#I just saw one too many posts going 'oh they don't actually care about each other'

[someartistsammy]

I’ve seen quite a few takes saying that Team Glenn aren’t really friends or don’t care about each other and I wanted to take some time to write about why I feel like that’s blatantly false. Using info from what we have in-game, from the character intros, and with a piece from an interview with those working on the game.

To start off, when we were initially given the character intros before the full release, we were told some basic information on the characters. Matt was asked by Glenn to join him on the mission, and Lucia outright volunteered to go with. Both had the option to turn it down or to not volunteer but they decided to go with, neither were obligated.

Upon the opening section of the game, if you choose the option of “Guess I should wake her.” to rouse Lucia, she will tell Glenn “…How many times do I have to tell you not to wake me up like that?” This gives us the idea that either they’ve worked multiple previous overnight or crash-landing missions together, with Glenn startling her awake with the idea of being attacked, or that they’re used to existing in a shared space where she can be woken up by him.

When they’re going around looking for Matt, Glenn mentions owing him money. This is said to be for lunch and drinks. This is something done off-clock, and not something Matt is obligated to do in the least. They spend time around each other outside of work.

When looking at the opening movie for the original version of The First Soldier, the battle royale version, we get to see that Glenn, Matt, and Lucia, all meet each other back in 1988. The mission to the Rhadore Archipelago takes place in 1992, so the three of them have known each other for roughly 4 years. Lucia actually rescues them on that mission, and outright says “If I hadn’t gotten you two out of trouble, we would’ve never become friends.” Which tells us that they do continue to view each other as friends. Not only this, but later after the mission they met on, they take their SOLDIER exam together as a team. This meaning that they continued to stay in contact after that event and work together, and even practiced specifically as a team.

They all have to have at least some degree of being close to each other, if not at least Matt and Lucia, who are able to actually communicate with each other with nothing more than nods directed at each other. They do this roughly 4 times in the story up to the end of the current release of Chapter 5.

Later, in Padapili Sea Cave, if you choose to have Glenn eat the fruit all by himself, he uses it as a slight way to mess with Lucia. She voices concern over the possibility of it being poisonous, and is concerned when he takes a bite of it without hesitation. Upon collapsing to the ground, she gets extremely frustrated and concerned telling him to spit it out. Glenn pointed it out as a moment to say nothing is more scary than ignorance, but she was truly upset by thinking he could’ve or was actively being harmed. This is a slightly mean way of messing with her, but it gives a moment to show that she does care about him.

Glenn does overuse the nickname “Professor” for Matt and it does upset Matt, but it never feels intentionally malicious or like its making fun of Matt. It’s a part of showing that they aren’t perfect and all have their flaws, Glenn’s happens to be boundaries and being a bit of a troublemaker. Although we haven’t seen as much of it from Matt, the initial idea of the First Soldier story had Matt as the protagonist. He was intended to be diligent (perhaps even too much so) and appears to overanalyze things. This includes being prepared to view Rosen as a possible enemy as though to not compromise their mission. Lucia was designed to be the mediator or “harmonizing presence” however choosing to leave Lucia behind at the 3rd pressure plate in Chapter 3’s Main Section 4, Episode 1, will grant you dialogue between Matt and Glenn wondering if Lucia is okay and worrying that she has a lot pent up and might explode. She also has small outbursts of anger such as if Glenn chooses to eat the fruit solo. Once again, they’re all flawed in their own ways.

In the same location as the previous mentioned chapter, section, and episode, the very first pressure plate you come upon gives you the option to leave behind Glenn, Matt, or Lucia. Upon leaving behind Lucia, once you reach the other side and open the wall, she will run through. Glenn asks her what’s up, and she avoids eye contact. Upon asking “Huh? What is it?” from Glenn, Lucia will say she’s angry with herself, and look at the ground. She admits that she’s relieved to see the two of them, anger that could be founded in the possibility that they (likely) weren’t gone that long at all.

When Lucia brings up the rumor of how this mission prioritized interpersonal relationships over skill when creating teams, Glenn states he was able to “get you two without a fight.” In reference to Matt and Lucia. This could also be interpreted as they’ve attempted to get on missions with each other in the past, but that it can be a hassle to do. Matt comments that “camaraderie is a powerful thing” which by definition is “mutual trust and a friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.”

Upon the topic of Lucia saying she doesn’t want the higher-ups to think she’s a willing member of Team Glenn. This feels like it just sets in with her usual slightly biting sense of jokes that can be interpreted as being slightly rude. It’s important to remember her intro states she wasn’t asked to come along, but rather, volunteered to go with. Even if for another reason she doesn’t want to be a “willing member of Team Glenn” she’s there because she wanted to be and because she cares about Glenn and Matt.

I would also like to add that I feel one of Final Fantasy VII’s key themes could be found family, across majority of the compilation. Team Glenn might not entirely treat each other as “respectful adult friends” but rather closer to family, like siblings or cousins. They get on each other’s nerves and annoy each other, but they do also genuinely care about each other.

Following in on the topic of found family, the way they treat Sephiroth. Glenn is initially hostile towards Sephiroth, likely caused by his being put in charge as team leader, and possibly taking away Glenn’s chance at getting his bonus. The one reason he refused to call in for help. Glenn does deal with financial stress, even if caused by gambling (possibly passed down to him by his grandma. But I’ll save that for a different post.) However, once he hears what Sephiroth has to say about being a hero being a lie, he’s instantly willing to help him out. When asking what Sephiroth wants to be when he grows up, he says “Come on, tell Uncle Glenn.” (Closer to big brother in accurate translation) He misses what Sephiroth says about a normal life, but still continues to try and help him out. He also apologizes to Sephiroth multiple times throughout Chapter 5. He does feel bad for the things he said in the heat of the moment, and does clearly begin to care about him rather quickly.

Glenn, Matt, and Lucia, once Glenn’s frustration passes, instantly accept him into their group, and watch over him. Glenn already using a familial term when referring to their connection. Lucia also goes to show she cares about him when ruffling/petting his hair later on. Towards the end of Chapter 5, although Matt doesn’t have any close physical interactions with Sephiroth, he does show immediate concern upon finding out Sephiroth was injured. Showing that he does still care and worry about him, even if he hasn’t had what was considered a more touching moment. Glenn also once again apologizes to Sephiroth and hugs him.

Although it gets off to a rocky start with Sephiroth, I would argue that Glenn, Matt, and Lucia, all treat each other like pretty good friends, if not closer to the jabs family would have. Not unexpected in friendships that have been developing for possibly around 4 years either. They also eventually accept Sephiroth into their group.

Things might change later down the line, and the relationships the characters have with each other could be expanded upon and I could wind up being proven completely wrong, as we do only have through to Chapter 5 currently, but as it stands at the time of me writing this, I would say they are at least friends.

[lives-in-midgard]

Stay With Me

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Summary: Steve is there for reader after a mission.

Word Count: 830

A/N: Hey everyone! I had this idea when I saw the prompt: "Please, stay with me." of the Fluffcember from @buckys-wintersoldier But because it wasn't Christmas themed and then I also didn't have time I decided to not post it for the Fluffcember. So, here it is I hope you enjoy it!

Divider made by @firefly-graphics

Masterlist

Returning to the compound after a mission was not always easy. Sometimes it was, but not today. A lot of bad things happened on this mission, and you didn’t know how to deal with it right now. The whole flight you just looked at the ground, trying not to look at the others, but you could feel them all looking at you. Especially Steve, who sat across from you.

When the Quinjet landed on the compound, you were the first one who made their way out of it, not looking at any of the other Avengers. You could hear Steve calling your name but you didn't care, you just wanted to go home. Home to the comfort of your apartment.

When you got to your car, you turned on your favorite playlist as loud as you could and drove off.

The first thing you did when you got home was to take a shower and change into comfortable clothes. You quickly looked at your phone and saw that you had received a message from Steve.

"Hey y/n, are you okay?"

You didn't answer and put your phone away. Then you sat on the couch with a blanket over your shoulder and started thinking about the mission. How you almost caught the HYDRA agent until he suddenly escaped. How many people had to die. And then you started thinking about the moment you could have died until Steve came and saved you.

You sat there for a while until you heard a knock on the door. You weren't really in the mood to see anyone at that moment, but the person didn’t stop knocking.

After the tenth knock, or at least that’s what it felt like, you got up and went to the door. When you opened it, you saw a very worried Steve standing there.

"Hey." You said quietly.

"Hey." Steve said, looking over your body to see if he could see any injuries.

"I came here to check on you. You drove to your apartment so quickly after you got back to the compound." He said softly.

"Yeah, umm sorry. I just had to get away from there." You mumbled.

"You know what happened on the mission wasn't your fault, right?" Steve said, referring to the things that happened there.

"I don't know." You mumbled and looked at the ground.

"No, hey, it definitely wasn't your fault. You did your best; we all did our best." He said, took your hand and you looked back at him.

"Deep down I know this, but right now it feels like it’s all my fault."

"I know this feeling all too well. He paused a moment and then said.

"If you’d rather be alone now, I can go."

"No, please stay with me." You confessed and Steve gave you a comforting smile.

"Of course." He said and you opened the door more so he could walk in.

You both sat on the couch very close to each other so that your knee touched his. You sat in silence for a while until Steve said something.

"Actually I also wanted to check on you because I wanted to see if you have any injuries." You looked up at Steve who had another worried look on his face.

"I'm fine, I just have a few small scratches and a few bruises, but nothing serious."

"Are you sure?" Steve asked and you nodded.

"What about you?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me, sweetheart." You blushed at the petname he gave but tried to smile at him.

"How about we watch a movie and order some take out?" Steve suggested, placing a strand of hair behind your ear, making you a little nervous.

"That's a good idea." You smiled at each other. Steve suggested ordering the pizza while you searched for a movie. You found one that you remembered Steve wanted to watch and decided to pick that one.

You ate the pizza and watched the movie. After the movie ended, you decided to watch another one. You had a great time together and were really grateful that Steve came over. The movie had just ended when you decided to say something.

"Thank you, Steve. Not only for coming over but also for saving me on this mission." A small tear fell from your eye and Steve's gaze softened. He wiped the tear away and wrapped his arms around you. Then Steve pulled you into a tight hug.

"Of course, I saved you and came here. You mean so much to me." You sniffed a few times while Steve rubbed your back and hugged you for as long as you needed him.

After a while you broke the hug but stayed close to him. You placed your head on his shoulder, and he held you close to him. Steve insisted that he wants to stay the night to make sure you were okay and because he didn't want you to be alone.

Taglist:

@marvelogic | @rogersbarber | @eviebuggg | @nicoline1998enilocin | @nekoannie-chan | @kandis-mom | @sergeantbarnessdoll | @noellez-best-life23 | @buckskemp | @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 | @cutedisneygrl | @mrsbuckybarnes1917

[thecoolerliauditore]

Sorry, not-so-amicable-exes anon here again just cause I saw your big toxic fh breakdown post again cause a friend wanted to read it and we were tlking about it- unimportant, sorry, we just had a thought. Because I've seen some anti-toxic shippers act like this interpretation is out of spite or some intentional thing shippers of other jimmy ships made up (specifically ranchers usually), but the timeline and accusation is all wrong. Like I don't remember ever seeing anyone even talk about this interpretation until post-liml? And it was very hesitantly and apologetically. There was a fic or two before this but most people even the people who enjoyed it expressed discomfort or concern at its existence and that's how most people react to them even to this day.

But I remember when I saw that first post I was like, "Oh thank god, someone else also thought that!" It felt like before that there was scenes in their POV that only happened when I watched 3l because no one talked about them, or wrote them very differently to what happened. And I saw some other people saying the same thing. I think the post even got deleted a few days later, too. It seemed to me like a lot of people had quietly independantly come up with the interpretation as far back as 3l itself, but stayed quiet until recently to avoid upsetting anyone or we all thought we were the only ones who saw it that way. I know I tend to hesitate to write characters negatively because it feels a bit wrong to do that when the ccs are friends, even if I think it would be interesting. I wonder how many people feel that way also?

But I guess what I mean to say is it seems to me that a lot of people independantly have been thinking it since 3l or ll and the only reason it started popping up in dl is because it was the next big Jimmy ship from the big shipping season, and people werent really willing to even talk about it for a whole other season because they were scared of being seen as negative.

But!! I just really think it's neat, I really like this narrative for Scott and Jimmy. It's rare to be able to get stories where people have problems and break up and move on to new relationships and grow from them. It makes sense because they're the first season couple and they've grown further and further apart as seasons go on.

Even people I see who don't like fh don't seem to WANT to talk about it, they only bring it up when asked, and try to be respectful. Maybe I've not seen something happening somewhere else? I just wish I didn't have to spend most of my energy when writing quadruple checking that I'm not making Scott a bad guy and emphasising Jimmy's faults just so people reading know for certain I'm writing it this way because I'm legitimately interested in exploring this interpretation of them, and I'm not one of "those" writers. But I'm starting to wonder how many of "those" writers there actually are. (At the risk of comparing petty fandom drama to a serious topic, but it feels a lot like I'm back on 2016 tumblr assuring people I'm not one of "those" enbies or "those" aces, trying not to get pushed out.)

I'm guessing anyone who doesn't care for toxic fh probably already has you blocked, but if there is anyone like that who does see this: Hi! I also love flower husbands a lot! They just aren't my fluffy comfort ship, I like headcanoning them as divorced and imperfect because I think it makes them more interesting to write. I love being able to write characters who don't find the love of their life immediately but each relationship still shapes them into a new person. Sometimes I like to imagine their relationship as more mild and silly, and sometimes more dramatic and intense, I'm not a one-headcanon person! But their divorce is what really inspired me about them so I like writing about it. I don't want to stop anyone from enjoying them how they enjoy them and have no interest in making people who would be upset by my content to read it, so I try to tag it correctly! I'd like to be able to write my stories without walking on eggshells wondering if someone thinks I only wrote something I worked really hard on and cared a lot about just to spite them or because I'm secretly homophobic while writing about men kissing, just because my interpretation is different. It makes me scared to put Scott in my fics at all and contributed to my writers block for fics with them in it. I think Scott gets treated unfairly by certain people too, but that's not what I'm trying to do, I wouldn't write about him if I did!

(Also sorry if my paragraphs are strange, I'm not used to writing on mobile or pouring my thoughts out.)

Hi hello welcome back!! Please don't apologize I love long asks, especially long asks about scott smahor. The fact that you pulled up that toxic fh post and read it with a friend is so funny to me. Looking back, I wish I'd planned it out better and wrote it more eloquently, but I'm glad it brings people some sense of joy/entertainment/understanding. I hope you and your friend enjoyed it, even in an ironic sense.

