#(i also think connie would appreciate this interest of his !!!)

[dreamties]

Sonny is into natural history !! It's something he reads books on and takes notes about his favorite discoveries in a journal jam-packed with all his interests. He spends hours at the library perusing the history section, and then gardening and herbology and science. There is no specific natural history section, though he thinks there should be. He knows at least a dozen books that would fit into that section. Perhaps he should volunteer or get a job there, he thinks. But natural history is a hobby to him, not a career. It's something he loves, will spend an hour telling Leland and Ana about it. He's always patient with Leland, who can be slow with verbal information sometimes (but perfect with written ideas, always) and just needs a breather between topics. Sonny is always willing to respect that. He slows down and he shows Leland the pictures in his books- if he has any on him. He lets him look at the highlighted sections of his journal, doesn't pay too much mind to the scribbles in the margins and the excessive flow of ideas unrelated to the topic. Leland loves how passionate he is about this. Loves how caring he is.

Leland loves his friend nearly as much as Sonny loves his passions, loves his books, loves learning about natural history.

(Sonny loves Leland more than all those things. Sonny loves him as more than a friend, but not more than his other friends.)

[neiptune]

aot boys x guilty pleasures

a/n: this is me being self indulgent and having a lil fun so forgive the shitposting but also feedback is always appreciated mwah

eren loves the shit out of nature documentaries you'll leave him alone one saturday night and you'll come back to find him sprawled on the couch watching life of mammals or some shit on netflix lmao you'd be on a date and he'd get suddenly excited enough to hit you with random facts like “btw did you know that the average blood pressure of a giraffe is around 300/190?” he'd literally barge in rooms with a “babe omg hummingbirds are like the only birds that can fly backwards” and you'd just be sitting on the toilet with a very unimpressed look but he's cute 12/10 would make a good park ranger or whatever

armin is lowkey obsessed with youtubers like he legitimaly sits down and watches hours on end of unboxing/reaction videos or travel vlogs jfc and it's always the dumb stuff ya know like person x unboxing the same phone in 10 different colors or person y reacting to drake's new single and THAT controversial lyric. it's exhausting really he'd be in bed at 3am still going through chrissy's 27 min travel vlog about some bali vacation gone wrong and don't even get me started on drama and internal feuds or breakups oh my god he has a whole playlist of breaking my silence videos on youtube to keep track of who's said what so he can pick the best side

you've introduced jean to the world of fandoms and fanfiction and at first he was all like nah that's too weird but now he has his own ao3 account and eats the weirdest most hilarious shit up, will also use acquired terms in the wrongest way like you'd be watching bridgerton together and he'd suddenly nod to himself with a OOOO TRIGGER WARNING THEY BOUT TO FUCK lmao he's obsessed tbh his twitter is filled with commentary on random chapters he's screenshot and that I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP titanic gif posted over and over again like no honey you will not we've moved past that 10 years ago

oh god connie is such a chronic playlist creator he'd have one for EVERYTHING and he genuinely spends hours selecting the perfect most appropriate songs and titles for each one, you best believe before you first started dating he's made one for you called “i like you idgaf about your boyfriend” which came with a weird ass mix of sweet stuff like just the way you are by bruno mars and cash shit by megan thee stallion lmaooo he's so random he thinks he's good at it too and you don't have the heart to tell him that “get down dirty bedroom sexy lapdance music” ain't a good title. it's kinda attractive that he's not a music snob tho like he'd be blasting country music classics while cooking, rap mixtapes when he's taking a shower or full on broadway showtunes when driving, he also has a cute voice that cracks on higher notes but it secretly turns you on how deep in the moment he is while screaming to defying gravity in the car

levi gets a weird kick out of serial killer documentaries or real footage of their interviews/trials, also listens to A LOT of true crime podcasts and TAKES NOTES about the most interesting cases to check if he'd be able to solve the unsolved ones and he'd always test you as well? you'd be reading a book in bed and he'd plop next to you with a dead serious look on his face asking shit like “would you help some random guy with a cast on his arm carry his bags?” 🤨 out of the blue like ?????? baby that's kinda weird can you not but it's really just him trying to flex his big big brain thank fuck he's not an actual cop he'd be insufferable (and way less hot)

to absolutely no one's surprise reiner's guilty pleasure has to do with you, the man's all about you (and hockey), you've asked him to take a bath with you once and now not a single motherfucking week goes by without him looking at you big big puppy eyes asking “bath???” most evenings after work. it doesn't even have to lead to anything he's just content basking in warm water and bubbles with you in his lap, he gets to massage shampoo into your scalp if you want to wash your hair and is now a pro at creating the perfect atmosphere with oils and dimmed lights and omg don't even get me started on candles, he's memorized your favorite scents and now also has his own preferences, catch him walking around a yankee candle store at least twice a month, girls working there ask this big scary grumpy guy if he needs help and he'd reply with the softest most polite & specific hi hello yes actually i need to stock up on sparkling cinnamon and snow globe wonderland tyvm

porco 100% checks his naked self out in the mirror lmaooo i know this shouldn't count as something people wouldn't believe he'd do but it's kinda a guilty pleasure i guess??? he finds putting clothes on a lil depressing and knows he's hot. sometimes you'd catch him doing that after showering and the man would be so fucking thirsty for compliments cause what is he supposed to do with muscles and abs and prominent biceps if you won't drool over them a little? he's annoying & also gets soooo whiny if you don't indulge him like :( do you not think your dashing boyfriend is cute :( while flexing, also always tries to convince you to take your clothes off as well for “inspection purposes” to which you simply flick his forehead lol whether you end up pressed against that very mirror 10 minutes later it's between you and him xoxo

[stickytrigger69]

Can I ask for idw Optimus finding out that before the war, his Connie (male pronouns if possible) was a… exotic dancer? And ah, much more?

IDW Optimus x Con Reader

Reader is a mech

Readers' frame type, height, paint job, etc, are vague

NSFW minors DNI!

A/N: I've been struggling 😭 I've recently moved states, and it's been interesting to adjust, to say the least. But I should be getting back to it soon. I luv you all, and I really appreciate everyone's patience 😘😘😘

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

He came home angry, and you wondered if it was Prowl again or if someone had stirred up trouble or if he was harassed for conjunxing an ex-decepticon again. Unfortunately, it was none of those things because as soon as the words, 'what's wrong?', came from your vocalizer he glared at you. Suddenly, larger than normal, he stared you down with such fire in his optics it made you want to hide.

"Don't you talk to me, understand. I don't want to hear a peep from you." He pointed accusationally at you before stomping to your shared room. "I need time to think, leave me alone." And that was that. You spent the remainder of the afternoon on the couch, still thinking about what you could have done to make him this angry. Admittedly, he scared you. Past memory has protected you before, and you were ready for it to do so again.

When the time came, you got up to make dinner for you and your lover. You placed his serving on the floor, knocked, then turned around and left back to the living room. If he wants his space fine, but you don't want him to starve, so you listen in, and only when you hear the door open and shut, do you start eating your portion. When you've finished, you set your dishes down and sit there. Sadness had begun to fill your chassis with every bite, guilt settled deep within your tanks.

Thoughts race endlessly through your processor while you sit there in deafening silence. The whoosh of the door opening actually startles you, but you make no effort to look at him. The sink runs, and his dishes clink and clang together before he turns it off. "Why didn't you tell me?" You're caught off gaurd, confused. "Why? Was it because you were scared or disgusted? Why didn't you tell me that you were... that you used to..." He trails off and slowly comes into the living room and looks down at you. "Do you have any clue what I'm talking about?" He pleads with his optics that you will say yes.

"I... I do. I know what you're talking about. And I'm sorry I never said anything." You make room for him and pat the empty seat, wanting him to sit. "I was an exotic dancer at first. It was harmless, I was paid handsomely to dance for grimy mechs and femmes alike from the safety of an impenetrable case, and believe me, many had tried to bust through." He just listens and looks at your face contort with emotion. "Just dancing, they told me, just dance for them, and that's all. You can live your dreams if you just wiggle your aft. I was smaller then; shorter and less clunky." You look down at the added armor. It's made you look more rough around the edges, and it comforts you, "I was also young and naive, and they told me they would protect me, that I could make so much more. Then I started letting them in. They could touch, feel, and taste what they couldn't before. I still danced, but afterward, I would handle them in the back. Or they would handle me, y'know?" You chuckle awkwardly.

"I might take this armor off, show you what my Primus given frame looks like. Megatron had Shockwave fit me this armor, I was uh, distracting the other 'Cons, starting trouble. He understood it wasn't on purpose. Every so often, it would get tight, and I'd have to upgrade, bigger, stronger, better. I think I can..." You tail off and try pulling at your wrist seams until you hear a small pop and hiss. "There it is." You pull it apart, and the seam stretches upwards along the side of your servo like a casing. A smaller servo on the inside, and you smile at the sight of your own servo. "Will you..?" You hold your arm out to him, and he takes it gently. After hours of work, he is finally able to pop the last case around your left tribulen open. Shockwave really didn't want it falling off. Some seams had to be heated and nearly melted to get the welds off.

"I feel so much lighter," you stretch yourself out, "I'll bet I'm faster now, too."

"All of its been a lie?" He asks solemnly, digits trace up and down your arm. Your real arm, he reminds himself.

"No. I never lied. I just..." He is curious, and thus, he pushes you onto the couch. His servos are now even larger, nearly engulfing your waist in just one. His digits start prodding. He loves you so much, thinks you are the most attractive mech he's ever seen, but he didn't know you could become even more attractive and it does something inside of him. No longer angry or betrayed, he feels invigorated instead, wanting to explore the real you and you can tell, teasing his arousal through his field.

"Is your spike still the same size, my dear? I'd like to find out." He stares deeply into your optics as your breath hitches. Your own arousal blooming underneath your panels.

"I was uh, going to tell you, but unff- I ahhh." You grunt and moan with every thrust, now in your berth, lover behind you on his knees.

"Just shut up and take it like a good little mech." Optimus holds your helm up with one servo to speak in your audial. His harsh tone makes you whimper and valve squeeze around him. He then holds your helm down by the back of your neck while the other servo holds your hip tightly. He's so much bigger than you that he easily engulfs your frame with his own, and it thrills you to no end. That, and the rough treatment, do wonders for you. It makes your processor swirl and frame activate every sensory input processor available to overwhelm and stimulate you. Oh, the power of his hips, the grip of his servos, and open vocalizer are enough to make you overload straight into hard reset.

"I had always wondered why, why, after every time we interfaced, you were still so tight? Such a small mech, small valve, should be stretched by my spike." You moan. "I also wondered why or how you had so much stamina. How you were so good at sucking spike. If you were just a natural or if you had practice with past lovers." He slams into you at a fast pace, smirking when you yelp. "But they weren't lovers, were they? No, they were consumers. Investors. Keeping you clean and healthy so they could use you up. As much as I don't like that thought, I can't change it, the past at least. Now, now no one will look at you like that anymore. Only me, no one can have you the way I can, the way I do." Possessiveness takes over him for a moment, and he flips you onto your back. He stares deeply into your optics while inching his spike into your tight, wet valve, and your spike bobs and dribbles prefluid onto your abdomen.

