#so there.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

So... I made a Ko-Fi.

If you're interested at all in supporting my writing journey with a donation, I would be honored and grateful beyond measure. But please do not feel obligated! Reblogs, comments, and likes warm my heart, and even if no one visited this blog again I would keep writing.

[strangeswift]

please PLEASE tell me what is your most self indulgent/guilty pleasure stranger things au concept and give me the fun details. this is a safe space to make it a little ooc or whatever. i’m talking stuff you wouldn’t necessarily even write/draw but you enjoy daydreaming about.

[sofiaebby]

Day and Night

[buff-shizun]

So I've kinda had this AU idea in my head for a little bit. Its a bit unusual for me though, so bare with me. It's post Bingge vs Bingmei extra.

Bingge is miserable. He's desperate to find his own kind shizun, but he just can't seem to figure out how to gain one, so eventually he sucks it up and asks the universe for a hint; he goes to Madam Meiyin.

Madam Meiyan, understandably, doesn't understand what he wants from her. They go back and forth for a bit before she finally, somewhat wrongly, concludes that Bingge is attempting to search more seriously for his soulmate. Bingge hadn't realized he HAD a soulmate and says so outloud, much to the Madam's exasperated disappointment. She tells him that his soulmate has been waiting for him for a long time, and that even Fate was beginning to feel unsure if they'd ever come to have a decent relationship- which was an odd way to phrase "meeting", but Bingge wasn't about to get on the Madam's bad side by nitpicking words. However! This did leave him at a bit of a loss. All he wanted was a kind shizun-

Oh. Wait. Could that pathetic other version of himself and that kind shizun have been...?

In his kind-shizun-addled mind, he tentatively concludes that that must be why those two were married: because they are soulmates! So theoretically, if he just searched for his own soulmate, he'd surely find his kind shizun too, right?

With his permission, Madam Meiyin reads his fortune. Slowly...she starts to make a face.

"Junshang, you..."

"..."

As it would turn out, they'd already met before. Bingge hovers in a moment of terror wondering if his old, cruel Shizun had infact been his soulmate all along before Madam Meiyin begins to describe them as, "Someone who admired you on first meeting, who did their absolute best to earnestly and sincerely earn your attention and regard-" her face twists in an out of character wince, "-only for you to banish them from your side."

That...

Did Bingge know someone like that?

Oh, sure, many played at admiration, and many more strove to gain his attentions, but "earnestly"? "Sincerely"? As for banishment...well, there certainly were not many compared to those executed, but that still left a significant number of names.

The longer Bingge sat in silence, the more the Madam's expression grew to be quite terrible indeed.

"Surely Junshang has some idea of who this one speaks of."

...he truly didn't.

She huffed, "Your son, Junshang."

His- What?!

----

So. It turns out that soulmates are not always romantic in nature. On one hand, this was good news for his harem. On the other hand, this was...really, quite terrible news for Bingge's desired future happiness.

But also- "Earnest"?? "Sincere"??? He'd banished his son for conspiring against him! He might have some odd lapses in memory due to Xin Mo and random bouts of Aphrodisiac Induced Fevers, but he remembers that very clearly!! There had been evidence!!!

Except when he tells her this, the Madam’s face flattens with the sort of despairing, deadpan expression one takes when listening to an underqualified idiot speak about things they don't understand.

"I am sure it is him, Junshang. There is no one in this world who loves you more."

But that doesn't...that didn't make sense! The evidence his wives presented-

His wives. Who...would definitely have motive to want to be rid of him. Would hate to see any son not of their own blood close to their dear Emperor.

Had he...been tricked?

[otrtbs]

unfortunately life is beating the shit outta me rn … fortunately tho… good fanfic incoming

[cosmicrhetoric]

i have said this before but i fr cannot believe im missing the nyc naddpod live show because im going to be practically across the street seeing hayley williams at the same time. to be clear this is not a loss i would rather see hayley williams mostly because i just think she won't come around as soon as the other guys and petals for armor was an unemployment album for me in 2020 but also my "i have to do everything" nature is killing me

[peppermintquartz]

Just-out-of-army Tommy is on his way home going down a street on Halloween when he sees a bunch of people in monster makeup going into a bar named Caritas.

He ventures down a flight of steps to get inside and wow, that's a lot of people in full monster makeup but there are regular people too, there's karaoke and right now there's someone who is green with red horns singing beautifully on stage.

He can feel the voice from the top of his skull right down to his toes.

The singer finishes and bows to the applause, saying, "Alrighty, mic is all warmed up, please come up for a song and then pop by the bar if you wanna chat."

As the singer walks over, he spies Tommy lurking near the entryway. "Well hello, tall dark and handsome. Come over. First timer gets a discount at the bar."

"Oh, uh, how didja know I'm new?"

The singer raises an eyebrow. "Timo, peach Bellini."

"Oh, no, thanks, I'm more of a beer guy."

"That's for me, sugar crumb. We have a nice selection of craft beers. Light, dark?"

"Oh, thank you. Light, please." Tommy peers closely. "Wow, your makeup person is amazing. The prosthetics and the body paint must take hours. And do those contact lenses hurt?"

The singer grins, showing very white teeth. "Not as much as you might think."

"Here, boss. And this is yours, pretty boy."

"Timo, be nice," the singer chides. "Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Lorne and I'm the owner of this joint. Come by anytime to sing, cupcake, and bare your soul. I do psychic readings also. Very accurate, if I do say so myself."

Lorne's attention is pulled away by someone wearing dark brown feathery wings. Left to his own devices, Tommy takes a seat at the bar and people watch, occasionally humming a line or two.

He's singing under his breath to Jolene when Lorne returns to him after doing a circuit around the room, Bellini already half empty.

"Sing for me again, mon crème brulée."

A little embarrassed, Tommy sings the few lines.

Lorne sighs and pats Tommy's arm. And then he seems to get a bit distracted, squeezing the muscle slightly. "Ooh, big and strong. I am weak for your type. Not hitting on you, by the way. I just enjoy the general vibe of beefy guys."

"Uh... thanks?"

"Being a firefighter is a good choice, but be aware that you have some moral choices to make in difficult situations," Lorne says, leaning against the bar. "However, it will be worth it. You're not a man meant for the shadows, Tommy."

Tommy feels like shrinking into himself. "I... I don't know about that."

"Now now, none of that." Lorne pats Tommy's cheek. He sighs and raises his eyebrows. "Poor kid. I know it's not easy to be yourself. And it will take a lot of courage and self-acceptance before you stop flinching from the light. I can't give you any of that. But if you ever feel like you can't bear it anymore, come here. I guaran-damn-tee you that you can be a hundred percent who you are here." He winks at Tommy. "Because I'll know."

"Um, thanks?" Tommy wishes he is half as confident as Lorne seems to be, but he doesn't know how to even start. "I... I'd probably need a lot of help."

"That's true. For you, however, drop by anytime. I live above the bar and I will always make time for a classic Hollywood hunk of handsome." Lorne finishes his Bellini and presses a kiss to Tommy's cheek. "Alright. Let's get ready for Uncle Lorne's second set."