It's endlessly entertaining (and fascinating) to me personally how every toxic fh believer seems to undergo the same-ish pipeline of watching the fh pov and being horrified --> looking at fanon fh and disengaging out of fear --> finding other toxic fh posters in the wild and suddenly realising you're not insane after all. I know I personally went into scott's pov expecting wholesomeness and ended up wide-eyed at what I saw before proceeding to slink FH into the back of my mind for awhile.

People tend to believe others operate like they do and I think that's where a lot of the discourse originates. Most of the louder voices I've seen that are very against the toxic interpretation are from people who primarily engage in bending the characters to fit specific concepts i.e. the "toxic jimmy" brainstorm that happened awhile back on here where interpretation is less a study and more confirmation bias-ing your way into making an idea work. Which I must reiterate is completely awesome because we're making fanfics here not nukes. But this leads people to assume that everyone who writes about toxic fh is going in with the mindset of "how do i interpret these moments so that scott is an abuser" and not "wow that thing i just watched sure kind of felt like domestic abuse"

Which like. YEAH, if there was a theoretical group of people who went out of their way to interpret everything scott did ever as evil and irredeemable, I too would assume that they had it out for the guy. But that's not what's happening, usually, afaik (at least on here, twitter's situation is a bit different due to the culture and would be its own beast for me to dissect and I honestly don't spend enough time on there to really feel confident making any statement).

For the record, I think a lot of people are on the same boat regarding FH being toxic and just simply don't care enough to voice/explore it, don't want to deal with the fandom nonsense that comes with it or would simply rather shift focus onto other pairs with similar themes. i.e. there is something going on with the toxic fh believer/ethubs shipper overlap I just know there is if anyone would like to do science with me it'd be awesome.

I know that I definitely focused my sights more on Scott and Pearl's relationship following my "wow that was sure something" watchthrough of scott's series, which is ironic considering I now base alot of my thoughts about their dynamic on scott's previous relationship with jimmy.

I think there's like. Something about the DL Pearl fans and the ranchers fans specifically who tended to communicate in code re: Scott's toxicity because for a long time all of us were afraid of saying it outright. So you get a lot of posts where Scott is like. A vaguely unpleasant force in the narrative while not really being a main focus himself, which I think may have contributed to the "ranchers fans only view scott as the villainous ex to push their ship harder" argument that I've seen a lot.

Once I realised from that one Shepscapades comic that there were others who saw the same plot I did, I would go out fishing for signs of agreement/acknowledgement. Hybbat if you're reading this, take this as my apology for sending you anon asks back in the day essentially trying to bait you into posting more FH slander, there was something deeply wrong with me (there still is, I'm just more upfront about it now I think).

There's also just this very like.. us vs them mentality very apparent in the way people talk about The Discourse that kinda sucks. Weirdly enough it's kind of shifted from toxic fh vs healthy fh to fh vs ranchers (or any other jimmy ship for that matter) nowadays. I can't talk on 2016 tumblr but regarding your last point (which I know isn't directed towards me but I think it's worth saying) -- would it matter if you Were one of THOSE fh writers? (or one of THOSE aces or THOSE enbies for that matter). You're not but like. Would it?

(side note rhetorical question do not answer i dont want to know but wtf did the aces/enbies even do lmao)

Not to get too away from the discourse cus I do my fair share of glazing on this blog already, but yes yes yes big agree on fh's storyline being amazing!! I love that we essentially watch them both have to live on after their mutually life-changing marriage.

Scott especially I love because in a lot of stories that feature an abuser they're painted as entirely evil and oftentimes disappear from the story once the relationship is over, but Scott doesn't and will never go anywhere. He's forced to grapple with his previous actions and the destructive way he thinks about himself and relationships has and continues to damage both himself and the people he loves. Just like how irl even when we wish abusers would just "go away" they will still continue being living people as they've always been, not a concept that will simply perish once you overcome the trauma. I love abusive characters who are fully written as human and think they're important. Is all.

[macsimagines]

👉👈 I know you mentioned getting asks with similar themes but I can’t help but ask for more because god damn is the angst just… -chefs kiss-

Can the girlies (and by girlies I mean me 😔) get that Kanto!Mikey, Shion, and baby boy Shinichiro headcanons about their s/o trying to leave them because their s/o doesn’t feel good enough?

I swear I’ll give you a better idea someday 😭😭😭.

I did Mikey in a seperate post because his got out of a hand and waaaaaaaaay to big sorry I didn't give these two as much love.

TW: YANDERE BEHAVIOR, MINORS DNI, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, STALKING, GASLIGHTING???

Yandere!Shion Madarame

He knows you're insecure, and he loves you, he really does, but he uses it to his advantage. Shion is more worried you're going to be scared and try to run, not like he'll ever let you, but still is very worried about what you might try so he does attempt to play into your worries to make you stay.

"I mean, ya, you can be a pain, but I still like you," he tells you after listening to you fret over how maybe he shouldn't be with someone so weak. What he doesn't say is that he wants to protect you, to guard you and love you because you're just too precious to let go.

But then you go and pull some bullshit. You actually try to break it off... "I-I can't do it anymore, Shion. I just know you need someone who can do more for you and I'm not that person..." and you actually walk out on him like that.

Now Shion would sooner tear out his own eyes than ever hurt you, but your 'breakup' isn't sitting well with him. You figured as much when you see him watching staring at you from your apartment window. He even waves.

And it gets worse from there, because now there always seems to be beatings where ever you go. The nice clerk at the corner store you visit regularly ends up being robbed and thrown out of a window, the jogger you pass by and smile to in your neighborhood ends up being jumped with his kneecaps broken, and even your coworker that always brings you coffee has somehow ended up in accident... People are dropping like flys...

Shion pays you a visit one day. He's actually sitting in your apartment when you get off one night. You're already not happy because you just heard an old friend from high school had somehow ended up with a cracked skull...

But you find Shion just sitting at the foot of your bed... With hands caked in drying blood, smiling at you like you just told him he had won a million dollars.

"How many more?" he asks you, "Wh-what? Shion what're you-" "How many more people are in our way, Y/N? Tell me so I can take care of 'em."

Yandere!Shinichiro Sano

Oh how much this one loves you could bring all the greatest of romantics to shame. Too bad he's such a goofball. And honestly, that suits you fine. You two are perfect for each other like that.

You're both playful, a little silly, and you two have fun together. But then you see it. The importance of Shinichiro Sano. Men, powerful men, come to him for guidance and respect his own authority.

That makes you feel so small. You actually can't believe how many influential people he has at his beck and call, the ones that call him a leader. And where could someone, who's a little bit goofy and a lot of bit awkward possibly fit into his world.

You tell him as much and it almost brings him to tears. "You're just... you're so much more than I am-!" "I am nothing without you! How could you even think that!?"

And you two argue like that all the time, back and forth, about how you know he's too important to waste his time, and how you're too important to loose. But boy does he feel like he's loosing you....

"I gave it all up. I don't need that if I don't have you." "You had it before me, you can't just stop being so important." But he isn't important, you make him feel important...

Once, you tried to mention that maybe he could do better and he reached hysterics. It honestly terrified you, not because he was violent but because you saw that he had the potential to be.

