#you can hear EEEEEVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!

[cyncity2000]

brb Screaming

#you can hear EEEEEVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!! #i'M SO HAPPYYYYYYY #mind = blown bc there's literally no way to tell that the random white-noise kinda sound at the beginning is actually hte CHORUS #HOW WERE WE EVER SUPPOSED TO HEAR THAT i can just Barely hear it now that i've heard it in the acapella #jillian back on ur tl screaming about backing vocals Sorry but also Not Really #i think they're cool and i'm gonna keep posting abt them <3 #wait why don't i have a tag for this #exposed backing vocals #that works ig #bastille video #distorted light beam #my video rec #bastille #Youtube

[sxcret-garden-archive]

Yugyeom ✧ Good-Night Kissing

✧ Got7 Yugyeom x reader ✧ words: ~1.4k ✧ genre: fluff, roommate AU ✧ prompt: “If I kissed you would you be mad?” (from this list)

moved from @saltys-writings​

It’s about 1 in the morning when you stagger up to the door of your flat and it takes you around 5 minutes of fumbling with the keys to let yourself in. You close the door a bit too loudly, and despite being drunk as hell your first response is to feel bad in case you woke up your flatmate. However, after you have kicked off your shoes and you step into the living room, the half open door to his room and the dim light falling through it tell you he’s still up. You let your bag drop onto the floor next to you and pull a chair over from the dining table, turning it around fully, to sit down on it. In the meanwhile his face appeared, peeking out of his room, along with his slightly messy hair. You sigh deeply at how soft it looks and start debating if you should just jump him and ruffle through it once, giving in to your urges, or if you should let it be. Another sigh follows. It’s not easy being secretly in love with your roommate.

“Are you okay…?” the center of your attention asks, stepping outside. He’s wearing all black, as per usual - simple pants and a T-Shirt with some print on the front. The sight draws a third sigh from your lips. Yugyeom approaches you and leans down in front of you to be at eye level with you, looking at you with both amusement and concern in his expression.

“How much did you drink?” he questions and flinches in surprise when you throw your hands in the air.

“Eeeeeverything!” you answer, then break out in a giggle fit while he stands up straight and puts his hands onto his hips.

“Yeah, that’s what you look like…” Now he’s the one letting out a sigh. He walks away for a moment, going almost unnoticed by you, and reappears with a glass of water in his hand. He holds it out to you. “Here, drink this,” he says.

“What if I don’t?” you challenge him, crossing your arms in front of your puffed chest.

“Trust me. You’ll be thankful in the morning,” he tries convincing you. You stare at the water with suspicion in your eyes, as if there was some kind of poison inside.

“That’s ridiculous…” you mumble to yourself. “He wouldn’t poison me…”

“What?” you hear him confusedly exclaim. “It’s just normal water?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll drink it up, mom,” you mock him as you finally take the glass from him and down the whole thing at once. When you set it down on the table behind you as soon as it’s empty, you say, while further looking at him with just the right amount of spite, “You happy now?”

“Very.” He smiles. Your facade is flaking at that alone, but of course he can’t just hit once, he has to hit twice. You see him reaching out his hand, and before you can do anything about it, you feel his touch on top of your head, and you let out a noise of both protest and defeat when he does the thing you constantly want to do to him and ruffles through your hair. “You should go take a shower and then sleep, Y/N,” he says, followed by a yawn. “Let me know if you need something. I’ll stay up until you’re in bed.” He turns around and walks back into his own room, and you get up as well. However, you don’t do so to actually follow his instructions. Instead you follow him into his room, where he already sat down on his bed, his phone and headphones beside him.

“Do you need something?” he asks, looking up at you with wide eyes. You shake your head and point to his side, about to ask if you can sit there, but your legs are faster with walking there than your brain is with forming a sentence. So you just drop down onto the blanket next to him as he watches. Your shoulders are slightly touching, and you enjoy the closeness you usually don’t get from your interactions with him, while you let your hands disappear in the sleeves of someone else’s cardigan you’re still wearing. You try to remember how it came to the exchanging of your jacket for that piece of clothing, but fail to find a clear memory.

“Are you just going to sit there?” he asks, and you can hear the smile on his face even without seeing it.

“Say…” you start, fumbling with the sleeves. “I know we’re just roommates and all…”

“What are you saying? We’re at least friends!” he corrects you, causing you to blush slightly.

“Then since we’re just friends and all… if I kissed you would you be mad?” With the extra courage the alcohol in your blood is currently giving you, you even dare to look up at him after that, to check for his reaction. If your eyes aren’t tricking you you could’ve sworn you see a blush appearing on his cheeks as well.

“No… why would I be mad?” he answers, speaking slowly as if it had taken him all his brainpower to come up with that response.

“Oh.” You wouldn’t have expected him to say no. So now you go back to staring at your sweater-paws - or in your case cardigan-paws - saying nothing. That’s until he breaks the silence.

“Aren’t you going to?” You turn your head to his side, your eyes being immediately drawn to his lips.

“I- I don’t know- I mean-,” you stutter, trying to form a coherent sentence but your thoughts getting all jumbled up won’t let you. So he turns his upper body towards you as well, and he leans in to leave far too little space between your faces for your heart not to want to jump right out of your chest. You’re not sure if you should keep staring at his lips, or focus on his eyes instead, so your pupils just keep jumping between the two of them, making him chuckle.

“I’ll help you,” he whispers, closing his eyes, so now the only thing left for you to stare at are indeed his lips.

“B-but just because you won’t get mad…” you try to talk yourself out of it, when you see another smile on his face appearing.

“Just kiss me already,” he says softly, making you unable to speak further. And so after another second or two of reconsidering, you do the thing that seems like the only option you have left. You close the distance between the two of you and press your lips against his for just a brief moment. Pulling away, you see a playful spark in his pupils as he looks at you sheepishly.

“That’s it?” he dares to ask.

“Uh…” You’re not sure how to react, but he takes it away for you by cupping your face with his hand and leaning in again, this time to kiss you properly. He moves his lips against yours slowly, letting you fall into the pace he sets, before leading you into a more open-mouthed kiss. His hand reaches behind your head, fingers becoming loosely entangled in your hair, sending tingles down your spine. When he pulls back, he leaves you longing for that warm feeling on your lips again, and after shooting him a pleading look, he reconnects your mouths, filling you up with warmth, and a sense of satisfaction. You let out a moan that’s barely audible when he goes over to nibbling on your lower lip, and then proceeds to deepen the kiss again, before you eventually have to break apart to breathe.

“More…” you demand shyly once you caught your breath, but instead of another kiss you just receive a pat on the back.

“Go shower first and then sleep. We can continue when you’re sober.” You glare at Yugyeom for a moment, but upon meeting the soft expression in his eyes you can’t stay mad for long.

“Fine,” you cave in the end. “But I wanna sleep here.” You give his bed a few strong pats with your hand.

“That we can arrange,” he answers, and finally you’re willing to get up to take off to the bathroom.

#got7 fluff #got7 #got7 drabbles #yugyeom fluff #got7 imagines #got7 scenarios #got7 fanfic #got7 writings #kim yugyeom #got7 yugyeom #got7 writing #got7 imagine #got7 drabble #got7 scenario #fluff

[i-simp-for-gintoki]

Naruto with an injured s/o

“heyyy can you do naruto x reader and then they’re training but she breaks her arm and then naruto helps her with everything? ty 🥺”-anon

Naruto is such a sweetheart, i love him.

You guys were doing some light training. Kakashi was doing his own mission and sakura had better things to do then deal with naruto

So it was just you two having fun while punching and throwing kunai at each other

You threw a few flirtatious lines at him but as usual they went over his head or got him confused

Jumping through the trees, you were trying to catch up with naruto but overestimated the amount of chakra you needed to jump with

You ended up jumping past the branch and headed straight to the ground

Instead flipping or landing properly, or even rolling, you stuck your arms out and landed wrong on top of them

And with that, you broke an arm

Naruto paused when he didn’t hear you behind him, and quickly rushed back when he heard you loudly swear

Standing from the branches he looked down and saw your form

A pained expression on your face as you clutched your arm

Eyes widening in worry, he was by your side in a flash

“Are you okay?!” “do i look okay to you?!” you yelled back but quickly apologized for snapping at him

You groan in pain and he finally notices your arm is bent in a weird way 

Poor boy panics

Starts yelling a bunch and even calls a shadow clone for help

“What do i do?!” “I don’t know! She’s dying and all i can do is watch!” “It’s all my fault!” “Waah!! Y/n-chan please don’t die!” “She’s not dying on my watch dattebayo!”

As the clone and him continue to freak out, you yell at them to shut up

“Quit freaking out Naruto. I think my arm is just broken”

“Broken?! Like you can’t use it anymore? I gotta get you to sakura-chan!” “she heals like flesh wounds, not bone damage...i think”

You go to stand up but naruto quickly picks you up bridal style

Flustered you yell at him and he gives you a smile

But the other naruto wasn’t to happy about that

“No fair, I wanna hold y/n-chan”

Once again starts arguing and the clone accidently hits your arm causing you to yell in pain

Out of guilt the clone screams before poofing away

You guys get to the doctors in no time 

Naruto is being way more dramatic than he needs to be

It was relatively a clean break so it will heal pretty quickly

But because of this you can’t go on missions

Naruto doesn’t know if he should stay to be with you or do double the missions so you won’t go completely broke during this time

Such a sweet boy

You tell him to do what he wants.

So he goes on a bit more missions but whenever he’s not on a mission he is with you

Definitely drew a bunch of doodles on your cast

Constantly asks if your in pain or need medicine 

Since your arm is broken he wants to do eeeeeverything for you

You want to read? He’s holding the book for you. Want to eat? He’s gonna feed you. Drink water? He’s got you

You tease him about it but he lives up to it

“You calling me a maid? I will be the best maid there ever was, dattebayo!”

Kakashi comes back from his mission and spots you and naruto out eating dango

“Is naruto...feeding you?” “Yup” “Don’t you use your other arm to eat?” “Shhh, he’s very proud of what he’s doing” “Im right here ya know!”

When its time for the cast to come off he freaks out

“They’re gonna cut it with that?! What if they cut your arm off??”

“I guess that’ll suck a bit” “just a bit?!”

He laughs and is in awe when he sees how skinny the arm had become

Even if you don’t want his help, he’s gonna help you regain the strength you had in that arm

Ever since then, whenever you go tree hopping he does tease you and says to be careful while jumping

#naruto x reader #naruto headcanons #uzumaki naruto #do i give a special tag since this is literally a naruto x reader?? #naruto imagines

[firelord-frowny]

!!! another bit of ~advice~ from Divorce Court that i think i disagree with is the notion that you should never ever ever ever discuss your marital issues with anyone other than your spouse. the idea is that if you tell people bad stuff about your spouse, then they’re gonna automatically hate them and treat them terribly.

which like, if your friends and fam are raggedy, petty ass pieces of shit, then yeah, that’s probably true lmao.

but if your friends and fam are mature, reasonable people, i feel like it’s actually healthy to discuss certain issues with them??? and that those friends/fam will be mature enough to not be assholes toward the spouse just bc they’ve heard a few negative stories about them.

bc like. it’s so easy to be blinded by our own emotions, or second guess our gut feelings, and sometimes the only way to open your mind and see a little clearer is to explain the issue to someone else and see what their impression is. Like, you can be SO MAD about something, and you’re SO SURE that you have every right and reason to be livid, but then you tell your homegirl about it and she’s like, “i mean, that’s an annoying situation, for sure, but i don’t think it’s something you need to throw him out over.” and so you think about it, and you’re like, dang! she right! can’t believe i got all riled up at my man over this nonsense! imma go home and give him a hug!

Or maybe you’re telling someone about an argument you had with your spouse, and you think it’s just a typical fight that married people have, but your friends hear major red flags in your story. for the first time, someone tells you that it’s not normal for your spouse to scream at you and call you out of your name. 

If you keep eeeeeverything to yourself, it’s hard to calibrate your gague of what’s normal/common/healthy in a relationship, and what’s not. it’s hard to know if your or your partner’s expectations are realistic. and if the only person you ever talk to is your spouse, and neither of you ever get the clearer perspective of a third party, then i feel like issues can just compound themselves as you both keep making the same errors again and again.

i guess it’s easy for me to feel this way bc i don’t associate with raggedy people lmfao. and i know which family members to never trust to give good advice about anything at all. so like. i feel like i can talk to my peeps about aaaanything and i can trust that they won’t abuse the information and won’t give me shitty advice. 

but yeahhhh the concept of never talking to anyone but my hypothetical spouse about our problems kinda terrifies me tbh. 

[johannstutt413]

(requested by anonymous)

The Doctor, truth be told, was not a busy man. He spent most of his time sitting at his desk, waiting for Operators to have problems or for missions to go south so he could provide his tactical expertise; in the day-to-day, the logistics runs and the peacekeeping missions, they didn’t need his help, and for some reason his subordinates didn’t like coming to him when they could solve things themselves at a much slower pace, so he had a lot of time to himself in his office to do whatever he wanted.

And unfortunately for him, the Gacha Bug had gotten him.

There was a game he’d found for his tablet that was all about collecting Agents to do combat missions, but the trouble was, all the good characters (or at least the ones he liked watching fight the most) were ludicrously hard to get. For all his efforts, he just did not have the resources to get them consistently. One day, however, everything changed when she walked through the door.

“Doctor? Are you busy?” Jessica stopped by one day with a bag of takeout food. “I was w-wondering if you’d like to eat lunch with me?”

“Lunch? Oh, man, I completely forgot about food, didn’t I? Thanks, Jess! I really owe you one.” He hopped to his feet, phone still in his hand as he scowled at another terrible set of pulls.

Of course, she noticed this. “Are you playing a game, Doctor?”

“I am, and I’m losing,” he sighed. “The pull rates are just ridiculous for these characters!”

“You play Agents of Terra, Doctor?”

He looked back at her, somewhat incredulous. “How did you guess?”

“I have it, too!” She pulled out her phone and opened the app. “I’m not very good at the missions, but-”

“Holy shit, you have eeeeeverything.”

Jessica sighed. “I bought all these characters and upgrade materials, but I still can’t do the maps.”

“Wait, you...” Gears began turning in his head. “So you can’t do the maps, and I can’t pull the units I want...Maybe we can help each other.”

“What do you mean?”

He began to lose a measure of his composure. “It’s the perfect trade! See, you get both of our accounts all the good stuff, and then I teach you how to run all the missions and solve the ones you can’t or don’t have the time for! I get my waifus, you get your progression, everyone is happy!”

“That does sound nice.” She nodded. “Okay, I can do that.”

“Oh, Jess, you’re a lifesaver.” The Doctor wrapped her in a tight hug without really realizing what he was doing.

Unbeknownst to him, Jessica’s mind was working overtime for one reason and one reason only. ‘Maybe, if I do this for him, I can get him to notice me...’

-

A few months later, and the plan was going smoothly. Jessica was now the Doctor’s assistant, and most of the day was spent on Agents of Terra - pulls, strategy lessons, celebrating an incredible string of successes on the PvP ladder against less LMD-loaded players. By this point, it was clear to Jessica that he really wasn’t paying attention to her so much as the game, but it was nice to see him so happy, and she had all this money thanks to the fact she already had all the ammo she’d ever need, so...why not spend it on him? Even if he didn’t think of her as much more than this Agents partner, that meant she mattered to him in some way, and that was better than nothing.

At least, that’s how it seemed to her before the Day of Reckoning event. As far as gacha events go, this one was hell - farming for an exclusive drop with a set drop rate on some difficult-to-farm levels in order get certificates to roll for characters who were designed to make the event far more easy at the cost of a ludicrous amount of the exclusive drop...it was hell, so hellish in fact that one day, after calculating the odds, the Doctor set down his phone, rubbed his temple, and sighed heavily. “Jessica, I think they’ve finally defeated me.”

“Huh?” She looked over at him. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve asked you to spend so much money on this stupid game, but I...I don’t know if I can do it anymore. This event is just...evil.”

Jessica shook her head. “It’s alright, Doctor, we just have to push through-”

“No, we don’t, and we shouldn’t.” He slunk forward into his desk. “I’m...I’m so sorry, Jess.”

“Doctor, it’s...it’s okay.” She got up from her desk and hugged him from behind, her head settling on his shoulder.

She had seen him salty, furious, ecstatic, and dumbfounded, but never had she seen him remorseful. “No, you don’t understand...I know you don’t care about the game.”

“I care.” It didn’t come out terribly convincingly, admittedly. “I like playing with you.”

“I know you do, but it’s not about the game itself, like it’s been for me. This whole time, you’ve given so much of your time, your energy, and God know how much money, to sustain this stupid addiction of mine, and all...all because you wanted to spend time with me.”

Jessica wasn’t sure what to say to that. After all, it was entirely true…“If...if you aren’t going to play Agents anymore, does that mean I can’t be your assistant anymore?”

“Ungh!” He turned around suddenly as a sob escaped him, somehow managing not to smack their heads together as he returned her embrace tenfold. “The fact you even have to ask! What have I done?!”

“Doctor, p-please calm down...You’re scaring me...”

He took several deep, labored-sounding breaths. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just...Jessica, can you forgive me?”

“Forgive you for what, Doctor?” A few tears were making their way down her cheeks as well. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I have. I led you on this whole time, letting you think that I might someday make a move or-”

She gently pushed him away enough to look at him directly. “No, you haven’t. I realized what was going on after the first week, but...I didn’t care. I just wanted to spend time with you, whatever that looked like.”

“...I don’t deserve you,” he choked out, “but...but I want to.”

“You do?”

The Doctor’s head fell forward, onto her shoulder. “I realize what I’ve done, and I want to make up for it, but more than that...you’re awesome, and you deserve someone at least as good - as considerate, as hard-working, as kind, as resilient.”

“I’m not that special, Doctor.” Jessica squeezed him a little. “But it’s nice to hear you compliment me.”

“With God as my witness, Jess, someday, you’ll realize how amazing you are...I’m going to make sure of that.”

She sniffed, which had an element of a chuckle to it. “You mean it?”

“Starting today.” He pulled back and took her hands. “I don’t have much money, but you know as well as I do how much time I have. All of that? It’s yours. What do you want to do?”

“M-me? Um...Can we go shopping together?”

The Doctor nodded. “Sure, wherever you want to go.”

“Actually, I want to go where you want to go.” She smiled. “I- it might seem kind of silly, but I like buying things for you. You’re always so happy to receive gifts, it makes me feel...really appreciated.”

“Heh. Alright, how about this: we can go to the game shop and pick out some games to play together. Does that sound good?”

Jessica nodded. “It sounds wonderful, Doctor. Ooh, we should get some ice cream, too.”

“Honestly, that sounds fantastic right about now.” He sniffled. “Man alive, I haven’t cried that hard for as long as I can remember.” She let him go so he could put on his jacket, but once he had, he pulled her back into a hug. “You are the most wonderful person in the world.”

“Doctor...”

He smiled before kissing her cheek. “Alright, I’ll stop. Ready?”

“Um...” She looked him in the eye. “A-aim a little more to the left.”

“Oh? Like this?” Another kiss, this time on her lips.

When he pulled back this time, she drifted forward, following him. “Doctor?”

“Yes?” He smiled. “Did you change your mind?”

“Let’s wait on the shopping trip...I want to spoil you a different way~”

#arknights #jessica (arknights) #yeah not gonna lie anon #i don't think this is where you saw this going #so uh #if you want another #or just more jessica #lemme know #she deserves all the love #arknights fic

[ichor-and-symbiosis]

papa twice headcanons

- jin and all of your children share one brain cell. they all inherited his c-level intelligence and they are shameless about it. 

“All of my kids are F students,” you lament. “F stands for Family, mom!” they shout. 

- jin is a superdad. the best father and partner in the whole world. you never have to worry about babysitters or not having enough hands on deck for taking care of the kids, because jin’s quirk is a godsend for that. this allows your children to enjoy different extracurricular activities, since jin can literally be at multiple places at once. you don’t have to worry too much about being overly tired when taking care of your baby(s) because jin is always there to take over in the middle of the night and lets you sleep.

- despite how useful he is, jin can still be overwhelmed because these kids are hyper and demanding as shit and he is a huge pushover. whenever they do something bad, he threatens them by saying he’s going to tell you everything. you are the authority of this household and they get their butts in line really quick when you’re around. 

- he records eeeeeverything. every first step, every birthday, every soccer game, first day of school, graduations, jin has a whole archive and he loves every minute of it. his secret hobby is to organize all of these videos into slideshows. 

- jin cares about one phone app and one phone app only, and that’s snapchat. he has so many filtered pictures of him with his kids, he finds the filters hilarious.

- literally an endless source of unconditional love and support. he is always there for his kids and he will never hold their faults against them. he is patient and kind and tries to make them better by sharing his wisdom with them. he may be a dummy in some regards, but his life lessons are always on point because he’s lived through very hard times. 

- if one of his kids is being bullied, jin is the man to break down the doors of a PTA meeting and call that bitch’s parent out and possibly even get into a fist fight. just don’t fuck with jin’s kids. he’s a badass when he wants to be. is he above saying a few harsh words to the bully? hell no, jin is feral. 

