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stavromulabetaaa · 3 years

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wasn’t tagged by @pauleonotis but i followed their instructions to do this if i wanted to lol

1. Why did you choose your url?

it’s an extremely vague martin freeman reference. it’s from the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy book series, which martin freeman starred in the movie adaptation of. i chose it because at the time i was mainly a sherlock blog and tried to think of something adjacent.

2. Sideblogs?

i used to have a nsfw johnlock smut sideblog before the porn ban, which is now inactive. i’m also @drarryficrex where i reblog fics that intrigue me and want to bookmark for later. i apparently decided to start making rec lists too and have made two lists so far on that blog.

i’m also @drarrytiktok but i don’t post on there super often.

3. How long have you been on Tumblr?

10-ish years i think? on and off over the years, but pretty consistent during the height of the tjlc days and then back again for the past two years after a break.

4. Do you have a queue tag?

no and i still don’t completely understand how a queue works 😂 i’ve never used that feature and have never looked into it.

5. Why did you start your blog?

originally because it was huge when i was in high school and my friends had tumblr blogs. i came here for the aesthetic posts and stayed for fandom.

6. Why did you choose your icon?

because it’s a drawing of me by the lovely and talented @dragontamerdame <3

7. Why did you choose your header?

to match my hhgttg url

8. Post with most notes?

i think it’s this one, which was a late-night rambling about the man who lived. there’s also the chair post which doesn’t have a ton of notes but consistently pops up in my notifications every other week, and i don’t understand how people are still finding it lmao. then there was the drarry picrew post that i had no idea people would be so into and which started my obsession with drarry picrews.

9. How many mutuals do you have?

no idea! i’d say there are about 10 mutuals i regularly interact with though, even if it’s just liking each other’s posts or tagging for picrews.

10. How many followers do you have?

i honestly never look and don’t care. i only notice if i randomly gain a bunch of new followers at once because it’s in my notifications.

11. How many people do you follow?

299

12. Ever made a shitpost?

oh definitely. especially when i used to get drunk with @savetheghostswemakeforourselves over facetime and we would annoy our followers with sherlock liveblogging.

13. How often do you use Tumblr each day?

all the time 😬 i run my own business and can be on my phone pretty much as much as i want. a lot of the time i’m getting paid to sit around other people’s houses so tumblr helps with the boredom.

14. Did you ever have a fight/argument with another blog?

not that i remember? i possibly started some fandom discourse by accident once though.

15. How do you feel about “you need to reblog this” posts?

i typically don’t reblog things i feel pressured to reblog. i have a huge problem with people telling me what to do irl

16. Do you like tag games?

yes! i think they’re fun

17. Do you like ask games?

yep! i don’t get asks very often though

18. Which of your tumblr friends/mutuals do you think is famous?

meh, who cares?

19. Do you have a crush on a mutual?

i low-key crush on all my mutuals, y’all are so thoughtful and talented and welcoming. i have anxiety and adhd and i sometimes comment or message impulsively, and you guys always respond to my nonsense with kind words. thanks for putting up with me.

idk who’s done this already, i’ve seen this tag game making the rounds lately but i’ll tag @drarrymybeloved @sitp-recs @ohdrarry @tackytigerfic @seafrost-fangirl if they want to give it a go. or anyone else who wants to!

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shhh-no-ones-home · 4 years

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rules of the game (3/3)* chris motionless x reader

+++++++++

part 1 part 2 part 3

originally i was not going to make a part three to this series. like i had thought about it but never figured id actually write it. but here it is anyways! i actually kinda like the way this came out and i hope you all do too, or at least those that like the first two lol. and i know ive said it a few times before but i believe this is officially my longest one shot, coming in at a whopping 2620 words! yay! it doesnt feel that long though, i promise.

*- First time, kinda aggressive

Song: from Eden by hozier

tag list: @musicsexandpizza69 @svintsandghosts @alilpunkrock @cynic-spirit @theoneandonlykymberlee @thisplace-ishaunted @lifeisabitchandsoareyou @satans-arse

(there were two that i have been tagging that urls dont come up for anymore, so if you were on the tag list and still see my posts let me know if you would still like to be added and what name to use. i will gladly add it if you wish.)

+++++++++

"I can't believe this is it."

I whispered to Chris as the principal gave his speech. We were all sat on the bleachers waiting for him to finish so we could take the graduating-class picture.

"Yeah if he'd ever shut up."

Chris torted back, making me giggle.

"Do you think he just likes to hear himself talk or what?"

I asked, Chris trying to stifle his laugh.

"No, no, I definitely think that's it."

He commented. Then one of the teachers started snapping in our direction, making both of us shy away.

"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for."

We watched as he got off the stage, the photographer coming up and getting us in the frame. A moment later it was done and everyone was getting back up to find their friends. I sighed as they all moved around us, loudly I might add. Then Chris nudged me.

"Hey, what are you doing after?"

I looked at him and shrugged.

"I don't know, I think Jack said something about going to lunch maybe? Did he call you?"

He frowned.

"No, he didn't."

I raised a brow, noticing jack climbing the bleachers to get to us with loud stomping motions.

"Dudes!"

He called, taking his graduation cap off and throwing it at me. I caught it, laughing at him as he smiled widely at us.

"Almost done!"

He said excitedly.

"One more day."

I noted, handing his cap back to him before taking my own off.

"You ready for lunch?"

He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, we all going?"

I asked and his smile got a little smaller.

"I mean I guess, but I was hoping it could just be the two of us."

He said a little hopeful. I was a bit surprised.

"Oh i-"

Chris cleared his throat.

"That's okay, maybe we can do something after."

I looked at him a little disappointed.

"You sure?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, you two go ahead. I'll catch you later."

He stood up, clasped his hand into Jack's for a bro-huh, and hopped down the bleachers. I looked up at jack who had a huge smile on his face.

"Ready to go?"

He asked. I nodded and stood with his help.

"Yeah, let's hit it."

°°°°°°°°°

I sat across the table from Jack and pushed my fork around the plate.

"You okay?"

He asked, re-situating in the booth. I nodded slowly, not looking up at him.

"Yeah. I'm great."

I heard him sigh.

"Is it so bad that it's just the two of us?"

I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"No, of course not. I guess I just feel bad."

He laughed a little bit.

"Well in all fairness three is a crowd. And I was kinda hoping this could be like a, I don't know, a first date?"

I was very taken aback.

"Oh."

I said, looking back down to my plate.

"Unless that's not what you had in mind."

He said, making me look back up at him.

"Cause we could do other things. If that's what your into."

I shook my head.

"No, no, that's not it. I just. I guess I don't really see you like that, jack."

He frowned.

"Right. Cause I'm not good enough? Is that it?"

He hit the table before running his fingers through his hair. I was a little shocked.

"Of course that's it."

He said a little more angrily.

"i dont even know why i thought this would work. stupid."

I was getting kind of scared. He looked around the room, anywhere but me. He laughed to himself.

"Ya know what, I'm gonna go."

He nodded a few times before pulling his wallet out and dropping a twenty on the table. He stood abruptly, almost knocking his chair over.

"I'll see you at graduation."

I went to say something but he walked away and out the door before I could even try. I stared at the table until the waitress came back.

"Is everything okay over here?"

She asked.

"Can I get you anything else?"

I cleared my throat.

"Actually, do you have a phone I could use?"

°°°°°°°°°

I stood outside the restaurant with my arms crossed over my chest and waited. Jack had driven me there, I was just glad we had stopped at my house to drop my cap and gown off first so I didn't have to leave it in his car. Jack ass. I shook my head at the thought before seeing Chris pull into the parking lot. I sighed in relief, wiping the tear that had managed its way down my cheek. He pulled into the space in front of me and immediately got out, not even turning the engine off. I watched him as he walked quickly to me, leaving his door open.

"Hey, what happened?"

He asked trying to examine me. That's when I broke down, full blown crying, as he pulled me into him for a hug. I held him tightly as he rubbed my back.

"It's okay, hey, I'm here. I've got you."

He said softly as I cried into his chest. It was stupid to cry about it but I was scared. The anger on jacks face was unlike any of ever seen on him before, and when he left I had no idea what I was gonna do. I felt Chris kiss the top of my head before petting my hair lightly.

"It's okay. I've got you."

He said again. I pulled away and wiped my face.

"I'm fine."

I said through a Shakey voice. He looked so worried as he held my arms in his hands.

"You don't have to lie to me."

I shook my head.

"No, I'm fine, let's just go."

He nodded.

"Okay."

I stepped out of his grip and walked to the passenger side, getting in the car and buckling the seat belt, waiting patiently for him to do the same. When he closed his door I jumped.

"Okay, y/n, that is not normal, what happened?"

I shook my head.

"Can we please just go home."

I asked, looking over to him seriously. He frowned before doing as told, and pulling out of the spot.

"I'll kick his ass if you need me to kick his ass."

He said, making me laugh a little. He looked over at me and smiled.

"There's the y/n I know."

I sent him a knowing look.

"He wanted it to be a date."

I said matter-of-factly. He drew his brows as he cruised down the street.

"A date?"

He said in disbelief, laughing a little.

"That can't be right."

I nodded.

"I was a little surprised too. When I told him I didn't see him like that he kinda flipped. I've never seen him so mad before."

I could see the look on his face burned into my memory and I hated it.

"He got mad at you?"

I tried to think on it.

"I'm not sure if it was necessarily geared towards me but he was mad that's for sure. It scared me."

Chris looked at me confused.

"So I do need to kick his ass."

The sentiment made me laugh again. His scrawny self would not be able to take Jack in a fair fight. We both knew that.

"I just wanna forget about this. It was weird and I wanna spend time with someone half way normal. Please."

I pleaded as he came to a stop outside my house.

"You think I'm normal?"

He mocked pride, making me laugh again.

"At least you don't terrify me."

He frowned a bit.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that. That's not fair to you. He shouldn't have done that."

I nodded slowly.

"Right."

I looked to him long enough to see him looking around.

"Where's your dad?"

He said, noticing the missing car. I shrugged.

"He's on a business trip till tomorrow afternoon. He should be home just in time to see us walk."

He hummed in response. I just stared at him for a second before an idea popped into my head. i sent him a look.

"...What?"

He asked a little skeptical. Within a second I had my seat belt unbuckled and was pushing forward to kiss him. He was a little surprised at first but kissed back anyway. When I pulled away I covered my mouth.

"I'm sorry!"

I said, noticing his dazed appearance.

"Hey, I'm not complaining."

He offered a goofy grin, making me giggle. I looked to the house and then back at him.

"Come on, we've got the house to ourselves."

I said raising my brows quickly and got out of his car. I paced to the door and unlocked it, hearing his keys jingle as they hit against his leg, dangling from his belt loop. After a second he was behind and I was pushing the door open. I turned back around and immediately brought him down to kiss me. He was a little slow to react but brought his hands to my hips anyway. I backed slowly into the living room, holding his head as we made out. He tasted like cinnamon this time, it was the gum he usually kept on him, it was nice.

When my ankles hit the couch I dropped, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. I sat back as he moved to straddle me, bringing his hand down to caress my cheek. He looked over my face before connecting our lips again. He pulled away slowly and began kissing down my jaw. When he reached my ear lobe he bit it lightly.

"Want another hickie?"

He said softly, making me close my eyes and nod.

"Go for it."

I breathed out, bringing my hands to his hips as he kissed and sucked down my neck. I was reveling in the feeling as he moved further down.

"Do you want more than that this time?"

He said lowly. I looked to the ceiling for a second.

"Yes."

He sat back and looked at me.

"How much more?"

He asked with a raised brow. I smirked at him before picking his hand up, hooking my fingers into a black bracelet, and snapping it off his wrist.

"I think I could do that."

He said half impressed. I looked at him with a dark gaze.

"Good. I want today to completely turn around."

He connected our lips for a second before climbing off of me and pulling me to the side so my legs were on the couch and my back was to the arm rest. He pushed my knees apart before laying directly in-between them and kissing me again. I hooked my arms around his neck and moaned into him as he pushed his hips into mine. He kept the movement going and I could feel him getting harder against me. The thought alone drove me crazy as he moved back to kissing along my neck, this time tracing his hand along my body too. I did the same, lightly running my hand down his back. When I was down far enough I grabbed his shirt and started pulling it up. He took that as an invitation, sitting up and tossing it off. My eyes traveled down his body before being met with his jeans being very low on his hips. I bit my lip at the sight of the bulge growing in his pants.

"Are you still... ya know?"

He asked and I nodded, laughing a little bit.

"yeah, Just be gentle."

I said, sitting up and unbuckling his belt. He watched me intently as I unbuttoned his pants, pushing them down along with his boxers. His erection sprang free and my eyes got wide. I looked up at him and he smirked.

"I'll be extra careful."

He said seductively before kissing me and pulling up my shirt too. When it was on the floor he pushed me back and got to work on my jeans, undoing them quickly and pulling them down in one swift motion with my panties. I felt beyond exposed and self conscious for a second before he began kissing up my stomach. I sighed at the feeling, relaxing more.

"Beautiful."

He said as he worked his way back up my body. He slid his hand up my body, making me shiver before he gripped my boob in his large hand. I moaned at the sensation, feeling him knead it in his palm.

"You ready?"

He asked and I nodded.

"As I'll ever be."

He kissed me reassuringly before looking down. I watched as he grabbed himself, running his tip up and down me.

"So wet."

He mentioned before pushing his tip into me. My breathing hitched at the feeling. as he pushed into me slowly I looked up to the ceiling, clenching my jaw. It wasn't exactly painful but it was definitely uncomfortable.

