#But he's just looking because he's reminded of himself! Actually that probably wouldn't be taken well either lol

[sysig]

Something old and borrowed (Patreon)

[acid-ixx]

I’m new, I just read your fic about neglect reader. I haven’t read through your blog yet but I am so excited after reading this fic. I am an emotional wreck right now and my curiosity is eating me alive with this question “Does reader know about Jason? Will they ever met? Ever have a platonic relationship together? Will Jason be more of a brother to reader?”

I’m sorry I speed through the fic and tears are in my eyes I couldn’t think straight BUT I notice that Jason is hardly there so I’m curious. Please this is such a brain rot, it’s way past midnight after I read this cause I keep stopping to cry.

major (?) spoilers below.

reblogs and interactions are encouraged and appreciated.

hello anon !! im so happy ppl are getting more exposed to the content i have written so far. anyways, i can't believe i also got others to cry bec i did too when i was writing 😭

anyways, to answer ur question: yes! the reader will meet jason and he would actually be the first sibling you would meet after you have left the manor. the way he would turn yandere for you is a different approach to how the others would be because in the prequel, it has been stated that you had your fair share of encounters with him.

"will they ever have a platonic relationship with him/see him as a brother?" maybe, maybe not. because your meeting with him would all be a blur to you, and jason's obsession would stem from the trauma he had experienced, causing him to be more protective of you.

you're not in your best mindset and you're vulnerable walking through the streets of gotham and all alone? oh god, only a dumbass would do that— but once the red hood recognizes your face and the way you carry yourself so pitiably, he immediately tries to take you in his arms just as he should.

but the moment you push him away? tell him to fuck off despite your drunken state? the moment you cry and tell him you could deal with everything yourself without his help or anybody else's? you just remind him of himself and that triggers his first spiral into yandere-ism.

it's the way you share trauma, the way you both feel immense anger. he should've noticed sooner because you two would've been as close as peas in a pod. and yet he failed you by being a hypocrite. you were literally taken into the manor right after his death and discarded like you were mere trash. he should've taken you away when he had the opportunity to but he was too caught up in his feat of revenge.

yet the worst part was that he had taken notice of tim before he did you, and jason had momentarily hated you too because he thought bruce had replaced him. if he had looked through that veil of contempt that he had for you, and saw just how neglected and in need of attention you are, then he would've taken you under his wing.

but he didn't, and he had done the same thing to you as most did.

so take it as you will when i say you're more or less going to be closer (albeit unwillingly) to jason than anybody else because unlike his other siblings who are bound by their vigilante duties, your big brother jason wouldn't mind shooting any creeps who think they could touch his precious angel.

and he gets it, too, angel— you hate him, you hate them all and that's valid. but you can't just walk out in the streets alone and expect to be home in one piece; so leave it to him to scout your apartment alright? leave it to your big brother jason to intimidate the goons who try to stalk you when you're not looking. even if you don't want him near you, you'll always find warm food by your table and a note reminding you to take care of yourself more often.

it hurts when you rip the paper to shreds but it breaks his heart even more if you refuse to touch the meal he would leave for you, because that probably means you saw him as danger more than anything else. and he doesn't know it, but you're already planning to make a run for it now that you're under red hood's radar.

it's obvious that you have no experience when it comes to living by yourself, so please don't fucking push him away and let him protect you from any harm. your self destructive habits only causes him to become more protective of you and it only lets him stalk you more often to ensure nobody would touch his precious angel.

just like dick, you'll be treated more like a child than that of a young adult, but at least jason has the concept of personal space compared to your eldest brother. but still, jason wishes to hold you in his arms.

heaven forbid if the joker ever got his crummy fingers on you. jason would go berserk.

little does he know, little does your family know just how much they had lost the opportunity to keep you in wraps inside the manor.

they should've never let you out in the first place.

[aurumacadicus]

Lol. Lmao even.

--

"So, what does a typical Avengers meals look like?" the interviewer asks, smile wide and mean.

Steve hates these types of questions. Everyone knows he and Thor eat like horses. There are pictures of them with their own table laden with food after really strenuous battles while the rest of the team sit at a different one floating all over the internet. Sometimes Bruce joins them, if he'd been Hulked out for a long time.

It's a question to shame Natasha and Tony. It always is, no matter how sincerely the interviewer smiles or insists it's just to see that they're real people. No one gives Steve side-eye when he talks about eating three bagels smothered in lox and cream cheese, but if Natasha mentions ice cream, there are half a dozen articles about how that ice cream goes straight to her thighs. Tony gets pitying looks for trying to keep up with a literal god and the peak of human perfection as he's told he's looking great--for a man his age.

Clint seemed to fly under the radar. He used to gloat, until Bruce had snapped that it was probably because there was a webpage dedicated to pictures of him crawling out of dumpsters during battle after a particularly vicious interviewer had asked Tony if he worried about getting too fat for his suit, and left Natasha visibly rattled when asked if she was taking steroids to stay in shape. He'd apologized immediately after, but Clint had stopped taking joy in being the disaster Avenger when Natasha and Tony started glancing at watches with smiles growing more plastic by the second.

Steve has half a mind to tell the interviewer they all eat protein-filled gruel designed by SHIELD just to get her attention away from them, but Natasha had scowled at him the last time he'd tried to stage a rescue in front of cameras, and he'd taken it as the warning to back off that it was.

"I've gotten real into smoothies," Tony answers, and he actually sounds enthused. "And Natasha's my willing guinea pig. These heathens," he adds, waving at the rest of them. "Wouldn't know a good flavor profile if their lives depend on it."

"He's figured out a chocolate and almond butter recipe with coconut water that tastes just like an Almond Joy," Natasha adds approvingly.

Steve watches the interviewer's face twist with fake sympathy as she winces and hisses through her teeth, hand clenching into a fist on his thigh. He just has to let this happen, he reminds himself. Then they can go home and he can remind Tony and Natasha that they are probably the healthiest normal people in all of SHIELD. Maybe Tony will make that protein-packed smoothie that tastes just like caramel apple pie for him that is probably supposed to embarrass him but he actually really likes.

"Ooh," the interviewer says with another wince. "But aren't smoothies just full of sugar? Wouldn't it be better to eat whole fruit?"

Natasha raises an eyebrow. She opens her mouth, but closes it again when she notices that Tony is openly gawking at the woman like she's personally reached over and slapped him. She leans back in her seat, brows furrowing together as she clearly tries to puzzle out why he looks so shocked.

Tony blinks, once, hard, before he says, "I used to do cocaine, Christine. I think a little sugar from fruit juice is fine."

There's a brief pause as the words sink in, and then Clint spews the water he'd been nervously gulping, and Bruce starts howling with laughter, and it pretty effectively ends the interview there, because no one has heard Bruce laugh that hard outside of the tower and Natasha looks seconds away from guffawing as well.

[steddieas-shegoes]

Country singer Steve Harrington, who has always leaned more into the pop country side of things (think Wanted by Hunter Hayes), but wants his third album to be more true to old school country roots.

His label agrees but only if he works with Eddie Munson, a rock star who had to leave the spotlight when he got kicked out of his band for, well, rockstar behavior gone too far.

Steve isn't amused, especially because he doesn't care for metal music or rock star shenanigans. He was "raised better" and doesn't think Eddie could sit down and write songs with actual emotion and feeling.

Cue long songwriting sessions where Eddie is trying his hardest to be on his best behavior because he knows this is his last shot at being taken seriously, and Steve being surprised every time Eddie proves that he's talented as a songwriter and musician, well outside the scope of just metal and rock.

They write a song that they're both so proud of, Steve asks if he'll record it with him just for fun. The released version would just be Steve.

Eddie agrees.

It's an incredible duet, something country music has needed forever, but Eddie doesn't want that version out there.

The label genuinely accidentally releases their version instead of the Steve only version. As soon as they realize, they remove it from official places, but it's too late.

Fans have already heard it and have gone crazy over it, begging them to let the radio play this version, begging for this version to be available for streaming. The Steve version is great, but it doesn't have the emotion that's laced in the tone of them singing together.

Eddie finally gives in when he sees how happy Steve is about the reaction to it.

But the label decides they want them to tour together, have Eddie work as his opening act, perform his acoustic songs that haven't been officially released anywhere. Eddie can't do it.

He can't go back into that lifestyle. He couldn't do it to his band, who made him promise that he'd come back to them when he got his shit straight. He can't do it to his fans, who stuck by him through some rough shit, but probably wouldn't support a fucking country music career. He definitely can't do it to Steve, who deserves to have someone with him who can be trusted not to go off the deep end.

So he runs. He hides. His uncle welcomes him home, congratulates him on finally embracing his country roots.

It doesn't take long for Steve to find him.

Because he'd been more honest with Steve than he'd ever been with anyone. He told him about his childhood, his Uncle Wayne, his struggle to make it. He told him about his worse struggle when he did make it, how he got in with the wrong people, the wrong things. Prioritized the lifestyle more than his own life.

Of course Steve knew where he'd run to.

Of course Steve came to remind him what his life could be if he allowed himself to find new priorities.

Steve's lips were pretty persuasive, but not nearly as persuasive as his promises to remind him what he could have if he kept his life his priority.

"But what if I let you down?"

"You won't."

"But-"

"No. You won't. You're gonna do amazing things for yourself. And I'm gonna be there to see it happen. That's all."

And he was.

They co-wrote Steve's entire album while Eddie worked on recording his own original songs. He liked that it was an old school rock and roll feel, some blues, some country, some hints of metal sneaking in on a couple songs.

He called his band to come help him with a song, hesitant to even ask, but they came. Of course they came.

He called his Uncle Wayne to play banjo on a song, worried that he wouldn't like the heavier electric guitar notes over it. Of course he loved being involved.

When their tour started, he let himself actually feel nervous.

But instead of running, he looked at the man who supported him through it, even when his own career was on the line.

Of course Steve was there.

[wraithofmorhogg]

Avallac'h: The Most Misunderstood Witcher Character A Character Study

I feel people have wrongly judged him for someone that we only get for ONE chapter and a small cameo from Geralt and one other prospective so I would like to speak on my prospective of Avallac'h as a character. Starting out it is interesting to me that whenever he speaks of Ciri having the promised child he seems to shut down. Right off the bat that sounds to me like dissociation. Not nefarious evil.

But notice that when Ciri insults Auberon this is the first time his face changes. Why? He says this is her 'only chance to be free' and his face goes back to that blank, stone look once he returns to the subject of a child. Only chance to be free? Hmm...