- he has heart palpitations whenever he looks at cute little baby clothing and the widdle shoes and mittens. if you dress your kids up in particularly cute outfits he just can’t stop fawning over them. toxic masculinity is out, loving your adorable babies is in. 

- makes funny faces with his kids all the time. it starts when they are babies and he’s squishing their chubby cheeks to contort their faces and mimicking their expressions to make them laugh, and it just keeps happening until you have to tell them that sticking their tongues out at people is rude. 

- speaking of laughter, my god that’s just his favorite sound. hearing his kids laugh is his endless happiness. 

- cuddle piles and binging TV all day every day. like i said, he’s a pushover and hates homework and responsibilities just like the children, so they all tend to fall under the spell of procrastination. 

- you and jin were so used to his clones coming and going that you hadn’t considered how the kids would feel. when you have your first child and they are old enough to grow attached, you were in for a rude awakening when the clone that took them to the zoo had to poof for good. your kid couldn’t stop crying and freaking out, because in a sense, this is the first time they had to deal with loss, even though jin was still right there. jin felt so awful about this that he spent every possible chance he could with his kid to make up for it. ice cream trips for days. 

#jin bubaigawara #jin bubaigawara/reader #bubaigawara jin/reader #twice x reader #twice/reader #bubaigawara jin #headcanons #imagines #i have an endless amount of daydreams in which twice is being the most wholesome dad ever

[snurps]

zolu!!!! :D

send me a ship and i’ll reply with

vomit / don’t ship / okay / cute / adorable / perfect / beyond flawless / hot damn / screaming and crying / i will ship them in hell

*slams fists on table* YEAHHHHHH zolu’s my main otp!! they just trust and understand each other so much, and they were the first two straw hats, and they’re just so wholesome and loving and soft together, but they’re also a power couple for sure.

usopp is probably luffy’s best friend on the crew, esp for goofing around, but i think zoro is honestly pretty close too - they spend a lot of time exploring together in arcs and fighting together and stuff if you pay attention. i honestly feel like you can say luffy is the most important person to zoro in the world. he’s constantly looking out for luffy, and he seems so comfortable and quite smiley around luffy, especially after the time skip, like he’s been missing a part of himself for so long and finally found it again when they reunited. 

as for luffy, i feel like he and zoro are just often on the same wavelength, and there are multiple examples where they silently understand each other’s perspectives and values, and luffy is obviously comfortable with trusting zoro with the safety of the crew. when zoro keeps him in check as a captain, luffy may not always immediately seem to show it, but i’m sure he listens.

let me just list my favorite zolu moments (as in all of them askdhadjd):

their first meeting where they immediately start fighting in sync and when zoro calls luffy captain

zoro almost freaking dies in orange town because he insists on carrying luffy’s cage himself (and how luffy freaks out when buggy destroys the major’s house where zoro was sleeping)

luffy and zoro teasing usopp together iirc when they first meet him too

luffy holds himself back but painfully watches as zoro loses to mihawk, then immediately rockets over as soon as the fight is done

zoro’s about to throw himself into the water to save luffy at arlong park when sanji says that he’ll do it instead because zoro’s too injured

while sanji and usopp are waiting outside, luffy sits by zoro’s side after arlong park as he’s screaming while the doctor fixes up his wound from mihawk (ouch)

while everyone else is focused on getting merry up reverse mountain and/or generally freaking out, zoro’s the one to catch luffy’s hand to make sure he gets back on the ship after he does his balloon move

zoro and luffy whiskey peak fight lol

zoro getting so worried about luffy fighting crocodile the first time that he starts stress lifting eyelashes the camel

zoro and luffy silently understand each other and don’t fight back at the bar in mock town (there’s a doujin i read where luffy comments that he felt fine at that moment because zoro was there standing beside him and i just ashdkshd)

zoro tells luffy that he has to be strong as the captain or who else will they look up to?

zoro and luffy blast a hole in the aqua laguna while on the sea train (what’s 108 times 2? 216. that’s too hard to say. then just say 300.)

also when luffy orders zoro to cut up the train cart in the way and zoro just does it

kinda different but when zoro protects usopp from marines so usopp can call out to luffy for him to stand back up

eeeeeverything that happens in thriller bark. everything, to the point where zoro is actually too hurt to stand up against kizaru next arc (my heart)

when luffy sees bon clay at first in impel down, he gets super excited because he thinks zoro is somehow there! and when bonchan turns back, he says he’s still happy but a little sad it isn’t zoro after all

when zoro hears about ace, he immediately tries to find a boat so he can be by luffy’s side, and when he can’t get one, almost gets ready to swim to sabaody i think

zoro puts aside his pride to ask mihawk to teach him swordsmanship and mihawk acknowledges that such a man as zoro would only be willing to do this because of someone else

zoro and sanji reunite with luffy on sabaody!

on the way to fishman island, luffy and zoro chat about what they did during their two years apart and zoro’s like “oh you would not BELIEVE who i trained with” or something

robin imagines zoro carrying luffy on his back for crossing the river (and zoro’s the one who pulls luffy up out of the water when they fall in)

zoro chastises luffy for not taking the new world seriously at punk hazard and luffy says got it, even though he immediately goofs off later lol

in dressrosa, zoro cheers luffy on at the colosseum which he got distracted watching on tv, and later he gets mad that luffy didn’t tell him about it too

zoro smiles and laughs when sabo asks everyone to take care of his troublesome little brother because sabo reminds him of ace

at zou, luffy teases zoro about worrying about sanji when he left the crew, and zoro gets mad and says he’ll kick him (luffy was right)

also at zou, when zoro gets jealous when luffy praises sanji and calls him as strong as 1,000 men (then i’m worth 2,000!)

ZOLU HUG IN WANO

zoro protects luffy and otama from basil hawkins!

ZOLU HUG IN WANO

did i mention ZOLU HUG IN WANO

truly, even if you don’t ship them, they have one of the best friendships in the series and probably in all of shonen manga

#fullmetal-the-last-alchemist #ask me #one piece #zolu #hahaaha wow #i just #super love their dynamic #and how devoted zoro is to luffy #and how luffy counts on zoro without a doubt #also i came up with that list all from memory #with a little bit of fact checking #can u tell how much i love these two #also can u tell how often i reread east blue lmao #fav #personal

[otomates-a]

『 @sturmfurei​ said, 』 ❛ the first time i met you , i had no damn idea i’d love you this much . ❜ (sakyo and asmo uwu)

               Not the first he’d heard a confession, but he thinks it might be the most honest instance of it and perhaps the only time he’s honestly believed those words coming from the mouth of someone other than his own. Love is ironically not something that often finds itself tangled with lust, at least not in the Devildom : Asmodeus had long learned to take his jollies where he could and expect little else from those encounters, but there’s a certain warmth that spreads through him which he can’t deny when he hears it come from someone like Sakyo. Wholly genuine, pure, untainted by the cruelty of the demons that surround them ... one might think it sardonic, considering who he is, but that’s part of the charm, he believes. To think someone from this human’s background could be so wholesome...

               He’s leaning against him from behind, chest to back, arms looped around his neck as he lazily peers over him. He notes now that he’s not able to catch a glimpse of his face as easily as he had been moments before. Is he hiding from me? He isn’t sure. He could be embarrassed, but the words are spoken with such conviction, he finds it hard to believe that’s the case. He supposes that’s one of his most endearing qualities ... for such a serious, straight-laced man, he could be surprisingly cute at times.

               “Oh no...”  He mocks surprise very poorly, his voice between them, with what little distance there is from his lips to the other’s ear. Lowering his head so his chin rests on his shoulder, he briefly considers startling him with a kiss to the neck, but pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and ultimately refrains. A rare decision from him and one that he does not make lightly : most would say that every person surrounding him who would make sense is an exploit for him. In many cases, they would be right. This is not one of them, not anymore.  “You’ve embarrassed me.”  Despite the light, airy tone with which he speaks, there’s a very subtle tremor to his voice that hints that, perhaps, it’s not quite as teasing as he makes it sound. For all his fanfare, the one thing he seems to lack the most experience in is honesty. Never for lack of trying, he’s certainly blunt enough to humiliate anyone within this hall, but when it comes to feelings ... sweet nothings ... these purely romantic sentiments ... His attention trails to his hands, resting against the man’s chest with his fingers laced through.

               Seeing him now, he’s not sure any of his brothers would recognize him how he is when the two of them are alone. Of course, he’s still himself. Nothing can change who, WHAT, he is, but his identity is not defined by solely his title, nor his species. He had been an angel once, who touched more hearts than the amount he’s eaten now would lead anyone to believe. There are parts of him that have been buried for decades, centuries, millennias... he’d thought they were gone, but now... It almost makes him want to cry, how tightly his chest aches when such sweet words are spoken to him alone. He unlocks one hand from the other, reaching to gently poked a well-manicured pink nail into the side of Sakyo’s cheek. Afterwards, he starts to brush his hair from his face. They’re tender gestures, not suited to the Avatar of Lust.

               “That’s a common mistake. It takes a great deal of time for people to realize their feelings for me. They’re always sorry when they do.”  His heart is thrumming against his chest. He’s absolutely certain that he can feel it, if not the heat from his face as he leans to nuzzle their cheeks together. He’s blushing. He’d never say it aloud or allow it to be pointed out to him, but he is. The tickle of embarrassment in his stomach, like butterflies being set free, is not something he’s accustomed to. He wants to hold him forever.  “I’m not supposed to fall in love.”  When he speaks again, the humor has faded from his voice. Now he speaks in a mumbled whisper, soft enough that only they would be able to hear it, if they weren’t alone anyways.  “Not with anyone. Especially not with a human. I’m a demon, after all  ...  a being of lust, at that. No matter what we’re trying to accomplish here  ...  I’m supposed to devour humans. Destroy their happiness... ruin their lives... Seek pleasure from any who will give it to me and never stay in one place for too long.”

               When he puts it that way, it’s so bleak ... His eyes narrow for a moment, then he lets out an exasperated breath and lets go of him. It takes promptly three seconds before he’s dramatically thrown himself around to sit in front of Sakyo, squarely on his lap. Now, the position is an exact reverse : one leg on either side of his, arms at his shoulders, but this time, they’re face to face. Asmodeus, unsurprisingly, is wearing a pout.  “You ruined eeeeeverything, UGH.”  He rolls his eyes and throws his head back, briefly letting out a grunt of annoyance, but before anything can be said in retaliation, his hands raise to cup the man’s face. Holding him in place, he dips down and presses a hard kiss to his lips. Despite the strength behind it, near to the point it could be called desperate, there’s no mistaking the gestures as anything but one made out of love. Whatever he is, whatever he says : he doesn’t think it matters, not to either of them. They both know this shouldn’t be happening. Neither of them are stopping it.

