#also i do nothing else so i offer my two cents.

[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 7 - "Do you recognise this?"

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: G

Warnings: -

"So, who did it?" Bruce asked, eyes narrowed at the children before him. Clark was next to him trying once more to persuade Bruce that it was unnecessary to go after the kids like this.

The 'kids' in question were the assembly of three of his children, Clark's child and clone and a couple of their respected friends.

"Father, I do not know what you are talking about." Damian piped up offended and crossed his arms. Next to him Jon scratched the back of his head in mild confusion and Dani despite not knowing what was going on but still glaring in defiance at Bruce.

"If this is about our prank war it was definitely not necessary to interrogate our friends too." Tim added looking every bit like he would be somewhere else than here. Kon and Bart were with him. Kon looked rather unsure while Bart had gone and gotten himself popcorn for whatever was going to happen.

"Look old man, how was I supposed to know Replacement would trigger the glitter bomb inside the Batmobile. I already cleaned that up!" Jason put in his two cents, Roy eyeing the other with a raised eyebrow.

Bruce stared at them quietly, not saying a word as Clark continued to fuss next to him to not make it a big deal and that a deep clean would surely fix everything.

"It's not your prank war I am talking about. Alfred will deal with you about the chaos you caused." The three respected batkids swallowed audibly while their friends chuckled. "No, what I am asking is which one of you decided it was a good idea to dye Clark's hero suit and my cape pink."

"Wait, someone actually did that to Dad?!" Jon piped up wide eyed as Dani broke out laughing causing Damian to eye the ghost girl with narrowed eyes and suspicion.

"Who would…" Tim started but didn't finish as his mind came up with possible suspects. Kon on Bart next to him went onto their phones, trying to search up pictures of Superman in a pink hero suit.

Jason and Roy broke out laughing too, voicing their respect to whoever managed to do that.

Bruce's eye twitch at the children's reaction. He then proceeded to pull out an opened can of pink dye and placed it on the table in perfect view of everyone. "Do you recognise this? Jason? Tim?"

"WHY ME?!" They both cried out in protest and Bruce narrowed his eyes on the two. "Jason, your last prank on Tim involved a glitter bomb with pink dye, the Batmobile's seats are still strained pink. Tim, you dyed Damian's shirts pink a couple days ago at the beginning of your prank war."

"So it was you Drake! You are going to pay for this!"

"And I will do it again if you ever touch my laptop again, Demon Brat!"

"How does that even prove that one of us did it!"

"It doesn't!"

"Do you think there might be someone else that fell victim to the pink dye in the JL?"

"Maybe?"

"Why would someone even go after Clark? He has nothing to do with our prank war."

"Jason, my friend. You are indirectly admitting that you would dye Batman's cape pink."

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose as the children before him (he ignored that at least two of them were over 20, they were children period) started to argue among themselves while Damian's newest friend the Daughter of Phantom, who recently joined the Justice League Dark, was by now rolling on the ground laughing.

Not far from the interrogation Danny sat by a table next to Alfred snacking on some of the best cookies he had ever gotten to eat. He had originally come by to hang out with Tim, Kon and Bart but now he was threaded to some A+ entertainment, Dani was clearly enjoying.

"You recognize the can, don't you Mr. Daniel? I believe you accidentally left it behind in the cave." Danny side eyed the butler next to him and grinned into his next bite of a cookie. "Supes deserved it."

The man hummed and Danny smiled as he was offered another cookie. "I believe I know why but would you please elaborate on why Master Bruce also got targeted? I will most likely be the one who will have to wash out the cape."

The half ghost didn't say anything at first before shrugging. "Kon wasn't the only one who deserved some Justice for how he had been treated in the past. I know they get along now but still… a little pay back for past mistreatment wouldn't hurt anyone right?"

"Ah, so it was for Mr. Conner and Master Jason." The butler smiled in understanding, pushing over a box of take away cookies to Danny. "May I suggest that next time you seek out justice for the boy, that there are other -embarrassing- ways to achieve it."

Danny only gave the man a feral grin as he hopped off the chair with the box in hand. It was time to release the children of Bruce's interrogation. He would just put the blame on Constantine somehow, like a spell gone wrong instead of actual dye being the cause. The man owned him anyway since he had gotten most of his soul back aside from a couple of pieces he was still negotiating over in the Ghost Zone.

#fictober23 #danny fenton #danny phantom #dp x dc #dpxdc #damian wayne #tim drake #jason todd #jon kent #roy harper #conner kent #bart allen #bruce wayne #clark kent #dani phantom #Danny pulled a park on superman and Batman #he is going to put the blame on Constantine #He only did it as justice for Conner and Jason #He heard how they had been treated in the past #he is especially not happy with superman #Thats why his suit was completely pink #and bats only got a pink cape #Constantine will not be happy to get blamed for this #Alfred approves Danny getting the children justice via pranks #unedited #no beta we die like danny

[animentality]

Not to send you an essay but do you ever think about how Gortash was the only person in the whole game who didn’t want anything from Durge but Durge. Just them, as a person. Like yes he wanted the netherstone, and wanted the alliance. But what I mean is there were no prereqs for Durge as a person. Every other companion, every other NPC even, wanted Durge to either resist and refuse Bhaal or pursue power and claim their birthright. Everyone had their two cents for what Durge should or shouldn’t do irrespective of how Durge actually felt about it. It made any friendship or love offered to them conditional, even in the case of their companions. It was always “I’ll stand by you, IF”. To be fair, not necessarily unreasonable for the normal person to set boundaries on murder and such lol. But my point is that they all wanted something from Durge first.

But Gortash. OF ALL PEOPLE. Gortash didn’t want anything from them but them. Even for Durge’s biggest supporters in either moral direction - Jaheira, Sceleritas, etc - it was not that simple. Yet Gortash’s friendship with Durge (and to be clear I think they were so in love but I say friendship here to emphasise that even on top of or irrespective of any romance, they were genuinely friends too!) was unconditional. “This changes nothing” is a line I know we all talk about to death but god. That is genuinely unconditional. It is!

(If we want to push the delusion a bit further, that’s a declaration of the unconditional nature of their alliance, which can be chalked up to nothing less than real and honest love as far as I’m concerned. He has no other reason to not care that Durge just said yeah the entire divine commandment part of this mission is in the pot. But Gortash was like I Do Not Care! And he meant it! “Oh yes incomprehensibly powerful beings came to us in our dreams and asked us to do all of this in their names in the first place, and you just pissed on that, but no biggie!” Same short-tempered petty bastard who kicks you hard in the shin with his metal-toe boot if you accidentally hit him. Who straight up attacks you if you show up to his office without any of the netherstones and say you forgot them or whatever. Guy who just kills you if you GIVE HIM THE STONES LOL. But he doesn’t care even slightly that Durge said fuck off to the lord of murder who ordered this whole plot to start? Doesn’t yell, doesn’t ask Durge what were they thinking, just goes oh ok. He makes me insane btw)

I’m also painfully aware that Durge will never find that kind of unconditional support with anyone else, ever. I just feel like this would haunt my resistance Durge for the rest of his days tbh.

(And like. My resistance Durge loves Jaheira, she’s the parent he never had and she means the world to him post-canon, he follows her around like a lost puppy because ultimately he is one but I have to wonder if he would lie awake at night with the niggling thought that maybe what he has with Jaheira would not survive if he acted any other way. Plus the thought that Gortash knew him at his absolute worst, and loved him anyway. And maybe that wasn’t a GOOD thing, morally - a GOOD person shouldn’t have loved him like that, right? - but he loved him anyway. I don’t think my Durge would ever ever get over it. Especially with the fact that he can’t even remember 99% of their relationship. Gortash can’t ACTUALLY haunt Durge cause Bane is busy using his soul as a stress ball but in every metaphorical way. Durge is haunted.)

Tldr Gortash is the guy who says “just be yourself <3” and I think that’s beautiful

You know, you hit the nail on the head.

Of course it's not unreasonable to expect your friends and lovers to stipulate, that they will only love you as long as you don't go on a murderous rampage.

That's totally reasonable, that's normal, I agree with it on principle.

But. But.

As you said.

Gortash loved you even when you went on a murderous rampage.

I am obsessed with him, because he loved the dark urge without reservation, believing in their ability to control their urge, but also admiring their intelligence and their talents.

He knew what they were from the start, and he accepted it!

And he could still love them!

I just don't think anyone else in the entire goddamn game could say that!

And that's why I'm obsessed with Durgetash.

You get me.

It's about loving someone for who they are, and not what they are to you.

They were never just the Chosen of Bhaal, whom he must work with, not to him.

Never.

They were never the Bhaalspawn, the savage dark urge, the scourge of Faerun.

They were themselves. And he liked that.

Guys, he LIKED them.

#baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #dark urge #enver gortash #durgetash

[adambja]

I am so talented I swear I deserve the whole world

Even every cent I took from people to sell these tapes it was worth it it was really worth it and I believe I deserve way more than a rude anon who asked me to give her the tape for free because it works very well because it seems so strange to her that I worked so hard on it physically and selling it for money???

I don't even know if that anon has a brain cause the question is the answer. I worked hard to make these tapes why would I give them to people for free? Why would you even think about wanting something you can't afford from me you literally don't deserve it from me cause look at how manipulative you are!?! Look at how greedy you are!!

Yes I have a lot and I can get more from somewhere else (the void - normal manifesting.. more) but I didn't take this money from you so you don't deserve it

I have nothing to say anymore about this situation or about the prices of my tapes or about paid tapes but I will have some actions any discussion about the prices of my tapes and the doubts you have with some type of rudeness and greed it will be faced with a block and I will block you again if you come with a new account!

