#even if it's different from the norm of love and courtship

[libraryofgage]

Decided to combine 4 and 12 of the prompt list! Something about these two prompts was giving me major Addams Family vibes, so I rolled with it lol

If there are any other prompts you want to see written, lemme know!

4. “You know I’d do anything to have you stay by my side, right? Anything.”  

12. “I’m going to have so much fun with you.”

Wherein the Munsons are branches on the Addams Family tree, and Steve finds himself the object of Eddie Munson's flirtations and devotion.

---

When the Munsons move in next door, Steve sits his brother down in the living room and says, "Don't bother them, Dustin. Wait, like, three days before asking for their life stories."

Dustin looks offended, to say the least. "I wasn't gonna ask for their life stories, Steve. I was gonna ask where they got all the bats and birds that hang out on their roof."

Honestly, Steve would love the answer to that, too, but that seems to be encroaching on the "life story" territory, considering the sheer number of flying creatures the Munsons brought with them. He'd been outside getting the mail when the Munson kids, a boy his own age and a girl Dustin's age, had opened a tiny cat carrier, and a veritable storm of black wings and feathers and screeching had somehow come streaming out of it.

The girl was watching them with a smile, and the boy turned around like he'd felt Steve staring. Their gazes met, and Steve's awkward wave was returned with the boy's eyes raking over him before winking with a grin.

"Look, ju-"

Steve's words are cut off by a banging on the door, the person knocking out a beat that he can't follow. He shoots Dustin a look to stay put before he opens the door to find the Munson boy on the other side. He's got that same playful grin and a plate of pitch-black...something in his hands.

"Uh, hi?"

Somehow, the boy's grin gets wider, and he shoves the plate into Steve's hands. "Heeeellooo, big boy," he says, his voice almost lowering into a purr that makes heat flood Steve's cheeks. "Wayne wanted me to drop off some of his famous arsenic and chocolate chip cookies. You know, since we're neighbors and all."

"Wayne? Arsenic?" Steve mumbles, looking down at the cookies warily.

"Our uncle," the boy says, leaning on the doorway and crossing his arms as he looks Steve up and down again. "Don't worry, it won't kill you. Yet. That's a friend of the family privilege, at least, and you just ain't there yet."

It must be a joke, and Steve lets out a strained laugh. He balances the plate in one hand and holds his other one out. "Right, well, uh, nice to meet you. I'm Steve. You'll probably meet my brother, Dustin, later."

The boy takes his hand, but instead of shaking it, he brings it up to his lips. Then he turns Steve's hand over, brushing his lips across the meat of his palm before nipping. Steve jerks, yanking his hand back and holding it close to his chest, his heart beating erratically as the boy says, "I'm Eddie, my sister's name is El, and I'm going to have so much fun with you, Stevie."

And with that, Eddie turns on his heel and saunters back to the Munson home, which had been painted pitch-black (just like the cookies) at some point. Steve doesn't move from the open door, feeling a faint tingling in his palm, until he hears Dustin shout that he's going to let all the cold air out.

The arsenic and chocolate chip cookies had not, in fact, killed either of them. And, despite their burnt-to-coal appearance, they were soft and chewy. It had immediately put the Munsons in Dustin's good graces, which he happily proclaimed while Steve's head and heart were still reeling from Eddie's introduction.

In the following weeks, Eddie kept popping up whenever Steve left the house. He never overstepped, though. He'd appear at a distance, wait for Steve to wave or say hi, and then approach with that big grin with canine teeth that looked a little sharper than they should. Sometimes he'd offer more baked goods from Wayne (always with some schtick to them: eye of newt brownies, hag's breath toffee, cyanide and cherry pie). On one notable occasion, he'd offered a baseball bat with nails stuck through the end.

"El let out a demodog the other day, so you probably ought to be careful. I'd hate for you to get hurt by something that wasn't me," Eddie had said as Steve confusedly took the bat.

He blinked when he had processed the words and looked up. "You would hurt me?" Steve asked.

Eddie had leaned close, his ringed fingers ghosting over Steve's side and inching closer to his waist, and whispered, "It wouldn't just hurt, Stevie." His words had sent a shiver down Steve's spine, his mouth suddenly dry as Eddie pulled away.

And their interactions had escalated from there. With every meeting, Eddie strayed closer, lingered longer, spoke softer, and Steve couldn't escape the growing devotion and fascination in his eyes. At some point, Steve knew, things were bound to boil over.

So, he definitely wasn't surprised when they did at the neighborhood's annual Fourth of July cookout. Eddie had waited until El and Dustin were distracted by their other friends, checked to make sure Wayne was sufficiently busy with helping at the grill, and then kidnapped Steve to a hidden corner of the Byers's yard.

Which brings Steve to the present, the Byers's house casting a long shadow over him and Eddie so nobody notices them. The sound of other kids screeching with delight and parents discussing summer camps fades when Eddie leans in closer.

"You know I'd do anything to have you stay by my side, right? Anything?" Eddie asks, tilting Steve's chin up as he crowds him against the wall.

Steve presses back against the cool brick, silently holding Eddie's gaze. There's a stark seriousness to his words, and Steve can't help his curiosity about just what anything encompasses. "Would you kill for me?" he asks, his voice soft.

Eddie practically lights up, a feral grin pulling at his lips. "Gladly, sweetheart," he purrs.

"Would you die for me?"

"I'd tear out my heart and present it on a fucking silver platter for you. In fact, I can do it right now, if you'd like." A knife appears in his hand from seemingly nowhere, and Eddie brings it to his own chest only for Steve to stop him by grabbing his wrist.

"Then, what about living for me?" Steve asks, carefully taking the knife from Eddie and smoothly returning it to the holder tucked into his jeans.

Eddie leans in until their noses brush, his hand cupping Steve's jaw. "I wouldn't even dream of dying without your permission, Stevie," he whispers.

And Steve would fucking love to meet the person who could withstand Eddie Munson's attention and flirting and gifts and care and sheer devotion without falling head-over-heels for him. Steve would want to put that person in a jar, study them, see if their indifference is something he could mass produce. He's sure Eddie would be thrilled to help him do it, too.

"I have one request," Steve whispers back, reaching up and pushing his hand into Eddie's hair, warmth rushing through him when Eddie leans into the touch.

"Anything. Say the word, and I wouldn't hesitate to crawl through hot coals and broken glass." Steve has zero doubts Eddie would; in fact, he knows Eddie would be ecstatic to do it, if only for the chance to make Steve smile.

"I want one of the bats. And Dustin wants a demodog, but you better make sure it doesn't hurt him, or I'll make you listen to bubblegum pop and watch a Disney marathon."

Steve can feel the shudder that goes through Eddie, his eyes revealing a mix of horror, pride, and love at Steve's words. "You, Stevie, have perfected the art of making threats. Consider your two requests granted and me sufficiently...threatened," Eddie breathes, somehow managing to press even closer.

And Steve can't make either of them wait a second longer. With a grin that can easily rival Eddie's, Steve kisses him and begins to think of names for his bat.

#steddie #steddie fic #steddie fluff #steve harrington #eddie munson #dustin henderson #addams family #stranger things #i just love the addams family so much #one of my favorite aus to make actually #the way they love is so pure and unapologetically genuine #even if it's different from the norm of love and courtship #that makes it even more romantic #my writing

[hurthermore]

Hiya, Love💗 I’ve had tumblr for almost 3 years now and this is one of my first requests, so kinda nervous lol. But I was thinking, maybe you could do one where Human!Alastor takes reader home to meet his mama? Maybe one where she (mama Alastor) shows her how to cook her famous jambalaya? Or anything really. Just overall fluff of Mama Alastor and Alastor himself. No pressure at all, I just think this is a really cute, fluffy idea and I haven’t seen anyone else do it yet. Anyway, Lots of love💗

»»------► 𝙰 𝙼𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎

Pairing: 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗!𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚡 𝙶𝙽!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

Warnings: 𝙽𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜

A/N: 𝙾𝚖𝚐 𝚃.𝚃 𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎!! 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎!! 𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚐𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚊𝚖𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝!! 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝙸'𝚖 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝙰𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎; 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠! >.<

Before Alastor introduced you to his mother, the two of you had been courting for a month at minimum. Alastor - being a man who is ridiculously confident of himself and what he did, didn't take long to have confidence that you'd be by his side for the rest of both of your lives; and in death. So introducing you to his mother so soon wasn't something that was an issue for him.

With his mother being a widow - courtesy of Alastor - she was naturally lonely and craved familiar relationships; which was why she and her son had such a strong relationship. So when you came into the picture, she immediately wanted to meet you. She wanted to dote on the little darling who had her sweet boy head over heels; cook for them, teach them how to make Alastor’s favourite foods and spill all of his embarrassing stories from his childhood and teen years.

When the two of you first met, she welcomed you into her home with open arms; falling in platonic love with you almost instantly. She loved everything about you, and understood perfectly clearly why her precious son had fallen for you; she was glad he had met you. 

Since the first meeting, Alastor always brought you over to her house almost every time he went to see her, which was about two times a week; but neither of you minded, and in time, Alastor’s mother began seeing you as her own child too, doting on you more and more as time passed.

You were positive at some points that she preferred you over Alastor.

After the six month mark of yours and Alastor’s courtship, he finally proposed to you. His mother was as ecstatic as you, and she heavily involved herself in the wedding planning; to your delight. She helped you pick out your dress as if she knew exactly what you wanted. 

She even helped pick out Alastor’s suit for the occasion.

Two weeks before the wedding date, she had invited you over to her home alone; which wasn’t anything out of the norm as you frequently visited her without Alastor, but this time, she was planning on showing you how to make all of Alastor’s favourite foods.

It was a busy day to say the least, but she showed you exactly everything and had written multiple different recipes for you to store away for your own use. As you both sat down after cooking all day, you held her hands and looked in her eyes before asking her something that made her cry with joy.

“Will you walk me down the aisle, mother?”

»»------► 𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

#alastor x reader #alastor x you #alastor #hazbin alastor #hazbin hotel x reader #reader insert #x reader #hazbin hotel

[twistedwonderlandimaginesblog]

Hello, I see that questions about relationships and courtship are open :D If it's okay with you, could I have Jamil and Leona, please?Number 5, 12, 16 and 28 ;)Thank you in advance!! You have a great blog! <3

Leona Kingscholar:

5. ♥ Do they wait to be intimate until after marriage or break all the social rules?

Leona breaks rules because he can, or pushes the very limits just to see how far he can go before it all falls apart. All eyes aren’t on him, at least most aren’t, aside from his nosy family members and those in the guard who may not trust his ambition. He knows how to pull the wool over Fareena’s eyes for the most part, though his sister-in-law is a different case. He’s not a patient man but he’s not pushy either; if he only wanted a night or two of fun he would’ve never committed to begin with, so you can take that to heart if you doubt his feelings.

12. ♥ Do they seek to find a partner purely to further the bloodline and name, is it for true love, or is it for pleasure alone?

Leona laughed at the thought of furthering his bloodline. Subject his child to 2nd place by default their entire life? Yeah, right. It’s a thought that drifts with time as he can’t help but want an heir himself, he refers to it as his natural kingly want even without being a king, but you think he just wants to raise a fighter willing to look out for the ‘little guy’ too just in case Cheka doesn’t do a good enough job. There is something to be said about the kinds of people he’d choose to date, ones that would be suitable for family life if they wanted it. Dating is mostly left to his own whims and he doesn’t do it often, if at all, as getting to know new people was a hassle and he hated wasting his own time.

16. ♥ Do they have at least one bonding activity they devote to doing with their partner exclusively?

Napping. Yes, yes, very stereotypical for the lazy lion but he didn’t trust just anyone to join him. Sleeping soundly around another person was like exposing your belly in a room full of predators; you wouldn’t do it if you felt like you’d be torn to shreds. He’s placing his trust in you to keep him safe and warm while he slumbers. He doesn’t reveal his expectations of you being his pillow until it’s far too late for you to run.

28. ♥ Do they understand their partners/person they are courtings feelings without them having to say anything?

Leona is as sharp as a carnivore’s claw. Many things could be said about him but his intelligence was rarely in question. He might not always verbally confirm things, but the longer you’re together the more familiar he is with you. Conscious or unconscious, he noticed the way you move or hold yourself, the way you speak and the specific words you pick whether you’re coddling someone or in an argument. He’s aware when you divert from your norm, whether its due to anger or sadness or embarrassment. It’s like chess, a game he’s quite good at, and you’re always stunned when he finally calls you out when he asks for the ‘why’ behind your changes.  

Jamil Viper:

5. ♥ Do they wait to be intimate until after marriage or break all the social rules?

Jamil doesn’t have any strong feelings one way or the other, but you do notice he’s the type to take it slow. He’s not embarrassed by physical affection per se but the closer you get, the more you feel him tense. He’s worried about getting too attached too fast, and while the sanctity of marriage isnt the first thing on his mind, there are some interactions you have that are so domestic Jamil can’t help but daydream about what married life might consist of with you.