Grabbing your arms in his hands with a crushing grip, one you knew could break bones if they really wanted to, and holding you so tight that you couldn't even budge if you wanted to.

"I don't want anyone else!" he had hissed, "I don't need anyone else! This is it! For you and me!" its no longer comforting words but demands of submission now. Like he needs you to top bringing the topic up altogether.

And you do. Not because you want to or because you're suddenly convinced. But because you're too scared now. You've noticed eyes on your everywhere you go, you even tell Shinichiro about it.

"Oh? Him? He worked under me back in the day. Told him to keep an eye out for you." "Wh-what!? Why!?" "Keep you safe. Keep you from doing something stupid."

You figured you're not the only insecure one....

[free-boundsoul]

HEY YOU🫵🫵🫵

1) Im loving all of your rambles and thoughts about the most recent Porter audio

2) I AGREE SO MUCH. There are so many ways that the next audio for Porterpotty (he deserves that name for now he can redeem him self later) can play out. But I can also imagine treasure going “numb” in a sense where now whenever they deal with a issue no matter how serious or small they are going to stay quiet. Reading someone of your stuff about treasure wanting to be that person to Porter by being someone that he can talk to after going to therapy. I CANT HELP but think that treasure is also doing this because their friends wouldn’t do/be the same for them. Which is why treasure cares so much. Because treasure wants to be a support be that they themselves could not. But to just be dissected by a person you care about OUCH OUCH. And it’s so true that treasure doesn’t even know much about Porter just when he rants and treasure listens. I do hope that regardless of how Porter and treasure resolve this, treasure will be able to communicate that they aren’t just a crutch for Porter in a shmexy time manner, but to be there emotionally. To not carry the burden all by himself. Yet Porter has too much pride ? Or is just not used to being in this type of relationship. Because lowkey Porter scared me a bit in this recent audio 😀. He didn’t yell but it was his tone. He was calm and knew how he was speaking and Intended it to come across like that (purely as a defense mechanism) BUT ONE THAT HE NEEDS TO WORK ON GODDAMIT.

god I can go on and on. This is the first time a redacted audio has me thinking and thinking. Maybe cause it hit a little too close to home BUT OH WELLAlso this is my first time seeing your post and 🤌🏽🤌🏽 I had to say something. have a good day !

Aww thank you so much! 💜

Porterpotty! (I shouldn't but I couldn't help but laugh when I saw that 🤣)

The interesting thing about the audios is that we get one half of the conversation. We are left to interpret how the listener responds to a degree. We get some clues as to what was said but not the tone used.

People can interpret that Treasure's tone is aggressive or pushy or snappish. But I personally see it as hesitant and nervous. They don't want to hurt Porter but maybe he just needs a push to actually confide in them. He gave them a push to see how their friends were treating them. They were trying to reciprocate.

They know what it's like to bury their feelings. How it festers and rots from the inside out. They can only imagine how his repressed feelings are eating away at him after however many decades.

But I can see how his own admission how they only know a part of him rings true. I can see how they let Porter see all of them, how much it hurt with how his digs hit home. But a relationship can't be just showing pieces to each other. Otherwise it'll fall apart, even if it's done in the name of protection. So I'm curious how his next audio will go. And I'll be chewing on the bars of my enclosure until we get it lol

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s5 episode 17 thoughts

omg!! after complaining of lack a of scully last time, this episode’s description specifically mentions her by name- and with a priest, too! is it time for scully catholic lore?! i am so excited! i fear i should lower my expectations, but it sounds promising!

it’s been a solid week since i’ve watched an episode, so i’m ready to dive in. 

post episode thoughts: idk, this one didn't really do it for me. and i don't know exactly what "it" is. despite checking many of the boxes that i think personally make a great episode (solo scully time and catholic guilt to name a few) this one felt just... too dark and convoluted for me. i literally had no idea what was going on, and then when i started to pick up on it, we circled back to the emily story, which still makes me feel very frustrated and i feel they could have handled it so much better. it also, once again, denies scully any autonomy, which is very frustrating.

surprisingly, in this scully-centric episode, the MVP for me was... mulder? yes, i'm genuinely shocked. he was so protective and caring even while being very grumpy. the way he leaned in to grab her shoulder... calling her back in the rain... gently teasing her and then realizing it wasn't a teasing sort of situation... wow.

and also, as i mentioned before, he looked really good. arguably at his best here.

(this might be my longest post so far LMAO)

very dramatic music is playing as this priest arrives at a house to baptize a young girl. i actually know very little about the whole baptismal process, so maybe this is accurate and maybe it’s not.

this girl, dara, has been baptized, and now the thunder is going wild, which seems spooky. 

also, she either has 6 toes or i cannot count.

did she get out of bed on her own despite not being able to walk before??? and now she’s walking towards a scary man while hearing evil voices. 

she’s on her knees praying to this guy who her father cannot see…. and HER EYEBALLS ARE BURNT OUT OF HER HEAD????????

huh. hey. a lot of things just happened very quickly. 

did the holy water burn her eyes? is she supposed to be a demon? i thought they were going to go with the “holy water healed her” route, which has its own problematic implications, but whatever these implications are, i’m lost. 

(author's note: and i was going to stay lost <3)

shortened intro, i clock you each and every time

scully is entering a church!!! she has on a blouse and not a suit, which feels strange. OHHH, SHE PULLS OUT THE BABY PICTURE OF MELISSA :(

god. she keeps it on her. i'm emotional.

it’s confession time. she’s talking to the confessor about her FBI work coming in conflict with her beliefs. it was father mccue who we saw before baptizing dara, and he said this family needed scully's help. hmm... what for?

scully is crying. OH MY GOD “father, i had a daughter who died” <- WHAT?? ARE THEY ACTUALLY GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS?????

i'm shook. i thought we were simply never going to speak of emily again.

so father mccue thought that helping this family would help scully process her grief… 

SHE’S SAYING SHE DOESN’T KNOW IF HE CAN OFFER FORGIVENESS? SHE LET A GIRL DIE??

woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, let’s go back a few steps……. oh my god. did scully need more grief to wear like an iron backpack? NO. WHAT HAPPENED HERE???

let a girl die. what. i just cannot imagine scully "letting" this happen??

a week earlier she had gone to easter mass. and she looks so beautiful in white and cream :,)

father mccue wants to speak to her in private. this church seems like it’s hopping, so it must be pretty important.

she’s been coming more often!!! :,) aww i'm happy for her. don't tease her too much father mccue, i'm watching...

but he needs her help. the kernofs lost their daughter dara in a very strange situation. and he thinks that her words might help them.

she looks so pained at this moment. but she goes anyway. god. god. scully. feeling obligated to help despite visibly not wanting to. knowing it will tear her open again. and doing it anyway.

frankly, it seems a bit cruel of father mccue to send her on this mission, but maybe he sees things with a lens i, a mere layperson, cannot

she’s chatting with the couple and they’re explaining how they adopted dara. lance (the father) is angry at god. 

they’re saying she might have been struck by lightning??? she was wheelchair bound and somehow got up, walked out, and was praying. struck by lighting... that would be so weird

the mother says something about god letting this happen to an innocent girl and god. emily. i am still mad at your plot line for feminist reasons, but grief. new grief and old grief and inexplicable screaming at the sky.

back in the confessional booth, scully says she felt drawn to the couple. they were angry at god, and so was she, although she refuses to say that.

