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just-french-me-up · 9 months

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(In)somnia Veritas

Fandom : The Sandman (AO3 link) Pairing : Dreamling (Dream x Hob) Rating : G | 1.8k Tags : Angst & Comfort, Retired Dream, Post Wake Fix-it, Established Relationship Summary : No longer Dream of the Endless, Morpheus spends his first night as a human at Hob's, struggling with his new condition. He can not sleep. He will not sleep. How could he, when wakefulness is all he has ever known?

Hob had expected the craziness of it all to keep him awake. The Kindly Ones. The Fates. Daniel Hall. Dream of the Endless, now, for all intents and purposes. It all whirled in his head as he settled in bed, Dream―Morpheus' form next to him, already still from sleep.

Hob's gaze lingered for a moment. He didn't look changed. Even like this, very much asleep and vulnerable, his lips slightly parted in a shallow, slumbering breath, Morpheus still looked like the powerful being he'd been, mere hours ago. Human. It hardly seemed thinkable. Hob had been around for a while, and never had a human ever looked like that. Yet another rule broken tonight, it seemed.

As his head hit the pillow, Hob could feel the heaviness of the day weighing on him, a crown of lead encasing his head, a migraine he resigned himself to fight all night. Instead, sleep took him the second he closed his eyes, his body melting away, as though engulfed by a wave.

The rest was for Dani―Dream of the Endless to know.

It was still dark when sleep loosened its grip around him. Disoriented, Hob rolled drowsily on the mattress, expecting to meet the cold yet substantial shape of Drea―Morpheus' body, yet only found more sheets.

Confused, he cracked an eye open, his hand instinctively patting the empty space, as though he would find Morpheus hidden between the folds somewhere. Nothing. Hob's heart jolted wildly in his chest, pumping bitter bile in his throat. The Fates changed their minds, panic whispered in his ear instantly. They've taken him back. They could not let him be.

Slapped awake, Hob sprung out of bed, blood thrashing in his ears. I've got to get him back, he kept thinking. I must get him back. He did not know where to start, how to work out any kind of summons or strike any sort of supernatural bargain (those had a tendency to find him, not the other way around), but he would figure it out, he had to, he would even call―

His hand still tense on the doorknob, Hob froze in his tracks.

In complete darkness, Morpheus was sitting on his couch, his thighs pressed against his chest, still wearing the old t-shirt Hob had given him as improvised sleepwear. He barely seemed to notice the interruption. He barely seemed to breathe, for that matter. He simply sat there, statuesque, his eyes burning a hole into the opposite wall.

Relief flooded through Hob at the sight, no matter how eerie it felt. He was there. He hadn't gone anywhere. His hand relaxed around the doorknob, though his heartbeat had trouble adjusting.

"You alright?" he asked quietly, his voice slightly hoarse.

There was no acknowledgment of his presence, or answer. Still as a rock, Morpheus kept staring at the wall, his face blank.

Hob dared a few steps closer.

"Can't sleep?" he tried again, cautious not to startle him as he neared the couch. He considered switching on the lights, but quickly decided against it. It felt like one of those matters that were best discussed under the cover of darkness. The constant London light pollution would have to do.

"It's all so... silent."

Hob stilled, caught off guard by the sound of Morpheus' voice. It was still his, undeniably, every note, every inflection, but it missed... something. An edge. A preternatural depth that rose from the dawn of times, when the first being laid down and dreamt on its first night. A human did not need such speech. Like the rest, it now belonged to Daniel.

Hob approached him, electing to sit at the edge of the couch rather than directly next to Morpheus.

"You think this is silent?"

He had grown used to the constant whir of London life, every new century bringing new sounds to the mix, but there was no ignoring the myriad of dogs barking outside, the drunk students talking much louder than social norms would allow during the day, and the ballet of bin lorries and automated street cleaners. Could Morpheus not hear that?

"How can you bear it?"

Slowly, Morpheus' eyes left the wall to settle on Hob, turning to face him. Even with the lack of proper lighting, Hob could see his eyes clearly. Blue, as the day they first met. And full of apprehension about this world he'd never had to navigate this way, even though his pride would not allow him to put it in such words. This, at least, had been his to keep.

Hob stared at Dream, at a loss for words. If this was silence for him, what hellish racket must have been filling his mind until then? How could he bear it?

"It's all I've ever known," he said, settling for something that felt true, in his core. "I'm sorry. I imagine it must be... jarring."