12. ♥ Do they seek to find a partner purely to further the bloodline and name, is it for true love, or is it for pleasure alone?

Jamil isn’t entirely game to have children, for a variety of reasons that include not wanting them to be in servitude from birth. He has doubts, feeling guilty if a family is something you had always wanted, but he had never really seen that for himself. But he also can’t say he’s seen romance for himself either, or that anyone would want to date him despite his loyalty being sworn to another, so there’s a chance for change and he might be willing to reconsider a childless future.

16. ♥ Do they have at least one bonding activity they devote to doing with their partner exclusively?

Sightseeing. This only applied when you were out of the country, likely at the whim of Kalim going on his royal duties, but Jamil is given enough ‘personal time’ when he’s surrounded by the royal guards of other families. He liked to drag you around with him to places of interest, from the markets to the ruins that seem to line every city; his eyes always glow when he’s left to adventure on his own with no obligations to reassure the safety of who he’s with, though he is wary about going anywhere dangerous when you’re tagging along with him.

28. ♥ Do they understand their partners/person they are courtings feelings without them having to say anything?

Wires can get crossed from time to time, but Jamil isn’t stupid. He knows how to read people to an extent and he can be hyperaware of his surroundings due to his job, so he noticed plenty about you. Some little habits, the way you acted when you were happy or upset or contemplating existence, he just never knew how to use that to his advantage. Learning how to use the information you present him is more the issue he’s presented with but never doubt that Jamil will figure it out for the sake of keeping you as his.

#Twisted Wonderland #Disney Twisted Wonderland #TWST #Disney TWST #TWST Imagines #TWST x Reader #Twisted Wonderland x Reader #Leona Kingscholar #Jamil Viper #Leona Kingscholar x Reader #Jamil Viper x Reader #Courting Meme

[mylesimeblr]

A little Aonung/Spider I've been working on... (not proofread)

Warning: T rated for this one but might go up to M or E rated when finished (I might add a first time moment at the end of this)

Aonung has had enough.

Can’t they mind their own business?

Yes, he knows Spider is different from him, in more than one way. But he has accepted it. So why do they have to make such a big fuss and be so weird about it?! Three talks! He’s already had to suffer three talks! With their worried expressions and not so subtly allusions he might hurt Spider with his size and his weight, as if he were some sort of horrible brute. It makes him sick, this image they have of him… of them and his love.

Yes, he’s aware making Spider his official mate will be… a conundrum. He’s not stupid. He’s seventeen. He passed his Rite. He’s an adult now. Spider has no Kuru to make the bond with him. He couldn’t even pass his own Rite, being unable to ride a Tsurak like a Na’vi. Jakesully said that Spider can be considered an adult in human standards but the tribe will never validate it - not really. And Spider is small. Child sized. He reaches Aonung at the waist and Aonung isn’t stupid. He noticed how incredibly much larger he is and what it means. Yes, he’s scared. But he knows that adorable tawtute is the one. Did he ever think his mate would be a tawtute? No! But that’s what happened. And now, he’s determined to take things as they are and not as he wishes they were.

He will make this work.

He knows he can, somehow.

That Avatar - Norm - was a great help. He owes him a lot. He’s the one who told him about human physiology and how Spider’s body works. It was probably the only interesting talk he’s had so far… So much better than all the fearful warnings he got from his father, Toruk Makto and even his mother. Neytiri was… her whole sort of weird. That woman is terrifying - poor Toruk Makto. But Norm was different. Norm was… trying. He was instructive. 

Aonung wants the evening to be perfect. 

He has spent hours preparing everything while Spider was held busy by his very supportive sister. When Lo’ak understands why Tsireya insisted they needed to weave twenty five new nets when most of the used nets seem to be perfectly fine, he might get angry. But that’s an ordeal for another day. Right now, his priority is to finish having things ready when Spider returns to his shack. He hopes the boy will not find him intruding or strange… He has no idea how to court a Sky Person. He knows Spider was born and raised among Na’vi but he still has his own things about him that Aonung can barely start to understand. 

It took Spider months to understand the young Na’vi was courting him at all. 

He accepted the gifts but with an expression that even Aonung translated as confused. It was only when Kiri told him that Spider had no idea Aonung was courting him at all that he decided to communicate with words and Aonung confessed that he was indeed interested in the tawtute. He thought it would finally settle everything down but then Spider rejected Aonung’s courtship and it hurt. Because Aonung wasn’t expecting to be rejected.

It could have ended right then and there but Aonung was not one to give up and he persisted. He liked this cute but fierce little tawtute and was determined to win him over. It took a moment but Spider eventually confessed his fears and Aonung did his best to reassure him. Yes, they were different species but he was sure they could make this work, somehow.

Then, his parents - and the Sullys - decided to step in and discourage him, arguing that he was going to hurt the little human with his large body and that this relationship had to stop before it even got started.

But Aonung doesn’t care. He knows he can make this work. He knows he can.

Which is why he finds himself currently preparing a pik’nik right in the middle of Spider’s shack, not really knowing if what he’s doing is the right thing at all.

The door of the shack suddenly depressurizes and the metal clicks.

A few seconds later, Spider’s voice rises into the windowless room.

“Hey Nung, Reya said you were looking for me… Why are you in the dark-”

He stops right at the threshold, his sentence finishing itself in the air. Aonung feels his heart beating in the back of his throat. His tail goes rigid behind him and his ears fall backwards. Spider is blinking at him with the most dumbfounded expression he has ever seen on his face, eyes wide, lips parted and Aonung does feel like a fool, his immense body knelt as it can in the middle of the room on a blanket that is already too small for him and that forces more than half of his body on the cold metal floor to leave enough space for the small human to fit. He tried to reproduce as best as he could the pictures Norm gave him but couldn’t find any candles like they had and he didn’t want to risk burning the whole place with a torch so he settled for bioluminescent plants that he put in jars instead. It doesn’t give that warm orange light, the plants basking the room in dim hues of pink and blue that reflect on the walls around them and the floor. He harvested Spider’s favorite human edible fruit and took some bread, vegetables and dippings that he arranged in bowls, as well as swamp nectar and prune juice.

For long seconds, Spider just stays there, watching the display in front of him, stunned and at a loss for words. It doesn’t help alleviate Aonung’s nervousness in the least.

“What… What is that?” Spider eventually asks.

Aonung’s ears flicker. Did he do something wrong? Did he miss something in his… reproduction of tawtute culture?

“It’s uhm… A… pik’nik,” he says, trying to pronounce the foreign word correctly.

Spider blinks, “Oh!”

“You know them, right?” Aonung presses, feeling more and more anxious that his idea completely missed the point.

“Only from Norm and Max’s stories. I never really… had one before…” His face takes on that adorable pink color Aonung loves so much, “But… why?” he asks and he sounds like he has no idea why Aonung went through all that trouble.

“For you,” Aonung explains.

“Me?” Spider repeats as if the concept of someone doing something like this for him is an impossibility.

“Yes, you. Please, come sit with me.”

Spider blinks and wobbles on his legs, joining Aonung on the blanket. He swallows. Aonung smiles. It’s one of the first times he can see Spider without his mask. What a beautiful sight. He takes a deep breath from his own mask. 

“Is that… swamp nectar?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you get it?”

Aonung smirks, “I’m the Olo’eyktan son. It comes with privileges!” he says, sounding shamelessly smug and proud of himself.

Spider chuckles and his face flushes again.

They begin to eat, talking about their day. Spider is always shy at first but when Aonung starts speaking with him, he suddenly opens up and can no longer be stopped, going on and on and on about the fish they saw and the nets they weaved and how Lo’ak kept growling the whole time. Aonung smiles and chuckles, watching him. There are so many colors on him when he speaks. It’s like the words are dancing on his skin, each one of them a different emotion that lights him up in so many different shades. His own human bioluminescence. It’s fascinating.

Spider suddenly realizes that Aonung is staring at him intensely. He stops talking and frowns, looking self-conscious again.

“What?” he asks, pouting a little.

Aonung smirks, “You’re beautiful,” he whispers.

Spider swallows, his Adam apple bobbing as he does. Aonung blinks at him. Slowly, he cups his face. His hand is so much bigger, it encircles his head completely. His heart starts beating faster. It’s the first time he can touch his beautiful face, the first time he finally has access to that masterpiece held behind a glass for so long. Gently, he swipes his thumb under Spider’s eye. The skin is so soft.

“Sevin,” he whispers.

Spider swallows again. His eyes are huge. His lips tremble. A breath passes through them, hitting Aonung’s hand with its warmth. He blinks at the tall Na’vi. Aonung bends down slowly toward him. Spider’s breath hitches through his nose and fills his lungs with too much air, making his throat tickle with the need to cough. 

Their lips touch for the very first time.

Aonung has already kissed his mask a few times already but nothing compares to this. Spider’s lips are warm and tiny against his. Aonung’s mouth takes almost all of Spider’s lower face and he adjusts his angle not to smother the human and free his nose, making Spider’s chuckle in the kiss. Yes, that size difference is really awkward. But Aounung wouldn’t change it for the rest of the world and laughs. Spider wraps his small arms around Aonung’s neck, his fingers digging into the thick curls. The Na’vi moans at the gentle contact. Slowly, he opens his mouth and pokes the tiny lips with the bit of his tongue, requesting entrance. Spider shakes against him but parts his lips nonetheless and Aonung touches the tip of a tiny tongue and it feels like a spark of electricity. His braid is heavy on his lap. From the corner of his eyes, he sees his Kuru open and the tendrils reach up, desperate to touch the tawtute. 

The kiss deepens. Spider’s hand cups Aonung’s face. Aonung strokes the soft skin of Spider’s cheek with the back of his fingers. The kiss is slow, careful. Aonung knows that he can’t push the fragile human and he doesn’t want to. This feels so nice, kissing him and touching him like this. Spider tastes like fruit and Swamp nectar. He’s delightful. 

They part. Spider gives him a shy smile and looks down. His lips are a bit swollen and pink. He looks adorable and so much more edible than any of the food on that blanket. Aonung keeps his hand on his face and kisses the tip of his nose gently, making Spider chuckle.

Their eyes meet.

They’re both breathing hard and deep.

Their bodies are hot, heart racing behind their rib cages.

Gently, Aonung lays a soft kiss on Spider’s cheek before diving into the warm crook of his neck. The human’s reaction is immediate. Goosebumps suddenly cover his skin and he moans loudly, tilting his head. Ok, so the neck is very sensitive for humans. Good to know! He gently sucks on the skin, mindful to keep his teeth away and not leave any mark. But that skin is so soft and tender.

“Nung!” Spider whines.

Aonung pulls away and returns to face him with a playful smirk.

“My cute little tawtute is sensitive!” he gently mocks.

Spider turns beet red again but looks down in haste.

“Spi?” Aonung asks, “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” he’s suddenly anxious - he did try to be as gentle as he could.

“What?! No! Of course not!”

Aonung relaxes at that.

“Then, what is it?”

He touches Spider’s cheek again, marveling at the softness of that skin he can never feel against his fingers. With his other hand, he takes his mask and breathes deeply in it, the intensity of the kiss having left him a little too dazed for his own good.

Spider shrugs, “Nothing… I just…” shyly, he looks up at the Na’vi, “I just like you, I guess…” he’s quick to look down again.

Aonung feels his heart miss a beat. Here, just the two of them in the confinement of this tawtute shack, in that strange colorful darkness, it feels so much more intimate than in the open of the sea. It fits them. It makes them belong.

“I like you too,” he says, “So much, Ma Spider.”

Spider nibbles his bottom lip, not looking at Aonung. He’s adorable. He smiles and bends down to kiss him again just as gently as the first time. He tastes fruit and swamp nectar again. His mouth is so warm and wet. He loves it. His fingers sink into Spider’s dreads, then on his shoulders, brushing against the blue painted patterns on his skin - he wonders if Spider will let him paint him. His hands find their way down Spider’s arms and onto his waist. The skin is so hard there. There are so many muscles. He’s really beautiful.

His ears fall backwards.

He can feel himself… react. But he won’t give his parents reason. He can control himself. He knows he can. Spider’s is more important than any heat. 

“Can I… see you?” he asks in a whisper.

Spider looks up in haste, “What?”

Aonung’s tail swipes nervously behind him, “Can I look at you… I really want to see you, Ma Spider.”

“I’m right here,” Spider babbles.

“Without your Tweng,” the Na’vi specifies with a smirk, “I want to touch you. All of you. If you allow me."

Spider’s eyes widen and he thinks he’s going to faint.

#miles spider socorro #aonung #aocorro #avatar the way of water #mylesime fics #spider socorro

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

I'm curious: how do Gallifreyans perceive relationships/ marriages? Are they in general more loyal or are they more polyamorous? Do they have specific rituals like we humans? Does such things even matter to such a highly advanced species?

Gallifreyan Love

🔗 Cultural Norms and Practices

On Gallifrey, the idea of relationships is intertwined with a deeply rooted sense of duty and a hierarchical societal structure. Relationships, especially among the higher echelons of Time Lord society, serve more purpose as strategic alliances than expressions of personal affection. As you can imagine, the extended lifespans of Gallifreyans, coupled with their capability for regeneration, add a few more layers of complexity - imagine getting a divorce 500 years in, and having to separate that CD collection.

The influence of the Curse of the Pythia, which rendered the majority of Gallifreyans sterile and thus made sex pointless in a practical way, has historically shaped Gallifrey's approaches to relationships. The emergence of "loomed" Time Lords pivoted their species towards asexuality, and many Gallifreyans were celibate as a societal norm. However, Low Town does have a couple of brothels, so make of that what you will.

💍 Dating and Marriage Conventions

Despite the strategic nature of many Gallifreyan relationships, marriages born of love are not unheard of. The rituals surrounding marriage, however, are pretty obscure. We don't know much beyond the tradition of donning white - a colour symbolising death on Gallifrey - suggesting marriage is like death, or something(?)

The act of courtship among Gallifreyans is another big question mark. While traditional "date nights" as understood by humans might not align with Gallifreyan practices, their society does have plenty of date locations, from the dives of Low Town to the posh restaurants of Arcadia.

🔄 Monogamy vs. Polyamory

Due to their extended lifespans and regenerative capabilities, the concept of lifetime commitment can stretch across centuries and several physical forms. This unique condition creates a social fabric where both monogamous and polyamorous relationships can thrive, each serving different purposes and reflecting individual preferences.

Monogamy: For some Gallifreyans, especially those in positions of political or social prominence, a monogamous relationship might symbolise a stable alliance or a deeply personal bond that persists through regenerations.

Polyamory: On the other hand, the very nature of Gallifreyan society lends itself to more fluid relationship structures. Polyamorous relationships, in this context, might be strategic, forming networks of support, influence, and mutual benefit among different Houses or factions.

🏫 Modern Interpretations

In contemporary times, society is still adapting to the shifting political landscape and the return of biological reproduction. The deeply ingrained traditions of the old may be giving way to new forms of personal expression and connection. Yet, for all the advancements and changes, Gallifrey remains a society where duty and tradition wield significant influence and probably will for a long time to come.

Hope that helped! 😃

Further reading:

How does marriage and dating work on Gallifrey?

What is looming and how does it work?

→🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (WIP) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP)

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》📫Got a question / submission? 》😆Jokes |🫀Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts 》📚Complete list of Q+A 》📜Masterpost If you like what GIL does, please consider buying a coffee or tipping below to help make future projects, including complete biology and language guides.

#doctor who #gil #gallifrey institute for learning #dr who #dw eu #gallifrey #dw meta #gallifreyans #ask answered #whoniverse #gil biology #gallifreyan biology #time lord biology

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

I'm not proud of myself but here I am again with the last (I promise!) ask I'm sending you for a min because at this point what am I even doing lol. So last night I had a dream where the way people lived in societies revolved around the flute and each culture had its own type of flute it used and the way we played our flutes created its own type of language, so while spoken language did exist your flute language was seen as more important. Each country had its own customs and whatnot surrounding their flutes as well but China was the only one I experienced in my dream. In China it was seen as rude to play your flute between 12:00-1:00, but I could never find out if they meant a.m. or p.m. so I always got nasty looks from faceless people (no idea how I wound up in China).

Despite all of these different flute cultures there were some universal traditions. For every milestone/notable memory in a person's life they would add another note to their life song. Well sometimes it was a note I think, other times a whole verse? I think it depended on how big the moment that you wanted to add was maybe??? Another one I can remember was the courting ritual, which involved a man or woman playing their flute in specific ways to symbolize whatever promises they were making or whatever vibe their relationship gave off to the person initiating the courtship. If the person who was being courted accepted then they would begin playing in specific ways as well until eventually their song molded together into something lovely and unique. And I think that this last one was most likely what triggered my whole dream because I remember watching something about that on a youtube video before going to bed.

Anyways, this dream has stuck with me throughout today and I am now compelled to create an Avatar au based on it so be prepared for that inevitable ask.

~ Boredom Anon

Dude dreams in worldbuilding lol. But no, totally, I want to know more about singing and oral storytelling and its importance in the Na'vi world. I've been THINKING about it, like way more than usual since the latest chapter of for the nights and days of life by @mochalottie .

We haven't been doing enough thinking about the storytelling traditions, about clan storytelling nights where the kids hear legends and the adults tell their own hunting triumphs and then just funny events. Stories passed down and also new little things. About Jake dragging Norm up and telling the plots of famous movies as best as they can remember them and creating a whole new tradition. Iconic.

#jake sully #norm spellman #avatar #avatar the way of water #james cameron avatar #melissa's asks #melissa on avatar (cameron) #fic recs

[good-beanswrites]

Fe Aspec Week Day 1: Friendship

Python’s Ten-Step Guide to Discovering You’re Aromantic

First, you need to notice something is different between you and your best friend. Do it nice and early, when he reads you storybooks of heroes and kings and battles that all culminate in a beautiful wedding. Your friend likes looking at the illustrations of the knight rescuing their lover. He can’t rest until he’s finished reading the last page. Stop him to look at the pictures of the fights. Enjoy the dragons. Enjoy the hero’s sword. When you’re alone, be sure to close the book before the lovers even reunite, because you’re excited that he won the battle using all his strength and valor, and isn’t that enough?

Spend your childhood hating every Day of Devotion to varying degrees. You can start off enjoying it, if you’d like: confess nonexistent feelings to a pretty thing in the hopes it’ll do you some good. Give flowers to the cute neighbor only to feel nothing at his rejection. Eventually, though, realize that something about the day pisses you off. You won’t be able to put your finger on it (it’s only step 2, after all). 

Worry that your best friend is the problem, and far too sentimental over everyone and everything. He’s definitely not the norm you should be comparing yourself against. Worry your pops is the problem. You know he never loved your mother, you’d never seen him love anyone, maybe this all started with him somehow. Then, worry that you are the problem. Spend sleepless nights and miserable days wondering why the goddess put you together with something missing on the inside. Try to spend as little time as possible on this one, but it’s okay if it takes a while.

One particularly quiet night, break into your friend’s father’s lord’s library. A little crime is necessary in affairs like this. You’re not the quickest reader, but maybe there’s something in here that you’ve been missing. Even if the bastard doesn’t have any books on the subject – flip through those pages of romance, courting, soulmates, and the power of love until you get fed up and leave with nothing to show for it.

Court everyone you possibly have a chance with in your little village. Silently compare yourself with the way your best friend talks about the butcher’s daughter, then break off each courtship when it doesn’t match up. Find someone new, they might be the right one. Take up archery to impress your potential dates. Learn all sorts of songs on your cittern (you’ll prefer the dances, but you have to learn the love songs because that’s all people will request). Leap into every gossipy conversation you can about affairs and crushes and relationships. Lend an ear to romantic tales about everyone from your neighbor to the head of Zofian knights. Throw yourself into it with a flirtatious fervor until you no longer recognize yourself. 

Next, you need to undo everything you just did. (Well, you can keep up the cittern playing. That will still help you take a date to bed now and again.) Look yourself in the mirror one day, and take down the act. Find yourself again. Be at some kind of peace with it. If there’s anyone you’re going to learn to love in your life, it’s going to be you. Start that right now, while staring in the mirror and listening to your friend chatter on in the other room, since he invited you over to offer comfort after your latest, and last, breakup. You don’t really need the big to-do, but you do enjoy the company.

Gather up the courage to broach the subject with your friend. Don’t do it like a normal, composed person. No – save up the thoughts for a long while, waiting until you’re at a real low point. You’ve got to be in the dumps for more reasons than this alone, but this is the main thing that comes spilling out of you as you curse the world, the gods, and yourself.

Now, this is the best step because you don’t even need to do anything. You may think that you will. You may have spent the past few steps preparing for the worst. But really, you don’t need to do a thing. Let your best friend pull you close. Let him hold you for a minute, assuring there’s nothing wrong with you. Let him say how much he cares about you. How he wouldn’t want you any other way. Let him buy you a drink, because he says it’s something that you should take pride in.

Celebrate. Celebrate. It’s important that you repeat this step. Do it as often as possible. Repeat it every single day of your goddamn life.

Now that you’ve got yourself all figured out, you can help out some others along the way. You’ll find people just like you, and people nothing like you who show what else is possible. There will be that kind pegasus knight you get talking with late into the night. That young and withdrawn mage boy. The boisterous footsoldier. The imposing swordsman who was occasionally a swordswoman. The mysterious redhead who’s feeling as if something important is missing. Remember your own pain, and your relief, and offer him some of it. 

(It’s not an official step, but make sure you’re getting your share of shuteye the whole time. This shit is exhausting and you deserve a break. Godspeed.)

#fe aspec week 2023 #fe echoes #fe python #fe forsyth #fire emblem echoes #fire emblem python #fire emblem forsyth #fanfic #idk why but i think how-to formats are so fun for fiction lol #i think python would be really worried that forsyth wouldnt understand as the sappiest romantic hed ever met #and of course forsyth is the biggest ally in valentia #my tablet ate my art for day 3 rip - but otherwise ive got a lil somethin for each day :)) im so excited!

[mylordshesacactus]

21 for the oc ask game,and congratulations!

Thank you! We've been pretty quiet about it on tumblr because it's been eating up 110% of our entire brains in every other part of our lives.

Very excited! But oh god the logistics leading in.

How does your OC handle relationships, platonic or otherwise? Do they forge bonds easily, or prefer to not get attached?

Benny is a deep classic romantic at heart. She's not terribly demonstrative with her feelings, but when she lets herself fall for someone, she falls fast and hard. She's prone to insecurities in her romantic life--she's ace and extremely sex-repulsed, sex is never going to be part of any of her romantic relationships, and that's a deal-breaker for a lot of people. She tends to hold back on letting herself fall for anyone if she's not...sure they mean it, when they say they understand what that means.

Rinda's courtship with her wife was deeply emotional and extremely quiet. They worked very, very well together in the field--with Rinda acting as her secret-keeper and sharing an intense mutual respect for one another's honor, courage, and kindness. Rinda saw how Talet acted around her apprentice-slash-ward, a traumatized young mage with debilitating anxiety and PTSD around using her own magic; Talet saw how Rinda handled herself, heard her talk about her kids and her late sister. They didn't make a move right away--but they kept in touch, arranged to work together again a few months later, and during a quiet moment in that adventure, they sat down and had the conversation they'd both known would need to happen.

It was a very honest, earnest, adult relationship from the start--tender beyond words, but not dramatic.

Rinda is much more demonstrative with her platonic relationships. She'll roughhouse with Talet's daughter, toss her own kids in the air, rib them and their respective partners; but with her wife, it's usually very quiet and soft and private.

Kite mostly-but-not-entirely left her family for ethical reasons, and is a walking disaster of a woman when it comes to romance. Mostly it's that she was.........it's kind of the gnollish equivalent of having been raised in a wealthy, very blandly American Protestant household. Nothing exciting, no crazy uncles dropping slurs at Thanksgiving dinner, but still very rigid in ways the family didn't even seem to notice. Gender roles enforced not by violence but by stifling homogeneity and constant very reasonable requests not to rock the boat or by persistent "confusion" and open discomfort and "concern" any time you deviate from an extremely narrow norm.

(The people who wholeheartedly believe that girls are just as good as boys! Girls can do anything boys can do! They would LOVE it if their little girl grew up to be a doctor or a scientist or a CEO or a cop! They say while equally cheerfully taking a toy horse out of their son's hands while explaining that no no sweetie, that's for girls, we'll get you a different one that's for boys instead? Flip the gendered expectations--gnolls are hyenas, so females are expected to be dominant and aggressive while males are meant to be submissive homemakers--and you've got Kite's family.)

So, she was raised in the privileged position in that kind of household. Her family wholeheartedly accepts and supports her being gay! But she herself was raised with....expectations for what romance looked like. She knows this about herself, that she's internalized a lot of normative bullshit, but that doesn't make it....easy, to stop being afraid.

Vulnerability is hard for her. She's the second-eldest daughter of a strong clan. She was meant to be strong, confident, desirable, her romance was meant to be her having her pick of any of the several pretty girls who'd be falling over themselves to catch her eye. She knows that's toxic and awful. She doesn't want it. But she doesn't....know how else to be. She's trying to learn.

#d&d #askmeme

[swannposting]

What are some background facts/headcanons you want to tell about your fic "An Innocent Question"?

