#And end up with what reads like a Very strange love triangle

[pascaloverx]

Moonlight

Summary: You and Edward Cullen used to have a romantic relationship. But fate seemed not to believe in the possibility of a vampire and a potential she-wolf being together. Years after your separation, you return to Forks. Edward is committed to Bella Swan, and Jacob Black has his own pack. What happens when, upon your return, you begin to transform into a she-wolf and both Edward and Jacob seem eager to revisit the past with you?

Author's Note: The characters in this fanfic do not belong to me but to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight universe. The story blends events that happened in the Twilight saga movies with invented ones. Enjoy reading. This story will contain inappropriate language, a possible love triangle, scenes of violence, and romance.

AO3 LINK TWO

ONE

The same nightmare every night, recurring in your mind as if it were an impossible memory to forget. A large part of the Quileute tribe killed by the hands of the one you will someday love. Not that your love story with Edward Cullen was worth anything. After all, he is a vampire. You are a descendant of a lineage of shapeshifters who transform into wolves. What could go right in this story? You've been driving for about two hours to reach Forks. It's been a month since you started having nightmares involving the tribe to which you belong and your ex-boyfriend. So, you decided to return to Forks to see your friends and those who are like family to you and, if possible, stay as far away as possible from Edward Cullen.

"If you had picked up your phone, Sam, you'd know I'm almost there. But since you didn't, just know I'm entering Forks now. I'll head to La Push as soon as possible." You say, leaving a message on Sam's voicemail. He knew you'd be arriving soon but didn't know exactly when. In fact, it was his idea for you to return to Forks. As your nightmares have become more frequent, you're so sleepy that you can barely tell how you're still managing to drive.

And then, like flashbacks in your mind, your moments with Edward and the pack you were part of come to the surface. You remember how you met Edward amidst a fight between the Quileutes and the Cullen vampires. One of them had accidentally crossed the border that separated the vampires from the wolves. It was chaos. Your father, who was alive at the time, was very angry and considered killing a Cullen to show that invading Quileute territory was a bad idea. Luckily, Jacob's father was more sensible. Edward read your mind for the first time that day. He knew you were curious about what the Cullens were doing crossing the border that separated the two enemies. So later, at the border, he found you and explained. Jasper had been hunting an unknown vampire who had hurt Alice and ended up crossing over. That was the first time you wondered if a vampire was okay, and when Edward noticed your slight concern for Jasper, he believed you were different. Amidst your moment of recollection, you lose concentration. But you only realize this when your car hits someone hard. You're dazed by the impact, but as soon as you look ahead, you feel a certain relief. Edward is right in front of you, staring at you with a curious look as if he doesn't quite understand that it's really you.

"What are you doing, Cullen?" you ask in an enraged tone. Of course you're angry. He's a vampire, unscathed after the collision with your car, while your car and you have suffered some impact. I mean, you can feel blood trickling near your right eye, but the damage to your car is definitely more significant.

"It's going to sound strange. Alice had a vision that saw me doing this as soon as you arrived here. I'm not saying I did it on purpose. In fact, I am hunting. But you really are here." Edward speaks as if he still doesn't quite understand that you're actually in front of him. You take a deep breath, trying to resist the urge to kill him for what happened to your car. In reality, you're unsure whether you should get out of the car or not. You're bleeding, and that could be a challenge for Edward.

"I'm not going to attack you, don't worry. I thought you knew I would never do something like that to you. I mean…" Edward says, and you automatically get out of the car, walking toward him. Something about the proximity between you leaves both of you speechless. You always hated when Cullen listened to your thoughts, and he knows that. The courtesy of having your private thoughts respected seemed to be valid only during your relationship.

"You mean you wouldn't attack anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. I know, I know you, Edward. What surprises me is the fact that you don't seem to know me. You know I hate when you… never mind. Maybe you only respected me while we were together. Now we're strangers to each other." You say, realizing how different he seems, even though he hasn't aged a day since the last time you saw him.

"I'm still the same, Y/N. The same guy you walked away from years ago." Edward speaks softly but with a certain sadness in his words. You look at him, unsure of how to respond. Yes, you ended your brief relationship out of fear of what your father would do to him if he found out.

"Look, I didn't intend to bring the past back. I think it's better if you go your way and I go mine." You say, turning to leave and drive your somewhat damaged car. But Edward appears in front of you before you can open the door.

"Carlisle can take care of that for you. I know he'd be glad to see you again." Edward says, stepping a little closer to you. You stare at him, this time not understanding what he wants. It's obvious he's talking about the injury on your head, but you don't understand why he seems so reluctant to distance himself.

"And I should go to your father figure and ask him to help me based on what? The fact that you and I were together years ago? The fact that my tribe has no idea what happened between us? Maybe I should go ask him how he feels about seeing you about to marry a human. What do you think, Edward?" Your tone is absurdly ironic but realistic. Just the fact that you're here now with Edward could jeopardize everything. If Sam or Jacob see you here with him talking about your past relationship, it could cause a mess. Not to mention that Cullen is now committed.

"I caused this in you. Maybe you should go to Carlisle for the same reason anyone in this town would. You've had an accident, Y/N, you need to take care of this." Edward says, gently touching the area where you got hurt. You let out a soft groan of pain and then pull away.

"How do you suggest I deal with the complications that going to Carlisle would bring me?" You ask, almost grumbling. Edward smiles slightly, as if he even misses these conversations you used to have when you were together.

"Do you remember the farthest spot from here where we used to meet when we were dating? Meet Carlisle there when you can. Unfortunately, Jacob is already on his way here, and I think it's better if I'm not here when he arrives." Edward speaks, and before you can say anything in response, he's already gone.

"Your cowardice is remarkable!" You shout, hoping he hears you. As you turn around, Black is behind you. He's clearly sweaty, must have come running in his human form.

"What happened to you, Y/N?" Jacob Black asks, quickly approaching you. He must be worried because you're injured and apparently talking to yourself in the middle of the road.

"I had an accident. I hit an animal, actually. It was quite a mess. How did you know I was here?" You ask curiously as Jacob gets closer to you, analyzing and sniffing you. You wonder if you smell bad, but then remember that Edward was here just a little while ago.

"Since when did you learn to lie to me? I thought we were honest with each other." Jacob says, looking into your eyes, and you feel guilty for lying to him.

"You want to have a relationship argument here? Then it was better not to have come at all. If you could excuse me." You say, walking past Jacob and heading towards your car, but he gently grabs your hand before you can open the car door.

"I missed you," Jacob says as he gently strokes your hand. You look at him and then walk towards him, embracing him.

"I missed you too, more than you can imagine. How about you drive what's left of my car to La Push, so we can have a better conversation?" You say, hugging him tighter, as if you didn't want to let go. It's strange, but seeing him safe made you feel better. After dreaming so many times about Jacob's death, it's good to see him like this.

"I'll drive your old tin can here. You can sit comfortably in the passenger seat. And don't worry, I'm sure there will be some bandages for you there." He says, kissing your cheek and opening the passenger door for you. You get into the car and watch him enter the car and take the wheel. He starts driving, and you slowly begin to close your eyes, hoping that now that you're in Forks, your nightmares won't come true.

[thebestofoneshots]

SERIES MASTERLIST

Gilded Constellations | (wolfstar x reader)

Summary: You meet Sirius and Regulus at a family vacation in the Caribbean, but things don't go as planned and you end up losing contact once the trip is over. Years later your family moves to England and you get accepted at Hogwarts where you finally meet Sirius once again, along with all of his friends. One of them with a mysterious secret, that you'll uncover as you embark on your own Hogwarts adventure. Mostly canon-compliant. This IS a wolfstar x reader fic, but it's incredibly slow burn. They won't start all dating each other until we're very deep into the story, but I promise the long wait will be worth it.

Read Gilded Constellations on AO3

Read the French Translation by @nagareboshi-chiyo

Paring: Sirius Black x Reader / Remus Lupin x reader / Wolfstar x reader

Chapter average: 5k - 6.5 k

Content: Smut in later chapters, Poly!Marauders, throuple, graphic descriptions of violence, MAJOR and minor character death (this is The Marauders Era guys, you know), jealousy, angst, pining, love triangle, LGBTQ+ themes, The Wizarding war 1.0, implied child abuse, possible proofreading errors, mental health struggles, hurt no comfort, hurt with comfort, period typical attitude, first war with Voldemort, canonical character's death, fluff, Requited Love, F/M/M, mostly canon-compliant.

Status: Ongoing (Weekly updates)

♡ Indicates SMUT

PLAYLIST

01 | Summer Breeze

02 | Escape

03 | Bitter Sweet Symphony

04 | Rainy Days and Mondays

05 | Good times

06 | Crazy Little Thing Called Love

07 | Peaceful Easy Feeling

08 I Fooled Around and Fell in Love

09 | The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke

10 | Black Dog

11 | Do Ya

12 | You really got me

13 | Rebel, Rebel

14 | Maybe I’m Amazed

15 | No One Like You

Interlude (Q&A Event)

16 | Boogie Wonderland

17 | Tonight’s What It Means To Be Young

18 | Friends will be Friends

19 | Silver Bird

20 | Bad Moon Rising

21 | Fox on the Run

22 | Long Long Way From Home

23 | Hungry Eyes

24 | Peace of Mind

25 | I’ll get Even With You

26 | Hooked on a Feeling

27 | Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

28 | If You Want BIood, (You’ve Got It)

29 | With a Little Help From My Friends

30 | Bridge Over Troubled Water

31 | Strange Magic

32 | Come a Little Bit Closer

33 | More Than a Feeling

34 | You Belong to Me

35 | Chill of Desire

36 | Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy

37 | Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

38 | Let the Good Times Roll

39 | Running With the Pack

40 | Hot Stuff

41 | Urban Adventure

42 | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

43 | Sympathy for the Devil

44 | No One But You

45 | Hold The Line

46 | Comfortably Numb

47 | Let Me Take You Home Tonight

48 | Dust in the Wind

49 | High Hopes

50 | Love the One You're With ♡

51 | Some Guys Have All The Luck ♡

52 | Twentieth Century Fox

53 | Too Much Love Will KiII You

54 | Sail Away Sweet Sister

55 | Noone Together

56 | Who Wants To Live Forever

57 | Play the Game

58 | Staying Power

59 | Break on Through

60 | Stone in Love

61 | Mr. Blue Sky

62 | Born to be Wild

63 | Something About You

64 | Put Out The Fire

65 | Spell Binder

66 | Hot Love

67 | What's On My Mind

68 | Mysteries and Mayhem

69 | Livin' Thing

70 | Back Talk

71 | We've Only Just Begun

72 | Relentless 

73 | Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’

74 |

75 |

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BONUS TRACKS:

Your Theories, The Note, The Costumes, Sirius and the Chimney, Sirius and Vix after the bad moon, Evans and Vixen, Remus and Vixen at the infirmary, Remus holding Sirius at DADA, Remus and Sirius’ height difference, the FOXSTAR picture, Art by @nineloseteeth, We're going French,

Leave a comment telling me if you want to join the tag list

A/N: Most Poly!Marauders fics are oneshots, where the relationship between characters is already established, and they're all happy and pleased with it. No issues, no drama, but I WANTED the drama. Couldn't find it, so I set myself up to write the story behind the stablished relationship. I wanted to know how they started dating each other, the jealousy, the will they won't they, because getting into a poly relationship can't be an easy task, and I wanted to explore that story. If you're interested: Welcome to Gilded Constellations!

[chiiroptereh]

[Please zoom in, there's a lot of detail! And a massive file size...ouch]

Hi guys, long time no post! Been working on Art Fight and life stuff, but I've got something kinda fun for you.

This is a compilation exploring how a mortal Bill may interact with our world if there were still some kinda Euclidean instincts buried in there. Y'know, before the Book of Bill ruins all my headcanons >:P (EDIT: IT HAS BEEN READ. YAHOOOOOO)

Also quite an experimental piece as you can probably tell. Lots of details on both said headcanons and the art stuff under the cut, but I invite you to study the colorful texture yourself beforehand and think about what it might be representative of, just for fun because I got some really cool answers from my friends when asked :]c

TL;DR: the headcanon is that Euclideans have exceptional eyes for geometry. They find things like symmetry, tessellating patterns, graphs and fractals very aesthetically pleasing. If pushed into our 3D world, they feel comforted by the familiarity flat objects/spaces bring, as well as high-contrast patterns. Shadows especially are a familiar dimensional reduction that may bring them much comfort.

