#I feel very stupid wahoo

[whirligiga]

Well that. Explains some things about my cycle lately

[certifiedtrashmouth]

it’s just one of those days where you compare and compare and compare yourself to others and it makes it all seem a bit harder ignore my pity party in the tags bleugh

[palskippah]

Hi! Over the last few months I've made these drawings of my Goldenheart fankid :D

He's Cyrus Goldenheart and he's my newest coolest baby and I love him very much.

Some stuff about them under the cut! And also other things and more drawings sjsj

-First off, know that Cyrus is his English name, because in Spanish he's Ciro Goldenheart- because Ambrosius is Ambrosio in the hispanic dub and that's very cool (also, I'm glad they didn't change Ballister's name to Trabuco and just left it as Ballister askdjsa)

-Also, I love the headcanon that in this universe family names come from the mash-up of last names to whatever sounds coolest. So Ballister and Ambrosius picked the last name Goldenheart (they could've been Boldloin but both were like hell no- And in Nimona's humble opinion, they were cowards)

>ALSO did you know that in the Latin Hispanic dub Ambrosius calls Ballister 'Balli' instead of 'Bal'? It makes it seem much more like a pet name and I love it.

>Also, headcanon that Ballister calls Ambrosius 'Ambrosito' when he's being particularly corny. (It works as a diminutive of his name with the -ito but also, osito means 'little bear' in Spanish, so it's a very cool pet name)

>Also, Ambrosoli, because that's a Chilean candy company, and I think it's funny.

>Now, since they're famous as knights and whatnot, imagine that Goldenheart was the name in which their fans referred to them as a couple- (I know that Balli had been considered a villain and an awful person and stuff after being framed, but I bet his fans came back after the movie ending and whatnot :''v) and then they got married and became the Goldenhearts for real, and people were like YEAH WAHOO bc they love them.

-Years after the movie, and after Nimona coming back and all the fixing their relationship thing, they got married and all, and had planned to adopt a kid some years later (because Ballister didn't want to have any babies himself), but then they found out they were expecting and were like 🧍🧍 (maybe my guy got too nervous and made the wettest wet cat eyes ever and that made Ambrosius be like Balli, it's okay, don't worry D: let's talk about this)

>Anyways there was the thing of do we have them or not, and then they had a conversation, like:

(Ballister, still with his puppy-under-the-rain eyes) "...do you want them?" (Ambrosius makes some noncommittally noises) "Do you?" "But do you?" "But do you? You should decide" "Yeah- I just want to know your opinion." "Yeah, but it's your body." "Yeah, but I wouldn't raise them alone, both of us would. Do you want a baby right now?" "But I don't want my opinion to affect your opinion, because you would have the baby and I know how you feel about that and I don't want my decision to affect your decision because it should be your decision... So, what's your dec-?" "For Gloreth's- Stop saying decision! (Ambrosius' stupid attempt at lifting the tension was successful, because Ballister's laughing) Do you want them, yes or no?" "Yes I do, but only if you want them too, and if you don't that's alr-" "I think I do!"

>Then, later that day, there's Ambrosius' like, so... are we going to have a baby? (doubtfully) and Ballister's like I don't know :( (apologetically, because he genuinely doesn't know pipipi)

>So anyways, after some more days of thinking (because he had the final say in it, of course), Ballister's like yeah let's have them and they're both like WOO WE'LL HAVE A BABY :D, and Nimona's like HA! You'll get huge! And congrats too, I guess, when she's told.

>And then like eight months go past and Nimona's like HA! I knew it! and Ballister's like shut the fuck up >:( I'm not in the mood right now and Nimona's like (waving her hands) fine, chill, boss. i'll make the joke later then. And Ballister stares blankly and goes ...thanks (y'know those silent stares he does like three times in the movie?) (I want to write down all the expecting headcanons I got but whwhwh)

-Ambrosius' like we have to name them something with C, so we're A, B and C :D and Ballister's like yeah :D! so they look for names with C, that's their only requirement.

-Ballister and Ambrosius had a long as hell list with names with C and whenever Balli was like hey we should decide on one soon, no? D: Ambrosius was like yeah let's pick one :D, but it never led to anything because they couldn't decide.

>As a placeholder they called the baby Baby and then forgot about choosing a name, and then they were the same day in the clinic/hospital going through the list while holding their very much already born baby and being like this one? no- or this one? what about-? and the problem with having so many options was that they couldn't decide on one.

>They weren't truly that much of in a hurry, because they could name him later, but still they felt guilty because they had had several months to have that ready (literally everything had been ready for their baby's arrival, except his name)

>Finally Nimona, after taking a small peek at their list, was like, y'know what? he looks like a Cyrus, he reminds me of the sun, (bc he was wearing soft yellows and stuff, maybe, and the bed's sheets in which Ballister was lying were a light blue) and both Ballister and Ambrosius looked at their baby and considered the name. So, he's named Cyrus.

-The news refers to him as Baby Goldenheart though. Very cute baby, the public agrees on.

>Then there's the debate of which dad he looks like the most, and baby pictures are pulled from years back and they're like LOOK (posts a pic of baby Ambrosius with his Gloreth's descendant mom) THEY LOOK ALMOST IDENTICAL (and they actually do, same eyes and nose, same curlier hair and round cheeks)

>Then when he grows up, he actually looks too much like Ambrosius, but also a tad bit like Balli (it's the black hair and eyebrows).

-Even after he's all grown up, his family still calls him Baby instead of his name. And he knows that if either of his dads call him Cyrus is because he probably fucked up.

-I have a headcanon for Ballister's father, he looked almost just like Ballister but had a more hooked nose and curlier hair, but same big eyes, also had a beard and stuff. The thing is that Baby has black, curlier hair too and people think it's just like a combination between Balli's dark hair and Ambrosius' curlier hair BUT NO it's his grandpa's 😭 pipipi

(Translation) Blackheart (in my head he's Blackheart idk why ashjds maybe Boldheart had been his unmarried name, and Balli changed his to that alongside his name): My love, you're the prettiest girl with that cloak! <3 Kid Ballister: Abba, but I don't want to be the prettiest girl :c Blackheart, grabbing Balli's nose: The handsomest then! Kid Ballister: Hehe! (thinking about Bluey's laughter for this one pipipi)

>Also, know that Ballister's name was an inside joke between the two, were his abba had said he was his 'ballister' (the pillar that kept him upright) (they usually talked in Urdu, not in English, Balli had a better vocabulary than him from watching TV and going to an English-talking school), and Balli had burst out laughing, saying 'abba, it's baluster!' and his dad was like 'nope! I'm pretty sure it's ballister!' just to see his little girl still laughing.

>Anyways, then he got arrested and stuff and Balli changed his name to that, and then there's this moment a year later where, in jail, he sees his girl (now a boy) for the last time in the news, where they show him as he will start his training as knight and Blackheart's super happy because his son is actually alright (he had been worried sick about him all this time) and y'know, point is that he dies shortly after that and Ballister finds out years later when he tried looking for him D:

>(If you tell me but Kym, ballister is already the correct word, I'll tell you huh because I actually have no idea, you know I speak Spanish :'''v I tried translating Balli's name and it got corrected to baluster each time ajsdka)

>By the way, Ballister's scar over his eye is from when he had been like three and had fell against a sharp end, causing a slash and a lot of bleeding that had almost made Blackheart die from a heart attack. He had hurried to take him to the nearest health center, all while Ballister had been crying with his face all drenched in blood, and his dad had been genuinely thinking that his little girl was about to die from his carelessness (he hadn't been looking when Ballister fell).

>The slash over the eye is the reason he knows for sure that that's his child on TV, standing beside the Queen.

>Anyways, I love angsty headcanons with parents.

>Got another headcanon that Ambrosius got two moms, both don't spend much time with him from being too busy, but they love their son dearly (and y'know that Ambrosius' voice actor said that the Director was his parental figure? Maybe since his moms weren't around much, he started to look up to her as a mother and- wa, IT'S JUST I read a headcanon/theory (?) about the Director grooming Ambrosius for her benefit and it made a lot of sense 100/10).

>Ambrosius' moms are cool, although they did sort of force him to start his training to become a knight when he was of age to go into the Institute (he either went to knighthood or the family business, his knight mom (who's currently retired from knighthood and working at their family company) showed him her cool sword to lure him in, and his businesswoman mom showed him some colorful statistics- of course the sword won), but he ended up loving knighthood (despite everything), so he doesn't hold a grudge against that.

>(wait i remembered that Korean tradition of sitting babies of a certain age in front of objects so they choose one and that dictates how they'll be in the future? pipipi)

>Random headcanon, but Ambrosius is actually a blond and dyes some parts a darker color to achieve the cooler hairstyle. Also, the 'every descendant of Gloreth was/is/gotta be blonde' is interesting and gives place for analysis and stuff, but I've got this one where every descendant of Gloreth has somewhat of bunny teeth or a silly smile, and that's better in this case because I don't have to make Baby a blond- but his smile, when he's older, reminds Nimona of Gloreth's.

-Baby is a sweetheart with absolutely everyone. He smiles and coos nicely whenever people try to entertain him.

>Except with Todd. Whenever he sees him he spits up his milk and Ballister's pretty sure that it's a very weird coincidence, but Ambrosius and Nimona hold up a debate, convinced that the hate for punchable faces must be genetic and untaught, given that Todd had always been nice with Baby. Ballister throws Nimona a look and she says, my trauma, my jokes, Boss. And Ballister has to reluctantly agree and accept that he can't argue with that.

>Headcanon too that Ballister had called his father abba (looked it up and that's a fond way to call fathers in Urdu, if I'm wrong sorry :'v), until he was arrested and eventually died, so he taught Baby to call him abba too, and Ambrosius taught Baby to call him daddy, and even in adulthood he calls them that. And then there's Nimona who tried to teach him to call them Boss and Goldie, but she never succeeded.

(Imagine Nimona and Baby sat in front of eachother on the floor of the living room or something) Nimona, who had turned to look like Ballister, pointing at themself: Who am I? Baby: Abbababa- (he's a lil confused but he got the spirit, he's getting there in understanding askjdsad Ambrosius is currently Dadada) Nimona: No, Baby, Boss! Boss, say boss! :D Baby: Abbababa (happily reaching for him) Nimona: No, Boss! I'm your boss! (a cutesy tone) I'm Boss, Baby! Yeah, who's a cute baby? :D It's you! (then she got distracted and started playing with him)

-Nimona is Baby's sibling/cool aunt/mentor/bad influence/babysitter/something something. She's not a Goldenheart (and she doesn't want to be, she's just Nimona) but she's happy to be a part of their family anyway.

>They're the Goldenhearts + Nimona :''v

>Also yeah, Nimona is Ballister's sidekick/child/lil' sibling/friend/little menace/something something. The point here is that they love and care for each other very much <3

>Also, Nimona is Ambrosius' first ever, #1 hater, and he doesn't blame her for that. (They got a cool relationship though, like they like to bicker and wrestle with each other, and Nimona always wins because Ambrosius isn't very trained in fighting snakes, crocodiles or gorillas or any weird animal for that matter) Both love Ballister and that's sort of their main point in common, among other things.

-For a very long time, Baby had thought that in the world existed several pink creatures named Nimona, just as several adults named Daddy existed, and many kids like himself were named Baby. His Abba's the only one named that though, it seems. Then, when he's like three, he starts to realize that Nimona is just one person, and that apparently his Daddy and Abba's names weren't that. Abba's name wasn't even Boss, like he had suspected, and Daddy's wasn't Goldie. And then, as if that wasn't enough for the day, they tell him your name is Cyrus. Imagine his surprise.

-Baby is a daddy's boy for real and he loves both of his dads so so much :'v He also loves Nimona very dearly.

>He sees both of his dads being affective with each other and he copies that, as well as other things. Holds Balli's face to look into his eyes directly (he doesn't know that what Ambrosius does is just touch their foreheads together), he smacks his mouth against Ambrosius' face, harshly, and leaving him full of drool as he tries to bite him (doesn't know how to kiss yet, but when he figures that out he's always giving them), smacks Nimona's head with his little hands (he's trying to pet her hair, like he usually sees his abba petting the pink creatures) and all that. He's very sweet I'm telling you waa :'''v

-Ballister and Ambrosius try not to make Nimona take care of Baby too much, but Nimona herself looks for chances to take care of him.

>Also when he had been just born, of course Ballister and Ambrosius were all sleep-deprived and busy, so she would transform to look like either of them and Baby wouldn't tell the difference. If all, he was happy when all of a sudden there were two of either of his dads :''v

-Dumb headcanon that when Baby cried at night, they usually went 'ro-sham-bo' about it, and every single time they do the same hand gesture, and at the fifth or fourth (depending on how tired he is), Ambrosius will go ah fuck it >:( and just stand up himself to see what Baby needs. This happens way too much, and Ballister knows, and Ambrosius knows too. Baby doesn't but he's glad that every time he cries, it's very likely that his daddy will show up after a while.

-I'm thinking that Ballister would be that kind of dad that used to be afraid of holding his baby when they were a newborn, and then plays with them roughly when they stop being too fragile.

(Translation) First part Ballister (walking): Okay- Careful... (First day out of the clinic) Second part: Ballister: Do I throw him your way, Nimona? Nimona: Yeah, throw him!

-Ballister is one for darker clothes and all that, but when they found out about Baby, he started getting the most colorful clothes for them. Whenever he went out for whatever reason during those months, he came back with at least one piece of clothing, be it a onesie, a pair of socks, a hat, or some cute overalls. Baby's clothes drawer had already been overflowing with clothes just a few months before he had been born, and they had to get another one to fit in all the clothes because Ballister refused to stop getting more.

