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absolutebl · 1 year

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Welcome to Tumblr BL Fandom - Here’s Your Primer

memes, insider trading & obsession meta post

The Death Stairs

They haunt us. These same stairs constantly pop up in Thai BLs and we worry that someone is going to die on them (or fuck on them, or both).

BL origin = unknown, we only recently started tracking them (but the actual origin of the death stairs is 99 Home Studio117, RPC6+JM3 ซอย รามอินทรา 117 Min Buri, Bangkok 10510, Thailand. It appears to be a house rented out for filming. Honestly? They should AirBnB that level of fame. I’d rent it, buy a cactus and a chili plant, just for the photo op.)

Rain Makes BL Boys Sick

For which the only solution is a sponge bath administered by another boy with a bowl of water and a damp white towel.

We don’t make the rules, the BL gods do.

origin of the rain=fever = cultural

BL origin for the sponge bath = 2014′s Love Sick

The gayest bridge in Thailand

The Rama VII Bridge has appeared in so many Thai BLs - boys kiss on it and in front of it... A LOT.

BL origin = SOTUS 2016

Honor the Crumbs

Side dishes given very little screen time always end up being everyone’s favorites (especially in the pulps). Also falls under side dish syndrome. This is mostly a Thai BL thing, since they’re usually the BLs featuring more than one couple. (Taiwan is getting there, tho.)

BL origin = @heretherebedork

The Engineering Department is Gay (also Pink Milk)

The hot Thai boy in the engineering smock (red or blue) is either gay or a chaos bisexual. There are no exceptions.

BL origin = SOTUS 2016

Korea’s BL bubble

A world where queer is simply accepted and a hostile society doesn’t exist.

Origin, probably Strongberry’s 2017-2018 shorts, but best known starters are 2020′s Mr Heart & Wish You

Namgoong award for best wingman

Supportive straight(ish) besties! Appear throughout BL history, but really reached peak awesome with Namgoong, so a collection of us just started saying “thank you, Namgoong” whenever this archetype shows up.

BL origin, Light on Me

Korea’s BL formula

(1 short Kpop idol + 1 tall actor / random separation in the last half of the final episode) x a small cast = KBL (usually 6-8 episodes totaling under 2 hrs)

BL origin, 2015′s The Lover

Korean male beauty ideals here.

Korea figured out boys can kiss

To be fair Strongberry always knew this and Just Friends? gave it to us in 2005, it’s just they forgot for a while. A long while.

origin = Korean 2022 BL

speaking of...

Dead fish kisses

This tradition carried for years by Japan’s light BL, early Thai BL like Love Sick, & then Korea. It took Thailand’s 2016 BL (specifically elder gods KarnNut & MaxTul) to start breaking this curse. Could be argued that Ohm in 2016′s Make it Right also paved the way (while BoomPeak exemplify dead fish kissing).

origin = early 2000s JBL when it was still known as Live Action Yaoi

Taiwan = the kings of high heat

Taiwan always serves up the most consistent and authentic chemistry, kisses, and higher heat. Thailand has it as well, but isn’t as consistent about it.

BL origin = 2017 HIStory franchise and every Taiwanese BL since (although Eternal Summer probably started it in 2006)

Taiwan’s marriage equality

Taiwan was the first to feature sanctioned gay marriage in a BL, the first to depict queer engagements - and they regularly like to remind us that it’s legal there. As they should.

BL origin = HIStory 2: Right or Wrong 2017

Thailand’s food = love

Lovers cook, serve, feed, and/or eat together. Always. At least something along these lines in every Thai BL.

origin, well just Thailand in general (and Asia to be fair), but probably SOTUS & Love Sick

Vietnam’s domesticity

Vietnam always depicts at least some of their characters in a home environment, with family life, adopted kids, and more.

BL origin = Tein Bromance Extra

Cactus baby (and chili plant younger sibling)

Hilariously a cactus plant was deployed as a courting gift, spy device, and blooming representation of sexual awakening in MaxTul vehicle Manner of Death. Tumblr adopted that cactus baby.

BL origin = Manner of Death 2021

What China Did

Massive wholesale censorship curtailed/abruptly cut short multiple shows in progress in 2016-2017. Also resulted in rewriting and reshooting of those in production, and more weird and invidious things. This also showed up as a purge (and likely persecution) of Chinese queer vloggers on YouTube, the imprisonment of several danmai authors, and eventually the censored bromances we now get today.

BL origin victim = Addicted, Advance Bravely, etc...

Japan’s lanes

Japan’s propensity to lean in favor of either

sweet, campy, and very low heat live action yaoi shot in a manga style with HEA, or

dark, gritty high heat queer cinema and pinks shot in an atmospheric style with tragic endings

BL origin, Boys Love 2006 & Takumi-kun 2007

History of Japanese BL here and the weeds of Japanese BL here.