"You still okay?"

He asked halfway in. I nodded.

"Just keep going."

He nodded back and did as told, bottoming out. I let out the breath I was holding in as he leaned back over me.

"It's okay, it'll feel better once you're used to it."

I nodded as he began pulling out. He was halfway out before he started pushing back in. I immediately gripped onto his shoulders, gasping at the feeling. He looked over my face.

"Do you want me to stop?"

I shook my head.

"No, we're gonna get through this. Together."

He kissed my forehead and pulled halfway out again before pushing back in. That time was much better, making me moan lightly at the feeling. He smiled down at me and did it again. I squeezed his shoulders as he kept moving.

"Better?"

He asked and I nodded, dropping my head back as he moved in and out of me.

"God yes."

I moaned. He kept moving, picking up the pace a bit.

"God yes!"

I called, him dropping his head to the crook of my neck. I could hear and feel his labored breathing as he moved. I pushed my hips up into his and he grunted against my shoulder.

"Oh my God, Chris."

I whined, dragging my finger nails down his arm. He had picked up a decent pace by now and though I was still uncomfortable, it was still a pleasure unlike any I'd ever felt.

"Fuck."

He grunted out, pushing into me harshly. I let out a whine at the feeling, tears stinging my eyes. I felt his fingers trail down my torso before he pushed his index finger against my clit. I moaned loudly, pushing my hips up into him. I froze before feeling my body shake against him, a wave of pleasure overtaking me. I breathed heavily as he pushed into me again, moaning too as he paused. I could feel him twitch inside of me before pulling out and shooting his load onto my stomach. He practically yelled as he came undone, his face flushing red and his eyes dark. He panted for a second before falling into the couch next to me.

"Shit."

He breathed out, laughing as his hand made its way to his forehead. I laughed a little too, feeling fire between my legs at the loss of contact.

"If you ever need that again, don't hesitate to ask."

He joked, making me for-real laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind."

I said, my breathing finally going back to normal. He sat up.

"Here, let me go get something for that."

He stood up off the couch, pulling his pants back up and disappearing down the hall. When he came back he had a wash cloth in his hand. I watched as he wiped it across my stomach, getting his cum off of me.

"Thanks."

I Joked. He winked at me.

"Any time."

#wattpad #x reader #chris motionless #chris cerulli #miw #one shots #imagines #230 #smut

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monotonous-minutia · 4 years

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because I think of it altogether too much, some dialogue on the differences in the role of the Muse in Les contes d’Hoffmann, in the play versus in the opera. Enjoy my nerdy, disorganized, former-literature-major ramblings as I spend altogether too much time picking apart the minutia of this issue (but hey, it’s in my URL, so).

In the original play by Michael Carré and Jules Barbier (the same people who wrote the libretto for the opera), the Muse doesn’t double as Niklausse. We get two separate characters–the Muse and Hoffmann’s sidekick, Friédrick.

The play opens with a monologue from the Muse, similar to the one in the opera (some lines are taken verbatim). The monologue in the play, though, isn’t about the Muse being mad at Stella and wanting to win Hoffman’s love. It is in a lot of ways a love letter to the real Hoffmann’s writing, of which Carré was a huge fan (obviously, he wrote a whole play about them). The works of E.T. A. Hoffmann were (and to an extent, still are) hailed as being unique, strange, and otherworldy compared to most of what was seen at the time. The Muse here talks about her stories as if they’re her own, and she happens upon Hoffmann in the tavern (read: when he gets drunk, he gets inspired to write weird stuff). She’s here, then, to introduce this story–the play that we’re watching/reading–as one of her own. She does reappear at the end and makes a statement similar to that made at the conclusion of the opera, that the poet had to suffer to be truly great and now that he’s given up on love she has him to herself–but it’s not that she specifically tried to make this happen, she’s just pleased that it did.

After the Muse’s opening monologue, she tells the audience that the people are coming and she’s going to hide, because they scare her. She puts on a suit and hat similar to that warn by the students that will soon be populating the tavern, so she can blend in with them and not be noticed. I’m guessing this is where the inspiration for the Muse also being Niklausse eventually (partially) comes from.

But we don’t have Niklausse in the play; we get Friédrick. Friédrick is, in my perception, ridiculously adorable. He spends a good portion of the play serving sass. There’s a ton of banter between him and Hoffmann, and some with Friédrick and the side characters as well as they collectively role their eyes at Hoffmann. So, much similarity to Niklausse. A few differences, though: the guys in the tavern love making fun of him, because he’s younger, and Hoffmann is even a little bit meaner to him than their operatic counterparts, and Friédrick is just kind of resigned to it, though he does make fun of Hoffmann at times. Mostly he feels sorry for him and feels the need to take care of him, as he can’t seem to take care of himself.

Friédrick is referred to as Hoffmann’ “shadow,” in that he follows him around everywhere making sure he doesn’t get himself arrested or shanked. He is also referred to by Hoffmann as “the voice of reason” through all his adventures, though of course Friédrick doesn’t remember any of them, since they didn’t actually happen. But he is constantly dragging Hoffmann out of trouble in these stories, which is why Dappertutto tries to off him in the Giulietta act. Dappertutto is annoyed that Friédrick first rescues Hoffmann from Olympia when she goes crazy (which is a big part of the play, and written into the libretto, but rarely ever portrayed on stage for the opera), then saves him from Crespel when Crespel tries to get Hoffmann for (as he perceives) killing Antonia (another bit that’s in the libretto but rarely portrayed onstage) and, finally, is trying to literally drag him away from Giulietta. As with Niklausse, Hoffmann severely under-appreciates Friédrick and all that his friend does for him. But when Dappertutto tries to give him a “sleeping potion” that he says will just make him pass out long enough for Hoffmann to get it on with Giulietta, Hoffmann kind of gets a reality check when he’s like “Wait, okay, but what if he drinks it and then he dies?” Dappertutto insists that no such thing is even remotely possible. I do wonder where Hoffmann’s sudden suspicion and consideration comes from. Like, is he already suspicious of Dappertutto, or is he just concerned because Friédrick is so small a single dose of Nyquil could end him? (Being a lightweight myself, I do wonder.) But we never find out either way, because Giulietta waltzes onstage and downs the poison first and of course Friédrick arrives just in time to save Hoffmann yet again. I just gotta wonder: given Friédrick is not the Muse in this version, why is it that he’s the one who drags Hoffmann out of trouble over and over again in a series of stories that didn’t actually happen? As constantly annoyed as he seems at Friédrick, he’s the one making the choice to have him play that role. And Friédrick is pretty cool with it. I guess they were roommates.

The Muse’s role, then, comes with a different vibe. She doesn’t have any influence over Hoffmann’s love life or seem quite as imminently concerned about it. She’s not following him around in the same way; she kind of just has to wait for him to come around. She’s less assertive and pretty resigned to having to deal with the constant BS but at the same time seems less bothered by it. She’s not totally dependent on him or solely invested in him; she just likes him a lot and enjoys writing stories with him. The operatic Muse is much more definitively attached to Hoffmann and sees his love life as a direct opposition to them. The stakes are higher for them than for the Muse in the play.

The whole Muse/Niklausse dynamic on the opera fascinates me to no end. I can’t even quite put into words the thoughts I have about it. Lately when I think about the question “If you could go back in time and talk to anyone in history who would it be?” I just want to go and talk to Barbier and Carré and ask how they came to the decision to make Niklauuse and the Muse the same character because–is there really anything in literature that’s quite the same as that? We get “a madwoman, come down from the heavens, to fight with a frivolous woman over the love of a fool” (a line from the libretto) who transforms themself into their poet’s best friend, and deals with his BS which is (as I rambled on a bit in an earlier post) borderline emotional abuse in some cases and even in its mildest forms raises the question “Why, sweetie, why do you put up with this.” Well, they can’t not, can they? What’s a Muse supposed to do? They’ve got their poet and have no other purpose in life that to serve as their inspiration. What would they do if Hoffmann did actually choose Stella over them? It’s basically out of the question.

So looking then at the Muse/Friédrick dynamic was an interesting transition. I can start to see some of the pieces but in some ways it also raises more questions. Was Niklausse ever an actual person, like Friédrick? Is the Muse donning the disguise for just that one night, to be witness to the storytelling, as the Muse in the play does? Does the operatic Muse just figure that Hoffmann will be drunk enough to not notice the difference when the real Niklausse comes back later? Or was Niklausse the Muse all along, and the Muse has for years (or however long) personified themself as another student to try and win Hoffmann on his level? Further, is it Hoffmann who comes up with all the little things that Niklausse does that hints to us what his status actually is, showing that Hoffmann is subconsciously aware of the connection all along? Or is it the Muse infiltrating the storytelling as it occurs to insert themself further, trying to get Hoffmann to really see them during the course of the telling?

On one hand I go crazy over the fact that these questions are never answered, and I wonder why the librettists went from the relatively straightforward Muse/Friédrick dynamic to the super meta, almost incomprehensible Muse/Niklausse dynamic. On the other hand, I appreciate the weird genius behind this that makes me think unreasonably hard about the creative process and art in general and also the relationships we have with people in our lives who we depend on in ways such as this. Also, I appreciate how the ambiguity allows different productions of the opera to have so many interpretations of the role (although there are definitely some interpretations that can go to hell as far as I’m concerned).

Also I think a lot about the names. I think Friédrick is just a cute name and I think it suits the original character. And the transition to Niklausse makes sense: a new interpretation of the character warrants a new name–plus Niklausse comes from “Nicholas” which means “victorious people” which makes sense, you know? Niklausse triumphs in the end, so why not have a powerful name like that? If I were a Muse taking on a human form on earth, I’d want something with that kind of power, too.

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fineliines · 4 years

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okay so before things get misconstrued, i have seen the post @pocmuzings posted and i have quite a lot to say at least to explain my side of the story. you guys can make the choice to believe me or not but everything on this post is the truth on my end. this is very long and i hope everyone takes the time to read it but it’s just a warning this is long.

first and foremost, you need to understand that i have never once in my entire life said the n word. i grew up in a household where i always knew the weight of that word and it’s heavy connotations my entire life; my mom, grandma and cousins always used the word despite being spanish because they were very racist and stereotyped the black community. i knew of that, i was young when they used the word (probably around elementary school age) and never spoke up because i was a child. however, i’ve always known it’s not the right word to say or is it my place to say it as a non-black poc. i’m unsure if the person sending the anon meant to say i was using the word or if it was my friend at the time in the post but i have never EVER said that word. i would never use that word, i’m not ignorant on it and have always known what it’s implications were.

secondly, the problematic friend in question was someone i knew in my real life. we went to high school together, we met through a mutual friend who looking back on it, that mutual friend sexually assaulted me at one point and BECAUSE of that incident and numerous other things that happened in that small friend group, i pulled away and found solace in this person. his name was cameron, he’s no longer in the rpc so i really don’t care about putting his name out there to help keep track while i write this out. to give more background on this, cameron wasn’t the kind of person i could simply “get rid of” like i could have if he’d been someone i met online. like i said, we went to high school together, we lived in the same town, we became INSEPERABLE-- i vacationed with him and his family on MULTIPLE occasions. my mom and his mom became friends, we spent holidays together, etc. this wasn’t someone i could write off. we met when i was around 15 years old and he was 17 and we stayed friends from me being 15 to around the age of me being 21... in fact, i believe our last outing together was my 21st birthday but that’s irrelevant. i am now 24. throughout the time that we were best friends, however, i got him into rping and we were in the rpc together for an extended period of time. cameron has always been extremely problematic and this was something i didn’t necessarily become aware of until later on in our friendship. we started rping together in american horror story roleplays which is where i first started and in general, those rp’s were very very problematic and dark; it was a completely different time in the rpc compared to now and i am 100% aware of that.

cameron became notorious for causing drama wherever he went. in the ahs rp we were in, something happened between my character and someone else’s, anon hate was sent to the gossip blog or w/e about my character and it got to the point where i, myself, was being told to kill myself through anon hate because of whatever ship drama was happening. i was 15 years old and people on the internet were telling me to kill myself. cameron stepped in, defended me in the only way he knew how, started drama with the admins for not doing anything to stop the stuff being sent to me or help me and we got kicked out of the group as the solution to their problem. from that moment on, cameron simply never stopped causing problems and i often found myself getting dragged into things with him because we were friends and i stuck up for him because he usually stuck up for me. at some point as i got a little older, maybe 17/18, i can’t remember, me and him joined this subplot rp that this person who sent in the anon was running. yes, cameron and i became friends with the person, she was the admin, things were fine for a while and eventually, things in the group started getting slow so cameron wanted to leave and me, being the person i was at the time, followed him because he was my best friend. i remained somewhat friends with the anon but i always felt like things were strained between us BECAUSE cameron was always up to something; whether it was causing problems in the anon’s various groups she joined or simply leaving because he got bored or just being a general bully, befriending people and manipulating them and being ugly and problematic and racist. i can’t remember the anon ever talking to me about being uncomfortable with his actions because it was years ago and i’ll admit that at the time, it wasn’t important to me because i thought things were fine because her problems with cameron weren’t ever explicitly told TO me. i will admit that from the ages of 15-18, whenever cameron started drama or was problematic or did shitty things, i blindly followed him and never spoke up. i didn’t speak up because i felt like he helped me and defended me and PROTECTED me from my assaulter in real life and all the anon hate i got from this group that i owed him my loyalty. again, please keep in mind, i’ve been friends with him since we were both in high school, he wasn’t someone i could simply write off or get rid of at the time.

i started realizing he wasn’t a good person when i got a little older. i decided to open up a group that was based off college kids and it was based off the college i currently attend, ucf--- genuinely i don’t remember the url of the group but @wonclerland was in it with me because we were friends. cameron joined, obviously and at the time that i was admining, he didn’t do much. people joined who i’d met through a previous rp and to be honest, that group of people and i were 100% a really stupid clique of mean people. they were really mean and petty and ugly and i never said anything to them or about what they said because i wanted to fit in and again, i admit to that. some girl joined the group who went by the name athena or it was her alias, i don’t really know but apparently, she had beef with that group of people who joined and they claimed she was racist but could never properly pull up proof to show me or whatever. as an admin, i was caught in the middle trying to hear every side of the story. cameron befriended athena and all hell broke loose. i ended up going to playlist live for a day and mistakenly, i had asked one of the people in the little clique of mine to run the main while i was gone for the day. in the span of the 8 hours i was gone, the clique had posted athena’s unfollow despite her not wanting to quit and blah blah blah. i shut down the group because i didn’t know what to do and it make me anxious and stressed. cameron and athena formed a group of friends FROM that group and started to go on the girl who posted the unfollow’s instagram and comment hateful, bodyshaming things. they went as far as editing a picture of the girl on photoshop to look like shrek. i saw this all unfold and realized what kind of person cameron was and decided to TRY to sever ties with him. multiple times after this, i attempted to call him out on his ugly behavior on the tail end of our friendship. we would get into really violent fights in person and he’d come to target where i worked at the time to scream at me and yell at me in person. i called him out for being racist and problematic and using the n word- in return, he took down an entire roleplay we worked on together because he made all the graphics and left the page empty and blank while i was at work and couldn’t do anything about it. him and his boyfriend would call me names, made fun of me when i confided in them and came out as bisexual and told me i was just looking for attention and many other fucking instances where i was made to feel like shit. every time i called him out about stuff he did or said at all, i had to deal with abuse from in person and because i didn’t know how to approach the situation or deal with it, i let him get away with treating other people in the rpc like trash.

cameron and i grew apart after he quit the rpc. he ran out of aliases to use to destroy groups and i was working on actively trying to get out of the wake of destruction him and the friend group that yes, i followed around, left behind. i put forth the effort to work on learning about racism more in depth, i went to therapy to deal with the assaults and stuff i was going through and i used writing to cope with it and found a solid group of people that were actually decent. i admit that i was part of the problem by not saying anything to cameron, i was terrified of him and losing the only friend i had in my real life at the time. i know what he did hurt a lot of people in the rpc, including now the anon, and i realize that my silence until much later was not of any help at all. my activism now isn’t performative--- i’ve tried so hard over the last few years to learn and educate myself on the blm movement and i’m still learning every day. my intentions and heart have never been malicious and i deeply apologize to you, oksi, if you read this because i know it’s you that sent that anon. i’m sorry that my silence and lack of maturity and balls to confront cameron hurt you and i’m sorry for being a part of the problem. i’m sorry to whoever knew me back then and saw the people i surrounded myself with and that i was so focused on fitting in and belonging to a group (even a really fucking shitty one) stop me from speaking up when it mattered the most. i wish that this had been addressed to me privately so i could’ve talked to her and heard her side of the story but i understand that she probably felt uncomfortable and unsafe given our past and who she used to associate me with. i do not and will not ever stand for racism, i’m working every single fucking day to learn and spread resources and educate myself and to not overstep my boundaries or talk over the black community because it’s NOT my place. i can’t speak for the other person mentioned in this post and i hope she comes forward if she feels inclined to and tell her side of the story but this is mine. holding myself accountable for being a part of the problem.

i’m sorry if any of this upset anyone and if this means i’m going to lose friendships or mutuals over this. i understand and it’s fine. i’m not looking to victimize myself at all and i’m admitting to the fact that i was complacent and silent and i’m really sorry. i’m not like that anymore and i’m always one of the first people to call horrible shit out, probably too much because i spent so much time NOT saying anything out of fear. and if you read any of this, thank you? i don’t know what this is going to do but i hope it helps shed light on my side of the story. again, oksi, i’m really fucking sorry- you don’t have to forgive me at all and i don’t expect you to but i hope you’ll at least hear this out and try to understand i’ve changed and i actively try every single day to be better than i used to be. thank you and sorry again.

#idk what to tag this under but #i hope people read it #i'm just gonna leave for a bit now

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femaleboysblog · 5 years

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♥ super(hero) love ♥

| hwang hyunjin x superhero!reader | sorry for any mistakes! english is not my first language!

part i | part ii (final)

word count: 3.4k

warnings: tumblr!au, fanfic writer!reader x fan!hyunjin, enemies to lovers, fluff!!!, minor violence cause u know superhero stuff yadda yadda, some cursing here and there, (1) alcohol mention,

A/N: just rewriting some old stuff :) | gender neutral reader (if you consider dude a gender neutral term lol)

“ Hi y/n! I’m sorry if i’m bothering you, but i just came by to say that i’ve read your last chapter last night and i can’t help but fall in love with your writing, you never disappoint! You’re always so creative when it comes to making stories and putting them into words, it’s almost like you’ve lived them! haha. So i just wanted to ask, where do you get your ideas? What are your inspirations? With love, Genie ;)”

Damn it. I stared at the ask i just received for a few long and tortuous minutes, definitely more than it was actually necessary. But hey, don't blame me for that, i mean, how in the hell i'm supposed to answer that? I can’t just go and say "Hi again Genie! Thank you for all the love, i really appreciate it! I get all my inspiration on my day-to-day life as a superhero. You probably have heard about me, i'm that one person with white clothes that shows all the time - if not every single day, in the morning news for saving and helping the city and their beloved citizens. Most people just call me 'the light hero' even though they know the right name for the supervillains, in special, Scarlet Devil - my arch enemy. In case you don't know my superhero name either, i go by Starlight. Kinda lame, i know. But it fits with the backstory of how i got my powers. Since it's a situation i went through, of course i'm going to know all the details in full experience and in first person, even that one where the protagonist rips his pants in the middle of a fight in the street and in front of everyone, only to reveal his red underwear constrasting the rest of the outfit, that is something i will never be able to forget, sadly. Hope i didn't disappoint you!" Let's be real, i could. Kinda. But i won't be doing that for obvious reasons, i don't want even more people after my back because of this, the police is more than enough.

I sighed, pushing my chair closer to the desk and cracking my fingers so i could write something in return that didn't sound suspicious at all. "Hi Genie," i started, already struggling a little,"I really appreciate asks like this and i'm also happy to know that at least one person likes the lame things i write! :) I get all my inspiration from.." No, stop, stop. I can just go all in like that, i have to be subtle. Normal writers usually get their inspirations in a lot of differents things and ideas, if i say something like that there is a chance that it would come out weird. I think. "I get most of my inspiration in, well, superheros, of course. I read a lot of comics, books and i really like watching movies and animations with any types of heros. :)" Sent. That actually went a little better than expected. "Genie" whoever it was, sent another ask only a seconds after, i clicked on it already starting to feel anxious again. "That's so cool! I suppose you are into superheros in real life too. If so, are you fan of any of them?" Why did they had to send questions that are so hard and complicated to answer like that? The only superhero i know well enough to pretend that i am a fan of is Jeongin, you probably know him by Spark. But he also reads my blog and wouldn't let me live if i ever said i'm his fan, another thing i'm not really found of. Another superhero i'm really close with would be, well me, of course.

"Actually, i do. I'm a big fan of Starlight for some time, what about you?" I answered, my choice of words trying to be as lowkey and casual as possible, putting the right amount of weight in them. This person, whoever they were, seemed to be nosy sometimes like a shy high-schooler wanting to keep the conversation going with someone with that they liked and in a way, that was most likely the situation. They’re the only person who follows my blog for some time that i remember constantly sending me messages and checking up on me but the one thing that was different this time was that the person, my fellow readers, forgot to put the ‘anon’ option on this time, their blog url shined brightly and effortlessly on my computer screen.

This time, Genie took a while to answer, so i took that as a chance to take a look at their blog. Clicking on their url, i started scrolling down their posts. I couldn't help but cringe really hard when i started noticing that most of their posts was reblogs from fyeahscarletdevil and others fansites with cheesy compliments in the tags, they seemed to be a really big fan of the supervillain, my supervillain. The one who puts kittens in really high places where they can't come down anymore, the one who sets fire in close neighbourhoods backyards and gardens to ruin their grass and flowers they worked so hard on, the one who sets dogs out of their leashes suddenly creating an army of dogs or anything that would cause disturbance in the peace of those around him in the world. I want to say i am starting to see red out of anger but in all honesty, that would make me even more pissed. Red is his color, just like white is mine. Unclenching and relaxing my jaw, - bad habit, i know - i hadn’t even noticed Genie had answered. “Oh really? I’m a major fan of Scarlet Devil!” No shit, Sherlock. Duh. “I think he’s a great dude who fits perfectly in the whole ‘model’ supervillain concept! Especially when it comes to Starlight too! They both are made for each other and have a perfect chemistry, they would be nothing without one another like soulmates. I probably sound like a total nerd now, but thats what i think lol wbu? - Genie” They signed in the end, even though it was obvious it was them. Not only did this person ship me with my arch enemy, they were also a big giant nerd and a huge fanboy of the red devil. Rubbing my forehead, i prepared myself to write back a long and sharp reply arguing against everything they said, ready to win and probably lose one of my readers in the process. Or more than one, you never know how many creeps who are his fans are lurking on this website.

Turns out Genie, was a very cute boy called Hwang Hyunjin who lived close by the neighbourhood i lived at, he was tall and acted very shy when he wasn’t talking about things that he liked very much, such as supervillains, dancing and comics. After our argument that day about which one was better - Starlight and the one who shall not be named, we got extremely close to the point i couldn’t go one day without texting him and in some nights we’re one of us couldn’t sleep, we would call the other and talk for hours. Since today, we both had the day free, he suggested that we met in person for the first time and the weather being intensely hot and stuffy right now, we settled in the shopping, going for a walk and eating ice scream while getting to know each other more and maybe even watching a movie together. But if that’s not obvious enough already, i have a major, gigantic, mega, blast, huge, enormous crush on him. From the way he softly laughed when he talked about this new move he learned with his group of friends who danced too, from the way he asked me how my day went and actually listened to me talking about it carefully showing he actually did care, the way he blushed at every compliment i gave him. I could feel my heart beat faster with the thought of seeing his cute moles in person and of even having an opportunity to hold his hands. But, was this a date? Does he even like me back? Would he stop talking to me if he found out i am Starlight? Would he start liking me only because he found out i am Starlight? No, i should worry about all of this later. I took a deep breath in hope to calm myself down, looking at my phone. I’m not going to bring it with me this time, what if Jeongin calls me for an emergency or him being a trickster and ruining the moment? I shook my head. Y/N, you can’t think like that. As much as Nini can be a little shit sometimes, he’s still your baby brother and you need to be there for him when he gets into trouble with your uniform, fists and powers ready to help him. Grabbing my phone, i ran by the door hoping i would be able to get there in time.