               He lets the kiss linger for a long time, far longer than he should. It isn’t until he knows that Sakyo is going to call him out on it if he lets it go on much longer that he pulls back, licking his lips as he does both out of habit and an inherent desire to tease. Even so, his gaze has softened considerably. His arms wrap back around his neck, his posture still leaning forward so that their faces are close.  “I can’t believe a demon as beautiful and amazing as me got caught by a human... The Avatar of Lust, wrapped around your finger... You must be sooo proud of yourself.”  He moves another stray strand of hair from the other’s face and giggles.  “I love you, too  ...  I love you soo much. Just you  ...  it’s only you I want. You’re special. I could never love someone like I love you, not even myself.”  It’s not a confession he would make even as a joke, not ever. For he, who holds himself above all others, to put someone ahead of his own ego  ...  if that’s not proof of his feelings, what possibly could be?  “Say it again!”  He begins to smile, tender and playful at the same time.  “Say it again and I promise I’ll kiss you until neither of us can breathe.”

#sturmfurei #tfw ur yakuza and u date a hecking lust demon it be like that #me about to cry in the background WEH #「 asmodeus ❛ ◟ if we’re talking body‚ why not just put yours on me. 」 #「 sturmfurei | sakyo/asmodeus ❛ ◟ it’s a matter of fact‚ i'm gonna love you and you're gonna fall in love with me. 」

[calel-cathedral]

Volos’ Journey South

(Hello everyone!(all two of you)! I decided to go ahead and post my own writings of a few of my characters adventures off screen for people to comment or enjoy if they dare. The first one starts with my Hrothgar Volos, and his adventure from mountains  and how/why he journeyed to Eorzea. I’ll put a little bit here, and the rest in a read more.(If that doesn’t work I’ll just link the google doc) Hope everyone enjoys!)

The cool breeze and the crisp mountain air kept everyone in high spirits. There was few and far between among the clan who wasn’t happy nowadays. Relatively at peace, the clan was still in occupied territory under Garlean rule, but they lived their days away from the guards and the citadels that plagued everywhere the Empire went. They were happy. As it should be.

Volos Atessa, son of the clans Captain of the Queensguard Bolos Atessa, spent his life among the clan happily mated, a content sheepherder and overall good guy. His mate, Vrena, had been with him since their childhood. They had plans on being together forever by the time they were 4 namedays old, and just like any fairy tale romance, it came true.

Vrena was expecting, Volos’ Grandmother had proclaimed it to be a boy, and everyone knew better than to question Grandma Lola. Volos knew better. He never questioned her, not once in his twenty-one years of life. Why start now?

As the summer sun beamed high in the air, bright rays with scarcely any cloud coverage made it the perfect day for the clan to gather around and enjoy each others company. The guard stood watch, as even the Queen made an appearance. She did so so often, you could speak to her as if she were your neighbor.

As per usual, the youth began the typical wrestling matches that happened every time there was a get together. Even some of the adults joined in, especially when the Queen made an appearance. The unspoken for Queen smiled as many wrestlers, young and old devoted their win to her. Though, she never played favorites. It’s why so many respected her.

Volos even joined in, his darkened skin and dirty blonde hair made him look so much like his father that the two would often get mixed up from behind. At a distance, at least, his father and brother both stood several ilms taller than he was. It didn’t matter to the clan, Volos could be just as fierce as his father and brother. They always joked it was because he had several ilms to make up for. Volos would simply huff every time. “I won’t even give you the honor of a response.” He’d say. 

Volos won a few matches, lost a few matches, not once losing his cheerful demeanor. The gathering was very lively: music being played on drums and the voices of dozens of people could be heard from malms away. So much so, that no one would notice the approaching chaos that stirred in the mountain passes. 

Volos dropped down beside his mate, and kissed her cheek. “Ah, it’s a good day.”He’d boast with pride, wrapping an arm around the woman and pulling her close. His gaze looked from the wrestling, to the food being prepared, as well as a glance at his Grandmother, who was busy dancing with the younger folk who all laughed as the elderly lady danced her heart out. Grandma Lola was not one to care about other peoples opinions. She had a dance to dance. “If I cared about every person who thought I was strange, Vol, I’d be dead by now. The secret to long living is not giving a damn what people think.”

Words to live by, he thought to himself, as his mate patted his cheek. “Volos, you were spacing out again, weren’t you?”

“...Maybe.” He’d give his goofy grin, to which Vrena would playfully huff. “I’m sorry Vrena, what was it you were saying?”

“I was saying that I hope things never change around here.” She stated, setting a hand on her stomach as she looked across the yard. “I want our son to grow up just like this. Happy. Free. With a loving family, and a loving clan.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Volos questioned, tilting his head as followed his mates gaze.”Things have been this way for several generations, give or take a bump in the road. I doubt things will change anytime soon. Our Gods have blessed us thus far, as long as we continue to live faithfully, we’ll continue to recieve their blessings.”

“I know… but…” Vrena looked away from the crowd, and down to her stomach. “I’m still worried. I don’t know why but I am.”

Volos could tell by the look on his mates face that this was serious. He took the time to gently rub her back, and give his most pleasant smile. 

“You know.”He started with, which made Vrena groan. He’d immediately grin, knowing full well that she both loved, and hated whenever he started off a sentence like that. “I hear there is plenty of echoes in Wilber Cave.”

“Oh Gods not this again.” Vrena playfully shoved him, doing her best not to smile.

“OH yes, this again. Where Wilber Cave is, it’s located perfectly in between a cliff side, and a hill. And if you sit just right, you can hear everything a person says for several yalms. Perfectly.” He gently ran his finger up and down her arm. “I heard a tale of a young boy, who was walking down to the cave to gather some water for his family, when he heard the voices of two young ladies gossiping about him.”

Vrena covered her face, shaking her head in disbelief as the man absolutely beamed at her, “You’re a goofball.” She stated, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough to stop him.

“Oh, but this is where the story gets good.” He grinned, “See, the young boy listened in on the conversation the two girls were having about him, and through the echoes he hears eeeeeverything one of the young ladies wanted to do with him in a naughty manner.”

“Stoooooop.” Was all Vrena could really say at this point, it was too late for her to stop him and they both knew it.

“The young boy, so excited to hear the news, forgets all about the water, and quickly makes his way back home where he can prepare. Then, he would lie in waiting for the young girl to return home. And when she did, he jumped at her excitedly and exclaimed, “Lets have sex! The cave has told all and I know you want me to spank you!” So excited is the boy, that he doesn’t notice the girls father standing right behind him... “

Volos could practically hear Vrena dying of embarrassment, even if it was many years ago. Still, it fueled him. “The two kids were given many stern talks, by both parents, and the young boy was forced to go home. And as he walked away, he heard the father ask the young girl if she thought he was even worth it. And her response was.” He waved his arms at her, trying to coax her into completing the statement. She seemed defiant for a moment, crossing her arms and looking away. Unfortunately for her, Volos doesn’t let up, so she gave an exaggerated sigh, and they both said,”I know he is.”

Their laughter could be heard easily around the campfire as the afternoon sun rolled across the sky slowly but surely. With it, came new possibilities, new fortunes, and new friends. And certainly new enemies. To the side, a child would point at something in the distance. Slowly but surely, the crowd would begin to quiet down as they all gathered around to see what the child was pointing at. It was certainly something important, after all.

In the distance, a small group of five Garlean soldiers were marching towards the crowd. Four of them were nothing to comment on, standard soldiers amongst the Imperial army. The person leading them, however, stood out. Clearly a decorated official, the man stood tall and proud even as he faced the hornets nest in front of him. He showed neither hesitation in his approach or his judgement as he quietly made his entrance with his other four lackey’s. 

Eventually, the group would stop, and the leading man would take a gander amongst the crowd that had up to now silently watched the group arrive. Quiet murmurs amongst the crowd gave warnings of nervousness and unease, neither of which the leading man would acknowledge as he spoke. “This is the clan led by Tessa Fang, is it not?”

No one would speak, and would simply continue to stare at the strange man who decided to interrupt their proceedings. Volos’ father would approach the man, making sure his back was straight as he stood merely fulms away from the man. “First, we would ask who you are. Second, we would ask your business with our Queen.” 

“Oh no, it’s not a message specifically for your Queen. It is a message for all of you as citizens under Garlemalde’s rule. I merely wish to show you your Queen proper respect before I make my speech to all of you.” It was hard to tell a man’s intentions through the ugly helmets the Garleans wore. No one felt at ease with the man’s comments on respecting their Queen. Not after what happened at the Citadel. Soft rumbling could be heard from the crowd, where the air of discomfort and growing anger could be heard. Bolos simply raised his hand, and the crowd quieted. 

“Thank you for showing your respect for our ways, my Lord.” The Queen spoke, voice gracing the air like the touch of a Goddess. She made her way beside Bolos, who kept his gaze on the leading man. 

The leading man simply looked her way, and gave her a simple nod. “I would not like for one of your kind to approach the Imperial City and not give their proper dues to the Emperor, so, I will not do the same to you and yours. It is an honor to be here, amongst your… festivities.”

The Queen would wave a hand, and with a gentle smile would speak, “This is just a simple get together for our people to celebrate the year we’ve had, blessed by the Gods. You are welcome to join us, if you wish, my Lord.” 

Everytime the Queen spoke to the man in terms of Lordship, it sent daggers in Volos’ heart. It is one thing to treat another clan’s Queen with the respect they deserve, but their so called conquerors deserve nothing but the fire that would release their souls from captivity. But, he knew better. Hells, they all knew better. If she didn’t regard him as such, they would earn the aire of a nation that could wipe them out with power to destroy the land they once lived on as well. It was the hand they were dealt. The Gods blessed their Queen with patience beyond anything he had. If he was her, the man would have been sent home with a dagger in his thigh.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Important business to attend to, and this is just one of our stops along the way. And no, we cannot rest here either.” The Queens words were silenced before she even got the chance to speak them. She smiled politely, Volos growled under his breath. It was a good thing he was standing a little ways away from the man as to not start something that was unwarranted. 

“Then please, say what you have come to say, so that we may both be on our way.” The Queen would give a polite bow to the man, which merely earned her a click of his tongue. 

He looked over the crowd, humming to himself as if to draw out the moment as long as possible. Followed by a small ‘hm’, it seemed that he was quite fond of making the crowd uncomfortable. Finally, he’d speak, “There have been rumors that the clans in this part of Isalberd have been growing a resistance force.” Bolos would go to speak, but the leading man would raise his hand, “It does not matter whether they are or not. To me, at least. The clans here have happily toiled away their lives, keen on being peaceful and otherwise boring. Not quite worth the Empire’s attention.”

“But.” Even through the helmet, you could hear the hammer come down on the conversation with the mans tone. If people weren’t paying attention before, they certainly were now. “Because it is a threat to our people, as well as yours, it must be addressed. There are very few people who would benefit from a resistance, least of all you and your fellow clansmen in the southern reaches.”

The leading man would walk out from Bolos’ shadow, to look over the crowd more fully as he spoke, “I have heard tales of the Clan of the Fang. Some of the mightiest warriors in the southern reaches hail from here, and that is something to be proud of, considering your people’s might. Why, I’m sure a word of caution from the Queen of the Fang herself would give many people reason to lay down their arms.” 

He turned on his heel, and looked directly at the Queen, “I’m sure with the courtesy she's shown me here, she could explain that the Empire doesn’t want to hurt any of it’s good people in the provinces, and merely wants people to continue with their lives as they always have. With no real threat to the peace.” He looked to the Queen, and icy stare revealed behind the helmet with a flicker of the afternoon sun. “Surely, she’d see the wisdom in this.”

The Queen of the Fang still held her presence. The same one that spoke volumes about who she was as a person, and as a leader. Just by looking at her, lesser men would think to bend the knee just by her gaze alone. And there they were. Two large opposing powers, neither of them breaking the calm that held on by a thread. 

The Queen spoke, the gentleness that once covered her tone was now laid bare, and the voice of power arose from her chest. “I have heard no such rumors, my Lord. As you can see, as *powerful* as you believe us to be, we are merely peaceful folk. Looking to live our lives as we always have. If there is a call to arms from our clansmen, believe me when I say that our weight as a clan holds no blade in support to such a foolish notion. We do not wish to cause your people harm, as you have-”

“Do not get me wrong, Queen of the Fang, we have not stepped into your territory to demand anything *because* of your peaceful nature. Had we considered you a threat, you would have been dealt with a long time ago. Have no doubt about that.” The leading man returned to his comrades, “You are only here, living this droll life of yours because you are of no interest. That, unfortunately, has come to an end.” 

No one in the crowd dared raise a voice in opposition. This was much too real for them, as the man turned, “We will move on, as I promised we would. But know this. One way or another, the good, and *peaceful* people of the Fang will be an example.” He waved an arm up and pointed towards the distance, where the four soldiers moved in a trained and timely manner, and prepare to march, “One more thing.” 

The man stayed silent for a moment, quietly looking over the crowd one final time, “Enjoy your celebration. May the Gods continue to grant you favor.” The crowd watched as the group of five left, watching until they were mere specks in the distance. No one said a word. No one moved. You could hear a twig snap from yalms away.

The Queen would turn to her people, her golden hues staring amongst the crowd, “Have no fear, my people. The Gods have protected us for generations, I have no doubts they will turn our back on us now. Feast, dance, fight! The hour of celebration is still at hand, and I for one continue to dare to embrace it. Who among you will do the same?”

The crowd was silent for a moment longer, the air of desperation and worry seeming to have conquered them all. Concerned murmurs were sounded in response, as everyone looked at each other. The Queen seemed at a loss for a moment, until Volos bellowed, “I shall join you, my Queen! Let the celebrations continue! Never let it be said that our joy was stolen by a questionable man in a tin barrel suit!” Vrena simply smirked and together they’d let out a loud, reassuring roar. One by one their cheers were joined by others, until the area was back into the swing of celebration. It was as if nothing had ever happened, and the crowd was shimmering with glee once more.

Later that night, Bolos would stop Volos as Vrena and him were making their way back to their tent for the evening. The larger man clasped his hand on Volos’ shoulder, “Thank you.” Bolos looked to Vrena, to which she would nod and kiss Volos’ cheek as she made her way towards the tent alone.

Volos looked at his father, confusion furrowing his brow, “What do you mean? What did I do?” Bolos sighed at his son, which did little to clue in Volos on what he actually meant. “Oh. OH! You mean after the, yeah okay. Of course, Father, someone had to do it. I’m just surprised it wasn’t you or Tolos.” 

“I’m going to be honest with you, Volos.” His father spoke to him with a seriousness that very rarely happened. It was like he was a child, all over again. Whenever he heard that tone, he knew he was about to be told something very important. All ears, he listened to his father speak, “By speaking today, you proved not only to me, not only to our people, but our Queen as well, that you have grown into a fine young man who is worthy of the title of Queensguard.” 

Volos could barely adjust to what he was hearing, “Queensguard? Father, I thought we had discussed that I wasn’t meant to be a Queensguard. I am much happier living my life as a herder with my beloved, where I can be with her at all times. It’s a respectable trade, and-” 

“Volos.” Bolos’ voice interrupted Volos’ words with a small bellow, causing Volos to quiet on instinct, “I know what we discussed… but sometimes what we want, isn’t what is meant for us.” Volos sat silently as he quietly mulled over his father's words for a moment, before Bolos spoke again, “You are a brave young man. A smart one too, if you’d learn to use your head correctly.” 

“Vrena claims I-” 

“Not the time, Volos.” Volos would simply nod, and continue to listen. “The people of our clan need people like you, Volos. They need someone willing to speak up when their world is crashing down. They need a leader to help guide them in trying times.”

“Father, you’re making it sound like you want me to be-” Volos stopped for a moment as it all finally registered, “You… you want me to be the Captain of the Queensguard?” He said a bit hesitantly. He considered the fact that his father may be playing games with him, so he waited for his father's face to break in the same laugh he used every time he pulled a fast one. He watched. It never came. “But… what of Tolos?”

“Tolos is a proud and strong warrior, with a keen eye and brilliant strategist, don’t get me wrong. But that makes a good leader of soldiers. Not a good leader of the people.” Bolos looked down to his son for a moment, “The Captain doesn’t just deal with the Queensguard, son. They are the Queens immediate link to the world around them, dealing with information amongst other clans as well as our own. The Captain is the Queen's Advisor. The Captain is her protector, and while Tolos may seem the right man for the job… You are every bit of a man that he is, with a kinder heart and more gentle soul.”

Volos took everything in for a moment, considering the words carefully. “Still… you’re-”

“I am still alive and well, yes. It was not an immediate resignation, it was me merely letting you know what my intentions were by asking you to pledge to the Queen. THe Queen shares my thoughts on this matter. As do many of the Queensguard, especially after today.” His father set a hand on his shoulder, “Should you join the ranks, one day you will inherit Faith.” The man drew the white gunblade from his back, and set it in his hands as he looked over the steel and workmanship. Golden etchings in its design, several swirls and twists followed the blade from hilt to tip. At the base, it was made from wood long rumored to no longer grace the mountains of Islaberd, with pigments of creatures and plants said far too foreign to be of this land. Along the hilt, the word Faith was burned into the wood, painted with a soft silver against the dark wood that made the word bloom anywhere it was seen.

 “The oldest, and strongest gunblade to have ever been created by our clan, it has shone as a testament to our unbending will and strength to persevere. Amongst our kindness and mercy, our bravery and fortitude, there is one unquestioning characteristic one must have to truly be a worthy wielder of this blade…” Volos looked up at his father. He had heard this many times in his youth, when he would question what it would take for him to one day wield it. “Loyalty. To our friends. Our family. And, our Queen… and you have those qualities. Whether you know it or not.”

His father sheathed the Gunblade back to his back, and patted the man's shoulder, “Think about it. You don’t have to give me an answer now, just sleep on it for a few days. Talk it over with Vrena. I’m sure she’s willing to give you an honest answer… I would ask if you still had you gunblade I gave you at the turn of your adulthood, but, considering you sneak off nightly to practice with it, I don’t quite need the answer.”

Volos looked like he had a thousand things to say at once at the mere ending of Bolos’ latter statement, and it all tried to come out at once. It ended with a bunch of frustrated sound effects that were most akin to an upset child, but finally he just sighed, “Yes Father.” 

Bolos would laugh and smile, “Sleep well. Talk with Vrena about all of this soon, it’ll kill you to keep a secret from her.” Volos would shake his head as Bolos laughed, hugging his son. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Volos.” 

“Yes yes, see you tomorrow father.” They hugged for a moment before turning to go to their respective tents. As Volos rounded the corner, he’d see the flap to the entrance of his tent move. Just like Vrena to keep a tab on anything. Why hear it second hand when you can hear it for yourself, she often said whenever she was confronted about eavesdropping. It was her vice, but hardly a dangerous one where they lived.  He’d make his way in the tent, where Vrena did her best to pretend to be asleep.

“I know you’re awake, Vrena.” She made no move or indication she heard him. “I saw the tent door flap from you closing it.” Still nothing. He sighed as he sat on the furs beside her, “You think I should do it?”

“Yes.” Vrena finally spoke, as she opened an eye towards Volos. 

“But, what of our simple life? What of our child and future children? My father spent many nights away from home as one of them, wouldn’t it-”

“Your duty is to your Queen, is it not?” She said with a light and airy voice, “Everyone knows you still practice with your gunblade, Vol. There's no reason to be ashamed of it. You have the heart of a warrior, with the soul of a lamb.”

“Yes yes, thank you *Grandma Lola*.” He sneered in fake exasperation. 

“It’s true and you know it... You’re a kind man. You have the power to lead people in ways you never could dream of. You proved it today. Had it been your brother who made that call, the crowd wouldn’t have recovered half as well. I think you should be a Queensguard.”

“And if they name me Captain? You know if-”

“Leave it to you to loathe the greatest honor and achievement a Hrothgar man can earn.” She teased, gently smacking his arm. “You would bring great honor to me your children and I.” Volos still wasn’t quite convinced as he rolled his shoulders. 

“What if I’m gone for too long, hm? What if you suddenly decide you can’t stand the loneliness and go off and mate with, oh I don’t know… Frodrick the butcher.” 

“Frodrick the butcher? *Him?*” She gave a snort in response, “That man has a better chance of getting one of the animals he slaughters to love him than me. He always wears that smug grin like he owns the place, despite being put in his place by you and your brother many times… plus he smells funny.” Volos would sputter with the latter statement, trying his best not to laugh too loudly. 

Vrena smiled at him, “You kind, gentle soul.. Naive, but kind and gentle.” Volos would huff as she continued, “Your father still got to spend time with your family, did he not?” Volos would nod, “And you still loved him, and you knew he loved you, right?” Another nod. “Then why would this be any different? You may be gone, but it would make our family stronger for it.”

Volos sighed, turning and curling up against Vrena with a huff, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Vrena.”

“Probably be a lost puppy going everywhere and anywhere for pets.”

“Hah hah, very funny…” 

“Do you think that Garlean is going to do anything to us?” Vrena spoke cautiously. It was his turn to be strong.