“as much as i have my faith, father, i am a scientist. trained to weight evidence. but science only teaches us how… not why” <- OHHHHHHH toss that in the bucket of quotes i will use to psychoanalyze dana scully forever and ever

now she’s chatting with the doctor, who also says that maybe dara was struck by lightning. she asks if scully is religious, and scully replies with “why do you ask?”, which i think is very interesting as a character choice for her to put that space between directly answering. especially since they're in a lab setting. it's less of a pause of making a purposeful separation between faith and science, imo, and more of a cautiousness that comes from thinking her faith will somehow be taken advantage of. but it’s also funny because her cross necklace is very visible. so. you can guess the answer to that question.

dara was found genuflecting??? even in death. and there’s a scar on her hand from where an extra finger was removed. but i def saw an extra toe earlier.

no other signs of trauma… “it’s as if god himself struck her down” oh…

this is going to be a very un-fun time for scully.

who is this man with an upside down cross in his car, entering a psychiatric hospital?

there’s another girl in the hospital, who also has extra fingers. it seems this new father gregory character has come to adopt this paula! but there was a mix-up. there was no approval from the social worker, and he cannot take her home until the paperwork is in order.

but social worker seems like he is lying… based on that zoom in shot…. i know this show and its narrative tricks...

scully is at home looking at the photos of dara, then pulling out the photo of melissa :( oh god :( she really has lost so much :(

she’s biting back tears as she answers the phone. she must be really out of it, because she answered with “hello” and not “scully” like always :(

it’s mulder, somewhere in a phone booth in the pouring rain! oh god bless that man, finding a phone booth to call her back from even while out and about. 

he’s tailing a potential suspect but still makes time for the call, even though he's in a hurry… then he runs into an x rated film showing. now, what is going on with that? hope you catch the guy, buddy.

he wants to know more, but she cannot tell him anything until he gets the birth records on dara :(

back to paula at the hospital. someone is approaching…. and when he approaches, she also hears the scary voices and genuflects like the other girl did!!! and there is a huge flash!!!

what is going on.

scully is at the scene, and finds the cross in her room hung upside down. is satan afoot.....?

MULDER ENTERS!!! “aren’t you the secret squirrel” <- LMAOOOO WHAT A WEIRD THING TO SAY!!! let the record show that this man is my baby girl.

ohhhh, she quietly explains she’s doing this as a favor :( i think he gets the idea not to press or make any other rodent comparisons

but he starts nerding out over the implications of the flipped cross. maybe the guy he was tailing last night is the same guy who did this?

(author's note: there was actually no relation whatsoever, and i think the writers just meant him watching the scandalous film as a weird gag, but for a brief moment there, i thought the narrative stars were going to align. alas!)

anyway, paula and dara were sisters!! they were quadruplets!! so there must be 2 more out there, and they must be in danger!!

(mulder has this five o clock shadow thing going on, and it’s kinda intoxicating)

“look scully, i know you don’t really want my help on this, but can i offer you my professional opinion?” (she nods, almost smiling) “you got a bona fide, super-crazy religious wacko on your hands”

average mulder sentence. he points out the prevalence of eye imagery in the bible, of gouging and smiting and other such cases. and in walks the social worker, who is sure there was not a cross on the wall there before!!

i’m overcome by something pulling at my heart strings while looking at mulder and scully standing together.

paula was about to be adopted, so they journey to church of st. peter the sinner, which has the upside down cross iconography outside and a sign that reads “the darkness is upon us” oh boy! i feel very welcomed /s

mulder is coming too because he is a nice guy in his leather jacket and jeans :)

he really has no life, huh…. god bless him

(i feel like he is in some sort of league basketball every other weekend, and probably goes to the library very often, but this is likely the extent of his social life. aside from sleepovers with the gunmen, of course. and that can be so beautiful)

they find a book of st. peter the sinner, and he immediately identifies it as full of apocrypha!!! which is hot. while someone seems to be watching them from a corner. less hot.

“i’m surprised there’s nothing here from jesus christ superstar” <- A MAN OF CULTURE???????

(i know this man is singing showtunes in his car. oh, i just KNOW it. and i bet he WOULD love jcs. and he was at oxford when some big west end shows were playing: phantom, les mis, evita, cats. a 2 hour bus ride from oxford to london is nothing for a massachusetts boy. just keep these facts in mind while making headcanons)

((and i do feel like he grew up watching musicals, too. just seems like something that happened in that household. they had the money to go see live theatre, but he also grew up in a golden age of movie musicals. idk, just try and tell me he didn't hear songs from west side story and the music man in his house growing up. i bet he thought it was annoying as a kid that his mother was always playing them, but now he looks back at it with fondness. whatever))

they break the news to father gregory that paula has died, which he didn’t know, and he seems to be overcome with emotion as he says he was trying to adopt her. yeah. this is unfortunate.

mulder asks why he wanted to adopt her and he is NOT messing around

“why adopt her?”, he asks. “what, you think i was interested in harming her?” “why. adopt. her” <- OHHH he is NOT going to be going easy on this case when scully’s heart’s on the line!!! everyone say thank you to protective mulder!!

father gregory says he knew the girl’s mother and was trying to protect her, but when they ask who the mother is, he says she died. hmm. yeah. i think having 4 babies at once is pretty unsafe. i can imagine this happening.

but still... he said he knows where she is… and then says she died. which is suspicious. like, why not just say she’s dead? i feel like he's lying.

father gregory says that he used to be in the roman catholic church and he was her confessor before he started his own church, and divulging her name would violate his code of faith. okay, that is great and all. but her kids are being murdered, so maybe pray on it and ask god if you can make a special exception.

this dude is very strange. 

“and yours, i see” he says, glancing at scully’s necklace

ohh…. allow mulder to stride in angrily. “you said you wanted to protect paula. from what?” yeah that is right. you don't let him mess with her.

what the fuck? this dude is so off putting. “whatever your intentions, your secular prejudices blind you from seeing what’s really happening here. two girls are dead- not by the hand of man. unless you accept the truth of god’s teachings that there is a struggle between good and evil for all souls, and that we are losing that struggle, you’re but fools rushing in. you put your own lives in danger. as well as the lives of the messengers”

(deeply pensive scully as father gregory walks away and someone continues to pant from the corner of his church)

wow. so i guess he thinks god just kills poor kids sometime for fun. sounds like a great god. i sure do want to join your church and worship him now. /s

(i'm still so baffled after watching the episode. so he thought the demons were killing the kids? it wasn't god doing the killing? but god lets demons kill kids sometimes unless people like him intervene? but actually it was the seraphim killing the kids and bringing them home to good? which would be a good thing, right? i just don't know what this episode was trying to sayyyyyy)

back to scully in confession. she brought mulder on the case “to help temper my feelings… to keep them from clouding my judgement. i wouldn’t admit it to him, but… as well stood there, i felt as if father gregory were speaking directly to me. in a language only i could understand”

well. i don’t understand it either, so i can’t analyze it. i'm sorry, queen, because i love to analyze you. but i'm glad she brought him along for the ride.

mulder holds the door open for her as they leave, and remarks on how gregory seems deeply suspicious (“he thinks he’s doing god’s laundry” is an exquisite line)

he’s definitely hiding something. 