#In Strongberry We Trust

Small, queer, Korean production house Strongberry had been producing short form pro-queer KBL successfully for years, long before larger studios picked BL up. But when they transitioned to long form in 2022, we were a little scared they wouldn’t stick the landing. #InStrongberryWeTrust became our mantra.

BL origin = Choco Milk Shake 2022

Faen Fatal(e)

A side character, usually an ex-girlfriend but occasionally an ex-boyfriend, whose sole purpose is as a plot device to drive a wedge between the leads, or cause jealousy.

BL origin = Love Sick

The Thai BL Pulps

Very low budget BL with terrible sound, crazy soapy plots, and earnest acting.

BL origin = Make It Right 2016 (term coined by @heretherebedork & self)

The Mame effect

AKA #oh mame must you?

The mameverse features great characters, killer actor chemistry, and higher heat combined with terrible damaging tropes and non-sensical plot devices.

BL origin = TharnType (although technically started in Love By Chance)

The 2 Moons Curse

When a popular BL franchise struggles to survive over one season and keeps having to recast the leads.

BL origin = 2Moons original 2017

Dread Episode 11

AKA Doom of Ep 11

Explained here.

Golden Rules of BL

Never trust:

a Thai trailer,

a Viki Category,

a Vietnamese sub,

an MDL description,

a Taiwanese title,

Japan,

or a BL made before 2014.

Origin = me over the years

BLoundary Test: has the seme ever respected a single boundary?

BLechdel Test. 2 ukes discuss something that is not their seme(s). Also uke indicates actual interest in sex in a relationship.

(source)

okay what did I forget?

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gladlypants · 1 year

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Aristocrat Animals Paintings

Here are some very distinguished good boys and girls! ♥ Most of these are pups, kitties and bunnies, but there are a few other furry and feathered friends mixed in too. Original artwork by Tein Lucasson / L'Animorphe.

You can see all the swatches and a few more screenshots under the cut. They're sure to make you smile :)

Download here (Google Drive, bgc)

Downloads Page (Pinterest)

@alwaysfreecc @maxismatchccworld @sssvitlans

#ts4 #the sims 4 #ts4cc #s4cc #sims4cc #alwaysfreecc #my cc dl #my cc buy #i squee'd myself to death making these

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callsign-rogueone · 3 months

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reunited - m.s.

Mira Sorrengail x soft!reader words: 929 🏷: IRON FLAME SPOILERS. hurt/comfort, descriptions of injury (inflicted on you by others) and blood. established relationship between you and mira. no pronouns used for reader :)

If the rumors are true, if it was really Violet Sorrengail who convinced half of Basgiath’s cadets to abandon ship and fly to Aretia to join the revolution, then her sister must be around here somewhere. That’s the only thought keeping you upright, the only thing taking the edge off of the pain that envelops your entire being.

“Teine is here,” your dragon confirms. “I’ll have him tell his rider.”

A few heartbeats later, Mira comes sprinting out of the house. She gapes at the sight of you: dried blood streaks your face, your arms are littered with cuts and purpling bruises, and you look ready to fall over at any moment.

Your skin is ice cold against hers as she gathers you into her arms, but she doesn’t flinch. “Who did this to you?”

“My squad at Chakir,” you answer, struggling to form words with your exhaustion. “I was the only one who left.”

She burns with anger. How could the people who were supposed to have your back, who you regarded as friends, have been so cruel to you? You of all people, who are so kind and good, who took extra shifts without complaint and always showed up with a smile on your face, who baked cakes for people’s birthdays when they couldn’t get leave to see their family?

Your flight jacket is nowhere to be seen — they must have stripped it from you before you left. It’s a miracle you hadn’t frozen to death on the way here.

Every cell in your body has been screaming at you for the last twelve hours to find Mira, and here she is, holding you. She’s alive. She’s safe.

The adrenaline fades fast and you slump forward, legs finally giving out from underneath you, but she holds you upright. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I got you.”

She readjusts, pulling you up and slinging one of your arms over her shoulders. You make a soft sound of discomfort at the movement, but you lean against her without complaint, doing your best to lift your feet as she limps you inside.

“BRENNAN!” Her voice carries through the stone hallway easily, and footsteps race toward you, a blurry but familiar face entering your vision. This must be the afterlife, you decide. How else could he be standing here? He’s been dead for years.

Maybe you’re just delirious. You certainly don’t feel right, dizzy and disoriented as Mira kneels, pulling you into her lap and looking up at her brother desperately. “Please,” she rasps.