“He most certainly can try.” He said softly, “He was right about one thing. We are one of the most fierce clans in the southern reaches. We’d put up a hell of a fight.”

“It doesn’t matter how strong we are when their numbers range in Legions and we don’t make up one.” Vrena countered, clearly concerned for their safety. “They could send a small contingent here, and we would be powerless to stop them.”

“This is true.” He said for a moment, his tone serious as he thought about what to say next. “But, it’s clear that they hold no more information than rumors. He made no direct connections to the Queen, or my father in his speech, because if he *did* have information he would leave subtle, but blatant hints that he knew what they were doing. But, he had nothing, so he didn’t. He kept his speech light, to let us fill in the blanks and make connections that he was only hinting at, out of hopes that if we *did* know something, we would act.“ 

He laid on his back and stared up at the roof of the tent, “And when the Queen nor my father cracked under the pressure he was putting on them, he left. Because all he had to work with were rumors. The Empire has no reason to send any force out here to the lonely southern reaches for a simple rumor. It’d be a waste of time and resources.”

“Mmm… you’re right, Volos. There’d be no reason for them to attack us. We’ve done nothing wrong.” Vrena shuffled a bit, as if she was going to lay on her side against Volos, but a pregnant belly made that hard. So, she simply opted to cozy up against him, sighing softly. 

“It’ll be okay, Vrena. We just have to take it a day at a time. We’ll make it through, like we always have.” 

“Like we always have…” 

The two kissed, a soft, sweet ending to the night. Until Volos spoke up, “Did you remember to hang the clothes?”

Vrena would simply go, “Ssshhhh can’t hear you I’m asleep now.” 

Volos would grumble and shake his head, “You liar.”

“No no I’m really asleep, see.” She begins to fake snore, being as unrealistic about it as possible as Volos rolls his eyes. 

“I love you, Vrena.”

“I love you too, Volos.” Slowly, the two lovers would gently begin to drift off to sleep, held in each others arms with smiles on their faces. What a good day.

#Volos Atessa #FF14 #FFXIV hrothgar #RP Story #Past #Balmung #Crystal Server #Muse #Volos

[justin-chapmanswers]

I'm helping my (internet) friends make an object show, and I'm unfortunately not that confident about it, as we're all under 18 and don't have the money to really afford good quality mics or animation software. I'm wondering if you have any tips for people on a budget trying to make an object show for the first time?

Working under a tight budget is tough, that’s undeniable. I think the important thing to keep in mind is that having expensive utilities available does not guarantee success in the first place, it simply makes the process easier. Having the best equipment and software in the world isn’t going to do all that much for people who aren’t familiar with the basics in the first place. If you are incredibly passionate about this work, I would consider investing your money into equipment over time, but for the time-being take your time in that department and really focus in on proving that, as artists, you can make do with what you have.

I am far more interested in consuming media that is bare-bones in its visual and audio presentation but has masterful storytelling than the reverse, and I think much more of your potential audience will agree than the average person assumes. Know your story. Know your characters. Whether or not you will have full control over when your characters come and go (per your decision), it is imperative that you treat each and every installment as its own distinct collection of story and character arcs. If you set up your show in a manner in which you can play every detail out ahead of time, even better! Within an episode, an arc of episodes, or a full season/series you are able to construct interesting narratives in which characters are given obstacles: physical, emotional or otherwise. Especially in an object show you are given a set of obstacles, be it through challenges or the emotional burden of competition. On a budget or not, this is the heart of your show. No matter how the technical presentation comes across you can garner and audience through excellent storytelling. Anyone can do it with practice. ESPECIALLY you!

As for the technical department, itself, let’s talk audio. Back in early 2009 I picked up a ‘lil $10 Logitech microphone at Target and got started on my first voice performance (as Lakitu found here) and I wouldn’t say it’s all that bad. A little bad. Tiny bit. But it worked! Plug in a cheap mic, download Audacity for free, and you’re already well on your way. Audacity isn’t top-of-the-line, but as far as free programs go it works really well, and is probably your lowest priority for upgrading beyond if you choose to bump up your equipment/software. The focus here comes down to putting in a strong, meaningful performance as your character, working around your mic limitations through setup and Audacity editing, and being open to re-recording. It happens!

I’m going to skip over talking vocal performances for the time being (I can always return to that upon request) and stick the practical here. With any microphone set up you’re going to want to do as much as you can to keep your accosting integrity in good standing. What I mean by that, firstly, is recording in a location that absorbs noise. Typically being in echo-y locations, we’re trained to ignore our own voices reverberating (unless it is to an intense extent), so sometimes noticing whether a voice echoes in a recording takes a lot of focus. It’s often not as intense as an echo you’d hear in, say, a cave, just ever so slight to break the illusion of a character being right there on screen and not someone speaking through a microphone. This is solved low-budget quite simply in recording in tight spaces with as much sound-absorbing material as possible. The best option would be hanging up clothes, blankets, or simply recording in a closet- so long as it’s safe. (The higher-budget alternative is buying acoustic foam or utilizing, specifically, a sound booth.) Watch your recording program, find your balance of recording as loudly and clearly as you can while also not getting too close to your audio peaking (the little soundy wave bois not hitting the top/bottom of your recording strip pal). The audio can be made louder or softer later, but peaking is much tougher to fix back up.

It also helps to have any sort of make-shift pop filter you can get together. They’re foam or a screen that you can typically buy cheap that will catch some of the plosives and other weird noises your mouth makes without you noticing before they hit the microphone, which is very helpful in the longterm. And, if you don’t feel like buying them, I know Adam used a sock for a while early on and it worked just fine. Just throw that boi right over the microphone and listen back to how the quality changes. If it’s roughly the same, you’re in the clear for your early, low-budget project.

There’s also plenty that can be done in Audacity to set your audio apart from the rest. I’d say top priority is dealing with background noise. I’m not speaking to parents chatting or the house’s floorboards mysteriously creaking in the background (because that should not be heard whatsoever in your area of recording, listen back to a dialogue-less track of your audio to make sure none of that is coming through), here I am talking to the consistent track of buzzzzz or variation that will come across in any cheaper microphone. The world makes noise, some you can’t hear, and your microphone eats it up. It’ll be in the back of your recording track, and getting rid of it goes a long way. Here the simplest means of going about fixing that is to, at the very start or end of your recording session, record a solid fifteen seconds of background noise without aaaaany noises on your part. Listen back, grab just the few seconds of bg noise that has the most consistent sound without your breathing or other interference, go to effects and hit “noise reduction” (or “noise removal” in other versions), hit “get noise profile,” now highlight eeeeeverything you’ve recorded, go back to “noise removal,” start by setting your noise reduction to around 10-15, and hit “okay.” Listen back and see if that did the job, you may need to make the number a bit higher (I try my best to avoid the 20s). The job here is to use as little of it as possible to get the job done, as the more you use the more of a chance it has at diminishing the quality of your recording. You can also use “equalization” in this process, lowering or boosting very specific frequencies, if you are willing to experiment and get a feel for it. Some others use “compression” to get a much fuller-sounding voice, although if anything I keep this to a minimum and save it more-so for non-narrative pieces where a single voice needs to be dominant.

In the case of audio peaking, clipping, or any plosives/pops/background sounds coming through, you have to be comfortable with re-recording. Going back into your recording spot for a minute goes a long way for a product that you’ll be putting up alone for a forever. This also goes for potentially going in for a strong performance, but that is more subjective and up to a standard you must set, yourself. After that it is your job to bring all the audio from all characters together and balance all of them out neatly volume-wise, pace the recordings out, add in sound effects and music as necessary and balance them out too (a common mistake is making music too loud for the audience to understand what the characters are saying because the sound editor already knows what the characters are saying, so there’s a disconnect). With enough time you will have an excellent audio skeleton for your animation, even with a low budget.

I’ll be honest in that I am much less experienced in animation than I am in audio so I cannot offer all the advice in the world, but here’s what I can say. With the technology available today you are able to create a lot of striking imagery. Whether you use a cheap animation program (do people still use Anime Studio?), Powerpoint, or a more typical program acquired through illegal means (which I would not say here that I condone, but I am aware it happens and people do what people do), there is no stopping you from coming up with unique visuals. I think in the object show community people get pretty caught up in keeping up standard animation conventions, simply making smooth motions and a good frame-rate and making sure everything looks “professional.” That is a luxury, and especially when you are starting out it is far from necessary.

What you want when you are starting out are visuals that are striking. Creative. Memorable. You’re working in animation, the most fluid and fun medium out there! You can spend all day getting bogged down in the basics of movement, which can be important down the line, but what is unique to you is the style that you bring to the table. Make characters do what only animated characters can do. Make characters pose in ways that people can think back on in wonder. As an object show, think of challenges that make characters do the absurd or push them to physical limits. Inanimate Insanity does not get to hit on this often but it is something I value in animation. You can impress people with or without the best animation program in town, it’s just more trying. But far more rewarding.

So much of the magic of object show community is that it works as a training grounds. Create create create! This is the time to do the weird and meaningful things that you might not have an opportunity to create far down the line when responsibilities get in the way. It doesn’t matter in the slightest if your work is perfect, so long as you are creating something and getting it out there and, above all, expressing yourself- I am impressed.

I know that most of this has been more to general show production and not more specifically to object show production, but I think it is important to note that it does work the same as any other show. People will always appreciate good, strong stories, as well as the bare minimum put into your audio and visuals. Effort means the world.

You got this.

#inanimate insanity #jay rambles #jay tutorial

[skychasezone]

It was a serene night. The stars lit up the aether filled sky, though their brilliance was dimmed; the glow and hum of the Garlean processing plant in the distance overpowering the natural light of Eorzea. Other than that, life went on. The trees swayed in the gentle breeze and the fauna of the land were fast asleep in their dens.

Amidst the purple and blue sky was a small orange glow - a flame crackling in the night, warming the adventurers that started it.

There were four of them, all huddled around the fire. Their combined presence along with the calming warmth of the campfire soothed the aches and pains of the day.

"Hey Leakana."

But no peace could last forever.

Tired eyes found their way to the woman who spoke her name. The pugilist of the group held her gaze, something along the lines of uncertainty and resignation burning behind her eyes.

"Hm?"

"I just wanted to know what that was about today. It's not like you to hesitate and it could be a problem if it keeps happening."

A chill ran up Leakana's spine. She was the tank of the group. Her job was simple: catch the attention of the enemies they encountered. She was sturdier than the others in the group, though less nimble. The pugilist, Miya, was able to zip between enemies and deliver devastating blows with ease. Anel was a dragoon - their lance able to pierce the toughest hides and metals as they danced through the sky and rained blows on their enemies. Asha, the scholar, was of utmost importance considering she healed them steadily over the course of the battle along with her fairy. Enemies naturally prioritized her, so it was Leakana's job to always make sure she was a bigger threat to them than Asha.