When your frames connect, his optics begin to roam down to your derma and then even further down. "Tell me, sweetspark, how did you get this mod? How much was it? How many 'clients' did you have to take for it, or did one of them gift you with the mod? Did they lavish you with oils and treats? Or were you just a back alley buy mech who got lucky?" He asks crudely while his thumb rubs your anterior node in circles.

"Optimus." You bashfully turn your helm to the side to look away from him. His words are harsh but very much near the truth, and that's what's embarrassing you so.

"Don't you look away from me." He grabs your face and forces you to look at him. "I'm sorry, it got to my head." He leans down and kisses you lovingly, still pumping in and out of you. "There's just something about how dirty you were. So forbidden and delicious." He pulls out suddenly. In one swift motion, he lifts you up and lays down, placing you on top of him. "Show me, do for me what you did for them." He rubs his servos up and down your sides softly. You stare down at him, venting heavily.

"I need access to your valve if that's what you want." He hums curiously but complies, a low 'shhk' sound alerts you of his exposed valve. He waits patiently and watches you slink down. "I'm going to have to dance for you some other time too." You smirk before rubbing your valve against his. Anterior nodes bumping against each other while you take his spike in your servo. Your slick coats his valve opening heavily, making him groan at the feeling your fluids mixing.

"That's nice darling, but..." He goes quiet. His node, it feels. "What is happening?" You chuckle and lean over him, spike still in your servo, but your other travels down between you both.

"Oh my love, there are bits and pieces of me that I've been wanting to share with you." Two of your digits push into his valve. When you pull them out, you put them into yourself to gather more of your own lubricant and push them back into him. "I've also wondered how you would react to this feeling." The feeling on his node travels deep into him. It spreads like wildfire up inside him. It's like a cold wave that makes his servos ball up into fists.

"Not only did certain mechs and femmes get to have me completely, I danced for them. I showed myself off in a glass case. Taunted them with what they couldn't have." You curl your digits inside him and brush against his interior node, making him shiver. And, as if it were a system error, a few seconds after you touched his node, a small burst of electricity pulses from his node in small waves, making him cry out. And without warning, you thrust your spike into his valve and start stroking his roughly.

You pound into his sensitive valve and stroke his spike simultaneously to make him a moaning mess beneath you. "It's not too much, is it my love?" You ask sweetly and he shakes his head.

"More!" He cries, bucking his hips. With a smirk, you thrust harder. Sacrificing speed for force knowing that the effects will last longer and be stronger. He has melted, gone completely limp beneath you. His optics flicker and his field is charged to the brim. You swear you can taste it, the thick nectar of his lust dripping from his core. Suddenly, he takes hold of your shoulders and sits up. He has you confused for a few moments until he starts riding you. Now, on his knees, he bounces in your lap.

You feel your faceplate heat up even more, his actions flattering you, but what makes this moment even sweeter is the way he's looking at you. No one has looked at you this way. You know it's different from the usual looks youd get, but you're not so sure what's different about it.

"Optimus, I still have trouble believing you're actually serious about this relationship of yours. Even after you've learned everything about him and his past. I mean, it was bad enough that he's an ex decepticon, but it's another that he's..." Suddenly, a large servo can be seen over the red and blue mechs shoulder.

"Don't you finish that sentence. I know you don't 'approve' of it, Prowl. But he's my conjunx, and that was his past, not his present, nor his future. And I do believe it has shaped him," Prowl makes a suggestive motion with his servos as Optimus 'monologues' as he likes calling it, "into the mech he is today." Optimus turns around to face the shorter officer who just stares at him.

"Not only personality wise, I'm sure." Prowl rolls his optics. The comment leaves a sour taste in the primes mouth. "But you're right, he's your conjunx, it's really none of my business. I suppose it's just the fact that it's not very professional. For a mech of your status, I'd expect a high-grade conjunx. You've had many suitors, and all of which at least knew what fine arts are. Besides, he's just a trophy wife, as the humans would say." Optimus chuckles and shakes his head. Oh, how wrong is Prowl's statement. You are very intelligent and creative, and you're more than just some trophy wife.

[queenshelby]

Yes! Mr Murphy (Rewritten)

PART 21: THE HEARTBREAK

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Warning: Lots of Angst, Age Gap, Teacher x Student

Minutes later...

“Twenty-three?” Cillian chuckled, thinking that, clearly, the DJ got it wrong but when your heart skipped a beat and you literally turned red in the face, he realised that something was wrong.

Emma too looked like she had seen a ghost and, as tears began to form in the corners of your eyes, Cillian pulled his hand away from yours.

“Y/N?” he asked in disbelieve while all eyes were on you, in these included Kit’s.

“It is true. I am sorry” you said with great emotion in your voice, causing even Dermont’s and Connie’s chin to drop.

“I don’t understand…” Cillian began to say, stammering, as he was lost for words before standing up and asking you to follow him.

“Can we talk somewhere please?” he asked and, of course, you nodded before standing up as well and following him outside to one of the more secluded smoking areas which is ultimately where he confronted you about your lie.

“So?” he asked and, by this point, you could tell that Cillian was upset,

“I am so sorry” you told him just as tears tumbled down your eyes while Cillian was shaking his head.

“You are sorry?” he asked angrily before taking in a deep breath, watching you nod. “You know how bad this looks. You didn’t just lie to me, but to my friends too. Why?” he wanted to know and you tried to explain your reasons.

“The night we met, at the pub downtown, I could tell that you were much older than me and I figured that, if I told you my real age, you wouldn’t have taken any interest in me” you said and, of course, Cillian knew that there was some truth to it. He would not have considered taking you home that night if he knew that you were only just half his age.

“So just fucking lied?” Cillian asked nonetheless, causing you to nod reluctantly.

“Yes, I thought that it is just going to be a one-night stand and that I would never see you again after that. So, I lied. Emma knew and it was nothing but a white lie at the time” you told him, trying to justify your actions, but Cillian did not take well to your justification.

“And you never even bothered telling me the truth even after I told you that I was in love with you?” he asked in disbelieve. He was hurt and confused and you knew that this may likely lead to a break up.

“I didn’t know how to” you tried to reason but Cillian was so angry that he simply shook his head and cursed.

“Fuck!” he spat while tears continued to tumble down your cheeks and you tried to reach for his hands, which was something he would not allow.

“Cillian, it’s not going to change anything” you told him after he pushed your hand away from his.

“You are half my age Y/N! It changes everything!” he argued a little too loudly before tuning it down again.

“How so?” you asked, seeing that your difference in age did not really mean anything to you, so why should it mean anything to him?

“How so?” he asked angrily before giving you an explanation. “Well, for starters it will impact my career and it will also impact my family. Despite, how am I meant to trust you after this?” Cillian reasoned and you knew that the writing was on the wall for your relationship then and there.

“So, you want to end it then?” you thus asked and he pretty much nodded immediately.

“Yes” he said with some frustration before sighing deeply, with the intention to walk away from you and leaving stand there alone.

“Cillian, you said that you love me. That has to mean something to you, right?” you tried to reason with him but, again, he shook his head.

“Yeah, but apparently it doesn’t to you because you just made up a big fucking lie, didn’t you?” Cillian said without any emotion on his face before telling you that he did not want to see you again any time soon.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you” you cried in response as, by this point, you were an emotional wreck.

“Well, I appreciate that, but you did and I am through with us. I am going through a divorce and I don’t need this kind of crap right now Y/N, so I suggest that you find someone your own age who matches your level of maturity, because making up something like this is really fucked up” Cillian spat before cursing again and then, finally, walking off and leaving you standing there on your own.

***

Just as Cillian barged into the bar again, featuring some rather teary eyes, he ran into Kit who could see the look on his face. He was distraught and she knew that her plan had been successful as you did not accompany him back inside.

“Everything alright?” she asked Cillian nonetheless who nodded reluctantly.

“I am fine” he then sighed but Kit could tell that he was not, thus she offered him a drink which, in the end, was an offer he declined.

“Thanks Kit, but I just need to get out of here” he told her before approaching Dermont and Connie again, telling them both that he was heading home in order to get some rest.

“Where is Y/N?” Emma asked as soon as Cillian reappeared without you in tow and now all eyes were on him.

“I don’t know and I don’t care Emma, but it was good to see you again” Cillian said, trying to sound polite but Emma saw right through him. He was stricken with anger and it was obvious to her that he had, indeed, ended it which she knew would break your heart.

“You men are all the fucking same! Jesus!” Emma thus cursed before grabbing your belongings and storming off in order to find you which, after about ten minutes, she did.

You were still in the smoking area and had found someone to hand you a cigarette which you now smoked in the quietest corner of the establishment. Tears were still tumbling down your cheeks and a heavy sense of sadness was visible on your blotchy face.

“He isn’t worth it” Emma said as soon as she approached you but you simply sighed, knowing very well that it was you who had screwed up.

“No one ever is” you acknowledged nonetheless before allowing Emma to take you home which is where you spent the next two days, avoiding drama school at all cost.

For some reason, even after such a short amount of time, you were saddened by your break up from Cillian. You cried yourself to sleep until your throat and eyes hurt.

Your mind raced, thinking about what could have been if you had not lied to him and just as you thought about the endless possibilities, you were overwhelmed by so many different emotions.

You also could not help wishing that you could go back to last week and leave everything as it was, which is when you had told each other that you were in love.

At some point, you believed that, unlike James, Cillian truly cared about you but now, you were not so sure anymore whether what he felt for you was love or something else.

“Could he have loved you and then leave you simply because of your age?” was what Emma had questioned you on several occasions now and, in your mind, the answer to this question was probably ‘no’…

He was going through a divorce and maybe he was just confused. Maybe he was right and you were, in fact too young for him or maybe he was simply being a full, like all other men you have met thus far.

In any event, you had to adjust quickly to squashing your feelings and getting on with your studies which was something you were not looking forward to.

You called in sick twice by now and knew that you could not avoid drama school or work for much longer and, when Emma pushed you out of bed on Friday morning and told you to make your way to school, you reluctantly agreed.

You dreaded seeing Cillian there and, to make matters even worse for you, you knew that you had two private lessons scheduled with his daughter Nina, today and tomorrow respectively, both of which were on Cillian’s days as, the day before your birthday, the courts had finally given him shared care for his children.

When you arrived at school, however, you were surprised to see someone else in his place. It was a man named Enda Walsh and you had already heard a lot about him. He was Cillian’s friend and a rather famous playwriter in the UK and Ireland.

According to Lorraine, Enda had taken over the class earlier in the week as, on Wednesday morning, Cillian resigned from his position as lecturer. He claimed that he was simply too busy to run this class and engaged his friend Enda instead which, at least to you, came as a relief.

To the rest of the class, including Lorraine, however, this was disappointing and all you heard about that day were the rumours about Cillian’s real reasons for resigning.

