#Because they don't think they deserve it and because they think adults don't need that stuff

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

For the horror boys

Old fashion Farmer S/o brings skellys brother a very large wheel of chease and some goats as a dowry (gift to the family of your future spouse)

"Can I marry your brother?"

Horrortale Sans - You can have his brother, him, the farm, and even Toriel if you want. Willow finds him later purring like hell at the top of his huge wheel of cheese, so happy. As soon as he sees his brother, Oak growls. That's his. Go find one if you want some! He also completely forgot to say to Willow that he's going to get married or something. Oak is not sure he understood that part correctly, honestly.

Horrortale Papyrus - He's a bit confused about what's going on, but you seem really into it. He wants to be sure you have his brother's consent though, because that doesn't seem like a light decision to make??? He gently asks you to wait while he goes to check if it's ok with his brother. He knows you by now so he knows Oak trusts you, but Oak got ask for so long to do things against his will that Willow refuses to take his choice away. He deserves to choose too.

Horrorswap Sans - Is this some kind of joke? Because he doesn't think that's very funny. First of all, he's not too happy a human comes to bother him while he's working on the farm, secondly, wtf do you want him to do of so much cheese? And last, are you really trying to buy his brother with cheese and goats? What's your problem? Don't you know that's months they have not been talking? If this is some sick joke to make him feel guilty, that's not nice. You don't have to rub your happiness in his face, he's already aware he messed up big.

Horrorswap Papyrus - He's slightly uncomfortable. But also kind of glad his brother is finally moving on? But also kind of hurt he didn't tell him anything about you? He knew their relationship was... not good, but not to this point. Honey gives you his blessing, even though he doesn't even know who you are, and just looks you walk away all happy. He doesn't know what to think about that.

Horrorfell Sans - You want to ask him what for who with what? Copper is staring at you in disbelief. First of all, wtf, since when you and his brother grew so close, you now want to marry him? Secondly, why with goats and cheese? Why do you even need his approval? Do you think he's some kind of nanny or something? His brother is an adult, he can make his own decisions. But also... He might be just a little be flattered you're still asking him if it's ok. You know what, yeah, go with it. And you better not make him regret it!

Horrorfell Papyrus - He looks at you in complete confusion as you put a baby goat in his arms. The hell you want him to do with that? There are already goats on the farm in case you didn't see them on your way there. When you ask him if you can marry his brother, Chief suddenly starts to cough, pretty much in shock. What?! He gives you a long stare from head to toes, and then quietly asks if you're sure of you. As you nod, he just sighs. He thought he would never see the day come. You have his blessing. Just... Please, don't mess up. He had it rough already. Copper deserves to be happy now.

Horrorswapfell Sans - He was wondering what was smelling that bad until you slammed the cheese on the table in front of him, startling him. Don't do that! And what the hell is this abomination? Take it back! You tell him it's a gift to ask if he can marry his brother. He just screams "YEAH, WHATEVER, TAKE THAT OFF!" before he freezes and suddenly stands up. "WAIT, WHAT?!" He panics, trying to grab you. He then grabs something and asks you if you're sure of yourself. You don't have the heart to tell him he's holding the curtains right now and just slip silently in front of him to not offend him lol, and to answer that you're sure. He's shocked, but also kind of excited. He just didn't expect this. Maybe that's what his brother needs. That's when something brushes against his leg and he screams at the top of his lungs, startled by the goats. He accepts. At the only condition you take your shit out of the kitchen, he swears you're going to give him a soul attack!

Horrorswapfell Papyrus - He looks at you, thoughtful. Then he tells you that his brother is worth at least a cow more and two weeks of McDonald's. You look at him in disbelief, not sure if he's shitting you or not. He's not, actually lol. He won't say yes before you bring him his cow and two weeks of McDonald's. You thought he would let you win his brother so easily? It's funnier if he makes you desire him even more. When you're done, he tells you that you can marry his brother and that he thinks he actually is worth less than two chicken, but thanks for the cow.

[jude457]

I've been thinking about what you said with In-ho and the younger pink guards, and that just really struck a chord with me.

To me, In-ho is a character who lost his birth mother young, and then his father. He was forced to grow up young, and even if his stepmother loved him and didn't want to cause him pain, at the end of the day he was parentified. He was thrust into this role of adult and provider as a teenager, never getting the opportunity to mess around like everyone else at school.

This experience greatly affected how he perceived love, both in how he receives affection and how he gives it. For In-ho, giving love is providing, caring for someone, sacrificing for them. Receiving love is the gratitude for his care and sacrifice. Jun-ho was too young to ever care for him, and his stepmother was too overwhelmed with being a single mother to dote on him. She tried his best, she really did. He would never hate her. But he can't remember the last time he cried in someone's arms, the last time someone else told him they would figure it out, that he doesn't need to worry.

With his wife, there was finally some equality in how she would reciprocate love. She was a partner, not a helpless child. And he struggled with this, struggled to let her love him. Then, she got sick, and suddenly he was in his early twenties again. Spending long days at the hospital, stroking her hair, telling her it will be okay, that he'll manage, that he'll find the money.

