hi friends! catch me on @kasling for the foreseeable.

i've got some plans to revamp maria (like, a tear up the floorboards and start completely fresh sort of revamp), which is going to take some serious time. mar is my favourite character i've ever written, so i want to really sit with reworking her for a while before i attempt it. i've written her for over ten years, and i really want to get where i take her next exactly right. there's a few more personal reasons why i think i need to reconfigure stuff with mar, which i won't get into here, but generally i really think i need to press pause on writing mar for a bit and put my attentions elsewhere, because i don't want to not write with all the lovely people here! so for the time being, i'm going to be absent on this blog, but i won't be far at all-catch me writing everyone's favourite interdimensional eldritch cosmic cowboy!

sender invites receiver to dance. @shivcomplex.

ㅤit's the alcohol talking, but maria's sure she's a staple at any new year's party. not her personally, but someone like her. someone to bump up the excitement. someone to ensure, discreetly, that there's not just booze to keep things fun. it's winter, she thinks with a snort of laughter that she makes no effort to contain. of course they expect snow.

ㅤher bad humour fizzles quickly. midnight's come and gone, and the prospect of another year kindles little excitement inside her. so she takes another swing of the champagne—not that she particularly cares for the stuff, but at this caliber, she'll have what she pleases—and settles the empty flute on the tablecloth the next beat. a staple though she might be, she's not needed anymore. the high point of the party's come and gone, now it's just the comedown. maria readies herself to leave, hands smoothing out her silver dress, but the offer pulls her up short. again, it might be the alcohol, but her red lips find a smile.

ㅤ" sure, when the song is less dreadful. thought you'd have better taste in what to dance to. thought you'd have better taste in parties, too. " the smile grows, eases into a somewhat lopsided grin. this, at least, could be some fun. " just to be clear, i'm judging you massively right now. "

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 .    (  a  collection  of  100  nonverbal  action  prompts .   mature  and  potentially  triggering  themes  are  present .   add  “ + reverse ”  to  swap  assigned  roles . )