Lorraine was of the view that he was finally commencing production for the Peaky Blinders’ movie while two of the other girls in your class thought that, maybe, he wanted to spend more time with Florence Pugh, who had been rumoured to be his girlfriend.

But then, there was also James who, surprisingly, had returned to school the day before, after his suspension had been lifted and his lawyers made you drop the apprehensive violence order following a written apology from him.

James was of the believe that there is another reason behind Cillian’s resignation and shared this same view with you, although he was clearly barking at the wrong tree.

“I think he had something with one of the students and that is why he resigned” James told you privately, causing you to almost choke on your lunch.

“What makes you say that?” you asked somewhat surprised. There was no way he knew you thought and, since that this was the first time that day you engaged in a conversation with him, he became rather excited.

“Wow, Y/N, I knew you would talk to me if I was to engage in a little gossip” he said almost sarcastically, causing you to roll your eyes. After all, you still hated his guts after what he did to you by sharing those nude pictures. But, the last thing you wanted was for him to make matters even worse for you, so you needed to know what he knew.

“Just tell me what you know, would you?” you thus asked, causing him to chuckle.

“I know that you have been to his house a few times in the past few weeks. The rest is just a wild guess and, going by your reaction, I think that I was spot on, wasn’t I?” James told you and, since your chin dropped and you seemingly appeared rather worried in front of him, he knew that he may catch a lucky break after all.

“No, you are an idiot, James. I am coaching his daughter in ballet. That is all” you told him nonetheless, putting on your poker face and, even though you were a fantastic actress, he saw right through you.

“At night?” he thus asked, chuckling some more. “I mean sure, if you say so…” he then teased and you knew that you had been caught out. He must have followed you and that was not very surprising to you either, seeing that he had a habit of stalking.  

“What do you want?” you thus asked in a panic and James quickly made his demand.

“I want you to withdraw the complaint you made against me to the principal” he told you, but you shook your head as this was nonsensical to you.

“You are here. Your father obviously made a generous donation to the school, so what else do you want? You get to finish the course, even after all you put me through” you explained.

“What I want is for this kind of shit to disappear from my school record” James said in response, knowing very well that an incident like the one reported would have a negative impact on his career prospects if his employer were to request his school records from the school.

“I never lodged a report. Cillian did” you told him, seeing that this was out of your hands.

“I know and this is why it is not getting removed from my record for this semester even though my father had begged the Dean to do so. The school wants Cillian’s endorsement and I need you to get him to withdraw his report” James demanded and since you were no longer with Cillian, you knew that this would become an issue.

“I will try, okay?” you said nonetheless before, in your mind, thinking about arranging a meeting with the principal yourself. Since you were the victim in all of this, perhaps the principal would listen and strike off Cillian’s report.

“Good. I will give you three weeks before I give the Irish Times a call. You know my mother works there, right?” James then threatened and you sighed in disbelieve.

“I do remember how influential your parents are and this is why you get away with so much shit! Hopefully one day you learn how to stand on your own two feet though” you lectured your ex-boyfriend who could not help but laugh at your comment.

“Says the student who hooks up with our famous lecturer. That’s rich” he teased, which is when you had enough.

“Fuck you James” you thus cursed before everything just became too much for you.

You felt as though you could not catch a break and, just as you thought about heading to the Dean’s office, you were overcome by a heavy bound of nausea.

Then, a feeling of heat rushed to your head and you started to feel uncomfortably warm everywhere. Your mind became dizzy and your vision turned blurry, making you want to throw up which, in the end, you did, saying goodbye to your peanut butter toast.

“For fuck sake. Why is my life so complicated?” you asked yourself with your head above the toilet bowl, not knowing that this was only the beginning of several turbulent months ahead.

Please comment your predictions!

[sea-you-in-paradise]

♡  a o t   l o v e   l a n g u a g e s  ♡

summary: attack on titan characters’ love languages  word count: 2.217 setting: any! (canonverse, modern au, etc) features: armin, connie, eren, hange, jean, levi, mikasa, reiner, & sasha genderneutral!reader warnings: none

a r m i n 

expresses his love through quality time. armin goes through life feeling like there are never enough hours in the day. he just has so much stuff to get done that tasks get pushed off because he overbooks himself. since his time is so valuable, blocking out time for you and planning how you should spend it is not something that he takes lightly. this doesn’t mean that every date is extravagant, he just wants to show you how important you are to him. he does his best to put effort into thinking of something you could enjoy together, even if it’s just reading in near silence. always shows up. you are a top priority.

armin needs words of affirmation to feel loved. he has a hard time believing that he is deserving of good things, armin really appreciates reassurance. hearing you, someone he has so much admiration and care for, insist that he matters reminds him that maybe, he is worthy afterall. tell him how lucky you are to have him in your life. armin is one of a kind and should be appreciated for it. “simple” affirmations are important too; “that sweater looks great on you,” “i missed you today,” etc. remind him that he is so, so loveable.

*bonus* - armin could tear up at an act of service from a friend. he is always willing to help with whatever you need, even if deep down, he doesn’t really feel like it. like i said, he always shows up. the moment you show up for him without him needing to ask is the moment he feels important. you could literally just pay attention to how much he is working/studying and making tea accordingly. he’ll never forget about it. 

c o n n i e

is all about gift giving. but not because he spends all his time/money on it. he just finds shit that he thinks you would like and gives it to you. expect to acquire a (genuinely interesting) rock collection. he would have specific reasoning as to why he picks each one, like if they’re shiny or heart-shaped. 100% picks wildflowers for you whenever he sees one. if he gets bored and there’s paper nearby, he’ll make “origami” (he can make the basic swan and then everything else is up to interpretation). also buys some smaller items when he’s just out and about, but he goes all out on important occasions. rarely gets you food despite buying it for sasha though. 

connie wants to hear words of affirmation. tell this man every single positive thought you’ve ever had about him. this might cause him to make some jokes at your expense, like teasing you for being “all obsessed” with him, but hearing such thoughtful things coming out of your mouth gives him the much needed reminder that people care about him. you care about him. there’s a reason he makes so many jokes, and it is not (just) because he is a funny guy.

*bonus* - connie likes having physical touch in his friendships. he just wants to platonically hold hands on walks with his friends (Jean has slapped his hand away more than once). he wants greeting and goodbye hugs whenever you have plans to hang out. expect him to give you hair ruffles/head pats and playful shoulder punches. he wants you to take turns giving each other hand massages. he’s also down if you ever need a piggyback ride, but keep in mind that he’s expecting one in return.

e r e n

is a quality time guy. eren is a fan of deep conversations. can these get depressing sometimes? yes. is that one of his favorite things about them? also yes. if you can handle that shit, then he knows you’re the one for him. he is a small talk hater, and if you’re taking the time to understand his deepest, darkest thoughts and let him in on yours without making light of it, he’ll feel very connected to you. of course, no one can keep that up all the time and while he isn’t a fan of small talk, he likes really bizarre hypotheticals, comfortable silence, and head scratches.

eren is so grateful when you lend him a hand. this man is by no means lazy, but he is 110% a procrastinator when it comes to any practical facet of his life. he’ll be so focused on doing his tasks for work that his home is just a total wreck and it never seems to get better on its own. to be frank, he would not notice if you helped him with a little bit of everything. but if you helped him with one specific task, like doing his dishes or making him a grocery list, he would be elated. of course, he would never use the word “elated” or allow his face to show that emotion, but it would relieve a lot of his stress when he gets home. please remind him that every task is an accomplishment, no matter how small. 

h a n g e

is dying to get their hands on you. take that any way you want. scientifically, romantically... very romantically. there’s lots to experiment with. all jokes aside, hange is a physically affectionate person with most people (probably more so if she wasn’t friends with levi and erwin, the least physically affectionate duo ;-;), but mostly in a proximity sense. like, they’re the kind of person who comes to sit beside you on the sofa and their thigh is basically on top of yours they’re so close. they also get closer when they talk to you, like if you back up, you will end up walking backwards to the other side of the room by the end of the convo. but in a relationship, hange is three times more intense. expect them to actually sit on you when you’re on the couch. hugs when they’re super excited, forehead kisses when they’re sleepy, shoulder rubs after long days. if you’re sitting in a chair, they’ll come up behind you and wrap their arms around you

hange loves that you spend time listening to them. to have a successful relationship with hange, the key is paying attention. they have a lot to talk about and they need someone who will not only listen, but expand upon what they’re saying. if you demonstrate even an ounce of critical thinking on one of the subjects of their interest, expect hange to be visibly excited. they will shake you by the shoulders with excitement before taking your face in their hands and calling you smart and looking in your eyes, and- well, the rest is up to you.

j e a n

jean wants to spoil you. he thinks you deserve nice things and he wants to be the one to provide them. as someone who has always yearned for a taste of luxury, he feels that the best way to show his love is sharing that taste. he wants to take you to fancy dinners, buy you flowers every time you’re feeling down, and take you shopping (he totally loves it when you try on outfits for him. he gets all blushy, but plays it “cool” ofc). and if he’s really in his feels, he might even draw a little something for you. pretty please put it in a special place in your home.

jean feels closest to you when you’re touching. he feels like there’s nothing quite as intimate as being physically close to someone (hence why he’s quick to slap connie for trying to initiate platonic hand holding). knowing that you want him close to you, so close that you have to touch him, makes jean feel important. he seeks comfort in your hugs and kisses, knowing they provide a level of safety and compassion he can only get from being near you. there’s something very exclusive about it for him.

l e v i

loves through acts of service. his acts are often masked by what some (levi included) might deem as “ulterior motives.” for example, washing/ironing your clothes because he didn’t feel like having dirty/wrinkled clothes around. mostly cleaning service tasks: something like brushing the dirt off the soles of your shoes or organizing your drawers (says he has a thing about privacy, until it comes to cleaning). he assumes that you’ve never had any organizational system in the first place. he will not explain the new system to you. he thinks it’s obvious. but sometimes, when you don’t wake up to him reordering your stuff, you wake up to a cup of tea or a plate of toast. be sure not to make a big deal out of it though or he’ll get embarrassed and "misplace” your birth certificate next time he’s cleaning.

levi secretly craves words of affirmation. frankly, “words of affirmation” might even be a stretch for what he desires most. he doesn’t need to be told how good he is at his job or how much others care about him. he wants you to pick up on little things about him that he hasn’t even realized. tell him if you like the way he pronounces a certain word or how lovely he looks while he’s focusing on the newspaper. he doesn’t let people get close to him easily, so by approaching your position as his partner with such attention to detail, you’re reminding him that he made the right decision letting you in. not even levi is immune to compliments.

