He looks like he could pick up a grown man and snap him in half like a toothpick. Let alone what he could do to you…
You force yourself to stay on topic, but your smile lingers, “Any questions for me?”
You still can’t decipher what’s going on under the mask, but his voice is soft, as soft as it can be under his rigid accent, “Negative.” He walks over to the prop gun and picks it up, handling it expertly. Even though it’s a replica, he still opens the chamber and curiously peaks inside. Watching his big hands run over the realistic firearm caused an intoxicating mixture of fear and arousal to wash over you, manifesting as a tightness in your lower gut. You can’t remember the last time someone made you feel this way. Dizzy and excited and nervous.
It didn’t help that you’ve spent the last few months practically isolated and without intimacy.
He’s going to be the death of me.
Stop it. We’re just excited about testing the project. It’s a long time coming.
He would make me come a long time.
Stop. It.
After you watch him disappear into the shoot house, you turn on the intercom, “Konig? Can you hear me?”
“Affirmative.”
His gravely voice flooding your intercom is not helping your dirty thoughts. You pull up his view on your projection. “Okay, I have your video feed. Are you ready for the simulation?”
He cocks the prop gun so loud you could hear it from inside the building in addition to the comm. “Affirmative.”
Oh, fuck.
The knot in your stomach doubles and you think your knees might just buckle. You shift in your spot in the dirt to steady yourself, gravel scraping under your shoe.
You hear your name over the comm. “You still there?” Your attention is brought back to his view. You can see the world from his eye level and get taken aback at how different it looks compared to yours.
“Sorry,” you clear your throat, raising your arm equipped with the wrist remote, “Okay, in 3… 2… 1…” You press the button to start his test simulation.
You watch as Konig looks around. He’s got target scan activated, and the AI has overlaid fake targets onto his projection for him to hunt and eliminate.
You watch carefully, scanning the screen for any imperfections in your coding. The guide seems to be working smoothly, directing Konig through the maze-like hallways of the shoot house with ease. The placement of targets are generated randomly and you’ll have to crunch the numbers later to verify, but it seems to have accurately calculated the most efficient route, directing him accordingly. You try to ignore the sound of Konigs hitched breathing over your receiver and try even harder to ignore the way it’s making you feel. Instead you make sure the auto aim function is activated.
“Approaching first target.” He says over the comm and you can help but smile at how serious he is taking it. You remember your first time in the range, testing out the auto aim on the simulations. How silly you felt. Like a child playing with a toy gun. You think it’s sweet he’s indulging you.
His steps become quieter as he rounds the corner and his breathing slows. He pauses briefly before quickly jumping out at the target. You can tell the auto aim takes over and the shotgun pulls against his grip with the force of a strong magnet. It’s alarming at first, you remember, the gun taking control from you.
It’s not like that, of course. You designed it to be a teammate. Able to identify and terminate a threat before the user had even registered it was there. It was meant to protect the user, to defend their life.
That’s what you tried to tell yourself anyway. It was easier to swallow than thinking of it as the automatic killing robot it really was.
You kept the auto-fire function off for now. Partially because you wanted to slowly transition him into the AI features. Partially because you were ashamed.
You watch as Konig takes back control of the gun. He’ll learn how to work with it instead of against it soon, you remember the same struggle you had yourself in early testing. He fires at the target, a projection of an enemy soldier the AI had slowed for training purposes. Konig pulls the trigger and you hear the sound of gunshots. In real life, of course, nothing had fired. But the AI simulation was designed to immerse the player, imitating the feel of the battlefield. From Konig’s perspective he may as well just shot through a human heart. Other than the learning curve of your designs- it seems natural for him.
It was not natural for you when you had experienced the simulation. If anything it was just a fully immersible prediction of the consequences to your actions. Fuck Around and Find Out™️ now coming to an VR headset near you.
You watched his target drop & fade away in a dust of pixels, a design change you made after being unable to bear the look of replicated dead soldiers lying limp on the floor.
It’s just a job.
“Konig? How did that feel?” You wished you could see his face on the screen before remembering you wouldn’t have been able to see anything behind his hood anyway. You briefly consider a self-facing camera, but wonder if it would be for the improvement of the design or for self-serving reasons. You’d have to think of another good purpose to add it to the final product later.
“It’s a lot faster than I am.” He stuck with the facts, not wanting to cause a misunderstanding if it was strange for him to get used to.
“That’s the idea. Weird, right?” You offered, your smile lifting the tone of your voice.
“Very.” You could tell he was smiling too. “I want to try a few more - I’ll get used to it.”
He continues through the shoot house, approaching the next simulated targets. He’s slowing learning to work with the AI, letting it guide him as he controls the trigger. You watch as your program learns his skill, escalating the challenge first by increasing enemy speed and difficulty, then by adding multiple targets at a time.
You can tell this man is a trained killer, even just from watching a trial. It’s clear he’d easily be able to handle a real mission with ease - your advancements or no. Watching his gloved hands grip the gun, his quickened breathing, made the tightness in your lower half hard to ignore. It felt wrong how his rugged demeanor turned you on.
He continued without faltering, navigating the shoot house’s maze-like layout with the help of your guidance program. Despite your reservations, you decide it’s time to add an additional integration. “Konig, the gun you’re using is fully compatible with the weapon chip. As in, trigger capabilities. If you’d like, you can turn on auto fire.”
There’s a slight pause, and you’re worried he’s realized the full implications of such a technology. You’re relieved when he finally speaks over the intercom, “I think I turned it on.”
You verify on his feed before responding, “You got it. Let me know if you need anything.”
Holding your breath, you observe your AI work. He rounds another corner and approaches two more targets. Your code was capable of identifying each target’s imminent threat level, eliminating them in order of danger to the user. You hear Konig’s breath hitch when the gun operates with a mind of its own, mowing down the simulated targets without hesitation. Each shot effectively tearing through the most vulnerable areas of the targets.
“Meine güte…” He mutters, taking a moment to register what had just happened. You watch his feed pan down to his gun, his hands turning it over to examine it in disbelief.
You wonder what he’s thinking as you watch those strong hands work. If he thinks you’re a monster for creating such a brutal and mindless killing machine.
“Konig?” Your voice is dripping with uncertainty, but it’s your job to collect his feedback, “All good?”
You watch his thumb stroke the forend before his gaze shifts up, “I think I might be out of a job.”
You let out a laugh, words pouring out of your mouth before you can stop them, “Well, I don’t think we’d be able to replace you.”
Ah, shit.
You’re hoping you didn’t lay all your cards on the table, but you don’t dare let the silence hang, forging on, “Human supervision is still needed when it comes to technology like this. You know, wouldn’t want it to turn evil and try to take over the population.”
You’re hoping you saved it, but the few seconds before he responds seem like a lifetime.
“Well if it was made by you, I don’t think it would be capable of turning evil.”
Your brain short circuits and your mouth parts as you ready to respond, but find that you’re unable.
What did he mean by that? If he was implying that you weren’t evil enough to negatively influence a code, then he didn’t know you. Of course he didn’t, he just met you.
Was he implying you were too smart of a programmer to let a technology go faulty? Then he REALLY didn’t know you. You think briefly to your failed prototypes. How long it took to work out the bug of the AI mistakenly registering civilian children as threats.
Ugh.
Whatever the implications, you understand that Konig just complemented you. Something you were not still not equipped to handle, demonstrated by your slack jaw and wide eyes you’re thankful he can’t see. All accompanied by a warm feeling that spreads across your chest.
He’s just being nice.
Sexual attraction, that you could handle.
Not a crush.
This is a no-crushing zone, you decide.
The warm feeling needs to stay below the belt, thank you very much.
It’s obvious you’re joking, but your voice has a different tone when you finally gather yourself. Softer, bordering on dispirited, “Well, I don’t know about that. Y’know, I once programmed a toaster to cook my toast the perfect amount every time. I wanted it to spring out at exactly the right speed & distance to land square on my plate. Like you see in cartoons, y’know? It worked for a little… but one day it starting burning all my toast to char and shooting it max speed at my ceiling. I think it got mad it’s life purpose was making my breakfast.”
You hear Konig laugh for the first time. A raspy, hearty laugh that floods your comm and fuels that warm feeling in your chest, much to your dismay. You nose scrunches as you watch the shake of his feed slow. “There are worse purposes.”
You didn’t even give yourself the space to dissect the implications on that one. The smile is apparent in your voice, “I’ll let the toaster know.”
Konig finished out the trial after getting used to a few more overlays. You confirmed you had everything you needed for the day before letting Konig know you could wrap up.
He met you at the entrance of the shoot house, handing over the gun to you. It took you a moment to get readjusted to his size. He was tall enough to block the entire sun, casting you in his shadow.
You hold the barrel of the gun with one hand, resting the butt on the dirt. With your other hand you remove your earpiece, “Thank you for your help today. Really.” You say, forced to tilt your head back to look up at him. “If you’re interested, I’d love to continue trials with you.”
“It was my pleasure. I’d be happy to help.”
He tried to take off his wrist remote before you stopped him, “You can hang on to that. I have all your data on mine. It would be good for my research if you got used to the overlays outside of here. I don’t want to assume your time, but I think it may be helpful in assisting you with your duties.”
Konig shifts in his spot, “I don’t want anything to happen to it.”
You smile at him, pleased he’s being so respectful of your work. “Don’t worry. If you manage to damage it, then it’s not good enough for launch. Even breaking it will be valuable research.”
He considers this before hesitantly dropping his arm.
You continue, “Just promise you’ll share your thoughts with me. I don’t know what the life of a soldier is like, I don’t always know what’s best for you guys. Your feedback will be important in tailoring the design to fit your needs. It’s just a prototype, so you can be honest.”
His eyes stare down at you from under his hood and you can’t help but avoid his intimidating gaze by looking at the black paint around his eyes.
“I promise,” He says definitively and it’s obvious he means it.
You have his word.
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Back in the lab, you take a deep breath as you set your prototypes down. You had parted ways with Konig at the shoot house and haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.