“but, basically, you’re ruling out any element of the supernatural?” (careful mulder pause) “what do you mean?” 

ohhh, are they going to have this fight again? he seems to be holding something back. like he's trying to carefully measure his words despite being pissed off.

she points out that dara was baptized before she died

“and why would god allow this to happen, and why do bad things happen to good people? religion has masqueraded as the paranormal since the dawn of time to justify some of the most horrible acts in history” (heavy massachusetts accent when he says "horrible", btw, just noting that)

“i was raised to believe that god has his reasons, however mysterious” 

“he may well have his reasons, but he seems to use a lot of psychotics to carry out his job orders”

wow. there’s so much to analyze there.

well, it's not outright denial of her beliefs, which is an improvement from before. he can clearly pick up on how much this case is impacting her, which i commend, especially for a guy whose ahab tendencies in the past have caused him to be oblivious to all things emotional. i will never be over that time he was like "i'm sorry your dog died :( btw i think we are dealing with the loch ness monster who somehow made his way to america. here are a bunch of dinosaur facts-"

mulder says she should autopsy paula before whoever it is has a chance to find her sisters. i think this is a fair judgement.

he is cranky. but he was trying to hold back. and i do appreciate that. cranky man who needs to shave. has he ever looked better??

i get the sense that this is one of those episodes i’ll have to rewatch to analyze more stuff in later. if i can bring myself around to it.

autopsy time. she finds something on both of paula's shoulders.

OH MY GOD, SHE LOOKS OVER AND SEES EMILY ON THE TABLE??!!

SHE STARTS CRYING??? AND SHE HEARS EMILY SAY “MOMMY PLEASE”???

BUT SHE TURNS BACK AND THE BODY WAS JUST PAULA??!!

hey. what. hey. emily jumpscare. what does this mean? she knew that alien child for like 2 weeks. please do not spiritually torment her.

back in the confessional booth, she says she wrote off what she saw as a hallucination based on her emotional connection to the case, but she clarified that is not what it was

damn. little did this confessor know he was in for a WILD story time when she sat down.

she says she was meant to see emily for a purpose. so she could save them. taking on the need to save others... this is such a scully thing to do.

mulder on da phone. he has a lead on the third sister!! 

(dramatic sunglasses removal as they stake out the area)

why does he look so good?? it’s making it hard to focus on the tragic plot at hand. 

he says the third sister wandered into a teen crisis center, which is odd because the other two could not walk at all. and scully points out that there’s some sort of degenerative bone disease in paula.

“and uh, i know you’re going to think that i’m crazy… but i swear i found evidence of something winglike”

DOES SHE THINK THESE GIRLS ARE ANGELS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE GOD FOR CRIMES?? THE REBELLIOUS ONES LIKE LUCIFER?

“well then, maybe she flew here, scully” <- lmao. not totally appropriate for him to say, but lmao.

uh oh… he finds another upside down cross outside the joint. she has more to say, but he has to go.

someone is chasing another girl… LEAVE HER ALONE!!!!!!

mulder approaches...

and this girl, too, hears more of those horrible overlapping voices, there’s a dude with the face of an alien (angel? devil?) and the blinding light?? and she’s doing the same pose as the others!! the genuflection!!

MULDER HAS HIS GUN…. who is here?! it’s father gregory!!! he says it’s too late!!! and that the girl is dead!!!!

and sure enough, her eyes are burned out as well, as a dove flies to the light. i see what you did there, souls ascending and all that.

(but i thought she was taken by the devil, so the soul going to the light seems contradictory... you know what? never mind ❤️)

now they have father gregory brought in for questioning, and mulder has a casual shirt on, which looks strange. “you know, they say when you talk to god it’s prayer, but when god talks to you, it’s, uh, schizophrenia” (he smiles at his own joke)

“you’re not interested in the truth” “i am ONLY interested in the truth!!” <- do not get between this man and his Truth. rest assured, that is his God

all jokes and jests have been forgotten at this point. he’s screaming at father gregory, asking what could possess him to burn those poor girls’ eyes out, with scully watching in the back. 

father gregory makes scully explain the upside down cross… st. peter would only be crucified upside down. out of reverence for christ. sure. okay. seems weird he makes her explain it. feels manipulative somehow.

(very interesting how the upside down cross represents both st. peter and the devil... makes following the plot of this episode even harder)

he says he has risked his life to protect their souls because the devil wants them. well, idk if you’re doing a very good job, tbh. you're 0/3. 

(mulder glares at him before leaving the room) 

but father gregory taunts scully, saying she knows what they are, and if the devil finds her, his victory will be complete. 

man, idk what they’re talking about :(

they think they found the fourth girl, and father gregory asks to be let go or else no one can save her. scully explains in confession that she knew she was meant to save her.

she says the devil didn’t take their souls, but the threat was real, and he gave his life to protect them.

anyone wanna tell me what’s going on?

back to the case. mulder's talking to her and then he asks what’s wrong. ohhh, he bends down to look in her eyes. “scully? scully. don’t let this guy get in your head. that’s the last thing you want” <- oh my god, he’s worried :((((

"you’re not going to find her. i think you’re being misled", she says

“by who?" (heavy pause) "scully, i think you’re the one who’s being misled. and not just willingly, but willfully. i’ve never seen you more vulnerable or susceptible or more easily manipulated. and it scares me because i don’t know why”

he is at once doing his very best and still manages to be a bit condescending, but he is also doing a very good job, at least for him, of saying what he means. so i’m proud

“i saw emily” OHHH she says it. i thought she would keep it to herself “she came to me in a vision”

he grabs her shoulder and pulls her in close: “i think you should step away” ohhh :( ohhh no :(

she tells him to go find the girl and let her finish up with father gregory, and he takes the case file from her hand, lingering over it, holding onto the image of the last girl 

the case worker made his way into father gregory’s room!! asking where she is!! “the others were taken from me” hey, who are you? 

oh my god, he starts burning father gregory????? “tell me father. save yourself” is he the devil?? a demon??

scully goes to talk to him again and the door is locked. father gregory is dead on the floor!! all burnt up!!!

mulder is arriving at the house of the fourth girl.  he is NOT playing around. her father says she’s at school, and he points out she hasn’t been at school for a week. he won’t unlock the basement door, so mulder is going to kick it open. 

her father is saying a priest would take her off his hands!! father gregory said he would take her and let him keep the disability checks!!

huh.......

scully is getting to her car, but she gets a call. “yeah, hi scully, it’s me” aww

(she drops her keys and hears the horrible demon voices as mulder yells at her on the phone to answer him)

before her is a bird alien lion thing???????? the CGI goes crazy!!!

poor mulder is yelling to her while she is witnessing the plot of revelations irl. he's gotta be so worried.

back to talking to father mccue. she says she has seen things. visions. a man with four faces. 

this is troubling to father mccue, who fetches his bible. he’s showing her a page. it has an angel with four faces, which he calls a seraphim. the seraphim fathers four children with a mortal woman, whose babies are the nephelim, the fallen ones. souls of angels, but weren’t meant to be, they’re deformed and tormented. so the seraphim smites them with his glory and they go back to god?

i do not remember this story from sunday school.

“you think that’s what i saw?” “no” <- oh, i didn’t think he would say that… i thought he would be supportive. actually pretty gagged here.

“no. i think what you saw is a figment of your imagination, a half-remembered story from your childhood that surfaced because of this case” <- is he trying to be helpful here?? reassuring?? dismissive??? 

she insists that she saw it. and i cannot get a read on father mccue.

“the text in which it appears isn’t even recognized by the church” <- okaaay, that makes me feel better for not knowing the story.

he is certain god has his reasons. it is how he rewards our fate. which is a nice thing to think about.

the case worker is here, claiming mulder has been trying to reach her. there is latin chanting as they go to father gregory’s church. everything is quiet and the footsteps are clear. 

ohhhh she sees devil horns in his reflection… and he says he knows the last girl here. 

and she finds the girl!!! she was who was watching them earlier!! he’s yelling out to her…. 

she says she won’t hurt the girl, that she’ll get her out of there, take her someplace safe.

she’s trying to guide her out and the demon is saying to bring her the girl. but she’s trying to go forward to him!! 

emily is here?? “mommy, let me go” HUH?? let her go to the DEVIL??? she lets emily go and she walks into the light???

scully is crying. the demon is gone, leaving behind only the dead girl. 

(author's note: i'm pretty sure i actually misunderstood this scene, and the seraphim came and intercepted the girl from the devil- at least, that is what wikipedia says happened. but this was not very clear, and you can imagine my shock at the thought of scully releasing her dead child to the devil. which will make my confusion in the following paragraphs make more sense)

back to the confession… she was sure she was releasing the last girl's soul to heaven. but she cannot reconcile this with the physical fact of her death.

“has it occurred to you that maybe this, too,  is part of what you were meant to understand?”

”you mean, accepting my loss

“can you accept it?”

“maybe that’s what faith is”, she says, crying 

the end.

hmm. hmm.

so scully couldn’t reconcile bringing that girl to heaven with her actual death. 

but i was so confused, i swear the caseworker had horns, like he was the devil!! but then i guess the seraphim swooped in?

so she can only understand the loss of emily through faith, which makes sense, but the emily plot line still makes me frustrated, so idk how i feel. 

you ever get so confused you go to wikipedia?

so the devil took their souls? the devil being the social worker? but then at the last minute the seraphim took the last girl and brought her to heaven even though she died.

so the devil actually got the first three girls? but the bird went up to the light, and scully said she was confident they went to a better place? so must be the bright light guy was the seraphim and he saved them from the caseworker?

listen. listen. i’m going to throw my hands up in the air and admit defeat on this one. i don’t know what the hell went on. but i do believe it was important to scully.

i also believe it was an attempt to wrap up the emily plot line and that it probably won’t ever be addressed again in a meaningful manner because woohoo! we did it! we wrapped it up! /s

hmm. hmm. mulder did endear me today. he was cranky, but he genuinely wanted what was best for her. i think. even if he was lying about tailing a suspect to go watch some illicit films. and i don’t want to think about that. it’s far funnier to imagine him actually tailing someone and having to watch that as a result. 

after watching this episode, i feel very strange. i mentioned before it just didn't do "it" for me, and again, whatever "it" is, i couldn't tell you. but i can tell you this: i am desperate for scully to reclaim agency in her life. and i find that subjecting her to divine will is not agency. maybe you could interpret what happened here as god testing her, or offering her a way to understand her pain, or perhaps even taking god out of the equation, because of the unconfirmed nature of all supernatural elements of this show, she is imagining all of this as a way to deal with her pain. but it doesn't really allow her any freedom or autonomy.

i don't think i can fully articulate my qualms with this episode without diving into the murky waters of if god allows for free will, which is above my pay grade. but i will say this: it felt like scully was thrust into this situation, and her own free will was once again denied, whether you think it is due to father mccue getting her involved or god using her to save these girls and wrestle with the nature of faith versus reality.

and i want to see scully make her own choices. this is a critique of the writers, and not of the fictional character of scully. why is she consistently denied her ability to make choices about her own life? why is she put into these situations that deny her the ability to make choices? why does this happen to the woman in the show and not the man? why does it focus heavily on her ability to bear children? you see what i'm saying? why is the plot happening TO scully but being driven forward BY mulder?

i feel like it is hard for me to analyze what happened in this episode because so little of it involved scully making her own choices. she did choose to get involved with father mccue's request, and she chose to find meaning in her experiences, and even chose to communicate the distress she was in with mulder, but plot wise it was "god is torturing scully again. does he have no one else to torture?"

the emily thing is still always going to rub me the wrong way. it was always clear from the start of the abduction arc that the plot was going in this direction, but that doesn't make me like it any better.

in conclusion: i didn't like this one because i feel it, once again, relied on removing scully's agency and autonomy, and after 5 seasons this is growing old. also, i didn't know the seraphim lore, so i had no idea what was going on.

what did you think? specifically my scully fans: do you agree with my critiques? am i being a hater? did you know what was going on? did you like this episode? i'm always down to listen to someone try and convince me to like an episode! i need to know everything in brutal detail.

[tw-inkl-e-tit-s]

✩-Blind date-✩

Pairing: Miguel Cazarez Mora x Fem!Reader

Word count: 4.9k

Type: fluff

Warnings: Cussing?? not many warnings lol just fluff

A/N: Mia is Pink and Y/n is Purple in text

| Miguel Cazarez Mora Masterlist

Y/N'S POV

I stared in the mirror at my reflection as I put on my earrings and all my jewelry. I was getting ready for something my friend had planned, I think she was just running low on content for her youtube channel and needed something to post. My bestfriend Mia was a Youtube with over three hundred and forty subscribers, She has had me and our other friend Miguel in a couple of videos, and some we appeared in together. The second video we appeared in was when the comments started, Some of the comments said stuff like,

"Look at the way they look at each other!"

"He is so in love with her"

"They are defiantly dating!? OMG!!"

And not to mention the mass amounts of fan edits we both have been tagged in where the fans ship us together. I didn't know Miguel personally, He is just usually there when Mia is filming and so am I, I thought he was very attractive and he defiantly made me nervous when we got too close, The way he would look at me was like I was the only girl in the world.

I have told Mia about my small (HUGE) crush on Miguel and she freaked out and told me I needed to ask him out or tell him about my feelings, but I just never did because I was always scared he would reject me or think differently of me even though it didn't matter because it's not like we hang out alone.

I also am kinda talking to somebody at the moment, It isn't anything serious and we aren't in a relationship or anything, I just thought he was attractive and wanted to get to know him, but from what my other friend Ash told me he is a player, I don't really care I just wanted a distraction for my feelings for Miguel.

I saw my phone light up with a notification from Mia, I grabbed my phone and clicked on her message.

Mia Bear 🐻💕

Are you ready?

I'm parked outside hurry!

I'm ready just need to apply lipgloss omw!

I'm so excited!

I think you're gonna like who I picked for you 🤭

I hope so, is it that Bryan guy? cause if so I ain't going

What?

No! This guy is short sorry lol

But he is cute AND funny I KNOW you will like him

Now hurry your apartment complex is scary

I sighed as I shut my phone off and put it in my back pocket, I put on some lipgloss and looked at myself once more in my full-body mirror to make sure I still looked good, I then walked out of my bedroom and shut my lights out and said bye to my animals and grabbed my purse walking out of my door and making sure to lock it behind me.