When he first joined the squid game as a player, he had this fatherly instinct toward the younger players, this urge to wipe the despair off their faces, to see them smile. And then they all die, one by one. Either because he can't save them, or because he has to kill them.

So as the front man, he has this inexplicable urge to not lead them astray. Yes, the punishment for disobedience is death. But a machine that isn't well-oiled will break. Order must be kept. But within that order, there can be allowances.

He kills as quickly as he can, a shot to the head. No drawn-out suffering.

This part of him comes out when Thanos and Nam-gyu are harassing MG Coin.

It comes out when he offers his milk to Jun-hee.

At the end of the day, he is going to let these people die. He is responsible for their deaths. But emotions don't have to make sense. Human actions are contradictory all the time. His need to nurture, driven by the child he never got to care for, compels him until he stands at a crossroads with the beliefs he adapted in order to survive the games.

YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY AT WORK.

thinking about how Inho was parentified so young just breaks me. like—he never got to be a kid. not really. one illness after another, one financial crisis after the next, and suddenly he’s seventeen and not worried about grades or friends or dreams but about bills, hospital visits, making sure Junho has food on the table. and it just never stopped.

he gave up everything — every friend, every hobby, every quiet joy — not because anyone told him to, but because it felt like the only choice. Junho had to come first. always. and his stepmother, barely hanging on herself, leaned too hard on him without realizing. so he stepped up. kept stepping up. until “provide” wasn’t just something he did, it was who he was.

and so Inho grew up fast. too fast. worked himself down to the bone, probably didn’t even think too much about if joining the police was something he really wanted to do. every decision filtered through: will this help Junho? will this keep us afloat another month?

i imagine that’s why he got married really late — late thirties, maybe — not because he didn’t want love, but because he didn’t think he deserved it. it felt selfish. like choosing himself when Junho still needed so much. he was still sacrificing things long after Junho would’ve wanted him to stop.

and when the kidney transplant happened? yeah, Inho absolutely didn’t care what it would do to him. didn’t even pause. signed the forms like it was nothing. like it was expected. and afterwards? he definitely downplayed the pain. definitely went back to work weeks too early. definitely ignored every warning sign because all he could hear was provide, provide, provide.

and that’s the tragedy — he lost so much of Junho’s life. missed the small moments. because he was trapped in his own despair, breaking his body and spirit to keep the family afloat.

that’s why i love writing the reversal — imagining that, after the second rebellion, when they finally meet again, it’s Inho who’s fragile. who’s traumatised and worn thin and barely holding himself together. and Junho is the one who steps into that caretaker role. not because he owes Inho anything — but because he loves him. because Inho gave everything, and now it’s Junho’s turn to say: rest. I’ve got you now.

[nazskoll-xxx]

EXTREMELY unpopular opinion:

I do not hold Henry Bowers accountable for his actions and I don't understand people that do, or that blame him for his behavior and say he deserved a punishment for it.

He was 12 years old, a literal child.

Henry was reactive and with severe mental health issues, pennywise genuinely made him schizophrenic at twelve, he was in 5th grade for fucks sake.

He was trained to act a certain way, talk a certain way, feel a certain way, and the only way he knew how to express himself was with violence, he didn't use violence with the intent of 'hurting' but with the intent of communicating, whether angry, sad, scared, frustrated, it's pretty clear he was fueled by fear half the times.

He doesn't understand his actions and doesn't comprehend they're wrong because he's never been taught they are wrong.

Beating him, humiliating him or punishing him would not help, period. Henry did not have an ego problem, he does not need to get his image damaged further, because he already thinks lowly of himself, you just can't help an abused child by hurting him further.

He shouldn't be punished anyways because it just wasn't his fault, how can you hold that kind of child accountable for what he did, the same way you'd hold accountable an adult?

How can you look at me and tell me that a fifth grader than was sent back TWICE because he sucked so bad at school, doesn't know how affection feels like and is still scared of the dark, is somewhat mentally intelligent enough to understand that what he was doing was wrong?

I don't particularly know why I'm so strong about this, but I've been there, I've been the troubled child in that sense, a lot of rage and sadness because you simply don't know what's going on and don't realize what people around you are doing to you.

[genericpuff]

vent post

[torchstelechos]

My "Siffrin deeply cares for and wants to protect Bonnie because no one did so for him when he was their age, because I think he ran away at their age and it's one of the reasons he tries to treat them as he wished he was treated" propaganda is working >:3

[fiddleabout]

didn't think it was possible to experience a more egregious level of Smart-Person Stupid than when dealing with doctors a work, but now. now. now, there are coders. god save me from smart people who couldn't find their ass without going around their elbow because i am about to kill a bitch.

[dazais-guardian-angel]

Break 🤝 Ebisu - waiting for years to die and then realizing when the time comes that they want to live...

anon i don't know who you are or what prompted you to send this, but....... yes, I suppose? but also Ow why did you have to make me think of this

[problemnyatic]

Ugh. I'm certain y'all've noticed, but I've been swinging bats at hornets nests online more and more lately and it's extremely because I'm unhappy with my life right now. Vent under the cut!!! woooo

I'm frustrated and feel trapped in a dearth of agency between The World and The Difficulties and the way my life has not set me up for success in any kind of way save for my small but golden group of friends and partners.

I'm constantly fighting an uphill battle to have my medications in order and every time one falls off or falters it makes keeping myself from fumbling the others that much more precarious. While i'm struggling to keep the utter foundation of my capacity to function held tohether, I need to find some way to string together enough practice with my hobbies that they can turn into marketable skills- an endeavor that absolutely kills my passion for said hobbies.

My sleep schedule is a nightmare and without external structure (read: school or a job) keeping me beholden to one, I'll never be able to keep it together because the one actual nucleation point in my life is my friends, who all have different sleep schedules and live in various time zones. And my desperation to constantly have someone around means I'm up as late as my up-late-est friend is, and then some so I have Me Time to be autistic about nothing/The Questionable in peace.

And even the one thing I do actually do, play video games all day, is frought, because i've gotten into too many at once and now I'm overwhelmed by being pulled in too many directions at the same time. It sounds like such a frivolous complaint among everything else, but it means the only fucking staple in my life- the escape from the looming stress of it all- is also fucking stressful and keeps me antsy.

to my darling girlfriend i live with who I know is reading this, please just don't read the next pragraph. its agonizing about things that there's nothing to be gained from fretting about, that you will fret so much about if reminded (we've talked about these things before, they just cannot be meaningfully changed). I love you so much and i kiss you

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I'm cataclysmically imbalanced right now, and the circumstances of where I live only compound it. I moved a year and a half ago, and I still have barely been outside, let alone connected with anyone new here. The pandemic combined with living in a suburb without a license mean I'm profoundly isolated here, so I cling to the digital world to feel a sense of connection. It's not good for me. These days I spend most of my time in a windowless room for most all of my day, and sleep through the day anyways.

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hiii darling welcome back

I need a serious restructuring of my life, and there's nowhere good to start. my adhd and autism have me trapped between a nigh inability to deliberately form habits, and a pathalogical contempt for manufactured rules and structures. I can't live my life by an arbitrary design, there needs to be weight behind it, not just "I said so," even and especially if I'm the bitch saying so.

Maybe I need an actual perscribed exercise routine. Maybe I need a steady supply of smokeable weed (edibles just do not fucking cut it for the nature of my needs). Maybe I need local friends, despite being well over capacity for relationships I'm keeping track of. It feels like I have a laundry list of things I need to get around to, all of which will help me actually improve my life, and the list itself feels unapproachable until my life improves. I'm just glancing off of everything I need to be doing in a circle forever.

So I'm frustrated. I feel impotent and useless and imeffective and adrift and frustrated at how much fucking effort it's taking to go absolutely fucking nowhere.

So I swing bats at hornet nests. Because it makes something happen. Something that I can see. It lets me watch myself have an effect on the world in some small, petty, ultimately meaningless way, but in a way I can fucking see, it's tangible. And much to my own fucking chagrin, that has utterly zero correlation to how healthy it is. Much like the rest of my habits, I guess.

I'm so fucking upset at the state of my life. I really hope my endless stabs at untangling this gordian knot of unstarters fucking get me somewhere soon. It feels like i'm struggling in quicksand.

[drysauce]

fuck this shit i'm NOT working this summer

[aph-estonia]

every time i think about being near other people i actually do throw up in my mouth a lil. many such cases! very sad to see...

[areyoudoingthis]

that post about how if you don't value someone to ask for their advice why would you accept their criticism really changed my perspective about things

[hyperlexichypatia]

Okay, here's my criticism of this post I keep seeing -- and no, it's not what you think. I know, my longtime followers who know the kinds of things I post about a lot are probably thinking, "Oh, I know what their objection is going to be. It's going to be that 18-19 year olds are adults who can date older partners if they choose to." But no, that's not it this time! Yes, I do believe it's fine for young adults to date older adults if they choose to (and am accordingly rolling my eyes at all the "This should go up to 25!" comments in the notes), but. That's not my issue here. In fact, precisely because I believe that young adults dating older adults is morally neutral, I'm not at all concerned about the efficacy of the messaging against it. My concern is that underage minors being in sexual/romantic relationships with adults is actually harmful and dangerous, and therefore young people actually should be warned against it, and this is not an effective warning.

Fellow old people, do y'all remember being 14? At all? Would you have found this warning effective and compelling at that age?

I for sure would not! I did not! Quite the opposite!

Put yourself in the young person's position here. You have no rights. You're treated as someone with no agency. Your parents, teachers, government, and society as a whole treats you as some combination of "nuisance," "ticking time bomb," and "unthinking blob." Developmentally, you're at a phase of life when you should be transitioning to a more adult role, but everyone around you demonizes you for that desire. All your thoughts, feelings, and opinions are dismissed as the inconsequential ravings of Just A Dumb Kid Who Doesn't Know Any Better. You meet someone who treats you with basic human politeness, tells you that he likes you and that you're mature, actually treats you like you have two brain cells to rub together. Of course you're going to be drawn to him. And then when other adults warn you that obviously of course he doesn't really like you, that's impossible, of course you're not really mature, no one could possibly see you that way; actually you're naive and incapable of making your own decisions, and the way your parents/teachers/society treat you is completely justified. Are you going to heed those warnings?