Ah!! ♡ Thank you for reading, that fic is my pride and joy and might be my favorite thing I've written.

First off, I should let you know that I am actually working on a sequel of sorts. I really want to expand on this ship because I think there's fun potential there. But as always I must apologize in advance for the slowness of my writing. Muse is a very fickle thing for me.

So-- I do have Elizabeth in that fic as being gender non-conforming both in presentation and identity. I wish I would have gone into more detail on that in An Innocent Question, but the focus of that fic was a lot more on the smut so I chose to leave it just at the mention of binding her chest for now.

Due to the historical nature of the canon, I don't think I'll ever write her as establishing her identity in the more definable terms that we use today, but I am very intrigued by the idea of having her use he/him pronouns at times. I plan on using her relationship with Scarlett as an avenue for Elizabeth to play with gender roles. I would love to have her replicate some of the courtship norms that were prevalent at the time from the male perspective, both as a way for her to explore her own relationship with gender, and as a way for her to reflect on the implied period of courtship she has with Will between CotBP and DMC. (Side note: I have been very inspired and enlightened by @elventhespian 's ongoing fic Best Laid Plans, which goes in-depth on what that span of time was like for Will and Elizabeth, with a ton of historical background. Check it out! ♡)

So, some background on the dynamics I had in mind while writing that fic-- as some of you may already know, I'm a big fan of poly relationships in fiction. So when I wrote An Innocent Question, I had already somewhat decided that I wanted Elizabeth and Will to have an open marriage. I chose that mostly because I wanted to keep the fic (and any potential sequels) as lighthearted as possible, and to give Elizabeth the opportunity to build relationships and explore sexuality with other characters, while still maintaining her canonical devotion to Will. Long story short, in my mind, Spillabeth (J/W/E) is pre-established in that fic, though I did not mention it in the text. I do plan on delving into that a bit in another installment, though the focus will still remain on her budding relationship with Scarlett.

As far as Scarlett-- I'm still mulling over ideas for further development of her character beyond the 2-D nature of her appearances in canon. The PotC films have a tragic lack of women, and I want to take the time to flesh her out more, even if it takes a few different works to fully figure out what that looks like. If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts about her, I would love to hear them!

That's all I've got for now. Again, thank you thank you thank you for reading my work, and thank you for the opportunity to yap about my blorbos! ♡

#answered asks #rat's fic #elizabeth/scarlett tag

[undyingembers]

OTP asks: 8, 17, and 30 for Len and Daeran please?

8. What’s one way their personalities compliment one another?

Well, it seems the two of them are very different indeed. Len is super uptight, dutiful, and quiet. Daeran is wild and scandalous. They definitely challenge each other.

What sets Len apart from all the stodgy bureaucrats and inquisitors is that Len...doesn't really care for Iomadaen norms and virtues. Len might bristle when Daeran's antics brush up against the law, but other than that, s/he doesn't really care what he gets up to (Len was actually very impressed when Daeran told him/her of how he threw the party on the river because it was outside Hulrun's jurisdiction, and thus he couldn't do anything about it). Both Daeran and Lenarius have many reasons to dislike the church of Iomadae, and they can be quite united in that area.

Another thing that brings them together despite their differences is that they both have incredible fashion sense. They can go on for hours about what is in style at the moment and pick outfits for one another.

Even without all that, they both love each other deeply because of who the other is. Len never set out to "change" Daeran. S/he wouldn't want to lose the wonderful and passionate tempest who can keep up with him/her in banter. Daeran also loves how principled Len is. S/he has her rules and morals, but s/he also isn't a hypocrite, unlike a lot of inquisitors. Len never lectures, never moralizes, and yet, without even trying s/he was still able to inspire him to become a bit of a better person.

17. Who fell in love first?

It's really hard to know for certain. Leonosa fell in love with Daeran sometime in Act III, well after the "Not-a Date". For the longest time, Len was so worried that this would be a fleeting passion, that Daeran would grow bored of him/her, that s/he would get his/her heart broken. Yet, s/he could never shake the feeling of protectiveness when s/he thinks about Daeran living under the Other, cannot make him/herself stop noticing the small moments of vulnerably when he talks to him/her or their companions, cannot help but wonder if he meant it when he told him/her that s/he was special, cannot stop feeling wonderfully blissful in his company.

Daeran kept those feelings very well suppressed. He shouldn't have been so invested in this courtship. Yet he also cannot help but notice that this one had gone on for far longer than normal for him, cannot stop feeling the closest to safe he's been in a long time, cannot help but wonder why he keeps returning to Lenarius. The events of Act IV exacerbated those conflicting feelings. Lenarius having confirmed that s/he cares so much about him, finding himself worried for him/her and indignant at the injustice Galfrey had put him/her through, finding himself worried about their future, and, most importantly, realizing that he is capable of love and affection despite his best efforts not to. That was key. Falling in love was as much about realizing some things about himself as it was about Leonosa, and that was a little concerning.

30. What is their favorite place to kiss the other? (Cheek, hand, closed eyelid, neck, nose, etc.)

Len loves kissing his/her lover on the hand (and being kissed on the hand). It was one of those overly romantic gestures that s/he read about in romance novels that was denied to him/her growing up. In a more intimate setting, s/he will go for that sweet spot under Daeran's chin, right where it meets the neck. S/he loves to see him shudder.

When Len wears one of his/her low-cut ballgowns, Daeran cannot resist placing a kiss on his/her neck, back, or collarbone, especially when they're dancing.

#thanks for the ask! #dujour13 #commander lenarius #lenarius #lenariusxdaeran #daeran arendae

[trickstercaptain]

        okay so let’s talk more in depth about Jack and polyamory as it’s an important subject that is very integral to how he approaches romance and love and sex ( although not mandatory to any romantic ships i have on this blog; i’m very picky about shipping with Jack these days so therefore i’m sure all of my partners know this already, but he can be monogamous and he can commit to another person. this is not my way of giving Jack a get out of jail free card for an open approach to relationships lmao ).

         i think the most important thing to firstly establish is that, at least in regards to his canon, Jack does not necessarily choose to be polyamorous. Jack grew up on Shipwreck Cove which, for all intents and purposes, exists outside of societal norms ---- however there are still certain relationship archetypes that Jack would have been exposed to growing up. he has his parents’ relationship, which he doesn’t remember much of but the memories he has of them together aren’t particularly positive, since their dynamic was rather tense and difficult at times when he was in the picture. he also learns later via his mother’s journals that she fled a planned betrothal, which forms the foundation of his aversion to marriage as an institution ( if his mother didn’t want to marry, then why should he like the idea lmao ). he does learn from these journals that his mother loved his father, however, so it’s not a total loss. but it reinforces the idea of love = something that is difficult and does not come easily.

         then there are the relationship dynamics that he is exposed to on Shipwreck itself and within the male-dominated crew environments on board Teague’s and others’ ships. there would be the sailors who have wives and children on land somewhere and who are completely, 100% devoted, and then the ones who have a very flexible attitude towards their marriages and openly indulge in and boast of their affairs with other women. Jack learns to view marriage and children as things that chain people to dry land, and as someone who already feels rather trapped and stifled on Shipwreck Cove, it makes that desire for complete freedom from those things even more intense.

          and finally there is the big one: the brothels on Shipwreck. given the male dominated nature of piracy in general, this is the main sphere in which Jack would have interacted with women growing up. he would have learned several things from this: that a woman can run a business, obtain an income and generally be independent of a man ( it would have done him a lot of good tbh, considering any woman who made a living on Shipwreck Cove, whether as a sex worker or otherwise would need to be tough ). he would have learned about sex and sexual dynamics from a young age lmao. but also, arguably the most important thing he gains from this, is of sex as transactional. sex exists and is entirely separate from love, and sex is not “monogamous” seeing as men pay for it and women cater to these multiple different men who pay for it. also, this being Shipwreck, i imagine there are a variety of sexual orientations and tastes catered for, so Jack would have been very open-minded as a result.

           while Jack would obviously not grow up thinking that all sex is bought, it would establish the idea that it is a trade of one thing for another ( as opposed to it being an act of love or sacred union or purely a means of procreation, as would be the way it is viewed within the constraints of civilised society ). and seeing that marriage is overall a more flexible arrangement among outlaws and thieves, Jack would not have the understandings of traditional relationships that would be expected of his contemporaries at the time. when trying to “court” Esmeralda in TPOF, Jack really had to work hard at it and think consciously about it, because dating and courtship are not concepts that really exist within his lived experience.

           but Jack is a well read man and he would have learned all of this. his polyamory is not a result of him being naive or ignorant: he read a lot growing up and that would have included several romance novels of the time. so he understands how relationships and love are “meant” or believed to work, but he has very few, if any, real life examples to draw upon. and he just prefers the idea of sex being a thing to give to others without restriction or monogamy or love being a part of the equation. it all just feels a lot simpler and less complicated to him tbh.

          there are more overt ways in which he is polyamorous too, and the best example is the fact that Jack fell in love with a ship, made of wood and canvas. as a sailor he loves the sea, and as a pirate captain he loves his ship --- both of which are loves that can never be consummated in the way that traditional love between human partners can. anyone who loves Jack has to share him with the Black Pearl, that is a fundamental condition of being his lover or partner within his canon verse. but this demonstrates the separation in Jack’s mind of sex and love: one can exist perfectly well without the other.

           when we bring it back to Jack’s human partners, lifestyle also contributes to his approach too. it’s my personal headcanon ( and also my objective opinion lmao ) that Jack’s circle of lovers is not actually as large as canon ( or should I say fanon ) implies. it’s extremely telling imo that Jack is on bad terms with both Giselle and Scarlett in CotBP, then when they reappear briefly in DMC, they mention to Will that they haven’t seen Jack “in a month,” which means he saw them at some point after the first film and presumably got back on good terms with them, before one slaps Will and indicates that they are back on bad terms again. then they appear with Jack again at the end of AWE, back on good terms ( before Jack ruins things again lmao ). 

          I know the narrative reason for this is the continuity of recurring characters, but on a characterisation level, Jack could have easily ditched both Giselle and Scarlett and found/seduced/paid for the services of someone else for a lot less drama and hassle in his life. but he doesn’t. he therefore likes them both or else he wouldn’t keep going back to them ( and he clearly does, since his list of lies to them are all mostly mundane things that mean he talks to and has an established relationship with them as well, despite them being coded as sex workers ). I think this is a theme for him across the board: he likely has one or two sexual partners in each of the ports that he visits regularly, and always circles back to them whenever he’s there.

         his issue is the fact that he often does not communicate his open attitude towards relationships to his partners ( and doesn’t really communicate very well in general lmao ). despite Shipwreck existing outside of societal norms, Jack would still be something of an anomaly; relationship norms of the time are still pretty rigid and I imagine as somebody who is charming, magnetic, good at sex and on the whole a decent guy ( particularly when compared to other pirates ), Jack worms his way quite quickly into other people’s affections. 

          the short film Wedlocked hinges on the idea that Jack promises to take both Giselle and Scarlett to the altar and then chickens out at the last moment, and the two brides to be realise that not only was he in a “serious” and presumably monogamous relationship with both of them, but that he wasn’t going to marry either of them at all. this is a situation that I think Jack would easily find himself in. both Giselle and Scarlett are very strong-willed, loud, abrasive women ( aka Jack’s type ) and while I don’t think Jack ever entered into a sexual relationship with either of them ( which clearly developed from transactional sex to a friends with benefits type arrangement, because they clearly have to like him to want to marry him ) with the intent to deceive or mislead them, he probably became close enough to them that he was railroaded into agreeing to certain progressional relationship steps ( buying them gifts, promising fidelity, a proposal ) in order to placate them or get back into their good books when they were on the rocks. 

          in a relationship, Jack often falls into the role of the cool, level-headed one to balance out what is often a very fiery, strong-willed partner, and if there are issues with the communication in that relationship ( as there often are with Jack as he struggles to open up ), or if it is in any way volatile, that creates issues and means Jack can lean into people-pleasing just to keep the peace. combine that with a fear of feeling chained to one place or having his freedom inhibited in any way, and you have a polyamorous mess of a man, basically. 