>Something something him only using darker clothes since he was a little kid and his dad not being able to afford him a bigger wardrobe and wanting to give Baby all the stuff he didn't have - thinking about my mom in this sense, she said she had bought me so many cute clothes when I was a baby bc she had had to share all her clothes with her sisters and their clothes had never been that nice bc of money and :'v

-Broskii I got more headcanons from when they were expecting Baby and I want to tell them all to you BUT I gotta make another post exclusively about that pipipi

-I know that the creator of Nimona said that the Institution most likely got dissolved, but I think this thing works as the cops and police of investigations and stuff, so maybe they didn't dissolve it, but rather stated new policies and values to be taught to the current knights and also to the future generations. And this change still takes a lot of time to happen but it does happen so- yippie ?

>Sorry I say this just so Ballister and Ambrosius can still be knights pipipi. Ballister is Sir Goldenheart and Ambrosius is Captain Goldenheart.

>With that, comes this thought that Nimona gave a knife to Baby once and was like, be free, my child! like taping a knife to a roomba, and then Baby used it like a sword and ran happily to show his dads that he too was cool and had a very big knife like they do when they use their shiny clothes.

>(debating this one bc yeah Nimona loves chaos and hurting people and breaking stuff but she definitely wouldn't like Baby hurting himself, but I still drew this waa I love when babies want to be like their parents)

(Papi means daddy)

-When Baby grows up, he isn't very passionate about becoming a knight (like Ballister had been) and neither of his fathers were keen on forcing him on knighthood (like it happened to Ambrosius), so he dosn't become a knight when he's older, and takes an interest in sciences (blitzmeyer mentioned?? I know her design was used for the queen, but I don't care I'll fit her here one way or another she's my fav scientist) and goes to college and all that, he also likes mechanics and overall stuff that Ballister likes.

>And it's definitely because his abba had been talking to him about this stuff whenever he could (because he loves this stuff, and even before Baby was born, and since they were supposed to talk to the baby so they could recognize their voices, Balli just rambled about this and that, and sometimes even narrated what he was currently working on and stuff :'''v Expecting Headcanons my beloveds)

>And both Nimona and Ambrosius are like: Yeah, see? Even he agrees (about him forgiving Ambrosius a tad bit too quickly, even if both knights had been manipulated and stuff), while Ballister doesn't know if to be exasperated that they don't let the topic go, or laugh because it's pretty amusing how offended Baby is in his behalf over something that happened nearly five years before he was even born.

>Eventually they have to explain everything that surrounded the whole thing and Baby feels actually a tad bit bad for getting as angry as he got at Ambrosius. He's like oops sorry daddy 🧍(I'm still petty though)

>Baby hadn't talked much until he was around three or four, usually just answering things or repeating stuff whenever his dads tried to teach him new words, but then one day he answered a very long rant from Ballister about animals (nerd, had said Nimona) with more animal facts and both Balli and Nimona were like :0 And since then Baby hadn't shut up, and he's always talking.

> Since they share interests, he and Ballister talk a lot about stuff (Balli is like nice, there's two of us now, because Nimona doesn't have it in themself to listen to him talk 23348 hours about one thing, and Baby actually responds with yapping of his own, unlike Ambrosius who is glad to attentively listen to him for hours but doesn't do much more than be receptive of the information most times pipipi) (y'know when someone is talking passionately about something that they like but you don't, but you're happy to hear them talk anyways? that thing sjdj)

(is yapping the correct word? Over at TikTok they use it as talking a lot, so I picked it from context, I hadn't really looked up if it's correctly used sdjksd)

-Baby is a simultaneous bilingual and learned English, Urdu and Korean from his dads and Nimona.

>With this, I'd think Ambrosius was one too (given that he was exposed to English and Korean since he was a baby), but Balli had had to learn English when he was past three maybe since his dad hadn't been very good at it and had mostly spoken in Urdu? Not sure how languages would work in the kingdom, but I guess it's the same as countries where there are different dialects or languages in different regions. (? La verdad no sé, toy chamuyando skjds)

-When he's 14 he gets a growth spurt as expected but then gets even taller than Ballister, and Nimona finds it hilarious (she got surpassed in height two years ago) And he was expected to be tall anyways because both his dads were tall too, but Ballister was like c'mon >:(

-When he got old enough and learned about the whole Queen's death thing, he spent the whole afternoon throwing Ambrosius angry looks, arms crossed and all. And after a beat of silence, he'd suddenly say: No, and you know what angers me the most? and then would ramble about literally everything the man had done wrong at that moment, all while Ambrosius himself nodded in agreement. Then Baby would say (to Balli): You forgave him way too quickly, abba, I would've burned his house down or- I don't know- but how?! And just like that?!

-Nimona was determined on teaching Baby all she knew, and Ballister was like yeah it's okay if he turns out like you, but turned out that Baby is the most chill kid ever actually, like he lacks this wish for mayhem that many kids have, like Nimona hoped he'd have (like she expected the antichrist/chucky or something). In execution, at least, because he has great ideas, if Nimona's willing to make them true.

Baby, about seven: Nimona, and what if *a plan in excruciating detail of the most deranged nature* Nimona: HEHE YEAH >:D Let's do it! Baby: No, but you do it :) Nimona: huh ??

>And this is because he knows that Nimona can do all this better and he thinks it's funny to watch her wreak havoc, while also not getting in trouble himself. (His dads tell him be a good kid and he's like yup I'll be a good kid c:)

-Nimona draws Baby like a little star because he's small (plus there's Ballister drawing over her drawings, thinking about him picking Nimona's drawing habits of scribbling on top whatever comes to mind)

(Nimona's saying: make your own drawings! while trying to push him away, and Ballister's laughing - their arms are like in a weird position that in my head made sense shdjdh)

-Plus here's a drawing of Nimona having cat behaviors (becoming a loaf anywhere) (ronroneo means purring).

>When Baby hadn't been born yet, she'd loaf right over Ballister's belly and simply sleep or make biscuits sometimes, and when he tried to take her off himself, she'd try to not use her claws but she'd grab against his shirt anyways, going BUT BOSS- Baby and me are chilling! And this translated as Nimona loafing on top of Baby whenever he's quiet enough, after he's born.

-I made another post about the comic versions of Ballister and Ambrosius on TikTok, and added a comic version of Baby too, following the logic on his current design (Balli's hair and eyebrows, Ambrosius' nose and eyes, and all that)

>'Papito Corazón' in other countries means a very good, diligent father (? I think), and at least in Chile is used sarcastically for men that are emotionally or financially neglectful with their children 😭 Comic Ambrosius is one at the beginning, but he becomes a better father later on, promise sdjsjd

>This Baby had a hard time recognizing Ambrosius at the beginning because they didn't spend much time together, and Baby has no object permanence yet.

>Anyway, Ballister and Ambrosius aren't a thing here, it was sort of a enemies-with-benefits kinda situation that led to Baby :'v

>(also know that I haven't read the comic yet, so if this seems ooc I agree with you, because I really don't know these characters askdjsa sorry)

-ALSO here's the first drawings I made of him before settling on this design, also it's from when I was trying to draw Nimona sjjs

>He had brown hair instead of black, but the rest is all almost the same.

And that's it so far!

If you read till here, I hope you liked it!

Have these sillies kissing, it's from a video I did 🧍 Ambrosius gives Ballister 23783 kisses and Balli gives him one (1)

Also, the limit for images is 30, which is a shame because I wanted to add more stuff sjdjsd I'll make another post if I compile enough drawings to make a big post, or make that post about them expecting Baby

(I love the Nimona mains so so much, they're 24/7 in my mind)

[cupcakeinat0r]

Broadway Baby Ch. 4

Pairing: Miguel O’Hara x fem!reader

Summary: Unexpectedly, You meet Miguel’s mother immediately after your performance (the one on stage and the one in ur dressing room *wink wink*).

Warnings: half SFW half NSFW, call me Hannah Montana w how I got the best of both worlds <3, Phone Sex, mentions of toys, masturbation, size kink!!!!, but starts off with major fluff <3

Tags, etc.: Gave Miguel a loving mother cuz he deserves it <3 Sugar Daddy AU, Miguel is a scrumptious DILF and Soft!Dom, Reader is Latina-coded n written by a Latina <3, age gap (wahoo!!), and Miguel is a very horny man.

Word Count: 6.7k

(right, so remember when I said this one was nearing 10k?? No I didn’t <3 Decided last min to cut this n make the rest a part of ch.5!!)

It was above your expectations. Your first time was everything you dreamed of and more, and there was no one else you would’ve rather lost it to than this man you were being cradled by right now. You felt so safe here. He made you feel so safe.

He was the sweetest, most caring, most intelligent, and absolute finest man you’ve ever laid your eyes on, and he took your innocence so graciously. The way he made love to you felt much more than just sex. It was caring and soft. Any inkling of doubt in your own inexperience that sat in your mind and stomach was immediately dismissed with his encouraging and comforting words. As you rest in his arms and catch your breath in your dressing room, the sweet nothings he had muttered in your ear while making love to you seconds ago replayed in your mind and you smile. When you weren’t focused on your craft or career, you dreamt about a knight in shining armor coming and sweeping you off your feet like this, and you found him, or to be exact, he found you. That moment you had walked out those stage doors and out into the alley to sign Gabriella’s autograph, he knew it’d be you, and watching you teach her piano today only reaffirmed his feelings.

The sight of you speaking to his daughter with a voice that could lull even the most distressed infant. Gabriella was asking you millions of questions, but your patience was doubled that. You were so understanding, and if at times she didn’t get what you explained, you didn’t mind repeating yourself at all. In no way did you make Gabriella feel stupid or a burden because you saw yourself in her. Yes, even though you wouldn’t have it in your soul to treat her or anyone in any other manner because that was just the type of person you were anyways, you were mainly affectionate towards her because of how much she reminds you of yourself. So curious, so wondrous about everything around her. So upbeat and lively. Such a happy girl. You would’ve never guessed Gabriella was going through a tough time due to the unfortunate passing of her birth mother. Granted, you still had the pleasure of having a live mother, so this only made you feel inspired by Gabriella even more. Teaching this girl wasn’t just gonna be an opportunity for extra bucks, but something you felt responsible for. You owed it to this little, precious girl because if it was your singing and dancing that inspired her and made her happy like it did for you when you were around her age, then it was your duty to teach her everything you know.

And so you sat in that piano room today, and you nurtured her little mind and taught her, the beginning of a beautiful student-teacher relationship blossoming. You had no idea how to teach a child, this being your first time ever teaching anyone, but it came to you as it went. Naturally. In your eyes, Gabriella couldn’t mess up, because you were already her cheerleader. In the short amount of time you knew her, all you wanted was to see her win. No, she wasn’t just gonna be a student. That was your friend. She was your kid, even if you didn’t realize it at this moment.

You could already tell you were gonna love being her teacher.

Miguel saw that in your eyes. Every time he peeked into the room when neither of you had noticed, he saw how genuine in your teaching you were. It was so… domestic. He melted at the sight. His heart soared at the fact that he’s found someone that could make his little girl smile like that. After seeing your performance that one night, she couldn’t stop raving about you since you were her favorite character, and Miguel had the privilege of getting to rave right along with her. He had tucked her in and she was still chatting on about how amazing you were, Miguel’s response being, “estoy completamente de acuerdo, mija” (I completely agree with you). now he feels like the luckiest man in the universe knowing you feel the same about him.

“Papa, are you in there?” You both hear the small voice outside your dressing room door, instantaneously picking up your clothes and hastily fixing yourselves to look presentable after having heard her knocks.

As you put on your clothes, you think about facing Gabriella after just having sex with her father… you begin to feel worried. Of course you don’t want her to think anything or let alone know anything, but if this relationship was to continue, she’ll have to know at some point that her teacher is with her father.

Another wave of anxiety came over once you remember Gabriella wasn’t out there alone. She’s with her grandmother. You’re about to face the woman that brought the man you just got pounded by into the world. The timing couldn’t have been more embarrassing. Obviously, you didn’t think about all this before you were getting your pussy deliciously destroyed.

Miguel can see this train of thought visible on your face as he’s putting his clothes back, the gears shifting in your head loud enough for him to hear, and so he goes to your side, motioning for you to look at him.

“Hey,” his voice is soft, as well as his gaze, “Don’t worry. For tonight, just act natural, however, we will have a much more in depth conversation about this later, I promise. I want you to be comfortable. I’ll simply introduce you as Gabriella’s teacher for the moment. Is that okay?” He places a hand gently on your shoulder looking for your confirmation.

You nod, a visible smile on your lips. “Yes, that’s fine. Thank you for checking in with me.” You place your hand on top of his, in which he takes it and places a kiss on your knuckles, “claro que si, princesa (of course, princess). I want you to always feel at ease, okay? No matter how many times I need to reassure you.” After helping you zip up your dress, Miguel helps you put your coat on, and he opens the door, looking down to see Gabriella.

“There you are, papa! What took you so long!” She giggles as she’s picked up by her father. “Sorry, birthday princess, I just wanted to make sure Miss y/n got our flowers and gift.” You both look at each other.

Yea right.

“Ooooo, did you like it, Miss y/n! I picked the flowers myself!” She says with a smile.

“I absolutely love them, Gabriella, thank you so much! You’ve got some good taste… Can’t wait to take them home, they’ll look absolutely beautiful!” You chirped as you got closer to her and Miguel. You look over to see an older woman, who’s giving you a slight smile. She has fine lines adorning her face, her graying, almost white hair fixed into a curated low bun, strands of hair framing her face.

“Abuela (grandma), look, this is y/n, she’s the one that signed my playbill and now she’s my teacher!” Gabriella looks at her grandmother, Miguel moving to the side so that you and Conchata were facing each other.

“Mama, this is y/n, Gabriella’s teacher. Estaba hablando de ella el otro día ¿recuerdas?” (I was talking about her the other day, remember?) He says, still holding Gabriella in his arms.

So this is who he bought this place for, Conchata thinks.