You take the ear piece and remove the chip from the prototype gun in order to transfer the data to your laptop. You had a long night ahead of you reviewing footage and analyzing the AI results, but you knew your focus was going to be elsewhere.
You hoped your distracted thoughts would subside after eating an early dinner and watching an episode of your most recent show binge, but it doesn’t help.
You can’t stop thinking about the soldier with a laugh so wonderful you’d do about anything to hear it again.
You did your best to stay on task and turned your attention to your laptop, opening the software you designed to store its data.
It finally loads and what displays makes you gasp, your hand instinctively shooting up to cover your mouth.
Konig’s feed is still live.
Your eyes dart over to your ear piece, confirming it’s turned off. He couldn’t hear you on the comm. His overlay projection is turned off, but he must not have powered the unit completely down, and you neglected to end the feed.
You still don’t dare make a sound. You sit frozen, staring down at the screen with wide eyes.
He’s not wearing the headset, no. You can tell the camera is sitting on something at hip-height, maybe a table or a bed. Definitely not Konig-height. You can’t see much, your view is facing the wall of what you can tell is a modest-sized room.
It’s five-thirty now, you guess he’s clocked out and went back to his quarters for the evening.
This is so wrong.
You were violating his privacy. You should just disconnect the feed now, and forget about it.
You should.
But you don’t.
Instead you slowly lower your hands, lips pursed. It’s not long before Konig comes in to view.
The only thing he has on is a towel wrapped around his waist. His head was cropped out of view, but you can see his chest and his pecs are as chiseled as you had imaged them. Abs you hadn’t previously considered begging for your attention. The towel is dangerously low and goddamnit he’s got V lines, of course he does, and you can feel the warmth pool in your lower abdomen again.
This is so so wrong.
You should end it. End the feed, end the software, end the project. You’ve already crossed so many lines and if anyone found out about this you’d be discharged so fast it would make your head spin.
You’re seriously considering if it’s worth being outed as a pervert and forfeiting your grant just to ogle at the ultimate beefcake while Konig gets comfortable on his cot, face still out of frame. You’ve got a view of his side now, showcasing the middle of his chest down. You can see the definition on his abdominal muscles and you silently thank yourself for opting for choosing the higher resolution camera for your project.
He moves his arms out of frame once he gets the towel adjusted, you’re assuming to prop them behind his head.
He lays still for a few minutes, and you wish you could see his face. You were almost done talking yourself into closing the feed when his arm comes back in to view. Strong hands and forearms followed by massive biceps.
Your breath hitches again when you realize he’s reaching down for the towel. He unwraps it delicately, letting each end hang off the side of the bed.
He’s fully naked now, and it’s official-
You’re a pervert.
His cock sits at half attention and he wraps his hands around it, stroking it absentmindedly.
Oh, fuck.
Your mouth hangs slack and you can’t help but let out a squeak. You double check to make sure you’re still in your software and didn’t somehow accidentally open PornHub. But no, you were definitely watching Konig rut into his hand, teasing himself to arousal.
It doesn’t take long for his cock to reach full attention, leaking precum from the swollen tip. Even scaled next to his oversized hands you can tell it’s huge.
He reaches down to cup his balls briefly before returning to his shaft, wrapping his hand around it and stroking gently.
You can’t stop watching now- you’re locked in, eyes glued to the screen and you don’t think you’ve so much as blinked this entire time.
You watch as he picks up the pace, biceps flexing as he fucks his hand faster.
A low moan comes through the speakers of your laptop. You scramble for the volume controls, reducing it until you were sure no one passing by in the hall could hear.
It’s addicting, his moans. Deep and gravely and you can’t help but close your eyes and imagine what it would be like for him to be moaning in your ear instead of over a screen. For him to be fucking you instead of his hand. Moaning like he’s approaching a release he hasn’t felt in decades.
When you open your eyes again he’s stroking faster, his whole body tensing, a glossy shine forming on his defined muscles. You can’t help but stare at his bicep as it flexes to jerk his cock.
Even without seeing his face, you can tell he’s getting close.
His cock is a blur as he pumps vigorously. His breath quickens before suddenly hitching, muscles fully clenched as he comes, the first few drops landing on his stomach and thighs.
His whole body constricts as the waves of the pleasure wash over him. You can tell it’s intense.
His pumping slows and his seed spills over his knuckles and down his shaft as he squeezes out the last of it, quivering at the sensitivity.
His muscles relax and he sinks back into his cot, wiping his hand on the towel. He lays still for a few moments, the sound of him catching his breath and his rising and falling chest takes stage. Until he removes the towel from underneath him, wiping away his mess.
You’re staring, eyes wider than when you started. Your knuckles lighten as you grip the stool beneath you. It wasn’t the finish that shocked you, no.
Not the size of the load that spilled from his huge cock.
Not the way he had bucked his hips, desperate for the touch.
Not the way his muscles had rippled through the phases of orgasm.
You were shocked because as he finished;
Konig had moaned your name.
Part two
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thoughtfulchaos773 · 8 months
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"There's a lot being done subconsciously to push the audience in different emotional directions."
 -Andrew Wehde -Cinematographer, The Bear
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The creators of the show are so thoughtful and precise! Since I wrote about colors and lighting in The Bear. I want (from a cinephile perspective) to observe the lighting and camera choices for 2x08 Bolognese and 2x09 Omelette.
After writing my meta, I listened to this podcast that focuses on The Bear's cinematography; I did this to see if I needed to be more analytical instead of a hardcore shipper. I've pondered on the similar blue lighting of Sydney's tattoo reveal and the love scene, and it's worth noting since there's more Syd & Claire scenes where you can compare the lighting and camera choices.
I interpret the two scenes as high-key lighting. The choice of a well-lit scene sets the mood for more openness and optimism. The visuals give the audience direction to focus on the script and what the actors say in the scene. This lighting choice is in romance and comedy genres. Think wedding scenes as the lighting helps the audience pay attention to the romance happening between two characters.
We can catch everything when it comes to high-key lighting, every expression, movement, and every prop in the scene. The golden sunlight gives the audience a sense of peace, romance, and a dream-like state. The two scenes suggest the warmth the main character feels for the other character on screen.
Notice the scenes where Carmy stares at Sydney? It's primarily high-key lighting. The scenes ask the audience to take notice of Carmy's perspective as he takes in Sydney.
Oh, and remember this quote from Molly (Claire):
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The well-lit moment for Claire and Carmy-The lighting and camera movement at the beginning of the scene suggest the morning after, In 2x08, we get this far-away shot where we can see the window as Claire enters the kitchen.
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But suddenly, we're zoomed in on Carmy and Claire's faces - this closeness feels overwhelming. It tells of the hidden dread in their relationship. The dreadfulness is prominent when Carmy gets lost, staring at Claire as he talks about the test.
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This reminds me of @currymanganese reblog on the subject of color:
The pink hues overlaid on Claire's scenes(2x09 omelette) in Carmy's panic attack can also represent him trying to look at her with rose-colored glasses/rosy retrospection, and ultimately failing to do so because of the way she reminds him of his family
The exchange of looks is so interesting. Notice Carmy's worry, and Claire's smile drops for a second. The camera's movements tell the audience that Carmy looks at Claire differently. As an artist, he catches every detail of the person. The focus on Claire, what used to bring him peace, disappeared when his family ruined his inspiration and sense of joy.
Now, the table scene:
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The sun is beaming through the large windows and lingers around Syd and Carmy. It's the brightest the audience has seen from this season; as the camera moves closer to Carmy and Syd, the table disappears and It's a smoother transition, and we barely notice that the table disappears from view as we're closer to the characters.
Like the scene with Claire, Carmy gets lost in staring at Sydney, but there's no sense of dread. Instead, there's almost a dazed look in his eyes as he takes her in.
Well-lit scenes focus on the dialogue, and we can compare the discussion 2x08 and 2x09- both are about sharing their worries and fears. The difference is that the light remains on Carmy and Sydney, and Carmy is completely focused on Sydney rather than what's happening in his head. The scene gives the audience this soft direction to only focus on Sydney and Carmy's few moments together. The lighting asks us to view Sydney like Carmy sees her- bright, warm, and peaceful. I consider this a positive outlook on what's to come for Syd and Carmy.
Sidebar: Another thing to make note of with cinematography- Andrew Wehde said they make notes of the lighting they want to reappear in episodes- so I'm not too far off in this meta.
Watch more:
The Bear Cinematography
Season 2 panel - this interviews mentions that scenes that's anxiety ridden uses zoom ins* -cue the Carmy Claire scenes.
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gentlebeardsbarngrill · 2 months
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03/05/2024 Daily OFMD Recap
TLDR; Samba Schutte BTS; Extended Battle Jacket Scene; Alex Sherman and his Butt; Rhys Darby; UK Crew Billboard Meetup; Watch Party Reminders; Fan Spotlight/Podcasts; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;
= Samba BTS Explosion =
Most of you have probably seen it by now, but Samba posted the longer version of the Battle Jacket scene that Ruibo mentioned yesterday in the WJW interview.
= Alex Sherman =
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Samba also gave us some more BTS Videos, but tumblr won't let me upload more than one video at a time per post, so here they are on separate posts:
Alex Sherman BTS Part 1: Buttox Guy
Alex Sherman BTS Part 2: Buttox Guy and Arm Guy
BTS OFMD Extras
== Rhys Darby ==
Well with no context, my only thought is maybe Rhys is going to be playing Dungeons of Eternity next on his youtube channel! I guess we'll see.
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== Taika Waititi Kudoboard!==
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Several lovely crew-mates have been putting together a Kudosboard for our dear Taika Waititi!
Please add your kind words, well wishes, thanks, or other positive thoughts for Taika! We will share the link with him on Wednesday, March 13.
Please note that this board is moderated and inappropriate comments will be removed immediately.
https://ofmdlove.kudoboard.com/boards/Mi5DxyBL#view
== UK Crew ==
The UK Billboard has been scheduled for 11 Mar!
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Tumblr / Instagram / Twitter
== Watch Party Reminders ==
= A League Of Their Own =
Tomorrow the 6th is ALOTO Episodes 4-5, and then OFMD 4-5 Time: 1-4PM EST/6-9PM GMT Where: You can watch ALOTO on Amazon Prime
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Watch Party Hashtags:
OurFlagMeansBaseball, 
SaveOFMD 
SaveALOTO to join the event!
= Mar 4 - Mar 8: Wrecked Season 1 =
Don't have access? DM @iamadequate1 on Twitter or Tumblr
Season 1 watch from March 4th to March 8th. 
Season 2 watch from March 11th to March 15th. 
Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd.
Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.
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Hashtags: 
#WreckedPirates
#SaveOFMD
#RhysDarbyFaction
== Fan Spotlight ==
= Never Left Podcast =
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Never Left Artwork by Amy Gleason
Episode 007 Beautiful Princess Disorder (Part 1)
Our lovely crew-mates over at the Never Left Podcast are delving into BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder or Beautiful Princess Disorder) and how it relates to Edward Teach. Very interesting and kind discussion of BPD and it's coming in multiple parts. I'm so happy that we have a safe-space-ship to discuss this.
Never Left Podcast Linktr.ee
= Cast Cards =
Today's new Trading Card is Will Arnett! Thank you @melvisik for giving us more and more to collect!
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== WB is removing stuff from Etsy ==
FYI to all you sellers out there on Etsy. Thanks @ofmdfanpage for this info.
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== Love Notes ==
Hey Lovelies. It's that time again to take a moment for yourself, and do a quick self-care check.
First: Have you had any water lately? Anything to eat?
Whatever you're doing, take a minute to get yourself a glass of water, maybe a small snack, the rest will be there when you get back. I know it feels like you absolutely CANNOT stop what you're doing, or you won't get back to it, but I promise you, unless what you're doing is literally life-saving (like open-heart surgery) or you're in the middle of driving a bus full of people, it can wait a couple minutes.
I know you're strong enough to push through and keep going, but you deserve a break. You deserve a minute or two to yourself.
Second: Time to take a deep breath.
Remember to hold it just for a second or two and take your time breathing it out.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
Great job :)
Today I was reminded of a short meditation poem by Thich Nhat Hanh on breathing that used to help me get through rough days and I wanted to share it with you-- with each line, breathe in and out slowly. Here's more on it if you're interested: Meditation Poem
In, Out Deep, Slow Calm, Ease Smile, Release Present Moment, Wonderful Moment
Right now, you're the wonderful, present being. You're alive, you're breathing, and you're kicking ass. It's fucking tough out there sometimes, and it's okay to struggle, just don't ever forget how incredibly unique and wonderful you are.
Infinite numbers of events, random meetings, and stars colliding led up to the imperfect, glorious you, and you're still here, shining with us (whether dim or bright tonight).
Love you crew. Whatever challenges you're facing, know we're here for you. Reach out if you need us <3
== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==
Tonight's theme is THAT STASH.
Taika Src: @skux-life Rhys Srs: @fandomsmeantheworldtome
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misstrashchan · 9 months
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We talk about "show don't tell" in stories, but in podcasts it's impressive when they can do that through the audio format specifically, and one example of this that always sticks with me is in the Silt Verses S1 EP7, It Carries Few It Drowns Many. We're introduced to Paige Duplass describing her daily routine in a life that is seemingly perfect, that she's incredibly lucky and priveliged to have ended up where she is, considering she never thought she would make it this far, and how harsh and hostile the world of the Silt Verses we've seen can be up to this point, for Paige everything seems normal and accepted, with their safe and sanitized gods that are kept as much removed from people's sight as possible.
She has a successful job that pays well, a nice apartment with a beautiful view, etc. This is all undercut with her following up with "this is how you make things worse" referring to her dad messaging and calling her every day asking for money, seemingly the one black spot in this perfect life Paige has built for herself.
One part of her day we do not ever hear her describe however is her drinking heavily after coming home from work each day. But she does. She's opening a bottle every day after work, we hear the popping of the cork and her pouring a glass for herself. It's something conveyed to us only through the audio. This in tandem with her contemplating that despite this life she's built up for herself, the kind of life that one should be content and happy with, it still feels hollow and devoid of purpose, and she's left wondering if this is what happiness and fulfillment is supposed to be.
It gets worse over the course of the next few days when she learns people are going to be let go and sacrificed as the company she works for rebrands and switches from the Bronze Savant to a new god, Crawling in Ecstasy, which includes her friend Vaghn, and she becomes more and more distressed with each passing day, and trying to reason that none of this can really be happening, that it's too crude, that they'd surely do something more elegant, that the company that she works for that's giving her the means for this comfortable life and nice car and free pastries and wellbeing workshops wouldn't do something like this, and if they do it'd only be to the people who really deserved it, the worst of the worst, and they'd do it out of sight, and if it's out of sight they can ignore it, because it's not really happening. (Paige is also drinking before any of this occurs to when she comes home from work each day though)
It's clear that the drinking is part of Paige trying to numb and distance herself from the realities of what this life and the world she lives in is built upon, because it's accepted and considered "normal", and is also a filling of the void and guilt she feels of having all this comfort in spite of this.
And after watching her friend Vaghn be sacrificed and transfigured into a Saint for the Crawling In Ecstasy and immediately killed, she comes home to her apartment, and we hear her popping open another bottle. A pause. And then the smashing of a bottle, the breaking point to which Paige can no longer numb herself to the cruelties and indifferences of this world and her life, that she can't continue on as she is now, as the world is now, and it's so fucking satisfying.
Again, very small part of storytelling in the series for one character in one episode, but I love it nonetheless.
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loneberry · 21 days
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FIRST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
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Images from my first total solar eclipse, depicting the outer corona, inner corona, prominent prominences, diamond ring, and the partial phase. Photos taken by Dan.
A black sun. Never had I seen a black sun, that insignia of melancholia that will forever remind me of Kristeva, which will forever remind me of M’s suicide—it was one of the few books M had with her at the very end, the book that her mother believed was the key to why she did it.
Black sun. On the day of—or day after—M’s death anniversary. I had been weeping for days when I found myself beneath that darkening sky.
*
What’s the difference between a partial and a total eclipse? I vaguely remember going onto the playground with some glasses as a child, but I don’t remember what I saw in the sky. What’s the big deal? The sky goes dark for a few minutes. It can’t be much different from the onset of night.
Wrong.
The rhapsodic scientists I listened to on various podcasts convinced me that there is really no comparison between a partial and total eclipse. I tried to hatch a last-minute plan to get myself in the path of totality. In the days leading up to the eclipse, I would be at the French King Bridge for M’s death anniversary. The only person I knew in Western MA, besides M’s mother, was my poet friend Ethan. So I asked him if he had a plan to see the eclipse.
I did not know, when I texted him out of the blue, that his parents lived in the path of totality in northern Vermont, that his father Dan was an astronomer (communist astronomer!) and eclipse chaser (this was his 14th eclipse), that Dan had even organized the local viewing event and wrote a book on the history of astronomy. At Ethan’s parents’ house there were literally photographs of eclipses mixed in with the family photos (see below). His father had even built a little observatory on his land. I had, in the most haphazard fashion, found the perfect guide to my first total solar eclipse.
Dan brought his equipment to the eclipse viewing: cameras, filters, binoculars, and a $4000 hydrogen alpha telescope that we used before the eclipse to look at the sun’s prominences and a sunspot on the surface. He enthusiastically answered all my questions. How had the Babylonians worked it out so long ago? Why does the wind pick up when the eclipse begins? Why is the sun’s corona so much hotter than the sun’s surface? (It’s still a mystery to the scientists…) Why why why. (People often tell me that I always ask a lot of questions—almost like an eternally curious child.)
The eclipse. It is not like the dimming of sunset, with its orange hues and plunge into the horizon, the low angle. It is a light unlike any light I have seen before, a strange dream-like atmosphere, a gray yet shimmering unreality, the air suddenly cold, the birds in a confused tumult. The uneven temperature of the atmosphere makes the wind pick up as the moon slowly covers the sun. Though the light was not the gold of sunset, you could see a band of orange on every horizon like a 360 degree sunset, an eerie gloaming that electrifies your skin.
A silence descended on the field as the moment of totality approached. Then, audible gasps—we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. I think the first thing I said was, “Holy. Shit.” Nothing prepared me for the numinous beauty of the sun’s corona, those elegant wisps of bright white light haloing the black sun. I think it’s probably the closest one can come to seeing God while alive on this earth. I cried during totality while observing the patterns in the corona through binoculars. A beautiful pink arch of plasma (a prominence) was visible toward the bottom of the sun. Dan pointed out Venus in the sky.
In the center of that black hole there is an abyssal silence
I don’t know how to describe it. Celestial indifference to human endeavor, human emotion. A kind of coldness in that heat, the heat of the corona, beyond even the fires of Hell. Then I can hear the angelic squall of the corona ringing over the landscape. It is a sound full of grace even as it cannot be called happy.
I can see why the ancients might interpret an eclipse as an augur of something deeply ominous, perhaps apocalyptic. The experience is, at once, sublime, ecstatic, and deeply unnerving—all your perceptual faculties are telling you that something is wrong. The ongoingness of the world and its rules cannot be taken for granted, for the sun went black, not in my dream, but in the afternoon sky.
And just as soon as it began, it was over. We had almost 3 and half minutes of totality. I was surprised by how quickly the sky brightened, how much light we get when the sun is almost completely covered.
One day the moon will float away. There won’t be any more total solar eclipses. Be grateful you were alive during this slice of cosmic time.
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This is my favorite scene in all of cinema, from Béla Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies. Watch drunkards reenact an eclipse in a drab Hungarian bar...
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Ethan and communist astronomer dad!