∗ o1﹕ sender  tucks  hair  out  of  receiver’s  face . ∗ o2﹕ sender  offers  receiver  a  bite  from  their  fork . ∗ o3﹕ sender  places  their  feet / legs  in  receiver's  lap . ∗ o4﹕ sender  offers  receiver  an  earbud  to  share  their  music . ∗ o5﹕ sender  comforts  receiver  in  the  aftermath  of  a  nightmare . ∗ o6﹕ sender  gives  receiver  company  in  the  hospital . ∗ o7﹕ sender  wraps  their  arms  around  a  hysterical  receiver  to  calm  them . ∗ o8﹕ sender  shows  up  at  receiver’s  home  late  at  night . ∗ o9﹕ sender  falls  asleep  leaning  against  receiver . ∗ 1o﹕ sender  wields  a  [ gun / knife ]  at  receiver . ∗ 11﹕ sender  runs  their  fingers  through  receiver’s  hair . ∗ 12﹕ sender  invites  receiver  to  dance . ∗ 13﹕ sender  takes  a  [ picture / video ]  of  receiver . ∗ 14﹕ sender  places  their  head  in  receiver’s  lap . ∗ 15﹕ sender  and  receiver  make  eye  contact  across  a  busy  room . ∗ 16﹕ sender  pushes  receiver  against  a  wall  to  kiss  them . ∗ 17﹕ sender  and  receiver  cook  together . ∗ 18﹕ sender  comes  to  receiver  after  being  injured . ∗ 19﹕ sender  sits  in  receiver’s  lap . ∗ 2o﹕ sender  lifts  receiver's  chin ,  invoking  eye  contact . ∗ 21﹕ sender  overtakes  receiver  in  combat . ∗ 22﹕ sender  finds  receiver  [ injured / bloodied ] . ∗ 23﹕ sender  straightens  an  article  of  receiver’s  clothes . ∗ 24﹕ sender  crawls  into  bed  with  receiver . ∗ 25﹕ sender  rolls  their  eyes  at  receiver . ∗ 26﹕ sender  lights  receiver’s  [ cigarette / joint ] . ∗ 27﹕ sender  is  caught  wearing  receiver's  clothes . ∗ 28﹕ sender  strikes  receiver  with  a  pillow . ∗ 29﹕ sender  writes  a  note  on  receiver’s  skin :  [ note ] . ∗ 3o﹕ sender  wraps  a  blanket  around  receiver’s  shoulders . ∗ 31﹕ sender  runs  and  jumps  into  receiver’s  arms . ∗ 32﹕ sender  shoves  receiver  out  of  anger . ∗ 33﹕ sender  hovers  over  receiver’s  shoulder  as  they  complete  a  task . ∗ 34﹕ sender  is  found  by  receiver  somewhere  they  shouldn’t  be . ∗ 35﹕ sender  curls  up  against  receiver  in  their  sleep . ∗ 36﹕ sender  is  found  drunk  by  receiver . ∗ 37﹕ sender  throws  an  item  of  sentiment  bitterly  at  receiver . ∗ 38﹕ sender  joins  receiver  in  the  shower . ∗ 39﹕ sender  is  caught  following  receiver . ∗ 4o﹕ sender  traces  one  of  receiver’s  [ scars / bruises ] . ∗ 41﹕ sender  twines  their  fingers  with  receiver’s . ∗ 42﹕ sender  barges  into  receiver’s  home  unannounced . ∗ 43﹕ sender  kicks  receiver’s  shin  beneath  a  table . ∗ 44﹕ sender  aggressively  shoves  past  receiver . ∗ 45﹕ sender  kisses  receiver’s  [ forehead / cheek ] . ∗ 46﹕ sender  pulls  receiver  out  of  harm’s  way . ∗ 47﹕ sender  is  found  sobbing  by  receiver . ∗ 48﹕ sender  locks  receiver  out  of  their  room . ∗ 49﹕ sender  brings  receiver  [ coffee / tea ]  in  the  morning . ∗ 5o﹕ sender  rests  their  forehead  against  receiver’s . ∗ 51﹕ sender  plays  a  song  for  receiver  that  reminds  them  of  them :  [ song ] . ∗ 52﹕ sender  takes  a  [ punch / stab / bullet ]  meant  for  receiver . ∗ 53﹕ sender  buys  receiver  a  drink  at  a  bar . ∗ 54﹕ sender  needs  receiver’s  help  getting  in  the  bath . ∗ 55﹕ sender  and  receiver  cross  paths  in  the  kitchen  late  at  night . ∗ 56﹕ sender  twists  receiver’s  arm  behind  their  back . ∗ 57﹕ sender  winks  at  receiver . ∗ 58﹕ sender  is  found  collapsed  by  receiver . ∗ 59﹕ sender  prevents  an  injured  receiver  from  getting  up . ∗ 6o﹕ sender  claps  a  hand  over  receiver’s  mouth  to  silence  them . ∗ 61﹕ sender  cages  receiver  against  a  [ wall / the floor ]  with  their  arms . ∗ 62﹕ sender  storms  away  from  receiver  during  an  argument . ∗ 63﹕ sender  is  found  by  receiver  sleeping  in  receiver’s  bed . ∗ 64﹕ sender  [ applies / touches up ]  receiver’s  makeup . ∗ 65﹕ sender  throws  receiver  into  a  wall  during  combat . ∗ 66﹕ sender  dances  sensually  with  receiver . ∗ 67﹕ sender  strikes  receiver  across  the  face . ∗ 68﹕ sender  places  their  hand  on  receiver’s  leg  while  driving . ∗ 69﹕ sender  pulls  a  chair  out  from  under  receiver . ∗ 7o﹕ sender  catches  receiver’s  wrist  when  they  turn  to  leave . ∗ 71﹕ sender  leaves  an  intimate  mark  on  receiver . ∗ 72﹕ sender  beats  receiver  in  a  video  game . ∗ 73﹕ sender  and  receiver  stand  in  stunned  silence  after  a  fight . ∗ 74﹕ sender  cares  for  receiver  while  they’re  sick . ∗ 75﹕ sender  and  receiver  go  on  a  hike . ∗ 76﹕ sender  is  caught  snooping  in  receiver’s  things . ∗ 77﹕ sender  and  receiver  cuddle  while  watching  television . ∗ 78﹕ sender  throws  something  aggressively  at  receiver . ∗ 79﹕ sender  creeps  up  behind  receiver  to  scare  them . ∗ 8o﹕ sender  and  receiver  go  shopping  together . ∗ 81﹕ sender  helps  receiver  [ dye / style ]  their  hair . ∗ 82﹕ sender  draws  receiver  into  a  kiss  by  the  back  of  their  neck . ∗ 83﹕ sender  is  discovered  having  a  panic  attack  by  receiver . ∗ 84﹕ sender  accidentally  injures  receiver  during  sparring . ∗ 85﹕ sender  grabs  receiver  roughly  by  the  hair . ∗ 86﹕ sender  brings  receiver  to  their  knees  during  combat . ∗ 87﹕ sender  shows  receiver  evidence  of  a  lie  they  told . ∗ 88﹕ sender  winks  [ seductively / mockingly ]  at  receiver . ∗ 89﹕ sender  yells  at  receiver  to  put  their  hands  in  the  air . ∗ 9o﹕ sender  helps  receiver  patch  up  a  wound . ∗ 91﹕ sender  holds  receiver  as  they  cry . ∗ 92﹕ sender  silently  and  angrily  points  receiver  towards  the  door . ∗ 93﹕ sender  gestures  for  receiver  to  sit  down . ∗ 94﹕ sender  pulls  receiver  into  their  lap . ∗ 95﹕ sender  cradles  receiver’s  face . ∗ 96﹕ sender  tackles  receiver  out  of  the  way  of  danger . ∗ 97﹕ sender  has  hidden  an  injury  from  receiver ,  and  receiver  finds  out . ∗ 98﹕ sender  confronts  receiver  about  their  unhealthy  behavior . ∗ 99﹕ sender  proposes  to  receiver . ∗ 1oo﹕ sender  has  just  died ,  receiver  finds  out .