*bonus* - levi’s friendship love language is quality time. let’s face it. the only way you’re getting close to levi is if you spend a lot of time together. the problem is actually getting that quality time with him. for levi, this would usually mean doing independent tasks like reading or doing paperwork together. also, doing group tasks (cleaning, cooking, etc) in comfortable silence. being friends with levi is the definition of being alone together. perhaps when you get really close you can have a little conversation with your tea. 

m i k a s a

will jump at the chance to perform an act of service. she loves to feel helpful, and since emotions aren’t something she is super comfortable expressing, she finds that assisting you with your day-to-day tasks is a good way to show she cares. she especially likes helping out with physical activities. after years of hanging around armin, she knows how vulnerable they can be, so it’s her own special cheat code. besides, she likes that her strength is useful for a variety of reasons.

mikasa feels seen when you gift her something. the fact that you saw something and thought of her makes her happy beyond comparison. mikasa’s typically focused mind will definitely wander to giddy little thoughts of you. how often do you think of her? what kinds of things would you like? what can she do to make you know that she cares? she’ll try to center herself, but part of her is glad to have something so wonderful to be distracted by. gifts are never wasted on her. she will treasure whatever you get her, even if it’s not something she would typically buy herself.

r e i n e r

loves spending quality time together. honestly, he just wants to talk. reiner wants to know your thoughts on everything. he wants you to play with his hair while he lays his head in your lap as you tell him about your day. he gives (somewhat) good advice and always remembers small details. he views the people you tell him about like characters and gets invested in your stories.

reiner is eternally grateful for the acts of service you perform. putting out his slippers in the morning, making him a plate for dinner, asking if he needs anything while you’re up/out. he also views the anticipation of his needs as a huge act of service. for example, if he tells you that he doesn’t need anything, but you come back with a blanket because he looked cold, reiner will never stop thinking about it... or you.

s a s h a

will hype you up with words of affirmation. it’s not even something she does super intentionally, and frankly, her encouragement is not something that she provides exclusively for her partner. however, every time sasha has something nice to say about you, she will say it. and since you two are together, she has a lot of really nice things to say. she has a feeling personality, so of course she’s going to gush over you! plus, she thinks that the way you react is really cute and she wants to keep seeing the look on your face as often as possible.

sasha feels appreciated when you perform acts of service. obviously this woman will go feral if you cook her food. that is no secret. but she will also be completely enamored with you if you help her out with other things as well. fold her laundry?? sasha is raving about it for a week. offer to brush her hair? she will give you little kisses all over your face. for sasha, devoting your time and effort is the kindest thing someone could do.

[moonspirit]

I think the discussion on Armin’s relationship with his mother brings up an interesting idea, especially in relation to your fic. Specifically concerning his relationship with Hange, you have been identifying, and rightly so Levi as the “father” of the Scouts. So I am wondering at the other end do you identify Hange as the “mother”

I would love to hear your ideas on her/their relationship with Armin. Was it a mentor/protegee relationship given their similar passions for knowledge and exploration, or did it become sort of a “Son I never had” for Hange and “Mother whom I never really had” for Armin

As always I would love to hear your insight and thoughts on this.

Hello anon! This is long, sorry TT^TT I got carried away.

Tbh I haven't explored Armin's relationship with Hange all that much in VBEOW, but yes, as you say, the intention is clear that he looked up to her and they spent quite a lot of time together; that's what I'm getting at.

I think much of the fandom appreciates Levi and Hange being the parent figures to the 104th, in that the newest members of the SC are all mere children, and it's Levi and Hange who guide and lead them. Of course we have Erwin, we don't see there necessarily being a "huge distance" of rank between him and the 104th (he's around and about), but he's not the one scolding the kids, breaking up the fights, or teaching them titan science and new technology. Among the vets, Levi and Hange are closest to the 104th (going forth we mean EMA+JSC) and their bond only grows thicker as the years pass, numbers fall, and uncertainty grows.

This is why I love thinking about Levi's relationship to the Alliance post-rumbling, especially in relation to the Paradis boys (Armin, Jean and Connie) because after all that time spent together, they know him, and he knows them. He protected them, took care of them, (probably woke them up with a kick to the balls too), told them to buck up and focus in as little words as possible - a father, through and through.

All of the same goes for Hange, only, she doesn't make it to see them as Ambassadors.

Now coming to Armin specifically.

Among all the Ambassadors, he's the only one that's an orphan. Everyone else has parents, or at least someone looking forward to receiving them at home. Not counting Mikasa, (who is his family, yes, but she's not an adult figure), he has nobody that'll give him a hug and say he's made them a proud parent. There is a comfort in being held by someone older and feeling like you're still a child; that you'll always be their child.

But it's not just now, is it? He hasn't had it since he enlisted in the military.

At that young age when people have friends and parents, loneliness is crippling. Eren and Mikasa being inseparable I think there would've been times Armin wandered the buildings and scoured the libraries all alone. His curiosity to learn is something we don't see anyone sharing with him on quite the same level or depth - sure, he's telling people interesting things from what he's read most recently and they're listening, fascinated, but how many of them are picking his brain and quenching his thirst for a good, long conversation with questions, answers, hypothesis and conclusions?

One. Hange.

Or so I imagine. Their combined curiosity would've known no bounds. He's assessing her hypotheses, she/they're answering his questions. He helps her/them in the lab, she/they gives him new what-ifs to ponder about. She teaches him about the weather. He writes her expedition reports in meticulous detail. We see Hange rambling to anyone that'll spent 5 seconds listening, but it's a special satisfaction when someone listens with keen interest and a desire to contribute their thoughts by an equal measure. For Hange, Armin is a great scout in that he naturally possesses the understanding, empathy and curiosity needed of a scout in the first place. He's also sweet and polite - I see her/them developing a bit of a soft spot for him.

But then things go to shit right? Once the walls break (again) and along with it goes trust (RBA), nothing is a certainty anymore. From this point onwards, the SC begins to get pared down in both numbers and trustworthy members - by the end of S3, the SC we see are those few left alive and survived through all the betrayal. The only constants that remain for Armin then, are his immediate close friends (EM+JSC), Levi, and Hange.

And Hange is admittedly, more vocally softer in her approach to the kids than Levi is.

It only gets worse though, through the timeskip, which is the most grueling of times imo, in the whole story. Hange as a commander is different - no longer does she/they have the time or peace of mind to be the careless mad scientist because the pressure on her to perform, lead, and find a near impossible solution is insane. I imagine Armin and Hange spend many an evening thinking about what to do about the impending annihilation. Some of those evenings, she/they would break down, head in her/their hands, and admit only to him, that the burden of living up to Erwin's legacy's crushing her back.

To everyone else, Hange must be brave. The world's falling apart, she can't look weak. In front of Armin though, she can afford to look scared. Just a bit. Because he'll understand.

And Armin would understand all too well, wouldn't he? They share the burden, after all. One has been appointed the Commander, and the other has replaced a Commander.

Above anyone else too, Hange would understand Armin's guilt. He's just a boy of nineteen, receiving hostile stares and accusations simply for living and breathing, and she/they feel sorry. It wasn't her/their decision, it was Levi's, but Hange's been watching this boy grow up from a scrawny thirteen year old to a young adult who should be feeling more confident in himself (with a shifter's power too!), but he doesn't. He cries, he hates, he wishes he wasn't alive.

What kind of parent wouldn't hurt from that?

To sum up, from the beginning to the moment Hange died burning in the sky, I believe Armin and she/they shared a very special relationship. It might have started out as a Superior/Junior thing, but over time it progressed into something more, something deeper, something closer to the heart.

A soft spot for one another like nobody else had.

[technicolorfamiliar]

The Passing of the Third Floor Back Dir. Berthold Viertel 1935

I think The Stranger could fix me.

I will never understand why more people don't reference this movie when talking about Connie's career. It's in his top five must-watch's for me, for sure.

The Passing of the Third Floor Back is not by any means a great or groundbreaking film. Some moments are shot well, some of the lighting is interesting, but over all there are relatively few bells and whistles, not that the film needs any. It's based on an older silent film based on a play, and that comes across in the film's focus being primarily on the story and character relationships. Some of the breakneck pacing doesn't really suit the dialogue or the story, but that was the style of filmmaking at the time. And that's why casting Connie as The Stranger was a brilliant move; his thoughtful and considered line delivery as well as his calm, grounded physicality disrupts the 1930s Britishness that defines the rest of the film. Casting another British actor as The Stranger may have worked depending on the actor, but Connie's otherness -- not only in his voice but also his height, demeanor, and fashion -- works in the character's favor… and the story's too.

The story of The Passing of the Third Floor Back is timeless because it's so true to life. People act out all the time without even realizing. They are cruel and unkind to others and themselves. It's contagious, if one or two people in a closed environment like a boarding house, workspace, team or club are overly negative and meanspirited, soon more and more people in that environment will start behaving similarly. At least that's been true in my experience. One person with a bad attitude or a tendency to gossip or be lazy or cliquish can slowly create a general atmosphere of bad behavior (especially so if that person is in a position of leadership).

The Stranger says of the other people in the boarding house, "It's not easy for them to see themselves. The illusions are so strong." Before he arrived, none of them were really seeing one another. They were reacting to their assumptions of one another, or to the worst versions of each other brought out by stress, living in close quarters, personal and interpersonal problems, etc. It took an outside perspective and the presence of someone seemingly different for them to begin to actually, finally see one another and themselves.

The single, 30-something Miss Kite's self-loathing presents as cruelty barely concealed by humor. But after a brief, sincere and openminded conversation with The Stranger, she dives into the wake of a huge steam boat to save Stasia (who really was asking to fall, I don't care how excited she was). When someone Miss Kite supposedly didn't care one iota about is suddenly in danger, she steps up without a second thought. She didn't do it for the recognition or attention, she put herself in harms way because it was the right thing to do, and afterward is treated like a hero. She's given a new source of self worth -- she realizes she can be brave. But it's not a one and done fix, she still reaches for her makeup when she sees her reflection after being in the water. But because she revealed her courage in the face of a crisis, people begin to see her differently, and hopefully so too she would gradually begin to see herself in a new light.

I really appreciate that The Stranger's influence isn't perfect. Everyone easily reverts back to their old ways, supposedly because of Mr. Wright acting against The Stranger, but they probably would have slipped into their old patterns regardless. The best The Stranger can hope for is to plant seeds of goodness in each of them. And just like people in real life, some people just aren't as receptive to change. After all, it's always harder to eliminate bad habits than it is to implement good ones.

I'm not sure what's going on with Mr. Wright. Does he know who or what The Stranger really is? Or is he just a dick? The movie probably would have worked without an openly antagonistic character. Wright could have just been creepy and gross in a normal creepy and gross way. I'm not sure we needed the scenes with him and The Stranger to play out the way they did. The more I think about it I feel like those scenes kind of cheapen the story. Most audiences are smart enough that you don't have to turn your script into an outright morality play for them to get the point. Those two scenes are probably the only thing I would have changed about the script. The Stranger and Wright needed to have a confrontation, but Wright insinuating that he knows The Stranger's motives and rules makes it seem like Wright is more than he appears to be and ehhh idk. The movie just doesn’t need it. In my opinion, anyway. It's like the writers were trying to say a bad guy can't just be a regular dude who does bad things. It would speak more to our reality, in 1935 as much as 2025, if Wright was just a regular person without any special knowledge or abilities who enjoys hurting and exploiting others. And it's interesting that he's a self-made man, someone who built himself up from nothing -- if this movie really wanted to say something it could have been about the nature of power and money being potentially corrosive to a person's soul. So as a formerly destitute person, Wright could have been a challenge for the audience as someone we want to empathize with deep down, because he raised himself up by his bootstraps and that makes him more relateable. But any empathy we may have had for Wright as a complicated character is destroyed when he outs himself as having some kind of special knowledge about The Stranger for some reason. I haven't read the book or the play, so I don't know if this dynamic originated in the source material or if it was an addition on the part of the screenwriters but it's unnecessary and treats the audience like they're too stupid to handle a morally complicated character.