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I even got eclipse-branded maple syrup (peak Vermont)
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teddynivvy · 3 days
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Omg have you seen the chuckle sandwich episodes where ted is cat sitting? taking care of a cat with him i would literally explode
this is such a cute req and i’m v much in the mood for some soft teddy!
ever since you and ted moved in together, you had been trying to convince him to get a cat
he was super unsure because he had only ever cat-sat, never owned one, and didn’t even really know if he liked being a pet owner
but you wore him down eventually and went to a pet shelter to “just look”
then you came across an older cat, who was sleeping peacefully until you guys came over to look at her through the glass
she immediately came up to you and started pawing at the glass, so you knew you had to take her home
when you did get the cat home, she was a little skittish and ted was nervous that she didn’t like him lmao
“i’m convinced she hates me.” “ted she’s just a little scared in her new home… she doesn’t hate you” “no, she hates me.”
he was also adamant that the cat wouldn’t sleep with you guys, until a few nights in when she jumped on the bed and immediately fell asleep right in the middle of his chest
over the next few days ted and the cat bonded, getting much more comfortable in your place
he goes into cat-dad mode, one day coming home with a bucket of treats and a ton of toys for her
“she seems to like chasing ribbons and the toys with the feathers, and she likes the chicken treats the best.”
you just look at him wide eyed when the cat is purring and rubbing up against his legs
you even hear him when he’s filming the podcast, holding the cat up to the camera and gushing about how much he loves her :’)
he lets the cat sit in his lap when he’s editing, when you’re on the couch, basically doing anything she’s super affectionate towards him
i just have this image of you coming home to ted sleeping on the couch, the cat cuddled up right against his chest because he fell asleep holding her
“remember when you didn’t even want a cat?” “shut up.”
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Invader Zim with an S/o that has a true crime addiction and can easily solve the cases halfway through before it's even near finished? (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠)
Haha, I don't relate to this at all. Definitely haven't stayed up till sunrise watching interrogation videos on YouTube. Nope, couldn't be me.
Zim x Reader who likes true crime
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★ First things first, Gir cannot be in the same room as you when you listen to crime podcasts, documentaries and interrogation videos. You wouldn't want him to see all that violent stuff.
★ Zim doesn't pay a cent for the cable and streaming services he has. Don't ask him how he did it because it's probably illegal. Either way you now have access to many more documentaries and you don't have to go on shady website anymore.
★ When you first started solving the case before the show was over he was sure that you had seen it before. But no, you where just good at solving murders. He's a little impressed.
★ The two of you take turns picking what to watch when it's movie night. He likes to watch you solve whatever crime took place. He still gets a little creeped out when you point out what they should have done before they got caught.
★ " See that? He left a partial fingerprint on the glass, now they can compare it to prints in a database." This statement prompted him to collect samples of your fingerprints. For science!
★ Zims Computer has been used to look up, and has thus seen, so many atopsy and crime scene photos that it definitely desensitized by it now. You read through so many death certificates that you can understand doctors handwriting.
★ At first it would ask if you really wanted to see what you where looking up but now to just pulls up the photos without hesitation. Even photos you can't find on the sketchiest of websites are found.
★ Over time Zim might pick up the habit of listening to murder podcasts while working on something. Having a voice to listen to while he does some tedious tasks is nice, keeps him from getting bored. Plus the podcasts remind him of you.
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jq37 · 1 month
Text
The Report Card – Fantasy High Junior Year Ep 11
Bad Kids Have a Normal Time in Fallinel Challenge (Impossible)
Welcome back to the longest episode of this season so far–a delight as a fan of this show but an absolute notetaking nightmare as your resident recapper. But a LOT of noteworthy things happened this episode so let’s get going!��
We’ll start off with Riz and Fig tagging along with Sklonda to investigate Loam Farm. Before they head out, Fig (with help from Riz) sends an email to Lola hitting up Ruben about the “podcast” from a burner account. Lola emails Fig back saying he’s booked for the rest of the year, but will have a lot of availability in the new year. 
Once they’re on their way, Riz asks his mom about the Spies Tongue Curse and she doesn’t know anything but points out that maybe it’s actually Spy’s Tongue Curse. Riz shoots Adaine a text so she can investigate. When they arrive, Riz casts Invisibility on Skonda (sensible) and Fig disguises herself as an orangutan (sure) and then they get investigating. Here’s a rundown of what they find:
The backyard of the farm is beautiful and Sklonda says the animals are being sold off since the Loams’ kids aren’t farmers. Fig wonders if this was some kind of gambit so someone could buy the farm for cheap.
With his spy tech, Riz pings powerful infernal presence and magic coming from behind the home. When they check it out they find the back porch demolished in a way that’s similar to the scene at the lake. Sklonda says this is where the bodies were found. 
On a Nat 20 Investigation, Riz sees that there’s this red glass dust crushed into the soil of the crime scene that is identical to the shade of the rage shatter stars. He feels that there’s some connection to some earlier case and maybe a photo he has but he can’t quite make the connection and he feels like if he could investigate the Loams’ bodies, he’ll be able to figure something out. 
Fig prestidigitations a shatter star missing a tiny bit and one of the shards in the ground floats up and connects to her illusion. As her mental state is a bit agitated and confused because of all her self-discovery stuff that she’s going through, the star darts around in a bit of a confused manner before quickly stabbing her. She and Riz wonder if this reaction means the stars are more nuanced than just being about rage. 
Riz asks his mom if there’s a way they can look at the bodies and she goes off to make a phone call. 
Molman texts, apologizes for freaking out, and tells Riz that he tested the soil and it has some weird extraplanar mineral elements. He’s only seen it in one other place in town which is 1223 Ashgrove Blvd–Ragh’s old place that was destroyed during Sophomore Year while they were at Leviathan. 
Sklonda reports what she learned from her cop contacts: The Loams died from force damage, their blood carbonized and turned to red crystal. Riz thinks maybe they just hulked out and burned out–the damage came from within. This is bolstered when Sklonda said they didn’t have any defensive wounds. 
It’s late but Fig and Riz have everyone meet up so they can discuss. Adaine insists they meet at Basrar’s cause she’s working (girl you need better shifts). The detective duo reports everything they learned and Kristen wants to compare her Cass shards to the sample of crushed red dust Fig brought from Loam Farm. As she does this, Adaine casts Identify. Brennan asks what all three girls are feeling. The answers: Post-emotion tired from work (Adaine), Naked Curiosity (Fig), Concern (Kristen). 
A lot of things happen at once. The red dust whips around the Cass shards and glows, making a “concerned ball” looking for some kind of opening to enter. The Identify spell freaks out and says that it’s a lot of power but seems very confused or overwhelmed about what’s happening. When Kristen asks if it’s two power sources or one, the spell waffles on an answer: 2 in 1? 1 in 2?
On a 28 Insight Kristen notes that the red shards acted in an assertive and aggressive way but didn’t attack the Cass shards or anyone else. However, when Adaine casts Identify, they do attack her. Kristen shoots off a Banishment and then hits a Nat 20 Perception, saving Adaine from damage and getting a glimpse at where these red shards are presumably from. 
Kristen sees endless red, thrumming blood and smells rot. She hears screams of horror. It’s the interior of some kind of vast, horrifying body beyond the astral plane. Presumably the dead god. She yells, “Cassandra!” and purple, misty light rushes in to extinguish some of the red, fiery light in the body. There is movement and Kristen hears a gasp before the vision fades. 
They speculate a bit Gorgug wonders if the reaction to the name is the dead god reacting to hearing their wife’s name. They wonder if this dead god went through a similar archfeyification to Cass (which is what happened when Cass became the Nightmare King) and became this scary entity. They then check out Ragh’s house and Riz on a 24 Investigation finds that the destruction, though cleared, is similar to what they saw at Loam farm. Adaine with Arcana sees traces of the shatter star dust in the soil here, just like Molman said. It seems to track with where the impact craters are. 
Kristen picks up some of the infected dust and thinks about things that make her angry (specifically how Buddy talks to her and Bobby Dawn maybe being the new cleric teacher) and on a dirty 20 insight, her Cass shards glow in almost sympathy but the red shards form a glass spear that hover near her eye. She releases the rage, thinking that they’re not worth it and the spear stabs her cheek for 5 points of damage. Gorgug grabs it before it can do any more damage and it turns back to sand. 
It’s late so everyone heads home except for Adaine who scooters over to Aelwyn’s place to pick her brain/check on her. Aelwyn answers, wearing a snuggie, and ushers Adaine in for the classic sister tradition of eating ice cream and watching reality TV together (in this case specifically a cooking show with a Gordon Ramsy-esque host). Aelwyn asks Adaine about her love life (Adaine refuses to elaborate) Adaine asks Aelwyn about her social life (nonexistent). They both get really emotional about Aelwyn adopting 10, old, unloved shelter cats to fill the hole in her heart and Adaine invites Aelwyn to do crimes with her and her crew instead of doing the lone wolf thing. 
With regard to actual business items Aelwyn says that, much like Ruben, KP told her that she's not going to need her until the new year. Adaine offhandedly mentions the Gilear curse and realizes that her sister is an extremely powerful and knowledgeable wizard who spent the last two years enmeshed in evil plots so she probably knows tons about curses and is very eager to help. Obviously she should ask Aelwyn about all their curse stuff! Put a pin in that because, later,  Aelwyn says she’ll handle that once they get to Fallinel. But there are two last bits of business from this conversation. Aelwyn said she got a job offer to work at the Compass Points Library to fill in for Ayda which Adaine heavily approves of. And Aelwyn also haltingly says that Adaine coming to visit her and watching TV was the best part of her day. Awwww!
Fig continues her mental warfare against Ruben that night and enters his dream disguised as KP. She makes the dream look like the crime scene and says that someone has to take the fall and it can’t be her. It has to be him. Adaine throws her a portent to help her get her Persuasion roll to a 23 which results in Adaine appearing in the vision ethereally, full elven oracle. Ruben puts his hands over his mouth and this red, blood looking liquid oozes from between his fingers. Spooky! 