So while what Miya said made absolute sense, it still irked her to no end.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," she said simply.

Miya's eyes squinted. "Wanna give us an explanation or?"

"It's personal. It won't happen again though, I promise."

"And how do we know that for sure?" Miya prodded.

Leakana's brows furrowed. It was obvious all eyes were on her now, and she didn't feel like exposing her past trauma in such a fashion. They were hired to protect Asha in case she ran into hostile mobs - all of them mercenaries with one job. They didn't know each other prior to joining, and though they were growing closer as time went on, she still thought it unnecessary to unveil her demons.

"I--"

"Look, I'm just thinking about the team," Miya interrupted. "We need you to get in everyone's faces so we can do our jobs. If you freeze up, everyone is in danger, including yourself."

A sigh escaped Leakana's lips. It didn't seem like their pugilist was letting up, even if she did have a point. "I know. Believe me when I say I always give my best effort, but I don't see this being a recurring thing, so I don't think you need to make a big deal of it."

Leakana could feel the watchful gazes of her teammates boring into her. Anel was quiet as always, and she suspected that Asha didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

"Alright," Miya sighed.

It seemed as if she finally relented.

Leakana sighed and found herself staring at the ground between her feet. It was stressful enough having to deal with the appearance of a sudden Garlean scout; she didn't need her friends drilling into her about it. Maybe one day she'd tell them about her fears and trauma - how Garleans attacked her village and nearly razed it to the ground, simply for sport. But today wasn't the day.

"It won't happen," Leakana repeated.

Miya stared at the distressed warrior; the need to fully get her point across burning in her mind. "I think we also shouldn't put unnecessary stress on Asha. She's got her own mission and it isn't healing us all the time."

Asha's eyes widened. While it was true that her mission was to uncover the secrets of ancient scholars, she wouldn't ever outright say that her teammates were stressing her out when they were injured. Or rather, if she did, she'd put it more politely.

Leakana's gaze made its way to Miya, a new frustration and anger burning behind them.

"You want to chastise me about causing unnecessary stress?" Leakana asked. "What about you? The fighter that goes in before I do - the fighter whose unnecessary scars and wounds are closed by the very healer you're trying to protect?"

It was Miya's turn to knit her brows together. "Hey look--"

"I don't want to hear it. You want to poke and prod at me about my trauma, but what of yours? You who craves the spotlight, who thinks the adoration of people is a fair substitute for the love you didn't receive? Do you think about the stress you cause for Asha? For us?"

The fire crackled and sputtered, the flames dancing wildly and illuminating Miya's already intimidating visage with flashing oranges and reds.

The jugulars along the sides of the pugilist's neck strained against her skin as she shouted. "And who the fuck do you think you are to psychoanalyze me?"

Leakana stood from her seat, the full height of the highlander woman reinforcing why she was chosen as the group's tank. "It doesn't feel good, does it?"

Miya stood there, lips moving as if to speak; but she could find no retort. Instead, she huffed off to her tent.

Worried eyes looked back and forth between the towering woman and the tent their hot headed fighter retreated to. "Um...I think it's best that we all get some rest for now," Asha said. "For the record, Leakana, I don't have any plans to remove you from the group. We all have our own issues and I want you to know that you have our support."

For the first time that evening, Leakana felt a small smile tug at her lips.

"Thank you, Asha. I will talk to you about it some day when I'm ready, but for now all I can say is that I'll be prepared for sure."

Asha gave a smile of her own. "Of course. You've been a great help and I don't want you putting extra pressure on yourself. I'll see if I can get to Miya." With that, the scholar excused herself and retired to the tent she shared with Miya.

A small hand intertwined with Leakana's, pulling her attention away from the tent that housed the source of her frustrations.

"Anel..."

"Are you alright?" the dragoon asked.

"I'm still upset, but I can already feel it easing away," Leakana stated as she gave the hand in hers a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose it."

Anel shook their head solemnly. "You don't need to apologize. Perhaps I'm biased, but I agree with you. It seems as though we all have our own demons. I think Miya's heart is in a good place, but she did not handle the situation in an ideal way."

It was true - and Leakana agreed wholeheartedly. Had Miya come up to her in private and asked about it, she would have been more willing to talk and cooperate. It still would have been a difficult conversation, but at least there would have been some sense of privacy.

"Thank you Anel, that means a lot. But I don't want you to blindly take my side."

It was Anel's turn to smile. "You needn't worry about that. My entire life was spent being idolized; I'm wise enough to avoid the same blind devotion. But come, I think it's time we let the fire die out."

Leakana could only nod and follow her companion back to their tent.

---

When Asha walked through the opening to her tent, she saw Miya lying on her back, arms crossed behind her head, staring up at the ceiling.

"Is it true, Asha?"

"Hm?"

"What Leakana said - am I making things difficult for you?" she asked.

Deft hands closed the entrance to their tent, ensuring the night winds wouldn't nip at them as they slept. "Do you want the genuine answer, or the coddling answer?" She turned her attention back to Miya and caught the tail end of a smile.

"I want the real answer. And maybe a coddling answer after..."

Asha nodded as she sat down beside her anxious fighter. "Things have definitely been different since (NAME OF FAIRY) went dormant. It's a lot more work, but it's good training." She paused to lie down, her head coming to rest upon Miya's biceps as she draped an arm over her stomach. "I appreciate your concern, I do, but if I had a problem I wouldn't have any issue bringing it up myself."

Asha could hear the little hum of agreement Miya let out.

"Yeah, you're right. I didn't mean to speak for you. And I'm sorry for yelling too - I know you don't like the sound of raised voices."

Asha twitched her Viera ears playfully at Miya's apology. "All is forgiven." A smile fell over her features as she felt the anger seeping away from Miya. It was an interesting feeling - to say the least - to be able to calm someone so strong down by simply being in their presence.

"Needless to say, I owe Leakana an apology too. Don't know when it'd be best to do that, like, in case she needs to calm down or something."

"I think it's still best to do it as soon as possible," Asha started. "If you apologize and extend an offer to talk, she'll know you prize her friendship over your pride. Plus, she'll appreciate it and will let you know when she's ready to talk."

Miya brought a hand up to intertwine with Asha's. "True. What's it like being a wise scholar? You seem to have the answer for everything."

"Not eeeeeverything," Asha smiled, squeezing Miya's hand gently before continuing. "For example, I don't have an answer as to why you're so cute."

"Wha--well," Miya fumbled, a blush beginning to creep up towards her cheeks.

Asha's ears, strong as they were, could hear the increase in Miya's heart rate.

"But you're still being chastised so I can't compliment you too much right now," Asha smiled.

Miya couldn't help but chuckle at Asha's "stern" discipline. "That's fair. Will you be nicer to me in the morning?"

"Maybe..."

"Then let's get to sleep so I can maybe hear those compliments you have for me." The fighter pulled her arm out gently, giving Asha time to lift her head, before turning on her side. "I need you to big spoon so I know you still love me."

A sweet giggle escaped Asha's lips as she pulled Miya into her.

"Of course. Goodnight, don't let the psychological horrors of childhood trauma bite."

"Asha..."

"Kidding, kidding. If you have a nightmare I'll wake you up, and you'll be right back in my arms again," she said as she kissed the back of her fighter's neck.

Miya hummed in response, melting into Asha's hold before closing her eyes and letting sleep overcome her.

---

"I'm fine Anel, I promise."

The other half of the group also chose to return to their tent for the night.

"You say that, but I know what trauma is like." Anel brushed their knuckles along the side of Leakana's cheek. The warrior lied with her head in Anel's lap, content to enjoy the contact of her lover.

"I don't want to dump my burdens onto you when you already deal with so much," Leakana reasoned.

"You deal with just as much, yet you always encourage me to speak about my thoughts and feelings. Why do you not extend the same care towards yourself?"

Leakana gazed up into Anel's eyes - deep, brown hues looking so gently at her. It was hard to maintain her resolve when such tenderness was thrown her way.

"It's...different when it's someone you care about. But I won't be stubborn about it anymore. It's just...not easy when something happens and you seize up like you're a kid again, especially when I'm supposed to be the protector."

Anel's eyes softened at their lover's confession. "Kana..."

"I know, I shouldn't be hard on myself," she paused, her hand coming up and placing itself over Anel's, "but I don't want to ever feel that helplessness again."

"But you are not helpless," Anel started. "You have grown so strong - have helped us so much. So what if you freeze up? We are all here to protect one another, and we'll protect you the way you do us."

A smile spread across Leakana's face. The sincerity and hope that filled her with every word that left Anel's lips was indescribable. She knew she had a long journey ahead when it came to overcoming her trauma, but with Anel - and her other friends - it felt like the journey would be shorter than she thought.

"So wise, so compassionate... what's your secret Anel? It seems like every word you say just melts away my fears."

It was Anel's turn to smile. "I'm very observant. But if you'd prefer a cuter answer; your happiness is infectious - your smile a beacon of light in this world I thought so unjust and fanatical."

All Leakana could do was stare into Anel's eyes. Their gaze was so soft and full of love...so genuine and soul baring.

"Perhaps your weakness is not your past, but rather..." Anel paused to lean down, their lips pressing gently against Leakana's, "me?"

The warrior could do nothing but melt against the chaste affection. Her hand came up to cup her lover's cheek, their skin soft underneath her rough fingertips. "You have no idea Anel..." she trailed off.

"The feeling is mutual. Though it's more of a double edged blade."

"Yeah, you're right. For you I'd give the world - would fight against all odds to protect. You make me want to be a better person. But...if something were to happen to you, I don't know how I'd react."

"Mmm," Anel agreed. "I believe it's for the best. There must be a balance to everything, lest you spiral out of control and become a primal."

Leakana scoffed at the joke. "Don't worry, I never considered it."

"Would you become one if it meant saving me?"

"I--" the warrior stuttered.

"I know the answer to that." Anel brushed aside their lover's bangs before planting a quick kiss atop her forehead.

"Didn't people tell you to not ask questions you know the answers to?" Though it was said scoldingly, Leakana couldn't help but laugh.

Anel gave a chuckle of their own. "Sometimes it's nice to hear it spoken out loud. But though your love for me runs deeply, I would never want you to go to such lengths."

"It is easier said than done... But I suppose I have Tiamat to look towards as an example."

"And you would do well to not repeat her mistake," Anel smiled before pulling back and sitting up straight.

"Of course," Leakana assured. "But thank you, Anel. Today was more than a scare and the evening was just as stressful, but I know I can get through it all if you're here."

