#Heaven save me I've started posting them

[lamuradex]

Short Story: Last Resort

Tales of Hero City Collection

Word Count: 4952

Comedy / Super Hero Short Story

The life of a henchman is a complicated one, especially after your boss retires from villainy. Unfortunately, the hero can't seem to get it through his thick skull that the boss isn't evil anymore.

Last Resort

The bartender stood behind the bar, cleaning a glass with a cloth. He was wearing a suitably tropical shirt, as the bar faced onto the beach, the waves lapping about thirty yards away, just past the sand and a concrete walkway. Customers milled around, one walking up and ordering a fruity beverage. The bartender smiled and quickly made the drink. Satisfied, the customer went to find a seat.

Ah, this is the life, the barman thought, enjoying the sea air. He glanced down to straighten his name badge. It read “14”. He polished it proudly with a thumb.

Then something caught his eye and his smile dropped.

Walking past was a sturdily built man in a trench coat. His face was mostly covered by a hat, dark glasses, and a fake moustache and beard. The efforts to disguise himself ironically made him stand out like a sore thumb amongst the bikinis and swim trunks of the beach.

Oh hell, 14 frowned. This was going to be one of those days. Still, there was time before it all went wrong. 14 reflected if he was getting paid enough to deal with this. He already knew the answer though. Unfortunately, he was.

14 had always liked his job, not that it had always been easy. But, at this point, he certainly felt like he’d earned his place. He’d scrapped with the best of them. Cut his teeth on the usual scut work. Gotten his share of broken bones. Hell, he’d even been thrown through a brick wall once or twice. That had put him in hospital, for sure, but he always came back, no matter how many superheroes tried to stop him.

You see, 14 was an evil henchmen, and proud of it.

Henchman 14 pulled back from his thoughts and glanced up at the billboard across the plaza. There he was, the boss, portrayed across the display. It was a face a villain could be proud of. Blue skinned, one bionic eye, and a massive grey beard of lightning shaped hairs. It was the infamous face of Mr Intellitron, which was advertising the new 3 for 2 offer.

The days had been when that blue mug would strike fear into the heart of a populace. Giant robots, death rays, and massive airships accompanied by menacing laughter.

Or, at least, 14 assumed it was menacing. He rarely listened to it. For as long as he could remember, it was always being filtered through monitors, walls, or bank vault doors. That was the life of an evil henchmen though. You never got to see the action until it was punching you in the face.

14 stopped from his reverie and looked around. The bulky man in the coat had disappeared. He considered going to tell security, or maybe to try and track the man himself, but another customer approached to order a drink. And the situation would sort itself out… hopefully.

As the customer left, she eyed the drink carefully, as if it might explode. 14 wasn’t surprised. Everyone knew who the resort staff used to be. Most had come with the boss, all former henchmen from the villain days. Not everyone though, and the interviews for new employees had been an awkward process, well-meaning crooks turning up looking for criminal work. Most of them were hired as security or accountants. Honestly, there wasn’t really anyone at Intellitron Resorts that didn’t have some kind of shady past. But they all deserved a second chance, right? 14 wondered how many chances he was on, and how many digits were in the number.

Henchman 14 had started out, many years ago, as just a hired goon. He’d worked his way up to grunt, then he was a crook, then a thug. Promotion was rapid in those days. And for a few years he worked for a crime boss, Mrs Elenor Tramridge, with 14 working more directly for her two behemoth sons, Brickhead and Kneecaps. They were nice fellas, assuming they weren’t trying to break your legs.

Eventually, 14 became a proper henchman, segueing into supervillainy when Tramridge divorced a villain and lost half her goons in the proceedings. So 14 was taken on by Battering Sam, a boxing themed villain. And from there it had started. Henchman work.

Honestly, it was everything he’d expected. Guard that door? Get punched out by superhero. Move that loot? Get punched out by superhero. Go operate that doom drill? Get thrown half a mile by superhero.

Of course, it was still criminal work, illegal by nature, but it paid and no one else was hiring. And 14 had worked for a few villains over the years, most just small-timers, and repeatedly got punched out by crime fighters.

And then there was Mr Intellitron.

Wanting a change, he’d applied for a job doing lab work, which didn’t sound too hard. All he needed to do was carry chemicals and not blow himself up. And, as a plus, he was far enough from the fight that he stopped getting punched in the face. It was a sweet gig. Intellitron would even visit the labs, and he’d shout at his scientists, but he never shouted at the assistants carrying chemicals unless they did something stupid in his presence.

But then the labs started getting targeted by heroes. In response, Intellitron started arming the laboratory staff, where 14 quickly discovered a proficiency with firearms, or at least the auto-aiming lasers Intellitron gave them. And apparently this was enough to impress someone, because he was ranked up to henchman again, and then all the way up to bodyguard. He was part of a small team, twenty men, all to guard Intellitron himself. It was the big leagues.

Unfortunately, Intellitron wasn’t one for names. He gave his bodyguards numbers, one to twenty, which of course made it easier to replace them when they died. But to a henchman it was a mark of respect. A rank. You had a duty. A responsibility. You had a job to do. It was truly honourable work… in a dishonourable sort of way.

Standing at the bar, 14 admired his badge again. He honestly preferred “14” to his real name at this point. Ed was so ordinary and plain, but the name “14” meant something. He was part of something bigger. Part of schemes and plots and ploys. He hadn’t even used his so-called real name in decades, and not just because of his criminal record a mile long. He really wasn’t fond of the name, which wasn’t much of a surprise. It had not been an easy life…

Since his youth he’d been through a lot. His parents had died, murdered by some lunatic in an alley, he’d had few friends, with most of them leaving his life in a dramatic fashion or dying with poignant last words, and he’d been caught in almost a dozen lab accidents even before he became a henchman… And to add insult to injury he’d had monetary issues since the day he could work.

14 sneered to himself. Supers thought they owned the monopoly on tragic backstories, but it was just most people went to therapy rather than stuffing themselves into spandex. But unfortunately, there would always be those who did. There would always be heroes.

And 14 had faced them all, more or less. Intellitron was a big time villain. Sure, he wasn’t as giant as Annihilator, or as powerful as the dreaded Dark Dragon, but Intellitron was still formidable. And those other villains were terrible bosses, with a habit of trying to destroy the world or kill their henchmen. Rumour had it Annihilator only started building robots because his henchmen went on strike.

However, Mr Intellitron was simply about profit and changing the world for the better. Sure, he wanted to subjugate people and occasionally used giant space lasers to destroy those that disagreed with him, but ultimately he wasn’t the worst of the bunch.

But heroes still came to stop him.

And so, over the years, Henchmen 14 had been punched out by every hero going. Big Hitter, Stealth Watcher, The D-Fender, Watch Man, The Wandering Fist, Melancholy, Fist Puncher, Big William, Undead Woman, The Cartwheeler, Elder Wizard, The Unknowable Helmet and even Gun Shooter. He’d been knocked unconscious by them all, but none more than one. None more than the mighty Justice Man.

Flight, super strength, telekinesis, and a bullet proof cape, Justice Man was the whole package. He was also a pain in the neck, sometimes literally. Always delivering heroic speeches about justice and honour, or sneaking through their bases in some ludicrous costume.

Pfft, 14 almost laughed. The self-proclaimed master of disguise, indeed. They always spotted him. Every time. It was obvious, the hero sneaking around in his trench coat. But Intellitron usually had a trap primed, so they had to let him through. Hell, on one occasion, Justice Man’s false beard had fallen off in front of Henchman 8. And when he laughed, Justice Man punched him.

That aside, Justice Man was a decent hero. One of the best even. Fast and strong, he could use his mind powers to pull robots apart, and he was able to hide under his indestructible cape to protect himself. And he beat Intellitron every time. Sure, the boss would make enough to keep paying the workers, but they’d often end up in prison by the end, but always ready to break right back out and start the whole thing all over again.

Ah, those were the days.

14 wondered where the so called “Master of Disguise” had gotten to. Any minute now, the hero would surely make his presence known. 14 wondered if he’d wind up getting punched in the face again. In some strange way he almost missed it.

Then he recalled having to eat meals through a straw. He looked back at the Intellitron sign, motorised so the villain was laughing over the wonderful deals. That was when some bodyguards ran past, heading towards the flume ride. Someone else had spotted the hero.

14 sighed. Some things never changed… Some things certainly did though.

It had begun when Intellitron had needed a new lair. Some hero, possibly Gun Shooter, had discovered Intellitron’s flying fortress and a team of heroes had blown it out of the sky. Months later, after everyone escaped prison again, the search for a new base began. Just a few weeks after that, Intellitron picked out a nice remote volcanic island, with lava moats and caves aplenty, with dozens of places to install traps and death pits. Classic.

The only problem was how noticeable it was. His previous lair had been near the edge of space. Difficult to spot. This was an island. A deserted island. Heroes would be watching and notice, especially Watch Man, given how much he watched things. To counter this, the boss came up with a genius solution… Actually, one of the henchmen had, but Intellitron robbed banks, it didn’t surprise anyone that he stole ideas too. The decision was made to build the lair underground, a holiday resort atop it to explain the traffic out to the island. Perfect.

Well, almost perfect. In hindsight, just putting everything underground might have done the trick. The resort on top just made it more conspicuous if anything.

Still, it worked. People flocked to the resort and henchmen became holiday staff. Mr Intellitron hid in the shadows, cooking up evil schemes and smuggling weapons to the main land on the passenger ferries. His crimes continued, he was arrested multiple times, as were his men, but the hideout wasn’t discovered. And everything had been good.

But then came the turning point. The day it all changed.

After-hours one night, the henchmen gathered and realised they hadn’t heard from Mr Intellitron for several days. His most recent plan, to take over the city with water-borne, microscopic, mind control robots, had failed when he discovered the robots dissolved in anything warmer than ice chips. A bit of a setback, but even so, within a day or two Intellitron usually would have a new scheme ready.

But this time no one had heard from him in nearly a week. The henchmen had to do something. They picked names from a hat to decide who would check on him. When they couldn’t find a hat, they used a twenty sided dice and 14 was chosen.

That night, 14 had knocked on the gigantic metal doors, the ones covered with murals of gears and electronics, which apparently no one thought was suspicious. When no one answered, he’d gently pushed the doors open and entered.

He still remembered their conversation, seared as it was into his very soul.

* * *

Mr Intellitron was sat in a great throne behind his desk, his blue skin and bizarre beard cast in the dancing light of the fireplace. Papers were littered over his desk, and the man himself was sat with a brandy in one hand, staring into space. If the brandy hadn’t been gently swirling, 14 would have feared he was dead.

“Sir?” 14 asked, his voice quivering.

No response.

“Mr Intellitron? Are you alright, sir?”

Still nothing.

“You’ve not given us any new orders, sir. Are you alright?”

Intellitron stopped and looked at 14, who still stood near the door. The villain’s bionic eye whirred and focused. He stopped swirling the brandy, placed it on his desk, and gestured for 14 to shoo. There was no energy to it though, the wave being far meeker than his usual commands.

“Sir? What’s wrong?” 14 asked, holding back terror at defying the instruction.

Intellitron stared into the fireplace.

“Is it something we did, sir, or some hero, or do you just need more time to-”

“We’re making money…” Intellitron cut him off quietly.

“Pardon, sir?”

“We’re making money. This resort is actually bringing in a profit,” the villain said, his usual malevolence tinged with something akin to confusion.

“That’s… great, isn’t it sir?”

“Yes. It is.” Intellitron picked up his brandy again. He didn’t drink it, just swirled it in his hand.

14 was worried. Something was clearly wrong, but he couldn’t talk out of turn. But he’d come this far…

“Is that a bad thing, sir? I mean… the men will certainly be pleased to know they’re getting paid.”