Bill would surely not be happy about these inclinations, constant reminders of a past long gone, but I'm not sure he's even aware of them here :P I think his ego gets in the way to the point where he just views these interests as common sense, which, of course, us lame humans just don't understand because we aren't nearly as cool as him. Of course he likes perfectly symmetrical leaves and staring at the kitchen floor, it's called taste, look it up!

And yet, he can't seem to shake the strange sense of melancholy he gets from viewing his own shadow.

~ End of TL;DR, long version below! ~

🔺 Headcanon Development

So, the catalyst of this idea was in relation to my friend and I's AU ( @love-triangles-au ). TL;DR, Bill's brought back mortal, meets another triangle named Y.V. (it's his hand holding the paper in the piece, actually), at some point they fall in yaois together, you know how it is. And, in writing a pair of triangles (or, more broadly, writing from the perspective of a different species), something I've had to consider was that you really can't get much further removed from a human being than sentient geometry.

The anatomical aspect was mostly figured out (see my piece on Bill's eye-mouth), but I wanted to consider what psychological differences might be at play. I wanted them to be weirder, more alien, double-so for Bill. At first I explored these possibilities through the lens of Bill and Y.V.'s relationship, specifically the question "what might a triangle find appealing about another triangle?"

Well, really the only things that came to mind were straight lines and symmetry, anything related to the geometric form of such a creature. That's more-or-less where that ended until the thought struck me that there's no reason this aesthetic appreciation couldn't extend to the rest of the environment, and then further when I realized, "wait, this is a species that is designed to live in a 2D environment. Like, they should seriously be really weird. I need to push this like 200% more."

So...yeah! I did some thinking and brainstorming with others and came up with a pretty long list of things a Euclidean in our world may be inclined to enjoy or find some level of comfort in. It's worth noting again that in this piece specifically this is a mortal/powerless Bill, so he can't really escape this Earthly environment. IF he's aware of these instincts at all (and that's a big "if"; when have you last been cognizant of your own instincts let alone known where they were stemming from?) I think he'd have snuffed them out in immortality and/or purposefully gone against them; he doesn't take kindly to being told what to do.

In order from left-to-right, top-to-bottom, here's an explanation for each!:

Flat objects such as paper are something he may find particularly engaging. It's basically 2D!

Tessellations are especially fascinating, and our world has them everywhere in the form of tile floors. Symmetry and such a predictable pattern...as the infinity of the starry sky might for us, the infinite potential of tessellations might invoke a similar sense of awe in him. Add on the maximum contrast of black on white kitchen tiles and the forms are only even better defined! A sensitivity to contrast would be very helpful for a 2D being navigating their environment.

Fields are flat and open, much like Euclydia itself. Laying flat may make him feel a little more at home.

More tessellation in the honeycomb of hymenopterans (bees, wasps and friends)! It helps that pain is hilarious.

The city is an absolute treasure trove. Rectangular buildings, precise architecture, square sidewalks and straight lines abound...he may as well be looking at a rainbow or an art gallery! I think a Euclidean's brain is very fine-tuned to mathematics, especially in regards to trigonometry. What may appear to be a straight painting might appear obnoxiously crooked to him.

Zebras are high-contrast :]

Another flat surface, another relaxing space <3

I think graphs are about as high as high art gets to most Euclideans.

I've touched on shadows before, and for good reason; truly they must be something borderline magical to the Euclidean and perhaps bitterly nostalgic.

This one kinda speaks for itself. Dweeb.

🎨 The Artsy Stuff

Lately I've been trying to find ways to fit more color into my work, as color is perhaps one of my favorite things in the world. My wardrobe is rather garish; my dad jokes that you could see me from space. My fursona is obnoxiously bright for a reason -- I feel my soul is a very colorful one!

I also realized recently that I don't actually know the exact style that speaks to me. I could talk about the phenomenon of the "style crisis" that many artists have all day, but in my mind the best cure for this feeling is to go against it entirely and begin stealing as much as possible.

So, I've tried to keep an eye out for more sources of inspiration everywhere I go, physical and digital. I've tried to train my mind into making a habit of considering, "can I do anything with this?" everywhere I go, and it recently paid off!

The glittery rainbowy texture you see plastered all over Billiam is this one, a photo-manipulated set of fruit stickers. I must confess I've been obsessed with this image for the past 72 hours, and this seemed like a good excuse to try it out!

I worried throughout the process if it might be so abstract that it loops back around to being horribly deliberate, if that makes sense -- like each sparkle was not a piece of a whole but rather an object in itself -- but it seems like that hasn't been a problem, so I'm grateful for that :Dc

I hope it can dazzle and delight you as it does me, but as long as you find it fascinating at the very least then I consider it a success! I really enjoyed hearing my friends' interpretations while workshopping it, and got tons of amazing answers from opal to kaleidoscope to fossilized bone marrow! I truly believe that the best art has some room for interpretation and it really excites me to be surrounded by that kind of creative energy that follows said pieces. That definitely adds to my pride in this work. It's weird, it's colorful, it's detailed and yet ambiguous. I'm feeling pretty autistic about it

Alright, I think that's about it. Thanks for listening!

[oceanfruitsstuff]

So, I’m in no way a professional here, but I’ve been learning more about writing and storytelling and all that fun stuff and one thing I love about Stranger Things is how they do love triangles—or more, love upside down V’s, that visual always helps me a bit more when I’m trying to make sense of them.

Stranger Things isn’t over yet, they still have a big chunk left to go, so I’m not going to act like anything is set in stone, they might go a completely different direction we know nothing about and that’s totally fine—but if we’re working with what we know up to this point, it’s always been pretty obvious to me what their intentions are if they’re following the normal structure of love triangles.

So let’s say Mike is character A, El is character B, and then Will is character C. Since Stranger Things isn’t a romance story and there is queerness involved, it’s going to be much more subtle then, let’s say, Steve/Nancy/Jonathan. But I’m getting off topic here, what I’m saying is Mike is not the main focus for both characters, in a show or movie that’s revolving around romance, both B and C characters would, usually, have their main focus be A (the character they want to be with) a big thing for me when I’m reading books with love triangles or watching shows/movies, is that if at any point one of the characters (besides character A) has an important arc of finding independence and learning about who they are, you can almost always rule that character out of being part of the “endgame couple”. Not everytime, but almost everytime. So, the second I watched season 4 it was a big “ohhh” moment for me when I saw what they were doing.

Also, if we’re gonna just follow the cliques of love triangles, the “obvious” or maybe first choice/couple, is very rarely going to be the final couple. Again, not always, but it’s extremely uncommon.

We can even do a comparison to the hunger games, it’s obviously a vastly different story, but there is a similarity woven in with the little love triangle they have going on. Katniss’ first choice is not Peeta, and we all know what happens—but the thing that is bringing me to this point, is that they still are almost always together, their plot lines are lined up. Of course it’s different since Katniss is the only POV, but still, no matter what, she winds up, usually, working with Peeta OR trying to find him once he’s taken.

Circling back to Mike and Will, they’ve never been separated, they’re storylines have been continuously woven together, they flew Mike out to Lenora this season just so he would end up working with Will. The only season they’re apart is season one—but, Mike’s goal the entire time and main focus is Will. They bump together because, a lot of the time, they’re focusing on one another.

A writer wants their endgame couples to be displayed together, the want people to like them together and root for them, or really just see them together. Every single other couple on the show (except for Jonathan and Nancy is season 4) are always shoved next together during the main plot. Joyce and Hopper don’t even start chatting about being together until season 3. We all kind of know where it’s headed, but most of their encounters aren’t romantic, there’s a depth to them that makes it somewhat romantic, but it’s not necessarily written to be that way. If you’re writing a story, you want the two characters you plan to be together to have a heavy background, a good rapport with one another, and to be seen together. Whether they’re currently dating or not, you want your audience rooting for them.

With El and Mike, it’s always been so odd the separation they have—because their arcs are not meant to intertwine, they love each other and hold an important relationship in the story, sure, but one of the reasons I’ve always felt strange watching their relationship on screen is because it doesn’t appear their stories are going in the same direction. There is this lack of romantic depth, or honestly even friendly depth, they hold each other at arms length. I think that’s for many reasons, but an important one is that El’s arc is not romance, I think for her character it would be insane if it was. The things she’s been through are crazy, and she’s only just learning who she is and who she wants to be—based on what we saw in the last scene where she’s practically ignoring Mike, we can assume she’s figured out what she wants.

Very very rarely does character A end up with character B. In real life, maybe, in stories, it’s pretty boring and not what people lean towards. Again, the show is not over, they could shift things around, it’ll be interesting to see—but I would be extremely surprised if Will and Mike don’t end up together or atleast are shown to have mutual feelings, purely just based on the simple storytelling structure they’re following.

Anyway I’m sure a million people have already said this, but the writing of how they’re handing Will and Mike is so interesting to me—and obvious if you’re taking away homophobia.

Characters that are meant to be together are usually shown together. If they’re not, that’s when you ask questions on what else might be going on.

Who knows if I know what I’m talking about, that’s just my POV on it all. I love Mike and Will, I’ve always thought they’d be beautiful together, but season 5 will be super exciting to see.

[itsnesss]

hii!! if possible would you be able to do a miguel & robby x fem!reader? preferably after they’re brothers. maybe it could be set after the end of cobra kai, as if miguel and sam broke up cause she wants to stay in okinawa and tory and robby broke up when she signed a contract to tour the world and he didn’t get one? idk youre the writer ☺️

𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 | robby keene & miguel diaz × fem!reader

summary | you're caught between miguel and robby, both important to you. after an honest conversation, you express your feelings for both, but don’t want to lose your friendship with either

warnings | love triangle, emotional tension, confusion, kissing, jealousy, intimate moments

word count | 2.5 k

author's note | it would help me a lot if you liked, commented and reposted so that more people read what I write and don't forget to follow me, thanks ᡣ𐭩

Life seemed quieter than you had imagined. Everything had changed after the Sekai Taikai, and somehow, the chaos of the rivalry between Miguel and Robby had transformed into something closer to brotherhood. Now, it was rare to see them without being near each other, as if fate had somehow brought them together. But, even though their "brotherly" relationship had been established, there was something else in the air… something that made you feel uncomfortable.

Miguel and you had always been close, but in the past few months, the furtive glances and small gestures had begun to change, and somehow, you felt more connected to him than ever. On the other hand, Robby… after everything that had happened with Tory, his confusion about his future seemed to have made him more reflective, more vulnerable. And that made you want to get closer to him. But how could you tell them that? That you liked both of them.

It all started one afternoon when you had stayed at Johnny and Carmen’s house after practice. Johnny was busy, and Carmen was at work, so Miguel and Robby had stayed with you in the living room. They had started one of their typical arguments about soccer, and although at first you felt like just an observer, little by little you were included in the conversation, which made you happy, even though the tone of the talk felt a little… awkward.

“Admit it, Mexico’s soccer team is better than Argentina’s,” Miguel said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the couch.

Robby, sitting beside you, shook his head. “No, I disagree. Argentina’s team has more history and better players.”

You laughed, watching how they argued as if it were the most important match in the world. You had met these two guys at their worst, during their fighting and rivalry, but now you saw them as brothers, even though things weren’t that simple.

The tension was palpable. Although they had reconciled, something was changing. You, who had always been close to both of them, had noticed those small gestures, those glances filled with something more. And the worst part was that you didn’t know how to handle it. Both of them were important to you, but they were also two guys who now shared something much deeper than simple friendship.

“What do you think?” Miguel suddenly asked, looking at you.

You felt trapped. Why did they always look at you when the conversation was uncomfortable?

“I don’t know…” you said, distracted. “I’m not very good with soccer discussions.”

“You always have an opinion,” Robby commented, his tone playful but with a touch of curiosity.

You decided to change the subject. “How was today’s practice? I think you guys beat me in speed.”

“You’ve gotten faster, that’s true,” Miguel said with a smile, his eyes lighting up as they always did when he complimented you.

Robby, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, watching how you moved. “You’re right, she’s improving. You’re almost at my level.”

At that moment, an awkward silence filled the air. Both guys looked at you with that strange mix of competition and something more that you couldn’t identify. As if they were competing for something you couldn’t see, but somehow, it was far more important than just the training.

You felt nervous, as if it were a dangerous game. You leaned back against the couch, searching for a way to change the subject. But before you could say anything, Miguel leaned in a little closer, as if the previous conversation hadn’t ended.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why do you never talk about your feelings?” Miguel asked directly, as if there were no filter between you.

Robby, sitting next to you, also looked at you, but not with the same intensity. It was as if both were waiting for an answer. And you, as always, felt trapped between them.

