#This changed my life as much as Steven Universe

[nillia]

Trust

[simcardiac-arrested]

Im jus looking at u w big eyes. Tell me what you're autistic about. Infodump get out of jail free card. Any size

oh boy there are. many things. there are so so so many things……. all rattling around my little brain……………….

[somethingmissingthiswaycomes]

I've probably said it before, but that scene in Steven Universe: Change Your Mind where Steven tells Blue Diamond that her behavior is "not normal" (very important phrasing) is what made me recognize that I grew up being mistreated and didn't have to be anymore. I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

[artist-issues]

“At least it's not ferociously attacking God quite as directly as Steven Universe did…”

Not that I’m surprised by this statement, but can you elaborate on this? Kinda intrigued by your thoughts on Steven Universe.

Okie dokie, you’re not the only one who has asked me about this, so I suppose I’ll poke the hornet’s nest. 😅 I haven’t talked about this before because I assumed that everyone who wanted to hear my kinds of opinions on stories wasn’t watching or interested in Steven Universe.

It’s like asking vegetarian if they enjoyed a turkey dinner. The turkey dinner was so obviously not made for vegetarians to enjoy, so why would the vegetarian even bother analyzing the turkey?

But I think if some people are asking me why I think Steven Universe is anti-God (of the Bible) its because maybe they don’t know what the turkey is. Not completely. (Maybe not you, because like you said, you’re not surprised by my comment.) So I’ll explain my thoughts on Steven Universe.

If you’re just following me because you liked some stuff I posted, but didn’t realize that I’m a Bible-believing Christian and don’t want to hear about it, unfollow me now. Because I’m going to talk about some hot button issues here and the trolls will come out.

Steven Universe is really well-done. The jokes are funny, the writing is believable, the characters have great chemistry, great design, the concept is fascinating, the slow build-up and reveal of the plot elements is great. But when you watch the throne room scene in the last episode of Season 5 “Change Your Mind,” it’s alarmingly clear how much the whole show is not just settling for defending and championing the LGBTQ+ worldview—it goes all the way to attacking what Christians believe, on the other side.

Anything that’s pro-LGBTQ+ is doing that by default, but this show goes out of its way to do that.

You have to understand: God created and designed us. Deeper than that; He created and designed romantic relationships, and invented marriage. He didn’t just create love—He is love. So when humans come along and do what we’ve always done since the fall, and say, “I’d rather define what Your thing is and how it works for myself, God,” it’s not only an incredible slap in the face, it’s an attack on God’s actual identity—and it’s destructive for us and the people around us. Like a fish insisting it can breathe oxygen.

But Steven Universe goes beyond that. It knows that the Christian worldview is it’s biggest opposition. It digs right down to the heart of the worldview-battle. LGBTQ+ worldview says, “I should get to love what I want and be who I am, because I’m me. Love is love. (By which I mean, any action or relationship I choose to call love is love, because I’m the one calling it that.)”

Biblical worldview says “No, wait, you shouldn’t base your decisions on you alone; what you want changes day to day, and you’re broken, so you can’t ever be satisfied based on what you want—the Bible says God made you for something, and you rejected that, and it broke you. You’re not how you’re meant to be: even what you want and what you think love is is twisted up and can hurt you and others. But if you submit to God He’ll help you, He’ll fix what’s broken and give you new life by making you how you were supposed to be: He’ll live in you and through you.”

Are we beginning to get the picture?

See, the whole thing with the opposing views between LGBTQ+ and Christian people is as old as time. It’s not a new debate. It’s Satan and Eve in the garden. She says, “This is not how God said things should be,” and Satan says, “Are you sure that’s what He said? He knows if you do this thing, you’ll be like Him. You’ll be god: you’ll get to decide ‘how things should be’ for yourself.”

He lied and said that disobedience would satisfy her. That she knew what her own heart needed better than the God that made it did. That the very act of being imperfect would make her godlike.

And then Steven Universe comes along and says “if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn’t have hotdogs.”

And has a cast of created being characters who’s imperfections (Garnet’s forbidden “love,” Pearl’s obsession, Amethyst’s insecurity) are supposedly “the best thing about them; what makes them who they are.”

And has a main character who used to be a part of the god-like creator relationship, but used her power to come down to earth and completely change who she is into a fully different person.

And has a godlike Creator character who claims she “doesn’t need” her created beings (just like the God of the Bible) but they all have a little part of their creator in them so she has to repress their imperfections; she holds them all to a standard that’s impossible to reach called “perfection” and punishes them when they don’t meet it even though it hurts them to try; she expects them all to do what they were created by her for; she fixes them when they can’t meet her standard by shining her light through them and making them extensions of their Creator.

And has a main character who argues, fights back, tries to stop her, and is answered with lines that sound surprisingly like what LGBTQ+ people hear when Christians argue with them: “you’re only making things worse; you’re just deceiving yourself; even while you resist it your actual light can’t help shining through,” etc.

White Diamond just wants everything to be perfect. Like her. She just wants her created beings to “be themselves.” But what she means is, be how she created them to be.

And she’s the bad guy. She’s playing God in this show, and Rebecca Sugar is saying, “If God is telling us that can only be happy by being perfect, as He is perfect, and doing what He created us to do, then He’s wrong. Our imperfections are what make us special—unique—individuals—free—and there is nobody who has the right to take that freedom away from us, not even out creator!”

And you know what?

If God were like White Diamond, like Rebecca Sugar believes Him to be, Steven Universe would be right.

But He is NOT.

God is not a dictator who forces us to conform to a standard of perfection and then smashes us when we don’t meet it. He is a King who made us perfect to begin with, and we rejected him, because He allowed us to do that. He knew that true love was love that had to be chosen, and He wanted us to love Him by choice, so he gave us the option. But Rebecca Sugar doesn’t understand—there was never “Choose God or Choose Yourself.” There was only, “Choose God or Choose Nothing.” There was nothing except God. Then He created everything. There is no version of reality where you have something better than God, or even slightly less good but different, to pick. You’re not jumping from one ship into a smaller one, but at least it’s yours—you’re jumping from one ship into a void, and then complaining that there’s no other ship. That’s humans. That’s not God. / White Diamond didn’t make her creations perfect (Amethyst) and she didn’t make them for love. She made them for power. That’s not the God of the Bible.

Even when we did choose to try and love ourselves instead of God, and therefore warped our ability to perfectly love at all, He didn’t smash us. True, everything fell and was cursed, which is exactly what He warned us would happen if we chose it, but it was a natural consequence of breaking ourselves. And then He didn’t leave us that way. He didn’t give up on us. And He certainly didn’t just zap us, snap His fingers, quick-fix it and turn us all into robots who are extensions of Him, who say they love Him but only because it’s His voice puppeting us to say it.

No. He came to us, chose to give up His life at the exact point on the timeline when Romans, masters in the art of slow, humiliating, torturous death, would be the ones to carry out His crucifixion, and saved us Himself. Through the sacrifice of His own life. And even then, we still have a choice. We get to choose to accept that incredible self-sacrifice when we don’t deserve it, and be given new life and a relationship with the Creator who knows us and loves us better than we can love ourselves or receive love from others—OR we can just keep stubbornly insisting that our slavery to the opposite of what God wants is somehow freedom, and our twisted versions of love are genuine, and we’re not broken, and die like that. Die broken creatures who lived their whole lives stomping their feet and screaming “I’m not a creature, I’m a god!”

White Diamond sacrifices nothing, because Rebecca Sugar doesn’t know the God of the Bible. She just knows her idea of Him. She’s never actually gotten to know Him. If she had, she’d learn how silly and twisted her idea is.

Because you know what, yeah, if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn’t have hot dogs. But people aren’t pork chops. And hot dogs have flavor (not better than pork chops) but they are awful for you.

Christians aren’t perfect cuts of meat with no individuality or flavor. Just because we all know and love the same God doesn’t mean we have no personalities. It just means we don’t think so freaking much about what we are, or who we get to be, or what we like and want. Jeez, what a self-centered, narcissistic, self-obsessed way to live. She plays Steven like he’s this wonder-child, innocent and full of heart, who encourages his friends to love and keep trying. But honestly?

This is very pretty animation but it’s not real. Steven looks happy hugging Steven but self-love doesn’t ultimately get you that.

That’s all based on the premise that what he’s encouraging them to do is actually good, and will make them happy, and will help them love better. And it just won’t. Not in real life. That’s not how any of this works. Self-love is just self-obsession. And that is a sure-fire way to hurt you, and everyone around you.

You’ll never be free by choosing to run to a worse master. You’ll never be satisfied with your crappy attempts at loving yourself, because you were made to be loved flawlessly and forever by someone who is Love Himself.

And choosing to identify with your imperfections doesn’t make you uniquely you. It just makes you exactly like every other human being marching in the same line since the Fall.

White Diamond’s not relational. She’s up high and distant. That’s not God. He made you to be in relationship with Him. He loves you, totally and perfectly, and He proved it by sacrificing for You.

So yeah. That’s the problem with Steven Universe. Come get me, SU fans.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Sorry to bother ya again, but my brain is literally on overdrive with this show and this clown who hws beckme my first kin and lives in my head rent free as she quietly sits there with a cup of hot chocolate and a warm blanket like she deserves, buuut

What if the gang found out the reader could abstract at will, including restricting it to certain parts of their body, ooor what if they found out you were a shapeshifter when you accidentally sneeze and turn into Wario or something

TADC cast x reader who can shapeshift!

i have returned from eating my silly dinner (sweet n sour chicken with rice!) it was very scrumptious i went ahead and did the shapeshifter idea since i feel that would be more fun to write (we can pretend they can still shift to mimic an abstracted body shhh) these ones are a little short i hope thats okay!

CAINE:

its not totally unheard of people getting unique abilities when they enter the digital world, its just not very common (this is a hc!), so when caine found out you could manipulate your appearance he wasn't all that surprised! i think he was more intrigued more than anything, because its not everyday you see something like that! he would be absolutely thrilled if you shifted into him; both from being amused of it and this man probably loves himself as much as someone can

will try to pop you if you mimic bubble, kind of feels bad for a second but your disguise was just so so convincing! say, were you by any chance an actor in your past life in the real world? you totally had him fooled!

POMNI:

pomni would be a little freaked out, especially if you just. suddenly sneezed and OH! now it looks like you're abstracting in front of everyone! first response is to run away before the transformation is complete, but when she notices no one else is freaking out (ragatha even blesses you!) shes more than a little confused

you offer to demonstrate your abilities to her, but she probably politely turns you down; she understands... for the most part... really its mostly just her trying to become used to the digital world as a whole

RAGATHA:

ragatha makes sure that you know that she thinks its cool; and as long as you're not morphing into a giant bug shes encouraging you to hone in on that cool power of yours! compliments whatever form you choose for the day

oh? you changed your hair color! she likes it, the new look is amazing on you! oh? you made yourself a little taller and gave yourself some new characteristics! points out nearly every detail shes noticed, no matter how small. ragatha pays attention, ragatha cares

JAX:

tries to drag you off to the dark side (ie being a menace to the others), whether or not you agree to be his partner in crime and 'use your power for evil' is fully up to you!

makes random requests to see just how far you can take your shapeshifting, usually listing off things at lightning speed to see if you can catch up.. if your shapeshifting takes a toll on you (like lets say it takes energy out of you) he might let up when he realizes how tired and pale you look all of a sudden.. at least for now

KINGER:

speedrunning to kinger for a moment before i forget this idea but imagine shapeshifting into him and hes just totally confused. leads to him making weird movements and you copying him (he thinks caine added a new mirror in the middle of the room for a solid minute before you break the illusion)

unless you have a set 'base form' hes going to keep thinking youre a new person if you drastically alter your appearance.. which, fair, since i think if you made yourself look unrecognizable, people would think youre a new person entirely. has probably introduced himself to you multiple times before realizing it was you

kinger gets a technical third bullet point but its not fluff. i just remembered the scene from steven universe where amethyst shapeshifts into rose in front of greg. but instead its kinger and instead of rose is queener/queenie. i hurt my own feelings. im gonna stew over this now

ZOOBLE:

honestly if you look just a mixmatched as them they would be into it and say you look cool. i had an idea that zooble has spare pieces and sometimes switches out their pieces for a new look, so imagine the two of you make matching looks or something, i think that would be cool

otherwise i dont think zooble would treat you any differently than if you were friends and couldnt shapeshift... though... i will admit, they think its funny when jax annoys you and change yourself in order to get him to back off. serves him right!

GANGLE

imagine she asks you to be a model for her art.. asking you to do different poses as well as different figures so she can better her craft. i absolutely love the idea of gangle being really into art, and this idea is just so cute to me

you have probably shapeshifted into her and pretended to be her when she needed someone to stand up for her... imagine how jarring it would be to see 'gangle' snap back at jax after he does something particularly mean

[lipstickmarks]

Steven to the Rescue

Pairing: Steven Grant x fem!reader Category: Hurt/comfort, fluff, domestic fluff Warnings: none Content: Hurt/comfort, fluff, domestic fluff, kissing, making out in public, reader has a terrible horrible no good very bad week and steven is there for her, Steven’s love languages are acts of service and physical touch, reader getting princess treatment, reader is kinda corporate girlie coded, steven being smooth, steven can cook, steven might be slightly ooc bc he is my silly putty and i am bending him to my will

Steven loved his job. He loved going into work everyday to consume any and all things related to egyptology. It’s what makes him able to withstand the abuse from Donna– which is lessened now that he’s been promoted to tour guide and she technically isn’t his supervisor anymore. But today, he simply does not want to go. 