"You don't know what you mean." He says. And then he runs away from her. He says this more than once. "You don't know what you mean." "You don't know what you're talking about." Or in another translation "You don't know what you're risking." So, what does this all mean? Well as it turns out Auberon has the answer.

The King claims that Ciri is there selfishly so she doesn't have to experience Avallac'h's lab, but Avallac'h never once told her that his lab was an option. She doesn't even KNOW there is an alternative. "If it isn't me, it will be Avallac'h and his lab.""You cannot even imagine what it would mean for you to go there." And Avallac'h doesn't want to do that to her. He doesn't want to use his lab. So, in his own strange way Avallac'h is trying to protect or save Ciri from this horror. Again, back to this line.

"You don't know what you mean." "You don't know what you're talking about." Avallac'h does NOT want to use his lab on her. He is doing everything within his power to avoid it. Why? He must genuinely care about her in some way. We don't know the reasoning that he does. Does Ciri remind him of Lara? Or is he doing this out of duty to Lara to protect her child? Because no matter what anyone says Avallac'h clearly wholeheartedly loved Lara and Ciri as he states is a part of Lara. Whatever it maybe he does care about Ciri, or he would have taken her straight to his lab in the first place. I don't think Avallac'h actually wanted any of this for Ciri at all, but he thought that her sleeping with the King was the only way he could preserve her life.

This is after Ciri has pissed off Auberon and the alternative must be Ava's lab. The walls of the palace have ears. Avallac'h must know and he has mysteriously disappeared. So, what happens next?

The King is dead. Poisoned.

People claim Eredin, but Eredin was surprised. He had no idea. So, who else does that leave us with? Avallac'h who has been mysteriously missing when usually he is around to console Ciri after the King has been a prick to her. I think in the end he poisoned Auberon to protect Ciri. As Avallac'h told Geralt "Someone else will help her now." we know he meant himself. Avallac'h has clearly done just that if he hasn't been behind the scenes doing so all along.

Another interesting thing to note a lot of people use the "he strangled Ciri" to claim him as evil, but depending on the translation he didn't actually do that. It says he "COULD" choke her. Not that he did. He appears to just be holding her. Not pleasant sure but not choking either. She did just say something that must have been horribly painful to him. (and maybe just maybe he was a little tempted by her proposition of it being him instead of Auberon)

He was quite quick to forgive her, wasn't he? Perhaps because they both acted foolishly. Finally, I want to point out a couple of other things that someone who is evil just wouldn't bother to do.

I find it interesting that Avallac'h realized she was embarrassed and upset and he 'quickly' stopped to comfort her. To say it was fine in his own way.

Comforting her. Using her own language. Which in the elf world means he's probably lowing his status for her. When Ciri is upset about the king being a total prick to her. Again. Avallac'h patiently hears her out. Even if hearing those details of the woman that shares Lara's eyes doing things with another man must be awful. A "strange smile" indeed.

Bonus: Avallac'h helps Geralt

And at one-point other humans who if I recall correctly, he was guiding through a blizzard for some reason? Maybe it depends on the translation?

Does he really hate humans or is he just bitter he lost Lara to one? I suspect he doesn't really hate them as much as he says he does, or he wouldn't be helping them at all. "Bored she-elves"? Tsk tsk. This has nothing to do with bored elves. It is all about you and Lara. All in all, Avallac'h is not a bad guy. He is not evil. That does not mean he is 100% a good person, but nobody is. One thing we can get is that he does care about Ciri. What is Ciri to Avallac'h? We may never know. Maybe even he himself has no idea.

Thus ends my character study on Book! Avallac'h (for now) and I thank those that took the time to share open-mindedly (I hope) this little study with me.

[demonslayerunhinged]

If Giyuu and Sanemi actually got together, who do you think falls first? Who confesses first? Do they keep it a secret or are they proud? We all know Sanemi is loud about his dislike of Giyuu. I personally think he probably deals with his crush by lashing out (I think I sent an ask about this once before.) I guarantee he has internalized homophobia. I just want to know your thoughts and what you think would happen because your unhinged posts seriously make my day.

Oh @psyencefaction

Sorry for the long wait!

I feel like Giyuu would be the first one to fall and this is because he's more in touch with his feelings than Sanemi. His fascination with Sanemi started after Sanemi's first Hashira meeting after he lashed out at Kagaya, the unrestrained display of emotions and his ability to express what he felt so clearly reminded him of Sabito, his first love. Then when he discovered that the source of Sanemi's anger was the death of his best friend/aniki Masachika, Giyuu felt a sense of solidarity. Sanemi on the other hand might be a bit weirded out by Giyuu because of his quiet nature and social awkwardness but after a few missions together he would begin to appreciate his strength of character, his skill, and straightforwardness, it also helps that Giyuu is pretty.

I fuck with Sanemi having internalized homophobia especially with his background growing up in the slums of the city where Westernization and Western values had already taken hold of the population and I'm sure he would have gotten flak for his feminine-looking face and his role as the second mom of the family, especially from Kyogo.

Speaking of, Kyogo would also be another reason Sanemi wouldn't want to act on his feelings because growing up as a gayby under the thumb of an abusive father (the first man in his life) would damage his future relationships with men. It could even be the reason Sanemi is so anti-authority and why he projects this aggressive, hypermasculine image which coupled with his size serves not only as a means of protecting himself from getting hurt but also a means to drive people, especially men, away and Giyuu is no exception. This could also be the reason why his friendship with Obanai works so well because Obanai is not threatening physically, and he has a subdued personality compared to the one of someone like say Uzui.

Sanemi would develop a sort of fascination with Giyuu because of his unusually chill and quiet nature, which would develop into full-blown feelings that would creep up on him. Along with Giyuu's positive qualities and his quiet, chill nature, he's also non-threatening; he's not loud, violent, or portrays any other 'toxic' masculine traits that would trigger Sanemi's fight-or-fight response or remind him of his dad. So to curb this growing desire, he lashes out as Giyuu which serves not just as a way to drive the other man away but also as a way to satisfy his confirmation bias that Giyuu is just as toxic as all the other men he's known in his life when Giyuu eventually lashes out.

But my man Giyuu ain't like that. He's level-headed, steadfast, calm, sweet, and unbelievably kind if not a little bit dense. After he learns of Sanemi's love for ohagi to Sanemi's embarrassment, I bet he'd be at Sanemi's estate gate every morning with a package of ohagi, like Tanjiro(bestest boy ❤) did for him, but he doesn't realize its significance and what it means to Sanemi. Ohagi means love, comfort, care, and safety, and Sanemi's regular consumption symbolizes his inner desire to be taken care of.

At first, Sanemi ignores Giyuu's attempts but Giyuu with Tanjiro's encouragement wound persists. Imagine him following Sanemi around with the ohagi gift until Sanemi finally snaps and confronts Giyuu, ready to square up for making fun of him.

Giyuu in an amazing stroke of wisdom would explain to Sanemi that he wasn't and would never make fun of him which would lead to the big confession telling him that he wants to make ohagi for Sanemi forever and stuff. Sanemi would be stunned into silence as his emotional walls begin crumbling down because Giyuu is essentially communicating his desire to take care of Sanemi along with the promise that he would never hurt him and that he would always be safe. Giyuu would tentatively move closer and closer until he was so close that their noses were practically touching, he'll look into Sanemi's eyes asking for permission, and after a small nod from the other man would press his lips against Sanemi's in a passionate kiss.

Their relationship would be gradual because of their demon-slaying duties with only a few secret makeout sessions here and there. The first time they have sex would be a big deal for Sanemi not just because it puts him in a vulnerable position but because he's surprised at how soft Giyuu is with him. Sanemi is used to being treated roughly, by others and especially by himself but never has he been treated with such...care. Not by anyone, not even his mom, and here's Giyuu treating him like he was made of glass. Even though he was physically bigger than Giyuu at that moment he felt small but in a good way and most of all, he felt safe. The overwhelming emotions will make him shed tears that'd make Giyuu worried at first but touched after reassurance from Sanemi. Their lovemaking would be sweet and passionate as they explore each other's bodies.

I love to focus on Sanemi's POV not just because I'm a Nemi-hoe but also because I'm not worried about Giyuu being taken care of. Sanemi is a caretaker by nature so him doting on Giyuu is an undisputed given, the main work is him letting others take care of him. I'd like to think of Sanemi making Giyuu meals, always asking if he's eaten and inviting him to his house for meals. Their relationship would be healing for both of them as Giyuu gets to be a protector of sorts and Sanemi gets to be the protected...of sorts.

Anyway, I think their relationship would be an open secret because let's be real people especially the other Hashira would notice that their arguments have reduced and Obanai has even seen Sanemi smile at Giyuu much to his confusion. The main tea would be spilled by the Kakushi who would see Giyuu leave Sanemi's residence in the early hours of the morning, the both of them eating together with Sanemi lovingly wiping crumbs from Giyuu's face with a shockingly soft expression on his face and on one occasion accidentally heard moans coming from Giyuu's bedroom window when they came to deliver dinner.

Maybe Genya would come over to Sanemi's residence for the usual notice-me-aniki visit and stumble upon Sanemi sleeping with his head in Giyuu's lap. Giyuu would notice him, put a finger to his lips, and smile softly at Genya's shocked expression. He would back out of the house slowly so as not to wake Sanemi 50-parts shocked but 50 parts touched that his Aniki had someone and Sanemi looked so...peaceful. He can come to beg for Aniki crumbs another time.

I made extra content using the Gakuen! Here they slept together after a night patrolling the school, their relationship was found out the next morning while the teachers were cleaning the staff room.

sorry it took so long, I hope you like it! 😖

[milksuu]

Don't Worry. I'll Support You. | PT. 01

❥ prompt: Your HEARTSTEEL boyfriend has to undergo minor surgery, and they chose you to be their caretaker for the day. Let's see how they are before and after anesthesia. ❥ content/warnings: fluffy fluff, drugged behavior (all medically safe), mention of needles, mild profanity, minor angst ❥ characters/pairings: v!Heartsteel! (aphelios, ezreal, kayn) x girlfriend!reader

an: i don't know why this was tumbling around in my head. wow, this post got longer and longer the more i wrote. i swear I'll write for the other babes too.

APHELIOS

Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the first time Aphelios had to undergo surgery. Happened when they had to remove the nodule from his vocal cords. And he doesn't remember a single thing from that day. Alune took care of him at the time, but she never mentioned anything beyond how he slept most of the day (probably to spare him from embarrassment).