Yea, she heard plenty about you. Miguel had mentioned how absolutely amazing and how practically perfect you are in every way. It was after one of your rehearsals, Miguel had his daily conversation with you before heading out. He went to have a cup of coffee with his mother before his shift at Alchemax. It was that afternoon he first mentioned you to his mother. Miguel tried to play it off as if you were just some colleague or business partner; that donating 10 grand to this theater was an “investment”…. Oh yea, this was an investment alright. An investment for his bed. Conchata knew better. She saw the way his eyes lit up every time he said your name. Every time he told her how sweet you are. Every time he told her how passionate and hard working you were. How smart you were. How driven you were. How talented you were. Conchata knew that look. She could see it from miles away. She wasn’t born yesterday. She was his age once upon a time. Something else that gave away Miguel’s infatuation with you was the mere fact that he talked about you. Miguel was never the type of person to talk a lot, let alone, boast about a person. He’d been the quiet type since he was a child. He was too busy dealing with so many personalities at Alchemax, often repeating himself more times than he’d like to, hence why he was often short with his answers. He has friends he’d talk a little about, sure, but never in the way he spoke about you, so Conchata found it odd that in one random afternoon, he was going on and on about some actress he and Gabriella met.

Plus, Miguel knew nothing about art. Give Miguel a mile-long formula and he could crack it within minutes, but theater? Music? Conchata knew something was up when he signed that contract.

You mustered every bit of confidence in your timid soul and smiled widely, offering your hand. “Encantada, señora. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you!” (pleased to meet you, Mrs). You feel like you wait forever for her to take your hand, but she finally takes it, her smile faintly widening when she does. You both give each other the traditional kiss on the cheek.

Conchata is an intimidating woman, to say the least. Considering Miguel’s class in the city, she can be normally seen wearing the finest clothing. Although she had a strong aura, there was still a bit of warmth to her. You didn’t feel threatened or scared, however, you wanted her to like you, not only because of the given circumstances, but just in general. She almost reminded you of your own mother back home. Conchata exuded powerful Latina excellence, so naturally, you wanted her approval.

She looks you up and down, and you seem to be safe as you don’t see any sign of disapproval from her expression.

“Y/n, this is my mother, Conchata.”

“Mucho gusto, y/n. I could say the same about you. These two talk non-stop about you and the show.” (Nice to meet you).

You shoot Miguel a smile. “Your granddaughter is an absolute sweetheart, I already love teaching her. She’s incredibly smart as well!” You add to get a conversation going.

“She takes after her father’s smarts, for sure. The good looks, however, were after her mother, que dios la guarde.” (May God protect her) She looks over at Miguel, a slight joke in her tone as she states that her intelligence is from him but her beauty came from her mother. Miguel rolls his eyes, still taking the joke light heartedly. You think to say something along the lines of Miguel being extremely gorgeous and Gabriella possibly taking after that as well, but you deemed it way too soon for comments like that. You didn’t want to step over any boundaries or give yourself away. Besides, you didn’t want to invade in this cute moment between mother and son.

From your point of view, the two seem to have an equally beautiful relationship as the one Miguel has with his daughter. You smile at their interaction just now. Miguel has mentioned his mother to you during rehearsals before, so you know surface-level things about their history and relationship.

Despite his wife’s death taking a toll on him and his family, they seem to be okay, able to smile and even laugh in her name now. This both comforted you and scared you. Who were you to become involved with them? To cut into Miguel’s life when he had a whole wife before you? You wanted to be serious with Miguel, which would be a conversation you two have soon, but you also don't want to replace her. You didn’t want to be Gabriella’s replacement for a mother. Would she accept you as one? The sudden thought of constantly being compared to his first wife plagued you. Were you truly prepared to be involved with Miguel in this way? Were you willing to go down this road with him?

You decide this will be something you’ll continue to think about later, since now all you want to do is give the birthday girl the present you promised: a private tour of the theater. Gabriella looked so thrilled to be there.

You give his mother a sympathetic smile before you’re about to say something in regards to her late daughter in law, but you figured it could be saved for another time. “Well, I believe Miss y/n has something to show you, Mija.” Miguel says. Gabriella beams with joy and looks over at you. “You didn’t think I’d forget, did you?” You say, scrunching your face at her as she’s lowered back to the floor by Miguel. She jumps excitedly and runs to hold your hand. You take it, Gabriella holding on tight as she looks up at you with eyes of pure admiration.

“I’m sooo excited to see everything! I wanna know everything about the stage, please!” She requests, making you smile and giggle at her adorable smile.

“Of course, mama, let’s start over there, yea?” The two of you begin to walk out of the dressing room foyer, some of the remaining cast and crew members bidding their farewell to you as they go home for the night. You lead her toward the end of the corridor into the wings. “Oooo what are those?” She says, pointing at the row of curtains on stage left. She takes her small hand and grazes it across the velvet of the fabric, making it ripple with each swing of her hand. “Those are called the ‘wings’, mama. This is where I enter from sometimes. See these racks of clothes?” She nods, “I change into those costumes during the show. Right in this spot. I only have 20-30 seconds to change into each of them!” Her eyes widened at this, gasping in disbelief. “Whoa, that’s like… super fast!”

Miguel and Conchata follow behind you two, walking side by side as they watch you become Gabriella’s tour guide, telling her every little fact about every inch of the stage. The birthday girl looks around the stage in total awe, still holding onto your hand. Conchata can see Miguel smiling at you, but you don’t see it.

“She seems nice.” She breaks the silence between the two of them. Miguel is taken out of his trance and looks at his mother, both still walking in the now completely empty and quiet theater, the four of them alone. He breathes in, looking at his mother as he anticipates what the conversation will bring. He predicts his mother can sense that he sees something with you.

There isn’t anything like the intuition of a mother. Especially a Latin mother.

“Yes, she really is. She 's great. Gabriella está loca con ella.” (Gabriella is crazy about her). Conchata only hums in agreement.

“She teaches only piano or?” “No, no, dance and voice, as well. Tomorrow will be Gabri’s voice lesson.” He says, his gaze remaining on you two as you explain to her the different stage directions. He’s fascinated by how engaged you are with Gabriella, his daughter listening and hanging into every word you say. It makes him smile to see his daughter look at you the way she does: like you were her hero. Because you were. “Ah, pero ella ya no quiere jugar futbol?” (She doesn’t wanna play soccer anymore?) Conchata raises her eyebrow at Miguel. Miguel hesitates for a moment. He knew where his mother was getting at now.

Gabriella had shown great interest in soccer for the longest time now, even got signed up for the club at elementary school after begging to. It wasn’t until she watched you in your show that she became slightly interested in the performing arts. It wasn’t untrue that she was totally enamored by the production, nor was it untrue that she said she’d like to learn, but both Miguel and Conchata knew that as of right now, Gabriella had her heart set on Soccer.

Miguel cleared his throat, “no, of course she still wants to play soccer this is just…” he shrugs, trying to find the right words, “this is something that’s fun for her.” Conchata nods. She knows something’s up and Miguel can feel it. Conchata knew her son.

It wasn’t until Gabriella was born did their Mother-son relationship get better, but it wasn’t always this good. There had been a tension between them during his teen years, something that worsened over the course of Conchata’s second marriage. Unfortunately, Miguel was an affair baby, and this took a heavy toll on his mentality. There was a lot of degradation and favoritism amongst the dysfunctional family, but since Gabriella was born, and Conchata divorced her second husband, a lot of healing and talking it out had occurred, resulting in a much better and improved relationship. They have their days or moments, more like, but it’s gotten way better. In the past 7 or so years, their relationship took slow yet long strides toward reconciliation. Now, Miguel felt he was able to look to his Mother for advice and comfort, which was heavily appreciated during the period in which his wife had fallen sick and was approaching her last days. In those devastating times, their relationship had blossomed, it was just a shame that it took his wife’s death for it to happen. Point is, Conchata knows her son better than anyone.

Your private lessons were mostly for his daughter’s pleasure, yes, but it wasn’t the only reason he had asked for them. He wanted to get closer to you, and what better way to do that than to have you come to his home regularly and teach his daughter some valuable skills to become a well-rounded human being. It was a win-win situation. His daughter gets enrichment. He gets you all to himself.

“You sure it’s for Gabriella… or for you?” This was a rhetorical question. Conchata, with a knowing smirk, held her head high and her eyes remaining forward. Miguel looks over at her and stops walking. She stops as well, looking back at him now. “Ver la?” (See?/Right?). The corners of his mouth begin to lift as he shakes his head slowly. “Nothing gets past you, eh?”

“Mijo, I’m your mother, I know everything.” They now link arms and resume walking behind you and Gabriella, watching the two of you as you now show her the mechanics of the back stage.

“And for the record, I didn’t get Gabri those lessons only for that reason,” he chuckles, Conchata letting out a small chuckle as well, “Como ya te dije, ella adora a y/n. Haven’t seen her this happy in a while.” (Like I told you, she adores y/n). Conchata’s gaze softens at his words. She then watches how you hold hands with Gabriella, walking her through the various props and set pieces, passionately talking about how everything worked and answering any questions Gabriella had. She examines you for a moment.

You seem like a good girl.

“I haven’t seen you this upbeat in a while either,” She smiles at Miguel, teeth showing this time, “You’ve been… ay, yo no se (oh, I don’t know)… como que (like)… glowing lately. That’s good. Estoy Feliz por ti. (I’m happy for you). Necesito esto, mijo. (You need this, son),” Miguel smiles back at her, “It’s about time my son found someone that makes him smile like this again. I miss that smile,” she says looking up at him. She rubs her hand affectionately on his arm as they continue walking, “pero la quiero para cenar. Necesito saber más sobre ella para tener una opinión,” (But I still want her over for dinner, I need to know more about her to have an opinion), “pero (but) …. so far, so good.” She shrugs, making Miguel smile even more. He’s just glad to see that his mother is on board with this newfound romance.

“She’s a bit young, no?” She looks back at you again, as if inspecting you, “será mejor que no te aproveches de ella-“ (you better not be taking advantage of her) Miguel furrows his brows, kissing his teeth, “claro que no, mama” (of course not, mother). “Bueno… you better not. I know I wasn’t always the mother you deserved, but I know I raised you better than that.”

“Si, mama, yo se” (yes, mother, I know.)

She grins again, “Deberías tener suerte de que una mujer como ella esté con un viejito.” She laughs at Miguel, who rolls his eyes, unable to fight back a chuckle (you should feel lucky that a woman like her is ok to be with an old man). Miguel glares at her, grinning at her playful tease.

“You weren’t just giving her the necklace in there, were you?”, her voice is low, but Miguel snaps his head toward her, his eyes wide, “Mama!” “-Ay, alright, you don’t have to tell me.” There’s a short beat between them.

“solo digo, no me importaría tener más nietos.” (Just saying, I wouldn’t mind more grand babies). “Mama, por favor (mom, please)-“ “Okay, okay, fine, I’ll drop it.”

“But you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

“Yes, ma, I know.”

They both continue to chat amongst themselves as they still follow closely behind you and Gabri around the theater.

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

“Gracias, Miss y/n!” Gabriella gives you one last hug after the hundreds she’s already given you throughout the tour.

“No problema, mama! You’re welcome to come to the theater anytime. I hope you had a wonderful birthday!” You say, tightening the hug. “I did! I did! This is the best birthday ever. Your life is so cool.” She says, inspiration in her voice. It makes you almost wanna cry. It’s moments like these that make you so happy to be a performer. When you pull away, you notice the bow in her hair has gone limp, so you quickly fix it as you add, “I’ll see you tomorrow for your lesson, okay?”

“Yup! I can’t wait!” You brush a strand of loose baby hairs behind her ear, “Me either. Have a good night's rest, mama. See you tomorrow.” You stand as she turns and runs to her grandmother.

“Gracias por todos, y/n. You did a magnificent job in the show. I can see why my granddaughter loves it so much,” (thank you for everything). The older woman says in a poised, soft voice, “and you’re extremely talented. I expect big things coming your way.” You smile at her, going in and exchanging the usual kiss on the cheek before parties separate for the night, “Muchas gracias, señora,” (thank you so much, mrs) You bow your head humbly, “It was very nice to meet you.”

“Igualmente (likewise). I’m happy to know that she’s receiving quality lessons from a quality professional.” Your smile widens. “You’re too kind! Gabriella is a wonderful student, it’s an honor, truly. She’s an amazing girl.” You make Gabriella, who stands next to her grandmother with a handful of Conchata’s skirt in her hand, blush. Conchata nods, “Thank you, but we have Miguel to thank for that.” Miguel smiles at the comment, looking at the floor before his gaze falls on you at last, your gaze locking on his. “You’re right. He’s a wonderful father.” You say.

Conchata smiles at the way you both look at each other longingly before looking at Miguel, who tells her he’ll meet them at the car in just a moment. She nods, taking her granddaughter’s hand, both waving goodbye to you.

Once they were out of sight, Miguel had you in his arms, already smothering the crown of your head in pecks.

“You know… a little heads up would’ve maybe been appreciated.” You say half jokingly with a sheepish smile.

“Forgive me, sweetie, I thought they would’ve waited in the auditorium. Didn’t think they’d be knocking on your dressing room door.” You both chuckle at this.

“That’s okay. I guess I’ll let it slide.” You dramatically place the back of your hand on your forehead, winning another chuckle out of Miguel. “She likes you already, anyways.”

“Aw, en serio? (seriously)""Oh yea, she said you were her favorite character during the intermission,” he takes his hand to fix the collar of your coat so that it covers you from the cold a bit more before continuing, ”but outside the stage, she likes you even more. Says she wants you over for dinner n’ everything.” You playfully pretend to brush off your shoulder, “What can I say, the people love me.”

Miguel laughs at your smugness, “Yea, well, no one’s taking my #1 fan position.” Miguel pulls you closer to his chest. It was pretty cold outside, and he’d hate for you to catch something.

“Oh-ho-ho, you might wanna take it up with your daughter on that one, mister.” You say, your index finger poking at his chest a few times with a smirk on your face.

“Hey, now hold on,” Miguel had a playful scowl on his face, “I should get priority, I’m the one who took her to see the show.” You chuckle. Miguel was right. If it wasn’t for Miguel taking Gabriella to see your show, none of y’all would’ve met.