I checked my phone. And then, checked again. No calls or texts from spark boy and most importantly, Hyunjin. I sighed in frustration, am i about to be stood up by my crush in our first time meeting in person? Is it bad that i’m getting ice scream before he shows up? Too many questions, calm down, ok? You’re the city’s biggest hero, you got this. - Hyunjin, Jin, Jinn-i said out loud to myself to distract from my anxiousness as i paid the lady for the ice scream but my line of thoughts were interrupted by well, another voice. A soothing voice. - Genie. Did you call me? You have three wishes. - he replied jokingly with a sweet smile in his lips and holding three fingers up. I just stared at him, amazed, not sure of what to do. It was like an angel had just spoke to me. - W-What? - he asked softly, his cheeks getting red out of embarassment. - Nothing, i just...I can’t believe you’re really here... - I trailed off while hugging him tightly. The way he hunched a bit to put his chin on my shoulder making my heart beat faster inside my chest. Get it together, Y/N. - Wait, - he stood back a little, to look at my face properly - You didn’t think i would leave you hanging, did you? - Well, it wouldn’t be the first time that happened. Nothing personal. - i said, trying to laugh it off. - Then you’ve been going out to dates with the wrong guys. If i couldn’t come, i would’ve called you or still had came here to let you know we can’t spend the day togethe- - D-Date? - i gasped quietly but he was still able to hear, his face getting a tad more redder. - Ye-yeah, i mean, if yo-you want to, i’m okay with that with thi-this being a date. Yeah.- he shrugged, looking down while visibly embarassed. - Yeah, i want that. It’s a date then! - i added confidently after he nodded, acting like it was no big deal for me. - Is it okay that i got ice scream without you? Sorry, it’s just that it’s so hot today, i couldn’t help myself. We can go back to the line if you want to! - No, it’s okay. Shall we? - he offered his arm which i accepted, his boyish eye smile making it even harder for me to control the butterflies in my stomach. I was falling for his charms, indeed. After a few minutes walking side by side and commenting on the things we saw on the windows of the stores, i decided i should finally take initiative. - So, what did you do today? Besides coming here, of course. - i asked with an interested smile before turning to my ice scream, the cold on my tongue seeming to help me deal with the hot weather better. God, why is it so hot today? What’s going on with the weather? - I slept really late before waking up and coming here, i almost lost track of the time. - he laughed lightly. - Oh, same. - i replied in a flat tone. Right, cause i totally didn’t take two hours to get ready for Miss ‘I woke up like this’ right here. - Unless for the time part. Did you stay up praticing your moves? - Something physical like that, yeah. - he said, serious. - Did you stay up last night too? - Yeah, actually. - i agreed, regretting instantly. I stayed up all night because Jeongin had trouble sleeping, nightmares which made him cause a blackout in the whole neighbourhood by accident. Me, being the good older sibling, brought him to the energy station of the city and helped him bring all the power back before tucking him into bed and waiting for him to sleep again. If only had it been that easy., tsk tsk. On my way to dragging my sleepy little brother back home, i was met face to face with my arch-enemy straying through the city’s street during the night, his shameless bad-boy persona flirting with me while showing off his dark jacket and threatning to set my shoes on fire making my blood boil again. The reminder that i shot his hand for touching me, leaving a lightburn mark. My brand. - Are you okay? - My date’s voice cut me off. I shook my thoughts away, i already spend too much time thinking about that damned boy who liked setting my life on fire. Sometimes too literally. - Yeah, i just have too much on my mind, i guess. I stayed up most part of the night because my brother couldn’t sleep..I had to hold him until he fell back sleep so he wouldn’t have nightmares. - Oh, i didn’t knew you had a brother! - he looked surprised, rolling his sleeves up while guiding us to sit somewhere more reserved. - He’s not really my brother, he’s like a....consideration brother, if that makes sense. It’s complicated. - In fact, it really isn’t. I really do consider Jeongin my brother, i take care of him at any and all times especially at matters that his parents couldn’t understand, his powers. But i can’t just explain that to any normal person. - I see. I have a brother too, actually. Older. His name is Chan. - he replied brightly. Frostkiller. No. Not every Chan you know is the frosty meanie who happens to be partner with the Scarlet Devil, i’m sure there’s a lot of Chan’s all there, in the world. Far away from here. I smiled back, making him laugh lightly, his eye smile showing up again and making my heart skip beats. He had his chin propped on the palm of his hand, his eyes looking down shyly, his pink lips pressed together in a small smile. - Aren’t you hot? I mean, i feel like i’m melting here even though there’s AC here. I don’t know what’s going on today with the weather. - Oh really? I don’t feel anything, i even thought today was a bit chilly, actually. - What? - i gasped loudly, stretching to touch his forehead with the back of my hand - Are you okay? You aren’t sick, are you? - Don’t. - he stated coldly, closing his hands around my wrist to stop me, his warm fingers digging on my skin. But it was a bit too late, my fingertips touching his forehead already, i flinched taking my hand back, fearing it would burn my skin. - Hyunjin, oh my god! You’re on fire! Aren’t you with fever, shouldn’t we head to a hospita- - No. I’m okay, really. Don’t worry about me, okay? I guess i’m just that hot, pun intended. - he opened a sweet smile, winking - I’m going to buy us something to eat, sit still. - i stared at him, mouth open, still on shock. What does he even mean with ‘i’m okay’? I felt like i just had touched a heated oven or fire. Pure fire. I stared at his back, confused. I have enough experience to know something was definitely up, something not common. My area of expertise. I opened my lips, about to argue back but something caught my eye as i analised his back. Red. I got up from the table, charging at his direction with my fists closed and ready to feed him his own teeth. - What do you want- Oh! - he turned around, his face flushing and his eyes getting a bit bigger because of our proximity. - Give me your hand. - i demanded in a stern manner while stretching out my own hand. - W-What? - he gasped innocently, not affecting me now that i know he’s not so innocent anymore. I pulled on his wrist, turning and examining his forearm and instantly finding exactly what i was looking for. - What’s this? - i questioned, trying to hold back the poison on my tone. He looked down, biting his lips nervously. - Ok, you got me. I stayed up last night cause i was partying with my team colleagues and one of them was so drunk he started playing with fire and i tried helping him before things got worse but he ended setting my sleeve on fire and burning me. I didn’t tell you cause i was scared of what you would think about me, i don’t want you to have the wrong impression. - I bit the inside of cheek, thoughtful. - It doesn’t look like a fire burn though? - he gasped like a fish out of water, i didn’t care about our surroundings and if we looked like a couple arguing, i let his arm go ready to throw my second accusation at him. - What’s this the- Before i could finish and stick my hand behind his back snatch the evidence from his pocket, i was interrupted. Dance the night away, let’s dance the night away! Ooh! I sighed loudly, taking my phone out of my pocket. and turning my back to him. - This is not over yet. - Hey, Y/N. Could you- the voice in the other side of the line said quickly but i cut him off. - No. I’m in the middle of a date as we are speaking, ok? I told you that earlier! I really like this guy and something sketchy came up, i can’t do my light thing right now. - i whispered the last part. -Bu-But, Y/N! - Here we go, the whining - I’m about to have my ass frostbitten! You need to help me! I’m your brother! Are you really just gonna leave your little brother freezing here? - Jeongin whined loudly, hissing noises echoing in the background. I flinched, already picturing the mess on the street with tall buildings half-frozen and snow covering the sidewalks and cars. - Is the grumpy old dude there? - Yes! And very much gladly, Scarlet Devil isn’t here yet. Lucky you. - Can’t you just tell him to calm down? I’m sure he won’t hurt you if you do that, he loves you just as much as he loves his penguins on North Pole. - Very funny, ha. Just come here, you firefly. - Fine! Let me make up an excuse then. - Thank you, Y/N! - he replied in a singing voice. - You own me a pizza. - i said flatly before hanging up. Turning around, my date boy scratched his neck, his cheeks visibly red and hyperventilating. He looked like he would melt away at any moment out of embarassment. - I gotta go. - Yeah, me too. My room mate texted me and he needs help with the, hm, - he coughed before continuing - Caking a bake,i-i mea-an, Baking a cake, yeah.. - Sure. - i nodded at him briefly and in an awkward way before leaving. - Bye. - Wait! - He reached for my arm - I can still text you, right? - he questioned shyly. - Not if you’re gonna keep lying like this to me, Hyunjin. - i see. - he nodded back after giving me a hurt puppy look and letting of of my arm. I felt my heart clench at the sight, i just wanted to hug him and give him a chance to explain himself but i needed to talk with someone first. I gave him a weak smile before going my way, knowing i had broken his heart. Maybe Changbin was right, i had a bad taste on guys.

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thedeviltohisangel · 5 years

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How The Night Changes//4//You Mean Everything

Olivia has a date to a gala that is not Duncan.

Warnings: physical fight, mentions of noncon acts, attempted noncon acts

my URL /writing will bring you other parts and also my series’ with Michael and Jim!

Thank you to @kellysimagines for the request!

“I was there because the President invited me, mom...Yes, Olivia was there too...No I didn’t get a chance to sweep her off her feet...Listen I have to go I’m in the middle of the grocery store, I’ll stop by before the gala tomorrow, okay? Love you too, bye.” Olivia watched him roll his eyes from where she was poking her fingers into the kitten crates, allowing them to playfully swat at her.

“Your mother wants you to seduce me?”

“Something like that,” Duncan muttered as he returned to looking at the varying kittens as he had been before his mother had called. “Did you decided on one yet? Any of them speaking to you?” Olivia had decided her new townhouse was too empty, her belongings from Paris not filling up as much space as would be necessary in order to make it a home. She decided she needed a cat to keep her company and she had enlisted Duncan’s help in accompanying her to the shelter to find. “I don’t know why you couldn’t get a dog.”

“Because I’m not home enough now to take care of one. My little kitten will be able to travel with me easier too.”

“Please do not be one of those girls that keeps her animal in her bag.”

“If that’s going to be a dealbreaker then…” She didn’t have time to run away as he lurched forward and ghosted his fingers over her ribs, the tickling sensation enough to make her squeal and attempt to curl in on herself. The volume of their laughter and their public display of affection was of no concern, the Secret Service making the shelter stay open later than usual to accommodate the special guest.

As Duncan paused to allow her to catch her breath, she noticed an orange kitten watching them intently from a crate at the bottom. Enamored, she bent down and placed her hand flat against the bars on the cage, the kitten mimicking her actions with its paw. “This one. Definitely this one. Let me go find that lady.” He watched her scurry off and bent down to assess the kitten she had chosen.

“She’s the best person to be loved by, you’re a lucky fluff ball.” All he got was a ‘meow’ in response.

“What do you think I should name her?” Olivia asked as she came back with a clipboard and a pen.

“How about something to remind you of Paris? Maybe Eiffel? You can call her Effie, for short.” He shrugged as he said it, returning to looking at the kitten while she mulled it over.

“That’s actually perfect. You’re much more sentimental than I originally thought of you.” She squatted down next to him and puckered her lips, Duncan pecking them. “Come on, you can help me carry all of her accoutrements to the car.”

When the SUVs pulled up to Duncan’s building and she made no sign of getting out he groaned.

“You’re not spending the night?”

“I have to take Effie home and get her settled. And I have to be at the White House early tomorrow for the gala. I’ll see you there though, right?”

“Yeah and if you look too good in your dress I might regret it.” She snickered as he leaned over and kiss her soundly, pulling apart with her lip between his teeth.

“Not fair! I’m not going to get to kiss you all day tomorrow.”

“The price we must pay to keep certain people out of our lives.” He opened the door and when his feet hit the pavement she called out his name.

“I love you.” The day after they had exchanged affirmations of their love on the beach, the two had murmured the words into each other’s mouth over and over before making a pact that they would only say it when they really meant it, it was not a feeling either of them took lightly.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know,” he replied. Effie meowed from her crate in Olivia’s lap. “You too Eiffel.” Duncan couldn’t help but be amused that even his girlfriend’s, if he could call her that, cat had him wrapped around her finger. “Until we meet again.”

She had spent the past few nights with him and he was unafraid to admit that he had gotten used to the feeling of going to sleep with her in his arms and waking up to her legs tangled in his. Had fallen in love with it even. As he walked into his dark apartment, her camel colored jacket over the top of his couch, he felt lonely. His bed looked cold and uninviting without her in it and his bathroom smelled bland without her rosemary scented shampoo wafting through. Duncan looked at himself and had only one blunt thought: he was fucked.

Olivia sat with Effie in her lap while her hair and makeup were being sorted for her mother’s gala to welcome the Prime Minister of Malaysia. She hadn’t heard from Duncan all day but she was buzzing with anticipation of seeing him that night. She had already fallen in love with the blue Roberto Cavalli dress that had been loaned to her for the night and she couldn’t wait for Duncan to see her in it. He had never seen her all dressed up and done up before and she hoped it would go just as the fairytale in her mind did.

A knock on the door startled Olivia out of her daydream, her mother’s head poking into the room. “Ladies, can I have a moment alone with my daughter, please?” The hairstylist placed the curling iron on the vanity, the makeup artist tucked the eyeliner into her pocket and the two walked out without even a nod.

“Do you no longer like the color I’m wearing? You said it made my eyes pop.” Olivia always expected her mother to have a criticism to present to her. She had never reached her full potential, and most likely never would, if you asked her mother.

“I need you to take a date tonight. Henry Macy. A big vote is coming up on my Equal Pay Amendment and his happiness would go a long way in getting his father’s vote.”

“Are you expecting me to...to physically persuade him?” She felt sick to her stomach over pretending to flirt with another man that wasn’t Duncan, let alone if her mother was going to ask her to ensure his happiness by any means necessary.

“We’ll see how the night goes. Thank you, sweetheart. I’m sure even your attention will make it the night of his life.” Her mother left after kissing the top of her head, Olivia no longer as exciting for the evening as she had been before their conversation.

“Duty calls, right Effie?” The women tasked with making her glamorous emerged once again and got back to work. Olivia took out her phone and sent a text to Duncan: I love you and only you. Please don’t think tonight is a reflection of something else. My mother is making me. She didn’t want him to think she was ignoring him or that her laughs and touches meant anything substantive. She was his and he was hers and Olivia was just hoping they could get through the night still in tact.

Duncan stood in conversation with his mother and a group of people, but he wasn’t listening in the slightest. He had to resist his urge to pace while he waited for Olivia to make her entrance. He had spent all of last night and all of this morning missing her and then when she had texted him his stomach had dropped. The line about her mother had lead Duncan to anticipate that she would be walking in with a man on her arm. A man that wasn’t him. The mental image had made his blood boil and he was already on his second vodka neat in preparation for the reality to be in front of him.

“Duncan, you seem so anxious. Have you overheard something detrimental?” He shook his head at his mother as he swallowed the sip of alcohol he had just taken.

“No. Just can’t wait to eat is all.” He snagged a deviled egg from a tray as it passed him as a way to emphasize his point.

“Well I am sure Clare will be arriving soon. This will be Olivia’s first big appearance at a state event. We’ll have to really read up on the media reports tomorrow, see how she can fit into our plan.” Thankfully, Annette was called over by another group and she missed the way Duncan’s face paled at the mention of his mother and uncle working her into their master plan. He had vowed to himself over and over that any capital he had within his family would be used to keep her out of their dealings.

It was when the murmur of the crowd fell to a hush then rose back up to its normal volume that he knew they had arrived. He politely pushed himself towards the front of the room where they had entered in the hopes of catching Olivia’s attention before she was whisked away for the rest of the night. Duncan saw her bare back first, his mouth running dry at the sight of her in that blue gown, her leg slightly exposed and the strapless bodice providing enough of her for him to feast on for eternity. She must have brushed something shimmering over her collarbones because he couldn’t take his eyes off the way they reflected the light. He took a step forward in order to intercept her when he noticed an arm snake around her waist. A hand press itself on the bare skin that resided between her shoulder blades. An arm that wasn’t his. A hand that wasn’t his.