“Because… there’s not much to say,” you said, trying to smile to ease the tension.

But neither of them were satisfied with that answer. Miguel leaned in a bit more toward you, his face serious. “You know you can talk to us, right?” His voice became soft, almost worried.

Robby, without saying much, also leaned toward you, his gaze fixed on your eyes. “Whatever’s bothering you, you can tell us.”

And there it was. In that moment, you realized what had been happening between the three of you. It wasn’t just friendship. No, that was already clear. But how could you tell them that you liked both of them? That the thought of choosing between them made you feel like you were betraying someone.

You realized that you couldn’t lie anymore, even though you were scared of what they might say. “I like both of you.” You blurted it out so quickly that you could barely believe it.

There was a brief moment of silence. Neither Miguel nor Robby said anything, but the atmosphere shifted. You could feel it. As if all three of you were breathing in sync, waiting for the other’s response.

Finally, Miguel smiled, his face relaxing instantly. “Don’t take it the wrong way. It’s just that, somehow, we knew.”

Robby, who had been deep in thought, looked at Miguel and then back at you. “It’s weird, right? Being here after everything that’s happened… after everything we’ve been through together. But we get it. It’s not easy.”

You felt relieved that they didn’t judge you. However, that didn’t mean the situation wasn’t complicated.

“I’m not asking you to choose between each other, but I don’t know what to do,” you admitted, feeling pressure in your chest.

Miguel, always the more direct one, moved a little closer, gently touching your arm. “The only thing we ask is that you’re honest with us. We’re not in the same place we were a while ago. We’ve all changed, right?”

Robby nodded slowly. “What’s important is that we’re not fighting over anything… or at least not in the way we used to.”

That made you think. Maybe it was time to let go of the insecurities, to be honest with them and with yourself.

“I want to make this clear. I’m not trying to hurt either of you. I don’t want this to change what we have,” you said sincerely.

Miguel nodded with a warmer smile. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

Robby, though more reserved, gave you a slight smile. “Yeah, we know.”

The rest of the evening passed with laughter and light conversation, but there was something different in the air. The relationship between the three of you had changed, somehow.

At first, they tried to carry on with their usual routines, talking about simple things, as if nothing had changed. But it was clear that all three of you were more aware of what was happening. That night, after a while, Robby was the first to leave the room, maybe to try to process what had just happened. Miguel and you stayed behind, sitting on the couch, with the silence between you two. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but there was something more there, something unsaid, that pulsed in the air.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Miguel suddenly asked, looking down at the floor before lifting his gaze to meet yours.

You stood in silence for a moment, feeling the growing tension inside you. "I'm sorry, Miguel. I didn’t mean for everything to be so… awkward."

He shook his head. "It’s not awkward. It’s just that I never thought things could be like this. I mean… I never imagined things would change between us, but now it feels like everything has taken a different turn."

A part of you wanted to understand what he was saying, but another part felt a tangle of confusion. What direction was this? What was really happening? What did it mean to be caught between two guys who meant so much to you? You didn’t want this to ruin the relationship you had with both of them.

"I just want to be honest, you know? I don’t want either of you to think I’m playing with you. It’s complicated, and I don’t know how to handle it, but I don’t want to lose what we have. I don’t want to lose my friendship with you both."

Miguel looked at you with an intensity that made you nervous but also somehow comforted. "We understand. We’re not here to pressure you. We just want you to be happy, no matter what happens."

Those words, so simple yet so profound, made you feel calmer. But at the same time, something inside you told you this wouldn’t be the last awkward moment. You were about to venture into unknown territory, a place where the lines between friendship and love could become blurry.

Somehow, the fact that you weren’t alone in this, that Miguel was feeling the same, gave you a sense of comfort. But at the same time, it scared you what that meant for the future.

Robby seemed more calm than you expected, but he wasn’t the kind of guy who hid his emotions so easily. His gaze was a little softer, as if he was waiting for you to guide him through what was on his mind.

"What if this doesn’t work?" Robby asked quietly, looking at the stars through the window. "What if this ruins what we’ve built as brothers? The last thing I want is for things between us to become awkward. We’ve been through so much already, and now… should we risk everything?"

Your heart raced. Robby’s words made you reflect on what it really meant to be between the two of them. It was a dilemma, but you knew you couldn’t stay silent any longer.

"I don’t want anything to change between us," you told him sincerely, stepping in front of him. "I want what we have. But I also want to be honest, I can’t deny what I feel. It’s not just for Miguel or for you, but for both of you."

Robby stayed silent for a moment. You knew he was processing what you just said. The same confusion you felt, he was feeling too. The idea of being with both of them, of sharing something so deep, was a heavy burden to bear. But at the same time, you wondered if what you felt was really as wrong as you perceived it.

Finally, Robby sighed and looked at you. "I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want this to tear us apart. But how do we know we can handle this? The truth is, we don’t have all the answers."

That was true. No one had clear answers, but what you did know was that you wanted to try. You didn’t know if it would be easy, you didn’t know if the outcome would be what you expected, but you could feel that, at least, you could take the risk for what you felt.

"I don’t want you to feel pressured, but…" Miguel said quietly, as he moved closer. His eyes met yours, and for a moment, it felt like the world stopped around you two. There was something in his gaze that told you that, despite everything that had happened, everything that was to come, he was there for you.

Your heart raced, but you didn’t know if it was from nervousness or something deeper. Without thinking, you took a step toward him, and in an almost instinctive act, your hands rested on his chest. The contact, though innocent, sparked something in the air, a sensation that intensified with every second that passed. Miguel didn’t say anything, but the intensity in his eyes said everything.

"Miguel…" you murmured, looking for the right words, but he interrupted you softly.

"You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to," he replied, moving closer. The softness in his tone made you feel safe, but also the growing desire for something more. Something you had been avoiding, but now, with him so close, you couldn’t ignore it.

Then, without warning, his hands took yours, and in a gentle motion, he slid them toward his neck. As you did, your fingers met his warm skin, and a shiver ran down your body. The moment was strange, but the tension between you two was so strong you couldn’t help it.

Miguel, just like you, seemed to be fighting against what he was feeling, but when his lips finally met yours, it was like everything clicked. It wasn’t a rushed kiss, but a slow one, full of unasked questions, shared insecurities. The brushing of his lips made you feel vulnerable, but at the same time, filled you with a comforting sensation.

When you parted, you both looked at each other, and in your eyes, there was a mix of desire and fear, as if the simple act of sharing that moment could change everything. But there was no turning back.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I don’t want to lose what we have," Miguel whispered, almost as if he was speaking more to himself than to you.

Before you could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment. Robby had returned to the living room, and although his face didn’t show much emotion, you knew he had been watching in silence, processing what had just happened. Something in his gaze told you he was also dealing with what had occurred, but he wouldn’t admit it easily.

Miguel took a step back, as if realizing he didn’t want Robby to feel excluded. You did the same, but the discomfort in the air became thicker. You knew there was no going back. The dynamic between the three of you had already changed, and although you were all still friends, there was something more, something that had been awakened.

"I don’t want this to make things awkward," Robby said, breaking the silence with his serious tone, but somehow understanding. "I know things between us aren’t easy, but we’ve always been a team, right?

You both nodded, although the air was still heavy. However, somehow, there was a tacit understanding between the three of you. No one was pressuring anyone, but emotions were already in the air.

Robby slowly approached you, and with a trembling but determined hand, he stroked your cheek. It was a gentle gesture, tender, almost as if he was seeking your permission without saying a word. His touch was comforting, although his gaze showed a mix of uncertainty and desire. Something in his gesture made you feel safe, as if he too was willing to navigate through this uncertain sea.

Finally, he leaned in, and although his kiss was as soft as Miguel’s, there was a difference. It was calmer, more full of tenderness, as if he wanted to protect something that both of you knew couldn’t be had without some degree of sacrifice. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but left you with a strange sensation, as if you were caught between two worlds.

When you separated, Robby kept his hand on your face, caressing your skin, and in his gaze, there was a softness you hadn’t seen before. Miguel silently watched from a corner, with an expression showing a mix of jealousy and understanding.

[talkdutchtome]

Glitch- chapter seven (18+)

pairing . . . max verstappen x reader / mason mount x reader )

summary . . . when mason mount finds out that his assistant has been harbouring feelings for him for years, he makes it clear he doesn't feel the same way. but once he sees her become closer with formula 1 world champion max verstappen, he realises he may have underestimated his feelings towards the girl he has now pushed into the arms of another )

genre . . . angst )

song . . . glitch- taylor swift )

series masterlist . . . available here )

warning . . . this chapter contains smut, 18+ MINORS DNI, oral (f & m receiving), p in v, unprotected sex, creampie, use of petnames, very slight fdom -blink and you'll miss it-, if you don't want to read the smut there is a border where it starts and finishes so you can skip it )

a/n . . . i think this chapter might make some of you mad but this is a love triangle fic, it's going to be a lil messy, like me. i promise we'll be back to what you like for chapter 8. feedback is always appreciated, i love to read all of your thoughts )

“No”  

Max’s words swirled around Y/N’s head long after he had left. She had asked him if he wanted to come in and he just said no. He didn’t say “I’d love to, but I can’t tonight” he didn’t even say “Thanks but I don’t think I want to, let's take things slow” he just said “No”. Quicky followed up by “Okay, Bye”. She was completely dumbfounded, stood outside her flat; as Max's abrupt departure replayed in her mind, each step he took away from her feeling like a punctuation mark to their strange encounter. 

The second she found herself in her flat, the uncorked bottle of wine sat on her kitchen side, beckoned to her, and without much consideration, she filled a glass to the brim. The rich red liquid seemed to mirror the swirling thoughts in her mind, each sip a bitter-sweet reminder of the unexpected turn of events. Tonight was going so well; she didn’t understand what went wrong.  

She replayed the encounter in her mind, trying to dissect what had just happened. She felt upset, a sting of rejection cutting through her. Yet, there was also frustration—why couldn't Max have communicated his feelings instead of abruptly walking away. If he didn’t want to take it further, obviously she wouldn’t be mad at that, she’s not a monster; but he could of at least spoke to her about it rather than just walking away. 

The room was softly lit, and Y/N continued to sip her wine, lost in her own thoughts. The wine was becoming both a friend and an escape, pulling her further into a comforting haze. The recent complications weighed on her, each sip a fleeting attempt to numb the complexities swirling in her mind. 

With each gulp, she dove deeper into her contemplations, navigating through the messy tangle of feelings. Life, once simple, now felt like a puzzle missing a few crucial pieces. The familiar sounds of laughter and joy were replaced by a haunting silence, broken only by the occasional clink of the glass against the table and the distant hum of the city outside. 

The glass became a conduit for her musings, carrying the weight of her thoughts as she pondered the unexpected twists, the encounters that left her head spinning, and the undeniable shifts in relationships. Everything seemed burdened, complicated. As the night wore on, the glass emptied, and her thoughts grew hazier. Eventually, the weight became too much. She remembered sinking into the cushions of her sofa, the glass slipping from her fingers. Sleep claimed her, the complexities of life blending into dreams until the room was wrapped in a deep, velvety darkness. 

The next few days passed, and the day of the first Chelsea game of the season quickly rolled around. As Y/N prepared for the match, the uncertainty surrounding Max lingered in her thoughts. The absence of any communication since the peculiar end to their evening left her grappling with a myriad of unanswered questions. She couldn’t bring herself to messaging him first, after all she was left with quite the bruised ego when he left like he did; so, the silence from Max had become a palpable void, and she started to accept the possibility that she might never receive the answers she sought. 

Dressed in her favorite Chelsea shirt, with Mount 19 proudly displayed on the back; she made her way to the staduim, trying her best to push everything she felt about Max down to the pit of her stomach so she could be in the right frame of mind to not only support Mason but the whole team. 

At Stamford Bridge, the buzz of anticipation hung in the air. Y/N took her seat in the family box, surrounded by the sea of Chelsea blue. Beside her, Louisa, Ben's girlfriend, struck up a conversation. 

"Did you ever find out what was wrong with Mason that night at the gala?" Louisa inquired, her eyes fixed on the pitch as the players warmed up. 

Y/N shook her head, her gaze following the familiar figure of Mason on the field. "No, I tried asking the next day, but he wouldn't say anything. It's been a bit weird since then." 

As the game kicked off, Y/N found herself immersed in the ebb and flow of the match. The energy in the stadium was electric, and emotions swirled with each pass and tackle. Chelsea was facing Liverpool, a formidable opponent, and every moment felt charged with anticipation. 

The clock ticked away, and tension mounted as both teams vied for control. Then, a surge of jubilation erupted through the stands. Mason had scored, his name echoing through the stadium as fans erupted in cheers. Chelsea took the lead, and the scoreboard displayed a triumphant 1-0. 

Amidst the celebration, Y/N couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Mason's goal was a bright spot in a narrative that had become increasingly complex, and as the final whistle blew, sealing Chelsea's victory, for once Y/N just let herself feel happy; freeing her momentarily of the stress of day to day life. Her team had just won a very important game, and her best friend was the reason for that.

The vibrant cheers echoed through the stadium as Chelsea celebrated a hard-fought victory against Liverpool. Mason, the star of the match, was awarded the title of man of the match, and Y/N couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as she made her way down to the pitch to assist him with media obligations. 

Amid the chaos of jubilant players and buzzing journalists, Y/N found Mason, his face adorned with a triumphant smile. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, offering a congratulatory kiss on his cheek. The elation of the win permeated the air as they navigated through the sea of celebrations. 

Once Mason had spoken to seemingly every media outlet in the UK and was ready to head to the changing rooms, the rest of the team had been and gone. Anticipating this, Mason invited Y/N to come in with him as he got ready rather than her waiting outside for him. 

Mason was midway through changing when Y/N decided to seize the quiet moment and address the lingering tension from the gala. Maybe there would have been a better time to do that rather than when Mason was stood shirtless only wearing a pair of football shorts, but Y/N was never one for picking her moments well.  

"Mason, what was wrong with you the other night? You seemed so sad." she ventured, her tone a mix of firmness and concern. 

Mason, in his usual deflective manner, offered a unconvincing, vague explanation about being stressed. But Y/N, remembering the promise they made after their tumultuous encounter in Spain, was determined to dig deeper. 

"Come on, we promised each other after Spain that we would be more open," she reminded him, the charged atmosphere subtly drawing them closer. 

He glanced at her, the defensive facade momentarily faltering. The seconds ticked by, intensifying the electric tension between them. Y/N, her voice now a gentle yet insistent whisper, pressed on. 

"Tell me, Mason. I need to understand," she implored, their faces now only inches apart. As he sighed, wrestling with his internal turmoil, Y/N's hand found his, pulling him back towards her. Their proximity became palpable, both aware of the unspoken emotions lingering in the air. 

"It was hard, okay?" Mason finally admitted, breaking the silence. "Seeing you with Max, all close and flirty. It messed with my head." 

The confession hung in the air, a vulnerable admission. Y/N, her voice nothing more than a whisper, continued her quest for understanding. 

"Why would that be hard for you?" 

Mason, caught between the desire to retreat and the need for honesty, hesitated. Y/N, sensing the gravity of the moment, held onto his hand, their connection unspoken but profound. Their eyes locked, and Mason slowly, almost hesitantly, began to lean down, his eyes never leaving hers and his hands coming up to cradle her face. Time seemed to stretch, the anticipation building with each passing second. 

Then, all at once, his lips met hers in a kiss that held the weight of unspoken emotions. It was a collision of feelings, a dance of two souls navigating the uncharted territory of their connection.  

As their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, it was as if the world around them slowed down. Mason's touch was gentle, almost cautious, as if he was testing the waters of Y/N's response. His lips moved against hers with a delicate grace, and for a moment, the kiss hung in the air like a fragile connection. 

But as Y/N's hands found their way into Mason's hair, threading through the strands, the nature of the kiss shifted. The softness gave way to a growing passion, a shared desire that couldn't be contained. Mason, feeling the response from Y/N, allowed himself to be pulled into the depths of the kiss. It became more than a simple meeting of lips; it turned into a dance of longing and unspoken emotions. 

Their connection deepened, and the kiss became more fervent, more desperate, as if they were trying to convey all the unspoken words and unexpressed feelings through the intimacy of the moment and quickly things progressed with Y/N breaking their contact to pull her shirt over her head, leaving her stood there in just a Chelsea blue bra and skirt she wore to the game.  

For the first time since he kissed her, Y/N made eye contact, gone were his soft, honey coloured eyes, replaced by dark orbs staring down at her. It was like he was trying to take a mental image of the woman standing in front of him, lips swollen and parted, very slightly panting from the breathlessness that came from kissing him. 

A second passed where the pair just stood in front of each other, almost as if they were giving each other one last chance to back out before things went beyond the point of no return. The silence was deafening and after a beat they reattached themselves to each other, with Mason pulling her onto him as he backed up onto a bench and sat down, bringing her with him onto his lap. His lips finding her collarbone as his hands grabbed her ass. The way his expert lips sucked and nibbled her neck sent shockwaves through her body and she found herself grinding herself against his lap, desperate for anything that would help the dull ache coming from between her legs, eliciting a low moan from the man beneath her.  

It was evident the effect that Y/N was having on Mason from the growing hardness that she could feel under her, and when she removed herself off of his lap and dropped down to her knees Mason had thought he had died and gone to heaven. For the first time since Mason had kissed her, one of them spoke, “Is this okay?” she asked him, her hands hovering just above the place where he needed her the most, prompting him to nod his head ferociously. “Yeah it’s good” 

With that conformation, Y/N settled herself between his legs on the floor and began to place soft barely-there kisses down his stomach until she reached the waistband of his shorts. Mason was squirming, she hadn’t even touched him yet, but she seemed to have full control of him, something he had never experienced before. The second that Y/N’s hands went to lightly tug at his shorts, Mason was lifting himself of the bench, allowing her to pull down his shorts and underwear in one go. 

The sight of Mason’s dick slapping his stomach as his shorts were pulled down was one to behold. Y/N would be lying if she said she had never imagined this, put one thing she never considered was that he would be this big. She watched the way it throbbed in time with his heartbeat, the way a bead of precum spilt from his tip. And then in a move that made Mason whine, she placed her hands at the base of his dick, and darted her tongue out to catch the droplet. The taste of him was musky, almost sweet; and the most addictive thing she had ever experienced. She went in again, very slowly placing her mouth around his tip and swirling her tongue around it.  

“Oh fuck Y/N yo-” Mason’s voice was deeper than she had ever heard as he called out for her, but when she took him further in her mouth, his voice gave out. His hands found her hair, grabbing in into a makeshift ponytail as she continued to bob her head up and down on his dick, swirling her tongue as she did so. 

It was becoming all too much for Mason, the sight of his best friend on her knees for him, making him feel this good. He quickly found himself close to cumming, but not wanting this to be over, he used his grip on her hair to gently pull her off of him.  

“That felt so good baby, but I don’t want to cum yet” he told her when he caught sight of her pouting at the loss of contact. 

“I need to be inside of you Y/N, need to know how you’d feel squeezing tight against me” His words were sinful, and they made her desperate for him. He stood up, grabbing her hand to bring her up from her knees to before gesturing at her to sit down in the place he had vacated. Then he dropped to his knees, placed her legs over his shoulder and moved the fabric of her skirt out of the way, letting him see her soaked through panties.  

He dived in, placing hot, open-mouthed kisses on her clothed pussy, running his finger ever so gently across her, before hooking it under her underwear and pulling them off. The sight of her cunt, glistening and wet made him again, wish he could take photos with his mind. Never wanting to lose this image for so long as he lived.  

“Please Mase” Y/N spoke, her voice breathy and desperate.  

Mason didn’t need to be asked twice, bringing his mouth to her, licking a long strip across her slit before attaching his lips to her clit. The way he sucked at and nibbled her sensitive bud made her see stars. And when he brought his hand up to start pumping his fingers inside of her whilst still attacking her clit with his mouth, she quickly found herself close to the edge. His expert fingers curving up to her, making her legs tremble and her toes curl.  

“Oh Masey, I’m so close please don’t stop” she whined in between heavy breaths. At her words, Mason sped up his actions, bringing her closer and closer to cumming until she finally reached her climax with a squeal, trapping Masons head between her legs as she squeezed them together in the sheer exstacy she was feeling. 

Once she had released her grip on the man's head, he came up to kiss her, the kiss was needy and desperate, and she could taste herself on his tongue. It was utterly filthy, and she never wanted it to end. If she could, she would stay in this moment with Mason forever, wrapped up in him and their pleasure, nothing else. Nothing complicated or uncomfortable, just simply pleasure.  

Mason pulled himself off of her lips and took his place back on the bench, swiftly pulling her onto his lap. His manhood nudging itself against her warm core. His lips reattached themselves to her neck, suckling and biting; leaving marks peppered against her skin. He pulled back and admired his work, admired how good her skin looked littered with his marks, the way it made her look like she was his, she was only his.  

“I’m going to fuck you now, is that okay?” Mason said, reaching for his hard dick beneath her, pumping it in his fist, prompting Y/N to nod her head frantically, desperate for him. “No baby I need words, tell me you want this” He spoke again, wanting to be sure that this is what she wanted, wanting to be sure that she wouldn’t regret this.  

“I want this, please Mason I want this so bad” she told him, becoming desperate, her wet cunt clenching around nothing in anticipation. 

So, Mason did what she asked, and lined up his cock to her pussy, gripped her hips and brought her down onto him; strings of moans and cries falling from both of their mouths as he began to stretch her. Wanting to take control, Y/N placed her hands on Masons chest and began to ride him, grinding down onto him after each bounce. Mason was quickly becoming unglued, the way that that best friend bounced on his dick, clenching around him made him go crazy.  

Y/N quickly found herself becoming closer and closer to the edge, and when Mason started to rub circles on her clit, she fell apart. Calling out for the man beneath her as she came on his dick, her cunt squeezing him tight. The sight of Y/N reaching climax meant Mason was not far behind. He spilled out inside of her, filling her up with his cum as he kissed her deeply, moaning into her mouth. 

For a second, he stilled inside of her, resting his forehead against hers as they caught their breath. She kissed him one last time before getting up off of him, feeling his cum run down leg as she did so. She tried to find something to say, anything to say; but she came up with nothing. What could she say? What did this mean? The cloud of lust had dissipated and the gravity of what just happened began to sink in.  

After they had come down from the high of the moment before, the air hung heavy with an unspoken tension. As they both processed what had just transpired, a palpable awkwardness settled between them. They found themselves in a silent ballet of getting dressed and composed, each movement filled with uncertainty. The room seemed to echo with the weight of the unspoken. In a fragile quiet, they avoided eye contact, unsure of what to say or how to navigate the aftermath of their unexpected moment together. The atmosphere became a canvas painted with uncertainty, the seconds ticking away in awkward silence. 

It was in this vulnerable moment that Ben casually strolled into the changing room, unwittingly disrupting the delicate balance that lingered in the air. "Where've you two got to?" he asked, sensing that something unusual had occurred. Mason responded a little too quickly, "Just got to talking. Lost track of time." 

Ben eyed them with a confused look, sensing there was more to it but deciding not to pry. "Well, we're going out for a few drinks to celebrate the win. You two coming?" 

Mason nodded, "Yeah, I'll come." 

Y/N, still caught in her own thoughts, didn't immediately respond. Ben noticed her distraction and asked, "What about you, Y/N? Coming for a celebratory drink?" 

She hesitated, glancing at Mason. "I, uh, I've got some work to do," she started, realizing it was a flimsy excuse. 

Ben raised an eyebrow, "Work? On a match day? Come on, just one drink." 

Caught in the moment and not wanting to draw more attention to herself, Y/N reluctantly agreed, "Fine, just one drink." 

The bar buzzed with celebration as the team and their partners reveled in the victory. However, amidst the cheerful atmosphere, an undeniable tension lingered between Mason and Y/N. It wasn't the palpable anger like last time; instead, it felt like an uncharted territory of discomfort, as if both were uncertain of how to address the recent shift in their relationship. 

Y/N found herself sitting in a sea of voices, yet she remained silent, her gaze fixed on her drink, the weight of the unspoken hanging heavily. Ben, ever the most observant yet oblivious man in the room, couldn't help but notice a string of subtle marks on Y/N's neck, a telltale sign of a love bite. With a mischievous grin, he couldn't resist teasing her. 

He grinned, "Looks like someone had a good time. Max, huh? You guys enjoy yourselves?" 

The question hit the room like a sudden chill, drawing Mason's attention. His jaw tightened, and he clasped his glass a bit more firmly, an expression of annoyance flickering across his face. Reece, seated nearby, picked up on Mason's reaction, his eyes flicking between his friend and Y/N. 