Why are adults absolutely constitutionally incapable of giving good, necessary advice to teenagers without fucking insulting them in the process? Of course teenagers don't listen to it! Why would anyone??

"Oh, well, of course teenagers don't listen, because they're stubborn, and immature, and biologically determined to make bad decisions, which is all the more reason they need to be controlled," say adults, completely oblivious to the actual problem.

When I was a teenager, the big moral panic at the time was teen pregnancy, and we were all inundated with the least effective cautionary tales in the world: "If you get pregnant as a teen, you'll have to leave your parents' care and function as an adult!" Which left every girl who'd intentionally gotten pregnant for the explicit purpose of escaping her abusive parents saying "Yeah, that was the goal." And every girl who was looking for a way of escaping her abusive parents to think "What a great idea!" Today the big moral panic is older partners, but if the appeal of an older partner is that he treats you like someone capable of making your own decisions, why would you be persuaded by a counterargument of "Don't listen to him, of course you're not capable of making your own decisions!"?

Again. I'm saying this because I agree that adults dating minors is a bad thing and that minors should be warned against it. EFFECTIVELY.

That said, this is my advice to any 17-or-younger person being pursued by an 18+-year-old partner: Listen. You deserve so much better than the way society treats you. You deserve to be taken seriously. You deserve to make your own decisions in life. You have a mind of your own, and people should recognize that instead of treating your pesky "free will" as a personal affront or an inconvenient glitch. You can and should think for yourself. You deserve, and I hope you have, relationships with older people who validate those truths about you. However. You are still legally and materially powerless. I don't have to tell you that. You live it every day. Someone older than you -- and therefore, inherently, legally, more powerful than you -- should not be trying to extract things from you. Money, sex, unpaid labor, anything of value. Someone more powerful than you who truly values you, values your friendship, values you as a person, will be mindful of your status and not try to extract anything from you. Cross-age friendships are good. Older people can and should genuinely like and appreciate you, and you can and should genuinely like and appreciate them. But if they try to extract anything from you, run away.

[genderqueerdykes]

kids are not inherently annoying oh my goddddd. i have been witnessing an uptick in this behavior IRL and online, but especially IRL? it's disturbing to me. kids playing is not inherently annoying. kids laughing is not inherently annoying. kids making mistakes is not inherently annoying. kids not knowing things is not inherently annoying. kids needing help is not inherently annoying. kids crying is not inherently annoying. kids stimming is not inherently annoying. kids being overstimulated is not inherently annoying. kids needing to use the restroom is not inherently annoying. kids getting sick is not inherently annoying. kids being hungry, thirsty, or needing the bathroom is not inherently annoying.

kids are not inherently an inconvenience. kids do not have to be completely still and dead silent in order to be around adults or in public. if you feel as though kids having basic needs or being happy in your vicinity is annoying, you really need to reassess why, because that is not a healthy mentality to be trapped in because it ends up hurting both you and the child. kids don't deserve to be made miserable because you view them as a wholesale inconvenience. they will pick up on the fact that you view that way. kids aren't as stupid as you think they are- they're learning, and they learn fast.

[kaijutegu]

Aug ABSOLUTELY deserves the praise, @ryukikit. St. Augustine Alligator Farm is one of my favorite animal facilities, hands down. It's a pretty zoo, doable in an afternoon if you kinda like crocodilians, or an all day affair if you REALLY like crocodilians. Here are my favorite things about it and why I think it's worth supporting.

1. They keep animals in interesting social groups.

Crocodilians are heavily involved parents, but most places that breed them don't have the enclosure space to let the babies stay with the parents. St. Augustine does. One of my favorite groups was their crèche of slender-snouted crocodiles. They had the parents and then a yearling cohort and a new hatchling cohort. This aligns with how these guys live in the wild- the babies stick around longer! They have the space for it, and they are very in tune with the social needs of their animals.

Very, very few zoos can keep their baby crocs with the adults and still perform maintenance and animal health checks safely. This doesn't mean these facilities are bad- it just means that they have different management practices. And frankly, a lot of these species aren't frequently bred elsewhere. Your average zoo doesn't need a setup where you can have a multiyear crèche for slender-snouted crocodiles. Some species have better success when the young are pulled early, and some zoos are better set up to raise out any offspring separately or behind the scenes. Every facility's practices are different, and this just happens to work well at St. Augustine and be really enjoyable to see as a zoo patron.

Crocodilians are exceptional parents and very protective. It's a sign of incredible animal management practices and animals that feel very comfortable with staff that St. Augustine can do this with nearly every species they breed.

2. They understand the social needs of their animals.

Some crocodilians are social. Some are solitary. Some can live happily with a member of the opposite sex but get territorial around members of the same sex. St. Augustine pays incredible attention to their social groupings to ensure that they aren't just meeting the animals' physical health needs but their social needs as well. They do continuous scientific research about social structures in crocodilians, taking blood samples to test stress hormones and observing stress behaviors to see how group dynamics change.

For example, St. Augustine is home to one of the world's largest known living saltwater crocodiles, Maximo. And his comparatively tiny mate, Sydney. During the educational presentations with these two, they point out that even their monster of a croc needs his social group- he won't eat if she's not around and he is calmer during medical checks if he can see her. These animal share a deep and special pair bond, and they make sure to talk about how the social aspect of these animals' lives is integral to their care. It's a unique aspect of the way they talk about these animals, because he IS a spectacle and he IS a sensation, but they don't talk about him like he's a mindless killing machine- they talk about him like he's a big, complex predator with social needs like any other animal. Aug is the only facility I've been to where the emotional and social needs of crocodilians is part of the education they provide guests- and speaking of education...

3. Their demos and presentations are extremely good.

The presentations at St. Augustine are some of the best I've ever seen, and I've seen literally hundreds of animal talks on everything from aardvarks to zebras. But as you... can probably tell from my blog content, I've spent a lot of time learning about and working with reptiles. I really enjoyed all of their presentations because they are very scientific about things and avoid sensationalism. They really want you to be fascinated by these creatures and love them- but more than anything else, they want you to respect them.

Also, they do a really good job handling their ambassadors. I really enjoyed something as simple as watching an educator tell us about snakes. Throughout the whole presentation she made sure that most of the snake's body was looped in her hand. The snake was always supported and was very calm. She gave the snake plenty of head room so that it didn't feel constricted- it was just good handling all around.

But also, the presentations made it clear how much the park cares about the animals' well-being. When they do the feeding and training presentations, they make it very clear that the animals' participation is entirely voluntary. They do things differently for their 9-foot saltie and their 16-foot saltie, because the 16-footer is so large and heavy he actually struggles walking on land sometimes. They adapt their programs and his care to ensure that he's completely comfortable- and he didn't actually participate in the whole feeding when I was watching! At no point did they try to push him into anything uncomfortable; they offered, he didn't engage, and they moved on. It was a clear expression of his boundaries, and I really appreciated how much his caretakers respected that.

4. Ethical Interactions

I've been to... a lot of tourist locations in Florida that have animals you can hold. Almost always against my will! Many of them are pretty terrible, and you don't actually learn much, if anything. But I really found that to not be the case at St. Augustine. Every single animal presentation and interaction opportunity was accompanied by education about the animal's biology, habits, and- crucially- their conservation status.

When I held a baby alligator at St. Augustine, the proctors- there were two, one to ensure I was holding the gator correctly and the other to educate- were very informative about the role alligators play in their ecosystem and their conservation history. The animals were all properly banded, and one of the two proctors was there to ensure that none of the baby alligators were uncomfortable. As soon as they started getting squirmy or tense, they were removed, unbanded, and taken to an off-exhibit area to relax. And when the babies age out of petting size, they just go in the lagoon to live with others of their species. I saw one upset alligator the entire time I was there, and he was clearly upset that his escape attempt was foiled by a keeper during my nursery tour.

Even though he's restrained in this shot, you can see that his full body and tail are supported, and the grip, while firm, is gentle. He's distressed, but after I took this picture, she put him in his enclosure and he calmed down immediately.

Sometimes when you have petting attractions with baby animals, those animals... don't have a happy ending. (See: cub petting.) But St. Augustine's program is fine- the gators are all aged out of wanting to have mom around, there's no declawing/defanging, and they're handled with care. And it's worth it, because people love what they understand. St. Augustine was integral in raising public awareness about alligators back in the 60s when they were endangered, and now they're thriving- largely in part to programs like St. Augustine getting people to care.

And speaking of getting people to care, let's talk about their research.

5. Shared Research Results

St. Augustine is also home to more species of crocodilian than anywhere else in North America- all of them, usually. (They didn't have a Tomistoma when I visited- that may have changed.)

Because of this species diversity, it's an incredible research resource. Having every species means that you can do a lot of work comparing their behaviors, their growth patterns, and more. They've been a major research site for crocodilian biology since the 1970s. Today, they're one of the key sites for studying crocodilian play and social behaviors. They actually maintain a blog where they post copies of papers that were written using their animals, meaning that you can actually see the results of the research your admission helps fund. You can see that right here: https://www.alligatorfarm.com/conservation-research/research-blog/

All of this adds up to a zoo that provides a unique experience, tons of actual education, and transparency about what its research and conservation steps actually are. St. Augustine's come a long way since its opening in 1893, and they really do want you to leave with a new respect for the animals they care for. Ultimately, if you're a fan of reptiles, you can feel good about visiting the St. Augustine Alligator Farm- their care and keeping are top of the line, they do a ton of innovative conservation research and support for conservation organizations, and you can see this animal there:

(Gharial from the front. Nothing is wrong with her that's just what they look like from the front.)

[enhaflixer]

Bf!Jay x f!reader - when walls fall.

angst, fluff, - she thinks he cheated on her (he didn't) the post to THIS ask.

The message had arrived three hours ago, shattering your world like a hammer to glass. A simple photo—Jay with his arm around her, both laughing with the kind of intimacy that only comes from shared secrets. The anonymous sender had added just five devastating words: "Thought you deserved to know."

Five years together. Five years of nursing him through pneumonia, of holding his hand at his father's funeral, of sacrificing that dream job in Seattle because he couldn't leave his hometown. Five years of choosing him, again and again, only to discover you were never his only choice.

You sit perfectly still on the edge of the couch, back straight, hands folded in your lap like some parody of composure. You've cried already—hours of silent tears that left your eyes puffy and raw—but now there's just hollow calm. You're an adult. You'll handle this with dignity, with maturity. You've rehearsed what to say, how to ask for your keys back, how you'll listen to his explanation with detached politeness before walking away forever.

When the door finally clicks open and he calls your name in that voice that used to make your heart flutter, you rise to your feet with mechanical precision.

"We need to talk," you say, your voice remarkably steady as you hold up your phone with the damning image. "I think it's time we were honest with each other."

Jay's face falls, confusion clouding his features. He steps toward you, hand outstretched.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Don't," you warn, stepping back, maintaining the careful distance you need to keep your resolve intact. "Just don't."

But he doesn't stop. He keeps coming closer, concern etched into every line of his face, and when his fingers brush your arm, something inside you—something you've been holding together with nothing but willpower and pride—simply disintegrates.

"I said don't!" The scream tears from your throat as you violently shrug away from his touch. All your carefully constructed composure evaporates in an instant, replaced by a tidal wave of raw, unfiltered agony.

You beat your fists against his chest, each impact a punctuation mark to your anger, your hurt, your betrayal. The cotton of his shirt crumples beneath your knuckles. Your planned speech, your dignified exit—all of it vanishes under the sudden explosion of pain that's been building inside you like a pressure cooker.

"How could you?" The words tear from your throat, raw and ragged. "How could you?"

Jay stands there, solid as stone, absorbing each blow like he deserves it. Maybe he does. The thought only fuels the fire in your veins, makes your strikes harder, wilder, less controlled.

"Say something!" you demand, voice cracking. Your palms are stinging now, but you can't stop. If you stop, you'll have to remember how pathetic this is, how you promised yourself you wouldn't break down, wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing you shatter.

Your strength is fading, arms growing heavier with each strike. Your vision blurs as fresh tears finally break free, streaming hot down your cheeks. Your blows weaken, turning from punches to pathetic pats against his chest.

"I trusted you," you whisper, the words barely audible through your sobs. "I trusted you."

When your legs finally give out, betraying your last attempt at dignity, he moves. His arms circle around you with a gentleness that breaks something fundamental inside you. You collapse against him, face pressed into the same chest you were assaulting moments ago, fingers now clutching at his shirt instead of battering it.

Jay holds you like you're made of something precious and fragile. His embrace is tight, secure—like he's afraid you might dissolve if he loosens his grip even slightly. His chin rests atop your head, and you feel the slight tremble in his body that tells you he's fighting his own battle.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs into your hair, his voice a low rumble you feel against your cheek. "I'm so sorry."

You should push away. You should remember your plan, your dignity, your resolve. But you can't move, can't do anything but hang there in his arms, utterly spent, hollowed out like something scraped clean of everything that once made it whole.

Later, he'll show you the full thread of messages, revealing the photo as a malicious edit by his ex—the one who threatened suicide when he ended things, the one who's been watching from the shadows for years. He'll show you the real image: Jay with his cousin at her wedding, before he even knew your name. He'll take you to his mother's house where they've been planning your surprise thirtieth birthday party for weeks.

But right now, there's just this: your broken heart leaking between your ribs, your pathetic whimpers against his chest, and worst of all—the tiniest spark of hope that refuses to die, that maybe, just maybe, there's an explanation that won't destroy the life you've built on the foundation of his promises.

[vevobly]

What about YJ adult or teen hcs for them with a partner who wears their heart on their sleeve, like just can't lie to save their life and also has the worst poker face in all history. I think itd be interesting to see who takes advantage of and who nurtures someone so emotionally transparent all the time

Yellowjackets With Heart On Their Sleeve Reader! [Peri-crash] (1)

A/N: I have a drafted work in progress headcanon post that's very similar to this, so I made this take place during peri-crash because that work took place pre-crash. Also to avoid confusion, Laura Lee's and Jackie's, can either be interpreted as it taking place before their deaths or their deaths never happening at all.

Jackie Taylor:

Jackie absolutely loves that you're open with your emotions—until it makes her uncomfortable. She enjoys being adored by you, but when you expect the same openness from her? She struggles bad. Whenever things get too serious with you guys, she'll deflect. Oh, you're telling her this really big heartfelt confession? Yep, she's gonna start joking or rolling her eyes at you. But you notice the way she looks at you when she thinks you're not watching, how her fingers linger a little too long when she fixes your hair. She's used to controlling how people see her but with you? She feels exposed, vulnerable and a little foolish.

In the wilderness, it's hard for her to keep her usual composure. So, she ends up envying how you don't try to hide your emotions. Sometimes, it even ends up with her lashing out at you for it. Feeling frustrated that you can be vulnerable when she feels like she can't be. But despite all of that, you're the only warmth she can find comfort with. She holds your hand when no one's looking, squeezing it a little too tight when things get bad. She'll never admit it or how much she needs it from you. But she'll melt into a literal puddle whenever you reassure her that it's okay to be scared, that she doesn't have to be perfect out there.

With the crash comes Jackie being very clingy to your affection more than she realizes. She hates being cold, hates being hungry, and hates feeling helpless. But at least your love for her is a constant. Something familiar in this world that's suddenly unrecognizable. When she wakes up shivering in the middle of the night, she reaches for you. She doesn't say anything, just merely tucks herself against your side and lets you hold her like she's something fragile. You don't complain, you never do. Why? Because this is the least you can do for her, be her anchor. So many things are changing, but this? This is something you hope never changes.

Shauna Shipman:

Shauna isn't sure she deserves the way you love her. You're so open, so willing to let people see exactly how you feel and that terrifies her. You'll tell her that you love her, and she'll just hesitate before saying it back like the words might choke her. But she does love you. So much it makes her stomach hurt. Ever since the crash happened, she's been really clingy to you. Watching you almost always since then, being close or just near you. It feels like if she ever turns her back on you for a second, you'd disappear and never come back to her. And she wouldn't know what to do with herself if that happened.

She doesn't always know how to reciprocate, but her actions will speak for her to you. Small yet such meaningful things, you know? She'll share food with you, press against you for warmth, and hold onto your shirt when she sleeps. The first time she lets herself break down in front of you, she is embarrassed. But you just hold her, and for the first time in a long time, she feels safe. You're the only thing keeping her grounded in all of this. And she will be damned if something terrible ever happened to you here. Things change out here, but this? You and her? She hopes it doesn't.

After the crash, your love for her is a big comfort. But it's also a huge liability. She needs you, but she doesn't know how to need people without resenting them for it (*cough cough* Jackie—). There are nights when she will just hold onto you like she's afraid you'll disappear, her breath shaky against your collarbone. And there are mornings when she will barely look at you while pretending those nights never happened at all. You make her go weak in the knees but she can't let you know. She can't let you see her like that. Or else, you might think she's weak and leave her.

Taissa Turner:

Taissa has always been drawn to strength, determination, resilience, and the kind of control she prides herself on. So your emotional openness should make her see you as weak. But it doesn't. It makes her ache instead. She tells herself she doesn't need your affection. But then the crash happens, and suddenly, needing you isn't a choice. It's an instinct. Tai respects your emotional openness but she does not always know how to handle it. She's so used to pushing forward, keeping her emotions controlled, and not being vulnerable that it catches her off guard when you somehow manage to get through her and let out parts of her she locks away.

She gets really protective, watching over you like a hawk whenever things get dangerous. If someone ever tries to take advantage of your kindness, she'll be the first to step in on that. And although she becomes hyper focused on survival, during the very few quiet moments you guys get to have together with each other, she lets herself have you. She grips your hand when she thinks no one is looking, her fingers cold and a bit shaky. When she wakes up with dirt under her nails and blood on her skin, when she doesn't remember what she did in the night—she turns to you. Your voice is the only thing that manages to snap her back to reality.

It's great that you are the way you are because when Tai feels like breaking apart under everything that's going on, you just manage to swoop in time and reassure her that everything will be fine. It's because of you that she can somehow still keep pushing through after everything that's happened so far. She knows she leans on you more than she realizes but refuses to acknowledge it. Now at night, when it's just the two of you, she's able to be soft. She'll whisper these quiet reassurances, hold you close, press her forehead against yours, and breathe you in like you're the only thing keeping her tethered. You're her only light in this place of darkness.

Van Palmer:

No doubt, Van loves how open you are with your emotions. She even teases you about it at times. It's honestly one of her favorite things about you. When you tell her you love her? She'll just grin and say "I know" before pulling you in for a kiss. And when the crash happens, your honesty with your emotions helps her cope. She jokes around to keep everyone's spirits high, but when things get bad, she'll turn to you. Just knowing you'll tell her the truth instead of sugarcoating it or saying a lie in return.

She makes it her mission to keep you laughing even in the worst moments. She needs to see you smile because your smile reminds her that there's still something worth holding onto despite everything being seemingly grim right now. If you ever break down? She'll be right there with you to pull you into her arms and to tell you "it's okay, babe. I've got you." while you're at it. She loves you so much. And while her jokes can keep everyone's spirits up, there's something tight in her chest when everyone is laughing and she just looks at you. She's terrified of a lot of things. But she's more terrified this place is going to break you before it breaks her someday.

When the wolf attack happens, when she wakes up bandaged and barely breathing? She sees the look on you and hates it. Hates how scared you are. Hates that she did this to you. "Hey," She'll rasp, voice wrecked and yet she's smiling. "Still pretty, right?" She means it as a joke, but at the same time, it's a real question. You just look at her, and Van hates it. Hates how you aren't laughing. Hates how you aren't even in the slightest bit smiling at all. But then you shake your head and just proceed to fuss over her. "I could get used to this," She'll chuckle, and you'll just narrow your eyes at her before kissing her. She's fine.

Natalie Scatorccio:

Natalie isn't used to being loved the way you love her. She's used to people usually leaving or worse, hurting her just because they can. When you first tell her you love her, she flinches, and then she waits. As if your words are just a joke, a prank that you'll soon admit to and take back. But you don't. And Nat can't decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing for her. Because with the way you are, there's no room left for her to doubt that your words aren't true. She wants to believe otherwise, but she knows you and how you are. When you say something, you really do mean it sincerely.

When the crash happens, she pretends to be annoyed when you tell her just how much she means to you. But if anyone looked closely, they would see the way her expression softens. The way she grips your hand a little tighter. In the wilderness, you're one of the only things keeping her from completely shutting down. Your ability to love her so openly reminds her that maybe, just maybe, there's still some good left in this world despite everything she's been through before and after the crash. She worries about you being too open, too trusting at times. She doesn't want you to get hurt, and if she has to be the one to protect you, so be it.

One night, you whisper "I love you" into her hair and she doesn't say anything. But the way she exhales slowly, just before she starts pressing herself closer to you that night says enough. She might never put it into words, but her actions tell you more than enough. She loves you too. And she'll be damned if she let the wilderness or whatever the hell it is do something to you. Nat lets you trace the scars on her arms, lets you kiss the bruises on her ribs, but she never asks for it. Because asking means wanting, and wanting means losing. And Nat? Nat would rather die than let herself lose you at all.

Lottie Matthews:

Lottie watches you like she sees something in you that no one else does (it's eerie and very romantic at the same time). Something important. Something sacred. Before the crash, her love was gentle. Soft touches, dreamy smiles, and forehead kisses that lingered. But after the crash? After that, her love practically becomes worship. She tells you the wilderness wants you. That your love isn't just love. It's a gift. A sign. And you're scared, but when she looks at you like that, it's hard to remember why. This is still Lottie, your girlfriend. Despite everything, you still love her more than anything.

For Lottie, she finds your emotional openness as something beautiful. I mean, she's always been sensitive to her emotions, and yours? It just shines so brightly that she's drawn to you like a moth to a flame. She constantly reassures you that your emotions are valid. That you should feel deeply because the world is hard enough without bad people trying to snuff out your light. She finds you being the way you are as something that makes you special. Your love for her is a source of comfort. Not just for her, but for the others too. While you being open emotionally could be a weakness to most people, it's a strength to her and the wilderness.

She makes sure you know how much she cherishes you. Constantly holding you close, whispering soft praises, and running her fingers through your hair to soothe you whenever things get bad out in the wilderness. She might have changed a bit (that's an understatement) after the crash, but she's still her. She's still your Lottie after everything. If anyone tries to hurt you, she will step in one way or another. The wilderness is cruel, but she will not let it take away the warmth that you bring to her. It can take and take whatever it wants, it just can't take you no matter what. And if it does, Lottie wouldn't know what to do with herself if it ever happened.

Laura Lee:

Laura Lee admires your emotional honesty. She sees it as a strength, proof that you have a good heart. And encourages you to express your feelings always, reassuring you that there is completely nothing wrong with being vulnerable the way you are to many others. "God gave us emotions for a reason" She told you once with this soft and gentle smile. After the crash happens, your presence is the only source of comfort for her amongst other things. She prays for the both of you, holding your hand tightly whenever she starts to whisper for protection and guidance out there in the wilderness.

Laura Lee loves you with an earnestness that makes your chest hurt. She believes in you the way she believes in God, fully and without hesitation. Your love is something pure, something untouched by whatever darkness is creeping into the lives of everyone with you guys in the wilderness. "This place can't take what's in your heart." She holds your hands between her, leaning down to kiss your knuckles softly before pressing her forehead against yours. She often reminds you that your love is good, that even in the wilderness, it's important to hold onto kindness. And that no matter what happens, you guys will have each other always and forever.

You're scared. She's scared. Everyone is scared. But despite all of it, at least you guys have each other. Whenever you feel like breaking down because of everything that's happening, she's there for you always. Running smooth circles on your back as she reassures you as best as she can that everything will be fine and that you guys along with everyone else will be found and then brought back home sooner or later. You can't tell whether you believe her or not, but it's nice to be comforted and to hold onto someone's words during these times when it seems like nothing will be better. In the wilderness, she's your shield. Your guiding light.

Misty Quigley:

Misty adores how expressive you are. She's never had someone openly love her the way you, and it makes her feel special. She clings to every bit of affection you give her, smiling so wide when you say you love her. Just practically vibrating with happiness when you hold her hand. But after the crash, her attachment to you becomes even stronger. She'll do anything to keep you safe, whether you want it or not, it's not really a problem. This girl doesn't plan on losing you now or ever. If anyone tries to hurt you or take advantage of your kindness, Misty will take care of it. She won't let anything happen to the one person who makes her feel truly loved.

Misty loves you in a way that's too much—too intense, too desperate, too Misty. Before the crash, she always tried so hard to be what you wanted. To be the kind of person you chose instead of tolerated. And with the crash happening after, she doesn't even have to try. She saves lives. She's needed. And you need her. She does everything for you. Gets you extra food, gives you the warmest blankets, and makes sure you're safe. When you jokingly call her your hero one time, she beams. She doesn't care if you mean it or not. She just needs to hear it from you. Not Jackie, not Shauna, not Tai, or anyone else. Just you.

Misty constantly reassures you that you're important almost to an annoying degree. She's always telling you that you're the best thing to have ever happened in her whole life. And if that means keeping you by her side forever... well, she'll make sure that happens. Whether you want it or not. She will make it happen. She'll make sure that no matter what happens out there in the wilderness that the two of you will make it out alive together and not without the other. Misty won't let herself be found and rescued unless you're there with her. Because nothing would be complete without you there.