He felt his grip on his glass of vodka tighten and he placed it on the nearest table in the fear he would squeeze so tight he’d break it. It didn’t matter who or what the offensive appendage belonged to but it shouldn’t be touching Olivia. Touching the bare skin of the woman he was in love with.

“Duncan! It’s so nice to see you!” His anger faded only slightly as she finally caught his eye in the crowd and made her way over to him, her shadow in tow and his hand not moving from the small of her back. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you.” The sparkle in her eyes at the game she was enjoying playing almost made it more bearable.

“Too long,” he mused in response. She braced her hands on his shoulders in order to reach his cheeks to place a kiss, whispering a promise in his ear that they’d find time to be alone together later. “And who is this?” Duncan aimlessly gestured towards her date.

“Henry Macy. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Shepherd.” Duncan wasn’t ashamed to say that he made sure to present an extra tight grip when he shook his hand, Olivia watching him intently.

“Henry’s father is the most sought after caucus member in the Senate, isn’t he?” She was doing this for Duncan’s benefit, he was sure of it. Henry looked entirely uncomfortable having the reason for his attendance be broadcast in such a blatant manner but Olivia could not care less. Clearly her warning to Duncan had done nothing to stem the tide of rage that was flowing through him. Answering his questions in non-descript ways would have to suffice until after the event was over.

“I’m sure he receives quite the sought after attention then.” The three of them chuckled politely before an awkward silence set in.

“Shall I get you something to drink, Olivia?” She opened her mouth to respond but Duncan jumped in before she could get the words out.

“Cabernet, if memory serves me correctly.” She shot him a warning glance.

“It does. Thank you, Henry.” He awkwardly placed a kiss to her hand before heading in the direction of the bar. “Duncan, you must behave. You can’t be angry at me.”

“I could never be angry with you, Olivia,” he scoffed, “It’s that prick. He has his hands all over you and it makes me seethe.”

“Anytime you feel the anger becoming too remember that you’re the only man I love.” She took a step closer to him and whispered the next part. “That you’re the only man I’ve considered letting near my-”

“If you’re about to say what I think then please do not because that will do nothing to help me cope with that-” The offensive creature returned with her glass of wine before Duncan could finish his warning.

“Thank you,” Olivia replied warmly while taking a sip and keeping her stern gaze on Duncan over the rim of her glass. He was going to excuse himself to drinking something strong and straight by himself in the corner for the rest of night when her mother approached the trio.

“Duncan, it is so nice to see you. And to see you acquainting yourself with Olivia. I’m sure she’s introduced you to Mr. Macy.” Duncan put on his best political smile and shook her hand warmly.

“An honor to be here tonight, Madame President, and to be in your daughter’s presence.” It was. That bit of his act wasn’t fake.

“I was actually just coming over here to see if my daughter had offered you a personal tour of the floor, Henry. The usual groups don’t come down here but there is still a lot to see.” Olivia’s eyes widened in fear at the thought of her mother expecting her to go on a secluded walk around the White House by herself with this man she had just meant.

“She hadn’t but if you’re willing, Olivia, I’d love to go on one.” Clare didn’t miss the way the Shepherd boys nostrils flared nor did she miss the way his hand twitched as if he was stopping himself from reaching out to her daughter. Olivia looked at Duncan in a silent plea for help but there was nothing he could do without seeming impolite or exposing their secret. He wasn’t unaware of the rumors of the Underwoods using their youthful, graceful, beautiful daughter as leverage but Duncan didn’t think he’d have to see the look of terror in her eyes as it was being asked of her. Or that he would feel a blinding rage to protect her and make sure that any person who tried to have what was his would never be able to have anything again.

“Follow me.” She made sure her hand brushed against Duncan’s as she walked away from the party.

“Stay away from her.” Duncan looked at Clare in horror at her words.

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me, Duncan. You go near my daughter in any capacity other than for a brief exchange of pleasantries and I’ll bury you.” A biting remark about the extent of the pleasantries he and her daughter had exchanged sat on his tongue but he bit it and nodded once as she walked away from him. There was no question in his mind that the stern glare he had gotten from Olivia only moments before had been a hereditary gift from her mother.

“You know, I’ve heard about the gifts boys who come on these private tours with you get.” Olivia turned around from where she had been leading Henry down a hallway.

“Just nasty rumors. No fear,” she chuckled as she wrapped her arms around herself and continued meandering forward.

“It’s the only reason I agreed to come, Olivia, and I intend on cashing in.” He angled her towards the wall and took measured steps until her back hit against the concrete.

“Stop that. I’m not doing anything with you other than going for a walk.” She moved to get out from the bind he had her in when his hand shot out and tightened around her wrist.

“If your mother wants my father’s vote, then I need something in return.”

“Get your hands off of me,” she spoke through gritted teeth.

“Don’t fight me, Olivia. It’ll only make me go slower.” It was in that moment she realized he wasn’t going to heed her pleas. He was going to take what she wanted no matter what she said in order to stop him. When his head angled to kiss her neck she screamed and used her one free hand to push against his chest which only served him to stumble back a step or two. That was her chance to run back the way she came, her frightened tears obscuring her vision. She didn’t stop until she ran into a body, looking up to see familiar blue eyes.

Duncan looked down at her crying form, the hand shaped bruise around her wrist, and looked up to see Henry adjusting his jacket. It didn’t take him long to put it together.

“Duncan, please. Please just take me home.”

“I’ll only be a moment.” Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to turn around. “You put your fucking hands on her? Does terrifying a woman make your dick hard?” Duncan wound himself up with each step closer to Henry.

“I’m sure you know of the things people say about that little slut around here, Shepherd. About the things that mouth can do.” Duncan’s fist connected with his jaw with a satisfying snap, his body following him to the ground as he connected again. And again. And again.

It was then that Olivia rushed forward and and grabbed his arm from surging forward again. “Duncan. Duncan, stop! Please! Please, stop!” He grabbed Henry’s collar and pulled his bloodied face closer to his.

“You even look at her again and I’ll fucking kill you.” Duncan let his body drop back to the tiled floor before standing up and turning his attention to Olivia. “What hurts? Where’d he touch you?” He picked up her bruised wrist gently, replacing Henry’s touch with his own in an attempt to remove the imprint from her mind.

“Nowhere. I was running away when you were on your way down the hall.” He nodded.

“The look in your eyes before you left with him...It made me uneasy so came after you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“I’ll have the car brought around. You head out. Let me make a call to get this taken care of and I’ll be right out.” She kissed him gently with a nod, sparing Henry one last glance before exiting the scene and entrusting Duncan to make it all go away.

That night as she lay next to him in bed she couldn’t help the ache in her chest that made her feel like she needed to let go of a secret she had been holding onto for so long. Or at least she thought it had been a secret.

“It happened once. Me exchanging a physical favor in exchange for political capital for my parents.” She turned her head to look at him, tears streaking down her cheeks in the moonlight. “It’s why I moved to Paris. I couldn’t deal with the dirty feeling. The shame.” Duncan pulled her against him soundlessly.

“You’re the strongest person I know, Olivia. You’re not less than because of it.” He wanted to cry with her. Her pain was his pain and it was washing over him as she trembled slightly against his chest.

“I felt I was unworthy of happiness and love because of it. You changed that, Duncan.”

“I’m never going to let a day go by where you feel that way again, ok? You can come to me with anything. We’re stronger together, right Livy?” He bumped his nose against hers. “I’d set the world on fire for you.” And she thinks in a way that he has already set her world on fire. They just had to make sure they didn’t get burned by the flames of their passion.

#duncan shepherd #cody fern #michael langdon

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crownoyami · 6 years

Text

Razor’s Edge

Pairing: Sam/Gabriel

Warnings/Tags: Mentions of character death. Season 13 Canon Deviation, Kissing, Shaving, Good!Lucifer, Weak!Gabriel

Prompts Used: Statment Prompt:

He blinked at the scene before him, surprised but vaguely aware that this was far from the strangest thing to have happened to him today.

AO3 URL: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15737631

Summary: When Gabriel came back from the dead again after being left behind in the Apocalypse World he finds himself ushered into the bunker, down on grace and cold. While trying to figure out how to shave, Sam comes by to check on him and teach the archangel how to perform the task, living out a fantasy of his own.

Authors Note: Well here is my second submission for the Gabriel Monthly Challenge. I think this will have to be my last one for this month as I have 3 Reverse J2 Bangs to do and I’m only allowing myself a 1-week break from Stanford Art (finished another round of editing! Just 2 more to go!) Hope you all enjoy!

@gabriel-monthly-challenge @archangelsanonymous @revwinchester @archangel-with-a-shotgun @archangelgabriellives @warlockwriter@ttttrickster

Razor’s Edge

When Gabriel came back from the dead again, nobody knew how to react. He stood there in the doorway of the bunker, his body shivering though he tried to fight it off, a loopy grin on his face and arms outstretched like he expected a hug. If it had been Sam who opened the door, or perhaps Castiel he might have received one. Mary Winchester, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow before shuffling aside so he could come into the bunker and get warm. Things seem to both get better and worse for the archangel after that. He was tested just as he expected he would be, the Winchesters wanting to make sure he was who he said he was, and though he didn’t blame them, the process was annoying.

Once it was all said and done, Gabriel looked up from his seated position at the table and began to explain. “I knew the second you shmucks started doing your creepy silent conversation thing that you were going to leave my brother’s sorry ass behind. What you may not have realized was that I know my brother, and while he can be a great big bag of dicks, I think he was honestly trying there for a while on fighting the good fight. Call me naive or whatever but I couldn’t just let him stay behind and plot his revenge… again. So, I decided to use the last of my grace to make a clone, and just like with Luci at the hotel; Michael bought it.”

Taking a drink of the hot chocolate in front of him, provided by Sam who had seen his shivering, Gabriel swallowed the beverage before continuing. “Once Michael offered Luci a deal to get back to this world and his son, I let my big bro know that I wasn’t exactly gone. He pretended to take the deal, letting Michael think they were in it together before I made my move. Michael may have been stronger than Luci and I but with us working together we were able to kill the douche.”

Jack was looking at Gabriel then, his eyes nearly pleading with him to know what happened to his father. While he didn’t approve of Lucifer having that kind of sway over someone so powerful, Gabriel could understand how having a kid might be the kick in the pants his big brother needed to get his act together. “He’s still there, we managed to snag Michael’s grace before taking him out so there’s plenty for him to open the rift later. The angels in that world still need someone to guide them, and Luci is going to sort out a few that seem to be more sympathetic and not on the short list of ones we already have to come over and help us recharge Heaven.”

“Wait,” spoke Castiel, his eyes wide while he looked at the archangel in the room. “You mean to tell me Lucifer not only helped kill Michael, but he’s going to help our Heaven as well? Last time he had the chance to help restore Heaven’s power he vanished.”

Dean was standing with his back to the wall, but at the mention of Lucifer helping he crossed his arms over his chest. Sighing, Gabriel looked at the last mouthful of hot chocolate he had left, tipping the mug up against his mouth until the remaining cocoa was gone. “I get it, believe me, I get it… but since you boys broke out Auntie Amara the mark isn’t controlling him anymore. Did it leave a mark on his grace? You bet it did… but he’s not the evil he was when he was locked away and having brought life into this world has made him, I dunno, softer I guess.”

Getting a snort of disbelief from Sam who was sitting beside him at the table, the archangel rolled his eyes. “He could have killed me.” That statement made all eyes in the room swivel to look at him. “I literally only have a single speck of grace left, he could have easily have run me threw once Michael was dealt with… but he didn’t. He helped me open the portal long enough for me to squeeze through and that’s it, no tricks, not stabbing, and he had plenty of time to do either.” Sighing, Gabriel stood up from his chair. “Now if you guys don’t mind I would really like to stop this shivering and being cold thing, you have anything warmer I can use until I get some of my grace back?”

Sam and Dean seemed to share a look for a moment before Dean rolled his eyes and Sam stood up. “Yeah,” answered the taller hunter, “I’ll get you set up, come on.” Following behind the man, Gabriel waited as Sam opened a couple doors, looked inside and shook his head before finally opening one and allowing Gabriel to step inside. The room was basic, a bed, a dresser, and a nightstand but it looked like the sheets were clean and there was clothing hanging on the inside of an open closet.

“There’s been enough weird going on that Dean and I figured we would set up a couple of the spare rooms, we have mostly everyone from the other world on the other side of the bunker but there’s a couple of rooms left on this side. The clothes are ones that were here when we moved in, but we washed them and hung them up and cleaned the bedding. My room is just down the hall, two doors on your left and the bathroom is three doors down on your right. Toiletries are already in the bathroom if you wanna warm up with a shower if you need to shave just stick to the unopened razors and take it back to your room with you so it doesn’t get confused.”

Looking up at the tall human, Gabriel nodded. The thanks was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t get the word out even though he knew they didn’t have to do this all for him. Sam seemed to understand though as he gave a soft smile, patted Gabriel on the shoulder and then left the archangel alone. With a dramatic sigh, though nobody was there to hear it, the blond picked out some clothing that looked like it might fit him and made his way to the bathroom. As much as he hated the thought of needing a shower, he hated being cold more.