Anita Ekberg as Sylvia in La Dolce Vita (1960). Directed by Federico Fellini

happy new year gang!! i’m going for a quick run and then i will be here and writing; plotting and memes are the vibe for this evening. a memevening, if you will

           BOOK STARTERS VOL.57    THE SHINING    STEPHEN KING

❛ Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters. ❜

❛ I’m not gonna hurt ya. I’m just going to bash your brains in. ❜

❛ Monsters are real. Ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win. ❜

❛ The world’s a hard place. It doesn’t care. It doesn’t hate you and me, but it doesn’t love us, either. ❜

❛ The tears that heal are also the tears that scald and scourge. ❜

❛ Pull your act together and just go on. ❜

❛ I had never dreamed there could be so much pain in a life when there is nothing physically wrong. I hurt all the time. ❜

❛ Tough old world, baby. If you’re not bolted together tightly, you’re gonna shake, rattle, and roll before you turn thirty. ❜

❛ Are you sure self-pity is a luxury you can afford? ❜

❛ Truth comes out. In the end it always comes out. ❜

❛ Living by your wits is always knowing where the wasps are. ❜

❛ No matter where you go, the same asshole gets off the plane. ❜

❛ We sometimes need to create unreal monsters and bogies to stand in for all the things we fear in our real lives. ❜

❛ That’s your job in this hard world, to keep your love alive and see that you get on, no matter what. ❜

❛ Human nature, baby. Grab it and growl. ❜

❛ God wiped snot out of his nose and that was you. ❜

❛ Run away. Quick. And remember how much I love you. ❜

❛ How many times, over how many years, have I—a grown adult—asked for the mercy of another chance? ❜

❛ I was suddenly so sick of myself, so revolted. ❜

❛ You listen to me. I’m going to talk to you about it this once and never again this same way. ❜

❛ But those pieces, they’ll never fit just the same way again. Never in this world. ❜

❛ Dying is a part of living. You have to keep tuning in to that if you expect to be a whole person. ❜

❛ Officious little prick. ❜

❛ I’ve been sleepwalking again, my dear. — The plants are moving under the rug. ❜

❛ How I wish you were fear. ❜

❛ But it was a dreadful kind of curiosity, the kind that makes you peek through your fingers during the scariest parts of a scary movie. ❜

❛ All we have is time, you know. An eternity of time. Or shall we end it? Might as well. After all, we’re missing the party. ❜

❛ We all remember our pleasant dreams more clearly than the scary ones. ❜

❛ The way things should be and the way things are hardly ever get together. ❜

❛ Got to be regular if you want to be happy. ❜

Stephanie Garber, A Curse for True Love

are axe murders even a thing anymore? @mimekre.