He appreciated you taking a day off work to take care of him and be his interpreter. He was fine with all his consents and paperwork. But when it came to more detailed questions concerning his medical history, he would have you translate his sign language to the medical staff. Thanks to you, the process went smoothly.

IV's were never fun to have. Especially when it had to be in the hand. Aphelios couldn't lie and say he wasn't nervous about it, despite his aloofness. But all he had to do was shift his eyes away for a moment, and look at your cute, bubbly face. He could tell you were rambling on trying to distract him, and he guessed it worked. By the time he looked down again, the IV was in. He denied the golden star sticker usually meant for the pediatric patients, but you took it for him as a momento.

When it was time for him to go into the OR, the medical team gave you two a moment. You slipped a hand into his and gave him two love squeezes. He smiled softly and gave three love squeezes back. A quick peck to his lips and you left to sit in the waiting room.

When he was brought to recovery and awake, you were taken to his bedside. When you stepped through the curtain, you saw him resting as if he were asleep at home. Slowly, he opened his eyes, glazed over with mild recognition. Although he felt lethargic, he signed sloppily with his hands.

Is this heaven?

You bit your bottom lip to keep from smiling too much. You shook your head and reminded him where he was.

Oh. Really? Because you look like an angel to me. And if they want you back up there. Forget it. I'm keeping you.

You covered your mouth to keep from giggling too loud. You weren't sure if he was being serious or actually trying to flirt with you. It wasn't common at all for him to be so corny, but you blamed the anesthesia for that. When the nurse came to the bedside, she went over discharge instructions while you held his hand. He kept giving you light squeezes and rubbing his thumb gently against your fingers. Just to make sure you wouldn't fly away. Of course, anytime you had to let go and sign a paper, he sighed heavily (almost a whine if he wasn't careful), until your hand floated right back for him to take. Then he was sighing with relief again.

While at home, it was just the same. Aphelios didn't want you to leave his side for even a moment. If he had his way, you'd be sleeping next to him, still holding onto his hand. You had to remind him many times that you had to take care of him, so no cuddles or naps just yet. You also had to remind him he needed to eat and take fluids after fasting for so long. If there was thing you knew, he was a picky eater. Aphelios seriously thought ketchup packets counted as a full meal and satisfied his daily fiber intake. Luckily, you were able to spoon feed him some soup with a couple of crackers.

After you had him take his first dose of medication, you could finally indulge him. You settled next to him in bed, and he took no time to wrap himself around you, nuzzling your chest. A small, sleepy smile formed against his lips. Maybe you weren't a real angel. But you couldn't convince him you weren't his heaven on Earth.

EZREAL

Oh, boy. This was the first time Ezreal had to have any kind of surgery. Even though it was supposedly minor, that didn't stop the nerves itching underneath his skin. Is it normal to be this nervous? He wasn't sure, but he tried his best to hide his chattering teeth behind a forced smile. He really didn't want you worrying about him more than you had too. You were already doing him a big favor by taking care of him. He just hoped he wouldn't be a wreck before and after.

Apparently, signing consent forms and answering medical questions became a challenge. His hand trembled so much, his usual confident signature looked like a preschooler forged it. And when it came to answering medical questions, he found himself stuttering, feeling like someone stuck cotton balls inside his mouth.

When it was time for the IV, his whole body was ready to collapse in on itself. Was it always so hot in here? Sweat dampened the top of his skin. W-What's the big deal anyway? Not like he was afraid of some tiny, sharp...needle....OK, the room was spinning now. Great—awesome. Man, he felt so lame.

Seeing the color drain from his complexion, his head drop back, and his eyelids fluttering close, you politely asked the nurse to give him a moment with you. She laid him down in the stretcher and brought you a wet cloth. Wiping at his damp face and neck, you rested a comforting hand against his heaving chest. "It's okay to be afraid, Ez. It's not easy to have surgery. You're brave for even being here." He shook his head weakly, clenching his eyes tight. "B-brave. Yeah right, babe. I mean, look at me. I'm practically comatose and the nurse barely even wrapped the tourniquet around my arm."

"Brave doesn't mean not being afraid of anything. It's doing something even knowing it's scary." Another wipe of his cheek and you planted a reassuring kiss. "There's no one braver in my eyes right now." Ezreal swallowed the ball of anxiety nested in his throat. A couple of more inhales and he gathered his remaining courage for the next step that had to be done.

You held his hand the entire time the nurse worked to get his IV started. You told him to close his eyes and take big breaths, and it would be over before he even knew it. He did as instructed, and just like you said, it was done. He admitted to you that it felt a bit itchy, but that he could deal with. Oh, but was it so worth it when the nurse offered him that golden star sticker. He slapped it on the chest of his gown like a badge of honor.

When the medical team arrived to take him in the stretcher, he gave you that million dollar smile and peace sign. Granted, you whispered to the anesthesiologist to give him some relaxing medication before he went in. The anesthesia provider was way ahead of you. When he started giggling, waving, and blowing kisses like he was out the sunroof of a limo driving down the boulevard—oh yeah. You knew he was feeling it.

When it was all over and they called you back to recovery, the nurse informed you he couldn't stop talking the moment he opened his eyes. And all that he was talking about was you. "Babe! Babe! I did it—I can't even believe it's over. I don't even remember them putting me to sleep. Crazy, right? Like, did I count down from ten? Did I make it to zero? I bet I made it to zero." He practically wiggled himself over the safety rails on the stretcher. You sweetly instructed him to keep still so that the nurses could get a decent blood pressure on him. "Okay. Okay. I'll be good. Promise." He forced himself to lay back, but that didn't last long. While the nurse was going over instructions, he was tugging on your shirt sleeve, calling your name, interrupting every moment wanting your attention. Apparently, he had a lot to say to you in the span of thirty-minutes you were separated.

When you arrived back home, by some miracle you were able to have him settled on the couch once you put on his favorite K-Drama. While sitting next to him (and making sure he didn't get up) he rested his cheek against the top of your head. "Thanks for everything, babe. Honestly, you make me feel like the bravest guy. Like Indiana Jones....or Captain Kirk...maybe even that...one actor from National Treasure...." before you could say anything back, you felt his body relax further into you. His light breaths signaling he dozed off seamlessly. With a warm smile, you pulled the blanket over the two of you, and snuggled closer before you joined him for a nap.

KAYN

GOD DAMN IT'S EARLY! Kayn wanted to shout when you woke him up for his 6AM arrival time. Instead, he grumbled, kicked on his crocks, and went in his pajamas. He was too tired to really argue and complain. He just wanted to get this done and over with so he could move on with his life.

Kayn didn't diddle-daddle with his forms and medical questions. He wanted to put on his gown, toss himself into the stretcher, and possibly get a few more winks before his surgical time. You sighed—this was going to be the longest hour before surgery.

Although still in a foul mood, Kayn eased a bit when you worked up a distracting conversation with him. And when the nurse came in to do his IV, Kayn didn't bother blinking. He probably stuck himself countless of times with other—probably sharper—and deadlier objects. Actually, he took it one step further. When the IV was inserted, just to mess with you (and the nurse), he made a loud, and seductive moan. You pinched his arm for startling the nurse. Poor thing didn't even know how to react to that nonsense. "Ow. Ow. Nurse—nurse, she's hurting me." He said, cowering away from you. "You deserve that for almost giving them a heart attack. What if they missed and had to stick you twice?" Kayn smirked, rubbing at his nipple line. "More of a good time for me, then." You rolled your eyes, begging for him to behave for the next half-hour.

When the surgeon came to the bedside, he discussed the procedure at length and a few expectations afterwards. When he finished, he asked if either of you had any questions. Kayn raised his hand like the serious kid in math class. "Yeah. Question, Dr. Shen. When can I have sex again?" You almost spat out the complimentary coffee the front staff so kindly gave you. You couldn't believe he had just asked that question so casually at...let's see.... 06:50 in the morning!

You apologized on his behalf, but Dr. Shen merely dismissed it. "That's quite alright. It's a fair question. And one I receive plenty of times from my male patients. Even ones well into their eighties, and surprisingly, nineties." Kayn nodded with a grin and you rubbed your warming forehead. Of course. What else would they bother to ask? The surgeon went on to say; "As far as any kind of exertional activities, that will all be discussed and cleared at your follow-up appointment in two weeks."

TWO WEEKS!? Kayn almost fainted right then in there. He looked at you with such concern, as if someone told him a Pentakill concert sold out before he could even buy a ticket. He reached over and grabbed your hand, holding tight. "Listen, kitten. I don't think I want this surgery anymore. Can we go home now?" You shook your head disapprovingly. After hearing such news, and you not bailing him out, Kayn sulked as if he was getting surgery to forever castrate him.

When it was time to take him, he begrudgingly let you kiss his cheek. Otherwise, he didn't reciprocate your affection. He tossed his chin away and said. "Whatever. Let's just get this crap over with." Once again, he had you shaking your head, and you apologizing to everyone in the room.

When the nurse came to bring you back into recovery, you noticed he was sleeping on his side, back turned to you. You wondered if he was still upset by the whole ordeal. When you reached out to touch his shoulder, he tensed, but slowly turned over. "Kayn. Are you feeling alright? If you're in pain, I'll tell the nurse—" Before you could finish, Kayn reached forward and grabbed you, pulling you into the tightest hug. You felt him bury his face into your neck and shoulder, hands desperately clinging to you.

"Oh, thank you, thank you." You heard him choke up. You brought a hand to gently comb through his hair, asking him what was wrong. He shook his head. "I...I don't know. I thought— just before everything went black—what if I never saw you again. And the way I acted before they took me..." he squeezed tighter, burying his sulking face deeper. "I'm sorry. I love you, okay? Just, trust me on that. Please."

"It's okay. I love you too," you hummed and stroked his back, continuing to assure him. "You don't have to worry anymore. It's all over. You're still here. The doctor said you did so good, and there were no complications." Pausing, you planted a kiss to the top of his head. "How about we get you dressed so we can go home, hm?" He nodded against your shoulder, and you helped the nurse dress him for discharge.

When you brought him home, Kayn wanted to do nothing but turn off the lights, close the blinds, and lay next to you in quiet darkness. Breathe you in, feel your warmth, and listen to the softness of your pulse against his ear. Focus on the fact that he was alive and you were alive with him—nothing else.

[krysissy]

Something not only me but many other people have pointed out, is how Shadow throughout the whole new episode, was actually just tying to help/save Sonic in like every scene we see him in.

Sonic is preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't see the shard coming at him, and Shadow noticing this saves Sonic. And they even have fun playful banter as they go to the Grim.

"Thanks buddy!"

"Don't get used to it."

"Wouldn't dream of it!"

Shadow isn't annoyed. And I think that's really great development from his first appearance in the series!!

When fighting the bots, Shadow tells Sonic to go get the prism while he does the hard work of trying to defeat the chaos bots. He sees Sonic fall from the top of Nine's tower and he's immediately worried and tries to go save him from the fall but is not fast enough so Shadow goes to protect Sonic's body from the bots while Sonic regains consciousness.

Sonic doesn't catch on as quickly but Shadow immediately understands what Nine is implying that he doesn't have all the prism energy. And he immediately goes from shock to pure anger. He's angry of how Nine would go to the lengths of draining Sonic of his prism energy.

And immediately tries to take Sonic away front the Grim by throwing Sonic out of the way. And in the process, he has to go up against the bots all by himself and eventually-

He gets thrown into the canyon that could be god knows how deep. And who knows what might happen to Shadow. He might be found by the bots and taken to Nine, or he could be just left there to bleed and die. Probably Sonic will be the one to save Shadow.

But the fact is Shadow did all this to get Sonic AWAY FROM NINE.

And not only does he always keep a lookout for Sonic when they're facing Nine, he is also trying to look out for Sonic as they try to escape Ghost Hill.

He tugs Sonic away from the mountain that is one of the first things to collapse because he knows Sonic is still reeling from the events of what just happened.

Shadow tries to reach out to Sonic to perhaps comfort him?? He's not angry or annoyed, he just gave a reminder to Sonic that the Ghost Hill version of his friends weren't real. And later on when Sonic was lamenting about Ghost Hill and the shards are now all gone, Shadow offers him a compliment that lights up Sonic's whole mood.

And in many other examples I can't show because Tumblr only has a 10 photo bullshit, Shadow has showed that he puts Sonic's life in front of his. And that Shadow actually cares for Sonic and they aren't just 'enemies' who 'hate' each other.

.

Anyways, someone drug me.

[felixcloud6288]

Dungeon Meshi Chapter 84

I really respect Kui's commitment to the bit. It's the end of the world and everyone is armed with cooking utensils.

The Canaries got wiped and Lycion is about to be killed, but he's saved by a strange group of walking mushrooms.

This one is noticeably thicker than normal.

This was totally Laios's idea. No one else would think of doing this. And of course Izutsumi refused to wear a disguise. She was probably complaining the entire time that this wouldn't work and at this point, she's probably thinking "How did that work?"

Izutsumi's scarf isn't tied into a bow anymore.

Marcille is not very observant. At least the monsters noticed the odd figures in their ranks.

This reminds me of a scene from Doctor Who. The Master turned all of humanity into clones of himself and the doctor managed to sneak past the Master's security by wearing a face-covering guard uniform. The Doctor points out that it only worked because the Master and his clones were too stupid to notice one of the guards, who all look the same, was taller than everyone else.

Where is Laios's armor? Was it too stinky to wear?

Reminder that Shuro FUCKING ABANDONED IZUTSUMI TO DIE.

Laios is always the last one to realize things.

I had to double-check to make sure Kabru did actually tell Laios about the demons in chapter 76. He managed to say that the dungeons trap demons but Laios wasn't really paying attention. Lycion had just revealed that Kabru didn't like eating monsters so Laios was trying to get away from Kabru because he felt awkward about misunderstanding someone's feelings again. He only listened to Kabru when Kabru said he wanted to be Laios's friend and punched him in the face.

Once again, Lycion feels like he fits perfectly with the main crew. Mithrun is the "major character" in the Canaries, but Lycion has had the most casual interactions with everyone. At this point, he probably realized that Laios is just a harmless weirdo.

This looks like something I'd expect Laios to draw.

Laios is an unconventional thinker and he doesn't dwell on all the details when deciding what to do. At this moment where he doesn't know what to do and there's so much to consider and realize, Namari decided the best thing to do was snap him out of it and tell him to do whatever comes to mind. It's what has gotten him this far.

I think this could work if they could get past the lion. But since the demons slowly eat and alter their lord's desires, they probably programs a failsafe that causes the dungeon lord to actively try to restore their lordship if it should be taken from them.

When you think big, powerful monsters, you think of dragons. And when Marcille thinks of dragons, she thinks of the monster that nearly killed them all, ate Falin, and that they started this entire journey hunting.

The orcs are able to bring their wargs into this battle. I guess wargs aren't proper dungeon monsters.

Looks like one of the dragons didn't have waterwalk applied to it.

Oh yeah. I forgot the lion modified Kensuke so it could act through it.

So the lion wants to swallow the world into itself and trap everyone in a lotus-eater scenario to feed on their desires forever. I can understand why Marcille's wish helps it out, but why does it want Laios to become a lord? His wishes and desires feel hyper counter-productive the the lion's goals.

The lion's mane looks like Kensuke's appendages. Maybe the lion controlling Kensuke is supposed to evoke an appearance of getting tangled in the lion's mane?

Cheesecake is Laios's favorite food!? I couldn't find any moments of him eating it.

Chilchuck's favorite food is a type of beer. I think he's having some in the chapter 27 title image.

Senshi's favorite is hippogriff soup. He spent decades trying to recreate it and it's tied to his best and worst memories.

No wonder Izutsumi ate that barometz so ravenously. It tasted like her favorite food.

That's Laios's parents.

I wanted to say this is Chilchuck and his wife, but the face doesn't quite match. The ears are too small.

So that's what happened to Yaad.

I think the lion also misunderstands how Laios thinks. Yes, Laios likes to sympathize and understand the inhuman, but I'm going to give him more credit that he understands why siding with the lion is a bad thing.

The lion's desire sounds like the antithesis of what Senshi has frequently told the party about not taking more than you need. The lion wants to eat and eat and eat until there's nothing left.

Kabru doesn't have much high ground to stand on when talking about con-men. Kabru's been lying to pretty much everyone this entire story. I don't think he's being honest here either. He's just saying what he hopes will convince Laios to not side with the lion.

I love when everyone puts aside their differences to work together. Special shoutout to Doni and Fionil joining the cause. Those two have a lot of courage.

Lycion isn't the only beastman in the Canaries ranks. And it looks like the familiar conjurors were healed.

Those newbie Canaries are also going to join in...eventually. They're too nervous to just jump into the fight, especially since someone faceplanted in front of them when they jumped down. Looks like the one who was part of the Familiar squad isn't here though.

The dungeon responds to desires and in chapter 45, Kabru said the dungeon was going through a growth spurt and needed nourishment. He warned that relying on numbers would create another Utaya.

Even if they didn't want to, the lion has forced everyone to fight to push back its forces. And this is creating a feedback loop where the more they push back, the more the lion is able to summon stronger forces.

Namari is such a jobber. She always seems to get herself into danger.

Go Doni! Show those mushrooms who's boss!

I mentioned in chapter 24 how the red dragon closed its mouth to stop itself from breathing fire. The dragon about to attack Kabru hadn't opened its mouth yet so it didn't need to smother any imminent flames.

In an alternate timeline where the lion wasn't a sinister being, this would be the triumphant moment where we know the true king has arrived to save the world. Whoever defeated the magician inherits the kingdom, so Laios has earned the right to be king and this is the first moment he walks as if he were one.

In an alternate timeline, Laios would have gained the power to become a king of not just men but monsters as well. This story would end with him bringing the monsters under his control and having them fight alongside mankind against some great threat. And then he'd establish his kingdom where all are equal and humans and monsters live in peace.

But that is not this timeline, and that is not what this scene is. The lion is dangling Laios's desires in front of him as it invites him in.

Really guys?

back

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

What do you think would have happened if Izana hadn't died during the Tenjiku arc? Like he still got shot but survived instead of dying?

(OK just a warning before anyone starts reading this, this turned into basically a whole au and got a bit long)

Well this would heavily depend on two things, first how badly he injured he is and his recovery time and second is if everyone knows he's alive or if they think he's dead. But let's say he recovers a month after Kakucho (he did have extra wounds) and it's known he's alive. Once recovered I think he actually spends some time on his own instead of going straight to Kakucho. Izana just took some massive losses and basically had a lot of his ambitions turned upside down in that last fight, so I could see him having a bit of a depressive episode. Dealing with the grief of losing Emma, tenjiku his dream losing, his own physical injuries and possibly even guilt over having Kisaki in the gang and how he eventually shot Kakucho. So I think he has some time where he decides to retire and kinda just does nothing but survive.

And then South happens, after realising Kakucho got beat up and forced to join this random gang he's so mad. Kakucho is his! But it get's even worse when he learns the S62 have joined this random guy too (they did try to find Izana after they got out but he was too good at disappearing). He's also started hearing lots of rumours about Mikey too, how he has this new gang and he's changed. He's been conflicted about Mikey this whole time but until now he didn't realise how bad things had become for him. So he makes a clear plan to go get Kakucho back, knock some sense into his S62 and maybe talk to Mikey after. But that all changes when he's approached by brahman of all people.

Them having so many underground links (especially Takeomi's) allowed them to track Izana down and headhunt him for their gang. Of course Izana immediately says no though, he actually thinks their whole "save Mikey" plan is stupid. But they're persistent, basically popping up everywhere he is to try and recruit him, especially the leader. He ends up fighting Senju (he's actually curious about her skills and it's been awhile since he had a fight anyway) then eventually agrees to partner with them. He's not actually sure why he pattnered with them, maybe because he hadn't been around others in awhile or maybe because something about Senju reminded him of how Shinichiro used to describe Mikey, maybe because he has a fondness for little sisters or maybe he just wanted a fight. He didn't join though, he refuses to join a gang under anyone else. He also likely goes through some character development here. (Side note but because he probably wouldn't wear it but he'd look great in the uniform).

Time skip and the battle of three deities approaches, Izana's there and immediately targets South, changing the battle. Kakucho however, still goes straight to Mikey, he considers himself to be on Izana's side though. Kakucho gets thrown between the South and Izana fight. Now this really makes Izana mad and he charges at Mikey but get's taken out by Mikey who is fully consumed by the dark impulses, Mikey then kills South.