I'm not going to do a character analysis of everyone in the film (today… maybe in the future lol), but it's worth talking about Stasia. I like that she's far from perfect, that her victimhood makes her act out even more than she probably would have otherwise. I like that she's not this naïve, innocent little kid. She's seen and been through some shit. And her armor is to be as mean-spirited and selfish as everyone else. She can give as good as she gets and, although she's clearly one of the more sensitive characters in the film, she's not a doormat. I mean, everyone calls her a useless little slut to her face all the time, no wonder she's as volatile as she is. She clearly has a conscience when most of the adults around her seem to lack any empathy at all until The Stranger arrives. Everyone in the house treats Stasia like she's an imbecile but she's likely the smartest out of all of them. She's the only one interested in nurturing something, the delicate white flower she keeps in a small pot. It's not clear how old Stasia is either. (Rene Ray was 23 - 24 when the film was made.) She's young enough that the landlady can threaten to send her back to whatever horrible orphanage or group home she was living in previously. But though she's a child, we get the impression from her interactions with Wright that she's lived a hard life, having to resort to thievery and very likely sex work to get by. But for as hard as her life has been when we meet her, she still maintains a childlike sense of wonder that finally gets to flourish when The Stranger comes into her life, and I just CAN'T TAKE IT. Stasia's the only one out of all those broken people who could have summoned The Stranger because, even if she's not perfect, even if she's damaged goods, she's the only one who is able to ask for "one decent person in the world." And we hope, we pray that the few days The Stranger spends with her will help her be that one decent person that someone else might need one day. UGH.

See, I love stories like this. For as mangled and beaten down as my own heart is, I love a story where someone good and full of love appears under mysterious circumstances to a bunch of messed up people. Usually these kinds of stories are centered around Christmas -- The Bishop's Wife: Carry Grant's Dudley helps David Niven and Loretta Young's marriage; Miracle on 34th Street: Edmund Gwenn's Santa Claus helps Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara believe in magic. While The Passing of the Third Floor Back isn't a Christmas movie and The Stranger isn't specifically called out as a supernatural being like Dudley the angel or Santa Claus, there are echoes of this story in those later films. There's almost as much suspension of disbelief in this film, and there may not be as much literal magic but the message and structure are basically the same. I mean, this movie is not subtle -- the boarding house is across the street from a church which we really only see when The Stranger arrives and departs. They don't really talk at all about God or Jesus like in The Bishop's Wife, but The Stranger embodies traditional virtues like hope, charity, and justice as well as values like patience, empathy, and honesty. It could very easily have been a Christmas movie if it had been made 5 - 10 years later. I guess the main difference is with those other movies, at the end you're left feeling like everything's going to be ok, everyone lives happily ever after. Here it's not such a sure thing. We hope Stasia and everyone else has healed permanently, but it seems incredibly tenuous. We hope The Stranger's work had lasting results, but there's no way to know for sure. Their new found hope in one another and themselves needs to be taken care of and nurtured regularly like Stasia's little flower UGHHHH, the s y m b o l i s m .

Obvs I have a lot I want to say about Connie's performance specifically, but here's a quote from him about the role from Feb 1, 1942 in the New York Herald Tribune:

"Evil can be strong and powerful, but it can never take the place of good. I felt this deeply at another time when playing the Christ-like character of the Stranger… My one aim was to play him as a man who wanted to give the world a lift, just as now the world so sadly needs a lift. The Stranger was the most difficult role I ever undertook. There was ever the danger of going too far. If for an instant it were made insincere, the part would fall to pieces.

"Another delicate question was that of appearance. I don't want to be blasphemous, but I played him as a well-dressed man… My one precaution in this respect was to keep the Stranger from any possibility of seeming theatrical. It struck me that those boarding-house people to whom he came might readily think of him as a traveler, even a traveling salesman, and so I had him wear a gray suit and carry a suitcase. His hair was well groomed, though white. But his face was not old. I tried to make him ageless.

"No mysterious light came or went with him. But when he was shown in his dingy room he took a flower from his coat and put it into a glass of water, then opened the blind and let in a gleam of sunlight. It was the simplicity of beauty you can make out of nothing. Of course, there was far more than that, something not quite of this world. The Stranger, like the Wandering Jew played by me earlier, was fantastic in a spiritual way."

I'm so glad we have quotes like this so we can kind of understand the way Connie thought about his work on this film, even several years later. The interview the quote is from must have been around the time he was doing Nazi Agent, which is another interesting point of comparison. The good brother in that film, Otto, is just an ordinary man but he's put in an extraordinary situation. The Stranger on the other hand is an extraordinary creature put in a very ordinary situation. Otto's goodness is human and relatable, or at least should be in the face of war and crimes against humanity. The Stranger is, like Connie said, Christ-like and therefore considered exceptional in his goodness. The love The Stranger has for humanity radiates out of him not through any special lighting effect but just by his calm openness.

(There are some interesting choices the filmmakers made with lighting. Throughout the film, The Stranger emerges from or is partly concealed shadows. I'm not sure if this was like The Spy in Black and a nod to Connie's past work in German Expressionist silent films or just a successful way to keep the character mysterious. Either way, I thought it was a good choice.)

For having top billing, Connie doesn’t have a lot of dialogue in the film, at least comparatively. And what lines are spoken are done so with such exceeding gentleness and softness. Some lines are almost whispered. He does raise his voice in a plea to Wright, but that's the only time. Even when he lets the boarders have it for attacking Stasia at the end of the film, he's intense without shouting at everyone. A lesser actor could NEVER.

Most of the time The Stranger is observing everyone else. I love watching him watch everyone, especially Stasia. When he arrives at the boarding house, he has very little to say at their dinner party but is busy watching how the boarders interact with one another. He's not merely gathering data, he's reacting to them internally. The Stranger clearly has feelings, but Connie's so incredibly masterful at subtlety, that I wonder if this wasn’t one of the bigger challenges of the film for him. Regardless of however hard he's working, he makes it look effortless. I love watching him watch Stasia have fun and experience joy when they all go out on the steam boat. You can see in the way he looks at her that he's so happy for her, that she gets to actually be a kid for a few hours.

Connie was really concerned about dropping the ball with this film. He, at least in interviews at the time*, was worried that stepping back from more obvious acting choices, in order to inhabit the character in the most authentic and appropriate way possible, wouldn't translate through a camera. It seems he thought he was taking a big risk with the way he chose to play The Stranger, and I agree.

The Stranger, as a performance, is THE perfect example of being vs showing one's art. And so we get one of the most interesting, soulful, deeply compassionate, empathetic, and gentle performances from a male actor during this era, especially in British filmmaking where actors were often either total caricatures or way too buttoned up to emote at all.

I mean, Connie's fans know he could broadcast sexual vibes through time and space, but here in this film he's affectionate without any expectation of reciprocity or sexual overtones. He's broadcasting real intimacy, in his confidential tone of speaking, in his hand on another character's shoulder or arm, in a quiet secretive look. This is a person who makes whoever he's with feel exceptional, like they're the only two people in the world in that moment. He's completely present. It's. So. Fucking. Good. Connie talked about wanting to give the world a lift, but he's also lifting up his scene partners! He brings out the best in whoever he's on screen with with this performance, the same way The Stranger lifts people up! Yes, I am yelling!

And what about The Stranger himself? It's never explicitly stated that he is anything other than a wanderer, a traveler looking for lodging. We don't get any exposition scenes of him before he arrives at the boarding house. The audience knows as little about him as the characters in the film do. He is completely mysterious, and yet everyone pretty much trusts him implicitly, with the exception of Wright of course. We know exactly three things about The Stranger: one -- he is Good and hopes to inspire good in others; two -- he came to the boarding house specifically because Stasia wanted (instead of needed, interesting…) someone like him in her life; three -- he cannot directly interfere with people's lives in order to accomplish a desired outcome. And that's all we need to know! I can't help thinking if this movie was made today, most filmmakers would add some unnecessary backstory for The Stranger. Let protagonists be mysterious, people! Audiences don't need to know everything! Let us draw our own conclusions! Personally I like the possibility that The Stranger is the physical embodiment of an abstract concept/s, but that's just me. My point is that it's GOOD to have characters that spark conversation and multiple interpretations, I LOVE IT DO MORE PLEASE.

This matters even more when people walk away from a film being truly touched by a character or performance. People went to see this movie when it came out and were flattened by Connie's take on The Stranger, an existing character. Unfortunately I can't find the articles or quotes where this was originally mentioned (there really needs to be some kind of text-only repository of Connie articles/interviews), but apparently some people were so affected by this film that they wrote beautiful, heart-wrenching letters to Connie. Some people were so deeply touched and claimed this film helped save them in some small way, saying it was exactly what they needed at that moment in their lives. That, in short, Connie was unbelievably successful in what he hoped to accomplish with his performance, that he was able to reach through the camera and offer something genuinely beautiful and hopeful to those who needed it. UGH.

Maybe my takes on The Passing of the Third Floor Back are not new or even particularly nuanced. People have been saying the same things about this film ever since its 1935 release. But it remains one of my favorite Conrad Veidt films, I mean, top shelf stuff. He's doing the most interesting internal work an actor can do, certainly for the 1930s. He stands head and shoulders, literally and figuratively, above his fellow cast members and indeed most of his peers at that time. The kind of inward, reflective, subtle work he is doing in this film wouldn't become commonplace for years.

There's so much more about this movie to unpack. I haven't even talked about the gramophone man and class discrimination. Or the queer coding of Miss Kite and Larkcom. Or Wright's death -- was it really just a heart attack or did The Stranger "interfere" by opening the window for the gramophone man to get in?? Or about how Connie was making this AND King of the Damned AT THE SAME TIME. The two films could not be more different. Blows my mind.

Anyway, tl;dr Connie understood the assignment and gave us something truly beautiful and special.

*"My Most Difficult Role", Conrad Veidt interviewed by Max Breen, June 29, 1935

[magicxc]

Movie Genres

Pairings: Survey Coprs - their fave movie genres

Word Count: 835

Warnings: netflix and chill? hulu subscription? binge watching disney?

A/N: I LOVE a good movie okay!! Put me in front of a juicy plot and I'm SAT. Here are the genres that I think the boys would enjoy most!! Tell me yours 🍿🎥🎬 

Headcannons Masterlist

Eren  - Action/Thriller 

Eren def strikes me as the type to enjoy loud movies that’s fast paced and chocked full of fighting scenes. Even though he has a special appreciation for the martial arts he can still get down with some good ole hand to hand combat. Anything that elicits excitement and anticipation does it for him.