But if you have doubts and you wanna ask real good questions about what are the benefits in my tapes and in general about me my journey and anything else like helping you understand something you are welcomed here baby 🫶🏻

Thank you for all my clients and all the nice people here that they put their trust in me 🫶🏻

Me being here in my free time doesn't have anything to do with anyone I am so free like I am living my life and I am free I love solving others issues like I don't have any issues to solve

I love coaching people (who paid for a tape or two or more)

I don't do it for free (it's free when you buy one tape at least)

And stop asking me to offer free coaching/tapes for you without paying me I am not a charity guys I am just a person who offering their services

Does Kim Kardashian give anyone her skims products (dresses... And more) for free? No.

Does a supermarket near you give people things to eat for free? No they have to pay

Also with all the knowledge I got since I was 14 I am not supposed to give you all what I learned for free I read a lot you didn't read anything you didn't even know what I read exists before this you don't even know how my benefits work!? You don't even know how I make my tapes?

And you think you deserve it for free??

You don't deserve my tapes for free!

Unless I feel it and unless you prove it to me...

And it shows from the first time I talk to anyone

It's not about asking me multiple times this doesn't work with me and you aren't a child!! 😭 Like come on go make your own tape and get away from me!

#law of assumption #loa #neville goddard #self concept #loassumption #void success #loa success #success stories loa #self development #self esteem

[noyaetnox]

OCTAVINELLE HEADCANONS:

The series: DIASOMNIA / HEARTSLABYUL / OCTAVINELLE / POMEFIORE / SAVANACLAW

I refer to the trio as bubble guppies (just so you guys know)

- there's a 5050 chance he will confess his feelings. Like I strongly believe it depends on the situation and his mood, but he may just blurt out his feelings or simply not say a word. I guess you'll just have to wait and find out

- since valentine's approaching, let's talk about that 😌

-> you all spend it together no matter what, I really think he's one of those romantic people. He may not seem like it, but he's actually lovely and wants to experience proper love, which in return means a really nice valentine's 10/10

- think all your declarations of love are just a joke at first (it was the only way you could get through his thick skull 😡), untill something major happened and he realized it would've been too far for just a prank and suddenly you all are dating and lovey dovey (references to my Azul fic)

- dates with him are so fun! He brings you to all this great places and you enjoy it so much it's impossible. Most of them are near bodies of water, but not all for sure. That said, they tend to be more scenic. Like, he doesn't really like going to cinemas or places with many people, so they're usually somewhat private and most of the time it's just the two of you (can't say you hate it)

- that said, he will try to bring contracts into your relationship (it's who he is 😔), so expect to receive offers from him which are like:

1. Go on a date this Thursday, in return you will receive a kiss

2. Hold his hand outside, the two of you will have lunch together then

3. 1 kiss = 1 minute of hugging

I don't make the rules 💁 he does

- Azul has this reputation of like, an emotionless contract guy that will destroy your life but he's just so silly goofy. I strongly believe he just has like this thing where he says things in the spur of the moment and it's the funniest thing you've ever heard but nobody ever returns to that and you're just dying (he is very proud of himself, laugh more at his attempts at jokes)

- he doesn't really buy you that many gifts, but he does from time to time and it's the most Doki Doki thing. Like, if he gets you a present it's so thought over and through and you're guaranteed to love so much you want to burst (another ego boost for him)

- you in the other hand, give him stuff all the time. You had some international coins you have collected during your time back in your world, and since they're no use to you (and most of them won't buy you anything because it's like 10-20 cents), you give them to him everytime one of them pops up. His expression is priceless, it's like a child on Christmas Day (expect it's Azul and he is not a child on Christmas Day). Bring him more useless shit and he will treasure (he is secretly a hoarder)

- isn't really into PDA, mostly because it shows a weakness of his, so you just have to sneak kisses and then bolt away because he will chase you (or allow Floyd to chase you, but safely) and you're scared but he's low-key into that so-

- you two might hold hands while walking together, although his get sweaty because he's so nervous from the situation and then he's nervous because he's nervous and his hands are sweating and you won't like and think he's gross and- (let him know it's just his paranoia)

- so many words yet I've written nothing 😮‍💨

- ANYWAY! No late night cuddle sessions because bro sleeps like a log, I'm talking *snore* mimimimi 😐☝️

-> you had attempted sleepovers, but he actually sleeps so you don't do it anymore (not saying sleeping with him isn't nice but just, bro 😮‍💨. Also his sleeping clothes are also silly:

"Oh, but Noya that is inaccurate" SHUT! HE DOES AND I REFUSE TO HEAR ANYONE ELSE OUT

- you take part in his schemes 🤭 Adeuce hate that they can't even count on you because you're on Azul's side(merehehe)

- platonic: you've never felt so taken care of in your life as you do while being friends with the bubble guppies, yet here you are. They ofc you'll do the same when you're dating, but like it's not the same. Similar, but different none the less. Everyone will know you're Azul's friend and that they should keep their distance unless they want a wild Floyd on their tail ☺️

OH! I think he also may be uncomfy around blood. Trey wouldn't handle it, but I feel like Azul will just be visibly uncomfortable and disgusted. He won't pass out, tho... I think

- he's almost perfect but he likes mushrooms 😰 like genuinely is actively searching for them to eat??? Why does he do that?

- expect to suddenly have like half of your diet be mushrooms, of which only like 60% is of known origin and kind. Does he want to poison you? I guess we'll never know 😗🫶

- I have a feeling Jade wouldn't walk with you to school, idk why. It's just like, he doesn't give me the vibes, so you two are not walking to school. That's it.

- he does protect you, tho. And you really have a feeling that he doesn't, because many of the problems you run into are caused by him for his own amusement (which also includes being your knight in shining armor)

"No, the last time I had attempted to cut your finger off with craft scissors was a month ago," bro that doesn't make it better 😰 (fun fact: you probably won't be able to cut off your finger but you can easily cut skin!)

- that said, for the longest time you didn't feel like you two were in a relationship, because almost nothing changed about him. Yes, he gave you kisses and held your hand sometimes, but that was it. It took Azul to tell you that it's because he basically had a crush on you from the start and he doesn't act the way he does around you around anyone else. After that, you started noticing that Azul was telling the truth, and he does in fact act different around you than anyone else. It made you so happy that Jade noticed and he was very confused

- I believe you had to be the one to confess. But the worst part? You didn't know he liked you Bach until that confession. You might be confused if you don't think like me, but I'll try my best to explain. So. What I mean is that Jade did have a crush on you, but he hid it very well (from you at least, since Azul and Floyd noticed right away - which was just because they had known him for years). He was doing that while trying to decide whether to pursue you romantically or not, so it lasted a few weeks. Once he decided that he actually likes you fr and what's to have something special going on with you, he's decided to make a move. Now, he didn't make it obvious, no no no! He started teasing you, and flirting in a way that wasn't straight up, but made you rethink life and become frustrated because he was flirting one second and then the next he was acting like nothing happened? Yeah, no! So once it became too much for you (one day while you guys were hanging out and it happened again) you angrily yelled your confession into his face (you called him a little shit for playing with your heart, and you were so angry in the moment you didn't even care about the answer [in the moment]). He had that smug face as he told you he feels the same way and also likes you, that made you even more angry - basically your first ever kiss was a very angry one initiated by you.

- he doesn't buy you many gifts, not because he's like Azul, but he believes they should be special because if you received a gift everytime you saw each other, you would appreciate them less and less. That's why you only receive mushrooms from him (it's on you what you do with them - he told you [what will you do? Cuz I would throw them out]) regularly. He does bring flowers to dates for you, though, because he heard that it's a human custom, so he tries to appeal to you

- which brings me, the inter-relationship situation would be the best with Jade. Because he's so smart, he spent a lot of time looking into humans, and you're like a cool person so you looked into merfolk once you became friends with the bubble guppies, so it's like very balanced. You communicate well about matters, and it's just so? Nice??? There's still some misunderstandings here and there, but it's definitely very little! (And both of you sometimes forget, since you lived with only your customs for most of your lives, but since the situation is the same, there's the mutual understanding and all is well at the end of the day)

- you quickly become the couple everyone's talking about at NRC (not gonna lie, it feeds your ego as much as it does Jade's, so you two just feel powerful)

- dates with him are usually outside activities, but like calm. Walks, sightseeing (since none of you are from around the NRC location originally), HIKING, and sometimes you swim together. You enjoy them greatly, because Jade just looks so happy, and that's all you care about

- he still pulls pranks on you and treats you like a test subject. But it is slightly less than before and most of them are harmless! Which is good! You don't fear for your life as much anymore

- platonic: would be different from dating. He still would protect you, and do many of the things he does in a relationship. BUT. He will treat you like shit also. It's not the nice balance anymore, you fear for your life. Everyday is a challenge with Jade around and you sometimes question if he actually likes you. He does, since he doesn't necessarily 🙄 want you dead, okay?

- I love Floyd but I have a hard time writing for him, so I want to apologize if it isn't as great 😔

- now, it is no secret Floyd doesn't think much. Not in a "he's stupid" way, but in a "speaks whatever is on his mind" way. If he was in the Saiki K. universe, Saiki would destroy his existence.

-> this causes a lot of problems, both relationship and the normal kind

-> you kind of learn to live with it and his nature, but you're always surprised, still

- I strongly believe he also surprises himself sometimes. Like, he would say something and you would see it on his face, this like flash of surprise at what he said, but the same could be said about his actions.

- he confessed the first. He basically liked you right away, because you were squeezable, and liked the bubble guppies, which was enough for him at the beginning

-> his confession was just him one day talking to his brother, when Jade said something about them going somewhere and Floyd got upset because he didn't want to go and he said something like: "But I can't leave the shrimpy here alone, who would shower them with love?" and he would look at you and go: "I want to be your lover, shrimpy," and you can't say no, because he wasn't asking 🥲

- that is how most of your relationship is. Floyd doesn't ask, he makes orders and commands

- many people are curios about your relationship and keep asking you questions, since it baffled them. When Floyd found out that people were stopping you in his just to ask stupid question, he made it a rule to walk with you down the halls (he did do even before, but not at all times) and you were never approached again 🤌

- the relationship, though, is very fresh but you can never expect what will happen. Floyd has scary mood swings, but you both have made a set rules to follow when it happens. Like if he gets too angry and you're actually scared, you are allowed to simply leave and protect yourself (he will be angry about it in the moment but once he's feeling better he will praise you for acting as you should've have), it is stressful, but you can live with it.