Y/N chuckled awkwardly, attempting to diffuse the situation by offering a half-hearted explanation. "Oh, that's just a burn from my hair straightener." 

Ben, persistent in his teasing, pressed further, noting, "But you have naturally straight hair, don't you?" 

Y/N squirmed under the spotlight, feeling the discomfort escalate. "Well, I straighten it every day," she mumbled, her attempt at normalcy faltering. Before Ben could continue his line of inquiry, Y/N's phone rang, offering a timely escape from the awkward conversation. She quickly grabbed her phone, signalling a temporary reprieve from the scrutinizing gazes and the unspoken tension between her and Mason. 

The night air felt cool against Y/N's skin as she stepped outside and glanced at her phone, revealing Max's name on the screen. She felt her stomach drop at the sight of his name across her screen; she had accepted that she wouldn’t hear from him again. Hesitating for a moment, she considered not answering, still stung by the abrupt way he left. 

Eventually, she sighed and pressed the answer button. "Hi," she greeted cautiously, uncertainty lacing her voice. 

"Can we talk?" Max's voice, though warm, carried an undertone of hesitation. 

Y/N swallowed, the remnants of hurt and confusion lingering. Nevertheless, she nodded silently, a tentative "yes" escaping her lips. 

As Max began to unravel his thoughts, Y/N listened, her emotions swaying with each word. "I'm sorry," he confessed, a heavy sigh preceding the admission. "I panicked that night. I've been bouncing around, one meaningless nightstand after another, and I don't want us to be like that. All I wanted was to stay with you that night, but I want more than just a moment. I want us to be more than that. These feelings make me uncomfortable and weird, and I'm so unsure about everything in life. Except for one thing – I'm sure I want you." 

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[superkooku]

I just finished reading The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and what a ride that was !

While reading, I quickly realized how much of a disadvantage we, as modern readers, are in because we already know the plot twist. Just in case, by some miracle, someone reads my post and doesn't know the twist : take the book and have fun, avoid any discussion about it before chapter 9 or 10.

At least, it allowed for an interesting second reading : I could spot every detail and hint because I already knew the answer. Still, the mystery itself is worth reading it blind.

Seriously, I really like how the book built up the cases in a satisfying way, with multiple hypotheses that we could make, characters worrying and making up stuff, potential blackmailing and Jekyll being seen as this innocent victim/unwilling accomplice at first, etc... and really, there's no way to guess the answer because of the different appearances and red herrings.

Readers were like the people of London, pitying Jekyll while hoping that Hyde gets caught, as if that isn't exactly what he intended.

Then, we have all this section in the end about Jekyll explaining everything in detail, slowly piecing back every part of the puzzle together and I also like how he describes his psyche and desires. His motivations are interesting and fundamentally human. The book is fascinating to a degree that pop culture never could replicate because they take the very human repressed vices and desires behind Hyde's existence to replace it with typical monster stuff.

Anyways, I love this book and would love you guy's opinion on it :3

The twist I'm talking about below the "read more section". Spoiler alert about something probably everyone knows.

Of course, Jekyll and Hyde are two facets of the same man. It's also interesting how Jekyll isn't 100% good but just a complete human, since the transformation releases his impulsions.

I just like the reasoning behind Hyde's appearance and existence and wanted to ramble about it, then the disastrous consequences of his actions. The psychological aspect and the last chapter are the highlights of this book.

The human part is, I'll highlight it again, quite realistic, even though the potion and transformation are obviously not. Part of his motivations, for exp, were social pressure and even him being exhausted after tough studies but never managing to have fun or indulge in his pulsions. ESPECIALLY in victorian London.

I even prefer the book to the musical, since there isn't that weird love triangle subplots (though the ladies' voice were nice to listen to, imo) and the story is better written. Though I listened to the musical while reading the book, because it's one of my favorites after Epic.

That said, the fact that Hyde pushed a girl on the sidewalk is considered a heinous crime by everyone (even Jekyll himself) will never stop being hilarious.

[evilpenguinrika]

Okay so I had another thought about Descendants Rise of Red

Under read more cuz it's gotten a tad long. Also spoilers.

Throughout the movie, I legit thought that Uliyana was a red herring with the whole horrible prank on Bridget that made her turn from a sweet girl into a tyrannical leader because of what Ella said about it when QoH was staging the coup.

Like I DON"T KNOW to me it felt like they were setting up Ella as the person who actually did the prank (maybe against her will or was just part of a group that decided to do it and she just stayed quiet and went along with it despite not vibing with the prank at all).

And then we got introduced to Uliyana and her group and like they very clearly obviously had her set up as the one responsible (even though I was still under the impression that she was still a red herring and it was actually Ella)

But no

It... It was Uliyana

I felt like the writers had such a perfect opportunity to dive just a little deeper into the complexities of high school drama and high school cliques and teenagers. Because yeah, teenagers can be so incredibly cruel and so incredibly mean. And like, I kinda also assumed it was like your typical dumb love triangle bs with Bridget Ella and Charming as well and maybe that's why Ella did the prank idk. Like the two girls are interested in him but it's also a little more apparent that Charming is interested in Bridget and maybe Ella got jealous. And with how horrible her home life is, she just wanted something for herself for once and had a horrible lapse in judgment in playing a mean prank on Bridget.

And like if you think about it, how horrifying is it to discover your one and only friend stabbed you in the back and humiliated you for selfish reasonings (or maybe other reasonings) and that's how she became the QoH, which could tie back into that song about how love ain't it or whatever it was called, like it would further emphasize just why QoH is the way that she is and why she finds the notion of love and trusting humans/humanity so asinine because she had something horrible happen to her, a trust and betrayal, that has since hardened her heart.

Idk if this made any sense I'm just word vomiting at this point

like IDK THEY HAD A PERFECT SET UP. ULIYANA WAS LIKE A CLEAR RED HERRING (kinda like first movie with snatching of the wand and ppl thought it was Mal but nope it was Jane. See? Red herring. Kinda. Probably.) like it was an obvious choice but then the reveal that it wasn't Uliyana would have been juicy

Oh, I also wished they had more of a clear consequence of time travelling at the end. Like I was holding my breath the entire time anticipating some sort of time-travel consequence

But

There was none

Which makes no sense because when you time travel and change the timeline, there's gonna be consequences. It's sort of an important story beat to have (one example I can think of right now is the first Life is Strange game with Max's time travelling powers and how the more she uses her powers, the more fuckery shit happens where you either watch your best friend die to save an entire town or sacrifice an entire town to save your best friend). I wish they gave us something, because then it would definitely help set us up for the next movie since apparently people are saying Rise of Red is supposed to be a two parter? Or maybe not have it so blatantly obvious but still have something there to let us know "oh, something ain't right" (like I get QoH having that drastic change is already like its own thing, but idk give us more. I want more.)

ANYWAYS again, idk, just word vomiting don't mind me

[squizstew]

NEW HYPERFIXATION UNLOCKED 🔥🔥🔥

Okay okay I know this musical has been on a rampage lately (especially in America) but I’m just so in love with this musical.

Now that I’ve listened to the entire 1998 Broadway soundtrack a total of three times, I can 100% understand how people are pissed about people romanticizing this musical. It’s mind boggling how someone could love this for the aesthetic, because the topic is quite scary and proof how history is a cycle.

I think I love this musical so much not just because of how fucking amazing the music is, but how i find it to be a coping mechanism due to the current political climate basically everywhere. It’s such a cautionary tale, and it captures the topic in such an amazing way. When you think it’s just a safe song it’s a sudden boom and realization of “oh shit”.

I’ve kinda been just ranting on about this musical but lots of people probably have no clue what I’m on about so I’ll explain the plot:

Basically, an American writer named Cliffford Bradshaw stumbles into the Kit Kat Klub in Berlin, Germany while looking for inspiration for his novel during post WW1 (1929-1930). Of course at that time, the Nazis are coming into power due to Germany being in significant financial debt and in the midst of a depression which is the most significant part of the story. There, he sees “the master of ceremonies” (or the host of the club), Emcee who’s quite quirky and strange, but has his moments of seriousness which is always a punch in the gut.

He meets Sally Bowls, and English girl who’s a very talented performer at the club. There, they form a romantic relationship. During the musical, the tone shifts from exciting and romantic to violent, as he learns that his first friend in Germany is an up and coming Nazi member, and an old lady and her fiancé become victims of an anti-Semitic hate crime.

Sally becomes pregnant, Cliff tries to convince Sally to come to America with him but she gets an abortion and encourages him to leave while she stays and abandons her chance to leave pre-WW2 Germany. She kinda realizes this and the second to last song “Cabaret” is her basically having a manic breakdown. At the end of the musical, Cliff leaves Germany, telling (what I think is probably a, like, helper of sorts for trains) that it isn’t very likely he will return.

Emcee, who throughout the entire musical is quite a bit more important than I’ve described him as, is transported to a concentration camp, where he kills himself by jumping into an electrical fence, which is represented at the end of the musical. At the end of the stage performance, he slowly (and suggestively in Emcee fashion) takes off his trench coat.

People probably expect something very different, but when he takes off his trench coat completely, he has a concentration camp uniform, with a yellow star (the badge for Jewish people), a pink triangle (the badge for homosexual men), and i think a red star or triangle which is supposed to be the badge for political enemy, if I’m correct. That’s when he sings his last lines, and the musical ends.

This musical made me feel things. It made me realize so many things. People who are most likely to become victims of these types of things are the people who are most likely to ignore or even support them. It’s a cautionary tale of the uprising of fascism, and how to avoid falling for it before it’s too late. I find it very scary that this musical is prominent now. Like I said in the beginning of this post, it shows how we love to repeat history.

I would say I’m sorry for my rant, but I am not at all sorry for it. Thanks for reading this all the way if you have. Consider listening to it in its entirety. It’s a great musical and people can benefit from learning from it.

[starskytohutch]

STARSKY VS HUTCH in season 4 is a really weird episode… because the entire episode? Just feels like Hutch trying to use Kira to make Starsky jealous. Or like he’s repressing things about either personal insecurities, or Starsky (wether that be platonic, romantic, or almost being jealous of Starsky as a person). It doesn’t even really feel like Hutch likes Kira, but rather wants her to fill something within him

“We’ve got starsky to consider”

“What about starsky”

The scene that particularly gets me is when Starsky admits he’s jealous of Hutch, snd all of a sudden Hutch gets happy, his happiness doesn’t come from Kira but from Starsky being jealous. It almost like validation that Starsky thinks he capable of that or that Starsky thinks of him in such a high regard or on that same playing field. But as soon as Starsky admits he loves her, his face drops, he’s upset that Starskys in love with her. And when going to Kira’s house, again, he’s not upset that Kira’s in love with Starsky but upset that Starsky in love with Kira. Am I crazy? Or like do you guys kinda feel my point? Maybe? No?

The way he is completely ready to just ditch her as soon as she says she loves starsky. He’s like “ok, yeah, that’s that.” But until he realizes she’s playing a game and he can too, does he give in… like for Starsky this feels a lot more like a genuine one on one relationship but for Hutch this is a consideration of Starsky and a reflection for himself. He just allows Starsky to beat him up too- Kira thinks theirs two sides, Starsky thinks his love is between him and Kira alone, and Hutch just thinks about Starsky and what he can do to make this about him and Starsky.

Very strange episode- how do you all feel about it? I feel it’s saying something about Hutch a lot more then the surface level. I think starsky through out the entire show is a very loyal, personal, romantic guy, so when watching this episode, I feel a lot more volume about Hutch and his own character and what exactly this reveals about him. He feels insecure, like he’s using his “player” style to avoid confronting his own personal problems, like he can’t help himself.

ALSO THE ENITRE FUCKING ENDING!???? Choosing each other over anything? Like getting over this petty dispute!?!? I just feel their is so much to over analyze, interpret, and dissect in this episode. (Maybe I’m crazy and reading into things, but it’s really fun to look at this episode through different lenses) I don’t have the time nor the intelligence to do it- but I just find this episode intriguing!!!!

ALSO ALSO ALSO!!!! At the very end scene- they wore matching outfits. And had specific lines to say to Kira to reject her. So they resolved this WAY before meeting her, they were like 4 steps ahead of her? So they fully met? With Kira? Just to rub it in her face? That they would prefer each other to a love triangle… baffling. Just baffling.

[aggro-my-beloved]

Rach’s Reading Wrapped: December 2024

to encourage me and my followers to read more (knowledge is power!) i will be logging all the books i’ve read through the duration of each month, giving my honest reviews, tagging some moots, etc. consider this a test run, and let me know if this should become a regular thing? im curious to know y’all’s thoughts of some of these so if you’ve read them interact with me and let me know!

“Landline” by Rainbow Rowell

free pdf / free audiobook

synopsis: fifteen years ago, on christmas day, georgie mccool’s boyfriend drove halfway across the country to propose to her. this christmas, he’s headed in the other direction. should Georgie follow him? should she call him and beg him to come back? something very strange happens every time she picks up the phone…

published: july 3rd, 2014

genre: contemporary romance

rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

review: not one of my favorites from rainbow. for half of the story i was convinced i’d been duped into another tired love triangle. i was pleasantly surprised to find though, that the overarching themes of romance weren’t pointing to the common message of falling in love with the right person, but rather falling back into love even when you thought you did wrong or messed up. is it worth re-reading? i’d say no. nonetheless, it will tug at your heartstrings and make you yearn for the domestic turmoil to find resolve.

moot i think should read this: @no-see-um-incorrect

“The Spellshop” by Sarah Beth Durst

free pdf

synopsis: this was a good place with kind people who care about each other. there was a unicorn in the woods, mermaids in the coves, and the best raspberries she’d ever tasted. and there was larran…

published: july 9th, 2024

genre: romantasy

rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

review: for all my cottagecore bitches, this is the coziest read of the year! it’s the perfect balance of fantasy, comedy, and pure fluff. durst does an exquisite job of world building and constructing chemistry between characters. she mentioned in her acknowledgments something along the lines of writing a book that’s like drinking hot chocolate, and she succeeded! :)

moot i think should read this: @infinitelovewiithoutfulfilmentt

“They Both Die at the End”

by Adam Silvera

free pdf / free audiobook

synopsis: on september 5th, a little after midnight, death-cast calls mateo torrez and rufus emeterio to deliver some bad news: they’re going to die in less than twenty-four hours. mateo and rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their end day. the good news is there’s an app for tat. it’s called last friend, and through it, rufus and mateo meet up for one final epic adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

published: september 5th, 2017

genre: young adult, LGBTQ+ drama

rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

review: “paper towns” vibes, right away (maybe a bit more depressing). perhaps its the kickass drugs i’m prescribed but i didn’t cry as much as i thought i would. all in all, a great read highlighting the modern day’s technological downfalls, and a love story between man and life that will make you want to live the adventure yourself.

moot i think should read this: @moronkyne

“Under Loch & Key” by Lana Ferguson

free pdf

synopsis: keyanna "key" mackay is used to secrets. raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it's only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he'd always refused to speak of. with just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father's life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, key has no idea what she'll find in scotland. but repeating her father's mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman--who thinks she's an idiot--is definitely the last thing she expects. lachlan greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore--a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he's been taught not to trust. he's looking for answers as well, and key's presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. it's even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. things he shouldn't care about, and someone he definitely doesn't find wildly attractive. when their secrets collide, it becomes clear that lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after--and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they'll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

published: december 3rd, 2024

genre: small-town paranormal romance

rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5)

review: i’ve discovered i’m not a smut heavy reader, and after introducing the first sexually explicit chapter, the author seemed to include even more smut-heavy scenes after every other major plot point, as though to be a palate cleanser of sorts? **for those wondering, this does include monster romance** if not for the more domestic scenes and humorous dialogue, i would probably rate it lower, but the central plot of the book is very well introduced and the character chemistry is off the charts! (it’s also worth noting that the enemies to lovers hinted in the synopsis doesn’t last more than a few chapters…)

moot i think should read: @ashertickler

“Will Grayson, Will Grayson”

by John Green & David Levithian

free pdf / free audiobook

synopsis: one cold night, in the most unlikely corner of chicago, two strangers cross paths. two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, culminating in heroic turns-of-heart and the most epic musical to ever grace the high school stage.

published: april 6th, 2010

genre: young adult, social issues

rating: ★★★☆☆ (2.5/3)

review: if i were still a part of either author’s target audience i may have been more influenced by this piece of writing. the last book I read of john green’s was “turtles all the way down” when i was still in high school, which i find remarkably written. this in comparison was, eh. maybe if i had a little more teenage angst running through me (perhaps a lack of the aforementioned kickass meds) this would speak to me on a deeper level. it’s easy to tell this book is very much “from its time” when you’re reading it. i do appreciate the shoutout to neutral milk hotel, though, that made me fangirl just a smidge. for younger readers looking for a coming of age, easy-read with LGBTQ+ and mental health representation, this is right up your alley! the description of the musical playing out did get a few laughs from me, and the overall theme i took from this is that friendship always wins.

moot i think should read: idk tag yourself ? nobody is coming to mind!

[triangle-strategy-notes]

Ezana Concept Art

Concept art and translations for Ezana! Translation notes and image id under the cut.

Translation notes:

On the first page when Ikushima is talking about how he feels pressure to make his drawings beautiful, he's actually saying something more like "Usually with sexy woman I go 'I'm obligated to/I must make them beautiful!'... " but no matter how I phrased it the wording felt awkward in English, so I changed the sentence to go without the quotes.

There's a note on the second page above the monochrome sketch that was pretty hard to read (the middle character in particular might have been scribbled out?), so I kind of guessed at the rough meaning from the surrounding characters. The first kanji seems to be 玄, which has the general meaning of "mysterious, occultness, black, deep, profound," and the third kanji seems to be 器, which has the general meaning of "utensil, vessel, receptacle, implement, instrument, ability, container, tool, set". I went with "mysterious staff" as the meaning of the kanji together, also working off of the fact that it's. um. pointing at a staff that seems vaguely mysterious.

"Call forth the rain" was more literally just "rain," but it uses a particle at the end that has a vaguely commanding/requesting vibe to it, so I added extra words to convey that.

There's a part on the second page where I write "SHAMAN" in all caps. On that particular line, "Shaman" was written out using English phonetics, whereas on the rest of the page when I use the word it's the Japanese word for an equivalent concept.

"Lines like a weather map" is literally "isobar pattern". I'm assuming that most people aren't familiar with the word "isobar" (including myself) but from a brief google search, isobars are the lines that show up on a map when weather forecasts are trying to show the range of a storm and the barometric pressure specifically. Since it's (probably) not a commonly-known word, I just wrote out the "weather map" stuff instead.

"Sexy as it sounds" is a weird one. I think it's a portion of this phrase, which is defined as, "not existing despite seeming like it should", but just uses some different particles at the end which I'm assuming make it non-negative (e.g., "as sexy as it should be"). But I couldn't find a ton of examples of how the phrase is used though or what the differences in particles would be, so I just kind of went with the auto-translation I got from Deepl.

Image id:

[id: Multiple images from the Triangle Strategy artbook surrounding Ezana Qlinka. There is a page with a large colored portrait of her, along with a smaller line drawing in the corner. There are two illustrator's notes at the bottom: the first is, "Ezana has a really lovely ethnic design. Actually, after the character's portrait was completed, Mr. Ikushima redid all the linework, which added a lot to the character's beauty! (Yoshiura Rina)" and the second is, "Ezana is primitive, spiritual, and also a mysterious kind of character. With sexy women I usually feel pressure to make them beautiful, but strangely she was very easy to draw. I like how the natural colors are interspersed with the lapis lazuli. (Ikushima Naoki)". On the second page, the top half has several drawings of Ezana in a design close to her canon one. It is titled, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman)". There is one drawing where Ezana is without her headdress, captioned, "If there are different ranks of shaman, I think it'd be fine to start out without the headdress." There is a note pointing to her headress labeled, "Sheep's skull with some parts cut off," and another that reads, "Horns. Red and blue cord is coiled." Another note points to a full sheep skull and reads, "Origin. It's been shaved away starting at about this area." It points to roughly the middle of it. Another note points to a feather ruff she wears, labeled, "Crow feathers". Her staff is labeled, "A staff with elements similar to a dreamcatcher". There is a portrait of her from the back, with a note reading, "Back of the dress is open." The second half of the page is titled, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman) Large Brainstorming WIP". There are 5 drawings, each of a different potential design. The first is similar to her canon design, but with darker skin and a black dress. The second is very colorful, and has the notes, "Hear the song from the wind and go into a trance" as well as "Lines like a weather map" and "I think it would look better if the saturation was lowered a little or the colors were narrowed down a bit." The third drawing has a purple cloak with eyes on it, and seems to be throwing seeds into the air, captioned, "Sowing seeds toward the sky." The fourth design uses more pastels/bright colors, and has a drum at her hip. She seems to be saying, "Thunder!" and there is a note that reads, "Beat the cover and let it resonate through the air." The fifth drawing is of a woman wearing a full mask and a heavy cloak made of grass fibers. It has several bullet points including, "Weather Manipulator (Shaman)," "Female SHAMAN", "Indigenous - Separate wind and lightning magic", and "As sexy as it sounds." She holds a staff which is labeled, "Mysterious Staff" and also has a note reading, "Indigenous". She seems to be saying, "Bring forth the rain..." There are two illustrator's notes on the bottom. The first reads, "Mr. Asano requested that I add in leopard print, and I thought about how I could make it unique. (Naoki Ikushima)" and the second reads, "Looking at it again, it's a really sexy outfit. And it's great in battle! (Tomoya Asano)" /end id]

[flameswallower]

Briar's Favorite First Time Reads of 2023!

I read sixty or so books (start to finish) for the first time this year, which is pretty average for me. I liked most of them pretty well, since if I dislike a book I usually won't finish it. But there were some stand outs, which I'm going to list here.

First up: NOVELS!

Pseudotooth, by Verity Holloway (2017) is the first portal fantasy coming of age novel I've read in a long, long time that I found genuinely charming. It has a very dark Gothic edge to it, with shades of Gormenghast and Edward Gorey making for a uniquely unsettling and bleak fantasy world. The novel also deals frankly and seriously with themes of ableism, eugenics, medical abuse, xenophobia, socio-economic class, rape/sexual abuse, and the psychic fallout of rape/sexual abuse. But it's got a lot of whimsical absurdist humor to it, too, and a deep humanist compassion for its characters. The three young adults at the center of the story are all quite likeable, and though they are involved in a kind of love triangle, I found the particulars of it refreshingly queer, strange, and not the primary focus of the story.

The Marigold, by Andrew F. Sullivan (2023) is a pitch-dark, stone cold bummer that is also frequently hilarious and emotionally moving in tender ways that took me by surprise. In this dystopian satire, a bunch of down-and-out relatable characters and one horrible rich guy struggle to survive as near-future Toronto is engulfed by "the Wet"-- a sapient mold-based hive mind accidentally created by the depravity and greed of big business. The residents of the titular condominium/apartment complex feature in short vignettes that demonstrate the despair and alienation people suffer under late stage capitalism, and the way the Wet calls to these people, lures them in, hunts them.

The Open Curtain, by Brian Evenson (2006) is a harrowing nightmare about madness, violence, possession, Mormonism, and the destabilization of one's known reality (well, see also "madness"). It's a type of story that could easily feel shlocky and exploitative of people with certain mental disorders, or just predictable (there are some plot twists you'll guess very quickly if you've ever like...read books or seen movies before...), but Evenson's unornamented yet masterful prose, his meticulous attention to detail, and his non-condescending empathy for both victims of violence and people struggling with delusions, violent impulses, etc. make it rise above those potential problems. At least in my opinion! This one's very disturbing, will definitely leave you feeling like shit.

Hummingbird Salamander, by Jeff VanderMeer (2021) is very emotionally moving and a suspenseful, well-plotted eco-noir page turner! Also a bummer, but leaves one feeling awe and hope and determination as well as mourning the devastating loss of life that climate change has wrought. The protagonist is great, a truly unusual and unlikely detective. I loved her voice-- like any good noir hero, she can throw off a legitimately funny sarcastic quip with the best of them, but she's also prone to astute social observations and flights of breathtaking lyricism.