Levi - Western Film

Walk with me here. I’ve seen Kenny reference and even dress cowboyish. I think he’d be all for the genre and considering his influence on Levi, it’s safe to say our short king would too. While the culture may be different from his own, it adds to his amusement all the more. Featuring cowboys, gunslingers, and bounty hunters it’d feel like a dramatisation of his old life underground; and while he no longer affiliates himself with that lifestyle, he does find the genre interesting. 

Erwin - Historical Drama

Fight me. Erwin strikes me as boring lowkey lmfao. I genuinely believe he’s only watching things that stimulate his mind or shows that he can take away from. He doesn’t mind the messiness too much as long as the movie in question is thought provoking or at the very least holds some truth to it. And honestly, the Commander might be onto something here cause historical drama pieces fucking slap. Movies/series like The Crown, Apollo 13, Hotel Rwanda, etc is what he’s tuning into if he wants to watch tv.

Throwing in National Geographic or shows like The Most Extreme for when he wants some background noise.

Connie - Animation/Musical

Connie is such a vibe and while he is comedic relief he’s also super sweet. It's said that he’s basically a runner up to Armin on the emotional scale in regard to how deeply he feels. Our boy started out super naive and trusting and although it shaped him into someone a little more serious; he’s still that sweetie pie at heart. And so I believe animation is his thing and can bring a deep sense of nostalgia from time to time; allowing him a chance to cater to the child within. And the plots genuinely be plotting. That early 2000’s Disney and Pixar was un-fuck-witable. Musicals are just as fun for Connie btw, anything with a happy ending he’s down for.

Jean - Drama

Jean is literally so messy he can't help it. The call is coming from inside the house with this one. Even though Jean is a realist, he can also be an asshole with little regard to how what he says may affect Eren people. That doesn’t mean our boi is heartless, noooo, there has been lots of maturation over the seasons. But he LOVES a good conflict chile. Movies/series like RHOA, anything Tyler Perry, Moonlight, etc is his go to.

Onyankopon - Crime/Mystery

Similarly to Erwin, Onyankopon prefers films that are stimulating. He doesn’t mind indulging in the occasional reality show, but that's usually if he just so happens to be walking past his girl and a good scene comes on. Other than that, Ony is all for the suspense. He loves trying to stay one step ahead of the character but finds it's equally as fun to pick up some cool trivia along the way as movies like these tend to touch on a wide range of topics.

Reiner - Comedy 

After almost losing his mind and his life, Reiner is cool on the movies that bring about intense emotions. He wants to laugh and not regularly either, but full on knee slapping laugh when he decides to indulge in a film. You know the kind where you have to beg your friend to stfu so you can catch your breath? The kind of laugh that feels like you just did a ab workout? That's what he wants. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t watch other genres, but they’re certainly not his first choice.

Armin - RomCom

It's self explanatory with this one. Our munchkin still views the world and its people with big doe eyes of hope, even against all odds. He is a little more realistic in his hopes but he’s still hopeful nonetheless. And he’s much the same when it comes to movies. He wants to see the film where the guy gets the girl, against all odds, and they kiss in the rain; and he’ll love it even better if you slide a joke or two in the mix. 

Floch - Slasher

I genuinely feel like if Floch had a Tumblr, he’d be like one of the slasher girlies with their ghost face fics, only he’s posting ghost face thirst traps hahaha. He gets a thrill from the gore, the screams, the plot, and the kills. I think Floch is just all for the scare, even if he's on the receiving end of it. Anything to get his adrenaline pumping while keeping him on the edge of his seat will do. Thankfully though he’s able to separate fiction from reality and we can only hope he doesn’t get any cute ideas.

[jeankirsteinsgrlfrnd]

If possible mlm 😸

the attack on titan boys and how they'd react to you coming out (male reader)

a/n: anon, i hope this finds you. i'm going to answer this like how the characters in my AU would.

eren jaeger couldn't really care less. he asks "is that all? it's 2024, dude. everybody's a little gay." eren's confused on why you decided to come out, not feeling like it was something you had to announce.

armin arlert and the sweet man that he is, nods his head and listens to you. he makes sure his body language says that he's hearing you. he appreciates the fact that you feel you can confide in him. he has a very gentle smile on his face the whole time you're telling him.

jean kirstein would probably just say "that's whats up." the conversation would end there but not because he's weirded out or anything, just because he doesn't like to get too personal with people. he'd definitely punch a motherfucker for you though if somebody tried to start shit with you.

connie springer mutters a little quiet "oh" and then dives into a world of questions. he's mainly interested in what types of guys you like because he's scheming a way to play the world's best gay cupid.

reiner braun gets... a little awkward. the conversation ends abruptly but the next day he's tweeting stuff with '#ally.' he googles how to support you and sometimes he's a little overbearing when he's trying to relate to you but he means well.

bertholdt hoover just nods and puts a hand on your shoulder. he doesn't say much but decides to ask the reasoning behind your sudden coming out to him.

zeke jaeger is so the type of guy to be like "i know a gay guy, do you want me to introduce you to him?" he does it anyway and is confused on why the two of you don't immediately hit it off. also would totally ask if you were attracted to him.

levi ackerman just chuckles when you tell him. he's got the best gaydar so it was silly of you to assume that he didn't know. he thinks that you're brave though for telling him out of all people because he knows he can be hard to read about that type of stuff.

erwin smith just raises a blonde eyebrow. the conversation isn't interesting, in fact it's quite boring. he just didn't want to pry too much and honestly, he didn't need to know anything else.

porco galliard insists that he won't treat you any differently but he suddenly doesn't talk as much. you're not sure if he's homophobic or if he's repressing something. you don't bring the topic up again unless he does first.

my ko-fi

[gaffney]

Wait SAY MORE about junior year Ducks. Who is on Varsity vs. JV in your mind?

OK SO i got this ask but i also got another asking which issues i could see the ducks having in junior/senior year so i’m just gonna combine them!!

for me, the people making varsity would be adam, julie, guy, ken, fulton & charlie because (imo) they've always had the most potential

i like to think imagine adam would struggle with the fact that this may be a repeat of freshman year, however i do think because he has more ducks with him it’d be an easier transition this time around. i’d also love a storyline where has to deal with old varsity members who he knew in freshman year (who were in their sophomore year/now their senior year) who still feel like he betrayed them and don’t want to trust him. maybe a player who’s on the same level as banks and gives him an actual challenge for ~star player. would also love the return of the hawks (larson and/or mcgill) in his personal life because i’ve always felt like that was an unfinished storyline

one thing i’ve always appreciated about the ducks is that it’s a mixed team of boys and girls, with everyone on equal footing. connie, julie, and tammy have always been just as good as the rest (or even better). and it worked really well at the peewee level! but if we’re being realistic… as they get older, i feel like physical differences might start to have a bigger impact. especially in contact sports like hockey. in d3, we already saw connie getting knocked around pretty easily because she’s fucking tiny in comparison to some of the dudes. hell, they even alluded to it in d2, when dwayne had to rescue her by lassoing the opponent. so yeah, i think it would make sense to have separate teams to ensure everyone’s safety and fairness… and eden hall definitely has the resources for it. it’d be awesome to see a storyline for connie where she came to terms with this (and this mostly being the reason she didn’t make varsity) and then decide to team up with linda to petition for a women’s team at eden hall. this would most likely cause friction with julie, however, who is playing on a mixed team’s varsity and doesn’t want to give that up–but, as a goalie, is also in a slightly different situation because she isn’t getting the brunt of all the physical plays. this would actually be a really cool fic to read… if written with respect ofc. i don’t wanna see any misogynistic or transphobic bs

for guy, i think he’s a great technical player. he’s above the average, but he’s also just kinda… there. he doesn’t have adam’s single-minded focus & talent, or charlie’s tenacity & leadership insight, or jesse’s killer instinct, or even something that sets him apart like fulton’s slapshot or kenny’s fluidity on the ice. something that always catches my attention is guy basically going “we all played like shit” and connie retaliates with “no YOU did that, i played hard” which was 100% a line they threw in to make us aware of the fact they’re (still) fighting. but i like the headcanon that guy joined the ducks (district 5 at the time) because he wanted to have fun with his friends, and it turns out he’s actually pretty good, but he doesn’t actually have that a lot interest in the sport itself. he could struggle with the fact that he doesn’t have the passion that other people may expect from someone with his skill

with kenny, i think he’s a great player and deserves a varsity spot no doubt, but i would honestly just love more insight as to why he quit figure skating to play hockey in the first place 💀 like is it a cultural impact vs financial stability kind of thing? tibbles says “i convinced him hockey had more of a future” which might be true. does kenny ever end up regretting choosing hockey? we will never know… because even the creator of tmd did not care to give him a narrative and i think that’s bs. i would also love a kenny & tammy intro, where tammy was the opposite and decided to choose figure skating over hockey

fulton would continue the storyline they scrapped in d3: who is he without his fellow bash brother? i love bash bros but i’d love to see him realize that he is his own person and that whatever future he sees for himself–whether that’s in hockey or something else entirely–he doesn’t NEED portman there to be a great player and defenseman. in turn portman would feel Some Type Of Way that fulton got picked for varsity and he didn’t, but this also makes him determinated to improve on his own too. give them some friction but in the end they realize that they don’t need each other on the ice to grow but want to be in each other’s lives anyway

and then there’s charlie… let’s take away that c!! i’d imagine varsity already has a captain and charlie has to settle for not leading the charge for once (tho he’ll get it back in senior year imo). i just want him to build a better relationship with hockey and have fun without the pressure of trying to fill a certain role or weird attachment issues. but i also think i’d like most of his drama to just not be hockey/team related (other than trying to placate everyone now that there’s a clear divide) but let him deal with his daddy issues

i think russ would essentially be fine still playing for jv bc by this time he’s realized he doesn’t wanna go pro and has found something else to occupy his time. dwayne is just sad the team doesn’t get together a lot. the rest… idk. luis is too busy with mindy/being a perv and averman & goldberg are too busy being annoying and/or sabotaging the team i guess 💀

[okamirayne]

Hey Rayne-chan! (ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥ It's a TWD Ask. I'm so hyped to know you're a Walking Dead fan and love your pairings. Just curious as I read that you weren't sold on the Richonne pairing. Why is that? And also, are you a Darol fan? No pressure to answer if you don't want, I'm just curious because i love how you write characters and would love to hear why certain pairings appeal more than others. Thanks (✿◠‿◠)

Hey there TWD-fan Anon! 💜

I'm so hyped to know you're a Walking Dead fan and love your pairings.

Just curious as I read that you weren't sold on the Richonne pairing. Why is that?

Right you are. Yeah, it just...didn't gel for me. I get it objectively, but I don't feel it. That might have something to do with chemistry. Andrew Lincoln is a bloody brilliant actor. Hell, he sells it.