The next morning they have the last day of school before winter break. Kristen wants to check into Ambrosia and Devil’s Nectar. Ambrosia, she remembers her parents talking about as special corn that Helio would grow and food of the gods. Devil’s Nectar she is able to learn more about from Gertie on a campaign stop (who, btw, is fully working for KP now–clearly Fabian needs to be stopped). She says that Devil’s Nectar can be used to make a special red honey (which I’ll just call Devil’s Honey for ease) that allows you to be more persuasive and lie to beings that usually can’t be lied to. However, it has a side effect of making you so persuasive that if you overuse it, you can start to believe your own lies (she doesn’t say how much would be overuse). Kristen asks if she’s made any recently and she said she did for some food trucks (which seems like a wild thing to do just food safety wise but I guess Solace is a wild place). Fig wonders if what she saw dripping from Ruben’s mouth was actually devil’s honey, not blood. Kristen makes out with Gertie who has apparently had a crush on her this whole time. Normal Kristen behavior. 
We tie up some loose ends before we head for Fallinel:
Riz gets a 3 sp stipend from Jace for all the work he’s done with all the clubs. It is apparently one of the few things keeping the school together. Riz is not only the backbone of the Bad Kids, he’s the backbone of the whole damn school. As a result, he is now interim staff. Wild. 
Kristen asks Mazey what she thinks about Bobby Dawn being the new cleric teacher. She’s already acting principal and she wants to vet him with every cleric student before she gives a yes. Kristen doesn’t like the idea but she knows pass/fail will be really bad for her party so she can’t in good conscience say no. She also asks for (and gets) a copy of the bylaws and the previous bylaws when Mazey says they were changed over the summer. Suspicious. 
Adaine is told she’ll have to do a research paper by her professor and she says she might want to do it on hard to break curses. Her teacher, Tiberia Runestaff, says she can get 10 points of extra credit if she does research over the break on harnessing the power of broken curses. (Note: First time this has come up so it feels like a slight mystery nudge from Brennan) To help, she points Adaine in the direction of some relevant books. 
Gorgug is starting to make some breakthroughs on connecting his Barb and Artificer stuff. During a conversation with Henry, he realizes that he has the same last name as Ruben and Henry confirms that Ruben is his nephew. Suspicious, Gorgug does an Insight check and on a 11 just gets nice vibes from Henry. He asks about whether he helped with making Grix and Henry says that he consulted but obviously he didn’t want him to go nuts and try to kill his nephew. Gorgug looks around for anything related to Grix and on a Nat 20 perception sees a glimpse of Grix’s motherboard in Genry’s desk drawer while he’s distracted. Gorgug notes it but doesn’t grab it because he doesn’t think he has the time. 
Finally, Fig has a little chat with Zara and says that she’s better at pledging herself to others than herself so she hasn’t figured out her pact yet. Zara says that will put her a bit behind but is very supportive and gives her a book on pre-Celestial pagan deities on her request. She also mentions that she plans to stay her holidays in the Celestial Heights with her divine patron/paramour. Talk about mixing business and pleasure. Get it girl!
Off to Fallinel! Everyone is coming including Zayne–they brought his gravestone along since he’s tethered to it. Telemaine is bringing his weird energy as usual and Hilariel seems strangely concerned about whether Fabian was throwing parties or not considering she seems OK with it in a wink wink nudge nudge kinda way when she left. Gilear sidebars with Fig because he’s freaked out about his string of good luck. He found a puppy that grants wishes. He used the wishes to stop 3 apocalypses. He keeps getting the key to the city. It’s madness! Fig tries to soothe him by telling him he deserves all of the good luck but it’s not helping. He misses the yogurt on his shirt. 
It happens to be winter in Fallinel which is notable because it’s been summer for the past 1000 years or so–guess the weather matches the unchanging nature of the island’s occupants. Hilariel says that the change of the seasons is Tracker’s doing though she’s not 100% clear on the mechanics. With the mention of Tracker, Riz tries to scan the moon to get the same read as he did when he got the lock on Bakur from Lydia but he’s not getting anything which he figures might be because of range. He says he’ll try again on Tracker or another moon cleric. 
They also ask about Tracker’s new girlfriend, Nara, and a couple of people know her. Telemaine knows of her but gives an answer so long-winded that he entirely loses the plot. Ragh met her when he was evangelizing with Tracker and thinks she’s nice and Aelwyn also knows her. She, being Aelwyn, offers to help deal with her in a way that sounds like killing her is not off the table but they decided that they should proooooobably try just talking first. 
Sandra-Lynn has a little aside with Fig where she pleads with her to take her curse a bit more seriously because it’s majorly stressing her out to see her only daughter in the world suffering under an unknown curse. She also apologizes for how short she was with Fig when her horns first started growing in and is understanding about Fig’s struggles with introspection and navigating such a big shift in identity. She suggests that Fig might want to talk to her friends about how she’s been struggling and get their take on it because she’s found that others are often kinder mirrors than one’s own self image but Fig thinks that nakedly asking such a vulnerable question sounds mortifying. 
Adaine hits up Aelwyn and Zayne (who is, hello, an ex-bad guy and a literal necromancer) about curse stuff and they have some good info!
Aelwyn is very familiar with Spy’s Tongue Curse. It’s a “handshake curse” where two people enter into an agreement (it has to be willing) and once it’s in effect, neither of them can name their co-conspirator (even just writing the name). 
Aelwyn had to modify that spell for Kalina in order to make it work on non-humanoids but she doesn’t know who she used it on. It might have been on herself. This was near the end of Freshman year. It was the vibe of Kalina wanting to work with people who wouldn’t work with her unless they were under the protection of Spy's Tongue. Best Aelwyn knows, it was involved with some of her Hotel Cavelier contacts (Note: This is where the BK’s fought a bunch of demons in SY Ep 3). Kalina was very annoyed about it. 
The last thing that Aelwyn impresses on them is that names are extremely magically powerful and Fallinel is extremely old with great records so, if they’re looking for names, this is a pretty good place. 
Riz is frustrated by the similarities between all these mechanisms to make people not be able to say a name of forget information (Spy’s Tongue, Oblivati Mori, Devil’s Honey) that seem connected but don’t quite line up yet. I am feeling similarly. 
The Bad Kids plus the Reformed Villain Squad head to the Wolfsong HQ and see it’s all the way decked out like (as Kristen gets on a Nat 20 Insight check) Narnia Burning Man. There are all the comfy yurts, high elves serving hot chocolate with flavored marshmallows, and a giant snowball fight. Clearly someone has invested a LOT of money in this. Fig and Fabian right away head to the snowball course but the others meet up with Tracker who’s with Nara. Tracker explains what happened with the snow: some of the trad clerics were saying that all her talk of change was heresy so she performed a miracle and made the seasons change as kind of a checkmate. “If our goddess is so against change then explain this.”
They rapid fire fish for some info–Tracker talks to Galicaea (which I’m gonna shorten to Gal from now on) about once a week, Gal has good relationships with pretty much all non-evil gods and is only isolated insomuch as her followers isolated her, Adaine checks to see if Nara can read/speak the word Kalina and she can. 
Kristen pulls Tracker aside to ask about the clear influx of cash and Tracker says that Nara’s parents are kind of bankrolling the whole operation. Which is kind of wild because they originally send Nara to keep an eye on her. Kristen is deeply suspicious and a bit put off by what seems to her like selling out. When she pushes Tracker on the topic, Tracker gets a little defensive and asks if it would be better if the cocoa had dirt in it or if it was just her in a basement alone with Craig. On a dirty 20 insight, Kristen sees that Tracker was deeply bothered by the line of questioning. Kristen is stinging from the comeback but doesn’t fly off the handle and she ends up having a productive little dialogue about what “success” means in this field which ends with a hug. Adaine clocks that Nara looks a bit hurt by their continued closeness. Riz notices that Nara is texting someone on a crystal (something she must have picked up from Tracker) and wants to check it out if he can because he thinks that even if she’s on the level she might be working with sketch people unknowingly. 
Nearby, the party notices this circle of ancient lichen covered standing stones that are kind of away from the more commercial, rowdy parts of the camp. Fig uses her Divine Sense to ping that it’s radiating some serious diving energy and correctly guesses that it has the effect of the Hallow spell. There’s a lot of Sylvan writing but also proto-Sylvan and it’s dedicated to Galicaea but also other pre-Gal deities (including Giant ones). The sense is that this circle was already here and holy before Gal and co showed up. 
The gang has a secret Sylvan gift exchange (that was organized by Siobhan in the last Adventuring Party)! Here’s what everyone gets:
Adaine gets Fabian a pipe that lets him call rats. 
Fabian gets Adaine an “earworm” which horrifically burrows into her brain but can be used to cast Detect Thoughts and DIssonant Whispers using its charges. 
Fig gets Kristen an “Immovable Pull up Bar” (reskinned Immovable Rod of course). 
Kristen gets Riz Riddler themed Bracers of defense which are of questionable fashion sense but soooo tactical (+2 to AC when not wearing armor). 
RIz gets Gorgug a Potion of Giant Strength in the form of a gnarly energy drink that ups his strength to 25 for an hour. (It is VERY not legal)
Gorgug gets Fig the Mask of Beasts which lets her cast Animal Friendship. It is shaped like an orangutan. 
Fabian summons some rats. Fig makes them sexy. They show hole. Regular Bad Kid antics. In the midst of the chaos, Fabian texts Mazey a selfie of everyone (warning her not to zoom into the rats) and says that he hopes she’s having a good break and maybe they can hang out when he’s back. He then puts his phone in airplane mode as quickly as he can. 