Turning on the shower and getting clean was one thing, he had been around humans long enough to enjoy a hot shower on occasion, so he knew his way around. Shaving, however, was a whole new adventure. Opening the package of generic razors and stealing a handful of shaving cream, Gabriel thought it would be easy. By the time twenty minutes came around he still had over half his right side left to do as he kept stopping each time he nicked himself to curse before trying again.

*~*~

Around an hour after leaving Gabriel alone in the bedroom, Sam made his way to check on the archangel. While Dean and Cas seem to think the man would be fine on his own, Sam remembered how hard it was for Castiel when he was a human. Checking Gabriel’s room first and finding nothing, the hunter made his way to the washroom. Knocking on the door, he heard a grunt which he took as an invitation and peered inside. He blinked at the scene before him, surprised but vaguely aware that this was far from the strangest thing to have happened to him today. Gabriel was standing by the sink, half his face covered in a thick layer of shaving cream, the other half was partially full of small cuts while his hands were gripping the edge of the porcelain sink tightly a razor in his fist.

Stepping into the room, Sam closed the door behind him and made his way to the archangel. Gabriel was a mess, and it was easy to tell that he was at the end of his rope with trying to shave. For a second Sam thought about showing him how it’s done, to lather his own face and demonstrate when he caught sight of the little black kit sitting on the sink. It was something he had always wanted to do, there was something about the fantasy that pulled at Sam whenever the thought entered his mind, a fantasy not unlike the ones Gabriel had stared in before.

“I could do it for you if you like, then you’ll know for next time.” Sam hoped that Gabriel wouldn’t deny him. When he noticed the shorter man give a slight nod, Sam quickly opened the black case and turned to the archangel. Inside his hand was a straight razor, one he liked to use when he wants to get a closer shave. For a second Gabriel eyed the razor in his hand before lifting his chin defiantly, practically daring Sam to try and harm him. Harming the other man was the last thing on his mind, instead, Sam wiped off the excess cream on Gabriel’s face and reapplied it correctly.

They didn’t say a word as Sam worked the razor, carefully slicing the hairs off Gabriel’s face before wiping off the lather and doing it again. It barely took ten minutes before he was done, but each stroke seemed to last a lifetime. While he was working, Gabriel leaned back against the taller man, watching him work through the mirror, and every time he went to rinse the blade off Sam’s eyes would catch those golden ones observing him. There was a heat there, one the hunter knew was reflected in his own.

Once done, Sam wiped off the access cream his touches light. Gabriel smirked before looking up and turning his head awkwardly to face him. “You know,” began the archangel, his back pressed against the hardening bulge Sam was trying to ignore. “If you want to feel me up you could have just asked, no need to go 007 on me.”

Instead of laughing at the joke, Sam bent down, turning his body as well as Gabriel so his lips hovered over the archangels. “You saying you don’t want to play out my fantasies?” There was a challenge in his voice, one he knew the archangel wouldn’t be able to ignore. As slightly chapped lips pressed against his own, Sam deepened the kiss. He wasn’t going to let this chance slip away, and by the way, Gabriel was clinging to his shirt and making small noises from the back of his throat, he didn’t think the archangel was going to let him go either.

Gabriel had said he was done running, and for once Sam was done too.

P.S. If you want to keep up to date on my writing add me to Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter or Instagram as CrowNoYami ;-) Also, if you want to see what I’m reading (I always review so you know what you’re getting into) I’m on Goodreads as well, the same name as always.

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manygalaxiesinone · 6 years

Text

What If Valvatorez and Fenrich Never Met?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjaqLHFupbcAhWO14MKHR8rBVQQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DwpxqB4lVo3w&psig=AOvVaw3-7zv-66wljMMrIcLtXyAd&ust=1531375284109065

((Greetings Hee Ho Dood! Prinnyfrost reporting for duty! For those who on the Disgaea Amino, you may recall that I left a poll of what game I should make another “What If” about, and it turns out that Disgaea 4 got the most votes.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean I’m stopping the “What if Gwen Lives” segment. I’m just putting it on hold for a bit okay?

At first, I thought it might be interesting to see how the story would play out if Shinjiro from Persona 3 would become a prinny under Valvatorez’s wing. I have brought this idea up many times before, but never got around to talk about how the story itself would play out. But then something else came to my mind. Someting that made me think “Hmm...maybe I can do this one better.”

What would happen if Valvatorez and Fenrich never met?In this scenario, I’m going to say that either Fenrich never met Minatrose and doesn’t take up the offer to kill Valvatorez and just goes on living his life as a mercenary or Minatrose eventually plans a trap and kill him because he has pointed out that he doesn’t intend to let someone as strong as him live; yet he can’t kill Valvatorez because he’s just too strong for anything he would come up with. Don’t worry, I’m not going to pretend that everything plays out smoothly or that everything’s all better without these two together. I’m going to treat this fairly on how everything would play out from my own point of view.

Yes, I do hate the shipping, and yes Fenrich himself is the main reason why (aside the fact that I’m just not into yaoi), but I have pointed out that despite that I do like Fenrich as a character and has a vital role in the party. Without this guy around, things won’t go smoothly as they did in the normal story.

Things start out relatively the same since Valvatorez was on his own when he met Artina and Nagi in the human world. Remember, he went there to investigate the large amount of demons that were being summoned against their will to participate in the war. Artina would still die after the two make their promise together and Nagi introduces Valvatorez to sardines so he won’t die from lack of blood.

Now we begin 400 years later with episode 1. Valvatorez would still be a prinny instructor since it was Axel who got him that job after losing his powers. He would be training his prinnies until they get sent away for extermination without the knowledge or consent of any of the instructors. Naturally, Valvatorez goes off to investigate and demands an explanation. The main difference in this chapter is that Axel doesn’t get attacked by the Abaddon.

In the normal timeline, Fenrich got the Abaddon to believe that Axel was part of the rebellion and wanted the prinnies free, but here that doesn’t happen. Valvatorez isn’t really the kind of guy that would come up with sneaky tactics like that unless Fenrich suggests it. Even then, he doesn’t always agree to it, like when he refuses to assassinate Hugo. So Valvatorez just charges his way through to the end with his own power. This includes the fight against Emizel. Nothing is done to convince that him that Axel is after his life so right now Axel doesn’t “die”. He just retreats with Emizel after losing the fight. Valvatorez frees the prinnies and gives them the sardines he promised them. He pointed out that the corrupterment have ordered their execution. Naturally, the prinnies beg Valvatorez for help. He agrees under the condition that they become his loyal comrades and work for him until their reincarnation.

Next up, Episode 2! Fuka Kazamatsuri challenges Valvatorez to battle after being pissed off from seeing that he prevented the prinnies from dying. In the original timeline, Fenrich ordered the prinnies to gather intel on Fuka and the army she was with that wanted the prinnies gone. It’s then that they found out that they’re souls that failed to become prinnies due to the lack of prinny hide. I honestly don’t doubt the possibility of Valvatorez using the prinnies to do the same in this timeline because I’m sure he would like to know what he’s up against, but to make things more interesting, let’s just say he doesn’t and decides to just meet Fuka at the designated area. Valvatorez sees Fuka waiting on him but before they begin, he asks a question.

“I don’t understand. If you wish to be rid of the prinnies, then why are you dressed like one?”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwix1NO4upbcAhUE64MKHUORDGsQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigdead93.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FFuka-Kazamatsuri-400321840&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“Hey! Don’t get the wrong idea! I was forced to wear these clothes the moment I got here!”

“What do you mean? Are you not even from here?”

“Of course not! I’m a human from earth!”

That right there set of alarms in Valvatorez’s head. Why is there a living human in the netherworld? Why is she being forced to cosplay as a prinny, and why does she want all the prinnies gone? Remember, Valvatorez hasn’t been informed about the lack of prinny hide (at least not yet), so he doesn’t have reason to believe that Fuka is dead. Before Val can start trying to put pieces together, Fuka is fed up with the talking and begins the first battle. Things play out normally even the part where he doesn’t believe that this is all Fuka’s dream.

Okay, I know in the original story, Valvatorez actually believes it until Fenrich points out that she’s delusional, but even after playing it the first time, I find it hard to believe that ANYONE would be THAT gullible (though I admit I was hoping to see an alternate ending where Fuka actually wakes back up in school or something). At the very least in this timeline, I’ll make the dialogue go...

“You poor thing. You were probably cast down here while you were knocked out and once you awoken, you couldn’t believe your eyes and became so far in denial that you believe that you’re dreaming. I suspect that you’re a victim of a possible serial murder case.”

“That’s...oddly specific. Wait, what am I saying?! You’re just trying to confuse me again! It’s not going to work!”

Things again play out normally, except Artina doesn’t sneeze since Fenrich isn’t around to talk about her behind her back, and this time, Fuka brings out both Axel and Emizel as her “final weapon”. Like before, Valvatorez questions this because, despite the fact that they’re the warden and the president’s son, they’re pretty weak. Also...

“Wait a second, weren’t there more of you before? Where’s the rest of the Abaddon?”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjTwurqu5bcAhWi34MKHTMcBBQQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Femizel599.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FDeath-Emizel-377010915&psig=AOvVaw1YxA-s4onCTAYpY07rot34&ust=1531378527799568

“I-I told them to wait for me while decided to handle this mission personally.”

“Y-Yeah! They totally didn’t went MIA since we didn’t report our failure yet!”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiW-I_cu5bcAhUs0oMKHXHyAlYQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Ft3hb33.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FDisgaea-4-Im-Death-Emizel-259333836&psig=AOvVaw1YxA-s4onCTAYpY07rot34&ust=1531378527799568

“Axel?! Why did you tell them that?!”

“What?! I told them that’s NOT what happened! Besides young master, all we have to do this win and everything will fix itself anyway.”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjOwL_4u5bcAhVs5IMKHRa5CQYQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fjoseeatsursoul.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FDEATH-EMIZEL-258723488&psig=AOvVaw1YxA-s4onCTAYpY07rot34&ust=1531378527799568

“You’re right! This time, we can’t lose!”

And then they lose. Things play out like before with Valvatorez pointing out his lack of determination to kill. This is something that even Axel questions considering that well, Emizel’s a grim reaper. The son of the Death King in fact. Emizel just runs off saying that it’s easier said than done and Axel runs after him.

Now for the fight against Fuka herself. Things play out the same with Fuka awakening her full potential while desiring to be in a better dream while Valvatorez wants to get her to accept that this is reality. After she loses, she tells Valvatorez the hardships she went through while she was here.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiwsujPupbcAhUq34MKHSgxDuoQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Ftagged%2Flord-valvatorez&psig=AOvVaw3-7zv-66wljMMrIcLtXyAd&ust=1531375284109065

“That’s...rather odd. Why is a living human being treated like a prinny?”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjd-pupupbcAhUrxoMKHcnDDp4Qjhx6BAgBEAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdisgaea.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FFuka&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“Huh? What do you mean? Don’t prinnies get treated like VIPs with 3 meals a day, dessert, and luxury suite hotels?”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwikjOzgupbcAhWY3oMKHfxPCuwQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthejusticeworld.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FValvatorez&psig=AOvVaw3-7zv-66wljMMrIcLtXyAd&ust=1531375284109065

“Not at all. 20 hour shifts with little payment is a standard prinny contract. What you just described to me is likely a lie the corrupterment told you to convince you to destroy the prinnies.”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjsyPSeupbcAhWkx4MKHQs5CssQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcoub.com%2Ftags%2Ffuka%2520kazamatsuri&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“N-No way! You’re just trying to fool me again! I won’t stand for this!” -runs off-

“H-Hey! I’m not done talking to you!”

Fuka: “Aaahhhh!”

“Seems the lass has gotten herself into trouble. I’d better go after her. I need her alive so I can finish my interrogation.”

It’s here that Valvatorez has caught on that the area is heavily polluted. He doesn’t know where it’s from yet since Fenrich’s not around to tell him, so he just focuses his attention on saving Fuka.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjmgsKNupbcAhUq4IMKHWEEDC8Qjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Ffuka_d4&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“Y-You...came to save me?”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjf7LTCu5bcAhXE5IMKHSl8CG8Qjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.tcgplayer.com%2Fweiss-schwarz%2Fdisgaea%2Frebel-against-god-valvatorez&psig=AOvVaw3-7zv-66wljMMrIcLtXyAd&ust=1531375284109065

“The questions of what the corrupterment have planned remains unanswered. To solve that, I need to make sure you are kept alive.”

“Hey, couldn’t you just say that you were worried and wanted to make sure that I was okay?”

“I could, but that would require me to lie.”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwidlLf3uZbcAhWk8YMKHRkpAwgQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdisgaea-generics.deviantart.com%2Fgallery%2F&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“Well, thanks anyway I guess.”

Valvatorez points out that he needs to figure out what’s wrong with the corrupterment as of late, first by ordering the execution of prinnies, then keeping a living human child prisoner, and letting humans leave their waste here (yeah, that’s something that Fuka would tell Valvatorez at some point). Instead of the deal before in the original timeline where if Valvatorez could prove to Fuka that she is in fact dead, then she would be treated as a prinny, here Valvatorez thinks she’s just a living girl being kept here against her will and forced to cosplay as a prinny. So this time, he proposes something different.

“Lass, follow me! Become my comrade and I promise to return you back to the human world!”

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiz773UuZbcAhWk54MKHenwBBUQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gaiaonline.com%2Fprofiles%2Ffuka-kazamatsuri%2F31113745%2F&psig=AOvVaw31zh_AH2IGply0d5BRXkg0&ust=1531375384241344

“Well, I guess sticking with you would be my safest bet right now. Okay, I’ll become your comrade...whatever that means.”

The chapter ends normally with Fuka joining the party and Axel and Emizel releasing the prisoners, setting things up for the next chapter.

And that’s where I’ll leave things for now. So, you see what I mean? Without Fenrich around, things are already starting to shift a little. Axel isn’t attacked by the Abaddon, he doesn’t “die” by Emizel, and Valvatorez is convinced that Fuka isn’t dead, but just trapped here in Hades. Hey, at least Fuka doesn’t think she’s in a dream this time, just a victim of a rehashed plot from a different game. So, what do you think? You want to see more of this scenario, or should I have stuck to my original plan instead with Prinny Shinjiro?))

#crossover discussion #disgaea 4

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ot5 · 6 years

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@tllthesundies HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH!!!🎉💖🌸💞🎂✨💌💖💞💗🎊🎉🍾💗🎂💕💖✨🎊💖🌹🍾🎉💘💕💌🌻❤️✨🌷💞🎉❤️💝🎂💘

so for this special occasion i used my amazing photoshop paint skills to make u this taylourry manip since there’s an unfortunate lack of those:/ they’re baking you three (3) cakes how great is that😫 louis, of course, asked ‘how do you whisk’ all three times and taylor n harry just shared a look and fondly rolled their eyes at him. i like to imagine they were singing along to britney classics and also laughing about how louis’ album and lyrics will shake us to our core bc they live for that drama👀 and cant wait to watch us freak out. of course at some point louis started throwing flour at taylor &harry which ended up in a messy kitchen fight.

thanks for reading my mini taylourry fic excuse the lack of angst i kno you live for that shit but anyways as i was saying, happy birthday bith! i hope u have a great one!! i cant believe you've turned 20 today🤧 you were already settling down at the old age of 19 an now you’re entering the final Grandma stage *kylie jenner dabbing tears.gif* as an og violin i feel blessed to have followed ur journey and watched you grow up & to have experienced ur crazy crackhead days which i lowkey miss sometimes it was truly a blast with ur shit posts and you saying things that still haunt me in my sleep. since im getting Sentimental™ you know what else i miss in this chilis today? you getting asks & Interacting on here bc i recall thats what started my soft spot for u. you’re [louis voice] genuinely Genuinely one of the sweetest people ive seen on here like everytime you called someone crouton or replied with a row of heart emoji’s my heart grew 10 sizes bigger💗💗 i hate that my memory is shit and there’s no blog/archive anymore(rip in pieces we’ll get to that later) that i can search thru for those Receipts but i know not one (1) mean word has ever left your mouth, or keybord in this case, those are the Facts #confirmed by me! even back in the day when i was blissfully unaware of any drama and this hellsite was just a happy place u still stood out to me bc when you answered asks or whatever you were just so nice! kind! and sweet! and funny too i feel like u raised me on memes (i also appreciate that u tolerate me w my crusty sense of humor and memes from 2013) and tbh when i saw you were younger than me i was Shook bc you felt like an older sister to me with wise words and just this calm&kind presence on tumblr dot com where everyone always takes offense u were idk the word..... rational/nuanced/patient/understanding? ive thought it many times before but if everyone here were a bit more like you this place would be a nice valley filled with blossoming flowers sawying in a gentle breeze on a warm spring day🌻🌷🌸 (i know u prefer fall so u can represent a Quality Leaf too if u want and i’ll ship you w niall #neaf) anyway as my melancholic ass was saying, i sometimes miss @harryandlouisofficial /harryandlouisau? idk you’ve had your fair share of changes(as i was searching through my own blog for a certain pic i came across some deactivated urls that i think were yours lsdknvds) but that harryandlouis brand™ was truly You and just such a familiarity on my dash and tbh if i come across any blogs that start w harryandlouis im always side eyeing them for that copyright infringement of intellectual property. Even before we really started talking i already felt like i knew you bc you were always....out there...talking, yellin n sprouting bullshit which was [me as that gif of pam from the office tearing up] beautiful😫 like i didnt even know about the existence of the vampire diaries but u were practically screaming about it on a daily basis and lowkey got me to crush on nina dobrev bc of it also ur love for tom odell, soup, domestic hl, Angst, the midnight memories album, that purple suit harry wore to the late late show, birdy, those literature ppl whose names im not even gonna bother with, and of course taylourry & how do you whisk, they’re all filed under ‘Things That Belong To Violet’ and i kno yelling about thing or reblogging ask memes or doing those tag things doesnt go with ur Brand but i wish it did bc there’s so much i wanna know or ask or just see what you think about things👀 u could make a post saying ‘potato’ and eventho id disagree id still be over here giving a standing ovation

this is getting long im so sorry snlkdfnsld i was going somewhere but im kinda losing the plot. So anyhow the point was that ur an angel! and idk also intimidating to me back in the day? ive sent my fair share of anons (nice ones of course nskldnsf) and i vaguely rmr asking for advice a few times too and you were always so kind n wonderful🤧 and then one day i sent smth nice off anon and you followed me back even with the ugly ass url i had back then lfnvslknsd bless you and now here we are:) so i love getting sentimental and reminiscing about the old days but also know that i admire u for jus deleting and starting afresh! kween of rebranding!👏👏 and this tiddiesundays era feels like ur a professional business woman or maybe more like a professional writer who has that clean & calm aesthetic down to a T and i might’ve turned notifs on so i wont miss that one quality (1) post per day sdlknlksdn i love showing my Love thru liking and rb’ing a lot so you make it hard on me sometimes(rmr when we were each other biggest fans? good times😫) but jus kno my heart’s still beating the same yes thats a sad attempt at a oial ref bc that is also filed under the things that belong to u. i dont wanna like, overwhelm? you bc im sometimes afraid ill b too much but know that im always out here rooting for u &hoping that ur doing great bc this bitch has a lot of love and adoration for u!!💗 i know some v sweet people on here but you are just.....on another level like just your presence here clears my skin and puts a big smile on my face esp when u drag me or vice versa for having certain Opinons (like the 1d album or song discourse) dont @ me but ur truly one of my favorite people. One day when you give me the go ahead im gonna send you that card/letter and i’ll get even sappier (yes thats possible!) i was gonna wish you a sunny day but for some reason u love rain so...i hope it rains:’) or else you can move your ass over here so at least one of us can appreciate the dutch weather also i would toast to you but i think ur still not legally allowed to drink which is also a reason to get ur ass over here bc i feel like you’d be a blast to get drunk with (also shout out to you for indulging me in my wine aunt moments u were truly there for me when no one else was🤧came thru with lyrics to tmh bops faster than lightning ill never forget that!) so to conclude this Essay i lov u & hope u have an amazing birthday *serenades you with tom odell songs*💗💕💖💘💗💕💖💝💗💞💘💕💞💖💕💗💝💖💘💞💕💗

#*cracks knuckles* HERE WE GO #u better make yourself a cup of tea and get some snacks this is gonna be a long ride #i feel like i had a clear outline of things i wanted to say but ended up forgetting all of that and instead we got.......this #this MESS violet sweetie im so sorry #i kno this is v Extra already but im gonna be highkey annoyed with myself if tomorrow something pops in my head like shoot i forgot to #mention that! so i might add to the tagsnslkdnvdls idk i love an excuse to show all my love and appreciation😫 and this is IT #also im sorry for being so late this took me a While bc im incapable of simple cutting n pasting in paint or putting my thoughts into words #me: i need to stop this is Too Much #also me: but is it enough?

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gamebazu · 3 years

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Come One, Come All! The MozCon Virtual 2021 Day One Recap

Our favorite time of the year is here! The second ever MozCon Virtual kicked off yesterday with attendees from over 35 countries. There were networking rooms, photo booth pics, and live tweets. It almost felt like we were back together in one place (just minus the donuts).

Lack of donuts aside, everyone was super excited to be back at MozCon for another action-packed conference. Day one’s speakers brought their A-game and really got people thinking.

Already had several 🤯 moments at #MozCon and it’s only Day 1! Can’t wait for tomorrow. Cheers!

— Kavi Kardos (@therarevos) July 12, 2021

For those of you who may have missed it, or those of you who had a hard time keeping up with this three ring circus, here's a quick recap!

Sarah Bird — Welcome to MozCon

Moz's fearless leader started MozCon Virtual off with a bang! She introduced Moz Group, a result of the merger with J2. Then, she announced two product releases — one in alpha and one in beta! Both will be further explained by Mozzers later in the week.

A big announcement during the opening session at #MozCon today: "The Moz Group" is now a collection of brands and technologies for digital marketers: pic.twitter.com/F62glc6b89

— Rob Ousbey (@RobOusbey) July 12, 2021

Sarah’s introduction concluded with a moving tribute to Russ Jones. You can share your own memories with Russ or donate to his family at RememberingRussJones.com.

Shannon McGuirk — Lessons in Surviving the Covid News Agenda & What it Means for the Future of Digital PR

As always, Shannon started out strong with some radical transparency. She walked us through Aira’s journey through COVID and how it changed everything.

I have so much love for @ShannonMcGuirk_'s raw honesty #MozCon 💙 pic.twitter.com/lxo08YJS4K

— Areej AbuAli (@areej_abuali) July 12, 2021

In past MozCon presentations, Shannon has shown us the outreach strategies that Aira has depended on for several years, but 2020 threw everyone for a loop. In the first two weeks of lockdown, Aira lost 50% of their revenue. Something had to change.

Actually, everything had to change.

We got insight into Aira’s three-prong, PR future-proofing system that developed as a result:

Ideation: using the ROR framework of relevancy, opinion, resolution

Production: create proven frameworks that can be customized for your client

Promotion: through accessing, communicating, and having perspective

Shannon gave us the nitty gritty of how this system works for Aira, complete with actual photos of their best-performing, always-ready frameworks. Honestly, it felt like we were seeing something confidential, but we were here for it.

Um, I think @ShannonMcGuirk_ is sharing some *serious* @Ariadigital secrets here... They have templates for production that are wireframed and customizable. They run TONS of campaigns off of THREE main templates.#MozConpic.twitter.com/6PcZ3lIlee

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Flavilla Fongang — The Science of Purchasing Behavior: How to Use it Effectively to Attract & Convert More Prospects Into Customers

Flavilla was ready to prescribe some tactical medicine to those looking to increase their conversion rate. She jumped right in with explaining how our brains function. Ya know, limbic system, neocortex, and reptilian brain? Don’t worry, we didn’t either!

She broke them down as the emotional brain (limbic), rational (neocortex), and fight or flight (reptilian). Then Flavilla asked the big question: which brain has the most impact on buying decisions? The answer (which shocked most) was the reptilian brain.

Flavilla took us through six ways the reptilian brain can be stimulated.

Killer slide from @FlavillaFongang#mozconpic.twitter.com/6N5OC5jlOz

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

But it wouldn’t be a MozCon presentation without something that can be put into action today. Flavilla dropped all sorts of tactics to test: putting the CTA closer to the consumer’s picture, using the power of the gaze, tapping into negative emotion, showing contrast (think before and after), and putting the most important information first.

We could have listened to Flavilla talk all day long. Hearing her take on buyer behavior was a bit like looking into a glass ball and getting answers to all of our questions. We can’t wait to put it into action!

Dr. Pete Meyers — Rule Your Rivals: From Data to Action

Always a crowd pleaser, Dr. Pete showed off a new Moz tool currently in Beta: True Competitor. True Competitor is a project Moz has been working on for the last few years, and this year it’s finally ready to take the stage! (You can request early access to True Competitor here.)

Dr. Pete used the new tool to remind us that those we assume to be our competitors sometimes aren’t actually our competition at all. Instead of focusing on who we think we’re losing traffic to, we need to be focused on who is preventing us from making money.

There's a big difference between who you "think" your competition is and who you compete with in the SERPs. #MozCon

— Jason Dodge (@dodgejd) July 12, 2021

Using the new True Competitor tool, and a few cool search modifiers, Dr. Pete was able to find some opportunity keywords to test out.

The process looked a bit like this:

Use True Competitor to identify potential keywords

Use search modifiers to find the ranking pages for the competition

Find Moz’s current ranking content

Create content using the similar keywords

Link to the most updated and relevant content

Get Keywords, competitor pages, and my best piece of content to compete with: @dr_pete#mozconpic.twitter.com/VFk5beIbvI

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

We knew that Dr. Pete would bring the heat, but it’s safe to say he outdid himself this year.

Great talk by @dr_pete from the #mozcon. Take aways: Don't make assumptions about your competitors Do not make a massive novel - come up with a plan including what is missing from your site content issues. Track what works/what doesn't and amend accordingly. @Mozpic.twitter.com/pnUWqeL2vX

— J Turnbull (@SEOJoBlogs) July 12, 2021

Noah Learner — Game-Changing Ways to Use the Google Search Console API

This first-time MozCon speaker came ready to play! Right away, Noah gave us some perspective on the actual limitations of Google Search Console. As most of us know, Search Console only gives you access to 1,000 rows. Well, Noah knew that there was a lot more data to be seen and started dabbling with the API.

Apparently this led to a 15-hour journey down the GSC rabbit hole, as Noah started working on creating a custom Google Search Console tool using Big Query and Google Data Studio. This tool, Explorer for Search, has already gotten some buzz from those in the industry.

If you haven't seen Search Explorer from @noahlearner and Two Octobers you're missing out. Native GSC is abysmal in comparison. #MozCon

— Taylor Murchison (@TaylorMurchison) July 12, 2021

Honestly, if you look at the Twitter feed for #MozCon, there aren’t a ton of tweets because nobody could keep up with him! Noah moved rapidly through exactly how he built Explorer for Search with his team, and how they’re using it.