Brennan has no idea who you are, what your relationship is to his sister, but the way she’s holding you and the shake of her voice tells him everything he needs to know.

He’s never heard her sound scared before.

A strong hand wraps around your wrist and the pain ceases, but it’s still hard to breathe, hard to think. If you could just close your eyes for a minute…

You rest your head against her shoulder, content to bask in the warmth of her skin and the feeling of her body against yours, the plush muscle supporting your weight easily.

“Eyes open, love,” Mira says gently. “I know you’re tired, but you need to stay awake. Just keep looking at me, okay?”

You blink up at her, working to focus your gaze. “You cut your hair. S’nice.”

She smiles. “Had to do it myself, since you weren’t there. Gods, I missed you so much, love. I never want to be stationed apart from you again.”

You manage a soft laugh. “You won’t be. They’re never taking us back after this.”

She’s quiet, continuing to stroke her thumb across your knuckles. “Yeah, I guess not.”

You realize that her mother hadn’t joined her here, that she remains on the opposite side of this fight. “M’ so sorry, Mir.” You squeeze her hand weakly in a silent gesture of affection.

“It’s okay,” she says softly, squeezing back. “I’ll always be okay if I have you with me.”

Brennan looks you over once more, satisfied with his work. “I think that’s everything.”

“Thanks, Bren,” you mumble, fighting sleep. “Glad you’re not dead.”

He laughs. “I am too. Get some rest, okay?”

Mira keeps one hand on you at all times; as she leads you upstairs to the room she’d been assigned, while she gets you out of your torn clothes and washes the dried blood and dirt from your skin, as she helps you into clean pajamas and settles into bed beside you.

“Mir?” You ask softly, as she’s about to turn off the mage light.

She turns back to face you. “Yes, love?”

“I really wanna kiss you,” you say quietly, like it’s a secret, like you haven’t had her lips on yours hundreds of times before.

She puts a gentle hand on your jaw, mindful of the tenderness that will remain there for a day or two, bringing you forward for a soft kiss.

“I love you,” you murmur, brushing your nose against hers.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake.”

“Promise?” You ask softly, still watching her like you’re afraid she’ll disappear, that this is all some elaborate dream you’re going to wake up from any minute now.

“I promise, my love. I’m never leaving you again. You’re stuck with me for life.”

You giggle, cuddling into her side. “I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else.”

After 154 days away from your lover, you finally fall asleep in her arms once again, safe and warm, knowing that nothing can separate you.

#mira sorrengail #mira sorrengail x reader #fourth wing fanfic #fourth wing #reader insert #mine #iron flame spoilers

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judgementdaysunshine · 3 months

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Then I met you

Pairing: Solo Sikoa x Fem reader

Description: You pour your heart and inner demons out to Solo showing how much he has changed your life ever since meeting him

Warning: Mentions of trauma, abuse (mental, emotional, and physical), and emotional fluff

Gif credits to @visionarymode

Inspired by this scene

The room felt like it was closing in and you couldn't breath quickly walking out and sitting on the porch as you catch your breath turning your head when you hear footsteps seeing Solo next to you feeling safety wash over you. You lean towards him and kiss him which caught him off guard and made your heart sink as you held your face in your hands "Are we friends that occasionally kiss or something?" you sniffle as you feel the dread swell in your chest and fear flows through you "I have never trusted any man that has been in my life ever...all my life, men have never made me feel safe, loved, or enough and I've almost always had to ask or beg to be treated like a human and quite a few have taken advantage of me in many ways" your voice cracks with emotion as solo listens feeling his eyes burn with tears realizing every word you said feeling anger boil inside him and his heart shattering seeing you broken instead of being the light and hope for others "Every once in awhile when I was outside I would look at the birds and I was so envious of them, I wish I could fly away from everything that had happened and it be a bad dream" tears poured down your face as tears brimmed in solo's eyes feeling his soul being ripped out of him slowly by your pain. "I hated men so much for so long, I wanted nothing to do with them especially as I got into the business then I met you" he felt many emotions wash over him holding your hand sharing small smiles with each other as you sniffled quietly "The way that you support and care for people in your life Solo, the trust and love I see in the people that's around you whether their family or not" tears still formed and flowed sharing another kiss filled with emotion and care holding each other in comforting silence "I love you, I've loved you for so long and I didn't know whether you loved me back" the feather light kisses on your neck and cheek make your heart melt as he held your face in his hands "I've loved you ever since I met you on the beach and it was only the two of us" a big smile forms on your face sharing a soft kiss before walking to the house the two of you and a few of your friends were staying in knowing that everyone would be spending the next two hours relaxing and enjoying the break from traveling, wrestling, working out, and training having the house further away to yourselves turning to putty in his arms when he holds you after the two of you were upstairs in his room. Paused kisses are shared losing yourselves in each other as clothes are slowly stripped off and whispered words are shared against each other's skin "The kindest, beautiful, special, and badass woman I've ever met and known, I don't want anyone like this than you" tears form again as he caressed your body with his hands gently kissing down your body lightly biting your inner thighs before kissing and licking your bunched nerves smiling at the safety and love washing over you as he held your hands as soft moans echoed throughout the room sharing small laughs in the tender moment before your fingers were tangled in strands of his hair having your moans and whimpers muffled and swallowed up with more tender kisses bodies pressed together dozing off in his arms feeling his hand run along your back with care kissing your fingertips before intertwining your hands again "I love you my Teine manaia" you lean into his hand caressing your face in his hand before sharing one last gentle kiss falling asleep tucked safely against his chest waking up to find solo in the bathroom in his shorts after he showered and changed smiling and sweetly laughing at each other as you lean up pressing your foreheads together sharing a kiss holding each other before having breakfast together enjoying the next while of peaceful and quiet time together before some of the others came back.