“We’re making a lot of money, 14,” Intellitron stated, glancing at tax forms on his desk.

“Alright?”

“We’re making more money than ever, 14. More than I’ve ever stolen. More than we ever made through villainy!” Mr Intellitron continued, his own confusion growing.

“What do you mean?”

“More than robbing banks. More than building robots. More than fighting heroes week to week. This resort is more profitable than anything I have ever done!” he snarled, his anger rising by the sentence. He stood from his chair to pace. “We have enough money to build anything we want.”

“Then what’s the problem, sir?” 14 asked, utterly baffled.

“What do I use it all for?”

The room fell silent. 14 thought. Mr Intellitron had always wanted to change the world. He used stolen money to build new inventions and weapons. But he built those weapons so he could steal money from the banks… so he could build more weapons…

They had always known their plans were a bit circular. Every villain had that problem. Fight the hero, get beaten by the hero. Occasionally a hero would get killed or the villain would die, but any endgame was difficult to plan for when you were likely getting punched by Justice Man before you got there. Most villains were passionate, if irrational. Following a dream but not a plan. Like dogs chasing cars…

But with money, there was no need to steal. No need to scheme. No need to rob or wreck or ruin. There was no goal.

And no endgame either. No purpose. No point.

“Why am I doing this?” Intellitron said worriedly.

And 14 couldn’t answer him.

* * *

And that had been that. There had been a few more vain attempts at villainy, half-hearted plans to steal high class tech, before they realised they had no use for it. They kidnapped the mayor, then realised they had no need for the ransom. They prepared to take over the city, but then couldn’t decide what they wanted to do afterwards. It was all so… pointless.

And so it ended. Mr Intellitron filed his papers with the Villains Bureau and retired from the world of villainy. The secret underground lab became the underground storage complex. The volcano command centre became the geothermal power station. The submersible escape tunnels became the oceanic marine tours. It was over.

Mr Intellitron turned from building weapons to building rides and theme park mascots, as all henchmen became official employees. Of course, the transition to the public eye had been tricky. But after six months without any evil incident, most people just decided to live and let live.

Except for Justice Man. He really had some trouble with the concept.

14 thought for a moment, then abandoned his post. He knew where the hero would likely go.

The park plaza was very busy, as a massive crowd surrounded the central stage. 14 hurried through, glancing around, but it wasn’t difficult to find the caped crusader. He was standing at the back of the crowd trying to look inconspicuous. Of course, in doing so, all hunched and shady looking, he stood out like there was a neon sign pointed at him. His fake beard was crooked for a start.

14 wandered over to him. The hero was wearing his long brown trench coat, an artificial nose, beard, moustache, and glasses. 14 reached out and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Excuse me, sir?” he began. The hugely muscled man span round in his tiny trench coat. 14 didn’t bat an eye. “May I speak to you for a moment, away from the crowd?”

“I am waiting for the floor show,” Justice Man answered in a ridiculously high pitched accent. “Go away.”

“Sir, if you would just come with me.”

“I am waiting for the show,” Justice Man repeated. He shifted his beard uneasily.

“I know it’s you, Justice Man,” 14 stated simply. He had waited years to do that. “Could you come with me?”

Justice Man was shocked. His face fell and he gawked so hard his beard fell off. This was quickly followed by the moustache and glasses. The nose stayed put.

“Inconceivable!” Justice Man muttered, the accent dropped for his natural deep heroic tones. “How did you see through my disguise?”

The nearby crowd turned to see the hero standing in their midst. A few muttered about it, but most were unsurprised.

“Just lucky I guess,” 14 sighed. “Could you please come with me, sir?”

“I’m on a mission, civilian,” he responded, trying and failing to whisper.

“I realise that, sir, but would you please come with me for a moment?” 14 could tell Justice Man wasn’t moving. “It’s of vital importance,” he added sternly.

“If I must,” Justice Man relented.

With that, they wandered a distance from the crowd. The stage was still in sight, but they had moved to a more secluded area, where the only bystander was a hot dog vendor with a Number 6 name badge. Henchman 6 saw Justice Man and quickly made himself scarce, as 14 and the hero stood near the cart.

“Ok,” 14 prepared himself.

He looked at the powerful figure before him. The chiselled features, the dark orange and blue outfit beneath the coat, the fists that he remembered all too well. In this light, the hero looked almost like famed philanthropist Justin Mann. Henchman 9 had always had a theory that they were the same person, but that was impossible. Justin wore a cowboy hat, while Justice Man was bald. Also, they were seen together, once, seven years ago. 14 remembered because that was the same week The Doppelgänger had first appeared on the scene.

“Ok,” 14 repeated to himself.

“Now look.” Justice Man cut in. “I know I have many fans, but I am quite busy.”

“I’m not a fan,” 14 said calmly.

“Oh, don’t be shy. Now that you’ve met me, you can see what a true hero is like,” the hero beamed, finally removing the fake nose. “I mean, people need role models,” he smiled broadly.

“We’ve met before, but that’s beside the point.” 14 tried to look as official as he could. “I wanted to make sure that you weren’t intending to make a scene, Justice Man.”

“I’m here to protect innocent people from evil. People like you,” the hero smiled again.

“Look, I know but…. Wait. What do you mean people like me?” 14 halted. Something squirmed inside of him. “Do you not know who I am?”

“Should I?” Justice Man asked genuinely.

“You should! You’ve punched me enough times!”

“Why would I punch you, civilian?”

“Because I am... I was an evil henchman!” he growled, anger bubbling over inside him.

“For who?”

14’s anger burst.

“For Mr Intellitron, you half brain! I can’t believe you don’t remember me! I was the one who hit you with the magma ray three years ago. I was the one turning the crank when Intellitron lowered you into a tank of poisonous sharks. You’ve broken 12 of my bones, thrown me out of 9 buildings, and punched me in the face over 500 times! How can you not remember me?”

“What’s your name?” Justice Man responded nonchalantly.

“Henchman 14!” 14 spat bitterly.

“Doesn’t ring a bell.”

Before either could say anything else, a loud shriek came from the crowd. Justice Man turned and flew, determined to save whoever was in distress. 14 however knew the floor show was starting and walked angrily after the superhero.

The way the show worked was a woman came on stage, acting all innocent and prattling about how it was a wonderful day where nothing could go wrong, then the stage lights would come down and from the shadows Mr Intellitron, or his stunt double Phil, would appear in the boss’s latest mechanical monster, laughing manically. The woman would do a fake scream and a fake hero would come out and save the day. Simple, corny, but it always drew the crowds.

It was, of course, the scream of the actress which had caught Justice Man’s ear. 14 pushed to the front of the crowd, just as the hero landed on stage between the robotic monstrosity, today resembling a kangaroo, and the actress. The crowd crooned excitedly.

“Stop, villain!” Justice Man called. The robot kangaroo loomed over him, hissing and whirring. The actress, Melissa, just looked annoyed that her line had been stepped on before her dramatic “Save Me” speech.

“You cannot stop me, hero,” rattled the metallic voice of the robot. A dome on its cranium was translucent and a figure could be seen inside, deliberately hamming it up with theatrical arm flailing. “I will kidnap this woman and rule the world!”

“Not if I stop you,” Justice Man answered, standing as heroically as he could.

Melissa seemed to realise that something was off script. A man in the crowd, who 14 recognised as stuntman Phil, was dressed as a generic superhero and looking nervous. Intellitron was the one in the robot today.

“Save me, hero,” Melissa warbled, before running off stage towards Phil.

And with that, Justice Man leapt into the air and prepared to clobber the giant mechanical marsupial. For a minute or so, it was like old times. The giant robot leapt about, dodging and weaving. Justice Man landed blow after blow, avoiding the giant mechanical feet. Lasers fired from the kangaroo’s eyes and briefly stunned the muscular hero, only for him to recover as Intellitron laughed theatrically. Finally, Justice Man leapt and gripped the robot with his mind powers, tearing the head from its shoulders and dumping it on the floor nearby. As Justice Man landed beside it, the dome slid open and Mr Intellitron flopped out melodramatically.

The crowd roared in applause. Beside the control dome, Intellitron wailed mournfully at being defeated, as Justice Man glared down at him. Henchmen 14 knew that look. It was the look just before someone got punched.

Fortunately, that was when Melissa came back on stage.

“My hero,” she marvelled, clinging to his arm almost to restrain him.

Justice Man turned to see her, and in response he posed as heroically as he could. Melissa stared up at him admiringly, then glanced nervously over to Henchmen 14, then meaningfully to a point in the crowd. 14 followed her gaze and spotted Phil and a group of heavily armed security, waiting for a signal. The signal didn’t come.

“Thank you for coming, ladies and gentlemen,” Mr Intellitron called proudly, clambering out of the robot dressed in a cliché scientist’s outfit, with random cogs and gears glued on for good measure. “Thank you to every single one of you. This has been a wonderful performance. And a special thanks goes to our hero…” He gestured to the caped crusader, only to freeze as he saw him for the first time. “…Our good friend, Justice Man,” he played it off.

The crowd burst into further applause. Justice Man looked ready to interrupt, but Melissa stepped in first.

“Please come back for our 4 o’clock show and our 7 o’clock show. There is also the 10 o’clock show, but that is for teens and upwards,” she called out to the crowd. Mr Intellitron waved happily, and Justice Man stood confused. 14 decided it was time to get involved. He ran over to the burly hero.

“You see, Justice Man? Nothing evil going on,” 14 reassured. “Just a stage show. Now, if you could be on your way…”

“Hold on, 14,” Intellitron called over. It was said politely, but that metal tinged voice still made 14 shudder. “I want to speak with our guest.” Even with villainy behind him, the way he said “guest” made it sound like “prisoner”.

“I will put an end to your evil reign,” Justice Man spouted. He still looked confused. “I will not rest until your evil has been locked away for all eternity.”

“And that’s respectable,” Intellitron accepted. “But there’s nothing evil going on here. Not anymore.”

“You say that, but you have evil robots.” He pointed at the wreckage.

“So does every theme park,” Intellitron smiled.

“That one had death beams!”

“Stun beams,” Intellitron corrected. “They didn’t kill you, did they? I can’t afford to kill my actors.” He glanced over at Phil, who was chatting with someone, angry about missing his performance.

“You were trying to kidnap a woman!”

“Her? That’s Melissa. She’s been acting here for 2 and a half years. I heard she also does theatre in the city. She’s perfectly safe.”

“But…” Justice Man was drawing a blank. His voice had lost some of its heroic depth. “This is your evil lair.”

“It’s a holiday resort,” Intellitron grinned. “Look, Justice, can I call you Justice?” Justice Man didn’t respond. “Justice, I understand that it must be difficult for you to trust me after our history.”

“You put me in so many death traps,” Justice Man reminisced.

“And what villain hasn’t? But you need to let this go. I’m not up to anything. The police, FBI, CIA, NSA and even the CSI have each been all over this island with a dozen fine tooth combs, not to mention the IRS. It’s all clean and above board. We even have The Wandering Fist as a guest hero every few months. I’ve put evil behind me.”

“And why should I believe you?” Justice Man said suspiciously. Intellitron seemed to mull the question over for a minute. Luckily, 14 had the answer.

“Because, in all the time I’ve worked here, I haven’t gotten punched once. If we were being evil, I would definitely have gotten punched by now. Or thrown through a brick wall. Or sent flying on a doom drill,” 14 stated, glad to be rid of such perils. “It’s the best paying job I’ve ever had, the safest job I’ve ever had, and by far the most legal job I’ve ever had.”

Justice Man looked at 14 and thought. He looked around at the park and all the happy people. He could see some people were forming a queue to get autographs from either Intellitron or Justice Man, or both. Finally, the hero relaxed.

“Alright…” he muttered. “But I’m keeping an eye on you, Mr Intellitron.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, old friend,” Intellitron smirked. “Though, if you do turn up again, could you be a bit more theatrical with the show? I normally try to make it last a bit longer.” He turned to the destroyed robot. “And go a bit easier on my machines? That will be hell to fix.”

“We’ll see,” the hero smiled, his gallantry returned. “Now, to meet with my adoring fans,” he proclaimed, wandering over to the growing line of people. Intellitron and 14 just watched him for a moment.

“That was a nice speech there, 14. Short but effective,” Intellitron complimented. “It’s good to know you enjoy your work.”

“Thank you, Mr Intellitron,” 14 said nervously. “I’ve been working on it for a while.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Me and the other henchmen have an ongoing pool over how long it takes before Justice Man thinks you’re evil again. Gives you time to plan how to get rid of him.”

“And who won this time?”

“Henchmen 12. I was just shy by a couple of weeks.”

“Oh well,” Intellitron patted 14 on the back. “Better luck next time.”

[quilliums]

U alive?

Eh kinda. I think I've been on tumblr maybe a handful of times in the last two or so months and I'll favorite a few things then leave again. To be real with you? It's all so fucking fake and empty to me anymore.

I very quickly got more done then I can put into words with pretty much everyone I follow and everyone who follows me and all of tumblr.

It's not going to sound good because I'm not going to sugar coat this or walk it back because that'll be useless. Everyone is just going to twist whatever I say at this point so here it is:

It is very telling that when I, a trans man, reblogged posts (and directly asked mutuals) to literally do nothing and not spend money on the new IPs that came out this year that actively use that money to harm trans people I was told to mind my business. That their personal blogs and spending habits have no impact on trans people and that my request to literally do nothing instead of spending money, again to DO NOTHING, to help trans people was unreasonable. But. But that's fine what ever. I'll just mind my business I guess and only reblog helpful stuff, positivity, and fandom. That's cool we'll all stay in our corners and that'll be the end of it. Nah tho. Because when I do nothing, when I don't want my blog, the one the very same people said shouldn't be concerned with suffering, taken over by literal live footage of children dieing and some of the most horrific things some how I'm actively participating in genocide.

When others actually participate in my suffering the request to do nothing is too much and how dare anyone even imply that makes them a participant in trans deaths. When I do nothing, on a god damn tumblr blog let's remember the stakes here and the difference between literally giving money to fund transphobia and me simply not reblogging something, in the face of others suffering I'm automatically an antisemitic hate mongering participant in a genocide.

[ashes-in-a-jar]

I haven't thought much about Jonathan Sims for long enough that I kinda feel like I've started thinking about him a little more divorced of the emotional attachment I might have had once. Because I just saw a post lamenting his slow descent into inhumanity and losing his identity, becoming the archivist rather than Jonathan Sims, losing his friends, his house, everything he loves.

But is that true? That put upon head archivist persona he had in the beginning, was that really him? The way I see it, real life has already leached him of any identity he might have had, he didn't really have friends, Tim and Sasha clearly weren't, as we saw in their season 5 recording. He chose to make them his subordinates over beib friends, pushed away Georgie, he became so desperate for approval that he agreed to take a job he clearly has no idea how to do, let his stress over it isolate him from everyone around him, had a desperate need to assert himself in the beginning of every recording as 'head archivist of the Magnus institute london'. Forget about even having a home, he often slept in his office for heaven's sake.

The way I see it, this story is about him finding himself, finding the perfect place for himself in this already doomed world that was already strangling him and everyone around him. He became the Archivist, no longer needing to connect himself to some godforsaken capitalistic institute to identify himself. found his role, he enjoyed its power, even admitted to it. He found love. He found purpose in trying to save the world. In the end he was surrounded with the friends he made along the way (as friendly as they could be under the circumstances). He was finally allowed to make real choices, have true responsibility over himself and not be some tired corporate worker, part of a tired pointless system. Sure his choices weren't that great, and getting there was through outside manipulation and his own ignorance and he had to suffer immensely and pay an awful price of what we like to call his "humanity" but he Became and found what we all look for - his calling.

"It's still me" he says in the last episode. Because he is. He lost nothing and gained everything. Even dying in his lover's arms.

Forget about being human. In the end Jon achieves apotheosis and truly becomes Jonathan Sims

[omgeto]

girlll, I've been thinking what would be the reaction of jjk men when the reader tells them that they wanna sit on their faces

✩ WHEN YOU ASK TO SIT ON THEIR FACE — GOJO, TOJI, GETO, NANAMI.

summary: you ask to sit on their face, they react. that's all I got.

cw: smut, duh, so MDNI, afab!reader.

an: here you go anon, hope you enjoy... and I hope no-one STEALS THE NANAMI PART OF THIS FIC smh loool. but ive posted so major slay for me.

✩GOJO: “oh you wanna sit on my face huh?” gojo smirks, cockiness exuding him as he eyes your thig hs rubbing together as you squirm in your seat and shyly nod your head. his hand parts your legs slightly and his fingers gently brush against your wet slit, just enough to coat his fingers. he pops his fingers in mouth, tasting you with a smile, “you’re always too sweet to me,” he praises, “letting me taste you and lay under your sweet sweet pussy.” his wet finger, still covered with you, pushes into your mouth as you begin to taste yourself. “see how good you taste?” he asks with a smile as you nod, your mouth still wrapped around his finger, “then c’mon sit down, so i can get a full meal.”

✩ TOJI: “get up here then,” toji beckons you. you are already straddling him, your pussy resting atop of his stomach. you crawl your way up his body, your clit feeling the hardness of his abs as you pause, rubbing your cunt against his chest, already stimulated. toji watches in amusement, loving the way he can get you off with any part of his body. “you already making a mess for me?” he comments, feeling the trail of your juices pool on his chest. he grins at the way you slowly nod your head, “save it for my mouth,” he finishes dragging you up onto his face.

✩GETO: “i thought you’d never ask,” geto breathes out, excitedly. he’s been waiting for this, he loves to eat you out, the way you’d always push his face deep into your cunt, as his tongue drags against your slit, darting in and out of you. so the idea of him being sandwiched between his bed and your pussy feels like heaven, he couldn’t wait to be nestled in your thighs as you pull on his hair, moaning at all the pleasure that he’s giving to you. he pauses in anticipation as you hover over his face your thighs buckling as he gives your clit a quick peck. as you  finally cushion his face, his head pressed between your thighs, you could feel his mouth turn into a wide smile as it covers your pussy.

✩NANAMI: “you don't have to be embarrassed,” nanami coos, chuckling at your flushed face as he loosens his tie and carries you over to his bed. he bites his lip at the sight of your glistening pussy, and he smirks thinking about when you cutely asked him if you could try sitting on his face, he jumped at the chance. he lays down, caressing your thigh, giving your clit a slight pinch to indicate that you can hop on him. he blissfully groans as you perch your on him, you could feel the vibrations across your pussy as you already start to spill down his chin before he even begins to work at your cunt.

AN: guys I posted wow can I actually get some form of medal or even a cookie for this since wowzers I have been really NOT fucking w what I’ve been writting lately however one day I shall write a good ol fic for you I promise but for now I hope you enjoyed this short short smutty piece of fiction

[logansargeantsbabymom]

Hi could you please write an imagine for the f1 boys (mainly Charles, lando, Pierre, Charles) where they surprise the reader at work and she works in childcare. Thank you

Hey pretty, thank you for the request <3!

Work Surprises with the F1 Boys

A/N: I did make this where Y/N has different occupations working with children so it's not the boring same old same old for every driver. I hope that's okay!

Follow my instagram account (THATS STRICTLY FOR THIS BLOG) for updates on when i post and fun stuff like that!

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F1 Masterlist

Charles Leclerc: Pediatrician

I woke up at the same time I have for the past 3 years as I would everyday to get ready for work, at 5:30am. Now I was never and never will be a morning person but I absolutely love my job because it involves me helping kids whether they're sick or just need to get a physical for a school field trip.

I felt my boyfriend stir in his sleep next to me as I tried to sneak out of bed. My attempt of sneaking out though failed as I felt the strong arm of my boyfriend wrap around my waist and yanked me against his body. "Mmmm, don't leave" my boyfriend, Charles whispered against the crook of my neck, which caused me to shiver at the sudden breath hitting my skin.

"Baby, I have to get ready for work." I said as I ran a hand through his messy hair

A groan left his mouth before he continued, "Call out sick" his grip on my waist tightening as he snuggled closer to me to fall back asleep

"No Charles, I have too many appointments today and I won't have any cover. I'll be back soon though, remember the office closes early because it's the 4th of July?" that seemed to persuade him enough because I felt his grip loosen a bit and I took that as my queue to slip out before he had enough time to change his mind.

-

I'd only been at work for about 2 hours and I've seen about 24 patients and attempted to finish some paperwork but every time I get the second to sit down and start the papers, a new patient needs to be seen. I think the last time I've been more stressed in my life than I am right now was back when I was waiting for my score to see if I passed my pediatric exam to get my license and that because I have a waiting room of 6 more patients and all the other doctors and nurses are busy.

I can only thank the heavens because the next patient I had to see turned out to be quadruplets, which would save a significant amount of time on my behalf. Once I called the patients and led them to the room where I closed the door before asking the most important question any doctor could every ask.

"Who's Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn?" I was slightly annoyed with myself as I finished my question because anyone could tell who Dawn was so I could've easily excluded her from the question.

"I'm Nicky, that's Dicky, and that's Ricky. Dawn obviously is the only girl here so" Nicky said

"Right, well who wants to get their shots first?" I said as I looked at the pan of 8 needles. Each kid needed a flu shot and a hep b shot but as I looked around the already crowed room, none of the kids wanted to volunteer first.

With an unamused look on her face, Dawn reluctantly agreed to go first. It only took about 10 minutes to give all 4 kids their shots and when the last kid got his shot, they all bolted out of the room.

"I'm sorry about them, they hate needles" was all the mom said before she left to follow her kids.

-

It's now 11:55am and the last patient is just about to leave before we close for an hour to have lunch "Okay, if the meds aren't working for your son after about a week, I would come back but if he develops a fever and starts vomiting while taking it, I would suggest taking him to the emergency room." I said as I guided the new mom and her 3 year old daughter to the front lobby.

As soon as the last patient left, I locked the door before making my way to my office to attempt to get some of my paperwork done during my hour break instead of eating.

I was walking back to receptionist desk where I kept my paperwork so I could take them back to my office, only to find it not there. A look of confusion plastered on my face as I continued to look for my missing paperwork. I frustrated groan left my mouth as I realized I'd have to restart all that work.

"I hope you really weren't about to skip lunch for work mon cherie"

A gasp slips past my lips as I quickly turned around to see my boyfriend standing there with a stack of files in one hand and bag of Chinese food in the other.

"Charles!" I said as I walked over to him and took my paperwork back "I thought someone stole these! You scared me!" I placed my hand over my heart and I took deep breaths to try and regulate my heartbeat.

"Sorry, mon coeur but I had to take them because I knew you were going to skip lunch again." A baffled look played across my face because how did he know I have been skipping my lunch breaks to get paperwork done?

"Your coworkers have been telling me you're not eating at work. You can't tell kids to eat to grow and be strong and then not take your own advice. I'm here to make sure that you eat today so I'm making it a little lunch date. Sit and eat."

Lando Norris: Kindergarten teacher

"Ms. L/N, my dad told me that you're dating a famous wace car dwiver, is that twue?" my one student, who's name I just learn was Leo asked me.

Today was meet the teacher day at the school I taught at just 2 weeks before the first day of school and this question was very different than the ones I've been asked before. I looked up at the single dad behind him as I let out a little chuckle

"Why yes I am Leo, is your dad a fan?" I asked as I knelt to be at level with him

"Uh huh! He woves the orwange one!" I've always had a soft spot for kids and right now Leo is making my heart melt.

I didn't have a chance to respond before he ran over to his dad to tell him the good news. I got pulled aside by a parent who told me about an allergy her kid had to a specific cleaning chemical which I made a note of to avoid using in my classroom. I stuck the sticky note on my computer screen before hearing "MS L/N, YOUR BOYFRWEND HERE!" I could recognize that voice as little Leo's.

My head shot up to look at the door and sure enough, my very famous Formula 1 driver boyfriend was there with a bag full of school supplies and gift bags filled with goodies for the kids.

"Kids, I've got presents!!" Lando shouted which caused a little sea of 5-6 year olds kids ran over him making little grabby hands.

Once all the kids got their little baggy of toys, Lando talking to Leo's dad and I answered more questions, the classroom started to empty as Meet The Teacher time ended. The room fell in a comfortable silence as I started to clean up and organize all the supplies I was gifted today.

"Have you ever thought of having a kid or two?" Lando asked, my body tensed at the question

"I dunno, I haven't thought about it. Have you?" I asked as I looked him in the eyes.

"Everyday since we started dating."

Carlos Sainz: School Counselor

"Listen Jess, I can't keep getting you out of trouble. You have to stop getting attitudes with teachers over a small issue." I said with a sigh as I had to deal with a troubled 14 year old freshman for the 4th time this week and it only being Tuesday.

"It's not my fault Ms. Jones was being a bitch to me." Jess said as she shrugged and slouched back in the seat she was in.

"Jess! You can't go around calling your teacher a bitch!" I scolded

"I will if they're being bitches!" Jess shouted

The ring of my school phone is what prevented me from further scolding the student sat in front of me

"Ms L/N's office" I started as I listened to the person on the other line "Okay, tell him to sit at the door of my office while I finish up with this student I have now. Okay, thank you. Bye bye" I hung up the phone before turning my attention back to Jess.

"Do you have another student?" she questioned

"I have another meeting, yes, but you're my top priority right now." I said as I readjusted my position in my chair

"To be honest, I cause these problems because I need someone to talk to and I feel most comfortable with you." Jess admitted as she looked down at her lap

"Jess," I started sympathetically "How about this, once a week we will have a 20 minute meeting to talk about anything and everything you want?" I compromised, which got a nod from her.

I watched as Jess left my office, I attempted to clean my desk a little before bringing my other meeting in before hearing Jess' voice

"Woah, you're hot. Are you a teacher?" before I could questioned who she's talking to I heard a thick Spanish accent answer her question

"No, I just have a meeting with Y/N." Disbelief spread across my face as I recognized the voice. There was no way that voice belonged to who I thought it did to.

I quickly ran outside my office where I was met with the most beautiful man on planet earth and who I was proud to call my boyfriend.

"CARLOS?!" I shouted as I jumped in his arms before planting a kiss to his lips

"Sorry for calling your boyfriend hot Ms. L/N" Jess said before she walked away

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" I asked as he put me down but not breaking the hug

"We have the week off before the Miami Grand Prix so I wanted to surprise you." Carlos whispered as he kissed my temple

"Well, consider me surprised" I mumbled against his lips before littering his face in kisses.

Lewis Hamilton: Peds surgeon

I’m currently on hour 8 of my 12 hour hospital shift and I’ve never been more exhausted in my life. I’ve performed 2 surgeries today and I still have one more lined up, now don’t get me wrong, I love my job and everything that comes with it. The ups, the downs, all of it.

I’ve finally finished up a post-op check up with one of my patients before hearing my stomach growl, I sent one of my trusted nurse friends to do the post op check up on the other patient while I grabbed a quick bite before my next surgery.

When I got to the cafeteria, I got a sandwich and sat down with another one of my friends while I scarfed my food down.

“So what’d you do today?” My trauma surgeon friend, Nalani asked as she took a bite of the sandwich she got

“I had to fix a bowel in one kid and another one swallowed a whole bunch of magnetic balls so I had to remove those. One balls tried to stick to the other and pierced an intestine so I had to fix that up. What about you?” I asked a I took another big bite of my food

“Oh well two people came in impaled in the chests with a long rod. Had to separate them, they both survived. It was a real miracle of God because when the images were taken, it looked like neither one of them were gonna survive.”

-

I’d been prepping for my last surgery of the day before I finally get to clock out and not worry about coming back for the next 4 days.

I walked into the OR getting suited up before noticing a figure in the amphitheater which caused me to look out of pure curiosity. Looking up I was locking eyes with the most handsomest man Ive ever seen in my whole life, who just so happened to be my fiancé.

“What is Lewis doing here?” I questioned the surgical intern

“He said he really missed you. The chief of surgery gave him clearance to be there, I think he promised to autograph a whole bunch of things for him and his kids?”

“That sounds like something Lewis would agree to” I giggled as I started to walk to the head of the table before hearing over the intercom

“Good luck with this surgery darling, I love you.”

“I love you too” was all I whispered before starting my last surgery of the day.

Daniel: Summer Camp Director

“Alright everybody, can I have your attention please?” I shouted as I glanced around the room filled with 10-15 year olds.

This is my 3rd summer being a Camp Counselor and I have to admit that I always have a blast here.

“Thank you. My name is Ms. L/N, and I’m the main counselor here at Camp Kikiwaka and I’m going to be going over everything that we’re going to be doing here over the course of the summer and you then I’ll open the floor to you guys so you can ask me questions, okay?”

I heard a sea of “Yes” “Okay” “Got it” before I continued. It only took about 45 minutes to go over the expectations at Camp Kikiwaka and the summer itinerary, “Okay, now does anyone have any questions?” A small hand shot up the second I finished my question

“I thought the big kid camp was the building?” a little girl said

“Yes it is, the camp section for older kids is right next door, why? Do you have a sibling over there?” I questioned as I looked at the little girl in front of me

“So who’s that man and why is he smiling at you?” okay, that was scary at all.

Before I could register who she was talking about I heard an older boy say “That’s Daniel Ricciardo!! What is Daniel Ricciardo doing here?!” which caused me to shoot around to see if he’s actually here.

“Hello guys! Don’t mind me, I’m just here to be your counselor’s assistant for the next week and a half” Daniel said as he walked over to me and engulfed me in a hug, swaying us side to side before placing a quick kiss on my temple.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, looking up at him to stare in his beautiful eyes

“We have two weeks before the next race so I thought I’d volunteer my time here. I already got permission” Daniel said as he cupped my face.

Turning around I let the kids know the news “Okay guys so this is my boyfriend and your guys’ new camp counselor for a week and a half, Mr. Ricciardo! You guys can go up to him and ask him questions just as you are able to come to me!”

“You guys can call me Daniel, there’s no need for formality. Alrighty, any questions?” Daniel corrected me

“HOW CAN I BE YOUR ASSISTANT IN FORMULA 1????” The older boy shouted which caused Daniel to let out a loud laugh before he answered the question.

This was going to be a fun week and a half.

Pierre: Therapist

To say that today has been stressful would be an understatement. The lady who was in charge of booking my appointments scheduled who people at the same time and then proceeded to fill my schedule today so I couldn’t place the poor girl anywhere so I did the only logical thing anyone would do: I skipped lunch.

Well skipping lunch obviously wasn’t the best idea ever because just about 4 patients after lunchtime is when my headache started settling in, right in that spot behind my eyes. God I hated headaches so much but I despised them even more at work because how am I supposed to be helping my patients if I can’t even think straight.

To make matters worse than they already were, the headache went from just being pulsing behind my eyes to throbbing every time I moved my head in the slightest moment. Thank god this meeting ended quicker than intended and I had 15 minutes before my next patient was to walk in which gave me time to pop a few ibuprofen’s and let it settle in, in hopes that this would go away before the next one walks in.

I must’ve drifted off because two seconds after popping the ibuprofen’s there’s a knock at the door. I suppressed my groan before letting out a weak “Come in!”

I heard the door open but I just couldn’t bring myself to lift my head up

“Woah, you look like shit.” I heard a thick french accent say as the person let out a little giggle.

I knew who the voice belonged to, the owner was my longtime boyfriend who I haven’t seen in 3 weeks but right now, I couldn’t even be excited because I was in pain.

“Pierre please, I love you but right now I have such a massive headache. I feel like I’m going to pass out.” I mumbled into my hands

“Did you eat? I brought food.” He said as he lifted up the bag of french food that he claimed I “needed” to try.

I reluctantly lifted my head so I was able to take a bite or two out of the food. After a few bites I could slowly feel my headache going away, letting out a satisfied groan I continued to dig into my meal.

“You look like you haven’t eaten in days” Pierre chuckled as he watched me absolutely scarf down the food he placed in front of me.

“I feel like I haven’t” was all I managed to get out before I finished my food.

By the time my next appointment arrived, my headache was nothing but a slight throb behind my eyes which I was eternally grateful for.

I made a mental note to thank Pierre in different ways when I got home.

Logan: Speech Therapy

I’d been working with this kid to say ‘Water’ for the past 20 minutes and I’m nowhere with him.

I work with kids who have trouble talking and I get them to where they need to be at whatever age they are. Like if the kid is 4 years old and isn’t talking, I have to work a lot with the kids to make sure that I can get him to talk and be at a 4 year old’s level of communication.

Something about this 4 year old though, I just can’t get him to say ‘Water’ no matter how hard I try. I glanced up at the clock noting that it’s almost lunch time and I would have to end our session soon.

“L/N, your boyfriend is here and he brought food for all of us!” My coworker Destiny said

“Logan, can you help me? I can’t get him to say ‘Water’ and I’ve been trying for the last 20 minutes” I’m pleading with anyone at this point to at least help me get some type of progress done with him.

I watched as Logan got at level with the kid before attempting his own way “Hey buddy, can you say ‘water’?” after a second of silence he tried again “say ‘wah’.”

“Wah” my body tensed at the kid talking

“ good! now say ‘ter’.”

“Ter” I can’t believe he’s doing it

“Yes! ‘water’ !”

“AMERICA”

“WHAT THE FUCK?”

Lance: Nanny

“Baby why are you here?” I shot around to face my boyfriend

“When the fuck did you get here?” I asked in disbelief

“I missed you. How about we dip?” The nerve of this handsome man.

“Lance, I’m babysitting YOURE NIECE because YOU didn’t want to”

“I’ll pay my sister to take her kid back”

“Jesus”

Oscar: Librarian

“Excuse me Ms, do you have the Pete the Cat book? Me and my friend really want to read it. Please” I heard a little girl say.

I looked down at her before typing in my computer to see exactly where in the store it was at.

“Yes, you can follow me right this way and I’ll take you to them!” I said as I made my way over to where the books were placed. “They’re right here then. Just come up and let me know if you need anymore help!” I said as I watched her and her friends grab different books before going over to the bean bags to sit and read.

Back at my desk I was trying to place pre-orders for the new Ana Huang book coming out. I only got to the part where I could place the amount I wanted in my cart before I was being asked a question

“Do you guys have the King Of series? My girlfriend really wants to read them.” I looked up from my computer only to be faced with my Fiancé of 6 months

“Oscar?? What are you doing here?” I asked in disbelief

“I was in the area. Okay well I was a few cities away but it was only a hour drive” He said shrugging

“You’re so weird. The books are this way” I said as I grabbed a hold of his hands to guide him the way to my favorite Authors section.

Max: Nutritionist

“Okay Mom so you want to make sure that baby gets as much veggies in his system and more water, Santa said he only puts kids on the nice list if they listen to their mom and eat what she gives.” I said as I directed that last part to her 5 year old son who scrunched his face before hiding behind his mom.

“See Chase, I told you that Santa said that. He didn’t want to believe that Mommy has ties with Santa.” She smiled at the last part before picking her son up to take him out. “Thank you again, Chase is going to eat his veggies, right Chase?”

“No!” he yelled

“Do you want to be big and strong?” A thick Dutch accent could be heard

“Uh huh!!” Chase replied

“We’ll eat veggies. That’s the only way.” I turned to see my boyfriend Max in the doorway of my office.

“Otay!”

“Oh well that was one way.” The mom shrugged

“Have a good day!” I shouted as she left “I don’t know how you did that”

“Kids love me”

“oh that’s not-”

George: Sports Coach

“RUN THE FUCKING LAPS NOW!!!” I screamed at the kids in front of me

To the outside world I would seem crazy for yelling at a bunch of kids like this but in reality, I’m coaching my brother and his bastard friends soccer team this season and they bet me $20 I wouldn’t say that in front of their parents, so that was a quick $20 I put in my pocket.

“CURSING AT KIDS NOW BABE?” My boyfriend George asked.

He was helping me coach them this year and he’s a really do-by-the-book type of guy and he really disapproved of me cursing at the kids.

“Sorry baby, they deserve it. They said that you’re too bad to be in F1” I said shrugging as I made up that lie

“RUN 2 FUCKING MILES NOW!!”

taglist:

@luckyladycreator2 @itsmiamalfoy @jeffs77 @ilivbullyingjeongin @forevercaffeinated-lee @daemyratwst @gulphulp @callsignwidow @f1wintermoon13 @teenwolf01 @victoriassecret101 @hiireadstuff @formulaal @eddieharrington @kazza72584 @zabwlky1999 @dark-night-sky-99 @rougekiki @xoscar03 @jess-wither @bountychanti @dhanihamidi @Ggasly.p @tellybearryyyy @a-panseuxalmess @love-simon @tallrock35 @iiaik0ii @Milkyymelanine @ilovsyou3000morgan

[obae-me]

I saw your post about the characters with a traumatized MC and the part about the angels made me start thinking about how they'd handle an MC who has religious trauma (because I thought that was where it was going in your post)

MC avoiding Simeon and Luke because everything related to heaven creeps them out (they're legit scared of angels, god, etc) and feeling way too comfortable living in the devildom and being around demons because they "always knew they were going to end up in hell when they died" because that's what was hammered into their head growing up or something

that would sure change the cast's views on human religion huh?

Yes, absolutely. I can't remember if I mentioned it before or just kept that brainworm tucked safely inside my skull, but I think about this a lot. Namely, because I have SO much religious trauma (yippie!).

I've thought a lot about how the Celestial Realm harbors a lot of the same toxicity that certain organized religions have the tendancy to exhibit here on good ol earth. I mean, we've seen some things in game that suggest that things aren't all rainbows and roses up there. The way that Luke talks early game suggests a lot. And so I'm sure a religiously traumatized MC would have SUCH a hard time around the angels at first. (I actually had my own reservations with the angels when they were first introduced and I even kind of disliked Luke a ton before I eventually took a step back and thought about the fact that he's just a BABY who is just spitting out ideals that were shoved into his head. It's not his fault, and I think his character development is something that the fandom does not address enough. I'm so proud of him!! Having your expectations of the world be broken and then having to relearn everything you thought you knew is actually SO hard.)

MC getting along well or feeling more comfortable with demons because they don't feel like they're being judged or under the watchful eyes of others.

MC talking about "not being as afraid to come back" VERY early on in game and the other characters taking WAY too long to realize they mean come to purgatory after they pass, and the demons themselves don't feel good about knowing that.

MC avoiding certain sins/pleasures/temptations due to the fear that's been embedded in them over it. Even if those things are COMPLETELY normal and harmless to enjoy.

All of the characters being extremely patient and understanding about this sort of thing and very slowly chipping away at certain stigmas they still hold onto, making the human feel safe while they do.

MC avoiding Simeon because of mixed feelings of shame and maybe a bit of resentment and then eventually learning that he's actually such a down to earth and sweet guy and spending more time with him just to learn that he's been in many similar situations is so...so good to think about. Learning that he'll never force certain ideologies onto them, that he doesn't see them as someone who needs to be "saved". A human and an angel sitting together and discussing what being "good" really means. Sharing confessions to each other that they've both held on their backs for such a long time because they've been too ashamed of themselves and confused to heal from it alone. They're not a sinner and a Saint, they're just normal people who make mistakes and want to do good in the world.

I do have many thoughts on this clearly...

[noneorother]

The case for (at least) two stories in GO season 2: Bildad

This chapter will be more enjoyable if you read the first post "The Kiss"! Another blatant instance of inconsistency and topic of much debate has been Bildad's wig(s). His hair seems to change all the time, and the headband is never quite the same. What if I told you that if you stop focusing on the hair, and count the stripes on his headbands, a clear picture emerges? Sounds insane right? Here's the entirety of episode 2, arranged by number of headband stripes Crowley has in each scene.

I'll put screenshots in case you don't want to rewatch those two sillies again for 4 minutes. But be real... who doesn't? A pretty clear pattern emerges when you arrange the scenes like this : more stripes = more intimacy and trust between Crowley & Aziraphale. For stripe 1, we only get the opening scene where Crowley "destroys Job's goats".

This scene could live on it's own in the story, theoretically. Aziraphale never interferes with Crowley as he destroys the children, because it's all hunky dory up in heaven. The very next scene we see Crowley questioning Job and Sitis, starting to doubt his job, and he's got two headbands and two stripes for most of the rest of his hijinks with Aziraphale.

Until the very end of the episode, where we are back to one headband, but two stripes. The hair is short again, and the headband is neat, and this stumped me for a long while. If you only count the number of headbands and hair length, this scene clearly belongs with the first, and story-wise, would make little sense. But taken with the other two-striped scenes, it paints the complete picture of the saving of Job's children together as a team. I've taken the three headband/stripe scenes out of order from the show and put them at the end. The only time Crowley has three headbands is when something deeply intimate is happening between Azirpahale and Crowley. The first instance is quite early on, for the whole of the reveal of Crowley's crows to goats pipeline.

Interestingly this is also where we get the cryptic line "I am not the angel you knew". Next is a little interlude inside of Crowley's "destruction" of Job's children, where Crowley admits to Aziraphale for the first time that they are "Temporarily not on different sides". It's also this part of the scene where we find out, surprisingly, that Job's children are unrepentant little shits, and Jemimah realizes that Crowley is actually, technically, a demon.

And now, after a brief break of two striped shenanigans, we return to three stripes Bildad in the basement, where he manages to tempt Aziraphale into admitting that heaven's morals are a little wacky, and into tasting food for the first time.

But this scene starts with Satan's great wind (LOL wow, a fart joke in between all the morality? Good Omens would never...), where Crowley curiously remarks "Hmm, they've started early". All of the cryptic & meta commentary dialogue is clearly happening inside the scenes where Crowley is wearing three headbands. Given that the three headbands portions of the story make little sense on their own, we could conclude that Job is a story retold three times, each consecutive time adding layers of context to the story, and quite literally, onto Bildad's head.

part 1 of this nonsense : The Kiss

next part : Heaven’s files.

This is going to have to be a multi-part series, but hey, almost no one is posting season 2 metas anymore so the people have to get their crack from somewhere. With thanks to everyone over in our @ineffable-detective-agency as usual.

[flowerandblood]

ONE YEAR OF FLOWER&BLOOD

✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙✨🎉🌙

Exactly one year ago I posted my first chapter of the My Best Friend series. Nowadays I think it's something awful and I don't even try to edit it because I'd have to write everything from scratch, but I've left it for people who feel attached to the story. I remember getting about six likes and one comment on the first day and that huuuuge interest made me eager to create chapter 2 and then all the others.

I remember the excitement with which I waited and then replied to comments, not believing that people were actually waiting for the next chapter. At the time I was literally not following anyone, which was good because I wasn't comparing myself to anyone.

Eventually I felt I was ready to try writing other series and a few were successful enough that I decided to stay here permanently and create because it made me happy. Up to that point, everyone had been very kind to me and I started following more and more blogs, wanting to feel part of the fandom, to make friends with everyone. Now I know that was the biggest mistake I made.

Seeing things that didn't interest me, fanfic's whose way of writing couldn't draw me in, I felt frustrated, while at the same time fearing that if I stopped following someone, that person would see it as an affront. At the same time, The Impossible Choice, my biggest project until The Fall from the Heavens (which I'm currently editing and re-editing, while inserting on AO3), began to be written.

Just when I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my abilities (which wasn't true), I also started to clash with anonymous hate messages, probably the worst of which were those vilifying me and my husband, and those regarding my one-shot with Micheal Gavey. I know now that taking it personally and getting involved was my big mistake, and the fandom was shaken by drama that got out of hand.

I was a few steps away from deleting my blog at the time, but my husband talked me out of the idea (thankfully, as my stories aren't saved anywhere else − I'm only now moving them to AO3).

That's when I first realised that some people here I don't even like, and they probably don't like me. I wondered, why are we following each other then? Why are we pretending to have any courtesy? It was only later that I realised that to be considered someone's friend, you have to reblog their work and preferably agree with them even when they write hurtful things.

Since I've depleted my circle of those I follow to about 20 people, since I've blocked dozens of people and tags, there's been blissful silence (with the exceptions of when I write about behaviour in the fandom that I find toxic and someone accuses me of causing drama, but I'm used to it now). I've also never written happier than I do now.

Ideas come to me on their own, I don't feel uptight about what other big people will think of me, whether they reblog it, approve of it or not. I don't give a shit and life is beautiful! Although I can be emotionally unstable, I'm only 70 people short of crossing the next milestone of 3,000 followers, and that's BIG for me. It amuses me that I keep getting messages that someone is going to block me or stop following me, and you guys keep coming. It's gratifying.

I'm going to keep writing for you guys, and I'm sure during season two you'll also see my posts describing my impressions after the episodes in which I hope to involve my husband. I'll also keep you updated here on how I'm doing with my book I'm creating in my private life.

Apreciation

@ewanmitchellcrumbs

Ange. I know that sometimes I'm fucked up, but I want you to know that you've made this place so much more bearable for me that I can't imagine it without you. What I appreciate most about you is that you can talk and discuss, that you always try to understand the other side, that you are empathetic, warm and kind. I feel that, like friends in everyday life, we can also tell each other about things we disagree about, and there are not many people like that here.

On top of that, you are very talented and your stories are always a pleasure to read, even when they are short, you are able to build the plot and atmosphere perfectly, something I have always admired. Thank you for every kind word and understanding.

I still remember your first message to me via ask, referring to the fact that I didn't want to write a pairing with a mermaid because someone else was writing about it at the same time. My heart melted then, it was so nice!

@targaryenrealnessdarling

Liz, Queen of Angst! Your calmness and composure puts me in awe. You're disgustingly talented when it comes to writing and you have a super-sweet personality. When you started following me I began to squirm with delight, and when you started reblogging my stuff? My goodness!!!

@persephonerinyes

You've been engaging and reblogging my stories for as long as I can remember. Always involved, your thoughts make me smile. Thank you for being with me for so long!

@zenka96

You've been here with me since the dawn of time. You know that I love you. Your support from the very beginning really makes me feel like I have a friend here.

@huramuna

I am so proud of you! I remember your asks when I wrote Glass Cuts Deepest, your illustrations for me and your uncertainty about whether you should start writing yourself. I'm so happy for you and that you are so successful! You deserved it.

@black-dread & @aegonx

You are my favourite gif makers. Your work always leaves me in awe, you are amazing! I know how much work you put into it and somehow you make even the worst lit scenes look wonderful!

@summerposie; @0eessirk8; @melsunshine; @immyowndefender; @bellaisasleep; @kckt88; @thedamewithabook; @happinessinthebeing; @queenofshinigamis; @travelingmypassion; @mefools; @fan-goddess; @toodlesxcuddles; @ammo23; @troublesomesnitch; @mariahossain; @out-of-life; @apothe-roses; @heavenhatesme; @whitearemydarkestnight; @liv-cole; @blackswxnn; @echos-muses; @watercolorskyy; @at-a-rax-ia; @tssf-imagines; @snh96; @hiatuswhore; @exitpursuedbyavulcan; @darylandbethfanforever9; @the-dendrophile-bookdragon; @opheliaas-stuff @zaldritzosrose

Your comments and reblogs make me want to keep writing. You make me laugh, you comfort me and you support me. I know I'm definitely forgetting someone, but I want you to know that I love everyone who comments on my stories and there is nothing better for me than responding to your reactions and questions! I have known some of you for so many months that I truly consider you my good friends!

lottie-blue-star; aveatquevale-; aemondtargaryenwifey marvelescvpe; alphard-hydraes-blog; herejusttostan; li0nn3stuff; alexandrawho; vilmakamunen; angelinap09; theloveablestargirl; rose-blue-19; xxxkat3xxx; flosaureum; mandiiblanche; librawh0re; jasminecosmic99; ivvypg; rojocarnation; killmanduh; tokkiiidoll; wolfdressedinlace; angelofvivianne; nina2697; starwarsgirlsimmer1; katsucker; ipostwhtifeel; aemondsdelight; ilswemoon; tigrigri; pasta-rask; roselibrary; lystargs; gemini-mama; nikstrange; tempo-rary-fix; coffeeobsessedtrencher; gwuinivyre; dreamerbythewayx; diiickbrainn; mothmankit

And everyone else I missed and whose icons I would recognize from afar. I know that you have been with me for many months, often in silence or communicating anonymously. Your silent support and presence is something wonderful for me, knowing that you have been with me for so long and read all my posts!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!

[phoenixlionme]

NOTE: In case anyone is wondering, I added the gif below the video because the video cut off the moment where Charlie pulls Vaggie closer and I wanted it in.

Now, I am going to ramble on in various bulllet points why I love this scene, from what I've notice and what other people have noticed in this reprise as well. Be prepared for a long post. And enjoy.

Vaggie's soft "Charlie?" when she sees her girlfriend upset. And Charlie being honest about her fears of losing instead of putting on a smile and brave face like she did earlier in the episode.

Vaggie's starting off the reprise by reminding Charlie of all the good she's done and all of the people she's helped by creating the Hotel.

When Vaggie starts singing, Charlie still has a forlorn expression on her face but immediately smiles when Vaggie touches her cheek; and unlike her big and implicitly forced smiles earlier in the episode, it's a small smile that shows she's still scared but deeply appreciates her girlfriend's comfort. And when Vaggie touches her cheek, Charlie goes to touch the former's wrist.

Vaggie grabbing Charlie's hand and guiding her from the dark to the light. Symbolism, anyone?

Possibly my favorite line from Vaggie in the song - "And in the end, if it's only me you saved" - Vaggie isn't a sinner but a fallen Exorcist Angel that Charlie found and rescued from near death; so, she doesn't need to be redeemed in a literal sense. But, here? Vaggie is telling Charlie that even if everything goes wrong, that even if they don't know that their plan to redeem Sinners will work, that whatever happens, Charlie must know ONE thing - the Princess saved the Soldier not only from death but also saved her soul. Vaggie was cast out by Lute and Adam for showing mercy but then rescued by the Princess of Hell who's all about mercy and forgiveness. Vaggie is telling Charlie that the latter helped her own redemption.

Charlie's smile going from a small, tired small to an even bigger, love-filled one. Vaggie's emotional comfort really helped calm Charlie's fears.

Another line from the couple that I really love, "There's something that I've been dying to say" - For the past 6 months, the duo have been under enormous stress from the upcoming 2nd extermination, helping to redeem Sinners, being mocked from all corners, and personal issues (i.e., Charlie hurt and angry over Vaggie's secrecy). It's been fast-paced and chaotic, so much they haven't been given a moment to really just be a couple. And the next day, they have to face off against Heaven's Army and might not make it. But in this quiet moment, Charlie and Vaggie are able to fully express their love for one another for the first time in a long time. No interruptions, no business, just them. And honestly, I LOVE the line so much.

Just the look of peace and vulnerability from Charlie when Vaggie gently strokes the former's hair and cheek. The Princess has been so stressed and scared but having the love of her life be by her is a truly calming presence.

The happy sighs they both make after they kiss.

Charlie pulling Vaggie closer while they are kissing.

Possible wedding foreshadowing. That's it. I predict marriage given how they are positioned. And I hope I am right.

They definitely had sex after this. I mean, you can hear them sigh happily once they kiss, Charlie pulls her closer, and they're going into battle the next day.

French version of the song translates, “More than anything” to “Tu es tout pour moi” which directly translates to “You are everything for me” or “You are my everything”.

Again in the French version, “Need you to know I love you more than anything” becomes “Je t’aime par-dessus tout et je ne veux que toi” which translates to “I love you above all and I only want you”.

In the Italian version, the line is translated to, "Whatever happens, just know that/You are my everything".

[queerfables]

What is Maggie?

I've been rotating a few different Maggie related posts in my head, because I don't know what she is, but I'm absolutely convinced she's something. Our very first impression of her is a spelling mistake, a quirk that's later connected to demons, and I absolutely refuse to believe it's a coincidence. It's too conspicuous and unexplained. I have at least one more detail oriented posts to come, but I'm starting with my big picture theory, because it's short and sweet and gives me something to build on.

I don't think Maggie is a demon - or, for that matter, an angel. She talks about having a childhood ("I've loved this shop since I was a baby") to Aziraphale, who presumably must have known her as a child, even if only peripherally. That supports the truth of the things she says when she talks about her background: the record shop has been in her family for generations, she wasn't the sort of teenager who drank and stayed out late, she grew up with brothers. She has a past and a family beyond the world of what we see. But she also resists Aziraphale's attempted miracle, and okay, I have no actual evidence for this, but I'm convinced that even if Crowley was the one who locked her and Nina in, she was unconsciously responsible for their phones going out and the passers-by ignoring them ("It’s funny, I was sort of hoping we’d have a chance to talk...")

I think Maggie is something like Adam. Maybe she's a nephilim, the child of a human and an angel, or maybe she's a cambion, the child of a human and a demon. Given the "institutional problem" that heaven definitely doesn't have, maybe she's the offspring of an angel and a demon. Whatever the precise lore, I think she is something not quite human, halfway between heaven and hell, and therefore, like Adam, humanity epitomised. I think she has the power to bend reality around her and that suspicion slides off her like - well, you know. But I think she grew up a normal kid with a normal life, experiencing the world the way any other human does. And although there are a couple of details that give me pause, I ultimately don't think she has any affiliation with heaven or hell. I don't think she's aware that she's anything special at all.

If I'm right, there might be others like her out in the world. If it's coming down to The Really Big One, heaven and hell against humanity, earth could use a few hidden aces. And just personally, I don't want the world saved by invested angels and demons alone. I want humanity front and centre of that fight.

[welcometothejianghu]

Top 10 of 2024

All right! It's time to count down my favorite Asian media things I watched in 2024 -- and sure, most of them came out way earlier than 2024, but whatever, I'm slow. Longer rec posts linked where applicable. If you wind up watching one of these on my say-so, let me know! I'm always happy to know I've been an Influencer (ha ha).

Honorable Mention: Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange

This was originally going to be on the actual list, but a last-minute contender hopped in and bumped it off. Still, I loved this weird genderfucky body-swap murder mystery romp enough that I couldn't leave it out entirely. This baby sits right at the Hump of Compelling Mediocrity, where when it's good, it's good, and when it's bad, you can't stop thinking about how you'd fix it. I want an American remake of this so Bryan Fuller can rub his butt all over it. [full rec post here]

10. Hotel Del Luna

Did we watch this for Yeo Jingoo? You know it. And yet, we wound up falling for all the characters in this show about a bunch of dead (and one living!) people sending other dead people off to their afterlives. Meandering at times, it falls into a lot of K-drama tropes, but it still manages to pull of something special and occasionally profound.

9. 3 Will Be Free

Ah, here's the last-minute spoiler from Thailand! We showed up expecting something dumb, fun, and horny. What we got was something way smarter than it has any right to be -- but still fun and horny! A bisexual trio of incredibly sexy people (and some fascinating side characters) fall in love while semi-haplessly on the run from a whole bunch of people with guns.

8. Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!

This goofy tale of dumb lesbians was wacky and fun from start to finish. How long can you keep up a gag about two co-workers each convinced that the other one isn't into her? Exactly the length of this tiny, funny comedy. And as a bonus, there's the manga, which is equally short and sweet. [full rec post here]

7. Story of Yanxi Palace

At 70 episodes, this (rather speculative) historical drama is not for those with short attention spans. Even so, it's a treat for anyone who likes period pieces, lavish costuming, and high-quality acting. Watch as a completely insane young woman leverages her insanity to become the most powerful pretty pretty princess in the Qing Dynasty! [full rec post here]

6. The Rebel

And speaking of well-acted period pieces! At the risk of quoting myself: Do you feel like watching a beautiful man have a terrible day for 43 episodes straight? Then this Republican-Era spy drama is for you. Zhu Yilong bounces off some gorgeous costars in a gripping tale of brave Communist misery. [full rec post here]

5. Legend of Fei

A great example of how a boilerplate YA story about a bunch of teens who save the world from eeeeevil adults can be elevated by leaning in to its inherent sweet, melodramatic goofiness. I wouldn't call it a comedy, but it's a very funny drama held up by delightful characters and charming romances. I have no idea what the plot was, nor do I care. I was too busy watching Yibo smile. [full rec post here]

4 Otoko Meshi

This show is silly. It has a completely preposterous setup: an injured yakuza boss moves in with an unemployed twentysomething, cooks him dinner, and teaches him life lessons. It has all the subtlety of a piano dropped from a great height. All the acting is completely over the top. And yet, it manages to be sincerely heartwarming? This ten-episode food-based comedy is entirely worth the effort you may have to go through to find a way to watch it. [full rec post here]

3. The Spirealm

Yeah, this one grabbed my ass good enough that I've made a whole meta-and-shitpost sideblog (@thirteenthdoor) for it. I will say, though, that the show wouldn't have done it alone -- my love for it is compounded by how I fell even harder for the book it was adapted from. Both of them together tell a gay-ass horror story about love and loss through several terrifying, deadly worlds. [full rec post for the show here; full rec post for the book here]

2. The On1y One

Just ... damn, man. What a piece of art. I was not expecting much out of a Taiwanese BL about two high-school boys falling in love, much less a beautiful, well-written, amazingly affecting tale of complicated family dynamics and gay feelings. It had better get a second season that concludes the story, is all I'm saying. [full rec post here]

1. Kinou Nani Tabeta?

I have now watched significant portions of this ... four times? Because I keep showing it to other people, because it keeps being that good. The slow, cozy, food-centric tale of the daily lives of two aging Japanese gay men makes you feel happy -- but when it rips your heart out, it rips it right out. I get that it's a little Too Real for a lot of people, but oh, it was just what I needed. [full rec post here]

What will 2025 bring? Who can say! I hope it's gay, though.

[bratbarzal]

I fell in love with your story with Nico I was wondering if you could recommend other fics?