- he remembers the craziest things, especially if it has something to do with you (but also other random things). Your birthday, of course, but even if you two are talking and you just mentioned the tiniest bit of like, your previous life lore EVEN if it's was a mistake because you just blurted something you remembered in the moment, he will remember. "Didn't you say you had a friend who liked this?" "Oh, weren't you 5 the last time you had this?" "Now that was the name of your first pet, this one is: ". And it's scary! How does he have such good memory? I don't know!

- he gets distracted easily, so you have to get used to it

- he does these things... Zoomies. Like dogs? You know when dogs have this burst of energy and they start running and jumping around? Yeah, Floyd does that. He just starts circling you, or runs after someone he was and wants to bully (you're just glad it isn't you, tbh)

- dates with him, though, are very lazy. He does make awesome plans, but you two meet up, he tells you he doesn't feel like it anymore and so you just end up lazing around and cuddling, then he gets angry so he talks to you about his anger, then he gets sleepy so you nap, then he gets excited so he shows you the things he has in his room or at the dorm and then he suddenly wants you to go home

- I promise he actually loves you.

- you guys say "I love you" to each other a lot. Even though some observers will say you overuse the phrase, both of you know that no matter where or how you say it, it holds the same meaning as it does during intimate and weak moments. You guys love each other, why not let the other person know?

- platonic: basically the relationship but without the kisses and "I love you"s. I believe he's a cuddler and a hand holder even without any romantic feelings.

- you two do hang out all the time, though. Like at this point you might as well be living together with how much you're seen with one another. Frequently bought together. If someone invites you somewhere, they have to specify that it's without Floyd otherwise he will show up, same vice versa

- the relationship, though, is very cute and I support it greatly 😌🙏

Not proofread because I was in a rush! I got this great idea for a Lilia fic and I have strated writing it while writing this and my creativity is just chaos right now, anyway I hope you liked it and see you in the next part - Pomefiore!

#disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #twst #twst headcanons #azul x y/n #azul x gn reader #azul x reader #azul #jade x y/n #jade x gn reader #jade x reader #floyd x y/n #floyd x gn reader #floyd x reader #floyd #jade #azul x you #jade x you #floyd x you #azul ashengrotto #jade leech #floyd leech

[gregoftom]

ok thank GOD we survived another week CMON TOM GIRL THAT’S IT. okay well here’s my tg two cents since i’ve finished the episode. 

so here’s the thing. i seen a post or two really crushing their rs down to bare bones basic cynicism it’s only about what they can do for each other businesswise and i gotta say, kids could you lighten up a little? tom wasn’t especially nice to greg this episode or anything, but i don’t think he was like. awful? or anything? he’s exhausted and stressed ofc he’s gonna snap, and ofc he’s not going to like greg being distracted and not paying full attention to him when they’re alone together and he specifically made sure no one else was there. he let greg go to the funeral first even though we Know he feels safer when greg goes in to things like this with him [re: logan’s wake] and ofc he’s gonna need greg going to bat for him to mencken making sure to repeatedly mention tom and putting what he’s learned into putting tom forward and while i get that it can suck not to see some sort of appreciation towards greg i mean, was it really that bad?

did he throw anything at him? did he call him any cruel names? did he bully him specifically beyond what he might say to other atn employees? did he do anything from his old ways except for order greg around?

no. and see, tom is probably very insecure at this point. what does he have to offer greg, except his love? and where has he been before where his love has been rejected? where it’s not been good enough? where it’s not been respected? so he’s gonna order greg around bc he wants to give a show of, see i’m still your superior and i can still take care of you i promise!! even though they both know full well that greg outranks him by now. if greg reaches a point in power and prosperity rivalling or even surpassing shiv then, oh boy here we go again! i’ve got nothing to offer you but my love and it won’t be good enough, just like last time. 

tom has all these grandiose ideas of romantic runaways, leave this life behind and come with me but regardless of everything going on, for him personally it’s not as simple as that. he doesn’t see a worth to the other person unless he can give them protection or give them something in return. with shiv i think he figured that great sex, being servile to her and helping her rise to power to gain his own at the same time is what kept it going. and then after that falls apart he has his love. but the type of love he wants to give is not what shiv wants or responds to i believe. that’s not a slight on her it’s just. i don’t see them being able to work at least not without a lot of personal and marriage therapy and like. i don’t think either of them would go for that. he also has these very traditional ideas of a relationship i feel, and the way that he justifies his feelings towards greg is to make a joke out of it, go along with the whole disgusting brothers bit [which personally i think is Only referring to them being each other’s wingmen in scoring, which is interesting considering what shiv said about it and how annoyed she got about greg, bringing him up by name so i’m not exactly sure how much “scoring” was done, at least with women lmfao] add a splash of internalised homophobia, etc. and i think shiv, understandably, due to her repeated experiences of misogyny pushes back against that.

hear me out. it’s actually GOOD for tom to act the way he did towards greg in contrast to how he did to shiv! mattmac has said COUNTLESS times that tom is afraid of shiv. we’ve seen him with a black eye caused by her [before anybody starts i KNOW he flicked her ear and that was NOT cool, but let’s not forget this] and mm commented on how he changes his voice to a higher pitch around her, both in servitude and in being afraid. he’s on eggshells around her. the balcony fight was the first time we saw that not being the case. yeah i get that it’s disappointing to see him backtrack slightly with shiv, be kind to her and not to greg. to see him have to get permission from her to do things like sleep in contrast to with greg, where his basic needs are just met instead of begged for. but he’s NOT backtracking with greg! he’s NOT reverting to previous behaviours with him! and he’s being his honest true self with him!

yes okay he’s snapping at greg! he hung up on him! he’s ordering him around! but he’s insecure; of course he is, he probably thinks greg will walk! greg has gravitated to power repeatedly, why shouldn’t tom be afraid that his feelings for greg aren’t enough to keep him loyal to him, esp when those feelings have not been enough before? yes greg has proven himself a couple of times but cycles and fears are hard to break! we already have “you’ll do it with matsson and not with me?” paired with “i want YOU gregging for me!” like, what more do you need? tom wants to present as still in control and at point where he has the right to tell greg what to do because he wants to show he can make good on their deal, not knowing that greg actually cares about him personally too [which we know for a fact because he goes so mf hard for tom and has done ever since the deal in 3.09. it is not just about gain and i think we can see that’s a fact by now. what leverage does tom have that he could maintain?]

i’m not about to say that the business side of their relationship doesn’t exist at all. i’m not about to say that greg will not use tom, or tom will not use greg. i’m not about to say there’s no negative or manipulative parts of their relationship. but to reduce it to simply this, is just not true. there’s much, much more to it than that. i guess i get a little defensive on this part bc i hate a mlm pairing being lessened to just a joke, or not to be taken seriously, or well pack it up guys, because it didn’t mean anything and was Only a way for the both of them to get ahead and that’s all it ever was.

nah. it wasn’t just that, sorry. and i know the show will probably ditch them, i’m not gonna say succ will let them run off into the sunset. this ain’t my first rodeo. i’ve been in fandom for like 17 years, i know the game, i know how it works. i know tom/shiv is probably endgame in the long run. but i’m just saying, y’all gotta stop reducing it to something so minimal when clearly the dynamic between them captured not only shippers, but general audiences around the globe. i guess i don’t like when ppl contribute to letting the show give it a back seat and give in to it trying to really demean it to less than it actually was. bc we know and THEY know that it was deeper than that. honestly i have a feeling jesse might’ve been held back by hbo judging by the scripts, plus we know there was a lot of shit cut for time, but i digress.

i’ve been saying this for a while now, but if tom and greg are still in each other’s lives in some way by the end of the show, there’s always hope for tg. they don’t have to kiss or declare their love. it’s not as though it’s never been done with a het ship before, take x files mulder and scully for example. yes i know they were eventually “canon” to the point they were in a relationship, but not for years! years! and even then at one point they broke up but were still in each other’s lives with the chance to find each other again and reconcile, which they did!

tom and greg just have to be able to reach other in some capacity, for it to be a possibility. and we have creators in the community to explore how that would work.

<3

#tomgreg #SORRY THIS IS SO FUCKING LONG #but i'm. como se dice....... a lil bit pressed!!!!! #the show is probably gonna have me eating my words but idc i'll take the l. i'll be satisfied as long as i get the base i wanted #now to get some lunch and then continue w my next tg art wheeeee

[missmaniac25]

Night Life Part 2 - Kim Hongjoong

Tada, the sequel that literally only my bestie asked for. Love you @eazycel 😘 Part 1 can be found here

HongjoongxFem!reader Word count: 2.5K Warnings: drinking, creepy guy, insecure reader Disclaimer: same as last time, i aint ever been in a club...

~~~

The truth was that it had been a shit day. Running out of breakfast cereal, missing the bus, forgetting your lunch and the worst piece of all – your colleague. To give him some credit, he wasn’t that bad overall. He was pleasant to work with and a relatively nice person. But he had to pick today to try and come onto you.

“Yeah, so if you want to grab a drink sometime, I’d really love that!” Daniel said, chipper as anything.

In truth, you wanted nothing to do with him in that way, and all you could think about was going home to your loving boyfriend.

“Daniel,” you started, trying to be nice in your tiredness. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re very nice but you’re not for me.”

“Hey, no worries.” He smiled and seemed to take it well. “It was worth an ask.”

With that out of the way, you thanked him for understanding, packed up your belongings and finely made your way home.

Hongjoong knew you. He knew you like the back of his hand. So, when you dragged yourself through the front door of your shared apartment and flopped on the couch without so much as a word, Hongjoong knew that something was wrong but that you didn’t want to talk about it yet. Instead, he made a cup of tea, pulled the biscuit tin from the shelf and joined you on the couch.

“When you’re ready,” he said, pulling you into his side. “I’m here for you, love.”

You let yourself be lulled by his presence and thanked your lucky stars that he was in your life.

“Thank you.” Was all you managed to say.

Hongjoong kissed your head, only saying ‘I love you’ in reply.

You had told Hongjoong everything the next morning to which his response had been to smother you in kisses until you couldn’t breathe, telling you over and over how much he cared about you. On the surface, you knew he meant just that but underneath it was that he was also doing it to make sure that you knew that no one stood a chance with you as long as he was around.

Not that you would ever be with anyone else. Hongjoong was everything and more that you ever needed.

~

“What is happening this evening, love?” Hongjoong asks as he watches you flutter around the room.

“Tonight is the staff outing thing,” you say, sitting down to put your shoes on. “I really don’t want to go but it’ll look bad if I bail.”

Your boyfriend knows that the night life bug still hasn’t bitten you, despite having been back to ‘Utopia’ a handful of times since that night with your friends. You’d almost always been up in the VIP balcony or behind the DJ’s booth with Mingi – somewhere safe and where Hongjoong could check in with you easily. He lived to make sure you were happy and comfortable.

“You know that you can go for a bit and then come home.” He held your hand and helped you up. “Or you could come keep me company at work.”

You kissed him on the cheek before gathering the last of your belongings.

“I’ll probably just come home,” you said. “But I’ll be waiting for you, like always.”

Hongjoong walks you to the door, stealing one last kiss from you before wishing you good luck, to which you laugh.

“Thank you, I’ll need it.”

The dinner had been calm and you had found yourself having a good time. So much so that when someone suggested going to a club, you didn’t retreat at the idea. And once the name ‘Utopia’ had been brought up and everyone agreed that that’s where they wanted to go, you had made up your mind.

“It’s a really nice place,” you offer your two cents, surprising the people around you. “I’ve gone there once or twice and I’ve never had a bad experience there.”

“Alright!” Daniel says, ushering everyone out of the restaurant. “Let’s hit the club!”

And that’s how you find yourself back in your boyfriend’s club, surrounded by your colleagues. The crowd around you seems to be having a good time as they dance to Mingi’s playlist for the night, some of then singing loud enough to be heard over the music. The atmosphere getting under your skin and you can’t help the smile forming on your face. Your boyfriend built this place from the ground up. How could you not be proud?

As always, you peak up at the VIP balcony, but can only see Yeosang serving drinks to some clientele; no sign of Hongjoong.

“You thinking of going up there?”

You turn to see Daniel standing behind you, drink in hand. He gestures to where you were looking and when you look back, Yeosang is back behind his minibar.

“Not tonight,” you answer, giving him a half smile. “Maybe another day.”

He laughs loudly and it makes you take a step back. His face is red – you deem that he’s had a few.

“You’re so funny.” Daniel closes the space between you again. “What I wouldn’t do to make you laugh more.”

The hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

“Yeah, well…” You try to move away again, not knowing how to respond.

A hand creeps around your waist and it causes your stomach to drop.

“Let go of me.”

“Dance with me!”

“No, let go of me!”

You manage to wiggle out of Daniel’s grasp. He’s right on top of you though. The people around you are blocking your line of sight – trying to find someone you can go to for safety.

Panic is starting to take over and you know you have to get away.

“Hey, where are you going?” Daniel yells as he stumbles after you.

Managing to slip through the people, you get to the bar.

“San!” You practically shout, hearing the shakiness in your own voice. “San, please!”

The bartender spots you and hurriedly makes his way to you.

“Is everything ok?” He asks, noting the way you keep glancing back to the dance floor.

You don’t get to answer him as Daniel emerges from the people behind you, beelining for you. San can see how quickly you tense up and he knows that if he doesn’t act fast, his boss will have his head. Faster than you can blink, he’s made his way around the bar and manoeuvring his way between you and Daniel.

“Wooyoung!” San calls to the younger bartender. “Call in the calvary.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice and you see him dash off in the opposite direction to where you and San stand.

“Who the fuck is this?” Daniel’s words are starting to slur. “Your boyfriend?”

“I’m the bartender. I’m also her boyfriend’s friend so if you don’t leave now, I’ll have to have you thrown out.”

San’s voice doesn’t waver, even when Daniel steps up to him. Your coworker is trying clearly trying to intimidate the bartender as he shoves him lightly.

“Please don’t make this worse,” you try to de-escalate the situation.

“That depends on him,” San comments.

A hand on your shoulder causes you to whirl around, only to come face to face with Yunho, and Jongho just behind him.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he says as a commotion breaks out behind you.

The three of you all stare as San pins Daniel to the bar, one arm twisted behind his back. Jongho is quick to jump to attention, joining the bartender in keeping Daniel down.

“The fuck are you doing to me?” He snarls, trying his hardest to get free. “I paid to get into this club, you can’t treat me like this!”

A new voice sounds clearly over the music.

“Can’t I?”

Hongjoong stands facing the scene, Seonghwa right behind him. You can’t help yourself as you run to him, slotting yourself against his side, and feeling his arm around you is all the comfort you need.

“Who are you?” Daniel slurs some more as San and Jongho hold him up to face Hongjoong.

Hongjoong ignores him, turning you to.

“Are you ok?” He lightly runs his thumb along your cheek.

“Better now that you’re here.”

For a brief second, there’s a smile on his face before he ushers you to Seonghwa’s side.

“Who am I?” He finally turns his attention to the mess. “Well, not only am I the owner of this club, so that means I have the power to decide who’s allowed in and who’s not. I’m also the boyfriend of the woman you won’t leave alone.”

It seems that Hongjoong’s words aren’t registering in Daniel’s brain as laughs.

“You? The dating her? Nah, why would you date someone like her?”

All the men around you stiffen and you even notice Yunho grimace. Seonghwa takes your hand in his, giving it a light squeeze, and it’s greatly appreciated.

Slowly, and with venom in his eyes, Hongjoong steps up close to Daniel.

“You don’t deserve her anyways.” He fishes Daniel’s wallet out of his pocket and hands it to Yunho. “Find his ID. He’s blacklisted from my club.”

His sentence is barely done and San and Jongho are dragging Daniel off, kicking and screaming, Yunho right behind them. People on the dancefloor quickly get out of their way, and you see your other co-workers staring with their eyes wide. Mingi’s voice comes over the speakers.

“That’s your reminder not to be a jerk.”

There’s a soft chuckle before the music picks up again and everyone goes back to what they were doing.

Seonghwa lets you go and you want nothing more than to lose yourself in Hongjoong and never come out. Tears are threatening to spill but you don’t want to cry here.

But because Hongjoong knows you like the back of his hand, he’s quick to gather you to his side and lead you upstairs, pushing open the door to his office. The noise of the club fades as the door closes.

It’s just you and him.

You collapse into his arms which hold you tightly against him, and start to sob, everything suddenly becoming all too much. Hongjoong just holds you for a while, using the time to calm himself down. When he finally feels like his blood is no longer racing, he looks down at you.

“Hey,” Hongjoong says softly and he calls again when you don’t look up immediately. “It’s ok. I got you. He’s gone.”

You know he’s right, Daniel is gone, but it’s something that he said that’s still ringing in your ear.

“Why are you with me, Hongjoong?”

Your boyfriend’s lips turn down and his eyebrows furrow.

“Love, don’t listen to what he said. He was trying to get a rise out of me; it nearly worked too.”

You shake your head, letting insecurity slip in. He was rich, successful, good looking. He probably had girls and boys fawning over him every night, so why did he keep coming home to you?

“Love, my love.” Hongjoong delicately brushed away the tears on your cheeks. “You are everything I could ever want. No one else understands like you do. No one else could be so patient with me like you are. If anything, I’m not good enough for you.”

You shake your head at his words but he’s quick with an answer.

“What kind of good boyfriend leaves the house when his girlfriend just arrives home, leaves her alone the whole night and only comes home early in the morning and expects her to still be there for him? Love, you barely get to see me but you still love me with everything in you. Why? You should be angry, frustrated. You should despise me.”

The shaking of your head becomes furious.

“Never. I could never despise you,” you tell him, looking into his eyes. “I am so in love with you. Your work is so important to you and that means it’s important to me too. And when we are together, you make those moments special, even if they should be ordinary.”

You’re about to lean in and kiss him when there’s a knock on the door. You can feel Hongjoong’s breath as he sighs and it almost makes you laugh.

“Who is it?” He calls.

Yeosang and Jongho enter, the former carrying two glasses.

“It’s been taken care of,” Jongho informs you both as the glasses are put down.

“An ice water to help calm you down,” Yeosang says to you before looking at Hongjoong. “And a whiskey for the boss.”

 You both give them your thanks and Hongjoong dismisses them. He leads you to the couch he has up against one wall and sits next to you, passing your glass to you.

“This is going to make work very awkward on Monday,” you suddenly realise, taking a small sip.

Your boyfriend stays quiet and you know he’s thinking things through; going through different options of how to deal with it.

“You could always work for me instead.”

At that you laugh. The sound is music to Hongjoong’s ears and he smiles.

“And pray tell what is it that I would do?” You ask, snuggling into his body once more.

“I’m sure we could find a title for you but really you could just sit in the VIP balcony looking pretty.”

“Like the queen of the club?”

Hongjoong hums and you can’t believe that’s he’s actually considering it.

“No,” you let him know. “That’s not a real job. I’ll figure it out, babe.”

Hongjoong plants a kiss to the top of your head.

“If you change your mind, the offer still stands.” He informs you. “Say the word and I’ll have you here with me every night. My queen, my love.”

#kim hongjoongxreader #kim hongjoong fanfic #kim hongjoong au #ok enough of that #Hongjoong #Miss Maniacs Writing

[fenris-returns]

sorry if this is cringe or too personal of a question, but what does north euro pagan living day-to-day look like? are there daily prayers or rituals you do, do you talk to family members that have passed? do you take any aspects of Christianity and repurpose them towards your faith? like baptisms or confessions or really anything I guess, since they're repurposed a lot of pagan holy days and rituals for themselves, idk I'm still really new to this and its hard to find guys that aren't cringe or like, wiccan lol. or OLD

Not cringe at all! I think it’s fair. To be honest my daily habits probably aren’t terribly different from most peoples, although I do make sure to find time in the middle of the day and the evening to at least say thanks or prayers. It’s nothing special, just reaching out. As far as holidays and baptism and things of that nature, it’s important to know that Europeans were baptizing by sprinkling water over children long before Christianity came to Europe. Norse naming ceremonies for a newborn child included the father sprinkling water over the child and speaking their name. The more you can absorb historically to give yourself context for how many “Christian” ideals are actually just European traditions and morals, the better.

Weekly I sit down in front of the altar and bow my head and pray with an offering, usually of something worthwhile like alcohol or food that’s been made from scratch, and offerings should be left outside as often as possible. It’s important to remember two things, in my opinion, regarding prayer and offerings.

Number one, the gods are not vending machines. I don’t sit down every week and ask to win the lottery or for a raise at work or something like that. I ask for guidance, I ask for strength, I ask for wisdom, and I thank them for everything they’ve done for me so far. I make offerings because I love the gods and they take care of me, not because I’m hoping to get something out of it. This separates me from Christians because this is not an attempt at getting a ticket into heaven by going to church and making offerings. This is from my heart and soul, straight to the gods themselves.

Number two, you are not equals with them. They are the GODS, not just some human ancestors. We are their flesh and blood, and you ought to take pride in this, but we are simply still human beings. You need to make offerings, and it needs to be something worthwhile. It should cost you blood, sweat, and tears if possible. It’s not about your suffering, or to fulfill the monetary needs of a church - it is to show your continued devotion and your thankfulness for what has been given in the past.

Oh, and on one last thing, on your question about speaking to dead family members, do not do that. They’re dead. Don’t disturb their peace, or worse yet, get something else in your home in the mix. My cousin spent many years trying to communicate with her late brother, my other cousin, and she has suffered greatly for it. The dead can speak to us when we die and join them, and those that ride with the wild hunt are doing more important things, anyway. Just my two cents.

Also hey man I’m KIND of old now. I’m turning fucking 30 in a couple months 🥲

#paganism #pagan #religion

[frozenoj]

Disability Approved Side Hustles

I've been planning on making a video/tiktok series about this for like two months—but, you know, disabled—so maybe I'll update it to be fancier later. Who knows?

Note: None of these are going to make you enough to live on, either together or separately, but sometimes every little bit counts!

Bridge Money - referral code TWSCBQ

This is the simplest/easiest of my suggestions. Watch up to 25 ads a day for 1 cent each. Yeah, I know that's only like $7 a month if you remember most days. But it's so easy to do while doing almost anything else (that let's you use a hand for a sec every 30 secs or so) that it's just $7 you're leaving on the table if you don't do it.

You also get 2 cents cash back for purchases if you link a card. They have random offers for $4 if you do x thing, games you earn 1 cent a minute for playing, etc. But I mainly just get my 25 cents each day.

Please use a referral code, either mine or someone else's, because both people get $1!

Mistplay - referral in link (android only)

This is the main one I use. You play games on an android device and earn units you can then buy giftcards with. This is good if on SSI because it doesn't go to your bank account! But it does have paypal as an option if that's not a concern. I've earned over $400 so far, and someone more dedicated could have earned more in the same time frame. (I don't want to burn out.)

The best strategy is to play games that have the most "speed" bubbles first, and up to checkpoint 5, then switch games. Find one "loyalty game" that gives 4 gems per $1 and spend $2 to get to silver status (should last two months). DO NOT UNINSTAL THAT GAME! As long as you're actively using the app, you'll make the $2 back from the bonuses. Sometimes you'll get a "Daily Task" to get to checkpoint 6+ and depending on the reward it might be worth it then. If a game is boosted to like 8 speed bubbles, it can also be worth it go past checkpoint 5. Use your judgement.

Playwell - don't think it does referrals?

Very similar to Mistplay. If you like playing games on your phone and want to play one Mistplay doesn't have, it might be here. (I refuse to play games for free anymore lol.) I mostly just have it because sometimes I'm able to double dip. Right now I am playing Merge Inn which is a 4 speed bubble game on Mistplay and earns 5k points per 15 minutes on Playwell. I'm going past checkpoint 5 for this one because I'll earn $2 if I get to level 31 in the game through Playwell plus the time based rewards. And I just like merging games.

Swagbucks - referral in link

Swagbucks has a ton of stuff. I would suggest you actually look up a post specific to that to see all the options because it's like surveys, receipts, offer walls, coupons, just... a lot.

But like Mistplay and Playwell it also does games. And like Playwell you can also sometimes double dip! So I'll check there and see if they have an offer for games that have higher speed bubbles on Mistplay. Some of the offers are really hard and time consuming so def look into it first, though. You can often find guides on reddit for getting them done on time.

Atlas Earth - referral code BAMSSE

This is going to seem like a scam at first. I actually had it downloaded for a few weeks, thought it was too much effort for too little return, stopped using it, and then changed my mind. It has a sort of snowball effect so at the beginning you'll make basically nothing—fractions of a cent kinda nothing—but over time have the potential to make a few hundred bucks a year.

At the beginning it is more important to be hard core about it. I had a timer set every 20 minutes for a while lol. Now, I'm a bit more lax. If I kept up the timer I could increase my earnings faster but again, don't want to burn out. I'm at the point now where I'll make about $5 a month as long as I get on every 5-6 hours for a couple minutes.

This is another one where you need to use a referral code, even if not mine! You get 200 "atlas bucks" for free after buying your 10th plot of land as long as you use a referral code before buying I think your second. I really regret not using a code myself!

Upside - referral TASHA43729

This one is more about saving money than making money. They do cash back on gas and some other things. I recently drove from PA to FL and got $28 in cash back for the gas we bought on the trip down. (Didn't really use it on the way back, because Grandma gave us some giftcards. 🥰) You can also get 5-20% at random restaurants and like Bath & Body Works?? The ads say also grocery stores but we don't have any that take part in our area. You can (and we did) use this in conjunction with the 2 cents from Bridge money, whatever cash back you get on the card itself, scanning the receipt, etc.

#disability #low income #side hustle #long post #neisvoid #mistplay #bridge money #upside #swagbucks #playwell #atlas earth

[auxiliarydetective]

Hi hun polite reminder people make OCs for fun and don't necessarily want to stick to canon. Your One Piece poet is useful for people who want to research and adhere to canon fandom lore but don't make it a prerequisite please as if we have to run everything by you for permission. Your tone is dictatorial in the nicest way and it's not on to tag people in your post either as it comes off as a critical rebuke that they're not doing it 'right'

Alright, I'm gonna try to respond to this as best as I can. Since you took time out of your day to write this, it's only fair I do the same.

First and most importantly of all, I'm not trying to police anyone's OCs. You're right, making OCs is about having fun. None of the tips in my post are mandatory. I was just trying to give a guideline for people who might struggle with the world of manga One Piece (which is ultimately what the live action is based off and will turn into in huge parts if it keeps running). I, personally, think immersion is very important for my OCs. It makes me happy when they fit into canon as if they belong there and whenever something about my OC gets contradicted through later installments in canon, I get pretty upset. So, in case anybody also feels like that, I made the post. That's who that post is for. If you're not one of those people, you're free to ignore it. It's not a lecture, nobody is forcing you to listen and apply it. Hell, even lectures aren't mandatory.

You said it yourself. You recognized who the post is for, that means you read it closely. With that in mind, I don’t understand why you think I'm making my points a prerequisite. I never said that and I never said you have to run things by me for permission. I said you can message me if you have questions or need help, not "message me before you post your OC or else it's illegal". It's about people who want their OCs to be canon-accurate not having to navigate 1000+ episodes/chapters worth of One Piece lore if they can ask a single question and get an answer instead. Nothing else.

My tone, I'm guessing where you get the prerequisite part from. I'm sorry, but it's not dictatorial at all. Dictatorial is a term you should be very careful with using. It is pointed, yes, but that's the tone in a lot of Tumblr posts, so I just tried to match that. If I wrote that post like a handbook or something, that would sound like making things mandatory, and it would make it dull to read, and I didn’t want that. If you want, you can give me suggestions to improve my tone and I'll see what I can do.

Now, the last point, you actually completely misunderstood what I was trying to say. Almost all of the people I tagged are people I know who I consider my friends. I know that they have One Piece OCs and we talked about those OCs, with me throwing in my two cents of canon knowledge to try and help make them fit in because I thought they might appreciate it or they asked me to. That's what I'm offering in that post, in a condensed form, the same things I told and offered them, because I felt like other people could maybe use them too. I tagged them to ask them to help spread that post to other people so they can maybe have some security being thrown into the chaotic fandom that is One Piece through an adaptation that offers only a very limited view on it at the current point in time. I wasn't trying to say that they were doing anything wrong at all and I'm pretty sure that they know that because of our previous interactions. The other people are people I tagged who I have only rarely interacted with, admittedly, but who I know to either have ties to people with OPLA OCs because I follow them or who I know to be very friendly and willing to help people. Again, no accusations here. I just wanted to help people and reach a wider audience because my blog is fairly small and unpopular. Finally, I intentionally didn’t tag them in the post itself but in a comment so that it was even easier for them to ignore it. Generally, I'm not very versed in Tumblr tagging etiquette, so if it's really not okay to tag people like that, those people can tell me themselves and I won't do it again.

Which brings me to my main point of this little response letter: You’re on the internet, you have the liberty to ignore things. So, the post wasn't for you. That's fine, you can ignore it. Even if you're one of the people I tagged, you're not obligated to follow my request and reblog the post. You can still ignore it and move on. But instead, you took the time to write your message, so I took the time to respond. If this didn't clear things up, feel free to send another message, I'm willing to talk

#ask #anon #i hope the tone is better in this one/gen #and to anyone reading this #if you ever have a problem with me or something i posted #we can talk things out

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Just gonna weigh in on the Hogwarts Legacy drama real quick

If you've dipped your toes in the tag, you've seen what a storm it is. Also, if you follow my posts, you likely already know my thoughts. Still.

I'm someone who's not giving Rowling one cent ever again, and I'm not buying the game for that reason. If at some point, I have the opportunity to play the game without supporting Rowling, then I probably will, out of curiosity if nothing else, but I'm definitely not going out of my way. Of course, I can always use an emulator, which is an easy enough solution, but we'll see.

I've not played, but I've seen footage, including details about the whole controversy with the Goblins. I have my doubts that they were ever intended to be a stereotype, but the stereotype still exists and this game...does not help. One of the primary antagonists is a Goblin and so far as I can tell, they don't make him sympathetic or offer the option to side with him. They should have done that, especially considering how many eyes are on the Goblins right now. This game could have been a chance to at least try and "redeem" them. Seems like it failed on that end. Which probably means it will wind up doing more harm in the long run. (I'm not Jewish, so I'm not really qualified to speculate, but it would follow the pattern.)

There's also the Rowling issue. That being, she's an active transphobe doing real harm and the money that goes into her pocket is then spent on contributing to this harm. Which is why I'm not buying the game and I don't believe you should either. I'm not a trans woman, which is who she primarily targets, but I am nonbinary, so I know where I stand and I choose to stand with pride.

That said. I'm not going to say you're a bad person if you do choose to play the game. (Especially if you pirate it.) I won't decry you or proclaim that you're not an ally, because to be frank...that's not really for me to decide. I can't speak to the actions you've taken in the past, or will take in the future. Only you know if your conscience is clear. Only you know what your beliefs are and what you're willing to sacrifice for them. Some of the more dedicated boy-cotters are drawing a line in the sand, arguing that anyone who plays Hogwarts Legacy has chosen their side, and stands with Antisemites and Transphobes. To me, that's senseless, and not altogether helpful.

To such folks, I have to say that I think your heart is definitely in the right place, and I appreciate the passionate defense. But you're attacking the wrong people. In some cases, I've seen people posting major spoilers online without tagging them, purely out of spite. That's...not helpful, and it's very immature. Punishing the average fan for wanting to play #ThatWizardGame isn't going to do anything but ruin their day. It won't stop Rowling's agenda. Really, I'm not sure what can at this point. Bigots will continue to inflict harm upon the world regardless of whether or not a single video game from an already timeless franchise does well. The Harry Potter brand makes a metric fuckton of money and so does Rowling. That would still be true even if the game bombed. I'm not saying we shouldn't do our parts to fight back, but I live in a dystopian capitalistic society and it's also not lost on me that this was always a rigged fight.

Because there's no ethical consumption under unregulated capitalism.

I realize that's a meme at this point, and I've seen a lot of arguments about this very point. I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment about most of it. For instance, I won't comment on the game developers and whether or not Hogwarts Legacy should be successful for their sake. That's a debate that I don't know enough to participate in. But I have seen allies who make a very good point, that there's a difference between having to buy clothes that were made in a sweat shop because public nudity is not an option...and having to go without a game you want. Those two things are worlds apart. I'm also aware that the idea of "separating art from the artist" doesn't really fly when said artist is still alive, still profiting from our support, and still has a platform with which she is doing genuine harm.

However, it strikes me as odd that this one game is what everything rides on. Because countless people follow mega-corporations that they do not have to, despite being self-proclaimed allies of the minorities that these corporations have always harmed. I'm willing to bet that some of the boy-cotters do as well. If playing Hogwarts Legacy makes you a transphobe, and an antisemite...then it stands to reason that having a Disney Plus subscription makes you a homophobe, and a racist. Nobody has to support them. Oh, but you just really want to watch Star Wars, right? I could say the same thing about anyone who has an Apple device. While Smartphones have become the only real phone on the market, there are other brands available. What about Marvel, and the fiasco with Chris Pratt? See, this is what I mean. This is why I feel like (most of us) have no right to judge other people for a choice that, to them, probably seems as meaningless as watching a Disney movie. Even if you're totally clean and have no metaphorical skeletons in your pocket, I still think judging the people who do is a bad idea, and a waste of your time.

Media is not the same as things that are essential to life, but it's an all-encompassing aspect of our culture and for a lot of people, it's almost like a kind of addiction. I think blaming the people who consume the problematic media is pointing your finger in the wrong direction. Make no mistake, there are bigots who will support this game, and do so proudly, specifically because they agree with Rowling's crap, but that's not going to be everyone. There will be people on our side who play the game, and I think alienating them is just a terrible move, pragmatically speaking. This gets into a bigger discussion about radical beliefs versus moderate beliefs but again, I am a pragmatist. The majority of my political views do fall on the "radical" side, but if we abandon the "moderates" because they're not "doing enough"...the other side will swoop in to win them over. I get that it might be frustrating, that you might not respect someone who claims to be an ally but chooses to play HPHL anyway. But if you can stomach it, you should, because we're much more likely to recruit them.

So that's my advice. Don't die on this hill. Because even if it shouldn't, it makes us look like the bad guys.

One more thing, if you think the game looks objectively bad, then fair enough, but...I have to assume at least some of you are kidding yourselves, or trying to bash HPHL just for the sake of it. Graphically, the game is very advanced, and I don't think it make me a bigot to say that it's aesthetically pleasing. This reminds me lot of the people who pretend the books are retroactively bad and "always were." It makes it very difficult to take you seriously. Cash cows don't emerge from crappy books. Rowling doesn't have to be a good person to be a skilled writer. Bad people can have talents, and there's a reason that Harry Potter took off. It's a great series. For a lot of us, it's more than that.

I'm someone who had a #HardChildhood and I'm (probably, but not diagnosed) neurodivergent in various ways that resulted in fiction being my escapism from the trauma of real life, the Harry Potter books being my first real taste of reading and writing. Stories and their universes have always been my passion, and Harry Potter was the first. It's a part of who I am, and I know I'm not alone in that. I know there are Potterheads out there who can't begin to imagine trying to cut HP out of themselves, and don't feel like they should have to. The books didn't hurt anyone, right? The game isn't responsible for Rowling's bigotry. Well, no, but supporting the game does translate to supporting her, as unfair as that might be. To such people who have dug in their heels, I get it. I really do. It's hard. People mock you for it and infantilize you, but it really is hard. For some of us, it's like grappling with a childhood friend or family member who turns their back on us.

I've struggled with this a lot, wrestled with myself and gone back and forth. What my responsibility is as an ally, what it says about me that I'm still a Harry Potter fan. What I should do about #ThatWizardGame. (Or as some of the critics have dubbed it "Blood Libel: The Game. Which is definitely provocative but I admit, it got a dark chuckle out of me.) For instance, how should we interact with the game? Do we refuse to acknowledge it's existence? Would that even help? Again, it's going to burn across the internet like fireworks, no matter what we do. Giving it the silent treatment won't change that. Anymore than refusing to buy the game will stop Rowling from being rich. (Which is not to say we shouldn't still try, just that it feels a little hopeless sometimes.)

But on the other hand, is talking about the game and engaging with it in the fandom, discussing the plot and characters and so on...is that acceptable? Or is it a slap in the face to the Jewish and Trans communities? For instance, my blog gets a lot of anon messages, and I can already tell I'm going to get several of them about Hogwarts Legacy. (I've already gotten a few.) Is it wrong for me to respond? Does it "count" if I haven't initiated the conversation? What if I feel inclined to craft an OC for this particular era of the Potterverse? Is that bad? It's not as though I'll be making posts saying "And now a word from our sponsor, Nord VPN Hogwarts Legacy!" It's a tricky field to navigate, though I'm sure most people boycotting the game would tell me not to interact at all and stop overthinking it. Still, as this blog has spent the last few years talking about Hogwarts Mystery...is that any better? I can see how giving #ThatWizardGame exposure is a problem. Then again...this is Tumblr. I feel as though Tumblr exposure should probably come with an asterisk. It's a "dead" website that is the antithesis of any other platform building site.

What about Let's Plays? Do I unsubscribe from any channel that plays this game? Because plenty of Let's Players do this for a living and their paycheck depends on playing all of the topical games. I hear that there are Hogwarts Legacy streams that are hosting donations to support the Trans community. Which is a downright hilarious middle finger to Rowling, but on the other hand, that could just as easily be done with a different game. One way or another, I have a friend who's making a Let's Play and she's told me outright that she doesn't want to get involved in the drama. Which I consider to be more than fair. Some people just don't want to get involved in politics. It's true that abstaining from these discussions is lot easier the more privilege you have, but that doesn't erase a person's right to make that choice. Politics can be murder on a person's mental health. Is it wrong for me to support my friend as she enjoys the game? I genuinely don't know.

I don't believe that simply asking questions or engaging in conversations is inherently bad. I'm rarely sure about what I should do and in my experience, people who are always certain can still make mistakes, but they're far less likely to believe they do. I don't believe it makes me a bad person or a false ally to weigh the various factors. Having these conversations, (with each other, not the bigots) and having them politely and in good faith, is how we grow as people. It's how we communicate. It's how we unite against threats like bigotry. Facing these threats can take courage, and integrity. Which isn't always easy, but no one ever said doing the right thing was easy. Doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. Each and every day, we make choices, and we have to determine which ones are good or bad. In this case, though, addressing my fellow potter-heads, those waiting in line to buy the game, those who have an emotional connection to this universe as I do...I can only encourage you to follow the word of a man we're all quite familiar with. A man who is... a lot of things, but he was also extremely wise.

We have to choose between what is right and what is easy.

At the end of the day, here's my point. It's just a video game. To the critics, remember that before you go bullying people for choosing to play it. (Or at least cancel your Disney + subscription first.) Rowling's empire does not live or die on a few nerds sharing head-canons in the back alley of a hellsite like this. But to the players, ask yourselves if engaging with HPHL is actually worth it. If it means that much to you. A simple video game isn't worth supporting antisemitic subtext from a transphobic creator and I think, deep down, a lot of you know that. There are plenty of other open world RPGs you can use to scratch that itch. Go play Witcher, go play Skyrim. If it's the Potterverse you're missing, just reread the books. (I assume you already have them.) But the game also isn't worth infighting among people who are basically on the same side. There's a difference between being a bigot and just being a nerd. Let's all try and remember who the real enemy is here, and do our part to resist them.

Because it really is just a video game. And these problems are much bigger than whether or not you boycott it.

(I welcome discussion in comments and reblogs, or if you want to go into my inbox, feel free. Let's just keep things friendly, or at least civil. So long as you stand with the Trans and Jewish communities, we are all on the same side.)

#Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy #Harry Potter #J.K. Rowling #Anti J.K. Rowling #Antisemitism #Transphobia #Allyship #Politics #Disney #Capitalism #Hogwarts Legacy #Long Post #Just one cat's opinion #Blair Speaks

[kaz3313]

for the fanfic ask game, F and L 👀👀

L: how many times do you revise your fic/chapter before posting?

This really depends on the length! If it’s a single fic around 1k or under I’ll usually write everything, revise once, post, read it over in case I need to edit anything real quick. I usually leave it for a few hours to a day so I have “fresh” eyes to look over it.

For longer fics I tend to read through parts of it as I go/revise as I’m making the fic. So if I’m at the end of a scene, and plan on writing another scene, I’ll look over what I have, revise, and then write more. I Also do read through the whole thing afterwards- and unless I’m on a time crunch I give myself at least a day after “finishing” it to revise.

F: Share a snippet from one of your fav dialouge scenes and explain why you’re proud of it:

(Everything is under a readmore because tumblr format makes things quite lengthy)

So I shall share two!! One from a fic I’ve posted and one from one I have not :)

(Snippet from Pit of Sorrow, Pit of Comfort):

“It could definitely be worse… Though I mean not to offend you, if it wasn't for Quan Yizhen I would’ve gone to Yin Yu. At the same time, he is far too subservient to me. You have a bit of a bite to you. What if I was left without either of you? Then who would I seek out?”

Seek out- there, the beginning of Hua Cheng’s only way to “cry for help”. Seeking out people he couldn’t care less for (their relationship was strictly business after all-).

“Crimso- Hua Cheng, would you like to do something to help your mood?”

“Yes, I’d rather this encounter be enjoyable. What would be the point of it otherwise?”

Instead of offering what was in his mind or anything he wanted to do Hua Cheng stood there- He Xuan, if not for his good judgment, would strangle him. Why couldn’t he just be one bit normal?

He, of course, would be expected to think of something.

“We could go beat the shit out of The Green Ghost?” He finally offered.

(Snippet end)

I really enjoyed when I wrote this and posted because I’ve seen miscommunication used a lot for angst (understandably) but I really enjoy using it for humor. Tbh I really love the dialogue in this fic in general because of Hua Cheng’s nonchalant attitude and He Xuan’s bubbling worry about him while also trying to keep himself more neutral. It was a fun piece to work on!

Snippet from (Part two in a series and fic unnamed). Please note is rough draft so descriptors will be added when I do post it:

“Randy, we need you back. Soon as possible- you can come in tomorrow even. You don’t have to go on the bullshit training, you know your shit, and same hours as before.”

“Is it cause I’m the only one who’ll work with crazy-“

“We can’t find anyone else who’s willingly to work with Karen,” He sounded oh so desperate.

“And people have been-“

“I can’t believe it but people have been asking about you. You know seemingly know every actor, plot, and directors of every movie here”

“Yeah, also I enjoy cl-“

“And of course you’ll have to close again on weekends but you never minded that. So how about it?”

“Under a few conditions. Number one, I get my keys back, the keys I used to have don’t try to pass someone else’s on me.”

“Done,”

“Fifteen cent raise,” He stated.

“Five.”

“Ten’s my final offer. Otherwise I’m not coming back,”

“… Alright. Ten cent raise.”

“And! If you fire me again and rehire me I get another ten cent raise and a bonus.”

(Snippet end)

This is actually an incredibly angsty story so I really enjoyed making this type of witty/non serious dialogue in between everything. I think even for the most serious of writing a bit of lightheartedness is needed (whether he from internal dialogue, external dialogue, or even just a humorous scenario among all the more serious ones). Also it is quite hard to write angst with nothing at all inbetween (for those who can massive kudos)

#ty for the ask #I see the other one so I shall answer that one too <3 #ask games

[switch]

How much do you know about FGO E-sports (F-Sports, if you will)? Do you have any general tips for team-building?

i am fgo esports. it’s what i do. my sheer love for it is damn near the only reason i still play the game and don't just look at fanart.

general tips are sort of... difficult to give, because different servants and different fights can have very different needs, especially as we’re going to approach the super high difficulty 1 million+ HP quests next year. the best general advice i can give is units who don't have card based buffs that i consider "esports units".

if you gave me a more specific unit or a specific fight, i could give much more targeted and less... insane-sounding advice. honestly, in a lot of ways, planning is more vital than teambuilding. you have to plan ahead of time to be able to teambuild successfully in a lot of fights.

depending on what unit you're using for damage, identify their best universal support, and then go down the list of more situational supports. obtain or use as many of them as possible. if you're doing esports with vlad, you want castoria, then oberon, then avalon, then johanna, then tamamo, then douman, etc. if you're doing esports with moriarty, you want koyanskaya, then oberon, then merlin, then douman, then skadi ruler, etc etc.

gamepress' command chain calculator isn't... 100% accurate or ideal, but it will give you a good idea of what supports/CE you need, or if the fight is even possible, and if it is, exactly what needs to happen for it to be possible (what cards do you need to draw, and when? when do you need crits? do you need a high roll? does a support need to die on a certain turn? etc). if you're not sure about a fight, test some possibilities in there. it's a useful tool even if not ideal.

if this is something you want to do more than just once or twice, do your damnedest to NP5 your damage unit, and 3 append them or 2 append them if they're a zerker (WITHOUT spending money do not spend a cent on this game). you might be able to fudge the NP level if they're a strong unit with super effective damage like scathach or kriemhild, but you may still hit a wall if you want to do the 1 million HP fights. it sucks if they're not free, but i failed the beni-enma new years CQ just because my moriarty wasn't NP5. nothing else in the game scales as well as a servant's core np damage modifier, and it will save you a lot of damage RNG. basically, you have to carefully save and plan your rolls for non-free damage units and supports.

get in the habit of under-leveling your support units, and saving multiple copies of welfare supports (unless said welfare's most valuable buff is tied to their NP level like santa martha, but this is rare). my castoria is only level 70, my koyanskaya will also be. my lady avalon will only be level 50 because her third skill offers no offensive value! if you're doing esports, you want to create as many opportunities for support units to die as you can, and prioritize a support unit's offensive skills. sometimes you may be up against an enemy that can't even kill a third ascension bunyan, so you'll need a spare bunyan who's only level 1. units who have a strong offensive support skill in their first one or two slots (avalon) are a godsend.

plan ahead AT LEAST by one year by looking at the fgo wiki for more specific needs. do you want to do 7 turn kiara? you'll probably need asclepius and reines, so figure out a good time to roll for them. regular or super high difficulty anastasia? you need invuln pierce, try to find a way to get your hands on calamity jane or make sure you have origin bullet. regular or super high difficulty junao? look into your options for anti-divine and anti-lawful damage. you may not be able to do everything if you're f2p, so try to prioritize fights you care about or ones that never rerun (e.g. kiara is always available, so you can always build towards her).

the best scaling buffs in the game are NP damage, super effective (vs class, attribute, etc) damage, and then crit damage.

your best CE's will be either NP damage or SE damage ones. as long as no funny business is going on, nothing beats even a non-MLB black grail. sometimes you'll need 50% starting ones, sometimes you'll have to use 0% starting ones to maximize damage. similarly with support servants, identify your best damage CE's, level them to 100 or whatever highest level you have on them, and then go down the list. look up how to make CE EXP bombs if you have to. assume you'll probably need a pierce invuln/defense CE at some point, as well as anti-divine.

other general "esports supports" (for the value of their buffs and optionally ability to be underleveled) include chiron, bunyan, santa nightingale (she's damn near mandatory for 7 turn kiara), santa martha, nobukatsu, mozart, gong, lanling, jane, xu fu, rider vinci, and paracelsus. they're good for cost.

you're probably going to be relying on a mix of crits and NP damage most of the time to clear an esports fight, unless you get into the extremely high difficulty shit, in which case you're going to have to lean more on NP damage and/or SE damage.

get oberon.

#switch speaks #fate

[elympios]

Since I have been summoned, but can't reply to the ask, I'll hand my two cents this way.

I always thought of Julius as more of a "Quality Time" love language type, hence why Julius is VERY protective of when time is "Just me, Ludger, and Lulu/Rollo." As to Nii-san, nothing is more precious than a night where he can be "Julius", the dude who cracks weird/dark jokes and wears dumb shirts, and not his "Crown Agent Kresnik" persona. Which is kinda sad considering he knows he's on borrowed time; he wants to give his version of love as much as he can before he's gone.

Also think that's why the cut line about Julius getting into communication tech to talk to Bisley is a good insight to the idea-- he knew he couldn't physically be with his dad, but he wanted to do his best to bridge the gap. And why in the side novel, he felt he loved Claudia more than Cornelia: she was around, unlike his mom.

Hope that helps get the stick out of the mud or offer at least a fun take! (´ ∀ ` *)

I forgot to answer this within a socially acceptable timeframe but I hope you know I've been cradling these thoughts to my heart like ;-; quality time... you're so right actually.

I have thought before that Ludger should be a little bit prideful about being "the only person who really knows Julius" because sure, Julius is famous but everyone else sees him through the filter of him being a refined public figure. Ludger's the one who gets to live with him and cook for him and be truly affectionate with him... which is all well and good until it turns out Julius hid a lot of things from him too and then angst :D

Why are these two so delightful :3c

#rays thoughts about how julius and ludger live together with rollo... happy... ;-; #v #x2 #ans

[sherrydarlingmp3]

as much as ask games stress me out as someone who is very dearly fond of regulus i feel compelled to offer my two cents though it may not matter to many! (under the cut)

i’ve found mostly that people who are more interested in sirius primarily take more of a liking to regulus than others considering how important he is to sirius’ character. i am definitely one of those people and that was essentially what drew me to regulus because as much as i generalize the two main components of sirius’ arc as remus and his family, i think regulus has to be considered in his own light when it comes to sirius because of how differently he feels towards him compared to everyone else. even in canon there are definitely elements of a fondness sirius holds for him (calling your brother “stupid idiot” when talking about a family you hate is something that can be so personal), and though regulus is scarcely mentioned there is a significant change in tone when he’s being talked about. now i do not want to absolve him of guilt! but although regulus was, ultimately, a death eater at a certain point, there must’ve been a reason that sirius didn’t shun him immediately like he was so quick to do with everyone else (this, like most other black brothers lore, is generally based on fanon because there isn’t much to base their relationship on other than the elements of fondness i mentioned before). while i don’t encourage it, i also think it’s easier to excuse his behavior because he was, at the root of it, just a traumatized kid who wanted to survive and was thereby a bystander to a lot of terrible things—obviously there’s also the fact that he eventually ended up making the right choices (one could argue the way sirius acted as a result of trauma wasn’t exactly “right” either etc etc that is a longer topic than this but ultimately what bothers me is people tend to ignore that reg also endured the same stuff and while it does not justify his behavior it definitely explains some of it. same goes for sirius, but that’s already mostly acknowledged). i do not like portrayals of him that ignore the more rotten bits of him, as i think that is what makes him so interesting, but i also think all of that plays a roll in making him all the easier to sympathize with. all of this aside i absolutely have to mention that what actually got me to fall in love with regulus as a character was nothing left, which is my absolute favorite fic in terms of everything but especially characterization and i think regulus’ especially is done exceptionally well!!!!

#none of this is to say that everyone has to like him obv its just that. hes my baby yall like hes my little pocket guy #reg #black brothers #ruy.txt

[serendibity]

Advantage Point

Sigiriya is a small village located in the northeastern part of the teardrop island. Its biggest draw is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Lion's Rock, a granite toadstool that soars 183 metres into the air thanks to volcanic activity from the 5th century.

The Lion King of Sigiriya, Kasyapa himself, transformed it into a fortress and palace in the middle of a landscaped water garden. Later, it became a pilgrimage site before falling to obscurity in the 12th century, to be rediscovered in the 1800s.

There's no two ways about it - from the ground, it is spectacular.

I pay my obligatory foreigner ticket of $36 (for reference, locals pay 36 cents), ignore the swarms of so-called "guides" that offer "tours" for varying degrees of payment, and start climbing.

After the first bit, I have to sit down.

No one said anything about this being the 9th circle of hell for someone with vertigo. Although to be fair, I should have known better.

But whatever - my acrophobia has never stopped me before (maybe it should have). Besides, the purpose of this trip was for me to tackle my fears. So, I ignore the copious warning signs my body is pumping out and tackle the next stage.

Suddenly, I feel like I'm going to fall off the monument. With my heart pounding and head spinning, I sit precariously on a rock-faced step, put my head in between my legs, and try not to pass out.

Several anxiety-stricken seconds go by.

All of a sudden, I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hello! Are you OK?"

I look up into the face of a friendly local who looks worried. I say yes and meekly wave him off, but he stays put. Strange, but not unusual - he's probably just a concerned citizen, one of many who visit this sacred place on their day off.

The nausea isn't passing, and as much as I hate to admit it, it's time to call this off. The bitterness starts coursing through my veins, and I'm furious with myself, least of all because I've failed on several fronts.

The next time I raise my eyes, I ask him where the exit is.

Quick as lightning, he starts guiding me down the path from whence I came. Shaking in my boots means I am grateful for his presence, and several times, he offers to hold my hand through a particularly vomit-inducing passage. I clearly am not in any position to get back by myself.

This wasn't one of my most extraordinary ideas, I have to say.

We're about 40 metres to ground level when he starts mentioning money.

At first, I brush him off and focus on where my feet are landing. But then the pestering becomes more frequent.

He starts directing me towards merchants stationed on every corner, selling anything from wooden frog souvenirs to supposed magic healing oil.

It finally hits me that I've been had. He's one of the guides I pushed through in the beginning.

I start walking faster now that we're on terra firma, but he lingers in my shadow and won't let me go. He tries to take my hand or arm, which I wrestle out of his reach. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm still incredibly light-headed, I'd be running.

Now I'm scared. He's getting more aggressive and in my face. "Euros. Dollars. Rupees. Anything."

I hand him a nominal amount in the latter denomination, which he refuses.

I step aside, and he blocks my way.

I give him more, and he shouts, "Not enough."

"Take it or leave it. I have nothing else."

Ain't that the truth. My anger is palpable. In a moment of physical and mental vulnerability, when I'm counting on the kindness of a stranger, I've been taken advantage of by someone who saw me as an easy target because I couldn't think straight.

Now, I take full responsibility for my naivety. But this encounter doesn't help my general view of the world that people are just no good.

He finally understands that I mean business, takes the bill, and slunks away, probably in search of his next unwitting victim.

But hey - this is the first time I've ever paid someone to eff off. So there's something worth commemorating.

Also, do me a favour - for anyone reading this, go to Pidurangala Rock instead.

#sri lanka

[moonrisecalamityretreat]

heart laid bare || loic || trial 4.4 || re: everyone

As everyone jumps in to offer their two cents on what he’s done, Loic begins to tune them out. You can only listen to everyone saying how you’re the real freak or asking how kind you really are if you were capable of doing something like this so many times before it becomes…nothing. It’s the same thing over and over again. Unlike romcoms, there was no charm in seeing the same story play out again and again and again. Something about taking Sayuri from people who loved her, something about Mikazuki being right about him all along, something, something…

Mio’s the only one who breaks the monotony of people lording it over him that he finally snapped and proved some hypothesis about god knows what. He blinks and looks over at her, expression crumbling into something akin to the remorse that he’d felt when he first confessed to this. 

Slowly, he reaches out to take the bracelet, holding it gently in his hand. His fingers close around it, and he looks at Mio with a miserable smile.

“Thank you. You’re…You’re really too kind to me. Really. I...I don't deserve this. At all.”

But he makes no move to give it back or reject the kindness he’s been shown. He holds it close to his chest.

Hanji’s words interrupt his silent musing, and he looks up from where he’d been watching one of the beads of the bracelet turn over and over, pushed by his thumb. He opens his mouth to respond, but Maxime--dependable and reliable Maxime--tries to once again help him out of a mess he doesn’t deserve a hand to pull him out of. 

Loic shakes his head and gives Maxime the same smile he’d given to Mio, if a bit softer.

“It’s okay, Maxie.”

When Yuriko asks him to take it all back, his heart clenches, and he wishes that he could. He can’t make wishes come true, though, so he instead turns the same smile to her.

“I’m sorry. I can’t. I wish I was able to, but…but it’s done. And I can’t take it back. But--But you...you can do it. Stay kind. I know you can. You're stronger than I could ever be.”

He looks at Hanji, beginning to speak evenly.

“I knew that Sayuri wanted Ken to communicate and connect with her more. It was something she spoke about frequently in public. We’d also just reconciled, so that along with not thinking straight from hunger made me fairly sure she wouldn’t question me giving her a note that I claimed to see Ken slip under the door. It’s easy enough to get a Devil-themed anything. Afterwards, I just shoved it into the piano bench. No one plays it aside from me, as far as I’m aware, so I thought no one would find it.

I’d partially constructed the trap before giving her the note to make sure I could complete it in time, so it was only a matter of going back and finishing it up. I filed down the cabinet legs by carefully chipping away at them with the pickaxe and placed it over the floorboard that I’d loosened earlier. I also used the pickaxe to loosen the ceiling plank, putting in some nails with the meat mallet. Afterwards, I left the shack and waited nearby for Sayuri to arrive. Once she entered, I waited. I wasn’t expecting her to leave, so I tried to sneak up behind her. I managed to wrangle her tablet away from her before she could send for help, but she pulled out a knife.”

Loic sighs.

“You saw how the fight went for me, and I don’t see the need to repeat what I already said. But I eventually managed to hit her once with the mallet. I grabbed my knife, and I went back to the ship. I knew Maxie would be in the Devils Lounge--he’s predictable. Once he let me in and I explained what I did, I waited for him to get things from the infirmary. While he was gone, I bled on the couch. He came back, and we treated my wounds after I put blood on Jinpachi’s door.

Maxie told me he would take care of it, and I should just be quiet.”

After a moment, he smiles without any sort of joy behind it, his face uncertain of what else to do, and he shrugs.

“Congratulations. You win. I guess I’m a bigger freak than all of you now, just like you’ve said. You were right, does that make you happy? Are you glad to see that kindness really can get you killed in a place like this?”

His voice cracks on the last sentence, the consequences of his actions finally hitting him. There won’t be tearful words from the group or the knowledge that people will hurt once he’s gone--no one outside of his brother and maybe Mio, Yvette, and Yuriko. Even then, he doesn’t deserve their grieving. He’s hurt them all far too much.

It’s with a bitter and broken laugh to himself that he realizes Loic Archambeault will likely die exactly as he lived: Alone.

#ch4 #luca