#solo sikoa #wwe x reader #wwe #solo sikoa x reader

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hopeless-friend-finder · 5 months

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Passionate neck kiss

Hi-res (it's free!)

#Ash #Friend #TEIN Ash #TEIN Friend #The End Is Nigh #TEIN #NSFT #?#Now what's happening is really obvious

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meikamatadori · 11 months

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Käärijä - Morgan

(translation, analysation & explanation)

fyi, I’m just a fan wanting trying to translate a difficult language so everyone can understand and enjoy Käärijä’s music. I’m not a professional translator so there is bound to be mistakes and room for improvement.

translations are quite literal on purpose.

If you want to listen to this song - it’s on the Cha Cha Cha mixtape (at least found on Apple Music). Please buy it instead of downloading it for free. This song is ~ 1,30€ on iTunes. Support the artist.

Verse 1

En muista eilisillasta yhtikäs mitää/

I don’t remember anything from last night

Muuta ku lähin himasta lystiä pitää/

Except that I left home to have fun

Muisti lähti ennenku astuin baariin sisää/

Memory left before I even stepped into the bar

Enkä muista kysyttiiks multa ovella ees ikää/

I don’t remember if I was asked my age by the entrance

En tiedä olinko herrasmies vai täysi sika/

I don’t remember if I was a gentleman or a total pig

Jos tein jotain tyhmää - se oli kyllä ihan oma vika/

If I did something stupid - then it’s my own fault

En tiedä paljonko palo gillaa tai paloko sillat/

I don’t remember how much I burnt money or [did I] burn bridges

Mutta sen verran tiedän et ainakaa eilisilta/

But that much I know that last night

Pre-chorus

Ei ollu success, se ei menny putkeen/

It wasn’t a success, it didn’t go well

Ja kaiken lisäks himmee darra puskee/

And on top of that, [a] dim hangover* pushes

Oli eilen poika pitkin iltaa yhtä hymyy/

Last night [the] boy was all smiles

Nyt pitkin päivää puhelin soi ja frendit kysyy/

Now all day [my] phone rings and friends ask

Chorus

Oonko mä kondikses?/

Am I okay?*

En!/

No!

Oonko mä kondikses?/

Am I okay?

En!/

No!

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

I have dim ass headache and I hangout at home in a dim ass moral hangover*

Oonko mä kondikses?/

Am I okay?

En!/

No!

Oonko mä kondikses?/

Am I okay?

En!/

No!

Mul on hiukset sekasin ja hengaan himas ihan himmees morkkikses/

My hair is a mess and I hangout at home in a dim ass moral hangover

Verse 2

Huonovointisuus on läsnä ja koko pääkoppa kolisee/

Unwellness is present and [my] whole skull rattles

Ja mä vannon etten koskaa enää tuu koskee Stoliksee/

And I swear I’ll never touch Stolichnaya*

Kaadan viimeset pohjat pönttöön ja heitän tupakat roskikseen/

I’ll pour the last bottoms* into the toilet and throw cigarettes into trash

Sillä tää olotila saa vahvemmankin yksilön polvilleen/

Because this feeling* puts a stronger individual to their knees

En tiedä otinko iisisti vai paloko multa pinna/

I don’t remember if I took it easy or did I burn* my cool

Menikö tää poika suoraa puuta päi ja melkee linnaan/

Did this boy go straight into a tree and almost to jail

En tiedä paljonko meni gillaa ja monta flindaa/

I don’t remember how much money went and [how] many bottles

Mutta sen verran tiedän että ainakaan eilisilta/

But that much I know that last night

Pre-chorus (no translation added)

Ei ollu success, se ei menny putkee/

Ja kaiken lisäks himmee darra puskee/

Oli eilen poika pitkin iltaa yhtä hymyy/

Nyt pitkin päivää puhelin soi ja frendit kysyy/

Chorus (no translation added)

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Mul on hiukset sekasin ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

Chorus 2

Sängyl morkkikses!/

On bed in a moral hangover!