#&. depths few had ever begun to glimpse ( meta tag. ) #the other thing i have been working on this week lmao #because essentially polyamorous is jack's 'default' state #he can develop towards loyalty and monogamy (even though those are two wholly different concepts to him anyway) #and enter into a traditional relationship. but it takes work #and is extremely rewarding and emotionally fulfilling for jack when he gets there #but casual no strings attached arrangements with those he considers friends are his go-to #it's partly chosen by him. but also partly made by his upbringing and lifestyle and environment #modern to a much lesser extent. but it's still somewhat applicable there too

[bwhitex]

Human Sex Ratio Impact: Unraveling the Patterns of Behavior

Introduction

When social groups experience major gender imbalances causing two million more women than men societal consequences go beyond simple numbers; fundamental social institutions change forever; economic actions alter; mental wellness becomes affected too and even policies suffer adjustments. A surplus of girls over boys brings about distinctive conditions which might modify social expectations and interactions among members of a given society. These discrepancies also impact individual decisions and general norms through the lens of behavioral economics which helps in unveiling how personal choices are influenced by such imbalances as well as their wider implications within the context of marriage markets or employment relations vis-à-vis other spheres of human activity. Therefore, this synthesis views any gender imbalance from psychological angle intertwined with economic theory in order to elucidate various impacts ranging from labour dynamics through marriage market and much more even at personal level which could lead to significant changes both individually and collectively. By adopting behavioural economics approach one may comprehend macro-level social shifts resulting from micro-level choices arising due to male-female disparities that infects societies.

Marriage Market

The dating market also experiences complexities when there exists great differences between males and females population wise; females being more than twice men in numbers. In such a scenario, women tend to compete intensively for few available men who can be potential spouses. This means that they will have to work harder on their beauty or other qualities considered attractive traditionally thus altering normalities in going out together behaviors (Becker, 1981). Since these rare creatures called boys know very well that they are scarce; therefore may become choosier than before by raising bars high up besides revising criteria used during mate selection process. Consequently, many ladies will remain single because finding suitable partners becomes difficult while guys take longer getting married since they now have wider range from which to choose according to Guttentag & Secord (1983). Moreover, this kind of a situation forces people into rethinking about what matters most in relationships leading them into dissatisfaction with partners who fail to meet new standards set as per Guttentag and Secord (1983); hence not only does it change personal behavior but cultural expectations too regarding love affairs among others thus having far reaching implications on society as whole for instance modifying attitudes towards courtship period lengths etcetera.

Social Norms And Gender Roles

Another area where large imbalances between the sexes can cause seismic shifts is social norms setting sphere where men and women interact based on certain expectations about one another’s behavior patterns. When society has more females than males, what might be expected to happen next involves a power shift towards girls as they begin taking up male dominated positions thereby increasing their numbers in various professions or decision making levels (Buss, 1989). Conversely, scarcity of boys may lead to reinforcement traditional gender roles with attendant consequences like; higher socioeconomic status accorded to menfolk leading increased patriarchy within communities. These transformations affect intra household power relations; change family dynamics vis-à-vis who has say over what within marriages plus other partnerships alongside altering decision making processes relating to homes and care work allocations (Eagly & Wood, 1999). Such adjustments can shake foundations of society thereby affecting everything from laws governing marriage dissolution procedures across workplace policies concerning parental leave periods among others as highlighted by Eagly & Wood (1999) who investigated these issues in relation gender role changes due imbalanced sex ratios.But it is worth noting that if there are fewer options left for people looking for life partners because everyone else got married or decided cohabit without formal commitment then this creates excess savings among singles unable find mates which leads banks lowering interest rates on loans since less credit will be demanded by newly formed households influenced desire companionship arising limited choices spouses etcetera (Becker, 1981).

Economic Effects

The economic effects of gender imbalances are various. Labour markets might adjust themselves to respond to changes in the number of people caused by birth rates; this could affect jobs, wages and sectors dominated by men or women (Angrist, 2002). If women form the majority at work, they can change their spending habits which mean that different products and services will be demanded. Consequently, when people get married later on or remain single for longer periods because there are more singles than before due to imbalance ratios in marriageable persons; this may have an impact on housing markets as well retirement savings plans among other things since households change too(Becker ,1991). So businesses and policy makers must adapt their policies and strategies so as to meet changing needs of the population. Moreover, these demographic shifts could necessitate new ways for economic development or social welfare programs according Becker(1991)’s analysis.

The economic implications of a skewed sex ratio are profound. For instance, places with more women than men may experience an increase in female workforce participation rates as well as the proportion of women working in managerial positions (Buss, 1989). This is because women will feel empowered to take on traditionally male jobs and roles when there is a shortage of men. Consequently, they may gain more representation in higher-paying careers such as engineering or politics. On the other hand, if males become scarce relative to females, then their labor market value could rise significantly which might lead them into dominating lucrative industries like technology where they can earn higher salaries compared to other sectors like service industry jobs that attract lower wages due to being predominantly staffed by females (Eagly & Wood, 1999). Additionally, it has been found that imbalanced marriage markets can influence savings rates within societies. In particular, when there are fewer potential partners available for people to marry or enter long-term relationships with because they are already married or have chosen alternative lifestyles such as cohabitation without formal commitment etc., this creates an excess supply of savings among singles who cannot find suitable mates thereby driving down interest rates on loans and mortgages since banks would not need hefty returns from loanable funds given the reduced demand for credit facilities resulting from low levels of new home purchases caused by individuals failing to form couples due to unsatisfied desires for companionship arising from limited choices concerning potential spouses (Becker, 1981).

    Effects On Mental Health

Gender imbalances also have deep psychological impacts on individuals. More competitiveness within dating pools leads to increased stress levels especially among ladies who feel compelled find partners (Festinger et al., 1954). Such pressures worsen mental health conditions thereby affecting overall quality of life even further. Apart from that when there is a numerical shortage; Social identity becomes affected where some groups might end up being isolated while others develop stronger in-group loyalties such as self-esteem based on relationship status(Tajfel & Turner ,1979). These dynamics require a more profound understanding as well comprehensive support system interventions targeting those most affected by them.The theories put forward by Festinger(1954)and Tajfel & Turner(1979) shows how social comparison processes alongside group identification processes would be challenged under such conditions hence resulting into significant psychological adjustments .

   Policy Approaches

Governments and policymakers should recognize what they can do about this problem since it poses several difficulties for countries worldwide. One approach may involve introducing incentives which encourage people to have children equally among both sexes or shifting population balance through immigration policies change. This would mean that welfare programs are also equipped in terms of socializing individuals who face mental health challenges stemming from societal adjustments arising out gender imbalances. Additionally, ethical considerations need not be overlooked during policy making so as not violate peoples’ rights further widen already existing inequalities(Sen ,1990). Therefore, any intervention designed at addressing demographic imbalances must take cognizance of fairness across gender divides

Social and Sexual Behaviour

We can only understand human mating strategies if we look at them from an evolutionary perspective; this is because these patterns do not just come about due cultural factors but are deeply rooted within our biological history as well. Sexual Strategies Theory according to Buss & Schmitt indicates that males should be willing to engage in multiple short term relationships since minimum investment needed for men’s reproduction process involves production sperms only so they might try many women before settling down with one. In other words, their reproductive success will increase when they fertilize eggs belonging different partners thus spreading genes farther wide. The theory is consistent with Trivers’ concept of Parental Investment where he states that whichever sex invests less on offspring will be more promiscuous sexually and this case it applies to human beings too.

To make the conversation longer, Trivers’ theory explains why females are more selective in their choice of mates when they have greater biological investment through pregnancy and taking care of children. This preference makes males compete for mating opportunities with much aggression where they do things that may reduce the cost of sex. According to Gangestad and Simpson’s study on strategic pluralism in human mating, this means people do not have one strategy but rather use different ones depending on their situation including those related to ecology or weathering.

On the other hand, Baumeister and Vohs complicate matters even further by regarding sexual encounters as business transactions within a market system where traditionally women hold control over sex as a “commodity.” In light of this model, men may frequently try to minimize input unless it maximizes output in terms of reproductive achievements or social status. Also from an economic point of view, this approach demonstrates that social norms and economic conditions can affect personal relationships while emphasizing them as such.

All together these theories offer us a subtle understanding into human sexual behavior indicating that genetic predispositions along with socio-economic factors contribute towards our mating strategies. As pointed out by Gangestad & Simpson there is flexibility shown by these strategies which suggests adaptation to changes in environment including alterations brought about by population growth rates; variations across societies due to shifts caused by political systems etcetera.

In essence what these evolutionary hypotheses imply for us is that no matter how hard we might try there will always be some men who aggressively seek short term partners during times when they feel like doing so would give them more offspring. It can thus be seen why people act this way as maximizing number of babies born alive becomes important under certain conditions where getting married forever may seem dangerous or useless at least from male perspective given his limited time earth among other reasons too which cannot all fit into one sentence.

Moreover apart from just being purely academic exercises these explanations also find practical applications within various cultural contexts. For instance it helps explain why in some cultures men are expected to seek many wives while others view this as unacceptable probably due lack of resources. Hence according to these theories it is possible that what we take for granted about ourselves could shape our behaviors depending on where and when one was raised or lives through during their lifetime.

This has implications not only on individual level but even at societal level because they can influence fields like psychology, sociology and even public policy where understanding motives behind relationships between people may assist development programs aimed towards improving health standards within communities. Thus integration such complex provide wider view explaining all different behaviors seen across different global societies with respect to courtship rituals among other practices related marriage institution which serve reproductive functions primarily.

In concluding there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to studying human sexual behavior from an evolutionary perspective. It would therefore be wise if policy makers took into account these considerations while designing interventions aimed at enhancing social welfare through public health measures. Additionally interdisciplinary approach should also be embraced by economists, psychologists, sociologists and policymakers so as realize meaningful outcomes in addressing impacts caused by gender imbalances due demographic shifts especially those arising out rapid industrialization coupled with urbanization processes currently experienced in most parts of Africa including Nigeria

Buss, D. M. (1989). Sexual differences in the predilections of human mates: 37 cultures tested against evolutionary theories. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 12(1), 1-49.

Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (1999). The origins of sex differences in human behavior: Evolved dispositions versus social roles. American Psychologist, 54(6), 408-423.

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes.Human Relations, 7(2), pp.117-140.

Guttentage, M., & Secord, P.F.(1983).Too many women? The sex ratio question.Sage Publications.

Sen,A.(1990). Gender and cooperative conflicts.In Persistent inequalities: Women and world development(pp.123-149) by I.Tinker,Oxford University Press.

Tajfel,H.& Turner,J.C.(1979).An integrative theory of intergroup conflict.In The social psychology of intergroup relations(pp33-47) edited by W.G.Austin&S.Worchel.Brooks/Cole.

Angrist,J.D.(2002).How do sex ratios affect marriage and labor markets?Evidence from America’s second generation.The Quarterly Journal of Economics,117(3),997–1038

Buss,D.M.&Schmitt,D.P.(1993).Sexual Strategies Theory: An evolutionary perspective on human mating.Psychological Review,100(2),204–232

Trivers,R.L.(1972) Parental investment and sexual selection.In Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man 1871–1971(pp136–179) edited by B.Campbell.Aldine Transaction

Gangestad,S.W.&Simpson,J.A.(2000).The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs and strategic pluralism.Behavioral and Brain Sciences,23(4),573–644

Baumeister,R.F.&Vohs,K.D.(2004).Sexual economics: Sex as female resource for social exchange in heterosexual interactions.Personality and Social Psychology Review,8(4),339-363.

#sex ratio #behavioral economics #imbalance #power dynamics #social psychology #evolutionary psychology

[fakerobotrealblog]

Title: Exploring Female Characters in House of Dragon and Bridgerton: A Genre and Character Analysis

Introduction:

In the realm of television, narratives often serve as mirrors reflecting societal norms, values, and expectations. Two recent shows, House of Dragon and Bridgerton, have captivated audiences with their distinct storytelling approaches and compelling characters, particularly their female leads, Rhaenyra and Daphne. In this comparative analysis, we delve into how both series utilize genre, writing, character development, and acting choices to depict the challenges, motivations, and difficult choices faced by their female protagonists.

Genre and Setting:

House of Dragon, set in the fantastical world of Westeros, leans heavily into the epic fantasy genre, replete with political intrigue, dynastic struggles, and dragons. On the other hand, Bridgerton transports viewers to the Regency-era London, embracing the romance genre with its lavish balls, societal norms, and intricate courtship rituals. Despite their differing genres, both shows share a common thread in exploring the constraints placed upon women within their respective societies.

Character Development and Motivations:

Rhaenyra Targaryen, portrayed by Emma D'Arcy in House of Dragon, emerges as a formidable contender for the Iron Throne, challenging the patriarchal norms of her time. Raised to be a ruler, she grapples with the weight of her legacy, striving to assert her authority in a male-dominated world. Rhaenyra's motivations are deeply rooted in her desire to claim her birthright and shatter the glass ceiling that confines women to subordinate roles.

Daphne Bridgerton, brought to life by Phoebe Dynevor in Bridgerton, navigates the intricate dance of Regency society as she seeks a suitable match. Initially portrayed as the epitome of grace and innocence, Daphne evolves throughout the series, confronting the harsh realities of love, marriage, and power dynamics. Her motivations shift from conforming to societal expectations to asserting agency over her own destiny, even if it means challenging the status quo.