How to Get Over the End Of the World, by Hal Schrieve (2023) is a TRAGICALLY under-promoted and underrated punk rock magical realist YA masterpiece about trans high schoolers, and their dysfunctional adult mentors, putting on a rock opera to save their community center. This one, unlike most of what I read, is NOT EVEN KIND OF A BUMMER. It's delightful and hilarious from start to finish, though it's definitely not saccharine-sweet or afraid of conflict. In fact, it deals quite bluntly and refreshingly with topics ranging from the relationship one character has with his violent, abusive father, to sexual relationships between teenagers, to the ever-looming awareness of climate change. Every major character is trans! Every single one!! This is kind of a spoiler, but, like, not really lol

Sudden Glory, by Hal Johnson (2023) just goes to show that guys named Hal can really write comic novels. This book has perhaps the highest joke-to-paragraph ratio of anything I’ve ever read, and also probably the most varied types of joke: a person whose sense of humor runs to preposterous situation comedy, slapstick, and lowbrow sexual humor will find a lot to like here, and so will someone whose sense of humor runs to moderately esoteric literary/historical references, social satire, five-layer wordplay, and Wildean bon mots. Since it’s set in the New York City of 2003, there’s even room for a few 9/11 jokes, which could not have appeared without controversy in a book actually published in 2003. This slightly "politically incorrect" edge comes off as good-natured and in keeping with Johnson's commitment to absurdism-- there's never a "laughing at" vibe, more one of "laughing with" human folly, futility, pretensions, etc. At base, this is a story about a person who feels he can't tell the truth or be himself for fear of social rejection, and all the trouble that gets him into.

Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke (2020) is fucking gorgeous, probably one of my favorite books of all time now, this hole was made for me, etc. I can't reasonably expect that most others will have as intense a response to it as I did-- I felt it perfectly conveyed some very important and difficult to articulate things about, like, my personal experience of consciousness, and my experience as a person with certain types of neurological/cognitive/developmental disability navigating the world, through a kind of fabulist prism. But it got great reviews, so, you know, give it a shot! I think it's better not to know anything about it going in, but let me just say, if you're into weird, massive labyrinthine buildings, this hole might also have been made for you.

Devil House, by John Darnielle (2022) is exactly the novel you'd expect "the Mountain Goats guy" to write, in all the best possible ways. It's a story that elevates the inner lives of neurodivergent outsider teens to the mythic heights they deserve. It's a story that brutally critiques the true crime industry. It's a story about the problems of defining people exclusively by their victimhood, or exclusively by the worst thing they ever did. It's a story about the importance of having a little space to oneself, a shelter from the demands and threats of an often cruel world, and the lengths to which a person will go to defend such a shelter if it's broached. Also, there's a long, nauseating section about how it's actually really difficult and gross to chop up a human corpse for disposal.

[rosesfox]

hi 💓 your ouabh posts were actually the reason why i finally started reading this series, so thank you! i just finished reading acftl for true love a few days ago and absolutely loved it. i was actually surprised when i found out that some people were disappointed with acftl because i thought it was a perfect conclusion to the series. i love it so so much. however, i think stephanie garber just struggles with concluding her series in general because i read the caraval series a few years ago and thought finale was sort of a weak conclusion? i do think acftl was definitely an improvement from finale but i think stephanie just doesn’t know how to wrap up her series. nevertheless, acftl was still so amazing.

another thing that i was so surprised to see with this fandom is that there are people who actually ship tellajacks. i remember reading caraval and thinking that their relationship felt so forced and toxic. jacks clearly does not care for tella and throughout the whole caraval series, all he does is care about himself. it is a bit strange to see that people thought he actually loved tella when all he did was simply love the idea of finally breaking his curse.

ALSO i saw people were disappointed that jacks didn’t give a huge love confession in acftl. to be honest, he does not seem like the person to give a long speech like that so i wasn’t expecting that from him. however, i was so shocked that he said “i love you” to eva. saying i love you to someone is a such a huge thing to say someone, and i think some readers do not understand how important that phrase is, especially when it’s coming from jacks. i thought his love confession was perfect and so romantic.

their first kiss was also so perfect, and it makes me kind of sad to see that some people were disappointed with that scene as well. the way jacks was so careful and gentle during that scene is a stark contrast to the scenes we got of him in the caraval series. in caraval, he was reckless and wild. but with eva, he was sooo careful, and i think that really reflects how he has changed through the five books. also, when he dropped his heart because he couldn’t help kissing her back 🥹 i swooned.

i think what makes evajacks so special and sets them apart from stephanie’s other ships in the caraval universe is that we got to see their relationship develop. it wasn’t insta-love or forced. we actually got to see how both eva and jacks started to truly care for each other and fall in love. it felt so natural. eva and jacks would simply do anything for each other, and i think their love is so beautiful.

that's so sweet, i'm so glad to hear it. 🥰 thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

i very much agree. in one of my analyzes i talked about how evajacks were privileged in a certain way, as they had a very conclusive ending. they are together, they love each other, they are living together and stupidly in love. i mean, it's more than the other sg couples have had so far. i don't think caraval's ending is bad, but it's so abrupt that it feels like there's really a lack of content there. it doesn't really feel like an ending.

it's very surprising to me to even look back and see that people actually liked tellajacks. 😅 i believe this is largely due to jacks' charm and humor, but there is no romance, much less a love triangle, since tella only thinks about the legend throughout the two books in which she is admittedly the protagonist.

i almost didn't expect an ''i love you'' either. i really like this confession of his, i think it suits the character a lot. you know, coming from jacks, especially, this is huge and really shows how he was just madly in love with eva, from my perspective.

YES, HE BEING CAREFUL! it's really a wonderful contrast to when he kissed tella to manipulate and kill her, again showing us how much he, above all, cares for evangeline, how much he loves her. he was so insecure, so scared of losing her and almost went crazy when he thought he had killed her. it's such a cute detail that stephanie added, i even think it was one of the reasons why she chose not to make evajacks' kiss so urgent at first. (although they both get excited in the middle of the kiss and things get hotter! 🤭)

it was so beautiful to see the evajacks falling in love, despite all the odds. they are the greatest couple we have! 😭❤️

[possum-quesadilla]

Hey! Here are some fun notes and details from my Beetlejuice timeloop fanfic, Time is a Flat Circle. I wanted to put these somewhere because most of them won’t be acknowledged in the text.

Chapter one:

- The title of the chapter is a line from the song “The Heroine” by Unwoman, and is very literal in how it applies to Beetlejuice, obviously. He has to go through all of the emotions of the loop over and over again. The rest of the song is about an actress lamenting how she has the sympathies of the audience, but that someone who promised to come see her show never did. I feel like this is prevalent for our rancid little fella!

- There is a few mentions of his right ear in particular; “His constantly swiveling ears irritated his mother to no end. (There was always a faint ringing in his right ear, at the edge of his awareness. The notch in that ear still aches sometimes.)” “… by a flick to his left ear. (He always makes sure to sit with his left side facing Lydia because of this.)” This is referencing an injury he sustained in his younger years due to his mother, which likely will not come up in story. There is a notch in his ear due to it being cut, and he has partial hearing loss on his right side. He tilts his head to both imitate human body language and to better amplify his limited hearing, since he usually doesn’t have his swiveling, pointed ears to help him when he’s fully disguised.

- “His anchoress from another mess” was an idea from one of my dear friends, I do not take credit for this great line

- “A photo album sits on a vanity in the corner, faintly scented with a faux-floral chemical smell that makes Lydia’s eyes get misty whenever she catches the scent.” This is referencing a perfume that belonged to Lydia’s mom that still stick to the photo album. The smell is very faint to humans, but fairly strong to Beetlejuice.

- “If he squinted, Beetlejuice could read ‘New York’, but not much else.” - Beej has a hard time reading, his eyes weren’t built for that. Glasses would help. He also never really took the time to learn how to read modern English. If he could read it, he’d see that it’s a university sweatshirt, which belonged to Lydia’s mom!

- “… that Top Dollar fella’s voice has got me all hot and bothered,” - he is referencing a character played by Michael Wincott, who has a wonderful and hypnotic deep voice. I imagine BJ also has a ‘crush’ on Tony Todd’s character for similar reasons - envy. He would love for his voice to sound like theirs, rather than how raggedy his own is.

- “on a mountain of odd little round plush creatures,” These are a mixture of squishmallows and various strange gothic looking plushies, mostly gifted to Lydia from an aunt who wasn’t sure what else to get her. BJ has obviously never seen a squishmallow before.

- “Excitedly clacking his teeth,” this is one of BJ’s most common stims, as well as mine. It makes an audible noise that can be unsettling.

- “Triangle, Happy Death Day, Palm Springs, Edge of Tomorrow, Coherence, on and on the list went. Even a few episodes of some random shows.” these are all movies (and some TV show episodes) I watched for reference for this fic on time loops. Of course I made Beej suffer through the same homework, lol

Chapter two:

- The title is from “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)” by David Lynch, which is from the movie Eraserhead! The movie itself is rather dark, and the song comes at a moment that the main character is considering that maybe heaven would be better than his current situation. For Beetlejuice, this pertains to how he is trying to convince himself that this is as close to happy as he’ll get, and that everything is indeed fine, even though it isn’t.

- “it was always delightful to wake with the sun only to choose to roll over and sleep a bit more.” This either comes from that snake part of him or that cat-like part of him, but my guy loves to sunbathe. He cannot see well in sunlight, but he enjoys how it feels!

- “Lydia had grabbed him by the right ear and scolded him. “Give them space, Beej,” she said firmly. “We’re going to have a little chat about boundaries soon, you really- Beetlejuice? What’s wrong?” She had released his ear with an oddly tender look replacing her scowl, her gaze drifting above his eyeline. “Your hair-“” - It’s because of the aforementioned injury and the trauma surrounding it :)

- “Lydia, at the Maitlands’ insistence, would order something somewhat healthy. (Usually Italian.)” Beetlejuice considers pizza healthy. It is likely the closest he gets to eating a vegetable for now.

- “they would order an absurd amount of cookies and, of course, shirk the payment by having one of his clones pretend to be a dead body they were feasting on. Halfway through their large pizza/cookie/cake monstrosity (isn’t human ingenuity a marvel?),” his is a reference to insomnia cookie and their spectacular pizza cookies. I am obsessed.

- “the gothic teen decides that they simply must watch one of her favorite films; Coraline.” like many weird girls (shout out to my sister), Coraline is a comfort movie for Lydia. Aside from the pajama pants, she also has a plush of the cat, a poster, and a replica of the doll from the film.

- “this odd little breather film always made his chest tight and his nerves fraught. He had no clue why.” BJ doesn’t understand, but the movie is triggering to him due to the similarities between the Other Mother and Juno.

- “With a jaunty slide whistle type-noise that he knew would bring an amused smirk to Lydia’s lips, Beetlejuice sprouted a third arm from his side and extended it towards the stairs.” This is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the silly sound effects and visual effects used in the show pertaining to Beetlejuice and extra or disembodied limbs.

- “He also didn’t have any siblings, to his knowledge.” Hm. Interesting!

- “Most loops, his body is still thrumming with a strange electricity that he can’t quite explain. It stems from where she gripped his hands, spreading throughout his whole body. Although he enjoys the contact, most often it’s just too much for any more.” This is overstimulation due to the contact. He likes it, but he is not used to it, so his mind overreacts.

- “The eyeliner really made his golden eyes pop, and the purple lipstick made his grin look even more sinister.” BJ is no makeup expert, so he doesn’t catch that Lydia bases the look she applies on Frank-N-Furter’s makeup.

- I set Rocky Horror Picture Show as a backdrop to Lydia’s coming out as a lesbian (and possibly more) as a sort of fun nod to how pivotal the film was to my own gender identity journey!

- “what brought on this amazin’ revelation? Any lucky ladies in particular catch your fancy?” There were indeed some “lucky ladies” who brought this on, but they are fictional: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Ellen Ripley from Alien!

- “Lydia gasps, stepping away from the clone to inspect it. “He-… it’s you?”” All of the clones use it/its pronouns!

- “He had no say in what his clones looked like, he found, so he had long since stopped trying.” that is not entirely true - he can influence what they look like with a lot of concentration, but our dear demon severely lacks in that department.

- “The clone flutters it’s eyelashes and puts a hand on it’s cheek, waving its other hand in a sort of bashful ‘oh, stop!’ motion.” This is one of the two ways I react to compliments as well. (The other is saying “shut up” then immediately apologizing)

- “A red poncho with a spider-web pattern,” This is, of course, a reference to Lydia’s outfit in the cartoon!

- “a “mermaid style” black dress after a particular television character,” This dress is based on Morticia Addams, obviously

- “a fetching light pink dress covered in little red flowers and finished with a bright pink belt.” this is a nod to her dress in the film!

- “He had no idea why she asked, and similarly not a Scooby-Doo what it meant himself.” This is a silly way of saying “a clue”. More people (in person) are stumped by this than you’d think!

- “As Beetlejuice pulls the good ol’ fashioned midwestern special, slapping his thighs and going “welp” to signal it’s time for him to go,” shout out to my coworker for the phrasing of “good ol’ fashioned midwestern special” when he called me out for doing this.

- “Every part of the second day, especially the latter half, is especially draining to him. He’s not sure why, but he often chooses to blame it on his liberal use of his powers…” It is the use of his powers, but also the physical contact, socialization, and abundance of stimuli.

Chapter three:

- This title is from “Dinner Is Not Over” by Jack Stauber, my favorite musician! It actually promotes suicide prevention. The song talks about having many experiences, including a brush with death. The idea of death is very tempting to the person singing, but he says it’s “for desert” and he can “have it when dinner is done”. (Basically, yes death is tempting, but there’s so much more to your life to experience and look forward to.) It’s a hauntingly beautiful song, while also being uplifting and catchy! The lyric for the title in particular refers to how Beetlejuice’s own constant brushes with death and eternal rest is seeming more and more desirable with each passing loop, but he keeps going for Lydia and the Maitlands.

- “You’re Lawrence Betelgeuse Shoggoth. There’s no fixing that. You were born rotten and broken, and that’s all you’ll ever be.” This is a reference to a scene in BoJack Horseman that hit me really deep. Beatrice, the main character’s mother, tells him, “You were born broken. That's your birthright. ... You're BoJack Horseman. There's no cure for that." I feel like Beatrice and Juno have quite a bit in common, and I wanted to nod to it to help give the reader a better understanding of the demoness in this short scene. She really influences Beetlejuice’s actions, so I think getting a read on her is important.

- “Barbara opens it moments later, all smiles and cheery greetings. It fades very quickly when she realizes who it is, but he often likes to imagine it’s for him.” Barbara thought it was Lydia coming to her senses about the whole situation.

- “Beetlejuice clacks his teeth together out of excitement before he can help it. (He’s probably imagining it, but he swears sometimes he can see Barbara smile then.)” The first hints at Barbara finding him endearing. Most would find the clacking off-putting, but she likes strange men. I cannot judge. My type is weird too.

- “Got a good couple shots of your graves. Real well loved and placed, if you ask me.” This is inspired by Adam talking about how he wishes he could see their graves in the movie.

- “He began to scratch at the counter through his jacket sleeve to, once again, ground himself with the pain.” Another stim taken straight from me. Unfortunately, I absentmindedly scratch harshly at my skin sometimes when very anxious or overstimulated. Sometimes it breaks skin, but it mostly just irritates it. Beej has sharp as fuck claws, so he accidentally does more than break skin much more often.

- “… Beetlejuice flinched as he heard one of the clones hit the ground with a ridiculous ‘splat’ noise. He forced the nonplussed smile back onto his face and ignored the dull ache in his legs. He’d clean it up later.” This will come up later, but BJ feels what his clones feel, just way less intense.

- “Several large, round ‘terracotta’ pots (he had read they were real good for plants) lined the other two edges of the roof.” He got these both because he read they're good for plants and because he knows (well, thinks) Barbara appreciates good pottery.

- “I mean, that you had those little plants in the window of your kitchen,” “Like how he knew Barbara would sing to the plants to help them grow.”, “I, uh… I got a buncha stuff for a ‘salad garden’, since you were trying to start one up before.” These are all references to similar things that Barbara’s original broadway actor, Kerry Butler did in her dressing room! She seems like a real sweetie.

- “Tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, par-… pars-…” Beetlejuice is trying to say parsley, but he’s never heard of that herb before. Unlike Alex Brightman, he does not Know His Herbs.

- ““These are marguerite daisies,” She finally said, soft but just loud enough to stop his endless word vomit.” Daisies represent friendship, joy, and well wishes. BJ didn’t purposefully pick flowers with those meanings, but I did!

- “Who would want to hug a wretched, rotten little beast like him?” The phase “wretched, rotten little beast” is from the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, which I am obsessed with.

- “She smelled faintly of perfume and blood and the iced tea she drank just before she died.” “Aftershave stung at his nose, followed swiftly by the faint scent of blood, but he found he didn’t mind it too much.” Only Beetlejuice can smell the blood and the iced tea. Everyone can smell the perfume and aftershave.

- “He’d sometimes spend the time rooting through the garage fridge for soda cans, then play a game he called ‘who can knock out the most teeth with an exploding soda can?’ with three of his clones.” This is based on a game I played with my friends once when I was eight. I won. Do not recommend.

- Although he is using her as a segway to get Lydia to talk about her mom, BJ did actually have a beloved pet possum named Rabies. (And he did get rabies.) He found her abandoned by her mother, and she often clung to his back and ate the bugs in his hair. He took great care of her until she died of natural causes. He does genuinely miss her, and kept her skull as a way to remember her.

- “Beetlejuice had to bite back the ugly jealousy bubbling up in his throat. He would’ve loved to have a mother like Emily Deetz, instead of the horrible demoness Juno. Maybe in another lifetime.” This is a cheeky reference to the wonderful fic that inspired me to write LoopJuice, moonbunnyblues’s Lawrence “BJ” Deetz AU! Give it a read, it’s a work of art.

- ““Oh yeah, I’m in my prime, kiddo. This is what a real professional bio-exorcist looks like.” “… if you say so.”” she doesn’t believe him here, but at this point she doesn’t know him well enough to care to ask further questions.

- “Can I touch it?” Lydia was not allowed to touch it.

- “Fuck. He had rolled his sleeve up for dramatic effect. He had completely forgotten about the counter.” He had rolled his sleeves up to make a comment about how he did “all the work around here and got no thanks”.

- “It was astounding to see the array of things you could have brought right to your doorstep. Holy water was one of those things.” I looked this up. You really can order holy water on amazon!

Chapter four:

- This title is from “Deviltown” by Cavetown, specifically V.2 because that is my favorite version. It’s about growing up in a tumultuous home, specifically being a child of divorce. The cyclical and downtrodden nature of the song reflects BJ’s outlook at this point in the story, but the title line specifically refers to how his pain is being lessened by no longer being alone in his suffering.

- “He reminded her of the infuriating type of people that made the couple stop attending those improv classes last year; someone who just didn’t know when to stop, when to turn it off.” This is a cheeky reference to how I view the original film’s Beetlejuice. I will say no more on that subject.

- “Beetlejuice kept his distance, always remaining out of arm’s reach. If anyone besides Lydia got too close, he seemed to find an excuse to sidle away again.” He avoids contact from anyone but his BFFF (and the double thank you hug) at this point because it’s overstimulating.

- “Barbara thinks she remembers him flinching at the screams of terror he claimed to love.” Even his favorite sound is too overstimulating at this point.

- “It honestly reminded her of the times she had seen Adam go through burnout.” I WONDER WHY

- “reaching out to pull the demon waiting on the other side through it by the forearm. Beetlejuice, obviously startled, wrenched his arm away and- did he just hiss at them?” , “desperately grasping at Beetlejuice’s arm and pulling it from Adam’s now limp grasp to check the number again. 91,250. She must have grabbed him too harshly, as the demon sucked in a breath through his teeth and yanked his arm away from her.” They both unknowingly caused immense pain to the scratches around the counter.

- “Now, though, after only a few seconds, he became wheezy, the laughter tapering off into a rather wet sounding coughing fit. Beetlejuice slammed a fist against his chest with a hollow ‘thump’ sound a few times until the coughing subsided.” He is still somewhat recovering from Juno breaking his ribs. He likely will never be fully healed from it.

- “She’d learnt about this method from one of her and Adam’s true crime documentary nights.” Barbara enjoys them, Adam finds them macabre but irresistible.

- “He was holding it with his right hand, but his grip was off, like he wasn’t quite used to using that hand. Maybe he is just really out of practice? What do demons even really need to write?” Beej is left handed, but using his right hand. I wonder why! (He also is just generally out of practice and doesn’t have good handwriting anyways.)

- Beetlejuice struggles with the math because I also had to struggle with the math.

- “Beetlejuice hesitantly nodded, glancing at the door out of the attic before continuing to stare up at Barbara.” He is considering bolting here. He thinks the Maitlands are mad at him.

- “Going through the motions again and again, suffering the heartache and real physical pain.” Another cheeky reference, this time to the title of the first chapter.

- “Eventually, he let out a little growl of frustration. (A literal growl. It reminded Barbara of a small dog trying it’s best to be intimidating.)” I’d describe his growl as between a dog’s and a cat’s. Throaty, not very intimidating unless he really means it. Then it’s more like that of a Rottweiler.

Chapter five:

- This title is from “So Long” by Tokyo Elvis. I can’t find much online about the song, but it has that good cyclical feeling I look for in songs for this fic. This line specifically refers to how Beetlejuice is trying to hold on to the fleeting joy he finds among the routine of the loop, but he can’t hold on to it forever.

- “It would be an understatement to call Adam Maitland a nervous wreck. He was more like a bundle of nerves fumbling around in a bipedal visage of a man.” This is taken from how Overly Sarcastic Productions described H.P. Lovecraft in their video about the nasty man. I thought it was very fitting for Adam!

- “Beetlejuice seemed pretty preoccupied with the task of staring blankly at the ground and cracking all of his fingers one by one over and over again.” Another unsettling stim I share with Beej <3

- “Beetlejuice is quiet at first. His eyes dart from Adam’s to Barbara’s, then to various different spots in the attic. Eventually, he lets out an exasperated sigh, leaning heavily back onto the couch. The navy blue of his hair and suit phases back to the same indigo from before in the blink of an eye. “I don’t have a Scooby-Doo, A-Dog,” he groans. He dramatically rests his left wrist against his forehead. The strange phrasing and sudden change in energy threw Adam off quite a bit. He floundered somewhat, trying to process as the demon continued to speak. “Your guess is as good as mine at this point. Probably even better.”” On goes the mask! He’s totally a great liar. I’m sure this won’t bite him in the ass later.

- “ “Well, it obviously has to do with you, right?” Beetlejuice’s eyes snapped back open to stare him down.” He got real worried that Adam caught on here.

- “summoning other demons,” I wonder if this will come back later!

- “No matter how… persuasive I was, you humans always gave me the boot.” He is too proud to admit he was begging on his knees.

- “Follow the script.” “The… hold on now, ‘the script’? What are you talking about?” Barbara and Adam don’t capitalize the same things as Beej because they don’t categorize things the way he does.

- “The demon put a hand over where his heart would be.” Adam is unaware, but Beej does have a heart! It just doesn’t really work.

- “Beetlejuice held his arms out at his sides in exasperation.” This pose was specifically meant to emulate Mae Borowski from Night in the Woods, since she and Beetlejuice are both “total trash mammals”.

- “Sure it does. And I’m a Tony award winner.” This is, of course, a joke about his original Broadway actor being a Tony award winner. And a way of the text sorta telling Beej that he’s wrong, and his pain does matter.

- “Beetlejuice let out a snarl that actually caused a primal sort of fear to grip at Adam’s psyche.” There’s the Rottweiler growl! Any shows of aggression from a demon causes the human brain to go all “ahhh danger run away”.

- “I’m Lawrence Betelgeuse Shoggoth, I’m a fuckin’ demon … I’m a rotten, irredeemable monster…” Hmmm, I wonder where we heard this from before?

- “… vanished in a puff of green smoke. (The weird little trick actually worked this time.)” This is a reference to Beetlejuice having a malfunctioning smokebomb in the Broadway show.

- “He pretended to be fatally wounded when Lydia chucked an amethyst at his chest…” Amethysts represent sincerity and promote friendship! At least according to my friend who has a million crystals.

- “Beetlejuice scooped Lydia up into his arms bridal style…” Hehe.

And here’s a few fun comments I left on the doc containing the fic for myself:

[thefudge]

Hi dr fudge. Have you seen challengers yet? Or are you planning to? I've been looking forward to it since the day it was announced mostly because we rarely get woc or black female leads in stories like these you know? The explosive love triangles/ poly films and even though i liked it, i feel like luca focused on the two white boys way more even though tashi was the main character. I think tashi's character deserved more. Everyone else loves it ofcourse but they also think "tashi was unnecessary & patrick and art should've just ended up together"!! and like?? people telling the black girl to get outta the way so the white boys can kiss? That's your average fandom experience luca you didn't do anything special. Just very disappointed overall because i don't know if we'll ever get another black girl lead role like this.

ahh, don't tell me that that section of m/m shippers are doing that old song and dance......of course they remove tashi from her own movie. but it sounds, from what you're saying, that the film kind of encourages their pov. that's a bummer. i had read some comments that the script is not that strong and that luca wastes certain opportunities, but i'll see for myself. i know what you mean about the scarcity of roles like this one. it's strange that even when a black woman gets to lead this kind of premise she's still not the center.