They’re heading to bed but Nara checks on them. Specifically, she wants to talk to Kristen and says she’s happy that she came and she hopes they can be friends. Kristen gets the vibe that she’s here trying to be the bigger person after maybe having some messy thoughts earlier. Not really nefarious but very measured and trying to say the right thing. Nara reveals that she tried to do a revival as well but her follow through wasn’t great and it fell apart. Kristen realizes that Nara is a lot like her except with enough money to have a lot more support. She also mentions that her parents are clerics (which we kinda knew) but they’re more like deacons or office workers than miracle workers like Kristen or Tracker. They weren’t huge fans of Tracker to start with but Nara said they came around and hey, they are funding everything with their deep elven pockets. When Kristen asks about the pre-Gal origins of the standing stones, Nara doesn’t seem to know anything about them and the Bad Kids figure they should stop pushing and check it out themselves. The ex-villain trio set up a perimeter and the Bad Kids check out the stones. 
First some quick theories:
Riz wonders if Nara’s parents (or someone else) is doing all this funding to try and make Tracker’s worthy cause seem less serious. 
Fabian wonders if there is some kind of plot to get this movement all big and then merge something else into it. 
Fig wonders if with all the mind trickery happening, there are maybe gods who think they’re gods but aren’t really. 
Because Fig has determined that this Hallow spell isn’t gonna hurt them as it’s not a wartime Hallow spell (lmao for those of you who know what’s coming next) they feel safe enough to both check out the stones and call over Nara and Tracker for more info. Nara says that this is where Tracker usually communes with Gal and Adaine confirms with Nara that a skilled druid or cleric could use this circle to planeshift. Adaine and Riz roll Arcana and Investigation respectively on the stones and they get an impressive 28 and a nat 20 for a 32! Brennan has to spill everything! 
Riz finds that the stones are very protected. There are all these runes and an old scorch mark. Sunk in the ground, he finds carved a wedding contract–the wedding of Cass and her mystery god partner. (Note: Brennan says that the name written is Cass even though I’d have assumed that the name would be whatever Cass’ name was previously since Cass is a name Kristen gave her but this could just be a continuity blip that we should Time Quangle handwave away. Just wanted to mention it). Riz sees the name of Sol as officiant, Ruvina and Gal as maids of honor, Cass as the bride, and then a name sunk under the earth where the other person getting married would logically be. 
Fig gets the rats who were showing hole earlier to dig deeper into the ground and persuades Tracker and Nara to not freak out (which is maaaaybe a mistake considering what’s about to happen). With all her studying, Adaine is the only one who’s able to properly read the name once the rats dig it up and in her scholarly haze, she just says it without thinking. 
Ankarna. 
A lot of things happen very quickly so we’re going to bullets. Buckle up:
The stone circle glows red. Riz can see through his spy glasses that it's filling with fiendish energy. It feels safe in the circle so everyone jumps inside. 
The BK's phones start blowing up and Ragh runs over to them, on the phone. Adaine urges him along with Aelwyn and Zayn who have shown up to get in the circle. They all try but Zayn, as a ghost, is abjured. 
Ragh is on the phone because something is wrong with the gem in his mom's chest. Adaine is instantly horrified by what she might have done  
The stone circle begins to shake and the moon glows incredibly bright.
Tracker is rightfully freaked but then she and Nara are thrown from the circle and land hard, causing them both to start bleeding profusely. Tracker starts shifting as the moon becomes full. 
Fig makes a Wis save and fails a Con save. The spectral, yellow armor appears around her and the moonlight that falls on them starts trying to rip it off, and not gently. It’s willing to kill her to abjure the curse. She takes 19 points of damage. 
Kristen’s Cass shards start glowing blindingly and Adaine sees that mirrors are appearing to deflect the moonlight and protect Fig. 
Riz gets the sense that multiple Divine Interventions are happening at once and he is first to act. His choice is to try and shove Fig into his briefcase of holding to try and protect her from the moonlight In doing so, he breaks one of the mirrors that was protecting Fig and Brennan gives anyone who wants a chance to Counterspell without the knowledge of why. Adaine, elven oracle and protective friend, takes that offer and, on a NAT 20, counterspells a god, saving Fig’s life and shattering the curse on Fig. That’s GOTTA be worth some extra credit, right? Riz, with the help action from Cass, successfully gets Fig into the briefcase and then dives in after her. Unfortunately, Baron shows up right away because Riz’s life was going just a liiiiitle too well I guess.
Fabian does an Insight check and doesn’t think he’ll be able to get Nara and Tracker back into the (supposedly safe) circle but he feels like maybe they were knocked out for their own protection. He casts Pyrotechnics to produce some smoke to help block the moonlight.
Gorgug jumps into the briefcase and casts Warding Bond on Fig. 
Adaine locks eyes with Aelwyn who says that she’s alright and can teleport them all back to Kei Lumennura easier if they’re all in the briefcase since there’s a carry limit. At that assurance, Adaine and Fabian jump in. 
Kristen looks into the chaos trying to find a trace of Cass but doesn’t find one. She does note that the mirrors which are protecting them are a symbol of Cass but specifically in her Nightmare King form which is troubling. 
Tracker yells for Kristen in concern from outside the circle. Brennan offers Kristen a chance at a free Divine Intervention roll but it fails. Kristen jumps into the briefcase but, as she does, she casts Death Ward on Aelwyn (if she goes down to 0 she’ll actually drop to 1 HP–like half orc Relentless Endurance).
There is a flash of moonlight, darkness, a roar of flame, pained gasping, and then the briefcase finally shuts.
Woof. Huge breath. Because we’re not even done!
The Bad Kids are tumbling through the pocket space of RIz’s briefcase, through photos and case files and random items and Baron is there, taunting Riz: “The Nightmare King, very angry, once more in the arms of his loving partner.” He vanishes and leaves them in their precarious predicament with the knowledge that Cass has been corrupted once more. 
The pieces of armor (Riz specifically notes that there are six) are still targeting Fig so she casts Mislead to create a doppelganger of herself with higher speed that falls faster. The armor is tricked and gloms onto the illusion which morphs into Gilear. Each bit of armor turns into something Gilear-related: a yogurt spoon, a Hawaiin shirt, sandals. Then the Gilear illusion hits the ground and shatters. They're about to hit the ground and shatter as well but then Kristen remembers her gift from Fig! She sets it in the air and, miracle of miracles, manages to make the Dex check! Between her and some fancy sheet whipping from Fabian, they’re able to set down with no damage. Where are they you might ask? Well, it’s a creepy, dilapidated version of Fig’s room in Mordred. And they don’t have time to parse what that means because the pride armor pieces turned Gilear items scatter and Brennan has everyone roll initiative! See you next time! 
37 notes · View notes
hyunsvngs · 8 months
Note
A full length!? You would bless us with full length!? Did you hear me scream??
Oh oh on topic of betas, what about our beta boys feeling like insecure about not being an alpha or even omega and you reassure them they are perfect and enough whether it be in a cute way or....our nasty favourite way 😂😂
-🦇
i WOULD AND I WILL BLESS YOU WITH A FULL LENGTH FIC. lemme just think on who to do it abiut and it will happen:3 HERES COMFORTING BETAS BINNIE, HYUNNIE AND SEUNGIE:3
changbin:
“do you ever feel… disappointed that i’m a beta?”
you let your book fall to your lap as soon as changbin speaks. when you look at him, he’s timid, glasses on his nose and his fluffy hair ruffled. he was scrolling through his phone and had undoubtedly seen something upsetting, which always annoyed you - how could you feel disappointed when he’s so fucking beautiful?
“binniebug, you’re perfect,” you coo, sidling up close to him on the sofa. he immediately blushes, the little downturned smile coming to his lip as he pulls you in with his massive arm. “you’re so perfect. i love the way you smell, and i couldn’t handle you being an alpha. y’know they’re too… alpha-y for me.”
changbin giggles, rubbing his head against yours with a sweet ‘aaaang’ sound. “so, you don’t ever wish it even when, like, you’re in heat?”
you scoff. “if you’re looking for sexual validation honey, i think you got enough of that last night. you do more than enough for me during my heats and i could never wish for anything more. not even a knot - not when i’ve got your pretty cock at my disposal.”
“hey! i’m not at your disposal, i’m not an object-“
you grin, looking up at him. “not an object at all, binnie. what i’m saying is… you’re telling me you wouldn’t want to have sex right now?”
changbin blushes brighter, his nose scrunching. “well, yeah.”
“exactly my point,” you chime, looking at his phone. he’s watching some podcast on youtube that’s guaranteed to have said something upsetting. “you’re perfect, binnie.”
he’s timid when he replies. “you promise?”
“i promise.”
hyunjin:
hyunjin’s never gotten annoyed about his presentation. it made sense to him. he was the perfect balance - soft and beautiful, but tall and broad. what more could he want? it all changed when he learned you had an omega ex and went and pouted in the other room for a solid ten minutes.
you knocked on the door, not waiting for a response before you opened it a crack. “hyunnie?”
“you can come in.”
when you entered, he was fiddling with a canvas. he’d stress cleaned his studio, sitting cross legged on the floor in his pyjamas. it didn’t surprise you, but you still cooed, going over to sit opposite him. “hyunnie, baby, you know it doesn’t mean anything. i’m way happier with you than i was with him.”
hyunjin perks up, scratching the back of his head. “really? was he an asshole?”
you scoffed. “beyond the level of an asshole. you’re perfect. the one thing i would change about you is that you’re way too hard on yourself.”
“i can’t help it,” he mumbles. he starts fiddling with the canvas nervously again. “i just want to be perfect for you.”
“baby, you are,” you lean forward, wrapping his arms around him. he obliges to the hug, pulling you onto his lap with a swift motion. you hum, wiggling around until you get comfortable. “see? look how strong you are! and so, so beautiful.”
hyunjin blinks, and then he’s grinning. “i guess i am beautiful. versace rep, and everything-“
“shut up,” you giggle, slapping his shoulder playfully. “i’ve boosted your ego way too much now.”
“it was already boosted,” his tone is soft now, rubbing circles on your lower back. “i feel like i must be the sexiest man on earth because i’ve got you.”
