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flightlessangelwings · 1 year

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Stripping Away Our Armor

Din Djarin x fem!reader (no use of y/n)

Word count- 5.6k

Prompt/Summary- “Who did this to you?” / You are an informant for the Mandalorian, and secret, unspoken feelings start to blossom between you. But how does he react when he comes by one night and you’re hurt?

Warnings- smut (18+ only!), sex worker reader (we respect sex workers in this house), oral (m receiving), soft romantic sex, praise kink, mutual pining, kind of forbidden romance, hurt/comfort, protective!Din, Din likes cheesy jokes, allusion to violence (nothing excessive), injured reader (nothing super descriptive), minor character death, slight grumpy/sunshine vibes

Notes- Surprise @misspearly1 I’m your Pedro gift exchange writer!!! 💖 I’ve had fun being a sneaky anon and writing this for you!!! I’m sorry this is a little late but I hope you enjoy this!! And thank you @pedrostories for organizing this event!!!

Reblogs/asks/follows are highly appreciated! 💖

@flightlessangelwings-updates is my update blog so feel free to follow that too and turn on post notifications to stay up to date on when I post!

Graphic made by me (I love the Star Wars vibe of this so much!!)

Colorful lights flickered to the beat of the dance music in the club as the Mandalorian walked through the crowd. All types of characters surrounded him: from the young and eager to see the spectacular around them to those who tried to blend in while on the run. Men crowded around the small tables and threw credits and sleazy looks at the dancers. Women with barely anything on their bodies sauntered by carrying trays of drinks. Some gave him a flirty glance, but most recognized him and left him alone.

There was only ever one person who he saw at the club.

“She’s not here right now, Mando,” one of the other girls, Sonya, set her tray down at the bar and addressed him as he approached. She gave him a subtle flirty glance before she flagged the bartender and gave him a drink order for her table.

“What happened?” he replied, his voice masking the concern that laid below.

Sonya shrugged, “I think she’s on a personal visit to a vip client. You’re welcome to wait for her,” she gathered fresh glasses and filled them as she spoke, “I’ll let her know you’re here when she gets back. But it might be late,” she eyed the Mandalorian up and down and her done dropped as she smirked, “I can always keep you company in the meantime,” she traced her finger along the beskar on his arm. She knew that the Mandalorian only ever asked for you, yet she couldn’t help but grasp the opportunity while she had it.

Mando gently moved his arm away from her reach, “I’ll wait for her,” he stated plainly yet without malice.

Her expression dropped as she let out a heavy exhale, “Suit yourself.” Sonya knew it was a long shot, yet she wasn’t immune to the beskar-clad man’s effortless charm. But she took his rejection with dignity as she turned and walked away.

The Mandalorian turned to face the crowd and leaned against the bar. Keeping on high alert at all times, he scanned the crowd and studied the faces he saw. There were some he knew he recognized from bounty pucks, but they weren’t his concern at the moment. He had a higher paying target he was after, and he needed your help to find him.

This arrangement started many months ago when Mando first came into the club to look for a target. Most everyone else who was there at the time was too scared or too intimidated by him. Except for you. You took him into the back and gave him all the information he needed… and then you gave him a taste of your services.

From then, he was drawn back to you time and time again. Mando refused to admit he was addicted to you. But there were times that he looked more forward to the time he spent with you than the information you provided. And once you were behind closed doors, the facade of the toughness you kept up melted away to reveal a kind, good person. And that only made Mando more mesmerized by you.

It was something he understood fully: keep your emotions out of your line of work. He did the same. Yet, when the two of you were alone together, the Mandalorian felt like you were the only person in the galaxy that really saw the true him. And the way your tough exterior faded away as your face relaxed and your smile lit up the room told him that you trusted him too. You were even the one person to actually make him laugh too, and it felt so good to Mando to let his guard down.

As he stood at the bar and waited for you, Mando couldn’t help but drift back to the day the two of you met…

“I’m looking for someone,” the Mandalorian asked the bartender as he set the bounty puck down, “He been by here?”

The bartender just huffed and turned to serve others at the far end of the bar without even glancing at the holo image.

Mando let out a heavy sigh as he turned around and faced the crowd. Most danced to the pulsing music and didn’t even give him a second glance. Some scurried out of his way, but he paid them no mind.

The target had to be here somewhere…

“Need something, Mandalorian?” a sultry voice called his attention, “Perhaps I can… be of service…” your tone dropped as you bat your eyes flirtatiously and shimmied your shoulder subtly.

Mando looked you up and down and his posture stiffened; you were captivating. Even as a hardened bounty hunter, Mando couldn’t help but notice the way your tiny outfit sparkled right at your breasts to draw men’s eyes. His fists tightened as he fought to keep his composure, “This man… Supposed to be a regular here…”

Just as Mando was about to activate the holo image, you covered it, “Not out here,” your eyes narrowed as you leaned in, “Follow me…”

The Mandalorian wasn’t sure why but he felt a pull as you slid your hand in his gloved one and took him back to one of the private rooms. And that’s when it happened: the hardened exterior faded away the moment the door was closed and the sultry expression morphed into a genuinely bright smile.

“Man it smells like upbabe in here…” you sighed in exasperation once you and the Mandalorian were alone.

He stood silent, the slight tilt of his helmet was the only movement as you felt his gaze heavy on you.

You rolled your eyes playfully, “You’re supposed to say ‘what’s upbabe’ and then I say ‘not much what’s up with you!’”

The Mandalorian was caught off guard by your joke once our tough exterior melted away. He stared at you for several moments before he couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh- the first time he did that in a very long time…

“Mando…?”

Your voice broke him out of his thoughts, and he was brought back to the present where you stood before him. You looked as radiant as ever, and Mando couldn’t help the wave of relief that washed over him at seeing you were alright.

“Hey,” he replied.

“Here for the usual?” you asked coyly. When he nodded in response, you slid your hand in his gloved one and your tone dropped seductively, “Follow me.”

He welcomed that familiar touch… that familiar routine.

Once the two of you were alone in one of the private rooms, you placed a hand on Mando’s chest and gently guided him backwards. His visor never left you as he allowed you to lead him: something he didn’t let anyone else do. He couldn’t explain it, but there was something different about you. The Mandalorian didn’t trust easily, but he trusted you.

All the breath left his body as Mando landed on the chair behind him. But he wasn’t sure if it was the landing that knocked the breath out of his chest or if it was the way you looked at him with a fire behind your eyes. Mando’s knees instantly parted to allow you to settle in between his legs, and neither of you broke eye contact as you slowly dropped to your knees on the floor before him.

Mando breathed your name as he reached out and cupped your chin. Your hands landed on his inner thighs just above the plates of beskar on his legs and you gave his flesh a firm squeeze. But just as Mando tried to reach for you and touch you more, eager to make you feel as good as you always made him feel, you stopped him.

“Let me, Mando,” you whispered as you ran your hands along his thighs and fiddled with the seam at the center of his pants, “I want to take care of you today.”

He couldn’t help but groan as his cock hardened at the thought of what you had planned. Mando watched as you freed his cock from the confines of his pants, and his hands balled into fists when you licked your lips involuntarily. You glanced up at him for a moment before you settled yourself and wrapped your hand around his length.

You worked slowly at first, raising and lowering your hand along Mando’s cock. You watched with eagerness as he hardened more and more with his pump of your fist until he was fully erect before you. A soft whimper escaped your lips as you shifted your position to rub your thighs together for some friction that you suddenly desperately needed.

Before Mando could address your action, though, you leaned forward and wrapped your lips around the tip of his cock, your tongue lapping at the sensitive head as you did so. He growled as his hands landed on your shoulders as you lowered your head down his shaft, taking as much of him into your mouth as you could.

“Fuck,” Mando hissed as the warmth of your mouth engulfed him, “So good mesh’la…” the praise dripped from his lips in a low tone before he could help it.

You hummed around his cock as you hollowed out your cheeks and sucked him off as hard as you could, knowing exactly what he liked. Raising your head back up, you popped off his cock to instead lick at the salty sweet skin there. You nibbled gently at the head before you ran your tongue flat down the shaft.

Mando groaned your name as you made your way back up his length, your tongue hitting every vein and sensitive spot along the way. Before you took him into your mouth again, you paused and looked up at him and Mando swore the universe froze for a moment. You looked so tantalizing as you looked at him with a desperate fire in your eyes, a trail of spit still connected the two of you.

“You look so fucking beautiful like this,” he sighed heavily.

Without replying, you took Mando’s cock into your mouth again and swallowed as much of it as you could. This time, you had a specific intention in mind, and you weren’t going to stop until you got what you wanted. Mando growled as your warmth became his whole world once more as you bobbed up and down on his cock.

“Fuck… Cyar’ika… I’m…” was all he managed to get out between a string of curses in Mando’a before he exploded in your mouth.

You never let up, even as Mando’s cum filled your throat. You kept going, working and sucking his cock as he came hard into your mouth. And you greedily lapped up and swallowed every last drop, not wanting even one bit to go to waste. You kept going until Mando grabbed onto your scalp and pulled you off of him when he was completely spent.

The two of you stayed in a heavy silence for several moments. Both of you just panted as you both caught your breath, and even though you didn’t see his face, you felt the intensity of his gaze behind the helmet. It sent a fresh wave of need through you and you couldn’t help but moan as you suddenly became aware of how tightly he held you.

In a rush, Mando pounced off the chair and crashed your bodies to the floor. Normally, he preferred to fuck you in a bed, or at least a table, but there was something about you today that filled him with need. He couldn’t wait. He had to feel you, hold you… taste you…

“I need you, sweetheart,” Mando growled as he covered your body with his own and his hands roamed all over you.

All the air was suddenly forced out of your chest as you hit the floor hard. Too wrapped up in the euphoria of having the Mandalorian on top of you, his hands roaming all over your figure, you almost forgot about why you didn’t allow him to touch you for a moment. But you were painfully reminded when his large hand grabbed your waist and pulled you close against him.

You cried out in pain and all the ecstasy of Mando’s touch completely vanished.

Right away, Mando pulled off of you and sat up on his knees, “What is it?” he asked in concern as his hand hovered over you, “What’s wrong?”

You were not going to shed tears in front of him. You were determined not to show any sign of pain or vulnerability. But the pain in your side screamed at you until you could barely hear anything else. It wasn’t until Mando said your name again that you opened your eyes and looked at him. And even though you didn’t see an inch of skin on him, you could tell he was concerned just from the way he held himself in front of you, his chest puffed up and his shoulders tense.

“It’s…” you let out a deep breath as you steadied yourself, “It’s nothing,” you tried your best to hide your pain as you scooted away from him slightly, “I’m alright. Just hit the ground a little too hard…”

“It’s not nothing,” Mando’s tone turned serious as he inched forward to stay in your proximity, “Let me see.”

“N-no…” you tried to protest.

“Cyare…” His tone was soft yet it left no room for argument, and the Mandalorian moved too fast for you to block anyway. That came as no surprise, considering he was the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. What did surprise you, however, was the tenderness and care in his touch as he held your sides and carefully lifted your shirt up.

Mando couldn’t stop the low growl that escaped his lips when he saw the wound on your side. It was fresh, but not bleeding. And a scan with his helmet told him that it wasn’t deep, which provided some relief. He sighed as he looked up at your face and he internally kicked himself for not noticing the slight swelling just below your eye before now.

