#means that i'm mid-winter of my first year

[shijiujun]

A Summary: The Spirealm | 致命游戏 (Kaleidoscope of Death 死亡万花筒 Live Action) & Why You Should (Eventually) Watch It

Talk about the most short-lived drama release ever, not even totalling two hours if I recall. Creating this summary as I've seen a handful of confused friends, so here it goes!

It's going to be a long review because I sped through all 78 episodes and only properly watched the first two doors, but I got you. You'll get both the brief book rundown and the drama parts!

If you just wanna see the bromance (LOVE) parts please skip to section 4!!!!

1. Overview

Title: The Spirealm (kinda awful I'm sorry it's a mouthful) or 致命游戏 which means fatal game

Adapted From: Danmei (BL) Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu

Novel Prints: There are GORGEOUS Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese versions printed, AND Singapore publisher Rosmei has signed the license for the ENGLISH version, probably going on sale this year (preview is here). You can still access fan translations by Taida on I think wordpress and someone else on Tumblr sorry bad memory (they did half and half each) if you'd like to read it for context. It is one of my FAVE danmeis EVER and I am a die-hard OG book fan, check out my full danmei review here.

Total Episodes: 78 (20 minutes each with the exception of last episode which 10 minutes, with several BTS not that I think we will get to see all of them yet)

Where to Watch (LOL): Erm considering that iQIYI China AND International took the episodes down, there is no legal way to watch this, BUT thanks to some cnetz with super fast and great wifi, we managed to get ripped HD versions without subs. iQIYI is very hard on copyright though, they've taken down several subbed and unsubbed versions already on YouTube, but you should type the titles of show into Twitter and the top tags will tell you where to access the raws and very little subbed episodes, that may also be taken down at any point. I have the Chinese raws but as it's hosted on a cloud, I had to pay to access it.

Main Characters: Lin Qiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the novel) and Ling Jiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the drama)

Produced By: iQIYI so for SURE they won't film it fully BL even if the original is, but I've seen enough bromance cuts

Main Actors: Xia Zhiguang (Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie) + Huang Junjie (Ling Jiushi)

2. Summary

Book (drama follows closely if not removing the supernatural premises): Lin Qiushi, a designer, opens the door to his home one day from inside and sees 12 iron doors outside. Confused, he opens one of them and arrives at a snow covered village in the mid of winter, and meets Ruan Baijie, who's a pretty, unusually tall and whiny/timid woman. They realise that they're in a horrifying door game, and they'll have to find a door and a key to get out, while battling a long-haired, human-eating deity. They, along with a few others, have to survive day after day until they get out, and on the first night, two people have died in gory ways. Ruan Baijie and Lin Qiushi partner each other, and despite seemingly timid and crying all the time, she saves Lin Qiushi a few times mysteriously, and Lin Qiushi finds himself trusting in Ruan Baijie.

They get through the door together and when they leave successfully, Lin Qiushi realizes that the people who died in the door will die in real life by some freak accident too - car accidents, forced suicides, a robbery gone wrong, a lift trapped in the air and going ablaze, and more. That night, Lin Qiushi wakes up to see a super handsome and tall Ruan Nanzhu at his bedside and this man feels familiar to him, but he can't put a finger on it. All he can think of when Ruan Nanzhu says his name is Ruan Baijie (ahem he would later find out who it is of course). Ruan Nanzhu takes him to his mansion in the suburbs where he meets a group of other people just like them, who're forced to go through the doors for survival. Ruan Nanzhu then invites him to join Obsidian, his organization.

Through various doors, Lin Qiushi grows and supports a super intelligent and powerful Ruan Nanzhu, falls in love with him, gets through many many scary doors with him and some of their other team members, makes friends, loses them to the cruelty of the doors as they ponder over what the door means, and what being alive/dying means.

And at the end of it, at the end of of it all, when they're all good and living their life, Lin Qiushi also finds out what Ruan Nanzhu's secret is, and the lengths to which Ruan Nanzhu went to, just to be with him.

Drama: Ling Jiushi is a VR game designer who gets pulled into a game, and he meets Ruan Baijie (in his male form) right off the bat (SO NOT CROSSDRESSING I AM SAD). All the parts are actually the same as the novel, albeit with the game setting and Ling Jiushi and Ruan Nanzhu's identity adjustments to suit the game premise. Most of the other doors and their lines are the same, just that the ending is a bit more confusing than it could be. There's a big bad as well and they actually show the opposing organizations when in the novel, these other organizations aside from Obsidian didn't even actually have a face or goal to them.

3. Characters

^ Them in the book (based on manhua that never got to go live LOL) (RNZ/RBJ left, LQS right)

^ Them in the show (LJS left, RNZ right)

Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie: MY HANDSOME CROSSDRESSING INTELLIGENT ALOOF BUT WHINY (WHEN IT COMES TO LIN QIUSHI) SASSY BOSS!!!! He's super mysterious and super thick-skinned too, and all he wants is Lin Qiushi's attention the moment he meets him. He's intrigued by Lin Qiushi's calm and his brains and the way he handles things, and has a lot of trust for him right from the get-go. This is also shown in the drama itself. As the leader of Obsidian, he cares a lot for his team members and his friends even if he doesn't show it most of the time, and the last thing he wants to do is lose Lin Qiushi, and he would do ANYTHING for Lin Qiushi, ANYTHING!!! Just look at him whining:

Ling Jiushi (Lin Qiushi): In the novel he's super calm, has quite a lot of brains, a little bit of a blur in the beginning but he's super smart as well. Worries a lot for Ruan Nanzhu and is also a loyal friend to some of his only friends, and feels a lot when he loses them. Falls gradually in love with Ruan Nanzhu in the novel, like they just belong together. In this drama, Ling Jiushi holds that same trust for Ruan Nanzhu, but in demeanour he seems a bit more like a klutz and and not as cool as he was in the novel, but I guess it's acceptable. Literally like the only thing he loves more than RNZ (maybe) is his cat Chestnut LOL and RNZ is NOT really happy about that but Chestnut LOVES RNZ

Yixie and Qianli: CUTEST TWINS ;-; WHO TREAT RNZ and LQS as their big brothers LOOK AT THEM BOWING AND RNZ/LJS like parents LMAO

A handful of other characters who will keep turning up and get your hearts ;-;

4. ALL FAVE BROMANCE MOMENTS + TROPES

THEY TOUCH EACH OTHER A LOT LIKE HOLDING HANDS AND TOUCHING FACES, PIGGY BACKING?!?! DID I MENTION FACE TOUCHING

WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP THEY HELP EACH OTHER WHEN HURT OR GET HURT FOR EACH OTHER

AND WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN BED THE OTHER IS AT THEIR BEDSIDE

AND DID I MENTION HE FEEDS HIM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

AND THAT THEY DATED UNDER THE FIREWORKS LIKE THE NOVEL DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THIS SHIT

AND THE KABEDONS

AND FINALLY RUAN NANZHU RIZZ OMG

5. Settings

They REALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES. THIS JUST FROM DOORS 1-6:

THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE NOVEL DESCRIBED!!!!

6. Overall Thoughts

PROS: This was NOT a cheap production, I'm telling you, they followed the cases very well and there're a lot of super recognisable lines, if not ALL of them, even if they changed the cases a little. I think they did it because in the novel originally, the author DOES leave a lot of details hanging like someone dies and you know he had a background and there are some shady things happening but the author NEVER actually goes into detail. So the drama did their best to cover these loopholes, even if it felt a little awkward at times. Money went into settings and attires and every damn thing, this looks EXPENSIVE. And if you've ever imagined each door and the bosses inside in your head, you might have felt chills go down your spine because damn did they really colour the book's settings for me (despite its differences). DID I MENTION that Xia Zhiguang really got the damn memo and he was a passable Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie who knew how to turn on his BL eyes. PLUS they really did some of the character deaths really well - they're technically some of the biggest parts of this story so ;-; (not two main of course)

CONS (maybe): They did away with the supernatural/horror premise and replaced it with a GAME premise, which means that there's a scientific element to it and the try to explain away stuff with the game, including the ending. I don't 100% get the ending, but the feel/vibe is about the same. Might not be for hardcore reader fans tho! They skipped out on a couple of doors, some of which were my faves, but it's fine, it's long enough LOL. They give away/explain some of the clues and surprises super early which means you don't get that added boom at the back as well. Despite that, I have to say they tried to round up the loopholes from the book as much as they could and give it an explanation while tying elements/conspiracies across doors (probably also to save cast fees LOL). And as always it's not a solid ending, it's an open confusing one, and even more confusing than the book itself because THERE IS NO CERTAIN HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH HUBBY for it (there is in the book tho, they live together happily every after). Secondl,y, I'd say HJJ's acting is a bit stiff and OOC compared to the novel, but Xia Zhiguang really made up for it.

-------

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GUYS!!! But I guess if you need subs it's going to be a long LONGGGG ride, considering that iQIYI doesn't seem to be going to be able to put it up anytime soon CRIES.

#the spirealm #致命游戏 #zhi ming you xi #kaleidoscope of death #kod #kod la #danmei #dangai #bl drama #asianlgbtqdramas #死亡万花筒 #lin qiushi #ling jiushi #ruan nanzhu #xia zhiguang #huang junjie

[ramonag-if]

Crown of Exile - Status Update

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a lovely start to October - I know I am. Winter this year has seemed to have lasted longer than usual and I'm more than happy to return to the warmer weather 😅

I thought I'd share the very rough release time frame for Chapter 8. Because my real life job eats up most of my time, writing is taking really long so I've decided to do another partial release. This release will be available to my Patrons in mid-October and will cover the first two thirds of Chapter 8. This means that if you wanted to play the beginning scenes of Chapter 8 previously, but couldn't, now you can because my Patreon is now open again 🎉

The update for October will include the early scenes of Chapter 8, the boat scenes and then meeting Emos, Dena and dealing with the alliance and politics aspects. What won't be included is the final third of the chapter which is basically romance, fun-party scenes and some optional smutty smut for Elora and Irus. Because those are more conclusion scenes, I'm hopeful to have that ready by November so the public release will naturally follow once the full Chapter 8 is completed.

If you can't wait and would like to support me, you can join my Patreon for the early access demo as well as bonus side stories which will be posted up this month.

The chapter progress is slow, but it will get there eventually😊 Thanks to everyone for their support and patience!

#crown of exile #progress update #chapter 8

[gainingfiction]

Who is the hottest guy you have seen out and about recently?

Great question! Unfortunately I live in a small, somewhat rural town, and the selection of hot guys is not ideal. So I’ve been sitting on this ask for a while.

Turns out, my patience was fated. I just saw the very first guy I ever had a crush on. Like, one of those major, embarrassing boyhood crushes. It’s a tale as old as time; the nerdy, closeted gay boy fawning over the straight, popular jock. Nothing ever came of it, of course, and I moved on. It’s been years since I’ve seen him and I haven’t given him much thought. But guess what—he’s gained weight. Ex-jock indeed.

I was doing some (very) last-minute Christmas shopping at the liquor store, when a familiar (but somewhat rounder) face caught my eye. He’d always had a cute, handsome face, but it looked even cuter now, softened as it was. I mean, he has dimples! He was dressed casually, and his wavy dark hair was a bit tousled and shaggy. He was wearing grey sweatpants (God is good) and a baggy purple hoodie, but it was the sort of baggy that accentuated rather than disguised his new, rotund belly. And from behind, his puffy winter coat did nothing to minimize his obvious love handles.

He played on our high school basketball team back in the day, and had always been athletic when I knew him, but I expect he fell into a trap that entangles many men in their mid-20s (i.e., getting a little chubby). I'm useless at guessing weights, but if you forced me to speculate, I'd say he's up about 40-50 pounds from his fighting weight. And he's not particularly tall. Considering his wardrobe, I can’t help but think of Mean Girls (2004): “sweatpants are all that fits me right now.” Wishful thinking, maybe.

I don’t know if he’s the hottest guy I’ve seen out and about recently, but you never forget your first crush… I hope he has a great Christmas, and gets plenty to eat while he’s home for the holidays.

#asks #not fiction #weight gain #glad he didn’t catch me staring #I feel a little sketchy writing a lengthy description of a real person #but hey it’s better than creepy stealth pics you see floating around right? #gay #genuinely grey sweatpants are a gift to humanity and every man who wears them should be nominated for a nobel peace prize #i love answering asks so keep them coming!

[horsetailcurlers2]

a rough, addison-centric timeline of grey's anatomy/private practice

an anon sent me an ask about when greys/private practice took place and a rough timeline for addison. then i went to edit the draft and accidentallly deleted it. so, i'm sorry, anon! i hope you find this post lol.

okay, so, the grey’s universe contradicts itself multiple times when it comes to the timeline so this is my best approximation/what makes the most sense. i’m putting this in bulleted list format lol bc initially i had a long rambly paragraph that was me basically doing the math as i went. i also got way too carried away and this may be more detailed than you needed. 

Pre-show/establishing age

addison is 39 by the end of season three. this makes absolutely no sense considering her extensive credentials but shhh dont worry about it. in my head i justify it bc she canonically graduated college early, and in my head she skipped a grade or two

she and derek are heavily implied to have met their very first semester of med school. they married in 1994. So there is no official timeline on what years she completed her undergrad, when she graduated med school, or when she completed her residencies and fellowships. 