Difficult Choices and Survival:

Both Rhaenyra and Daphne are confronted with difficult choices as they navigate the treacherous waters of their respective worlds. Rhaenyra must contend with political intrigue, familial betrayal, and the looming threat of civil war, all while asserting her authority as the rightful heir to the throne. Her choices often come at great personal cost, forcing her to balance duty with desire and loyalty with ambition.

Similarly, Daphne grapples with societal pressure, familial obligations, and the constraints of her gender. Forced into a marriage of convenience with Simon, the Duke of Hastings, she must reconcile her desires for love and fulfillment with the expectations placed upon her as a woman of the ton. Daphne's journey highlights the sacrifices women are often compelled to make in order to survive and thrive in a patriarchal society.

Acting Choices:

The portrayal of Rhaenyra and Daphne is brought to life through the nuanced performances of Emma D'Arcy and Phoebe Dynevor, respectively. D'Arcy imbues Rhaenyra with a sense of fierce determination tempered by vulnerability, capturing the complexity of her character's internal struggles. Dynevor, meanwhile, deftly conveys Daphne's transformation from wide-eyed ingénue to empowered woman, infusing her portrayal with grace and authenticity.

Conclusion:

House of Dragon and Bridgerton offer audiences compelling narratives centered around their female protagonists, Rhaenyra and Daphne. Through the lens of genre, writing, character development, and acting choices, both shows explore the challenges, motivations, and difficult choices faced by women in patriarchal societies. Whether battling for the throne or navigating the intricacies of romance, Rhaenyra and Daphne emerge as symbols of resilience, agency, and empowerment, inspiring viewers to reconsider the roles and expectations placed upon women in both fictional worlds and our own.

#house of the dragon #bridgerton #rhaenyra targaryen #daphne bridgerton #female characters #tv and film #chatgpt #tv analysis #tv writing #tv actors #genre: fantasy #regency #emma darcy #emma d’arcy #phoebe dynevor

[cinnamonest]

Razor (Genshin Impact) - Yandere Profile

@bleachlemon

I'm glad you are ok with it because oh boy do I have some very very n a s t y noncon-y thoughts about our wolfboi. We love a dense boy, not a single thought in his empty, horny lil brain. Head empty, just horny for y/n. 

I also have the big horny™ for any cross between boys and canines... Does smth for me. As if my favoritism wasn't obvious by how much I've written below lmao

tw: general yandere content, violence, mentions of n/sfw

tw below cut: breeding, heavy  noncon, like jfc this is nasty, misogynistic

----

What are they generally like? Lucid, aware? Obsessive? How do they behave?

The biggest issue with Razor is his complete and total lack of restraint. He sees no need for it, he has no real concept of social norms. Wolves don't really practice restraint on... anything. When they see something they want to kill, they kill it, when they see something they want to have, they have it, when they're mad, they attack, when they're hungry, they eat.

So in a way, he's perfectly lucid, but doesn't act as a normal lucid person who understands social norms would do. He knows that you give him some burning, fluttery feeling, and that he enjoys having you around, and that he gets sad when you have to leave. He's perceptive enough to know it's the same urge that drives humans to form their long-term mate partnerships. If that's what they refer to as "love," he'll readily adopt that term as a way to describe what he feels. What he doesn't get is everything between point A and point Z. No point in all the "courtship" and "marriage" and other human customs -- he doesn't need to "date" to know you're the one, and he doesn't need some signed paper to signify he loves you. In his mind, it's perfectly logical to expect you to immediately come live out in Wolvendom with him. You did accept all his courtship signs, after all.

Wolves are very straightforward with it, you see. Their courtship includes going for walks side-by-side, close to each other, which you did when you let him guide you through the woods. Wolves will rest their head or legs on the other, and you let him rest his head on your shoulder (even if you flinched with surprise when he did, uncomfortable but too nice to say anything). He even when to the extent of engaging in human mating rituals -- you accepted all those gifts he hunted down, and you smiled when he said nice things about how pretty you are, how nice you smell.

So in other words, you've basically already accepted him as a mate. That's what he's perceived, and changing his initial perceptions is not easily accomplished.

How likely are they to kidnap their darling? How quickly will they do so?

One of the most likely, and definitely the fastest. Possibly after meeting you a single time. He can't take the risk of you not coming back.

He won't be very subtle or sneaky about it either, not tricking you into walking right into captivity, nor drugging you or taking you in your sleep. It's very straightforward - it's not like there's anyone in Wolvendom to hear you, so he has no problem just slinging you over his shoulder and carrying you off. He kinda gets why you'd panic, so he reassures you that no, he's not gonna eat you or anything, you're just going home.

Don't worry about the pack - they won't eat you either, or even hurt you. He's already told them not to. He gets why you might be frightened by the massive, snarling creatures and their massive teeth and eyes that shine in moonlight, but he'll make sure you get used to them and accept them as your family, just like he has.

How difficult is it to escape from them? How do they keep you restrained? How do they deal with attempted escape? 

That depends. Can you fight off two 180-pound masses of claws, teeth, and muscle? If so, sure, it'll be easy. If not... you'll have some issues.

He's lucky to have such a loyal pack that will help him with these things - they don't exactly understand why you'd want to leave, but they know you're not supposed to. Even when he has to leave you, which isn't often, he'll leave a few of them around to watch you. To make sure no one comes and steals you or anything - and of course, the implication that it's to make sure you don't run away, either. He doesn't really get why you would, but he's come to the realization, based on what you've tried to tell him, that you miss your family and friends. And he gets that, he really does, but in the end, he's selfish at his core, and his empathy for you isn't enough for him to just let you go.

He sleeps latched onto you, arms wrapped around you, so it's not a good idea to try. Your best bet is to wait for a time he's gone and distract the wolves with something, which isn't too hard, and run for it. But even if you do manage to escape, you won't be for long. They can smell you from a mile away and will use your scent to pinpoint you down within a few minutes. They don't exactly have any gentle ways of taking you down and bringing you back, either. They're basically going to have to use their teeth, so it's better if you don't struggle - you'll just hurt yourself.

If he catches you, though, he'll just get huffy and angry, and much like when initially taking you, he'll just pick you right up and bring you back. He's not opposed to stealing ropes and the like from the passing knights, and tying knots isn't too difficult to figure out.

How easy are they to trick, deceive, or manipulate?

Poor boy is very easy to lie to and manipulate. Head empty, not many thoughts up there. However, you'll have to be clever about it, because most of the time, even if he believes you, he doesn't care. Sure, you can easily convince him that it's normal for human couples to sleep separately... But that's not going to stop him from curling up with you, because that's what he does. That's what wolves do.

He will, however, be somewhat easily manipulated into getting you things you want, if he thinks it'll make you happy. However, obtaining things you want will almost definitely come in the form of theft, or worst case scenario, the body of a passer-by that just so happened to have something you wanted visibly on their person.

If he finds out you lied to him on something, he'll get pouty and grumpy. It's not pleasant, but it's better than the rage reaction of some yanderes.

How lenient are they? What privileges can you have, and what will you be denied?

His life revolves around you, and yours should revolve around him. That's how mates are. You can go for walks in the woods! You can take naps in the sun together! You can spend literal hours mating! Why would you need anything else?

That being said, he's always had a uniqueness from the wolves in that he's awake more - wolves sleep about 14 hours a day, him only about 8 or 9. You'll definitely be getting a lot more sleep than you would back home, but you'll have a few precious hours to yourselves. It makes him happy - it used to be time he spent all alone, a reminder of how he didn't truly fit in with humans nor wolves. But now, you have that time together! He's willing to do most anything you want, so long as you're together. He's always had some adaptative differences he practices by himself - making fires, cooking food on them, wearing clothes. If you want to go exploring, you can do that, if you want to make food, you can do that too. He'll even accommodate you if you want to do useless things, like your insistence on teaching him to read, or practicing his speech.

What kind of rules do they have? What kind of punishment would they use?

It's fairly simple. Don't leave. That's really the one big one.

He's actually not one to make a rule against fighting him - he'll see it as you wanting to play fight, wrestling, which wolves do all the time. It's fun, even if it's easy for him to win. And it's exciting when you fight back, in a weird way.

Don't make contact with other humans, if you see them. Oh, and he'll want you to report to him everything you did or saw while he was gone hunting.

Generally, if he gives you a command, which isn't too much, he expects you to follow it. In his mind, he's the male, he's supposed to tell you what to do. Isn't that how it usually works with humans too?

If you're too disobedient, he'll get grumpy. Honestly, his most likely form of dealing with it is to wrestle you to the ground, and essentially hold you down until you comply or agree to whatever he wants.

How do they deal with rivals, or perceived rivals? Will they get rid of them? Will they kill them themselves, or find another way?

Rip.

But seriously. No, they're not going to last. He's one of the more paranoid ones, because deep down he's aware of how little he understands. For all he knows, every human male that talks to you could be doing what you call "flirting." Hell, didn't some girls like other girls too? How does he know which ones do and which ones don't? That means everyone is a threat, and he can't let threats get in the way.

He's not one of the ones to be subtle or try to hide it from you. He will probably try a little bit if he knows it's one of your family or friends whose blood is soaking his clothes when he comes back to you, but if it's random, he might even be proud. Look at that, he took down a whole search party that came looking for you all by himself! It's proof of his strength and dominance, and you should be happy that you have a strong mate to protect you! And he doesn't really empathize well - if you're upset, he will explain exactly that to you, and insist you change how you see things. Humans are so strange, being upset that your mate is able to protect you. You'll see why it's a good thing eventually, he's sure.

How easy is it to make them mad? What does their anger look like?

He gets frustrated pretty easily. It's usually just a lack of understanding, in his mind, you're being unnecessarily difficult almost all the time. He has told you a million times he doesn't care about whatever is normal for humans, yet you continuously bring it up, and that's a bit irritating. He'll huff and sigh and clamp a hand over your mouth if you're going on about it, and if you really refuse to shut up about it, there are a variety of ways of making you quiet - or distracting you from complaints.

He's got an immature streak, as he never really had anyone around to teach him otherwise. So he gets very pouty, a little bit aggressive and forceful when it comes to being upset over something or getting his way. If he wants attention and you're not giving it to him, he won't hesitate to just take whatever you're holding and focused on of your hands and toss it to the side.

On the positive side, he's never going to be passive aggressive. He's always straightforward and has no hesitation to tell you exactly how he's feeling.

If he's genuinely, truly furious, he can get violent. He'll probably apologize and definitely feel bad, licking all the little wounds. He wouldn't try to do anything so bad as bone breaking or severely hurting you, but might accidentally lose control of his own strength.

Do they see you as above them, beneath them, or equal to them?

More or less an equal. Not much to say here, as, to be honest, that sort of thing hasn't really crossed his mind. He doesn't waste time with thoughts of relative value, he just knows he loves you and wants you.

Subconsciously, it would be slightly below. Due to a very natural upbringing, he automatically associates males as being the leaders and alphas, while females are... Well, puppy-making machines. Don't try to accuse him of any sort of sexism or anything - he can't even really wrap his head around the concept, much less understand why it's wrong to acknowledge how much weaker you are than him. If you need proof of that, he can easily wrestle with you and prove it.

How determined are they for you to love them? How hard will they try to make it happen? Or are they content just having you?

Pretty highly determined. He mistakes a lot of things as signs of love, though. You might be only complying out of fear or exhaustion, but he won't be able to tell, he's not good with facial expressions, so he thinks it's a sign you're accepting him.

Honestly, he's one of the ones that, albeit unintentionally, will kind of guilt you into acceptance. You inevitably feel bad for him, you can tell how lonely he really is, and how desperately he loves you, wants you to love him. His intentions aren't malicious, and it's actually difficult to truly resent him, unlike some yanderes. Ironically, it reaches a point where rejecting him sometimes really does feel like kicking a sad little stray puppy in the rain - it makes you feel awful when he gets sad and quiet.

While there are a lot of yanderes who would be a lot more earnest and striving to serve and please you, which he doesn't really do, he's probably one of the most patient yanderes when it comes to this. He doesn't care if it takes the rest of your lives. He'll never give up or just settle for having you with him, he'll be loving you and trying to be reassured of your love till the day he dies, if that's what it takes.

Bonus: Is there anything that makes them unique, in comparison to other yanderes?

Primarily, it's hard to emphasize how significantly his lack of human socialization impacts his yandere behaviors.

Most yanderes are forced to acknowledge the inherent wrongness of their actions - some will accept it and not care that it's wrong, some sadists enjoy knowing it's wrong, some will delude themselves into justifying it, some will try their best to act within moral boundaries or make up for their wrongness somehow. But all in all, they all have to face the reality of the situation and understand that what they're doing is considered wrong.