Pöntöl morkkikses!/

On the toilet in a moral hangover!

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

I have dim ass headache and I hangout at home in a dim ass moral hangover*

Suihkus morkkikses!/

In the shower in a moral hangover!

Sohval morkkikses!/

On the couch in a moral hangover!

Mul on hiukset sekasin ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses

My hair is a mess and I hangout at home in a dim ass moral hangover

Interlude

Ah, iha kauhee morkkis/

Ah, what a [bad] moral hangover

Hyi saakeli/

Ew, damn*

Siis ihan sairas morkkis/

Such a bad moral hangover

Vaikken muista yhtää mitää/

Even if I don’t remember anything

Mul on pisto rinnas ja hyvin vahva tunne et eilisilta/

I have a sting in my chest and a strong feeling that last night

Pre-chorus (no translation added)

Ei ollu success, se ei menny putkee/

Ja kaiken lisäks himmee darra puskee/

Oli eilen poika pitkin iltaa yhtä hymyy/

Nyt pitkin päivää puhelin soi ja frendit kysyy/

Chorus (no translation added)

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Oonko mä kondikses?/

En!/

Mul on hiukset sekasin ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

Chorus 2 (no translation added)

Sängyl morkkikses!/

Pöntöl morkkikses!/

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses

Suihkus morkkikses!/

Sohval morkkikses!/

Mul on hiukset sekasin ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

—————

Let’s start with the song name Morgan.

It’s clearly another word for morkkis (moral hangover). I honestly think it could be used as the english term for morkkis.

Ja kaiken lisäks himmee darra puskee

And on top of that, [a] dim hangover* pushes

Himmeä means dim and it can be used to describe pretty much anything. ”Toi äijä on iha himmee” that guy is so dim (weird/out of it) or ”Himmee auto” dim car (cool car)

Here it means that he’s having a bad hangover.

Best way I’d describe it - it’s a word to use when you want to specifically stress something, positive or negative -> it will make your statement stronger.

Oonko mä kondikses?/

Am I okay?*

Kondis comes from the word kunto (condition/fitness). His friends are asking his condition.

Mul on himmee hedari ja hengaan himas iha himmees morkkikses/

I have dim ass headache and I hangout at home in a dim ass moral hangover*

Morkkis basically means moral hangover, it means you regret something you did on a nightout.

I used the term ”dim ass” because I feel like it sends the vibe and message across a lot better.

Ja mä vannon etten koskaa enää tuu koskee Stoliksee/

And I swear I’ll never touch Stolichnaya*

Stolichnaya is a vodka and Stolis is a slang word for it.

Kaadan viimeset pohjat pönttöön ja heitän tupakat roskikseen/

I’ll pour the last bottoms* into the toilet and throw cigarettes into trash

Pohja means bottom/base/ground. Pohjat means the last drops of the drink because it’s at the bottom of the bottle.

Sillä tää olotila saa vahvemmankin yksilön polvilleen/

Because this feeling* puts a stronger individual to their knees

Olotila was a bit difficult for me to translate. Basically means how you’re feeling or what’s your mood.

En tiedä otinko iisisti vai paloko multa pinna/

I don’t remember if I took it easy or did I burn* my cool

In finnish we say we burn our cool instead of losing it - the meaning is still the same, just different wording.

Hyi saakeli/

Ew, damn*

Hyi is used to express disgust and you can add a swear word to it (just like hyi saakeli)

Bonus thoughts: I absolutely love the beat and Käärijä’s flow on this one.

—————

If you have questions about anything, ask! I’ll answer them the best I can. Also if you’ve a better way to express something or you think of another meaning - comment it!

Thank you for the support the last translation post got :)

- Max

#käärijä #jere pöyhönen #käärijä song translation #Morgan translation #finland #finnish #suomi #eurovision

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orb-simp · 8 months

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#the end is nigh #tein #tein ash #tein friend #totally not a vent art #orb's stuff

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timemaombro · 6 months

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Gift art for Bootleg from Discord. I just liked their sona, so I drew him with Ash. Yes, it's not a Friend. Although it almost looks like him.

And as one person from TEIN server said, looks like Ash doesn't die alone anymore. :')

Hi-res? (it's free)

#OC #Original Character #Ash #TEIN Ash #The End Is Nigh #TEIN #Indie #Videogames #Fanart

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crazycaoscornpop · 6 months

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I have been thinking about how the twins woul work as humans. At first it was conjoined twins duh , but I didn’t like that because it doesn’t fit into “ the one faced twins “ so then I was like identical twins that live together but then that would make one of them Robbie’s mom and his aunt so that didn’t work .