Loving this striking distance report @noahlearner is showing off #Mozconpic.twitter.com/VgUa1CeAcC

— Jordan Choo (@JordanChoo) July 12, 2021

Almost instantly, Noah and his team found over $300,000 of keywords that weren’t available in Search Console. They did this through building in position sorting, top of funnel/ bottom of funnel sorting, branded vs. non branded filters, and more.

We cannot wait to play with this and get started with the Search Console API!

Dana DiTomaso — Build for Search: Modern Web Dev That Puts SEO First

A long time MozCon favorite, Dana DiTomaso put on her coach’s hat for this year’s session. Far too often, we find ourselves in awkward situations that require us to scrap all of our work and start over again.

“Developers [also] come in way too late […] and come in and say, “oh, I can’t do that” […] or “this isn’t going to work on mobile,” and now you have to start the design all over again. @danaditomaso#MozCon

— Melina Beeston (@mkbeesto) July 12, 2021

Dana ran into this way too many times, so she and her team came up with a better solution. She was ready to make us, and our web dev processes, agile(ish).

She showed us her team's entire process from presenting keyword research (IN A PIE CHART?!), to using GatherContent to create a website blueprint for clients, all the way to wireframe creation and presentation.

SEO projects shouldn't be done in silos. SEO, UX, Design, Dev, & Content teams should all be involved early and often(as needed). The Agile project management method is a great framework that makes this easy to do. Insights from @danaditomaso 's talk #mozconpic.twitter.com/Fl5B8ncSG0

— Ọla King (@justolaking) July 12, 2021

At each step, anyone can jump in and see what is going on and add to the conversation or process. It’s far less linear and allows for more collaboration.

Jackie Chu — Internationalization Errors: How to Go Global Without Losing All of Your Traffic

With a track record like Jackie’s, it’s hard to imagine not blowing minds. Jackie started by explaining one of the most complex SEO concepts: Hreflang. This explanation led to a few tactical suggestions right off of the bat:

Define target language and country

Self-canonicalize all URLs

Use consistent URL patterns

Honestly, there were so many takeaways from this presentation that they were hard to keep track of. Imagine, all of that information on Hreflang alone was in the first 17 slides… and this presentation was 60 slides long!

Great tip by @jackiecchu about using extra signals beyond hreflang to show Google which version of your site is targeted to which international audience, such as linking to that country's respective social profiles, or editing the NAP to reflect that country's info.#mozconpic.twitter.com/2T24euwRyZ

— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) July 12, 2021

You’ll definitely want to revisit this presentation in the video bundle, available Friday, to glean all insights possible!

Cyrus Shepard — Mastering 3 Click + Engagement Signals for Higher Rankings/Traffic

Cyrus, a long-time MozCon emcee, takes the stage himself this year to discuss how Google may — or may not — use user engagement signals as an input in ranking websites.

Cyrus started by explaining how 20 years of Google patents describe three different types of click signals they could measure: first clicks, long clicks, and last clicks. He then walked through a multitude of small-scale SEO experiments that attempted to influence these click signals to see if he could influence rankings.

Some of the experiments included:

Optimizing Meta Descriptions in non-traditional ways

Removing Title Tag "Boilerplate"

Improving the visibility of "Related Articles"

Adding FAQs

Don't do it. For the love of God. Don't do it.#[email protected]/hWxCxLlpju

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Finally, Cyrus shared some case studies including the migration of the Moz Q&A — which involved over 100,000 URLs — and how they improved user engagement.

What a great URL path migration process and conduction from @Moz's SEO team! Moving the Q&A section with some important checklist is something, but also, when it comes to user-generated content, it's hard to change. So @CyrusShepard came with over 16% success after that. #MozConpic.twitter.com/bIHk8uVHA6

— Roman Adamita (@AdamitaRoman) July 12, 2021

At the end, Cyrus emphasized that SEO is not about manipulating numbers, but that "User satisfaction is ranking factor #1." After watching this presentation, you'll definitely walk away with several ideas for engaging your visitor.

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noithatotoaz · 3 years

Text

Come One, Come All! The MozCon Virtual 2021 Day One Recap

Lack of donuts aside, everyone was super excited to be back at MozCon for another action-packed conference. Day one’s speakers brought their A-game and really got people thinking.

Already had several 🤯 moments at #MozCon and it’s only Day 1! Can’t wait for tomorrow. Cheers!

— Kavi Kardos (@therarevos) July 12, 2021

For those of you who may have missed it, or those of you who had a hard time keeping up with this three ring circus, here's a quick recap!

Sarah Bird — Welcome to MozCon

A big announcement during the opening session at #MozCon today: "The Moz Group" is now a collection of brands and technologies for digital marketers: pic.twitter.com/F62glc6b89

— Rob Ousbey (@RobOusbey) July 12, 2021

Sarah’s introduction concluded with a moving tribute to Russ Jones. You can share your own memories with Russ or donate to his family at RememberingRussJones.com.

Shannon McGuirk — Lessons in Surviving the Covid News Agenda & What it Means for the Future of Digital PR

As always, Shannon started out strong with some radical transparency. She walked us through Aira’s journey through COVID and how it changed everything.

I have so much love for @ShannonMcGuirk_'s raw honesty #MozCon 💙 pic.twitter.com/lxo08YJS4K

— Areej AbuAli (@areej_abuali) July 12, 2021

Actually, everything had to change.

We got insight into Aira’s three-prong, PR future-proofing system that developed as a result:

Ideation: using the ROR framework of relevancy, opinion, resolution

Production: create proven frameworks that can be customized for your client

Promotion: through accessing, communicating, and having perspective

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Flavilla Fongang — The Science of Purchasing Behavior: How to Use it Effectively to Attract & Convert More Prospects Into Customers

Flavilla took us through six ways the reptilian brain can be stimulated.

Killer slide from @FlavillaFongang#mozconpic.twitter.com/6N5OC5jlOz

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

Dr. Pete Meyers — Rule Your Rivals: From Data to Action

There's a big difference between who you "think" your competition is and who you compete with in the SERPs. #MozCon

— Jason Dodge (@dodgejd) July 12, 2021

Using the new True Competitor tool, and a few cool search modifiers, Dr. Pete was able to find some opportunity keywords to test out.

The process looked a bit like this:

Use True Competitor to identify potential keywords

Use search modifiers to find the ranking pages for the competition

Find Moz’s current ranking content

Create content using the similar keywords

Link to the most updated and relevant content

Get Keywords, competitor pages, and my best piece of content to compete with: @dr_pete#mozconpic.twitter.com/VFk5beIbvI

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

We knew that Dr. Pete would bring the heat, but it’s safe to say he outdid himself this year.

— J Turnbull (@SEOJoBlogs) July 12, 2021

Noah Learner — Game-Changing Ways to Use the Google Search Console API

If you haven't seen Search Explorer from @noahlearner and Two Octobers you're missing out. Native GSC is abysmal in comparison. #MozCon

— Taylor Murchison (@TaylorMurchison) July 12, 2021

Loving this striking distance report @noahlearner is showing off #Mozconpic.twitter.com/VgUa1CeAcC

— Jordan Choo (@JordanChoo) July 12, 2021

We cannot wait to play with this and get started with the Search Console API!

Dana DiTomaso — Build for Search: Modern Web Dev That Puts SEO First

— Melina Beeston (@mkbeesto) July 12, 2021

Dana ran into this way too many times, so she and her team came up with a better solution. She was ready to make us, and our web dev processes, agile(ish).

— Ọla King (@justolaking) July 12, 2021

At each step, anyone can jump in and see what is going on and add to the conversation or process. It’s far less linear and allows for more collaboration.

Jackie Chu — Internationalization Errors: How to Go Global Without Losing All of Your Traffic

Define target language and country

Self-canonicalize all URLs

Use consistent URL patterns

— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) July 12, 2021

You’ll definitely want to revisit this presentation in the video bundle, available Friday, to glean all insights possible!

Cyrus Shepard — Mastering 3 Click + Engagement Signals for Higher Rankings/Traffic

Cyrus, a long-time MozCon emcee, takes the stage himself this year to discuss how Google may — or may not — use user engagement signals as an input in ranking websites.

Some of the experiments included:

Optimizing Meta Descriptions in non-traditional ways

Removing Title Tag "Boilerplate"

Improving the visibility of "Related Articles"

Adding FAQs

Don't do it. For the love of God. Don't do it.#[email protected]/hWxCxLlpju

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Finally, Cyrus shared some case studies including the migration of the Moz Q&A — which involved over 100,000 URLs — and how they improved user engagement.

— Roman Adamita (@AdamitaRoman) July 12, 2021

0 notes

thanhtuandoan89 · 3 years

Text

Come One, Come All! The MozCon Virtual 2021 Day One Recap

Lack of donuts aside, everyone was super excited to be back at MozCon for another action-packed conference. Day one’s speakers brought their A-game and really got people thinking.

Already had several 🤯 moments at #MozCon and it’s only Day 1! Can’t wait for tomorrow. Cheers!

— Kavi Kardos (@therarevos) July 12, 2021

For those of you who may have missed it, or those of you who had a hard time keeping up with this three ring circus, here's a quick recap!

Sarah Bird — Welcome to MozCon

A big announcement during the opening session at #MozCon today: "The Moz Group" is now a collection of brands and technologies for digital marketers: pic.twitter.com/F62glc6b89

— Rob Ousbey (@RobOusbey) July 12, 2021

Sarah’s introduction concluded with a moving tribute to Russ Jones. You can share your own memories with Russ or donate to his family at RememberingRussJones.com.

Shannon McGuirk — Lessons in Surviving the Covid News Agenda & What it Means for the Future of Digital PR

As always, Shannon started out strong with some radical transparency. She walked us through Aira’s journey through COVID and how it changed everything.

I have so much love for @ShannonMcGuirk_'s raw honesty #MozCon 💙 pic.twitter.com/lxo08YJS4K

— Areej AbuAli (@areej_abuali) July 12, 2021

Actually, everything had to change.

We got insight into Aira’s three-prong, PR future-proofing system that developed as a result:

Ideation: using the ROR framework of relevancy, opinion, resolution

Production: create proven frameworks that can be customized for your client

Promotion: through accessing, communicating, and having perspective

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Flavilla Fongang — The Science of Purchasing Behavior: How to Use it Effectively to Attract & Convert More Prospects Into Customers

Flavilla took us through six ways the reptilian brain can be stimulated.

Killer slide from @FlavillaFongang#mozconpic.twitter.com/6N5OC5jlOz

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

Dr. Pete Meyers — Rule Your Rivals: From Data to Action

There's a big difference between who you "think" your competition is and who you compete with in the SERPs. #MozCon

— Jason Dodge (@dodgejd) July 12, 2021

Using the new True Competitor tool, and a few cool search modifiers, Dr. Pete was able to find some opportunity keywords to test out.

The process looked a bit like this:

Use True Competitor to identify potential keywords

Use search modifiers to find the ranking pages for the competition

Find Moz’s current ranking content

Create content using the similar keywords

Link to the most updated and relevant content

Get Keywords, competitor pages, and my best piece of content to compete with: @dr_pete#mozconpic.twitter.com/VFk5beIbvI

— Noah Learner (He/Him) (@noahlearner) July 12, 2021

We knew that Dr. Pete would bring the heat, but it’s safe to say he outdid himself this year.

— J Turnbull (@SEOJoBlogs) July 12, 2021

Noah Learner — Game-Changing Ways to Use the Google Search Console API

If you haven't seen Search Explorer from @noahlearner and Two Octobers you're missing out. Native GSC is abysmal in comparison. #MozCon

— Taylor Murchison (@TaylorMurchison) July 12, 2021

Loving this striking distance report @noahlearner is showing off #Mozconpic.twitter.com/VgUa1CeAcC

— Jordan Choo (@JordanChoo) July 12, 2021

We cannot wait to play with this and get started with the Search Console API!

Dana DiTomaso — Build for Search: Modern Web Dev That Puts SEO First

— Melina Beeston (@mkbeesto) July 12, 2021

Dana ran into this way too many times, so she and her team came up with a better solution. She was ready to make us, and our web dev processes, agile(ish).

— Ọla King (@justolaking) July 12, 2021

At each step, anyone can jump in and see what is going on and add to the conversation or process. It’s far less linear and allows for more collaboration.

Jackie Chu — Internationalization Errors: How to Go Global Without Losing All of Your Traffic

Define target language and country

Self-canonicalize all URLs

Use consistent URL patterns

— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) July 12, 2021

You’ll definitely want to revisit this presentation in the video bundle, available Friday, to glean all insights possible!

Cyrus Shepard — Mastering 3 Click + Engagement Signals for Higher Rankings/Traffic

Cyrus, a long-time MozCon emcee, takes the stage himself this year to discuss how Google may — or may not — use user engagement signals as an input in ranking websites.

Some of the experiments included:

Optimizing Meta Descriptions in non-traditional ways

Removing Title Tag "Boilerplate"

Improving the visibility of "Related Articles"

Adding FAQs

Don't do it. For the love of God. Don't do it.#[email protected]/hWxCxLlpju

— Brie E Anderson (@brie_e_anderson) July 12, 2021

Finally, Cyrus shared some case studies including the migration of the Moz Q&A — which involved over 100,000 URLs — and how they improved user engagement.

— Roman Adamita (@AdamitaRoman) July 12, 2021

0 notes