He’s been watching you pace around his kitchen nervously for the past five minutes, checking your phone, watch, and laptop in quick succession. It had been… a less than stellar week for you.

Firstly, your job has been stressing you out by offloading duties onto you that weren’t in your job description because someone else had quit unexpectedly. Then, there was an error with your bank and your paycheck wasn’t deposited so you had to wait an extra 3 days to pay your bills. On top of it all, your phone service provider was having some sort of nationwide glitch so you barely had any service. 

Not only did you have twice the workload but you weren’t getting any of your work emails on time. Plus, you had to be in constant contact with the bank to sort out their issue. It’s why you’d come over to Steven’s flat before work, to use his internet and hopefully get a better signal. Plus, you two wanted to see each other. 

Steven had made some cranberry muffins and vegan egg bites for the two of you but your plate remained untouched while you paced around, waiting for a bar. 

“Love,” Steven murmured, reaching out to grab your elbow. You looked up from the laptop you were cradling in your arms and Steven nearly sighed out loud at the sight of your eyes. Beautiful, but so so tired. The universe has been running his favorite person ragged and it hurt him to see you so downtrodden by life. “You really should eat something before work.” 

You sighed and sat down your devices, trading them for a muffin. Steven cracked a smile at how your demeanor visibly changed once you took a bite. You always swore Steven put some kind of happy elixir into his food because it never failed to bring your spirits up. You gobbled up one muffin and reached for another. 

“Thank you for breakfast.” 

Steven leaned over and kissed the side of your forehead. 

“You’re welcome, darling. Hate to see you so out of sorts.” 

With you finally eating, Steven finished getting dressed. He had to go into work earlier than you did so he let you stay and finish doing what you needed to do. Before he left, he wrapped his arms around you and gave you a soft kiss. 

“I’m off then, darling. You’ll be okay here?” 

You gave him a reassuring nod as you swallowed a bite. 

“Yeah, I’m gonna finish up in a little bit. I have a feeling today is going to be better.” 

Steven beamed at you. He kissed you once, twice, three times and he knew if we went for a fourth, he’d cave and stay home with you. 

“Right, I’d better get going before I lose my job again.” But Steven made no move to leave. He was staring at you with that dreamy look, the one that had been perpetually fixed on his face ever since you two started dating two months ago. Steven was the perfect boyfriend. Gentle, thoughtful, and he adored you so much. 

“Go,” You told him. “I’ll be fine, really.” 

Steven gave you one last squeeze before walking out the door. 

—----------

Steven was finishing up a tour with a school field trip and he was buzzing from how well it went. Usually, preteens were their own unique breed of nasty– making inappropriate noises, laughing obnoxiously, and just generally being awful but a boy and girl had been asking tons of insightful questions, spurring Steven on and letting him flex his breadth of knowledge. And if there was any snark, the teacher shut it down expeditiously so Steven could continue. 

It was probably the best tour he’d given since he started working there. 

Plus, earlier in the morning, the curator had pulled him aside and said they were looking for someone to give virtual tours that they could record and post online. If he got it, it would mean a pay bump and more benefits. 

Things were finally going his way!

The group was just starting to shuffle off for lunch when Steven spotted you, standing off to the side of the museum entrance. His whole face broke out into a grin and his heart skipped a beat, but that elation faded when he saw your eyes. 

You had been crying. 

As soon as everyone was gone, Steven crossed the room to you. You both reached for each other. His hands fell to your hips and you clutched his bicep. 

“Love, what’s happened?” 

You tried to smile but your eyes were bloodshot and puffy. You were holding back tears and you looked like you were on the precipice of a complete breakdown. Like if someone pricked you with a sewing needle, you’d pop. 

When you spoke, it came out small and broken. 

“I tried to call you but my phone—” Your voice died on the word and Steven’s grip tightened around you. 

“Darling?” 

“I came to ask for a favor. My apartment… they called me while I was at work. A pipe burst.” Your lip quivered. “All my stuff is ruined.” 

Steven’s eyes widened. 

“No.”

You nodded, fat tears spilling down your cheeks. 

“They said it’s gonna take three weeks to fix it.” You started wringing your hands nervously and took a steadying breath before you spoke again. “I was hoping I could stay with you.”

Steven’s answer is an immediate yes. 

“Absolutely, love. Anything you need.” 

He couldn’t stand it anymore and he pulled you into a tight hug. Your head fell lamely against his chest and he felt your tears soaking through his shirt but he didn’t mind. Not one bit. You peered up at him, face hot and flushed with tears.

“You’re sure it won’t be a problem? We haven’t been dating that long and I don’t want it to be…” You floundered, searching for the right word but Steven knew exactly what you meant. He caught your hand with his and brought it up to kiss the back of it. 

“It won’t be. It'll be like a slumber party, yeah? We’ll bake cookies and watch films. It’ll be fun.”

You nodded but Steven could tell you weren’t convinced. After the week you’d been having, what reason did you have to believe anything else was going to go right for you? You looked like you were a single moment away from shattering entirely. 

“Do you want to leave now? I can take the rest of the day off. I can find someone to cover my afternoon tours.” 

You shook your head and wiped your eyes.

“No. No, I have to go back to work. We have an important meeting.” You sniffed. Steven’s heart broke seeing you like this. You just looked so defeated. 

Steven thought hard for a moment. How could he make this better for you? How could he lighten your load? 

“How about this? I’ll pick you up after work. We’ll stop by your flat and get anything we need and then we’ll go back to mine, hm?” He brushed the falling hair out of your eyes. “We’ll get a takeaway, watch your favorite show, I’ll even let you braid my hair if you like.” 

You chuckled a bit. 

“Can we get dessert?” 

Steven kissed your forehead. 

“Anything you want, love.”

You nodded and a genuine smile returned to your face. 

“Alright, well I better get back. I’m on my lunch break and it’s gonna take me 15 minutes to get back across town.” 

Steven stopped you before you could leave.

“Darling, have you eaten lunch?” 

You looked sheepish when you shook your head. Steven wouldn’t be having that. Wordlessly, he laced your fingertips with his and lead you down to the employee lockers. He opened up his where the only contents were a book of Egyptology, his spare glasses, a Tawaret funko pop, his lunch box, and a picture of you taped to the inside. 

He pulled out his lunchbox and placed it in your arms.

“Steven, no.” You gasped. “I can’t take your lunch.” 

You took his lunch. 

No matter how much protesting you did, Steven insisted, waving off your concerns with a promise that he would get something from a food truck at lunch. He hailed a taxi for you before you could argue any further. 

“Steven, I don’t have cab fare.” You said with wide eyes as the taxi pulled up. “Remember? My bank–”

He pulled out his own wallet and handed the driver his bank card. 

“Can’t have my beautiful girlfriend going across town on public transport. Someone might steal you away from me.” 

You flushed. Your stomach was doing happy flips from feeling so taken care of. Steven took his card back from the driver and tucked it away. You were full on crying now as you wrapped your arms around him and weeped into his chest. 

“It’s alright, love.” He murmured in your ear. 

You pulled back to kiss him. It was eager and much too sloppy to do in broad daylight on the steps of his place of work but you couldn’t help yourself. 

“Thank you for going to all this trouble for me.” You mumbled as you pulled away. 

“It’s no trouble at all, love.” He opened up the cab food for you and didn’t shut it until you were inside. “I’ll pick you up at your office at the end of the day, okay?” 

You nodded and Steven leaned his head through the window to give you one last kiss. 

“Last chance to play hooky with me for the rest of the day?” 

You giggled and shook your head. 

“Tempting, but no. I’ve got to go be a grownup.” 

Steven smiled at you and mouthed a silent “okay.” He stepped back onto the curb and once the road was clear, your cab pulled out into the street. 

Once Steven was out of view, you opened up his lunchbox. He had a habit of overpacking in case he was stuck on the bus for a while and needed a snack, which came in handry because you were starving. You ate his sandwich, chips, soda, half a bag of grapes, and a cookie. 

At a red light, your driver turned back to you. 

“Your boyfriend is so sweet!” She swooned. 

“You don’t know the half of it.” You giggled. “This is his lunch.” 

She gasped.

“Shut up! That is so cute! Oh my gosh, you’re so lucky.” 

You grinned.

“Yeah. I am.” 

—-----------

The rest of the afternoon went painfully slow for you.Thankfully, you got so busy with work that you temporarily forgot you were broke, without a phone, and temporarily homeless. 

When it was finally time to go, you headed toward the front desk, intending to use the landline to call Steven but when you stepped into the hall, he was already there. You had to do a double take at first because you thought you might have been dreaming or seeing things. But no, this was real life. 

Steven Grant, your nerdy, sweet, perfect boyfriend was chatting to your office receptionist with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. 

“I never realized the museum was free! I always thought it cost money, that’s why I haven’t brought my kids.” The receptionist said, embroiled in a conversation with Steven. 

“Loads of people think that, actually but yeah it’s free entry. It only costs money for tours. Though, if you’re bringing your little ones, I can’t recommend the tours enough. You get loads of extra information that just reading the pamphlets won’t give you. Not to toot my own horn but I give a pretty educational tour if I do say so myself.” Steven said with a relaxed smile. Ever since he’d been promoted to tour guide, he’s been so much more sure of himself. He’s still the goofy, sweet, bumbling nerd he always has been but the constant exposure to his passion has cushioned him in a cozy little bubble of Egyptology, vegan baking, and you. How could he not feel content? 

“I think I’ll take them next weekend.” The receptionist said as you arrived at the desk. “I’d like a tour with you as well.” She looked up from scribbling the museum information on a Post-It note and saw you. “Oh, here you are, darling! Does this sweet man belong to you?” 

Just as she asked, Steven held out the bouquet to you. Red roses, pink tulips, white calla lilies, and some hydrangeas to fill it out. 

“He does.” Your cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. You took the bouquet from Steven and smelled the flowers. Steven gently pulled your purse strap off of your shoulder and took his lunch box out of your hands, holding them both and holding his free hand out for you. 

“Are you ready, love? The cab’s waiting.” 

Do not cry. Do not cry in your place of work. Do not cry because your boyfriend is being so sweet and you’ve never felt this cared for in your life. 

To avoid your voice coming out high and squeaky, you nodded and took his outstretched hand. Bidding goodbye to the receptionist, he led you out the doors and into the cab, leading you home. 

*****

It feels strange.

You’re not sure why. You’ve spent the night at Steven’s flat before, had dinner, read books, spent all night in his bed, but this felt different. 

You were standing in Steven’s bathroom, hair damp from your shower. The second you got back to his flat, you’d made a beeline to the shower, eager to scrub all of your misfortune off. And you felt so strange, so out of place. 

It was a little more intimate knowing that you’d be here for three entire weeks, which put a decent amount of pressure on a fairly new relationship. You and Steven would be seeing each other in undesirable states, have to give each other space, and somehow maintain the dynamic of your relationship despite these new circumstances. 

You unloaded the grocery bag of toiletries that you picked up from your flat on the way here. Thankfully your hygiene essentials and skincare weren’t damaged. The same couldn’t be said for your clothes, though. 

At least it was the weekend and you didn’t have to worry about outfits for work. You could just lounge around in the sweater and boxers Steven had given you, or nothing if you preferred. Steven certainly wouldn’t mind. 

“Love?” Steven’s voice came through the bathroom door. “The food just got here. I’ll queue up a movie for us.”

“Alright.” You called out. “Be out in a minute.”

“Take your time, darling.” 

What on Earth did you do to deserve that wonderful, wonderful man? 

After changing, you stepped out into the living room where Steven had arranged the takeout boxes, poured you a glass of wine, and queued up “Tangled” on the TV. 

“Steven…” You plopped down on the couch next to him. “We could’ve cooked, you didn’t have to order out for me. I don’t want you going to any trouble for me.” 

Steven looked at you with a glimmer in his eyes that only love could be the catalyst for. He took your chin between his fingers and angled your face to meet his lips in a sweet, slow kiss. 

“Darling, why would it be any trouble to care for you?” 

And just like that, as quickly as a match burns out, all of your anxieties and apprehension faded away. You didn’t feel out of place in Steven’s flat or mistreated by the universe. Here, in Steven’s arms, you only felt loved.

[yanderecookierunkingdom]

OH MY GOD MY BRAIN JUST PRODUCED THE MOST TOE BREAKING CREAM MAKING REQUEST EVER

okay so what if reader pulled a pink diamond (from Steven universe) on the yan!beasts? (2 weeks after corruption)

before when the beasts got corrupted, reader use to be a joyful, carefree and soothing cookie.

pros: they bring a good vibe to the room, and can easily comfort and cheer someone up

cons: a bit naive, curious, and unrealistic, they can seem a bit frustrating cause they won’t realize it quickly, they also have extremely powerful but uncontrollable power/emotions (think of pink diamond, how when she screams she can crack the walls? and shape shifting, shields etc)

so when this does happen, after you have your little outburst, they just.. lock in your chambers or just somewhere you spend your time most, for a little while.. (days to weeks)

after a while, they didn’t have time for what you had to say, cause they think it’s probably something stupid or strangely naive, so they kinda shut reader out??

and then, reader felt a bit mentally drained, and unheard, cause of the status and power they never wanted nor asked for, so in the end, the more shit they went through, from loosing people, or like just, being shut out and locked out, they spent more time alone, they wasn’t as joyful as before, they were still soothing, but distant and more calm and collected, and hardly spoke as much, they can read the room so much better now though

after like a month the beasts get corrupted, and reader can see the little changes in reader’s “friends” character, so they finally took a stand, as something they couldn’t ignore

managed to make an illusion, faking they’re death, and it was so realistic too, yet so simple to you, of course, why not add a witness? so once everything was in actually in action, they waited till some cookie ran by (i don’t really know if the beast have royal subjects or servants or something so you can choose who witness)

once they walk pass.. or walk in idfk..