Izana wakes up in the hospital but he isn't sad this time, no instead he's furious. Mikey beat him that easily? How? (Tbf Izana was out of practice and Mikey had dark impulses) But it still makes him angry and he decides he wants a rematch. Kakucho, who didn't join kmg waits for him to recover then the two of them set off to do some training together. Until Takemichi finds Kakucho and asks him to join toman 2.0 (he wants Izana too but Kakucho is more approachable). Izana, who's been itching to fight Mikey again agrees to join. The fight goes kinda the same with the main difference being Hanma fights Kakucho, Takemichi fights to get to Mikey and ends up taking out a bunch of kmg and Izana does the same. For Izana especially though I think it would be cool if he ended up interfering in Senju's fight and was the one to take Sanzu out before the final blow he dealt Senju. Just because I love the idea of him going from being ok with his sisters death to saving someone else's sister/ maybe even saving Sanzu from making a mistake he made, seems like a good parallel. Anyway Sanzu get's knocked out but manages to regain consciousness and heads for the train. But this time Kakucho isn't with Takemichi when he has the vision, instead it's Izana who's with him since they're both trying to get to Mikey. Izana has a quick choice to make but decides to give up his revenge on Mikey to instead follow and help Takemichi save everyone, completing his character arc. He's the one to die saving everyone instead, this pushes Mikey even further over the edge and the dark impulses come out earlier then before but the fight still ends the same way.

[mags6422]

It Happened One November - Part 16

Part 15 | 0 | Part 17

Today was a shitty day and what was worse, Steve couldn't even figure out why! 

Logically it should have been a great day! He hung out with his friends, had lunch with his insanely hot boyfriend, saw the kids, won a basketball game and even got a kiss from a couple cheerleaders! So why did he go to bed feeling like shit?

Steve had witnessed the return of the Camaro along with everyone else that morning and had grinned when he saw Max and Billy both exit the vehicle laughing together. Looks like he was finally going to get that date with his boyfriend. 

He had even taken a step toward them before he realized what he was stepping forward to do was wrap an arm around Billy and kiss that smile off his face, find out what it tasted like. Which was of course not allowed so he contented himself with a cute note in his locker. 

He only barely avoided first giving Billy a peck on the cheek and then calling him babe at lunch and had to ignore Billy for the rest of the period by talking to Jason the whole time. And he didn't even like Jason! But he knew if he turned back to Billy he wouldn't be able to hold back and he would definitely do something dumb.

At least the game was good. So freaking good! The two of them were magic on the court again, completely in tune with one another. 

But then the final buzzer sounded and all he wanted to do was kiss his boyfriend but before he could do just that, Stacy McLean was swooping in and planting one right on him! And Steve was suddenly seething with jealousy.

And it wasn't even about Stacy! Stacy was cool! She was super funny and always let him copy her notes from Geography! Hell, Steve himself got kissed by Annie Kingston and Bailey Miller! 

No, it wasn’t about Stacy, or not in that way at least. So why was he so upset? Maybe it was because Stacy (who didn’t even know him!) got to kiss Billy like it was no big deal, and Steve couldn't. He couldn’t even make himself go to that stupid party because he knew exactly what would happen because it’s what happens every time. The girls would be all over the players, flirting their assess off. And Billy would flirt back, obviously, because it’s only polite and that’s just what you did when a pretty girl flirts with you, and it’s not like his actual boyfriend could flirt with him out in the open like that so he might as well. 

And it wasn’t even that he didn’t trust Billy not to hook up with some girl, (the thought was actually kind of hot, he’d bring that up later with Billy) he was just so goddamn frustrated that he couldn’t be a part of it. 

Steve smushed one of his pillows over his face and screamed. 

……..

The next morning, he was still turning this over in his head as he made his way down the halls to his locker. He had slept like shit and woke up late so he hadn't even bothered to do his hair, just threw on his Pacers cap backwards, made sure his bangs didn't look too stupid coming out the front and called it a day. 

While he was definitely no longer King Steve, he was still the captain of the basketball team so it was a gauntlet of high fives and congratulations from the rest of the student body and he would be lying if he said it didn’t feel good to know that people appreciated his hard work. When he finally got his locker open, a note fluttered out. 

Friday - pick you up at 7 - wear something sexy - B <3

And suddenly it was like the last night of tossing and turning (and subsequent nightmare but that's probably unrelated) never happened. Steve folds the note up real small and slips it into his pocket to take home with him. He had a date! With Billy Hargrove! 

Wear something sexy… fuck what was he going to wear?!

The week went by way too fast and yet way too slowly at the same time. Steve's heart broke a little every time he saw Billy's smile and knew he couldn't touch him. But then he would run his fingers over the note in his pocket and remind himself that even though Billy flirted with any breathing female, including the 62 year old library Mrs. McAlister, it was Steve who would be going out with him on Friday. 

When Dustin piles into his car on Wednesday night, Steve breaks it to him that he can't patrol/hang out on Friday. 

“Sorry, man, I got a date.” 

“What?! With who?! When?! How?!” And Steve can't tell if he should be charmed by the enthusiasm or offended by the tone of surprise. 

“A gentleman never kisses and tells, but it's on Friday and it's their turn to plan it so I don't know what we're doing yet.” Shit, the he/she/they of it all is going to get confusing real fast. “They just said to wear something sexy, that's all I've got.” 

“What?! That's so provocative! What are you gonna wear?!” 

“I dunno, this?” 

And that's how Friday afternoon finds him standing in the middle of a whirlwind of preteens while they tear apart his closet, arguing over every item of clothing he owns. 

“This one has a flower on it! Girls like flowers!” 

“But the stripes on this one match his underwear! Girls like matching!” 

“She doesn't know what underwear he's wearing!” 

“And if he wears that shirt, she never will!” 

“You're all wrong, he should wear the fuzzy sweater! It's soft! That means it's boyfriend material!” 

“What's boyfriend material?” 

“I don't know, I read it in one of Max’s magazines.” 

Steve throws himself back on his bed and the kids start throwing shirts on top of him. He accepts his new fate as a laundry basket and laments all the life choices that have led to this point. 

“Knock, knock! Anybody home?” 

Steve peeks out of his mountain of clothing to see that Nancy has arrived to pick up the kids so it must be 6:30 already. Steve really needs to get a move on here. 

“Nancy! Back me up! Girls like plaid, right?” Yells Dustin, brandishing a plaid overshirt that his grandmother got him four years ago. It's apparently the family tartan and it's a combination of purple and puke green. It has never seen the light of day. 

“What's all this about?” She asks, taking in the hurricane level disaster that is the boys trying to dress him. There is even a polo swinging around the ceiling on the overhead fan.

“Steve has a date!” Will has decided to put on one of Steve's pink polos and it goes halfway to his knees. He's also pulled on one of his old Laker caps over his bowl cut. 

That's when he notices that Mike has on the Hawaiian shirt he wore to a themed birthday party and Lucas is wearing a white denim jacket his mom bought him. 

God he loved these dumbasses. 

Dustin quickly shrugs on the plaid and they clamour around Nancy, demanding she choose which one is the most ‘sexy’. 

“Nancy, send help!” he calls from beneath his pile. And hears her answering laugh. It's the cute one that she usually hides behind her hand because she's self conscious of how her nose crinkles up. 

“Stand back, Romeos, witness the master at work!” 

Ok, this he has to see. He pulls himself to his feet with a groan, shedding textiles everywhere. Nancy doesn't even hesitate, she fishes his favourite pair of jeans out from one pile, the ones that he knows for a fact make his ass look great. She grabs the white button up from where it is hanging off his bedside lamp and finishes it up by digging around in his closet until she finds his church vest, it's navy with a soft tweed pattern. Tommy used to call it his hot substitute teacher vest. 

“Go put these on,” she shoos him into the bathroom and he has to admit as he pulls it all on that it is flattering, the jeans fit perfectly and the vest highlights how slim his waist is, how wide his shoulders have gotten. He buttons everything up tight and exits the bathroom. 

“Voila!” He announced, spreading his arms to general approval from the boys but Nancy has her thoughtful frown on. 

“Hmm… it needs… can I?” Her hands are fluttering like she's not sure she's allowed to touch but also not sure how to explain what she wants. 

“Go for it, dude.” Dude? Seriously Harrington? You kiss one guy and suddenly you can't talk normally to a girl?

Whatever, it's good enough. Nancy moves in, rolling his sleeves neatly to his elbows, exposing his forearms. Next she undoes the top three buttons to tease a view of his collar bones. She then tosses him a brown belt and his blue and white Nikes to complete the look. 

Shit, where was Nancy the last two hours? The girl knew her shit. 

“Perfect!” She gave him her proud of herself smile, eyes twinkling and lips smug. “Peanut gallery, what do we think?” She stepped back and waved her hand around like she's on a game show.

Dustin let's out a whistle

“Now that's sexy !” hypes up Lucas with a snap.

“I guess she's not wrong.” is Mike's grudging praise.

“You look nice, mom!” Will remains Steve's favourite with his soft blush and sincere compliments. 

“Mom?” Oh right, I guess no one explained that to Nancy yet.

“Oh yeah! Steve has major mom energy!”

“He gives us snacks! Cookies but also carrot sticks!”

“He makes us wear our seatbelts.” 

“He's nice.”

Steve just shakes his head and pinches his nose. “Just roll with it, that's what I've been doing.” 

“Ooookay?” Steve sees her think about questioning it further and then visibly decide against it. “When is your date anyway?” 

Steve checks his watch and swears, “Like, now!” Steve claps his hands and starts herding the boys toward the door and down the stairs to the entryway. “Alright kiddos! Up ‘n at ‘em, let's go! Thank you all for your contributions! Your input has been invaluable, especially you, Will, your appreciation for polos warms my heart.” 

It's as the kids are putting their shoes on, still wearing all Steve's clothes, when the doorbell rings. Dustin, the dickhead, of course answers it like he lives here, revealing Billy in all his date night glory. 

It's honestly not that different to how he looked That Night. The shirt is navy this time instead of red, but it's still unbuttoned half the way down to his belly button, showing off his pecs and cameo necklace. He's rocking his usual skin tight jeans and biker boots under his brown leather jacket. His hair is all teased out and he's got a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth as he leans against the doorframe, sliding his shades down his nose as he looks them over. 

“We having a fashion show tonight, boys? What are we dressing up as? Preps who robbed a Gap?” 

“We're helping Steve pick an outfit for his date tonight!” Announces Dustin proudly and God, Steve wishes he could feel that level of confidence while wearing that plaid. 

“Yeah, he went with Nancy's choice but I think mine is cooler.” Lucas strikes a pose in his white denim jacket.

“Billy! You get lots of dates! Tell Steve he'd look better in his!” Complains Mike, showing off his Hawaiian shirt. 

Billy does a passable job of holding in his laughter, his eyes alight with mirth. “Well, I haven't seen the final product now have I?” 

And oh shit, they are all shuffling aside so Billy can see him! Assume the position! 

Now, Steve's not dumb, he knows what he looks like. He also knows how to hold himself to make himself look even better, without making it too obvious that's what he's doing. So he rubs at the back of his head like he's embarrassed, showing off the curves of his biceps through the shirt. He slides one foot behind the other, tilting his hips so it emphasizes his wide shoulders and trim waist. He peeks up at Billy and blushes at the effect he's having on the other boy. 

Billy's eyes are drinking him in as he gives what must be the most thorough up down of his life. He can almost feel the caress of that gaze before he coughs, turning his attention to the boys who are also posing for his inspection. 

“Aaah, sorry boys, Nancy knows her shit.” He offers her a high five and the boys despair. 

“Tell you boys what, you keep your choices and you save them for when you all have your own first dates?” The only real loss is the pink polo and he's willing to make that sacrifice for the soft smile Will gives him as he looks down to admire his new shirt. The boys all cheer as they march out of the house, but Nancy hesitates when Billy doesn't move to follow them. 

“You coming, Billy?

“Nah, it's a double date, see, we're picking up the girls on the way.” 

Nancy nods, accepting the story easily and rounds up the boys as they attempt to wheedle details out of Billy. 

“Well, since you guys were so subtle and chill about asking, I will absolutely not tell you anything. Suffer, dweebs.” 

This gets them a last round of indignant squawks and groans before they finally drive off in the Wheelers station wagon. They wave until the car is out of sight before Billy crowds him up against the wall, kicking the door shut behind him. 

“Fuuuck Harrington, you look like sex on a stick.” He runs his fingers over Steve's forearms before plucking at the vest. “Like a sexy teacher. Mr. Harrington, please I'll do anything for some extra credit, my grades mean a lot to me, sir.” 

“Fuck off,” he scoffs, shoving the other boy, but not hard enough to move him, more to just get his hands on his bare chest. “You're one to talk, you look like the dude on the front of a bodice ripper.” 

Billy throws his head back and laughs, Steve grins along until the new angle of the light makes him notice something. “Hey, what happened here?” He lightly runs his thumb along the blonds cheekbone where there is a small cut and a bruise surrounding it. 

“Huh? Nothing, picked it up in dodgeball this afternoon in gym.” Billy waves his hand away before leaning his hand on the wall next to the brunette's head. “Now, Mr. Harrington, I believe we were discussing my extra credit assignment.”

It doesn't look like any dodgeball injury Steve has ever seen but he's quickly distracted by something knee shakingly good the other boy does with his tongue.

It's another thirty minutes before they make it back up for air long enough to load into the Camaro where Billy immediately takes his hand and keeps it even when he has to change gears with his other hand and steer with his knees. It's an oddly sweet gesture and Steve finds it warms his heart even as it's thundering out of his chest with how fast he's driving. 

Billy takes him to the diner across town and with a wink to the hostess, scores them a booth at the back of the restaurant. Billy immediately sprawls across his side and extends his left leg out so it's pressing into the inside of Steve's right, sending a spark all up his inseam to his groin. Bastard, that was smooth as hell. I guess I'm not the only one with moves.

Steve is so busy trying to look unaffected he gives a start when the waitress swings by “Hey Billy, Steve, you boys look fancy tonight, you got a hot date?” 

“Hey, Jenny,” Billy greets here. Everybody knows Jenny, she graduated a couple years ago but has been working at one of only three restaurants in town since then. “Yup, we just dropped the girls off. Fuck curfews and watchful father's, amiright?”

Jenny just rolled her eyes and took their order before sauntering away. 

“Shit, you're like, scary good at this.” Steve admires the easy way lies seem to drip from Billy's tongue. It shouldn't be as attractive as it is. 

“Ain't my first rodeo, pretty boy.” Billy scoffed as he relaxed in his seat, his leg rubbing harder against Steve's. “California might be more… accepting than Indiana, but it's still not safe out there. Besides, this shit is easy! People see what they want to see, so give them something they expect and they don't question it.” 

What a minute… Steve opened his mouth to ask more questions about the cut on Billy's cheek but before he could get a word in, Jenny was bringing their meal and then Billy launched into a story about his first time learning to surf and he forgot again. 

The two of them stayed and talked for hours. Billy tended to talk with his hands when he got rolling and Steve found himself entranced by his stories. He left his arm, palm up on the table in the hopes that Billy would take it at some point. He didn't, of course, but he did slap it every so often, or run his fingers down the sensitive skin, sometimes manipulating the whole arm into a part of his story when he needed more than two hands to make his point. His ankle remained a warm weight against the inside of his leg, moving up and down every now and then, but nothing untoward. 

Steve gave as good as he got, using every opportunity to touch the other boy back, or throw fries at him when he was obviously exaggerating a story. Steve told his own as well and was partially proud of the one about how he almost got caught with his pants down by Amanda Baker's father and had to make a quick exit via the window, sans pants, that made Billy laugh so hard coke came out his nose. 

Eventually they get enough side eye from Jenny to get the hint that she wants them to leave so she can go home. Billy picks up the cheque with a lascivious wink and they are bundled up into the Camaro again. Neither of them want the night to end so Steve invites Billy in for a drink when he drops him off. 

“Hey, I got a question for you, pretty boy.” Billy has followed him into the kitchen and accepts the beer he fishes out of the fridge. “When you were trying to let me down easy, the first time. You said ‘this kinda stuff happens’ what did you mean by that?” 

It takes a minute before he remembers their first private basketball practice, back when Billy was still pretending nothing had happened between them. “Oh shit, yeah! Well, after the first go around with the Upside Down, I kinda wanted to kiss Jonathan. Came close too, only stopped myself cause I was with Nancy, ya know? We were exclusive so no bueno on kissing other people.” he took a long pull from his beer before noticing that Billy was staring at him. “What?” 

“So, let me get this straight. Your type is pretty much any girl, and alt rock guys you've shared life threatening experiences with?” 

“Dude, I don't know! I haven't really thought about it!” 

“What? How can you not think about it?!” 

“Mostly I've been thinking about you, asshole.” that gets him a blush and a small private smile, the kind he only shows to Steve. “Besides, it's confusing! Because on the one hand there's you and all of your…” he just kind of gestures to all of him, “everything. And it's hot as hell to like a distracting degree. But then on the other hand it's like, I definitely like girls, because you know, boobies, which are great.” 

“I don't, actually.” Billy's voice is barely above a whisper.

“Huh? Don't what? Have boobies? You kinda do, your pecs are huge man, and you're always flashing them, it's a problem.”

Billy shoves at him with a laugh now. “No! I mean, I don't ‘know’ about the boobies. Like they're nice and all, but they don't really… do it for me. Girls I mean.” 

And now Steve is just flabbergasted. “What?! But you hit on every single female woman in a 50 foot radius! Even the ugly ones! And the old ones! And the ones with moustaches!” 

Billy just shrugs, “Just playing the part, gotta keep 'em off the trail. I'm not sure you understand just how dangerous it is out there to be… like me.” and shit, he had never seen Billy look so… small as he did when he said that. 

Steve put his beer down and moved closer to his boyfriend, taking his beer too and putting it aside.

“Hey, what you are, Billy, is a total badass.” He slowly ran his nose up the younger boy's throat, reveling in the shiver it earned him. “A fantastic basketball player.” He nibbled behind the boy's ear like he knew drove him crazy. “A good brother.” He brushed his lips feather light over his cheek. “And a freaking menace on the roads.” He finally met the other boy's lips, tasting his chuckle at that last one. “What you are, is amazing, Billy Hargrove. And I'm the luckiest guy in town that I get to hold you like this.” 

“Fucking sap.” But Steve could tell he was pleased when Billy flipped their positions, so he was the one caging Steve in against the counter, gripping him by the hips to lift him up and perch him on the counter. And that little lift, the casual show of strength did something to him. Made him ravenous as he pulled the blond closer, spreading his legs so he could press himself all along the other boy's front and plunder his mouth with his tongue. 

There was nothing gentle about this kiss as they both did their best to devour each other, hands everywhere, trying to touch everything all at once. Billy's hands were creeping up his thighs dangerously close to where he wanted them most while Steve slips his into the gaping opening of the other boy's shirt, fingers skimming over toned muscles, across the still slightly raised skin on the scars from the demodog claws and over one nipple, rolling it between a thumb and forefinger. 

Billy gasped and his hands jumped to the front of Steve's vest, fumbling with the buttons but still getting it off in record time before starting on the dress shirt underneath. 

“So many fucking buttons, wrapped up all pretty for me, huh baby?” And Steve groaned at the pet name as he abandoned the other boy's nipples to work on getting Billy's shirt the rest of the way off and floating down to the floor. 

They both pulled back, gasping to drink in the sight of the other half naked. It's nothing they haven't seen before a thousand times in gym class and more besides in the showers but it felt different in the quiet hush of his kitchen, the fridge humming softly beside them and no one around to interrupt. 

They were both fit, sports four days a week made that inevitable but whereas Steve spent his off season in the pool on the swim team, Billy spent his lifting weights and it showed. He didn't have another word to describe Billy except that he was thick. Thick arms, thick waist, thick thighs, all bulging muscles sloping beautifully under smooth golden skin that still somehow held onto its tan in the chilly late November air. 

Billy reached out a hand to lightly caress the brunette, trailing fingers from his neck, down his chest to his abs before settling on his hip. “Fuck, you're gorgeous.” 

Steve used his knuckle to tilt the other boy's face back up to meet him in a gentle kiss, “My eyes are up here, Hargrove.” Billy let out a laugh before dutifully meeting his gaze. “But your eyes are the prettiest I've ever seen. It looks like the ocean in a storm.” 

“Unsettling and full of shit?” 

“Dangerous and like I'm drowning.” 

“Fucking sap.” 

They come back together and it's not as frenzied as before, now it feels like gravity, like of course he belongs here, kissing this beautiful guy. He feels anchored and sure as he enjoys the novelty of exploring another dude's body, cataloguing the differences between when he does this with girls and honestly not finding that many. Billy still gasps when he traces the lines of his stomach down to his waist band. Still arcs into his touch when he palms his chest. Still groans when he lightly tugs on a nipple with his teeth and runs over it with his tongue. 

They stay like that until the alarm on Billy's watch goes off and he reluctantly pulls away. 

“I gotta go, pretty boy. My dad will tear me a new one if I miss curfew again.” 

Steve glances over at the clock on the stove and sees it's already 11:15. Shit, they had been at this for over an hour. “Alright, Cinderella, get home before your ride turns back into a pumpkin.” 

Billy scoffed, offended as he pulled his shirt back on, buttoning it up higher than usual to hide a hickey Steve had left on his right pec. “Pfft, how dare you insult my lady like that. She is 100% purebred American Steel.” 

“Yeah, alright Knight Rider.” 

“That was a firebird! My baby is way sexier!” 

Steve laughed as he jumped down off the counter, grimacing as his jeans rubbed uncomfortably against the tent in his pants. He slid his arms back into his own shirt but didn't bother doing it up. He caught Billy checking him out, eyes running down his bare chest before getting caught on his crotch. His jeans were doing exactly nothing to hide how much he had enjoyed their date and when he glanced down at Billy he saw he was in a similar state. 

“You gonna think about me when you deal with that when I'm gone baby?” 

Jesus Christ, who just says that?

Steve fights through what he just knows is a burning blush to give his boyfriend a wink. “I will if you promise to do the same.” 

“What do you think I've been doing since I moved here, pretty boy?” 

Nope, Steve wasn't going to think about that! His brain could not handle that, too much input. Unfortunately, his brain did not get that memo and he had enough memories from the shower to form a pretty complete picture of exactly what that might look like and Steve choked on his own spit. 

Billy had his feral grin back, the one where he knew he was getting to someone “I been beating it to the thought of you on your knees for months, baby.” He murmured, right in Steve's ear as he tried to take a full breath, “been touching myself other places too, pretty boy. You got no idea the things I wanna do to you, the places I wanna touch you, with my fingers, with my tongue.” 

“Jesus Christ,” he finally chokes out.

“Nope, we definitely won't be leaving space for him, princess.” 

Billy cackled as that set Steve off on another coughing fit and he finally started heading toward the door. 

“Think about me, baby, and take notes, I wanna hear all about it next time we have a minute to ourselves.” 

Billy gives him one last lingering kiss, trailing one finger across the tip of his (at this point leaking) dick through his jeans before swaggering out the front door, hard-on leading the way and climbing in his car, driving away. 

“Son of a bitch.” Steve slams the door shut before leaning his back against it and shoving his hand in his pants to do exactly as he had been told. 

Read the whole series on AO3

Part 15 | 0 | Part 17

[aurumacadicus]

You can find more of this au under my 'arranged witching au' tag!

--

Steve sucked in a deep breath, then let it back out slowly, shifting on his feet so that he didn't tap his fingers nervously along his shield. It would feel too much like showing weakness. He desperately didn't want to be seen as weak by anyone here, but especially the Starks.

"Remind me why we needed to come while they were having a Meeting," he muttered under his breath, knowing Natasha's spelled ears would catch it.

She shifted up beside him, eyes sharp and calculating as they watched more and more witches filter into the entrance hall. She glanced around the vestibule they'd been told to wait in, gaze catching on a silencing spell--good. The Starks must have realized they'd need time to confer as the rest of the witching families became aware of their presence and came to witness a return of favor. "It's the best way to spread the word that danger is coming to us," she reminded him firmly. "We don't have time to go estate to estate. Besides, rich people are gossips--the smaller families will hear about the danger whether they want to or not."

Steve took another deep breath and closed his eyes. "Please do not call our hosts gossips in their own home." I don't trust the silence spell, he didn't say, but Natasha would understand it.

Natasha nodded slowly. "They probably have a different word for it," she answered, then looked down at the ring on his finger. Watching him put it on before he'd gotten into the carriage had been hard. She'd never seen Steve shake before, and she still couldn't tell if it was from nerves or actual, real fear. She looked back up at him, frowning. "What did Stark say when he saw it?"

Steve let a breath out in a hiss, tongue pressing to the roof of his mouth as he reminded himself not to say too much. "He... isn't a man who shows his cards," he said carefully. Howard had mostly just stared at him, stony, and his wife had been the one to direct Clint toward the barn so the horses could rest while the rest of their traveling contingent had been urged through the reception room into the breakfast room. He finally pulled one hand away from the shield to slip his hand into his pocket, thumb smoothing over the slick-finished wooden box.

The Rogers coven had once been a well-established clan with lands of their own, but that had been back in The Old Country, as his mother had told it. They had a gemstone they called their own as well, a deep blue sapphire cut into a simple square cushion. It was nothing like the Stark coven's elaborate gemstone, but it was simple. Dependable.

It was his mother's, and part of him ached with the knowledge he would have to give it away. But it was only right that he give it to his future spouse. That was part of marriage. Reciprocation.

"They're bringing him down," Natasha whispered, jabbing her fingers into his back, and mercifully decided not to do it directly into his kidneys.

Steve jerked his head up, stepping to the edge of the vestibule so he could step out to meet the Starks in the middle of the entrance hall when directed by the butler standing just outside. There was something that seemed so needlessly dramatic about it all, especially as Steve took in all of the eyes turned toward where the Starks would arrive from (he didn't know why anyone needed an entrance hall, but he especially didn't understand why it had to be two stories, even if every available square inch of viewing space was taken up by curious onlookers). But then, he'd arrived during a Grand Meeting partially to force the Starks' hands, because they wouldn't be able to turn him away with an audience. So maybe he understood the dramatics, at least a little.

Howard Stark led his wife Maria into the middle of the floor by the arm, and then he turned, swanning one hand toward something. Another man, Steve realized belatedly--his son, obviously. Anthony Stark walked with all the suave surety of his station, never a single wasted movement, calm and steady with each step. He dipped his head in a short bow toward his parents, then turned, clasping his hands behind his back.

Steve swallowed thickly, fingers clenching around his shield to make sure he didn't drop it, hands suddenly feeling clammy. He allowed himself another centering inhale-exhale, then turned his head as the Stark butler turned and motioned him out.

"Mr. Rogers," the man murmured as he stepped out into the light of the entrance hall. "Rest assured, Mr. Stark is just as scared as you are." Steve's shoulders relaxed minutely. He didn't even care if it was true; just believing it would help him make sure to put his best foot forward.

It would help if Tony wasn't so fucking attractive, though, he thought, fingers clenching the shield tighter.

[jeonqkooks]

jungkook #33 from the fluff list 💗 (even better if its like fboy badboy jungkook getting flustered and shy around oc hehe)

daft pretty boys | jjk

pairing: jungkook x reader

prompt: "i can't think around you."

rating: G

word count: 0.8k

genre/warnings: classmates to .. lovers?, college au, basketball captain!jk, he's neither a fuck boy nor a bad boy he's just a cute boy <3, fluff, swearing as per uzh, i plagiarized MYSELF bc the shit mentioned here was actually taken from my final paper for a film class two years ago lmaooooooo

as always, i’d appreciate any thoughts or comments you may have, and please drop a like and/or reblog if you enjoy reading ♡

If there's one thing that Jungkook absolutely despises, it's when people think jocks are dumb. It's a common misconception and it's downright hurtful sometimes; just because Jungkook is the basketball captain, doesn't mean that anybody has the right to assume he's got hay for brains.

However, if someone were to come up to him right now and say it to his face, he probably wouldn't disagree.

"So yeah, if they lose the memories of these relationships, I think they'd also be losing parts of themselves that make them whole, because an individual's identity is an accumulation of multiple smaller identities they have with every single intimate relationship that ultimately forms one collective identity, y'know?" you finish, and it's not until then that Jungkook comes back down to earth, realizing that he's just been staring at you this whole time. "Anyway, what do you think?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Same, uhm," Jungkook stammers. "I also thought about their collective relationsh- I mean, collective identity and multiple identities and-"

You purse your lips as you take in his whole demeanor, like a nervous child fumbling with his words. "Did you not watch the movie?"

He did watch the movie. In fact, Jungkook watched it three times over the weekend because that's how much he liked it. When he registered for this class - History of Popular Cinema - at the end of last semester, he was hoping that it'd be an easy elective so he could focus more on basketball and his core courses. And for the most part, this film class is easy. All he has to do is watch movies and hand in a few short essays every now and then. Piece of cake.

Then the final paper rolls around and the professor assigns everybody a partner to work with. In theory, it should still be a piece of cake, because there still isn't that much to do anyway.

So why is it so fucking hard all of a sudden?

Jungkook had never really noticed you before you became his designated collaborator for the month. Never saw you on campus, never saw you attending the games. Hell, he didn't even know your name until this final assignment.

"I watched it," he defends himself lamely.

"Okay. And?"

"It was good."

You frown, and all Jungkook can think about is how adorable that crease between your eyebrows is. How he just wants to reach across the table and smooth it over, or better yet, kiss it away.

He's fully aware of how stupid he must look, with his sweaty palms and his words falling over each other like goddamn Jenga pieces, in front of a girl that he's been obsessed with for weeks now. Jungkook doesn't normally do crushes, but the more time he spends with you to work on this lame ass paper, the more he finds his mind drifting to you even when you're not in his vicinity.

He thinks you're so pretty when you absentmindedly bite your lip whenever you're concentrating. He thinks you always smell like jasmine, and he's delighted by how your scent lingers on his own clothes after every time you meet, like he's carrying home a reminder of you. He thinks you're ten leagues smarter than him when you text him whole paragraphs detailing how postmodern filmmakers flirt with the concept of identity fragmentation through different types of cinematic manifestation as a reflection of the realistic postmodern person, because what the fuck does that even mean?

"You're not doing a very good job at convincing me you watched the movie," you say.

Jungkook groans internally - and a little externally too - as he runs a hand down his face. "I watched it, I promise," he tells you. "I watched it, and I really liked it. It made me think about a lot of deep shit that I don't normally think about."

"Uh huh," you say slowly. Your frown is still there, but now it's embedded in confusion as you try to understand his dilemma. "Then tell me about that. What was the deep shit?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

How is he supposed to explain that every single thought he had suddenly grew legs and yeeted itself out the window the second he saw you arrive today, wearing a stunning smile and a t-shirt that says Caution: Full of Shenanigans? Not once in his entire life had Jungkook felt so no thoughts, head empty.

"Because I can't think around you," he settles on being honest. "Because I keep thinking about you when you're not here, yet when you are, I can't even think at all."

It takes a minute for his words to sink into your brain, and Jungkook watches nervously as a blush spreads across your cheeks, so rosy that he just wants to grab your face and pepper kisses all over. For the first time since he has known you, you don't know how what to say.

The sight of you, rendered speechless by him being rendered an idiot, has Jungkook blushing too. Despite the patch of bashful silence that ensues, somewhere outside the metaphorical windows of his and your minds, both your thoughts are riding off into the sunset together, holding hands.

all rights reserved © jeonqkooks. reposting, translating and/or modifying is not permitted by any means. [posted 27.05.2023]

[psychopomp-namine]

it's interesting that yingdu E1 is gonna be the episode that really tells you if you like S1 story structure more, or S2 story structure more.

I thought yingdu would be more like S2 but I'm actually pleasantly surprised it starts more like S1? and I already knew this about myself but I really loved the episodic, slice of life nature of the first half of S1 (and the chibi shorts). I loved S2 and all, but the first time I fell in love with link click it was because of the day-to-day kind of issues they face before they started playing mind games with other people who have abilities like them. and I think I wouldn't have enjoyed S2 or even the back half of S1 if the show didn't start with episodic, low stakes cases. of course, I think they'll probably mix both storytelling styles this special season.

but idk, I really missed that vibe. shiguangling being domestic is sweet. I did like the cosplay story more than vivian's story, though I think them trying to set up the scammer parallel to lu guang was funny. I think cheng xiaoshi shines a lot in these kinds of moments because he's very empathetic even with the little things. lu guang is the one dealing with a lot of big picture stuff (time and death itself) but cheng xiaoshi? he just wants to set up a photography studio and maybe help a couple of people out when he can. play basketball. find a cosplayer to return her paintings. help their student council president to not get scammed.

he's just a little guy! look at him! he thrives in low stakes situations!! give him milk tea and he's happy 🤗

I think the most surprising details in this episode were:

lu guang is in the anime club :o

lu guang kept a detailed notebook of the past?? damn. I feel like he spent one timeline just memorizing and noting down events, down to the last minute.

"your eyes remind me of two people I knew" holy shit. time traveler parents possibly true. what if cheng xiaoshi's parents are lost to the time stream? like, they faced the consequences lu guang said you'd face if you stayed more than 12 hours into a picture (notably though, lu guang doesn't seem? to have this issue when he dives? or I guess past 12 hours you get "stuck" in the past and aren't able to come back to your "present")

what is up with cheng xiaoshi always wanting lu guang to be his partner "for life" asdfghjkl. my guy. you're so sweet

lu guang moves into the photo studio during their university years and bridon happens right after. and he's wearing cheng xiaoshi's summer clothes...

cheng xiaoshi did not clap when he activated his powers with the bridon picture (his hands were holding the envelope and the picture). which is... weird? how did that happen? also he went there as himself which means this picture was... not taken by a photographer? because otherwise he should've possessed someone like normal

finally: lu guang didn't have a watch in the beginning. idk why I always thought he had a watch. anyway, I think we can use the placement of his watch as a signifier of which timeline we're in

no watch: original timeline. when lu guang dives back here, I guess he buys a watch afterwards

watch on the left hand: either the og timeline (after he buys a watch) or the first time he dives? the timeline with cheng xiaoshi's first death? the style of the bedroom makes me think this happened in the first time they go to bridon (which isn't necessarily the same timeline we're seeing in the donghua right now).

edit: actually, scratch that. now I think this might have been lu guang's bedroom lol. the date is 4/12 which is the day cheng xiaoshi reads the 👌 text from lu guang about playing basketball again

it's also consistent with the flashback to cheng xiaoshi's death in S2E1 — watch is on the left hand.

watch on the right hand: S2 finale dive / yingdu E1 dive. which means vein showing up in the photo studio happened sometime during our "current" timeline.

lu guang keeps his watch on his right hand during S1 and S2 as well (catguang in the chibi shorts also has a watch on his right... paw).

there's probably other details I missed but anyway. welcome back link click!! I'm already one square away from getting a bingo in my yingdu bingo card lmao

[aliusfrater]

stanford era headcanons (for any winchester) please and thank you

instead of getting a new phone, sam used the one he had when he'd been kicked out til he could save up for another, then he kept the phone and phone number just in case dean or john called. neither of them ever did and he didn't try either, he'd even stopped himself from trying on several occasions and it'd ended with him crying in bed or at his desk with the phone in hand lots of those times. jessica was the one who'd eventually gotten him to part with the phone (the december of his third year, about seven months into dating) and the only reason he did was cause he figured john and dean had changed phones so many times at that point that they'd probably lost his number anyway. what he doesn't know and never will: they actually remembered his number but they'd never saved it on any of their new phones

john bought the truck a couple months after he kicked sam out and the fact that it didn't take as long to come up with the money as it would've with another son tagging along is what solidified the reality of what john had said to sam and what that meant for he and dean

i like to think that after the grief and within the perpetual blaming of sam for leaving, dean started resenting john really badly for not leaving the door open for sam and it's actually why dean started hunting on his own—dean timed it just right and found a small salt and burn job at the same time that john'd also found a smaller, more manageable job that he could do alone and he suggested splitting up it snowballed from there and they eventually started working separate jobs enough to develop a shorthand about communicating where they were and if they were okay

cassie really really liked dean's taste in film and would write mini-essays about them that dean liked to read. it reminded him of when sam would get sidetracked in research and tell him all about it

sam didn't celebrate the last birthday he spent with john and dean for a variety of reasons: a) he had still yet to tell them/they had still yet to find out about him going to college and he was too nervous about it, b) john was on a hunt and had explicitly told them he wouldn't make it back in time and that it was fine since he'd come home for his birthday last year (because he turned eighteen the year before (i like to think that sam was a year behind)), c) dean wanted to go out drinking with him and his fake id but sam really hated that he had a fake id and hated using it, d) ever since he was fifteen, he didn't actually like celebrating his birthday because it was just a reminder of the fact that he didn't want this to be his life. he was looking forward to celebrating his 20th at stanford

dean took a lot of jobs in arizona. he hates how hot it gets in arizona. john took a lot of jobs in the pnw

sam stopped drinking entirely for a few months after brady got fucked up that one spring break. it'd brought up everything about john's drinking habits

dean had a love-hate relationship with hanging out on cassie's campus because it reminded him that This was the life sam was living without him :( but it was also the life sam was living without him !!!!

sam's taste in fantasy films became a guilty pleasure for a little bit, especially when it came to the fact that he'd be in philosophy classes all day then get home and turn on what was basically abc ethics in a fictional setting

the reason sam had taken that class about native americans was because of the art history class he'd taken to meet girls. he'd read a lot of native american mythology throughout his childhood and he thought it was incredulous that the art history class didn't cover native american art

[athenamikaelson]

Chapter 22 just had me screaming, rolling, "aw"ing and gave me butterflies, and I just have so much to saayyy!! I love how it just focused on every Mikaelson sib, bringing out deep parts of them, some deeper than others. Each wonderful part made me think so many different stuff that I wanted to share with you, so I thought I'd send you my thoughts in 2 parts; the first (this one) being about the sibs, and the other focusing on Nik and Elijah CUZ YOU JUST TRIGGERED SO MANY FEELINGS WITH THAT CHAPTER.

First, can I say that I loved every bit of her interaction with Finn? I watched this season when I was very young - I was like 11 or 12 years old, I think, and I never got to rewatch it, so I never just thought of Finn on a deep level. So, it just hit me how he was actually not the eldest - cuz of Freya - but he suddenly found himself the eldest when he lost his protector and playmate, his older sister. Knowing Mikael, he probably put a lot of responsibility on the boy... Or just ignored him entirely if he had reminded him of Freya. Then, more sibs kept coming, taking more of Finn's space... Meaning it just got "loud" (Mikael's abuse, Esther cheating, Elijah and Nik fighting over Tatia, Henrick's death, so many younger sibs to look out for but he couldn't protect them from anything really) 🥺💔 It must have hurt him so much to be daggered and shunned by his siblings, because he was the only one who actually knew and remembered when they used to be a healthy family before Freya was taken. Aaand I can see how he could still tell Reader "you're peculiar" when he sees her in New Orleans! It could just be their thing. I will die inside when both Finn and Sage died. Probably the way I should have felt when I first watched the episode, buuutt I was 12, so I didn't really feel anything to them.

Also, it really came to my attention how you wrote that Theo was chatting Rebekah's ear off, and she way just smiling at him, and I couldn't help but tell mysef that he probably reminded her of her baby Henrick. 🥺 I love that when Reader said "he probably has a tracker on me", Bekah went "girrrll, they probably both have trackers on you, your bro, your car and any potential car you might ever think of stealing" because Bekah knows how far they can go, and we know she knows. 😂 I love their bond and how natural their friendship is, Pukey can deny that all she wants, but their friendship is just so easy. But I can totally imagine Theo trying to hook Bekah up with Matt.

Kol, this chapter, was the polar opposite of Finn. But let's face it, he was obviously the nonchalant middle sibling back when they were human - Esther and Mikael had probably forgotten they even conceived him, so he felt he won at life (which he did). Having spent centuries making friends with witches and caring about magic to use against Lijah and Nik before he was daggered, was probably why he didn't know a thing about anxiety. I can understand how he and Theo might not like each other, because it so makes sense. Kol trying to kill Theo's boy, Jeremy, so Theo not liking Kol... That, I can totally understand. In addition to that, we have a saying in my dialect "A bean wouldn't get wet in their mouth" which refers to the inability of a person to keep a secret as in "oh, they spit secrets out so quickly and easily that a bean can be spit out just as fat so it wouldn't even get wet in their mouth". That was the only thing going through my mind as he told her what was supposed to be Elijah and Klaus' secret.

This brings me to my favourite brother, though! Not a Mikaelson brother, but a brother, nonetheless! The best brother, might I add? Theo, our diva queen, just glowed this chapter. I love how lrotective he is, and how his personality just showed. Our bro doesn't know how to back down even when Kol was up in his face. I adore how he only listens to two people: his boy, Jer, and his real mom, his older sister. He really reminds me of Molly from Alice in Wonderland. He just keeps waving an imaginary sword around, threatening everyone, but as soon as Pukey tells him to shoo, he shoos.

Now, let us discuss Pukey's older brother from another father and mother, Damon Salvatore! He is her brother, and I will stand by that to my last breath. As soon as I read-

"Pukey, we're leaving." Damon's tone was harsh, but something in his eyes made my heart tug.

-I instantly remembered the chorus of My Demons by Starset.

"We are one and the same

You take all of the pain away.

Save me if I become my demons."

He was sad and reckless and just wanted to leave, yet seeing how worn out she probably looked, he knew she wanted to leave just as much as he did. And even when he was acting stupid, he reached out to her. He's her brother - the uncle of any babies she might have with Nik and adopt with Elijah. He's simply her platonic soulmate.

STOP I LOVE THIS.

I’m so glad this chapter was able to bring so many thoughts and emotions out for you

Finn definitely deserved better!!!