“What happened?” Mando couldn’t help the anger in his voice, though it wasn’t directed at you, “Who did this to you?” he tenderly cupped your face with both hands. When you stayed silent as you looked into his visor with sad eyes, he added softly, “Tell me.”

You let out a heavy breath as you caved, “Shaun…” your voice was hushed as your gaze dropped to the ground, “Shaun Deggs.” All the light that Mando admired in your eyes was gone, and the normally bright smile that drew him back time and time again was clouded over with the tears that you fought back.

Mando knew the name: it was the target he came to ask you about. His blood boiled as he thought about all the ways he would make him pay for hurting you. You, who was his one light in a dark world. You who was the only person he looked forward to seeing. You, who Mando… cared a lot for.

He let out a low growl as his grip tensed.

Feeling the intensity of his emotions, you filled the tense silence, “He’s been a regular at the club for some time… deep pockets. He gets himself into trouble with gambling though,” you rambled, “I don’t know how, but somehow he found out I was working with you…” you sighed wearily, “He didn’t like that…” your voice trailed off as you let the Mandalorian piece together what happened.

Mando never felt a rage like this before; he never felt the need to protect someone so greatly like this. At that moment, it didn’t matter that Shaun was worth more alive than dead. He was going to pay for what he did to you with his life. He was going to pay for taking away the light in your eyes.

“Where can I find him?”

“No, no, no… P-please…” Shaun begged as he crawled on the floor. Bruises erupted all over his skin as cuts bled and he was sure he had at least three broken bones.

Hovering over him was the imitating figure of the Mandalorian. Blade in hand, he leaned over and smacked him across the face once more as he grumbled lowly. Never before had the Mandalorian felt a rage like this, and with every smack to this low life, he saw your face flash before him. Mando wondered if you looked like this when Shaun paid you a visit, if you were this scared. And he wasn’t there to protect you…

“Tell Gar I promise I’ll pay him back,” Shaun’s voice cracked as his body weakened, “Just don’t kill me please… I’m worth more alive, Mando.”

“I don’t care,” Mando growled, “You hurt someone… Important to me,” he spoke your name, “You remember her?”

Shaun bit his lip and nodded as he whimpered, “I-I’m sorry… I won’t go near her ever again. I swear!”

“I know you won’t…”

The scream Shaun let out echoed in the room.

You let out a heavy sigh as you ran your hands across your face. It was late into the night, and Mando made you promise to stay at your place until he got back after he walked you home and bandaged your injuries. He barely spoke while he carefully set the bacta patches on the gashes in your skin, but you felt the tension there without the words needed. Even through the layers of amor, you felt his anger radiate and you saw the tension in his arms and shoulders. You had never seen him like this before, and it made your mind spin.

Ever since you first laid eyes on the Mandalorian, there was something that drew you to him. Instead of being scared of him, you felt safe in his presence, and he was the one person you felt like you could let your guard down around. The routine came easily for the two of you: he would come by the club for information on a target, and you would take him to a back room and give him what he needed… and then some. Fully expecting him to be rough with you, it came as a pleasant surprise when Mando was so tender with his touches and he handled you so gently.

Feelings weren’t a luxury you could afford in this life, though. And you knew being a Mandalorian, he couldn’t let himself get too close either. So you kept your true feelings buried deep down, and you were grateful for the time you got with him. It caught you completely off guard though when Mando went into a rage once he saw you were hurt.

“That has to mean something, right?” you whispered to yourself as you clutched the small vibroblade Mando handed you, not wanting to leave you unarmed. There were two things you knew about the Mandalorian and his culture: the helmet never came off, and weapons were as important as air.

You bit your lip and held the weapon close to yourself as you heard his words to you in your head: “Stay here. Keep this close. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

But you were jolted from your thoughts by a knock at your door. A specific, rhythmic knock. Your face lit up as you set the blade down on the table and jumped for the door. When you opened it, the familiar figure of the Mandalorian greeted you on the other side and your shoulders dropped with a heavy exhale of relief.

“Mando…” you breathed.

He cupped your face as his heart fluttered in his chest at the sight of your smile, “You’re safe now.”

Glancing down, you noticed a small splash of blood on his beskar. Your eyes went wide as you realized what his words meant, and the way he held your face confirmed your suspicions. You grabbed onto the fabric around his armor and dragged him inside without another word. Emotions ran high as he locked the door behind him and gladly followed your lead.

“Mesh’la,” Mando murmured as he leaned forward and rested his forehead on yours. His hands lightly trailed down your face so that he caressed your jaw on both sides as he exhaled deeply.

“Mando,” you repeated, too lost in a whirlwind of emotions to form any other words. What he did for you was…

“Din.”

You blinked your eyes open, not even aware you had closed them, “Is that…?”

His hands trailed down your sides so that they rested on your hips, though he was still careful of your wounds, “Yes.”

Tears of happiness filled your eyes as you smiled brightly, “Din…” you echoed his name.

Din groaned at the sound of his name in your voice. “Close your eyes,” his tone was soft as one hand came up and cupped your jaw, “Trust me.”

“I do trust you.” A soft moan escaped your lips as you obliged without a second thought. You trusted the Mandalorian… Din. And you were sure he trusted you too. From the way he reacted when you were hurt, to him leaving one of his weapons with you, to killing a target that would have brought him a higher payout if he had been alive. There had to be something there.

When your world went black, you felt the hand come off your hip before a soft hiss echoed in the room. Your breath caught in your chest as you felt his breath on the skin on your face. He murmured your name as his fingers caressed your jaw before the gap between your faces closed.

This was the first time he kissed you; every time before, the hamlet always stayed on. And kissing Din was even better than you had imagined. Without words, his kiss conveyed all the unspoken emotions, and when his tongue touched yours, everything bubbled over into an explosion of affections.

Din moaned into your mouth as his hand tightened on your face and he kissed you deeper. Your lips parted as you tilted your head and surrendered to him completely. The taste of him sent a wave of heat through your body, and your core fired up at the way his tongue tangled with yours.

Keeping your eyes closed, you grabbed onto his shoulders and dragged him back towards your bedroom. Nerves tingled against your skin as vaguely you realized this was the first time you took him back into your private, personal room. But, you felt safe with him, you trusted him, and you wanted him there.

Din broke away from the kiss when he crossed the threshold into your room, and he lowered his helmet only to have his hands free to hold you. His arms wrapped around you carefully as Din savored the lingering taste of you on his tongue. He let out a contented sigh as your warmth wrapped around his heart, and he had you safe and sound in his embrace.

But, you had other plans in mind, and after you stayed in his arms for a moment, you lifted your head and started to yank at the pieces of his beskar. A soft laugh escaped Din’s lips as he let you strip him, and his heart fluttered as he watched how expertly and with such care you took off his armor: a gesture he allowed to you and you alone.

Once the outermost layer was off, and only fabric adorned his body, Din decided it was your turn. As you tried to rip off his shirt, he tenderly took your hands and lowered them, “Let me, love.”

Your eyes scanned his helmet, as if you desperately tried to read his expression though the beskar.

“Let me take care of you, tonight,” he clarified in a soft voice, echoing your own words as he delicately stripped you of your clothing piece by piece before he ripped off his own clothes.

As hot as you felt, a chill still ran up your spine as the fresh air hit your skin as you allowed Din to strip you. He had seen you naked many times before, yet this time felt different. You were in your home, no music from the club played in the background, and he took his time with you. Times before, he seemed to be in a rush, or he was still riding the adrenaline from a bounty hunt, or you were on a timer.

This time, though, you both had all the time in the galaxy.

That same vulnerability was reflected in Din’s helmet; he had never before been stripped completely. Always needed to keep his guard up, he usually left most of his armor and clothing on, until now. But, just as you felt safe with him, that same security and trust beat in Din’s heart. And it fluttered in his chest as you gasped softly and your eyes poured over every inch of his skin, and a rush of heat pulsed through his veins at the wanton look of desire in your eyes. The way you licked your lips involuntarily made his cock twitch with need.

Din scanned you over once you were both bare, and a fresh pulse of anger flooded his system as he saw the bacta patches on your skin. Carefully, he ghosted his fingers across the wounds, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” his voice was nothing more than a whisper.

Tears filled the corners of your eyes as you looked into his visor and this time you had no doubts what his expression looked like, “It’s not your responsibility, Din.”

His hand trailed up your body, pausing as he tickled the skin of your breasts and for a moment Din really soaked in how beautiful you were. When his hand reached your face, he wiped away the tear that threatened to fall from your eye, “Yes it is,” he said plainly yet with firm conviction.

“Din?”

He let out a low growl as he took control and guided you back to your bed. Need guided his movements, yet Din was still careful not to hurt you as he lowered you onto your bed so that you laid on your back. Wide eyes looked up at him, nothing on his body but his helmet, and you gasped as you noticed how hard he was.

“Please Din,” you pleaded, “I need you…” You felt a rush of wetness in your pussy as he climbed over you without hesitation.

Din hovered over you as he rocked his cock along your folds, yet he was still careful not to hurt you or brush against your injuries. He groaned as he felt how wet you were, and his cock twitched between your bodies. Your name escaped his lips in a prayer as he shifted himself to caress your breast with one hand while staying over your body.

The moan you let out went right to his cock, and Din brushed across your nipple with his calloused fingers. Your breast was so warm and soft under his grip, and every time you cried out in pleasure, he inched him closer to losing control. But, Din fought to keep his composure. This wasn’t like times before. This wasn’t a desperate need for release. This was… something more.

“Fuck me,” you breathed, “Din…” you bucked your hips against his body, grinding yourself against him.

“Fuck…” he groaned as he felt your wetness on his length, “So beautiful… You’re so beautiful.”

You opened your eyes as you took in the sight before you. You couldn’t help the way your eyes roamed down to his chest as Din stayed overtop of you. It was then you noticed the way his arms strained on either side of you, his muscles tight and tense as he held himself back for fear of hurting you. But, the way he cared only made you more desperate, and this time it was your turn to caress his face.

Reaching up, you cupped his helmet, mirroring the way he touched you earlier, “I’m ok, Din,” you reassured him, “I’m ok because of you,” he heard the emotions in your voice as the room warmed, “You won’t hurt me. I want you… Need you…” you pleaded.

He moaned your name as he dipped his head down and touched his helmeted forehead to yours once more, “I…”

Din interrupted himself when he slowly pushed into you, still careful not to hurt you as he filled you with his cock inch by inch. You broke the connection from his forehead as you dropped your head onto the pillow as you felt the familiar stretch. Instead of fucking you quickly, though, Din pushed into your slowly, taking his time until he bottomed out inside of you.

“So good… Feels so good…”

Neither of you were sure who spoke those words. Perhaps it was both of you overlapping at the same time.

“Din… Move please…” you pleaded as you ran your hand along his back before you slipped it under his helmet. Soft, thick hair met your hand at the nape of Din’s neck and you couldn’t help but give it a gentle tug.

Unable to deny you, Din groaned as he rocked back and slowly thrust forward again, filling you to the brim. You cried out in pleasure as he fucked you at a slow and steady pace. There was no rush, no need to pound into you. All you both wanted was to feel the other, and you clung to his shoulders as his cock hit that sweet spot inside you over and over again.

Din wasn’t just fucking you this time. He was making love to you. And it was everything you ever thought it would be. Tears filled the corners of your eyes again, but they weren’t tears of sorrow. They were tears of joy, tears of elation, tears of emotions. A string of curses and praises flowed from both your lips as your warmth engulfed Din over and over again as he rocked into you.

“Fuck… Din… Yes…” you moaned as you dug your nails into his skin and wrapped your leg around him, desperate to keep him close, “You’re gonna make me cum…”

He growled as he fought off his own climax, “Show me how beautiful you look when you cum on my cock, cyare.” Din snaked a hand between your bodies and rubbed at your clit as he sped up his thrusts.

Without the music of the club to fill the room, Din was able to hear the wet sounds of your pussy with every thrust. And it turned him on unlike anything else before. He growled softly as the need to send you over the edge fully overwhelmed him. At that moment, nothing else in the galaxy mattered: only you.

“Din…” you cried out as he pushed you over the edge. Your entire body trembled as you came hard, your inner muscles squeezing his cock as you rode out your climax.

“Fuck,” Din growled your name as your orgasm triggered his own as he came deep inside you, spilling himself into your body and filling you up even more.

Just as Din was about to collapse onto your body, he stopped himself. The ecstasy of his climax took over all brain function for a moment. But, he caught himself and instead carefully pulled out of you and landed on your bed beside you. Right away, you rolled over and laid your head on his chest as you wrapped an arm around his waist. Together, the two of you came down from your highs, lost in the other’s arms.

Your eyes stayed closed as you peppered soft kisses on Din’s chest and listened to the pounding of his heartbeat. A warm smile lit up your face as you felt his hands gently stroke your back comfortingly, and you were aware of how careful he was to avoid any of your injuries.

“Din…” you waited for him to hum in response, “Thank you,” you whispered.

His breath hitched in his throat, “You never have to thank me, mesh’la,” Din replied, “I’ll always keep you safe.”

You trembled as his words went right to your heart. You stayed in the comfortable silence for several moments before you spoke again, “Hey Din…” your voice wavered as you traced random patterns on his bare chest. You felt him tighten his grip on you and you summoned the courage to ask, “Do you think love is in the stars for either of us? Do you think our lives would allow that?”

Din was silent for a time, and you knew he was choosing his words; he knew exactly what you meant by asking that, “Probably not,” he answered honestly, “But,” he interrupted your heavy sigh, “That doesn’t stop me… or you…” You’re stronger than you know…

He felt the way your entire body relaxed in his grip and he knew you understood the meaning behind his words. The truth was, he would do anything to protect you, to keep you safe. It didn’t matter who it was, Din wouldn’t hesitate to plunge his vibroblade into the chest of anyone who would dare harm you…

As you laid in his arms, Din lifted his helmet for the second time that night and placed a soft kiss on the top of your head. The contented sigh you let out told him you were still awake, and you felt it. He smiled against your scalp, another gesture he saved only for you, before he lowered the helmet and settled in your bed.

When the sun rose, the two of you could face what lay ahead. But for now Din just savored the feeling of your body safe and warm in his arms. And while the words themselves remained unspoken, the feelings were there. And he was sure you heard them loud and clear:

I love you, cyar’ika…

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abybweisse · 3 months

Note

Hey Aby ! I have a question (actually, two) for you regarding bizzare dolls that came into my mind just recently, maybe you’ve answered this question before so i apologize in advance.

Firstly, why do you think the Star Lords exist in the first place ? Like, sure, they “take care” of the blood collecting centers, but what else ? Do you think they have any purpose other than this ? Are they part of something greater ? Because as of now it seems to me they’re actually a waste of energies for Undertaker (like, you know, having to harvest blood for all of them, making sure they’re healthy and don’t lose control…)

Second and last question, why the different blood types ? I’ll explain this better, if Undertaker’s main goal is to keep R!Ciel ‘alive’ why not collecting just Sirius blood and calling it a day ?

I take this opportunity to thank you for being the literal pillar and backbone of our fandom 🫶🏻 who knows what we would be without you ! Lots of love !

⚠️ long post ⚠️

Ok, so I've sort of answered these questions before, but I'll try to be more specific and in depth about it here.

Why the Star Lords to begin with?

There are several parts to this answer, and I'll go into some more details about each one:

The star lords exist because Undertaker wants to bring back real Ciel

Even this part of the answer requires looking at a few different aspects. Real Ciel is one of the star lords, so wanting to bring him back automatically explains why he's one of them. Bringing in other individuals can serve some purposes. Such as:

So real Ciel isn't the only one; he's not alone. It gives him the added bonus of having (loyal) allies to go up against our earl and his allies (particularly Baldo, Mey-Rin, and Finny). These star lords can fight very well (though that might not be the case for real Ciel, since he's apparently only getting AB blood transfusions. More on that later. And he might naturally not be as physically inclined or well-trained). We pretty much have to assume, by now, that Polaris is the one who kills Agni. Real Ciel shooting at Soma (who mistook the shooter for our earl) and Polaris (mistaken for Sebastian, probably) killing Agni turned Soma into an enemy. Much of the star lords' existence seems to be about getting rid of our earl's support system.

The others might end up serving real Ciel in some other way, too, such as collecting blood supplies from the other facilities; we know Vega (Layla/Al) and Polaris are sent off by Undertaker to do that. At some point, real Ciel wants one of them to act as his butler, and later Polaris seems to be filling that role, even though he was away and unable to serve as one earlier. Either way, Polaris identifies as a butler "even in death".

So there's a representative for each major blood type (more on that in part two). That's about religion (or occultism), symbolism, and balance. It's also about scientific research.

The star lords exist because Undertaker wants to make a point to our earl about the choices he makes (which I find very ironic).

Choosing Doll (to represent Canopus) might have something to do with wanting to make our earl feel guilty for her death... if he ever sees her or finds out about her return. We won't know what/how he finds out until we get back to him and he's receiving reports. We aren't quite sure yet who Polaris is, but I suspect he's a former Phantomhive butler, and that could make our earl feel bad about his death, too, even though there was no way for him to prevent it. (Mostly, someone like a former Phantomhive butler for Polaris would be for the fierce loyalty that could be achieved with his "episodes".)

The star lords exist because Yana-san needs to provide more adversity.

Undertaker might also see Doll as someone who could take Snake away from our earl, because of their history. And even if Undertaker doesn't have that in mind, Yana-san sure does; it makes sense from a writer's perspective to have each of our earl's helpers deal with something that exposes their emotions and/or weaknesses. With Doll, Snake feels a sense of belonging, while Finny feels guilt. Layla/Al is good to go up against Lau and Baldo because they likely wouldn't suspect a little girl (by all appearances) to be much of a threat. Polaris is so strong, fast, and flexible that Mey-Rin and Ran-Mao have no idea how lucky they are that they were gone by the time Polaris found out what had happened. Agni and Soma weren't as lucky, dealing with Polaris and real Ciel. 😢

The star lords exist because backers of Aurora Society begged and/or paid to have dead loved ones revived.

At least that's what I think in the case of Layla/Al. I suspect she might be Baron Heathfield's dead daughter. Undertaker agreeing to help restore Heathfield's family might be why Heathfield got involved with Undertaker and the Aurora Society. Not just to find the right "soul shape" for his wife... but also to somehow revive his daughter.

The star lords exist because Undertaker is still curious about humanity (life, death, souls, etc.).

He's continuing to experiment. Even though the main purpose seems to be to revive real Ciel, the effects are much wider in scope. They really are one big series of experiments. Some elements of what he's been working on (possibly with a helper, like Druitt, on the medical aspects):

Manipulating cinematic records. He started out -- probably long before real Ciel was killed -- just adding little snippets of himself to their records, much like the BDs on the ship. He says that when he started working on real Ciel his revival techniques weren't up to snuff (not nonexistent, just not strong enough), so he needed to make quick progress. The others on the ship weren't for that purpose, so they don't really count here. The murders at Weston gave him an opportunity to improve upon record manipulation. And so do the other lords of the stars. This gives him more time to cherry pick which "episodes" to use for each one.

Blood typing and transfusion technology. It is way more advanced (than it should be at this time) because of his work... or the work of whoever is helping him in the lab. It's already led to the development of dialysis machines, too, which brings in another money-making opportunity. The star lords might not have functioning hearts, bone marrow, livers, or kidneys, so the blood transfusions are an ongoing need.

Organ transplants. Experimentation continues with organ transplants, since the orphanage staff mentions something about how hard it is to match the kids up with the star lords based on aptitude. With organ transplants, matching blood type isn't always enough. The personality test doesn't guarantee any more precision, of course, either, but that's not exactly the purpose of that test. Also, transplanted organs don't last forever, even in living humans, so they probably last even less time in a BD. As a star lord wears out their transfused blood, they probably also wear out transplanted organs and other tissues.

Soul transplants. We don't have absolute proof just yet, but I do think Undertaker is also experimenting with transplanting souls into the star lords. On the ship, he says BDs can't do anything with the souls of the people they attack. And he says he can't make souls. However, he hasn't said he can't manipulate souls that already exist; definitely, he has soul manipulation abilities that the BDs lack, and I think he's testing the limits of his own abilities. He's also got Heathfield thinking that he needs to find a woman with a soul the same "shape" as his dead wife's. As I said before, I think Undertaker might be using Heathfield's dead wife as a test subject for soul transplants. I do think he wants to transplant a similar or same-shaped soul into each of the star lords. Either Layla has Al due to one of these experiments... or Undertaker chose Layla to be one of the star lords partly because she already has Al, and Undertaker wants to study this dual personality. His reasoning might go that if he could just transplant the right soul into a star lord, then that star lord would be truly revived... would be able to pump and clean the blood that's been transfused... would be able to make more blood for themselves... would be able to make better use of the organs they've received.

The star lords exist because Undertaker needs a gimmick to lure in people to give blood (whether or not they know that blood is being taken) and for patrons to donate money.

And that's where the different blood types become even more important.

Why the different blood types?

I suppose Undertaker could focus all the efforts on just getting AB "Sirius" blood for real Ciel. But there are benefits to collecting all four types in the ABO blood grouping system (ignoring Rh factor).

AB is rare, and it would still require blood typing a large number of people to figure out who has AB. Hence why they opened Sphere Music Hall and made it a mixing space for all walks of life, placed ads for maids of all backgrounds for Heathfield, offered state of the art medical services for veterans at Athena Sanatorium. and provided a shelter and rare education opportunity for orphans at F. O. L. And people would feel unwelcome if most of them (or any of them, really) were turned away. Making the facilities as inclusive as possible (particularly the music hall and Heathfield's manor) increases the likelihood of getting enough AB blood for real Ciel.

And since Undertaker (and whoever) now also has all this blood for A, B, and O, he should do something with it. By then, probably anticipating the fact that he'd have blood supplies for different recipients, he'd have selected the other three star lords to match the remaining blood types. Each star lord just sort of falls into place, most likely. Real Ciel has AB. "Polaris" is A, so that works. This girl Layla is unusual, plus she's got type O; great, let's bring her on board. And Doll happens to be B; perfect, now all four types are covered.

In the case of Sphere Music Hall, there's also a major occult aspect to it, and having these four portray worshipped individuals works out well to lure people in and gives each visitor a purpose. Even the lesser "stars" that make up the multitudes are useful. Truth is, most of them didn't even know about the star lords; they were too caught up in adoration for the idol singers. Built-in idolatry. Layer upon layer to shroud the star lords in mystery.

For a while, there was so much extra A and O blood that they could also distribute it to renal failure patients who donated money to Aurora Society. Like those old guys in Bath.

There's also the fact that a major truth about the ABO blood grouping system has been, so far, either ignored or misunderstood within the story. When it comes to whole blood transfusions, AB is the universal recipient, so real Ciel doesn't have to "starve" from the scarcity of his blood type. All this time, he could have accepted any of them. It actually all could have been collected for him... from anyone (again, ignoring rh factor). All this trouble to collect AB blood for him could have been avoided, but either the researchers don't yet know this fact, or they know but still aren't making use of it. There is also the possibility that even real Ciel now knows this, but he's refusing anything but AB due to elitist bias. Keep in mind that they have created their own caste system within this "blue cult", despite saying how everyone is welcome and to be treated equally. There's obviously a premium put on Sirius and Canopus. And there've been a few times where individuals talked down to anyone who wasn't amongst the cult's elite and described the vast majority of participants as lesser or "dim" stars.

I'm still waiting for someone (maybe Sieglinde?) to point this out to Undertaker (and whoever is doing the bulk of the blood work). So, part of the reason to have a star lord for each blood type might be to lead up to the revelation that they went through a bunch of completely unnecessary lengths... and to maybe show them that -- for all the knowledge they had -- they still knew so little.

Well, I hope this sufficiently answers your questions. 😂 I feel like I'm forgetting something, but after typing this much, I can't think too clearly about what that might be. 😮‍💨 😅

And thank you so much!! 😊

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nanowrimo · 11 months

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Unlocking the 8 Secrets of Web Novels

If you’re looking to try something new this Camp NaNoWriMo, why not a web novel? Participant Eitan Estheim talks about what a web novel is and how to get started on your episodic writing adventure! The act of writing has been with us for a long time, but that doesn't prevent us from learning different ways to approach it, especially when we take advantage of the new technologies that are emerging.

Web novels (and their variants) are original stories that are published on the internet in chapters, instead of offering the finished product from the beginning. They resemble self-publishing because the author takes care of the entire process (writing, editing, publishing, promotion), and fanfiction because they maintain close contact with the readers.

Generally, authors usually offer their content for free on the internet. However, some authors will publish in advance on Patreon to offer incentives and get monthly paid subscriptions as if it were the Netflix of books.

I've been doing this for a while now and, although I don't have the impact of other writers, that hasn't stopped me from learning a lot in the process. With this in mind, I'm going to tell you what I’ve learned, both on my own and thanks to others.

1. Choose where to publish your web novel. Nowadays, there are several platforms such as Wattpad, Royal Road, Tapas or Kindle Vella, among many others. Some are more suitable for romance and contemporary stories, while others highlight fantasy or litRPG. Keep this in mind before deciding where you want to start.

2. Be prepared. Unlike other ways of publishing a book, a web series requires regular updates. This means you need to create content frequently. As a result, many authors choose to have several weeks of chapters prepared. This ensures they can continue publishing while writing the next chapters, along with all the additional tasks that this entails.

3. Be realistic with your time. Referring to the previous point, we need to take a moment to consider everything we must do: write new content, make sure it's in good condition for publication (editing), promote on social media, etc. Many of us have jobs and responsibilities, so we must be aware of how much we can accomplish each day.

4. Every story is unique. What works for one author may not work the same for another. Some decide to publish short chapters from Monday to Friday, while others prefer to do it once or twice a week. Consider your situation and learn as you go to figure out what works best for you.

5. Take care of yourself. If you push yourself too hard, both in external obligations and in your own projects, you will reach a point where you will exhaust yourself (and that's if you're lucky). Just like in life itself, prioritize your physical and mental health, fulfill your responsibilities, and give yourself the opportunity to write under the best possible conditions.

6. Share your story. Maybe you're like me and prefer to dedicate your time to writing, planning, and editing because that's what you enjoy the most. It's understandable, but how will you get others to read your work? Get moving! Use social media, Facebook groups, and other methods because if you want others to value your work, you must make them aware of it.

7. Find your balance. Just like in any other writing project, there will be times when you write less and dedicate more time to editing or preparation. You may have periods where you write less, but that doesn't mean your productivity is lower; it just means there are other equally important tasks you must perform. Finding the right balance will allow you to progress in your short, medium, and long-term projects.

8. Take care of your readers. Remember what I mentioned about Patreon? It's not only a way for authors to receive some compensation for their work, but they also offer incentives to their followers. Most choose to offer chapters in advance, but they can also provide exclusive access to Discord/Guilded servers, EPUB/PDF files to continue reading on other devices, unlimited scenes, and a variety of other things. Just think about what you would like to have as a reader, and I'm sure you'll come up with many ideas. All of us here know how complex and exhausting writing can be, regardless of the project we're working on. However, it's equally rewarding to see our story taking shape and sharing it as if it were our own TV series. You just need to mold it in the way you desire and keep on writing!

Eitan Estheim, a passionate web serial writer hailing from Spain, is a humble virtuoso of storytelling. From an early age, armed with nothing more than a trusty notebook, Eitan embarked on a literary journey fueled by lots of chocolate. His insatiable thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, as he tirelessly hones his craft to captivate readers. Eitan's web books, spanning fantastical realms and heartfelt LGBT dramas, written in Spanish and English, mark the beginning of his promising writing career. Follow his journey on Patreon! You can also visit his website, Tumblr, Instagram, or Pinterest. Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

#nanowrimo #camp nanowrimo #self publishing #online publishing #web novels #by nano guest #eitan estheim

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frownyalfred · 7 months

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Apologies for the extremely long ask.

Omegaverse as a concept is so complicated and interesting as to me as a trans person.

On the one hand, the writer in me is intrigued by the world building implications and the opportunity to explore gender roles/dynamics. The concept of having a secondary dynamic alongside your actual gender is also fascinating to me and it's something I typically would have expected to be in something like sci-fi before I actually got into fanfiction.

I especially love deep diving into pack dynamics. Admittedly, that's where most of my interest and attention is focused on when reading and writing Omegaverse. I just find the concept so fascinating and any opportunity to write characters with heightened instincts, alien or otherwise, is just so much fun.

But on the other hand, I'm also very aware of how Omegaverse came about because some Supernatural fans wanted to play around with the idea of pack roles/relationships based on a messy study of wolf hierarchies. I'm also aware that intentional or not, a lot of early Omegaverse fics and tropes leaned really heavy into more homophobic and transphobic stereotypes, especially between M/M pairings.

I do feel like this has changed a bit over the years, though. From what I recall, a lot of early Omegaverse fics just really over relied on the stereotypical "which guy is really the girl?" trope that you saw a lot in the early to mid 2000s when discussions of queer (but mostly gay) relationships were brought up. I feel like the discussion has become a lot more nuanced since then and I know there are other trans fic writers like me who enjoy writing Omegaverse simply because it provides an opportunity to explore concepts of gender, sexuality and identity in a relatively fun way.

Not all Omegaverse fics/tropes are created equal, though. And every trans person has a different reaction/feeling towards this AU. I definitely feel like the odd one out, though, sometimes since I mostly come to Omegaverse for pack dynamics, less so for the smut (although I have written some in the past for fun or for friends). But I also believe there's validity in writing smut just for the purpose of enjoying smut.

Overall, I think this AU has a lot of potential, but I also see why it could make people very comfortable. I do wanna say that your fics haven't made uncomfortable and I do enjoy your takes on this trope. And I especially appreciate your willingness to listen to other trans people and their thoughts on Omegaverse. It goes a long way.

Side tangent: I will always be amused by how this whole trope came about btw, but also because the original author of that study followed it up by saying his first paper was absolute bullshit actually and shouldn't be viewed as a factual study of wolf pack hierarchy. Man messed up his original study, but he's a dedicated scientist and I love him for debunking his own work. But also the fact that he had an unintended impact on fandom is such fucking gold to me. I love this man so much.

Thank you for putting my thoughts to words, anon! There's definitely a long history there, and I agree with you that the genre itself has changed a lot in recent years, I think for the better.

I don't begrudge anyone for not liking or wanting to read a/b/o fics at all. I think it's intriguing but has the potential to be deeply uncomfortable or even like you said, transphobic for some people. I try to tag everything very well here that mentions it, etc.

I think what I like most about recent changes is that the genre has shifted to be less about "how can we get these two characters to breed?" and more to discussing pack dynamics, the implications of designations and gender roles, and building interesting biological rules and intricacies in an author-unique universe.

#asks #anon #thank you for sharing anon!#a/b/o mention #a/b/o tw #myfic #theresurrectionist #a sky of honey

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fabaceous · 1 year

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Is there ever a hypothetical world where Jackie and Shauna’s situation is reversed (as in Shauna dies and Jackie makes it home)? And if so, how do you think Jackie would react and deal with it?

this is ANOTHER of my favorite cans of worms to open lately so THANK YOU for giving me an opportunity to talk about it!!

i was thinking about this mostly because i was thinking about how shauna's hallucinations of jackie provide us with such valuable information about shauna's thoughts/feelings/desires, how she thinks of jackie, how she thinks of herself (via jackie). hallucighost jackie i think sort of has two sides that are intertwined but serve different purposes - there's one side that's more straightforward and even sweet: it shows how shauna, in her grief and pain, wants to remember jackie (the fun, lighthearted moments; braiding her hair, joking about randy). the other side is more dark but gives us just as much if not more insight into shauna: she uses jackie as a mouthpiece for her own bad thoughts about herself. hallucighost jackie is the whip that shauna self-flagellates with. and she punishes herself, but she's also sort of repressing the fact that she even feels guilty (which maybe is why she needs jackie's "ghost" to guilt her, because she can't admit to herself that she feels guilty). and it all must hurt even more coming out of jackie's mouth - which, if you think about it, is probably why she does it (better fuel for her guilt complex).

ANYWAY, i digress (sort of). my point is, i've always wondered what we could learn from jackie hallucinating shauna. how would jackie want to remember shauna, but at the same time, how might the memory of shauna torture jackie?

if we do a simple swap and have shauna leave the cabin when jackie tells her to during their fight and then shauna freezes, that's one option. we get jackie feeling both immensely hurt by shauna's nearly inconceivable betrayal but, at the same time, feeling guilty for sending her out there. this could lead to some interesting hallucinated convos and, personally, i 100% think it could also lead to jackie doing shauna's makeup in the meat shed lmao. (and thats how you know they're made for each other!)