ㅤbasked the amber light of a terminal bulb, maria lets the question simmer. idly plucked from their conversation, like a tendril of smoke whisked off course by an unnatural breeze. the turn of talk doesn't throw her off-balance, though; a lone corner of her mouth elevates, lifted in a wry kind of amusement just shy of actual mirth. she sips her wine before speaking, her tongue now familiar with, yet still not enjoying, the cloying too-sweet taste. " i'm not sure. if they are, they aren't making headlines. axes must've gone out of fashion. " maria turns her head, blonde hair shifting like a pour of silver moonlight, ignited by a force unnamed into having more than just one foot in the conversation. tired eyes study the face thus far only glanced at, only glimpsed in her periphery. maria can't decide if the voice matches the face.

ㅤ" something got you feeling morbid this evening? "

all my mother's lovers, pt. 1.

dialogue prompts from all my mother's lovers: a novel by ilana masad.

i think you're in shock.

i can't handle this sober.

tell me something nice.

i'm okay, more or less.

maybe accepting some things as unfair is as good as it can get.

it's gonna be okay. we'll make it okay.

i didn't know you smoked.

breathe and eat and sleep, and you will get through this.

you must be pretty rich, to be so surprised.

are you okay? of course you're not okay. are you, like, surviving?

are axe murders even a thing anymore?

people deserve the truth.

i miss you too much to keep doing this.

you sound like you're disappointed with me.

sometimes i wish crying came more easily to me.

you're not sick of me yet?

excuse me. i'm feeling indisposed.

family is family, you know.

you're leaving? again?

memorization and specialized knowledge don't equal great intelligence.

what happened in here?

i didn't think i had that kind of strength.

let's get a drink. i'm in dire need of a good time.

i rarely trust my gaydar when i'm sober.

how has today been so long already?

i've been with plenty of artists, and let me tell you: we're overrated.

you let me be the little spoon. you make me feel safe.

don't worry. i'll tell you if you're boring.

doesn't anywhere you grow up feel small?

you want to run when you're angry, don't you?

you're like a teenager, all hunched and sulking.

here finally! deeply want to get some new things going so i'm going to rb some memes; will try get some written tonight <3

Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals

amazingly, i will be here soon

not here just yet but wild blue yonder? incredible.

like you cannot look at this and tell me anyone else could be maria greene. that is her!!!!

are you asleep, or just ignoring me? @vinduri.

ㅤthere's a stillness to these waters that maria has no liking for. it's not a stillness born of peace, or even a stillness born of fear. it's a unique quiet, maria thinks, one that brings with it a loneliness, a cold cover of isolation. they're the furthest from land they've been in months, and despite the plenty of souls on board, a grim, unusual quiet has settled into the pearl's timber. long days precede longer nights, the sea and sky both lost to a lifeless grey landscape. maria has stopped searching for blue in that unending grey; likewise, she's stopped trying to identify sea from skyline, muddled by the dense fog that engulfs the pearl and her seas.

ㅤlike the rest of the crew, maria had resisted the quiet. but, like the rest of the crew, a sort of reclusiveness had encroached upon her—she'd become one of the many uniformed by a bleak misery.

ㅤ" neither. i'm resting. "

ㅤresting like the dead. she's laid on her back, wan features pointing upwards, body unmoving. it's only her eyes that appear at all alive: half open, yet watching jack keenly. maria wonders how he bears it, immersed in the waters he loves, but them being waveless, eerily lifeless. like being with a loved one, she thinks, but their affections withheld. the thought ignites a molten guilt in her chest, and maria lifts suddenly from her gloomy half-slumber, the covers settling around her. the cold still holds her, but maria knows precisely which warmth she longs to feel.

ㅤ" i'm sorry. this quiet—i find it difficult. i don't mean to be an ungrateful passenger, darling. " moonlight slants into the bedroom, made silvery by the frozen world's dark mists. the pearly light settles across jack's features, skin, hair, and maria thinks he looks briefly more god than man—thinks that even a sea this ghostly would take him, recognising him still as one of its own.

ㅤ" please come to bed. tell me something wondrous. or show me something even better. "

in a meme mood at the moment, so send things for words! i pinky promise

late on this but the star beast was SO GOOD