DOOM, you were stabbed right in front of them, right in the soul jam

not even a second later, they fled the scene, without anyone noticing, changed theyre appearance to look more “natural and simpler”

and left, without a trace, then they got captured yada yada, i think you get the point

I HAVE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE WAY MY JAW DROPPED AS I READ THIS..

Set as the aftermath!

You had expected it to work, of course, but.. you didn't actually think it would work that well.

Your illusion fell just after the Cookie ran off, frantically screaming for Burning Spice Cookie. You knew you had to be quick with it, lest your ruse be found out.

You casted another illusion of your dead body and rushed into hiding. It wasn't long until Burning Spice Cookie came, and the carnage began.

The Beasts were incensed by whoever dared to try and kill you. They were tearing through the land, seeing who could dare to try and stab you.

It was outrageous, and you could only watch with a heavy heart as they were locked away. You made sure to turn and leave that life behind you. Changing yourself more and more with each year.

Hoping that you never have to see them again.

[thefallennightmare]

Just Pretend-five

*gif created by me. feel free to use, simply give credit*

Parings: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Warnings/Tropes: language, angst, fluff, smut, star-crossed lovers, right person/wrong time, cheating, talks of mental abuse.

Summary: “I can wait for years, heaven knows I’m not getting over you.” A story about two star-crossed lovers, that always find their way back because their souls are entwined. The universe desperately attempts to bring them together, no matter what the cost.

Authors Note: Again, this chapter means so much! Please take the time to really enjoy it, its a long one.

Collaborating With: @thescarlettvvitch(better give her all the love as well)

Tags: @thescarlettvvitch @ozwriterchick @waake-meee-up @notingridslurkaccount @niicoleleigh @sammyjoeee @xxrainstorm @dominuslunae @notmaddihealy @malice-ov-mercy @crimson-calligraphyx @iknownothingpeople @writethrough @thebadchic @blackveilomens Claudia on Tumblr @tobe-written @blacksoul-27 @loeytuan98 @loverofagoodbeard @comfortcharactercraze

NOAH

"Wait, he called her that?" Jolly asked as he leaned forward while resting his elbows on his knees. 

Malcolm gave us a weak smile. "It's not the worst thing he's called her."

My knee bounced with agitation as I sat on the couch of our bus with Jolly on one side of me and Nick on the other. A while ago, Malcolm and Chase came knocking on our bus wanting to talk to us about what happened last night. We were already in the next city and spent the morning in our respective buses until recently. Chase was really worried about Y/N and needed to talk to us about it. 

"Steven said it was pretty bad," Folio said from his spot at the kitchen table area, twirling a drumstick between his fingers. 

Chase and Malcolm, who were sitting next to each other on the couch opposite of us, shared a look before Chase let out a deep breath. 

"You guys have to promise you won't tell her you know? She's already so broken inside, the last thing she needs is knowing you all know what happened." 

My burning gaze was trained hard on the floor at my feet as I fiddled with the bracelets on my wrists, anger sitting in a festering bubble low in my stomach. Chase and Malcolm haven't even told us what was said last night and I'm already trying to hold myself back from confronting Trey.

"Noah," Malcolm's usual playful voice was gone; filled with so much coldness and despair. 

I snapped my eyes up to him, jaw clenched hard. "What?" 

"I don't know what you said to her yesterday but I haven't seen her that bright and vibrant in so fucking long. She was beaming, man. She felt so good about herself that she wore something she knew would piss Trey off. You did that." 

Chase stood up and walked past me to grab a beer from the fridge but not before giving me a pat on the back which in turn caused a small smile to slip as I nodded. 

"You don't understand how much your friendship with her means to us. All we ask is if you guys remain in her life after this, which would be good for her, please don't hurt her." He said with a serious tone. 

"I promise," I said. "Now, what else did Trey say?"

Chase popped open the beer, downing half of it in one go, and fell onto the couch again with a groan. 

"Trey told her to go change. She stood up for herself or tried to, anyway. He called her a two-dollar whore that was only dressing like that to impress Noah." 

Jolly dared a glance at me but I kept my gaze trained ahead at Chase, not wanting to deal with Jolly's questions right now. 

"Trey belittled her into believing that without him, she would have nothing; no band, no friends." 

Malcolm hesitated as he spoke. "Trey called her a waste of a hole. To quote him directly. "Your mouth is the only thing you're good for and even then you're pathetic.""

 My face gave nothing away, almost blank, even though I was biting the inside of my cheek, and my voice was almost monotone. "What did she say to that?" 

"Nothing," Chase sighed. "She shut down, Noah. Almost in a catatonic state as she stood there and let him pick apart everything he thought was wrong with her."

"You guys have only been around for part of this but us," Malcolm bumped his knee with Chase. "We've been here since day one and have seen how much she's changed. She was going to move in with us in Los Angeles but Trey won't let her. He keeps her in Vegas because he doesn't want her to live with anyone that's not him." 

"Why won't she leave?" Bryan asked as he leaned against the door that led to the bunks. He'd been quiet the whole time, just listening. 

"You don't know what it's like to be with someone who drains you," I muttered. 

Nick was the only one who heard because he rubbed my shoulder, understanding exactly what I meant. 

"She's our sister," Chase said with a broken voice. "We just want her back." 

All of us were silent, letting the words hang in the air, until after a few long moments, Folio spoke up. 

"We should go do something. Get her out of the bus so she's not sitting inside her own mind." 

Everyone agreed, and while they discussed different things to do, I motioned to Hollow Souls bus. "Is Trey there?" 

"No," Chase shook his head. "He has a radio interview so he'll be gone all day." 

"Good." 

As their voices faded in the background, I peered out the window of the bus to let myself calm down. I didn't want to let the others know how upset I was right now. Hearing what Trey said to Y/N and learning she didn't do anything to stop it made the anger vibrate through me. I knew it wasn't her fault; I knew all too well you couldn't blame yourself for the way others treat you. 

Jesse once made a joke about how we’re shit at showing our feelings. That much is true, but when Y/N's within any distance of me or even miles apart, my feelings can’t help but bleed out. I still don’t know how to express this which only makes it fester more than it needs to only because it’s new. I hate getting attached- not since that time all those years ago. Especially when people come, eat & leave. 

My biggest fear? I didn't like how much control she had over me. I've always been in control. 

I’m in control, I’m in control.

The words repeated in my mind like a mantra. 

Another thought that kept me up the last few nights: Am I really sitting here just waiting to have my heart ripped out of me? 

Is Y/N worth the potential heartbreak down the road when the moment comes of choosing Trey over me? 

I let out a long deep breath at that thought. It wasn't like we were in a relationship and I was going to make her choose so why was I so worried about the heartbreak. 

Suddenly I wished Jesse was here so I could talk to him about this. His first question would be:

What’s the point of any of this? 

Well shit, I don’t know now. I thought I did in the beginning but now, who the fuck knows. 

Is this what love is? My mind is being ripped to shreds feelings of being led to death? What I knew of it was that I don’t know any peace without her.

I think…I think I'm fucked. 

Movement from outside caught my eye, and I watched Y/N stepped onto the concrete beneath her, long hair flowing over her shoulders as the wind brushed over her. Affection and adrenaline surged through me as I shot up from the couch and bounded down the stairs of the bus doing my best to keep quiet. 

It was an overcast day, the suns' rays barley breaking through the thick clouds but it was just enough to create a glow around Y/N. Almost an angelic aura. 

My angel. 

She didn't notice I was standing a few feet from her since she was in her own thoughts so I took this as an opportunity for our day of fun to start.

"What the fuck?" 

She squealed with laughter when I snuck up behind her and lifted her in my arms, her legs dangling in the air. Her body twisted and turned until I had her thrown over my shoulder, arms smacking at my back. 

"Noah! Put me down!" 

I readjusted my hat, the one she almost knocked off, and let out a little laugh. "Not going to happen, angel. You can smack my back all you want, I'm not letting you go." 

Her smacks to my back stopped, but she continued to squirm in my arms while I carried her over to my bus. 

"Please, I'm way too heavy for you to carry me." 

My feet nearly tripped over each other as I came to a sudden halt and gently let her down to stand in front of me. Immediately I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how red the whites of her eyes were. 

Fuck, she'd been crying. 

"Don't say that," I said while slowly shaking my head. 

Her shoulders fell. "Noah, I'm tired. I want-.What are you doing?! PUT ME DOWN!" 

Her screams echoed throughout the parking lot as I scooped her up again, this time bridal style, and carried her the rest of the distance to my bus where Malcom was sitting on the last step, typing away on his phone. 

"Everything alright?" He asked with a chuckle. 

I set Y/N down again and she made quick work to fix her hair out of her face before hitting me with a very playful glare. 

"Cute look, angel." I mused with a smile. 

Malcolm shook his head with a chuckle before retreating up the stairs to our bus, leaving the two of us alone. My fingers fiddled with my bracelets as nerves away at me. This wasn't the first time we were alone with each other but every time we were, she had this effect on me. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" 

Her soft voice broke me out of the trance she always put me under but I recovered fast by lifting one shoulder in a half shrug, lazily smile playing at my lips. 

"You look good today; I can't help it." 

A deep red hue brushed over her cheeks as she averted her gaze from my face down to her feet as she shifted on them. 

"You're just saying that. I'm still wearing my sweats from last night," her voice was quiet but I could still hear the defeat behind it. 

I took a step towards her. "What do I have to do to prove it to you, angel?" 

My name fell from her lips as she finally gazed up at me and I went to reach for her hand, our pinky's brushing against each other, Bryan's loud voice called down from the bus as he stepped off of it. 

"Matt's letting us borrow the crew's van but made us promise not to get any sand inside of it. It's a bitch to vacuum." Bryan mimicked in a high voice that sounded nothing like Matt. 

"We leave in ten minutes." 

He gave me a look as I nearly jumped back from Y/N and stuffed my hands deep into the pockets of my jeans, giving Bryan a nod. 

"We'll be ready to go. I just have to grab a few things." 

Y/N raised a brow between us. "Where are you guys going?" 

Chase came out of the bus next and threw an arm over her shoulders. "We are going to be spending the day at the beach; all of us." 

She tensed in his embrace. "What about-?" 

"No, do not worry about him. We planned this day for you. So, go get dressed and meet back at the van in five minutes," Chase pushed her towards their bus. 

She scoffed playfully, the brightness slowly returning to her eyes. "What if I said I was already dressed?" 

Bryan snickered as he noticed how Chase stiffened before trying to explain himself.

"I'm just fucking with you," Y/N patted his cheek. "Give me ten minutes." 

As she walked away, I couldn't help myself as I watched her with a fervent gaze before her form disappeared from my line of sight. 

"You're staring," Chase mentioned. 

"Yea, I know," I sighed before running up to the bus to grab the few things I wanted to bring with today. 

NICK R. 

By the time I got to the van, there were only a few spots left open. Bryan sat behind the wheel while Malcolm sat in the front seat. In the middle, Folio sat in the section row directly in the middle seat while Jolly sat in the back with Chase. Suddenly my mind whirled with an idea, a smirk crossing my face. 

"Jolly and Chase, swap with Folio," I rushed out when I noticed Noah walking up to the van. 

Folio gave me a look. "Why?" 

"Dude, just do this. Before Y/N gets here." I hurried the three of them to swap places. 

"The back is tight enough already. Now you have Noah back here with his long legs he's going to be taking up the entire space," Folio grumbled. 

Jolly snickered while him and Chase now sat in the middle section of the van while Folio reluctantly sat on the farthest seat in the back. "I know what you're planning, Nick." 

Hoping into the empty spot next to him, I raised my hands innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about." 

Noah walked up to the open door of the van with his backpack slung over his shoulder and scoffed when he noticed which seats were left open. 

"You assholes are really sticking the tallest one here in the back?" He groaned while climbing into the back of the van. 

"You'll thank me later," I smirked wickedly while nodding towards Y/N who emerged from Hollow Souls. 

Noah sucked in a breath as he took in the sight of her. 

NOAH 

Fuck. She's breathtaking. 

Her outfit was simple for a day on the beach; Black sweatpants and a sweater to match, random designs scattered over it. Her long hair was straight down her back as she tucked a strand behind her ear. 

"Oh," Y/N murmured as she noticed the only empty spot left in the van was in between Folio and I. 

Which meant she had to climb over me to get to her spot. 

"Here, let me get out-." 

I began, but she didn't bother to listen as she stepped into the van to climb over me to her spot but dropped something out of the large tote bag she was carrying. 

"Fuck me," she groaned while bending over to grab whatever fell. 

My attention wasn't on what fell out of her bag but her perk round ass in front of me. My heart was in my ears pounding so fucking loud I couldn't focus on anything else but Y/N bend over in front of me. Her ass was so close to my lap and I bit the inside of my cheek hoping my cock wouldn't give way how this sight was affecting me. 

Chase leaned an arm over the back of his seat as he stared at us, a knowing smirk on his face. 

"Fuck you," I mouthed. 

Y/N sighed while tossing her back on the floor next to the door. "Sorry, guys. I'm having a off morning." 

"No, you're fine," I smiled up at her as she squeezed past my legs to get to her seat. 

My hand grazed over her hip to help guide her as she finally got comfortable between Folio and I. The skin of my palm still burned from my gentle touch on her hip and I had to shift in my seat to adjust myself in my jeans. 

I don't need a fucking boner right now. 

"Are you alright?" Y/N questioned. "Why did they stick the tallest guy in the back?" 