“Say, how did a geneticist find himself involved with a Broadway show anyway?” You raised your eyebrow.

“Hm, well…if I remember correctly…” Miguel didn’t have to think twice about how it happened. He remembers the exact moment like it was yesterday. “I was in my office and noticed the billboard outside my window had changed. Next thing I know, I’m taking my suit to the dry cleaners because I dropped my coffee at the sight. I’ll never forget how gorgeous it was.” He looked down at you, a look of pure adoration in his expression, the lights from the headline of the theater illuminating his complexion.

“And what was on this billboard?”

“You.”

Even though you already saw that answer coming, your smile grows, as well as the red hue on the apple of your cheeks.

“I thought to myself, ‘I have to go see this. I have to meet her somehow’.” He looks off into the night at the bustling streets, reminiscing on the day he bought tickets for himself and his daughter and surprised Gabriella with front row seats.

“And look at me now,” he looks back down at you, his lips curled into a warm smile, “I’ve got the gorgeous girl from the billboard in my arms.” You pretend to think, pursing your lips, “Ohhh, I don’t knowww, did you get the girl?”

Miguel’s smile widens, a twinge of mischief in his look. “You’re completely right. I need to take you out first. Tomorrow, after the show. I’ll pick you up right here.” He says it more as a statement than an offer. It makes you swoon. You love a man that can name a time and place. Once again, Miguel hasn’t failed to make you a blushing, giddy mess, despite your efforts to play it cool.

“O-okay. Where to?”

“It’s a surprise.”

You shy away, smiling at the cement beneath you two, but not for long since Miguel lifts your chin. “I wish I can take you home with me, preciosa,” he pouts, “And as always, you were amazing.”

You blush even harder now even though the cold has made you pink in the face already.

“Pare ya (stop already), You’ve told me millions of times before.” “Nunca (never). I’ll tell you a million times more, muñequita (doll). And I wasn’t just talking about the show, either,” He speaks more quietly, the bass of his voice tickling your insides, “And our little performance in the dressing room… fuck… Me hará pensar en ti y ese cuerpo toda la noche (gonna have me thinking about you and that body all night). M’gonna miss my pretty girl tonight.” He coos. You’re submerged even more in his muscles and chest, his lips planting kisses on top of your head. The overdose of physical touch and praise was making you dazed.

The combination of Miguel’s smooth voice and his pet names for you have you butterflies. You genuinely felt like the most fragile, ethereal being in his big, warm arms. You melted into goo in his arms. It was almost strange how warm Miguel was, like a human heater, but you weren’t complaining. You didn’t want him to leave. You wanted to go home with him and cuddle this big softy more than anything else.

You got on your tiptoes, leaning your head back slightly so as to give him better access to your chilled lips, “dame un besito?” (Give me a kiss?) You ask with a pout and pure innocence which made Miguel weak in the knees. And how could he deny his pretty girl? He’d give you anything you wanted. “Claro que si, mamita.” (Of course, mami). The crisp cold air on your lips is consumed by his luscious lips on yours. You could’ve taken this moment and put it in a movie, It was so romantic. His hand not only offered warmth to your face, thumb caressing your cheek, but it also was the icing on the cake to the most cinematic moment of your life… and you’re an actor.

“Mmm, Imma miss you, too. Oh! And thank you so much for the necklace! It’s absolutely amazing and I love it. You didn’t have to do that!” Your fingers play with the Swarovski diamonds. “Denada, princesita, (your welcome, princess), and there’ll be plenty more after that,” you scoff, smiling at the floor again, “I’m serious. You’re gonna have to get used to it.” He lifts your chin again, demanding eye contact.

“You’re stuck with me, sweetheart.”

“I guess I could live with that.” You giggle.

You both arranged your plans for tomorrow before exchanging one last tender kiss goodnight. Miguel waits for you as you go back inside to grab your things. He doesn’t go into his car until he sees you leave and enter the subway station. He didn’t like you using public transportation, especially this late at night, but after promising him that you’re literally only a 15 minute train ride away and that you’ll call him once you get home, he allowed it. Even though he repeatedly told you it wouldn’t be an issue to take you home, you still didn’t want to be a bother since you knew he also still had to drop off his mother.

He was now on his way home, after having dropped off his mother at her place, you being the only thing on his mind. Gabriella, sitting in the back, was knocked out. He thinks about how he won’t be getting any sleep tonight, but is happy to see Gabriella is getting her rest.

He thinks about what y’all had done in your dressing room. How good you were for him. You looked so pretty for him, all shy and spread out for him on your vanity. It amazed him how perfectly you fit. Like you were made for him. 4 years without sex. He had to try and reel it back in a couple times while y’all fucked. He wanted to be gentle with you, knowing it was your first time. He wanted to make it special for you, because you deserve nothing less. Had y’all been together for a bit or so already, he would’ve ravaged you until you couldn’t walk. It was so hard having to control all that pent up sexual frustration. He knew he was thirsty for good pussy, but he didn’t truly realize just how badly he needed it until he had you. Now, he wanted more. You had him hooked.

But then he thought about you. Just you being you. Your little laughs, your soft smile, your slight accent. The way you speak. The mannerisms that were unique to you. The way you think. The way you walk. As if you weren’t perfect enough, the way you treat Gabriella was nothing short of heart warming. Anyone else would’ve dismissed her hyper personality, but you handled her with such grace. You were too good to be true. He felt so lucky. He was sent back to his high school days when he would crush on a girl. He wanted so badly to be with someone again; to be soft with someone after a long, hard day at Alchemax. To spoil someone. To take naps with someone. To come home to someone’s arms. Hell, he might’ve been too prideful to admit it, but he wouldn’t mind being babied by someone every day occasionally. For someone to melt away his stress and to tell him how good he’s doing. To have someone’s chest to bury his face into after having to deal with people all day long. Someone to break down his walls again. Someone he feels safe with. He won’t be able to sleep tonight because he knew that, for the first time in a very long time, he won’t be so lonely anymore. He hadn’t felt like this since, well, his first marriage.

A part of him did feel bad, a guilty feeling looming over his conscience the day he met you and fell head over heels. He didn’t want to forget his first wife or betray her memory in any way. His mother had told him in the car before being dropped off that he was allowed to find love. She reassured and validated him, which made him feel a bit better. She told him how his previous wife wouldn’t want to watch him live his life alone. He deserved to be happy. Conchata also would’ve been pissed if he didn’t cease the opportunity of a lifetime, so that there was also some motivation.

If he was being honest with himself, he was beginning to think that he’d live the rest of his life on his own, as a single father, and he was sort of okay with that. It was either that or finding the most perfect partner, settling for less simply for the sake of not being alone wasn’t an option. He would’ve been happy with Gabriella’s love. She was his whole life. You were just a miraculous bonus. You were that perfect someone. You reminded him of what the adrenaline of crushing on someone felt like. For the first time in four long, lonesome years, you gave him a chance at love again.

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

Gabriella has been tucked in, some reports from the lab have been looked over, and now Miguel has just gotten out the shower, wearing only some pj pants. He runs a towel over his hair, lazily drying it, then hears his phone go off.

Knowing it’s you, he nearly jumps for it.

“Hola, preciosa, You home yet?

You ok?”

His voice sounds worried. When you didn’t call when you said you would, he immediately started thinking the worst.

“Yes, yes, I just got home!

The train broke down

midway, we were all

waiting there for almost

an hour.” You groaned.

“I was getting worried,

Mama. I’m just glad your safe.

Nothing happened on the way?”

“Nothing happened,

really, I’m fine, Miguel!”

“I just wanna make sure.

Next time, I’m taking you home.”

“Ay, Miguel, no impieces,

the subway is fine for me-“

“Well it’s not for me.

No me molesta, really.

Yo quiero.”

You let out a sigh.

“Please? At least for

the nighttime?”

“So you’re gonna drive

me halfway across the

city after every show?”

“Mhm.”

You take a beat. This man was honestly so good to you.

“You’re crazy.”

“About you.”

“Yea, I can tell.”

“Uhuh, I know you’re smiling

on the other end.”

“No I’m not.” Yes you were.

“no mientas, nena.”

“or what?”

Yup. You’re gonna play that game.

“Oh? Or maybe I’ll have to

come over there n’ teach

you a lesson, eh, beba?”

“I wish you would. I

miss you already.”

“Aw, yea? dime

que extrañas, princesa…”

“Oh, I dunno…”

“You’re absolutely adorable,

you know that?

C’mon, baby, you don’t have to be

shy on me now. You’re

safe, mama. Dimelo.”

“Oh, alright… I miss how safe

n protected you make me

feel… how small you

make me feel in your

arms… wish you were

here with me, papi.”

“Aw, sweet heart….

say that again for me.”

“Want you here with me,

papi… Make me feel so

good.”

“Mhm… sigue hablando,

mamita.”

“Quiero sentir esas manos

grandes por todo mi cuerpo.”

“Mm, algo mas, beba?”

“Mm… mhm…” your breathing

seems to become labored.

“usa tu palabras, nena.”

“Mmngh… want you on top of

me, daddy… want that big

cock of yours so baaad.”

“Mmfuck baby, I know, I know,

soon though… shit… gonna take

you out for dinner tomorrow and

as soon as I take you home…

o-oh fuck… gonna destroy that pussy

all night long like the good girl you are.”

“Please, pretty please, I can’t

wait… so wet at just the thought…”

“fuck…yo se, mamita,

pero for tonight,

need you to play with that pretty

pussy of yours for me, mkay?

Got me stroking my dick at the

thought of your wet pussy.”

“not…. Not enough,

Miggy…”

“Awww, pobrecita, so

needy…. Imma make it up to you,

‘kay? I promise, baby.

Gonna make you sit on my face

until I’m drenched…”

“God, yes…”

“-n ima fuck that tight little pussy

over n over again until you

can’t think anymore. Gonna have

you bouncin on my thick cock n tell you

how pretty you look on it.”

“But my pussy needs you now,

daddyy... “

“Coño, mami, just

keep trying for me, ‘kay?”

“I wantchu to

fill me up. My fingers

aren’t enough.”

“Aw, Need daddy’s fat cock

that badly, huh?”

“Mhm, so dumb for it.

Just wanna be your…

Oh my god…. Your lil cock slut.

wantchu to ruin me.”

“Mmnnshit… que nena sucia

tu eres, coño. Why don’t you

use a toy for me, hm?

Pretend it’s me stretchin’

you out, bebita.”

“Okay… oohhh… Mmm…Miguellll, ”

“Atta girl, you’re doing so good

for me, f- fuck! Papi

needs you, too, sweetheart-”

“Papi, I’m close…”

“Let it out for

me, baby, let yourself

feel good, Mm?”

You then let out soft whimpers and moans as you pump your toy in and out of you, riding your high.

“Fuck, you sound so fucking

pretty, princess.

Be a good girl for me and

send me some pictures and

videos, yea?

Show me what you’re doin to

that cute cunnie over there.”

“Ungh, o-okay, papi,

I will.”

“Aww, that’s a good girl,

so perfect for me. No puedo esperar

para comerte y tenerte todo para mí.”

After you came on your fingers, you sent Miguel a couple photos and videos of you spreading yourself for him. You’ve never done this before, so this was a total experiment for you, your blush the deepest red it’s ever been. You weren’t sure what angles to use or how to position yourself, but regardless of your worries, you made art, and it was art that Miguel had loved and saved to a private folder to look back on in the future. He’s def looking at them at work tomorrow. You bit your lip to find messages of photos and clips of his own massive cock in his equally large fist, his seed splayed out on his thick thighs and across his sculpted v-line, the sight making the heat between your legs ache once more. It made you salivate.

gracias a dios por este hombre que bellamente has creado y me has dado.

(Thank you god for this man you so beautifully created and given to me).

You think tonight will be a night for falling asleep with the help of your rose toy again. But that’s ok.

Miguel will definitely make it up to you the next day, and that was a promise.

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

Hope u liked it!!!

Also rlly hope y’all like Conchata, she’s supposed to give kind of cool mom/rich grandma vibes.

She def has those mysterious strawberry candies that live in the bottom of her Louis bag, always ready to give to the kids.

Like I said, Miguel only knows peace n happiness in my mind palace, and so he’s gonna have a good mom bc I want him to <3 Gabriel is still his brother as well, I’ll talk about him later tho 👀

Anyways, see y’all in the next chapter!!!

Mwah!!! Xoxo

Cutie patootie taglist:

@honey-eyed-munson

@migueloharastruelove

[blorbologist]

look, ima just say that yes, the cast understands their characters best - but they are not writers, and might not know how to best get those traits across to their audience.

My brother is like, the ideal target audience for a new fan. Big nerd into anime and mature animation already, a fan of several of the VAs and has a smattering of D&D experience. He absolutely loved seasons 1 and 2! In fact, his favorite characters in s1 were Grog and Keyleth, and I believe that held true in s2 as well.

While live chatting to me watching s3, he was so frustrated by how stupid and childish she was acting. He's completely naïve to C1 (but has endured some C2 when my dad and I would watch together). Without me to explain the complexity and depth of her in the campaign, he's gone from absolutely loving a character to loathing her appearance on screen because the writing did her so dirty in ways that are, frankly, easy to spot and easy to fix. Telling him how Keyleth was in the campaign was heartbreaking - he found it so cool! That was the character he found so interesting!

But whoever she was, she wasn't apparent in s3 Keyleth.

He also called Raishan 'the worst schemer (archetype)' he' ever seen, and enjoyed bitching about episode 10 with me more than he did watching it, soo...

I use Keyleth as an example because she' the most relevant one, as a favorite of my brother’s and having been done so dirty this season. But it applied to... a lot. From the friendships to the character choices to just the whole structure of season 3.

It's one thing to know Keyleth is strong, and angry, and feels responsible for her people, and doesn't trust Raishan. It's another thing to communicate that effectively - and this goes for everything and everyone else this season too. You just hear more vocal complaints from fans who know the show because they have, right there, a blueprint for how these inner conflicts and personalities were shown very well, and so have easy examples for how it could have been done better.