"It is... unnerving," Morpheus nodded slowly, looking down, as though he would not bear to admit it while looking at Hob in the eyes. "Isolating. Empty. And at the same time..."

"Deafening," Hob supplied helpfully. "I understand."

Of course it felt empty, he thought. When one had spent their entire existence with the collective unconscious at their fingertips, dreams and nightmares echoing into their ears every second of every day, being severed from it must feel like having your head dunked into a bucket of water.

"It is no wonder humans devised all matters of utensils to fill the silence," Morpheus mused faintly. "It kept them from going mad."

Them. Humans. Hob wondered how long it would take Morpheus to see himself as one. Never, perhaps. He struggled to see himself as other than what he was, originally. The only difference between them was that Hob had considerably benefited from the change. For Morpheus, this was hardly a step-up. It was free falling.

There was an urge there, lodged deep into Hob's chest, to reach for Morpheus' hand, to hold him close, to offer him all the reassurance he could provide and then more. But Morpheus was not there yet. This human body ached, Hob knew it. It was new, unused, unacclimated to the world it had been thrown into. It looked every way the body he knew, the one he'd touched, loved, held, once. Not quite, though.

"We could buy you a white noise machine," Hob suggested lightly, pushing down the emotion down his throat. He was here, safe, it was all that mattered, in the end. Hob just needed to be patient.

Morpheus frowned, confused.

"It's a box that makes noise. Some people use it to fall asleep."

There was a huff, and the first hint of a smile on Morpheus' lips since their encounter with the Fates.

"Of course you people fashioned a noise machine."

"Don't knock it 'til you've tried it," Hob smiled, purposefully stirring the conversation towards a lighter territory. "Whale songs might be just what you need."

"I doubt it will suffice."

In spite of Hob's best efforts, Morpheus' playfulness was short-lived. His face closed again, returning to its persisting melancholy. Hob leant towards him, inching closer, assessing his lover's reaction, any sign of recoiling.

"What's wrong?"

"I fear I may not be... welcome to the Dreaming."

The admission rolled out of him like a wound, bloody and raw, almost shameful. Hob furrowed his brows.

"You're afraid Daniel may not grant you entry?"

"No, I..."

Morpheus gave out a faint frustrated sigh.

"It is no longer mine to rule. Dream of the Endless endures, outside of me. Perhaps I do not... belong there. My presence could be ill-received."

"Love, I―" Hob bit the inside of his cheek, trying to find the words that would hurt the least. "You will have to sleep at some point. That's... I'm sorry, but that's part of... this."

"I know."

In the darkness, Hob could have sworn he saw a tear trail down Morpheus' cheek, glistening in the light of a nearby street lamp.

"I'm sure Daniel will go easy on you. He's a good kid."

Was a good kid, Hob reminded himself. Daniel was an empty name now. There was no more Daniel Hall. Not really. Dream was what remained.

"It is a terrible fate I have delivered onto him," Morpheus countered weakly. "It would be fair on his part to torment me for it."

"Morpheus."

Unable to help himself, Hob rested his hand atop Morpheus'. His skin was warmer than usual, he noticed. Human. Instead of pulling away, Morpheus leant towards him, almost nuzzling against his shoulder.

"I have never fallen asleep," he confided softly. "Never dreamt. Not once."

It had always felt odd to Hob that Dream of the Endless, King of Dreams and Nightmares, did not sleep. How scary it must be, for someone who had never done it, to surrender yourself to the hand of another, in your most vulnerable state. Scary enough to leave the bed and avoid sleep altogether.

"I could hold you," Hob suggested gently. "Whatever happens in the Dreaming, it can't harm you here, can it?"

"No. Not really."

Not the most reassuring answer. Nor the clearest. Vagueness was a Morpheus trait, then, not a Dream trait. Good to know.

"I would like that. You, holding me."

"Come here, love."

It happened slowly, inch by inch, but Morpheus nestled into Hob's arms, resting his head in the crook of Hob's neck. Hob could feel his breath blowing against his skin, warm, regular, vital. It was odd, but far from unwelcome. More new than anything else.

"How does it happen? Do I merely close my eyes and wait?"

"Essentially. There is a relaxation aspect to it, though."

Clearly something Morpheus had no experience with either, considering how tense he felt against him.

"You could... breathe with me."

"Breathe with you?"

The suggestion sounded ridiculous in Morpheus' mouth, but Hob was not so easily deterred.

"Yeah, just... just humour me."

It was difficult, at first, for Morpheus to follow the rhythm of Hob's breathing. He was going either too fast or too slow, as though breathing did not come naturally to him, which, in fairness, it did not. It was a conscious effort, every time. After a few minutes of off-beat inhales and exhales, they came to a harmony, their chests rising and falling in tandem. Morpheus had only been pretending to sleep earlier, Hob understood. He could see it now, from the way his face truly relaxed, how his body became more pliant in his arms. If he was not fully asleep, he was getting there, at last.

Hob smiled at the sight, pressing his cheek against his lover's forehead. He could feel Morpheus' pulse where he held him, strong, regular, and undeniably human. Yet no less the man he loved, in spite of the changes.

"Sweet dreams, dear heart."

He raised his eyes to the ceiling, knowing full well there was no one to hear, and no one listening, but he could not help but add:

"Let him rest, will you? I don't think he's ever done that in his life. Might as well start this one with something new."

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ectonurites · 1 year

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Byler Week Day 5 — Secret Identities

very loosely interpreting the prompt for today but i've had this idea for a while and... secret identities, Superheroes, that works. anyone who knows me well probably could have seen something like this coming LMAO

also trying to draw Robin & Superboy costumes that look thrown together and home-made when i have spent so much time drawing their actual designs was a challenge

#'sam this is 10 years after where canon is rn why do they look the same' because shhhhh #it had to be 1996 because that's when Worlds Finest Three: Superboy/Robin came out !!!!!!!#also yes specifically issue 59 of Wizard (cover date july 96 publication date may 96) is when WF3 got a mention/announcement #bylerweek2023 #Day 5 Secret Identities #byler #byler art #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #anyways listen timkon & byler are different ships in many ways however #i DO believe mike would carry tim's 'im gonna desperately try to clone him back to life 100 times' energy if #anything bad happened to will ever again #PLUS like. some theories ive seen about birthdaygate with like the idea of will getting slowly erased from people's memories........#i don't want that to happen but IF IT DID. getting a detective comics 967 'he talked about a friend i should have.. someone named conner...#and i feel that name tugging on my heart but i don't know why' moment with mike about will........ oughghghghg #sam draws shit #<- almost forgot my damn art tag

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phoenixcatch7 · 2 years

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Love the idea of each previous hero's journey being mostly lost to time, such that each time the cycle starts again absolutely no one picks up the very obvious clues that might lead them to the hero.

Oh, you've named your blond haired blue eyed child Link, have you? That's a good name!

Oh, he's found a strange red and white maned horse he's named epona who has utterly bonded with him? How unusual!

Yes, the princess Zelda is the same age, isn't she? What a good omen for the family!

We know he doesn't talk much, but he's the sweetest lad, don't worry!

Don't fret, dearie, his wanderlust will abate when he grows up, I'm sure it won't get him in too much trouble before then.

Prodigious little swordsman, isn't he? He would make a great knight if he wanted to when he's older!

Oh? Rumours about a long forgotten temple in the woods? How strange! Are you sure it's not just the children telling stories?

Look at him in his armoured green outfit! That hat looks lovely on him - where did you find it?

#It's so funny #In just about every Zelda I've played there's been about a hundred signs link is In The Building and no one ever notices #Twilight Princess was the absolute worst everyone just kept bringing up Its The Hero stuff and it just was not clicking #By the time we got to epona I was half tempted to make a bingo card #Heck he even has a tree house!!#Strong oot time genes there XD #There's something about loading up a Zelda game and going 'yup. This is a Zelda game alright' but NO ONE in universe notices #YOU ACTUALLY LIVE THERE YOU GUYS STUDY THIS IN HISTORY CLASS #it also opens up the great trope of link casually knowing stuff from previous lives he absolutely shouldn't and nobody taking it seriously #Until he comes back with the master sword #Some of those games were particularly bonkers and if the specifics never got recorded then there's no way anyone would believe them #A zora princess tried to marry the hero?? Lmao try writing fanfic #Listen I know it says the hero came from the woods but kokiri don't exist he would have just lived in a cottage or something #How dare you besmirch the hero's honour! He would never lower himself to base property damage! Never mind pots!#No hylian can ever wrestle a goron are you insane??#Talking boat.... Sure #But you just KNOW Zelda would get some scholars and they'd hang off his every word #I love fics where link just casually references some world shaking knowledge (ie rito being zora descended and their own squid ancestors)#Or what the divine beasts were named after #Or what time travel feels like #Or that the myths hylians came from the skies are true #Or what one Zelda did when she vanished centuries ago #Or what the giant skeletons were #That kind of thing #Sorry I rambled #long post #legend of zelda #loz #loz zelda #loz link

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thebirdandhersong · 7 months

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I think the problem. the problem is that I have always been afraid of not being invited into the inner circle. and am always wanting to be part of the inner circle. inner circle being the circle of love and companionship and communion. of course being a TCK and a bit of a sheltered homeschooled oddball child has nudged this further along over the years. but I didn't realise how STRONG that desire still burned. to actually be wanted.

#in other words today has been an oddly sad day! discovering that the friends you've made have their own group chats #that are separate from the general group chat (that no one ever talks on) that you aren't a part of is......... i don't know #i KNOW i'm liked by them and i KNOW they love me but do they WANT me around?#like. i know i'm not UNpleasant to have around. i am a good listener and a good conversationalist.#i work very hard at it because it doesn't come naturally to me.#but clearly that's not enough to be added to exclusive group chats! clearly that's not enough to be part of inner core circles #i don't know this just came out of nowhere and i feel as if i've been slapped in the face #sitting at a table where people are talking about the thing someone sent to the group chat #or the photo or quote or reel someone sent to someone else is....... bizarre.#i am trying not to be so hurt by it! i am trying not to take it so personally #it happens. i know it happens. i know it will keep happening. it is just that i thought this was a place where i wouldn't be lonely #and this is the dorm community i've invested so much of my time and energy and love into since last year.#so i think i'm justified in being a little upset!#i'm not crying about it but that's because i'm not about to cry with other people sitting here in the study lounge!#the math is probably really wrong here but i thought that if i poured love in for the sake of pouring love in #somehow somewhere along the line i would also receive love. that i would actually be a part of this community.#anyway that's not going to change how i live here! i committed myself to doing my best this last year #because i don't want anyone to feel left out or unwanted or lonely. i already made the decision #to do everything i can to love the people here.#i'm not trying to toot my horn this is just what i actually want to and have decided to do!#i have birthday cards planned! i have midterm snacks planned!#i've just worked out how i can print christmas and easter cards and stickers!#i'm GOING to love darn it all i'm GOING to pour love in #i think it hurts especially because there's the boy problem going on too #of not being wanted in an area that i DIDN'T expect to be wanted in #and then learning that there is a collective not being wanted in this whole community #it is a Lot and it is very hard and i don't know what to do with it!#i have had this lie (that i'm inherently unloveable and undesirable) in my head since childhood #and i've worked SO HARD to shut that voice up. and it is so so hard to not believe it right now

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fairy-verse · 2 months

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I would love to dance with the firstborn fairy of winter, error himself.

I actually love the snow, gives off a nostalgic feeling, and the cold is my favourite, even if im born in spring. So, dancing in the snow? May i have the pleausure? If I may have their permission, of course. 🫴

How sweet of you to ask, dearest Anon. Perhaps you may be lucky to have the chance and dance with the queen of winter himself. Perhaps Error may hold about your waist to keep you close as his other hand tenderly grasps your own, pulling you in for a slow and graceful dance in the light downfall of powdery snow, the stars barely visible through brief windows in the clouds up above. Perhaps he flies higher and higher, making the world down below seem so small and insignificant, all its troubles and sorrows unimportant.

Perhaps your joy turns to ice in your veins as Error smiles down at you with satisfaction and the likes of the frozen waste, caring not as he lets you go only to watch in silence as you fall. Perhaps… seeing the way the light of the stars glimmers in the colours of his wings was as beautiful a sight as life itself. Perhaps your fall will not end in death, but instead, a jostle as you fall from your bed, the chill of the late winter’s night prickling your skin and reminding you of where you are, now awake, and with the memories of a beautiful dream slowly fading away into nothingness with only its feeling remaining in your heart.

#aufairyverse #utmv #ask for the fairy #fairy!error #error sans #i don't know where this came from #i was possessed by the ethereal music i was listening to

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lover-of-mine · 1 year

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'Cause I could give you all you want, the stars and the sun, but still, I'm not enough...

#911 #911 spoilers #911edit #buddieedit #911 fox #911 on fox #evan buckley #eddie diaz #my edit #otp: you don't need to pretend with me #well #i dont know where this came from tbh #i havent even listened to this song in a while #i dont know how this image was conjured in my head #but yeah #pining eddie my beloved 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶#at this point i should have a cemetery tag lol #and a pining eddie tag

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theinfinitedivides · 5 months

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so much for not writing the fic

#tv: vigilante #vigilante #vigilante kdrama #nam joo hyuk #yoo ji tae #kim so jin #lee joon hyuk #kdrama #local gay watches Vigilante.txt #local gay watches k-dramas.txt #local gay writes fanfic.txt #it's not my fault it's Heon f*cking me up with his hand on Ji Yong's face that spawned this post-canon fic where the latter #comes back from his activities and Heon is in his house. sitting on his couch without warning. Ji Yong's still in his hoodie btw #there's blood all over his face. he is in a state of affairs but you know how i like my men #never mind this will probably like. never see the light of day anywhere and that it's more hurt/comfort than anything else but #we'll see how it goes. that's all i can say for y'all not to get your hopes up i have other sh*t to finish sksksksk #edit: i hate when i listen to music while writing and subconsciously work the lyrics into my sh*t. Polly by Moses Sumney came on #and this is why you have the 'he'll dissolve just like that' line bc uh. 'i'll dissolve / i know it won't solve this (i want to #dissolve) / evolve into rain and spit / you make me go unstitched' if you get it you get it if you don't you don't. full stop

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laugtherhyena · 2 months

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3:23AM, time to post Hatamori fankid and retreat back into my hiding hole

#this is what i was referring to in my last post #sometimes ideas will just pop into my head and i will be unable to resist the urge #i missed sprite editing. it had been a while since i last made a person's sprite #anyways her name is Akira and I haven't decided if it's Akira Tomori or Akira Hatano yet #i like both of their surnames a bunch #thinking of her from a scenario where Ayame and Kizuna survive the kg and get together a while afterwards #Akira is adopted. obviously. Her biological parents died in the tragedy she was adopted at around 4-6 years old #doesn't remember how her bio parents where because she was like? 1-2 years old when they died?#being with them in whatever happened that led to their deaths she may have some form of memory problem from the accident(?)#Akira is pretty forgetful and slow on the uptakes. but it's nothing too worrisome #she doesn't actually care that she can't remember her bio parents because the family she has now is much more important to her #she takes more after Kizuna especially in tems of personality (tho definitely not as bad as she used to be in Dra if you know what i mean)#put them in a room together and they will gossip and talk about random shit for hours #she loves Ayame too! they just don't talk a much? Akira used to follow her everywhere when she was a kid but now that she grew up #Ayame being the awkward-ish person she is struggles a bit on how to talk/interact with her #they work out together sometimes and Ayame will always volunteer to listen to Akira play some new song she's writing #and give her opinions on it #as you can see she is a musician. aspiring rockstar specifically #this came to her as a way to vent about the tragedy and all that mess sorta #may ramble more some other time i am getting sleepy #dra #danganronpa another #fankid #hatamori #sprite edit #edit #hyena scribbles #Akira Tomori Hatano

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deepwoundsandfadedscars · 4 months

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"Yeah, this won't have any lasting affects on my psyche," I say as I click on my 17th Scary Interesting video of the day.

#kee speaks #i don't even know where this channel came from but it showed up on my recommendations last night and now it's my entire youtube algorithm #if you like horror or true crime you might find it interesting #there's a whole series on people who have died while spelunking or deep sea diving #or people who have had to survive on deserted islands #(like people who lived on basically a sand bar?? for 15 YEARS?? what the fuck??)#most of the stuff i've listened to today are essentially people vs nature #and one video was about to veer into industrial accidents and that was too much for me #ALSO: the narrator is like really descriptive?? Like some of the incidents he talks about is almost like listening to #someone's first hand account or as though you're listening to a written story #if that makes sense #he's very detailed #and if he's talking about an image that is shown on screen that is specifically relevant #he'll say 'for those listening only' and then describe the photo #and it's fantastic

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keeps-ache · 3 months

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'aside from all these things, i'm going to need a new helmet'

[traditional sketch below]

#art #my art #artists on tumblr #digital art #traditional art #oc #pink space #☯w☯#i just think he's neat #[points] it's the Hidden!! woooghgh :3 :DD #//anyway i used a very soft brush for probably the first time ever and uuuruggggeee #mm. not a 10 outta 10 experience i'll tell you hvbshf #i missed using the paint bucket like usual hbsh #also geez what a pain overall lol #//i don't now why the pic turned out so funkin orange but oh wells hfvsfh #also i don't know where half those graphite smudges came from. they were. not there before #//OH listen i've been reading about the chisholm trail (neat stuff (a lil boring but eh :>)) and i actually made my first au for this #project hbvfhs- and yea of course it was wild west why not loll #i've got a flighty unorganized outlaw and a disgraced crossdressing deputy and a dead doctor's misanthropic daughter and some guy??? yea :D #i love them so much hbfhs #but i prolly won't post about it a lot cuz. well i dunno hfsh #i just thought it was neato so :>> :DD #//anyway omw to post in other places hhhhfhvs #ciao ciao see you somewhere else from now !!

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cakebatteronabrickwall · 7 months

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Kind of obsessed with Ewan Roy who must have been more involved with Waystar as board member, until he decided to step out. Ewan who just lives somewhere in Canada, maybe still on a farm, definetly in a cute little house. Maybe it's the place he grew up in with his horribe uncle but once he inherited it, he turned it into his home, ghosts be damned. You learn to live with the ghosts. Ewan who had one wife? Maybe she is even stil alive we just don't get to see her because that's his life. Ewan who raised a troubled daughter he secretly hopes might get better, who has a grandson that stopped visiting him, because he didn't understand that he just wanted him to be better than Waystar. Ewan who is sort of aware that he is a hypocrite in some ways and yet earnest in his resentment towards his brother. Ewan who, at some point, must have let go of the hope that Logan could change. Could still come back. Ewan who came all the way to New York for the funeral to speak the truth, maybe just for his own peace. Maybe in hopes someone might see the light. Might find a strange kind of comfort in it. Ewan who might have gotten through to one (1) of the siblings. Ewan who has a small life, but maybe a good one. Ewan who tries.

#listen listen i don't know where that came from either #i also remember there being a comment about his wife but can't recall exactly what it was #ugh #ewan i love you old man #ewan roy #succession #succession season 4 #succession meta #logan roy #hbo succession

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spilledmilkfkdies · 11 months

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Sometimes I think about the fairly popular Black Circle band AU(take?? whatever) that they received because y'know. They look the way they do. And it's so fun, I really like it, there's fun art of it out there. BUT IF WE THINK ABOUT IT FOR JUST A SECOND MY BESTIES. They would make for an awful band I'm so sorry-

At least half of them have claws. Gantlos will create seismic waves on accident, killing a few and injuring several. Anagan is always too far ahead bitch SLOW DOWN damn. Duman has sensitive ears, will be fully deaf after 2 performances. Ogron is a stage whore (derogatory), causing people to only know his name and none of the others, eventually being the reason the band breaks up because I'm of the firm believe that Gantlos would be the only person who wouldn't care about that, and that's not enough to keep the peace.

They were doomed from the start, I'm sorry.

That one game that made them think the Winx were like, charging up some sort of attack when they made music?? Yeah that was actually correct and valid and everyone who disagrees can leave <3

#i don't know where this came from #like it's about midnight rn #it's kind of a joke but at the same time #i'm giving it thought #WAY too much thought i am aware of that ty #silly winx game fr #saying that with love!!#anyway i've been listening to bands #that i'll force the wizards to listen to #so ignore this post ig #pulling an all-nighter!!#winx club #winx villains #wizards of the black circle #winx ogron #winx gantlos #winx anagan #winx duman

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chirp-featherfowl · 1 year

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jimmy solidarity, a glimpse at an incomprehensible workplace comedy featuring higher beings, canaries in coal mines, and the infallibility of a good old fashioned hunger games simulator.

“See—we don’t really agree with their most recent decision. So we’ve given you a gift to combat this curse,” it says, folding its inhuman attempt at hands together, “We’re going to let you choose the winner.”

Jimmy opens his mouth, then closes it. “Um,” he replies.

He’s met the Listeners twice before, and they’ve been really nice people, albeit… strange, but the Watchers were even worse, so he didn’t have any qualms about favoriting them. This, though? This is definitely weird. Very weird. Dying the first time was nice, with all the flowers and Scott and colors and such; it had given him ample time to come to terms with being dead, but being greeted by a god in the middle of what he assumes to be the void?

Not… great. Yeah. They should work on their hospitality.

It looks on questioningly. Jimmy figures he should respond. “What, and. Uh. Why me? What curse?”

It blinks. Kind of. He’d rather not describe it. It’s not his fault he’s too startled to give a coherent reply. Give a guy some warning before shoving divine power into his hands.

“…Do you not know? Oh no,” it says, which is a horrible way to start a sentence, “I don’t want to have to be the one to tell you about—”

“—about what?”

“The curse! The canary curse! You’re going to die first, every single time, and I’m really sorry. You’re my favorite. I’ve lost so many bets, you know."

Jimmy pauses.

“Only two bets,” he says, blandly. “I’ve died just twice.”

A beat.

The gravity of the situation begins to set in.

Jimmy sinks a little and shoves his face in his hands. “Why?” he asks.

It crosses its arms. “They think it’s funny, the Watchers. And some of my friends, too! They believe it’s all some sort of joke, but I think it’s cruel. I convinced them to let me do this, wrote up a whole petition and everything—if the Watchers can fight dirty, so can we!”

“Oh. Well, thank you.”

It puts its hands on its hips. “You’re welcome! They told me I should rhyme, write a poem or whatever, but if I’m gonna be copying the Watchers then I might as well do it all the way, yeah? Got much more across to Martyn when they were speaking normally.”

“What,” he says.

“Oops. Wasn’t supposed to say that. Well, uh, get picking! Who do you want to win?”

Jimmy purses his lips. How can he just choose? How are they even going to go about making sure someone wins? It’s not really fair to anyone to be stuck in this death game while he chooses his ally, or whatever.

He thinks about it for a moment.

“Do you get access to the internet here?”

The winner is Pearlescentmoon from Soulmates #5!

Proceed.

#jimmy solidarity #trafficsmp #trafficblr #last life smp #3rd life smp #evo smp #guys i have no clue what prompted this because i dont even subscribe to these headcanons #i don't think the watchers made the canary curse. i don't even know where the listener interpretation came from #and i haven't watched a solidarity video in a HOT MINUTE #well i'm not complaining. 400 words is 400 words

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phoet · 1 year

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maturing for me meant realising i didn't have to indentify with the spunky, fierce, impulsive main character who wants to possess great power and FIGHT.

instead, i could identify with the old teacher who only wants to bring balance to whatever power the main character wants to wield, and who is just so. tired.

#everytime i read these stories i'm like LISTEN TO THEM #but then there wouldn't be a story so #this makes me sound boring but i truly am just so tired i don't know where they get all their violent will from #jiang ziya #uncle iroh #yeah i am putting him there #the poppy war #atla #this all came from reading the first poppy war book actually

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orchideae · 5 months

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When I approach Yelan (or anyone else I've written), I don't just look directly at her character, but I also look at her surroundings. Both the ones that she knows by some semblance of necessity, but also those that she chooses. Like here, I talked about the Chasm, and what being 'okay' with existing down there needs to mean for a character, because it's not normal. Someone's surroundings, room, or home say a lot bout who they are and what their mindset, or specifically, their perspective is of the world. And sometimes, I think it says more about people than even the characters realize.

This brings me to the topic of the city of Fontaine. Now, I personally think it's rather obvious that a lot of the nation takes from historical France, and so when looking at it, I think it really adds to remember its monarchy, the view that the 'common folk' had of it, and its inevitable demise to non-existence today in terms of importance as a result. So my first question is, who constructed or decided on its layout? Was it Furina, Neuvillette, Egeria? Whoever it was, there's a lot that can be said about their view of the world and their placement in it when you look at locations of buildings. Look at where Palais Mermonia, its governing body, is located within the city; it sits at a rather astounding elevation in comparison to, well, everything and everyone else in the city. This frequently represents the concept of 'distance' between groups in one way or another, and seeing the consistency in other nations, this is something that is rather intriguing to me, especially keeping Fontaine's characters in mind (and considering this is the nation of 'justice'). Mondstadt has everything almost entirely uniform, with arguably the church on the highest level (but it isn't greatly elevated in comparison to all else), but it's joined with the plaza and statue which are a common gathering site for all people in the city. Liyue had the gods and adepti visibly living among the humans back in the days of the Guili Assembly for reasons of 'integration' (my apologies to numerous from our dear Guizhong!) The fact that numerous adepti now live far outside of the harbor is a different matter entirely, and the one who seems to function within a semblance of separation of sorts is Ningguang with the Jade Chamber (but I'm not one to speak on behalf of her character as I don't bear the knowledge). Inazuma also has the Tenshukaku at a higher elevation in comparison to the rest of Inazuma City. Sumeru is interesting, but ultimately Nahida was kept at the very peak of the city, far out of reach of humanity— but that's exactly the common denominator that has my interest, the distance between the 'governing body' and humanity for one reason or another.

But Fontaine really takes separation to a different level in my opinion (and again, think of this when you think of the person having designed the whole city), not only because of the above which I'll elaborate more on in a moment, but also its separation from the outside world. Now, this is interesting to think about if you keep in mind that it was perhaps done in eventual protection of the city's inhabitants in terms of the prophecy (which means that this would have been constructed anywhere during or after Egeria's reign), but then why is only Palais Mermonia far above the water's reach? If the walls surrounding the city were ever breached during said prophecy, all its inhabitants are pretty much immediately caught in the flood and would drown, which tells me nothing positive of the city's 'architect' or whoever signed off on the designs. But if not done for the prophecy, then why? Stand in the middle of the Court of Fontaine and really look around you, the only sights you really have of the outside world are the sky, and it's obstructed by a fair bit of the waterways and gardens that hang overhead, which you can only properly enjoy when you take the ages long elevator to the upper level where the palace is located (which, credit due, seems freely accessible to everyone in present-time). But if you don't venture up, how much of the outside world do you get to see? It feels very secluded, very much under lock and key. On some level (and this is one of the many reasons why I think that the Meropide is so excessively important in Fontaine and it's likely why we spent so much time there; it's all to show the ever, ever important contrast and nuance between this 'autonomous nation within Fontaine' and, well, 'Fontaine'), it almost feels like a prison, regardless of how pretty it may look or come across (and despite not 'lacking rights'). And considering how people in the Meropide speak of not always wanting to return back to the 'overworld' following their sentence, I think that there's definitely quite a bit of truth in that. But again, stand there and look around for yourself.

Now to return to the original topic, but keeping the last one in mind as well, look at one other thing that I'm unsure how many have really kept an eye on: the massive effect Palais Mermonia's level has on the rest of the area (inside and outside of its walls). Have you ever walked through the city of Fontaine at any given time of day or night, north to south, east to west, clockwise or counter-clockwise circling through it; have you ever seen how it overshadows an immense part of the streets below it either entirely on its own (which to me signifies a very domineering presence), or together with those outer walls that surround the city? I know how I've spoken thoroughly with people before about how much I enjoy Fontaine and how dark it is in its storytelling, but despite how gorgeous this region with its water- and landscapes are; its city bears quite a heavy weight to me. I don't know who designed it, or ordered it to be constructed in this way, but nothing about the city itself truly, rationally, shows a healthy perspective versus its citizens.

Me: /continues on to ramble in tags because I'm me and I'm a nuisance with always more to say than I know how to coherently put into these posts.

#[ meta. ] the chances are if i open this door; there can be no witnesses left alive. is that a sufficient reason for you?#[ i love how i'm writing a liyue-based character and here i am rambling about fontaine. ]#[ listen my little french heart just ached at this. i've been sitting on it for so long and have been wanting to talk about it. ]#[ but every time i hear 'fontaine is so pretty' -- i agree. i truly do. and the city has become my new 'hub' away from liyue harbor... ]#[ which says a ton in itself. ]#[ so trust me when i say i enjoy it and find it gorgeous. but i don't have any real kind words to spare on who designed it. ]#[ and i don't mean that in an insulting/bad kind of way but more so in the sense of-- whichever god likely designed this-- ]#[ how much worth was placed where; you know? ]#[ this is why i find the gods and all of their differing views so inherently interesting. ]#[ but then i also sit here longer and think more of the meropide. ]#[ and how THAT is supposed to be the prison. hmmmm. and yet /that/ is the place many seem to not want to leave anymore. ]#[ the place that is run and made better by the person whose tragic case was entirely missed and neglected by the authorities. ]#[ ah yes; the meropide. aka meropis-- the retelling (was it a parody? i believe so) of plato's story of atlantis. ]#[ which was sunk by the gods as punishment to its people for leading lives they deigned morally unjust and petty and /greedy/. ]#[ ah yes. the references never end. ]#[ granted we know how the meropide came to be-- so if egeria was in charge of that. chances are she likely was for fontaine as well. ]#[ well-- ]#[ well. ]#[ yep. i have more to say but i'm struggling to find my words-- so here we are for now! ]

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