#BUT I LOVE HOW DANDY ENDED UP!!! So it was a process worth having

[sketchy-tour]

Helloo! My name is Lyla and I like your concept of Dandy! I would like to ask, did anything inspire them? Also, which gender are they? (IMO, they look like a girl to me....😊 but if you think otherwise, that's fine❤)

OH HELLO!!! Thank you I'm so glad that people like Dandy so much, it makes me so so giddy!!! Um, Dandy is inspired by a lot of things! Lots of my personal interests soaked into Dandy when I was designing them.

If you don't mind me rambling a little about Dandy's process, Dandy took me 3 months to make! Give or take at least. And they went through three other revisions before I was happy with their look!

THESE WERE ALL THREE GOING TO BE DANDY! I was a little directionless when I made these three. I just knew "flowers" and that was...it. But otherwise I was kinda just throwing things at a wall and seeing what sticked. The last one is the closest to what Dandy ended up as but still wasn't quite right! Eventually I had to put these away and make a sort of inspo board, look at colors and clothes and puppets I liked. BUT YES there is one BIG MAIN INSPIRATION that really cemented Dandy's silly look. And it's THIS GUY!

Boober from Fraggle Rock! Like when I saw him I realized I remembered the show growing up and I just... AUGH it filled me with joy to remember so I picked him up, picked up some color palettes I liked, picked up some clothes images, and ran with it. Eventually they ended up as the little goober we all know today!

OH RIGHT! GENDER! yes yes um. Dandy is androgynous! On purpose! They're inspired by characters I grew up with, like Crona from Soul Eater, where no one could seem to agree what pronouns to give them. So Dandy is meant to be a character the writers couldn't seem to agree was masculine or feminine so the show and physical illustrations flip flopped between he and she. That is to say, all are correct! Dandy goes by any! I use they/them to try and be consistent but otherwise you may call them what you wish! So you may use she/her when addressing them if you so wish!

[krysphycookiez]

stray kids | you as the female maknae

synopsis: you’re the female maknae of the infamous k-pop group stray kids! let’s see how you get along with these eight chaotic boys

genre: fluff, platonic, imagines

pairing: stray kids x maknae!reader

a/n: wowza another female maknae au post- yes i have an obsession with these types of writings and i have no regrets. expect a lot of these extra member au’s for boy groups and girl groups

❦

you’re his smol baby child and nothing will change his mind

chan just wants you to be happy and he’s really good at showing that, whether he makes sure you’re always healthy or just doing daily check ups on you

if you don’t end up taking care of yourself he’ll get really upset and probably give you a long lecture

one time you actually cried because of his scolding because you felt really bad and he started crying too

if he feels like there’s something up with you and you don’t open up, he usually plans with the other members to do little things to cheer you up

and those plans work all the time

he knows how much you struggle with the idol life because of his own past struggles so he empathizes with you very well

if you’re an english speaking foreigner, he’d be very chaotic with you and felix

but then it eventually just turns into chan being done with you and felix’s bullshit

nags you sometimes but he just wants you to be careful- so for the most part he just lets you be

when your time of the month comes he’s usually the best at handling the situation (jisung i’m looking at you)

he also let’s you mess around with his tracks, but he makes sure you don’t do anything stupid. as you once almost deleted a whole new track

hugs you from behind a lot to remind you that you’re loved and a precious cinnamon roll

he’s a soft leader for you and it’s just downright wholesome

ngl you had a crush on minho during trainee days, i mean- just look at him for crying out loud

that silly crush soon disappeared and now you see him as a best friend

though hyunjin knew about this past crush and obviously tattled to minho. now you’re his main target for flirting

speaking of flirting, he always tries to make you as flustered as he can cause he just loves your reactions

he also initiates a lot of skinship with you cause you’re like a small teddy bear to him, also he just likes cuddling with you in general

if you’re part of the danceracha, you and him would start a lot of weird shit with hyunjin and felix

hell even if you aren’t part of that sub-unit you still find a way to cause chaos with minho

also you ask about his cats all the time cause you love them a lot, and that just boosts his cocky attitude even more

he gets very possessive of you when it comes to your guy’s friendship

cause he’s the type to say “no one outside of stray kids is allowed to talk or even look at you”

ofc he’s joking though lmao

you two are like an old married couple. a lot of bickering goes on between the two of you and that just becomes the butt of stray kids inside jokes

and both of you are very petty with each other too. like- you know when your little sibling hits you so you hit them back? yeah that’s the two of you

overall both of you have a really strong friendship, and other people get jealous of it pretty easily, even stray kids themselves

you took felix’s spot as changbin’s favorite member overtime

he’s your number one hype boi, he always gets pumped up whenever you do something like singing or rapping cause he’s amazed by your talent

probably let’s you toy with side soundtracks so he can see your production skills

overtime you have gotten better because of him, and you’re very grateful for that

he does a lot of aegyo with you cause he just loves you so much, and he also hugs you a lot too

you tease him about this height but he reminds you that you’re shorter and this leads to bickering

also since he’s not the shortest he probably rests his elbow on your head to tick you off or to get a reaction out of you

most of the time he gets a fist to the stomach but it’s still worth it

he also makes sure you aren’t overworking yourself, even if he’s one of the more busy members

if you’re feeling down the drain he buys you some of your favorite food and snacks to cheer you up, and it works for the most part

because of the attention he gives you, felix sometimes starts petty fights with you and the other members get easily amused by this. especially changbin himself

you also just find a lot of comfort within him cause he’s really gentle with you

and because he smells good all the time too lol

changbin is an equivalent to an emotional support dog. loving and very energetic

the two of you are l o u d asf

hence why you and hyunjin aren’t allowed to share a room together anymore. you had a laptop in your shared room and you guys would watch horror movies that would scare the living shit out of y’all

hyunjin likes to take you on shopping dates so both of you can either eat something together or go on a shopping spree

and mini fashion shows start too lmao, he probably gives you like a million clothes to put on

if you’re one of the main dancers, he’s the reason why you are able to dance as well as you can today. cause you felt close to giving up but then he came in and encouraged you to keep going

during his trainee days, his fights with jisung would scare you. one day it got so bad you started crying cause you didn’t want them to hurt each other

they then realized what they did and hyunjin was the first to apologize, even buying you your favorite drink to make up for it

he tries to steal your attention from minho and that almost results in his deathbed

no one’s stopping this boy from doing anything to get your love and attention tho

whenever you guys aren’t together you text a lot, and you guys send each other cute memes in the process

you guys are just like north and south you can’t stand to be away from each other

he also loves to cuddle with you. whenever you get a nightmare you usually turn to him to sleep with so you can feel the comfort of his loving arms

the other members know about this and they get jealous of that sometimes

hyunjin sees you as the little sister he never knew he needed, and he just wants you to have the best possible life he can offer you

let’s be real here, jisung probably didn’t know how to talk to you during trainee days cause he thought you were really pretty

he’s never basked in the beauty of someone so elegant before

the only time you guys really started talking to each other was in the skz survival show, and in that span of time you two grew extremely close (and if you ended up getting eliminated he’d get really sad)

he’s scared to let you into his production studio cause he’s scared that your clumsy ass would do something, but you never really do anything

if you speak english you two probably have weird conversations in english. quoting vines and inside jokes

on break days he takes you out to get boba and just chat, and usually in the morning when it’s less busy and more peaceful

he lets you take his hoodies cause he thinks you look adorable in them, and also when you give them back to him they smell like daisies

if you get hurt in any way, shape or form he gets very upset cause he really doesn’t like seeing you in pain

one time he caught you crying to yourself because of hate comments directed towards you and his heart shattered

he actually ended up tearing up himself and offered to buy you something to make you feel better

if you’re one of the main vocalists you and him probably have high note competitions, since the two of you probably had iconic high note parts

you also pinch his cheeks a lot cause you like how he just looks like a cute squirrel

which results in him pinching you back

jisung would cherish you like treasure since you’re so valuable to him, and you’re one of the reasons he’s able to keep going in his harsh idol life

a few simple words to sum up your friendship; a cacophony of chaos and screaming

you and felix just have the weirdest but at the same time also one of the strongest friendships in stray kids

if you’re a foreigner the friendship is even stronger, cause you two can relate more easily, and ESPECIALLY if you’re an english speaking one

also if you’re australian like him, the chaos is just even worse. a bunch of australian slangs here and there as well as saying inside jokes

he definitely texts you at 3am to talk about something he thought of or just to send you stupid memes

also probably infected you with his dabbing and fortnite phase

you also probably tease him about his sexy moments on stage, like when he lifted up his shirt. which also made you want to see his abs again

to get back at you he lifted your shirt on stage in front of STAYs to show your own abs and everyone went crazy, and he ended up getting his ass kicked

you two are also like emotional support for each other

since you guys are some of the youngest and had some of the hardest times you know when somethings up, so you two just go and hug/cuddle with each other to let the other one know it’s okay

and you’ve also come up with a way to communicate with each other without the other members knowing to talk about personal things, like a secret language

and if you didn’t have supportive parents in the idol life, felix would automatically connect with you cause he went through something similar

this guy just also wants you to feel safe and loved cause he knows what it’s like to feel so alone

overall you and felix are like two peas in a pod, very alike in many ways but will turn to each other for emotional support or just to feel better

dandy boy seungmin is such a little shit around you

he always teases you and always finds a way to tick you off to see your reactions, such as playing with your hair or stealing your clothes

so you being the petty little bitch you are, you do some things that will trigger his pet peeves, like make a room dirty or not doing chores

and that’s how you developed your evil maknae side, all because of this devil puppy

but even then the bickering isn’t always that bad, that’s just how you two show your love for each other since you guys literally don’t know how to be nice to each other

unless it’s about food or games, then there’s civil acts going on

seungmin actually likes to hug you because you’re like a smol baby chick, but it never really goes further than that

INSULT BATTLES ALL THE DAMN TIME

and it’s usually seungmin who wins them, but when you do win them it’s always a very witty victory

seungmin also knows when something’s up with you. if you suddenly stop acting like a savage around him he knows something is up

so he then investigates, comforts you and caves in to take you out to the mall to make you feel better

he doesn’t think he’s helping that much when those times come to you but he actually helps a lot, cause he gives of this comforting aura that makes you feel safe

also he smells like roses too lmao

seungmin is your pretty and bitchy best friend, but at the end of the day he will always be there for you

the two of you are the; done with everyone’s shit duo, at least when the two of you aren’t causing chaos

you and jeongin are very close in age, so naturally all of the members baby you and while the attention is endearing, it can get out of hand sometimes

so the two of you team up to pull the ultimate pranks on all of the members to get back at them and record all of their reactions

of course this results in scoldings and getting chased by an angry hyunjin holding a broom but it’s still worth it

both of you also compete for who can get more attention if you aren’t getting tired of it

and this can also lead to petty bickering that the other members watch in amusement (and they probably fucking grabbed popcorn too)

jeongin has a good sense of judgement, so he knows when the mood is feeling down

and he usually drags you to the side to plan a way to cheer up the members or bring up a lighthearted mood, since he knows the two of you would make a good plan

he doesn’t really like skinship but he finds it cute when you hug him or hold his arm

and the other members get pressed about this cause you’re allowed to hold his arm but they can’t even touch him with their fingernails

both of you have definitely tried to cook together

and fail miserably, which resulted in MORE scoldings and a temporary banishment from the kitchen, but the way you guys cooked was very funny

you made him a smoothie to make up for the fact that you got him banned from the kitchen cause it was mainly your fault

jeongin would be a more chill and laid-back friend, but he’s still very caring for you and will protect you at all costs

❦

a/n: waeeeee another one done! i had a lot of fun writing this and i hope you guys enjoy it as much as i had fun writing it.

also lee felix get your sexy ass off of my twitter feed i don’t feel like simping

this is @/krysphycookiez logging off... ♡︎

[shoyomeow]

EPIPHANY

❀ characters : wakatoshi ushijima x female reader

❀ genre : angst, angst, more angst and a sprinkle of fluff

❀ wc: 1533

“I know I shouldn’t be here.” 

“Then why are you here?” 

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You refused to believe it. 

Anybody but him.

He couldn’t possibly do this to you could he? Sora must have mistaken him for someone else right? Or who knows, he’s been getting a lot of attention from the press nowadays, maybe a hungry paparazzi made an edit for him. With the technology today it wasn’t completely out of the question right? 

You couldn’t even listen to your own thoughts because a part of you knew that you were simply trying to delude yourself by coming up with these justifications. You knew that no one could truly mistake him for someone else, he towered over everyone else and had an overwhelming presence, besides Sora had 20/20 vision. Paparazzi? That’s impossible because he was wearing the clothes that he had FaceTimed you in an hour ago, no matter how good you are it would be impossible for paparazzi to edit such a realistic picture within an hour and even more impossible for Sora to get hands on it before it was posted on social media.

You had always prided yourself in being rational, so why was it that right now you wanted to be anything but that?

Being rational meant accepting the fact that your boyfriend, who you loved and adored and had been with since your second year of high school, had his hands entwined with a stranger.

Being rational meant accepting that the ease in which he was doing this in a public setting meant that it wasn’t the first time. 

Being rational meant that you had to acknowledge that he couldn’t possibly be drunk because he refuses to drink for a week before a match, there have never been any exceptions and he probably wasn’t going to start now.

Being rational meant that you couldn’t be in denial anymore. 

Being rational meant that Wakatoshi Ushijima, the last person you had expected to hurt you, was cheating on you. And from the looks of it, it probably was not the first time he was doing this. 

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“Ushijima-san, you should go home.” the feelings that you thought you had overcome, the betrayal, the grief, the anger and the hatred you felt for yourself for so long came back crashing on you as you looked at the drunk man. At first glance one couldn’t possibly tell that he was drunk, but you had known him for far too long to not recognise his intoxicated state.

“You used to call me Toshi, please call me that again.”

“Ushijima-san,” you were clutching onto your apartment door so hard that you wondered if you would bleed today, “Do you have someone who can pick you up?”

It was four in the morning and you had been sitting in the same position for the past hour. Prior to that you were far too numb to realise your own emotions as you mindlessly and with a sense of monotony packed your bag. 

You sat down on the couch, the first piece of furniture that you had bought with Wakatoshi when you moved in with him, the once beige sofa was stained and had threads coming out of it’s upholstered ends but you never did have the heart to throw it away. 

There was a sense of dread that settled at the pit of your stomach as you processed your own thoughts. Were you going to remain oblivious to Wakatoshi doing this had Sora’s friend not sent her those pictures? Was he going to keep the wool over your eyes as you planned for a future with him? What if you two had kids at some point, would he have continued to do this?

The fact that he seemed so normal and nonchalant about him cheating was the thing that hurt you. It would make you a liar if you said that the act of cheating itself didn’t hurt but you could’ve dealt with that pain easier if he had been the one to tell you. But to have him lie to you for god knows how long, and see you plan your suburban fantasy with him was humiliating.

You heard the click of the door and straightened your back, he may have hurt you but you will not give him the satisfaction or ego boost by crying over him.

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“Please let go of me Ushijima-san.” his grip on the long sleeves of the hoodie you were wearing wasn’t strong, it was similar to the grip a mother would tell her child to practice so that they wouldn’t get separated. You didn’t know how long you could keep up the indifferent facade. You didn’t want him to see you be vulnerable, not back then and certainly not now. 

“You used to wear my hoodies too y/n, why did you stop? I always liked seeing you be swallowed up by them.” Ushijima wasn’t a clingy drunk, he was simply a person who exaggerated his pre-existent qualities. He became more blunt, if that was even possible and he always acted on the first thought that popped into his mind.

“Because we have nothing to do with each other anymore, Ushijima-san.” 

           ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“You’re up?” his tone was neutral like it always was, no underlying nervousness, no guilt that you could sense, “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, I’m leaving Wakatoshi.” you wondered how your tone sounded so firm and sincere when you felt like you were breaking apart inside.

“Ah I see, is everything alright?” there was a time when you found him taking everything into a literal sense endearing, now you just wanted to kill him.

“Everything is just dandy, you would know wouldn’t you? After all, you just got laid.” You wondered if it was normal to feel smug as you witnessed the sense of dread, shame and guilt well up in his demeanour, “I just want to know, how long has this been going for?”

He knew better than to lie to you but at least he had the decency to not meet your eyes as shame manifested and bloomed within him, “Around eight months.”

“Eight months,” you mulled over it for a moment when realisation struck you, “That was when you had gone with the team to Osaka right? For a retreat.”

“Yes.”

“I see.” you released a soft sigh, you would cry, you were going to bawl your eyes out as soon as you got into the cab that you had booked for yourself, the one who was definitely going to charge extra for having to wait for so long. You would probably cry for days over the fact that eight months ago, when he had missed out on your anniversary and you had not been worried about it because you had been together for far too long to worry about stuff like that, he had probably been balls deep into someone else.

“Ushijima,” his surname tasted foreign on your tongue as you had not addressed him with that in far too long, “I want you to not talk or say anything else. I’m leaving and by that I mean that I’m leaving you. I wish you luck in your future endeavours and may you forever rot in hell.” 

“Y/n,” he called out as you grabbed your things to leave, “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

“You know something?” you smiled at him, the bitter and hate filled smile that you gave him made his heart ache, “I think that’s the first time I’ve recognised a lie of yours. Kudos to me.”

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“The cab is here Ushijima-san, please get in and leave. I have already told them your address.”

“Why?” He slurred as he was helped by the driver to get  into the car, “Why can’t it be our address anymore? Please come back. I miss you y/n.”

You smiled again, the same bitter smile that you had given to him while you were parting two years ago but much less hateful, “Ushijima-san, kindly get the fuck away from me and never try to contact me again. If you show up at my place again I will be forced to take legal 

You straightened your back once again as you walked into your apartment. 

The pain of him doing what he had done still haunted you, after all, can someone ever truly get over being betrayed by the person they trusted the most? But you could happily say that while the pain still existed, it had reduced into a dull throb. 

“Hey babe, who was at the door?” 

You couldn’t help but smile at your boyfriend who had his hair in foils waiting for the dye to set in and a face coated with a green face mask, “Oh it was just Ushijima.”

“Oh okay,” Atsumu turned to go back into the washroom, before his mind processed your words causing him to snap his head at you, “WAIT WHAT?”

You couldn’t help but laugh as you walked towards him and pulled him into a soft kiss, trying to ignore the green face mask which had undoubtedly transferred a little onto your own skin, “You’re annoying as hell but I love you so much.”

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special shoutout to @samuthots​ cause i got the prompt list from her and that is what inspired this fic.

@daifwukus​

[catxsnow]

I’M BATMAN B.W.

Request: Can I request a Bruce x reader fic? Where Bruce and the reader are together for a while. Bruce thought it would be just like his old flings but he realises that he's fell in love with the reader so he decides to tell her he is Batman. And during the confession he starts with "I am..." and the reader finishes with "Batman!" as a joke but then of course it turns out to be not a joke. After that an awkward but emotional conversation ensues. Whether you write it or not, thank you!

Warning: mentions of sexual content, fluff

A/N: I’m sorry that it’s taking me so long to get some of these requests out! I promise you they’re being written! 

Also the second I watch the New 52 animated movies I am the BIGGEST Bruce Wayne whore. One look at this motherfucker and I am WEAK

GIF not mine

Word count: 2.1k

When you first started seeing Bruce, it was nothing but casual. He would show up to your apartment or you to the manor, you'd spend your couple hours together tangled between his sheets and then both of you would continue on with your day. You were a fling, and at first, you loved it.

Bruce Wayne wasn't just the richest person in the Gotham, he also had to be the hottest too. For you to catch his eye was a mystery upon itself. You met him at work and had just luckily stumbled into him when you were walking through Wayne Enterprises. It was rare to ever see him while you were working.

Apparently you made enough of an impact on him for him to ask you if you would like to see each other that night. The look in his eyes had made you agree without even hesitating. Least to say, Bruce found out he like your bed more than he was expecting to.

It was nearly a year that the two of you would have casual sex. Never staying the night, never talking about what the hell was going on between the two of you. It was all fine and dandy until Bruce started getting you to stay over at the Manor. It wasn't very often that you would, but during the times that you did, you found yourself gaining feelings for him that you had managed to avoid the entire year.

You were smitten with Bruce and he saw you as nothing but a fuck.

Or so you assumed. Bruce wanted more with you. He didn't want this casual relationship anymore. It was so easy to talk to you about anything, even if you didn't know everything in his life. Bruce found a comfort in you that he didn't have in a long time. He found love in you.

It wouldn't be late nights that you would see each other any more. Bruce would find you while you worked and offered to go buy you lunch. Lunch dates turned to dinner dates which turned to him asking you to be his girlfriend. You felt giddy like high school girl again when he started to spoil you.

Your periodically timed sex with him turned into a full blown relationship. Down to the 'I love you' and the 'I want you to meet my kids'. Things with Bruce Wayne had become more serious than you ever imagined they would be. At the start of this, you always assumed that he would get tired of you and move on. He was the biggest playboy in Gotham.

You were surprised that you were the person to get him to change his ways.

That night, you and Bruce laid in his bed. The two of you half naked with a thin layer of sweat covering your bodies. You traced random little shapes into his skin as he stared up at the ceiling. You could tell by the way that his eyebrows furrowed that he was deep in thought.

"Penny for your thoughts?" You asked, sitting up right in the bed so you could see his face properly. The sheets were pulled up your chest as you reached for the shirt that he had previously been wearing. Bruce watched as you pulled the material over your head.

"I love you," he answered. Bruce was very cut off from you sometimes. You felt like you knew him pretty well, but then there were times that you felt like you didn't know him at all. Of course you knew about his childhood and his parents, you figured that was why he was so reserved sometimes. You learned not to pry, if he wanted to tell you, then he would.

"I know," you smirked at him. Bruce trailed his hand up your bare leg until he reached your waist. "But seriously, Bruce. You've been more quiet than usual, what's going on?" You were worried about him. It had only been a few years that you guys were together - half of that being just hooking up - but that didn't mean that you didn't know him well enough to see when he was conflicted about something.

Bruce said nothing. The pad of his thumb swiped against your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps. No matter how many times he touched you, he had the same affect that he had on you in the beginning.

You didn't push him to say what was on his mind. Bruce was a man of many secrets, that was just something that you were forced to learn to accept. You had your arguments about it, the bickering. The 'where were you last night' fights. All of them ended with Bruce assuring you that he loved you, and only you.

"I want to tell you something," Bruce finally caved. He was propped up on the pillows he had on the bed. His one hand still lingered on your skin and the other was tucked behind his head. The turmoil he had within himself about telling you the truth was eating him alive. You were the person that he wanted to spend his future with, meaning you needed to know the truth.

He just hoped that you felt so strongly about him as well. It wasn't often that either of you brought up the future, each to scared for your own reasons to see if the other was as committed. Of course you loved Bruce, you wanted to spend your life with him, to marry him one day. But he was so closed off, you couldn't tell if he ever wanted the same as well.

"So tell me," you continued for him when he took a pause. Bruce's eyes were filled with worry, doubt, you could tell that he was hesitant to tell you this. You pried his hand away from your waist and entangled your fingers. His hands felt so large in yours, years worth of callouses laced them.

"There's no easy way to tell you," Bruce tried to get you prepared. He felt your grip on him tighten before easing up again. Your heart rate was rising with nerves and you were terrified with what he was going to say. There was an endless list of possibilities and each one of them ended poorly for you. He was after all, a well-known playboy. "I am..."

"Batman!" You joked. As you laughed, you could see that his face was not only shocked but nearly... proud? Bruce's eyes darted away from you for a moment and your face dropped. You had only been joking to lighten the mood. Fear of what he could say clouded you and you blurted out the first thing that you thought would make you laugh.

But here Bruce was, shying away from you gaze and his hand limp in yours. You expected the worst from him - he was cheating on you, he didn't love you - and you were willing to say anything to stop your heart from racing out of your chest. But now, seeing the look on his face, what he wanted to tell you was nothing that you expected.

"Wait..." you trailed off. Your playful attitude washed away and quickly turned into a whole new kind of worry. Bruce Wayne, Batman? The more you thought about it the more it made sense. His sudden disappearances, his scars, his adoption of kids even lined up with the change in Robins. "That wasn't seriously it, was it? Bruce you're joking, you're not really Batman are you?"

"I'm Batman," Bruce confirmed. He was telling the truth. As much as he hid things from you - and now you could see why - he never lied to you. You sat their with your mouth agape, still processing his words. Your boyfriend, the loving and caring man that took care of you when you needed him was the same person that risked their life every night and mercilessly beat up criminals.

You needed a minute to process all that. After living in Gotham your whole life you had heard the rumors of the bat, at first you didn't believe them until you had seen him on the news. You never had the luxury of meeting him, and to be honest you were glad you didn't. He had always scared you.

Someone who went against psychopaths like Joker and Two-Face had to be some what insane.

Bruce watched you get off the bed and pace around him. You felt small under his gaze, the sudden information made you realize that he could squash you like a bug if he so wanted to. You were already intimidated by how fit he kept himself but knowing that he was Batman as well? That made you feel incredibly weak.

You guided your hands through your messy hair, unable to think clearly. All your thoughts were jumbled as you tried to piece everything together. The night at the gala that he had suddenly left you - the same night that Batman had put Bane in Arkham. The time that he had a bruise on his jaw and assured you that he had just been a klutz.

Bruce keeping so many things from you - this had covered just about every mystery there was to him. He kept you in the dark for so long because he not only wanted to protect his identity, but you. If he was telling you now, that meant that he must have wanted to keep you around for a while.

As you heart swelled with love rather than betrayal, you had finally stopped your pacing. Bruce had sat on the edge of your bed with nothing  but his underwear and tired eyes. He yearned for your touch, to comfort you through this revelation. However, he also could understand if you never wanted to see his face again.

Not everyone believed in the Batman.

Lucky for him, you did. Bruce was caught off balance as you pounced on him. His back fell against his bed and you straddled over top of him. Bruce trailed his hands up your bare legs to your hips as you kissed him. All those nights worrying what he was doing, you should have been worried about his life.

"I want to see it," you pulled away. "The legendary batcave. Prove you're really the bat." A coy grin played on your lips. Bruce knew that face, he knew what kind of trouble it could lead to. The last time he had seen that face, you had dragged him into his work office and gave him the best head of his life. This time, the circumstances were a little different.

Bruce nodded at you. He shoved on a pair of pants and lead you out of his room and towards the study. You watched as he opened the face of the old grandfather clock and pulled one of the dongles. A loud clicked echoed through the manor and the clock suddenly opened. No way.

Bruce gestured for you to follow. Your bare feet padded against the cold steps. He held your hand the whole way down, ensuring that you wouldn't fall. Bright lights shone through the dark cave and you were amazed by the room. Batman was truly equipped for anything. The space was incredible.

The suit Batman wore was on a mannequin in one of the glass cases. You stood before it, having to gaze up at it's glory. Bruce stood behind you, perfectly eye level with the cowl. He was Batman.

"Bruce this is incredible," You gawked. "I can't believe you trust me with this secret."

"Of course I trust you," Bruce assured. "You're the love of my life. If I want to spend a future with you,  you need to know all parts of my life." He continued to shock you that night - wanting a future with you as well? Bruce Wayne was full of surprises and you didn't think that you could handle anymore that night.

"I love you, too," You turned to face him. Once again, you had to stand on your toes to peck his lips. Bruce didn't realize how much weight was off his shoulders now that you knew the truth. He was tired of tip toeing around you all the time.

"Will you take me for a ride in the batmobile?"

"If you would like."

"Will you let me drive it too?"

"Don't push your luck."

[suilinbride]

Making a Confession, Stepping Away from Kemetic Orthodoxy, and Kicking My Own Ass in the Process

I know I've been a little quiet again here recently, save for building upon the foundation of this blog and occasionally setting up some of the framework for how this blog is going to look, feel, and act in the future. That's very much by design actually, as I've been dealing with family shenanigans again, taking care of my own personal and physical health, helping to finish taking care of a long term problem that's been festering in my personal Blind Pagan community for over ten months now, and finally, though not the last nor the least of what's currently going on with me on my end, I just finished up participating at the national convention for the National Federation of the Blind this weekend. Yes, I'm fully aware I'm busy like headless chick in staked to the back of a fucking Roadrunner.

Anyway, I have a confession to make here and I'm fully aware that actively choosing to become a Remejt and ignoring the issue at hand puts me squarely in the wrong for sure.

During this weekend while I was resting and waiting between two events being held by the convention that were hours apart from one another, I decided to do a lot personal soul searching and decided in the end to take no further steps with Kemetic Orthodoxy and instead allow my membership to falter, fall, and fade away like dust in the wind in the end. I actually regret agreeing to stay on as a Remetj at the end of the beginner course. I regret doing so because agreeing to stay on as Remetj was in a number of ways me lying to myself and not being completely honest all around. Some of my beliefs are incompatible with Kemetic Orthodoxy's beliefs and practice, and I should have said something right there and then. I plan on emailing someone on the site and asking them to go ahead and remove my membership or whatever it's called on the forum.

I came into the beginner course with two goals in mind, one of which would only work if I ended up becoming a Remetj. First, I wanted to learn some decent structure to help jump start my Kemetic practice, as I am currently unable to get ahold of any accessible copies of materials that are recommended as must have reading resources for getting into practicing Kemeticism. Second, I confess that I was extremely tempted by the idea of the Rite of Parent Divination or at least the idea of it as an easy way to figure out who one's gods are without doing the proper work and all the blood, sweat, and tears that usually go into that kind of work in the long run to be successful at forming healthy and strong relationships with beings, deities, etc.

I'm ashamed at the fact that I tried taking the easy way out in a way, instead of taking the first real step on the road to figuring things out on my own. I've never done that before. Yes, I've sought aid from other Diviners to obtain clues that I was missing out on to help me narrow things down and find the right trail to get where I want to go, or to confirm or debunk a conclusion or possibility when I think I'm at the end of the road, end of my rope, and there's not really anything else I can do except get a yay or nay on the subject at hand. But I've never shyed away from the work before, the real hard personal work that goes into building proper healthy relationships with beings, deities, etc, and I'm kicking my own ass hardcore for trying to take the easy way out this one time.

It's not an excuse I'm trying to offer here but merely offering the facts or at least what I think happened or at least the processes that were going on in my head when all of these things happened, but I think the struggle that I've been going through the past year regarding straightening out my practice between Greek or Roman (I'll talk more about that in a later post), that my exhaustion of sorts got in the way of my proper mindset of things and I ended up throwing my own rules and personal protocols of doing the work tofigure things out straight out the window for something that would make things easier. Just typing the words leaves ashes in my mouth.

Either way, in the end Brighid made the whole thing moot in a very interesting way. See, Brighid and I have a personal deal or pact you can say, that among other things, she gets to call the shots on which deities I can and can not worship. This is something I entered in with her with my eyes completely wide open and understanding completely what it meant to give her that kind of power. I made this deal with her several years ago as a last ditch attempt as a desperate and last resort sort of action to save my sanity and most likely my life. I mean that in all seriously. I was being attacked by a deity that refused to take no for an answer, refused to respect my sense of consent, and was gunning for me in a way that would either see me as her's and her's alone, or dead in the process. I'm not kidding when I write that, not one bit. I can tell you some crazy horror stories regarding what happened during that terrible year, as it was the kind of year where everything crashed and burned as if it was ignited by Napalm of all things.

But I digress, as I tend to do way too damn much. I got my second vaccination shot for Covid on the eighteenth of June, which was a Friday, and ended up obtaining a Fever of One Hundred Five that Saturday morning. Brighid decided to take that as an opportunity to rekindle our relationship in the exact same way she did when she first healed and claimed me Fifteen years ago this past February. We've been struggling with just about every aspect of our relationship for the past seven years or so, and while this didn't fix everything completely (as there is still a lot of work for both of us to get things where we both want things to be in our relationship), this whole crazy spiritual ordeal cleared the way for us in so many ways that I can't even begin to describe properly.

One of the things that got brought up was the status and nature of every relationship I have or hoped to have with every deity I've been building a relationship with for years now. A lot of uncertainties, confusion, illusions, and chaos all fell away. There are some major changes in my practice I need to write about at some point, but I'm still wrapping my head around it all first. I haven't had the time to do so yet, and it's something I'm working on as I type this all out. 

With all of the things that were cleared away, she showed me which of the Egyptian gods I had a fledgling relationship with, many of which I should have known (all things considered with my brief history with Kemeticism), but didn't have a clue until this crazy shit happened. That doesn't mean that everything is fine and dandy. It's far from it actually. I may know which of the Netjeru I have fledgling relationships with, but I need to do the work to actually build said relationships with those Netjeru on my own. I need to and I'm going to put in the blood, love, respect, sweat, and tears I put in with every relationship I have with deity and non deity alike.

And with all of that now written, here's my confession for whatever it's worth. If nothing else, I now have a clear mind and a far more cleaner heart. I'm a firm believer in stepping up and speaking out about making mistakes, fucking up, and not being or doing my best and then work on fixing those mistakes and doing my damndest to be and do even better next time. This is the first step in doing so, in my heart and mind anyway. 

[early2000smovieimagines]

Meeting and Dating Tod Waggner

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

(So sorry this took so long!)

- You and Tod met after being seated next to each other in class. Since you literally sat side by side, when it was time for your teacher to assign partners for classwork, you usually ended up working with him.

- When you and Tod met, neither of you were really thinking of each other in a romantic way. Tod acknowledged; in his head, that you were pretty but for a while, his thoughts never moved past that. He was more preoccupied with Christa and Blake.

- Then one day, he’d told you some stupid joke and you’d laughed, touching his arm for a split second and his heart just went …boom. He had butterflies, he was sweating, he couldn’t speak; he was a mess. After that, you were all he could really think about. 

- Tod isn’t shy but he does tend to strategize when it comes to girls. He can’t just ask them out, he has to ease into things, test the waters and make sure that they like him back. He’s not gonna jump into things just to get rejected on the first try, he’s gonna worm his way into your heart nice and slow. But taking things nice and slow is a dangerous game.

- There’s a noticeable shift in his behavior towards you but you just chalk it up to him deciding to get friendly since you’re always working together. Is is sort of strange that he’s now constantly greeting you and following you around like a lost puppy but you try not to assume anything, not wanting to jump to conclusions and wind up feeling stupid.

- A few months into his attempts and he’s preparing to ask you out. The two of you had been hanging out together when he asked if you liked him, saying it nonchalantly and joking enough that you hadn’t suspected anything by it. It was then that you dropped the bombshell on him.

“...Yeah? I wouldn’t be friends with you if I didn’t?” You’d laughed. Friends with him. Friends. He couldn’t even think of a good way to respond to that.

“Yeah, well uh, ...yeah. Just making sure, haha.” He quickly excused himself, rubbing a hand down his face as he hurried away, internally losing his mind.

- What has he done? He laid awake in bed that night contemplating whether or not he should kill himself.

- Sure, having you like him enough to be his friend was all fine and dandy, but he had not artfully flirted with you for the past few months to just be your friend. He saw now that he really had to ask you out and soon too, before you only saw him as a friend and considered other options.

“What’s your favorite food?” He’d asked you pretty much out nowhere as the two of you sat together after school one day. You gave him a bit of a quizzical look but replied to his question.

“Really? Mine too. It’s eerie how much we have in common.” He joked and you laughed, shaking your head a little as you went back to what you were doing.

“Well... you know, since it’s your favorite, and it’s my favorite, why don’t we go eat some …together?” He said a bit nervously though his voice was laced with flirtation.

- He’s still a little surprised that you agreed, even though he was almost sure that you would.

- So the two of you have your first date at a restaurant that serves said food. He may or may not have pretended to like said food just to ask you out and was stuck having to eat it because he wasn’t prepared to admit that he lied.

- You shared your first kiss on your third date. He’d taken you bowling and teasingly made a bet that if he could knock down all the pins in one shot, he could get a kiss in return. Spoiler alert: he failed, but you still generously allowed him to after he playfully persuaded you that he deserved “at least a little one”.

- And with that kiss, he’d successfully made himself a forever home in your heart.

- Lots of pda. He wants everyone to know that you’re his girlfriend; he’s very proud.

- Hugs from behind. He likes to nuzzle into you and press a kiss to the top of your head before he lets go.

- Gentle kisses. You usually lean in, expecting to pull away just as quickly, then wind up spending a full minute with your lips locked. You don’t know how he does it, but he manages to do it every time. 

- Whenever the two of you are making out; which is quite often if we’re being honest here, he’ll always chase your lips when you move to pull away. He does not make not kissing him easy. 

- Babe, baby, darling, angel, sweetheart, love of my life. And said in that exact order when you aren’t paying attention to him. He always smiles amusedly when you finally turn to him and/or realize that he’s talking to you; his grin always just gets bigger the longer it takes. 

- Does he ever stop smiling? It’s like a happy grin is his default face, and you saying that he looks adorable only makes him smile wider. 

- Cheek kisses! It doesn’t even matter if he’s giving or receiving, he just loves them.

- Want a puppy for a boyfriend? He’s always smiling big whenever you touch or call his name. You swear that if he had a tail, he’d be wagging it every time he saw you.

- Stealing his clothes, usually just to wear at his house.

- He’s a sucker for cuddling; he can never get enough of it. He’s usually the big spoon but he also really likes when you baby him, wrapping your arms around him and playing with his hair while he nuzzles his face into your chest/stomach.

- He rests his hand on your boob a lot. It’s not even a conscious decision; his hand just always ends up on your chest whenever he has his arm around you. It’s just so soft and warm, he can’t help it.

- He definitely calls himself “daddy”, like “listen to daddy” and “can daddy have a kiss”. He likes seeing the expression on your face whenever he says it.

- Getting close to George and Alex. If he’s not with you, he’s with them so you’ll see them a lot; if only just to find out where your boyfriend is.

- Study dates. He pays attention all of ten minutes before he starts to try and distract you.

- Kid and comedy movie marathons.

- Hanging out at the mall together.

- He’s pretty much up for anything date-wise. If you have an idea then he’s more than happy to do it. He just likes adventures, no matter how big or how small.

- Day trips. The two of you will just up and go do something whenever it pops into your heads, usually with little to no planning.

- Knickknack gifts. They’re oftentimes cheap and slightly tacky but you think that they’re cute nonetheless. 

- He’s probably written you; surprisingly good, romantic poetry but would literally die if you showed any of them to anyone.

- You’re always the first person he looks at whenever something funny happens. You’re also always the first person he wants to tell a story to; that is, if you aren’t around to see it happen. 

- The two of you talk on the phone practically every night, even though you pretty much see each other every day.

- You’re sort of inseparable most of the time. He isn’t a fan of doing things alone; in general, so whenever he can have you by his side, he’ll eagerly accept the company. 

- He definitely brags about you, like constantly. With a girlfriend like you, why wouldn’t he? 

- He’s somewhat obnoxious but in a cute way. You can never be too annoyed or bothered by him, especially after he gives you an adoring look whenever you call his name to tell him to shut up/stop doing something.

- He’s sort of a sissy when it comes to pain but he does tend to exaggerate his reactions just to tease you, repeatedly complaining like you just punted him into next Tuesday whenever you gently hit or push him. 

- Kissing his injuries. He swoons every time.

- He likes to mess with you. He thinks your reactions are hilarious. 

- Teasing each other. You both make small dick jokes about him because you both know it isn't really true, and he’s more than willing to remind you of that fact whenever you ask. ;)

- I feel like he likes getting hickeys more than he likes giving them. Perhaps he shaves his barely there stubble so that you can devour his neck like a vampire with the munchies at any given time of day?

- He’s weirdly meticulous about some parts of his grooming; especially after you get together. He wants to look his best for you so he always agonizes over whether or not he’s in tip top shape or if he has to add something else to his nightly/morning routine.

- He isn’t very observant so don’t expect him to be able to see when you’re uncomfortable. He won’t notice until you’re very blatant about it or finally just tell him. While he isn’t very attentive at first, he immediately tries to do something to make up for it, feeling bad for not noticing. 

- He takes care of you, doing whatever has to be done that will make you feel better and safer. Maybe calling your parents or just anxiously sitting next to and watching you, holding you loosely and/or patting your shoulder. Seeing you work yourself into a fit really spooks him so rest assured, he’s gonna keep checking up on you every other minute. 

- He doesn't accept your self depreciation whether they’re jokes or not. He’ll refuse your comments in a joking manner but the sentiment remains the same. You’re perfect, shut up.

- Whenever it rains, he’ll hold his jacket over your head so that you can stay dry, letting himself get soaked in the process. Being cold and wet is worth the kisses that you give him for his chivalry. 

- He’s sort of scared that you’ll fall for his brother. He doesn’t necessarily think of himself as a downgrade but he can’t help but acknowledge that his older brother is much more popular and sought after than he is. 

- Whenever he gets jealous, he’ll usually watch from afar, his jaw set while he fights off the urge to completely scowl. He’ll give you that typical “who was that” routine when you’re alone together again, dwelling on the matter for far longer than he really needs to.

- He’s a bit self conscious so he always appreciates it whenever you compliment and/or reassure him that you love him.

- He doesn’t consider himself to be a protective person but when push comes to shove, he’s the first one to insult or lunge at whoever is being aggressive/rude to you. He quite literally has to be held back from fighting someone in your honor.

- Things can get a little heated when the two of you get into a fight. He’s usually fairly good at keeping his emotions at bay but if you rile him up enough; or if someone else does, then he does have a tendency to curse and raise his voice.

- One of you is going to walk out at some point, either him after throwing in an “I’m not doing this” or you. If you’re the one leaving then he’ll ask where you’re going, maybe adding in an “oh yeah, sure, just walk out” as you flip him off. Pretty much as soon as you leave, his breathing evens out and his shoulders slump and he’s left just feeling really shitty.

- When it comes to apologies, you’re probably the one to cave first; even after his brother tries to talk some sense into him. The two of you will go somewhere at the same time and take turns glancing at each other for a little while before you finally speak; it’s usually you because he doesn’t want to cause more trouble. After you make the first move, he’ll apologize and admit that he’s missed you.

- Lots of “I love you’s”. They’re mainly said playfully but occasionally he’ll say one seriously, making complete heart eyes at you while he does so.

- He’s sort of planning his future around yours. You’re going to x college? How crazy, he was thinking of that one too! Hey, maybe you should move in together. I mean, just cause it’s convenient, ya know?

[bbyhaikyuu]

Heya!! Would you mind writing a head cannon, please? I think it would be so cool if it was about some of the boys dating a girl libero who was crazy good. Like she can receive Ushijima’s spikes and get to the freak quick, I think that would be so awesome! I’d love to see Noya, Oikawa, Bokuto and Kuroo! Thank you so much!!

Heya!! Thanks for the request love, I'm not entirely confident at this but I hope you'll like it!! Btw I made it quite short because there's four characters, my brain died when i got to kuroo and bokuto.

Yuu Nishinoya || Oikawa Tooru || Kuroo Tetsurou || Bokuto Koutarou : s/o is a crazy good libero.

Warnings: Swearing

Headcanons, fem!reader.

M.List || Requests

Yuu Nishinoya

Best female libero in the prefecture. Yeah, that's what you are. Always featured in the monthly volleyball magazine, the player who would jump over barricades just to save the ball.

Now imagine all the shocked faces as you enter the Karasuno gym, well don't include Noya, he's already running at you at full speed with his arms wide open.

You've known each other ever since you were at Chidoriyama, that's a well-known fact. But they didn't expect that you two kept contact.

Noya was quick to challenge you to a 3 vs. 3 match. Smol boi was itching to see how much you both improved.

Him, Kageyama, and Hinata vs. You, Sugawara, and Tanaka.

All eyes were on the game. You always made the ball go up flawlessly, allowing suga and tanaka to score for your team. There's atleast a two-point difference.

The freak quick. You finally saw it, you've been itching to see it with your own eyes, and you did. You weren't able to receive it the first time, and you saw the smug smirk the three boys sported, but you just smiled, "Got surprised there." and scratched the back of your head.

Once. To see it once was all it took. You never let the ball fall ever again. Your agility and speed was far superior than Hinata's, as well as your reflexes. To say that everyone was in awe was an understatement.

1-2, in favour of your team. You thanked each other for the good game. Kiyoko handed you a spare towel and the boys just literally threw you questions about your techniques. Even coach Ukai was very interested.

Unfortunately you had to get going, Kiyoko accompanied you to the changing room, but not before Noya said that he'll walk you home, you happily accepted the offer.

"Oh yeah Noya, you never told us why she dropped by and actually agreed to your challenge."

"Huh? Aren't girlfriends allowed to visit their boyfriends when they have time?"

Oikawa Tooru

"Send me one of your serves again Tooru-chan!" Of course, what kind of libero are you when you can't even recieve the monster serve of your boyfriend?

Oikawa was already having an inner debate. Your arms were red and it looks like it was ready to fall. You've been recieving his serves for a good 15 minutes, his teammates watched you in awe as you flawlessly hopped around the court. Oikawa was ready to gauge their eyes out.

"Alright, this is the last one." Oikawa was serious about this. So are you. You recieved it without any problem, well, in the team's perspective.

"Damn, that was as hard to get as Ushijima-san's spikes!" You said as you stretched out your body.

On cue the team's eyes widened and they stood up. Hovering over you and throwing you questions.

Oikawa and Iwaizumi literally had to pluck them off of you one by one lmao. Oikawa held you by his side, his arm slung over your shoulder.

Oikawa basically had to explain to them that you were the libero for the girls' vbc of Shiratorizawa. And that practice with Ushijima and the rest of the boys was a common occurrence. You were there because it was a rest day for the club.

The team knew that you were his girlfriend. But not the fact that you were from Shiratorizawa, the rival school.

Oikawa shoo'd them away and y'all changed back into your school uniforms. Saying something about rarely seeing you because you were at another school and his team having practices until late at night.

Iwaizumi overheard him and sent him a glare, "you should've gone to Shiratorizawa then."

Kuroo Tetsurou

During the summer camp, you dropped by one night because Kuroo and Yaku wanted help in whipping Lev into shape.

Coincidentally they were doing drills with hinata, kageyama and tsukishima.

You?? Just?? Casually?? Recieved?? Their?? Quicks??

You really do scoop up their quicks like its nothing, discarding your track jacket in a blink of an eye. (peek noya)

"That was like lightning fast, but you lack strength smol tangerine." Hinata didn't even process the word tangerine, he was just like WOAH and BAM and PON, he was all over you. Kuroo had to literally peel him off.

"I would appreciate it if you weren't all over my girlfriend, chibi-chan." Kuroo's team knew, bokuto and akaashi knew, hinata, kageyama, and tsukki... Didn't.

Their eyes just LIT UP. That sentence was for Hinata.

Tsukki literally had to remind the orange ball of hyperactivity that you called his spikes weak. So the tangerine pouted at you.

You laughed it off and whispered to him; "wanna learn how to spike like Ushiwaka?" and that's all it took.

They learned about that one time you were at the nationals and standing at the sides of the volleyball court. Ushiwaka was serving and he accidentally applied too much power, making the ball fly towards the camera crew. You were fast enough to run over and recieve the ball as well as save the lives of the cameramen. You got bruised a lil bit but it was worth it in the end. Ushiwaka actually approached you guys and apologized.

So for the rest of the night, you taught all of them how to spike and recieve the ball. Along with some handy dandy tricks that they could use in case of an emergency.

Kuroo was jealous that the boys were hogging you, but felt extremely proud of his little kitten. He offered to walk you home that night because your house is literally minutes away. He got them smooches too hehe.

Bokuto Kotaro

If your babe is one of the top 5 aces in the country, of course you need to step up your libero game too!!

And that's how you ended up being in the top 3 female libero in the nation. To say that Bokuto was proud was an understatement.

He brags about you SO much he doesn't even realize it. Akaashi has to ground him down every once in a while.

Fast forward to the spring tournament, baby boi owl just finished his game and was hell bent on cheering you ON

He took the little orange haired crow with him too!!! His pupil needs to meet his significant other!!!

Everyone in the sub arena was engrossed in your game. It seems that no matter how hard the opposing team attacked, you were always there to recieve the ball. When they tried to do dumps, it always seemed that you were there waiting.

It wasn't long before they tire out, allowing your team to easily score.

The game was done and you instantly spotted your owl boyfriend frantically waving for you to notice him.

You approached them and Bokuto instantly covered you with his jacket and continued hyping you up.

Hinata was just like OvO watching you both, quite intensely.

You noticed his stares and looked at him, before smiling and patting his head.

Then Bokuto realized that he needed to introduce you both, so he did.

"Oh? So you are Tarō's student? You're so smol and cute." You pinched his cheeks, The tangerine became a tomato.

Ofcourse you needed to up your compliments on your boyfriend too, or else you were in for a whiny and emo Bokuto.

The coach called you over so you bid your goodbyes to them, forgetting the fact that you still had Bokuto's jacket.

Hinata reminded Bokuto about the jacket and the owl just laughed it off, saying something about spending time with her later that evening. Then they just proceeded to talk about you as they walked back to their teams.

[calpalirwin]

Forfeit

Request: Friend Ashton finds readers song (she casually recorded since she is into write lyrics) Song is about hating herself and nobody understands her. How would he react? Lately I just write depressive stuff ugh! Thanks B ❤

A/N: Song I used is Forfeit by Arrows In Action (should totally check them out, just sayin’.)

Word Count: ~700

And away, and away we go!

__

“You didn’t tell me you released a new song,” Ashton piped up from beside you, his tone neither accusing or overly upset.

“I didn’t… I dropped my EP like two months ago. But you were there for that.”

“Then why is there a song called Forfeit on your account?” he questioned, scrolling slightly on his phone. “That says you released… yesterday.’

Your eyes went wide. “No!” you screeched, practically launching yourself across the couch to snatch his phone.

Ashton let out a small grunt as your body collided into his, before giggling. “Aw, don’t want me to see it?” he started to tease you. “C’mon, I’m your best friend. What could you possibly have left to hide?”

As he waved his phone in your face, just a mere half inch out of your reach, you strained even more. “C’mon, Ash! What are you doing stalking my profile for anyway?! It was an accident! I was fucking around the other day, and my accounts must have synced! I don’t know! Now, give me the phone!”

Still thinking you were joking around and being modest, Ashton hit play.

“Sleeping on the floor, I’m empty.” You watched in silent horror as your friend’s face changed from playful to blank processing as the song continued to pour from his speaker. “...But now I don’t believe in nothing… Empty rooms and angry spaces… turned out to be bitter after.”

Ashton hit pause before the song could repeat itself, the silence crashing in around the two of you. “Why’d you call it Forfeit instead of Bitter After?”

“Why’d you call a song She’s Kinda Hot when you only say it 5 times?” you countered, retreating to the other side of the couch, drawing up your knees to act as a physical barrier.

He chuckled. “Alright, fair point. So the song… when what you thought was happily ever after turns into bitterly ever after?”

“Something like that… but not just in a relationship sense. In a… whole life sense.”

“Letting the world turn you into a pessimist isn’t really like you.”

“The world isn’t turning me into a pessimist. It’s just making me…”

“Jaded? Dare I say… bitter?”

“Wondering if it’s all worth it.”

“If what’s all worth it? Living? You’re not… are you?”

You shrugged, a tear rolling down your face. “I don’t know…” you whispered. “I mean… what’s the point of continuing to give my all to people for them to not accept it? Or decide that it’s too much? That I’m too much? Or maybe it’s the opposite problem. Maybe I’m not giving enough because I’m not enough. I just… I just exist, Ashton. There’s nothing inherently great or terrible about me. I’m just… here… existing… taking up space.”

“You know none of that’s true right? Because you are enough. For the right person, you are so much more than enough. Because everything about you is inherently great. You’re kind, and you’re funny. And you’re fuckin’ brilliant. And… I somehow ended up with a rep of being the man that loves with everything I have, but I learned how to do that from you. And yeah… We all have those moments where we feel like we’re just kinda here, and don’t really know why. And if that’s been the moment that you’ve been trapped in, keep fighting. Moments pass.”

“That’s all fine and dandy, Ash… but when? When am I gonna find that right person? When is this moment going to be over? When does this,” you gestured about the room, “stop?”

“I don’t know. But,” he paused to rest his hands on your knees, “I’m gonna be here for everything. Me and you. Always.”

“Ash?”

“Hmm?”

“You ever think that maybe… we found the right person already and just… convinced ourselves not to see it because we didn’t think we deserved it, or were scared they wouldn’t feel the same?”

“No. Well… yes. But no.”

“Oh?”

Ashton chuckled before leaning closer so your noses brushed together. “I know I found the right person. I just needed to be patient while you figured it out.”

A small giggle escaped you. “Then you must be dying because you’re the most impatient person I know.”

“Guess you better hurry up, and kiss me.”

“Guess I should.”

__

Tag List

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[finnwolfhard7137]

The Heart of Mine-

Miles Fairchild × Reader

*MASTERLIST HERE*

Chapter Twelve REWRITTEN

((This means more chapters to come))

Word Count 2.2k

Warnings: angst and fluff

You wake up to Miles playing with your hair. Twirling it between his fingers and playing with it. You love your hair getting played with, and Miles knows it. You hum from satisfaction and bury your face deeper into his chest.

Miles "Morning."

"Mmm."

Miles "Someone doesn't want to get up today." He chuckles.

"Mmm-nope." 

Miles "Let's just stay in bed until Flora needs us then, how does that sound?"

"So good." You mumbled. You reposition yourself next to Miles and he holds you close. You start to think about the very first time he touched your hand. How it made you feel. And when he first kissed you, how that made you feel. Now here you both are, so in love with each other that you never want to be unconnected from each other. It is crazy how time has passed, and how many things have changed. Before coming here, you felt so alone. All of your past relationships ended badly and were very toxic. Now you are dating your best friend. Oh and the fact that before coming here, you did not believe in the supernatural. And now you fear being killed by an entity that you can't see until it manifests...crazy to think about. Then, you think about everything that has happened to you the duration of you being here and all the pain you have gone through. But you would endure it all over again because you had Miles to help you get through it all. You love Miles more than anyone, so it has all been worth it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When you wake back up, you hear loud banging coming from the hall. You quickly turn over to shake Miles up but he was not in bed. You struck up the courage to get out of bed to see what the banging was. You open up the door and peak your head around the corner but nothing, no one was there. Where is that banging coming from? It sounds like it would have been right here...You walk on and down the hallway and get closer to the sound. You walk towards the other side of the hallway: the east wing. You lean your head around the corner and to your absolute relief, you see Miles throwing a ball against the wall. You audibly sigh and he hears you and turns around.

Miles "Oh hey babe!"

"Hey...you scared me. I thought that Quint was doing all the banging."

Miles "Oh I'm sorry!" He walks up to you and cups your cheeks, "I just wanted to blow off some steam and this is the only way I know how without my drumset." 

"It's alright, I'm glad that it was you. Where's Flora?"

Miles pecks your lips, "She's outside with Mrs. Grose, she wanted help in the yard."

"Oh that's good!"

Miles "Yeah. I don't want her to hate her, just be aware of her that is all. She is my sister and I have to protect her."

"I know," you kiss his cheek, "you are a great older brother."

Miles smiles, "Thank you babes. Come on, let's eat.." he throws you over his shoulder, "I'm starving!"

…

When Flora and Mrs. Grose came in, Flora was limping. Miles immediately got furious, as he should be.

Miles "What happened?!"

Flora "I-....I tripped." She said looking at Mrs.Grose. 

"Is that right?"

Mrs. Grose "Yes. Poor thing tripped over a rock in the garden."

Miles kneels down to his sister, "Are you telling me the truth?" She takes a deep breath, looks at you and then back at Miles and then bursts out in tears. 

Flora "No!" Miles does not respond, he only picks his sister up and takes her to his room. 

"What did you do to her, Mrs. Grose? She's just a kid!"

Mrs. Grose "She cut off a flower that was not ready to be cut. I taught her a lesson."

You shake your head, "Y'know. I thought you changed. I thought that you weren't going to beat on anyone anymore, but I guess I was wrong. Because not only have you beaten me numerous times throughout the year of me being here, but now you are beating an 8 year old child. You should be disgusted in yourself." 

Mrs. Grose gets in your face, "Listen here, little one. You are not the boss here, I am. I hired you to take care of Flora, not boss me around and tell me how to run things around here."

"I am not telling you how to run things, I am telling you that your punishments are barbaric!"

Mrs. Grose "Yell at me one more time, and you won't wake up tomorrow." You don't know what to say. You just simply back away slowly and head to Miles' room. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I opened the door, Flora was in her brother's arm's and softly crying to herself. Miles looks up at me and never had I seen someone look so lost before. I sit down beside them and wait for them to tell me what happened.

Miles "She pushed her, Y/n. She pushed her because she cut a flower...a fucking flower."

"Where does it hurt, lovebug?"

Flora "Just my knee. I'm okay."

Miles "No it's not okay. I'll fucking kill her! She can hurt me, but not you two. I won't allow it, I am supposed to protect you. That is my job."

Flora "You do, Miles. I am okay. If you do anything, it'll only make things get badder." She isn't wrong. Mrs. Grose hates it when we argue back at her. If Miles goes off, she could seriously hurt him or you and Flora. The best thing is to stay away from her as best as possible. 

Miles sighs. You rest your head on his shoulder and he rests his head on top of yours. "I don't know what to do anymore." He said with sorrow in his voice. 

"Neither do I. But all I know is that we just need to stick together. No more going anywhere alone. Especially not being alone with her."

Flora "Is that the plan?"

Miles "That's the only plan we have right now so yeah."

Flora "Okay. But what about your couple stuff?"

Miles chuckles, "What about it?"

Flora "Wouldn't it be weird if I saw you two kiss and stuff?"

Miles "You see me kiss Y/n everyday, whatcha talking about?"

Flora "I don't know."

"We aren't going to let you be alone anymore, Flora. So Miles and I will just have to adjust to you being around us 24/7. Which is totally okay."

Miles "Yeah. We love you."

Flora "Love you."

…

When everything has calmed down, you, Miles and Flora go back into the living room. Mrs. Grose is in the process of cleaning Flora's room so you three get nibbles to snack on. Everything is fine and dandy until Mrs. Grose comes out of the room and see's Flora's knee.

Mrs. Grose "Flora, what happened?!"

Flora "Huh?"

Mrs. Grose "Who hurt your knee darling?!" Flora just looks up at you and you knew immediately that that was not in fact Mrs. Grose who pushed Flora in the greenery. Mrs. Grose looks up at you and you get a chill down your spine, "Did you do this to her?!"

"Wha-no! No of course not!"

Mrs. Grose "You did, didn't you!?"

"No! Flora, tell her the truth!"

Miles "No, enough. You did Mrs. Grose. You took Flora with you to the greenery and she came back with a messed up knee."

Mrs. Grose "I didn't go into the greenery today Miles, what lie are you telling now? Y/n-"

Miles "This isn't a lie! And you are not going to blame her for your abuse!"

Mrs. Grose "I did not harm your sister."

Miles "Maybe, maybe you didn't-"

Flora "Quint.." we all look down at her and Miles grabs a hold of your hand as you start to panic. When he turns to face you, he can see the fear start to build in your star-like eyes, so he pauses the conversation and talks to you directly.

Miles "Babe, hey, look at me. Remember what happens when we get scared, alright?" You quickly nod and sniffle away your fear as you try to clear your mind as fast as possible. Miles looks at Mrs. Grose with disgust.

Miles "Why did you have to kill him, hmm? If you just banished him off the grounds, none of this would be happening."

Mrs. Grose "I..I thought that I was doing what was best at the time."

Miles "Well I bet you regret it now, don't you Mrs. Grose?" All she does is hang her head and places her arms around her torso. 

Flora "I forgive you." She said in almost a whisper, making Mrs. Grose look up from the floor. 

Mrs. Grose "How could any of you forgive me?"

Miles "I don't. But Flora is still too young to know everything that you have done since coming to this house. She is still kind and loving, unlike you. She has a bright light that shines through the darkness in this house, that keeps the monsters in these walls away. So of course my sister forgives you, Mrs. Grose. I don't think that she has it in her heart to hate anyone, even Quint."

Flora "You are wrong about that.." you snicker because it was so abrupt. She is feisty sometimes and you love that about her. 

Miles chuckles and moves a piece of brown hair that had fallen into his sister's eye, "Yeah, no one likes Quint. But you know my point, don't you?"

Mrs. Grose "I do. I love you Flora, I hope you know that. I am far from perfect but I would never harm you! Any of you.." That pissed you off, to say the least. Miles has told you all of the things that she used to do to Miles when he would misbehave as a kid, and you know first hand how dangerous she is. So for her to say that, was only a bribe method to try to convince Flora that she isn't a brutal woman. 

"You-"

Miles "Don't. It's useless Y/n. She'll just say what we all want her to say so that we stay quiet. Let's just go outside.." he picks his sister up and she quickly wraps her legs around him as he starts to walk. You attempt to walk but she grabs your hand. 

Mrs. Grose "Y/n please, let me talk-" Miles is ready to attack her head on but you speak up before he gets the chance.

"You've had plenty of chances to talk Mrs. Grose. But all you seem to do is lie."

Mrs. Grose "I-"

"And you really had me believing last week..with all the compliments, with all the laughter and the days off..but here we are today and Flora got hurt. Not in my presence, in yours. So don't you dare blame me for hurting Flora, she is not just the little girl I am babysitting, she is like my little sister. So never.blame.me.again." After that, she let go of your hand and you and Miles walked out of the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside, it is a thunderstorm. And yet you three walked out into the pouring rain, sat down on the grass, and let the cold rain cool you off. It is almost a cleanse that you all needed so desperately in that very moment. You three stay silent for quite awhile, just holding onto each other as the raindrops landed on your skin and clothing. 

Miles "It is like God heard our cries for a break in this fucked up house." 

Flora "Language!" She said dramatically. 

Miles giggles, "Sorry sis. But wouldn't you agree?"

Flora "Yeah, it feels good."

Miles "Babe?"

"Hmm? Yeah."

Miles "You okay? She didn't grab you too hard did she?"

"If she did I forgot."

Miles "..I like that answer." He leans down and kisses your forehead and lays his head back down into the grass. 

Flora "Will we always be together?" We look at her and she starts to cry, "I mean..will we always be together..like-"

Miles "Of course we will always be with you Flora."

Flora "No! I mean will us three all be together..forever?" You never realized that she feared this. You never even knew that she feared losing you.

Miles "Yeah, of course."

Flora "Sorry...being here in the rain just made me feel so scared to lose what we have.."

"We are right here, little one. We aren't leaving you, ever. Okay?" You reach over and wipe away her tears just like Miles did. 

Miles "Why are you scared, sis?"

Flora "I-not I just thought about you both and I got sad 'cause I love you guys."

Miles "We love you more Flors. Don't cry anymore, alright? I don't like seeing you cry." Flora smiles and stops her tears as best as she could. 

Flora "I wonder if the fishies are okay!"

Miles "How about we all go check on em.."

"After you two." You watch the family you've gained walk ahead of you and you realize how blessed you have gotten throughout this hell. You might have endured a lot this past year and a half, but you would go through it all over and over again because you have Miles and Flora by your side. And they are your world. 

@moriartysringtone7137 @jk97-wolfhard @btsarmygirl417 @richietozier69 @jadeaudri08 @selfishdreameredit @0baby-girll0 @poffergranate @spookaypeanut @a-mess-of-fandoms @melonmochi @softiediana @mariskata @1-800-softbitxh

[septicbro1005]

Paint Me How You See Me

A/N: Okay, you have no idea how excited I was to see that I had permission to write this. I literally am so happy I could scream. Will I? Not out loud. This actually made me so excited that I got up and started walking around my room and smiling holy shit. Alright. Enough of that. I was inspired to write this story by a comic made by the fantastic @venadorosas​ and I just am so damn excited to write this! I am not an art student myself, but I will do my best to replicate it with what I know. I hope I do the comic justice! Just a few more things before this thing starts: I'm gonna do myself and make this a Quirkless AU as well as make Yuuei a university instead of a high school. This is unedited, so if there are sentences or misspellings, that is why, and I apologize. Anyway, let's get rolling!

Kirishima's POV

One stroke after the other.

Small, swift.

One stroke makes a world of a difference.

So don't… mess… up.

I only have one canvas left after this one, but I'm saving it for something important. Something special. Just need to figure out what.

I mean, yeah, I have others on back order, and Mr. Miyoshi is usually pretty cool with giving me some, but I still need to think about what to do with the 106 cm by 106 cm canvas.

A canvas that big needs something worth being put on there.

"Psst, Kiri--" "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhut," I hissed out through clenched teeth.

"You nee--" "I said shut,"

"B--" "No. Shut. Lemme finish,"

The person who proceeded to pester me, even after I told him to be quiet, was none other than Hanta Sero.

He was an art student, along with myself and several others I know by name.

One of which was Katsuki Bakugou.

And damn, was he confusing.

He was this aloof dude who talked to maybe two people by his own volition.

Some random girl who I see him talk to ever now and again. I think we've spoken twice? All I remember is she told me to call her Tsu.

And then me.

Sure, he'd talk to the professors and people like that, but if he didn't have to speak, he wouldn't.

Yet, he spoke to me.

Not only did he barely talk to people, but he also is probably one of the best looking people on campus.

I kid you not, the first time I saw this dude, I was totally sure I'd met Adonis in human form.

His ash blond hair was styled into a fluffy undercut that I would pay money for to be able to run my hands through, even once. His gauges and helix piercings gave him a bit of an edge, but that's what made him more alluring. He came into class one day, wearing a wife beater, which put a tattoo on full display, resting on his right shoulder.

It isn't just his looks that are attractive either. The way he holds himself, presents himself, just his whole aura is indescribable, to keep it brief.

And he was the person I was painting this for.

This wasn't his first commission. Not by a long shot. And this one was fairly simple as well. Still, I poured my heart and soul into it, just like every piece.

But with his commissions, I feel the need to work that much harder. To push myself that much farther. To make it perfect, in a word.

Now, I know that perfection is impossible, but I still want to achieve it.

I mean, if Bakugou could, I could too, right?

"Kirishima, I've been talking to you for the past couple of seconds and you haven't shushed me. Don't zone out on me right now, man,"

Sero's voice managed to pull me out of this trance, but only a bit.

The ash blond with the scarlet glare was still in the back of my mind.

"What?"

"You need lunch, man," Sero said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Listen, I thank you for your concern, but I had a protein shake maybe six hours ago. I'm dandy," I mumbled, doing a few more soft strokes before standing up. "Plus, I'm not even hungry," 

"Dunno what kind of protein shake you're drinking, but you still need sustenance. C'mon," Sero attempted to persuade me as I walked to the sink to clean the small brush.

"I'm cool, dude. I have a granola bar or two in my bag. I'll eat when I'm hungry," I chuckled lightly, turning on the water and cleaning the brush.

Sero sighed in defeat, as this marked the second week in a row where I substituted breakfast with a protein drink and lunch with a granola bar.

"Alright, fine. Make sure you eat dinner tonight, or Mr. Miyoshi is gonna kick you out again," Sero said, beginning to walk to the door.

"I know, I know,"

"I'll be off, then,"

"Peace out, dude,"

I heard the door to the studio shut, and it was just me in here.

Just me and the paint.

"Hey, Siri,"

My phone lit up, hearing its name.

"Play Rex Orange County on Spotify,"

As I began to finish up some touches on the snow covered forests surrounding a bright red cardinal, the song Uno filled my ears.

The song had no real relevance, but I love that song so much. I dunno if its just because it sounds so simple and sweet, but I just think the song's pretty great.

I'd say after maybe forty-five minutes of doing seemingly pointless touch-ups, I stood back, admiring my work.

Not much needed to be done, but I needed this to be phenomenal.

"I'll just use a simple varnish once everything is dry, then I can move it into the back," I muttered to myself, as if someone was there and I had to be quiet. "Can I finish it today? I could tell him where it is, and wait for the money to come in, I guess,"

A few seconds pause later, and I continued.

"Wow, great job, Eijirou. You sound like a dickwad who just wants money,"

A short sigh, a granola bar and maybe a half an hour or so later, everything seemed dry.

"Let's varnish this motherfucker, and I'll text him when that's done," I mumbled, going into the cabinets, looking for the varnish.

No other assignments at the moment… okay! Cool! I can probably head back to my dorm, chill there, and text Bakugou when it's done!

When I finally found it, I got to work on the varnish.

***

"And sent," I whispered as I approached the dormitories.

I just sent Bakugou a short text, telling him where to find it, how to send me the money (although he probably knows the process by heart at this point) and all that jazz.

My dorm building was in sight when my phone buzzed once.

It was a different buzzing pattern than all the others.

"Oh, Bakugou responded this quickly?" I thought aloud.

Opening my phone, I checked the message.

Sent the ¥321.7K 

My eyes widened at the number.

"I sure as hell didn't tell him to send me that much, what the hell?"

                                                   What!? The commission was only ¥48.2K?!

His response was immediate.

Left a tip.

Get yourself something nice.

"Whoa," I murmured.

Now, I knew Bakugou was on the higher end of the economic spectrum, but hot damn! 

He did usually give me more money than I told him to, but that fact that he gave me that much more this time just seemed to solidify the thought of him being rich.

So manly.

Heading into my dorm building, I looked to the elevators, only to see an out of order sign on them both.

"Are you kidding me?" I whispered. "Fine, guess I'm just gonna take the damn stairs,"

I got a notification, seeing the ¥321.7K was successfully put into my account, and I knew this commission was over.

But at this point, I knew what to expect from Bakugou. Next time I see him, he's gonna ask me about another one.

Not that I mind, not one damn bit. I'm cool with any excuse to talk to him, and I'm happy to please him with my art.

I just gotta brace myself for the next time I see him.

Trudging up the stairs, I began pondering what he would want next.

He seems to really like requesting animals, mainly birds such as crows and cardinals, but will he do something different? Ooh, maybe a peacock! Or maybe he'd want some other winged creature… like maybe an insect? Or possibly he'll switch it up on me.

As I ended up on the next staircase, I heard someone else's footsteps approaching.

Looking up, my eyes were met with a familiar scarlet pair of eyes.

"Oh, hey, Bakugou!" I said with a wave.

"Hey," he replied with a simple nod.

Fuck, he was just as gorgeous as always.

A grey turtleneck hugged his torso, with a black and white pinstripe button up on over it. The shirt was tucked into a pair of black jeans, a wallet chain dangling on his right side. A pair of black converse and a dog tag finished his look, alongside my composure.

"Thanks again for the great work," he said, his husky voice hypnotizing me further.

"You haven't already picked it up, have you?" I asked, cocking my head to the side. "I don't think I saw you walk past me to get to the parking lot,"

"Nah, but I know it's gonna look good," his compliment was accompanied by a smirk.

Short-lived, yes. But a smirk nonetheless.

"Aw, thanks dude! Always happy to make something for my best customer!" I felt myself beam at him. 

"See you around, Red," he said, continuing down the stairs.

"Bye," I waved with a small smile on my face as he disappeared down the stairs.

I quickly hauled ass up to my floor, speed walked to my door and slammed the keys in.

Gay panic in private, dude.

Opening the door, I pulled my key out and shut the door.

"I'm back, Omi!" I shouted into the apartment to see if my roommate was here.

"Hey," my roommate responded from his bed.

"Is it cool if I hop in the shower real quick?" I asked, jerking a thumb toward the bathroom.

"Sure thing. Keep it brief," Omi said, making me roll my eyes.

"Okay, dad," I sighed, but I gave a smile to show it was all in jest.

After locking myself in the bathroom and stripping myself down to absolutely nothing, I got in the shower and had a gay crisis.

Because that's the only place you can have those, y'know?

But a good ol' Panic! In The Shower was enough to calm my nerves.

As I stepped out of the bathroom to grab clothing, I heard Omi laughing.

"What?"

"That Bakugou guy really messes you up, huh?" his laughter was thrown in between words, but I knew exactly what he was referencing.

"If I'm being too loud, just knock on the door, dude! Tell me to shut it, I don't care," I flushed, looking at the ground, my hand tightening around the towel that hung on my waist.

Omi just kept laughing at me as I grabbed my clothes; a simple crimson riot shirt, boxers, black shorts and my wave socks.

It isn't like I'm going anywhere tonight, right?

…

Is what I originally thought until I was dressed and realized I left my motherfucking cardigan at the studio.

"Ugh, fuck," I groaned, rubbing a towel on my head.

"Left your cardigan again?"

"Perhaps," 

"You might as well just wrap it around your waist," Omi suggested.

"And risk getting paint on it?" I looked at Omi like he was a motherfucking psychopath. "Hell no. The cardigan was my grandmother's, so I ain't doing shit to it,"

"Clearly, if you're leaving it in the studio again," Omi mumbled.

"Shush!" I whined, grabbing my keys and slipping on my red sneakers. "I'll be back,"

"Okay,"

Leaving my dorm, I began going down the stairs when I ran into someone.

It was Bakugou, again.

And just when I thought my gay panic was over for the day.

"Oh, hey," I said as casually as possible.

Which probably sounded forces as fuck, because it felt like my heart was just about ready to implode.

"Red," Bakugou was looking me up and down.

I don't think I've ever felt more self-conscious about my appearance in my life.

"I've got another request, if it isn't too much,"

"O-oh, okay!" 

Why did I stutter?! That was so unmanly!

"So, what is it?"

I looked into his gorgeous eyes, trying to see further into him, but I was only met with his right hand slamming into the wall next to my head.

Oh shit, oh fuck. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna collapse, right here. Right now. I can't handle this.

"Uh, dude? You--" "Paint me how you see me, Kirishima,"

Uh, what?

I was stuck between saying "Got it," and "What?" so my dumbass just responded with this:

"Gweh?"

We sat there, in silence, staring at each other.

My face was flushing bright red, and I wanted to look away, but I didn't. I couldn't. His eyes just drew me in.

He moved his arm to his side, and began to head up the stairs.

Quick, say something coherent!

"O-on it!"

I swear, I saw him smile a bit before he was completely gone.

What was I doing again?

***

It's been around three weeks.

It's been three weeks of planning, sketching, and small, swift strokes.

And plenty of panic, but that's irrelevant. There was a bit of disco, so it balances out anyway.

Mr. Miyoshi did end up setting a curfew on me, to make sure I didn't pass out at the studio, but it wasn't set until it had already happened.

But, since I wanted to work on it after the curfew, I brought it to the dorm, keeping it on newspaper and buying the paint I needed.

I had the picture in my mind, which I did my best to replicate without him genuinely modelling for me.

It was a ¾ shot of his shirtless back, with him looking over his right shoulder, giving a perfect view of his side profile. I also made sure I replicated his tattoo to the best of my abilities, and I think it came out okay.

But that isn't all!

Monarch butterflies lined his back, as a fiery looking echo was placed slightly to the left. 

Those warm colors contrasted like hell, compared to the blues and navy of the background.

Just to fuck around with more color, flecks of brighter colors adorned the background, giving it sort of galaxy look.

I thought it looked gorgeous.

And not just because it's Bakugou.

You know how when you make something, and you worked so damn hard on it, and when it's done, you're just filled with pride?

This is one of those works for me.

"Omi!" I yelled about before cringing.

It's 01:35.

"Yeah?" 

Why the fuck does he sound like he's been awake?

"First of all, have you been awake this whole time? Second of all, could you grab me my phone?" I said a little quieter.

"It's done?" Omi asked, coming over with my phone.

"I'm happy with it," I said with a huge grin.

"Looks fantastic," Omi pat my shoulder before walking off.

Using my nose, I unlocked my phone and took a picture before putting my phone down.

I just looked at the painting, with Bakugou's slight pout catching my eyes.

I have absolutely zero clue what came over me, but I lifted my forefinger to my mouth, and pressed a small peck to it.

My forefinger rested against the painting's lips, and I just felt warm.

And that was probably the best feeling ever.

I gotta give this to him in person. It's about time I told him.

***

What floor are you on again?

                                                                                    Number two. Room 204.

Okay, I'm coming over.

I let out a shuddery breath, looking at the canvas, which I covered with a blanket.

I need to tell him.

It's time.

I kept opening my phone, making sure I had the song ready to play at the click of a button.

He needs to know.

A loud knock landed on my door, and I jumped.

I walked over to the door, playing the song as I opened it.

"Hey, Bakugou! Come in!"

The ash blond entered, wearing a button up and jeans again, just no turtleneck this time.

"So, I wanted to give this one to you in person… because I…" I was stumbling over my words.

Calm down, Eijirou. You got this.

"Because this could very well be the last commission you want from me,"

This made Bakugou's usual deadpan change ever so slightly. His left brow rose up as his head tilted to the side.

"And why might that be?"

"I…"

Fucking say it.

Spit it out.

"I like you," I barely got out before throwing my gaze at the ground. "I like you a lot. You're just so cool and collected, and from what I know about you, I like it. And I want to know more. I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but I just had to get that out," 

Before I even looked at him, I walked over to the painting, still looking at the ground, and pulled the blanket off.

Everything was silent, except for the music in the background. But even the song was at a quieter part than the rest of it.

I felt Bakugou's eyes on me and not the painting, which terrified me to no end.

Should I have even said anything?

"You don't have to pay if you don't want to or if you don't like it. And…" I took in a shaky breath, looking at the ground, lazily gesturing to the painting and then myself. "If you don't want to be friends anymore, if you even thought of us as friends, then you can ignore me,"

His footsteps were soft, but I knew they were coming. So when his black converse appeared in my vision, I looked off to the side as my vision blurred with tears that threatened to spill. 

A finger went under my chin, turning my face to him.

His eyes met mine, and he was smiling.

"You really are oblivious, huh?"

"Gweh?"

Fucking, again?

Bakugou laughed before leaning in a bit, his head turning to the left.

"Can I kiss you as a tip?"

My whole brain has short-circuited, but I turned my head to the right and leaned in closer.

My eyes slowly closed, and when his lips met mine, I was immediately thrown into a state of euphoria.

Holy shit, this is happening.

This is actually happening!

I couldn't help the smile that bloomed on my face as I draped my arms over his shoulders, and I couldn't stop laughing either.

It was so fucking amazing.

Small blazes of tears made tracks down my cheeks, but I didn't care. Unless my nose starts running, I'm not gonna let some tears mess up this kiss.

But, all good things must come to an end, as Bakugou pulled back.

His eyes were on mine, and for once, they were soft. A small grin was pasted on his features, his hands on my face.

"Why are you crying?" he asked as his thumb rubbed at my dampened cheek.

I just felt myself giggle in response. 

"Well, I was originally gonna cry because I thought you wouldn't be cool with my confession, but these tears quickly turned sweet," I just couldn't stop laughing. "Shit, I'm so happy,"

We just stood there for a few moments of content silence before Bakugou spoke up.

"So, how the hell am I supposed to bring this painting to my dorm?" 

"I can help you bring it up there!" I offered.

"I get to bring two masterpieces to my dorm? Great!" Bakugou oozed confidence as he said that.

"Dear christ," I began giggling again, since that was unexpected.

We grabbed the painting, and I made sure Bakugou was careful with it, but was also holding it properly.

"Hey, Omi! Could you get the door?"

"Sure,"

"Your roommate was here?" Bakugou asked.

"Well, it's his dorm too." I pointed out as Omi got the door for me. "Plus, it isn't like I wasn't so obviously crushing on you,"

"It really wasn't," Omi said, patting my back carefully. "But congratulations to the both of you,"

"Thanks, Omi,"

Bakugou just gave a small murmur to thank Omi.

"Alright, Bakugou, you go through the door first, then we can keep walking," I said, turning us so Bakugou could walk out the door properly.

"Okay,"

After a quick minute of maneuvering, we managed to get the painting up the stairs without damaging it.

"So you're which dorm?"

"302," Bakugou said as we got to his door.

"Coolio!" I grinned.

"Dork," Bakugou snickered at me. "How d'you want this to be put down?"

"We can just rest it against the wall," I said, propping the painting up on the wall.

"Give me a quick sec," Bakugou mumbled, unlocking the door.

He swung the door open and made sure it stayed open. 

"Alright,"

"At this point, I'm gonna follow you. You know where you wanna put this?" I asked him.

"Uhm… I think Misumi wouldn't mind if I placed this on his side of the room until I know exactly where to hang it," Bakugou said as we walked into the room.

***

My paintings were all on the wall. The snow surrounded cardinal, the murder of crows, all of them.

Except one.

The other paintings sort of made a frame, with a 106 cm x 106 cm square in the middle.

"Hey, honey?" I called out.

"What's up, Rourou?" Katsuki asked from the other room.

"Could you grab me the step ladder?"

"Shorty," I heard Katsuki laugh.

"I heard that, Katsu! You aren't as quiet as you think!"

"Says you, of all people!" Katsuki chuckled, coming on with the step ladder.

"Thank you, baby," I said, pecking his cheek.

"Of course. Putting up the last one?" He asked.

"Yep!" I said, grabbing the painting I made all those years back.

The monarch butterflies dotting his spine, his scarlet glare, gorgeous fluffy hair, all of it brought together, and hung up on our wall.

I got off the step ladder, and looked at the paintings. Every single one of them.

A hand snaked around my waist and pulled me in close.

"I love you so much, baby," Katsuki whispered, kissing my forehead.

"I love you too,"

His hand rubbed against my waist, but I could feel one thing that was inconsistent with the feeling of the rest of his hand.

A golden band sat on his left ring finger, practically identical to the one that sat on my left ring finger.

A/N: And that's all! Honestly, I'm very pleased with this, and think this came out well! I hope that those of you who see this like it too! I want to thank @venadorosas for allowing me to write a story based off of their comic and for making such fantastic art. If you like my writing, I'm also on Wattpad, so check me out there, if you're up for it. Same username and profile picture. I do believe that this is it! I apologize for the ending, as it feels a little odd to me, I just don't have any idea how to end it properly. I sincerely hope that I did the comic justice. Love y'all! Stay safe and healthy! - Septic

[wafflesetc]

Chapter 19: An Unexpected Meeting (previously)

Claire Beauchamp is a second year medical student. Due to many late nights with her clinicals, and studying for her pharmacology class, she’s at wits end. One Friday night she decides not to join Joe Abernathy and her other friends out at Church, their local hangout spot, but instead winds up in a dive bar close to her flat with a very nice whisky selection. In fact, one of the best one she’s ever seen. When the bartender calls her ‘Sassenach’ and pours her a double, Claire gets a feeling in her chest she’s never felt before.

A/N: I *know* it’s been... A while. I could give you every reason under the  sun why it has been that long. My excuses are valid and reason enough, I still want to apologize for the lengthy delay. I never intended to go a whole year between updates. I promise it won’t be that long again. The revival of this fic is long owed to @happytoobserve​ who has been one of its biggest cheerleaders since day 1. To @walkinginland​, @kkruml​, and @missclairebelle​ who held my hand during this process of getting my legs back with these two, I owe you indefinitely.

And most importantly, to the readers who even after A YEAR are still excited for what is in store for these two, I hope this was worth the wait. 

ALL MY LOVE, WAFFLES

PS- This is a bit angsty. I just ask that you trust me, okay?!

“Joe, I will call you… Later.” I crossed my arms and gave my friend a knowing glance, one he’d seen before and knew I needed space for a bit. 

“Ok, Lady Jane.” He gave a nod in the direction of John and found his way out of the building. 

I took a breath and turned my attention to our guest. “There’s a courtyard just outside the building. Is it okay if we talk there? I have another class in about 45 minutes.” 

“That is fine.” He agreed. I gestured towards the doors and we slowly made our way.

“How are you?” John asked, politely. I could feel he was trying to ease the palpable tension between the two of us. 

I was trying to be pleasant and cordial, but whatever reserve I had would quickly fade away.  “All things considered, I am doing just dandy.” We rounded a corner and I sat down on the first bench that I saw. “Finals are coming up soon, Jamie’s healing just fine, and I have an amazing opportunity in Paris.” 

“That’s wonderful.” John said earnestly as he sat down next to me. “I’m really happy for you. I must apologize for coming to you while you’re in classes… But this is rather time sensitive.” 

“I have one question, first.” I closed my eyes and took a breath. “I think you owe me that much.” 

John stifled a laugh and put his hand on my knee. It startled me for a moment, but after a quick glance at his face I could tell how honest he was trying to be. “I have turned your world upside down, basically overnight. I think a question is reasonable.” 

“Does Jamie know?” I could feel the tears rising to the surface. “Does Jamie know about William?” 

“No.” John took a breath and released it. “As far as I know, he doesn’t.” There was a sincerity in his voice I couldn’t point, but something in me knew he wasn’t lying. 

“I am going to need you to elaborate on that one.” I was being honest. The last bits of strength that I had were hanging by a few fine threads, ready to be cut at any moment. 

“Jamie and Geneva… They went to high school together. Their families were very fond of each other. My future father-in-law granted the Frasers the land that Lallybroch thrives upon. Jamie comes from a good family and has a good head on his shoulders.” 

I turned my face towards him to find him looking about the courtyard. There were a few students sitting on benches and blankets, presumably studying, however they were all scattered on the opposite side. We were alone in many respects, no one to hear or interrupt us. John stayed silent for a little while. I could see the small film of tears in his own eyes. Surely, whatever he was about to say was going to change things for me.

“But unfortunately, we are all human at one point or another and make mistakes.” He sat back and looked around the garden once more, staying silent for a minute. I could tell he was gathering his thoughts, trying to tell me a story I wasn’t sure I even wanted to hear. Carefully trying to thread together a story that was neither his nor mine, yet that we had been somehow woven into.

“Isobel did not go on at length, but the summer before they were going away to university is when it happened. Geneva never gave her family the details, and when her parents realized what was going to happen in a few months' time, they sent her to England to live with her aunt and uncle.” 

I wiped a tear and waited for him to continue. The reality of what he was about to tell me started to sink in. Those fine threads were about to be cut, I could tell. I didn’t want to cry over a past that was not mine, but Jamie’s past was putting kinks into our future- a future I had planned with him.

“She stayed there and raised him, but about three years ago the crash happened and Geneva died.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. It put a small smile on John’s face. A sense of relief flooded through me, I did not want to dislike this Geneva, but another woman who knew my Jamie, intimately, well I was not prepared to handle any issues of jealousy. Was it selfish and morbid I was relieved I didn’t have to meet or try to measure up to the mother of his child, but also regretful over the fact the poor boy had lost his mother? Probably, but having lost my own mother as a child, I knew first hand how hard it was, and no child deserved that sort of pain. Nonetheless, it didn’t make the current circumstances any easier and I did think I was allowed to  be a bit selfish when it came to my future. 

“She left the care and trust of her son to Isobel- but at the time Isobel was still young herself, finishing university with plans of graduate school. Their aunt and uncle were rather fond of William, so they allowed him to stay with them. England is all William has ever known, and he is very attached to Edith and Mark.” 