BUT ALSO. shauna's betrayal (i mean, combined with jackie losing her social status in the wilderness and having the other girls turn on her ofc) made jackie so depressed that she was unable to eat, and shauna dying on top of that would have the potential to completely destroy jackie's will to survive. it would be a big ask, at that point, to get jackie through to rescue. id say its pretty likely she dies of a broken heart, so to speak. like, just loses all her remaining will to live (because her will to live was literally hanging on by a thread and that thread was shauna). the only way i can imagine her surviving long enough to go home is if she has a complete and total break from reality and like, just sort of dissociates from the entire year-plus that follows. i think (? let me know if you agree bc this actually just came to me while writing this and im not sure if it holds up) that if the writers really sold it right, they could convince me that jackie basically goes catatonic and retreats into some fantasy world (one where shauna is around, of course!) for the rest of their time in the wilderness. not exactly the way shauna talked to jackie in the meat shed, because shauna knew she was hallucinating and was more or less able to walk away when she had other obligations. i think jackie would actually legitimately just lose her grip on reality, and succumbing to this would be the only way for her to survive. kind of like the bacchanal but about, like, everything.

the other scenario that occurred to me (and it's a pretty awful way for shauna to die and makes me really unhappy btw, so, sorry in advance) is what if shauna's abortion attempt had gone really, really wrong and she had gotten an infection and died from that? obviously jackie has no clue at this point about jeff/pregnancy/rutgers/etc so its pure unadulterated heartbreak. taissa could play a really interesting role in this situation as the only other person who knows this huge, earthshattering secret. would she keep it from jackie? i think that would be the prudent thing to do. losing shauna would already be almost too much for jackie to take, but she could maybe survive that by designating herself as the keeper of shauna's memory and she could probably convince herself she owes it to shauna to stay alive because if jackie dies then shauna is gone for good. but, as we've seen in canon, finding out that shauna betrayed her sends jackie into a really dark place where she doesnt have much will to live. i think she could plausibly survive with her sanity intact if one or the other happens (shauna betrays her OR shauna dies) but, as i discussed above, experiencing both would either break her sanity or effectively kill her.

and i suspect taissa is smart enough to realize this too, so if she wants to keep jackie alive she'll withhold this information (hide/burn the journals?) and let jackie cling to whatever romanticized image of shauna she comes up with. once they get back to the real world, who knows? taissa might tell her because she feels like jackie deserves the truth, jackie might read shauna's journals from before the crash in an attempt to feel close to her again and find out that way, or even jeff might tell her (worst case scenario IMO)... and im honestly not sure what jackie would do at that point, like, murder jeff maybe? (im joking but i actually am not sure how that whole situation would play out. maybe depression 2.0 but in the real world, but that's not as fun as murder.)

i haven't even said what i think jackie would hallucinate, so lets end with that. for shauna, it's primarily about self-flagellation and self-punishment, although it has some ability to soothe her as well, like when she imagines having fun with jackie.

for jackie i think its actually fairly simple: its obvious to all of us that what jackie wants most is shauna's authentic and full love, and my personal theory is that the main (and maybe even sole!) function of jackie's hallucinations would be escapism and wish-fulfillment, and imagining that shauna really did love her.

jackie doesn't have a self-destruction/guilt complex like shauna does. jackie, i think, would be able to just feel guilt in a more straightforward way. as well as anger! so in the scenario where shauna freezes after their fight, jackie would certainly be feeling a lot of guilt, but she doesn't need or want shauna to remind her, she could just apologize. and she's feeling a lot of anger, but she'd be able to say it to shauna's (hallucinated) face instead of putting it through some twisted alchemical process that turns it into something else. like, i think she actually does have a chance of getting closure in a way that shauna doesn't because shauna would never let herself get closure because then she'd have nothing left to fuel her guilt/self-destruction complex.

i think jackie would want closure for her immediate anger and guilt about shauna's death, and because she wants it, she'd be capable of getting it. but after that's dealt with (assuming she survives long enough to deal with it), or in a scenario where jackie doesn't know about shauna's betrayal/isn't responsible for her death, i really think (and i just made myself sooo miserable realizing this btw so you're welcome. or i'm sorry) that the thing that would cause jackie eternal and relentless pain for the rest of her life would be the immense regret and the feeling that she didn't love shauna enough, or didn't love her right. and her hallucinations of shauna would, by and large, simply be an outpouring of all the love she didn't get to show her in life (and imagining the reciprocation of that love that she always wished shauna would give her).

#can of worms: opened #worms: on the floor #are they good worms? you be the judge #also lol remember the ask about my thoughts on whether jackieshauna would ever be canon #that and this are two things that i have actually discussed extensively in the dms with rose @lottieurl recently #its kind of funny 😂 like u guys are asking THE most perfect questions #and they're things ive already been thinking about!#also hiding this reallllyyyy deep in the tags but #i may or may not be pondering exploring some of this through the medium of fanfic #will i ever actually turn it into anything publishable? who knwos #but its. percolating shall we say #RIGHT! well. this was fun!#ill end it here since this is already an ungodly amount of words #yellowjackets #yj asks

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rafaelsilvasource · 1 year

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9-1-1: Lone Star’s Ronen Rubinstein and Rafael Silva on TV wedding and the beauty of queer love

9-1-1: Lone Star fans will finally see TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva) get married in the two-part season four finale

BY REBECCA LEWIS | Hello! Magazine, May 2023

After four years, some false starts, and far too many near-death experiences, 9-1-1: Lone Star fans will finally see TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva) get married in the two-part season four finale on Tuesday May 16, 8/7c. But it's not going to be smooth-sailing, as fans have already been promised a tragedy that will strike — and change the trajectory of their lives forever.

"It's a blessing to be given these storylines," Rafael, 28, says on the set of HELLO!'s digital cover shoot in Los Angeles, "It's not every day that you get a story like this with juicy scenes where you have to focus and step up."

Fans already know that Lyndsy Fonseca will return as Carlos' best friend Iris, but the two episodes will see other surprises on-screen as TK and Carlos — known by their portmanteau Tarlos — lean on each other as they work through the shocking complications.

Ronen and Rafael met in 2019 when they were cast as TK, an NYC firefighter who moves to Austin with his father, Captain Owen Strand (Rob Lowe), and Carlos, an openly gay Latino police officer in the Austin PD.

Their relationship has become the focal point for the Fox drama, and a beloved character all its own, and the decision to have them finally wed means so much to so many, especially at a time in the US when conservative legislation has been attacking the LGBTQ community, making this wedding all the more poignant and important.

Over the past four years, the two actors have built such a bond on and off-screen that even among all the "chaos around us on set," as Ronen describes it, they are able to stay focused on telling their stories.

That connection also helped Ronen, 29, come out publicly as bisexual in 2021; he credited Rafael at the time as one of a few people, along with wife Jessica Parker Kennedy and stylist Chaise Dennis, for encouraging and supporting him to live his truth.

"I shouldn't be here," says Ronen. "Little Ronen's from the slums of Staten Island, growing up as a degenerate and fighting, doing drugs, and not going to school, we don't really get to come full circle to this sort of position."

Truth and love are what Rafael and Ronen both hope is the lingering legacy of this show, and these characters, no matter how many more seasons it stays on air. "I hope this inspires people, in the simplest way, to say, Love yourself," said Rafael.

When you think back over the last four years, and see the growth of Tarlos as a couple, and TK and Carlos as individuals, has there been anything that has truly surprised you?

Ronen: Not surprised, but I am most proud of their communication skills! We've seen the evolution of these two, and what were terrible communication skills!

I mean, Carlos made TK a beautiful dinner and then he stormed out like a little bitch! But it's all thanks to the writers; the fact that they were able to connect all the moments up to this level of communication which we saw in episode 16, when Carlos says, "Even if you don't remember who I am, I will stay in this, and love you and stay with you and support you and I'll introduce myself, 'Hi, you're TK and I'm Carlos and we're soulmates.'"

How have TK and Carlos changed you as actors?

Ronen: I don't even know where I would start. It's changed me as a person but as an actor it definitely has taught me speed and efficiency. After Lone Star, I'll be ready for any sort of set in any sort of situation. We're on this massive production, but sometimes it still feels like you're in an independent film when you get a script the day before.

This show has also given me the opportunity to provide a life for myself, and my wife, that I didn't necessarily have growing up.

I shouldn't be here. Little Ronen's from the slums of Staten Island, growing up as a degenerate and fighting, doing drugs, not going to school, we don't really get to come full circle to this sort of position. It's a blessing.

Rafael: I wanted to go to grad school before I booked Lone Star, but God has a way of showing you that life is your school. When I booked Lone Star, I felt so inadequate but now I realize it's healthy to have some doubt — and I love the fact that I talk about this now without any sense of feeling like an impostor, because if we don't talk about these things, we dehumanize these very human experiences.

Carlos has allowed me to learn a lot just simply by watching, listening and playing. I'm extremely grateful that it has changed me as a professional, and also the way I see myself, and the kinds of stories I want to tell. Now I say, 'Know why you're doing something and don't be shy to be yourself, go for the truth,' and I think that's something that this show has truly required of Rafael.

What would you say to 2018 Rafael who cried in the bathroom after his audition?

Rafael: Do exactly what you did and be exactly who you were. It's OK to feel all of those feelings — like you don't belong here because that is what you were being told, but you had to be that person in that moment in order to be this person here today I don't think there's such a thing as a coincidence.

Jim Parrack (who plays Judd Ryder) says, "Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous," and for me it's a sense of trusting life and the work — and when I speak of this, it comes from a place of humility and not necessarily any attachment to religious indoctrination that is going on today to put others down.

I want to make that very clear, that it comes from my relationship with God, [and] a world where everyone belongs, everyone has a place, everyone has a voice and no one needs to close themselves off or hide.

Ronen, what has it been like building your relationship with Rob Lowe?

Ronen: I walked into the audition room for our chemistry read, Rob went to shake my hand and he looked me right into the eyes and he said, "Yep, that's it." We had a spark from the moment we met, but when Rob's on set, there is no time to mess around, everybody brings their highest game, and that's also why I love our father-son scenes so much.

We're very lucky we get given really special storylines; from the moment we meet those two, the bond is so strong and it's just been a beautiful place to build from - and now he's my best man at the wedding.

Does the pressure of the meaning of 'Tarlos' to so many, and what it has become outside of the show, get to you?

Ronen: No, I don't let it get to me. I feel like a lot of pressure is self-made; I don't know if this is just the way I was raised but I am able to compartmentalize really well. I stick to the root of things:the character, the story.

I do appreciate seeing what the fans think and and feel, and this actor-fan relationship is becoming really beautifully interwoven, especially when you get to meet the fans, but I'm able to separate the two. The core of everything is always the work, because if these characters aren't fully lived in and we're not giving our everything, we're not giving our heart and soul to these characters? Then I don't know if fans would necessarily connect with them as intensely.

I won't share what me and Rafa talk about, but the beauty of this whole situation is that I've been able to lean on Rafa, and Rafa has been able to lean on me through all this, because nobody knows what we're going through except for us. Fans can feel that we really care about these two guys — and we care about them maybe more than anyone because it literally is on our shoulders.

But I'm just very lucky to be on this journey with Rafa, because this could be really stressful if you're working with someone that you don't get along with ,or vibe with, on a professional level.

Rafael: As soon as you start making it about you because you were listening to people's opinions, or the critics… As an actor I need to stay focused because at the end of the day, the reason why Carlos and TK get so much attention is because the focus has always been on the character.

In theater, it's always about making it about the other person. When you're doing a scene, always make it about the other person, and that's the work that as actors we need to do with our characters, make it about the character. Forget the noise.

What do you hope the legacy of Tarlos is?

Rafael: I hope it inspires people, in the simplest way, to say, Love yourself.

We had these two broken characters that reacted very differently to their brokenness. One of them abused substances, the other one isolated himself, and both were responses to trauma. When you neglect who you are it's because that's what you were shown from your closest people, so we had two broken characters who came together because I think they were both yearning for a deep connection, not only with each other but with themselves.

I can only hope these two characters and their love can inspire you to, if not completely love and believe in yourself, but to start that conversation with yourself.

#rafael silva #ronen rubinstein #tarlos #911 lone star #ls season 4 #ls 4 pr #ls press #interviews #ls 4 bts #may 2023 #hello magazine #quotes

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blooming-violets · 2 months

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Sorry this is gonna be a bit of a rant since it’s something I’ve had strong feelings about since joining the AG/TASM fanfic part of the internet, and you’ve provided me a great opportunity to talk about it.

As a trans person, I am BEGGING fanfic writers to stop writing Marauders stuff. I’ve seen so many people defend it with “separate art from the artist” but like it or not they are still supporting JKR. Separating art from the artist only really works when the artist can’t profit from it. She has done SO MUCH harm to trans people and particularly trans youth in the UK and it’s so fucking disheartening and gives me such an ick when I see TASM writers also write for Marauders because it truly comes across as “I love and support the trans community except when it comes to this because I like it.”.

Even if you ignore the transphobia and holocaust denial (YES IM SERIOUS, she’s denied parts of the holocaust at LEAST twice and she literally did it a second time the other day), the original writing is so fucking problematic. Things just off the top of my head being;

The goblins being stereotypes of Jewish people

The fucking racism with characters like Cho Chang and Kingsley Shacklebolt

The last Fantastic Beasts movie’s plot literally being trying to make WW2 and the holocaust happen

This point needs to be taken with a grain of salt since this was some bullshit Joanne said after the books came out, but werewolves in the universe being meant to represent people with aids. Which is so fucking awful considering one of the two werewolves was attacked by the other as a CHILD

The most ironic part of this is that if Andrew is truly the person he presents himself as, he would probably fucking despise being associated with HP, even if it is just a fancast. But yeah all this to say fuck JKR, fuck Marauders fans but also thank you so much Katie for that last anon answer because I genuinely don’t see that enough in this corner of the internet.

Even Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, has spoken out against her and continues to loudly support the LGBTQ+ communities. When your own beloved Harry doesn't even want to stand by your side, you should know you fucked up. Sadly, she does not, and instead leans harder into her bigotry and hatred.

I've always been someone who is very loud and opinionated when I see things that I disagree with, which I know can rub some people the wrong way, but fuck it. I don't like to whisper about my issues on the sidelines, I like to confront the problem head on by being very clear about where I stand and how I feel. I'm not gonna sit around and let someone align me with JKR just because I'm writing a stupid werewolf and Peter Parker fic that exactly 5 people are reading lol. It's not even a popular fic like get out of my asks jfc. Esp when I can tell this person has not read a single sentence of my story and is completely basing their judgements on my header image of AG's face next to a wolf gif.

In this past week I have seen both a Steven Harrington werewolf au and a Daredevil werewolf au cross my dash. Do we think they're getting called out for supporting HP?? No. Because their actors weren't "fan casted" as something years ago. Fan casts don't even mean anything! There was never a movie about them. AG was never casted or played this role. It's literally nothing but a bunch of fans agreeing that they like his look for a fictional character.

Anyway, I'm also ranting back at you haha. You can rant to me anytime. I love a good rant and I agree with you 100%.

Werewolves were not created by JKR. Andrew Garfield has nothing to do with Harry Potter. Don't make make snap judgments about a person's character based on a picture you saw. Support your trans community. Don't be dick.

And, if they actually read my werewolf au, they would see that it's literally about learning to overcome your own hatred and biases of people different from you and learning to love those you were taught to hate. Crazy concept, I know! 🙄😉

#asks

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sotwk · 8 months

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Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️

Thank you for this Ask and providing this self-promoting opportunity, @middleearthpixie and @lathalea (who also sent me this)! <3

Instead of naming my favorites, I'm actually going to name the fics that I wish could get more attention. I'm even going to list them in order!

SotWK's Less Loved Children Fics

#1: The Broken Shield (Thorin and Frerin, feat. Thranduil and the Elvenqueen - Gen Fic one-shot) Quite frankly, I'm heartbroken this never gained much traction with the Thorin stans. (Getting sad now just thinking about it.) It may not be a Thorin romance, but I believe I gave Thorin's character a lot of love in this story, showcasing the depth of his heart and the true nobility underneath his hardened exterior. I guess people might have just been turned off by the length. I dunno, but I worked really, really hard to complete this one and I'm proud of how it turned out. It was also my entry to the Thorin's Spring Forge Event; my first writing event ever.

#2: Greenleaf's Day Out (Legolas and his family - Gen Fic, family fluff) Currently my only completed multi-chapter fic. Holds a very, very special place in my heart since it is the first SotWK AU story I wrote, and it introduces ALL the OC Thranduilion Princes. Again, probably doesn't draw much attention since it is not a romance. (Although there is a bit of it between Thranduil and his wife!)

#3: Sins of Our Fathers (Thranduil x OC Elvenqueen - romance, written in 2nd PPOV) Tells about the moment Thranduil and Maereth first laid eyes on each other, before they even exchanged a hello. This is meant to be the first of a collection of (pseudo) one-shots describing the early relationship between Thranduil and my OC Elvenqueen.

#4: The Only Gold (Fili x OC elleth - romance, written in 2nd PPOV) First part of a series. An AU (partial) retelling of The Hobbit through the eyes of Fili and Thranduil's granddaughter, my OC Anariel, and the friendship and love that forms between them. Was recently pulled from the brink of being discontinued, but is now back on! Expected to include plenty of headcanon history of both Thranduil and Thorin's families.

#5: The Crown (Thranduil x OC Elvenqueen - one-shot romance/drama) Written in 2nd PPOV, tells about the evening of Thranduil's coronation as Elvenking, and reveals some history about his relationship with his Oropher and the challenges he faced in marrying a Noldorin wife.

Everyone who has already read/reblogged/commented on any of the above "less loved" fics has my deepest gratitude. For everyone else, I hope you are able to give them a chance. <3

#sotwk answers #sotwk fanfiction #thranduil #thorin #legolas #fili #lotr #the hobbit #self rec

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dailyadventureprompts · 9 months

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Dear Dapper, I've hit a bit of writer's block, and was hoping you might have some ideas to help push me through... I have some pieces, but I can't quite figure out how to put them together.

My players are entering a region where all I've established is: Church-ruled Theocracy worshipping a god of fire (fire -> light, hearth, crafting), but I've also hinted at a dark, oppressive Inquisition force (burning away sin). The PCs are going there to steal a holy relic/larger plot MacGuffin before the bad guys steal it themselves.

I was thinking a heist (I've read your Heist guide) - perhaps going to a cathedral town under the cover of a pilgrimage, or infiltrating a huge congregation of gathering priests. Stealthily try to explore this cathedral complex looking for where the relic is held and its security, while its otherwise full of people.

Any ideas on fleshing out this land, cathedral, or situation they would have to infiltrate in order to set up some interesting hooks & challenges for the PCs (or rival group) as they approach this heist? Any elaborations on your Heist guide, as it might relate to this set up?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Oh I've ABSOLUTELY got ideas.

If you haven't settled on this fire church's deal yet I'd suggest stealing a page or two from the lore of Tharmekhul.

The gathering of clergy is specifically a ceremony of renewal held every few years (3-7 I'd say), where the priests burn a symbolic token representing their last years of service and have a new one bestowed upon them. This serves as a retirement ceremony for those who want to give up their office and lead a more relaxed position within the church.

Somewhere on their way to this region they encounter a friendly but dottering old priest who's on his way to the convocation. His attendants have all gotten royally sick from eating bad food on the way to the convocation meaning the old man is going to be late unless he gets some strapping adventurers pilgrims to help haul his luggage. This provides the party their in to the convocation, as well as disguises (as the priest's attendants) that give them access to different parts of the temple. Weapons and armour will of course need to be kept to a minimum.

While my heist rules are great, I'd also suggest running this with the help of my "how to infiltrate a fancy party" ruleset. This gives a lot more opportunity for socializing and to get an understanding of just what's going on. Indicate different times throughout the night when things will be blocked off/unguarded/watched closely and let them plan around that.

There should absolutely be a rival group working for the badguys but I'm not having much inspiration on them. They've managed to find a secret entrance into the temple and are doing an ACTUAL heist while the party is paling around.

Just as soon as the party get their hands on the relic the doors slam shut and people start to panic. This isn't because anyone has noticed them, it's because the inquisition is here: They've grown tired of the indolence and graft of their fellow clergy and are here to conduct a purge. The Inquisition is armed and backed by a mob of their most devoted zealots, who have orders to capture the highest ranking clerics and make an example of anyone that resists ( An example here meaning: Beaten and Burned alive)

Now you've got some delicious options for what happens next: If the party fight, they'll be knocked out and wake up in a prison separate from the captive priests and also from the Relic ( now in the hands of the inquisition). The party could escape with the relic but leave the priests (including the one they befriended) to their terrible fate... or the enemy thief team could get away with the relic leaving them completely in the dust. Regardless, you've now introduced an even worse set of villains, who from this night on will be consolidating their power in the fire-worshipping region and be growing into a major threat that the party will have to contend with at some point in the future.

(also just because It's related to the prison I mentioned, consider using "Justicar Illien" from this adventure prompt as the head of the inquisitors. It leads into a great subplot about a demon bound beneath the prison with themes about how evil can confuse sadism with righteousness)

#prompt postage

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powerful-niya · 4 months

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Merry Christmas (2023) 💋

Sending heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas to everyone, regardless of whether you're celebrating or not. I sincerely hope that in this cherished moment, you find comfort in the warm embrace of your loved ones.

Beyond the festivities, my wish extends to your heart being filled with happiness and contentment, no matter where you find yourself.

In the perpetual hustle of our daily lives, this time of the year offers a reprieve—a chance to break free from the unending cycle of work and stress. Life often slips through our fingers amid the constant rush and endless to-do lists.

Yet, during this season, worry should fade away, granting you the chance to reconnect with yourself, bond with family, and simply unwind.

Whether you choose to relish any food you want, indulge in a well-deserved nap, watch movies, or rediscover neglected hobbies, this time is exclusively yours.

Seize the moment and make the most of it. ✨

Personally, I find myself in a state of profound contentment. Life has graciously slowed down for me, allowing me to savor moments with my family and the Naruhina Tumblr community–my second family.

Since 2021, joining the Naruhina community on Tumblr has been a blessing. It has introduced me to wonderful people, new friends, deep conversations, laughter-filled nights, and memorable events like Nhmonth22 and Nhmonth23.

This camaraderie between Naruhina creators and even readers truly makes our fandom uniquely special. 🫂

I extend my heartfelt thanks for this experience, for welcoming me with open arms, offering fun times amidst all the chaos of my life, providing opportunities for growth as a writer, and encouraging me to share my love for Naruhina.

A sincere thank you, 1000 times. 💯

Thanks for tolerating my crazy self, enduring my intense writing, and navigating through my posts filled with aesthetic dividers and symbols.

Thank you for inspiring me to make moodboards, to get out of my comfort zone, and to just be the best that I can be. 💗🫶🏽

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of getting to know you all and sharing my passion for Naruhina and writing.