“softie.”
he hums, nodding in agreement. “but i love you, so it’s fine.”
seungmin:
heat sex was a must with seungmin. he would never leave you without his cock in such a delicate, vulnerable time for you - and it’s after another one of those times when he flops over next to you, chest heaving. your heat had finally broken, and you finally feel clear headed.
until seungmin spoke.
“can we talk?” when you turn to look at him, he was leaning up on one arm. his eyes are soft, but his lips are pressed in a firm line. you blink a few times before nodding. this bastard better not about to be able to break up with you after he just gave you the best fuck of your life. “do you ever wish i was an alpha, or even an omega?”
you gasp. “seungmin! what the fuck? i’ve never said that.”
seungmin sighs. with a quick move, he’s bringing your naked, sweaty body on top of his. his body is just as sweaty and naked. “well, i guess i don’t really understand heats and ruts fully. it had me thinking just now… do you ever wish i understood?”
“you do,” you reply, brows furrowing. “you fuck me every single time and do all the breeding dirty talk, and it’s not even fake. you can actually breed me.”
“well, yeah, i know that,” he scoffs. “but i don’t even have a knot.”
“i don’t want a knot when i have your amazing cock, thanks.”
seungmin lets out a puff of air, amused at your statement. “so, you’re really okay? like, you’re satisfied being with me and everything?”
you wiggle up to face him, kissing his button nose. he scrunches it in response. “seungmin, i’m in love with you. i promise i’m happy.”
seungmin’s lips part in shock, then he’s shoving you off of him playfully. “ew, go shower. so sweaty.”
“love you, seungie!” you giggle as you jump off the bed, and he sighs. when you get to the bedroom door, you stop and turn around. just as you thought - he’s behind you, ready to join you in the shower.
you smile fondly when his arms wrap around your waist.
“i love you too, but don’t tell anyone i said that. now, can we actually shower? we are sticky in multiple ways.”
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tinted-skies · 2 years
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small confessions with dream
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Mark `~ Mark was blabbing about how good Justin Bieber's new song was, commenting on how perfect the lyrics were and how he couldn't wait to learn its melody on the guitar. You, however, just sat there, passively nodding, not matching his energy at all.
"You haven't listened to the song yet, have you?" He asked, finally noticing your lack of excitement.
"I just don't really care about him that much to be honest..."
Mark's jaw dropped, making you genuinely worried that he would dislocate it.
After the initial shock he'd be chill about it, respecting your opinion. But once you show the tiniest bit of interest in the artist, you can bet he'll show up a day later with a playlist (or maybe even a mixtape) of his favourite songs.
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Renjun `~ It was around midnight when Renjun sent you a reddit post. OP claimed to have seen a real ovni, which made you giggle.
You joked around the topic with your boyfriend, believing his comments were just as sarcastic as yours. But soon enough, you realised that wasn't exactly the case.
"I don't believe in aliens, though..." You confessed, which lead to him leaving the text app. Was he really leaving you on read over this-
And in a milisecond he was back, flooding you with articles, videos and podcasts with "genuine proof" of alien life.
After that night, Renjun made it his life mission to make you see his point of view. And it honestly didn't even surprise you when you once watched him scroll on his phone only to find out that he was part of alien stan twitter.
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Jeno `~ "I'm never, ever, doing this again." A voice echoed, followed by the front door slamming shut.
Yet another friend who gave up on being Jeno’s workout partner... You couldn't really blame them though, you had heard that things could get intense during bike day. In Jaemin's own words, Jeno ran "that shit like the military" and to be honest you didn't even know whether you found that insanely attractive or just straight up scary.
After giving his friend a very dramatic eye roll, his eyes dropped on you, the look on his eyes shifting from annoyance to... determination?
No, no, no, no no. No way in hell you would "tagg along" in his "fun bike rides". You knew better than to fall for that.
"I don't even know how to ride a bike, so don't get any ideas." You revealed, hoping that would save you ass. But much to your dismay your confession had the exact opposite effect, instanly leading to him dragging you outside to teach you.
The days after, you wouldn't get a break, him forcing you to go on mandatory bike dates since they were "good for practice".
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Haechan `~ It was around 4 in the morning, meaning that everyone at the dorms was asleep. Everyone except you, who stood in the kitchen, water glass in hand.
The dead silence of the night was soon interrupted by the sound of someone tiredly dragging their feet. Haechan entered the kitchen, rubbing his eyes while letting out a yawn. It took him a while to spot you, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion once he did so.
"Can't sleep when I'm stressed..." You explained quietly, to which he nodded understandingly. Although never having faced the stress of finals, he could imagine it to be similar to the stress he felt during comeback season.
"You know what I normally do when I can't sleep?" He whispered walking closer to you, voice rough as he had just woken up.
"Play overwatch." He answered his own question.
"I've never played overwatch, though..." You confessed, your words making Haechan smile softly.
He had waited for this moment for a very long time, the two loves of his life were finally meeting and he suddenly felt like he was on the clouds.
He guided you to his room, turned on his computer and taught you how to play. You played in the dark of his bedroom until the sun started peaking through the courtains.
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Jaemin `~ He could swear agreeing to come pick you up had been the best decision of his life.
You had just got out of your best friend's party and were a bit tipsy. Jaemin had never really seen you like this before but boy was he in for a treat. He had always found you extremely entertaining but the drinks seemed to have taken away your inhibitions, complete nonsense coming out of your mouth. He almost had to stop the car a few times from how hard he was chuckling.
Right now you were ranting about how hard relationships were and how happy you were for not being in one.
"Hate to break it to you, baby, but we're dating." He interrupted.
"Oh- yes! You're right! About that- don't get me wrong, I really, really loooove PDA..." He glanced at you curiously before looking back at the road, intrigued.
"However-... I prefer it when we're alone." You concluded your confession with hesitation, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but Jaemin could only smile at your words.
"Damn, I always knew English wasn't your biggest strenght but you know what PDA stands for, right?"
"Of course I do" You answered dramatically, taking his words to heart. "Public display of affection." You stated proudly.
You really were a mess tonight and if you kept talking, then he was sure his cheeks would start hurting from smiling so much. You really were going to be the death of him...
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Chenle `~ You and Chenle had plopped on the couch after having lunch together and had no intentions of getting up any time soon. Both of you barely moved the entire evening, just lazily scrolling through your phones.
Getting bored of every other app on your phone, you clicked on twitter. When you saw a tweet announcing Seventeen's new comeback you let out an excited squeal, catching Chenle’s attention. He raised an eyebrow at you but decided not to question it, simply smiling at your cuteness before going back to the game on his phone.
The way he looked at you had made you a bit shy, but all of that was forgotten when you came across a certain fancam.
Your eyes slightly widened at the sight, your boyfriend really was a great performer, no matter how many times you watched him on stage, you would always find it mindblowing. Not to mention this choreo had always been one of your favourites and damn, you really were a sucker for his black hair...
Before you knew it, you had seen the damned video 4 times already. It was muted but you could swear you could listen to it perfectly in your head.
Nevertheless, you decided to unmute it, instanly regretting it when the sound blasted off your phone. Slightly panicking you paused the fancam but, much to your dismay, Chenle had already recognized the song.
This made him move closer to you, glancing at your phone only to confirm his suspicions. He stared at you with a look of disbelief, nodding in disappointment.
"For fuck's sake, Y/N, it's been 2 years already! Get over it!" He shouted jokingly before getting up and leaving your side.
"I just think Ridin' was your best era, okay?" You called out just as loud, confessing dramatically what he already knew.
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Jisung `~ He hated morning recording sessions. He had to go on the SUV all alone and sing the same lines over and over again while barely awake. Today's session had wasted 3 hours of his day, but fortunately he was now finally free.
Jisung arrived to the dorm only to find you already there, on the kitchen table with two cups of coffee and a pile of pancakes on a plate. He awed at the way you not only had gotten up super early, but also had been waiting for him so you could eat breakfast together.
At that moment he swore you were the best friend anyone could ever ask for.
"What's all of this?" He asked as he sat in the chair in front of you. You felt yourself softening upon hearing his raspy voice.
You and Jisung were very close but it wasn't often that you'd be so straightforward at expressing your affection towards each other.
That being said, you were truly taking a risk by setting this whole scene up, which didn't go unnoticed by your best friend, who couldn't help but wonder if your actions had any kind of second intentions. And although you didn't really want to admit it... deep down you guessed they did.
"Ahmn..." You pondered your next words. "I just like you, I guess..." You shrugged it off, deciding to keep the situation nonchalant.
Your sudden confession was subtle (and painfully honest), yet broad enough to leave the boy wondering if your words meant something more. And they did, but he didn't have to know it just yet.
Little did you know that Jisung was fighting the urge to reveal that he felt the same exact way about you. <3
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seeminglyranch87 · 7 months
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Taylor & Travis Timeline
September 2023 - part 1
September 1 - Ep51, S2 of New Heights airs, Travis says he doesn’t remember what he had been doing the week leading up to recording the podcast, saying “I think I was up in New York”.
Travis also mentions that if he wears a hat and glasses no one recognises him. (x) (x)
Jason Kelce asks
“Have you found out what Taylor Swift thinks of your moustache?”
To which Travis blushes and smiles, saying
“Um yeah we’re not going to bring up Taylor Swift... but something tells me she’s gonna like it”
September 2 - Travis liked a Louboutin IG post about Taylor's legs ; ) (x)
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September 6 - New Heights Ep 52 (x) with guest Kylie Kelce on life as an NFL spouse, Jason's Tinder Bio and Setting Up Travis. Personally a favourite episode of mine!
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(9:30) When discussing the definition of a "diva" Jason says a diva is" just a famous singer", Kylie looks to Jason with a knowing smile... do they know about Travis' interaction with Taylor?
(20:00) Advice Kylie gives on Travis dating and what he should put on a Tinder profile... "I think you are doing great on your own Trav..."
(25:40) Talking about a tinder profile would Kylie recommend Travis go "Stache or no stache? " Kylie jokingly replies "if they swipe right at your worst, then they'll love you at your best"
(28:00) Jason begins telling Travis how he felt first meeting Kylie after a drunken first date...