"I'm wondering the same thing," I grumbled while staring directly at the back of Nick's head. 

Even if he didn't say it, I knew he was the one that set up this entire thing. 

Folio sighed while leaning forward towards Jolly. "Can you move your seat up? I've got no leg space back here." 

Jolly snorted. "No." 

When Bryan finally began driving, I eased into the ride by looking out the window; the scenery whipping past us before I could focus on it. While Folio and Y/N had their own conversation, I thought of ways to make this day special for her so she didn't have to think about Trey or what happened last night. She needed to see how we all saw her which is why I made sure Bryan brought his camera. It wasn't nice enough to go swimming but Jolly also brought his guitar in case we wanted to strum a song or two. 

"Oh by the way," Y/N's soft hand patted my knee, and I felt a spark from her touch. "I texted Keaton to remind him about the $100 he owes me. He said he would give it to me when you let him borrow your copy of Smash Bros." 

Jolly turned around so fast, his hair smacked Nick in the shoulder. "We already gave him our copy of Smash Bros." 

Y/N held up her hands. "Hey, I'm just the messenger. A messenger that wants her $100." 

With a chuckle, I pulled out my phone to send a quick text to Keaton while the two of them bickered. 

Send Y/N her $100 and I'll buy you your own copy of the game.

Keaton responded before I had the chance to put my phone back into my pocket. 

Oh shit, she's that special? Buying me a game you already know I lost? 

Rolling my eyes, I typed out my response quick so Y/N couldn't see. 

I'll buy it for you when I'm back in town. Even take you out on a bro date. 

Only if you bring Y/N along. I think she'll be good for you. I've been trying to set you guys up for a while now.

I ignored that text and the way my stomach flipped and slipped my phone back into my pocket just in time for the view of the beach to come into view. 

As soon as the van pulled into a spot in the empty parking lot, I grabbed mine and Y/N's bag while stepping out on the concrete. The sun's rays were nonexistent on this side of town, a slight breeze making me pull my jacket closer to my chest as Y/N stepped out of the van. 

"I can hold my own bag, Noah," she reassured me. 

I shrugged her off while throwing both of our bags on my back and motioned her to follow everyone else who began their walk down to the beach. Since it was chilly this afternoon, the only other people there were couples reading, throwing a ball for their dog, or the occasional runner. 

"Careful," I looked over my shoulder to Y/N as we were walking down a pretty steep cliff. 

She pushed my hand away with a smile but let out a small scream as she lost control of her footing and my hands quickly shot out to grab her. I pulled her into my chest to support her and once she was safe on her feet; I knew I should have let her go but with the way she gazed up at me through her lashes had me transfixed. Everything around us fell away like it always did and I felt myself being pulled towards her lips. 

"Last one there has to vacuum out all the sand from Matt's van," she smirked before pushing past me, running in a fit of giggles.

Through all the confusion and question running in my mind, one this was crystal clear as I watched Y/N kick up sand as she ran past Malcolm, purposefully knocking off his hat, and she turned to face me with her arms up in the air. The brightness in her smile paled in comparison the bright blue of the water behind her. 

"Come on, daddy long legs! Keep up, will ya!" 

I'm so irrevocably fucked. 

The afternoon passed by in such a furry that when it was nearing early evening; I tried to think of ways to extend our time together. Since it was too cold for swimming, we spent our time either throwing a ball back and forth, Jolly playing guitar while I sang a few tunes something I noticed Y/N watch intently. Bryan snapped pictures and videos for one of our tour vlogs and whenever he tried to get some footage of Y/N, she hid her face or move out of view. 

Another thing I noticed. 

Now, not a shock to anyone, everyone had stalked off to go find some food since no one brought any snacks. So Y/N and I sat quietly next to each other on a blanket as we let the sounds of the waves and seagulls fill the void between us. 

Y/N had a book perched on her lap as she stared down at it transfixed at the words on the page and I marveled at the beauty of such a simple task. Malcolm tried to give her shit for it earlier. 

"Who the hell brings a book to the beach?" 

"I do," she stuck her tongue out at him and I swore I got hard from the brief flash of flesh. 

"Everyone has their own hobby, Malcolm," Chase chastised his bandmate. 

"Yeah," I agreed. "I like to go hiking when I can. Every so often, I'll bring a book with me. I'm big into Philosophy right now." 

"See?" Y/N squeezed my arm. "Noah gets it." 

"If you're curious about what I'm reading, you can ask," she didn't bother taking her gaze away from the book as she turned the page. 

I didn't say anything, simply grabbed the camera Bryan left and snapped two quick photos. 

"Oh, please don't," she groaned while covering her face with her hands and hair. "I do not look good enough for pictures." 

"You look beautiful, angel," I whispered while gently removing her hands from her face then brushed away the hair.

She shook her head. "No, I don't." 

My heart ached for her. Trey implanted all of these negative thoughts in her mind, stomping so hard and deep that it was going to be hard pulling them out. 

"What do I have to do to make you realize it?" 

My words from earlier echoed around the space between us. 

“You don’t need to do anything, Noah. I’m not who you think I am in your head," she turned her head to face the water in front of us. 

I shifted in my spot on the blanket so I kneeled in front of her. “I think you’re wrong and I’m a great judge of character.” 

Her lips twitched as they tried to force a smile, her mewling over my words. “Hm, that part is true. You really think I’m beautiful?”

She was fidgeting with the string of her hoodie, twirling it between her fingers. She wasn't fishing for more compliments; she really wanted to know if that's how I saw her. 

“You don’t think you are?" 

Y/N shrugs her answer, not daring to voice her thoughts. 

I took a deep breath to steady myself, knowing that what I was about to say would give way to something from my past I didn't like to talk about. "Well, I do. I know Trey fucked with your head and you might not want to talk about it now but know, I'm here for you whenever you're ready." 

"It's a lot and I don't want to put that heavy burden on you, Noah. It should be mine alone to deal with." 

I lifted her chin with a knuckle but she still averted my gaze. 

"You shouldn't be with someone that drains your spirits. Drain the light from your soul, angel."

Her bottom lip trembled as she let out a shaky breath. "It can't rain all the time." 

Suddenly, I realized that the only way to get her to realize that I knew what she was going through was to tell her something few knew.

"You know," I started, then let out a deep breath. "My ex did the same thing." 

She raised her head, shocked, as the words die off of my lips. “She did? I don’t see how, you’re so-."

I raised a brow. “So what?”

The way she hesitated made my heart lurch as waited for her answer.

"You're-." She stammered before letting out a deep breath, almost as if admitting the words would put it out into existence. "You're wonderful, Noah. 

The intensity even from her dull eyes made my skin buzz with the same adrenaline from before and not wanting to say anything in fear of running the moment, I snapped a few more pictures of her which made her reach for the camera. 

"I don't think so!" I chuckled while rising to my feet. I readjusted my hat when she tried to reach for the camera again, her own laughter sounding like a church choir on my ears. 

Eventually she gave up and let me snap a few more pictures of her as we walked together down the beach; her picking up a seashell or her walking along a rock wall that went straight out into the water. 

"Be careful, angel," I warned from below on the sand. "I don't want you to hurt yourself." 

She gave me a wicked smile from above. "Would you catch me if I fell?" 

Even though the season changed throughout the day and with the waves crashing around us, I grinned up at her. "Though the skies are turning grey, I'll never let you fall, angel." 

My favorite picture? It was the one I just took of her as she shed her shoes and rolled up the bottoms of her sweats up to her knees. She stared deep out in the vast distance of ocean and sky, eyes slowly filling with the light the longer we spent together. 

I broke out in a huge smile as I pulled the camera away from my face when she tried to look at me but the rapid wind blew her hair in all different directions. 

"Shit, I knew I should have brought a hair tie," she cursed while trying to flatten her hair. 

"Here," I pulled off the one I always kept on my wrist and handed it to her. 

Once her hair was on top of her head in a very messy bun, I snapped one last picture of her before setting the camera back down on the blanket. Y/N cringed when she saw her reflection in the camera of her phone. 

"Oh, yikes. Why the hell did you take a picture of me looking like this?" 

There was a long piece of hair that she missed, it was hanging on the side of her head, so with a gentle touch I tucked it behind her ear, my fingers grazing over the skin of her neck. She shivered in my touch as her face reddened. 

"Well, I still think you’re a beauty. You've never seen my hair when it’s ocean fucked," I grinned. 

With a gentle push to my chest, Y/N began walking into the water. 

"Well, are you going to let me see that hair all fucked?" She teased. 

"Shit," I muttered under my breath but quickly recovered when I realized how deep into the water she was going. "Angel, it's freezing!" 

She ran her fingers through the waves. "Come on, the water's fine! Stop being a pussy." 

Kicking off my shoes, I cursed when I realized I was wearing too tight of skinny jeans so not being able to roll them up; I followed her into the waves. 

"You're insane," I chuckled. 

Both of us were knee deep in the water, our clothes soaked, but neither of us cared. The way she came alive and free out here made me smile. 

Fuck, she really was beautiful.

"If you were a bird, what bird would you be?" She asked when she came to a stop in front of me. 

"Well," I ran a hand over my chin to show I was thinking deeply of this question. "According to the fanbase, they see me as a duck so I guess that."

"I love that! Oh, you know what would be funny?" She grinned. 

I shrugged. "No, but I have a feeling you'll tell me." 

"When you scream to Dethrone, you should be funny by saying this is dethrone you quacks, instead of fucks. It'd be a way of showing the fans you read everything online," she deadpanned before falling into a fit of giggles and looking up to the darkening skies above her. 

Seeing how much that small joke made her laugh made me make a mental note to say that next tour. 

"What about you? What bird would you be?" 

"A crow," she answered so fast, almost as if she thought about this question in depth before. "They’re mysterious, they’re misunderstood and always take care of the ones they love.”

I hummed with her answer. "I can see that. You'd make a lovely crow." 

She bumped her shoulder with me as the waves crashed harder around us. "You'd make a pretty cool duck. And we'd be bird friends." 

"Well," I glided my hands through the water. "If you're a bird, then I'm a bird."

We stayed like that for a long moment, staring out deep past the horizon, and when her fingers brushed against my palm, I nearly folded when her hand linked with mine. 

"Thank you for today. I haven't had this much fun since, well, the zoo." 

I smiled warmly at her while looking down at our hands, still intertwined. "Anytime, angel. That's what I'm here for." 

Our eyes met with fire as she turned to look up at me through lashes and I twirled the loose strand of hair between my fingers. Her hand fell from mine to play with the rosary at my neck and I drank in the sight of the way her lips parted slightly when she let out a breath, her bottom lip pink and raw from how hard she was biting it. 

Her name slipped from my tongue into the air around us as I cupped her cheek while leaning down to close the distance between us. We were close, so fucking close all I would need was less than an inch to feel her lips on mine. 

I bet they tasted like the chapstick she put on earlier; an action I watched closely. 

Almost there. 

"Fuck!" I cursed when cold water splashed up at my chest, Y/N doubling over in laughter as she splashed me again. 

"You think that's funny?" I bent low at my knees with a sinister smirk on my face. 

"No!" She began backing away from me. "Don't. I'm sorry." 

Y/N was laughing so hard she could barely catch my breath and seeing how alive she looked right now made my heart soar into my throat. I nearly clutched my chest at the feeling. 

"NOWAAH! NO!" 

I tackled her into the water, bringing her underneath the waves with me, our laughter carrying us up the hill to the group of people who watched us with amusement in their eyes. 

CHASE

"I haven't heard that laugh in a long time," Malcom spoke next to me. 

I agreed with a nod as we watched Y/N try to dunk Noah underneath the water but she couldn't reach him and ended up tumbling in the water again; him falling in right after. 

"We have to do something, Mal. We can't keep sitting by and watch him treat her like that," I said with a melancholy expression. 

"She won't-." 

I threw a hand toward Noah and Y/N who were now walking back to the beach, drenched from head to toe. 

"That's what she deserves! Someone that makes her laugh like that. That takes countless pictures of her because he likes the way she looks." 

Malcolm nodded while grabbing my arms. "I know, man. We both want that for her but we can't force that on her. She needs to realize it herself." 

Nick spoke up. "You don't have to worry about Noah hurting her. That's the farthest thing from his mind. He might be stubborn as hell but when he cares about someone, he makes sure they know that." 

Folio took his hat off to shake out the salty air from his hair. "He's a Scorpio, what did you expect?" 

"Whether or not they admit it, they both need each other," Jolly smiled down to Noah who waved up at us. 

My eyes tracked every movement Y/N made as she rung out the water from her long hair, the salt already creating waves through every strand. Even from this distance, I could see the small smile that graced the soft features of her face. There was so much hope in that tiny smile and to me, that was enough to see the light at the end of her tunnel. 

"There's a restaurant around the block we can walk too. Lets go!" Jolly shouted down to them. 

Noah knocked Y/N down to the sand before he took off in a race, her shouts of protests falling at his back. 

NOAH

"Here, take this," I extended a dry sweater towards Y/N. 

She was holding her arms to her chest, teeth chattering, as she did her best to show she wasn't cold 

"N-no. I'm fi-fine." 

"Angel," I warned. "Your lips are blue. Take the sweater." 

We stood at the back of the van to change so we could head to dinner. I brought a jacket that I wore with the hood up and an extra hoodie which I tried to make Y/N take. 

"Just take the sweater, alright? I brought extras for a reason." 

Shaking hands reached for the sweater then she motioned to me to spin around. "No pe-peaking." 

I made a show of covering my eyes with my hands and turned my back to her, waiting for her to change out into a sweater of mine and an extra pair of sweats that she had brought herself. Chase gave her shit for bringing extra pants but not a sweater. 

"Alright, you can look now." 

Her soft voice made me look over her shoulder just in time to see her hold her phone up and snap a picture of me. 

"Angel, since when were you a photographer?" I smiled. 

"Shut up and smile, Noah." 

"Yes ma'am," I smirked while holding up my middle finger. 

"Hmm, has anyone told you that you have long fingers?" She threw me a teasing stare. 

And I'd love to fucking use them on you.

Clearing my throat, I tossed our bags into the back of the trunk and let it slam shut before nodding towards the guys that waited for us at the front of the van.

"What's the holdup back there?!" Malcom called out just in time as he saw us walk around the side of the van. 

"Sorry, I had to change," Y/N smiled sheepishly. 

While Hollow Souls walked in front of us, the guys teasing Y/N to no end about how wavy the salty waters made her hair; I hung back with Jolly and could see out of the corner of my eye he was giving me the typical DAD OMENS stare. 

"I know what I'm doing, Jolly," I nodded with a smile to reassure him. 

"I'm glad because we just want to make sure you don't slip and fall too fast." 

As we reached the Greek restaurant, I reassured all of them one more time that I was being smart about this thing with Y/N. I wouldn't put my all into it without understanding the outcomes; not again. 

Chase grabbed a table outside on the patio and Y/N went to choose a seat until I motioned towards the one in the middle. Nick sat on her left while I chose the one on her right, the one she almost chose; the one closest to the street. 

"Do you want to share an appetizer?" I asked her as she browsed through the menu. 

"As long as I get some tiropita, I'm all for sharing," she beamed up at me. 

The salty brine from the ocean that clung to her hair and skin infested my sense and I let my racing heart calm for a few beats. 

Once we ordered our food, it was then that I noticed a group of large guys walk out of the restaurant, their eyes immediately tracing and landing on Y/N. She was clueless to their stares, having a deep conversation with Folio who sat across from her. 

"Shit, no way! That can't be her!" 

"Dude, it is. That's their drummer, Chase!" 

"We have to go get a picture!" 

"Let them be, Jake. They just want to enjoy their meal in peace. 

"Fuck that." 

One guy stalked over towards our table with his phone out, camera app already open. 

"You're Y/N! From Hollow Souls!" The guy, Jake, said. 

She turned her attention away from Folio and plastered the typical 'nice to meet you' smile at the fan. "Hi." 

"Would it be alright if I get a quick picture with you? I'm a huge fan." 

I watched this exchange with a stern expression, eyes darting back and forth between them. My hand wanted to reach for hers under the table but I refrained. 

Y/N pointed to the table in front of her. "We're actually getting ready to eat-." 

"Oh, come on. Just one picture!" 

Shit, this guy was persistent. 

"She said no," I answered but the guy cut me off. 

"Technically, she didn't." Then he looked back to Y/N. "Just one?" 

Y/N swallowed thickly before pushing herself out of her chair and walked over to the fan. "Yeah, one is fine." 

The guy held the camera at a high angel to get a selfie with Y/N throwing up two fingers in a peace sign. For the picture, he had his arm around her shoulder and when she went to pull away; he grabbed onto her hip, keeping her in place. 

"Okay, we're done," She twisted out of his grasp. 

"What about a group shot?" The fan asked hopeful. 

"I said we're done," Y/N said this time with more force in her voice. 

The guy nodded. "Alright, well can I get your number? I'm sure once you and Trey break up, you'll be looking for someone else. You're hot as fuck." 

The sound of metal scrapping on concrete echoed down the street as I pushed myself out of the chair and calmly walked over to Y/N, wrapping a safe arm around her shoulder. 

"I think we're done here." 

She gave me a look of gratitude before folding herself deeper against me, soft hand sprawling across my back. Eventually the fan stalked off towards his group of friends as I let Y/N sit back in her seat, me following close behind. 

Her hand squeezed my thigh under the table, fingers grazing over the small tear in my jeans and I melted into her soft touch. 

"Thank you," she said with a genuine smile. 

I motioned to the gyro in front of her, not wanting to let her know how bad she was effecting me. "Eat before it gets cold." 

For the rest of the evening until the moon shined bright over us as we talked, I would steal glances with her doing the same. Every so often, our gazes would catch and we would quickly look away, redness creeping over our cheeks; or in her case, her nose. 

The thoughts of earlier when I remembered what Jesse talked about came creeping in and in that moment, I wondered to myself if Y/N was worth it. 

There wasn't a doubt in my mind she was. I'd prove that to her as long as she lets me, no matter how crazy it seemed to others. 

That's what this thing was; it was the death of peace of mind. 

[disillusioneddanny]

Love Me Like You

Absolutely wrote this instead of going to sleep. This is based off of the song Love Like You by Rebecca Sugar for steven universe.

Damian’s heart was racing violently in his chest. He was angry, no he was beyond angry. No one was listening to him! He was twenty years old now, he wasn’t some little Robin sidekick anymore either, he was Red Bird, he had taken a different name and become his own person as a vigilante yet it didn’t seem to matter to anyone in this blasted family. All they saw him as was the demon brat, the boy who had been raised to become an assassin who had been brainwashed his entire life. 

But he wasn’t that boy any longer! He had been out of the League of Assassins for the same amount of time he had been in it. If not a little longer if one could count the fact that the ten years he was with his family he was fully cognizant and could make his own decisions, unlike the toddler he had been with the League. 

Sure, he had been moulded to be the perfect weapon, the perfect heir to the Demon’s Head but he was more than that now, he was so, so, so much more than that. 

He was a hero, he was someone that others could look upon and be inspired. He wasn’t some ruffian assassin any longer and his past shouldn’t matter in the slightest anymore. At least, it shouldn’t be thrown in his face by his own family every chance he got. 

He stormed up the steps of the Brownstone he owned with his boyfriend and let out a huff, trying to calm his racing heart before he stepped into the home.  It would be different once he was past these bricks, he would be in the company of someone who saw him completely and loved him anyways. 

He stepped through the threshold and smiled as he found his beloved passed out on the couch, curled up with a blanket wrapped around him. 

If I could begin to be, half of what you think of me. I could do about anything. 

Damian smiled at his boyfriend before he stooped down, slipping one arm underneath Danny’s legs and the other under his neck as he lifted him in the air carefully, cradling him bridal style in his arms. 

“Tried to stay up and wait for you,” the halfa mumbled, pressing his face against Damian’s chest. “Got too tired.”

“It is alright, Beloved,” Damian murmured before he pressed a kiss to Danny’s forehead. “Rest, I assume you had a busy day, my dear?”

“Justice League Dark are full of idiots who don’t know their ass from their head,” Danny mumbled as Damian opened the bedroom door. 

He let out a soft chuckle at that. He would not be surprised if his beloved lost his mind even a little bit when having to work with both that dreadful Constantine and Doctor Fate at the same time. 

“Who all were there?” Damian asked as he set Danny on the bed. The halfa whined at the loss of Damian’s warmth, making the vigilante’s heart flutter. 

When I see the way you act, wondering when I’m coming back. I could do about anything.

“Give me just a moment to change into some sleepwear and I’ll join you,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at Danny who now laid with a pillow wrapped in his arms and a pout on his face. “Now, tell me about the meeting.”

“I originally went to the Watchtower to work on one of the main engines, Supes had been saying it sounded wrong,” he said, launching into his tale but Damian was taken back to a different time, three years before when he had first met his love. 

 I could even learn how to love like you. 

Three years ago. 

Damian trailed behind his father into the main room of the Watchtower when he had noticed something out of the ordinary. There seemed to be someone floating on the outside of the ship without a space suit of any kind. 

“Batman,” he gasped out, stepping towards the man only for his steps to falter as the man-being waved at him with a wide smile. Bruce looked over curiously and smiled. 

“Oh, that’s Phantom,” he said simply. “He’s the head engineer of the Watchtower maintenance crew. Although, I have been trying to convince him to join us as an actual member for well over a month now. He refuses.”

“He looks no older than I do, how could he be the head engineer?” Damian asked, looking mystified as the being, Phantom phased through the window and gave him a dopey smile. 

“Would you believe me if I said I was just cool like that?” He asked, looking Damian up and down. “And who might you be?”

“Right, you’ve not seen him in his newest persona,” Batman said before, Damian’s eyes had to be deceiving him, his father was smiling at Phantom! “This is Red Bird.”

Damian held out a hand for Phantom. “It’s a pleasure,” he said, locking in on those eyes that reminded him of the Lazarus Pits he had grown up around. 

“Oh, I think the pleasure is all mine,” Phantom had purred, his eyes a green fire that had sucked Damian in immediately. He had never been bested so easily by someone else in all his life. 

I always thought I might be bad, now I’m sure that it’s true. 

He never did learn how Danny had managed to become the head engineer, even after three years of dating the halfa.

“And then Detective Chimp had to but in! Which why the hell do we have a fucking monkey on the team anyway! His name is fucking Bobo, Dami, Bobo!” Danny said, now fully awake as he laid starfished in their bed, the pillow now resting on his chest as he glared up at the ceiling. 

Damian chuckled and pulled his shirt over his head before he glanced at his boyfriend once more. “He is a detective, darling, quite a good one at that. I think he’s almost as good as,” Damian stopped and scowled. No, he was not going to go in that direction, he was not going to bring up his father, not when his mood was finally starting to lift and he had been distracted by his lover. 

“Oh, I know that look,” Danny said before he floated off of the bed and gave Damian a look as he cupped his face in his calloused hands. Danny’s right thumb ran along the small scar just below Damian’s left eye. Almost miniscule, no one had ever noticed it before except for Danny. It had been from his first time knife fighting as a child, his oppent had managed to get a single nick in and Damian had been punished within an inch of his life for letting someone get past his defenses. 

He had been five at the time. 

Danny had been ready to destroy all of Nanda Parbat when he had first learned how Damian had gotten the scar. No one had ever been so angry on his behalf before. Sure, his family were angry about his upbringing but not once had they ever truly considered the emotional and mental damage it had done to Damian. How he had to work so hard to be good in their eyes even after all these years.

Cause I think you’re so good, and I’m nothing like you.

“What did he say to you this time?” Danny asked, his big blue eyes curious and so very full of love. 

Damian sighed. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, stepping away to change into his pajama pants. Danny grabbed his wrist and frowned. 

“What did we talk about, Polaris?” He asked, brows now furrowed in concern. 

“My feelings matter,” Damian recited like a toddler back to his boyfriend. 

Look at you go, I just adore you. 

“Now, do you want to talk about it? Or do you want me to drop it?” Danny asked him, letting go of his wrist to instead wind their fingers together, interlocking them so that Damian could not escape his boyfriend’s grasp even if he wanted to.

Damian just smiled at him. “I do not wish to expand into the entire argument. But he told me that I will always be an assassin at heart and that I will never be more than that,” he said softly, his eyes sad as he tried his very best to not replay the argument in his head. 

I wish that I knew, what makes you think I’m so special. 

Danny’s face crumpled before he pulled Damian in for a tight hug, the shorter man pressed Damian’s face to his neck, forcing the vigilante to crouch slightly. “He’s wrong, you’re an amazing vigilante, Damian. You’ve done so much for people, for Gotham, ancients you’ve done so much for the world,” he said, combing his fingers through Damian’s hair. “You could have easily decided that this wasn’t the life for you when you left Talia, you could have decided to live as a normal kid and never get involved in any of this. But you became a vigilante anyway, and you’ve stayed a vigilante, a hero for the last ten years. Only a special kind of person could do that, Polaris,” Danny said softly, pressing a soft kiss to Damian’s damp cheek.

 He absolutely rubbed at his face, not even realizing that he had been crying.

If I could, begging to do, something that does right by you. I would do about anything. 

“Let’s get to bed,” Danny said, watching as Damian pulled away to slip his pajama bottoms on. Danny took his hand once more and led him to their large bed. He pulled the blankets back and slipped Damian in them.

Once Damian was secure underneath the blankets, Danny wrapped his arm around him and held him close. “You know, the first time I laid my eyes on you, Damian, I knew you were the one for me,” Danny whispered in his ear, his chin rested on Damian’s shoulder as the ghost spooned him, holding the vigilante close. “My core, it sung for you. It saw the good in you even then,” he whispered. 

Damian smiled. It had taken him so long to work up the nerve to ask Danny on a date. 

Three Years Earlier. 

Damian stared at the head engineer as he declined Batman’s offer once again to join the Justice League Dark, stating once again that his passion was for engineering and nothing more. Damian had walked towards him just moments later, finally working up the nerve to talk to the ghost once again. 

“Why do you need turning him down?” He asked, tilting his head to the side in curiosity. “Would you not like to use your powers to be a hero?”

Phantom had just smiled and shook his head. “Nope,” he said simply as he fasted the work belt to his waist. “Why would I do something that doesn’t make me happy?”

“For the safety of others? It is a duty, an obligation-”

“No, it isn’t,” Phantom told him. “It may be that for you, but it isn’t for me. I spent three long years trying to keep my hometown safe and I was very good at it until one day I realized it didn’t make me happy. There were others in the area who genuinely enjoyed being a hero so I let them take over. Then with all that extra time I graduated early, got my bachelor’s in engineering and now I’m working on the Watchtower as the head engineer while I get my masters. This is it for me, Redbird, it’s what makes me happy.”

Damian frowned. “But don’t you feel as though that is a waste?” He asked, trying to understand the man’s logic. 