Pick any character or actor and Andrew could probably make me believe he was head over heels for them if he wanted to😅. Danai, for me personally, isn't telegraphing on the same frequency. Not saying she's not a good actress, I just feel a disconnect from her side when playing off Andrew's energy. It just doesn't translate for me and I can't quite pin it - it's just a feeling. For others, I appreciate that it does translate and they love the pairing, and that's great. I just don't feel it sadly. Chemistry-wise, Andrew seems to carry it. Character-wise, I can't fully make the leap from friends to lovers for Rick and Michonne...I really tried to, but it just didn't quite land for me. I love the idea, but I just don't feel it as it's played out.

And also, are you a Darol fan?

Not anymore. Once upon a time...like...8 seasons go...during the prison arc. Yeah. Back then? I could get on board with that and I even wanted to see it play out.

But I personally felt the showrunners/writers dragged out the whole "will they, won't they" tension until it fizzled out into a more familial kind of bond (same thing with Harvey/Donna if you've ever watched Suits). I think the slow burn can turn into cool ashes if not done right and I really feel the relationship tease just ran lukewarm then cold for me. Don't get me wrong, she was great for Daryl's growth, but it hit a wall at a certain point. And I think that can sometimes be an obstacle as well as a guardrail for him emotionally.

Post-prison Arc, I feel Daryl shrinks or stagnates when he's around Carol. He doesn't seem to expand or plumb any depths. Sure, I feel his love for Carol, but that doesn't read for me as romantic love. I think the chance of that ran its course. In fact, there are times when I've wanted to literally shove Carol out the bloody way (seriously, I get vexed lol) because I feel she might've posed a hurdle to Daryl actually finding the kind of love or connection that will grow him and deepen him...now some could argue Carol does try to encourage him to explore romantic connections (i.e. Connie) and that's fair enough, but I still feel there's an unfinished agenda the writers are pushing (I may be way off here) which annoys me...and has only irritated me further given the Season 2 spin-off with Carol.

So yeah, long story short: I personally don't see Daryl deepening or growing around Carol. It's the same old.

Now, place him with a romantic interest like Connie...and damn, I could wax lyrical about these two. It rings so true. Developed so beautifully. I absolutely love their interactions. The way he is around her is beautiful to watch. And that goes both ways. The layers that are added given that Connie is deaf, Daryl is naturally quiet so it pushes him to be more communicative. She also totally blows the racist "Dixon redneck" shadow of Merle right outta the water. It's just...*chefs kiss*

Even Isabelle (Daryl Dixon spinoff) feels more enaging for me than Carol. How she is with him. The way he looks at her. How their worlds collide. What they go through in a contracted period, with a kid involved too, deepens him.

So yes, put Daryl with Connie or Isabelle and I see growth, challenge, spark, a more self-actualising character. With Carol, their history, their love, feels like comfort zones and safety (nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but it doesn't make for the dynamic I personally champion or engage with in fan ships). I like how he's pushed and somewhat tenderised (painfully or pleasantly) when he's with Connie (💖) and Isabelle. So no, I'm not a Carol fan. Once upon a time, I rooted for it but now I see them as family. Different strokes for different folks, right?

I'm just curious because i love how you write characters and would love to hear why certain pairings appeal more than others. Thanks (✿◠‿◠)

Aw! Thank you so much. 🥰 I'm hugely chuffed you enjoy the way I choreograph characters on my crazy stage. I hope I've answered your question...I could waffle on and on (probably have) so I'll spare you further ramblings. Of course, Rickyl is a pure fangirl dream of mine that doesn't touch on canon-verse (😆🥰), which Connie and Isabelle most definitely do. And I'm so here for it, for them, though I'd lean stronger towards Connie.

Thanks for the ASK, luv! 💖🫶🏼💖

[sentience-if]

I love being able to play a gremlin MC with no sense of danger or self-preservation but I also love playing a sweet lost little bird MC.

How would the chars privately feel about each type? Who is getting amused, exasperated, protective, attracted?

val: obviously vibes so well with chaotic impulsive MC. partners in crime, taught Io everything they know. however, Val is also constantly worried about this type of Io and has a pervasive guilt about teaching them to live so dangerously. // finds a sweet, naive Io very adorable, almost in an admiring way. Io's clearly had something bad happen to them and could have easily become reclusive and bitter. val definitely pushes this type of Io to be more adventurous and a little stupid sometimes

ira: slightly overwhelmed by gremlin Io but in an exciting way, like riding a rollercoaster. worries about them and is determined to drill a little sense into them. but also.... Ira may or may not be twirling their hair watching this disaster unfold // a gentler Io is a refreshing change of pace. it's nice to have someone around who's as calm and peaceful as Ira is. though if this Io is also fairly naive, I can see Ira gently taking them by the face and begging them to have some sense. u can be cute and smart, too

connie: I think we know what Connie thinks of gremlin Io lmfao... that's just Val 2.0 and Connie either wants them exiled or in their bed (and is pissed about it). They're endlessly frustrating and Connie wishes they would just calm tf down // in a similar/opposite way, thinks a sweet and naive Io is an absolute enigma. why the hell do they tolerate Val. how did they get here. what the fuck is their deal and what are they hiding; there's no way they're real

klaus: u know that Marina meme where she's like 😳😏 chaos gremlin Io is entertaining AND edible. wind it up and watch it go. on a less destructive level, klaus also appreciates someone who can be careless and free, even if it's in an arguably stupid way // klaus would see a little lost lamb Io as a bit of a blank canvas. He doesn't encounter a lot of people in his day-to-day life who don't have some kind of agenda, so it's like an interesting experiment to have this Io around. temptingly corruptible, though he'd lean more towards wanting to keep them that way

kat: does not understand Chaotic Beyblade Io even a little bit, but fuck are they fun. she can get down with the intensity and impulsiveness, though their ability to simply not think anything through is fascinating and almost impressive. I can see her getting exasperated, though, if Io gets in the way of things she needs to do // thoroughly enjoys sweet innocent Io. She's already friends with Ira, so she's sort of just adding another to her little cherub collection. finds them enchanting, deliciously different, and honestly relaxing to be around.

[xinnamonbun]

Oh yeah-

Opinions on the new Toons? I think Connie's cool and Qwel was definitely cooking something by making Looey require Poppy Mastery.

WAIT THEY'RE OUT?!? that's why I've been seeing more edits of them than usual

(two wiki looks later)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok. Let's start with Connie. First of all, she's slay.

Second of all, I find her existence... Slightly weird? I know that she was originally going to be a part of the Halloween drop but since they've said that they aren't going to add the rest of the Toons that were supposed to come with I feel like she just feels... Really out of place compared to all of the other toons? Which is ironic that that's a bit of a problem for me considering my favorite is Goob and his object is questionable, but I think Scraps helps his case because of the fact that there's at least someone else to support his out of place-ness, while Connie has nothing like that. It doesn't help that her name also doesn't have a pun with her appearance at all.

I still like her, and again, she's slay, but she really doesn't feel... Like a Dandy's World character? I'm also having a harder time grasping her personality, but that one at least I'm pretty sure will be fixed with time.

Also... lesbian. (I think if we throw Scraps in here we can have the ultimate "Gigi can pull some hoes" poly-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay now Looey...I fucking love him.

First of all I do adore his design, it's so very huggable and plus the color scheme is really creative. (Plus got to love the happy tail wag that was confirmed in his and Scraps interaction; the more information on Scraps is also heavenly appreciated)

Second of all, even though on the wiki his personality was a WIP, it shines so much through his interactions that I didn't really think the personality section of the wiki was necessary anyways. He's just a silly guy!

Third of all, what's up with his circus act? Razzle n Dazzle the state that they're interested, Shelly mentions wanting to see it, and Vee declines his offer to watch... Where are the other two? Who are the other two?... Curious indeed

Forth of all...oh no. There's two shipping options that are tempting me-

Like, LOOK AT HIM AND POPPY-, plus the wiki states that they're confirmed to be "close friends" and we know how "close friends" work in this game...(Cough) fruitcake (COUGH)/hj

But also... Even though this one has way less weight...Him and Goob are the embodiments of silly Goobers... Goob needs to be more careful with his hugs and especially his claws- but like... I don't know I can see something here- (Plus having Mitch matched color schemes my beloveds-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it's worth noting that... I have not played the game- BUT LET ME EXPLAIN MYSELF

I SUCK at horror games and I know that I most likely would just be dead weight. Just watching play throughs I have closed my eyes and flipped my phone until twisted chases were over because certain ones scare me shitless- (so me not playing with most likely be the best for all of us)

The Dandy's World community certainly has a reputation for... Not being welcoming. They are especially rude to Poppy's, and I would personally want to get Poppy instead of Boxen first just because I think her personality is adorable. So in short, I don't want any of that smoke. I will simply watch and learn through play throughs, wikis, and fan content.

[shxtodxroki]

Match-Up Exchange

This is a match-up done for @isadollie as part of a match-up exchange we agreed to! Hi hi there! I’m excited for you to read this, I just saw you posted mine and I can’t wait to read it hehe :> Thank you for being so kind and patient during this exchange and I really hope you enjoy your match-up! You were really nice to talk to and seem pretty cool, so if you ever wanna pop back onto my blog either for a request or just to chat you’re more than welcome to! :D Also I didn’t get to proofread this, so apologies in advance for any typos and/or spelling errors! :>

I’d Match You With:

Jean Kirschstein! :)

Reasoning:

I think you and Jean would make excellent partners, given that you’re opposite in some ways yet I feel like you’d still be able to understand one another, and you still share some key qualities that would help the relationship blossom and grow in the earlier stages. I also feel like he met all of the qualities you looked for in a partner really well, so he felt like the perfect overall match :>

Headcanons About Your Relationship:

- First of all, I absolutely feel like Jean would be an acts of service kind of guy. He’s really big on words of affirmation, too, always telling you how wonderful you are and how lucky he feels to have you, but he’s just really partial to small acts of love, doing little things to make your day a bit easier or put a smile on your face. He’s more than happy to make you lunch or grab your favorite coffee on his way home or even just take care of something you’ve been putting off for you, and while he does always appreciate your gratitude, just the smile on your face when you see what he’s done always makes it more than worth it for him <3

- And he loves being a yapper with you! Jean’s changed quite a bit through his life but he still really enjoys getting to share his ideas and views, and with you, he feels so comfortable and heard that conversations between the two of you could last for HOURS if you both let them. And he makes a point to listen carefully to what you’re saying, too, he just finds everything you say so interesting and loves going back and forth with you because your opinions are more important to him than anyone else’s

- Though I don’t really think yoga and pilates are Jean’s thing, if you ever do them at home, I think he’d enjoy watching you while you do them if you’re at home. And eventually, if you tell him how much it helps you enough, I think he’d be up to trying yoga with you. With everything he’s been though I think it would be a positive and active stress reliever for him, and good for his body too. It makes him feel active now that he’s no longer fighting for his life constantly, and he also enjoys getting that extra time to just be with you

- Jean would also love love LOVE your style. No exaggeration, he’d be completely awestruck from the moment he met you, and you made him so tongue-tied that for a long time it was hard for him to really flirt successfully with you. He loves the different ways you like to dye your hair, he’s obsessed with your piercings and the pretty make-up styles you experiment with, and I think he’d adore your tattoo. He’s completely smitten over your whole aesthetic and once the two of you are officially together, he’s never shy about admitting how gorgeous he finds you

- He’s definitely super protective over you, too. He knows you can handle yourself and he wouldn’t get overbearing or anything, but he’s incredibly proud to call you his partner and is sure to let anyone know that. He may talk big but if someone were ever to mess with you, he’d be quick to show them never to mess with you again. And he’s always showing you off and making sure you know that you’re his top priority and he’d do absolutely anything for you

- And if you’re looking for someone with a good sense of humor, Jean could definitely fill that role for you. He’s spent enough time around Sasha and Connie that he’s found his sense of humor, and I think after everything he’s been through, your sometimes darker sense of humor is definitely something he could vibe with. In fact, I think he’d probably occasionally make similar jokes about his own experiences, so he understands you well in that way

- Both of you would probably be a bit shy around one another at first, so it may take a few conversations to break through that awkward shyness. But like you, it doesn’t take him too long to find his footing in the conversation despite how beautiful he finds you, and before long he’s able to charm you with his humor and his personality, especially once he stops feeling the need to try so hard to impress you and is able to just let more of his natural self shine through

- Jean also knows that you can be anxious and tend to overthink a lot, and he’s always on the lookout for signs of your anxiety so that he can be quick to comfort you when you’re too lost in your own head. If you’ll let him, he likes holding you to help ground you (though he will absolutely respect your space if you ask), and he’s good at using his words to reassure you when you find yourself spiraling and overthinking. Comforting people is a skill he’s had to learn over time, but for you, he’s willing to do anything because it truly breaks his heart to see you hurting 

- And on a lighter note, I think he’d really enjoy being the type of boyfriend to take you to fairs and things and win you all sorts of plushies. He’s mellowed out a bit since he was younger and doesn’t feel the need to show off so much, but he still likes impressing you and feeling like he can make you happy, so even if it takes him a million tries he’s always going to go for a plushie prize when one is available just to be able to give it to you and watch you hold it close for the rest of your date <3

Second Choice:

I strongly considered both Armin and Hange when deciding your match alongside Jean. I felt that both of them could give you what you need in a partner and would treat you well, and I think a relationship between you and either of them would be very sweet and loving as well. But when reading about you and the kind of partner you wanted, Jean immediately stood out to me, so I ended up going with him in the end though I think they could all be good options for you :>

Song For Your Relationship:

Timeless by Taylor Swift <3

[finniestoncrane]

Okay so even though Arkham Eddie and Connie are like canonicallly married in my heart, what would Connie think of the other riddlers? What would they think of her?

If Arkham Eddie wasn't in the picture would she fall for any of them??

I just have to know I love Connie sm ♡♡♡

- Effy♡

ok i have been dwelling on this and thinking hard about it since you sent it in ef so let's DO THIS

also here's an image i posted of connie in the server but haven't posted here. she has exceptional boba aim

dano: i think connie has the potential to be most afraid of this eddie. she's not a fan of the unpredictable nature, it unsettles her. outside of his mask and criminal violence, she'd find him adorable, but he's for sure the most terrifying to her. i think he'd like her though! she's weird and shy but in a loud and defiant way. he could learn a thing or two from her

young justice: she'd be all over him. and i think it would terrify him to have someone as vocally into him as she would be. but she wouldn't be able to help herself. he's like a baby version of her eddie, he needs love. she'd find it hard not to squish his cheeks constantly. i think having someone who was so super vocal about how adorable he was at every opportunity would do wonders for him. he'd love her for sure

telltale: the accidentally a little bit too loud whispering of the word "daddy"... she'd be all over him. it's debatable whether he'd reciprocate any of her feelings at all, but she'd be taken in instantaneously by a silver fox with a smug attitude and the energy to... do... so... many... things...

unburied: i don't really know much about pokemon, except i know the villains are team rocket. and i think connie and this eddie would 100% be the team rocket of their universe. i think the other rogues would refer to them as the "wonder twins" in a cruel, ironic way. they'd be far too mischievous and adorable together

btaa: honestly? i think she'd be fine to work with him, but she'd probably get along better with miss tuesday. if it wasn't for the fact that he sounded so incredibly handsome and charming and sexy, she'd think of him the same way as telltale. she needs a bit of something weird about a boy, and btas and twojar are too classically handsome for her. the combination of her and miss tuesday would drive btaa insane, so she might not last long

gotham: it's autism for autism romance. connie is... hyper-aware of how people can be cruel and dismissive and mean when someone's trying to talk about their interests, so she'd definitely be one of ed's favourite people immediately. plus tall and skinny and smaller and fat is a top tier pairing silhouette, a classic. AND connie likes gross things and criminology. and she likes holding hands and kissing without tongues, both things i am sure ed is fond of, just look at him

twojar: all bodies are beautiful, but connie's not super into like buff guys? bad experiences, they tend to either not like her because she's fat or think she needs to work out more because she's fat. which is a shame because i think he would be into having something soft to press against his rock hard tits

btas: oh god this has the potential to be the sweetest combination, and the most valuable for both of them! i don't know how well they'd do romantically, but the two of them as a duo? even just as friends? bliss. connie would appreciate having an eddie who was polite and calm and willing to explain things and i know he would love having a wide-eyed little idiot to listen to everything he said and go "wow that's so cool" afterwards

capullo: as a self-insert, i'm afraid connie would be hugely attracted to this loser. BUT as a slightly better version of myself, she's aware of her worth as a human being and would probably give him a miss. yeah he might be fun to flirt with or to tease, but she'd avoid being pulled into his bullshit. and i think he'd curse himself for that because he would be very aware of what he was missing

[lifesver]

meta about the tcm game friend group????? yeah!

maria: it is my opinion that leland was really close w maria. i think she was probably the first of the group he met, along w julie and danny? it was his first year in college and he was probably doing way too much initially to try to fit in among the frat boys and w/e, but maria was someone genuine and i think that drew him to her. he loved maria a lot, they had a lot of personal values in common. and i think she impacted his overall view of the world, in that she saw beauty in everything and was just a very open and kind soul. being friends with her probably taught him how to slow down a little bit and appreciate the things that captured her love and interest in photography, like sunsets and flower fields and candids of their friends. and i think about how explosive his reaction was to finding her body at the slaughter house. like, for him it was sort of like... if someone like that could be taken away so cruelly and without reason then like what kind of god would allow that to happen? it drove such an emotional spike in him for a long time, he was just angry and sad and didn't know what to do with that. but, thinking about her very nature and how she saw things probably also helped him heal from the grief of losing her and what happened to them all at that house.

sonny: i think them being besties is so charming to me because it's just so jock nerd archetype it is a wonder that sonny puts up w leland's affectionate one braincell self. and yet... anyway i feel like they either roomed together first year or they met through maria but you already know that sonny is The reason leland isn't failing his courses and leland knows it. i think what leland loves about sonny is that he's so earnest in his interests and how observant he is, noticing things that the average person simply wouldn't. leland just thinks he's neat. and like, he's kind and reliable. even if sonny was scared or had his doubts about going out to find maria, he didn't say no. leland has brawn and courage but he always looks to sonny when there's a choice to be made because he just sincerely trusts his judgement. and though leland will tease him like zzzz nerd shit be so serious bro could listen to sonny talk at him about nerd shit forever because he loves him. anyway if anyone ever steps to sonny while leland's around it's so over for them. that's my emotional support nerd? if anything ever happened to sonny i'd kill everyone in this room etc?

connie: i think danny and julie maybe introduced these two at a party or smth but connie and him got off on the wrong foot for the first little while because he wasn't beating the dumb jock allegations. honestly she was so mean pretty girl from out of state that leland liked her immediately but it was simply not mutual. him, affectionate: ice princess. but anyway she shot him down and humbled him pretty immediately and he was like yeah fair enough! have a great day! anyway somehow he grew on her like some kind of moss and they became pretty inseparable once she figured out he's just dumb (affectionate, unthreatening). he knows she can handle herself but also he steps to any dudes that bother her too much or make dumbass comments. they r each others rocks they both do the 'hiding our emotions to be a source of stability for others' but she's definitely seen his most raw emotional side. he also often looks to her for like... a realistic and honest take on a given situation, because he knows she won't sugarcoat things that he needs to hear. idk he loves her a lot, like he'd listen to her talk about w/e just like very fondly. and appreciates that girl who does not show affection will be affectionate w him u know???

julie: so i think julie and him got along pretty quickly, and she was maybe one of the first of the friend group he met? they're sharing a jock braincell and their vibes are simply on similar wavelengths and honestly i feel like he looks up to her a lot? she's just so cool california girl like she might as well be a hollywood star already. he probably goes to her for advice, and also when he's being vaguely whiny and pathetic. but anyway i can see them being chaotic to deal with in any party game scenario, the dual jock energy is too powerful in any scenario tbh. and while i think julie thinks a little more than he does before jumping, they're kind of the first people to jump in feet first. esp if they were both close to maria. leland's like well if julie's going i'm going. leland really resonates with and appreciates her loyalty and bravery for the people around her, she's someone that probably holds the group together as one of their pillars? that's how he sees her anyway! her presence is an immediate morale boost for him, even and especially in the situation they find themselves in later. trusts her loves her would be there for her no matter what, knows she has his back!

danny: danny is probably someone leland was introduced to through julie and maria, and probably wasn't the type of person leland ever hung out with in like, highschool. obviously danny had a tough upbringing and was kind of other side of the tracks from him, but he also seemed like a very down to earth easy going person so i feel like leland would have at least on his end gotten along with danny quickly. he's just your local chill stoner van vibes type dude how can you not like him. i think they probably share a braincell sometimes like i think they're funny and encourage each other's nonsense. they are giving me vibes of bros who u find passed out cuddling or half sprawled on each other after the party just bro things. but like w/ julie leland appreciates danny's ride or die loyalty like i feel like he was probably also easy to convince to go find maria, since his summary mentions how close he was with her. supposedly also a tough kid so u know, leland and danny handshake emoji protect our friends boys???

ana: idk if any of the friends would have known ana but leland definitely heard about her from maria, and knew how much maria cared about her little sister. i think that immediately upon meeting her, he quickly likes her because of course, she reminds him of one of his closest friends. he's kind of like... in awe and humbled a bit by her determination to find her sister, taking it into her own hands to form a search party. so, whatever his reservations are about anything, there's no shot he could have told her no. i think as they go on the roadtrip, he feels for her being like, an outsider to their group, and kind of does his best to make her feel welcome with them. bring her spirits up a little bit etc. i think he also feels very responsible in particular for keeping her safe, for maria's sake, and then ofc a responsibility to ana to find maria, because he knows their family has been through a lot already. idk, she's brave and resilient and he respects her a lot!