But hey, how dare we engage with s3 as a work of art on par with s1-2 instead of turning our brains off, right? The campaign will always be there - as a reminder that this season definitely lost new fans and those that stay will walk away with carricatures of the characters compared to what they were in s1-2. Look - genuinely beautiful battle sequence! 😍 I have no concept of storytelling or writing and clap in delight at the third Ripley fight of the season! Wahoo!

(Ignore that all that gorgeous animation and score were not enough to keep my brother invested when he, a member of the target demographic, started getting annoyed by the writing. Nothing is worse for art than being annoying.)

[phyrestartr]

Simple Things [3] - Miguel O'hara x Male!Reader

# Mild NSFW, fluff, comfort, flirting, light angst, male!reader, dad!reader, spider!reader, implied depression, mentions of trauma, mentions of past relationships, mentions of manipulation, old men just doing their best, miguel is a sweetheart and a nerd, multi-part drabble collection

[ 1 ] Smoke Break | [ 2 ] We Change Like the Seasons | [ 3 ] Meet the Kids

Notes: Covid is still kicking my ass but I wanted to finish this part off so I can make the reader and Miguel fuck in the next part wahoo \o/

-- Meet The Kids --

A girl walked into the lab. Miguel thought maybe Gwen or another spider had come to ask something of him or to steal one of the cookies from his desk console (wouldn't be the first time), but the lazy scuff of shoes on polished floors sounded too clumsy to be one of his agents. She wasn't wearing a suit either, Miguel realized after sparing a glance over his shoulder; she did, however, sport a day pass on a small wrist. 

"And you are?" Miguel asked before turning back to his screens. He wasn't really in the mood for conversation while he tracked the next anomaly, but he couldn't say he wanted some random kid to be touching his stuff in his lab. 

"I dunno. Who're you?" Ugh. 

The clattering of something hitting the floor made Miguel's eye twitch. He took a breath. "I'm the guy running the show here." He closed screens with gruesome scenes of destruction, hiding them from the prying eyes of the innocent in the room with him. "And I'm the one who's about to call your guardian." 

She scoffed. "My guardian?" 

"Whichever spider dragged you into HQ and let you off your leash with a day pass." Miguel spied her out of the corner of his eye, but didn't have the decency to face her. "Lyla. Scan her." 

"You got it, buddy." 

"Woah, wait–!" The girl gasped as a warm orange light washed over her, flickering across her entirety before vanishing. "Dude." Despite the attitude, her voice trembled faintly. Miguel almost felt bad. But she touched his stuff. Not his fault. 

Lyla whistled and adjusted her sunnies as she leaned into a tiny screen of her own. "Oooh, you're gonna love this, Miguel–" 

"Miguel?" The girl repeated. "Like…the guy Dad talks about?" 

A clairvoyant feeling overwhelmed the spider, probably the same way spidey senses hit the normal spider-people around him. Somehow, he knew who she was, who her dad was before Lyla even said it. 

"Yep, that's (Name)'s kiddo," Lyla chirped. 

Miguel looked at the girl. He really looked at her this time, feeling some sort of stupid with how much she looked like you; her hair was fluffy and unkempt in the same shade yours was, the shape of her nose was like a smaller, cuter version of yours, too. Then there were her eyes. That same hazy hue of uncut gems, a colour of protective dullness that hid something brilliant and effervescent from the outside world. 

"(Name)'s kid," Miguel repeated. Your name felt comfortable on his tongue these days. "Kid, I–what're you doing here? Where's your dad, huh?" 

The girl, very clearly looking around the room to try and spot the elusive Lyla, shrugged. "I 'unno." 

Colour Miguel unimpressed. "Oh, you don't know. Good. Great." He tutted before running a hand through his hair. "Lyla, call the kid's dad–" 

"He's sleeping!" She blurted. "You can't just, like, wake him up; Dad never gets to sleep." Her arms crossed tightly over her chest as her cheeks puffed. "And my name's Isabella, y'know." 

Miguel's dark brow raised in question. "Isabella." Said with a Latin accent. Interesting. Miguel's chest felt tighter. "If your dad's asleep then he probably left you with someone." He looked at her expectantly. 

Isa shrugged again and scuffed her worn soles against the floor. "Mr.Parker didn't notice. He's watching Natalie and Nico and May 'n whatever. So. Yeah." 

Mr.Parker? Oh. "Hm. He babysit you a lot?" God, Miguel should stop asking questions, but curiosity and that damn attention deficit had him by the throat. He turned around and folded his arms over one another, too, before leaning back against the stage console to speak with Isabella properly. 

"Ugh, why are old people so–so freaking annoying? I'm not a baby, I don't need anyone to watch me." Ah. Of course. 

"Oh, wow, ah-huh, yeah. Sure. I'm sure your dad agrees." Her amateur glare wrought a smirk out of him. Would he have argued with Gabi like this? 

Miguel cleared his throat and turned back to the console, reaching for another cookie absent-mindedly. "Look, you can stay here until your father comes to get you, but you have to stop touching things. Got it?" But Isa only grumbled and scuffed her feet again. "Isabella." 

"Uuugh. Fiiine." The girl plopped down into an old rolling chair. Miguel tried not to twitch. He would not snap at a child for breaking his chair, he would not do that. Absolutely not. 

Not even one minute of silence passed before the kid rolled closer to the centre stage Miguel stood at. "Sooo you're, like, my dad's boss or something?" 

"Guess that's the easiest way to put it." Miguel peered at the girl from the corner of his eye. 

"Okay, but what's the hardest way to put it?" Isabella wiggled and sat backwards on the chair, hugging the backrest as she scooted around the lab. "Are yooou…friends?"

Miguel shrugged. "I'd say so." 

"Hmmmm. Are you more than friends?" 

His eye twitched again. "Do you interrogate every adult like this?" 

Isabella huffed. "Uh, he made you cookies. It's sooo not weird to ask if you're, like, a thing." 

"A thing." 

"Like boyfriends–" 

"Santa Muerte, I know what you mean, kid." 

"Okay." Silence fell for all of ten seconds. "I'm just saying–" 

Miguel groaned. "Can you stop talking for five minutes–" 

"--you'd be waaay cooler to have for a step dad than all the people Dad's been dating." 

"Yeah, well, I'm hard to beat." Oh, wow, did he just say that about himself? Christ. Miguel took a deep breath and tried to relax his shoulders with all his might. "That came out wrong. I–look, you need to just–he's dating?" Miguel cringed. It's not that he was interested in you like that, just…he was nosy, that's all. But he was incredibly aware of how that must have sounded to an equally nosy tween. 

Isabella perked up. "Uh, yeah. But everyone he dates ends up being suuuper crazy and weird. Like, it's reaaally bad." 

He shouldn't pry. He really shouldn't. "...Bad how?" Ay, Miguel. 

"Like, they're always super clingy or don't like kids or something. And, like, Nico and Nat had moms who had dads who super hated dad, so they gave him money to make him go away." Isabella nodded matter of factly. "That's what Dad said. He's super sure he's cursed or something. Granny was a bruja y'know." 

Miguel shouldn't be listening to this. He shouldn't be prying into your life through the conduit of a chatty kid. Asking you would be the better option, but this way was so much easier. It felt like he could finally get a grasp of what you'd been through, and maybe catch a glimpse of who you were behind the scenes. 

"Then what about your mom?" Miguel asked, crossing his arms and flicking his gaze back to the monitors. "That didn't happen with her?" 

An offended gasp burst from the young lady. "No! My mom was so not like that. She was Dad's girl!" 

"No kidding." Miguel hummed. He wasn't about to ask what happened to her. Spiderman never had an easy romance, never had an easy life. 

"Yeah! They fought in the war together, and her name's–" 

"Isabella." Your voice cut through the air like winter rain. Miguel almost got chills, and Isa squeaked before hopping off her chair and scrambling on the stage to hide behind Miguel. 

"Oh, look at that. Someone's in trouble," Miguel mumbled, mean smirk quirking the corner of his mouth. 

Isa glared up at Miguel. "Jerk."

"Isabella, quit bothering the boss," You groaned tiredly. Miguel's ears perked as the coo of a little one fluttered through the air. He turned and found you holding the littlest baby in one arm, and a toddler in the other, both incredibly K.Oed.

"M'not bothering him!" She protested. "I'm just hanging out!" 

"Cut the crap, you're probably complaining about school or about my love life or how I wouldn't get you a new phone or some shit." Miguel had to fight back a laugh. He'd never heard you so exasperated nor animated before. "And why the hell did you run off, huh? You had Pete freaking the fuck out." 

"I got bored! I just wanted to go look around!" Isabella pleaded with a puppy-level whine.

"Isa, this place, it's–it's not meant for people without powers. You could get hurt, alright?" You adjusted your grip on the two little ones in your arms. "And the lab is a whole 'nother story, Christ–" 

"It's fine, (Name)," Miguel cut in, turning to you. "She was fine." 

But the worry lines creasing your forehead didn't smooth quite as much as he wanted. "'Ppreciate it, Boss. But, I…" you trailed off, sighing softly. "Yeah. Just. Thanks. I'll, ah, get her out of your hair. Bet you've got work to do." 

Mija, let's go is what Miguel swore he heard come out of your mouth before Isa pouted and ran after you.

Mija. That word brought a world of hurt and comfort to his chest–the coincidence of Spanish on your tongue felt too…perfect, like you'd learned it just to shove it in his face. But Miguel knew better. 

Isabella. 

Mija. 

Your girl, Isa's mother, must have taught you. He liked that, for some reason. The idea of learning something new for a partner. What would you teach him if you were– 

Woah, woah, stop, Miguel. Stop. His ears turned hot. He worried at his bottom lip with fidgety hands before shaking his head free from such dangerous thoughts. 

Focus, he chanted to himself, you've got work to do. 

--

You decided you were sick that day. No, you weren’t really, but the headache chipping away at your skull suggested that, hey, maybe staying home for a day wouldn’t be a bad thing. You could use a break from dragging yourself around New York, searching for the next big scoop, the next tragedy to document and earn a living off of, too. 

So, there you were, in bed, with the tv in the front room playing some sort of movie that you’d heard a thousand times but never learned the name of, while your littlest, newest addition to the family starfished in a laze, his tiny tummy pressed to your broad chest. Your fingers lazily rubbed circles against his little back as he snoozed and drooled on your shirt. Somehow, the giggling and chattering of his sisters didn’t wake him up. Maybe the drumming of your heart, or the safety of a warmth he hadn’t known until now, drowned all of it out. 

He didn’t even stir when his sisters screeched.

You closed your eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. God, please just let it be a spider, please just let it be a spider. You sat up, holding your baby to your chest as you plucked a gun from the side table. You carefully set Nico down into the warmth of where you were laying before stalking to the door and whipping it open, gun poised and ready for–oh. A big spider.

“What the fuck, Miguel,” you hissed, beyond exasperated as you lowered the gun. “Why the–what–I could’ve shot you.” 

Miguel looked beyond bewildered, though some would say entirely bamboozled. He had his hands up like the police had them in his sights, his face was a combination of embarrassed, shocked and annoyed, and his claws had popped out in his flustered panic. His spiderman suit was still on, but he had that white hoodie thrown on top like it’d hide the fact he was spiderman. Hopefully it did. 

“I–” Miguel started.

“Ah-ah.” You cut him off like a dog misbehaving. “Girls?” Their heads popped up from behind the couch and you sighed in relief. “It’s alright, he’s a friend. From work.”

One of your daughters gasped. “It’s the weirdo that’s suuuper into dad!” Isabella cried, jumping out from behind the couch and pointing an accusatory finger at a very unamused-looking Miguel. 

“For the last time, I’m not–”

“You so are!”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are!”

“Yeah!” Natalie joined in, hopping up and down by her sister excitedly and pointing at the man they deemed guilty. “You are, you are!”

Miguel, probably halfway to an early grave, looked to you for help. But you flashed him a tight-lipped smile that said more than words could offer: perish. 

You let the girls hound him while you turned on your heel, heading back into the bedroom to sooth your stirring little boy. The gun found itself back in the drawer, safety on, magazine removed, before you scooped the tiny being into your arms and smooshed up against your chest. Your son quieted and clung to you. You left a kiss on the top of his head to welcome him.

"So," you started as you came back to the scene of the crime, "the hell're you here for, Boss?" You asked, completely unfazed by how the girls had corralled him onto the couch and had his hands in their own, their curious fingers pushing on his tendons and making his claws pop in and out. Honestly, you were pretty tempted to do the same. 

Miguel pursed his lips and ignored the gremlins on him as he looked at you again, something distant softening his features. 

"I, uh. I heard you were sick," he confessed with a small shrug. "Just thought…y’know." 

You hummed as you rubbed your son's back. "Huh. How'd you find that out?" 

"Peter mentioned it." 

"Pete doesn't know I'm sick." 

"Must've been Jess, then." 

"Jessie doesn't know either." 

Miguel was caught. His ears grew red before his cheeks did, and you smirked. Cute. Way too cute. 

"Lyla told me," Miguel grumbled, finally. 

"Ah. There it is. Not so hard to tell the truth now is it, Miggs?" You said with a Cheshire smile and a wink. "Good to know you've got your confidant spying on me." 

Miguel freed himself from the children and stood up quickly. "It's not--I'm not spying on you, I–you–" Miguel pursed his lips. "I don't need to explain myself." 

That made you laugh. "Relax, tough guy. I don't mind ya swinging by. Or, hm, guess I don't mind ya portal-ing in." Miguel didn't seem to think you were that funny, but thankfully Nico, in his haze of dreams, giggled at the right moment. "Nicky thinks I'm funny. You should take notes."

It didn't take much convincing to get Miguel to stay for dinner. You made him take a shower, though, and leant him some clothes to lounge in while you cooked everything from scratch. From scratch. Miguel couldn't remember the last time he had a home cooked meal. 

"Yeah? That's sad as shit," you remarked nonchalantly as you diced vegetables. "Tell ya what, you make it a habit of coming around, and I'll make sure I make extra for you, yeah? It's important to have that home cooked goodness for your soul 'n what not." 

Miguel felt his chest fill with something fluffy and warm. "Good point." But it wasn't, really. "Guess I'll have to make it a habit." He leaned back against the counter as he watched you prep everything. "Wouldn't want you putting in all that extra effort for nothing."

You twitched a bit of a smile and nodded. "My thoughts exactly." 

You spared a glance at Miguel. He looked calm, at ease, like the threat of the dimensions collapsing wasn't at the forefront of his mind for once. You thought, maybe, this might be the first time in a long time that he had his mind off work. Maybe he was doing that whole human thing and enjoying the present for a change. Jumping to conclusions wasn't really your style, though. 

Crimson eyes flickered, then, gazing towards the crib settled in your bedroom. He must've heard your little man stir. He must've wanted to do something about it, if his sudden shiftiness told you anything. 

"You mind checking on him?" You asked softly, knowing that, maybe, this was a big ask for a man who only had a phantom to tuck in at night. "He's fussy. Likes to be held." 

"You're sure?" The other man asked, brows furrowed in concern. 

"You kidding? If there's any guy I'd trust with my kid, it's you." You fiddled with the wrapper of the packaged chicken meat before ultimately stabbing it with a knife. "Go on. Before he starts crying." 

And Miguel wandered off to the little one. His voice had that sound to it when he spotted him, that kind of gentleness a man unlocked when he felt what it meant to be a father, a protector of a smaller soul. You listened hard for Miguel's smile, and felt your heart throb when you heard, "Hey, mijo. ¿Estas bien?" leave his lips. Your little boy cooed, and Miguel made a noise that sounded so frightfully domestic and dad-like, you thought you might perish on the spot, or fall in love in a second. 

Get it together, get it together. A deep breath steadied your blitzing nerves when Miguel came back to the kitchen, Nico in his arms, smooshed up against his chest. You stole a glance, smiling to yourself when you caught Miguel mooning over the lazy bundle of joy. 

You worked fast, feeling a weird, undeniable desire to talk after you had your army of children fed and sent to bed. Miguel didn’t leave your side, nor did he deign to put Nico down, not through soup and sandwiches, not through 20 questions hosted by Isabella and Natalie, and not through the moments alone where you herded the young ladies off to wash up before getting them to bed for the night. 

“Y’know, you’re gonna spoil that kid,” you said with a smile when you came back to find Miguel on the couch with your son. You sat down by him with a dad-like sigh and peered at the little one snoozing away. “He’s gonna demand you hold him every time you come around.”

Miguel huffed a laugh. “You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.”

“Hey, with arms ‘n pecs like that?” You pat one of Miguel’s impressive biceps to prove a point. “I get where he’s coming from. Lots of free real estate with good foundations.”

“Oh? You want me to hold you too?” Miguel offered, some sort of impish lilt lifting his voice as he looked over at you.

You fought back the urge to swallow. “Sure. If you’re offering.” But Miguel looked a little caught again, a little unsure of how much to tease and how hard to press, so you let him off the hook with a laugh. 

“Man, you really remind me of her.” You rested your head against the couch, maybe a little bit on Miguel’s shoulder, as you watched your boy sleep. “Liliana,” you amended, “Isabella’s mom.” 

Scarlet eyes flickered to you. Seems you caught his attention. “Liliana,” Miguel tested the name on his tongue slowly, thoughtfully. “Isabella’s mom.” And after another pause, he asked, “I guess she’s gone?”

“Gone. Yeah.” You blinked slowly, and let the words rotting in your lungs breach the surface: “I killed her.” Ah, maybe you said that with too much nonchalance, you worried, but Miguel’s low hum seemed to suggest otherwise. 

It felt good. You couldn't stop yourself from talking. “It was an accident, I guess. She was a scientist. Geneticist, I think. Made me into, well, whatever I am now.” You flexed your hand and looked it over, like the blueprints of your design were still hidden under tired skin. “‘Cause, y’know, I was a soldier, she said I was gonna be the next Captain America, but… that doesn’t matter. Anyway, side effects were bad, really bad. I freaked out, then--then, y'know.” You took a breath. “Killed my little girl’s mom.”

You chewed the inside of your cheek as you stared at nothing, sucked back into a daze and a trance you’d long forgotten about. But you remembered the blood, the screaming, the way you and those webs ignited and how the white lab coats all howled and screamed and popped. The scent of roasted flesh should have disgusted you, it should have knocked some sense into you and dragged you out of whatever episode you were having, but instead–

Your stomach growled, and you cleared your throat. 

“Yeah. That was a bad day.” 

“I get it,” Miguel said, and sounded like he meant it. “Guess something like that happened to me.” 

You peered up at him, glimpsing his conflicted, troubled look. 

“Yeah?” Thought Spiderman had a boring, normal story. Because, in totality, you were something more demented than just Spiderman, so your story was more fucked up than the rest. Maybe you were wrong.

“Yeah. I was–my research killed someone when I was trying to make them into, well, Spiderman.” Miguel sighed and shook his head, admonishing himself from the past. “I didn’t want to. I got pressured into it. Drugged when I wanted to quit. It was a mess.

“Tried to rewrite my DNA, and then a colleague shocked that up for me, and I ended up with the claws, the fangs, the–the everything. Slashed his throat by accident, got some other people killed when they tried to help me, killed some baddies when I didn’t mean to.” 

Miguel’s gaze turned to you. “So don’t think you’re alone.” 

“Huh,” you said astutely. “Guess you really meant it when you called us ‘miserable bastards.’”

“Takes one to know one, I guess.” Miguel’s shoulder shifted slightly, easing down so your head could rest more comfortably against him. Your chest swirled with errant embers, but you tried not to think too hard about it. 

“You said I reminded you of her. Of Liliana?” Miguel asked, quiet and tentative. 

You hummed. “Yeah. The good parts.” You smiled (when had that gotten so easy?) and reached over to brush some dark hair from Nico’s tiny forehead. “She was smokin’ hot.” 

“...Huh.”

“Way too smart for her own good,” you continued. “It's always the smart ones that get me, y'know? Anyway, she was sly 'n funny in a mean way, but hey, I like that shit. Maybe I'm a masochist." 

"So," Miguel started, shifting slightly to face you more, "let me get this straight. You think I'm 'smoking hot,' 'too smart for my own good,' and 'funny in a mean way'?" The grin on his face was too much for you to handle. Why did you feel so hot suddenly? Why was he so close suddenly?

"I think that sums it up." 

"Huh. Anyone ever tell you you're an asshole?" 

"Ouch. Okay, what if I throw in 'she was born to be a bangin' mom','' you offered, feeling a long-forgotten rush of excitement as you sat up and leaned in close, so close, your hand coming up to cup the side of his strong neck as you kept talking, "and that she made me feel somethin' for the first time in a long time?" 

You could feel Miguel's breath hitch in his throat as he measured the gap between you two, his eyes flicking down to your lips and back to your eyes in debate. You wanted to close it. With every inch of your being you wanted to take the plunge and crash your lips against his. 

But, with every fibre of your soul, you didn't want to fuck this up. You didn't have words for what this even was, but you cherished it. Sauntering down this line of friendship, of companionship, was better than taking the dive back into that world of icy yearning and wilting roses–this type of love, the platonic sort shared between brothers and men, was meaningful in and of itself. It was good enough.

Wasn't it?

You looked over his face, in disbelief with yourself. "Who am I kidding?" You whispered, letting your hand fall from his neck like a glacier shearing away from its home. 

A small, tired laugh crawled from your chest, and you rubbed your face. "I, uh, think I oughta call it a night. I'm gonna–I gotta tuck Nicky into his crib." And carefully, gently, you scooped up your monkey and whispered quiet thanks into his hair–your little man was the perfect scapegoat. 

What're you thinking? Careful hands pulled up the banana-patterned blanket over Nico's tiny form after you'd set him down in the cozy crib that he loathed so much. You thought it was nice and comfy. Hell, if you could fit, you'd probably snooze in there all day. 

"Good work today, Nicky. I think you made the big guy relax a little, y'know?" Your son cooed sweetly in his sleep, and your spirit lifted just slightly. It almost gave you the strength to go face Miguel after coming onto him so hard. 

Finding the last bit of courage yourself, you gave your boy one last kiss on the noggin and quietly snuck out, closing the door with utmost caution behind you, only to be pressed up against it a moment later, and smothered with a kiss. 

A bolt of lightning kicked your pulse into triple time as you kissed Miguel back. His hands caught you by your hips, and your arms hooked around his shoulders and pulled him in closer. The simple thing was exhilarating. He was exhilarating. The embodiment of strength and resilience, of power and intelligence, was crushing you up against a door and taking the air from your lungs with such ease. 

"Fuck," you gasped when you parted with a wet noise that sounded far too Hollywood. "You're not half bad." 

"You've got a talent for ruining the mood." Miguel scoffed and tilted your chin up. His half-lidded eyes drank you in as soft breaths left his parted lips. You wanted nothing more than to be eaten whole by him (was that weird?). 

"I got a few other talents, too," you purred, voice swirling with velvety dark chocolate. "But that might be too much for an old man like–" 

Your squawked indignantly when he scooped you up and hoisted you over his shoulder like you were nothing but a petulant child. Your hands scrabbled against his back, and a shocked bout of laughter bubbled up from your core as he slapped you on the ass hard. Was this real? Were you seriously getting manhandled and spanked by Miguel O'hara? 

Miguel almost threw you onto the couch, but you guessed the children snoozing in the next room over hampered that decision. 

"If there's one thing I'm never too old for," Miguel murmured lightly, almost condescendingly as he set you down on the couch and got on top of you, "it's sex." 

Your eager hands flitted across his taut muscles, too excited and undecided as to where to land first. "Thought you were too old to sleep around?" 

"I don't sleep around," Miguel corrected, letting you fill in the blanks. 

That helped you relax a little. "Yeah?" 

He looked so conflicted, a little embarrassed, too. But that was becoming more and more common these days, thanks to you. "Yeah." 

You nodded and reached a hand up to his cheek, and he leaned in graciously as a needy cat might. "Okay. Then I don't either." 

Miguel hummed, and turned to mark your palm with a little kiss. "Alright." 

"And maybe…we don't fuck tonight." His sleepy gaze found you again with one dark brow raised, surprised. "I'm, uh, I think I'm down pretty bad for you, Boss. I don't wanna fuck this up." 

And, truth be told, you wanted to give him some respite. Maybe you wanted to give some to yourself, too; Liliana and Dahlia danced through your mind so much these days, no thanks to the burgeoning fondness growing for Miguel. He reminded you of both of them, of Winter and Summer, of snow and flowers. But it wasn't fair, not to you or him, to compare him to the epitome of cold and the apex of warmth. You needed time, too. Time to learn how to compare him to no one.

Miguel smiled, small and sincere. You admired the fine lines crinkling the corners of his eyes. He looked so handsome when he smiled. You wanted him to do it more. Were you enough to make him smile more?

"Yeah. I don't want you to shock this up either," he said, and your brows raised, incredulous. 

"This is what I get for trying to be mature ‘n romantic, huh?” Your fingers drummed against the arms caging you in. You thought about chancing a finger-taser to his ribs, but with those damn claws of his, you were a little too worried about your couch cushions getting demolished.

His handsome smile turned into a punchable smirk. “What? I’m agreeing with you.” 

“Ah-huh, ah-huh, that’s all, hey?” You leaned up and kissed Miguel again, slower and tamer this time, but still burning with want. Ugh. Why did you have to try to be all mature and romantic? “You’re just being a good boy?”

Miguel’s hips twitched at that, and it was your turn to smirk. Oh, how the tables turn. 

“Lay down,” you ordered, sitting up to get out from under him. “Come on.”

“I–what?” He grumbled, looking a little befuddled and frustrated. Cute, cute cute. “Thought we agreed on–”

“Heavy petting’s not off the table, right?” You cut him off. Miguel perked a little bit at the suggestion and did as he was ordered, his hands finding your hips again as you took your turn straddling him. “Luckily for you, I’m an expert at the clothes-on experience.” You winked and Miguel sucked in a breath. 

“Show me.” He ordered, voice deep and gravelly.

And you did.

[fortuneravine]

official fortuneravine oc post

so you guys actually know who i'm talking about!! wahoo!!!!

Team Campfire - Fig (cyndaquil, she/any) + Chive (chikorita, she/her)

fig: not much of a talker, it's hard to get a read on her. her shyness gets read as being cool and mysterious, which she's fine with. content with her pokemon form, but takes a long time to get comfortable in it. has accidentally set more than a few things on fire

chive: much more outgoing than her partner, she does most of the talking for the team. very passionate about food and cooking, she hopes to open a cafe one day. always experimenting with random nuts and berries, with a little help from fig's flames

Team Obsidian - Mistral (totodile, she/they) + Cinder (vulpix, she/they)

mistral: seemingly has absolutely no sense of danger of self preservation, she's reckless and hardly ever thinks things through. scares the shit out of cinder on a daily basis by doing something stupid. a bit of a self-sacrificial idiot, they get it from grovyle

cinder: anxiety incarnate. absolute wet cat of a fox. she's wanted to be an explorer her whole life, but getting badly injured in a dungeon scared her away from it for a long time. much more calm and confident nowadays, getting dragged into dangerous situations by a certain gator forced her to get over a lot of her fears

Team Hydra - Ceru (oshawott, she/xe) + Olivine (axew, he/they)

ceru: the funny one. you may know her from my critically acclaimed shitposts. xe's the oshknwott that works at subway. didn't have a whole lot going for xem as a human, she's much happier with her life as a pokemon

olivine: ollie to his friends. absolute guy. kind to a fault. he loves to feel useful and help other pokemon, to the point they forgets to look after themself. loves his friends and will fight anyone who is mean to them

The Rapids- Mistral (totodile, she/they) + Basil (riolu, they/them)

mistral: yeah the same guy from team obsidian. don't ask me how that works in lore, i don't know. this version is a bit younger

basil: let's hear it for kids with Problems!!!! they're around 12 years old, with all the accompanying issues that come with being around 12 years old. they tend to come off as overly enthusiastic or annoying, they really struggled to make friends until mist came along. they put on a brave face, but they've got hella insecurities

[sciderman]

have you ever gotten some asks that make you think, "did this person even read the blog?" Like... Cause I feel like you would've at least gotten some cringey stupid asks at some point.

i actually know a lot of people that interact with my stuff very frequently that haven't read the blog! and i kind of don't blame them, it's – it's such a gargantuan task. i admire anyone that has read the whole blog. they're so strong. so sexy. kissing all of you insane folks on the mouth. it's not easy.

i do often get asks in the blog inbox that i've already answered ages ago - but that's par for the course - i'm excited there are new people who are jumping in. i certainly don't expect everyone to read everything - and i don't want these places to feel dismissive to people who haven't invested hours upon hours to do the back-reading!

i don't think there are a lot of people who interact with my stuff and don't have at least a little understanding about what i've got going on here - i think probably this place is definitely just a little bit disorientating for people who don't know just a little bit about 9319 and this specific version of wade and peter. and with how much of a task it is to read the blog and how tricky it is to keep on top of all of this and the fics and all of it - god, it's so insane to me just how many of you actually do invest into all of it, and do have all these profound headcanons and questions about this specific universe and. god. gooood. you're all insane. i don't expect any of you guys to be as insane as i am, but some of you are. and i love you.

i do remember a time when i'd get influxes of mcu-related asks, back when the mcu was in it's heyday but - thank god, that doesn't happen anymore. because the mcu is dying. wahoo! i had no idea i'd outlive the mcu, considering the mcu almost killed me (i went on hiatus after homecoming ruined everything) - but i have a feeling i'll be dancing on the mcu's grave fairly soon.

[enzie-ki]

OOC || UNCANNY COUNTER S2E4 THOUGHTS

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

glad we've got another furry lady (Gelly) to replace hyang-hui

If she hurts my baby I will break her acrylics

and also her spine

Pil Kwang and Mun are really just stranger things-ing it right now and I'm all here for it

It's giving eleven vs one but better because I like this show

Ah yes the power of a promise made you stronger good

how dare that man try and shoot chairman Choi if I snatch your weave this second

Gelly please stop with the scratching

So many problems would be stopped if people used their teeth as weapons

Getting choked? Bite. Getting held down? Bite. Jeok Bong I know you're new but please just bite her

MS SO IS BACK WOOHOO AND WONG IS GONE BOY GETCHA VAMPIRE LOOKIN-AHH OUT OF HERE

(he was kinda cool though)

oh damnit I forgot about the other Chinese counters

WAHOO MS CHU AND MS SO APPRECIATION

Chairman Choi you better thank Mun for saving you from that bullet

mo tak coming in with the tango disc pop off king

MS CHU WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU

CHAIRMAN CHOI IS SIMPING REAL HARD RN

DAMN ARE THEY GOOD AT DANCE

oh no jeok-Bong are you good

my poor baby noo

GELLY YOU DESERVED THAT I DIDN'T EVEN REALISE YOUR EYE WAS GONE BUT HELL IF YOU DESERVED IT

Pil Kwang why are you naked Pil Kwang why are you naked I don't care you just got out of the bath WHY ARE YOU NAKED PIL KWANG WHY ARE YOU

excuse me what is this wet monkey looking thing

you look like you smell of bin juice and petrol

STOP CORRUPTING MY MR. MA

STOP BREATHING IN HIS FACE TOO YOU'LL GIVE HIM BLACK LUNG

oh I really hope he doesn't get possessed but I have a very bad feeling he will

JEOK BONG WHERE ARE YOU

YOU BETTER NOT LEAVE ME NOOOO

GELLY YOU FURRY BASTARD YOU SCARED HIM

NOW HE FEELS WORTHLESS ASDAGFJGKGASHKHF

HE BETTER COME BACK

I swear if its because his pores are clogged that his power stopped working or because he got punched I will cry

Jeok-Bong's dad stop comparing your son, that happened to me and it was BAD

My poor baby UnU

SEONG-SIK YOU BASTARD

HOW DARE YOU PUT MY BABY IN DANGER

LEAVE HIM ALONE

LEAVE THE DAD ALONE TOO

ayo why does this man have so much blood in his nose

AHH HIS POWER CAME BACK

HE JUST HAD TO GET GUT IN THE NOSE AGAIN

HELL YEAH GET WRECKED YOU STINKY BASTARD

GET HIM BABY WAHOO

PUT COW DUNG ON THAT MAN

MMMMM Y'ALL IN YUNG BETTER BE CHEERING

WELL DONE JEOK-BONG

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

TO ETERNAL OIL HELL WITH YOU EVIL SPIRIT

AWWW JONG-GUK ISNT MAD GOOD

WAIT HE'S 21?

I SMELL MORE BS IN THAT STATEMENT THAN JEOK-BONG DOES AT WORK GOSH DAMN

THE BIG BROTHER STATEMENT

Aww him and his dad are bonding again finally

This is so wholesome I'm going to cry

MHM UR MAKING YOUR DAD PROUD JEOK-BONG

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

No because tell me why Mun has such a good fashion sense

And Mo-Tak too

And Ha Na

All of them actually

Gelly I regret to tell you but that steak is raw

I hope you get food poisoning

STOP MAKING CONNECTIONS DAMNIT

LEAVE MR MA ALONE

NOO IT'S THE EVIL OIL DEMON THING

LEAVE HIM ALONE

YOU AND YOUR MONKEY SOUNDING VOICE BETTER SINK BACK INTO THE OIL OCEAN

Mo-Tak please relax you're like three 9 year-olds in a trench coat

KWANG AND GELLY

YOU BASTARDS

EVIL OIL DEMON STUPID

LEAVE MY MR. MA OUT OF THIS

HOW DARE THE EPISODE END THERE

[drowning-poet]

Omw to write a wolfstar fic cause I had a great idea while writing random comments on my sociology text book jsndns

Some things abt it:

- COLLEGE AU (I swear i love that as someone who will go to uni NEXT YEAR)

- Chronically Ill Remus (idk if I'll name the illness cause I'm omw to be tested for some connective tissue disorders and im not sure what I have so I'll just give him my symptoms and maybe name it when I get the diagnosis)

- I feel like a he/they Sirius Black would be interesting idk I like that headcanon and im a nonbinary guy myself so idk

- CLASSICS MAJOR REMUS (cause 1. His name is literally Remus which is a classics ref. 2. That is the major im going for next year hehe)

- PHILOSOPHY MAJOR SIRIUS BLACK (I read it on a fic b4 and I actually think it's fitting, im pretty sure they are a "I discovered at a very early age that if I talk loud enough I can make anything right or wrong so either i am God or truth is relative. In either case, booyah" type of of guy)

- ace spec Remus Lupin (projection, my people), more specifically sex-neutral

- TRANS REGULUS WAHOO

- The Black Brothers went to therapy :]

- THE BLACKS INSTEAD OF BEING PUREBLOOD ASSHOLES ARE CHRISTIAN ASSHOLES FNFNFN (not every christian is a bitch, im talking about certain christians) cause ✨️religious trauma✨️, Gigi Perez and all that

- lots of books being quoted and discussed

- PLATONIC MOONWATER

- angst and Fluff, mostly Fluff but angst is commented

- i hate miscommunication, so I'll try to keep it at a minimum while still sticking to these dummies' personalities

- academic validation whore Remus and Regulus

- not sure if I'll do it Jilly or Jegulus, if I get too confused I'll do a jegulily dndnnd

- a lot of projection os remus especially regarding disabilities cause dude ITS BEEN HARD

- Regulus with my psych doctors trauma cause I swear it is not talked about enough sometimes (ITS IMPORTANT TO LOOK FOR HELP BUT SOME PPL ON THE FIELD ARE BEYOND STUPID)

- remus' scars are mostly by sh, but he has been clean for a few years. His face scar was caused by a fight he tried to break between two ppl when he was in 11th grade

- WALBURGA'S A+ PARENTING OFC

- bad parent Lyall Lupin and neglecting mother Hope Lupin

- AuDHD regulus black and james

- adhd Sirius and remus

-seriously thinking about either autistic or ocd lily but not sure how ill pull it off

- etc :]

[tunasama13]

Stupid analysis time yippie wahoo!!!!

If the theories are true, I have a feeling that Miguel isn’t really over Gabriella’s death like, at all. It looks to me like he’s going down a path of revenge and him being cold and angry is because of the constant reminder of his own failure to protect her and the grief he’s feeling.

Like, imagine on top of all of the stress of trying to keep the multiverse from collapsing (assuming she dies a bit before the film begins), your daughter is killed/passes away and you’re left to pick up the pieces. I’m not sure if Gabi’s mother is around either, meaning he’s most likely dealing with this all alone.

I don’t think he’d tell the Spider Society about stuff going on in his personal life, and I’m willing to bet the only ones who know are Lyla and Gabriel.

I think at some point, judging by that small clip, we’re going to see him watching videos of her and someone is potentially going to walk in and see that. As the clip looks like it’s from someones POV, my bet is either Gwen or Miles (an interview says that Miles will find heartbreak in Miguel, maybe this is what they’re talking about?).

My one concern that she’s not really his daughter but Gabriel’s (potentially this could mean both of them died?), which kinda sucks for me and all the other people who gave him angst for this very reason. I do recall a TV spot centered around the parents and neither Miguel or Jess showed up, so maybe they just meant active parents like the Morales’ or Peter B and MJ.

Either that, or she’s completely fine! :) But unfortunately, I don’t really think the very little context given seems to imply that :( Like all those videos (seeing how it’s apparentally file 11), and Miguel being broody and angry and talking about sacrifice and stuff.

Either way, I think it would be really cool to see ATSV tackle losing a child and how it affects the parents. It seems we have a theme of parenting in this movie, with focus on Rio and Jefferson, George Stacy, Peter B, and Jess Drew. I’m excited to see how this will all play out in 2 weeks!

[sssammich]

for the ask game: ❤️🧡

wahoo thanks friend

also okay im back from dinner so let's see

im gonna go with ouat because we were talking about it the other day

there isn't just a regular red heart so im gonna pick the broken one

💔: If you had to remove one major character from the series, who would you choose?

snow white? god im sorry but i cannot get on that bandwagon lmao i just also found her super grating im so sorry to you MM but you are the weakest link

honorable mention goes to robin hood whom i use for 'men-as-literary-plot-device' i just mm cannot care about u my guy regina deserves better (not even emma but just like in general)

🧡: What is a popular (serious) theory you disagree with?

lmao well the thing is that this show has been over for like idk a million years so are there even any theories left. im a such a latecomer. so instead im going to blatantly disregard this and think about who fell first and who fell harder

in my not-so-expert-but-still-humble-opinion, i just think that regina fell first because emma was such a departure from the routine and roteness of her life. of course she very much threatened the entire thing for regina but in general i believe that homegirl felt the feels early on. she, of course, denied it to herself and all the hearts in her vault but we know the truth. there are a lot of fics that jump to the opposite with emma falling first, but i just don't know if she'll catch on as fast. i'd like to give her a bit more credit than just being an oblivious dummy, but i don't think that she would process these feelings until it's time to process them. in which case, when she does, i do think she fell harder because it just smacked her all at once and she basically just lets it overwhelm her (affectionate). that's when she gets a little stupid, but that's how i imagine it. thanks for coming to my ouaTED talk

ask game

[elllteo]

🎹 🙌 🍀sends u these for whichever oc u wanna do!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAHOO LETS SEE

🎹 : Do they have any hobbies?

Matteo - He writes his own music and also plays a few instruments! He wanted to go into music production for college, but that never worked out. He also really likes to write - he writes buffy the vampire fics, and many of them are self insert or smutty LMAO. He'd get into x-files too once someone showed it to him :)

Ellis - He does embroidery! His mother taught him and he's really into it. He also watches trashy soap operas - and he draws, but most people don't know it and wont get a chance to see it. He's very good - he would've done something more arts or sports related if his father hadn't pushed him towards being a detective u_u

Blake - He cooks (if you consider his chefly abominations cooking). He doodles. He games like a gamer. He causes fights on purpose. But more than anything. He likes to take pictures :)

Vance - Classical music enjoyer and also Hyperpop enjoyer. Hobby wise....he works. gfkjshdf He's worse than Ellis.

Julia - Walks...she likes to wander a lot, but in doing so, she often gets lost. fgkjshdflgk They've had to track her down a few times before her phone battery died. Dangerous game she plays.

🙌 : How many siblings do they have?

Matteo & Blake - Siblings!! Except they have like 5 more half siblings they don't know about and probably never meet!!! Thanks mystery-dad! :D

Here's them being stupid little rat-creature-babies when they're supposed to be in BED

Ellis & Erin - They're the only siblings they have. And also really the only close family left, either. Sadge :(

Travis - He has two sisters who are twins...I still need to make them tho so shhhh FGFKLSJHDF

Vance - An only child if you don't count...whatever she is. Or the ones before.

Julia - Her mother and fathers least favorite only child.

🍀 : What inspired this oc?

Okay this is a fun question bc I drop the Matteo lore every chance I get bc its so funny to me. Ferret inspired little man. But the truth is, the others...all came about because the world Matteo resides in, needed them?

LIKE GFJKSHGFL He is the sun around which the ocs I have created rotate even if they don't really ever interact, bc through him I start thinking about gaps in the world or things that would be fun to add. He's the filter and everyone who appears is condensed little nuggets of an idea.

Vance exists because he needed a Boss. In needing a Boss, Vance's storyline also very nicely added up to being a catalist.

Julia exists because the plot needed a hook. Because of that, she's developed into something more, and my wife and I are actually in the middle of reworking her purpose to better fit agency into her whole situation.

Others came about for similar reasons - what is this story missing, and who can I fit into it to help fill it out?

From there idk. I just take elements that feel like the right "vibe" from the mental library in my brain and fiddle with it until it looks/feels right....it's not often a very directly-inspired-take??? Moreso I'm not often entirely aware of the influences going into the oc, bc I do it based on vibes KJKJGHSLKDJF

I hope that helps bc I don't really have direct inspiration for other ocs!!!

Vance looks like slender man I guess but that's more an unintentional side effect of him being Wrong and arriving at the same kind of place. Divergent evolution or something??? LMAO

[possumteeths]

First line meme

Rules: post the first sentence of your last ten fics. If you haven’t written ten fics, share as many first sentences as you have.

Tagged by @miniature-space-hamster ✨

I have a feeling that all of my recent works are going to be so telling about my descent into house of wax madness.

Empty Wrapper Pretty Face: Bo Sinclair x Reader, there's a gloryhole. He gets edged and has to punch a wall like a toddler about it.

The bathroom key in your hands is attached to what you think is a gator’s foot trapped in yellowed resin.

Fate, up against your will: Slumberparty Massacre 2's Driller Killer x Reader. Very silly. It really is a slasher movie where the killer is in love with the final girl.

You have a crush on your guitar tutor and it’s starting to get embarrassing.

Hey girl, are you a livestock farmer? Cause you really raise my meat: Bubba Sawyer x Reader in a Dead by Daylight setting. Big cannibal is a big puppy actually. He thinks ur skin is very nice and he kinda wants to wear it but also you have some rlly nice boobs. This one was a commission and I loved every moment of writing it.

It’s not often that the cannibal thinks of home.

Hand in Unlovable Hand: Bo Sinclair x Reader. Exploring his mommy issues. Wahoo.

Bo doesn’t believe in ghosts, but his mother didn’t seem to give a shit about that.

After crying wolf for the third godddamned time, you start to sound a little repetitive: All tha sinclairs x Reader. You're a rougarou and you've crashed into corpsetown to give these losers a run for their money.

You’re hungry.

Girls Rule Boys Drool: Billy Lenz x Reader. Phone freak gives you a horny kinda gross phonecall to whack off. You bully him about it. He meows and you laugh at him.

Billy’s not sure where he is.

Girl, who taught you how to use a fuckin' iron?: Bo Sinclair x Reader. captain asshole is mad about something or other. Sigh. More horny crimes you suffer through in corpsetown.

While twisting his hand in your hair, Bo can't help but think that you looked like a fucking mess.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better: Brahms Heelshire x Reader. Brat x Brat showdown. He finally gets some pussy in this fic so good for him.

The fridge door opened with a damning noise and Brahms resisted whimpering while a sudden spike of terror threatened to stab him in the gut.

They'll Pay You A Thousand For A Kiss & .50 For Your Soul: Bo Sinclair x Reader. Ur in the basement babes. It sure is horny but at what cost.

For the first time, you noticed that the camcorder in your basement prison was duct-taped to the wooden dowels your captor used as a tripod.

Mirror to Mirror: Homelander x Reader. You're an ehoe camgirl, who's whole gimmick is being homelander and using Vought brand toys. He thinks its a huge compliment because he is stupid.

A little notification at the top of Homelander’s web browser helpfully told him that he’d visited this particular page close to a hundred times at this point.

Yeah. For my last ten fics, there are FIVE that are Bo x reader. I have a problem. bjhgfkglyv.

Tagging: @ventiswampwater @visceravalentines @gaeadene @butterbabyflapjack @flaggermuser

Anyone is welcome to say I tagged them and tag me in this challenge lol!!

[oh-no-another-idea]

Find the word in the wip (these titles grow so old after a while)

Today’s tag is from the lovely @asher-orion-writes! Thank you, pal :) 

(From a fic I’m editing) 

Tired:

Steve says, “Good,” crossly, because it hurts and he’s dirty and tired and fucking peeved his leg is broken in more than one place. It’s a Wednesday, for God’s sake. These things should be illegal on a Wednesday.

Dry:

He does, in the end, get soaked. Humming as loudly as possible under his breath as he runs [through the rain], helps. Whispering nonsense helps, the sort of stuff that would get him thrown in the loony bin if there was anyone around to hear him. Turning the corner, I’m turning the corner, I’m warm and safe and there are no grenades around…and there’s a cross street, and there’s another one…look at that stupid mailbox…I’m not sinking, I’m not freezing, I’m running, and soon I’m going to be dry…

“I’m surviving,” he says out loud, finally collapsing on his front stoop and unlocking the door with shaky hands. It’s not much, not by a lot, but…it’s what I do.

(From The Invisible Girl)

Warmth:

“I’m just resting,” Lewis retorted, voice muffled. “Stop looking at me.”

Antonio just grinned at him. Velia had a feeling if they’d been sitting next to each other Antonio would be nudging his shoulder and ruffling his very non existent hair.

Paris leaned over and whispered, “Do you think if he got drunk enough, he’d quit dancing around and tell [Lewis] how he feels?”

Velia could feel the warmth emitting from him, like he was feverish almost, the pinks of his cheeks contagious. Apparently if Paris got drunk enough, he’d start spouting the truths that everyone else turned a blind eye to.

Lips: (aaah the blossoming bud of friendship. over sandwiches)

Antonio yanked a piece of something deep pink out of his sandwich. A beet slice? “Ms. Greene, I feel that your egg [in sandwiches] opinions may change my life.”

Thrown, Velia realized she was smiling the tiniest bit, and promptly stopped. “Oh. It was just—I think they’re the devil’s own. That’s all.”

Lips turning darker purple by the minute, Antonio leaned back against his headboard. “I’ll eat all your boiled eggs, Velia dear.”

“You’d eat anything,” Velia teased without thinking.

Antonio only proved her point by slurping more beets.

And wahoo, tags for everyone and anyone! New words are: vivid, orange, bloom, and remember 🧡 Also, if you’re interested-- @sleepyowlwrites @sleepy-night-child (antonio and sandwiches for you guys with bonus steve rogers lol)

[stevensavage]

Dungeons and Marios: Honor Among Brothers

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, Steve's Tumblr, and Pillowfort.  Find out more at my newsletter, and all my social media at my linktr.ee)

I consider the films Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and the Super Mario Brothers movie to be successes as good films. I found them both enjoyable, but also find that both of them work because the people behind them made similar choices.  There’s a lot of lessons there, and you know me, I’m definitely going to write it down. 

Let me pause to note I do not consider them to be of equal quality.  The Dungeons and Dragons movie is fun, emotionally resonant, and both grand yet very human.  The Super Mario Brothers film is a fun romp with some clever choices, but not as deep.  But the lessons - even where they both don’t succeed - are illustrative.

So how did two different films do same things, let’s take a look.  There are of course spoilers here, so here there be dragons (or Koopas).

Be Fun and Entertaining

Both movies are actually fun.  There’s action, there’s jokes, there’s actors and actresses giving it their all.  I had a good time at both. Super Mario Brothers was so snappy and tight I didn’t even take a break.

Fun can be forgotten, especially when you already have other things on your mind like adaption.  But you have to give people a reason to pay attention beyond “hey I adapted this.”  Be it Chris Pine being a charisma bomb or a brain-twisting Mario scene where the infamous Rainbow Road is realized, give people a reason to enjoy it.

You can also tell people enjoyed making them, both have a joy to them.  Which probably says a lot about why they work as well.

Don’t Run Away From What You Are

The Dungeons and Dragons film is just like the games - not the books.  A group of confused dumbasses get into trouble and save the day.  It feels like a gaming session, right down to bad luck and unwise choices.

The Super Mario Brothers movie is colorful, bright, and strange. There are moments it has homages to the games and gameplay, but outside of those it runs on a kind of game logic.  It feels like a game and doesn’t apologize at all.

This is what people came for.  I do not come wanting an explanation of Mordenkainen’s magic or how to use a Fire Flower.  I want to see hypercompetent stupidity and someone yelling “wahoo” he stomps on evil turtles.  And I got it.

Use It But Don’t Overexplain

Dungeons and Dragons brings decades of history, rules, rules changes, rules arguments, novels, adaptions, and more.  What do you do with that?  Well, it’s raw material but you tell a story first - ten minutes of rules are boring but the sorcerer Simon struggling to “attune” to a magical item is interesting because it’s about a person.

Meanwhile the Mario film inherits a disjointed series of games and events without an exact timeline or even consistency.  The film takes a pile of stuff and forges it into a setting but also doesn’t explain it much.  Power ups just exist - what matters is how you use them.  An industro-solarpunk kingdom of apes just exist - what matters is if you can make them allies.  Tell a story - besides people already bought into the premise of plumbers teleported to this cartoony realm anyway.

The stuff you adapt is fuel for an actual story.

Get A Cast That Works

Want a good adaption?  Get a cast that will embrace the roles and bring things to life so people feel and enjoy the film.  Even the best script is nothing without the right cast.

Dungeons and Dragons cast is stellar.  It’s like a movie filled with leads that just happens to center on Chris Pine’s bard, Edgin.  From the humor to the pathos, the cast brings you into the film.  A few characters might have been used better or given more depth, but everyone used what they got and then some.

Super Mario mostly does the same thing.  Jack Black owns his role as Bowser and brings pathos to the character (more later).  Anya Taylor-Joys Princess Peach is fantastic, badass, and charming enough she’s sort of the main character at times.  Charlie Day is terribly underused as Luigi, but clearly brought is A game.  I could compliment others, but you get the idea.  The film is inherently ridiculous but the cast is game, as it were.

Now Chris Pratt is the elephant in the room.  Regarding his problematic statements, I looked into them for this article, and it appears he’s not bigoted, but is not always thoughtful or good at reading a situation.  Regarding his acting, he can “phone it in” but can really shine when he sinks his teeth into a role.

That being said, his Mairo performance was extremely generic.  It was enough to move things along and make Mario human, but he didn’t add anything to the role.  Whether it’s his fault or the scriptwriters, I’m not sure.  I also noticed the animators did some amazing expression work with Bowser and Peach and wondered if they were more restrained with Mario.

Either way, lesson learned - get a cast that’s good and let them go.

Give Us Real Emotional Arcs

The Dungeons and Dragons movie brought tears to my eyes, once during That Scene at the end (if you saw it, you know), and once afterwards when I realized how I related to a character’s speech.  The movie has multiple emotional arcs that bring it to life, give characters reasons to do things, and help you connect.

This is not consistent among the cast or characters, and I blame the script.  It’s a perfectly fine script, but a few more scenes could have done wonders.  But what is there is good.

Believe it or not Super Mario Brothers does this too, multiple times.  In fact, there’s a scene where Mario and his original nemesis Donkey Kong find out they’re a lot alike.  When a cartoon plumber and a big monkey share parallel emotions, you’ve done something right.

However Super Mario Brothers also doesn’t dive into the emotional arcs as well as Dungeons and Dragons and is poorer for it.  There’s some unused potential, from Mario feeling defensive about Luigi to Princess Peach’s isolation as a lone human in her world.  There’s unexplored character motivations, such as Toad’s heroic drive that differentiates him from his fellows.  I feel there’s 5-10 minutes of cut footage that made it a better movie.

But the lessons stay the same.  In fact  . . .

Give Us Relatable Villains

Hugh Grant, playing con-man Forge  charms his way through the Dungeons and Dragons movie in a way only he could.  Daisy Head’s creepy sorceress Sofina is something out of a horror film, and you believe she’d like nothing more to murder the idiots surrounding her.  Both get scenes that aren’t just villainy but humanity - Forge finds a joy in adoptive fatherhood, and Sofina snaps over how annoying Forge is in a relatable way.

This is great, they’re enjoyable.  They get human moments - but only the acting covers the fact they’re otherwise paper-thin characters.  Both could have shown more depth with just a few tweaks or an extra scene or two.  The actors clearly work with what they have, but there could have been more.

Meanwhile let me commit blasphemy - Jack Black’s Bowser in Super Mario not only gets to be relatable, his character is better handled than the villains in Dungeons and Dragons.

Yes I went there.

Black’s Bowser is a terrifying warlord and a hopeless romantic.  Madly in love with Princess Peach, he hopes to impress her and marry her instead of conquering her kingdom (sort of).  Throw in Black’s performance with excellent animation, and Bowser becomes sympathetic, a kind of ridiculously Shakespearean character of extremes.  If anything, I felt there was more to explore.

Both films add villains with some understandable traits.  Super Mario does it better.  Forge and Sofina aren’t interesting enough on their own, but Black’s Bowser feels like he could carry an entire film.

Do A Film Not A Preview

As I’ve said before, I will compliment the Marvel movies on sheer competency. However, I’m also extremely tired that the interlinked nature of stories seems to “wash out” the films.  There’s that need to keep the mega-franchise going, and there’s a certain “safety” in choices that wears thin.  Make something that stands on its own – like these films!

Dungeons and Dragons and Super Mario Brothers are delightfully standalone.  They do their job, they deliver.  Sure you may care due to the games - in fact it’s the only reason to care about Super Mario Brothers.  But both stand on their own quite well and in a satisfying manner.

There’s just that thrill of being able to “close the book” and move on with each.  Both deserve sequels of some kind, but its nice to see them deliver and be done.  It helps the people making them focus, and it means each film is reliably complete.

In Conclusion

So there you have it.  Both of these adaptions based on games, both wildly different, really succeed due to the same choices.  Embrace what you do, don’t overexplain, get the right cast and real emotional arcs we feel.  That’s it.

It feels unnecessary to explain this, but maybe the fact I feel this says volumes about the poor media I’ve seen - and how I enjoyed these two pieces.  Let’s learn from them, and maybe apply these lessons to things beyond giant big budget movies.

Steven Savage

www.StevenSavage.com

www.InformoTron.com