Razor's not like that. He doesn't really take the moral aspect into consideration. To him, the whole idea is simply a human thing entirely. It doesn't matter what humans do. He views the world in a very black and white sense. Morality is a more abstract concept, what's more important is how things are relative to himself - what he wants.

Tends to communicate in strange ways. Excess emotions, too much happiness or anger or whatever can make him forget his words, so there's a lot of subtle communication through grunts, whimpers, growls. Over time, you learn how to distinguish between the various noises and body language and what they mean.

Will lick you. It's weird. It's kinda gross. But it's just how he shows affection. He tends to get carried away with kisses, ending up lapping at your lips, licking your neck and collarbones, nuzzling his head into you.

General perverseness: how sexual of a person are they? What’s their drive like? How touchy do they get? Do they have any reservations about sexuality?

Scientifically speaking, male sex drive is heavily boosted by testosterone. Testosterone can be greatly increased by heavy physical activity, eating high amounts of meat, sun exposure, and is even directly correlated to spending large amounts of time outdoors. 

You see where this is going.

Very high drive, very touchy, and no reservations, no shame. Thank whatever deity you care to recognize in Tevyat that you're isolated from other people out in the woods, because he has no concept of norms or appropriateness, and trying to get him to understand is a fruitless effort. You're wasting your time trying to explain the idea that groping and touching out of the blue is considered rude, or that most human men take issue with being very visibly, very noticeably hard and would likely try to conceal it, not just sit there with the blatant bulge poking forward... His response will only be that you're far away from humans, so it shouldn't matter. He's just trying to show you he loves you, that's why he insists on grinding into you all the time, staring at your body, humping you when you're curled up together quite ironically like a horny dog.

Unfortunately, he basically just does not know how to be gentle or slow about it. He can start off trying to be slow and soft if you beg for it, but once you're actually laying there and he's in you, he gets caught up in instinct and the heat of the moment, and just kinda... forgets about that whole "slow and gentle" thing, opting to just rut you as hard and fast as possible.

He doesn't talk much during sex. He already has some trouble forming sentences in normal times, you can't expect him to when he's fucking. You won't get a lot of words besides the occasional, "good, feels good," or little commands, but you will get a lot of animalistic noises - possessive growls, little whines of pleasure. He doesn't have any sense to hold back on his noises.

He's also the least likely to care about things like shaving, periods, or imperfections. Which is good, but you also can't use those things as an excuse to not fuck, it'll go in one ear and out the other.

How forceful are they? Do they care about your willingness?

It's not so much an intentional disregard for your willingness, so much as a combo of not really considering it, and thinking it's just something you'll change on. If he's human, and he has the urge, that means surely you do too. Sometimes humans need emotional connections before they want to mate, right? So he just needs to express his love to you. The looping problem there is that fucking you is pretty much his primary way of expressing love. It'll work out in the end, he guesses.

His limited knowledge of humanity also will lead him to certain conclusions. From what he understands, human society often shames females for having sex and wanting sex, right? That's dumb. But their mentality is probably ingrained in your brain, isn't it? That's why you act like this. But don't worry, he's not like the human men. Wolves don't feel that way. You'll understand that with time.

What sort of kinks or fetishes do they have, or would they fill?

Biting/Scratching/Marking

It's a natural reaction to him. If he's balls deep in you, mounted on and pounding into your body, thrusting so hard that your body is lurching forward with every movement, he wants a way to hold you still, keep your body in place so that each pounding goes deeper and harder. It's second nature for him to just sink his teeth into your jugular, your neck, your shoulders. As an added bonus, he likes seeing the marks it leaves behind, in addition to how his fingernails that dig into your hips leave little indents in your skin.

Breeding

He doesn't know how to not cum in you. You can't honestly expect him to pull out of you, you're so warm and wet and soft, it would be torture not to reach a climax buried inside that tight heat. You can go on a rant about not wanting to get pregnant, but it'll go in one ear and out the other. He doesn't get it - you're supposed to want to have his pups. Do you not think he's a suitable mate for reproducing? You'll be halfway through explaining why kids aren't in your current agenda before being flipped over and pounded into yet again with his newfound determination to prove his strength and dominance to you. Once you understand that, surely, you'll want all the puppies you can possibly make.

Predator/Prey

This applies mostly to escape attempts. He'll be mad, but it triggers something in him, something instilled by years of hunting down poor little prey animals. The desire to hunt you down, find you, and ruin you. Instead of ripping you apart like he would boars, he can't think of anything but just fucking you up against the nearest tree, the ground, anything. The faster you run, the more afraid you are, the more exciting it is. It's a very primal urge, one that commands all sorts of predators, both in feeding and breeding.

Forced Orgasms

As with many human things, he makes certain discoveries with time about sex. The first time you fuck, it'll probably be too rough for you to really cum, but it'll only be a few days in before your body adjusts to the girth that's frequently inside of you, and you end up spasming all over him - and he's just got this shocked expression, watching with amazement when you clench down and quiver under him. Wait, you mean human females can orgasm too? Not just the men?

From that point forward, he's determined to fuck, lick, grind, and force every orgasm out of you as physically possible. It makes him feel a weird sort of pride and contentment. It's one of the few things that makes him a big smug. Even if you feel like you can't possibly cum any more, he'll try anyway.

How do they feel about pregnancy or babies? Do they want them?

It's your purpose! He has learned that human girls only have one baby at a time, sometimes two, which is nothing compared to how many pups wolves usually have in one litter. That means that you'll have to make up for the lack of quantity of pups with quantity of pregnancies, which means constantly breeding and breeding and making sure every last drop stays inside of you. He doesn't understand why humans would even want to prevent pregnancy, it's the best thing that can happen, it's the whole reason you're alive, and it's a sign that you're his. Like with most things, he knows eventually you'll come around. Once you actually have the pups there in front of you, you'll love it. He knows you will.

What kind of (nsfw) punishments would they use?

He's a little lacking on the thought process behind punishing. If he's mad, it tends to cloud his thoughts, reverting to a more animalistic state, and he's not gonna have the complex thoughts required to really think through punishment, so it's not gonna be anything complex.

Doesn't really matter, if he's mad, just fucking you is going to feel like a punishment, with him slamming you into the ground, a tree, any rough surface nearby and just rutting you, claw-like fingernails digging into your skin and teeth sinking into your shoulder to hold you in place, a hand clasped around your throat. Fucking is basically the primary outlet he chooses for his emotions, happiness, love, stress, and anger alike, a simple, primal form of expression. If he's mad, he just needs to take it out on something, release all of that force and energy into rough, brutal motions. Normally when he's angry, he'll go hunt down some animal, taking all that anger out on the kill. But, recently he's learned he actually quite prefers to release his anger this way. It's more satisfying and enjoyable, and it deters you from stepping out of line, too. It's not just your average slightly rough fucking, no, it's the kind of fucking that will genuinely hurt you, rutting you over and over until your insides are burning from friction, your walls and cervix so completely bruised and abused you'll feel the  throbbing soreness with every movement for days, hands leaving massive bruises all across your hips and shoulders. Not that that's any excuse to not fuck more, no, no soreness will get you out of normal daily routine.

What body parts of their darling do they like the most?

He has a thing for breasts. They're very unique to humans, it's something he hasn't had the opportunity to see or understand, and he'll spend a lot of time just burying his face in them, licking and sucking. Big or small, doesn't matter. He just likes them.

One more nasty HC i can't not talk about

wait, you mean humans have sex... Facing each other? There are positions other than doggy? It's all he's ever seen. Porn and the internet don't exactly exist in this world. The whole concept blows his mind. He can fuck you AND see your face while he does? He'll nearly faint right then and there, and you'll regret bringing it up once you've gone numb from the repetitive pounding. He'll start asking you what else exists out there, his brain will start thinking of all the different ways to fuck he's never thought about. Once he learns you can ride him, he's in heaven, even if it's not so much riding so much as you sitting on his cock and him bouncing you up and down with such ferocity you can't even move your legs.

Speaking of things he doesn't know about, if you're smart, you make sure he doesn't find out about blowjobs. He'll love it, and it won't be a blowjob so much as him literally fucking your throat, grabbing your head and hair and just wrecking your mouth.

None of it is him trying to hurt you, really. He just doesn't understand how to be gentle. He might get better with time, but he's got a predator-born ferocity, a primal roughness that will always be a part of his nature.

(yes i did research on wolf courtship/mating rituals for this bc i suffer for my art)

#yandere x reader #yandere genshin impact #yandere razor #tw: noncon #tw: dark content #yandere profile #tw: misogyny

[duchessofostergotlands]

Why did King Edward VIII have to step down to marry a divorcee but Charles didn’t to remarry? To my understanding both Wallis and Camilla weren’t well liked during both courtships but Charles just said he wouldn’t make her Queen (which IMO is stupid as Queen isn’t an earned title so it makes no sense to strip her). Could Charles have just stepped down and let William eventually take over the same way George took over from Edward? Was Edward simply from a different more conservative/war torn time? Or am I just being dumb again and not understanding the complexities of the monarchy lol

I'm going to just bullet point a few things:

King Edward wanted to marry Wallis about 70 years before Charles wanted to marry Camilla. Social norms change significantly over the course of 7 decades and the church's view towards divorce changed: three years before the wedding they allowed divorcees with living spouses to marry in the church at the discretion of the priest. This had obviously not been possible 70 years earlier and paved the way for the marriage to happen as it showed that the church had reluctantly accepted the modern reality of divorce and remarriage and would no longer consider it a constitutional barrier to the throne.

Charles can't make anyone Queen and isn't stripping her of anything. She'll become Queen under common law but she will - according to prior statements - voluntarily choose not to use it.

The idea that Edward had to abdicate solely because he wanted to marry someone who was unpopular is overly simplistic. It makes for a better story, giving up the throne for love, so it's the story people tell but it's not entirely accurate. In reality Wallis was believed to be collaborating with Nazi spies and Edward was allowing her to read secret documents which related to foreign policy, asked for her advice on matters of state etc. Marrying her, to the establishment in the UK at that time, was a national threat. That's not the case with Charles and Camilla. Edward was also considered to be a completely inappropriate monarch anyway. While Charles interferes too much for my liking, Edward was much much worse. He was heavily partisan and alienated multiple diplomats. All in all he just was not seen as a trustworthy monarch, especially during the 1930s which was a time of massive upheaval even before the war began.

Charles hired Marc Bolland to rehabilitate his and Camilla's image in 1995 (which he did majestically; that cut throat bastard has my respect). They married in 2005. It took 10 years of work to get to a point where the legal, social and political context was such that it was felt they could marry. Edward told the PM he wanted to marry Wallis in mid November and abdicated in mid December. Maybe if they'd done the same thing and waited - and Wallis had dutifully remained in the background and not interfered - things would have been different. Maybe not, maybe the time was just too hostile. But it wasn't easy for Charles and Camilla.

So basically as a summary, Edward forced the hand of the government and church who already felt he was a threat to the country - and who had a legal and social climate which was largely sympathetic to them given the impending war most people knew was coming - and they gave him an ultimatum. With Charles they spent a decade patiently laying the ground work - PR, lawyers, religious figures etc. all involved - and they had legal and societal changes on their side.

#ask #anon #british royal family #prince charles #camilla parker bowles #duchess of cornwall #king edward viii

[mysoftboybensolo]

The Alienist and the Soprano

Chapter 12: The Courtship

A/N: This was inspired by Laszlo’s love of opera and my thought on what if he fell for an opera singer. Multi chapter. Canon divergence, there is no Mary Palmer here (I loved Mary and Laszlo, so I don’t feel like I could have her here and have him be with another woman). A mix of show and book canons. No Y/N, OC named Evelina Lind.

A03: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32029150

Pairing: Laszlo Kreizler x Fem OC!

Summary: The last thing Laszlo Kreizler ever expected while investigating the death of children was to fall in love, and with an opera singer no less!

Warnings: Age gap, questioning of a relationship, but it gets resolved, hints of John x Sara (more of them will come in later chapters).

Laszlo didn’t quite know what to do when it came to courting. He himself had been so inexperienced in love and more so with social interactions that he feared that he’ll make one wrong move and ruin everything. It was one of those moments where he had to admit he knew nothing about the subject and must turn to someone who did.

John would never have thought in a million years that Laszlo would ever some to him for advice, and certainly not of the romantic kind. To see Laszlo looking rather on edge and uncertain gave John a small feeling of enjoyment as the roles have now been reversed, but he did not keep his friend suffering for long and entered the den.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” Laszlo spoke, “Especially on short notice.”

“That is probably the first time you had ever said that to me in all the years we’ve known each other. You must need my help badly.”

“I fear that I do. I-I have asked Evelina if I may officially court her.”

John’s eyes brightened with joy. “Laszlo, that is wonderful! She is indeed a remarkable woman.”

