Rooksforehead - Azul Ashen-Scam-Likely-grotto

On April 16th 2025 the US federal government has proposed to change the interpretation of the endangered species act so that it no longer protects habitat.

This is open for public comment until the end of May 19th. Please comment and make your voice heard.

Wildlife need their habitat. If the ESA redefines harm so that habitat is no longer protected, the implications for wildlife would be catastrophic.

okay but if you ever see a male creative who had a string of great work and then everything else he did was dogshit, go to the "personal life" part of his wikipedia and look at his relationships. you'll either find a major tragedy he didn't recover from (completely understandable) or, more likely, there was a woman in his life doing uncredited shit editing his stuff or contributing generally and she's not there anymore.

I told a friend about this phenomenon in literature and he called me weeks later like, I remembered what you said about women doing uncredited work when tim burton came up. he made a string of bangers then everything else just was nowhere near as good. the timeline matches perfectly to when he was with this german visual artist (lena gieseke). he's done some good work in collaboration, but if things were dug into I suspect we would find she did a lot more than people realise.

so yeah whenever you look around like wow women didn't work in history, or, women aren't auteurs, or, there just aren't as many great female writers - societal reasons for that aside, half the time they absolutely did.

Thank you Shizuku Hinomori and Airi Momoi

bald palm tree I saw a few weeks ago at the mall

Can you do one where azul want to make a deal with us for a reason ( you can pick ) but we keep rejecting it all the time?

AZUL X READER

Where he insists you to sign a contract

Where Azul needs to get your attention and form a bond with you, and only knows how to do so through contract proposals…

For the fourth time that week, Azul cornered you outside of the cafeteria.

"You again?" you asked, balancing a tray with a sandwich

Azul adjusted his glasses, that merchant-smile never quite reaching his eyes.

“Ah, just the person I was hoping to see. I have a proposal that I believe would greatly benefit you—”

“Nope,” you said simply, walking past him like this was a regularly scheduled interaction. Which it was.

Azul froze for a second before gliding after you, unbothered.

“You haven’t even heard what it is yet.”

“You’re right. I haven’t. And I’m going to keep it that way.”

You slid into your seat as Ace blinked from across the table.

“You just shut him down like that?” he whispered.

“Every time,” you replied.

Azul stood beside your table like a wet cat someone tossed out into the rain. Composed, but deeply offended.

“I merely wish to assist you with your… less than stellar grades in Crewel's subject. I could offer you a personalized study plan, tutoring sessions, and perhaps even answers—”

“Let me guess,” you interrupted, munching on your sandwich.

“In exchange, I owe you a vague but suspicious favor to be determined at a later date, signed in blood or something.”

Azul’s smile twitched. “Ink. But close.”

“Still no.”

It kept happening.

He tried offering you a deal to get out of Vargas's class (“No.”), better potion ingredients (“Still no.”), and even limited-edition desserts from Mostro Lounge (“Azul, that’s just bribery with extra steps.”)

You’d be lying if you said he didn’t intrigue you. The way his smiles were rehearsed, the way he always had a backup plan.

There was something almost sad about how badly he wanted people to need him.

Like he didn’t know how to be wanted without strings attached.

One evening, he tried again.

You were studying near Octavinelle dorm when he appeared like a shadow.

“This will be my last offer,” he said quietly. “I know you want a way to contact your world. I can give you that.”

That one actually made you pause.

“...How?”

“I’ve found a rare communication mirror. It may allow messages to pass through dimensions. Temporarily. If—”

“No.”

Azul's smile faltered completely this time.

“But—why?” His voice was low. Genuine.

You looked up at him, eyes soft for once.

“Because I don’t want anything from you that costs me more than you’re willing to admit. And I think you’re the one who needs to ask why you’re so desperate to tie me down with a contract.”

His lips parted, and for the first time, Azul Ashengrotto didn’t know what to say.

You closed your book and stood. “If you want me around, you can just ask.”

And with that, you walked off.

However, you turned around, with a small smile.

"Tomorrow, instead of asking me if I want to sign a contract, ask me if I want to have a date with you that has nothing to do with signing papers. We'll see the answer then."

Leaving Azul in silence, a breeze tousling his hair—no contracts, no ink, just the bare possibility that someone might like him… without the deal.

If you have no magic left, use improvised means

my hottest take

Just two therapist having a chat: