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asterr1sk · 6 days

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no space between us

⊹₊ ⋆ kang taehyun wc: 701 genre: fluff, secret relationship, jealousy a/n: thank you to the anon who requested this. i was giggling so much at the end.

you've been in a relationship with taehyun for months now. it was difficult to keep it low knowing that your friends are basically his friends too. there were some instances where they almost found out, but they guessed that you were just close friends.

all of you went out to the mall and did some shopping. taehyun obviously stuck around you while the others were trailing behind.

"hey, guys! we should get lunch." yeonjun called out to both of you, and they walked closer. "maybe we can eat chinese food," he suggested.

"but i'm craving japanese food right now~" beomgyu countered.

"oh! me too! i want katsudon!" you exclaimed as you grinned at beomgyu. "two versus one!" he said proudly.

"i'm fine with any," soobin said while the other two nodded. "sure, let's go," yeonjun said as he was defeated. you and beomgyu high-fived at each other and started to think of restaurants.

the group finally arrived and ordered food. taehyun can't help but observe how the waiter looked at you differently. maybe he was just seeing things. the food came, and everyone began to eat their food. you noticed that your drink still hadn't come, unlike the others, so you asked the waiter. taehyun saw how enthusiastic the waiter was when talking to you.

"sorry, miss. i forgot," he said, placing the glass on top of a folded napkin. "it's okay," you said, smiling lightly. taehyun, on the other hand, was questioning why your napkin was folded compared to theirs.

the napkin underneath your drink was bothering you because it wasn't balancing the glass. you took it off and unfolded it, seeing what was written. "sorry again for the drink. this was not planned, but i took it as a chance to give you my number. call me xxxxxxxxx :)"

soobin sitting beside you, was being nosy and saw what was written. "oh, a guy is hitting on y/n." he said teasingly, and immediately everyone kept bugging you except for one.

"y/n, for the love of god, get a boyfriend!" beomgyu begged. "will y/n finally break free of the friendzone curse?" kai added while wrapping his arm around beomgyu's, looking like they were praying.

"you guys really have no shame, huh?" your heart was beating fast. not that they were teasing, but you don't know how to react. you tried not to stare at taehyun, hoping not to make this situation worse if someone were to ask what as going on between you two. he was weirdly quiet in this situation.

"i'm sure taehyun would be fine knowing his friend is happy, right?" yeonjun teased, and they continued on. the atmosphere was getting tense. taehyun was still not reacting much, but seeing that he had paid for the dinner, he wanted to get out of that place.

the day went on, but taehyun was walking closer to you than ever. thank god, they still don't question it. kai then saw a photo booth and wanted to take pictures with everyone. all of you were squeezed together in the booth.

they were bickering and complaining with each other, trying to find comfortable positions before taking a photo. since they were too busy, you and taehyun were in a different world.

"tyun, are you okay with that whole thing at the restaurant? i'm sorry that i didn't do-" he cut you off. "it's fine. i decided we should tell the others," he whispered.

"okay, i'll press the button. are you ready?" soobin said, and the timer was starting.

3 2 1... you and taehyun put cat ears on each other.

"another one!" yeonjun shouted.

3 2 1... you pinched taehyun's cheek while he was cupping yours.

"wait! i'll do this pose. beomgyu, do it with me." kai was posing, and beomgyu copied him.

3 2 1... taehyun put a half heart and you jokingly put a thumbs up next to his.

"let's do this together. come on!" yeonjun gave an example, and everyone followed.

3 2 1... taehyun kissed your cheek.

the other four immediately looked at the preview. you looked at taehyun wide-eyed while you heard screaming at the back. he pulled you in closer and kissed you properly on the lips.

#asterr1sk #txt #txt imagines #txt fluff #txt taehyun #taehyun #kang taehyun #txt x reader #taehyun x reader

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saturnsbabyboii · 1 year

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🍭Astro Observation for you to munch on until Fatoor 🍭

🍭People that have a Fire sign or an Earth sign on the cusp of the 3rd house are great vocalists (Exp. Ariana Grande, Whitney Huston, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Lana Del Rey, etc.)

🍭Taurus Suns with Gemini Venus are top tier

🍭Capricorn Venus and their never-ending search for the perfect partner. (Standards are too high? or is no one worth it?)

🍭The stereotype of Cancers being homebodies seems to be very far from the truth. They're always on the go, meeting people, getting into new experiences and exploring. However, they do value their own space as they consider their home/room/inner world to be sacred and isn't to be shared with everyone. They're the true "Extroverted introvert", if you will.

🍭Synastry charts aren't a one size fits all. An aspect has a different interpretation depending on the status of the relationship (platonic, familial, romantic, or sexual, etc.) For instance, the presence of Squares can be experienced positively in romantic/sexual relationships, but a bit challenging in platonic ones. However, it is hell to have it with family.

🍭Continuing with aspects, the presence of squares or "harsh" aspects doesn't mean you're doomed to fail. In fact, people that have more harsh aspects are very well in control of themselves (or at least of the themes of the placements/houses involved). I have known and witnessed many people that have been blessed with trines that end up overindulging and disregarding the dangers of their actions. It is possible that because things usually work out for them that they take it for granted and push their luck too far. (The recurrence of trines in the birth chart is common among celebrities who overdose, but that is just what I have observed)

🍭There are many posts on placements/aspects that indicate wealth and/or fame. However, we don't talk about HOW, WHERE, and WHAT can we do to cultivate this kind of success. The answer is in the mutable houses (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th). The sign over the house, the placements, and the position of the house ruler (even aspects and degrees but focus on the latter first) will tell you where you need to go, what should you do, how should you do it, and (most importantly) what is blocking you or in what ways can you change in order to move to that next step.

🍭Regardless of their other placements, I have never met or heard of a Pisce and a Leo getting along.

🍭It is true that Earth placements/doms guard their inner self with many walls, but the way Air placements/doms do it always fascinates me. Instead of an obvious defensive stance, they unleash a mirage that creates the illusion of openness. You never really know what's true versus what's not but the kicker is, neither do they. I still love them though.

🍭What's with Water energy and getting too much plastic surgery?

🍭Jupiter is the planet of growth, wisdom, knowledge, and luck. Wherever it's placed it'll give you "a big head". As a Jupiter in 3rd, I have to catch myself from being a smartass and a know-it-all. My friend has a Jupiter in the 1st and she could wear a trash bag and you can't tell her nothing about how she looks. On a side note, she does have a larger head and looks like a Bratz doll (no shade though)

🍭Despite what I have heard/read, I am continuously disappointed by Scorpio placements. I don't get the hype. But when it comes to Virgos and Geminis though, I have been pleasantly surprised.

🍭Aries Moon 🤝Low key being a covert narcissist

🍭Leos out here thinking they're an undiscovered celebrity, meanwhile Sagittarians and Capricorns are a living meme factory

🍭12th house stelliums and their obsession with existential questions "Why am I here?" "What's the soul?"

🍭Having your Moon reside in an Air house (3rd, 7th, 11th) makes it difficult for you to understand your physical emotional reactions (Exp. Always wondering "Why do I feel weird?") Finding a visual discord as an outlet or talking about it with other people can develop an awareness and an understanding of the connection between your body and mind

🍭Most Fire placements have such powerful minds and pure hearts but their mouths always get them in trouble.

🍭Pisces and Libra placements aren't sweet angels with rose-colored glasses. Not saying they aren't good people, but the ones that I have known had a very dark and twisted side to them with a very pessimistic point of view of the world. This could be due to their sensitivity to their surroundings and other people.

🍭Earth in the 8th is very likely to leave a big chunk as their inheritance, meanwhile Fire in the 8th is hitting the jackpot (Sorry nana)

🍭The element of your 2nd house reflects your self-esteem.

Water in the 2nd indicates a turbulent and unstable self-image that ranges from highs and lows.

Earth in the 2nd house has a sustainable and clear image of themselves with an awareness of their flaws and ways to improve.

Air in the 2nd house and their fluctuating sense of self, they are very likely to personalize and have a completely warped idea of themselves, or they absolutely don't give a damn about how they look and have an unshakable confidence.

Fire in the 2nd house, Either peak early in life then crash hard with a bruised ego or takes a long time to fully accept and love who they are

🍭Having Saturn and Jupiter in the same house is the holy grail of growth. You will forever receive lessons and discipline from Saturn along with endless wisdom and improvement from Jupiter. An indication of a very tough start (depending on the house themes) you may feel alone and conflicted with no one to turn to regarding it. However, with Jupiter as your guide and Saturn as your protector, you'll be able to take on whatever the house (and probably life) throws at you like a pro tennis player.

Bye Bitch✨

#astrology #astrology observations #astrology notes #astro observations #astro notes #astrology placements #astro placements #aries #taurus #gemini #cancer #leo #virgo #libra #scorpio #sagittarius #capricorn #aquarius #pisces

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rthko · 4 months

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i'm not a gaylor, couldn't care less about that woman, but ngl that thread got me thinking. do you think it would be fair to posit that classic pop fandom presumes heterosexuality from the female stars it consumes? the figure of the diva specifically feels very straight woman centered, the only exception i can think of being maybe lady gaga. well i guess everything presumes heterosexuality from everyone, but it does feel slightly different in this case imo

I think it's a fair observation. A lot of gay men, starting in childhood, strongly identify with women in media. As kids without known queer friends or role models, who knew we didn't relate to most other boys, we often thought of ourselves as more similar to girls. I obviously can't say this is universal among gay men but it's common enough that, for example, I can talk about how badly I wanted to be Anne Hathaway with a group of like minded gays and no one will find it unusual. Others will even chime in with the women they wanted to be! And I think this sort of identification often comes down to identification with women as desiring agents (making it easier to express attraction to men) and as siblings in abjection. Like, the boys are mean to you? Us too. Let's play house at recess about it.

I make it sound very adolescent, and that's where it seems to start, but it's also because there's no guarantee it will turn into any sophisticated friendship or political affiliation with women. I think diva worship, fag/hag relations, and anything similar are morally neutral. It can speak to genuine interest and support, or it can be a patronizing charade that refuses to relate to women beyond an expected shared attraction to men. I can't say that diva worship is any one thing because it can come from a place of genuine respect for a woman's artistry and be a symbolic outlet of gender expression or a parasocial mess.

Lady Gaga is herself an interesting example because yes, she is bisexual, but that doesn't really come up in her diva treatment. But the example of Taylor Swift, as discussed in the thread you're mentioning, is also unusual. The accusation, for the unacquainted, is that gay men aren't sympathetic to "Gaylor" because they want her to be straight so they can give her the diva treatment. But, and I mean no offense by this, that's not really the reason most people like her. Everything about her public image is too personal and "relatable" for her to fit that larger-than-life mold. Clearly that works for her, clearly that has yielded results, but personally I find her most interesting when she knows she's delivering a fantasy. If this seems like a superficial way of viewing art, I would counter that treating an artist as a detached patron saint of glamour and obsessing over every detail of their personal life are two sides of the same parasocial coin.

I think the ideas that are really in conflict in the "Gaylor" vs "Hetlor" debate (and for the love of God come up with a more tasteful name for the latter) is not really whether Taylor Swift is queer or straight. I'm sure you'll agree that not being onboard with Gaylor does not mean someone has a specific investment in her heterosexuality, because most of us don't really care. The conflict is between two different ways of relating to art. Rather, it's about relating versus resonating. Even if Taylor Swift is gay, hardly anything about her life, as might be explained by her wikipedia page, is relatable. But maybe one resonates with the pressures of having to please everyone, to the dehumanization of men's "Madonna-whore" complex towards women, to heartbreak, to dancing it all away. And maybe one specifically relates from a queer perspective. Go for it! It's unfortunate that Creep by Radiohead has a bad reputation, because I and a lot of other queer people find it really resonant. I don't get crushes on straight guys like I used to, but when I did it was humiliating! It wasn't the prospect of their rejection that hurt, but the idea of being repulsive and looking in from the outside at a world you will never belong to. It speaks to a queer perspective, but I don't have to wonder if this was intentional or if Thom Yorke himself is gay to see it.

I think, memes aside, the Internet is excessively cruel to Swifties. Even with Gaylors, I feel for their need to identify with an artist they feel feel expresses an underrepresented point of view. No, James Somerton, a handful of children's cartoons does not prove that lesbians are winning the representation war. But I also want to say to them that, a perceived lack of representation aside, no one is forcing you to speculate about this woman's sexuality. If she is just as straight as she claims to be, that doesn't have to ruin your queer readings of her work. If a straight woman sang the words "you can want who you want; boys and boys and girls and girls," and it came from the heart, good for her.

This was all very characteristically meandering of me and only kind of answered your question. I agree that a lot of gay men's interest in women is stunted by the expectation that they could only bond over shared attraction to men. I think gay men owe queer women the world. I also just don't really think this applies to the Gaylor thing. She is, as far as anyone knows and as far as she herself has stated, a heterosexual woman. That said, I do agree that the lesbian diva is an under-explored archetype that I'd love to learn more about.

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why-animals-do-the-thing · 10 months

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Happy National Zookeeper Week!

I’ll admit, I’m feeling a little spicy about it this year (well, every year) because zoos use the celebration for lots of positive facility PR, yet staff don’t often get the support and respect that is claimed in those posts.

So I want to share this great article written by a zoo industry consulting group last year looking at the reality of what happens when a workforce ends up conflicted between their passion (zoos and animals) and pragmatism (paying rent, existing in a capitalist society). They assessed AZA compensation rates by region against things such as a living wage and rental rates in the area. (All text formatting within quotes, such as bold and italics, is original to the article text.)

I cannot give the Canopy Group enough support for the way they framed this research:

“By observing the economics of keeper compensation, it’s no secret that keepers land on the lower end of the wage spectrum. Like all other wages and salaries, the market value of keeper compensation is driven by several economic factors – including the size of the labor pool, the rigor and danger of the work, the technical ability required, and the educational requirements. However, there is one factor that artificially lowers the market value of keeper compensation more than any other: passion.

In this article, we’ll take a look at why passion lowers the market value of animal care worker wages. More importantly, we’ll consider many factors that have emerged in recent years that are making people reevaluate the value of following their passion – a trend contributing to The Great Resignation, especially as it applies to zoos, aquariums, and similar organizations. (…)

The argument here is passion versus pragmatism: the unknown versus the sure thing. It is a decision all zookeepers and animal care technicians have made. Working with animals is immensely rewarding, but this passion is also very popular. This, historically, has meant that the keeper candidate pool is very large. Therefore, if the wage is livable and working conditions are reasonable, the pool should remain large. In a very real sense, a passion for animals drives down the market value of keeper compensation. Anyone who has been through an Economics 101 course will recognize this as a fundamental market principle: supply vs. demand.

However, many zoos and aquariums are having a more difficult time filling positions than normal and have started to see higher turnover rates in recent years. This begs the question – is the current keeper wage too low?”

Their findings?

Here’s their graph of “the median wage of keepers from organizations in different AZA-defined regions” from an AZA survey done in 2021. (Median is the type of average that looks at the middle of a data set’s range).

The median wage for AZA keepers in the South/Southeast was just over $15/hr at the low end, and the median wage for AZA keepers in the Far West / PNW was a little under $26/hr. That’s pretty dang low everywhere, especially when you factor in the increased cost of living in places like the West Coast. Also consider that looking at the median wage doesn’t mean this reflects just entry-level compensation - this data indicates the the compensation middle for all keeper positions, including people who have built their careers as keepers in those places long-term.

Then, they compared those wages to the “living wage” in each region - which they defined as “a calculation of what it takes to live in a particular area, without any other income. A living wage calculation takes into consideration how many earners are in a household, how many children are being supported, etc. The living wage includes the costs of all the basic items a household needs to be self-sufficient.”

“If you receive a wage for a job that is below the living wage, then you are essentially taking a negative net income. This is unsustainable for the long term, and essentially defines where wages start to exploit passion.”

Here’s a figure they provided using the MIT Living Wage Calculator showing the average living wage for each of the AZA regions. The chart on the left shows the living wage for a single person with no kids; the second, for two parents with two incomes and one child to support.

“By comparing the two graphs [to the earlier graph of the AZA median compensation rates], we find that median wages in the Southeast/South and Southwest regions are lower than the living wage for each household configuration in those regions. In other words, if you are a single person household or part of a two-income household raising 1 child in the South, a starting keeper salary will likely leave you with a negative net income. While many people work at this level, it increases the risk of accumulating debt, lowers a person’s ability to afford a home, set a much later retirement age, and can lead to many other negative, long-term effects.”

Big yikes, right?

Next, they looked at living wage vs. compensation for single parents.

“The single-parent living wage exceeds the average keeper wage in all AZA regions. In fact, the living wage required as a single parent is double the average AZA keeper wage in some regions.”

And then they did housing, specifically, being able to purchase a home.

“In many places, even a two-income household at an average keeper salary would not purchase a mid-level home. This means that keepers have to wait far longer than their peers to purchase a home. While paying rent in the meantime, this rent will account for a larger portion of their income than their peers. All in, these effects can set hopeful homeowners back years or decades.”

Canopy’s conclusion was something anyone involved in the field knew was coming.

“Companies like Chipotle, McDonalds, Best Buy, FedEx, Home Depot, Publix, and Walmart are all offering similar starting wages near starting keeper wages – plus many fringe benefits (like tuition reimbursement) and ample advancement opportunities. Many potential keepers in younger generations are putting their passion on the shelf so they can meet basic standard-of-living concerns.

To attract and retain quality candidates, an organization must consider the journey each new employee would have to make over their career. If the journey is fraught with massive debt, decreased disposable income, and limited career opportunities, then you are limiting your potential candidate pool to the small group of people who have decided that following their passion is worth significant lifelong financial hardship. There are many potential candidates out there willing to sacrifice and arm and leg for animals and conservation, but they wouldn’t dare jeopardize the financial future of their dependents and families.”

This is something I’ve heard about for years, and seen first hand. The low average wage at zoological facilities has been damaging their ability to hire and retain skilled staff for as long as I’ve been involved in the industry. I know so many zookeepers who still have roommates into their 30’s, or work multiple jobs, just to be able to make ends meet.

There’s a mythology about zookeeping jobs, a narrative that seeps into the field and actively exploits people’s passion for the job: it tells people that they’re so lucky to be able to work with these rare and cool animals; that they’re greedy and ungrateful when they ask for more compensation because they’re privileged to get to have the job at all. It says that most people would give anything to have these opportunities, so current zookeepers are interchangable and easily replaceable. Ask for too much? Push for a living wage? There’s always someone willing to take your spot. Not all facilities perpetuate this mentality - some places do treat their staff well without intentionally manipulating them to stay them in unsustainable jobs, and there can be legitimate financial reasons that limit staff compensation (mostly at smaller facilities, afaik) - but it’s a reality in the field.

For a long time, this type of mentality towards staff was sustainable. There really were always more people wanting to work in the field. But now, after three years of pandemic stressors and inflation, it’s starting to be a problem. A lot of staff left during the last few years, and facilities are having a really hard time hiring people and retaining them for any duration. I think a large part of that is low compensation rates. People are prioritizing long-term financial stability and recognizing when their passion is being exploited.

When I first started on tumblr back in 2011, there was a whole group of us within the United States who were baby zookeepers or volunteering as industry hopefuls. We all became friends, and I’ve stayed in touch with, or at least aware of, most of them as their careers progressed. Of the 10-15 or so people in that cohort? I can think of three who are still employed in the zoo industry. Everyone else has moved on into other fields - often with great grief over the loss - because of the extreme emotional labor, the physical exhaustion, and the lack of appropriate compensation.

But I guess that annual pizza party, being featured on social media, and maybe getting additional snacks all week makes up for it all?

#national zookeeper week #zoo industry #living wage #compensation #please support your local zookeeper #AZA accreditation #AZA zoos #zoos

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lurkingshan · 7 months

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Just saw your tags on turtle’s post and would love to hear more of your thoughts on Cheum

Oh, boy. Okay, I guess we’re doing this. So, when I think about Cheum I am usually making this face.

And embodying Oprah what is the truth.gif, because I think she is incredibly underwritten to the point of incomprehensibility. I think the term I used with @so-much-yet-to-learn to describe the writing for Cheum was "a void of characterization.”

By which I mean, I don't understand anything about her. I don't know what she wants or what she cares about. I don't know anything about her relationship with April. I don't know why she is friends with these guys or which she has real bonds with, if any. I don't know why she does things or whether I am supposed to see her as a neutral observer, a voice of reason, or another chaotic shit stirrer. I've seen some confusing messages from the creators about her that don't track with what I'm seeing on screen, so I find it hard to parse their intent versus the impact of what she is actually doing in the story.

But what I can tell you is that based on what I've seen, I don't like or respect her, and I certainly don't see her as in any way better or above the other characters in this story. Let me sum up what we've seen of Cheum over the course of the story:

She is mean to her friends, making lots of catty, passive aggressive remarks that dig at their sore points and taking sides against each of them on a whim

She pushes Mew to date Top and then to forgive him for cheating, to the point of ignoring Mew's stated wishes to conspire to help Top get back into his space

She somehow makes Ray nearly getting arrested all about her and in general gets overly involved in the boys' drama before turning around and berating them for causing her stress

She is judgmental and shaming about gay sex, making Boston out to be a predator for having a lot of sex and leveling a homophobic attack against him by claiming he took advantage of her "straight" brother

She lacks grace and humility and doesn't admit it or apologize when she is wrong, sticking to her bias against all evidence

And we have seen precious little in terms of positive attributes to balance this. We haven't seen her show up for any of the boys as a true or loyal friend. She seems reasonably good at school and conscientious about the hostel project, but we don’t get much there either. She's not even fun! Her function in the story is to be an antagonist to each of the boys in turn, even as the narrative seems to sometimes be suggesting that she is outside the drama.

It all reads very confused to me, and I can't say with any certainty how much of it is intentional and how much is just failures of writing and editing. She's not getting enough screen time for a confident read on who she is, and what she does get feels half-baked. At this point, I think it's safe to say Cheum is just a poorly executed character who has little purpose besides being the token lesbian in the friend group.

#only friends the series #only friends cheum #thai bl #shan answers

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pitchsidestories · 20 days

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we'll always have Paris II Élisa de Almeida x GERWNT! Reader

masterlist I word count: 1292

a/n: hi, this oneshot was requested, to the one who sent it in, sorry that it took so long.

It was France versus Germany in the half final of the Women’s Nations League. In this match you were playing against a lot of your teammates but also your girlfriend from Paris Saint-Germany. Each team just had finished singing their national hymns, so it was time for you to shake the hands of your opponents.

“Ohh, your amour is starting to walk to us.”, Laura Freigang who was standing right before you in line, turned her face to comment with a huge smirk on her lips. Much to your own annoyance Sydney Lohmann made kissing noises to highlight the Eintracht Frankfurt players observation.

“Shut it, Lau and Syd.”, you rolled your eyes at them before turning your attention to your girlfriend who was about to take your hands in hers.

“Salut, Élisa.”

“Salut.”, Élisa greeted you accompanied with a boyish wink.

“I’m going to puke!”, Laura who was bad at staying quiet for too long exclaimed jokingly.

“Don’t forget you play for our side because of that French charmer.”, Sydney reminded you grinning.

“I’ll never forget that.”, you replied sincerely.

“They think you’re that unprofessional?”, your girlfriend rose her eyebrows in surprise.

Clearing your throat, you told her:” Get to your position De Almeida. We’re here to play.”

“Whatever you say, mon amour. I’ll make sure to lift my shirt enough times to distract you with my abs.”, she smiled cheekily at you.

“That won’t work, ma chéri.”, you answered confidently.

“We’ll see about that.”

“Good, luck babe.”, you said before you both turned to your starting position on the pitch waiting for the referee to start the match.

During the game, it was still 0:0 at that time, Sara Doorsoun whispered amused into your ear:” Y/n, the abs of your girlfriend, she’s kind of hot.”

“Stop it, Sara and please stay focused.”, you replied laughing.

“I’m focused.”, the older defender stated.

“Good.”, you nodded satisfied.

“But not bad.”

“Sara!”, you yelled at her.

“Just saying.”, she responded sheepishly smiling.

Secretly, you knew that your teammate was right about your girlfriend, but this was an important game and you always wanted to win even if it was against Élisa. Unfortunately, the football match went in favour of the hosts and Germany lost 2:0.

Exhausted you fell onto your knees after the final whistle of the referee. “We lost.”, you muttered more to yourself than to anyone in particular.

“Shit. You still had a good game.”, Laura tried to cheer you up and padded your shoulder encouragingly.

“And don’t forget we’ve another game to qualify for the Olympics.”, Sydney added.

“Yeah, let’s beat the Netherlands.”, Lena Oberdorf sounded motivated.

“Against Jackies team.”, you remarked, the blonde Dutch was one of yours and your girlfriend closest friends in Paris.

Deep in your own thoughts you didn’t hear Élisa coming, only until she spoke directly to you:” You’ll win the next game.”

“Congrats to your win.”, you mumbled.

The French defender thanked you as she helped to lift you from the ground, so you both could look into each other’s eyes.

You swallowed hard, trying to hide your own disappointment: “You played really great.“

“So did you.“, Élisa replied. Her face was serious. Evidence that she actually meant it and wasn’t just trying to cheer you up.

“That’s what Laura said to.“, you told her.

A small smile appeared on your girlfriends face. With a wink, she reached out and tilted your head upwards with her fingers under your chin: “She didn’t lie to you. Now come on, chin up. You’ll win the next game and qualify for the Olympics.“

“Hopefully.“, you sighed. Your girlfriends optimism was lost on you.

“Also, remember, we’ll always have Paris.“, Élisa grinned, quoting the famous line from the movie Casablanca.

You involuntarily snorted about her dumb joke. “Okay, Humphrey Bogart, I’d like my girlfriend back who gives me a hug and a kiss to make up for this loss.“

Élisa looked at you with a smirk: “A hug and a kiss, huh?“

“Yes. You know, we still have a few days in camp left until we’re back in Paris.“, you said, blinking at her with big innocent eyes.

“And you can’t wait for that long.“, your girlfriend concluded.

“No but if you can, I have to join my team now.“ You pointed over your shoulder where Sydney impatiently bounced on her feet and Laura mimed looking at an invisible watch.

“Okay, come here. One quick kiss.“, Élisa smiled and pulled you close.

You quickly pressed your lips to hers while wrapping your arms around her waist.

“See you in Paris.“, you whispered as you pulled apart.

Lena passed the two of you and grimaced in disgust: “Okay, enough hugs and kisses from the wrong team.“

“Obi, you’re awful!“, you laughed.

Still, you gave your girlfriend one last hug goodbye before following your team mate to the rest of the team.

Sydney determinedly shook her head: “No, she did the right thing.“

You were used to their teasing by now so you only rolled your eyes fondly: “If you girls say so.“

“We do!“, Laura said with emphasis.

You smiled. This team was really something very different than Paris Saint-Germain.

Your second game was against the Netherlands. Whoever won this game would be qualified for the Olympics. The stakes were high and everyone knew it. But your team put on a brilliant performance, beating the Oranje Leeuwinnen with 2:0.

After extensive celebrations the night of the game, you arrived at your apartment in Paris on the next day.

“Hi, I’m home!“, you called, letting your suitcase drop right on the floor. You were still exhilarated from the win.

Élisa appeared from the kitchen: “Hi.“

You crossed the distance to her quickly and jumped right into her arms: “We’re going to the Olympics!“

Laughing, she tried to hold her balance: “I know, I’m so happy for you.“

“Poor Jackie though remind me to invite her to dinner soon.”, you sighed empathetically.

“She’ll be fine, trust me. That’s football. You win some, you lose some. No one should know that better than you.”, the defender reminded you while carrying you to the sofa to place you down on it.

“Yes, it was really a rollercoaster ride.”, you admitted as your girlfriend sat down next to you.

“But with a happy ending.”, Élisa grinned at you.

“Right.”, you nodded enthusiastically.

“Can’t wait to go to Paris with you.”, she muttered.

“Actually, that’s great, we’re already there.”, you joked laughing.

“I meant at the final of the Olympics and you know that.”, the French player corrected you.

Her mentioning the end game made your cheeks turn hot: “I know but I couldn’t resist.”

“The qualification clearly has gotten to your head.”, Élisa teased you.

Swiftly you changed the topic away from football: “So, what should we do now?”

“Oh, I have a few ideas.”, the dark-haired woman answered with a dirty smile on her lips.

“Does this involve the bedroom?”, you asked her cheekily.

“Absolutely.”

“I like that a lot.”, you confessed. The weeks away from each other due to national team duties always made you hungry for your lover’s touch, you could feel the sexual tension rise in air.

“Follow me then.”, Élisa said, holding her hand up for you to grasp it before leading you to your shared bedroom. Seeing the bottle of red wine on the nightstand and the rose petals on the bed send you thrills of excitement through your body.

You might have lost against her in the nations league game, but you knew you won her heart as you followed her to bed, awaiting the kisses and touches you both have missed. Knowing deep inside that Paris and the women you loved were always worth coming back to.

Pictures are from pinterest.

#elisa de almeida #elisa de almeida x reader #woso x reader #woso fanfics #woso imagine #woso #woso one shot #woso community #elisa de almeida imagine #psg feminines #lena oberdorf #laura freigang #sydney lohmann #gerwnt #dfb frauen #sara doorsoun #woso oneshot

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sensualnoiree · 3 months

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astro observations: the soul's journey from innocence to self-awareness

The connection between the Fool tarot card and the 1st house in astrology offers profound insights into the journey of the soul, from its inception to its evolution through the material realm. Both symbols encapsulate the essence of initiation, innocence, and the infinite potentiality inherent in each individual's spiritual path.

The Fool card, positioned at the beginning of the Major Arcana, symbolizes the protagonist of the spiritual narrative, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. As the Fool stands on the precipice, ready to take the first step into the unknown, they represent the pure essence of potentiality and innocence. The number zero associated with the Fool signifies the pregnant nothingness from which all possibilities emerge, mirroring the infinite potentiality of Kether, the highest sephiroth in the Tree of Life.

In the journey of the Fool, the spiritual path unfolds through the experiences contained within the 12 signs of the zodiac, carried in the Fool's bag. The Fool's choice to proceed along this path or to regress into worldly distractions represents the eternal dilemma of spiritual evolution versus stagnation.

Silence, a key theme in the Fool card, transcends mere absence of speech to embody a profound state of pure being beyond intellect and intuition. Through deep meditation and connection with the Law of Love, one may access the innocence and true will within, unencumbered by societal expectations and restrictions. This return to innocence, akin to regaining Eden, is essential for aligning with one's true purpose and spiritual journey.

The concept of breath, symbolized by the Fool's silent Aleph and association with air, underscores the paradox of silent sustenance of life. The Fool, bridging the spiritual realm of Kether with the material realm of Malkuth, embodies the unity of opposites and the interconnectedness of all existence. As the Fool traverses this path, they carry within them the potential for both spiritual enlightenment and worldly experience.

The 1st house in astrology mirrors the Fool's journey of self-discovery and initiation into the material realm. It signifies the sector of personal identity and physical appearance, where the individual confronts the challenges and talents inherent in their character. Like Hercules taming the mares of his mind, individuals must cultivate control over their thoughts and actions to align with their higher self and spiritual purpose.

The ascendant, marking the beginning of the 1st house, symbolizes the soul's purpose and sets the tone for the incarnation. Through self-observation and self-mastery, individuals navigate the challenges of the 1st house to strengthen their character and align with their soul's will. This journey of spiritualization, beginning in the 1st house, ultimately leads to self-realization and evolution towards higher consciousness.

In essence, the connection between the Fool tarot card and the 1st house in astrology illuminates the soul's journey from innocence to self-awareness, from potentiality to actualization. It underscores the importance of embracing silence, cultivating inner innocence, and aligning with one's true will to embark on the path of spiritual evolution and fulfillment.

follow for more astro insights like this and support me over on instagram @sensualnoire or yt @sensualnoiree

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terrythemerry · 4 months

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Alma notes/logs + some of my thoughts on them.

Warning these notes are very spoiler heavy and talks about a lot of late game content.

@elffees

These are some of Alma’s easiest to find notes and on the surface they paint a picture of a kind, maternal woman worried about the kids she was forced to leave behind. Two words jump out at me in the last two notes though “sacrifice” and “choice. I’ll talk about that at the end though. The next part is where things get messy.

These are all her notes, the rest of this is going to be a bit of a rant because these last few notes are the ones that make my blood boil.

Alma never planned on rescuing them. While putting on a motherly facade she planned on leaving all of the Sarentu survivors to rot until their life support gave out. The only thing that made her act was the fact that wonderful Priya found out we were there, otherwise no one was coming for us.

Then there is how she refers to the children in “The Final Option”. She talks about all the potential glory and accolades she’ll get once she “has” them. Not when they come to her, when she possesses them. She acts like she doesn’t know in the notes, but she admits in game that deep down she knew they were going to steal the kids and killed Na’vi and let it happen anyway so she could have her little project. This is the “sacrifice” she’s trying to frame in the note “Back to Tap”. Personally I don’t see how a genocide and kidnapping is in anyway a “sacrifice”, sounds more like a war crime to me.

Last is the School Records and two things important to note are the initials in the document and the of “additional note” versus “note”. The initials show that only two people wrote in this document AC (Alma Cortez) and JM (John Mercer). Every single section degrades the children and talks about the “best” ways to manipulate them to TAP’s goals before being followed up with an “additional note” by Alma saying the opposite. The thing is I fully believe that Alma wrote the original sections and that the “additional notes” have been edited in later to try and cover her involvement in TAP.

The thing that makes me think this is Alma’s position as teacher and Mercer’s note. Alma was the one who spent the most time with the students, she’s the one who observed every aspect of their day to day, so she is the only person it would logically make sense to write about their temperaments and interests. Mercer had other things to do besides sitting around a classroom all day watching these kids, same for Harding. They’d be able to step in as discipline and for surprise inspections, but Alma was clearly the main observer. That means all the coded talk about discipline(abuse) and skills(usefulness to the RDA) is all her.

Mercer’s note was the big tip off to me that she retroactively edited the document. Mercer’s only note is that Aha’ri was killed. It was probably entered immediately after her death, because Mercer doesn’t care. He’s meticulous, organized, compulsive, etc. He doesn’t see the children as anything more than a tool so he has no shame in updating the document like it was a regular note about a generator going out. Because he entered it immediately the entry was logged as “note”.

A lot of websites will mark a comment as edited after a certain amount of time has passed. I feel like this is the case with the “note” vs “additional note”. The second giveaway is that Alma’s final note calling Mercer’s murderer is also logged as an “additional note” when there is no reason for Alma to manually input it herself. By that logic all of the additional notes were logged long after the original document was made and it’s just Alma’s way of trying to minimize her role in the abuse at TAP. This means that all of the suggested “discipline” aka brutal bone breaking and beatings was recommended by her in certain cases.

Alma isn’t a good person, she has a toxic savior complex and will go to any means to see that vision met. She might be on the right side, she might be doing good things now, but she is not a good person. Maybe she can be forgiven one day, but she’s still in toomuch denial about her own involvement to be forgiven this day.

#avatar #avatar frontiers of pandora #frontiers of pandora #Alma Cortez #John Mercer #Avatar FOP #teylan #nor #rinela #ri’nela #avatar Alma #spoilers #avatar Mercer

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drconstellation · 4 months

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Liberty versus the Tree of Life

TW: Discussion of death and grief

I received a question from @lickthecowhappy the other day on one of my metas that I'm going to try and address in this post. This is going to wander into some pretty heavy areas, and discuss some implications for S3.

They asked:

"What do you think about comparing "give me liberty (coffee) or give me death" with gaining free will via the tree of knowledge but losing access to the tree of life in the process?"

On one hand this might look like a simple choice between two things, but its not - there are shades of grey, of course. Can the two (liberty/death vs. knowledge/life) be compared? Yes - in a way. But we need to unpack the question in its entirety first.

"Give me liberty, or give me death!"

This famous quote that forms the basis of the name of Nina's coffee shop is from a reconstructed speech given by the American politician Patrick Henry in 1775, as the colonists prepared to fight against the British Empire. It is worth us having a look at the extended excerpt of the speech quoted from Wikipedia in context of what we know is coming in S3:

If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

If the mention of Boston wasn't there, you could almost read that as a crazy synopsis of S2 and S3. The Great War, that wasn't considered concluded satisfactorily and must be restarted and finished once and for all, has begun again, and is on its inexorable way. There will be storms. Some see the outcome in black and white - you either win or die; there is no other option, because they do not dare entertain it.

The fandom seems quite settled with the analogy of liberty and freedom = coffee, and six shots of espresso is Crowley's coffee preference, because he loves and protects his freedom with a passion. Crowley is that coffee, in a way - long, dark and richly intense. He is a champion of free will. Even as a demon he still gives those he tempts the choice to make their own mistakes. So how do we apply this to the coffee the Metatron offers Aziraphale, and the other option, death?

The coffee the Metatron orders and forces on Aziraphale is a message, and a warning, to the angel - "I know all about you and your demon partner." The shot of coffee in it is Crowley, the oat milk is to say Aziraphale has maybe gone a bit too far with things with Crowley while on Earth, and the almond syrup is to say they have been watched and observed do so. This is confirmed when the Metatron mentions that he knows that Aziraphale and Crowley have formed a de facto partnership.

And where would Aziraphale get his Crowley from if he went back to Heaven?

What about death? Is it a real option? What does the option of death mean anyway?

If you are not familiar with the Tarot deck, the Death card can seem quite alarming. A skeleton in black armour strides over a fallen king - death does not care for rank or position. Death cares not for riches, they will not hold it at bay. Nor will prayers. Death does not care what age you are, either. But the small, kneeling child holds a posy of flowers up as if in greeting, the only one prepared to face the rider on the pale horse; this is because children are not as always as set in their ways as adults are, and can adapt to change more easily.

Experienced Tarot users know that is what the Death card signifies when it appears: Change. Something is coming to and end, but something else is about to start as well. It's not a physical death, its a spiritual or metaphorical death. It should be a welcomed card, as it indicates there is a promise renewal and new beginnings on the horizon (see the dawning sun between the two pillars in the top right of the card?) and all one has to do is surrender to the inevitable change. But like death, making changes can sometime be a hard, fearful thing to face. Facing death, either your own or someone else's, is ultimately about accepting change.

Surrender to the British is not what Patrick Henry wanted to do. He wanted to keep the liberty he had in the new world.

But death was the only viable option Aziraphale had.

"So predictable," remarked the Metatron to Nina, when she told him people don't ever ask for death in response to his question. Death is present in Nina's coffee shop - it's the green colour on the inside walls.

I haven't done much colour meta lately but I have been doing a lot of research on them, as I realized the original meta I wrote needed a major revision, which I plan to do soon. Green was one of those colours that needed more work.

The green on the inside walls actually has two meanings, which are both specifically tied to the coffee shop, but the first one is Death, with the capital D. This is one of the Four Horsepeople lurking in the background of S2, as Armageddon prepares to ramp up again. War is on the label of the wine bottle Crowley has in S2E5, Famine is the Marley Horse statue that Crowley puts his sunglasses on inside the bookshop, and where the stone-shaped Eccles cakes are placed in offering. Death is waiting inside the coffee shop, right next to the constraining sky-blue moral lawfulness of Heaven.

Death rides a pale horse, but the word used to describe it, "chloros," actually translates to a "pale greenish-yellow." That would have looked a bit sickly inside the coffee shop, I think, so they used a more complimentary shade of green, and one that would double up with a second meaning. Green is also the colour associated with new beginnings and the resurrection. That's why the outside of The Resurrectionist pub is dark green - it's got nothing to do with Hell (at least, I don't think it does, in this case!)

The Second Coming is in progress. Armageddon is underway again. Someone in Heaven is determined to see the supposed Great Plan come to fruition.

The Riddle of the Sphinx

In Sophocles play Oedipus Rex the titular character meets the Sphinx on a hill outside of Thebes. The monster has been devouring travelers who do not answer her riddle correctly.

"What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three in the evening?"

Clever Oedipus replies with "Man," and defeated, the Sphinx departs, removing her curse from the city.

A baby crawls on four limbs into childhood, then two legs into adulthood, then on three legs with a cane for an aid into old age. This is the natural progression of life. You would not want to remain an infant forever, and similarly if you have children wouldn't you wish to see them progress from childhood to adulthood and have children of their own?

Remember Momento mori? It's a major theme in the series. Remember that you die. It's a reminder that cycles must end and restart, and that death is an important part of life. We saw the Starmaker set up a star factory, but even stars die eventually, and need to die, to make new stars. The universe recycles itself, that is how it keeps going. Sometimes we need a reminder that life is short, although sometimes it seems too long as well.

I think we too easily forget that our ineffable duo, as angel and demon, are entities that can effortlessly travel between these two worlds of life and death, as we humans see it. It's their business to do so, after all. As supernatural beings, they are eternally alive, and death has a different meaning to them - it's destruction that they fear.

The Tree of Knowledge & The Tree of Life

Aziraphale's role as Guardian of the Eastern Gate was to prevent humans returning to the Garden of Eden to access the Tree of Life after they had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge.

The Tree of Knowledge gave us questioning, curiosity and imagination. We learned, we created and in doing so made choices - we used free will. But in taking this liberty it gave us the responsibility for ourselves. It supposedly gave us the concept of sin and doing wrong, and also shorter lives to help us deal with the "agony" of this.

And the other option, the Tree of Life, that is apparently so dangerous we must be kept away from it? Is it death? No, quite the opposite - it offers eternal life, and redemption from sin. In short - a state of no change - and no choice.

To access the Tree of Life now the choice is made for you before you can arrive in front of it, in the Book of Life. If your name is in the Book on Judgement Day, you get to enter Paradise. If it is not, you will be cast down into a lake of burning sulfur (hmm, sounds familiar...) And that's it, forever and ever.

Is that really the ideal of Paradise? Yet we're made to fear the cyclic change and new growth that death brings, and want to yearn so much for the stagnation of Eternity that we rigidly structure our lives around a possible promise of it as a goal.

Eternal Life, Eternal Youth

Eternal life is not the same as eternal youth. In a cautionary tale from Ovid's Metamorphoses we have the Cumaean Sybil who lived a thousand years. She was the priestess of the oracle of Apollo at Cumae, near Naples, and apparently Apollo offered to grant her a wish in exchange for her virginity. She scooped up a handful of sand, and asked to be given as many years of life as there were grains of sand that she held. Later, she refused to sleep with the god, so he let her physical body wither away, because she had failed to ask for eternal youth as well. Her body shrunk as the years went by, and grew smaller and smaller, and eventually only her voice was left, kept contained in a jar. (And here is a link to one of the books on Jim's bookshelf - Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar is named after the ampulla that the Sybil's voice was said to have been kept in.)

Searching for a Fountain of Youth, or creating a Philosopher's Stone for immortality has a common theme in stories through history, even from earliest times. It can be seen as a blessing, or a curse, or a fool's errand. It's a quest that is still prevalent in our modern thinking - going to the gym to build muscle, cosmetic surgery for looks only etc Queer culture has long had an emphasis on youth and beauty and growing old is anathema; freezing the body in time like in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray is an aim, but our fragile mortal frames just aren't made for that. Isn't it what is inside us that counts, not the label we have applied to it?

Choices, Choices...

The time has come to make a choice: will it be the stimulating coffee of free will, or the painful change and rebirth of death, that might lead to something even better?

Perhaps you want to try the other combination: Having control and responsibility over your own short life in exchange for having to live your life to a strict set of rules so that you can then exist forever in somebody else's idea of a static ideal afterwards.

I find I'm a bit biased. But you chose what you will.

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” T. S. Eliot

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theamityelf · 2 months

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Have you ever noticed that whenever people do protag switches it's always dr1/sdr2 or sdr2/ndrv3 but never dr1/ndrv3? I feel like that has unthought of potential. May I ask how you think that would go in both cases?

Ooooooh, I love it. Let's see. Let me try not to let my character biases factor in here, lol. (And you can obviously ask for elaboration on any of this, because clearly I'm not going to be super focused. Pretty much just stream of consciousness.)

In all scenarios, at least some of the deaths would happen differently, to different people, by different people, etc.

The Shuichi in THH scenario depends so heavily on which character he attaches himself to right away, lol. Unless we mean Kaede in THH?? Okay, that gets its own section. Yeah, let me section this...

Shuichi in THH

Like I said, this one depends on which character he attaches himself to right away. It could be Hina for her positivity and energy; she's probably the closest to Kaede, there. It could be Taka, who is also high energy and has the added bonus of being called the Ultimate Moral Compass. Shuichi really wants someone to be decisive and strongly believe in something when he feels he can't, and I can see Taka being that person for him. Where Shuichi's scared of doing the wrong thing and hurting people, he can feel assured that what Taka believes is generally going to be right.

Also great because, for all his passion, Taka's actual observations about the school are generally very surface level, so having Shuichi tag along will give him more information to report in his booming voice, while Shuichi gets to chill in his shadow.

When Taka and Mondo have their sauna showdown, I think Shuichi wouldn't go to bed when nighttime comes; he is more loyal to Taka than the nighttime promise. So he'd see the whole inception of the Ishimondo friendship, and I think it would take him a while to trust Mondo. There would be definite "Are you sure about this guy?" energy between him and Taka once Mondo is rolled into their friend group.

And due to Shuichi's overlap of being unfailingly loyal and super harsh when someone brings it out of him, I think the moment Byakuya talks crap about Taka, Shuichi would be the entire Byakuya Hate Squad.

Toko and Genocider would be interesting, because I think Shuichi's fear of convicting someone and ruining their life or getting them killed would interact in an interesting way with the prospect of Genocider Syo, who has gotten away with tons of murders because no one caught her...but then also Toko, who is just a temperamental artist who doesn't want to kill anyone and I bet Shuichi's read "So Lingers the Ocean". I think Toko and Syo would be a reason for Shuichi to confront his feelings about punitive justice. They're practically two diametrically opposed arguments in one body: Syo kills because she likes to, she doesn't regret it, she will keep doing it if no one stops her, but Toko has no choice but to be involved in it, etc. Idk. It's still a bad look for DID representation, so maybe we can take or leave that whole plot thread, but it would do interesting things for Shuichi's character, thematically.

He and Kyoko would work together frequently on investigations (in more of a parallel play kind of way) but not really develop the same bond of trust that she had with Makoto. They trust each other's competency, but beyond that they're not especially close.

Also, when Junko reveals this is a battle of hope versus despair, he would tear apart her whole argument. Like: No, this is a battle of whether subjecting people to absurd conditions might make them hurt each other, and the answer is obvious. Grow up.

It'd be interesting, lol.

Kaede in THH

In this case, I think she'd start off fully believing that someone is going to rescue them. She meets Byakuya and she's like, "Perfect! There's no way someone won't come looking for this guy. This will all be over soon." Since the situation in THH is more grounded than in V3, I think she wouldn't be nearly as serious about getting out until after the first motive. And even then, she's not the one who starts the killings; I still think that would be Sayaka.

I don't think any of the THH motives would really get Kaede, so she might not kill anyone.

I think she would flirt with Chihiro. She would think Chihiro is the cutest thing, and she would say so, and Chihiro would blush profusely. I think those two would get really close, and Kaede would encourage Chihiro, in Chapter 2, that they're already strong in their own way, which would cause them to really focus on using their talent to help the group.

She would also flirt with Mukuro, for however long that lasts. And she would be excited about Sayaka; another musician!

I think Kaede would absolutely match Toko's energy so hard. Toko would definitely have crap to say about her looks and probably her proportions, and Kaede would throw it right back. Honestly same deal with Syo. They would be the toxic yuri to end all toxic yuri. (This is my first time saying "toxic yuri". Did I do it right?)

I hope she makes it long enough to see the music room. She would have a field day with Junko.

Makoto in V3

Finally, this. Wait, actually...

Makoto in V3 replacing Shuichi

Yeah, it occurs to me I have to split this one, too. Okay. I think if Makoto were in Shuichi's place, he would also partner up with Kaede. I think when the whole "tunnel escape" sequence happens, he would suggest that they go to bed and try again tomorrow before everyone reaches the "Screw this forever!" threshold.

I like to imagine, as a result of this, trying the tunnel escape would be a daily thing for a while. Just a scheduled thing that the group regularly does together, much like breakfast. They might give up on it after Chapter 1 or 2, but I just imagine it lasting longer as an activity than in canon.

He wouldn't notice the bookcase thing, so whatever Rantaro was planning would happen. I think, in that chain of events, Makoto and Kaede notice Kaito's little gathering taking place and go see what's going on there, someone spots Rantaro opening the bookshelf or just sees the bookshelf opening, and they reach the conclusion that the mastermind (or Monokuma) is making their move, resulting in a kerfuffle in which Rantaro is killed. Something like that.

I'm not saying who killed him just now; the sequence of deaths is its own thing.

I like to imagine that Kokichi calls Kaede and Makoto the team's mom and dad.

I think Kaito would be unsatisfied with Makoto's manliness, but I don't know that he'd invite him to workout sessions like he did with Shuichi in canon; I think, where Shuichi reads to Kaito as actively unconfident and in need of boosting, Makoto more reads as overly apologetic and easily manipulated/malleable. And depending on how long Kaede survives, I think Kaito would be less likely to treat Makoto as his sidekick than to just say that he, Kaede, and Makoto are all a powerful trio. (Maki does get roped in eventually, but it starts with them.) After all, Makoto isn't an accomplished detective; he's just a normal guy doing his best. And even when he does a really good job, it doesn't make Kaito all that insecure. The vibe is just different. (An Ultimate Detective effortlessly surpassing Kaito's efforts versus an Ultimate Luckster surpassing Kaito's efforts through high efforts of his own.)

The lack of Shuichi means the group does not have a detective. I think a result of this will be that Kokichi would be a bit more active in guiding the protagonists towards clues.

Maki still falls in love with Kaito, and she's also super protective of Makoto, mainly because he's short and can't take a hit. (If Kaito ever punched him, he would pass right out. But I don't think Kaito does punch him.)

Whenever Tenko talks to him, he reflexively apologizes. It's a running gag. His narration will be like, Why am I apologizing? and This was a pretty weird conversation...

Makoto in V3 replacing Kaede

Now, in this case, I'm imagining Makoto manages to trip out of the locker, does a full tumble over Shuichi, and bumps his head on a desk. Just full disaster stuff right off the bat, and Shuichi panics like "Are you okay??" and checks his head, makes sure he didn't bump it too badly, etc. I'm specifying this because Makoto won't be as energetic right out the gate as Kaede, but I do think Shuichi would really like and trust him if he stayed with him for longer than a second, so this is a contrivance to make sure Shuichi stays with him for longer than a second. Some luck, if you will.

(It might not be totally necessary; if they wake up in the same room, it makes sense for Makoto and Shuichi to stick together through the introductions. But this is just to make sure, lol.)

In this version of Chapter 1, they try the escape tunnel a normal amount of times and then give up on it, never to attempt it again (until Electrohammers).

Shuichi notices the bookcase, and they do set up the cameras, but there's no shot put ball trick. Rantaro dies a different way (likely orchestrated by Tsumugi) and the cameras are crucial evidence in the trial that follows.

Because of the steps needed to get to the camera plan, there's a running gag where Miu sees Makoto and Shuichi as her subs. Kaito sees Makoto and Shuichi as his sidekicks. (In this version, the nightly workouts do happen.)

Kokichi tries to make Kaito jealous of Shuichi's closeness with Makoto. (Kind of like, "Why would Shuichi need you when he has Makoto?")

In both versions, I like to think that Tsumugi relates to Makoto on the basis of plainness...or competes with him over it, to his confusion.

And in both versions, I think Makoto finds Angie really cute at first and they hang out a few times, before she starts the Student Council thing. He's kind of her friend. When he doesn't join her, it lowkey hurts her feelings a lot, but she expresses this by casually calling him a heretic.

Aaaand, in both versions, Makoto is the only person Kaito can best in the arcade games.

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quinloki · 1 month

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You know I've seen two yanderes sharing someone before but I don't think I've ever really seen someone write a yandere with multiple victims. Untapped potential if you ask me. Also puts you in the position of being weaker than both parties, even if one of them is on your side. Marco has the strength and stamina to take what Shanks doles out in the bedroom, but you... don't. Unfortunately, Shanks is really into your overstimulated cries and fucked-out expression as he urges Marco to keep rutting into you or worse, doing it himself. Marco grits his teeth and offers himself up, hoping to give you a break, a deal your shared captor begins taking full advantage of. Also Shanks being a total voyeur when it's you and Marco... both before you know what's going on, when Marco is allowed to visit you and after your taken. On rare occasions Shanks will just have you two... entertain him.

Gods the ideas that just flooded me.

Cw: yandere, mind break, implied double penetration, yandere, etc etc. - themes are pretty set for this little impromptu series at this point, mdni

When the veil is pulled back and you’re completely aware of the truth of things, you accept it for your sake and Marco’s. Sex is sex and love is love and you can hand over your body for sex, even if it’s not ideal, as long as Marco’s by your side.

But as Marco fears, Shanks’ desires toward you shift from merely seeing you as a means of control, to something he wants. Maybe even more than that - cause Shanks knows that Marco gave in because of you. If you give into Shanks in the same way than it just deepens everyone’s bonds as far as he’s concerned.

Loving you is loving Marco, and vice versus.

He separates you both again, explaining to you that he’s fallen for you, and his heart - his tender loving caring heart - needs you to return that love. He won’t threaten Marco for it, his love for the Phoenix won’t be changed by your answer, but you -

You won’t touch Marco or know release until you confess your love for Shanks.

At first you won’t give in - you love Marco and no one else, and Shanks’ feelings won’t change that. But then you start to learn how his observation haki works, and every time you try to sneak to Marco, every time you try to relieve any need that builds in you, he catches you every time.

Not even a week later he starts adding pressure. You don’t eat unless Shanks feeds you himself. You don’t sleep unless it’s in his bed. He cleans you too, and then one night you’re blindfolded, and he begins to tease you.

He works you to an unbelievable edge and stops. Again, again, and again. You’re exhausted and there’s no relief in sight. If you’re honest, if you confess your love for him, he’ll grant you release.

It continues until you pass out.

Repeats the next day.

The day after.

You have no idea that Beckman and Marco are both in the room. Marco to bear witness directly, Beckman to keep him controlled and quiet.

You’re either asleep, or being teased. Exhaustion sinks beyond the depth of your bones and starts to crack your will. You don’t know what day it is, how long this has gone on, but you feel that hand against your thigh and sob.

“Please, I love you, please.” You blubber the words, and the hand shifts from teasing to soothing, warming your skin.

“See? I knew you did.” He coos, body warm against yours. “And Marco?”

You’re quiet for a moment, unsure of the “right” answer, and so resign yourself to whatever fate the truth holds. “I love him, too.”

“Of course you do, that’s how it should be.” He praises you quietly and you feel yourself getting moved around. The bed creaks before you get near it and extra hands lift you and move you to straddle someone.

Someone’s at your back and the blindfold is pulled away. Your eyes focus on Marco beneath you as Beckman pulls the gag from his mouth. He gives you a warm smile, even though he looks almost as exhausted as you.

“You did good, pretty bird, it’s okay.

“I love you.” They say it at the same time. They do both love you, and they’re going to prove it as Shanks guides both of them into you.

Whew, yeah, but I imagine it’s a mess of rotating who’s watching, and it nearly breaks you to realize that watching Shanks take Marco is incredibly hot. Letting Shanks lead things, following his desires, makes everything so much easier that it almost seems silly to fight it.

As you descend into acquiescence Marco follows you. Shanks couldn’t have hoped to break him in 100 lifetimes, but Marco will follow you to pandemonium and beyond. If you find comfort in submission he will too.

#quin answers #anon asks #reader insert #x reader #yandere #marco the phoenix #red hair shanks #toxic musings #dead dove #mdni

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favvn · 1 month

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Putting under a read more because I keep making too long of posts about Star Trek TOS. But Amok Time has me reflecting on the idea of belonging/a place to be for Kirk and Spock. (Also, this is a mess. I need to edit this better into a more coherent and concise point.)

In The City on the Edge of Forever, Edith Keeler confronts Kirk and Spock and tells them, "You know as well as I do how out of place you two are around here." It's straight observation: Spock isn't human, and they both have knowledge that is impossible for them to have in the 1930s.

In Amok Time, T'Pau tells Kirk, "Do not interfere, Kirk. Keep thy place." Kirk was voicing his concern about Spock fighting another champion and dying as a result of an uneven match against someone who doesn't care for Spock's life (mistakenly believing that Spock's fever correlates to physical weakness as happens in humans). While he has been told twice at this point that the choice to stay and fight is his to make, T'Pau still indirectly urges him to reject taking part in the ceremony, even if it is only to aid Spock's safety and well-being. In doing so, she recalls Kirk's outsider status. This is not his place as a human, even if such concerns are to be expected of Kirk as a human. If it wasn't for Spock pledging on his behalf and naming him friend, Kirk would've been back on the Enterprise had T'Pau and Vulcan tradition had their say. But Spock's insistence on the right to have his friends at the ceremony and his explicit designation of Kirk and McCoy as his friends puts Kirk in a grey area between Vulcan tradition and established relationship.

Back to The City on the Edge of Forever, Spock, of course, asks the question, "Where would you estimate we belong, Miss Keeler?"

Edith responds, "You? At his side as if you've always been there and always will."

This dialogue is entirely directed at Spock despite his phrasing of "we" rather than "I." And given Joan Collins delivery (is it the dialect she uses? Is it just me? I feel like it's just me), the line sounds vaguely dismissive, making Edith seem as if she is annoyed at Spock for always lurking around Kirk like his shadow, or it's as if she is implying that Spock will never be more than at Kirk's side, as Kirk's Number Two. (In static images you can read whatever infliction into the words, and I will admit, the first time I heard them spoken in-scene, it didn't sound as I had anticipated. Maybe I'm off-base here, but it reminds me of Margaret Sullavan's delivery of the "instead of a heart, a handbag" speech in Shop Around the Corner, a "blend of poetry and meanness," as the film itself calls it.) Regardless, it's telling that a stranger immediately tells Spock that he belongs at the Kirk's side, despite knowing nothing of their relationship as friends and as Captain and First Officer.

Kirk, on the other hand, is told he belongs "in another place." Keeler admits she doesn't know where he belongs or how she knows he doesn't belong, just that he doesn't fit his current circumstances. His place, however, is not dependent on Spock, at least according to Keeler (which is a shame given the impact of repetition, bookend phrasing to call attention, etc.). My point being that, according to Edith Keeler's observation, Spock's place is dependent on Kirk but Kirk's place is dependent on no one. It's sadly one-sided when viewed like this but it puts more focus on Kirk's place being more nebulous.

Back to Spock. In a previous episode, This Side of Paradise, Spock falls under the plant spores' influence and finds himself overcome by feelings of happiness, love, and belonging. The spores immediately overcome any resistance he, as an emotion-repressing Vulcan, ought to have had. But Spock is not fully Vulcan. He is also half human, so the implication is that such strong and positive emotions tapped into his human half at the expense of his Vulcan upbringing. And for a character caught between the two opposing extremes--logic versus emotion, other Vulcans call his status into question due to "weak/diluted blood," humans don't accept him because he has chosen to live according to Vulcan principles--there's no wondering why he gives into the spores' influence. (Compared to Kirk, who is too driven by ambition to give in to the spores, despite being ruled by his emotions and having no explicit training to reign in emotional influence. Neat foil there. To say nothing of the security of identity versus uncertainty/shame of identity. Hmm. Wonder what that could also imply.)

It is in this episode that Spock says, "I don't belong anymore," after Kirk breaks the spores' influence on Spock.

Later, Leila realizes Spock is no longer under the spores' influence--"You're no longer with us, are you?"--and tells him, "You can belong again," implying that he only needs the plant spores once more, should he so choose.

Despite having the option to belong again, Spock declines, stating his responsibility to both The Enterprise and to Kirk. He likens it to a self-made purgatory, this adherence to duty at the expense of happiness, much like how his adherence to Vulcan custom is at the expense of his human half. Spock chooses an in-between place--not heaven/paradise or hell itself--a place of work (if not possible suffering), of purification.

Spock's words parallel Kirk's at the end in This Side of Paradise: "Maybe we weren't meant for paradise. Maybe we were meant to fight our way through."

Now, back to Amok Time. Kirk, of course, accepts the challenge. Despite all the times he has been told he can leave. Despite Spock and McCoy both trying to get him out of it. He is not bound to fight much less stay as an outsider to the ceremony and to Vulcan entirely. But he chooses to stay and fight. A man who has no place to turn to beyond where he decides to be, who has shown he doesn't care about Starfleet orders, but will choose to do whatever is necessary for Spock.

#star trek tos #spirk #amok time #the city on the edge of forever #this side of paradise #tos parallels #jim kirk #spock #connecting dots. getting spirk #feeling like the conspiracy board meme as always #as always this started first and foremost as a screencap parallel collection and just... went from there. yeehaw and all that #this was the post tumblr decided to publish early btw. i was Insane (as always) and remade it. wonder if the early posting was A Sign #like “oh shit that crazy person is at it again. mess up their plans and make them contemplate just not bothering to finish it”#trek meta

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blissfulip · 3 months

Text

Dopamine

on AO3

Viktor x f!reader

Rating: Explicit

Tags: enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, idiots in love (?) dubious science, mostly canon compliant, no use of y/n, chemist!reader, eventual smut, masturbation, angry sex, unprotected sex,

Cw: mentions of alcohol consumption, creepy dude being creepy, bood.

Words: 2.1k

[A/N: tags and content warnings to be updated in each chapter, updates weekly(ish). (also, let me know if you want to be tagged in fic updates!)]

Tags: @ihopeinevergetsoberr @chemical-killjoy @jinxed-jk @bobobomao @queen-of-elves

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Chapter 7: Mixer

You liked the academy’s dormitories because they were spacious and old (the room had belonged to someone before you and someone before them, and so on for hundreds of years). You had come to believe each room could fit two people comfortably, but in the empty yet thorny air between you and Viktor, lying side by side, you began to second-guess this. The once-springy, commodious mattress now felt sticky and narrow for the two of you.

The high lasted less than it normally does when you are on your own, perhaps on account of your sudden strong self-awareness of the circumstances, or it could have been the contention between the person you had been for the past hour an hour has passed? Felt like 15 minutes... and the person you had tried to appear as on any regular basis. The vulnerable versus the impervious, or is it persona and shadow?

It doesn't quite matter now; I have to say something and come out on top—no, not like that.

“We still have two pages to edit.” Your voice came out timid and craven, and you dared to turn your head to look at him. The picture of his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling and his chest heaving up and down suggested his feelings of regret were probably akin to yours.

“Three, in fact. I wasn’t able to finish before, eh, this.”

You adjusted your underwear, pulled your dress down with the swiftness of someone who has not a care in the world or wanted to appear as such, and bounced up to a sitting position, giving the bed under you a small slap with each hand.

“Let’s get to work then.” You did not wait or turn around to observe Viktor’s take on this little parade of pudor, but assumed it went something along the same line. You handed him his cane from where it had fallen on the floor and sat on one of the chairs, all of this done while painfully trying to avoid each other’s gaze.

Naturally, once the work had been revised and you had agreed to each do half of the speech, you picked up your belongings and unceremoniously left his dorm to go to your own. How strange it was that the anxious worry of giving not one but one and a half presentations for a full audience was nowhere in your tired mind, and that the single object of your musings when you plopped on your bed was the image of his eyes enraptured by you and how you’d cover the two bruised bite marks on your neck that the academy uniform wouldn’t hide.

Your eyes closed sluggishly, and you dreamt of amber and violet.

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

“A turtleneck? I know it’s chilly in this auditorium, but isn’t that a bit overkill?”

“I have to protect my voice.” You answered Lara, looking her straight in the eyes. This is something you were good at, technically, lying through your teeth without showing any semblance of discomfort. Unfortunately for you, she knew (or rather, by then, only suspected) too much, and nothing could have prepared you for how quick her hands would be at pulling down your collar to reveal what she expected to find imprinted on your neck.

Her eyes grew wide.

“And what about it? Can’t a girl have fun the night before a stressful day?” You tried to keep that mask of nonchalance you’d been trying to carry around, and you hoped she had forgotten who you were supposed to be with the previous night.

“I thought you said you weren’t together?” She got closer to you and did her best to whisper, but the animation in her voice was giving away so much information that you were glad there was no one around to pick it up.

“With whom?”

“Stop that; I know you two spent the afternoon together!”

You let out a sigh of resignation.

“And we are in fact not together; it was simply a lapse in judgment that neither of us wants to remember or talk about.”

Whatever Lara intended to say was lost to history the moment she saw Viktor enter the backstage area. The mix of your panicked expression and Lara’s hungry-for-information face made his shoulders cringe almost all the way up to his ears. You had to let out a chuckle at the sight of him immediately turning on his heel and walking away.

"I can't believe that guy is the same one who did all that to your neck.”

“Please never say that again.”

Lara chuckled through her teeth before giving you a smug look and leaving for her own venue. Without Cirian there, the backstage area was exclusively for you and Viktor, perchance only you if he had decided to forgo his spot on the schedule and move back to the undercity, or maybe quit the academy and jump off a bridge. Maybe I’m projecting.

Soon enough, you could hear Jayce’s booming voice coming from outside the door and getting nearer. You oscilated between relief and dread for about 30 more seconds before Viktor and him came waltzing into the room. He hugged you, and you talked. It was casual and comfortable to see your friend again, but Viktor’s looming presence as he stood slightly behind him like a kid waiting for his mom to finish catching up with an acquaintance at the market shortly became too much to ignore.

“You should sit; we will probably stand for over an hour when it starts.” You told Viktor as you walked to grab one of the folding chairs you had found in the other room and handed it to him. He took it from you with a stiff ‘thank you’ and sat on it in silence. Jayce took notice of the awkward tension and looked back and forth between you with an eyebrow raised before asking.

“What did I miss?"

“Hm?”

“What is going on here?”

“What are you talking about?” Viktor asked.

“I fully expected you two to be all over each other."

Your mouth went dry, and you heard Viktor choking up.

“What?” You managed to cry out shyly.

“You know, you’re always fighting, and I haven’t heard a single insult from either of you yet.”

“Our minds are probably preoccupied with, eh, the presentations.” Viktor interjected, and this sounded plausible enough to make you lose some tension.

Jayce didn’t seem to fully believe it, though; his choice of words earlier hadn’t been intentional, but your reaction to it seemed rather disproportionate, so he kept this on the backburner until he could bring it up again.

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

The conference itself went without a hitch, and you were both showered with praise in the aftermath by all the students and academics in attendance alike. And although you generally abhorred being the center of attention to this extent, this came as a welcomed distraction from everything else you had in mind.

You were more than ready to go home and take a bath, but a small mixer was going to take place at the academy for the teachers, academics, and faculty members. Somehow Lara, Jayce, and Moira—who had been nice enough to show up to your presentation—collectively managed to drag you and Viktor along.

No drinking for me tonight. You thought, not after...

Among the noise and the scent of liquor and the faraway attempts at conversation from myriads of unknown people, both happy and not, the lack of sleep and sore leg muscles were starting to catch up with you.

Somewhere on your way to the velvet-red sofa were Lara and Cirian, having a conversation that seemed way too animated for someone who claimed to have been near a bittersweet passing that very morning. You pondered going over to him and questioning him; after all, he was to blame for the way Viktor’s hands fit so tightly on your waist. He was to blame, for sure, but you couldn’t possibly say anything, at least not without hinting at the serpentine paths you had dug into Viktor’s back, so you sat on the couch and people-watched.

It was so bizarre to see the members of the council at an event like this, but you figured Heimerdinger probably had a (tiny) hand on that, and he had probably taken all the praise for the conference that they might have had to offer, so you did not have to worry about interacting with any of them. Jayce certainly didn’t seem intimidated, at least not by Councilor Medarda.

You sat there and watched as he turned to talk to her when she approached him. You saw his hand slither up her back, and you saw them walking away, leaving a lonely Viktor standing there, an eye roll and sour expression parading through his face in quick succession. You figured he would take this opportunity to leave, and he in fact started to do just that, scanning the room for the exit, when he was intercepted by that sweet intern that always followed them around.

Sky was quiet, at least around you. You suspected the cold looks she gave you sometimes were due to your usual jabs at her boss (friend?) in her presence, and you understood that; you accepted it even and always tried to be as nice as possible to her. The taste of bile in your mouth when Viktor inconspicuously put a hand on her shoulder was a response you did not prepare yourself for.

For a short second, you tried to give yourself validation. You thought about all the times she had ignored you when you greeted her at the lab and felt valiantly justified, Then you almost fell victim to the impulse to walk over and ‘accidentally’ knock her over. You were quick to sallow the venom and figuratively shake yourself off your high horse; there was no valid reason for you to suddenly be so vile towards someone you had barely ever spoken to, all because—all because Viktor touched her affectionately.

You had no time to feel sick, even though your body certainly gave you the cues that it was going to, because you felt the weight of someone sitting next to you on the sofa. Asher put one arm around your shoulders and leaned over to your ear to say something.

“I heard you did amazingly today."

“Thank you.” You responded incisively as you took his arm and untangled yourself from it.

“I’m more impressed at how you were able to do any work with that dunce.”

“Viktor?”

“Yeah, he looks like he’s a complete idiot; I'm not sure how he managed to convince the Academy that he wasn’t a complete fraud.” He said, giving you a small nudge on the arm.

“You expect me to agree with that?” You asked after a prolonged silence.

“Well, yes, you must know that better than anyone, given how much you two dislike each other.”

“I don’t dislike him because I think he’s a fraud; he is clearly one of the most brilliant people in Piltover.”

“You can’t be seriously defending him.”

“I’m not ‘defending him'; I’m simply not blind enough to affirm that he is not intelligent.”

“I thought you hated him.”

“I do, just not for that reason!” You started to raise your voice in exasperation.

“Then why?”

“Because he—” You started, and soon noticed you couldn’t think of why with as much ease as you did in the past. “Why do you care so much?”

You said that and excused yourself to run to the bathroom. Once there, you closed the door and didn’t bother to lock it, quickly opening the faucet to splash some water on your face. You gave it more thought and repeated it to yourself like a mantra.

He’s arrogant and impatient, and he only cares about himself and his work. He's the academy’s perfect boy, hogging all the resources, and he’s uptight and...

Well, it wasn’t really his fault that the academy neglected everyone else, and his dedication to his work was admirable. You leaned on the sink with both hands, looking at yourself in the mirror as you mumbled.

Arrogant, impatient, and uptight. No, definitely not uptight.

More memories from the night before flashed through your mind, your hands trailing the seam of the turtleneck you were wearing.

He is arrogant and impatient; that is a fact.

Another splash of water, and you were feeling better, but although you had one hand on the door handle, it burst open without you turning it. You were faced with Viktor’s tall figure blocking your way out, and though you were ready to tell him how ‘impatient and arrogant’ you had concluded he was, the copious amounts of blood trickling down his nose and mouth deterred your attention from that.

#viktor #viktor x reader #arcane viktor #viktor arcane #arcane #arcane fanfic #viktor fanfic

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btskitten7 · 1 month

Text

Moonchild

Ship: Kim Namjoon x fem reader

AU/genre: fantasy au

Rating: M

wc: 2.5k

Chapter warnings: none except a small sex scene.

Chapter summary: Namjoon is the king of the moon which is referred to as the Moonchild.

tagss: @shadowyjellyfishfest @baechugff @maunosorioh @shelylamc @princess-sunshyn @scuzmunkie @wanceu @coldcoffee2121 @maunosorioh @massivelyfullenthusiast

“Moonchild you shine”

“When you rise, it's your time”

“Moonchild don't cry”

“When moon rise, it's your time”

“Moonchild you shine”

“When moon rise, it's your time”

Namjoon sang these lyrics every hour on the hour.

He sang these lyrics throughout the night as he rested on the moon, deep in the night sky. He watched the humans under him prepare for bed, watch the stars, or tell their children about the child on the moon, him. He loved that.

It pleased Namjoon to hear these types of stories about him. It pleased him to know humans have such a great perception of him. He was dying to know what life is like down on Earth versus life on the moon. To him, life on the moon was very similar to life on Earth. The only difference is the weather, surroundings, and the abilities of the people on the moon.

Each person on the moon is given a special power at birth that’s never been used by anyone else. Abilities are never duplicated or reused and they determine your rank in society. If you don’t like your power, you can’t do anything about it but deal with it and master it.

Namjoon was one of the few people who had more than one power.

Precognition: The ability to see things before they happen. Telekinesis: The ability to catch things mid-air before it get the chance to hit you. Super Mentality: the ability to learn a universe and its secrets in a matter of seconds.

With an unshakable belief in his ability to help humans, Namjoon possessed an almost overwhelming intelligence. In preparation for his potential visit to Earth, he devoted countless years to perfecting life not only on the moon but also on the planet itself. His desire was to blend in and appear "normal" if the opportunity ever arose.

Namjoon dedicated many hours of the night to learning about human life. However, his studies were hindered by the fact that humans sleep at night, while the people of the moon remain awake. In order to overcome this obstacle, he began staying up during the day to observe and understand human life.

Joon's parents desired to keep him in their realm, even though they understood his longing to visit the human world. They could not allow him to leave their watchful eyes, as his status as a "Moonchild" entailed a level of prestige and recognition akin to that of a president or a king. Exposing him to potential dangers would be nothing short of a tragedy, given his elevated position.

Despite the allure of the moon's surface, Joon harbored a deep desire to explore the wonders of Earth. He longed to witness the vastness of the ocean and sample the diverse cuisine of humans. While the moon's surface may appear barren and desolate, its hidden depths reveal an unexpected beauty. Once one delves beneath the surface, the moon unveils a breathtaking spectacle of natural beauty, surpassing even the most vivid imagination.

While Namjoon was still fascinated with the real world, you appeared behind Namjoon after a long day of healing and weather control. You were Namjoon’s wife-to-be. Being engaged to the moonchild had its perks but it was very tiring, especially since you were elite in healing, weather manipulation, and plant control.

You can already tell why Namjoon fell for you. You were sweet and extremely smart, just like him. It was like you guys were made for one another. You truly held Namjoon's missing rib from the beginning of time. You had all the same views he did…except going to Earth.

You heard a lot about Earth and weren't impressed. The greed, pain, and suffering were something you wanted no part in. You had your parents to blame for ruining your thoughts about Earth but you were pleased that they saved you from such displeasure.

Namjoon's attraction to you is understandable. You're kind, intelligent, and share his perspectives. It's almost as if you were destined to be together. From the start, you've been Namjoon's perfect match, except when it comes to going to Earth.

Earth has never held your interest. You were not drawn to its greed, pain, and suffering. While your parents may have negatively influenced your views, you are grateful for their protection from such unpleasantness.

Despite your incomprehension of Joon's enduring fascination with the human realm, you possessed the power to create any living thing, including beaches and rainforests, fulfilling his every desire. Yet, Joon remained captivated by the prospect of visiting Earth.

"What occupies your mind, my love?" you inquired, approaching him from behind and enveloping him in a warm embrace. His intoxicating scent filled your senses, sending shivers down your spine. He gently lifted his arm, wrapping it around yours before spinning you around and pulling you into a tight hug.

“Nothing, just took it easy today. I ignored a lot of calls today” He smiled, lifting your face and kissing you softly.

“Oh, you took a break while your overworked fiancee did all the work?” You teased kissing him back. Namjoon chuckled in the kiss as his strong arms wrapped around your waist, letting his hands roam from your waist to your ass, giving it a tight squeeze.

“Don’t fret baby, I was resting so I can go overdrive tonight with you” he whispered, kissing your neck softly and bringing the two of you into the bathroom as he knew you were heading to the shower. You lift your hand to grip the back of his neck while your free hand cascades its fingers through his grey locks. Joon's kisses became a bit sloppier and wet as he continued, feeling comforted by your fingers running against his scalp.

As soon as the shower was turned on, clothes went flying.

Wrapping your arms around Joon’s neck, he picked you up by your thighs and wrapped your legs around his waist. Your lips molded together as your tongues wrestled one another. Joon lined his member with your cunt and pushed through your folds drawing a moan from your lips.

Steam quickly filled the air and the lewd sounds of skin slapping, your moans, and Joon’s curses filled the bathroom as Joon made love to you. He grabs your hips and guides them against his groin. You held your hands against the glass as he pounded you from behind with one hand gripping your hair.

“You’re so pretty bent over for me like this. Just for daddy huh?” he whispered roughly in your ear after he pulled you back up, thrusting deeper between your folds, wrapping his large hand around your neck.

“Just for daddy, Just for him.” You moaned feeling Joon fill you. His lip trails down your neck as his thrusts become sloppier and deeper. His hand wraps around your body and lands right over your clit. He applies pressure to it as he continues you fuck you senselessly. Hips begin to buck into his hand as you feel the wave of pleasure greet you.

After you both gained your pleasure and finished your showers, you both cuddled each other as you thought, to bed.

“Baby, can you teach me more about healing?” Namjoon asked, kissing your forehead, making small circles on your skin. You hummed. “I want to learn a little bit more” he continued.

“Yeah, I don’t mind teaching you, but,” You started, “why are you so interested in healing all of a sudden?”

A broad smile spread across Joon's face as he sat upright and clutched his book. "Humans on Earth have professionals like nurses and doctors, similar to you, but they lack the remarkable self-healing abilities we possess. I've been thinking, perhaps we could offer them our assistance…"

Joon's enthusiasm was heartwarming, but you were adamant about not aiding any humans. You promptly shook your head. "No, Joon. I will not participate, and neither will you." Joon clicked his teeth lightly and pulled you onto his lap.

He wishes your parents didn’t scare you when it came to the human world. He believes that you would love it just like he did. All he had to do was convince you to at least go once.

“Baby, baby, baby we can help them save their loved ones and live longer and happier. We can really help them, baby. We can explore and prove to our parents and everyone here that Earth and its humans aren’t as bad as we think they are.” he pleaded.

You looked at him as he ranted and raved about going. He was so passionate about it but you just couldn’t bring yourself to go or to allow him to go. A small sigh fell from your lips as you heard his passion.

“Baby, don’t you want to explore with me?” he asked, visualizing seeing the displeasure on your face. “I want to focus on things that matter right now, like our wedding and all the million tasks we have to take care of here. We’re starting a family soon. I don’t think it’ll be a good idea to go right now.” You admitted. Joon rubbed your thighs. “Yes I know, I know but baby we can take care of those things soon. Let’s just go for one day. Just one day, just to see what it’s like.”

“Please?”

You looked at him, slightly rolling your eyes. Knowing he wasn’t going to let up, you mindlessly agreed.

“Fine. But only for one day. That’s it.”

The biggest and cheesiest smile appeared on his face as he tackled you to the bed.

“Thank you, baby! Thank you. You’re not going to regret this. I promise.”

As night fell, Joon slept soundly, comforted by the knowledge that he would soon experience the Earth's ground for the first time. In contrast, you struggled to find any rest.

The thought of setting foot on Earth sent shivers down your spine. You had no desire to see it or meet its inhabitants, content with your life on the Moon. Your parents' stories about the human world played on a loop in your mind throughout the night, unsettling you to the core. You knew your nervousness manifested in the form of wind, but thankfully, you managed to control it, preventing anyone from noticing your distress.

The next morning, Joon was giving you a lesson on everything he knew about the foreign planet. You pushed your food around as he kept going on and on.

“There’s so much to see there. They have foods we’ve never tried before and they have buildings full of books and art created by their people. Best of all they have these things that people go to and watch their favorite people sing their favorite songs. Baby it’s going to be great.”

You didn’t even dignify him with a response. He looked up from his food and looked over at you then outside. He saw the cloud start to roll in and the small droplets of rain hit the side of his window. “Flower—“ he whispered.

You could never hide your feelings. Since you have the power to control everything that has to do with the weather, the skies will tell on you before you can. The weather was connected to your feelings and emotions. This could be a problem if you didn’t have control over your feelings. There were only a few emotions you couldn’t control. Anger, sadness, and fear. Fear and sadness will bring a small shower and clouds. Nothing too bad since rain is always a way of comfort for some. It’s anger that brings fear to everyone. It wasn’t your typical thunderstorm, it was a vicious storm that truly brought fear to everyone’s heart.

The scariest part is no one knows what type of storm will happen. It was completely unpredictable and people tried their hardest not to piss you off and before you met Joon, everything pissed you off.

Joon stands alone in his ability to provide you with the necessary assistance. He has an uncanny knack for finding the right words to calm and reassure you. Notably, he was the first to recognize your innate abilities. No matter how hard you tried to conceal them, it was futile, particularly in his presence.

“Baby… what’s wrong? Talk to me.” He said taking your hands and kissing them softly.

You took your hands and took your plate to the sink. “Nothing. If we’re going then we should go now before it gets daylight there.”

Joon's eyes watched you walk back into your shared room before he looked outside and saw the rain was getting a bit harder. He stood to his feet and cleaned the kitchen before he headed to you. Whatever it was bothering you he had to get a hold of it.

After he went to the room behind you, he instantly clung to you.

“Baby please talk to me, tell me what’s on your mind?”

You shook your head. “Let’s just go Joon, I want to get this over with. We can talk later”

You both got dressed and brought the necessary things you would need while you were there. Joon was worried about you but he couldn’t hold back his excitement. He was finally going to see the place he had heard so much about. After reading about it and gaining all the possible knowledge about Earth, he was finally going to see it for himself.

“What do you think you’re doing Namjoon?”

Turning around you both saw your parents, both sets were visibly upset.

“Mother, we were just-“

“Just going to a place that we’ve forbidden you to go to.”

“Neither one of you are allowed to even leave”

“Father, we just want to see what it’s like”

Your eyes cut to Namjoon but you remained silent since this is something he wanted.

You were going to support him no matter what.

“Is that true Y/n?” Your mother asked.

Joon looked down at you with pleading eyes. “Please, Flower?” He whispered loud enough for the both of you to hear. You sighed softly and nodded.

You couldn’t crush his dreams. It is the only thing he can have without someone watching over his shoulder.

“Mm, yes. Joon talks about this planet all of the time. I’m not too sure about it but I want to see just how amazing he thinks it is.” You said. Your parents were shocked, and so was Joon’s.

“Are you sure? Darling, you don’t have to go”

“I can’t let him wander around an unknown place on his own. I have to make sure he’s okay. Since he is still learning how to heal, I should go just in case something happens.“

“Trust me, we’ll only stay for a day and we’ll be back before nightfall.” Joon pleaded.

The rain started to get a little louder against the windows which drew everyone’s attention. Your mother is worried the most. You are her little girl and she can’t protect to from there like she can here. She can feel the nerves flowing from your body.

“I won’t let anything happen to her. I won’t put her in any type of danger,” he added.

The two sets of parents looked at each other and nodded before Namjoon decided to speak.

“Okay, Namjoon…you may go. But,” he said “I’m temporarily stripping your powers and giving them to YN”

#bts fanfic #bts imagine #bts x reader #bts angst #bts smut #bts namjoon #bangtanwhq #moonchild #bts rm #rm moonchild

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queering-ecology · 3 months

Text

Eluding Capture: The Science, Culture, and Pleasure of “Queer” Animals by Stacy Alaimo (final)

Eluding Capture

“A universe of differing naturecultures, propelled by the pursuit of pleasure as well as other forces, can hardly serve as a foundation for biological reductionism, gender essentialism, heteronormativity, or models of human exceptionalism” (64).

Researchers (Vasey et al) in their investigation of female-female mounting behavior concluded that this behavior is ‘female typical’ and not some attempt at executing ‘male mounting behavior’. “The macaques may remind us of Judith Butler’s argument that homosexuality is not an imitation of heterosexuality” (65).

Most feminist theory distinguishes between sex and gender, positing ‘gender’ as cultural, and thus solely a human construct (65). But Roughgarden, on the other hand, sees gender in nonhuman animals, defining it as “the appearance, behavior, and lived history of a sexed body” (2004, 27) (65). Many species have more than three genders.

The white throated sparrow apparently has “four genders, two male, two female”—these genders are distinguished by either a white stripe or a tan tripe and correspond to aggressive an territorial versus accommodating behaviors. 90% of the breeding involves a tan stripe bird (of either sex) with a white stripe bird (of either sex) (9) (65).

The call by researchers like Haraway to see animals as ‘other worlds, replete with significant otherness’ (2003, 25) is useful when trying to make sense of the sheer multitude and complexity of animal cultures that don’t fit within human—even feminist, even queer, models. These ‘queer species’ are queer in a multitude of ways but rarely do any of them correspond to modern categories of gay or lesbian.

Queer ecologists such as Roughgarden and Bagemihl argue that “many non-Western cultures have a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the sexual diversity of the nonhuman world” and that “contemporary theoretical accounts of sexual diversity pale next to both the scientific account of animal sexuality and knowledge systems of particular indigenous groups, who recognize sexual diversity” (66).

“The animal world—right now, here on earth—is brimming with countless gender variations and shimmering sexual possibilities: entire lizard species that consist only of females who reproduce by virgin birth and also have sex with each other; or some multigendered society of the Ruff, with four distinct categories of male birds, some of whom court and mate with one another; or female Spotted Hyenas and Bears who copulate and give birth through their ‘penile’ clitorides, and male Great Rheas who possess ‘vaginal’ phalluses (like the females of their species) and raise young in two-father families; or the vibrant transsexualities of coral reef fish, and the dazzling intersexualities of gynandromorphs and chimeras. In their quest for ‘postmodern’ patterns of gender and sexuality, human beings are simply catching up with the species that have preceded us in evolving sexual and gender diversity—and aboriginal culture have long recognized this” (1999, 260-61)( 66).

Despite our endless attempts at rationalization and categorization and trying to make sense of the world, the sheer diversity and multiplicity among animal sexuality and gender, sex, reproduction and childrearing still makes our minds boggle. These moments of wonder ignite the sense that suddenly the world is not only “more queer than one could have imagined, more surprisingly itself, meaning that it confounds our categories and systems of understanding”….queer animals elude perfect modes of capture. By doing so, “queer animals dramatize emergent worlds of desire, action, agency and interactivity that can never be reduced to a background or resource against which the human defines himself” (67).

“Is the diversity of sexual behavior that we can observe in nature anything other than mindbogglingly beautiful?” (Homosexual Behavior in Animals: An Evolutionary Perspective by Volker Sommer, 2006 370).

“Nature’s inventiveness far outruns our meager ability to categorize her productions,” and “the sheer inventiveness—exuberance—of nature overwhelms” (68).

“World is crazier and more of it than we think” (Louis MacNeice) “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed” (Albert Einstein)

Sexual diversity in nature, is not only interesting from a scientific standpoint but these phenomena are also ‘capable of inspiring our deepest feelings of wonder and our most profound sense of awe’ (1999, 6) (68). Which the writer hopes will inspire greener politics and greater interest in the topic of 'significant otherness' in nonhuman animals.

This brings to mind for me, the concept of Wakan Tanka; The Great Mystery. Wakan Tanka is a Lakota concept of all that is still a mystery, that cannot be understood, and the great beyond—the cosmos and all that is not known yet here on Earth. I connect this to the previous text because to me, the indigenous people have always had this sense of appreciation, wonder and love for the mysterious and the diversity of our world.

#queer ecologies: sex nature politics desire #queer ecofeminism #critical ecology #animal sexuality #sexuality #queer animals #queer ecology #ecofeminism #queer theory #ecology #wakan tanka #biodiversity #indigenous peoples #indigenous cultures #traditional ecological knowledge #environmental politics #environmentalism #heteronormativity

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