Laszlo smiled and nodded in agreement. “I have never felt this way about anyone, and I am afraid. I am afraid that I shall say or do something wrong and after everything that had happened in the previous days, the last thing I would want to do is cause any further scandal.”

John chuckled and teased, “If you want her to be scandal free, then she picked the wrong man.” John quickly realized what a mistake his choice of words was as he saw the visible hurt in his friend’s eyes. “I am sorry, I was only joking. It is amusing to see you like this though, because last I recall you had some choice words about love. Dull, no more than a mystery than cholera.”

He watched as Laszlo’s mood lightened as he recalled back on his own words and shook his head. “And I did believe them. Or at least, I wanted to believe them. She changed my mind. John,” he asked in a somber tone, “Do you think I am wrong to do this?”

John stared at him perplexed. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just, I am forty and she is just shy of her twenty-fifth birthday, a whole life ahead of her full of possibilities, and I feel like I am taking something away from her, especially with…” He doesn’t say the words, but his habitual gesture of left hand gripping the right wrist finished the sentence.

“Laszlo,” John sighed, “You two are not the first couple to have a difference in age, and many more have had even larger gaps then you do. And I resent the idea of you being too old, because it means I am as well, and I should like to think I am not too old for love!”

Laszlo offered a small smile, but a part of him knew that his relationship did mirror a bit with John’s feelings towards Sara, even though John was with Violet. That was something that Laszlo felt grateful in, not to be a situation where he is tied to one but loves another.

“And by now, she knows about your arm,” John continued, “I am sure that if she had thought less of you because of it, she would have left. Let us be honest, if she hadn’t left after her first meeting of you, then I am certain she is never going to leave. And I shall now share with you a lesson that I had learned a rather difficult way; never tell a woman what to feel, even if you do think she ought to feel differently.” John reached over and placed a friendly hand on Laszlo’s shoulder and grinned. “No one deserves to be happier than you, after everything that has happened, you deserve it. Take it, my friend, and enjoy it.”

Laszlo was touched by these words and knew John meant it. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you’d say that.”

“My god, Laszlo,” John chuckled, “If being in love placates you, then you must do it more often.”

“I intend to. But what do I do? I mean, what is it that people do when they court?”

John explained the socially proper rules of courting, such as never be alone with her without someone being there, places where they be together, gifts you can and cannot give, etc. Many of these rules made Laszlo roll his eyes, for they were built on patriarchal beliefs that did more harm than good, but overall, when he left John’s place, he felt comfortable to move forward in the relationship.

Evelina had felt herself on cloud nine, for it felt that everything was falling into place at last. The feeling of his kiss still lingered on her lips and it was like a drug that had prolonged effects, for even the stares and whispers that people made when she passed them hadn’t even bothered her. The party at the Roosevelt’s tonight should be able to help with that, especially with Edith Roosevelt in your corner, who had happily accepted Evelina into the party as soon as she saw her.

“Oh, my dear, you are just the loveliest creature ever, love suits you very well.”

Evelina blushed and asked, “Is it obvious?”

“Beautifully so. He’s over by the fireplace, his usual spot in events such as this,” Edith said, giving her a coy smile, knowing she’d want to go to him.

Because of how late the rehearsals went, Evelina had told Laszlo to go on ahead and she’ll meet him there, so this was the first they would see each other after the kiss, and they came together sweetly and shyly. “Good evening, Laszlo, did you sleep well?”

“Quite well, I had the most pleasant dream,” he softly spoke, looking down at her with such a tender love that he could see reflected in her eyes.

“A result from a rather wonderful moment from the previous night?” she asked, knowing full well that was the reason why, she just wanted to hear him say it.

“There can be no other reason.”

The party went extremely well, and Evelina had to say that Laszlo was a good sport, she knew how uncomfortable he can get at social events, which was partially the reason why he stuck close to Evelina. The other reason was because he just adored her so. It was quite apparent to everyone in the room by the end of the night, and many thought it a good match; economically, she will be married to a man who is one of the wealthiest people in New York, socially, he is less irritable when around her. Personally, they loved each other so much.

Laszlo was indeed right, people would move on from one scandal to another, as a week later it was revealed that a prominent society lady was having an affair with her stable hand, and everyone went mad over it. People still looked down at her for her profession, but she brought up a good point during one of their meetings, of how despite people looking down at the profession, they still come to her to hear the music they love.

“It comes from a need to control and a deeper level of jealously,” Laszlo said, “If they see someone that they can put down, then they will as it will make themselves feel important. But they also know that they need that person to provide a need they cannot get themselves, which can cause a sense of jealously and hostility and make them react in such a way. They try to convince themselves that the ones lesser than them need the higher class to survive, but the truth is, the society needs the workers more than the workers need them.” Laszlo opened his mouth to continue, but he noticed how Evelina looked at him and wondered if he spoke too much. “I’m sorry. I tend to go on rambling about such things.”

“Don’t apologize, it was fascinating. I like hearing you speak about such things; it only teaches me something new, but to see you go on about something that you enjoy, it makes me happy.”

Often people have told Laszlo that they didn’t care about his work, that his ramblings about facts, big or small, were not so interesting, and to hear that she not only enjoys it, but likes how it makes him happy, well, that made him even happier.

What made their courtship so different from everyone else’s was how open they were with one another. Laszlo certainly made it no secret that he did not approve of the standard norms of society, which is why he did things so differently, and while to some it would be an improper error, Evelina felt that they should not have to hide how they felt. Most unions were made for the sole purpose of advancement in society, but this one was an affair of the heart. But despite how they felt about these rules, they also knew that there were some rules that could not be breeched. Laszlo visited her when he knew Sara was home to “keep watch” over the pair, which meant she’d be in the next room typing away at her machine while Laszlo and Evelina had the freedom of being alone.

Mrs. Vidal had also played chaperone at the opera, watching with a careful but affectionate eye as Laszlo visited after the show. The first time he came by was after the premiere of Roméo and Juliette, having watched her fall in love, despair and die, all so tragically and beautifully. He looked down at her from his box with incredible pride and adoration, and what he couldn’t believe was that at the end of the show, when she was giving her final curtain call, she looked up at him and gave a small but noticeable gesture of blowing a kiss to him. No one else caught it, between the gesture being subtle and they so enraptured, but Laszlo noticed, and it warmed his heart.

He went down to her dressing room after the show, pushing through the usual crowd of admirers and was allowed the privilege of a private audience with the prima donna.

“Laszlo!” she happily exclaimed, rushing to wrap her arms around him, which caused him to gasp but chuckle as he returned the hug. “Did you like the show?” she asked with her face pressed against his chest.

“Oh, meine liebe, you were perfection itself.”

She pulled back enough to look up at him, with a look of pleasant surprise. “Laszlo, do you realize that you just called me by a term of endearment?”

He thought back and then apologized. “Oh, I hadn’t realized. I am sorry if you don’t like it.”

“Oh no!” she disagreed cheerfully, “I love it. I like to be called your love. But what shall I call you?”

Laszlo chuckled at her sweetness, “Whatever you like, I suppose.”

“It’ll come to me. Such a thing must come naturally, as it did with you. The company is having a party, Delmonico’s, your favorite. Please be my escort?”

He kissed her hand and declared it to be a pleasure and left her to get ready as he waited in the hall. Evelina watched as Laszlo pushed through the crowd and couldn’t help but to laugh at the thought of him getting lost in the crowd.

Maria, still in her nurse costume, was pushing through the crowd of men when she bumped into Dr. Kreizler was confused as to why he was down here. Managing to get through, she entered the room and quickly went to Evelina who was laying on the couch with her eyes closed. “Evelina, are you alright?”

Evelina opened her eyes and sat up with a smile. “Yes, shouldn’t I be?”

“Well, no, of course not, but I saw the doctor leave and I was worried.”

Evelina got up and went to her vanity with a smile. “No, I am perfectly well. Better than well, actually.”

“Good. Listen, I was thinking of us entering Delmonico’s in style. Be fashionably late and-”

Evelina gently interrupted and said, “I am sorry, Maria. But I am going with someone else.”

Maria was at first disappointed, then she perked up when a thought came to her. “Is it the same man of whom you have feelings for?”

Evelina began to wipe the stage makeup off as she nodded. “Yes. We managed to finally express our feelings for each other and he’ll be taking me tonight.”

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense, who is it?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it. “No, you’ll laugh.”

“Laugh, why would I laugh? Evie,” Maria placed both hands on her friend’s shoulders, making her look at her, “I promise, if I laugh, I’ll lend you my ruby and pearl earrings for the evening. Now, please, tell me?”

Evelina sighed, then said, “It’s Dr. Kreizler.”

Maria paused for a moment, her hands slipped from Evelina’s shoulders and a quizzical look came over her features. “Dr. Kreizler. The alienist?” Maria watched as Evelina nodded. “Huh.”

“Oh, stop it, I know you want to laugh,” Evelina muttered, standing as she tossed her towel on the vanity.

“No, not at all. I am perplexed, to say the least. He is indeed quite good looking and is more well off than Mr. Moore could ever hope to be, and he is older, but so is Moore. It’s just, well, Dr. Kreizler always just seems so…distant and harsh, and you two seem so different from one another. What on earth do you see in the man?”

Evelina’s face softened and an almost dreamy haze overcame her. “Oh, if you only knew. He puts on the air of being steely strong and mean, yet, if you could see him with the children, he’s remarkable, tender, loving. He suffered but only wants to help others avoid what he went through. He’s witty, humorous, brave. And his thinking is so modern, so unlike most men I have known. He believes in women having just as much rights as men, including holding their own jobs and casting votes. He’s wonderful.”

Maria whistled. “Well, in that case, I may just fall in love with him myself.”

“Hands off, I saw him first,” Evelina teased, smiling back at Maria.

“Oh, all right. I suppose I’ll have to settle for Ramon, the tenor,” Maria teased back. Then her smiled turned tender and asked, “But, you are happy with him? Truly?”

Evelina nodded. “Yes, incredibly so. We may not be so similar, but we are similar in where is counts.”

“And that is all that matters,” chimed in Mrs. Vidal. “It’s rather best you do not end up with someone who is completely like you, otherwise, neither of you will push the other to do better, and on the bad days, you’ll hate the flaws of yourself that you see reflected in the other. Dr. Kreizler is a fine man and any man who would risk his life the way he did for you, that is a man worth keeping.” Giving her a kiss on the cheek, Mrs. Vidal said, “You are very lucky, some of us never find the right one, enjoy him while you can.”

Maria smiled, seeing her friend looking so happy was wonderful, especially after the horror she had to endure, and if it was a man like Kreizler, who not only came to her aid but also made Evelina smile, then it was worth it. “Hear, hear! And speaking of, I should leave you to get dressed, can’t keep him waiting.” Maria stood and bopped the end of Evelina’s nose. “I am very happy for you. I’ll, see you at the party,” she called out from over her shoulder.

As Evelina got ready, all she could think of was how lucky she was that not only did she find a good man to love, but that the dearest people in her life liked him too. She almost wept to think that her parents could not be alive to have met him, but she knew that they would have liked him and would have wanted her to be happy. And she knew that she’ll never stop having her heart skip a beat, for when she stepped out after changing and saw him standing there, waiting for her, it was like falling in love all over again.

If people had not known that Laszlo and Evelina were a couple, then tonight had put everything to rest. People stared amazed at the sight of Laszlo walking Evelina into Delmonico’s, especially the opera company, who never saw this coming. It was of course not an unusual practice of a singer taking on the patronage of a wealthy person, but they of all the months that they had spent working alongside Evelina, she never seemed to be the kind to do this sort of thing. The highbrows of society had simply nodded their heads and declared that they had fully expected this of her.

But what changed it from being simply seen as an arrangement to an honest to goodness courtship was seeing that the pair had matched in their flowers; in his lapel, was a lovely boutonniere of violets which matched the same corsage she wore pinned to the front of her dress. It was a spur of the moment decision, as they had passed a flower seller on their way and picked matching flowers that had a very strong and important meaning “faithfulness”.

At this point, they both decided that society could look at them with judgmental glares and harsh whispers all they want, but nothing was going to stop this miraculous feeling of being in love. And if anyone did, Sara would happily get into a fisticuff with the person, as she strongly vowed to the pair. As much as she was very happy to see them together, it did make her feel a little left out, and her gaze fell to John, with a sense of longing that she never could allow herself to admit. It was hard not to see herself reflected in Evelina and her relationship with Laszlo, after all, it was what Sara had imagined being with John might be like.

But it was too late.

Tagging: @monsieurbruhl​, @cazzyimagines​ @scuttle-buttle​ @violetmuses​ @flutterskies​ @sokoviandelights​ @rumblelibrary​ @fictionlandslanddreams​ @somethingthatsaysbubbles​ @alindeluce​ and  @barnesxnobles

#the alienist #laszlo kreizler #daniel bruhl #daniel brühl #fanfiction