But I cracked the code , I remembered a person my friend told me about

THE TEINS AS A HUMAN WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER!

This is a call for help I’ve been fixating for god know how long over this I’m not sure if it’s night or day rn .

#:3c hehe #welcome home #also not sorry #im not funny #the safe house is going under #the one faced twins #Robbie wrighter #welcome home oc #wallymylestfavorite wally #not tagging

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prince-rowan-of-the-forest · 1 year

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Crown Princes and Butterfly Wings (6/?)

Chapter 5 : Dark Forest

—-

Roman becomes a wingman and our trio battles their way through the wild forest of Teine. What will happen, though, when they finally come across the dragon they were warned about?

<- Previous | First | Next ->

@cutebisexualmess :)

—-

I finished this chapter literally this morning.

To be fair I only had about a hundred words left to write though so it wasn't a struggle, but still.

I also already have half of the next chapter written because I wrote it whilst writing chapter 2, so, there's that.

Happy reading!

----

The journey really did take a long time. Logan hadn’t been exaggerating when he said it would take two weeks to make it to the city.

It was only a week and a half into the journey when Roman got tired of watching Logan be obtusely oblivious to Patton’s subtle attempts at flirting. Frankly it was embarrassing to watch and he could understand that Patton might be upset by Logan seemingly ignoring every advance. And not to mention it was extremely frustrating for everyone involved.

In the end, Roman decided that he needed to take matters into his own hands or this would just continue to become more and more frustrating as time went on. He believed he might actually explode if this gets worse.

Thankfully, the opportunity to talk to Patton alone had arisen just the next day.

—-

“We are nearly out of food,” Logan told them after they had eaten breakfast together in their camp.

“Ah, shoot,” Patton said, “And the nearest town was back the way we came, too.”

“And there isn’t another town until Brindleswan now,” Logan said with a sigh, “We will have to go back.”

“Wouldn’t that be a waste of time? It’s a few hours trip back to the town and we’d just be looping around on ourselves,” Roman said, raising an eyebrow at the other two. Logan paused, before sighing.

“I can move faster than both of you, if I go alone I can be back with food before noon.” Logan told them, indicating once again his powerful legs, “You both can stay here and watch over the camp until I get back.”

“Can do!” Patton grinned, saluting.

“We’ll take care of it,” Roman nodded, before winking at Logan, “I’ll look after Patton.”

Logan went purple, but quickly turned away with a nod, picking up one of their packs and the map before turning back to them. Roman smirked, yes, Logan was definitely smitten.

“If I am not back by mid-afternoon, you can assume something most likely happened to me,” Logan told them, “However I am able to handle myself, neither of you should worry for my safety.”

“Just hurry up and get going,” Roman waved him off, “Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine, and right here when you get back.”

Patton nodded with a smile, waving Logan goodbye as he walked out of the camp. Roman really wasn’t worried about Logan. His best friend could handle himself perfectly well. Not only had they both received training in physical combat (although Logan’s was only base level, he could still handle himself in a fight) But Logan also knew at least ten different spells for knocking an opponent off of their feet and at least three for tying them up without even needing to go near them. He would be fine.

Now was the perfect time for Roman to talk to Patton. Logan would be gone for a good few hours, meaning that the Prince had the perfect amount of time to give Patton the crash course on wooing dense tieflings.

“So, Patton,” Roman said, standing up and turning to face his new friend. Patton looked up at him with his head tilted slightly to the side.

“Yes?” He asked, sounding slightly alarmed. Roman softened, right, this wasn’t an interrogation.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been trying to make advances towards Logan,” Roman commented, sitting down next to his friend, Patton suddenly looked even more alarmed, oops, “I was just wondering if you’d accept some friendly advice from someone who’s known him twenty years.”

“Wait- you don’t- mind?” Patton asked, blinking at Roman like he was talking gibberish.

Roman shrugged, “Of course not, Logan’s my friend and I’d like to see him happy, why would I mind?”

“Well I just…” Patton suddenly looked a little sheepish, “It’s- a little silly, really.”

“Well what is it?” Roman asked, “If only so I can clear up whatever issue this might be.”

“It really is silly,” Patton shook his head, “I just started thinking- well Logan’s so obviously out of my league in every way and you’re up there with him so I just kind of thought you wouldn’t approve of me and Logan wouldn’t like me like that because I’m way lower class than both of you and even disregarding that I don't have magic and I can't fight and it's not even-”

Patton started talking so quickly that Roman thought he may get whiplash trying to keep up, eventually he just reached out and put a hand on Patton’s arm in an attempt to slow him down.