Jason tells "it was love at first sight, let me tell you" Kylie replies " he doesn't even believe in love at first sight" Jason responds " I didn't until I met you... it was like fireworks. It was like fireworks exploded the moment she walked through the door..." "I want to feel those fireworks" Travis replies wistfully "It was like you when a movie has like an angel walk through doors and there is only one light on that person" Jason continues "that's what happened, I've always wanted that to happen" says Travis
September 7 - Travis is benched for the Chiefs vs Lions game due to a knee injury (x). Chiefs are defeated 20 - 21. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.
September 8 - Taylor is seen at Electric Lady Studios, NYC for a suspected album release party (x)
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September 11 - Taylor has dinner with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Zöe Kravitz, Channing Tatum, Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne at Emilio’s Ballato Italian restaurant in NYC (x)
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September 12 - Taylor attends the 2023 MTV VMA's wearing a very reputation-esque custom Versace look and the VMA's afterparty in a demin look with a red lip (x x)
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Our girl cleaned up at the VMA's
ET publishes an article (x)
A source tells ET that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and the "Anti-Hero" singer are not officially dating.
A source tells ET, "Travis has been into Taylor for a while and definitely has a crush on her. He is a simple guy that is very funny, charismatic, chill, and loves playing football."
'Kelce', Jason Kelce's Prime Video documentary is released
September 13 - Rumours circulating (x) according to The Messenger
"Taylor and Travis have been quietly hanging out," the source said. "She saw him when she was in NYC a few weeks ago."
September 14 - In an interview on TNF Nightcap (x), Jason Kelce mentions that he saw the rumours about Travis and Taylor but couldn’t comment on their relationship status, saying
"I've seen these rumours. I cannot comment... I don't really know what's going on there, so yeah, I know Trav is having fun. We'll see what happens with whoever he ends up with."
September 16 - ESPN's SportsCenter reporter Adam Schefter & Kevin Negandhi playfully reference Swift's song titles as they allude to Travis & Taylor dating rumours.
"Clearly, Travis Kelce, at this point in time, is trying to Shake It Off and get back out there. He knows how much he's needed and that he's The Man."
"It was a little bit of a Cruel Summer for Travis Kelce with that knee injury but he can see the Daylight, Kevin, he looks like he's Ready For It. And Travis [Kelce] is now tracking to play on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite the fact that he was just limited today."
Go to previous update -> August 2023, part 1
Go to next update -> September 2023, part 2
Return to the timeline
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Flight rising TMA Fandragons pt 1 of 3
This will contain spoilers
-
So i’ve been working on transforming the tma cast into silly little dragons ^^ jon was my first i planned out in july of last year. Its been a Very fun and Deeply expensive little collection which is still ongoing. The colors for these are in the alt text ^^
Jons skin was made by yours truly and was single handedly one of my most expensive items to buy, it features all his mentioned scars (or most anyways-) his burnt hand, teethmarks from daisy over his neck, and although they cant be seen with his outfit stab marks from michael. I thought a green theme fit him well given the podcasts coverart. I figured with the amount of stress this dude goes through a spiral was a perfect fit.
Martin was rather difficult to find the correct colors for at the time. I wanted him to carry pieces of his past with him (a locket from his mother, a coat from his internship with peter lukas and his tea set) i wanted him to be a Protector so i thought an obby was a good choice
Tim was Beyond fun and So So difficult, i wanted to play around with the idea of him becoming an avatar of the desolation after his demise and made him out of Wax and fire. Unfortunately they Still don’t have Hawaiian style shirts in FR so i had to compromise. I gave him some carnival wear to show its still Part of him
Sasha was a little difficult to get perfect- i wanted to show that she was plain enough to Melt into the background. She’s wrapped in more of the carousel set to show she Cant get off the merry go round because she Doesn’t have a face. I took Heavy inspo of her design from @reidspng sasha design cause i think they captured her Perfectly
Melanie King I was playing around with the thought of Ghost bullets and Bones, i scried her colors on accident after some trial and error and just Loved it, her outfit just fell in place after i got the skry ^^
Gerry was one of the first i completed fully- i saw the kelpie hair and just Knew it would be a perfect box dye, i wanted to give him this sorta ghostly aura- like you’d just summoned him in a seance and he just looks beyond annoyed
Gertrude was a little difficult to find the proper scry for- it felt like Nothing i was doing was turning out right- i started with her outfit first and worked backwards eventually landing on this- i’m rather happy with her overall- her as a coatl just worked out so well for a little arson grannie
Adelard dekker, One of my all time favorite statements mag157 has always stayed with me and i just Knew i had to make this fella. Poison and concrete were my inspirations, i wanted to imagine him as an avatar of the extinction having risen from his tomb to study and try to reverse the end of humanity.
Basira Husain- it is- hilariously difficult to make a modest muslim outfit in a game that doesn’t allow religious imagery- i eventually landed on this which was the Best i could manage. Her skry came after, i wanted to show off her intelligence and mild affiliation with the eye as Glasses (very cliche i know)
Last for this group is Daisy tonner- she’s my eldest of my fandragons at 7 years old (very expensive little purchase ;-;) i liked the idea of having mud and soil as a theme to reference when she was in the buried. She was originally planned as an imperial but i thought a wildclaw would suit her better.
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youjustwaitsunshine · 11 months
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Just listened to a short podcast episode about seb that might have gone under the radar, it's this episode of behind the glass with the host of the youtube channel 'seen through glass' and it's basically about the hosts first time meeting seb/shooting videos with him (the videos he talks about are this one and this one i think, with the podcast also being on youtube) and how it was working with him.
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annalu86 · 11 months
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Motivation
Tim could hear the key in the doorway, Lucy would be walking through the door to her apartment any second and would immediately see all his hard work and he was, honestly, super excited.
He had spent his entire day off running round the city picking up bits and pieces, he’d even been to a stationery store to print and laminate things.
And it was time to see if all his hard work would pay off.
On the kitchen island Tim had placed 2 large boxes and a large glass jar. One box was label ‘Taste’, the other ‘Have’ and the jar was labelled ‘Time’. The boxes were full of a variety of parcels, wrapped as neatly as Tim was capable and the jar was full of brightly coloured, miniature envelopes.
Tim stood proudly behind them, nervously shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited for his girlfriend to push open the door.
She stopped instantly, not even halfway through the door, as she spotted him and his unusual set up.
“Hey” Lucy said slowly popping her keys on the little table next to the door “you ok there Babe?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you!” The nervous excitement bursting out of him, coming out from behind the counter and taking her hands.
“I see that!” Lucy’s smile brightened instantly to match his. Tim gets Lucy to sit on a stool facing his surprise.
“So, you remember we talked about me helping you study? For the detectives exam” Lucy nodded, eyes not leaving the boxes and jar in front of her. “Well you both know I wouldn’t be much help with the actual studying” Lucy opened her mouth to protest but Tim silenced her, holding his hand up “it’s ok, but I thought there would be something I would be good at.” He paused, for dramatic effect.
“Go on” impatience pouring out of her as she reached her finger tips towards one of the boxes, clearly intrigued.
“During my time as your TO” Lucy’s face shot round to look at him, an appalled expression on her face and tim couldn’t help but laugh “during my time as your TO I became very good at motivating you to do your best”
“Through fear and humiliation!” Lucy wailed and Tim couldn’t help feeling a little smug
“No. Well maybe, sometimes” he conceded “but it worked didn’t it”
“Hmmmm”
“Well I’m not your TO anymore. I’m your boyfriend so I thought maybe I could try some more Lucy friendly methods of motivation” he finished with a flourish, indicating to the items in front of them.
“Babe” Lucy signed, she stood up and raised herself onto her tiptoes. Her hands slid up his chest and round his neck as she pulled him the final few inches into a slow and tender kiss. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me”
“You haven’t seen what’s in them yet!” He joked earning himself a smack on the shoulder for ruining the moment.
“Well? What’s in them!” She let him go and started pulling one of the boxes towards her.
“Hold on, hold on!” He said placing a hand on each of her shoulders and lowing her back on to the stool “so first I thought ‘what motivates Lucy’ and that wasn’t hard. Food” he placed the ‘taste’ box so the label was facing her, followed by the ‘have’ box “‘cute things’ and last but probably most obviously ‘attention’” he said bringing the jar to the front.
At the last one Lucy laughed and swatted at his arm again “I’m not attention seeking!”
“I don’t mean like that” and he leaned forward to take the jar, kissing her forehead as he moved passed her quickly. He opened the jar and took out one a bright green envelope, opening it and pulling out a little laminated card. After reading it himself he turned it to face Lucy.
‘20 minute foot rub’
It said in bold letters across the middle. Underneath in much smaller letters:
(You can tell me all about the true crime podcast you’re listening to)
Tim was busying himself with sliding the little card back into the envelope and popping it back in the jar so he was slightly taken a back when Lucy launched herself at him, flinging her arms around his neck and burying her damp eyes into the side of his face.
“I figure you can choose something from one of the boxes or jar for every hour of studying you get done but that’s up to you. Some of the food for the ‘taste’ box is in the refrigerator so it doesn’t go bad” he wasn’t sure she was really listening as he wrapped his arms around her waist and then placed a series of kisses up her neck.
“This is just so thoughtful” she pulled away to look him in the eye “it must have taken you all day”
“Probably not as long as reading that book!” Tim laughed “so do you want to earn that first one now?”
Tim came home from work the following evening to Lucy sitting at the kitchen island, the same place she been when he left her that morning. He grinned as he took in all the little gifts and envelopes that surrounded the work station she had set up.
The last few bites of her favourite candy bar, a new picture frame that perfectly matched the colour of her sofa, a zesty smelling candle in a beautiful glass jar. The stack of 5 or 6 laminated cards made his stomach flutter, she had picked those over the more immediate rewards far more often. Picked time with him.
“Right” he said, rubbing his hands together, a huge smile on his face. “Let’s make a start on those cards!”
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