GA seasons 1-3 

the first three seasons of greys are all one year (they span meredith & friends' intern year)

i initially thought season one took place in 2005 (when the show airs) but in order for everything else to fit it must be 2006. the show contradicts itself about this a few times. personally, i think 2005 makes more sense because addison and derek were married in 1994 and they were married for 11 years at this point. but, they must have made allowances for the fact that three seasons spanned one year.

season one runs from summer to fall 2006. meredith spends two months with derek before addison shows up. addison spends those same two months with mark in new york. so her whole pregnancy/abortion/blonde-hair-for-a-minute all happens in late summer/fall, then she shows up in seattle at the end of season one and by her fabulous fur lined coat, we can gather that it’s fall.

season two picks up directly after season one with no time gap. We get christmas and thanksgiving episodes, and it stretches into spring 2007 (the hospital prom takes place during actual prom season for richard’s niece)

season three once again picks up directly after season two with no gap. addison and derek’s divorce is finalized pretty quickly into the season but i couldnt get the date. the season ends definitively around mid june, because that’s when cristina and burke’s wedding was meant to take place. the two part backdoor pilot for private practice spans the two episodes directly before the wedding/finale, so addison presumably visited L.A around late may/early june 2007 and then came back before the wedding

PP season 1 (+GA season 4)

season one of private practice aired concurrently with grey’s season 4 and the timeline runs directly parallel. there are only nine episodes and they make very very few references to time, so we have to extrapolate from grey’s.

they say that there's a short gap between cristina’s wedding and the start of their second residency year so, season four picks up around early/mid july, meaning private practice also starts around this time. 

grey;s has a halloween episode early on (episode five or six) and presumably runs through the rest of fall and winter. PP season one ends after the ninth episode, which aired before the ninth episode of grey’s. then, addison comes to seattle in GA S4 ep 13. in the episode directly after this, the article comes out about burke winning the “2008 harper avery award”, so i believe this visit is already early 2008. 

PP season 2 (+GA season 5)

seasons 4 and 5 of GA take place over one year, so pp seasons 1 and 2 must also be one year. there are very few time references, so we have to extrapolate from grey’s again. there is a few months long gap between seasons 1 and 2 (bc of the time during which grey's was airing but pp was not)

episode five of grey's takes place in october (so ep 5 of pp must also be around october)

GA 5x14 and PP 2x15 run parallel to eachother. addison calls derek at the end of these episodes. i'm pretty sure this is meant to take place in january or february 2009 (at this point the air dates are closely lined up with the in universe dates). this whole crossover arc spans two episodes of PP and one episode of GA and i’m pretty sure its meant to take place over just a few days.

2x18 of PP takes place over three months so im guessing its at least early summer 2009 by the time the season ends

PP season 3 (+GA season 6)

season three picks up directly after season two (violet’s attack). season 6 of GA also picks up directly after their previous season (george's death). but then GA 6x1 and 6x2 take place over forty days and PP 3x2 picks up a month after 3x1. So theres a lot of futzing and messing with the timeline to make up for gaps and cliffhangers between seasons already. 

they mention that seattle grace mercy west is established in 2009

PP 3x3 is a direct continuation of GA 6x5, for reference

the grey's holiday episode this season (6x10) spans from november 2009, to january 1st 2010. and then PP 3x11 is a direct continuation of GA 6x11. i am assuming it's still january 2010 at this point. (this is also directly after addison finds out the truth about bizzy and susan)

there's a valentines episode of greys (ep 14), so pp 3x14 is probably also february 2010

3x16 to 3x19 take place over two months but then i'm not entirely sure on the timeline of pete and violet’s custody battle

the two part grey's finale/shooting episode takes place some time in late spring or summer 2010 (the next residency year starts in july)

PP season 4 (+GA season 7)

i couldn’t catch the date on dell’s headstone but his death was definitly late spring 2010.

7x1 of GA takes place two months after the season six finale. The episodes where they have to treat the casualties from a college campus shooting (7x10 and 7x11) take place around christmas 2010

4x6 of PP takes place before halloween (pete and violet talk about lucas’s costume) so its october 2010

the musical episode (7x18) is sofia's birthday, which is in may 2011. the PP episode 4x18 runs exactly parallel to it.

callie and arizona’s wedding is 7x20 and its stated that sofia is 3 months old, thus this is three months after both GA 7x18 and PP 4x18

So to recap: private practice season four takes place from around late spring/summer 2010 to spring/summer 2011

PP season 5 (+GA season 8)

here where it gets more tricky bc they do some time jumps around amelia’s pregnancy 

the first episode of season 8 of greys takes place on july 1st 2011. the three episode arc in which teddy’s husband dies (eps 8, 9, 10) take place around mid january i think, based on what she says in the valentines episode (ep 14). the plane crash (the final ep of the season) takes place around mid may 2012.

season five of pp picks up right after season four (pete’s heart attack). the second episode jumps to a month later

episode 5x8 (amelia’s intervention) takes place 12 days after 5x7. assuming this lines up with greys, her intervention, ryan’s death, and her admission to rehab probably take place in late december 2011. then her episode in rehab (5x9) spans the course of fifty days, so the next episode (5x10) likely takes place in mid february

amelia is 20 weeks pregnant in 5x16. i’m going to assume that christopher was conceived very close to the night of ryan’s OD, so i’m guessing it's late spring at this point

5x19 is the episode where amelia gets the horrible news about her baby. There is a time jump. she is six months pregnant at the beginning and seven months pregnant at the end. She gives birth in the season finale. i'm guessing it's already late summer at this point, though somehow addison and amelia did not know about the plane crash. 

so based on the timeline of amelia’s relapse and pregnancy, plus the grey’s timeline, i'm fairly certain season five of private practice take place summer 2011 to summer 2012.

PP season 6 (+GA season 9)

this one's gonna piss me off bc they do so many time jumps in an attempt to tie up loose ends before the show ends

there is a bit of a time jump before season 6, but in the season premiere, amelia celebrates one year of sobriety. so it must already be late 2012. i’m leaving wiggle room with my guesswork for last season, because imo the canon timeline they’re establishing of the last season is a little iffy.

its implied that addison and jake have been together for these past few months between seasons

pete’s memorial happens in 2x2. addison gets the call that mark has been taken off life support, so this episode must run parallel to greys 9x1. there has also been a time jump between GA seasons. it’s unclear whether or not addison visited mark while on life support, but it had likely been a few months so it's possible. they state that mark died in 2012 so it's not yet 2013.

they jump back and forth in time too much over the course of charlotte's pregnancy, henry’s adoption, and vivian carlsmith’s death. the entire season was meant to be a finale, so a lot of episodes focus only on one or two characters and have events that happen concurrently with the events of other episodes and it gets all muddled. but i'm pretty sure episodes 1-12 span a little under nine months (charlotte discovers she's pregnant at the beginning of the season and gives birth in ep 12). so her pregnancy serves as a backdrop to all these other storylines that overlap in these 12 episodes.

there is some kind of time jump between the triplets birth in 6x12 and addison’s wedding in 6x13 but not a very long one.

there is a thirteen week time jump between addison’s wedding and naomi’s ultrasound, then a little longer before sam and naomi’s second wedding.

so from what i can gather, season six took place over the course of around a year, starting in late 2012 and ending in late 2013 (potentially early 2014?? at some point this season the timeline diverges from greys so that they can utilize all the time jumps)

#greys anatomy #phew #you guys i got carried away #was this even helpful or was it just rambly #addison montgomery #private practice

[pastafossa]

The last day of 2023.

And holy shit has it been a chaotic ride, one which you all shared with me, or that's what it feels like!

The Major Moments:

Feb: Cato's cancer diagnosis and discovery of weird mutated cells that likely won't be explained until after he passes away. He's still with me, fortunately! No idea how much time he has left but I'm grateful for every second

April: a small leak in my dining room ceiling turned into a bigger leak which turned into a massive hole in the ceiling, at least it wasn't winter???

May: DD Born Again Photos give us all a goddamn heart attack

May: I FUCKING REACH MY OVERALL 1,000,000 WORD COUNT ON AO3. 🎊 🎉 🎊 Next stop is 1mill for TRT!

June: Went to my first con since Covid! Drove all the way down to Philly to see Charlie Cox, WHICH WAS FUCKING AMAZING, HE HELD THE RED THREAD FOR OUR PHOTO, MY FANFIC DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE, AND I TOLD HIM WHAT DD MEANS TO ME AND HE WAS SO NICE I COULD CRY

June: At that same con, I finally FINALLY got to meet my bff @wonderlandmind4 in person after many many many late nights of chatting, and we just CLICKED like we'd been friends for years, which I should have expected, but still! And then I got to meet a bunch of my readers, too! Best con experience EVER

July: enter Whoops Covid Finally Got Me After 3 Years But Charlie Was Worth It ™

July: Finally dusted off my draft of Pasta's First Dark Fic cause even if my brain was too fuzzy to write, I figured I could edit a bit. And I did! And was pretty happy with the results!

August: Shit Now There's A Long Covid Heart Issue And I Can't Be Seen Until Late November Thanks Covid ®

August: leak in the garage leads to me losing about 65% of all the beautiful, special woods pieces I'd gathered over the course of six years for carving. Within a week I am gifted a huge bin of wood from a kind soul at my local witchy shop

Sept: TRT's 6th anniversary!

Nov: I was slowly getting back into the swing of things, doing a bit of writing in between learning to manage whatever was going on with my heart (which we'll hopefully figure out in January when I get all the results of testing in Jan)

Early Dec, and the worst week of my life: mom got sick. Within one day she went from not feeling good to needing an ambulance. By the next day, she was in the ICU - flu induced double pneumonia that was interfering with her breathing and heart issues. And with one more day, she was put into an induced coma and ventilated, without any of us sure if she'd pull through. They told us she'd likely be under for two weeks, potentially longer even if she made it. The amount of messages and supportive comments I got from all of you, the talks I had with @wonderlandmind4 and @shouldbestudying41, just the general sense of having a community to help me means more than I can ever say as you all helped me through that terrible, horrible moment, even if it was just gently messaging me to remind me to try to eat.

Mid Dec: against ALL odds, Mom was off the ventilator in a week. By week 2, she was out of the ICU. By week 3? Off to the physical rehab center. She was there a grand total of 1 week before she was allowed to come home to finish her recovery. Early December was the worst moment of my life, and yet it was also bookended by the best Christmas of my life even if it was spent at the rehab center, because I got to have my mama back, and hug her and tell her I loved her and make jokes, and now she's home and we've been watching Christmas movies and eating grilled cheeses, and as far as I'm concerned, that's what the holiday is to me: not presents and snow and lights, but this moment, this time with her. 'In all the places you find love, it feels like Christmas.'

In just a few hours for me, it'll be 2024. I have no idea what to expect going forward, or even what to plan for, much less a resolution. I know I want to get back to TRT when mom's a bit better (she still needs a lot of help, understandably). I know there are wood carvings I want make; friends I want to visit; witchy events at my local shop I want to go to. But other than that... who knows? If I'm lucky, things will be calmer than this past year. But even if they aren't, at least I know I have dear friends, all of you, and my family, including Pasta Mama, to help me through it.

Goodbye, 2023. Hello, 2024.

#new years #tw: sick parent #tw: sick pet #i have had a doozy of a year #and i truly don't think i'd have gotten through it without all of you #i feel like my life was just one great big tilt a whirl this year #incredible highs and incredible lows #we'll just have to see what 2024 brings #thank you to all of you this year #for your chats and messages #your comments and reaching out #it hasn't exactly been a smooth ride this year and i'm so grateful to all of you that helped push that metaphorical car up the hill with me #we'll see what comes this next year

[licncourt]

Headcanons about Loustat's first kiss? When? HOW? 👀

Woof okay sorry I've been MIA. The horrors etc...BUT I love this question so I'm glad I can finally do it.

I kind of wrote what imagine for their first kiss in ch 1 of my collab fic, but it's also kind of a standalone excerpt so I'll post it under a cut as a sort of ficlet if anyone is interested!

Outside of that though, I'm pretty open to the details differing (there are a few different scenarios I really like), just with the same overall vibe. I mean, it's Interview-era Loustat so it has to be kind of toxique but with whatever weird, almost-intimacy they had.

Regardless, I think it happened at PdL, there's no way they made it four years without some funny business given the everything

Almost for certain it was a heat of the moment love/hate type of thing, probably an argument that finally made the tension between them snap. How long could they realistically yell in each other's faces without making out lbr

I think it would have to be in a moment of heightened emotion like that because Louis is Louis and while Lestat is down bad, anything remotely resembling wooing or emotional vulnerability would stand between him and going for it properly

If Lestat was the one to initiate, I think it would be an impulsive decision in the middle of a Louis tirade, he just lays one on him mid vitriolic sermony bitchfest. Less yapping more tongue action, Louis' hot when he's angry but also very annoying so it works out for Lestat

If Louis initiates it, it's probably because he finally snapped under the weight of his own repression and Lestat's hot boy factor. They're arguing and for a second Lestat looks JUST right so Louis pounces on him like a horny coyote, hellfire be damned

No matter what it's all in. This is not a nervous peck or after dinner kiss, teeth would be breaking if they were human and it's a little feral. Kind of a collision

Something inanimate definitely gets broken also, maybe a lamp, a table leg, a door jamb, whatever. IWTV Loustat = collateral

The only options I see as a possibility post-kiss would be things escalating into some sort of blood sharing/sex/both depending on your preference, or both of them realizing what they did more immediately which makes Louis lose his shit and Lestat slam the emotional walls down so they both run off right away. Either way they avoid each other for a couple weeks after before repeating the cycle in various iterations until the Claudia dynamic shift

Lestat

Surveying the grounds of Pointe du Lac after dark in the height of a cold snap was not at all what Lestat wished to be doing on a January night, but he was quite used to not getting what he wanted, especially when Louis was involved. The man in question was nearly always cold anyway, and Lestat had half a mind to think this outing was some sort of punishment for him under the feeble excuse of preparation for re-sowing the following month. The offer to stay behind was predictably (and smugly) extended, but he refused to give Louis the satisfaction, nor any reason to solidify his misguided belief in his sole ownership of the plantation, legal deeds be damned.

Whatever the case, Louis would regret his decision, Lestat would make sure of it. Louis may have been succeeding in making them both miserable, but he had been just as successful at making himself a captive subject. The ground was damp beneath them and the mud, cold in the winter air, made the horses’ steps heavy. All the better, Lestat usually lost his hostage once they reached the house. Louis had a way of doing that, slipping through the cracks like a dormouse where even the cat couldn’t follow. It was out in the open that the cat had the advantage.

“I heard Charles Laurent proposed marriage for you and his daughter.” Lestat nudged his horse closer to Louis’ until their steps fell in time. “Béatrice, was it?”

“He did.”

Lestat hardened his stare, willing Louis to meet his gaze through the dark drape of hair that had fallen from its ribbon. It shrouded his expression rather entirely from view and Lestat wondered if he’d left it there on purpose. It wouldn’t be the pettiest thing Louis had done to shut him out. He pawed at the mouse again.

“I also heard you declined.”

“Yes.” A disappointing squeak indeed.

“How come? It is an excellent family, they do well in sugarcane. And Mademoiselle Béatrice is very beautiful.”

In lieu of an answer, Louis urged his horse to a near-trot that Lestat matched easily a moment later. Louis’ chest lifted in a silent sigh before he apparently resigned himself to conceding the bare minimum.

“They do. And she is.”

Louis was always so prim when he rode, enough to make Lestat twitchy. Heels dropped in the stirrups, elbows tight to his hips, back straight enough to look painful. Chin in the air of course, but that wasn’t relegated to the equestrian realm. At least the protrusions of the saddle pushed his thighs forward to improve the view, even if his other assets were covered by his tail coat. Unfortunate that. Louis was clenched tight enough that the view would surely have been sublime.

“Well?” Lestat asked, letting his mare sidle uncomfortably close again, their riding boots nearly touching.

Louis jerked his horse right quickly enough that the stallion’s hind quarters bumped his own horse’s shoulder. “I do not have to explain myself to you, Lestat,” he snapped, any appearance of leisure fully abandoned as he tried to break for the house. The attempt was half-hearted though and Lestat cut him off easily, the stallion balking and dancing in half-circles until Louis regained control of its head.

“Au contraire, mon cher. It is my livelihood at stake as well.” The endearment made Louis’ jaw tighten even further, but he let his horse fall back in step with Lestat’s.

“Are you so desperate to expand our wealth—my wealth—that you would marry me off like a medieval widow at the first offer?” Louis’ eyes flashed sharp and olivine at him in the lantern light. He looked so much like the portrait of his father in the foyer, the same cruel mouth on a fairer face.

“As if this is the first. Formal or otherwise.”

This seemed to disquiet Louis greatly, his tone shifting from serpentine anger to something a tad hysterical. “You would truly have me do such a thing? Move a woman into our home? Marry her? What do you suppose will become of you in such a situation?” There was an undercurrent to the protests that negged at Lestat’s ear, some suggestion of weakness he couldn’t name. Still, there was blood in the water and a source needed to be determined.

He laughed, as amused as he was intrigued by his companion’s clumsy parry. “Don’t be ridiculous, Louis. I’ll ensure she does not last to the first harvest.” There was a clump of gangling irises as they passed a marshy area. He reached down and ripped the flower heads off. “A few months would be sufficient to solidify your holdings over the Laurent estate, and then I can make it appear like the most tragic accident. I will even allow you to bed her a time or two before I do the deed, generous as I am.”

“You are as shameless and despicable as ever I see.” Louis sounded as much bored as disgusted, but Lestat smirked to himself at the way the horse pranced and tossed its head at its rider’s turmoil.

“So you intend to deny any profitable union with the fairer sex until we are both forced to leave the prospect behind and flee familiar company in a few years time?”

“I apologize, monsieur. Are your current accommodations so insufficient?” Lestat could almost imagine his ears pinned like the horse’s as he was cornered. “And here I was under the impression that you wanted for nothing while contributing just as much.”

“And it would be such a burden for you to endure the intimate company of a beautiful woman for a few months simply as an insurance policy?” The objections were so great that Lestat found he was genuinely asking in spite of his frustration. “Wed Mademoiselle Laurent, fuck her long enough to get the estate in your name, and then you’ll be rid of her! Honestly, any reasonable man would be chomping at the bit for such an opportunity.”

“I don’t fancy her.”

Lestat dropped his face into his hand, rubbing at the frustration gathering in his temples. “She is hardly your only option, Louis, Christ! The Blanchet girl was all but thrusting her bosom in your face all evening last Tuesday. She would’ve lifted her skirts at a single beckon. And don’t tell me that isn’t so or that you didn’t notice.”

Something about that assertion, likely the irrefutable truth of it, upset Louis visibly and impossibly further. At the very least, he didn’t seem prepared to argue that particular point.

“Of course I noticed. I don’t believe a blind man could’ve missed it.”

Perhaps Monsieur de Pointe du Lac could simply stand to be rejected more often.

“Then why in God’s name are you so obstinate? All your prattle about being a good Catholic and you refuse to perform the one duty which might bring you some tangible benefit?”

“I am not the slave to my faith you believe me to be. I doubt the thing that condemns me to hell will be remaining a bachelor.”

Even digging his heels in like a stubborn hog, Louis looked radiant in the moonlight, skin glowing white as fairy linen and feu-follet eyes enticing enough to follow to one’s death in the swamp. It was infuriating really. It made Lestat want to knock him from his horse and straight into the muck.

“Well, in that case, shall we go whoring? There is a new brothel a short ride into the city and you are in truly dire need. What do you prefer? Brunettes? Redheads? What about blondes? You seem like the type for blondes.” One could only hope.

“I will do nothing of the sort. You may do as you please—heaven knows I can’t stop you—but I will not be involved.”

“And why is that?” he asked, curiosity still piqued despite the outwardly ordinary nature of their disagreement.

“It is impious. Fornication.” Fornication. Lestat could show him fornication, starting with planting an absolutely punishing kiss on that haughty mouth. Nothing he’d seen Louis doing as a mortal came even close to being anything titillating enough to earn such a salacious title.

“I thought you weren’t a slave to your God.” There were at least hundred better potential retorts, but he was preoccupied with Louis now in an entirely different way, staring unabashedly and imagining the many methods by which he could turn the lustrous curtain of his hair to sweaty clumps or reduce his fancy words to primal noises.

“It’s not one or the other. I’m not perfect, but I try, where I can, to be godly.”

He snapped his head to the right, meeting Louis’ gaze before he could turn to avoid eye contact. “Bollocks.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

“I mean that you’re lying,” he said, eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen you taking pleasure with women. You did so the very night I first saw you, there on the docks.” The house was in view now, and Lestat was half-compelled to try and suck the truth straight from his companion’s veins before he lost his chance.

Louis’ cool demeanor remained static as Lestat glared daggers at him, seeming perfectly unconcerned with that possibility. As if he knew as well as Lestat did that it would never happen. “Well, I made a great many mistakes in the months after my brother’s passing.” He shifted the reins awkwardly in his hands. “I have no desire to engage in such behavior.”

And there, in the clipped condemnation of a righteous man, was the truth Lestat had failed to see before. It was painfully obvious, simple enough that it seemed ridiculous he’d not suspected before.

Louis could not read the minds of mortals, but Lestat could. He had seen a great many things in his companion’s before the turning. Most of all he had seen how Louis looked at him, enthralled by his supernatural radiance certainly, but not only that. There was desire there as well, for more than immortality, lustful admiration followed by a flood of nauseating shame that gave Lestat sympathy pangs.

Even with the Veil of Silence now in place, he didn’t miss Louis’ gaze on him, the way his eyes were drawn by the deep ‘v’ of Lestat’s undershirts or the way they lingered on the shape of his lower half in breeches. It had been a marvelous turn of events, that they were already alike in…sexual predilections. How splendid! But he had been wrong, at least in part. Louis was not, it seemed, quite so much like himself as Lestat had previously assumed.

“Is it because you’re a homosexual?”

The brashness of his question brought exactly the desired result. Not an answer, of course, no more than indignant, scandalized curses as Louis turned his horse toward the house at a near-run, but it was too late. Lestat followed quickly, chasing the smell of fear on the wind.

Louis made surprisingly little effort to avoid him at the house, and Lestat found him easily in the drawing room, removing his boots and coat in front of the fire. He didn’t acknowledge the arrival with a greeting or even a glance, though he was sure to have heard Lestat enter. Even once he turned away from the hearth, Louis remained silent, fixing his ribbon as he looked down at a pile of accounting documents on the side table.

Lestat tossed his coat on the chair, waistcoat, riding gloves, and his own ribbon going with it, leaving him in breeches and undershirt, curls shaken loose. He stretched, making sure the taper of his waist was clearly visible in silhouette, leaving his arms up to fluff his hair into place. Louis always objected to his traipsing about so undressed. Perhaps he should’ve been taking it as a compliment.

When he turned back from the display (a bit more quickly than normal), Louis was giving him a particularly doe-eyed look. He hadn’t moved from his place by the table, but it was obvious where his attention had shifted when given a semblance of privacy. He startled when Lestat spun to look at him, and what followed was a truly atrocious poker face, smacking with guilt and panic like a child caught stealing sweets.

“Fear is not the first reaction of an innocent man merely questioned on a crime he did not commit.”

“You don’t frighten me,” Louis said, valiantly steady in voice, but only just.

“I do now.”

To his great surprise, Louis didn’t protest, seemingly accepting his fate with the melancholy stoicism of a condemned philosopher. It was almost unnerving to see the patron saint of losing battles so eerily content with this defeat. The display tugged at Lestat’s heartstrings enough to conjure his merciful side, and he let his eyes roam freely over the form in front of him, taking in the view in an obscenely conspicuous manner.

Even more surprising was the way Louis’ expression hardened and the anger returned to his face. Before he could take more than a step forward, Louis had backed up in equal measure.

“There’s nothing you can do to me,” Louis said, voice hushed but dripping venom. “I’m more powerful than you in any way that matters. Your mockery is all you have.”

“You think I’m mocking you?” Lestat took another step closer that Louis mirrored, then another.

“When have you ever done otherwise?” It was impressive really, the way Louis stood his ground, how he puffed his chest and set his jaw with the second-nature arrogance that Lestat had found himself so charmed by months ago, undiminished in the face of supernatural power and potential blackmail alike.

It was that self-destructive defiance that had first enlightened Lestat to this discovery of his kindred spirit, and it was what drove him forward now, what compelled him to cover the final distance between them until Louis’ back bumped into the wall and to press their mouths together. For all his posturing, Lestat kept the force behind it minimal, just enough insistent pressure to make his point (and his intentions) clear.

The performance must have been convincing enough, because it was only seconds before the mouth against his softened to the kiss. The fire was hot to his back, the arms that wrapped around his neck even cooler in contrast. He pressed his palms against the crushed velvet of the damask wallpaper, bracketing Louis’ head on either side for a spare moment before succumbing to the urge to increase their contact, stroking lightly at the skin of his jaw up to his temple.

Louis was tired, terribly so, and such a lonely creature. Lestat knew this of course, it was part of the siren call that had drawn him close and held him so completely in thrall, but it was only now, as awful as it sounded even in his mind, that the pity came, the burning desire to ease that loneliness rather than admire its lovely darkness like a Siam ruby or a Rembrandt.

Even more enchanting than Louis’ loneliness was watching his fleeting absolution from it, the way his eyes stayed gentle and half-lidded when they parted, how they closed again when Lestat cupped his cheek and or sighed as kisses were pressed to his neck. Lestat stayed there a long while, inhaling the scent of blood and cold skin and floral water at the juncture of his neck, content to allow the uncertainty of the future remain there for now.

-

#answered #vc #hc tag #otp: do you love me now?

[zabiume]

✨bee's 2023 fic round-up!✨

hello! i've never done this before, but i wrote so many fics this year that i'm proud of, so here's my official 2023 fic round-up! i wrote for two fandoms, a lot of ships, and spent an insane amount of time thinking about my favorite characters, as usual. i hope you all enjoyed reading these fics as much as i did writing them; i enjoyed receiving all your comments — the long-time readers, the new ones, and everyone in between! it was such a joy and pleasure bonding with you over something i wrote, and i hope i can bring just as much creative energy into 2024 that i did into 2023! anyway, without further ado, here are all the bleach fics i wrote this year, under the cut for your reading convenience! ↓

bubblegum hearts | riruka/orihime, pre-relationship, angst, 1.6k

Half of her wonders why she’s even here, when Orihime has an entire motley crew of idiots who’d sit here and let her snot soak up their sleeves like she’s doing right now. But when Orihime’s hand curls around hers with a small squeeze, she feels the harshness cut right out of her and melt into something soft and steady. Something supportive, even.

a world of our own | ichigo/orihime, trans!ichigo, fluff, drabble

It's mid-noon, and a song is playing, though Orihime can't really tell which one.

build a house in paradise | ichigo/orihime, slice of life/domestic fluff, 4.4k

He was learning more about himself than he ever had before, and in turn, was learning more about Orihime. No two days could ever be alike with her, and he was truly starting to come into his own. Ichigo and Orihime move in together.

You Can Show Me Your Heart | sado/orihime, post-tybw, h/c-ish, 7.5k

Sometimes they sleep together, sometimes they just grab dinner outside. In his bed or hers, he looks beautiful, and she likes to just watch the slant of light paint his serene face golden-brown when they spend time together. Sado and Orihime, after the war

two bodies glowing | ichigo/orihime, light angst, PWF, 4.4k

"Orihime," Ichigo said finally. "Do you know what I'd do to a guy if I heard you cried every time the two of you were together?" Ichigo and Orihime have their first real fight.

Therein Lies the Heart | gen, orihime-centric, post-winter war, 12.8k

In the aftermath of the war, Orihime knows she has a difficult recovery journey ahead. The road to discovering herself is long and full of hard pills to swallow, but within her is a resolve that runs deep. All she has to do is believe.

garden of the love we found | ichigo/orihime, marriage proposal, 2.5k

“We should get married,” he says to her when she fully wakes up, watching her stretch her arms above her with a lazy yawn.

doubt truth to be a liar; but never doubt i love | ichigo/orihime, pining, 6k

In all her five years of knowing Ichigo, Orihime has never once thought of writing him a letter, or making him a bento, or cornering him on a sunlit rooftop.

mountains and molehills | ichigo & kazui, character study, post-canon, 2k

When Kazui was little — little enough for a piggyback ride — his dad would take him on patrol sometimes, the only time that Kazui got a glimpse of this whole other world his dad belonged to.

Gods & Monsters [ongoing] | ichigo/orihime, mafia AU

In 1920 New York, a young Don Kurosaki navigates the dangerous world of organized crime, making tentative alliances, deadly enemies and a love that lasts a lifetime

that which we cannot see | ichigo/orihime, soulmate AU, angst, 7.7k

Orihime has a soul mark. Ichigo does not.

A Combination of Factors | ichigo/orihime/uryu, polyamory, threesome, 8.7k

Uryuu settled back, still tense like he was anticipating an attack. "What's going on?" "Well, we've been thinking, and we wanted — the two of us, I mean — to talk to you about," Orihime cut herself off, glancing at Ichigo and then Uryuu, "us." "Us," Uryuu repeated. "Yes!" Orihime clapped her hands together eagerly. "We wanted to invite you into our relationship," Ichigo stated, ripping off the band-aid effectively into the stunned silence of the room.

dogfish | orihime-centric character study, experimental style, 2.5k

Mostly, I want to be kind. And nobody, of course, is kind, or mean, for a simple reason. - mary oliver. [or] the world's weirdest orihime character study

Sailing to Byzantium (chapter 3) | isshin/ryuuken, kurosaki-ishida family bonding, 15.9k

On the other side of the resort, Ichigo is trying his best to not look complicit as Uryuu bends over to pick a lock. "Look," he says, a little hesitantly, "are you sure we should do this?" Uryuu stops completely and looks at Ichigo, baffled. "Kurosaki, are you scared?" Ichigo frowns. "It's not that." Somehow Uryuu just looks more surprised than before. "Have you never snuck into your father's room before?"

Postcard Mouth | sado/uryu, post-canon, soft fix-it, 8k

It's a strange kind of irony knowing that Uryu is on the roof of a building, while Sado is the same, somewhere a thousand miles away. When the next text comes in, Uryu doesn't even have to reply. He knows that Sado will know that wherever they are, however far apart, their thoughts are the same. Wish you were here.

#thought of adding my knb fics in here too but at the end of the day this is still my bleach sideblog so i didnt! #what a year huh #myfic

[tbtwo]

Three years ago I posted some very rushed scribbles on some alternative civvie fit designs and for a while now I’ve been itching to redo them, but to also take it a little step forward to general design tweaks detailed notes + reasoning for my choices under the readmore!

Scott Push his pilot aesthetic, or hell just make it obvious in the first place. Also push his visible age a little bit more, Scott being worn from raising his brothers is something that means the world to me.

A bomber jacket Jeff gave him for his 18th birthday.

Chinos or something similar, pants that actually fit him.

Simple work boots, OR Chelsea boots

Aviators that either sit on the top of his head or hooked in on his shirt

Not visible, but a fitness watch

Hair is more visibly greying, and he gets sideburns cause I said so.

Virgil My original redesign wanted to make his mechanic side more obvious, he probably still dresses like that alternatively, but I wanted something a bit more smart this time.

Dyes his hair, it's natural colour is brown, similar to TOS Virgil.

Light denim jacket over the flannel shirt.

Green cargo pants for the green cargo plane pilot.

Steel capped work boots

Not pictured, but wears beanie when it gets cold.

Dogtags don't have any sort of significance, just thought they were fun.

Chin scruff cause I think it's cute.

John I hate his canonical civvies, what were they thinking. I give him here business casual warm winter wear. I think he's used to the cold but just loves dressing with layers if he can. Turtlenecks and scarves.

Bleaches and dyes hair, his natural shade is blonde ala Gordon.

Big sweaters

Wears gaudy patterned pants

Dress shoes and loafers.

Other than that he's pretty simple, nothing flashy, but smart.

Gordon In my minds eye, Gordon is so much of a little rockstar surfer boy. As such, I want to ruffle him up, sand in his hair and the sun in his eyes.

Naturally that blonde, but hair is darkening and you can see it in his roots.

Shaggier, longer hair.

Just the worst tanlines ever, and of course the puka shell necklace.

The hawaiian shirt still present, but button downed and tucked into his pants, wears a light tanktop underneath.

Lots of bracelets and trinkets around the wrists.

Acid washed denim shorts, of course

Slip on sandals for lazy boy comfort

Alan I don't like canonical Alan's outfit, it feels so dated. So if we're gonna date him, I'm gonna go 90s delinquent, because he wants to Look Cool

Hair is natural, but will darken like Gordon's

Always wears two shirt layers, a long sleeve under a short sleeve.

If not the shirts, then a hoodie.

Baggy, baggy faded skater jeans.

Hightop sneaks, socks not visible but they're always unmatching, he's not gonna put in the time to find socks that match!

Generally, I'm trying to go for a 2010s meets Late 90s sort of energy, as I personaly think it's a fun way for the reboot to mix our current nostalgia with the sentiments of the original series's own mid century futurism pop culture mixer.

Though honestly, I think Scott just deserves a really cool jacket.

#thunderbirds #thunderbirds are go #myart #scott tracy #virgil tracy #john tracy #gordon tracy #alan tracy

[eventinelysplayground]

A Winter Storm

TW: Non graphic childbirth, childbirth complications, near death. Italics are used for internal thoughts and unclear returning memories.

Layers of thick white snow covered the ground painting a perfect tranquil winter scene. A few days before had brought one of the worst snowstorms anyone could remember in recent years and although the snowstorm had subsided a different storm was now raging inside the mansion walls.

Just a bit more….What do we do now….you made it back….come on….what are you….as soon as they're back….hey you did a good job….I need you to do something for me….tell me what happened.

The voices were disjointed and came flooding back in all at once seemingly making no sense.

Wait did I fall asleep, I don't remember. Just how long have I been sleeping for? Ugh my head hurts and everything's so foggy.

Mitsuki tried to shake the fog from her head but it wouldn't move. Panic gripped her as she realized her body wouldn't listen to her.

What!? Ok calm down and think. Earlier I was in the kitchen. It had just started snowing and I was just finishing making lunch….

???: Mitsuki what are you doing!?

Mitsuki: Making lunch?

???: I know what you're doing I meant why!? You should be resting.

Mitsuki: Not you to Isaac I swear I'm fine and if I have to sit around doing nothing the next three weeks I'm going to go crazy.

Isaac: I don't know, if he finds out I'm going to be in trouble.

Mitsuki: I promise you won't be in trouble ok, he's just being overprotective anyways. This pregnancy has been a breeze and I've felt fantastic the whole time! Now if you really want to help take these sandwiches into the dining room while I go get Arthur.

Isaac: No, I'll go and get him after I take the tray in.

Mitsuki: Fine, honestly I'm too hungry to care anymore.

That's right everyone was gone out except for Arthur Isaac and I. He went and got Arthur for lunch and…and…

Mitsuki: Oh! Ummm Arthur, I think my water just broke.

Arthur's coffee cup stopped mid air and Isaac nearly choked on his sandwich.

Arthur: Are you certain love?

Mitsuki: Well I haven't done this before but yes I'm pretty certain.

Isaac: But it's too early, you have three weeks left. You said she had three weeks left!

Arthur: I said about three weeks, Babies come when they come Newt. Right first thing let's get you upstairs to your room then we can get a better idea of what's going on ok.

Mitsuki: Ok Arthur.

They helped me upstairs, Arthur did his examination and asked Isaac to go get the midwife, Isaac left but then he was shouting for Arthur and….

Arthur: Well looks like there's going to be a slight change of plans Mitsuki.

Mitsuki: What do you mean by that Arthur?

Arthur: The snow has picked up something fierce. Newt nearly got buried just opening the door. Looks like it's just going to be the three of us until it stops.

Isaac came into the room just then furiously shaking snow off of seemingly everywhere, it was so funny.

Isaac: Are you even qualified to deliver a baby?

Arthur: Of course I'm qual…

Mitsuki: Wait wait wait! If we can't leave then that means nobody can come home either can they?

Arthur: Don't go panicking, I'm sure the storm won't last long. First labors always take a very long time anyways, sometimes days even.

Isaac: Days!

Arthur: Newt old boy I can only calm one of you down at a time right now, pull it together man.

Isaac: Right, sorry.

Mitsuki: Arthur I don't know if I can do this without him.

Arthur: You'll be fine love you have Newt and I and you studied up on everything possible. You're as prepared as you'll ever be. As soon as the snow lets up Newt will rush to get the midwife it shouldn't be long ok. Just focus on what you need to do right now.

But the snow didn't let up, it just kept coming and it got even worse. It was blowing so much we couldn't see two feet out from the windows. Everything was going so fast with my labor…

Isaac: Here are the towels and water you wanted. Earlier I brought the scissors and your doctor's bag and a first aid kit.

Arthur: Thanks Newt.

Isaac: Is there anything else I can do?

Arthur: All the work from here on out is up to Mitsuki. Are you ready for this?

Mitsuki: Do I have a choice? Seems like it's made up its mind to come now regardless of anything we say.

Arthur: Ha, it's not even here yet and already it's as stubborn as it's father.

Mitsuki: I'm telling Theo you said that…agghhh

That's right it was still snowing and my labor was almost done…

Arthur: Just a bit more, come on Mitsuki you can do this!

Mitsuki: Agghhh!

Then I heard the baby crying

Arthur: Jolly good job Mitsuki, you have a handsome baby boy!

Isaac: Is..is he ok?

Arthur: That's just what newborn babies look like Newt. Come over here and sit with Mitsuki while I get him cleaned up.

Mitsuki: A boy, is he really ok? Theo's going to be so happy!

Isaac: And angry…

Mitsuki: I'm sure he'll get over it once he sees agghhh…

Isaac: Mitsuki!

Arthur: Newt take over here.

Isaac: Oh okay…

Mitsuki: Arthur, I have to still agghhh!

That’s right I still felt like I had to push. There was another baby! It was another little boy, Isaac rushed off to get more towels…

Arthur: Well I dare say you did splendid Mitsuki. They're both healthy looking and loud that's for certain.

Mitsuki: I can't wait for this storm to stop so Theo can…

I was excited and anxious for Theo to come home and that's the last thing I really remember. What happened after that? Did I fall asleep after labor? No, there was panic and oh my god my babies.

Mitsuki suddenly jolted upright in bed and looked around in a panic for her sons. Just then a warm firm hand reached out and grabbed her gently.

Theo: Mitsuki! Are you ok? Do you feel weird? Does anything hurt?

Mitsuki: Theo! Where are the babies!? I remember them being born and then…

Theo: They're fine. They're just over there sleeping, take it easy ok? Broer can you go get Arthur and Comte.

Vincent: Of course, I'm really glad you're ok Mitsuki.

Mitsuki noticed the look of utter relief on Vincent's face as he left. She turned to look at Theo, his eyes filled with so many emotions she couldn't figure them out.

Mitsuki: Theo what's wrong, what happened?

Theo let out a long sigh and sat back in his chair. After a few moments of silence he pushed himself forward, his arms resting on his legs.

Theo: You asked what happened, when do you remember to?

Mitsuki: Our second son had come, Arthur was holding him he said they both looked healthy. I was telling him I couldn't wait for you to see them and…and I don't really remember anything after.

Theo lifted his head and stared at Mitsuki. She could tell he was debating what he should tell her and she reached out for him.

Mitsuki: Please Theo I can handle it.

Theo: From what Arthur told me you passed out. Apparently something went wrong and you kept bleeding, they were so worried…

That's right Isaac had gone for more towels and he came back and Arthur told him what was going on.

Arthur: She's losing too much blood!

Isaac: What…what do we do now!?

Arthur: I don't know, I'm trying everything I can to stop it but if I can't get it to she's going to bleed out.

Isaac: You mean she'll die? Theo will kill us if that happens!

Arthur: It wouldn't be an issue if Comte was here, he could just bite her and she'd be fine but…

Theo: Apparently Arthur managed to slow the bleeding down but he couldn't make it stop completely and you were almost gone.

Theo dropped his head onto Mitsukis lap in an effort to hide his tears and she reached out stroking his head.

Mitsuki: It's ok now Theo, I'm still here. We're all ok.

I remember Arthur's voice. He kept talking to me the whole time and then he was talking to someone else…

Arthur: By god you made it back in this storm!

????: I left early, knew it was gonna be a bad one but even I barely made it here. Never mind all that though Isaac said to come up here fast.

Arthur: The babies came early, twin boys, and now I can't get her bleeding to stop. She doesn't have much time left. I was hoping for Theo to get back before now or Comte but…

???: How much longer does she have?

Arthur: Maybe a half hour an hour if we're really lucky. I failed them Leonardo, I kept telling her everything would be fine!

Leonardo: Hey take it easy ok, I know you did everything you could. How are the bambinos?

Arthur: They're perfectly healthy but, she didn't even get to hold them. She did all this work and…

Leonardo: Okay enough of that now.

Arthur you were hurting so much. You two stopped talking because a baby was crying and I remember thinking my baby needed me. I wanted so much to see them I was scared I didn't want to leave them I remember opening my eyes.

Leonardo: Cara Mia?

Mitsuki: I want my sons. Please I can't leave them I want …

Then a sense of pain and Isaac's voice and oh my god.

Isaac: What are you doing?

Arthur: Leonardo…

Leonardo: I'm going to my room.

Arthur: Leonardo wait! Damn it! Newt as soon as they get back send Comte up here immediately understand.

Isaac: What just…

Arthur: Newt focus! When Comte gets back send him up here, if Theo and Vincent get back before him stall them as long as you can.

Mitsuki had stopped stroking Theo's head as the memories came back and Theo looked up into her eyes.

Theo: When Broer and I made it back in the morning Isaac was in the front hall waiting for us along with Napoleon. Isaac told us you had gone into labor the day before just as the storm had started. I never ran up those stairs as fast as I did then, I think I jumped over half of them. I came in and Arthur was sitting right at your side checking your pulse. You looked so tired and I thought how hard it must of been especially when Arthur said it was twins. I'm so sorry I left you alone during that Hondje.

Mitsuki: I was scared and sad you weren't here but it's ok. Arthur and Isaac were with me the whole time.

Theo: I have to admit I was never so grateful for that klootzak as I was at that moment.

Mitsuki: I remember you told me I did a good job didn't you?

Theo: Ya, you were sleeping when Broer and I came in and Arthur was being pushy about getting us out of here. He at least let me see you for a few minutes though before he kicked us out.

I remember….

Arthur: Alright that's enough she needs her rest you can see her later. I promise to even bring the boys down when they wake up but for now everyone out.

Theo: Seriously you klootzak! I just missed my wife giving birth to my sons and as soon as I get here you're trying to kick me out!

Vincent: Theo calm down, Mitsuki looks like she's half dead. I'm sure Arthur just wants her to get enough rest so she recovers.

Arthur: Thank you Vincent that's it exactly. Newt take Theo back to the parlor and get him a drink will you, help him celebrate the birth of his sons.

Isaac: Okay sure.

Theo: Fine whatever the Doctor says right, you did a good job Mitsuki. I'm so proud of you and thank you.

I felt something warm on my forehead and then I heard footsteps after that. I guess you were leaving and then Arthur's voice, he was so serious

Arthur: Vincent, I need you to do something for me.

Vincent: Of course anything after what you did for my little sister and my nephews.

Arthur: I hope so. I need you to keep Theo downstairs. He can't come up here again no matter what. Not until Comte gets back.

Vincent: Why?

Arthur: If I tell you you can't tell Theo, not yet.

Vincent: Ok…

Arthur: You said she looked half dead and you weren't too far off. Another half hour and she would of been.

Vincent: What? She's alive though right? So you saved her.

Arthur: She is but I didn't save her.

Vincent: Then…

Arthur: Leonardo made it home in the storm last night. When he got here she was almost gone, we were talking then one of the babies was crying next thing I know he's bitten her.

Vincent: What? But Leonardo….

Arthur: I know. The problem is he went and raided Comtes wine then shut himself in his room after and hasn't come out since. All her vitals are fine but he bit her last night and she still hasn't woken up. I don't know if that's from the trauma from the birth, the bite, the loss of blood, something else or all of it. Napoleon knows to send Comte straight up here and I'm hoping to have some answers from him before I have to talk to Theo.

Vincent: I understand Arthur, I'll do my best.

Arthur: Thanks Vincent, you really are an angel.

I knew that pain was familiar. It was a lot different from Theo's bite though.

Theo: Broer Isaac and I broke open a bottle of champagne and started drinking. I was so happy, I still can't believe it. I'm a father and to two sons at once! You know I always hoped that I would have two boys, there's nothing like the bond between two brothers. I don't know how long we were down there drinking but Mozart, Napoleon and Sebastian came strolling in and joined us. Not long after Comte and Arthur came in with our boys. It was a busy morning.

Comte. He came into my room and he sounded so frantic.

Le Comte: Arthur, Napoleon said you needed to see me immediately.

Arthur: Comte old chap I've never been happier to see you.

Le Comte: Tell me what happened Arthur, all of it.

Theo: Then it turned into afternoon and evening….

Mitsuki: Wait, just how long was I out for?

Theo: We're going into their third night so.

Mitsuki: That long! Theo I'm so sorry you must have been so worried!

Theo: You don't have anything to apologize for Hondje. I'm just glad you're finally awake and we get to name them.

Mitsuki: You didn't name them?

Theo: No. After Le Comte and Arthur told me everything I wanted to wait for you to wake up before doing that. I have some ideas though.

Mitsuki: So do I, I wonder if they're the same.

Later, way past any reasonable dinner time, there was a knock on the door. Although whoever it was they didn't wait for an answer.

???: Leonardo I'm coming in.

Leonardo was sitting on the floor beside his bed, back leaning against a bookcase. He startled at Mitsukis voice and lifted his head toward the door.

Leonardo: Cara Mia! What are you doing here?

Mitsuki: We're all having a very late dinner so I came to get you, and also so that you can see I'm fine.

Leonardo just stared at Mitsuki not able to say anything. She could see the emotions warring with each other in his eyes but it looked like grief was winning out. She sat down on the edge of his bed.

Mitsuki: Leonardo, I can't begin to imagine what you feel inside but I just wanted to say thank you.

Leonardo: Why would you thank me after what I did to you Cara Mia, what I took from you.

Mitsuki: You may have taken my human life from me but, because of you I’m still here. I get to see my boys grow up, I get to stay with the man I love and my family. My whole family.

Mitsuki reached down and placed her hand on Leonardo's.

Mitsuki: Comte has been beside himself worrying about you. He doesn't understand what happened, none of them do but I think I know. It's because of that conversation we had in the garden isn't it?

Mitsuki studied Leonardo's face, his eyes darting away from hers then going wide. It had been a day shortly after her and Theo had told everyone she was expecting. Leonardo had found her in the garden and what started out friendly enough turned into a huge fight. The only one they had ever had in fact, with both of them saying things they shouldn't have. Things had been somewhat strange between them since then but she hadn't had any idea how to make it right between them again.

Mitsuki: I don't want for things to get even more awkward or strange between us Leonardo. I'm perfectly happy and I'm still me, though I guess my appetites changed for good now. Please Leonardo.

Leonardo was silent for a long while before he finally spoke.

Leonardo: Those bambinos are loud, guess I should at least meet them since they're gonna be keeping the whole mansion awake.

When Mitsuki entered the parlor with Leonardo they were greeted by several relieved and smiling faces.

Sebastian: Well now that everyone is here I'll serve a light dinner. If you'll excuse me.

Mitsuki: Wait. Before you go Sebastian, Theo and I decided on names for them and I want everyone to find out together.

Mozart: Finally, it was annoying not knowing what to call them.

Theo: Nobody asked you.

Mozart: Remember that you said that when you can't get them to sleep.

Le Comte: Cut it out you two, now.

Le Comtes stern voice sounded out of place with the delighted smile he was giving the baby in his arms.

Mitsuki: Thank you Comte. Theo is holding Vincent Isaac named for his two very best Uncles.

Vincent: Hear that Isaac. We're the very best Uncles!

Isaac: Are you sure, I really didn't do that much to help.

Theo: Nonsense you kept Hondje company and did whatever you could to help out. My first born couldn't have a better name.

Isaac went red at Theo's compliment and Vincent patted him on the shoulder.

Le Comte: A very good name indeed, and what about this little rascal Ma Cherie?

Mitsuki: His name is Arthur Leonardo

Arthur: By jove I knew you loved me Theo but really it's almost too much!

Le Comte: Now that's done I can't wait for dinner. Shall we all head to the dining room? Sebastian if you wouldn't mind please.

Le Comtes commanding voice cut off Theo's retort before he could even finish thinking it. The residents slowly filed out of the room, Theo passed Vincent to his uncle and Le Comte handed Arthur off to his mother as he escorted her to dinner. Soon it was just Theo and Leonardo left alone in the parlor. The two gentlemen stood in silence for a while looking anywhere but at the other. At last Theo cleared his throat.

Theo: Leonardo.

Leonardo: Ya?

Theo: Dank je, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I don't know what I would of done if I had lost Mitsuki. You didn't just save her, you saved my whole family.

Leonardo tried to find the words, any words really, his emotions still so raw.

Leonardo: I'm glad Cara Mia gets to see her bambinos grow up. She's a sweet girl, she deserves nothing but happiness. I'm just sorry it cost her so much.

Theos eyebrows knitted together and the atmosphere between the two began to grow heavy and solemn.

Theo: Hey, I'll forgive it this one time but you ever bite my wife again and you'll be sorry understand me?

Leonardo: Hehe, ya I understand you.

Theo: Good. Now we better get going before Hondje or Comte notices and thinks I did something to you.

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikemen vampire arthur #ikemen vampire isaac #ikemen vampire leonardo #ikemen vampire theo #ikevamp leonardo #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp theo #ikevamp isaac

[vonlipvig]

top 5 places in argentina? like, places you'd recommend to foreigners visiting your country? especially if they're not particularly famous

(hope that's not too intrusive for you, it's alright if you're not comfortable answering!)

what a great question, thank you! (it probably will end up being popular places, but let's be honest, they're popular for a reason and i want everyone to know about them!)

bariloche - i think the south of argentina is possibly the most beautiful spot on earth, and i absolutely adore bariloche. yes, there are other towns that are probably prettier (san martín de los andes, villa la angostura, all worthy of a visit), but i've been lucky enough to go to bariloche many times thanks to a friend with family there, so it's very special to me. some of the most spectacular vistas everywhere, lots of trekking to do, sailing excursions, and even action adventures las rafting and the like, it's such a perfect place for me (bonus for my most favorite place there, the tea house bellevue, obligatory stop there!). i've only really visited during summer (except for that one time with the school graduation trip, of course), but i'd love to see it in winter, it must be gorgeous!

(here are some pics of mine, this last one is the view from bellevue, it's so dreamy!)

glaciar perito moreno - ok, while we're still in patagonia, i might as well mention the perito moreno glacier, cause it's honestly jawdropping. to be there, in silence, looking at that massive wall of ice, it's humbling and awe-inspiring, i don't know how else to put it. and if you're lucky enough to see the ice breaking and falling, i can't imagine how that would feel like. of course, global warming is definitely troubling when it comes to natural wonders like this, but man, it's simply incredible. i've heard there are excursions to walk on the ice as well, that's a bit scary to me, but it must be one hell of an experience.

valle de la luna and talampaya - two national parks (the first one literally called "valley of the moon", but its real name is national park ischigualasto) they are...something else. the valle de la luna is possibly the most otherwordly place i've ever seen. it's this vastness of rock carved by the wind, the sun, the water for millions of years, truly looking like an alien landscape. you can literally see the evolution of the earth in its geological formations, and it's also really important for paleontological research. talampaya is right next door and it's breathtaking as well, reddish and strange and wonderful (first pics are the valley of the moon, the other two talampaya).

cataratas del iguazú - probably the most famous one (natural wonder of the world!) but like, for a goddamned reason! absolutely insane experience that i'd love to relive someday because i was very young when i went there. but yeah, standing there and seeing the intense, beautiful, dangerous force of nature that is those immense waterfalls, it's crazy. i mean, one of the sections of the waterfall is called garganta del diablo, devil's throat, so yeah, this shit is POWERFUL. i'd loveee to do one of those crazy boat trips that get close to the waterfalls, that seems insane lmao. also i think they did night trips to the garganta del diablo? that must be a religious experience!

ciudad de buenos aires - i mean of courseeee i'm gonna say buenos airessss that is my PLACE. and sure, you know how a lot of the times natives end up knowing a lot less about their city than the tourists that come visit? yeah, i'm probably not the best guide, but i could show you the places that TRULY matter, like the botanical gardes that i love to chill in, and the street i love to walk on especially when the jacarandá trees are in bloom, or the cemetery that we all love, or that vegan place with kinda mid food but a really cool, funky atmosphere, or that escape room i've been meaning to go to. what i'm trying to say is that buenos aires is my place in the world, and i could never, ever leave here. i carry it in my bones and in my blood (and for the argentines reading this, Y SI, puta...y porteña <3). no professional, touristy pics here, just some random shit from my camera roll.

#argentina #juli answers #ask game #oh wow this got a bit long but i couldn't help myself #thanks for the opportunity to shout out my beautiful diverse country! #and still so many places that i didn't mention (and many that i need to visit as well!) #(that bottom middle pic from bs as is from when we won the world cup dont worry it's not like that every day lmao....OR IS IT)

[konigs-whore]

Long time.~John Price.

{Warnings: language, inaccurate military context, kinda angsty ig?}

-A/N: first time writing about Price- so excuse the mistakes or out of character shiz. this was mean to be shorter.... but I got sucked in. I'm also not used to writing FF. I was thinking about making another part to this. maybe eventual smut?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Never once did I think I would darn the doors of this place, this.. base.

A chill runs down my spine, the winter breeze flowing through my jacket as if it was a mere fleece blanket.

Slowly, I move forward- the cold chill acts as a form of motivation. With a huff, i readjust the duffle bag over my shoulders.

Chatter greets my ears when I walk through the doors. Loud noises from the mess hall. I find myself internally grimacing at the sound, filled with dread of seeing them again after so many years.

When I enter the room, all chatter dies down. Gazes are turned to me, a few quiet murmurs. I place my duffle bag on a chair against the wall and, slowly turn towards everyone with a smile on my face. “ hello, I’m the new transfer” I greet, earning myself a few half smiles, and half assed greetings.

It’s totally because I’m a girl, isn’t it? These sexist pigs-

My thoughts are cut short when I feel arms wrap around my waist, lifting me into the air- I let out a gasp, hands flying around trying to find purchase, something to hold onto.

“ lass! It’s been far too long” the Scottish accent I know too well greets my ears and I can’t help the fast growing smile on my face.

“ Soapie!” I shout in excitement. He lowers me to the ground and I waste no time in turning around, hugging him. “Still alive, huh? I’m surprised Ghost hasn’t strangled you” I tease.

He chuckles, giving my head a few pats before we both create a respectful distance between us. He looks over my body, brows raised. “ not for a lack of trying on his part lass”. I smile brightly with a laugh, the dread from earlier easing away. “ say, when did you get that nasty shiner on your face? Eh?” He adds, referring to the deep scar that runs across my face. It starts above my right eyelid, running all the way to the mid section of my neck.

I grin with a shrug, “ two years ago. I was captured by the enemy team, tortured for…. Six months I think? I can’t really remember. Some guy didn’t appreciate my sass”.

His mouth gaps at me. “ lass-“ he’s cut off. The British accent making my body still, and suddenly, my mind blank. “Took you long enough to get here, Nyx” his rough voice booms throughout the room with an air of authority.

I smile at the use of my call sign, one he gave me.

He stops only a few inches away from me, his hand instantly going to my hair, ruffling it. My brown eyes peer up at him, respect and admiration shining through them.

“ I missed you too” I pout. I swat his hands away. He gives me a small hidden smile, like he always does.

My heart beats with a ferocious intensity, almost as if it was attempting to escape from my chest, while butterflies flutter around in my stomach. I am transfixed by the azure gaze of his eyes, as they seem to stare into the deepest recesses of my soul, captivating and mesmerizing me completely.

Soap interrupted the moment of us silently gazing at each other, with a sheepish smile, and brought our attention to himself. "Yeah," he began in a low voice, "even though it's kind of like watching a rom-com film here, we still need to tell the girl about the mission." I agreed with a nod and gave him an annoyed glance. What love drama? with a shrug, I chalked it up as Soap being weird, as usual.

Price gives a slight nod before inviting us to join him on his way to the conference room. Ghost trails behind Price while Soap treads, with an expression of amusement, alongside me. I give Soap a perplexed look in response.

"What is that expression?" I whisper, cautiously ensuring that neither Price nor Ghost would notice. Soap shakes his head silently, "Nothing at all, lass". I study him intently, but no matter the case, do not pursue the topic further.

We make it to the conference room and I remain beside Price as we go through the map and associated paperwork. Price's gruff voice reverberates throughout the room.

His gaze shifted to me; his voice low, "Nyx, you are to accompany me. Upon entry to the building, your mission is to discern the location of the computer and gather the information." I studied the map intently, pondering the options before I nodded curtly. "If the floor design is anything to go by," I began, "I'd hypothesize the computer will be situated in the basement. It's more secluded, making it easier to safeguard or rig." Price listened quietly and gave a succinct nod in agreement.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Price and I leapt from the helicopter, our guns at the ready. We made our way to the building; he taking the lead with me close behind, safeguarding his back silently as we cleared out the first floor of any signs of danger.

An unspoken understanding seemed to cement us together, having had the privilege of being placed on various missions with him over the passing years. With nothing more than a glance, I could pick out his silent commands with ease, never hesitating to follow them without question.

Peering apprehensively into the gloom of the basement, I couldn't help but feel a surge of dread. I had voiced my suspicions to Price as we made our way here; something seemed off. My instinct seldom failed me and, despite myself, I silently wished it would prove wrong this time.

All too soon, our presence was met with a barrage of gunfire from the foes scattered down the corridor. i quickly return fire while finding cover behind a cement piller. Price does the same, sending a look my way. In meticulous detail, we eliminated every man in the passageway. Receiving news of their approaching reinforcement in five minutes, I ventured out from behind the column and peeked into the adjoining chamber, spotting a computer.

Taking care to avoid any surprise booby traps, I walked towards it with Price shadowing me while vigilantly scanning the hallway for any incoming intruders.i set my gun down on the desk, and quickly type away at the computer, gaining access. I plug the USB into the port and watch, as it diligently transfers the files.

Suddenly I hear a loud beeping emanating from the metal doors of the room, and they start closing in on us. Price instantly jumps back in surprise and exclaims,"What the hell?" My eyebrows furrow as I gaze at the now shut door. "i might be able to open them once the files are downloaded". I stare intently at the computer monitor, wishing with all my energy for the download to hurry its progress. Price strides up beside me and provides Ghost with a full account of our predicament. He peers over my shoulder and growls in frustration, "Good grief, it's taking an eternity!"

I steal a glance at him and can't help but snort out a laugh, "Good grief? Who are you, Charlie Brown?" I joke. His expression momentarily clouds over, but a small smirk swiftly follows. "Joking even in a circumstance like this - we could be ambushed by soldiers!" he retorts cynically. I shrug offhandedly as I lean against the desk. "Perhaps, but with you here I'm not fretting," I reply coolly.

He seems to take pause at my words, his eyes flickering towards me. I arch an eyebrow at him in apparent thoughtfulness.

He appears to come to some conclusion, his head tilting to the side as he crosses his arms in front of himself, evidently exhibiting powerful muscles in the action.

“That explains your behaviour on missions around me” he muses, and heat rapidly rises to my face as I glance away.

“I-I’ve known you for a long time, John. I know you won't let me perish, that much can be assured” I respond with slight difficulty, suddenly feeling flustered. “we have each other, ya know? like always”i add. turning back around to face the monitor, i see the download is at 98%, and i silently thank the gods. 

I rap my fingers on the desktop and hastily yank out the USB once the downloading has finished. "Any success getting those doors open, lass?" Soap's voice came over the comms. Exhaling in frustration I hurriedly sift through the computer for something that could unlock the doors but to no avail.

"Negative. Maybe Ghost and you can figure out a way to pop them open from the exterior?". Abandoning the PC, I went on my way to the entrance. Price trailing closely behind. 

I furrow my brow, gazing at the keypad beside the door. Soap's response is a solemn 'we can try' before the communication ceases once more. I bring my finger up to the keypad, hastily tearing away its exterior covering. Revealed are three wires - red, green and black.

“hm, should be the black and green wire, but who knows if they changed the coating on them. could give me one hell of a shock too” i mumble to myself. my fingers fetching the knife on my thigh, i bring it up to the green wire. I can discern Price shuffling behind me, likely with a troubling expression on his face which I can ascertain without having to turn back.

with a deep breath, i cut the green wire. the lights shut off on the door, okay, thats a good sign. anxiety fills my brain as this next wire could be trouble for me. I took a deep look at Price; he too seemed rigid.

"Ah, what the heck!" I exclaim and immediately clip the black wire. An incredible shower of sparks spread around us and a jolt ran through my arm and body as if lightning had struck. i feel a hand on the back of my vest, yanking me back. i fall onto the floor in a heaving mess. shocks roll through my body, and my chest begins to hurt. price crouches beside me, his hand on the front of my vest, his eyes creased in worry. 

I take a couple of moments to get my bearings and I offer Price a slight smile as he assists me to my feet. "That certainly was a shocking experience!" I make light of the situation with a chuckle, although it appears my attempt at humor has gone unappreciated - for he merely regards me with a stern expression.

"You truly concern me, Nyx," he says, stepping away from me with a smirk. I raise my eyebrows in amusement, "If that's the case, then I take that as a compliment," I reply playfully. Quickly, I strut back to the desk and grab my trusty gun before walking back to Price who is intently trying to shove open the heavy metal doors.

“Price and I were met with shuffling on the other side of the doors when we asked the boys if they could open them. They worked together to do the heavy lifting, while I stood back, grinning from ear to ear. After they successfully opened them, I released a breath of relief. 

“Your hair is quite disheveled, lass. you and Cap jump each others bones or what?” As usual Soap has come out with yet another off-the-wall comment. I quickly lift my arm to deliver a blow to him, but Ghost gets there first and I provide him a nod of appreciation. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once we had returned to base, I trailed Price to his office where we thoroughly combed through all the details that were collected on our excursion. Seated on the armrest of his chair, my face came extraordinarily close to his as I bent forward to get a better view while reading.

Price speaks, not averting his gaze from the monitor. "If someone were to see us this close, they might assume something," he states softly. I huff and challenge him with a glance. "And you would care?" His blue eyes meet mine, and a smirk crosses his lips. He turns back to the screen, replying with a hint of emotion, "No, I wouldn't."

I smile, resting my chin on his shoulder.

like I always do.

#call of duty #john price #captain john price #john price cod #task force 141 #cod modern warfare #cod mw2 #my writing #call of duty modern warfare ii #price call of duty #captain price #captain johnathan price #cod fic #mw fics #mw2 fics #call of duty fanfic

[northwest-cryptid]

I'm going to sound absolutely deranged for a moment, by a moment I mean a while because I have a lot to say here. However, I really want to talk about the very nature of reality and virtual reality and what my thoughts on it are; and for the record; provided you're polite about it I will absolutely take asks on the subject because yea I know I sound kind of delusional here but whatever man.

Anyways, absolutely insane rambling below this so here's your dashboard saving "Keep Reading" break.

Okay cool now that all those who are TOO WEAK to handle absolute WALLS of text are gone, only us STRONG enough to survive the winter shall know the truth!

... I jest.

However, if you're here it likely means you actually want to know my thoughts on this shit and honestly that's pretty cool so thank you for that, like really I realize I have no idea who you are and you might be reading this years after I post it (which is an insane concept) but thanks for deeming either this subject or my thoughts interesting enough.

Without further hesitation then, allow me to explain why I think Virtual Reality and Meat Space Reality are literally equals. Yea, you absolutely read that correctly, I believe 100% that things within Virtual Reality (or VR for short obviously) are just as REAL as things within meat space. However before you go clicking off this because that claim sounds insane and stupid to a great many people, please hear me out. You've come this far, may as well right? Sunk cost fallacy and all that.

So here's the thing, in the early to mid 1990's we added the word (or words) "Meat Space" to the dictionary, it's defined as "the physical world and environment especially as contrasted with the virtual world of cyberspace" so right out the gate I think it's important to understand a few things about the way we use language and definitions.

I will not blame you at all for saying "it's semantics dude, no one cares so deeply about definition you're reaching." I get it, but again; stick with me for a bit here.

We clearly differentiate the Virtual World, or Cyberspace from the Physical World, however notice that we're yet to touch on the words Reality and Virtual Reality. We'll get there, but first a slight detour because I want to quickly talk about Cyberspace.

What the fuck IS cyberspace anyways? Well it's anything Virtual, and for the sake of explanation; Virtual is basically anything non-physical, but more specifically things stored, or run by computers.

That means that the Internet itself is Virtual, it belongs to and is in part; cyberspace. I'd make the argument that the Internet itself IS Cyberspace as a whole if our physical Meat Space is encapsulated by the known universe, then the internet is the known universe for anything Virtual/Cyberspace. I hope you're still following me so far because it's about to get a lot worse here in a bit so hang in there.

So let's look at it like this, the internet as a whole is the known universe of anything Virtual or the world we would call Cyberspace. We also know that anything Virtual is simply anything that is stored on, or run by computers; and is not of the physical world.

Does that mean it's not real?

Well what does it mean to be real? This might sound like some kind of deep philosophy question but it's actually not, I mean come on we literally have definitions of this stuff. We know the difference between fiction and non-fiction.

Simply put Fiction has a really weird definition in today's age, because by definition it's just "something that is invented or untrue" so we know it's something that is created and also is not real.

Alright so let's do a quick exercise here right...

I'm going to show you something and I want you to tell me (or really yourself because you know, I'm not actually HERE I'm just leaving these words behind and you're reading them so tell yourself) if this thing/person/character is Real/Non-fiction or Fake/Fiction.

We'll start with an EASY one, this is the cast of the classic anime from the 90's; Cowboy Bebop. So I'm asking you, are these characters real?

Objectively, no. They're fictional. They may resemble real people, they might share qualities that real people have, wear outfits or style their hair like real people. However they actually don't "style their hair" or "wear outfits" they're just drawn characters.

They are voiced by real actors, they are drawn by real artists, and they are ultimately designed by real people. However they themselves are not real. They are entirely fictional entities they do not have free will, a conscious of their own; or whatever you personally believe to be a "soul" whether you're a spiritual person or otherwise you know these things are just depictions of people. They're not alive and they cannot think for themselves.

Alright well then, here's the cast of the tumblr classic meme show Seinfeld, now my wording here might sound like a trick question but I promise you it's not; just hear me out... Are these people real?

Objectively, yes. These are real human actors; sure their characters on the show are not actually real people. They're invented characters sure, but the actual actors playing them are real and we're looking at those people.

Now you might be asking "well hey hold on, you said that Cowboy bebop characters were fake even though they're also voice acted by, drawn by, and designed by real people; so why do you feel like these characters are REAL but those characters are FAKE?"

To answer that, I need you to again realize that my wording was specific, and I didn't intend for it to be a trick question at all. If you had said "no those characters are not real" you're correct, however you need to realize I asked "are these PEOPLE real" the PEOPLE voice acting for, drawing/animating; and ultimately bringing the characters to life in Cowboy Bebop ARE real people, but we're asking about the characters. Likewise the people acting for the characters in Seinfeld are real but the actual characters they're portraying are not.

Alright so we've sort of established a baseline understanding here so far right?

Even if you don't agree with everything I've said I hope you can at least follow my line of thinking here.

A person who exists within Reality is Real. If that person plays a character who is created and untrue then the character is Fictional while the Actor playing them is Real or Nonfiction.

So let me ask a few more questions here; this one is a bit of a curve ball and I don't want you to worry about whether or not you're "right" or "wrong" on this, but I want you to see if you can sort of predict my understanding of this, see things as I do.

Here is a Vtuber, a character played by a human actor who portrays a character on youtube to stream video games and even act in an anime. This character's name is Gura, and she's widely popular within the company of Hololive/Cover amassing well over 1 million subscribers. However, the question we're concerned with here is whether or not Gura is a real person.

Objectively... that's a bit of a toss up isn't it? I mean no, clearly GURA as a character is not actually real. There's no shark girl running around streaming for people from Meat Space. Now yea I know people very rudely went and dug up who actually plays Gura to make a point about her physical appearance and shit; but we're not concerned about that because at the end of the day that's just shitty. What matters to us here is that we understand that Gura is in fact played by a real person. There is a real human being not just voicing Gura, but actively using Gura's virtual flesh (for lack of better words) to portray herself within a stream. That person is real, they exist in Meat Space, and their motions are being mimicked by Gura, but on her own Gura is nothing. Gura is a set of PNGs that overlap in such a way to resemble a person. Everything about Gura's personality, and the reason I mentioned that she has become so wildly popular is because that's all from her Actress. The person actually portraying Gura or rather the person Gura is being controlled by is the individual so many people have found they enjoy watching. She's very human and when she's not playing up a character she's just like any other streamer (and I mean that in a good way). So then where do we exactly put that line between real and fake?

Well here's how I look at this.

With a fictional character who is created to specifically have lines of dialogue in a show, their actor is not actually lending their personality to the character. They simply voice the lines, and I'm not saying that is easy or that it lacks any sense of personality or personal improv. I'm saying that the character is the character, at the end of the day if I'm hired to be a VA (Voice actor) for a character I'm not bringing my personality to this character to the point where any of my friends would hear the character speak and say the things they do or act the way they do and say "that's Cryptid!" They'd likely say "Cryptid voiced this character" but they wouldn't believe the character to BE me. Because while I might be able to insert some of my personality or personal way of speaking into the character's dialogue at the end of the day I'm following a script, the character will always be animated to do what they do; say what they say; be who they are. That doesn't mean I'm not real as the actor behind them; it means they are not real and I am simply a real actor voicing the lines for them. I give them my voice but they are still just a drawing on a screen.

If a fictional character however is used as a sort of virtual flesh for someone to inhabit and present themself through; this is where things sort of blur the line for me. Because while the actress herself isn't actually a shark girl with magic powers or whatever; Gura IS her actress. Slap anyone else into that mass of PNGs and the personality isn't there, suddenly the Gura we have come to know doesn't exist and we're left with this new individual who speaks, acts, and is; different. So Gura can only really exist when she IS her actress. This can be said of any of Hololive or even Holostar's talent.

So then is Gura fictional or non-fiction? She's arguably both. The character of Gawr Gura is fictional, but if we're talking about her personality, or the person representing Gura; well that actress IS non-fiction. She's real.

So let's take this one step further.

Is Gawr Gura simply the Actress in Cyberspace, and is the Actress merely just Gawr Gura in Meat Space?

Just, pause for a second here; stop reading and think about that.

I don't care if you don't know who Gura even is, if you've never seen her streams, if you have no idea what her "real identity" is or any of that; because arguably none of that matters.

If you're having trouble wrapping your head around it, literally think about it as generic people and generic characters. The important reason I used Gura here is because of the situation she finds herself in.

A real human person with free will, conscious thought; representing themselves through a fictional character who lacks all that; but is given life through the human "piloting" their virtual flesh created from a bunch of PNGs overlapping in such a way to give the illusion of a humanoid person.

So now here's the thing that really gets me right...

One last question regarding what's real and what's fiction.

This is a map of the entire internet, every connection; every website being mapped out. Is this real or is this fiction? This is actually really simple but I really want you to think about this; everything you see in this image including the image itself is merely made up of code, of pixels; it's entirely virtual and can only exist within Cyberspace. However, the question we're asking is whether or not this is REAL.

Once again I must say objectively; yes, it's real.

It has to be real, you're using it right now! If the internet was fictional (such as how we show magic in most fantasy settings) we wouldn't be able to use it (just like how I can't cast fireballs.) We're literally accessing the internet right now, so with this in mind; is something that is virtual or digital or that only exists within Cyberspace considered "fictional" or fake?

Well I think personally that there's literally two Realities that are equal but different.

We as people have created a second reality to exist within, we've literally created Cyberspace. It is Virtual REALITY. It's a Reality within a Reality.

To say Virtual Reality is Fictional wouldn't be entirely true, because the people creating it and portraying it and existing within it are all REAL.

"So are you saying that things that happen within Virtual Reality is all real?" I mean... Yes? No? Both? Both. Both is good.

I wish I was better at explaining this shit but try to stick with me on this one because I genuinely have so many thoughts on this.

Let me use the example from last night, my friend Inaki and I played through a world in VRChat in which we were escaping this old lab overrun with zombies. Do I really believe those events were real? Well no, they are virtual, those weren't real zombies obviously; we weren't really at any risk of dying or in any real danger. It was all simulation. However the actions we took were real, my friend Inaki is real; I am real.

I think the thing about it is that everyone judges Virtual Reality by the same set of rules as Meat Space Reality.

In Meat Space we typically define what's Real by the physicality of it, as well as by how our senses interact with it. Can we touch it? Can we see it? Can we feel it and taste it or smell it? If we it interact with all our senses then the thing must be Real right? Well sure within Meat Space, or the physical world that's not a bad judgement of things that aren't sentient. We can judge sentience by free will and basic instincts; an anime character for example is not sentient; they have no base instincts; they have no free will they are simply not alive.

A lot like those virtual zombies, they weren't really living things, all the actions they took were based on code and programming; or you know AI but people hear that word and freak out because they forget that AI has been around for literally like decades and only became a problem in the hands of the wrong people but I digress.

So then if something in Virtual Reality is sentient how do we judge whether or not it's Fiction or Non-Fiction? I'd argue entirely by it's thought processing. For example,

Let's use the example of Inaki and I walking down a dark hallway, our general thought process was to watch each other's backs, we were communicating where we were hearing sounds, where objectives were, what we were finding; when we had cleared objectives; what to be careful of. Our actions were coming from our ability to think through the situation at hand and determine objectively the best path forward.

Meanwhile you have the fictional virtual zombies who are not real people, they are controlled by an AI script that is basically checking off a list of potential situations. It's checking "is there a player here?" if the answer is yes, then it will go to "am I able to get to the player to attack them?" If the answer is yes it will then move to checking the distance between the player and itself and start moving towards the player to attack them. It's all running code, none of this is actual thought; it's just checks. There's no human thought here, there's no real actual free will or sentience behind the actions.

To me this is the defining difference in whether or not an entity within VR is real or not. At least, when it comes to the sentience of it.

So then wait a second; does that mean GURA IS REAL? I mean... kinda yea? It means that if we look at the question again, about what exactly Gura is, we can deduce that yes; Gura is simply the actress within Cyberspace, while the actress is simply Gura in Meat Space.

They are different but they are the same.

I think we view this whole thing way too narrowly by trying to define whether or not Virtual is Fiction or Non-Fiction when I believe Virtual exists as a sort of place between Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Thing of it like this:

To use that zombie world as an example yet again, we can use Virtual Reality as a sort of bridge between the real and the fake.

Obviously a virtual entity cannot effect me in Meat Space, it's non-physical and thus has no control over the physical world, but it can effect Virtual Reality, and since a projection of myself exists there and I can influence Virtual Reality through that projection of myself a virtual entity is able to effect this Cyberspace me with a simulated output being registered that I can perceive in Meat Space.

Basically to boil it all down, what I'm saying here is that Virtual Reality is a Reality of it's own that we can access through things like VR or through The Internet. However it is not bound by the same limitations of our own Reality in Meat Space because it works with a different set of senses and rules.

You can still see and hear things; but the feeling of touch or like smell/taste is absent. That being said, in Meat Space you have limitations based on your body, gravity, various factors brought by things like physics. Where as with Cyberspace we are essentially all given the power of creation at our fingertips.

This is where I'm going to sound absolutely delusional but I've gotten into creating models specifically to be used as avatars, and watching people go through all the rigging all the weight mapping, sculpting and defining these characters. I'm literally watching the birth of a virtual flesh that someone will occupy. It feels like watching some kind of digital god create new life.

However I will stop myself there before people start thinking I'm in need of some kind of medication for my delusional thinking.

I have plenty more thoughts on this subject but I honestly feel like I'd get a lot of hate from a lot of people if I continue to discuss it as intricately as I wish to.

I think the important thing to take away is that yes there is a difference between fiction and reality; and trust me when I say I know that difference well; and have my whole life. However there is a place that exists, that we as human beings created; that somewhat bridges that gap by allowing us to directly interact with a world of our own design in which we are not bound by the limitations of Meat Space. A place that by all definition exists as both Real and Fiction but can be interacted with and experienced in such a way that it is an equal in my eyes to Reality.

We call it Virtual Reality, we do not call it Virtual Fiction, or Virtual Fake Place. The very words Virtual Reality quite literally define themselves in such a fashion of what I'm saying. Virtual Reality is simply:

Virtual ( 1. not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so. / 2. carried out, accessed, or stored by means of a computer, especially over a network.)

Reality ( 1.the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. / 2. the state or quality of having existence or substance. )

A world that exists, stored on and accessed by a computer over a network.

Virtual Reality is a Reality that is simply digital, not fictional, not fake; not any less than Meat Space.

We created the word Meat Space to serve a purpose, if we believed Virtual Reality and anything digital to simply be fake or less or fiction we'd simply have "The Real World" or "Reality" and "Fictional media" or "digital fiction" or something. Instead we understand Meat Space and Cyberspace or Physical Reality and Virtual Reality; both being their own Reality.

Anyways thanks for your time, if you've made it this far and don't think I'm stupid as fuck I appreciate you.

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Most-Listened of February 2024

[last month]

Out of all the releases I've been interested in these past two months, I feel like I've listened to barely any of them :( But I've really, really loved the ones I've gotten around to checking out, so I've been having a great couple months of music anyway! My music taste is in its seasonal transition--plenty of bleak winter stuff this month, but I've been craving big heartstopping pop anthems, too (G-IDLE's "Revenge" isn't on here, but I've been loving it lately).

1. Ahora y Aquí -- Ramon Mirabet, Bely Basarte

So I keep saying I'm tired of the 80s-inspired synthpop trend that's taken over our post-"Blinding Lights" world, but here I am with this at the top of my list. No but this one's DIFFERENT, SHE'S NOT LIKE OTHER SYNTHPOP. As with most tracks blessed by Bely Basarte, the vocals are what elevates this for me--they're unexpectedly gritty for a sleek pop track like this, and when both singers let it all out in that last chorus, I understand what it means to go feral. It has all the uncontrolled chaos of a real dance party, and I love it!!

2. Lejos -- Andrea Santiago

This is a pretty by-the-numbers Andrea Santiago song, but even the most average of her music is a world of its own to escape into. I'm not sure how to feel about this new album--something feels really off about the production--but "Lejos" is absolutely hypnotizing! Definitely going to be bringing this one out at karaoke sometime, because it's exactly my type of angst (and the chorus jumps are SOOO fun to sing???).

3. Turning Tables -- Adele

I sulked to this song all month, and I don't regret a minute of it.

4. Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart -- Mitski

Do I win sapphic points for having Mitski in the top 5?

5. Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version) -- Taylor Swift

LETS FAST FOWARD TWO THREE HUNDRED TAKEOUT COFFEES LATER !!!!!! Yeah I'm completely obsessed with that line. Taylor Swift always releases songs that are just SO fun to sing along to, so I'm running around my apartment like YOU SEARCH IN EVERY MODEL'S BED FOR SOMETHING GREATER, BABY !!!! This song is such an off-balance mix of humor and agony, so like I don't really understand it but I can't take my eyes off it. And that intro is GORGEOUS.

6. Easy -- Le Sserafim

I didn't get the hype for "Perfect Night", so I didn't particularly care either way about this comeback--until I heard it. And oh my god "Easy" got me on first listen. ("Smart" has been working its way up my On Repeat playlist, too.) Le Sserafim stole all my new-release energy this month, but my appreciation for "Easy" still hasn't died out. A silky-smooth song like this is perfect for my mood right now--their delivery is so casually confident, contagious enough that I can't help but feel stronger when I listen to it; but it's not so energetic that my poor gloomy winter-brain is overwhelmed. The production is really crisp, too, complimenting the vocals well and making for some really iconic moments. And yes i'm aware this is gg "Sticker". I still can't listen to "Sticker" (it gives me a headache), but this version isn't too annoying for me, I guess?

7. Unstoppable -- Sia

I actually don't have a real explanation for this one? I remembered this song existed mid-month (after having forgotten about it since 2016), had a crisis with it as a soundtrack, and now it's in the playlists.

8. Roaring 20s -- Panic! At The Disco

Burnout anthem?? Burnout anthem.

9. Outta My Head -- Jeon Somi

My commentary on every Somi song ever is just "Somi sing so pretty SQUEEEEEEEE". So, that's my review for "Outta My Head". I don't know if people still like this one, but my love for it hasn't died since "Birthday" era!

10. Budget (feat. Latto) -- Megan Thee Stallion, Latto

@shyreol got me with her Megan Thee Stallion agenda! I don't think I'd ever cared for a Megan Thee Stallion song before this year, but "Ungrateful" and "Budget" have me HOOKED.

11. Now That We Don't Talk (Taylor's Version) -- Taylor Swift

I don't know, I just really like it when the title drop goes BOOM !!

NOW THAT. WE DON'T. TALK.

12. Tinnitus (Wanna be a rock) -- TXT

WHOOOOO AFROBEATS !!!

13. There Will Be Tears -- Faux Paz

Faux Paz is back for round two on my 2024 monthly lists! They're my favorite holdover from my acappella days--their arrangements always hit hard, and there's something about the really gloomy, and also cathartic, acceptance in the phrase "there will be tears" when its repeated by this giant wall of voices? It really gets me. This isn't my favorite Faux Paz cover, but it's a song I can't look away from.

14. Escape Room -- fromis_9

I'm a gg stan, so this was going to show up on here eventually. Next up, Chung Ha's "Roller Coaster" ?

15. Hold The Girl -- Rina Sawayama

Stole this rec from @nayeonline a while ago (thank you for sharing!!), and it really hit this month :) This song goes all out with the angst, and Rina Sawayama has more than enough vocal power to do it justice!

Five-Star Songs (& Albums) This Month:

Ahora y Aquí -- Ramon Mirabet, Bely Basarte (bely basarte is two-for-two in 2024's five-star songs lists, and wow is it deserved)

DNA -- Yena (i have no idea what about this song makes it so perfect for me, but i love it 100x more than "good morning" for some reason?? it just hits SO hard)

Pirate Radio* -- Jean Dawson (okay i'm actually not a huge fan of dawson's voice, but this instrumental is too wonderful to leave off the list. i watched & enjoyed school spirits on netflix this month, and this is by far my favorite from the soundtrack! string instruments make my heart go BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ and this song is just a delightful confection of them !!)

Vision -- G-IDLE (a sixth star added for that layering where someone's murmuring underneath the whispery vocals in the chorus??????? like it should NOT sound as good as it does but here we are ?????)

Prenderle Fuego a Todo -- Andrea Santiago (i want to start including albums on here, mostly to get myself to listen to more albums all the way through! i've been obsessed with a few songs from this album for years now, but i finally listened to the whole thing this month--and it's even more wonderful as a complete set. the CLOSING SONG ?? I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE SPENT YEARS OF MY LIFE IGNORING IT. when i'm listening to andrea santiago's music, i see the world with completely new eyes, and this album captures that wanderlust, an emotion i've actually never felt without help from music, even in its slow moments.)

#gimme all ur megan thee stallion recs guys #also there were three songs from 1989 taylor's version in my on repeat this month HELP #wonderland my beloved <3 #oh yeah and sza's saturn is on spotify now !! that's on the spring 2024 aesthetic playlist hell yeah #me when 2024

[gryfflepuffinthetardis]

Sweet Jane -- Campbell Bain x Reader Masterlist

Warning: Mental Health, Traumatized Reader, Suicide, Mention of Sexual Assault, Parent Abuse, Neglectful Parents, Verbally Abusive Parents, Stalking, Unhealthy Past Relationships, In-Universe Misconceptions of Mental Heath by Neurotypicals/Normals, Judgy Neurotypicals/Normals

Campbell Bain x Reader from 1994's BBC Mini-Series "Takin' Over the Asylum", can be considered David Tennant's first breakout role at 22 years old.

Notes: Fan Fic Written by a Neurodivergent (ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Ambiguous Dyslexia and possibly more) and therefore, a looney. 😉😁

Below is the YouTube Playlist to Takin' Over the Asylum I'm watching when I'm editing the chapters I had done for Wattpad, I prefer ones with subtitles because Scottish accents are, as beautiful as I find them and I'm usually indifferent to accents, rather thick and hard to understand especially because Campbell Bain speaks very fast, it's helpful for there to be subtitles.

Sweet Jane: Hey Jude

I'll Stand By You - Sweet Jane: Fly Like an Eagle

The Man Who Sold the World - Sweet Jane: You Always Hurt the One You Love

Every Breathe You Take - Sweet Jane: Fool on the Hill -- (Warning: Suicide, Major Character Death, Manipulative Therapist, Manipulative Ex, Sociopathic Ex, Stalking)

Creep - Sweet Jane: Rainy Night in Georgia -- (Warning: Mature — Mentions and Descriptions of underaged rape (mid to late teens) and descriptions of stalking. but I’m not sure if this counts as explicit.)

True Colors - Sweet Jane: Let It Be

Drunk In Love (Six Months After the Events of Sweet Jane)

Winter Sounds (Seven/Eight Months after the Events of Sweet Jane)

Jetlagged (Eight Months after the Events of Sweet Jane)

Hyperactive Little Rascal – Campbell Bain

(To be Continued)

More Notes: Campbell and the Reader are in my head, similar to Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate's relationship. The older man (though in this case by one year) is basically a hyperactive ball of sunshine and optimism and the younger woman is all dark and cynical, doesn't speak often yet when she does it's rarely helpful and usually sarcastic and deadpan--Black Cat, if you will (Meaning, "a human who acts like a real black cat--moody, mysterious, usually introverted/reserved/antisocial but knows how to fight" and possibly may give off the vibe that they would kill anyone who messes with the people they love..

#Takin' Over the Asylum #Takin' Over the Asylum: Hey Jude #Takin' Over the Asylum Episode One #The Eccedentiast #Campbell Bain x Reader #Campbell Bain #Youung David Tennant #Auburn David Tennant #Manic Depressant Campbell Bain #Bipolar Campbell Bain #Manic Depression #Pre-Doctor Who David Tennant #Sweet Jane #Implied Non-Scottish Reader #Selective Mutism #PTSD Reader #Traumatized Reader #Reader is wary of men #Schizophrenic Furgus #Psychogenic Mute Reader #Loving Campbell Bain #David Tennant's Expressive Eyes #David Tennant Characters #We are loonies and we are proud #OCD Rosalie #Takin' Over the Asylum Episode Two #Takin' Over the Asylum: Fly Like an Eagle #I'll Stand By You #Abusive Parent #Campbell''s Abusive Father

[nutcasewithaknife]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers

@bbcphile and @difeisheng thanks for the tag! :)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

20

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

309,516. Which is actually insane, I'm not sure how or when I did all that

What fandoms do you write for?

Used to write for The Witcher, Supernatural and BBC Merlin, but not anymore. Currently writing for The Untamed and Mysterious Lotus Casebook (mostly the latter). There's one Love Between Fairy and Devil ficlet in there somewhere. I can't see myself making the space for anything else soon :')

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

One Ignorant Bard and His Witcher - The Witcher, geraskier (3.1k)

The Sins of the Father - BBC Merlin, canon divergent fix-it (11.5k)

You Can't Escape The Thoughts on a Rainy Day - The Untamed post-canon sangcheng (57.5k)

Foolish - modern au sangcheng (29.1k)

Are You Listening? - post-canon yunmeng shuangjie reconciliation (5.8k). It's part of the series that #3 on this list spawned!

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I used to respond to every single one, but nowadays it's just once in a while when I can. I read every single one multiple times like a lovesick fool tho <3

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I have a terribly hard time writing fics that end angsty, the best I can do most times is bittersweet. That being said...

It will never be the same (1.5k) - Jiang Cheng returning to the Jiang Ancestral Hall after Guanyin Temple and speaking to his dead family. The night after Guanyin Temple, Jiang Cheng finds himself standing in the Jiang Ancestral Hall. Some things, long realised but unspoken, finally get said.

Found (34.5k) - Lan Wangji's angsty boy winter, set mid-canon during the 16 years wwx is dead and brimming with OCs. I really wanted to wallow in what made him the man he is during those years. Naturally I sent him off to a village beyond the Jianghu and gave him a boyfriend. It's incredibly angst filled and the ending is hopeful, but still sad by my standards.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I'm a hopeless sap! Too many of them are happy endings!! Given my current MLC brainrot, I'll have to say it's the three post-canon liansanjiao fics I've written with them being soft together and at peace <3

I have a special soft spot for Foolish though, because Jiang Cheng deserves a happy ending story ;-;

Do you get hate on fics?

I'm not popular enough for hate hehe

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

YES!! It took a lot of work but now I do! Sometimes very explicit, sometimes not. It's mostly chaotic and soft and at times emotional. Laughter and banter during sex is cocaine to me and it shows.

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Sadly, no

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not as far as I know

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Have gotten a couple of requests to translations into Russian and French, but none of them ever went through as far as I know

What's your all-time favorite ship?

You can't do this to me I refuse to pick ;-;

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Oh, there are too many, but the one I'm most invested in rn is a postcanon MLC fic where difang manage to save Li Lianhua's life and very many Feelings are had.

What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue is what I've been told. Specifically, I think I do a good job of finding each character's voice. This is something I've been consciously working on and I think it's been paying off, especially the last year or so!

What are your writing weaknesses?

Plot!! I cry every time I need to plot anything. That's why most of my fics are mostly just Vibes

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Ohhh I'd love to do that though I haven't yet. I think it would mean fewer people would read it, but that has never stopped me from writing a thing >:)

First fandom you wrote for?

The first I posted was a Witcher fic, but the one I started writing first was BBC Merlin. It still has a chokehold on my psyche

Favorite fic you've written?

AAAA once again i refuse to choose ;-;

Tagging @istgidek1234 @redemption-revenge @angryteapott @wuxia-vanlifer @omgpurplefattie (no pressure)

If you're a fic writer, feel free to give it a go even if you're not tagged!!

#writing #tag game #mutuals

[ace-of-garlic-breads]

how I figured out the Riordenverse timeline off a Taylor Swift song.

Hi I'm Ace and let me explain why I think this is how the timeline plays out (warning Kane Chronicles aren't here cause I haven't read it yet and no exact dates are shared for TSATS cause I haven't finished TOA) (this is just for fun and I'm not being serious at all,)

with that out of the way:

I started my timeline with Magnus Chase, because in the first book we go to the Dwarf realm, and over the speakers the song "I know places" by Taylor Swift is playing, that song is from the Album 1989, which released in the year 2014, which means that MCGA has to happen around then, which makes me place the MCGA books to happen in around 2015

then we have Trials of Apollo, in the Third MCGA book we find out Sally Jackson had her Baby which tells us MCGA and TOA happen in parallel to each other (also in the first TOA book Percy mentions Annabeth going to see her cousin (Magnus)) which places it at about 2015, as well. and in the third book Apollo mentions that he was cast out in January, so that's when I place it when I did

which brings us to Heroes of Olympus, which I place to happen around late 2013-mid 2014, the lost Hero takes place in winter of 2013 and the son of Neptune takes place in June of 2014 and then the rest of the HOO books take place from June-August of 2014

and Finally we're at Percy Jackson and the Olympians. the Last Olympian takes place 16 months before TLH, so in this timeline it would take place in summer of 2012, and the entire PJO series takes place over 4 years and so in conclusion that places the beginning of the series in the Summer of 2008.

thank you for hearing me out on this :) I wanted to figure this out for a while and now I've done it!

#percyjackson #riordenverse #riordenverse timeline #percy jackson and the olympians #heroes of olympus #trials of apollo #magnus chase and the gods of asgard #I can't believe a Taylor Swift song of all things helped me figure out a timeline for this XD #I need better hobbies.. #beats math homework tho