“Patton, let me assure you with absolute certainty that Logan will not deem you unworthy or lesser than him, it’s just- not how he thinks,” Roman tried to explain, “He sort of- just- stuff that doesn’t really make sense, like social class, it all just goes straight over his head. And I really couldn’t care less, so long as you’re both happy.”

“You- really?” Patton asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not that he’s insensitive,” Roman quickly amended, “He just- doesn’t see the merit of seeing someone as lesser value based on how much gold or magic they have. He won’t judge you for that.”

Patton nodded, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, “Alright- so- if you’re ok with this, then… what’s the advice?”

“Mostly just not to be downhearted when he doesn’t acknowledge your attempts,” Roman shrugged, Patton sighed, “I’ve noticed, but Logan can be dense as a brick sometimes and wouldn’t know flirting if it struck him upside the head.”

“I… see,” Patton nodded, “What do I do, then?”

“Well if you’re up for talking to him,” Roman said, “I’m certain he would be open to the idea, but I doubt he’ll make the first move and subtlety really isn’t something he’s good with.”

Roman laughed as Patton visibly paled, “I’m not- I’m definitely not ready to confess to him- not- not yet!”

“That’s alright,” Roman said, patting Patton’s arm with a small smile on his face, “You’ve only known each other a few weeks, after all.”

“I- yeah- I think it’s a little too soon for a relationship,” Patton laughed, shaking his head.

“Perhaps,” Roman nodded, “I will continue to attempt to nudge him in the right direction for you, though.”

“Thanks, Roman,” Patton said, “I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome, now, I have some more tips, for starters-”

—--

All the way from that point to Brindleswan on the last few days of their journey, Patton kept glancing back at Roman every time Logan brushed off his flirting attempts or said something by accident that made Patton flush particularly red. Roman attempted to return the glances with a supportive smile and sometimes even a thumbs up. He felt a little like he’d been upgraded from third wheel to wingman. Which… was a lot nicer.

The arrival to Brindleswan itself had been incredibly peaceful. The rolling hills of farmland stretched far from the city itself. It took them almost an entire afternoon to make it from the edge of the fields to the city itself. They had passed fields full of wheat and corn and vegetables planted in the grounds, orchards filled with trees teeming with fruit and wildlife alike. Roman was familiar with this city, despite having never been here in person.

He’d learned a lot about the city during one of Remus’ lessons. It wasn’t the richest, nor the most beautiful. It wasn’t even in the best location- being right near the wild border- but it was incredibly important to Dalandaire. Brindleswan exported the vast majority of the crops that went to go towards feeding the noble class as well as a large portion of their foreign food imports too.

They found the nearest inn, all of them glad to sleep in a proper bed after a long while of sleeping on the road to conserve gold. Roman had suggested it, to ready them for the- potentially treacherous- next stretch of the journey. He was nervous, sure, but half of his nerves were excited, he was going to rescue a Prince, a real fairytale! And he was part of it. His companions, however, weren’t nearly as enthusiastic.

“You two really don’t need to come,” Roman told them, looking between Patton and Logan. Patton had been antsy for the whole of last evening and even moreso now as they were about to set off, Logan too had been quieter and more reserved than usual, “I know neither of you really want to be doing this, and I’m happy to go alone-”

“No,” Logan cut him off, “I have a duty to protect you, it would be a blatant disregard of said duty if I were to let you walk off into Teine alone, even if it wasn’t towards a potentially angry dragon.”

“Yeah- uh- I’d rather not actually face the dragon, but, um, we’re friends, and friends accompany each other on stupid quests that are potentially going to get us killed,” Patton said, “Right?”

Logan raised an eyebrow.

“And- well if you’re both going I’d rather not be left here on my own worrying about you both until you get back…” Patton trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck, “At least if I’m with you two I can be sure you’re okay, right?”

“Right,” Logan nodded, “I believe not splitting up will be the best solution, even if it may laed us all to our deaths.”

“It won’t,” Roman said, pulling all the confidence he had into those two words, “I- have a good feeling about this.”

—-

The forest of Teine was as overgrown as it was old. Which was to say very.

Rumours and stories said that strange creatures lived in these woods. Non-sentient things, potentially very dangerous things.

Within only twenty minutes Roman had found himself having to cast the summoning spell he used to have his silver imbued longsword form in his hands- and not even to fight anything! He instead used his sword to slash through hanging curtains of greenery and chop back branches to carve them a path.

The forest was near uninhabitable, that’s what people said, and Roman was starting to see why.