"Such pressure," the dragoon joked. "We can talk about it more tomorrow or when you're feeling better. Miya might want to chime in again too, so you might want to steel yourself for that. But for now, I think it’s best we get some rest.”

Leakana shifted, pulling herself up to a sitting position to let Anel move. She lied down on her side and patted the space before her – motioning for Anel to curl up beside her.

“Little spoon?” the warrior asked.

Anel shook their head, instead opting to lie facing Leakana. “You’ve had a rough day. Let me protect you.”

A serene smile graced Leakana’s features. As she pressed her face into Anel’s torso, she couldn’t help but inhale deeply before sighing – the scent of the forest and Anel’s almost undetectable jasmine perfumes comforting her.

“Thank you, my love,” she whispered.

Two strong arms enveloped the warrior as she closed her eyes. Life was full of twists and turns; ups and downs. The bonds forged between friends and lovers was no different. But should those friends and lovers weather the storm with her, they could enjoy the accompanying crescent after.

Outside the campfire dimmed to but a faint glow; the orange overpowered by the aether filled sky and ever present blue glow of the Garlean processing plant. The animals were still fast asleep in their dens, and as the group drifted off to sleep one by one, they all knew that tomorrow would be another day – another day to apologize, another day to make amends, and another day to strengthen the already deep bond between them.

#am #al

[milsotherapy]

(I just gotta gush and don't wanna do it on fb so sorry) I got to facetime with him for over 3 hours (!!!) tonight. I can't wait to be in his arms and hanging out with him and just being with him. Like even the little things. He needed the bathroom so he put the phone down but forgot to mute it so I heard eeeeeverything (even his freaking zipper lol) but it was just adorable to me because like that's so him he just doesn't care. Couple of weeks and I can see him. Super excited!!!!

Those long FaceTimes are always the best! You know you're comfortable in your relationship when little things like hearing them pee doesn't bother you 😂 Happy for you!! -Cherie

[chaospenelope]

Dragon's Roar

The Stone and Claw

Whiterun was surrounded by tall, solid stone wall. At the peak of the hill was an impressive keep. 'Must be where the Jarl is.' She thought as she studied the structure. She circled to the entrance. Walked past the stable and up the stone road. There were watch towers bordering the path as she ascended to the two large wooden doors. As she opened them the guards at each side twisted around to look at her then glanced at each other with readied swords. "Halt, town's closed. There's been a Dragon spotted in the area."

"Please, I'm on behalf of Riverwood. I need to speak with the Jarl about protection." She gave a relieved sigh when they opened the doors. People walked up and down town, children ran around shouting and laughing, and a man in armor argued with a woman wearing a blacksmith's apron. Most people stopped to stare at her with mixed expressions but after a few moments of her just exploring the village they returned to their normal activities. She made a mental map of the town and planning on where she'll go once the Jarl was warned. It didn't feel too odd being in such a busy place, perhaps she's been in a town like this before? "I'm not afraid of you bear!" She looked down to see two kids staring up at her, the girl was blurting out information she never asked for. The boy just had a wide eyed expression as his gaze switched between her and the guards. "That's nice..." It was obvious they weren't expecting a response since they gasped and ran off. "Do you go to the Cloud District often?" She glanced over at a man speaking in a condescending manner. "No, Is that what you call the castle where the Jarl resides?" "Well, Of course you haven't." He spoke as if he didn't even hear her, looking at her tattered clothes with a disgusted look on his face. She growled at him before before walking through the market to the next district. A district decorated with a circle of nice homes and a large building with an overturned boat for a roof. She walked past a tree and a preaching robed person up the stairs that rose above manmade pools of water. It lead to a wide stone trail ending at an impressive set of doors. At each side a guard leaned against the imposing structure. They suddenly stood at attention as an armored elvish woman exited the hold. She noticed Neda approaching and pulled out an Imperial sword. "Turn back now, the Jarl is not taking visitors." She warned coldly. "I'm sorry but I am here for Riverwood. They need protection from the dragon, I saw it-." "You saw the dragon!?" She was caught in disbelief. This Woman wasn't a local and her kin wasn't common in Skyrim. She didn't know enough about her kind to feel trustworthy, but couldn't take the risk if she was telling the truth. "Yes! Riverwood and Whiterun could be in danger! Helgan was already reduced to ruins!" "...Right this way." She opened the entrance to a grand feast hall. Two tables and a fire pit stretched to the bottom of a short staircase leading to an occupied throne. The Housecarl escorted the traveler to the Jarl. Jarl Balgruuf was sitting lazily in his chair listening to his Steward. The balding man was currently pleading with his leader about the appearance of soldiers. He rose his hand at the sight of his unexpected visitor hushing his steward. "My lord, this one claims to have important information about an attack on Helgan." "You have my attention..." "It was a Dragon that destroyed Helgan. It was near Riverwood when I last saw it." "Helgan destroyed!? By a-...So that really was a dragon." He said the word like it was a curse. He rose his head and looked over to the left of the room toward a smaller area filled with books and an enchanters table. "We should speak with the court wizard about this...He's been researching them for ages." "Jarl, you don't honestly believe this?" His steward's words fell on def ears. He rose up from his throne and led Neda to a man dressed in dark robes. "Farengar." The man closed his book and turned to them. "Someone else has seen the dragon?" "So you were listening. Have you found anything that might explain why?" "No, but I do know of something that might tell us." He motioned toward a map on the table and placed the book he was holding next to it. "I've found old scriptures telling of a tablet called the Dragonstone." He pointed at a spot close to Riverwood. "It's located in Bleak Falls Barrow." "I can retrieve it for you." Neda spoke up much to their surprise. She figured the location on the map corresponds to the path the shop keep's sister pointed her toward. "Bandits have taken refuge there, but I can get your stone." "Bandits are going to be the least of your problems. There are stories of walking dead in those tombs. People often wander in and never come out." "Isn't that true for a lot of places here...Or anywhere really?" She asked but only got a shrugged response. "If it could help prevent more bloodshed then I'll go."  Balgruuf turned to her. "What is your name?" "Neda, now if you'll excuse me there are some bandits that need carving through." She traveled back through the village feeling many eyes on her back. She returned to the market with all the merchants' pitches filling her ears at once. She entered a store called Belethor's General Goods. "Eeeeeverything's for sale my friend!" The man behind the desk belted out the moment the door opened. "Everything's for sale. If I had a sister even she'd be for sale." "Where is your armor?" "Ah, An adventurer in the making? I have just the thing!" He opened a chest and pulled out his largest pieces, an incomplete set of iron armor. She picked up one of the gauntlets and pulled it onto her arm. It fit. "How much for the gauntlets and armor?" "Hundred and fifty two gold." She looked at her funds. She would only have fifty left for potions but she needed the armor more. She gave him the coin and left. She hid behind the building and slipped out her tattered dress. She carefully folded it and placed the garment on the ground along with her other things. She clasped the chest plate around her torso and slipped on the gauntlets. It was bit snug around the chest but not restricting. She left just without so much as a peep from the guards. She pulled out her map for any short cuts to Bleak Falls. She decided the best option was to just follow the road back. It was much quieter than when she first arrived. The giant's corpse still laid on the farmer's crops. Passing the meadery she heard something in the bushes. She spun around to see a bear smelling the air. It must have been the one she ran from. She tried to back away slowly but the animal had her scent. It seemed a bit confused at first now that it was so close to her, but quickly swiped at her with an angry roar. She jumped back but the warm taste of blood told her she wasn't quite fast enough. She unsheathed her blade in time to block another strike. The beast ripped the weapon from her hand. She readied a handful of sparks as she backed away. Her other glowed with a healing light. It clawed at her midsection. It didn't falter as the electricity surged through it's bones. It rammed it's head into her chest forcing her to stumble back. She summoned hot flames with both paws. She tried to keep him at bay as she circled around for her sword. He charged again now with gaping jaws. It's teeth caught on her gauntlet. He tried to force her to the ground but she pulled her arm out with all her strength. Her arm was was freed after a painful pop. An incisor was ripped from the wild bear's skull. It let out a loud growl of a cry as it stood up glared at her. She took this opportunity to snatch up her blade. She slashed at the animal's chest before it could defend. There was a spray of blood. The creature fell and stood on all fours. It wasn't done fighting yet, even as it's wound drained and pooled onto ground. Neda struck at it's throat leaving another gash. It charged full speed nocking the air from her lungs and her feet from under her. There was a pounding pain in the back of her head. There was a sudden sharp pain on her left leg. It attempted to drag her like a fresh kill. She jammed her heel into it's head but it refused to let go. She blasted the wild animal with a spray of fire. It let go for the briefest moment but it was enough for her to get away. She decided to make a run for it, losing far too much time already. It seemed like she wasn't gaining any ground. She started to heal herself with magica. Only after healing herself completely did she look back to see nothing.

#FNAF AU #Skyrim #Dragon's Roar #Neda NightShade #Neda Salmon

[kcthedreamer]

Dread Nation Review

4.5 stars. I loooooved this book.

Pros

Characters: Jane and Katherine are eeeeeverything I want in a female friendship. They go from enemies (or maybe just frenemies?) to true-blue friends by the end of the book and it is soooo good.

Setting: post-Civil War era, but with zombies. This is one of the most creative concepts I have ever heard of, and Justina Ireland paints such a vivid picture of this alternate history. We go from the politically-charged big city of Baltimore to a sleepy frontier town where everything is not what it seems, and I could see every bit of landscape while I was reading. A+

Narration: Obviously, this is only relevant because I read the audiobook, otherwise I would be saying that my own narration was fantastic, and nobody EVER wants to hear me read out loud. Bad times. Bahni Turpin, the narrator for this audiobook, was fantastic. She has lots of experience as a narrator, and it shows. She gets Jane’s inner monologue down perfectly, and all her voices for the other characters are distinct. Sometimes I couldn’t quite tell if Jane was saying something out loud or if it was part of her thoughts, but that’s an audiobook problem in general for me, not this book specifically.

Cons

Pacing: This book is separated into a part one and part two, and as many other reviews have stated, they feel totally different. Part one lays down all the foundation for the world and introduces the reader to the characters, while still having some awesome action scenes, and then part two is all action. Part two suffered a bit because it spent less time on the characters and it focused a little too much on Jane’s plotting. I would have liked to get to know a bit more about the new characters introduced in part two.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced, interesting novel. It’s not new information that ya girl doesn’t mess with historical fiction, but this was too cool a concept to pass up. This book does not shy away from the horrible realities of racism, so be forewarned that there are slurs and a scene of pretty intense violence aimed toward the main character, and many descriptions of zombie death, which were quite gory. If you can handle reading about these difficult topics and you’re even slightly interested in the story, I would definitely recommend! 

#dread nation #book review #justina ireland #young adult #historical fiction #zombies