I'm the single worst person at keeping track of fics I read (and I know that's massively hypocritical of me I'm working on being a better person okay) especially before I started my blog but I do have a fic rec tag!! I haven't been reading a lot lately because I struggle to read while writing but I'll list my staples below bc I need to spread the love!! not all of these are nico, and not all of them are series fics, but they're all near and dear to my heart!!

the blueprint long form oc fic is whatever life throws at you by @raysofcrosby - it's a matthew tkachuk fic and I read it in the lead up to the stanley cup last year and it's probably what inspired me to start writing/post something myself!! the character/world building is unmatched and I don't think I ever have or ever will read another fic like it!!!

and speaking of world building him and I by @mikkomacko feels like you're literally in a different universe when you're reading it there's so much detail and as someone who struggles to write AU style fics more than anything I think this fic is like the epitome of talent!!!

and the same goes for say yes to heaven, say yes to me (and part two) by @theemporium - the whole mob!verse is chef's kiss, but also the entire masterlist!!!!! the amount cece writes and the unlimited ideas she manages to spin into something amazing has me staring at my screen sometimes in pure shock it's mental!! and don't get me started on luke and cherry, the mortifying ordeal of being a 20-year old virgin is the best luke fic on this app I love it with all my heart and I need to catch up!!

and katie @nol-pat is one of my favourite people period on this app so it only makes sense that she is my favourite writer!!!! I think I read must love dogs and it's been a long time coming before I started this blog, and I remember feeling like I hadn't read any other fics that I was completely submersed in so quick before!! katie's dialogue and storylines and the way she implements all the best tropes is my fave thing in the world and I'd like to think we're similar in some ways when it comes to writing but that's delusion, she is a thousand times better than me lmao

I know places by @hischierhoney is one of the best song based fics I've ever read it's so so cute and sweet and such a perfect capture of the essence of that song!! I love it and lee is very lovely!!!! I literally had a nico fic in mind when I first read this question and had to go looking and it's her off limits fic!!!! and the sequel I know!!!!! I'm a bum because it's been my favourite this whole time and I've never told her!!!! but now I can!!!

wishes come true by @sweethischier is hands down the best nico series on this app!!! I also love abby!!! I distinctly remember saving this in my drafts forever ago to read again and again!!! and now I want to read it again!!!! and I will!!!!

that night in michigan by @hockey-fics and part two that week in vancouver for if you want your heart ripping out and putting back together again!!!!

and I'm definitely missing a load more, I feel like some people have deactivated and I will yearn for them forever!!!

[sanjisboyfie]

one piece smau: dating eustass kid edition

-> male reader <333 + kid is so unhinged but this is how i truly believe he'd act on social media to be really real + also him being the definition of "i'm mean to everyone but u"

-> nsfw (mentioned and implied)

liked by dr.law, k1ller, and 7k others

iloveeustass: this is crazy he's actually doing the work instead of trying to kill a random passerby

tagged: [name]s.man

[name]s.man: if it's not you, i could honeslty care less on how i treat other people

-> k1ller: this is definitely not how u shd be living life

-> h34ttt_: and u wonder why no one outside of our friendgroup likes u

-> [name]s.man: i've never wondered this, i don't need other ppl to like me when i already have a wonderful boyfriend to call mine who very much likes me.

uso_pp: how a sweetheart like [name] is compatible with an ASSHOLE REPULSIVE AND RUDE man is beyond me. but as long as he's happy !!!

-> iloveeustass: he's not as bad as everyone says i swearrrrr

-> uso_pp: that's only cuz u don't have to suffer like the rest of us [name]. ur mans is fuckinhg terrifying to be around

[liked by dni_nami, bonneys.jewels, and 120 others]

liked by h34ttt_, k1ller, iloveeustass, and 10k others

[name]s.man: i lovveeeee my possessive boyfriend

tagged: iloveeustass

iloveeustass: you're the exact same way pls what is this post

-> [name]s.man: match made in heaven

dr.law: do u have to constantly post abt ur relationship eustass?

-> [name]s.man: someone here is just jealousssss

dni_nami: thankful everyday that we don't see each other at school i think id rather kms than see ur nasty ass (not [name] though, pls tell him we all miss him <3)

[liked by roro.zoro, uso_pp, and 40 others]

-> [name]s.man: WHAT TH FUCK IS THIS

-> iloveeustass: aww i miss u guys too nami hopefully we can hang soon

-> dni_nami: ofc! jus dont bring ur stinky boyfriend

-> [name]s.man: DONT IGNORE ME UNDER MY OWN POST

liked by iloveeustass, bonneys.jewels, and 11k others

k1ller: someone save me they're gonna start eating each other

tagged: iloveeustass and [name]s.man

bonneys.jewels: i ran away from them the moment i saw kid's lipstick on his face

-> [name]s.man: u guys are acting like we fucked on the couch and made everyone watch

-> bonneys.jewels: that's not what u guys were doing? i could've sworn ur pants were off or smth

-> [name]s.man: u fucking liar wtfff

h34ttt_: a business meeting and they couldn't be serious for a second of it.

-> iloveeustass: wym me and kid were very serious???

-> h34ttt_: serious in trying to suck each other off in front of everyone??? yeah. u two were very serious

dr.law: knew i made the right decision in staying home

[liked by k1ller, bonneys.jewels, and 90 others]

liked by dr.law, iloveeustass, dni_nami, and 11k others

bonneys.jewels: thank god [name] and kid started dating because kid's outfits have gotten monumentally better

tagged: [name]s.man and iloveeustass

iloveeustass: those leopard print pants he owned....

-> bonneys.jewels: tell me u burned them

-> iloveeustass: burned them and threw their ashes in the ocean

[name]s.man: i'll excuse u posting these photos of us without my permissions solely because he looks so good in these wowowwww

-> k1ller: [name] existing saving us from hearing kid rant for hours on end about smth unimportant <3 thank god

godfatherbege: eustass' fashion was always questionable to me, i assumed all kids your age dressed purposely terrible

[liked by hawk_ins, dr.law, and 100 others]

-> iloveeustass: LMDOOAOD BEGE IM DEAD

-> [name]s.man: don't show your face to me ever again bege or i'll kill you

liked by freeluffy, [name]s.man, and 12k others

iloveeustass: his new haircut is so sexy oh my god

tagged: [name]s.man

[name]s.man: i'm gonna have sex with you in front of everyone

-> k1ller: no fucking thank u

-> h34ttt_: OH MY GOOOOOODDDD a day of peace woujld be great thanks

freeluffy: OOOOO was the food yummy guys???

-> [name]s.man: fuck off my boyfriend's instagram bastard

-> iloveeustass: it was rlly good luffy <333 i know you would've love their steak, i highly reccommend!!!

xxxdrake: i bet kid didn't even pay for half off of the bill, his broke ass

-> [name]s.man: I PAID FOR THE ENTIRE MEAL??? WAT IS UR ISSUE DO U WNAT TO FIGHT OR SMETHING

-> uso_pp: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT [liked by dni_nami, robinkills, and 90 others]

liked by freeluffy, iloveeustass, and 13k others

dr.law: all these two do is sit in a corner and bully ppl on their phone

tagged: [name]s.man and iloveeustass

iloveeustass: it's only kid that makes fun of ppl i'm the one telling him to stop

-> dr.law: fine i'll give u that one

[name]s.man: all i'm saying is - if you're not [name] why on earth should i b nice to u

-> dni_nami: a somewhat respectable trait to have

-> princesanji: NAMMIIII I WOULD DEFAME ANY PERSON YOU WNATED ME TO IF IT MEANS I COULD WIN YOUR FAVOORRR

freeluffy: not true traofoyyy ! me and [name] played supermario kart :)

-> iloveeustass: and i won all of the races >:)

-> freeluffy: NEXT TIME I'LL BEAT U [NAMEEEE]

-> [name]s.man: why is he flirting with my boyfriend right in front of me

iloveeustass' story:

stole his lipstick just for this pic

[name]s.man replied to your story: we should both wear my lipstick the next time we have sex it'll b like a painting

[rainsinheaven-if]

☆彡Progress Report # O1

Hello! This is the first progress report for my upcoming IF Rains In Heaven. These progress reports will be posted periodically (either once a month or once every two months) to update everyone with how writing and coding is going.

☆ Deadlines and Goals Summary ☆

Current Word Count: 6.1K Prologue Progress: 99% completed Chapter 1 Progress: 50% completed Writing Completion Deadline: December 31st 2024 First Demo Completion Deadline: End of March 2025

Keep reading for a detailed report

☆ December progress ☆

As of today, I have written 6.1K words for both the Prologue and Chapter 1, unedited and uncoded. I'm almost done writing the scenes where MC first meets and gets to know Ethos, Oliver, and V. I should be about 50% done with writing Chapter 1.

Outside of story writing, I've been making changes to the personality and behavior statistics I plan on implementing for the MC. The statistics are now more aligned with traits someone may develop as a result of childhood trauma and abuse. I've also edited the story outline, moving certain scenes that was supposed to be in Chapter 1, into their own chapter. This was because I believed Chapter 1 would be too long if I inputted what was planned instead of splitting it. Now, Chapter 1 and 2 will be set when MC is 5 years old - the start of everything going downhill - and Chapter 3 will time skip to their current ages where MC is 20 years old. I am also contemplating make a small change to m!Y's name so that instead of Yaran, it would be something like Yale. Not sure yet though.

For the remaining half of December, I will continue to work on writing Chapter 1 and also placing the final touches to the UI on twine (i.e. saves, accessibility functions etc.) so that I can work on coding more freely in January.

☆ Goals for the New Year ☆

Coding of the prologue and Chapter 1 will (hopefully) start in January and last until the end of February. I do have classes then so the amount of work I put into coding each day will be limited.

The goal is to have the demo out and running by the end of March, but my personal target would be beginning or mid-March. I have no set date yet.

I'm also deciding whether to ask for beta-readers. I've never been confident in my writing and it would be helpful to have some people identify errors that I missed.

☆ Chapter 1 Teasers ☆

Chapter 1 (and 2) will officially introduce you to 4 out of 6 romantic interests, though that is not the main focus. These two chapters will mainly be focused developing skills, formulating opinions, detailing appearances, and the downfall of your relationship with your family.

Chapter 1 specifically, will be quite a rollercoaster. It starts happy and pure, but the ending turns dark and heartbreaking. You might be in for a ride!

☆ Final Words ☆

In the meantime, I will be answering any asks about the story and/or the characters. Some asks will take longer for me to respond to but I'll be sure to answer all of them, even if it's to say “I can't give you an answer that won’t spoil the story”. I'll also try to start posting character profiles for the characters. Probably starting with Nolan. Let me know what information you want to see about the characters!

Thank you for all the love I got in the past couple weeks. It hasn't even been a month and we’re at 400+ followers! I’m happy to know that many of you are excited for my IF and I hope I reach everyone’s expectations. Just a reminder though that this is my first time doing something like this (creating an IF) so please be patient and kind with my work.

Hope everyone has a happy holiday!

Dated: December 14, 2024

[nootcatt]

TGCF and the Literary Tropes

Okay so this is a long text post, but its something I've been through and discussing a lot.

I’ve mentioned this before, but let me say it more clearly: in my opinion, there’s no such thing as being “doomed by the narrative” in Heaven Official’s Blessing (TGCF) by MXTX. It’s an important distinction because it sets MXTX’s storytelling apart from other narratives where characters are often victims of fate with no real agency. MXTX understands probability, and does not operate by the ‘but what if!’.

For those unfamiliar with the term, “doomed by the narrative” refers to a trope where a character’s fate is sealed or predetermined by the structure of the story itself. Essentially, it means that no matter what the character does—regardless of their actions, intentions, or desires—the plot is already designed to lead them toward an inevitable downfall, failure, or tragic end. It’s a form of narrative determinism, where the story traps a character in an inescapable fate. This idea is commonly seen in tragedies or stories centered around themes of fate and destiny, where even the audience often feels that sense of looming disaster, even if the character does not.

While TGCF is a novel rich with themes of fate and destiny, it doesn’t employ the “doomed by the narrative” trope. Instead, the story revolves around other different ideas, such as “you reap what you sow.” In TGCF, the characters—especially the gods—face the consequences of their own actions. From the Banyue Arc to the final arc, we consistently see this pattern. No character suffers without reason, and no fate is forced upon them by the structure of the story itself. Their actions, choices, and motivations directly shape their outcomes.

In TGCF, fate is not something manipulated by MXTX to move the plot forward or force a tragic conclusion. She doesn’t kill off characters just because it serves the story or because she’s trying to make a point about destiny. Instead, fate in TGCF functions more like an ecosystem—a natural cycle where actions have consequences. It’s a world where what goes around comes around, and every character is accountable for the decisions they make.

Consider the Blackwater Arc (FengShui Di Arc) as an example. Many have discussed this before, so it’s not something you have never come across. It’s a key moment in understanding how fate operates in TGCF. Shi Wudu is faced with an impossible moral dilemma, a classic “trolley problem.” He has to choose between sacrificing the life of a stranger and their family or allowing his beloved younger brother, Shi Qingxuan, to die a death more tragic than anyone can imagine. For Shi Wudu, this is not a simple decision; he has dedicated his entire life to protecting his brother. Older brothers are like parents, to their younger siblings. Shi Wudu does not regret making the decision he did. In the end, he makes the choice to switch the tracks, saving his brother at the cost of another’s life and family.

As the arc unfolds, we see that Shi Wudu must also face the consequences of his decision. He is driven mad by the end of the arc, and his punishment is both brutal and symbolic—his head is ripped off, an echo of the price he paid for his brother’s safety. Shi Wudu made a choice that could be viewed as understandable or even noble, but he also committed a grave wrong. And in the world of TGCF, he reaps what he sowed. Even in his final moments, He Xuan gives Shi Wudu a choice, he can still reverse the tracks and fix it, or die at the hands of the person he chose over him, and Shi Wudu stands by his decision, telling Shi Qingxuan, “Gege will go ahead and wait for you.” He does not regret his sacrifice. He is killed for it. His end is a form of cosmic justice. Despite the tragedy, there’s no sense that he was doomed from the start—his downfall is the direct result of his own actions.

This principle also applies to He Xuan. “But He Xuan suffered so much; he deserved his revenge.” That’s the point. He Xuan’s story is not one of a man doomed by fate, but rather a man consumed by revenge. He Xuan, who endured unimaginable suffering and betrayal, chose to devote his existence to vengeance. He had already avenged his suffering by killing the people responsible—he became a Ghost King, devoured the Jinx Demon, and infiltrated heaven. He gained power, status, and acceptance among the Heavenly Officials. Shi Wudu changed his fate so that he could no longer ascend? Here he is, a god (and an elemental god, instead of a civil god like he would have been if his fate hadn’t been switched). He could have lived peacefully, yet his obsession with revenge defined every move he made.

Even when He Xuan had achieved everything he should have wanted—status, wealth, respect—he couldn’t let go. His fixation on vengeance led him to destroy the very peace he could have had. By the end of the arc, when Shi Wudu asks if he’s happy, He Xuan’s answer is a hollow “yes,” fueled by the sight of Shi Wudu’s suffering. But as Shi Wudu points out, this revenge has changed nothing. Shi Qingxuan, despite the tragedies, had lived a better, fuller life than He Xuan. Shi Wudu’s words break He Xuan, driving him into a final fit of rage where he decapitates Shi Wudu and refuses to let Shi Qingxuan die, just to prevent the brothers from reuniting in death. What does he get in the end? Nothing, but the head of Shi Wudu and a life time of brooding in the nether water manor.This act of spite is not the work of a man doomed by narrative fate—it’s the result of He Xuan’s choices, driven by his inability to let go of vengeance.

In conclusion, TGCF does not operate on the idea that its characters are “doomed by the narrative.” MXTX creates a world where actions have consequences, where fate is shaped by the decisions characters make, and where justice—whether deserved or tragic—is always a direct result of their choices. The characters in TGCF are not trapped by an unavoidable destiny but by the weight of their own actions. It’s a powerful form of storytelling that places responsibility on the characters themselves, rather than the structure of the story.

[yanderesimp2000]

Extreme yandere adam x Fem listener Chap 2/5 "building "trust" MINORS STAY AWAY

prev Chap https://www.tumblr.com/yanderesimp2000/745338401920860160/extreme-yandere-adam-x-fem-reader-chap-15-start?source=share this is my second post and second chap I've been really excited to do this My request are open so request away fuckers the TWs and tags for this one are

Drugging,gaslighting,manipulation,verbal abuse , Adam purposely making you bed ridden sick, Misogyny, Forceful kisses and cuddles, Abuse of power, Implied SA and VERY LIGHT body shaming

REMEMBER THIS IS FICTION ANY OF THIS IRL IS unacceptable Call your local Hotline for Domestic Abuse

"babe cmere you don't have to be scared" Adam complained he sounded like an annoyed and needy child This is your 9th day living with him and its already been Hell One thing you learned about Adam is he's more of a misogynist then you previously thought he thinks that you as a women are just a object for his pleasure he doesn't ask Before making a move he's much stronger then you and he know it but he's getting nicer its not like he treats you with respect but your life isn't that bad he looked through your life before you died and even though your locked up in his bedroom the minifridge in their is always stocked with your favorite food so if you would never get hungry

Adam kept looking around his room knowing you could not have left then he saw a feather sticking out of the cabinet "really bit- I mean baby hiding in the cabinet yknow you cant leave your trapped with me"you then felt his hand grab that little feather that was at the tip of your right wing and start pulling causing immense pain pulling you out of the cabinet he started down at you before saying "found ya" in a teasing and playful voice before giving you a kiss on the check and gently picking you up you didn't fight him you don't know why but he was kinda starting to seem tolerable I mean he was right in one thing you have no loved ones or friends in heaven so who was really gonna miss you and nobody had shown interest in you so you were lucky to have him and before he "took" you, you had to live in a small apartment now you get it live in his big room and even one day you could leave the room and go out with him once he trust you enough even though you thought he might have a point you just chose to brush it off as intrusive thoughts "he kidnapped you dumbass why are you starting to give into him" was your main thought

As you kept thinking you were gently placed onto the bed by him and he layed down next to you he said "babe guess what I got you" he said in a giddy tone "i dont care what you got me your not convincing me to stay with you " you said angry i got you your favorite food he then snaps his fingers and boereg your favorite food appeared "i got you boo-greg I don't know how ever ya fucking say it" he said in a calm tone little did you know he would weaponize your favorite food to get you to give in to trust him he put a small lace of strong poison in their not enough to kill you but enough to keep you bed ridden and sick he could then coddle and nurse you back to health and then you would think of him sooooo much better he saved your life how could you not

when he handed you the food you were happy but said " if you think this will make me magically love you then your wrong" you hissed he just laughed and said "oh we will see we will see" he said condescendingly

you grabbed the boereg and started shoving them in your mouth they tasted just how you remembered your grandma making them a crunchy outside of pastry and a cheesy goodness on the inside you greedily kept grabbing them and shoving them in your mouth the spices tasted a little different but that's just because of the new recipe... right after about 15 of them Adam made the plate disappear " be careful I don't want you turning into a little pig I don't like my women big" he said teasingly you thought to yourself "like he's some muscular man himself he's got a fuckin dad bod and I'm a fuckin twig but this still stung A LOT " you were right you were VERY skinny and Adam knew if he gave you insecurity's you would cling to him thinking you could do nothing better then him

You then said "it doesn't matter I'm full anyways by the way did you put any new spices in there" you asked talking about the new taste in the dish he just giggled a little and said "nope this was JUST like your grandmas recipe it has just been a little bit since you last had it so your probably just fuckin tasting things" he said that so confidently you just blindly believed him He then yawned and without warning collapsed onto you he stood at a good 13 feet and you were a feeble 5,6 so he was crushing your whole body his soft wings wrapped around you creating a nice blanket It felt like you were in a big blanket fort just trapped in between his Wings

Even your light struggles inside his Wings did nothing other then make you look more adorable and helpless you then were fed up and tried to punch him as hard as you could in the stomach but he just sighed "Yknow your not escaping sweet cheeks yknow why, cause your mine all fucking mine and you bet your sweet ass you will never get away from me" he said teasing before saying "yknow I'm Adam I could just banish you to hell if you leave me you you better stay" he said that firm and threateningly you believed and stop squirming he then layed down and released you from his Wings but still was holding you against his chest and was rubbing cuddling you his cuddles to you were rough they were like tossing you around and it hurt but to him it was just gentle playing around with you which you hated he then settled down and held you tight against him then saying "its time to get some sleep" before turning the lights out and falling asleep

*18 hours later

you were in a whole new level of hurt last night you woke up in agony and started vommitng and Coughing up blood when Adam saw this he feigned concern and took you back to bed with a bucket to throw up in and lots of medicine but in reality the non lethal poison he put in your food worked he knew you weren't gonna die so why be so concerned he did feel really bad making you go though physical pain It made his heart break but he knew that this was a surefire way for making you trust him and believe him more

he said "I'm gonna call out of work today" in a caring tone this made you think "well he cares about me more then just a cuddle and fuckmeat that can just be left to rot" this sorta mad you care about him a little more and this was even more proven when he started to give you "medicine" in reality it was just water with Bitter syrup in it to make you think it was medicine in reality he knew the poison would just leave you system in 3 more days so why bother trying to stop it earlier

after giving you the medicine he crawled into bed with you and started to snuggle you unlike all the other times you let him you were in so much pain and agony you just needed comfort and the poison alters your thinking skills so you just let him you even started to snuggle him back he knew this event would alter you and it is you started to view him in a better more positive light someone who just wanted to take care of you rather then use you

even the words of comfort he was giving to you just seemed so... real it sounded like he was being genuine and since you had no family or loved ones in heaven why not just stay with him. "yes he's a little rough but that can be fixed outside of that hes gentle caring and just look at him taking time off of work just to take care of me Ill give him a chance if he screws up I'll leave him" you thought

Adam then snapped his fingers and soup appeared he looked at you gently like someone would look at a wounded animal and said here have some he then started to spoonfeed you the soup tasted fine a little salty but Adam said it would make you feel better his mask showing a caring and gentle appearance. As he spoonfed you he said "I'm so so sorry I don't know how this happened you you must of caught fuckin a disease or something like that but don't worry just keep eating you soup im sure you will be fine he said while spoon feeding you

once the soup was done you just looked at him and said "t-thank you" you were greatful that he saved you and took care of you, you then said "I'm sorry for being so harsh on you I'll g-give you a chance but if you screw up I'm leaving you" adams mask lit up in surprise before a light smile formed everything was going according to his plan

"no no don't worry my little fuckin doll" Adam said in his casual voice "I'm sorry for being so rough on our first date" he said referring to the time he kidnapped you, you stupidly believed his words all Adam could think was "dumb bitch she thinks she has a choice to leave me but on the other hand shes warming up to me so I should be gentle and make her relent on me before I start playing with her more" you stupidly fell for his plan and just cuddled against his chest it was warm and soft the body fat serving and a pillow as his soft wings gave you a hug you could not help but feel safe and secure with him "as long as I'm with him nothing bad will happen to me" you thought since he was the first man and gods favorite so you were nice and protected with him nice and safe this was where you were meant to be you fell for his tactics like a fly to a web and now you were trapped you did not know it yet but this was the time when you fell and completely helled to him like a dog to their owners