When they had finally found a clearing big enough for them to set up camp for the night, Logan took extra care with the concealment spell, adding a barrier on top of it. None of them said it, but all three of them were nervous. As they tried to sleep Roman could feel pairs of eyes on him, which was stupid, right? Because Logan had made them invisible to anything outside. But still Roman found he could only manage a few hours of sleep, and he’d been restless all night.

By the third day they were all tired. Logan had quietly offered to carry Patton for an hour or so so that he might be able to get some sleep. Anyone could see that Patton was doing far worse than he or Logan were, after all. He’d gotten even less sleep than Roman had. After Patton had tripped on a hidden root and would have eaten dirt had Logan not caught him he’d taken Logan up on the offer and Roman was glad to see him get an hour or so’s worth of sleep on Logan's back.

It had taken getting lost three times and almost a week's journey before they started seeing signs of something.

Before this point, they had occasionally had to fight off a couple of monsters. Nothing Roman couldn’t handle, especially with Logan’s help. They hadn’t ended up overwhelmed with enemies at a single point, but there had been a steady flow. They’d encounter one thing after another and take it down.

Now there was nothing.

As they continued towards the middle of the forest the lack of monsters wasn’t noticed immediately.

It was only when Patton quietly pointed out that there didn't seem to be any animals around here whatsoever did they start to get worried.

He was right, of course. Roman hadn’t noticed, but now that he listened he realised he couldn’t hear a single bird’s chirp, nor the hum of an insect or the scuffling of some small animal in the brush.

Even the leaves rustling in the wind were quiet, as if in an attempt to not interrupt the silence.

“I think we’re getting close,” Logan murmured, so quiet but somehow deafeningly loud in the silence. The other two didn't speak in return, just nodded and continued walking.

Next they noticed the trees beginning to thin rapidly.

Over only an hour of walking they went from needing to climb and slash their way through the undergrowth to being able to walk easily between the trees, Roman's sword becoming useless at this point. Yet he wasn't prepared to send it back to the pocket dimension he could summon it from just yet. Something told him to keep hold of it for now.

Somehow, without even noticing it, they walked straight out of the treeline. Immediately Logan had dragged them back, shushing them when Patton started to talk.

When they actually looked, they realised that yes, the trees had completely disappeared in a wide circle. Roman's eyes widened when he saw what was at its centre.

A tower pierced the sky, tall and looming. Its sweeping round roof touches the clouds far above the highest tree. Roman briefly wondered how they hadn't seen it before.

At first he thought there was a structure at the bottom of the tower, a large mass of buildings in odd shapes. When he looked again, he realised that the mass was breathing.

"That's…." Roman mumbled, trailing off with wide eyes.

"The dragon?" Logan nodded, "I do believe so."

"Oh gee uh-" Patton whispered, "So- what now? That dragon is uh… pretty firmly wrapped around the tower."

"It would be difficult to sneak past it, I believe," Logan nodded.

Roman nodded, taking a deep breath and gripping his sword even tighter than before, "I'm going to go in."

"Wait-!" Patton yelped, "What about- you don't have a plan!"

"It looks to be sleeping," Roman shrugged. "I'm sure I could just- walk past."

Logan narrowed his eyes.

"Somehow I highly doubt that," Logan sighed, "How about we remain here to provide backup if you so need it?"

"And we can wait until it starts getting dark so you'd blend in a little better with the sunset!" Patton added, "We'll only have to wait an hour or two…"

Roman sighed, looking longingly at the top of the tower, he could see a balcony that wrapped all the way around, a pair of large wooden doors- closed, of course. He wanted to go now, but maybe it would be best to wait…

—-

They had set up a camp, near the edge of the clearing. They hadn't lit a fire out of fear that it would catch the Dragon's attention but they had built a fire pit for when Roman got back.

Finally, as the sun began to sink and the world was bathed in orange, Roman left the camp and headed, sword in hand, and headed for the tower.

The ground between the treeline and the tower crunched beneath his feet. When he actually looked down he could see that where there was grass, it was dead and dry, yellow like straw. Where there wasn't grass.. The ground was scorched and black.

Roman shivered, looking back at where Patton and Logan hid behind the trees. Wnen he looked back though, he noticed that some of the trees, while still alive, were scorched on the side facing him, leaves and branches burned off. Quickly he turned back to face the tower, he took a deep breath, then another, and started forward.

He could do this.

Unfortunately, Roman wasn't lucky enough to sneak by the dragon unnoticed. Almost as soon as he'd stepped further out into the open her giant amber eyes slid open. She watched him as he took a few more steps forward and once he'd reached a suitable distance she stood.

His first thought was that she was the most beautiful creature Roman had ever seen.

His second was that, oh no, the dragon was staring at him, eyes unblinking, and he wondered for a long moment if he was going to die here.

----

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