I must have been crying more than I knew because John handed me a tissue. 

“Shall I continue, or is that enough?” I saw a helplessness in his eyes. This news was life changing for me, yet in many ways it had been for him too. 

I sat motionless, not knowing what to do or say. I didn’t know what I wanted but something must have urged him to go on. 

“Mark fell very ill last year, and he isn’t doing well. That’s when Edith contacted Isobel asking what they would want for William, should something happen. Life has a funny twist of fate….” He let out a small laugh at what I presumed was his so-called twist of fate.

“Because Jamie and I met during our years at university- I had no clue he was acquainted with the Dunsanys. Isobel and I met during graduate school, and when I mentioned a story with James Fraser, her mouth dropped. She told me about William only a few months ago though, and that is when I started trying to call Jamie.” 

“And now, I’m pulled into your so-called funny twist of fate.” My words were short, and I could feel something brewing in my stomach. 

Truth was, I wanted to like John Grey. He seemed to be an honest, respectable man. It wasn’t his fault for the events that had happened in the past, yet he was here and seemed to be wanting to talk about this, even before he told Jamie. This was all confusing in so many different ways. This- John Grey- a long time friend of Jamie’s, was really someone from my boyfriend’s past I was sure I’d enjoy his company, but given the current circumstances, I didn’t like the news he was bringing me. My reading on him was all over the map. 

“Yes, you are.” John gave me a soft smile. “I’ve been coming to Edinburgh for business lately, and I knew I would find Jamie here. We talk, not all that often, but we are old friends. Always able to pick up where we left off.” 

“Mhmm.” It was all I could muster. Mentally and emotionally, I was just drained. This was too  much for one conversation, but I had to try to hold myself together. Just for a little while longer at least. 

“I had wanted to tell him the first time I was in town but when we met, he was so excited to tell me about something that had happened to him…” John reached across and took my hand in his, giving it light squeeze. 

“It was me, wasn’t it?” Jamie and I had happened quickly. I hadn’t been looking for a relationship, especially after Frank and I had ended just shortly before. Yet Jamie had fallen into my orbit and was something that held to me like gravity. He had seamlessly fixed himself into my universe and just fit. Even I had a hard time explaining it to anyone.

“It was,” John smiled at me. “I had never seen him smile the way he did when he said your name. And when he started to tell me about you he’d never been so proud of anything in his life. Even his bar. Claire…” He gave my hand a firm squeeze this time and smiled so wide I knew that deep down whatever he was about to say he meant it with every fiber in his being.

“I hope I am not about to overstep a boundary, especially because we don’t really know each other, but Jamie loves you and is planning his future with you in it. Whether you are aware of that or not- I have seen it in your eyes you feel the same way. The news of William will rock the foundation on which he has lived his life since his parents died.”   

“Yes, it will.” I agreed. 

“It’s complicated, in many ways. And Geneva should have told him, or my future-in-laws should have too. But I think they all wanted Jamie to live his life rather than doing what was right at the time. It stunned me when Isobel told me about it, so much so, I questioned whether or not to continue with the engagement…”

“But you did.” 

“I did, and I do not regret my choice. When Jamie told me about you, I made a vow to myself I would tell the two of you together, so he had you to ground him. But I am glad I told you first. I think it would be best for you to know so we can tell him together.” 

“Together.” I whispered either to myself or to John, I didn’t really know. “You want to do it together so I’m there to comfort him, right?

“I think I have taken up enough of your time, and I have surely given you something to digest.” 

I laughed at that, and I saw a small purse of his lips. 

“Yes, I have.” He chuckled at the look on my face, “But Claire… I am telling you as a long time friend of Jamie’s, you either stick with him through this or don’t. He has already lost so much in his life. I cannot stand for it to happen to him again, so whatever you choose to do, I hope you make a wise choice.” 

“What do you mean?” I felt the pit of anxiety raising in my stomach. 

“I told you he sees a future with you. If you don’t think you can handle whatever relationship William is to have with Jamie, then you should leave him now. Don’t help him through this and leave him later… He… Would never recover.” 

With that he stood and handed me a piece of paper. “Here is my number; Jamie doesn’t know I’m in town yet. I made reservations for dinner for you, me, Jamie and Isobel for tomorrow night. You can tell him on your own if you’d like tonight since it appears you have a glass face, or we can tell him tomorrow...But please, think of what you want with him, with whatever choice you make.”

John gave me a small bow and left me. I felt the buzz of my alarm going off alerting me that class was starting in ten minutes. I wouldn’t be going. The last thing I could do was sit in a lecture hall and pretend to be interested in pharmacology.

Hastily, I reached into my bag and typed an email to my professor.

Dr. Glassman, I have had a small family emergency arise. I will not be making it to the lecture. I will get notes from Joe Abernathy and follow up with you after the next class. 

Claire Beauchamp 

The whoosh of the email sounded in my ears. I shoved my phone back into my bag, rising to my feet. 

I had already made my choice. Long before I had even known about a man named John Grey. 

Jamie had told me we had room for secrets but not for lies. And I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he had no clue what was going on. Jamie was an intuitive man, so I knew he could sense John had life changing news for him, but what the news was, Jamie surely didn’t know.

I didn’t know how I was going to tell Jamie or what my plan was, but I knew he would be seeking my forgiveness for this- for all of it. Truth was, I’d give it to him. I’d already forgiven everything he had done and everything he could do long before today. 

For me that was no choice, that was falling in love.

[aion-rsa]

X-Men: The Animated Series – The Worst of Charles Xavier

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Decades ago, in Uncanny X-Men #168, Kitty Pryde dared to say something bold yet true, “Charles Xavier is a jerk!” She was right, and the world has been better for it.  

Professor Charles Xavier’s jerkdom transcends all media he has made an appearance in; it’s that powerful. He is an omega level clown, which is probably why he treats his X-Men like circus acts. You have to wow those humans in hopes of getting them to treat you like your mutant life matters, at least according to Xavier’s teachings. Now that X-Men: The Animated Series is available to stream on Disney+, here is a list of episodes filled with all of the Professor’s best-worst moments and how he is more of a danger to the X-Men than anyone else. 

Enter Magneto and Deadly Reunions 

The first season of X-Men is overflowing with moments that make you want to pop Charles upside his bald held. I consider “Enter Magneto” and “Deadly Reunions” as a two-part story since Magneto plays the second most significant part in both of them. He comes second only to Charles’s choice to not say a word about Magneto to any of the X-Men in all the years they’ve been on this team he put together. He didn’t utter a single word to his young team about an old frenemy who could cause them big trouble if he ever came back into the picture. 

Spoiler alert: things go wrong when Magneto shows up. 

Well, that’s not wholly true. The first time he appears, he successfully breaks into the Mutant Holding Facility to break out Hank Mccoy, who is in jail thanks to Charles. However, Magneto is unsuccessful because Beast wants to wait for his day in court. I know he says it himself, but I’m blaming Charles for this as well. 

The rest of the episode is all about the severe danger Charles carelessly inflicts on his precious X-Men. Why wouldn’t you at least tell the guy on your team with an adamantium skeleton that you used to know a guy who has powers of magnetism? The X-Men are so ill-prepared to take on an extremely angry Magneto when he comes back ready to bring the pain to the human race. Things escalate quickly, nuclear warheads get involved, all because Xavier didn’t finish the job the first time around with Magneto. If it weren’t for Storm, a few cities would no longer exist. 

Charles’s hypocrisy is also on full display in the subplot of these two episodes, which involves Sabertooth and Wolverine. Charles puts Sabertooth under his care for mind probing despite Wolverine wanting him nothing short of dead. Xavier goes as far as to pull rank on Wolverine, demanding Sabertooth stay untouched, but then orders Wolverine, Storm, and Cyclops to take care of Magneto at any cost. As Logan says to his face, “So we have to go easy on my enemy, but it’s okay to go trash yours.” 

Read more

TV

X-Men: The Animated Series – The Essential Episodes

By Michael Mammano

TV

Justice League Unlimited: The Essential Episodes

By Jim Dandy and 3 others

In true Charles fashion, he doesn’t realize the error of his ways until after everyone has had their lives threatened by both Magneto and Sabertooth. I forgot to mention this earlier, but at one point in “Deadly Reunions,” he leaves newbie X-Men, Jubilee, in charge of Sabertooth. 

Honestly, it’s genuinely no wonder Morph didn’t make it past the pilot episode. 

The Unstoppable Juggernaut

The Professor isn’t in this episode, but he doesn’t need to be in order to succeed in making sure yet another enemy of his past blindsides the X-Men. Only six episodes after “Deadly Reunions,” Xavier’s vengeful step brother shows up, and once again, he is another person they knew nothing about. 

The mansion is in shambles, and Xavier is nowhere around. He didn’t even have the decency to leave the insurance policy number around so one of them could file a claim. So, not only do the X-Men have to deal with Juggernaut, but they also have to become construction workers. 

When the X-Men finally encounter the Juggernaut, it takes all of them plus Colossus to subdue him. Jean, Storm, and Rogue all managed to pass out at some point in the process. Again, I’m blaming Charles because it’s clear they were tired from all of the construction work they had to do earlier in the day. All that devotion and free labor in exchange for near-death experiences, a room, and costumes they probably sewed together themselves. 

Cold Comfort

In “Cold Comfort,” an old member of the X-Men who had enough sense to leave returns. It turns into an episode of Dr. Phil because Xavier treats his mentees/employees like his children sometimes. 

To make matters worse, Xavier isn’t exactly a great “dad.” He plays favorites. 

So when Bobby “Iceman” Drake comes back into the fold briefly and reluctantly, it triggers some feelings Cyclops hasn’t let go of yet. The entire episode is full of Xavier undermining and gaslighting Scott about how differently he treated Bobby compared to him. Scott isn’t wrong this time. 

In this episode, we also see how important Charles considers his self-appointed role of the go-to mutant to solely work with the government because he is incredulous when he discovers the government has been working with Forge and his X-Factor team. There’s no doubt he probably made a call to the White House to complain about this the moment he returned to the mansion.

One Man’s Worth Part 1 & 2

Finding love can already be quite complicated at the best of times. Now imagine finding love in a post-apocalyptic world and having to give that love up because one man’s life was supposedly worth more than your happiness. It’s a raw deal, and that’s what you get when Charles Xavier is in your universe. In the two-part story, “One Man’s Worth,” Bishop and Shard travel to a future to recruit Wolverine and Storm to prevent Master Mold from assassinating a young Charles Xavier. They even have to find a way to convince him that his dream of humans and mutants, living amongst one another in peace, is his destiny.  

Honestly, the post-apocalyptic world was way less of a challenge and headache. If you can believe  it, older Charles is terrible, younger Charles is even worse, and ten times more infuriating. He doesn’t want to listen. He’s so stubborn he manages to get himself killed, forcing everyone to try again. 

Ultimately Bishop, Shard, Storm, and Wolverine get the job done, but it also means Wolverine and Storm’s relationships are no more. They don’t even get a full day to spend together before those versions of themselves cease to exist. All for Charles Xavier, who does nothing but keep secrets away from them and interrupts their days off with stories no one asked him to tell. 

Proteus Part 1 & 2

Last but not certainly not least on this list is the “Proteus” two-part story from season four. I saved the best for last. Part one contains one of the best Charles Xavier origin stories. It’s tragic but full of delicious drama. The montage of heartache shows Charles certainly has a thing for redheads. 

Kevin, also known as Proteus, is the son of Moira MacTaggert and ex-husband, Joseph MacTaggert. His powers are out of control, and he is on a quest to meet a father that has wanted nothing to do with him. Charles swoops in to “help” Moira and her son, but it’s quite obvious it’s because he wishes Moira had married and had a family with him. 

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Charles (of course) ropes some of the X-Men into his quest. He is hellbent on showing Moira that he was always the best man for her and her son. And because he is sometimes the Caillou of the Marvel universe, he takes his frustrations out on Wolverine, Beast, and Rogue throughout both episodes. And even after Charles does everything to “help,” Kevin and his dad end up reconciling, leaving Charles as the odd man out in Moria’s life yet again. You kind of want to sympathize with Charles until you realize how disappointed he is about Kevin and his dad working things out. 

The post X-Men: The Animated Series – The Worst of Charles Xavier appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[checkmate-review]

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[fwoopersongs]

何必诗债换酒钱 - Notes

Clean version here and thoughts under the cut.

I saw the song translation notes made by @shelterfromrain​ a while back and thought, wow! what a fantastic idea it is to share the results of the rabbit holing (that you inevitably end up engaging in when doing this) and leave a record for your future self while at it too! Currently some of the song and poetry translations on fwoopersongs do have little notes, but those were casually written on the fly and after so long, the thought process behind certain choices often get forgotten, which is such a waste... Long story short - I’m doing it this way from now on!

This song was requested by @peerlesssqq on twitter - which may or may not have bumped it up by like a year on my list (yes, I’ve been sitting on it since 2018 and you’ll see why) - and I had WAY more fun than expected, so 谢啦 ~ It was a delight to receive your DM request. I was happy for days!

Some background: 《何必诗债换酒钱》 is the theme song of 【文定乾坤】- a collection of musical works that feature notable contributors to Chinese literature in ancient times, poets and the like. Oh, and I did notice that the MV on bilibili looks like it could be a promo for a webtoon or game. Who knows? I’ll be checking out the rest of the songs, that’s for sure!

The following part of this post will be my thoughts for first the title, then each section - the intro, verse 1 & 2 and the chorus, ending off with some final comments.

Disclaimer first though (otherwise later you read already then feel like beating me up): Everything in this post is only my interpretation of the song. I have quite limited familiarity with mainland literature and culture, so of course don’t expect much xD Here you’ll only find a story-loving banana who jiak-ed kantang too much in her youth and now regrets it a whole lot. 说好了哈 I’m pants at analysis, worse at Chinese, and am not at all good with words ok?

Title

So《何必诗债换酒钱》, let’s start off with the word here that’s unfamiliar to most of us:

诗债 | shī zhài or a debt of poems/poetry debt is a legit thing! - All you authors and artists out there might be familiar with it - It’s what you call the resulting debt when a poet promises to write something for another person but hasn’t done it yet. Procrastination has apparently always been the curse of content creators.

In fact, in the Bai Juyi’s poem that came up on the 诗债 baidu page《晚春欲携酒寻沉四著作先以六韵寄之》- possibly addressed to a friend he owes - he was complaining of illness, old age and writer’s block. But then oh, he goes on and then I passed by a party where they had drinks, and was quite up to my gills & totally out of it for some time, and THAT’S why I’ve done you dirty and owe you ever so many poems. I don’t really understand the last two lines but apparently he then offers to bring a drink for this person he’s talking to, mentions a wish to meet a winter goddess (????? pretty girl? or the snow? idk which), and starts reminiscing the times that were like a precious string of pearls they had singing at Yang Pass. Most likely farewells, but without context I just don’t get it. Anyway bribery and misdirection huh? I see what you did there bro, and I’m sure the person you attempted to distract saw it coming too...

何必 | hé bì, is a rhetorical question of Must you really? In the case of this word, 何 functions as roughly ‘is it that’ and 必 as ‘it must be so’.

换酒钱 | huàn jiǔ qián is of course, exchange for money to purchase wine.

‘Must you really promise poems in exchange for money to buy wine?’ then is the literal translation of 何必诗债换酒钱.

So here is the question: Is alcohol worth a poetry debt? Onwards to the answer!

Intro

生就诗骨 算来三百篇  Born and already a poet to the bones, (with) three hundred works counting up to now. 

浪掷秦淮长安 风流李杜王白  Spending lavishly in Qinhuai and Chang’an, free/unrestrained as Li and Du, Wang and Bai;

余下十分 便随意肩上担  whatever left is divided in ten parts, casually thrown over a shoulder

权作金玉铜板 相谢好人间  and taken for jade, gold and coin, a big thank you to this good world!

I interpreted the 生 in the first line as 天生 i.e. innate, natural born talent, so this first line describes someone born with a gift for poetry with ‘three hundred’ works to their name. Although... that three hundred should not be taken too literally, it’s more likely to be an allusion to collected works like the 16th century anthology of poems, Three Hundred Tang Poems. After all, Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei and Bai Juyi are the most famous Tang Dynasty poets… and they were all name-dropped in the next line!

浪掷 | làng zhì was a new phrase for me, and means something like spending freely and lavishly or willfully wasted. Of course Chang’an was the capital during the Tang Dynasty and it was the world's most populous city at the time. One can only imagine how prosperous it must have been… and what fun things were there to spend your money on! The banks of Qinhuai river and that general area was once a gathering place for noble/wealthy families, scholars looking for a good time (and some say, the red light district xD). Though by Sui/Tang, that area was no longer doing as well due to political shifts. So the mental image I got from 浪掷秦淮长安 is of someone gallivanting through places of interest, from the bustling and prosperous to the dilapidated.

风流 | fēng liú is as always, hard to translate with no full equivalent in english. The feel it gives me ranges from, ‘cool, dashing bloke on a galloping horse with their cloak/robes/hair flowing elegantly in the wind’ to ‘pleasure seeking dandy who totally knows how to enjoy life, all the courtesans know him by courtesy name!’.

The third line started with 余下十分, which will not make any sense - why leftover? Divide what by ten? - until its put in context with the following:

Three hundred poems 算来三百篇 + 权作金玉铜板 pretend they are gold/jade/money (权作 | quán zuò just means to take one thing for another temporarily.)

The load thrown over the shoulder 肩上担

Spendthrift behaviour on tour 浪掷秦淮长安

The TITLE: bro so u wanna promise poetry in exchange for money to drink? why.

Let’s take those precious poems that can be exchanged for gold - a whole bagful of scrolls, and now I’m so rich I can scatter my money down the streets of entertainment districts and the capital! The very image of a 风流 poet, reckless and free spirited.

// Folks, please learn from this silly girl and do not read songs (or poems) line by line. They need to be appreciated at a distance, not one inch from your eyeballs.

Verse 1

两分与月 劳烦身前打点 Two parts to the moon, (may I) trouble you to take care of me while I’m alive.

哪处巍峨峰峦 当借我悬来观 Wherever there are majestic peaks and ranges, do lend me (your light) to hang and see by.

三分典高楼 好与长风赴宴 Three parts pawned for the tall building, good for attending the banquet alongside the wind,

遍寻可爱星子 唾手一把玩 searching for charming little stars, easily caught to play with.

Now we get to see how the poet is spending his ‘wealth’. This verse is a lot more literal as compared to the introduction, so there’s not much to say.

打点 used here is so interesting! Because it’s what you call bribing someone in a superior position to smoothen your path ahead (so to speak). Thanks to a childhood of tvb drama, I vaguely associate the type of people who would 打点 with rich merchant or minor noble fathers who want to give their sons an easier time at court. Either that or lower ranked officials with less moral scruples. Anyway, what’s being said in the song is something like: here is 20% dear moon, I’ll have to trouble you to bless me for the rest of this lifetime, and also please lend me your light to see by when I have need of it at scenic spots *for art*. The moon is a muse for many poets in all its forms after all… 明月, 圆月, 孤月, 残月, 冷月, 江月, 秋月 and so on.

Actually that whole sentence 劳烦身前打点 is so playful and fun that I put it in quotation marks to emphasize it. We’ve only just begun. Is the speaker already drunk?

And with the third line, 30% has been spent. Just noting here that 典 | diǎn can be read as pawn or mortgage. Another interesting thing to note would be that this imagery of ascending a tall building 高楼 and reaching out for stars 星子 in the last two lines of Verse 1 brings to mind one particular poem, famously attributed to Li Bai. Following translation by yours truly.

《夜宿山寺》- Overnight at the Mountain Temple 危楼高百尺 | dangerously towering a hundred feet high 手可摘星辰 | the stars are within reach 不敢高声语 | one dares not raise their voice 恐惊天上人 | for fear of disturbing the deities

Though the two probably have nothing to do with each other, doesn’t the reverence in the tone of this one bring out the playful irreverence of the other? So. Much. Fun. I adore the whole feel of 遍寻可爱星子 唾手一把玩 SO MUCH.

Verse 2

两分与桥 歇脚南北行船 Two parts to the bridge where travellers on foot and by boat from the north and south can rest,

欣然八方风物 闲话半日茶碗 delighted by the scenery all around, idly chatting half the day away over bowls of tea.

三分典流水 润色枯瘦石山 Three parts for the running water, moistening the gaunt stone mountains

又将天地一展 伸手 试浓淡 and again spreading heaven and earth wide, reaching out to test the viscosity (of the water).

It took a few listens, but in the end I really enjoyed the aesthetics here. And again, this verse is quite straight to the point albeit with two things I cannot understand.

The first point of confusion for me is why the lyricist chose to use 桥 | qiáo, a bridge as the place for people to rest on their journeys. I assumed here that this in reference to a pier or dock, assumed also that he is donating funds for this structure to be built or repaired. However, if that were the case 坞 | wù would have been enough - 船坞 was supposedly invented only in the Song Dynasty though, so maybe that’s why another word was chosen. But it’s not like there is any incidence of 桥 being used to mean ‘dock’ either!

The second thing that confuses me is the use of 典 for 流水. In verse one, that 典 was referring to the poetry works sold to reserve the venue for a banquet. That usage was apt. Here I suspect it might be for parallel structure, because there is no alternative reading for 典 that might allow one to use their 30% 三分 to do anything to flowing water 流水. That’s the literal reading, of course.

If we’re taking this a little less literally, it can be interpreted as borrowing the scenery (figuratively, since the place would not belong to anyone in the way you might own a property) to admire. It also expands on the second line’s mention of the surrounding view 欣然八方风物; there is running water which completes 润色 and brings the appearance of the gaunt and rocky mountains 枯瘦石山 closer to perfection.

润色 | rùn sè means to polish, to bring to greater heights. When you say something has been 润色 it is made more brilliant and closer to perfection by that addition. It can also mean moisten.

We always hear ‘rivers and mountains like a painting’ 江山如画 - originating from Su Dongpo’s《念奴娇·赤壁怀古》- used when the scenery is wonderful, because how often is real life as ideal as what we can imagine and depict? And that is exactly what is described here. The feeling out if the ‘water’ is concentrated or diluted 试浓淡 is used in answer to 一展 unfurling. 浓淡 of ink to 一展 of painting scroll. The land and sky seem like an ink wash painting, so beautiful that the viewer cannot help but reach out to run their hand through the water.

Chorus

Chorus Part 1

若趁游兴直到酣 If we take advantage of our wanderlust and go roaming till it is sated,

千字文章不值钱 classics and essays shan’t be worth a coin.

诗换花 词换雪 A poem for a flower! A song for snow!

再作檄文斗天官 Another denunciation for those heavenly officials!

Starting off with three new terms for me: 游兴 | yóu xìng means enthusiasm for travel. 酣 | hān can mean having a great time drinking, or being very satisfied and satiated. 檄文 | xí wén is a type of official document written for important announcements, declaration of war, or denunciation and condemnation of certain people or actions.

While I still feel this need to go out to see the world, I shall keep on the road until I am satisfied. Who cares about writing, who cares for study, it’s all worthless to me. I do what I want. And what I want is to write a little poem in exchange for a flower, some lyrics for a flake of snow. I’ll even write a denunciation against those officials in heaven (immortals). Fight me!!!!

I point again at Verse 1 with climbing the tower to play with stars. It’s no longer just playing nearby, now he wants a go at the gods.

Among the four parts of the chorus, this one is the simplest for sure. The lines mean exactly what is said. It also feels the most chaotic and mischievous. Is the speaker drunk? Is he high on something? One thing’s for sure. He’s out of money.

Chorus Part 2

何愁不得一样我 Why feel troubled that (I) cannot have another just like me?

知交尽向话中添 for one who understands you and is understood, look entirely towards stories to fill that place

唐解元 嵇中散 people like Tang Bohu (first in provincial examinations) and proud, upright and stubborn Ji Kang

且驰大梦任疯癫 Just chase that great dream, allow yourself to go mad.

I feel like the first two lines are quite straightforward, though they might not appear so on first reading: How could there be a need to feel sad or troubled that I have no like-minded equal. To find a true friend who understands you without need for words, and whom you understand in return, all you need to do is turn to those tales and stories 话中 for people to fill 添 that place.

唐解元 - People like Tang Yin, courtesy name: Bohu 唐寅, 字伯虎 (1470–1524 AD), noted painter, calligrapher and poet of the Ming Dynasty. Tang Yin led a life full of ups and downs that really cannot be covered in a paragraph’s worth of song translation notes. You can check out his wiki page if you’re curious though! There’s a little more on him where I cover the last line of this section. He is addressed as 解元 | jiè yuán here which is the term for the top scorer of the provincial examinations (second stage in the Imperial examination ladder). It is also an honorific for scholars. Tang Bohu is both.

嵇中散 - People like Ji Kang, courtesy name: Shuye 嵇康, 字叔夜, (223–262 AD), one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove - a group of friends who wisely kept themselves aloof from the dangerous politics of the Court, and devoted themselves to art, refinement and debate, of the Three Kingdoms period. He was a Daoist philosopher, musician, writer and poet.  

An accomplished musician, the qin composition 廣凌散 | guǎnglíng sàn is attributed to Ji Kang, though some versions of the story claim he learned it from a ghost while stopping at a pavillion on his way home. 嵇中散 was one of the names he was known by because of his appointment to the position of Attendant Counsellor, 中散大夫 | zhōng sàn dàfū, a civil official unspecified duties in the court of Cao Wei.

When Ji Kang was sentenced to death for his attempt to testify for a wrongly accused friend, three thousand scholars petitioned for his pardon to no avail. It’s said that at the execution ground, while they waited for the appointed hour, he had his favourite qin brought out and played a brilliant interpretation of Guanglin San that is now forever lost.

Do go read about them both if you have the time!

I would like to point out for the last line that 任 is to allow, to indulge, and it’s just such a heady sensation to say 任疯癫 - indulge in the madness! throw yourself in and don’t look back!

There is an easter egg here too. A nod to a poem by Tang Yin which can be read as his stance on his lifestyle choice after the alleged accusations of bribery in the final step of the Imperial examinations left him disgraced, and unable to pursue a civil career. Thematically the line does not call back to the poem at all, similarities end with the choice of words: chasing the dream 驰大梦 and indulging madness 任疯癫.  I leave an excerpt below. Translation again by me.

《桃花庵歌》- Song of a Plum Blossom Cottage // 若将花酒比车马 | if tawdriness and wine were compared against fine carriage and steed 他得驱驰我得闲 | he would have to drive and work hard for speed whilst I have my idle rest 别人笑我太疯癫 | others mock me for my madness 我笑他人看不穿 | i am amused for they do not perceive 不见五陵豪杰墓 | can’t you see that at the Emperors’ mausoleums and heroes’ graves 无花无酒锄做田 | there are no flowers, no wine, only land ploughed for farming

The second part of the chorus isn’t related to the first, but it has the same theme of showcasing the untamable (unhinged xD) spirit of the speaker. This time, the people he admires ‘intellectual equals’ and kindred spirits are featured, the 任性 feeling here has been pushed to greater heights.

Chorus Part 3

敢夸洒落何须酒 If one dares to boast of carefreeness, why, they hardly need wine.

不煮黄粱也称仙 Even without brewing millet they would still be called Immortal.

镜湖桌 白梅盏 The tables in the mirror-like lake, white plum blossoms in the cups,

等来春风恰开宴 await the spring breeze which arrives just in time for the feast to start!

Li Bai is regarded as both the god of poetry 诗仙 and god of drunkards wine 酒仙 because he wrote some of his greatest poems while drinking. The first two lines seem to be gently poking fun at that. Like hey, if you dare to claim to be all groovy, surely you have no need for alcohol? Just like how an immortal would still be an immortal without wine, your writing talent should not need any stimulants. This would be the time to mention that 黄粱 | huáng liáng is also known as millet, a type of grain that can be used to brew wine.

洒落 | sǎ luò has a few meanings, like shower down or blame, but the relevant one here would be 洒脱 generous, uninhibited and open. For me it feels similar to 风流 in that there is that ‘free, and exhilaratingly unrestrained’ element. 洒落 is in the most positive sense, being always open to having a good time, but without that dissolute or vaguely whirlwind-romance like connotation of 风流.

It feels like the intensity is letting up a little here - this is a light-hearted and frivolous song all the way through, but the words 洒落, 称仙 and imagery of a clear lake, white plum blossoms and the crisp spring breeze are grounding and sweet. Spirited in a different way from before.

Chorus Part 4

四角天地也醺然 The four corners and heaven and earth are also tipsy,

醉极自有桃李搀 when I’ve overindulged, my students will be there to help.

快意只 笔下讨 Gratification can only be claimed from beneath the brush;

何必诗债换酒钱 is falling into poetry debt worth that money for drink?

New words: 醺然 | xūn rán just means drunk. A new word for me though! 桃李 | táo lǐ is literally peach 桃 and plum 李 (李花, also known as 玉梅) flowers, and is a metaphor for students. The term originates from a story in 《韩诗外传》which was set in the Wei Kingdom of the Spring and Autumn period (771 to 476 BCE). There was once a highly ranked official who was sacked from his post and left for the north. He met another gentleman and remarked that the people he helped before did not lift a finger when he was in need. This person replied that, if someone were to plant peach and plum trees in spring, he could relax under their shade in the Summer and taste their fruit in the Autumn. But if that person were to plant weeds, nothing can be done with their leaves in Spring and there would only be burrs to hurt himself on in Autumn. Clearly the people the unfortunate gentlemen had helped before were not worth his effort. Students ought to be carefully selected and carefully cultivated as one would a tree.

Reading the four corners and heaven and earth 四角天地 are also tipsy 也醺然, I imagine the world sort of spinning around the speaker because he is drunk. But that’s okay, because his students (or the trees xD) will be there to support him.

快意 | kuài yì is the feeling of sudden relaxation, and then lightheartedness and joy. In this line, I felt like the intention would be closer to 畅快，爽快 and so chose gratification, because really writing is like scratching an itch isn’t it? Pleasure from satisfaction of a desire. Phrasing it as 笔下讨 is so very fitting though, because 讨 can be interpreted - somewhat contradicting - as either to demand or to beg. What could be more gratifying than having squeezed out the perfect sentence or word under your figurative pen?

So so so after all that, 何必诗债换酒钱? What do you think, is alcohol worth the poetry debt? Is Mr. Poet actually drunk and about to dig himself a deeper hole of owed poems to get even MORE drunk, or has he just been thinking about it all along? :)

Thoughts

This has been such a fun adventure following our madcap big spender from the shining Chang’an to the inviting Qinhuai, shadow of great poets in tow and all. We’ve done everything from talking to the moon and seeing the sights by her light, to boating down a river, dragging fingers through the water. It was sort of like being on a backpacking tour, except with with someone contemplating opening (or perhaps regretting opening this can of worms?) poetry commissions instead of singing in the streets?

Dear reader, if you’ve reached this point of my post, thank you. I hope you enjoy the song as much as I do now!

[chuchiotaku]

Ok, first of all

HOW DARE YOU MAKING ME THINK I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY FOR THE NEW CHAPTER!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE HEART ATTACK I HAD THIS MORNING WHEN I SAW THE UPDATE!?!?

Ok, now that, ehm... I'm calmed down, let me gush on your art piece once again.

I loved everything. I said last time that I wanted some shocking dose of angst, but I didn't knew how heart clenching would have been seeing Ron saying goodbye to... his friends, again, and for the last time. How many things not said, how many plans that will never see the light, how many... apologies, never to be make...

I'm happy that the mirror made him see (and hear) what his loved one truly thought of him, but I'm still bitter for the fact that he had to DIE before he actually got some vocal recognition.

But moving on from depressing topics, I loved seeing the sibling so tight with each other and Harry! I felt almost as if you anticipated Harry's second year summer, and now they get to see Sirius too? Original Harry would be terribly proud of his Ron and terribly jealous of that little Harry...

I really liked Pettigrew's breakdown at the end of the process. And I loved (and hated too, of course) his threats: making 'regret to be born' the same guy that fought and gained the upper hand on Bellatrix? Twice!? Ok buddy, whatever makes you feel better... But if in order to hurt Ron you target one of his brothers or Ginny... well, it has never been a pleasure meet you.

And it's also good seeing Pandora alive! Another Truespartan's Fateverse character added in the rooster, I can't wait to see her in action!

And at least this time Albus is actually ackwnoledging Ron, wonder if he's already planning a role for him in his chessplay againts Tom. I hope he will grow to love him as he'll love Harry.

And I know tastes are subjective but... I think the anon was just short sighted, Ron is totally the person that for his loved ones is ready to move mountains and seas (Buckbeak's trial proved it. How he started searching for past trials in his free time is proof how much is ready to invest himself if it means to help his friend) and I don't expect that everything is going to be all fine and dandy the whole time. Peter's threats scream 'FORESHADOWING' for an ipotetical plot in the third year (way less traumatazing regarding what happened with him in Fate... brrr). Ron is just... trying to sow the best he can, and only at the reaping time we'll see what he did right or wrong.

Keep it going! You are an increadible writer! See you next time, and happy new year!

(And give me some Daphne showtime damn it!!)

First off, anon, happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉

Ahaha, sorry about the mini-heart attack.  I was aiming to post chapters 14 and 15 relatively close together because they’re initially planned to be one chapter but I hit some snags so yeah, chapter 15 got delayed.  But at least it’s up now, right?  :)

[Warning: Long response ahead. ]

I said last time that I wanted some shocking dose of angst, but I didn't knew how heart clenching would have been seeing Ron saying goodbye to... his friends, again, and for the last time. 

That part at the mirror was very relatable, I think.  There are things we will always want, but deep down, we know they can never be.  In order for Ron to move forward, he had to acknowledge that and let go, something he learned he had to do after that Owlery scene with Harry.  

Not that he entirely has, mind you.  But it’s a good step forward.

I'm happy that the mirror made him see (and hear) what his loved one truly thought of him

It’s a comforting interpretation, but I feel the need to remind my readers that the Mirror of Erised shows only the deepest desires of its viewer. The scene where the new life versions of Ron’s loved ones take over the older ones, telling Ron that they accept and love him, is Ron’s true deepest desire now that he time travelled. Not that it is what’s real.  That’s why Ron broke down, because he knows deep down it’s just a fantasy.  Weell, we know that’s not entirely true, but to him it is.  

(The Deluminator souvenir from Death and its visions, on the other hand...)

but I'm still bitter for the fact that he had to DIE before he actually got some vocal recognition.

You know what they say: you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.  :shrugs: Honestly, Ron is such a taken-for-granted character both in the books and in the fandom, it’s so frustrating...

Anyway, getting off the angst train!

I loved seeing the sibling so tight with each other and Harry! I felt almost as if you anticipated Harry's second year summer, and now they get to see Sirius too? 

I wanted to show the tight knit Weasley dynamic JK claims they have but never really showed because we are limited to Harry’s narrative (which is understandable).  And as what I have planned for second year summer: safe to say, it will start off like what happened in the books before it veers off canon course.  Because Sirius and Remus are there, and Ron knows it. :)

Original Harry would be terribly proud of his Ron and terribly jealous of that little Harry... 

But of course!  I’d like to think that Ron is one of the, if not THE, characters in his age group that Harry holds such high regard for.  

And who’s to say jealous Harry won’t make an appearance? When Ron’s making more friends outside the Gryffindor house, and a certain someone may get close enough to threaten the best friend position?  😉😉😉

I really liked Pettigrew's breakdown at the end of the process. And I loved (and hated too, of course) his threats: making 'regret to be born' the same guy that fought and gained the upper hand on Bellatrix? Twice!? Ok buddy, whatever makes you feel better... 

Pettigrew doesn’t know who he’s messing with, but Ron too is underestimating the rat a little too much.  Good thing that won’t cause him any problems in the future. 😒

But if in order to hurt Ron you target one of his brothers or Ginny... well, it has never been a pleasure meet you. 

Now that would make Pettigrew wish he was never born.  Haha!

And it's also good seeing Pandora alive! Another Truespartan's Fateverse character added in the rooster, I can't wait to see her in action!

Pandora is Luna’s mother’s canon name, but yes I did get the inspiration from Fate, as well as The Red Knight.  But she won’t be around until Book 2.  Don’t worry, it will come.  I hope.  :sweatdrop:

And at least this time Albus is actually ackwnoledging Ron, wonder if he's already planning a role for him in his chessplay againts Tom. 

Of course Albus will notice a smart and wise beyond his years eleven year old who became best friends with Harry Potter, managed to take on a troll then get involved in the reveal and arrest of a mass murderer who may have something more in common with him than he originally thought (coughmirroroferisedcough).  How Ron will benefit from this attention (if he ever will) or how he’ll deal with this new complication will be part of the story’s fun.  And we’re just getting started.

I hope he will grow to love him as he'll love Harry.

I think many can already tell where I’m planning to go with Albus and Ron’s relationship.  The specifics, however, are the ones I can leave you guys guessing.  It will be good!  Hopefully! 🤞

And I know tastes are subjective but... I think the anon was just short sighted, Ron is totally the person that for his loved ones is ready to move mountains and seas (Buckbeak's trial proved it. How he started searching for past trials in his free time is proof how much is ready to invest himself if it means to help his friend)

I saw it as Guest being too fixated at what happened in the books that they didn’t take into account that the second I changed something in the fic, the butterfly effect is bound to occur.  In fact, Ron’s very presence in a world that isn’t what he left behind is already creating many ripples.  I honestly also saw it as them underestimating Ron a bit.  He’s a typical boy during most of the books: lazy with his studies because he is unmotivated.  Give him purpose and you’ll get to see him really shine, exactly like what you said about the Buckbeak thing.

It’s canon that Ron is smarter than he appears.  I mean, can a normal eleven year old remember the exact names of the laws on dragons, even if their brother is a dragon tamer?  

(It’s also another good basis on how much Ron admires Charlie that he can remember that much! Sorry, Solstice Muse turned me into a Charlie/Ron bro fluff fangirl after Ickle Ronniekins)

I don't expect that everything is going to be all fine and dandy the whole time. Peter's threats scream 'FORESHADOWING' for an ipotetical plot in the third year (way less traumatazing regarding what happened with him in Fate... brrr). 

Fate is a very heavy read, combining some of my favorite Ron-centric tropes while taking their fic to a newer, darker spin.  Truespartan has done a wonderful with it so far (I haven’t finished it yet,).  But as most of you can already tell, my story will be fart different from theirs.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some dark moments in TBA.  And I’m so thrilled that you got the idea behind Pettigrew’s threats.  They ARE foreshadowing what is to come starting Year 3.  But what exactly?  Care to take a guess?  

Ron is just... trying to sow the best he can, and only at the reaping time we'll see what he did right or wrong.

Very true.  Although to me, it’s not a matter of whether it’s just “right or wrong”, and more of “can Ron deal with the consequences of the changes he made, and whether those consequences are worth the changes?”

Example: from a strictly moral standpoint, revealing Pettigrew and clearing Sirius’ name is the best good and what Ron should do from that thematic perspective.  However, these actions will cause some events to change from what he knew, and even cause entirely new ones (i.e. the plot of Year 3).  Is it worth the possibility of rendering Ron’s future knowledge almost useless?  Who knows? 

Keep it going! You are an increadible writer! See you next time, and happy new year!

Thank you so much for your kind words!  You guys are the reason TBA is still running even after all these years and me taking long breaks.  I hope to finish TBA Year 1 within 2021 so please be patient with me.  I’ll do my best!

(And give me some Daphne showtime damn it!!)

Oh, trust me, I have big plans for Daphne and Astoria.  Might get flak for it in the future, but for this, I’ll have to stick with my guns.  Oh dear...

💖 Happy New Year to you too, anon! And thanks for the ask. 💖

[gwoongi]

(abandoned) i don’t want it at all

jeon jeongguk / reader genre: sugar baby au, sugar-babies-scamming-the-same-daddy-au rating: mature themes words: 2.3k warnings: sugar babies a/n: i would have liked 2 finish this one and maybe i will one day but for now here is the incomplete first draft that makes me laugh still

His dorm for first year had been a prison-cell-box with a broken window and bunk beds, the stale smell of farts from his roommate who insisted on top-bunk and made his evenings and early mornings absolute hell- but hey, he’s getting a fancy degree at the end, so it’s worth it, right? Jeongguk’s not sure if it’s worth it anymore.

(1)

Jeongguk was broke.

It was his own fault - that’s the price you pay for enrolling in University, studying something he probably doesn’t actually need but loves. It’s all fine and dandy studying Music until he realises that famous musicians don’t become famous because they got a degree. Ask any musician how they made it big and they’ll reply with good luck and hard work, not some fancy degree that means nothing unless you’ve got the talent to be successful. Well shit, now it’s in perspective, Jeongguk’s spending all this money on a degree that’s probably not going to make a difference when the time comes.

Now he has a part-time job at a random pizza takeaway that makes no money because Dominoes opened up across the street a few weeks ago, and he’s barely making enough to buy him more than two packets of instant noodles at a time. His dorm for first year had been a prison-cell-box with a broken window and bunk beds, the stale smell of farts from his roommate who insisted on top-bunk and made his evenings and early mornings absolute hell- but hey, he’s getting a fancy degree at the end, so it’s worth it, right? Jeongguk’s not sure if it’s worth it anymore.

This evening, the library is fairly quiet. Across the stacks are small candles inside black lanterns, a Harry Potter-esque vibe filling the room as the clock rolls into ten. Jeongguk loves when the school year ends, because for the past week, it’s only been the sad and broke music kids doing exams, meaning the library is virtually empty now that everybody else has finished up. Jeongguk’s last exam was yesterday. Huffing out a sigh that turns one of the only other heads in the library in his direction, he stretches his arms up over his head and arches his head backwards.

“Where’re you going over summer?”

Yoongi is another sad and broke music student, a third-going-fourth year who met Jeongguk in the music society during Jeongguk’s first weekend at University. Leaning his chair back on two legs, he throws a paper ball into the air and catches it, not even looking at Jeongguk as he talks to him.

Jeongguk shrugs in reply, tapping his nails against his laptop. “Dunno. Home, I guess.”

“Any plans?” Yoongi asks. “Wanna go to Lollapalooza?”

“Can’t afford it,” Jeongguk sighs, as Yoongi forces out a, “me neither” in between a chortled laugh. “And I don’t know. Probably going to have to get another job.”

“Good,” replies Yoongi, yawning loudly. “You can’t keep working at that shithole. I’m your only friend, and even I go to Dominoes instead of where you work.” As an afterthought, he looks at Jeongguk with a small frown, “sorry.”

Shaking his head in reply, Jeongguk slumps in his chair and sighs once again. Yoongi’s just suddenly put it all into perspective for him; Yoongi’s his only friend, he works a job that barely puts a meal onto his plate, and it’s not going to get any easier. 

The ball in Yoongi’s hand begins to bounce again and Jeongguk glances over at the student librarian, who buries her head into the crook of her elbow and sleeps her way through her night-shift. It’s only Jeongguk, Yoongi and four others in the library right now; none of them are reading, none of them are doing anything particularly productive. Two students are tucked into an alcove pouring wine quite openly into small glasses with a board of chess unfolded out on the table, the others on computers, wishing the night away. Jeongguk just doesn’t want to go back to his dorm, to where his roommate and his loaded to the brim stomach of Chinese food and unhealthy diets is waiting for him.

“You planning on staying here all night again?” questions Yoongi. He probs his feet up onto the partitioner under the table, accidentally kicking Jeongguk’s ankle in the process. “Sorry,” he adds.

“Yep,” Jeongguk replies, popping the ‘p’. “I’d literally rather sleep on the boys changing room floors than go back to my dorm.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “That’s disgusting, don’t be dramatic.”

“I’m being deadass,” Jeongguk insists, his eyes blown wide. “Want to swap dorms for the night? Ten dollars and you’ll be dry heaving in the hallway before midnight.”

“I’ll pass. Either way, you know my apartment is always open for you,” Yoongi reminds him. “You’ve got a key. Come by once you’ve finished whatever it is you’re doing. My wifi’s out.”

Another sigh. Jeongguk’s not defeated his boredom yet, the twitch in his fingers to do something still there. If he goes to Yoongi’s apartment now, he’ll just annoy him with the need to do something energetic, and Jeongguk knows best that Yoongi values his quiet time on an evening.

“Okay. Well, I’ll stay here for a little bit, and come by when I’m done,” Jeongguk says, stifling a yawn that would otherwise expose the fact that he’s absolutely knackered. “I won’t make a sound.”

“You will, you always do, I just pretend not to notice because I love you.” Yoongi says I love you with a disgusted face, sticking his tongue out with a fake gag that Jeongguk knows just proves how much he cares. Yoongi’s good like that, the more subtle type of loving older brother that Jeongguk’s been deprived of all his life. “Don’t stay out too late.”

“Won’t.”

Yoongi picks himself up and irons the aches out of his shoulders. “Cool. Stay safe and smart, Guk.”

“I can’t do both,” he sighs sadly, and Yoongi collects his bag and affectionately throws the paper ball at Jeongguk’s head. It bounces off and lands near one of the bookshelves. Neither picks it up, and Yoongi leaves the library. It dawns on Jeongguk three minutes after Yoongi leaves him that he’s actually really fucking lonely. Add that to the big long list of things Jeongguk is this year: friendless, broke, sad and lonely. God, he needs a hobby.

He also needs money. Very badly. After opening his phone and banking app and realising that he’s so close to slipping into the red, Jeongguk refrains from spending what he has left on something fried and takeaway and opens Google. One click, a few types: How to make money fast. Google will know what to do.

Jeongguk scrolls. Take online surveys and get paid NOW! No. Review apps and earn money! Not enough phone memory to download an app to review it, he scrolls down. Lonely AND Horny? Get yourself a Sugar Daddy TODAY! Oh? He’s listening.

The blog that opens up as he clicks the link is somebody’s personal blog, the title in a gross and thick font that Jeongguk almost can’t read. They talk a while about why you shouldn’t become a sugar-baby, but Jeongguk remembers that one time Tana Mongeau did a storytime on how she had a Daddy and got a lot of money, and Jeongguk’s got assets. He’s smart, has abs on a good day, and his dick isn’t half bad looking. That’s what Yooa had said to him, anyway. Finally, there’s a hyperlink to Seeking Arrangements, and Jeongguk feels kind of overwhelmed.

At least once in their lives, everybody’s thought about being a Sugar Baby. Jeongguk definitely has, all the damn time when he’s sitting around at work doing nothing because they’re about as busy as one can expect for a pizza place with two stars and a rival Dominoes parallel from the front. He’s even read about experiences, where people meet their daddies or mommies on the streets or through apps- and there was even that one crazy story about somebody’s Principal becoming their sugar Daddy, or something, he can’t quite remember. Regardless, Jeongguk’s entertained this thought before.

He looks down at himself. If he really tried his best, he could be kind of good at it. Without sounding conceited, Jeongguk’s good looking. What lets him down at school is the fact that he always dresses lazily and ignores people, rejects requests to go out and then complains to Yoongi about not having friends who hang out with him. All he needs is to fix his appearance, upload his best photographs, and he could secure the bag quite easily.

Jeongguk fills in the boxes and makes an account. petkoo is what he decides to name himself, and he picks his best selfie off Instagram as an icon. He leans back, as if a look from far away will change the way it looks. It’ll do. Luckily for him, he’s into men and women, and it just so happens that American men are both the dumbest and easiest to please. Suddenly, he’s excited, his leg bouncing under the table until he hits his knee and stops. The student librarian raises her head quickly, afraid that a member of staff’s come in to supervise. They haven’t, and so she drops her head again. Ten fifty three, ish. Jeongguk blinks sleepily.

All that’s left to do is get his account verified, and life will be forever changed.

(He hopes).

(2)

Yoongi’s apartment is off campus, about fifteen minutes away if he’s walking. It’s small, but significantly bigger than Jeongguk’s dorm on campus, and decorated with whites and creams, big and open windows letting in golden light, when the time’s right. It’s the type of apartment you saw online, on Tumblr posts or in movies, looking like a perfect backdrop - sometimes, Jeongguk can’t believe that Yoongi lives here, and wakes up every morning to the view of the city below his window, power lines like train tracks connecting houses, dangling fairy-lights on the trelacing of his across-the-street-neighbour’s rooftop.

That being said, Jeongguk technically lives here, too. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since he’s actually stepped foot in his dorm at the same time as his roommate; he only goes in there to collect things one at a time. Today, for example, he had dropped by to empty out his small and pathetic wardrobe and put it inside one suitcase, wheeling it right up to Yoongi’s front door with a bright smile that Yoongi couldn’t say no to. His couch in the living room was Jeongguk’s comfortable bed when it wasn’t cold and when it was, Yoongi would huff and offer an invite into his bed, because he loves Jeongguk like he’s his baby brother, and it would suck if he died from pneumonia, or something. He said that to Jeongguk once. Jeongguk smiled for ten minutes afterwards.

Harry Potter plays on TV, the fourth movie because it’s Jeongguk’s favourite and Yoongi’s a sick man who can’t say no. It’s around five, and Jeongguk’s literally been holed up in Yoongi’s apartment the entire day. The most sunlight that he got was when he walked out of Yoongi’s house to take the trash out, and even then, the bin was in the shadows and the sun never touched his skin once. He can see the sunlight through the window, which technically counts. Yoongi cringes and takes away a plate from the coffee table.

“You’re allowed to stay at my place, as long as you clean up after yourself,” he says with a huff. His nose upturns with a scrunch, “No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“By choice!” Jeongguk adds, pulling a thread out from his sock. “They’re too much hard work.”

“You’re just fucking lazy,” Yoongi points out. He dumps the plate in the sink and comes back to Jeongguk. “You know that, don’t you?”

There’s a silence. Then a sigh, “Yeah.”

Jeongguk loves staying at Yoongi’s place, especially when Yoongi is feeling particularly soft and lets Jeongguk do whatever he wants, given he’s not going to get Yoongi a noise complaint in the morning. The movie continues to play undisturbed, the sight of Beauxbatons’ carriage swooping over towards the runway leaving Jeongguk with an open-mouthed smile on his face and Yoongi folds his arms, burying himself further into the sofa. On the coffee table, Yoongi’s laid out some snacks, both his phone and Jeongguk’s laying down flat because it’s supposed to keep Jeongguk distraction free, even though he’s the type of friend to never be on his phone around his friends unless he absolutely needs to be.

Another huff is in Yoongi’s mouth, begging to be huffed out. Over on the coffee table, Jeongguk’s phone lights up with his lock screen of Sansa Stark blurred out by a notification, the ringer on loud. Attention is pulled from Dumbledore to the light, Jeongguk’s brows lifting with interest but his eyes immediately back on the TV.

“Yoongi,” he calls out, and Yoongi glances over, “can you see who it’s from?” Could be his Mom, it could be important.

The huff is released. “Come into my house and boss me around…” Yoongi mutters under his breath and reaches for Jeongguk’s phone, pressing the home button to read the notification. He’s silent for a long moment, and Jeongguk’s so enthralled in the movie that he doesn’t notice, not until Yoongi looks at Jeongguk with a confused and funny look, his top lip curled to his nostrils as he blurts: “Why the hell are Seeking Arrangements telling you you’re profile’s ready?”

Jeongguk looks away so fast from the television that Yoongi’s almost frightened. His eyes are wide and twinkling, “They’ve finished it?”

“What the fuck.”

“Gimme!” Jeongguk splutters, his hand diving towards his phone urgently. “Bro...it’s been like, five days.”

Yoongi is bewildered. “Why do you have an account? What-why-when…?”

“I don’t know, I need money and I thought it would be funny,” Jeongguk shrugs. His thumb moves quickly across his phone screen. “I can’t believe they’re done. I’m gonna be rich, Yoongi.”

“Do you know how sketchy half the people on that site are?” Yoongi questions. “Plus they’re all old and perverted men.”

“Rich men.”

“Rich, old and perverted,” Yoongi nods. “Guk, I know I said you needed another job...but this doesn’t qualify. I’d rather you flip paper thin pizzas.”