Phantom shook his head. “Not at all. I’ve got a lot on my plate, you know? I’m the Ghost King for one, which thankfully isn’t a whole lot of work now that I’ve got a council that pretty much runs everything. I’m mostly just a figure head nowadays. And I’m just plain old Danny Phantom, the head engineer of the Justice League’s homebase. If they need me to consult with their Dark team or need my help, I’ll offer it. But I won’t go out of my way for it,” he explained. “It doesn’t bring me joy, I don’t feel a sense of pride saving the world or helping others. I just feel tired. And that’s okay.”

“I do not think I understand,” Damian said slowly. This was not something he had ever thought of. His entire life had been planned for him. First he was the heir to the Demon’s Head and then he was the heir to Batman, the only blood son. Expected to take on the mantle of Robin and fight side by side with Batman to keep the forces of evil at bay. 

And now Danny was telling him that he didn’t have to do that if it did not make him happy?

When I see the way you look, shaken by how long it took. I could do about anything. 

“Danny,” Damian said softly, turning over to face his beloved. He searched those beautiful blue eyes and let out a breath. “I do not think being RedBird brings me joy anymore.”

Danny just gave him a small smile. “That’s okay,” he whispered. “You’ve been kicking ass for ten years, that’s a long time to devote yourself to others.”

“Will you help me?” Damian asked, twining their fingers together. “Will you help me find what sparks joy for me?”

The smile Danny gave him was dazzling. “Of course, Polaris. I would be honored to help you,” he whispered. 

I could even learn how to love like you. 

Love like you.��

Love me like you. 

I hope you all enjoyed! If you want to read more of my work check out my AO3

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[ivystoryweaver]

Spectre

A Moon Knight Halloween Love Story

Event #10: A Quiet Place

prev | Fic Masterlist | My Masterlist

Summary: You and Steven get a few more answers before he takes you home and shows you how much he's missed you.

Pairing this chapter: Steven Grant x f!reader

A/n: I know I promised Jake, but I switched the order of 2 chapters, and I promise you'll like this one!

Word count: 2.1k

Content: exposition again, domestic fluff, steven gets to shine, fingering, p in v, bit of language, not beta'd

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

PREVIOUSLY on Spectre…

"Ms. Marjorie, why does she look the same? What happened to her body?”

"When I cast the spell on her," Ms. Marjorie explained, leaning forward on her elbows, "It's like I froze time for her. She is exactly the same as the night she died, except no longer in her old body."

She turned to you, smiling softly. “Their love essentially made you…materialize, just as they perceived you to be. I really don't know a better way to explain it."

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

“Let me get this straight,” Steven said. “This shop completely vanished, o-or I was hallucinating. What is actually going on here?”

"As I said, it’s Halloween," Ms. Marjorie explained. "Not a holiday you’d associate very closely with love, I suppose, but - you see - love is the most powerful magic in the world.

“Your lovely partner here wasn’t haunting you, as you’ve told me Mr. Spector feared,” she went on. “She was simply suspended between the world of the living and the dead."

“Then, why were you pretending to work here?” Steven inquired, gesturing around him animatedly. “What even is this place?”

“My shop," she simply replied.

"But...it disappeared," Steven argued. "When I needed answers most, it wasn't here."

"Ah yes," Ms. Marjorie smiled warmly. "When you needed answers most," she nodded your way, "you found her. When you were ready." She shrugged, beginning to tidy up the tea cups and saucers. "The rest was all a bit of witchcraft, nothing more."

You pondered your words for a moment before smiling fondly. "Thank you, Ms. Marjorie, for everything. You and Steven - both of you saved my life.”

"I fudged a spell that was meant to save your life, but if it turned out well in the end, then I suppose I did some good and for that, I am grateful," she chuckled.

"And we are grateful as well," Steven chimed. "Thank you for helping me, and for your kindness, but I do believe I may need to ask you one more favor."

"What is that, Steven?"

Steven took a deep breath. “The man who killed my partner. Do you know anything about him? Did you see anything else?”

“Nothing that will be of much help, I’m afraid. not that night anyway. But something mystical is at work here. Your grandmother called out to me because she sensed your danger from beyond. She’s connected to all this somehow.

"But enough time spent with an old lady. Go on and enjoy yourselves," Ms. Marjorie instructed, gazing at you pointedly. "Enjoy life."

"Thank you again." You stood, giving the older woman a warm embrace. "You’re an angel to me."

"Oh I doubt that," Ms. Marjorie chuckled. "But happy to help."

Golden-hued trees, late autumn sunshine and the changes that had infiltrated in your hometown over the last few months took your breath away as you passed them by.

Steven glanced over at you worriedly, reaching for your hand.

"This is all so unbelievable," you uttered, awestruck. "It's like I'm in some other universe. It's magical. But it's a lot."

“I can’t believe it either. We should get you some things from the drug store, but someone might see you. Maybe I should take you home first, and come back,” Steven suggested.

“No. No, I don’t want to be alone. I’ll just come with you,” you quickly protested, your racing heart reminding you just how alive you really were.

By the time you gathered some necessities and checked out at the drug store, Steven noticed you seemed a bit glassy eyed and short of breath.

"Let's go home, love," he said softly. "I've got you."

Back in your kitchen, you eased down on a chair, watching Steven carefully as he unloaded the bags from the store and put on the kettle.

"We'll order you some things online. Some clothes - whatever you want."

He watched you for a response, but you hadn't said much since you walked into the drugstore earlier.

Kneeling down in front of you, he reached for your hand. "Darling, I know this is all...impossible. But I'm here."

You nodded, mutely.

A line of concern creased his forehead as he chewed on the corner of his lip. But he was determined to take care of you. A few moments later, he set your favorite tea in front of you, despite the fact that you drank some with Ms. Marjorie.

The tea comforted you almost as much as when Steven brought Jeremiah to sit on the table beside you.

"I'm sorry," you finally uttered, tracing your finger over the cool glass of the fish bowl. "It...I think it feels too good to be true, it can't be true. It can't be."

"That's the way I've always felt about you, love," he sweetly returned, warm, earthy eyes locking with yours. "An absolute wonder, you are."

"Steven..." you whispered, your heart - your entire body so full of love an awe. "I think my head might explode if I think about this any harder," you confessed.

Steven brilliantly distracted you for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. He put on the most mundane documentary - just enough to hold your slight interest but keep everything calm.

Then he got the laptop and helped you pick out some basic clothes from your favorite store. They would arrive tomorrow because he paid for expedited shipping.

When your mind would start to wander, he would take the laptop and pull you close, even kiss you deeply. Once the documentary ended, he read to you for a little while.

The people on your street and the surrounding ones knew you had passed away, so not too many trick-or-treaters rang the doorbell, hoping not to disturb Mr. Spector, but Steven was prepared with a couple of bags of candy from the drugstore. You stayed out of sight as to not give the young ones a real fright.

The next time the doorball rang, it was for a dinner delivery, which somehow seemed like the most delicious thing you'd ever eaten. Before long, you grew sleepy, simply because existing was so damn draining. At least today.

You felt a little distant from Steven, not because there was anything wrong between the two of you, but because you hadn't spoken to him much all afternoon.

Still, he'd given you exactly what you'd needed. Just enough mental stimulation to keep your mind from wandering and getting overwhelmed. Just enough tenderness to make you feel special.

You ended the day feeling cherished, with a full belly. And you had clothes, shoes and other necessities on the way.

"I feel like I bored you to death on my first day alive," you finally joked after brushing your teeth.

"You know that could never be true," Steven refuted, wiping his mouth with a towel before pressing a kiss to your cheek.

"Thank you for today," you said seriously, wrapping your arms around his neck as you stared deeply into his eyes. "You're like a touchstone. I feel so safe with you."

"I would do anything to keep you safe," he whispered against your lips, taking them captive for a tender but sensual kiss, squeezing your hips possessively. "Come on, love, let's get you to bed."

"I slept a lot today. I really am boring," you joked.

"Oh we won't be sleeping," he cheekily returned, goosing your ribs which made you squeal.

Whatever slight distance you had felt with Steven evaporated once you were in bed, as he gathered you to the warmth of his chest and slotted his mouth against yours. Hungry hands gripped the t-shirt he'd slid over your head not ten minutes ago as he kissed you until you both needed air.

"Can't even say how much I've missed you," he murmured, pushing his fingertips over the curve of your back, easing your shirt upward. His thumbs grazed the sides of your breasts, underneath your arms, causing your breath to stutter.

"Tell me to stop and I will," he went on, sampling your lips one at a time, only pausing when pulling the shirt over your head interrupted you.

His eyes flickered down to your mouth, then your chest as he licked his lips. "Never thought I'd see you this way again."

You swallowed hard, your breath quickening under his hungry gaze.

"You alright, darling?" He smiled gently, brushing his hand across your collarbone. "Too much?"

"No," you breathed out - your fingers twisting through his curls as you pulled your bare chest flush against his cotton-covered one, sharing his breath as your body bloomed with desire. You tugged his hair a little too hard, desperate to somehow drag yourself closer still.

"Missed that," he moaned out, smiling against your cheek even as he rushed to get his own t-shirt off.

Your lips fused together again as the heat of his bare chest, the sweet warmth of his breath in your mouth - the soft seduction of his tongue tasting yours - and the possessive grip as he slid his hands once more up the curve of your back - set your body aflame with need.

Steven was clear that he wanted you, but still, he took his time - every nip of his teeth, soothed with the heat of his tongue. Every desperate grip eased into a seductive caress, and when his fingers finally slid between your legs - when he found the core of you hot and wet for him - he caressed you only once before pressing his forehead to yours.

"Let me make you mine again," he begged, fingertips twitching with the need to touch you - the thick outline of his bulge pressed hungrily against your bare thigh.

"Steven," you gasped, his possessive claim making you wild with desire. Your legs fell open as he coaxed you open, plunging his tongue in your mouth and two fingers deep inside you.

Your hungry moan spurred him on as he fingered you just the way you liked. Steven was all sweet seduction. It was fun to make him whimper, but he could really pull you apart when he wanted to.

But tonight wasn't about anything but cherishing you, here, alive.

So, as you worked him free of his pajama pants and stroked the velvet length of him, you found that you didn't want him to take his time. Not tonight. Just in case.

"Please, Steven," you sweetly begged him, tugging him seductively while grinding against his hand. "Need you inside."

He groaned at your touch, and your hunger to feel him, relieved that it wasn't too much for you. Soon enough, your remaining clothes were discarded and Steven climbed on top of you, caging you in with his surprisingly strong forearms. His biceps flexed deliciously as he held up his weight, positioning himself perfectly.

He knew your body as well as his own - better, maybe, since he shared his body. Without another thought, or a hand to guide him, he pushed inside you, tilting his hips exactly how he knew -

"Oh fuck Steven..." you gasped, your back arching off the bed.

Your partner knew how to please you, hitting that spot that only familiar lovers could find so easily - like the steps of a well-rehearsed dance.

"My beautiful girl," Steven breathed against your neck, between spine-tingling open-mouthed kisses laid seductively on your throat.

Slow, devastatingly deep thrusts made you whimper with both satisfaction and yearning.

"Stay here with me," he begged, hands touching you all over, finding a home on the curve of your hips as he worked himself in and out of you with fierce possessiveness. "Stay with me. Please stay..."

You whimpered his name, gripping the breadth of his shoulders as your bodies twisted, hot and wet and alive, faster and deeper until he spilled inside you only seconds after your body seized in absolute rapture, clenching him with your velvet warmth.

Steven kissed you messily, hungry and sated at the same time, hips slowing and finally stopping as his weight dropped down, caging you in. He quickly attempted to pull away, as to not crush you, but you slung your leg around his thighs and held him there.

"Stay," you echoed his plea from earlier. "Stay right here. Stay inside. I need you." You murmured plea tickled his ear, making him shiver with desire, even though he felt sated.

"Likely to crush you love." You felt him smile against your neck, his damp curls tickling your cheek. "But I'll stay right here as long as you want."

"Forever, Steven."

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

You jolted awake - your dreams vivid and intense once again. Cool air kissed your skin where you kicked off your comforter, finding yourself alone in bed, still naked after making love with Steven, but clean. He must have woken up and taken care of a few things.

"Steven?" You called out, sitting up, attempting to push down the anxiety stirring in the center of you. Maybe he was in the bathroom.

Drawing a cleansing breath, you tried to steady your breathing. Damn dreams.

"Steven?" You tried again, but before you could push yourself off the bed, you heard someone else.

"Cálmate, mi amor."

The smooth voice of your partner washed over you as you blinked, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

"J-Jake?"

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Moon Knight Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Follow @ivystoryupdates and turn on notifications to never miss an update

Join my tag list - for chaptered fics and one shots only

[hyper-pixels]

How to Grow Up

A guide on how to grow up. It was originally posted by @/friendliness but half the links were broken. So I took what links weren't broken and added other links and more things to know.

This is USA based resources

Personal

Reasons to Stay Alive – A Tumblr post of 116 reasons to stay alive by @/friendliness.

How to Get Better At Asking for Help – Website is Harvard Business Review. The article is “5 Ways to Get Better At Asking for Help” by Wayne Baker.

What to do if you Can’t Afford Therapy – Website is Psych Central and the article is by Steven Rowe.

How to Quit Smoking – “The 22 Best Ways to Quit Smoking” by Debra L. Gordon and David L. Katz M.D. from the Healthy Digest.

How to Legally Change your Name – Website is Forbes.

Wanna Learn Something New? – A Tumblr post made by @/hamletthedane with various new things to try from language learning to ballet.

Free Harvard Courses – Harvard University’s free online courses.

Getting a New Computer? – A quick and dirty comprehensive guide by WIRED on what to look for.

How to Sew – Website is Autodesk Indestructibles. The article is “How to Sew” by Jessyratfink. Having a small sewing kit (that you can pick up from nearly any craft store) is super handy and has saved my life and clothes.