I walked into my elevator and clicked "Main floor" I waited for the elevator to open and walked out to see Mia parked outside talking to her Camera in the car, She looked over and saw me walking up to her and pointed the Camera at me,

"Oh my damn, You look good if he doesn't take you I will," She said zooming in on my outfit

I giggled doing a little spin for the camera, "So are you ready?" She asked as I got in her car

"I don't know, You said he was short," I said side-eyeing her

"You got a problem with short men?" She shouted laughing after

"No it's just a lot of short guys think they are hot shit and they ALWAYS have a big ego," I said

"I promise you are going to like this guy, He's humble," She said

It's not that I didn't trust Mia- I did one hundred percent, It's just me and her have completely different tastes when it comes to people we date, I hope she ACTUALLY picked someone I would go for and not someone she would go for, does that make sense?

We pulled up to a park and she told me she would be right back and that she had to go seat something up. I was so nervous so I decided to take my mind off of it by Taking some cute pictures and liking some fan edits.

Mia opened the car door after fifteen minutes, She climbed in and pulled out her camera,

"You ready?" She asked

"Yeah kinda," I laughed

"Don't be, You look great," She smiled and turned her camera on setting it on her dashboard

"So me and Y/n just arrived!" She said to the camera

"Hey guysss!" I smiled

"So all you know is what?" She asked turning to look at me

"So all I know is it's a blind date, we are going to the park and that's all I know," I said

"Yeah I didn't tell you much cause I didn't want to spoil it," She said

"I need to know if I am wearing a blindfold and do I get to see who it is like right when I get there?" I asked

"Yeah I'm gonna keep the blindfold on you guy's until you like- sit down," She said

"I kinda wanna keep the blindfold on," I said covering my face

"What your scared he's uggo, He isn't uggo I promise I would never do you dirty EVER!" She said laughing

"Good I didn't think you would," I said laughing with her

"Alright give me all your thoughts," She said as fixed her camera some

"Okay so when you said blind date I was like aw cute and fun, but I am also in like a sticky situation, I do have a little bit of a situationship going on but it's not like I'm somebodies girlfriend," I said

"But it's fine you can still go on this date," She said

She opened her glove box and pulled out a pink bandana and unfolded it,

"So I got this bandana, but I don't want to ruin your lashes so it's gonna have to be a bit loose so don't move around a lot," She laughed as she put the bandana on my face and tied it in the back

"Alright I think that's good, Can you breathe?" She asked

"Yeah I think- Enough I can breathe enough," I said laughing

"Oh shit I'll be right back, don't take your blindfold off okay," She said as she opened the car door and got out

I sat in silence for another fifteen minutes not knowing what to do cause I couldn't go on my phone due to the blindfold on my face, I laughed at the thought of people looking at me through the window wondering what is going on.

I heard the car door open and Mia breathing heavy

"Are you recording?" I asked

"Yeah, I am now why?" She asked

"Oh my god I'm over here with a blindfold on and I can't see anything and all I can hear is Mia over here breathing like a dog," I said laughing

She laughed shutting the car door

"I just know I'm gonna be so annoying on this date and I'm like so sorry," She said

"Wait no It's okay I'm glad you're here because if you would just leave us to fend for ourselves I would like kinda panic," I said

"Maybe I should then," She said

"NOOO!" I whined

"No i'm kidding I won't I'm gonna be annoying," She said laughing

"Isn't this like the perfect first date, like it's kinda romantic huh?" She asked

"Mmm, I don't know about that," I said laughing

"I'll be right back," She said as she got out of the car

MIA'S POV

"Ahh I'm so excited!" I shouted to the camera as I ran toward my bestfriend Miguel's car

He just got here and he looked a little nervous as he got out of the car, And it looked like he also brought his other bestfriend Mason, I blushed a bit as I and Mason made eye contact, I kinda liked Mason and Miguel knew that, He tried to get me and him together plenty of times but I have just never confessed my feelings.

"Are you excited about your blind date!?" I asked Miguel

"Oh, Mason's here to help me!" I said as I pointed the camera at Mason

"You're taking away my boyfriend bro what is this," He said

"Shut up!" I laughed as I handed him the Camera so I could put on Miguel's blindfold

"Are you excited?" I asked Miguel as I put on his blindfold

"Yeah- well I'm gonna be honest I was hyping myself up on my way here but now I'm here and I'm kinda shitting bricks," He said laughing

"Well I wouldn't put you with someone you wouldn't think was cute," I said

"Well that makes me even more nervous," He said

"Don't stutter alright you got this," Mason said reassuring Miguel

"Bro you literally have thousands of girls crushing on you over the internet you got this," I said

We got out of the car and Mason ran over to our side to film,

"Wait I got her flowers!" Miguel said

"You got her flowers?" I asked surprised

"Yeah I didn't know if I should or not but it is a date so," He said laughing

Mason ran to the trunk and pulled out a huge bouquet of roses,

"Miguel what is this oh my god!" I said walking over to Mason to look at the flowers

I had completely forgotten Miguel was blindfolded, "HOLY SHIT!!" Mason yelled I looked back to see a car speeding in Miguel's direction, I quickly ran over and dragged him towards me, and Mason

"You just almost died!" Mason yelled laughing

"Huh?" Miguel asked confused

"Mia almost let you get ran over bro!" Mason shouted

"Back to what I was saying!" I said laughing

"Miguel, why did you get her this many flowers?" I asked since it was so cute

"Oh it's a Ramo Buchon, I got it because I kinda have a feeling of who you are setting me up with," he said

"No, you don't, She is like super tall- like model tall- like taller than you!" I said

I looked at Mason trying to hold in my laugh and he was doing the same

"Damn model tall, How tall is she?" He asked

"Like six foot five," I said trying not to laugh

"Oh hell nah you trynna set me up with an NBA player, I'm good bro," He said trying to walk away but bumped into the side of his car

"No come back you can't see, dumbass," I said

I grabbed his hand and started leading him to the spot that I had set up for him and Y/n, Mason was carrying the flowers and the camera. The spot had a pink blanket spread across the grass with some sandwiches and I also got them some water so they could stay hydrated since it was hot as shit outside.

"Is she really six foot five?" He asked

"Yes, she is!" I said laughing

"Oh god," He mumbled

"Are you still nervous?" I asked

"Hell yeah, I am so nervous Mia," He said

"Okay talk to the camera," I said

"I just- what if she doesn't like me or what if I don't like her?" He said

I was trying to listen but he kept squeezing my hand, was he really THAT nervous?

"OWW, YOU'RE SQUEEZING MY HAND!!" I shouted trying to lose his grip

"Sorry, I'm just nervous!" He shouted back

"Alright we are here," I said

"Just sit down," Mason said

"Uh, I can't see?" Miguel said

"Oh shit right, here!" I said guiding him to sit on the blanket

"I got you some sandwiches and some waters," I said

"Okay, can I take the blindfold off?" He asked

"NO I'm about to go get her, Just sit there and don't talk because she's gonna recognize your voice I feel like," I said

"Okay, hurry up," He said laughing

Mason handed the flowers to Miguel and we both rushed over to my car to get Y/n,

"Alright I am gonna walk you to your knight in shining armor," I said as I opened my car door

"Ahh I'm so nervous!" Y/n said

"No it's fine, Tell me your thoughts," I said as I guided her to the spot Miguel was at

"Honestly I'm a liar, I'm not really that nervous I'm just dramatic, but I also might fall in love," She said

"Aww you might!" I said

"Also he might hear your voice, he might not recognize it but he might I don't know," I said

"HIII!!" She shouted

"Bitch you aren't there yet!" I shouted laughing

"Ohhh," She laughed

Y/N'S POV

"Alright I need you to sit down here," