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sstormyskyess · 2 days

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Still Woozy

author's note: i was listening to my still woozy playlist and got the inspo to write some headcanons based on the songs i thought fit the boys! also wanted to write my first piece with alejandro so here it is 👍 [side note: all the songs refer to a woman/fem listener but for the sake of this, the reader is gn!]

cw: nothing, just fluff!

word count: 800+

TF-141 + Alejandro x GN!Reader

Simon “Ghost” Riley [Cooks]

♡ Ghost is a little clueless when it comes to romance and the things that come with it, having been in a toxic home for his younger years. Most of his ideas about romantic relationships come from the very few movies/shows featuring happy couples he’s seen, so his ideas on how to handle a real relationship are scarce and sometimes a bit misconstrued.

♡ But once he finds the one he loves, he’s ready and willing to try his best at figuring things out as he goes. Regardless, he’ll still be fairly lost in the early stages of a relationship.

♡ But don’t get it mistaken—if he’s in a relationship, he’s absolutely head over heels in love, and he’ll do his very best to keep everything working smoothly, even if that means messing up every now and then. He would rather die than hurt you, so be prepared for him to be asking a ton of questions; you may need to reassure him frequently to remind him that just him trying is enough.

John “Soap” MacTavish [Get By]

♡ Soap is a bit of a goofball in a committed romantic relationship, but it’s all for the sake of his partner because he lives to see them happy more than anything else.

♡ He loves to see you happy and practically any time he notices you not feeling your best, he’ll do what he can to bring your spirits up, whether that be taking you out on a nice, fancy date or just staying in and getting you to spare some time for yourself. He has a special place in his mind to remember all of the things that make you smile, like your favorite foods/restaurants and the media you like to engage with.

♡ As referenced in the song, though, he’s made a fool of himself for the sake of cheering you up a few times. It makes you feel bad, but it is quite funny watching him do the silliest things to make you laugh.

Kyle “Gaz” Garrick [Get Down]

♡ Gaz is a very dedicated partner and he would do damn near anything for them. He’s made it clear to you on multiple occasions that he can handle pampering you with anything you please, even if you tell him you don’t want to overwork him.

♡ He’s by no means a materialistic person, but he loves to spend his money on you. When he’s on leave, he loves taking you on vacations, big or small. He’ll buy you any little thing you may have your eyes on or have mentioned wanting in the past, because what else will he do with the money he gets from his job? After all, before you came into his life, he was a fairly frugal man, only spending money on what’s really necessary. Now, though, you’re his only real necessity, meaning you get spoiled one way or another.

♡ He also loves it when you get clingy and adores when you’re all over him like your life depends on it. It never gets overbearing for him and he wouldn’t trade the world for your love and attention.

John Price [Wolfcat]

♡ Despite being a rigidly authoritative person outside his home, when Price is alone with his partner in the safety of his own home, he is absolutely whipped. He’s a homebody at heart and he loves filling a domestic role in his intimate relationships.

♡ He’s most certainly a quality time enjoyer and he spends a good amount of time planning little activities for the two of you to engage in while he’s home on leave. He’ll try to mask it as him simply trying to keep himself occupied in place of the strict schedule he’s accustomed to on base, but it’s obvious to anyone that knows him well enough that he’s obsessed with being by your side.

♡ Not to mention, he loves a partner that can put him in his place when needed, since he knows he can be a little headstrong and stubborn. Disagreements turn into arguments, but he knows when to shut up with you because you’re very good at reminding him that he’s not invulnerable to being wrong.

Alejandro Vargas [Habit]

♡ Alejandro is a romantic man even if his work often comes first. But, if he had it his way, he would be spending all his waking moments with his partner. His carefully manufactured distance between his work and family has him feeling insecure about the stability of his relationships, but he always comes back to you, no matter what happens.

♡ He doesn’t fall in love quickly, always wanting to make sure that he’s making a sound decision on who he’s going to lavish with his affections. But he’ll be glued to you once he’s finally comfortable in his choice to settle down with you. He doesn’t do frivolity; everything he does is done with purpose and his love life is no different.

♡ He’ll also put in extra effort for you to have a good support system while he’s away so you never feel lonely, likely with his family. He has plenty of family to go around and he’ll use that to his advantage to keep you comfortable even without him in your presence.

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

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glowingbadger · 3 days

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Hi everyone, I have a mental illness called Welt Yang. Save me massive DILF cock save me

As a disclaimer, I'm an HSR-only Welt enjoyer, so you'll have to forgive me as I do my best to nail his voice and character down (no, I will not "just play HI3," how much time and hard drive space for Hoyo games do you think I have) - plus, it's my first time writing him, and I'm always a little less sure on my first outing with a character, even when it's, y'know, just smut.

CWs include some pretty rough/intense sex, my shameless size-queen tendencies, and some... aggressively cane-centric foreplay (is that even a thing?? Is anyone into this?? I just got possessed by the idea and had to try it, sorry not sorry)

Welt Yang (HSR) x GN/AFAB Reader NSFW 18+

What does it take to provoke Welt Yang? This question had lingered as an impertinent impulse in the back of your mind for far too long now- since before the two of you had confessed your feelings for one another. Even then, in that raw and vulnerable moment between you, while his joy and relief at your reciprocated feelings had been clear, he remained the picture of reason and maturity. Some time later, you'd now realized that even while making love, he remained impressively composed. Rather, he seemed restrained. And that word- restraint- that, you would not stand for.

When he holds you in his bed, Welt is focused, dedicated, relentlessly devoted to your satisfaction. He exhibits the kind of skill that only comes with years, and as for his size and stamina both, he certainly provides more than you had ever dared to hope for. He's given you nothing to complain about- and yet, there's one thing you still crave. You want to see him falter. You want to push him somehow, to see how he responds to something new and unexpected and sinful.

That's how you've found yourself at the door to his quarters in only a loose buttoned shirt and panties. After a quick courtesy-knock, you slip into his room and close the door behind you. Welt is seated in a modest but comfortable armchair, a book in one hand while the other absently rests on his cane at his side. His extra layers have been forgone for the night, leaving him in a turtleneck and trousers, and a responsibly portioned glass of liquor rests on an end table beside him, barely touched. His eyes flick up over his glasses at you when you enter, and his expression softens- then, he takes another look, and his eyebrows rise just slightly.

"Evening," he says in his usual measured tone, "Do you need something, dearest?"

"Just to see you," you reply sweetly. His eyes are warm on you as you approach, your hands fussing aimlessly with the hem of the shirt that just barely flits around your upper thighs. Despite this, his line of sight remains disciplined.

When he speaks next you're already carefully easing onto his lap to straddle his hips.

"It's getting late," his composure remains, but you catch his voice subconsciously dipping lower as you settle against him, "You... ought to get some rest."

This close, and at this angle, you imagine Welt can appreciate just how few of this shirt's buttons you've deigned to utilize tonight. Yet other than that tantalizing dip of his voice, he has yet to show the slightest weakness.

"Actually, I was thinking we could help each other relax a bit tonight," you say with a grin. At last, he sets aside the book in his hand, and his golden eyes meet yours.

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

Your coy smirk makes your intentions more than clear, but this is so like him. As always, Welt seeks to gather intel before making any moves of his own- but you're prepared for this.

"How about this," you say, brushing his bangs from his eyes, "I'll give you a hint, and you tell me what you think."

"Hm," he hums softly, "Very well. I'll do my best not to disappoint."

He moves to dissipate the cane manifested in his hand, but you instead take both it and his hand, and guide them up towards you. You position the cane until the tip is planted in the seat cushion, between both your legs and Welt's. The staff of it travels up the center of your body and, as you nestle yourself against it, between your breasts. The handle, of course, is level with your lips.

You watch Welt's chest rise and fall with a single long breath as he observes you. With one hand holding the cane steady, your other strokes the handle as you draw it to your mouth. Slowly, shamelessly, you circle the end with your tongue, and practically moan when you notice his eyes narrow and his fingers clench tight at the armrest beside him. But he says nothing.

You keep pushing, tracing the cane's handle with your tongue, making sure to keep your arms drawn in around your chest all the while so he can enjoy the sight of it held snug between your breasts.

Welt murmurs your name, and you offer him an innocent smile.

"Something wrong?"

"Not at all," he replies, eyes fixed directly on you, "Please, go on."

An understated reply- but you can tell you're finally inching past his iron-clad stoicism.

Your free hand runs up and down the length of the cane while your lips brush the tip in that same deliberately sensual way. Welt's jaw tightens. You shift the cane just slightly so that it's pressing between your thighs, and rock your lower body gently forward so it rubs lewdly against you. Immediately, you notice your lover practically digging his fingernails into the armrest, and you smile as you give a soft, moaning sigh. You let him watch like this for a while; your hips sway at a slow and erotic pace, and while one hand continues to hold onto Welt's cane, the other sneaks the fabric of you shirt upward just enough that he can clearly see you rubbing yourself against the staff. Your cunt is already warm and wet with arousal, and each pass slickens the cane just a little through your already-soaked panties.

With a flick of his fingers, he exerts the slightest pressure on the cane, adjusting its angle and rutting it more firmly against you. You inhale sharply, your eyes briefly unfocused, yet he only says,

"Make yourself cum."

You hardly notice the whimper you let out as you firmly, wantonly grind your wet cunt along his cane. The way he's holding your gaze makes your heart race. The stern furrow of his brow has dashed every thought from your mind but the desire to please him.

"I believe I understand your 'hint,' dearest," he speaks softly, but with a heat simmering just beneath the surface. His hand trails warm up the outer curve of your thigh, and he says, "You're trying to rile me up, is that it?"

Your face is warm and flush, and you nod as you watch him with dazed and unfocused eyes.

"Interesting. To what end, I wonder?"

As he speaks, Welt subtly moves the cane between your thighs, enhancing the strangely stimulating sensation of it grinding against your clit. Your hips move in time, matching his rhythm and urging you steadily closer to your climax. The tension winds tight in your belly, your lips part as you softly sigh and moan your lover's name.

"You're... always so co-composed..."

Welt considers your reply, never easing the pressure at your clit.

"And you would like to see me... less composed, I take it?" you nod, he hums softly, "I see."

"Welt," you whine, the pace of your hips slowing as your thighs begin to tremble, "Ohh... mmmh, g-gonna-!"

With a shaky breath and a shudder down your spine, your head tilts back as you cum on the shaft of Welt's cane. Fuck- it's so depraved, a rush you'd only imagined in the quiet of your private quarters late at night. Now, your body trembles as your climax makes your nerves tingle and your legs feel weak. You can't imagine how shameless you must look in this moment. Yet Welt doesn't say a word as his cane vanishes, and his arm wraps under your backside.

He stands in one swift movement, lifting you in his arms and carrying you towards his bed. Soon enough, you're laid beneath him, both wrists pinned down under one of his hands. If you'd had time to collect your thoughts, they'd already be scattered again; he's looking at you in a way you've never seen before. A ravenous way that's so unlike the gentle, rational gaze you know.

"You wanted to break my composure?" he draws near, his breath hot against your face. His hips press between your thighs, and you feel his cock, rock hard and straining against his trousers, rutting firm against your soaked-through panties, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to restrain myself enough to carry out my work each day? How hard it is to maintain this composure around you?"

"You..." you can barely speak, your skin feels like it's burning, "It never seems like..."

"Perhaps I have been too reserved, in my desire not to unduly pressure you," his voice lowers to a near-growl, "But let me make this perfectly clear. I want you every time you return from a mission. When I see you're safe, and I see that glow, the way you shine when you've accomplished your goal- I want to take you then and there against the windows and watch the stars reflect in your eyes while I fill you."

"We-Welt, I-"

"I want you when I see you talking and laughing with the others, and I feel so fortunate to have you that I want to make you cry out my name, just to remind myself that you're truly mine."

"Welt..!" you're desperate with arousal, and each word only compounds your growing need for him.

"I want you when you wear a new outfit. I want you when I sketch you. I want you when I can't sleep at night," his lower body grinds against you, forcing a breathy moan from your throat as his cock throbs between your lower lips, "I want you now- so badly that I'm not certain I can be as gentle with you as I'd like."

You can't breathe. Can't think. There's nothing- nothing but this man and his body and his lust and his heat between your thighs.

"Please..." you whisper.

Welt discards his glasses on the floor beside the bed, then tugs his shirt over his head to follow. It's uncharacteristically rushed and careless of him. In fact, he can't even be bothered to finish undressing either of you; he simply opens the front of his trousers and works his throbbing-hard cock from his boxer briefs, then tugs your underwear down your legs so forcefully you think he might tear them. He supports himself with his forearm on the pillow beside your head, while his free hand positions his massive length at your entrance. You feel the heat of his crown nestled between your folds, the tip pressed torturously against you. He exerts the last of his restraint to hold there while he hooks his arm under your knee and pulls your leg upward, spreading your thighs wider. Then, with a groan that resolves into a sigh of relief, he pushes into you.

"Fuck-!" your gasp is barely audible. He begins thrusting his hips immediately. Gone is all of the careful foreplay meandering towards gentle love-making. Finally, at long last, Welt is fucking you, with all of his strength and passion. Already, your head is swimming, your eyes rolling back as his thick cock stretches you around him, driving deeper and deeper with every urgent push of his body against yours. Your shirt is scrunched up beneath you, a single button at your bust struggling to hold fast while Welt ravages you against the mattress. Then, his lips are on yours, and he's kissing you with deep, open-mouthed erotic kisses that couldn't be further from his usual gentlemanly technique. He's hungry for you, greedy for your body and your kiss, and ready to truly claim you at last.

You don't even notice that he's no longer pinning you down anymore until you realize your nails are dragging down his back. His abdomen tightens with every thrust, his shoulder muscles rhythmically tense. Briefly, you wonder at how he's able to keep in such incredible shape at his age- but the insistent pounding of his cock at your very deepest point hardly gives the impression of a man flagging with years. The tinge of pain as he hits your core is wonderful, each spark of it lighting a new fire to build upon the last. It only compounds with the pleasure of him utterly filling you, stroking a thousand different sensitive spots that only he has ever reached. Your pussy clings and squeezes around him, yet your prior orgasm and this ecstatic thrill of him fucking you so deep and hard have you more than wet enough to take him with all of this new forceful intensity. You gasp and moan for him freely, and he echoes your name in reply with that low, rasping tone of his that makes you ache.

The primal rush of it all has left your mind blissfully vacant. Your free leg- the one not still being held spread over Welt's arm- wraps around his hip, or his thigh, or some part of him. Once he's kissed you dizzy, his lips travel to the column of your neck, and little blooms of pain and pleasure across your skin tell you he must be marking you fiercely. He's panting into the crook of your neck, his thrusts a bit faster, a bit more erratic.

"So good..." he groans, "So... damn good. Don't know... how much longer I can..."

"Issokay," you breathe out in a daze, your fingernails digging into his shoulder blades, "Me... t-too..."

Welt's body pitches forward, tilting you back on the bed as he buries himself in you to the root. His hips shift just a little, just enough to feel more of that exquisite friction. The pressure of him filling you so completely seems to travel up through your center, and when he gasps out your name and begins to cum inside of you, the powerful throbbing of his shaft sends ripples through your entire body. You cum just as he does, head spinning and crying aloud for him as he pumps his heat into your waiting cunt. His cock twitches, pulses with his orgasm, and his head sinks down onto the pillow beside you as he releases your leg at last and wraps his arm instead around your midsection to hold you against him.

Seconds, maybe minutes pass in the blissful quiet of his bedroom. You each struggle to catch your breath, and you can hardly muster the strength to move your limbs. At last, Welt kisses you once more, briefly and sweetly, before pulling out from your sore and over-filled pussy, then slumping down onto the bed with you.

"Is that... What you had in mind?" Welt says with a subdued smile.

"uh-huh," you turn towards him on the bed, your fingertips idly grazing the line of his jaw, down towards his lips, "Though, it was way better in reality than I'd imagined."

Welt's smile broadens, a bit bashful. His arm wraps around your waist.

"I think, perhaps, we ought to spend some time... Trading notes."

"Oh?" you settle more closely against him, still fluttery and giddy inside.

"I would hazard a guess that you have a few more ideas and desires that we haven't yet discussed. I certainly have no complaints about being seduced," he nudges your chin up with a hand and kisses you, slowly and tenderly. When he parts from you, his voice is low once more, "But for now, I want to know everything I can about how to satisfy you, utterly and completely. If it pleases you, then... I won't hold back anymore."

#is cane humping a kink #are people into that #welt yang #welt x reader #welt yang x reader #hsr #honkai star rail #hsr smut #hsr x reader #honkai star rail smut #welt hsr #not sfw #x reader

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corvidcall · 2 years

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None Of You Know What Haiku Are

I'm going to preface this by saying that i am not an expert in ANY form of poetry, just an enthusiast. Also, this post is... really long. Too long? Definitely too long. Whoops! I love poetry.

If you ask most English-speaking people (or haiku-bot) what a haiku is, they would probably say that it's a form of poetry that has 3 lines, with 5, and then 7, and then 5 syllables in them. That's certainly what I was taught in school when we did our scant poetry unit, but since... idk elementary school when I learned that, I've learned that that's actually a pretty inaccurate definition of haiku. And I think that inaccurate definition is a big part of why most people (myself included until relatively recently!) think that haiku are kind of... dumb? unimpressive? simple and boring? I mean, if you can just put any words with the right number of syllables into 3 lines, what makes it special?

Well, let me get into why the 5-7-5 understanding of haiku is wrong, and also what makes haiku so special (with examples)!

First of all, Japanese doesn't have syllables! There's a few different names for what phonetic units actually make up the language- In Japanese, they're called "On" (音), which translates to "sound", although English-language linguists often call it a "mora" (μ), which (quoting from Wikipedia here) "is a basic timing unit in the phonology of some spoken languages, equal to or shorter than a syllable." (x) "Oh" is one syllable, and also one mora, whereas "Oi" has one syllable, but two moras. "Ba" has one mora, "Baa" has two moras, etc. In English, we would say that a haiku is made up of three lines, with 5-7-5 syllables in them, 17 syllables total. In Japanese, that would be 17 sounds.

For an example of the difference, the word "haiku", in English, has 2 syllables (hai-ku), but in Japanese, はいく has 3 sounds (ha-i-ku). "Christmas" has 2 syllables, but in Japanese, "クリスマス" (ku-ri-su-ma-su) is 5 sounds! that's a while line on its own! Sometimes the syllables are the same as the sounds ("sushi" is two syllables, and すし is two sounds), but sometimes they're very different.

In addition, words in Japanese are frequently longer than their English equivalents. For example, the word "cuckoo" in Japanese is "ほととぎす" (hototogisu).

Now, I'm sure you're all very impressed at how I can use an English to Japanese dictionary (thank you, my mother is proud), but what does any of this matter? So two languages are different. How does that impact our understanding of haiku?

Well, if you think about the fact that Japanese words are frequently longer than English words, AND that Japanese counts sounds and not syllables, you can see how, "based purely on a 17-syllable counting method, a poet writing in English could easily slip in enough words for two haiku in Japanese” (quote from Grit, Grace, and Gold: Haiku Celebrating the Sports of Summer by Kit Pancoast Nagamura). If you're writing a poem using 17 English syllables, you are writing significantly more content than is in an authentic Japanese haiku.

(Also not all Japanese haiku are 17 sounds at all. It's really more of a guideline.)

Focusing on the 5-7-5 form leads to ignoring other strategies/common conventions of haiku, which personally, I think are more interesting! Two of the big ones are kigo, a season word, and kireji, a cutting word.

Kigo are words/phrases/images associated with a particular season, like snow for winter, or cherry blossoms for spring. In Japan, they actually publish reference books of kigo called saijiki, which is basically like a dictionary or almanac of kigo, describing the meaning, providing a list of related words, and some haiku that use that kigo. Using a a particular kigo both grounds the haiku in a particular time, but also alludes to other haiku that have used the same one.

Kireji is a thing that doesn't easily translate to English, but it's almost like a spoken piece of punctuation, separating the haiku into two parts/images that resonate with and add depth to each other. Some examples of kireji would be "ya", "keri", and "kana." Here's kireji in action in one of the most famous haiku:

古池や　蛙飛び込む　水の音 (Furu ike ya　kawazu tobikomu　mizu no oto) (The old pond — A frog jumps in The sound of the water.)

You can see the kireji at the end of the first line- 古池や literally translates to "old pond ya". The "ya" doesn't have linguistic meaning, but it denotes the separation between the two focuses of the haiku. First, we are picturing a pond. It's old, mature. The water is still. And then there's a frog! It's spring and he's fresh and new to the world! He jumps into the pond and goes "splash"! Wowie! When I say "cutting word", instead of say, a knife cutting, I like to imagine a film cut. The camera shows the pond, and then it cuts to the frog who jumps in.

English doesn't really have a version of this, at least not one that's spoken, but in English language haiku, people will frequently use a dash or an ellipses to fill the same role.

Format aside, there are also some conventions of the actual content, too. They frequently focus on nature, and are generally use direct language without metaphor. They use concrete images without judgement or analysis, inviting the reader to step into their shoes and imagine how they'd feel in the situation. It's not about describing how you feel, so much as it's about describing what made you feel.

Now, let's put it all together, looking at a haiku written Yosa Buson around 1760 (translated by Harold G. Henderson)

The piercing chill I feel: my dead wife's comb, in our bedroom, under my heel

We've got our kigo with "the piercing chill." We read that, and we imagine it's probably winter. It's cold, and the kind of cold wind that cuts through you. There's our kireji- this translation uses a colon to differentiate our two images: the piercing chill, and the poet stepping on his dead wife's comb. There's no descriptions of what the poet is feeling, but you can imagine stepping into his shoes. You can imagine the pain he's experiencing in that moment on your own.

"But tumblr user corvidcall!" I hear you say, "All the examples you've used so far are Japanese haiku that have been translated! Are you implying that it's impossible for a good haiku to be written in English?" NO!!!!! I love English haiku! Here's a good example, which won first place in the 2000 Henderson haiku contest, sponsored by the Haiku Society of America:

meteor shower . . . a gentle wave wets our sandals

When you read this one, can you imagine being in the poet's place? Do you feel the surprise as the tide comes in? Do you feel the summer-ness of the moment? Haiku are about describing things with the senses, and how you take in the world around you. In a way, it's like the poet is only setting a scene, which you inhabit and fill with meaning based on your own experiences. You and I are imagining different beaches, different waves, different people that make up the "our" it mentioned.

"Do I HAVE to include all these things when I write haiku? If I include all these things, does that mean my haiku will be good?" I mean, I don't know. What colors make up a good painting? What scenes make up a good play? It's a creative medium, and nobody can really tell you you can't experiment with form. Certainly not me! But I think it's important to know what the conventions of the form are, so you can appreciate good examples of it, and so you can know what you're actually experimenting with. And I mean... I'm not the poetry cops. But if you're not interested in engaging with the actual conventions and limitations of the form, then why are you even using that form?

I'll leave you with one more English language haiku, which is probably my favorite haiku ever. It was written by Tom Bierovic, and won first place at the 2021 Haiku Society of America Haiku Awards

a year at most . . . we pretend to watch the hummingbirds

Sources: (x) (x) (x) (x) (x) (x)

Further reading:

Forms in English Haiku by Keiko Imaoka Haiku: A Whole Lot More Than 5-7-5 by Jack How to Write a Bad Haiku by KrisL Haiku Are Not a Joke: A Plea from a Poet Who Has Had It Up to Here by Sandra Simpson Haiku Checklist by Katherine Raine

#poetry #haiku #writing #literature #anime life #long post #i want to apologize but i had to get something off my chest #and the thing was. i love haiku #and when i see posts on here about haiku. i get so angy.#well ok i really get more disappointed bc nobody is really engaging with the form on its own terms #anyway i hope you enjoy some of my favorite haiku because theyre in there!!!!!#i didnt really get into the history of haiku. and i also did not get into why i got really into it #but i will say that i was really inspired by Jacob Geller's video A Thousand Ways of Seeing a Forest #which is a lot about translation #(which i mean. as an interpreter AND a poetry-enjoyer. really appealed to me lol)

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silverameco · 13 days

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Bookshop AU - @wolfstarmicrofic - 763 words

Sirius loved Tuesdays, because he didn't work the afternoon, and could go annoy his brother. Regulus had been working at Lily's bookshop for a few years now. It was striking how well he fitted in the place. When Lily openned her shop, Sirius never thought he would ever see his brother in it. And now, he couldn't imagine it without him.

Sirius was leaning against the counter, bickering with Regulus who kept rolling his eyes, pretending to be bother by it. Sirius knew he was enjoying his presence every Tuesday. They never thought they could have this, after all.

Regulus left him alone to fetch something at the back of the store. Suddendly, the bell of the door tinkled and Sirius turned his head to face the stranger. It might be the best thing he ever did, because the man standing before him was the most beautiful sight. He had sun bleached curls, tiny freckles on the bridge of his nose, and a scar crossing his face. Most of all, he had amber eyes glinting in the sun that filtered through the glass door. Sirius felt like he himself was glowing under his gaze.

"Hi, I'm looking for-", the stranger began.

"A book ?" Sirius interrupted with a cheeky grin. "I think you might be in the right place. A bookstore, that is."

The man sent him an amused smile. "Er, actually-"

"Sirius stop being rude to my customers, and my friends." Regulus said with an annoyed tone and his usual frown, coming back from the backstore. "Hi, Remus, ignore my stupid brother." he added to the stranger's attention.

Sirius couldn't process the information that this beautiful man was friend with his brother of all people. His mind was just a litany of Remus, Remus, Remus.

"Err- hey ! I'm not being rude." he said after a beat. "In fact, Remus, maybe I could help you find this book we were talking about-"

"No, you can't, you don't work here, Sirius." cutted his annoying shit of a little brother. "Come on, Remus, I'll show you the books we were discussing the other day."

He took Remus' arm, dragging him away, between the book shelves. Remus followed, but Sirius noticed his gaze lingering on him, a glint of something in his eyes, and the ghost of a smile on his lips.

So he waited patiently - maybe not so much - for them to come back at the front of the shop. When they did, Remus was holding three books. Sirius looked at the books while he payed for them. He could feel Remus very close to him, because Sirius was still against the counter. He didn't intend to move one bit.

Two of the books he didn't know, but the third one was Les Fleurs du Mal, by Charles Baudelaire. Poetry, then. With a flash of inspiration, he snatched the book from his brother's hand, ignoring his exasperated sigh.

"This one," he said, "is a very good choice."

Remus raised an interested eyebrow at him. "You like Baudelaire ?"

"Nah, I'm more of a Rimbaud kind of guy." answered Sirius with a knowing smile. "But this one is a very special edition."

"Oh, is it ?" Remus asked with an amused smile, seemingly waiting to see where he was going with this.

Sirius took a pen laying on the counter, openned the front page and began writing. He took his time, letting Remus pay meanwhile.

"Yes." he said finally, handing the book back to Remus. "It has my number on it. Call me, if you want."

Sirius said it with what he hoped looked like a confident smile, but really he was shaking a bit.

"You don't have to. He's annoying." Regulus said.

But Remus kept looking at him and smiled. "Yeah, but I think I will." he answered finally. Sirius felt his heart roared.

"You're both hopeless." commented Regulus.

"Bye Sirius." Remus said with a wink and then he was gone already.

Sirius looked at his brother with a huge grin, to which he answered with a glare.

"Do you really have to flirt with my friends ?"

Sirius gasped in offense. "You're literally dating my best friend and his girlfriend who is also my friend !"

This particular Tuesday would become one of Sirius' favorite days ever.

#throwing french poets in there for my own personal enjoyement #also jegulily crumbs bc i felt like it #and black brothers banter bc i love them #silv writes things #wolfstar microfic #wolfstar #sirius black #remus lupin #regulus black #marauders #marauders era #dead gay wizards

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misfithive · 8 months

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Random things i would love s3

(and a few i know will not happen but idc)

wille in the purple hoodie

wille telling simon he is beautiful (sober)

wilmon dancing together

wilmon walking holding hands

simon telling Wille he missed him (or giving the sweater back)

simon singing the song to wille again

“wilmon” ship name being used by news/social media comments etc (i have seen it in a few fics and i Need it)

simon giving Wille a new frog like a frog stuffed animal with no crown

wilmon defending eachother

wilmon takes a nap together

Simon actually eating the sandwich

lake date

them laughing with eachother again (would be free therapy for me i’m serious)

Linda hugs Wille

forehead kiss!

simon calms wille’s panic attack (by singing softly to him hehe)

reciprocal i love you (multiple times, casually, before ep 6 pls)

Wilhelm comforting/ reassuring Simon

Wille gets a hobby or shares something he likes/ unexpected opinion with Simon hehe @k-pepp

simon actually sings Revolution like acapella or just like hums it to himself ( CAN U IMAGINE???? 😭 sorry i’m being unhinged i cant help it)

wille decorates his room more or has a framed picture of him and simon

they add more pictures to Wille’s “simon” album on his phone :((

Wille peels a tangerine for Simon or they share a tangerine together

wille sees that Simon has posted a photo of them on instagram and is happy looking at his phone

them skipping class to stay in bed or just hang out together

wilmon polaroid ????? 😭☹️ (why does sargust get one and not wilmon??)

wilmon roomates

#feel free to reblog and add to this hehe but know i might chage it #this is for my own enjoyment i am gonna pin it and will probably keep adding to it lol #i understand most of these are frivolous dont poop on my joy it would just be fun #im actually getting really excited for s3 #young royals #wilmon #yr s3 #feel free to write fics about any of these things pls tell me lolol #trying to keep this to things that dont change plot much bc i wanna stay open minded lol

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nostalgia-tblr · 2 months

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"are people not into that?" i ask, after posting my weird niche shit to the internet, despite knowing it to be weird niche shit.

#jsyk sylkius or anything adjacent to it does not “Do Numbers” in any way and i observed this some time ago #i assume that's the “rival ships” element at work but who knows really #that sort of thing is like femslash in that everyone approves of it but nobody actually reads or writes it #but who would have thought sylvie beating loki with a stick would not bring in droves of readers???! shocking twist there!#& i don't consider sifki a rarepair but my rarepair standards are VERY strict like if there's >5 fics a pairing is basically mainstream #chasing popularity would annoy me though & i just don't have the mental spoons to try writing stuff i wouldn't personally read #yeah i *could* put my blorbos to work in a coffee shop but what cost to my own enjoyment levels? AT WHAT COST FANGELA???#you can't please everyone so you may as well just please yourself and if anyone else likes it you've found some fellow freaks so yay #i don't mean please yourself in a wanking sense. though feel free to do that too it probably counts as a cardio workout idk.#BUT ANYWAY #fic related #ps i am v glad there's the “warning: loki” tag because i think/hope it acts as a filter for 'he did nothing wrong in his life ever' types #who are Valid & etc obviously but i write my morally grey characters to be morally grey and the tag might help avoid conflict #though tbh i write almost every character to be morally grey in some way so i can't claim to have left my comfort zone here #(i'm not joking when i say the 1987-89 run of Dr Who shaped my entire future fannish life from a young and apparently v impressionable age)

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urwendii · 10 months

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Fanfiction Bingo

Tagged by @theriverwild 🥰

Oh boii

Tagging: err 🥲 @helenvader @starlady66 @hazelmaines @aearyn

Template:

#im always leaving 2 kudos. log out and log in #also u calo deserves more attention #i love researching too much bc then i never actually write lmao #and im always down for fluff im the sheer opposite of a dark fic enjoyer. give me all the happy endings please #and i have too many unfinished stories 😭😭😭😭#tagged things #edit: guys pls make your own post its not a reblog chain. its clogging my notifs so bad. thanks

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sketchinfun · 9 months

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10 Years

I wanted to do a quick little write up thing just looking back on stuff. This year marks my 10th year working in the animation industry as a storyboard artist for feature animation, and it's been a journey. When I started I was still trying to understand what it meant to be a story artist all the while at the same time trying to improve my artistic skills. Despite starting out on an incredibly challenging project, the experience prepared me for what was to come down the line, by sharpening and pushing my drawing abilities, and teaching me how to stand up for myself in a creative field. Developing my own voice as a story artist and storyteller is still an ongoing process for me, but over the years I have grown more excited about story and I love diving into how to work out story problems. With each project I am so thankful and grateful to be able to have worked with so many supportive, kind and awesome people. The time has flown by incredibly fast, and I'm looking forward to the future to keep creating for many more years.

#it me #retrospective #just a short little write up #it's been a journey with its ups and downs but i'm thankful to be able to be a part of creating animated films #i also realized early on when working that it's ok to draw fanart and it's actually a good thing to have your own ocs and projects #because it keeps you creative outside of work #i still enjoy watching animation to an extent but now more of my enjoyment comes from videogames for entertainment #also learning to get a wrist brace to prevent tendonitis was a big thing i learned....get it now kids before it's too late #at the end of the day working in animation is a job but it is also fun #having a healthy and realistic outlook on the animation industry and how animated projects are created is important #storyboard artist

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tricksterlatte · 4 months

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The Online Fandom 7 Deadly Sins

sloth: complaining about how no one writes the tropes or pairings you like and bashing what's already out there, while refusing to create anything you desire yourself

greed: zine and other finance-related scandals with zero remorse for those negatively affected

gluttony: spending rent money on merch, experiencing buyer's remorse, then repeating the same process next month

wrath: anon hate over literally everything under the sun, even harassing official writers and threatening them if they don't make your ship canon

pride: devaluing other's characterizations and ships to praise yours as better, whether through a canon perspective or a moral perspective, when neither matter in the long run when it comes to your own enjoyment

envy: trash talking others' fandom creations or saying you won't bother creating anything because it'll never be as good as them

lust: fighting over who tops or bottoms because of your personal preferences when one, both, or neither could happen, especially when most of these characters never even kiss canonically nor have most people fighting done any of these things irl themselves

#parker says things #i'm not exempt I've definitely done a few of the things listed #especially pride and envy god those really go hand in hand and it's sad #but seriously...guys does any of this matter in the long run #just have fun #if someone is having fun in a way that clashes with your own type of enjoyment just hit da bricks!#that guy's got horns! well not gonna ruin my day!#live like Yusuke guys #i've been afk because I'm dealing with some intense depression but fandom has actively hurt more than helped me #and I know plenty of ppl myself included think discussion of meta is enjoyable but I think things reach a point where it's only stewing #the inherent focus on adhering to a singular strict perspective is toxic to ourselves in the long run #have fun! be self indulgent #almost everything posted is gonna be ooc to some people even if it's 100 percent accurate to others #and just in general idk I think we should focus on fandom as a sense of fun instead of a marketing ploy #most of us are not here to make fanart or writing a career #I'm not really a community person and I've learned that the hard way over a decade and more #but i just hope people will find what sparks joy and enjoy themselves again #I don't think I'll be active in fandoms much anymore as I focus more on my personal life and recover from some things #but I wish everyone much love and hope for the best for people #even if we've had some bad interactions I do not wish ill upon anyone #i got off topic but these tags are just me saying I'll stick to lurking publicly and replying to my DMs and writing in private #will still post some things to my AO3!! maybe #anyways tag yourself I'm a recovering glutton/envy

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livwritesstuff · 11 months

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hahahha character details from the series that exist in my head but not on paper yet (or do exist on paper i just don’t think i’ve mentioned it enough oop)

steve wears glasses

and in general just figured out his style while he was in college

he already knew he liked colorful shit, but over time he figured out different fabrics and textures and then learned how to mix and match everything to make really nice cohesive outfits

his style is p similar to robins which drives her crazy

steve listens to NPR and is stupid good at Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. robin continues to think he’s the lamest person on the planet and cannot believe he was ever the most popular guy in their high school

eddie has facial hair - i think it gets mentioned like 1.5 times but that was a struggle bc i really can’t figure out how to describe it in ways that doesn’t make me want to barf

for clarity, i am a lesbian :)

steve dated a bi girl in college who whipped his ass entirely into shape - not that a straight girl couldn’t have done it, but steve had never met someone before who was so unapologetic about not living within the confines of gender roles. she was the first person he dated who was really adamant about checking in with him and making sure he was alright emotionally and refused to let him fall victim to typical gender-based dating scripts

they broke up bc their personalities clash a little too much, but they stayed friends for a while and robin was so jealous (and a little salty that she never seemed even a little into her)

nancy crochets - it’s pretty much her main hobby and has been for a long time. she taught el how to do it and has been trying to teach eddie for ages

he refuses because he’s fairly positive it would end their friendship

steve is a lego guy :)))) whenever he has extra money he’s almost always gonna spend it on a lego set

he gets very good at it too - he can power through a ~200-piece set in like thirty minutes and he always asks robin if she wants to help because he loves her and wants to spend time with her, but it only took one set for her to realize that he is annoying as hell about it and goes way faster than her and gets fidgety waiting for her to finish her section so she never says yes again

back in the mid-eighties, the boys (will, mike, dustin, and lucas) were obsessed with robin

not in a crush type of way

they just genuinely thought she was the coolest person on the planet

el and lucas bake together all the time

steve thinks they’re pretty good and wishes they’d use lucas’s business degree to open a bakery even though he knows they wont

ever since robin and steve had their own place together, eddie has gifted them a stupid novelty calender every year around the holidays

robin is p much the definition of a maximalist and it 100% shows in her and steves apartment

he kinda just lets her do whatever bc he doesn’t care as long as he’s not tripping over shit, but she’s always adding art and photos to the walls and buying little cups and mugs and trinkets and dragging in weird furniture she found on the street up to the fourth floor walk-up

#steddie #ronance #stranger things #steve harrington #robin buckley #eddie munson #nancy wheeler #the satellite and the sky #i love all these fictional fools so much #im having such a good time writing this series it really is for my own enjoyment more than anything

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kingdom-creatin · 5 months

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the timeline

If you've ever wondered just what the hell I was doing with the fics I was putting out and this timeline I kept talking about, this is what I meant lol

It's actually got quite a few more characters listed out to the right but for the sake of relevancy and size I just kept the first few columns.

The notes are either specific key events or (italicized) published fics. I started making this into an actual timeline sheet just a bit before I dropped out of the fandom entirely so I haven't been able to flesh it out as much as I like, but now that I feel like getting back into stuff I'm sure it will populate pretty quickly lol

Color meanings (majorly as relevant to Techno and his pov):

Maroon - Living in the Nether

Soft Green - Traveling with Phil

Yellow - Living in Hypixel

Blue - SMPE and the Antarctic Empire

Neon Green - DSMP

Red - If an MCM was held that year; If the character participated in an MCM that year

Black - Character is not yet born or is dead

#it's very sparse still i did clean some stuff out just for my sake #also you can't see it here but i apologize anyway to any and all business bay enjoyers including myself #i could not make business bay tommy and dsmp tommy the same person following my vision for the timeline it just could not work #so they are technically different people but characterization wise they would be very reminiscent and at some point techno definitely looks #at him like “is this? is this the same guy?”#he thought he escaped him but no he's found his younger doppelganger #but yes planning on rewatching skyblock and smpe and pw again so i can actually sort out plot points and timelines some more #maybe encourage myself to write who knows #technoblade #my writing #ae boys au #timeline #also ik the potato war is very short but again timeline shenanigans and trying to make things fit logically for character ages #i think realms would have some degree of their own timescales that may not run fully parallel to every other one #especially as they are being run and fueled by different gods with different levels of power and experience #hypixel already has so much control over the death and well-being system in his realm why not time as well

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bryndeavour · 6 months

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talked about this in discord today but my fave way to Keep My AU's Alive even when not actively writing them, is mentally check in with them around holidays!

I like to give everyone a halloween costume every year, ponder their life state, and update myself. I do this at christmas also.. and that can overlap with the new year to really round it out.

It also keeps you thinking about them because you never know when that urge to write will kick back in!

#my writing #ange's writing life hacks #i know some people worry about falling out of love with things #or that activity = writing #but its not and your universes are ultimately for you #so dont lose your enjoyment and keep them alive!#even if its in your own head #fyi the squad this year are baldurs gate characters #boxfancy have 3 cats now #and jim and joan are on kid number 2

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mymarifae · 10 months

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the nowhere king is still one of the coolest most interesting concepts for a villain i've ever come across... and i say concept because season 2 of centaurworld didn't go super great.

like the pacing was just... off. it took an entire season of build up for us to even See him for the first time and then we learn his whole deal immediately within like 35 minutes of the finale. it's just too much packed in - and this isn't so much the writers' fault as it is netflix's because we all know netflix loves to cancel animated shows after 1-2 seasons so i feel like the writers did their best to squeeze everything they had planned into the painfully small amount of room they were given.

there are scenes in that finale that tell me the writers Wanted to build certain things up more and if they had been able to it would have been one of the most stunning finales in any show. like the sequence where we see the elk slowly deteriorating into nothing but bones and rot from the magical radiation of the key. or the scene where the mutated bayden swoops in and the birdtaurs realize who he is (the whole final battle sequence is pretty fucking impressive even with all of s2's flaws). or the scene where the general stabs rider.

SERIOUSLY that one could have been MONUMENTAL like it's pretty insane as is but the problem is. we never really got to know the general. it's obvious the writers wanted to establish a father-daughter dynamic between him and rider, but it just... didn't pan out with all the time constraints. but had they been able to establish that properly... oh my god. having him turn around and stab her without remorse would have been fucking NUTSSS it would have been so good. centaurworld could have been so good!!!!!!!!!!! fuck!!!!!! damn you netflix

#overall i enjoy centaurworld and like.#the concept behind the nowhere king and what it would have looked like if it had been executed properly is really impressive to me #like that's the sort of thing i aim for with my own writing. build up that actually pays off and is enjoyable to sit through #all these bits of foreshadowing that click together. the answer was in front of you all along - why weren't you paying attention?#idk i love it and i love story telling so so so so so so much #other than ^ all that up there my other major gripe with centaurworld is how it doesn't know what it wants its humor to be #a lot of the show IS funny and then there's like a billion fart jokes and you're like. who is this for.#animation is top notch though no complaints there

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chronically-enthusiastic · 9 months

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The Ending of Good Omens S2: An Ineffable Analysis

So I wrote this analysis of the ending of Good Omens S2, and the duck situation... Its quite long, my apologies... Unless you like reading long essays, in which case enjoy!!

The Ducks

Before we begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the ducks.

Throughout both the book and the show, there has been a running theme. Ducks. It all began back in the 1990s when Good Omens was published. Around the start of the book, Crowley attempts to use the analogy ‘Like water rolls off a duck’s back’, except he has a lapse of memory. He struggles to find the word to complete this simile. The conversation moves on after a few lines, Crowley apparently resigning to not ever reach the satisfying end of the thought. We read the next two pages and forget that anything ever happened.

DUCKS! Two pages later we are interrupted by this remark from Crowley. This short joke made it’s way into the television programme and has since become the recognised epitome of humour.

On July 28th, Good Omens Season 2 is released on Amazon Prime. In Episode 1, Crowley and Shax are seen on a bench. Crowley remarks that one should not feed bread to ducks. He is asked what, if not bread, one should feed ducks. This question is ignored.

The Ending

The Kiss

The kiss is something that lends itself to be analysed. I would like to begin by quoting part of something Mr Gaiman talked about on Tumblr. He said “I don’t think kissing scenes have much to do with love… Crowley’s kiss is about a lot of things but it's not to show they're in love: if you haven't got it by then you'll never get it.” This is vitally important to recognise, in my opinion. I do read Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship as not purely platonic: it is my belief that they are in the middle ground between a romantic and platonic relationship. The general name given to this is a Queer Platonic Relationship (a QPR for short).

FROZEN PEAS!

“Frozen peas, that’s what you should feed ducks.” Thus the joke returns, and the appreciation for ducks and duck humour is doubled. Duck!! No, seriously, duck, I’m throwing a book at you.

I agree with Gaiman. The kiss was never about romantic love. Crowley was frightened of what a world without Aziraphale would look like. He was gripped with fear about him leaving. He needed to do something that could convey to Aziraphale just how he felt, why, exactly, he could not face life without him. And they have been on earth for so long. They know how humans work, how they express love. In kissing Aziraphale, he attempted to not only remind him of humanity’s capacity for love, but to reinforce that they are on their own side. They are more human than ever before. They understand people in a way that angels and demons never will. And in showing that they are more human than them, Crowley is telling Aziraphale that the beings in heaven and hell will never understand him as well as Crowley does.

We also see evidence of this throughout their lives in other ways.

Crowley calls Aziraphale 'angel' much more frequently than is absolutely necessary. You see, it must be acknowledged that Crowley understands human culture. He instructs Shax on complex human interaction, such as sarcasm. There is no way that he does not know that ‘angel’ is a term of endearment for humans. He understands this, and uses it for perhaps that reason.

Yet there is another perspective to be looked at here. We have already seen how Crowley might use human behaviours to persuade Aziraphale, but what if in this case he is using them to remind himself of something.

It is true that Aziraphale is an angel, the literal meaning of the word. What if Crowley uses this term to remind himself that Aziraphale will always be an angel, no matter how much Crowley wants otherwise. It is a reminder to himself that despite what he may want, how far he is willing to go, Aziraphale will never stand down from his position as an angel. We have seen how they have discussed being on their own side before. It is always Crowley who initiates the idea.

Despite knowing this, despite reminding himself of the fact near-daily, he has the courage to ask once more if Aziraphale will leave them for him. And Aziraphale says no. We see the pain on both of their faces as they realise the real implications of him saying no. And we must remember that this is not the first time Crowley has asked this of Aziraphale. He knew that there was a real chance of him saying no: he has said it before. Yet that time Aziraphale denied him because he wanted to save earth, he was on humanity’s side. This time? This time Aziraphale is saying no so that he can go back to heaven’s side.

"You could be an angel.... my second in command."

The heartbreak and pain they, Crowley especially, must be feeling is ineffable. Crowley laid his heart bare for Aziraphale. He dared to hope, to be optimistic, and it didn’t work. How will this affect him in the future? Will he allow himself to be vulnerable again? I don’t think so. It will take Aziraphale apologising, coming back and confessing too, to let Crowley be vulnerable again. But even then, will that be enough? Only time and Mr Gaiman will tell.

Aziraphale’s Point

After watching Season 2, and having our hearts broken by Aziraphale, it is all too easy to put the blame on him. But honestly? I think he has a point.

Crowley explicitly states “We don’t need heaven. We don’t need hell. They’re toxic!” And while it is true that they don’t need them, the rest of the world is deeply affected by them. Aziraphale understands this, Crowley, however, does not.

I’m not entirely sure what Crowley’s stance on saving the world is, but it’s certainly not the same as Aziraphale’s. Crowley has shown that he has a tendency to run away from the big problems. He suggests going to Alpha Centauri instead of preventing the apocalypse in S1, and again in the infamous S2 ending. So given this information, we must call into question who is correct.

Aziraphale is technically the person trying to achieve the best outcome for the most people. He is going to be in charge of heaven, and believes that he can make a difference in the system, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness and life with Crowley. (Whether or not this will actually be the case is yet to be seen, but I am going to discuss a little further into that later.) He wants to use the new position to do actual good, not the ‘Good’ heaven is obsessed with. We could read Crowley’s actions as selfish: he is potentially sacrificing the lives of everyone on earth so that he can be with Aziraphale. In fact, we see him acknowledge that that may well be the fate of the earth: “Earth will be just as dead if heaven causes it as it would be if hell did.” (or something to that effect).

Is Crowley being selfish here, or just pessimistic? Perhaps he is wanting to leave Earth so that he doesn’t have to worry about that, leaving the humans at the mercy of the wills of the powers up above and down below. But equally, perhaps he truly believes that nothing can be done, and so is faced with the choice of going away with Aziraphale or being subjected to whatever hell will do with him after the second coming. Good Omens has taught us that there is no black and white, just shades of grey. Therefore, I cannot be an absolutist about who is in the wrong. However, I also feel that it has taught us to hope, to believe in the possibility so we can act in the best way possible.

I think that Aziraphale is right to want to make change. He has an opportunity here, given to him by the Metatron, to do something to prevent the second coming. He is not running away, and is sacrificing his own happiness to do what he believes is best.

But beneath all that, the part of me that just wants them to live happily ever in a QPR as soon as possible is inordinately angry at him for not running away with Crowley. The message? Saving the world is important but I need you to be happy.

Aziraphale’s Communication

Whilst I mostly agree with Aziraphale’s motivations, some time must be spent analysing his communication. There are many problems with it, and I think when analysed it will bring to light some of the more nuanced and less good parts of why he chose this path.

There is a moment where Crowley states that he said no to hell, and Aziraphale responds with “Well of course you did. You’re the bad guys”. I think that this line really speaks to the way that Aziraphale sees the world still. He uses the word ‘you’re’, not ‘they’re’. He still sees himself and Crowley on opposite sides of the line. After all of their conversations about the nuance of good and bad, how they are on their side, this idea is still entrenched in Aziraphale’s thinking. Let’s take a second here to think about the future.

For a proper character development, we need to see Aziraphale overcome this. He has been pretty stagnant in his character throughout the story so far. We saw Crowley undergo some significant development in that final episode. He finally admitted his feelings, and spoke about what was actually on his mind. So we know that they are both on a character arc. Surely Aziraphale will have a moment like this? There was not one in S1 or 2, therefore it is safe to assume that this will come in S3. I think that in S3 we will see Aziraphale finally recognise that the structural Good and Bad is not the right way of looking at things, and this will lead to a character change that will allow him to do what he must to stop the second coming.

Aziraphale also doesn’t lead the conversation with the fact that he can make a difference. He leads it with “We can be together, in heaven. It can be just like old times, except nicer”. There’s a lot to unpack in this line. To Crowley, ‘nice’ has never been something he aspires to be, at least not openly. He seems to despise the idea of ‘nice’, as evidenced by “I’m not nice. I’m never nice. Nice is a four letter word.” He has also just shown that he does not want things to go back to the way they were before, which Aziraphale seems to have not listened to. In this scene, Aziraphale seems to fundamentally misunderstand where Crowley is coming from. He does not address anything that Crowley says, apart from perhaps “Oh Crowley, nothing lasts forever.”. But even in this he comes across as a little dismissive, and maybe a little patronising? And it still doesn’t address Crowley’s proposition.

There is the question of whether or not Aziraphale is really in control of his actions in this scene. The Coffee Theory suggests that the Metatron drugged the coffee that he offered to Aziraphale, making him obey him. However, this is not my belief. To say that Aziraphale is not in control of himself here is to misunderstand the conversations he and Crowley have previously had, and to undermine his character. Yet, I do not think that he was aware of everything the Metatron was doing.

The Metatron

We are first introduced to the Metatron in S2 when Crowley is looking at the records in heaven. He is introduced as someone more concerned with the appearance of heaven than how it is actually run. We see him as cruel, and unmoving in his positions.

The next time we see him on screen is when he enters the bookshop, having just ordered a coffee. He interrupts the conversation without introduction, immediately asserting authority. No one, apart from two characters, appears to recognise him. This is intriguing because the archangels should have known who he was. Why this is, I do not know.

Two characters appear to recognise the Metatron. The first is Saraqeal. This is not confirmed, but judging by the lack of shock and indignation contrasted with their other angelic counterparts, we can assume that they do recognise him. Neil Gaiman said on Tumblr: “Paul Chahidi wasn't available when we were shooting. It was a pity. We had some secret things for Sandalphon to do. Saraqael did some of those things, and not others.” What are those secret things, we must ask ourselves? Is one of those the recognition we see from Saraqeal? And what will these secret things mean?

The other character is Crowley. The Metatron asks him directly who he thinks he is, and Crowley answers correctly. This is very interesting for a few reasons. Why does the Metatron ask Crowley of all people? Perhaps to establish power - he knows who knows who he is, he is proving his omniscience so as not to be questioned later. And how does he know that Crowley knows?

Anyhow, I digress. The point is that from the moment he walks in, he establishes his power and makes everyone else feel shameful. As a person who is admired by the angels, this is an interesting move to make. It makes the angels feel as though they have slighted him in some way, and so will feel compelled to make it up to him - remember that Aziraphale is an angel too (we established this previously in the essay). He then reinforces the idea that they have done something wrong by demanding the archangels leave, but keeping the lowest angel present. This makes the archangel Uriel question if they have done anything wrong, and the Metatron purposefully gives a vague answer so as to maintain power. This display of power is interesting because it is not the people he is exerting power over who are his target. His target is Aziraphale.

The aforementioned tactic is done to impress his power into Aziraphale. His intention is that Aziraphale will feel less power because of this, therefore more willing to do as instructed. The Metatron’s next manipulation tactic is to ignore Crowley. He knows Crowley is not one to stick to the rules (“Ah, well, always did want to go his own way. Always asking damn fool questions, too.”), and will likely help Aziraphale see the truth. The Metatron needs Aziraphale to be convinced before Crowley can tamper with his plan. Therefore, he ignores Crowley, both making Aziraphale feel more important, and making Crowley feel less powerful. He then removes Airaphale from Crowley and onto neutral ground. This is a known technique in manipulation. The conversation then ensues in the restaurant across the road.

During this, the Metatron describes the characteristics he sees in Aziraphale that would make him a good replacement for Gabriel. This flattery is intriguing because they are not characteristics necessarily seen in Aziraphale. He then pulls out the Crowley card, saying Aziraphale could reinstate him. He obviously knows about their relationship, and so is trying to assure Aziraphale that he can still have everything he wants, yet if he knows that then surely he will know Crowley’s response. The Metatron is giving Aziraphale false hope so as to convince him to join him in heaven.

The thing that I think is most vital to understand is that Aziraphale never explicitly says yes. Infact, at the end of the conversation Aziraphale asks for more time to think it through, which is answered with a ‘yes, of course’, yet followed with a ‘Why don’t you go and tell him the good news?’. This is a way of making the manipulated feel as though it was their idea, that they said yes, whilst in reality it was the manipulator all along.

The final straw is how he enters after the ‘breakup’ scene. Crowley walks out, and Aziraphale’s life is left in tatters. After this scene, he is left the most vulnerable and broken we have ever seen him. And that insidious Metatron walks in and acts as if Aziraphale had the moral upperhand. After all that hurt and pain, the Metatron is the one to bring some comfort, to pat Aziraphale’s back and say “Ah, well, he always did want to go his own way.”. Of course Aziraphale is going to follow him now, he has given Aziraphale an opportunity he almost couldn’t resist before, and now the main thing that tied him to Earth is gone. And the Metatron knew EXACTLY what he was doing. He knew that Aziraphale saying all this to Crowley once he’s been mostly convinced would be enough to tear them apart. He knew their weaknesses and exploited them in order to get exactly what he wanted.

So we know that the Metatron manipulated Aziraphale - the evidence is blatantly there - but the question is why? Every manipulator has a goal, what is the Metatron’s? To answer this is to speculate about Season 3.

Why?

The Metatron manipulated Aziraphale into getting him exactly where he wanted him to be. But the question is why? Aziraphale is not the obedient servant he would find in Micheal, Uriel, Saraqeal, or Sandalphon, nor is he as easy to get on side. The Metatron knows that he has knowingly gone against the will of god before, and so why is he deciding to reinstate him, higher than before?

I think that the Metatron is afraid. He knows about the partnership between Crowley and Aziraphale, we have already established that, but why might this be a threat to him?

We saw the power of the miracle with Gabriel, it was enough to raise someone from the dead 25 times. And Crowley acknowledges that this is likely because it was performed by both of them, together. And the Metatron is scared by this, of what the ineffable husbands can do together. And so he orchestrates a way to separate them. The idea of keeping your friends close but your enemies closer is pertinent here. If he is as threatened as it is made out that he is, then having Aziraphale directly beneath him at all times might just protect him.

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