As this year concludes and a new one awaits, I eagerly anticipate continuing our shared journey, spreading joy and love for the Naruhina couple.

With gratitude from the depths of my heart, I cherish the moments we've shared. I love each and every one of you.

Take good care of yourselves, and may the coming years be adorned with happiness and success.

To all, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 🎄🫶🏽

#christmas 2023 #naruhina community #merry christmas 🎄#happy holidays ❄️#💭 - niya's thoughts ✨#powerful_niya #christmas

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tarlossource · 1 year

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9-1-1: Lone Star’s Ronen Rubinstein and Rafael Silva on TV wedding and the beauty of queer love

9-1-1: Lone Star fans will finally see TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva) get married in the two-part season four finale

When you think back over the last four years, and see the growth of Tarlos as a couple, and TK and Carlos as individuals, has there been anything that has truly surprised you?

Ronen: Not surprised, but I am most proud of their communication skills! We've seen the evolution of these two, and what were terrible communication skills!

How have TK and Carlos changed you as actors?

This show has also given me the opportunity to provide a life for myself, and my wife, that I didn't necessarily have growing up.

What would you say to 2018 Rafael who cried in the bathroom after his audition?

Does the pressure of the meaning of 'Tarlos' to so many, and what it has become outside of the show, get to you?

But I'm just very lucky to be on this journey with Rafa, because this could be really stressful if you're working with someone that you don't get along with ,or vibe with, on a professional level.

What do you hope the legacy of Tarlos is?

Rafael: I hope it inspires people, in the simplest way, to say, Love yourself.

I can only hope these two characters and their love can inspire you to, if not completely love and believe in yourself, but to start that conversation with yourself.

#press #tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #911 lone star #tk strand x carlos reyes #ronen rubinstein #rafael silva

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planerot · 5 months

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when reading cars/ planes fanfics, do you prefer human au’s or normal universes (where they’re still cars)

Ohh this one is a tough one.

On one hand, humanized fics allow for a lot more interesting...character actions is the best thing to call it I guess? Shit like how they sit in a chair or sleep in a bed can be fun little character building stuff. Like a lazy character splaying out the entire length of the couch and refusing to move even when other characters wanna sit. That kinda stuff, you know?

On the other hand, normal universe fics can force writers to get creative with how they handle the fact the fact the characters are sentient vehicles who need to do human things without human dexterity (forklifts notwithstanding of course). It's fun to see how authors play into the fact they are all different types of vehicles. This is especially a thing in Fire and Rescue fics since the cast of that movie is very diverse in terms of vehicles types and size. Every time an author has Cabbie use his wings to shelter/comfort a member of the team (usually the smokejumpers) I lose my mind, it's the best trope 10/10.

I love both types equally, but I guess if I had to pick one as my favorite it would be normal universe fics. This is mainly just the novelty of it I guess. Fanfic about human characters is a dime a dozen, but ones about sentient vehicles is relatively sparse. It's just really fun to see people try and tell stories whilst working with the limitations and new story opportunities these types of characters provide in their canon forms.

ANYWAYS, thanks for sending an ask, I love when people give me an opportunity to ramble <3

#pixar cars #cars fandom #pixar planes #planes fandom

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tiikerikani · 19 days

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"I feel that it is time for me to pursue another opportunity that is more aligned with my career goals and values"

I’m 100% quitting my job if they require us to use Gen AI

They did, so I quit. I gave my one months' notice today and will start New Job near the end of next month. Of course I have to credit random Recruiter Guy for showing up in my life at exactly the right time; I wouldn't have left without an exit plan.

I try to be a principled person and there aren't always opportunities to safely stay true to those principles.

-----

When Recruiter Guy messaged me on LI last month, I was intrigued that it actually seemed like he'd read my profile (unlike the spammy messages I usually get). I've never worked with a recruiter before, so it was interesting having a sort of agent pitching you to the company and liaising with them instead of having to be persuasive and do all the arrangements on your own.

Since the technical writer role is a new position in this company, I figured that it would mean they would be open to ideas on how to do things and wouldn't be forcing me to use AI things.

When Recruiter Guy asked for my salary expectations, I gave him a number in the middle of the range that was in the job description. The entire salary range is a significant increase over what I'm earning now[1], so I had literally nothing to lose and everything to gain trying for this. He said he'd ask for a bit more than my figure. (And that's what I'll be getting.)

The role would be a massive step up in responsibility for me and I know it's going to be a challenge; as the in-house writer I'd be responsible for maintaining the entire documentation library[2]. In-house writer is actually the role that many technical writers aspire to. You get to work closely with and really know the products you write about, and you can give feedback during the product development process.

I would have asked about it anyway, but the interviewer wanted my thoughts about using AI, and I said something along the lines of "I know people who do, but I do not because I trust my writing skills and good writing that gets taken seriously needs to have a touch that only a human writer can provide." She agreed that AI text sounds really obviously fake, so I took this as a good sign.

There was a small sample task that I had to do on my own time (given a list of specs, write a brief product description). Not a huge fan of copywriting but a product description is still very factual and not usually trying to sell stuff to people who don't want it. I returned the assignment along with a thank you note for the interview.

The interviewer wanted to speak with one of my references, so I directed her to talk to my master's thesis supervisor. He made such a good impression that she wanted to read my thesis (which IS, in the end, the only formal writing sample I can provide because I can't divulge who I've done work for) and had Recruiter Guy set up a chat for me with their HR person. Whom I spoke to on Good Friday because it wasn't a public holiday in their country and I didn't have big plans for the Easter weekend anyway and I just really wanted to move the process forward as quickly as possible. They were also extremely impressed and went back to Recruiter Guy right away, who then called me that afternoon. I'm sure he would not have done this if he wasn't optimistic about my application since he was very well aware that it was a public holiday for me.

So yeah, I got the offer email just as I was about to leave for the concert last Thursday, and I wrote back immediately to accept it. Recruiter Guy called me as I was getting out of the metro and I really hate talking on the phone in public, but THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH for an exception. We discussed the start date and agreed that I could have a gap week in between to just...catch my breath and rest a bit.

New Job is a hybrid workplace and they expect people to come to the office at least a couple of times a week, so I hope some social life and networking can actually happen??? Their products include hardware devices so it also makes sense that I need to physically be there to examine the things to document them properly.

__________

[1] With the amount of experience I have now, with a job that requires a university degree and specialized language skills, and living in the Helsinki area, I should NOT be earning BELOW the national median wage (across all industries)!!!

[2] A recurring theme in my art and what I try to do with it is wanting to be seen, so it would mean a lot to me to be able to point to my work and say "I did this," rather than writing anonymously as a contractor.

#work #moral of the story is that some linkedin headhunters are legit #I can't guarantee it'll be a dream job before I start #but it's OUT OF GENERATIVE AI HELL

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neu-apostolisch · 4 months

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I’m so confused about how you could reply to that other anon’s post about Gale, list all of the narrative reasons why the game’s writers included killing Gale a possible ending, and then ended your post by saying “it’s offensive” for them to do that, instead of taking the thought one step further, and thinking “well, maybe some people will want to choose an ending that provides an interesting narrative arc rather than a perfectly happy ending, and the devs wanted to give them the choice to do so”

I really think you’re missing something for not accounting for genre. BG3 is a role playing game for a reason — the game is meant to provide players with many, many options, and some people might not want to metagame. the character they’re role playing wouldn’t know that there is a chance for a happy ending, so why wouldn’t they let their wizard friend detonate the dangerous magic orb in their chest in order to save the world if he volunteered? and some people love a tragic story, no matter what genre.

and on the subject of genre, D&D is born of the high fantasy genre. a big heroic act where a character uses the plot device they’ve carried with them the whole time, a plot device that turns their previous self centered ambition into a way to protect other people? that is textbook high fantasy. and many people I know, when playing D&D, would jump at the chance to sacrifice the character they created sacrifice themselves in a grand, selfless way. Gale sacrificing himself isn’t included in the game for its shock value — it’s pretty standard for the kind of story they’re offering players to act out

the point is, no one from Larian Studios is ever going to show up at your house and make you choose the options in game to sacrifice Gale. but BG3 was not created to be a “make your favorites characters happy” simulator. a player can play the game that way, but that doesn’t change the fact that the devs had entirely different intentions

hi anon, thank you for the ask! this was interesting to think about and respond to.

i agree with your statement that BG3 is a role playing game and that the crpg and high fantasy genre is defined by player choice, and i think for the most part you see that in what i said in that other reply, so i won't delve too deeply into establishing why i understand xyz structurally about the genre (but i'm happy to do that, i just have limited space) i also play actual d&d, and have done so as a DM and as a PC. and admittedly, my statement of taking offense has less to do with the story and more to do with the nature of the comments made. i didn't do a good job of delineating that, so that's on me.

i fully agree with you as well that players need to have the space to construct an interesting story. if you want to have a story where you or someone you care about and love sacrifices themselves to the world in a grandiose or gory fashion, that's incredibly compelling. and a really powerful moment from a narrative perspective! i totally see where the writers were going with that. there's a ton of opportunity in the game to kill all of your friends for different story reasons, and it's cool that the game lets you do that and play it out--but also very cool that the game lets you reject your fate, as it were. i still think that BG3 is masterful at this, and is one of the best games of this genre ever made, if not the best. you are always enabled to write, for yourself, the story you want to hear.

however, i think from a structural perspective, you then have to lend credence to the impact of player choice as part of the narrative you're constructing as a storyteller. i'm not going to get into "death of the author" too much here, but i think that concept is highly present in a game that you directly incorporate player action/consequences into. larian devs can set out to tell a specific kind of story, and then that story can get consistently derailed by player action, and that is how the game manifests. therefore, i think it's presumptuous of them to come out here and say "yeah this is the right ending." in many ways, it's a super interesting ending (especially if you end it at act 2 instead of 3!) but i'm teasing out the concept of "rightness" here, from the mouths of the writers. is it interesting? yes. is it "right"? it's poetic and fitting "in many ways", but right? i think that's a different sort of thing. i could genuinely just be being picky here, and i'll acknowledge that.

let's touch briefly on interesting storytelling and its relation to gameplay. orin in act 3 stealing one of your companions. that's so cool, honestly, and it's an amazing narrative device. originally she was meant to prioritize the character you were romancing which is really cool, but they had to scrap that because players would beeline for orin and get beat up by the difficult fights on the way. that's an example of the cool narrative construct having to give way to what the player will ultimately do.

BG3 wasn't created to be a "make your favorite characters happy" simulator, sure, but the game facilitates that kind of play, provides rewards (both narrative and tangible) for doing so, and generally encourages players to make interesting (but ultimately positive) choices. this is what i mean when they say that larian boxed themselves in narratively. you create a situation where a lot of players will want to strive for goodness, and where that is possible, and unfortunately, that's going to start railroading the experience of a story you want to tell. they are constantly in tension with each other. even without metagaming the other anon brings up the salient point of "why wouldn't you want to save everyone you can--including your own friends?" and yeah, saving everyone, being The Hero, that's part and parcel of high fantasy too. i myself always thought there'd be another way, and you can openly tell your pals that.

ultimately, i do agree with most of what you said. but to address the confusion you mentioned--my criticism doesn't stem from the inclusion and accommodation of player choice and telling an interesting story. it comes from the way they decided to tell a story in the crpg context and the way their story construction resulted in them viewing certain characters as less whole, less interesting, and less meaningful on their own merits. they're not writing a book, they're stage-setting an rpg experience with a focus on character narratives. you can't have both a static conception of story elements/characters and also be writing a crpg. i think it's fair to point out when those character driven narrative experiences are uneven or feel stilted, and identify why that might be the case.

i love this game and its writing btw and i don't want that to get lost at all. i'm just trying to add some zest to the discussion, as it were. i may have left some stuff out, but hopefully i didn't put you to sleep. thanks again for the ask, it was fun to think about and i appreciate it.

#gale dekarios #oh yeah! we were talking about gale! (lol)#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 critical #larian critical #gale bg3 #baldur's gate 3 spoilers #bg3 spoilers #asks

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sitp-recs · 2 years

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Our fandom icon @bluebutter-art is celebrating her birthday today and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to once again scream about this fantastic human and unbelievably talented artist. I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone how gifted Blue is, and how she has created 90% of my all-time favourite Drarry artworks at this point - her depictions speak so deeply to my soul that they’ve easily become my personal headcanon for these characters, not only in terms of appearance, mannerisms, posture and gadgets, but also storytelling-wise. To me Blue is just like a fic writer in the sense she’s able to come up with these rich, vibrant, aesthetically gorgeous and tender love stories, and that’s without including a single line of dialogue if she so desires. Her work has such emotional depth and resonance it feels like I’m reading a 30k fic with exciting plots, charming characters, witty flirting and the gentlest, sexiest get together. It’s just so impressive - and quite unbelievable to think we’re this lucky to have someone like her in our fandom. I don’t know how Blue gets to tug at my poor heartstrings every.single.time with poignant character arcs, witty expressions and compelling physique 🥵

Beyond her undeniable skill, Blue is also joyful, enthusiastic and supportive presence in the fandom. She shares unconditional love for fic, creators and friends, and it’s always the best company to exchange fic recs and indulgent praise for Harry’s thighs or Draco’s hair these idiots in love. Blue darling, I’m so happy we got to become friends, I couldn’t be more excited about your return to the fandom. Thank you so much for sharing your incredible universes and work with us, I know I’m not alone when I tell you what a big role model and fandom legend you are. We are so lucky to have you around! I hope you have an incredibly day full of special moments, and I hope this little reclist will make you smile today 💜💙

6 Faves from 2021:

Dragontamers Drarry

I can’t even with soft tattooed boyfriends living in the wild and wow, that sunset is beyond perfection!!!! I wanna know all about Harry and Draco, and the life they built together out there, but at the same time I feel like Blue already told me their story with zero words, the talent! Love the vibes, the gorgeous lighting, the sense of comfort I get seeing them in their own little universe and doing what they love.

Far from the Tree | fic by aideomai

SPOILER ALERT: This art is as epic and breathtaking as the fic itself, Blue captured perfectly the satisfying sense of thrill that big reveal moment provides. BAMF swordsman Draco walking the walk of purpose is everything we deserve and I can almost taste Harry’s nosebleed watching that brilliant, god-like man confidently arriving to save the day. Absolutely brilliant!

Game On | fic by @pennygalleon

Perfect art for a perfect fic! I could cry at the delicious pub vibes, the look of challenge on their faces combined with the subtle interest in their body language, and the touching feet!!! Every time I look at this I feel so happy my chest expands. This masterpiece radiates SEXUAL TENSION in such a charming and witty way, once again Blue nails the fic vibes, and btw can’t rec this fic enough. Rivals to lovers ftw!

Ice Cream at Midnight

My favourite display of domesticity ever, this has been my personal Drarry headcanon since Blue posted it. Absolutely obsessed with the contrast in their tastes, the unimpressed expressions, Draco’s sexy glasses and delicate bony feet, Harry’s iconic killing thighs (maybe even literally?? who knows, not me but I’d love to 🤭). Nothing was ever the same after this magnificent Harry came to life, jfc I’m so hot for him

Slytherin Draco

Excuse me, why so handsome sir?? This breathtaking Slytherin Draco makes me swoon, he looks so regal and confident and THAT BESPOKE OUTFIT is so lush!!! I can’t believe the level of detail too, that look is so well crafted and thought out! The jewelry, the gloves, the rings!!! 🤯 my god, this Draco could step on my face and I’d thank him lol yes sir pls do come in and ruin my life. Anyone else getting Astolat vibes out of this art?

Sunkissed (Ron/Harry) | fic by @static-abyss

The softest Rarry art you’ll see today! Blue captured the tenderness and certainty of that scene so well, I love how deeply in love and content they look together, their smiles as if sharing a secret we’re not supposed to hear. Just peak romance, and for a rare pair I came to love thanks to this beautiful, gentle fic! Highly recommend if you haven’t read it yet.

5 Faves from 2022:

Auror Husbands

Everything I had to say about this art was written here. This is one of the best, most thoughtful and exciting gifts I’ve ever gotten and it made me salivate over Harry’s arms and thighs FOR DAYS. I couldn’t write a single thought for days and had to wax poetry throw 195258 different scenarios I came up with into Blue’s DMs instead, so embarrassing. I’m a hoe for one (1) man 😔

BAMF girlfriends at the Gala (Ginny/Pansy)

My god, they look so incredibly hot AND powerful together, I can’t even make a coherent comment. Just so.. obsessed with Ginny’s athletic physique and those sinful dresses and the easy intimacy they share! Where’s this action fic with badass girlfriends attending a gala undercover and saving the day??? @teacup-tai tell me you’ve seen this

Draco’s 42

The ultimate established relationship art! I’m so weak for domesticity it’s not even funny and this art explores soft intimacy in a whole new level, ugh it makes my heart ache. Draco in reading glasses, an ode to Turn in his hands, that perfect aristocratic nose and the soft content smile on his face are truly a sight to behold. I fell immediately, utterly in love with this and didn’t think twice before asking for Blue’s permission to use it as a banner for my Valentines Day recs.

Harry & James

This one hits right in the feels, father & son artworks always get me emotional af and this is such a beautiful homage to Harry and James. I love that Blue initially wanted to leave their identities in the open but went for that lovely Hedwig tattoo in the end, which hits in the solar plexus as much as the rest of it, so impossibly tender. Also…. That glorious light hitting his profile??? Superb

Surface Texture (Harry/Teddy) | fic by @the-starryknight

First of all, this fic is exquisite. I have a major soft spot for it (one of the very best Harry/Teddy shorts out there, go read it ASAP) so I felt personally attacked spoiled when I saw that Blue had created art for it. Early Christmas!!! The way she (again) captured the quiet, sexy, intimate vibes leaves me speechless over and over. Her serene and focused artist Teddy and confident model Harry in quiet display have me drooling, you can almost taste the low key tension between them and keep wondering when they’re about to snap 🔥

4 NSFW:

Almost Like Home | Full Version (fic by @thesleepiesthufflepuff)

I think this was the very first nsfw art of Blue’s I saw and I still remember being 100% obliterated by the beautiful and sensual intimacy of it. The scenario, the atmosphere, the look of utter abandonment on Harry’s face, the soft hand touching! It’s so very hot and tender, and a perfect way to illustrate this incredibly gentle fic with friends with benefits and pining!Draco, my jam. Once again the morning light just takes my breath away, it’s so ethereal!

Golden Hour

When I tell you I legit gasped out loud seeing this jaw-dropping bondage art, holy shit! Harry and Draco both look so powerful from different perspectives, the unflinching gaze and confident stance are killing me. I cannot handle the amount of BDE displayed here. Draco’s bulge smirk and tattoo are 🔥 and Harry’s sculpted like a greek god I mean, how’s that even possible? Would give anything to learn more about this universe and their lives in it!

I just know his bum

This comic is simply iconic, so funny and deliciously hot! I found that take on the glory hole trope really sweet, and Draco’s gorgeous tattoo is such a sight! Also, Ron’s and Hermione’s confused reaction at the end cackles me up, this is hilarious! Such a great way to explore identity porn, it could go many ways from there and I love that world of possibilities too.

No Better Love

Forget aftercare, Harry accioing a glass of water for Draco mid-sex is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen and the kind of smut tenderness I’m talking about 😔🙌 they both look so so gorgeous and in love I can’t look away, my heart bursts with warmth. Draco has never looked this good - sweating body and sweet fond smile riding Harry like a god, ugh that’s so very hot I’m combusting. You’re all welcome!!

3 Old(er) Gems:

Interrogation / Tumblr

Oh my, this Harry can lock me in a room anytime please and thank 🥵 I’m obsessed with his edgy, menacing look here. Talk about BDE, baby! And did you notice that hairy arm, the sexy tattoo, the shiny wedding ring?? That’s Auror Potter-Malfoy for you 🤌🏼

Sun and Moon (Atlas)

This gorgeous and poetic art isn’t as well known or loved as other Blue works and I decided to include it here as I’m sure it went off peoples radar. The ying yang aesthetics are striking, I love the detailed outfits, the vibrant colors and beautiful textures, their delicate intertwined hands! As a side note this art was based off a song that I love from this amazing album by Sleeping at Last, double kudos for that!

Wine Night

Still one of my personal favourites, I’m so soft for this brand of slice-of-life domesticity! Harry’s fond smile watching the people he loves the most together in the same room is a gorgeous portrayal of those moments of soft realization when we’re hit by the thought “god, I’m so lucky I get to be around these people”. This art captures perfectly the magic of those moments in time, and my heart is full and warm, right there with Harry’s.

2 Comics:

so rest your weary heart with me | Full Version

This is my all-time favorite Drarry comic alongside a series from Dustmouth, and hands down my favorite piece from last year’s Sudsfest. It’s still hard to talk about (or even look at) it without getting all choked up. Within just a few lovely, meaningful panels, Blue delivers the most touching, deeply emotionally packed love story. This is a triumph, a poignant journey about grief and healing, quietly devastating but still full of hope and warmth. If you haven’t checked it yet what are you even doing with your fandom life?

Sometimes it’s Now or Never

This is one of the comics I revisit the most, I adore it so so much. Auror Harry trusting Draco to patch him up after a raid is THE ULTIMATE TROPE and Blue executes it so perfectly. The storytelling is complete and effective, you can feel the trust and tenderness between these characters without needing further background on their relationship. The amount of time I spent looking at those kissing panels, mesmerized at Harry’s silent resolve and Draco’s sweet tenderness as he yields into the kiss… *sigh* peak romance!

1 Portrait:

Silver Trio

The hottest trio you’ll ever see today! I adore the perfect Super Rich Kids aesthetics and the attention to detail here - the earrings, the flawless hairstyle, the A+ cheekbones and unblinking stare, the smooth and hard lines of beautiful, aristocratic and distinctive faces! They look like the ultimate high society models and I’m 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻

Bonus:

Happy Pride Art!

Couldn’t leave this one behind I mean, look at them!!!! They look so proud and happy and comfortable in their own skin it makes me wanna cry every time I see this art. The level of comfort and joy this brings me it’s unparalleled and have I mentioned those badass outfits, Ginny’s hot muscles and *le gasp* Harry’s thighs?? Enough said, RIP me. Happy Pride my friends! 🏳️‍🌈

#happy birthday Blue!!! 💜💙#art reclist

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