What to Look For in Clothes – A YouTube video by Alyssa Beltempo titled “How to Identify High Quality vs. Poor Quality Clothing | Slow Fashion”. Here’s a WikiHow [x] if a YouTube video isn’t your style.

Home

What’s a mortgage? – Website is realtor.com and the page is called “What is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained” by Cathie Ericson.

First Apartment Checklist – A checklist PDF. Here’s another link to a Tumblr checklist [x] 

What to Ask Landlords Before Renting? – “25 Questions To Ask a Landlord When Renting a Home” by Morgen Henderson.

What’s Renter’s Insurance? – Website is Forbes Advisor. The article is by Jason Metz and titled “How to Get Renters Insurance”.

Plant Care – A master list of how to care for plants made by @/difficults

Job

Time Management – Website is Entrepenuer and has 10 time management tips. One I personally recommend is keeping a physical calendar book on hand. I keep mine in my bag with a designated pen.

Finding the right job – Website is The Muse and it has 13 free career assessment tests.

Make a resume – Website is Resume Now. Many hirers look at your name, the middle of the page (where your experience list is) and skim the rest.

Job Interview Tips – Website is Linkedin. The article is titled “10 Job Interview Tips to Land The Career of Your Dreams” by Caren Merrick.

How to Write a Cover Letter – Website is The Writing Center. University of Winsconsin, Madison. It’s titled “Writing Cover Letters” and I can’t find the author.

Money

Couponing! – Website is Coupon Database :: Southern Savers. It has a list of mobile apps for coupons to places.

Call 211 for Help – the website leads to 211.org. It's anonymous and can help you get connected to food programs, paying bills and things like doctor appointments. Here’s a Tumblr post about it [x] by @/poessionisamyth

Groceries! – This is a Tumblr meme post, but scrolling through tags/reblogs/replies and there’s plenty of good tips. The post is by @/charlotten

What To Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bills – Website is Nolo. The article is “When You Can’t Pay Your Bills: Thiings To Know” that was updated by Amy Loftsgordon. 

Are You Paying Too Much for Your Phone Bill? – An article by Beht Beverman titled “How Much is Too Much to Pay for a Cell Phone Bill?”.

54 Ways to Save Money – Website is America Saves.

How to Do Taxes – Website is Wiki-How.

The 70/20/10 Method – Website is Business Insider. The Article is “A Beginners Guide to the 70-20–10 Budgeting Method” by Paul Kim.

Side Hustle Ideas – Website is Forbes. “30 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2024” by Krista Fabregas.

Emergency

Your Rights When a Cop Pulls you Over – Website is Business Insider. Cops are allowed to lie to you, and they will, so be careful.

Hotline List – The website is DoSomething.org. Depression/Suicide, domestic abuse, child abuse and runaway/homeless/and at-risk youth hotlines.

What to Keep in Your Car – Website is MentalFloss. I live in a snowy area that gets blizzards and bad ice. I keep blankets, water and other aids in my car as well as a knife and road flare. I also own a self jumping car battery and it has saved my ass more than once. Heimlich Maneuver – A one minute video by the Mayo Clinic.

The Heimlich Maneuver on Yourself – A one minute video by The List Show TV.

What to Keep in Your Wallet – Website is PureWow. The article is by Rachel Bowie. Keep your drivers license, medical insurance card, and an emergency contact in your card. If you have a pet home alone make sure that you have a card detailing this. Free printable one here [x]

Traveling

Packing List – Website is Smarter Travel.

Traveling with Little to No Money – Website is Nomadic Matt.

How to Pack a Suitcase – Website is Real Simple. The article is by Thersa O’Rourke.

How to Apply for a Passport – Website is WikkiHow.

Making a Travel Budget – Website is Travel Made Simple. “How to Make a Travel Budget” by Ali Garland

[lovelylinnn]

title: please don’t call me pretty.

alt universe- ‘king’ steve harrington is pretty much not the king here.

CW: negative self-talk, slight mention of self harm, self esteem issues, mentions of bullying, mentions of child abuse, and restrictive eating.

‘pretty’ was a word steve would absolutely not use to describe himself.

in fact, he’d never been called pretty before. not once. he was called the opposite, quite often.

of course he knew he wasn’t great looking; wasn’t outstanding or worthy of mentioning, but he didn’t think he was so bad he needed to be made fun of for it.

no one does. but he was.

ugly was a word he heard every day in middle school, and then home wasn’t any better. fat was a common word there.

“cut your hair, ugly,” people would sneer in his face. shove him into lockers, corner him in the library, single him out in p.e.; anything they could do to get their hands on him, they would.

numerous times he showed up at his home with a black eye, marks on his face, cut lips, bruised ribs; limping his way home.

“maybe you should see a doctor about your weight, steven. lose some weight?”

“that shirt seems to be fitting too tight, doesn’t it, steven?”

“yes mother,” he would respond. and so he slowly began to work out more, began lying about eating at school and saying he ate a big lunch. skipping meals became a bad habit, but at least he was seeing results.

and after years and years of being told he was ugly, unattractive, fat; he kept believing it. he didn’t think he would ever stop since in the mirror it was all he saw.

now at eighteen, a senior in his second semester of high school, he still thought he was ugly even though he’d gotten notes slipped into his locker a few times. thought he was fat although his cheeks were sunken in, and his ribs could be seen. he was tall enough now that the bullying stopped. he was finally big enough to intimidate and to get people to back off.

so he kept to himself. he wasn’t being cornered in the library anymore, and it became a safe place for him to sit during his free time.

that is where he met his boyfriend, eddie. and eddie was the first one ever to call him attractive. to point out how he never ate. to ask about his days, his home life, his grades, his everything.

of course he liked it. but it felt too good to be true. how could a boy like eddie love someone like him? it didn’t make sense.

“you’re so pretty,” eddie murmured to him the first time he’d spent the night at his trailer. it was 11am on a saturday morning, and the boys had slept in late. steve laid in his arms and looked into his brown eyes then down to the soft smile on his lips. but he himself was not smiling.

getting a compliment for the first time ever felt off. it didn’t feel right. he didn’t deserve one. he was too big, took up too much space, his hair was too frizzy, his acne was too bad, he was too-

“steve?” he called softly. he pulled steve out of his thoughts.

“please don’t call me pretty.” and he slowly crawled out of his arms, laying down but facing away from him.

“i’m sorry, i didn’t mean to make you upset. i- what do-“ he was cut off.

“it’s not you, i don’t think,” he said, curling in a tight ball, “i’ve just never been called that before. it feels weird.” 

“you’ve never been called pretty? steve, you’re gorgeous,”

he was in disbelief. not only was he pretty, but he was gorgeous?

“what?” he sat up, turning to him.

“i think you’re like one of the prettiest people i’ve seen. you’re so beautiful, steve. inside and out,”

“but- what? i-i’m ugly. i need to lose weight. my scars-“

“-do not change how pretty you are. and you do not need to lose weight. you’re so skinny, honey. and you’re not ugly,”

“w-what?” he weakly stuttered out. he was shocked.

“you don’t believe me?”

“i… no,” he told him.

“i’m so sorry,” he said back, grabbing his hands and giving a gentle squeeze, “you deserve to be told nice things. i want to tell them to you,”

steve gave a squeeze back, his eyes filling with tears. this was the first time he was ever given a sincere apology.

“i love you,” steve said. and it was the first time he genuinely meant it.

“i love you too,” eddie replied. and steve finally believed something he was told. he was pulled into a hug, and he cried on his bare shoulder for about twenty minutes before calming down.

“i’m going to tell you nice things every day until you believe them, okay?”

he nodded. not like he could stop eddie from doing that, anyway.

“starting with this,” he said, cupping his cheeks, “you are so, so pretty.”

and for once in his life, he finally believed it.

steve harrington was pretty.

[saiikavon]

I may rewatch Steven Universe again. I’m thinking about it again and just how...important that show was.

I think about Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz a lot, and for a lot of reasons, but I am most often struck by the tragedy she wound up being. Not because she “died,” but because it wasn’t until she sacrificed her form to become part of Steven that she managed to free herself.

Here’s one of my favorite quotes from her: “ When a Gem is made, it's for a reason. They burst out of the ground already knowing what they're supposed to be, and then... that's what they are. Forever. But you, you're supposed to change. You're never the same even moment to moment -- you're allowed and expected to invent who you are. What an incredible power -- the ability to "grow up."

I need you to understand why I love this quote. Read it. Take it in. Understand that at its heart, it is completely false.

Yes, a Gem is made for a reason, and this is true as far as what was expected of Gems on Homeworld and the colonies. This is the rhetoric Pink has grown up hearing her entire life. But if it were an absolute truth, then the Pink Diamond that our Pearl knew would never have existed. If it were true, we wouldn’t have Garnet. If it were true, we wouldn’t have Amethyst. If it were true, Rose Quartz would not exist.

Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl all change their appearances each time they reform. Think about that. That’s them reinventing who they are. That’s them growing up. Changing.

Pink Diamond spent so long being forced into a shape she couldn’t stand, she couldn’t see herself changing. She couldn’t appreciate the changes happening around her, to the friends she made and protected.

So she released her form in the hopes that the new life she created would be able to change and grow the way she thought she, as a Gem, couldn’t.

In a lot of ways, Steven inherited Pink Diamond’s self-doubt and identity issues, and from the time he was beginning to come into his gem powers, he did not grow very much. It’s noted in “Steven’s Birthday” that he has not physically changed in a few years. As long as Steven holds onto the legacy of Rose Quartz and the conflicts her passing heaped upon him, he doesn’t actually grow or change very much at all.

But in Steven Universe Future, Steven has physically matured. What happened?

He embraced his gem.

Steven finally fulfilled what Rose wanted for him. He did the thing that she never found it in herself to do. He let go of who he was “supposed to be.” He stopped thinking that having that Gem meant he didn’t have a choice in who he was. Because the Gem had changed. And it had changed with him.

Do you understand how much this fucks me up on a regular basis??

[artist-issues]

I saw the steven universe post of yours and I am wondering about something.

Are you actually, honestly happy?

You seem very sure that happiness can only come from perfectly following your religion's teaching about what your god wants people to do. If that truly makes you happy every day I don't think anyone can convince you that it doesn't hold true for everyone else.

I’m joyful. Happiness is fleeting. It’s a good thing but it’s dependent on your circumstances. Joy isn’t. Joy is a posture of the heart that comes from knowing who I am and where I’m going, in Jesus Christ.

Joy doesn’t come from “perfectly following my religion’s teaching about what my god wants people to do.” It’s really important that you understand that.

It just comes from having a relationship with the One who made me and saved me. I fail to follow the Bible’s (not “my religion’s,” because when you say “your religion” you’re implying one man-made set of rules out of many I could’ve chosen from, and that’s not what the Bible is) teaching all the time. I fail to do what He wants every single day.

If I were just focused on following rules and making sure everyone else toes the line, too, I’d be miserable. There are worldviews like that. But the Biblical worldview isn’t one of them.

Ephesians says “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Not by works. I can’t measure up or follow all the rules or obey God perfectly; nobody can—except Jesus! That’s the point. When God looks at me and loves me, He does it because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. So anything I do that falls short? It’s covered. And I’m loved perfectly; God never loves me less, or bases His affection toward me on how good or bad I do day-to-day.

And in the meantime, He changes what I want, but by bit, so that I get back to who I was always meant to be; His creation, made for love. I love Him, and His people, more and more every day. I stop thinking so much about me. There’s all this freedom, because I don’t have to do any of it alone. And, I’m forgiven, and loved, and adopted, and no circumstance or person in the world can take that from me, ever.

That’s where joy comes from. Real joy, that is not dependent on anything that changes. Sometimes I still get unhappy. Sometimes I get trapped in a cycle of overthinking and anxiety and even depression—but it has not lasted, and it never can. Because the moment I reach out for help, He’s there, reminding me of who I am in Him, lifting my eyes up off of my circumstances or out of my dark thoughts, by helping me focus on Him.

A lot of people find this kind of “higher than my circumstances” emotion in “something bigger than themselves.” The difference is, mine is eternal, and it lasts, and it never gets corrupted. I’m talking about the God of the Bible and a relationship with Him, not the religious imperfect humans of religion. Human movements get corrupted, religious or secular. Human nations fall. Human families or lovers change and die. All those “something bigger than myself” sources for happiness eventually go away. Not a relationship with God.

So hopefully I’ve answered the spirit of your question. It might help you to know that in my reblogs to that post, I’ve mentioned that God let’s you choose. You can either choose to be His, and be what He made you to be, or you can insist that something else will make you happy and keep chasing that. He lets you do that. But in the end, nothing else except Him lasts. And by end, I mean, “THE end.” Life goes on past this. And if you end this life choosing to chase temporary things for happiness in sources outside of the God that invented Good and Happy, you’ll spend eternity outside of Good and Happy, because you chose to spend it without their Source.

So when I made that post, I made it because I believe that Rebecca Sugar made Steven Universe and infused what she thinks the God of the Bible is like into the character of White Diamond. But she has Him all wrong. I know Him, and He’s not like that, but I can see how someone who doesn’t know Him would come to those conclusions.

So it’s like if someone who barely knew your best friend made a vital skit on Instagram about your best friend…and it was all wrong. They slandered your best friend—and what’s worse, they did it because they never really understood your best friend, and don’t have a relationship with your best friend, and you know that if they did they not only wouldn’t have made the skit, but they would get the blessing of having a friend like your bestie.

I hope some of this has answered your question. Thank you for taking the time to send it, and maybe to read this long response.

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

Hi Fen!!! Popping in to ask what you think the moon boys’ hobbies would be (if they weren’t so busy moon knighting). (For Steven, I feel like studying ancient Egypt is more like a passion, so like what else do you think he’d be into?)

K. Love you! Byeeeee.

IDJIDHVDHFH Oh my gosh, I love this ask so much! Thank you so, so, SO much for sending it! ❤️(ILY!) Did I think about this at work for a good 1 and 30 mins instead of working on a spreadsheet? No, of course not, I would never do that… 👀

I have narrowed it down to one each to save everyone from seeing my absolute madness.

Moon Knight Boys Headcanons & Hobbies

Rating: PG  Masterlist | ao3 | want to be tagged?

Warnings: Swearing

Steven: Cooking

Okay, here me out. So, I’ve seen opposite ends of opinion on this one (both are valid) but I’m going with Steven is a very good cook, and he likes cooking. 

He’s been vegan for a while and it’s only in the last couple of years that food places have really been trying with vegan and vegetarian options that aren’t salad… bread… (chips if you’re lucky) So, I think he enjoys making lots of different recipes. 

It started out with him just making vegan ones and then, over time, became him changing other recipes to make them vegan and coming up with his own. 

Absolute master at vegan cakes, no one can ever tell the difference, and, in fact, a lot of people compliment him on ‘the best cake they’ve ever had’, ‘so light and fluffy? How do you do it?’ “Well, that’s the secret, innit?” (whisk the aquafaba like your life depends on it and sweet potato) 

Steven is absolutely horrified by the food Marc makes himself. (Plain chicken, rice, spinach) 

“Where are the flavours Marc? At least some herbs? Spices for fuck’s sake? I can’t believe you’re eating plain steamed chicken?” (He doesn’t even care that it’s meat, it's just the lack of flavour.)

“It’s boiled chicken actually.”

Steven loses his goddamn mind. 

“I don’t care what bloody macronutrient you are monitoring, you are not eating that.”

It’s not that Marc can’t cook, he just doesn’t see the reason to put the effort in when it’s just for himself (doesn’t feel like he deserves it.)

Steven grumbles to himself and refuses to let Marc cook his own dinner if he can help it. “If you’re going to eat meat, at least treat it with respect, yeah? Bring out the flavour?” He usually preps something for Marc, so he can cook it quickly when he’s hungry. 

Makes so many cakes and pastries for Jake. Leaves them in boxes with ‘Jake :)’ written on a post stick note on the top. Jake is always so touched and surprised when he does. They have taken to playing a little game where sometimes the food is vegan and sometimes it’s not and Jake has to guess. He’s more accurate than most people, but it still only averages around 70% right. (69% if we’re being exact, and Marc is sure Jake’s messing with the correct statistics on purpose.)

Marc: Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Football

Literally takes it so seriously. Has spreadsheets filled with information and pours over every single statistic like it holds the answers to the universe. It only got more intense when he found a forum for people with the same interest and he literally will spend hours talking online about it.

“It’s not about getting the best players, it’s about making the best team.”

Jake has joked that he puts Steven and his love for history to shame and if those spreadsheets weren’t saved on the computer Marc would have boxes and boxes and folders upon folders of printed out info and then there would be zero space in the flat. 

When Marc annoys Steven, Steven tells him to “go play with your pretend american cricket and american rugby” to piss him off. 

(Marc retaliates by incorrectly pronouncing UK places. 

“Steven, maybe we should take a trip to Ed-in-b-row” 

“It’s Ed-in-bruh.” 

“How about Sus-SEX or Es-SEX?” 

“It’s Sus-SIX and Es-SIX.” 

“I do love Green-WITCH at this time of year.” 

“IT’S GREN-ITCH! Jake, you're from New York, how is Greenwich pronounced?” 

“I’m not getting involved.” 

“Ha! That’s because he agrees with me!”

When things get really heated, Marc threatens to make a cup of tea in the microwave. Steven says he doesn’t care because he makes coffee in the microwave all the time and it’s fine. Jake puts an end to it by saying hot chocolate tastes best with water and then laughing when both Marc and Steven gang up on him. 

“I cannot believe you think that mate.”

“You know how many different types of milk there are?”

“Absolutely disgusting.”

“Cow, goat, soya, almond, coconut, literally any of them instead.”)

Jake: Knitting

Wanted something to keep his hands busy, that he could pick up and put down, and that he could take in his cab when he was stationary and waiting for fares. 

Took to it a lot quicker than he thought it would, and can just zone out and knit. It helps keep him grounded. 

He feels like he has spent a lot of his time destroying and there is something so satisfying about being able to create. 

Once he mastered the stitch he quickly moved onto making clothes. Before Marc and Steven knew about him he used to knit jumpers for Steven and hide them in the wardrobe. 

Jake makes Marc a cartoony style baseball jumper that he also loves, and a thick cardigan for Steven that is covered in hieroglyphics (he spends months researching the language to get it to make some sense, and works in a dig at Khonshu in there and has Steven crying with laughter.) 

When they know about him Steven excitedly requests the “most garish and over the top Hanukkah jumper anyone has ever seen!” Jake does his best, presenting it to Steven (and trying to hide how nervous he feels) Steven loves it and refuses to take it off all winter. 

Most people think Jake has a stern glare when he wants, but you can never be sure if he’s planning your destruction or trying to work out how many balls of wool it would take to make someone your size a jumper.

____________________________________

Thank you for reading!

Taglist: @pleasurebuttonwrites @raven-rk @campingwiththecharmings @alexxavicry @mystinky-butt @cocodiem @oscarisaacsspit @welcometostayingawake @mbakubabe @solobagginses @melodygatesauthor @romanarose @pimosworld @jake-g-lockley

If you'd like to be taken off the tag list please let me know here

[folatefangirl]

On The Darkest Corner of the Heart

A comment on how Booktwt, Booklr, and Booktok media reactivity has lost the plot

Or, I think y'all need to log off and touch some grass and think about your actions for a hot minute. Note: This rant is a tad long, because I'm fucking pissed.

Disclaimer 1: I don't personally know the author of this book or anyone screenshotted in the drama. We aren't friends. I have no reason to either defend nor criticize these people, except for the fact that I've been a primary reader of self-pub and indie books for almost a decade now, and yes, including romances that some people don't consider worthy of civility. I'm also a queer healthcare worker.

Disclaimer 2: I don't want anyone mentioned/screenshotted here to be spammed with hate. Please do NOT contact them, including any authors mentioned. I included the primary actors for the current drama primarily so people don't claim I'm talking out of my ass.

Book blurb:

Forbidden. That's what they are to each other. Maddie Stevens has never felt good enough. Not good enough to keep her parents’ love. Not good enough to be independent and stop being her brother’s problem. Not good enough to build the future she wants. When she injures her ankle before a ballet audition that could change her career forever, she’s convinced her life is over at twenty-one. What’s the point of having dreams when they can go down the drain at any moment? And because the universe has a cruel sense of humor, her physical therapist turns out to be a tank-shaped grouch who doesn’t even seem to like her that much. It’s totally unfair that, for six weeks, she’s forced to look at that handsome beard and listen to that deep voice that makes her head all dizzy. Top that with the fact that he’s ten years her senior, and falling for James Simmons is a recipe for disaster. But when their forced proximity makes the lines start blurring, the forbidden temptation becomes impossible to resist.

The Timeline:

Events preceding 2023: Lisina Coney, author of The Darkest Corner of the Heart, was born in 1999 in northern Spain. She worked as a translator prior to publishing books.

Initially I thought these books were only self-published, but in fact are published under the formerly indie publisher Page & Vine, founded by romance novelist Meredith Wild.

January 27th, 2023: The Brightest Light of Sunshine is published by nearly 24-year-old Lisina Coney. On Goodreads, it currently sits at 3.87 stars as of today, February 10th, 2024, with 27,727 ratings and 3,592 reviews. Note: For a small-time author, especially for a debut novel, these numbers are huge.

May 2023, Page & Vine announced that Big 5 publisher Simon & Schuster would distribute their books as an imprint beginning in summer 2023.

In mid-to-late 2023, Lisina's website and socials announced The Darkest Corner of the Heart, her second novel to be published with Page & Vine on February 20th, 2024. Note: This means the events below occurred BEFORE the book's publication.

February 5th, 2024: anaborbareads on Twitter/X posts the cover and other art of Darkest Corner with the text, "a forbidden romance between ballerina and physical therapist???? pls i need this book now 🥺✨💗🫶🏻"

February 6th, 2024: h0mmelette on Twitter/X responds to anaborareads with "the booktok genre of forbidden romance is hilarious. theyre straight… whats forbidden"

February 6th, 2024: a tumblr user reposts the twitter thread from above to tumblr. Other tumblr users reblog and add on, and it quickly goes viral.

February 7th, 2024: From what I can tell via reverse image searching, the first iteration of the fake ARC page that's going around appears to be from Twitter/X user queef1ng. About 4 hours later, the same fake ARC page was reposted on the tumblr post mentioned above. And from here, this story takes a turn from people wanting to feel like they're above a romance novel writer to potential legal territory.

Of the 122 ratings on Goodreads for Darkest Corner to date, 9 appear to be 1-star reviews and from what I can tell, most/all of them were only published since the events began on 06Feb2024. 71 are 5-stars and while some of those are ARC readers, many newer ones appear to be trying to counteract the review bombing from the fake ARC page.

As of today, February 10th, 2024, it looks like the book will still be published on February 20th as planned, but we'll see.

Wait, so how do you know the page is fake?

I can't believe people have been so gullible but fine, here's my analysis:

Lisina's real ARC readers have stated that it isn't from the book (not gonna document all of them in the screenshots but you can easily go to the book's GR page and see the ARC reviews there).

As other folks pointed out on the tumblr repost, no real ARC page does a weird review watermark like that. Speaking from my own experience in reviewing ARCs or beta-reading, I agree.

The font tipped me off because it looked like it had literally been written on a Fanfiction.Net page. Not that Verdana, font size 10, is unique to FFN, but it looks like fanfiction typed font. Which brings me to:

Literally how could you believe this author writes like this? You can read her website or preview her first book or just have the bare minimum common sense to understand what satire looks like. If you don't believe me (because I know framing a post like this will put a lot of people on the defensive), I've also included screenshots below. The prose and dialogue are COMPLETELY different from the alleged screenshot. The only thing that is similar is that both characters are ballerinas.

But wait, all of this doesn't explain why YOU, Cinnia, are so pissed about this?

You're completely right! It really doesn't. All of the above is mostly documentation so the naysayers can't say I'm just some silly fangirl of the author.

The initial premise of the drama is that you can't have "forbidden love" in an m/f relationship. First of all, William Shakespeare would like to have a word with you regarding Romeo and Juliet. Second of all, yes you fucking can. See also: Religious and cultural differences and human history for a starting point. I know it may be hard to touch grass and look at media that is not tumblr queer media-centric and understand that people who are NOT you might enjoy it very much. Note that I'm a queer person saying this and I do read or watch m/f media at times because I don't like limiting myself. Go watch Bajirao Mastani and enjoy one of the most beautiful movies about forbidden love ever produced.

The book itself falls into the medical romance subgenre. For those not familiar, these are romances (usually m/f) that often involve a healthcare worker and their patient. In the real world, where people touch grass, a healthcare worker like me having a relationship with their patient is such a huge ethical violation that it will get you fired. In Darkest Corner, James is Maddie's physical therapist because she's a ballerina with a sports injury and he is treating her. Ergo, it is forbidden for them to get together and the initial premise for mocking this book is on very shaky ground.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the folks mocking it seem to very likely not be familiar with romance novels and their subgenres at all, or else they'd be well aware of the concept of straight romances marketed as a "forbidden romance" because they're fucking everywhere on any place that sells romance books. I have a personal collection of over 14,500 kindle ebooks. While not all of those are romances, a good chunk of them are, so I think I can count myself as a bit of a source here, you know?

The fake screenshot and social media drama has spread to at least Twitter, Tumblr, and BookTok, which all have huge reader hobbyists. For a small-time author barely past her debut novel's publication, allegations of this sort tied to your author name and book titles can last on the internet and in web searches for a long, long time, hurting an author's career. Maybe you're like "boohoo, who cares about their careers, I pirate all my fiction books anyway" and well, a post like this was probably never going to convince you of anything. I'm talking to the folks who might still have a sense of shame and self-reflection. Authors, even authors tied to a Big 5's imprint, earn peanuts. This sort of manufactured "scandal" is not ideal when the book is weeks away from being published. In fact, if the book has fewer sales than the first book in the series, Simon & Schuster may have legal grounds to go after the person who made the fake screenshot. A smarter person would have kept that to the groupchat or posted it as a clearly marked fanfic on AO3.

As a reader, this also sucks because when shit like this happens, the reviews of a book are permanently biased by both the bombers and the fans of the author, no matter how good or bad the book ends up being. Do I know if this book will be a 1-star or 5-star now, based on the reviews? Nope. Will I read it? No, because I don't read medical romances as it's a squick for me. But I may read her first book, which has mercifully escaped most of the social media nonsense.

This isn't the first time booktwt/booktok/booklr has engaged in a similar mob mentality towards books they don't like and I doubt it'll be the last. See Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao and the allegations that turned out to be false then, too. However, I would like to ask y'all to please check your sources and not blindly accept what someone says on social media as truth. Get used to doing the research because manufactured misinformation is everywhere, and it's not gonna get better. (And for fuck's sake, not everyone is gonna like the same books and fandoms you like! It's not illegal to enjoy reading different things!)

Screenshots/Evidence (click for better resolution):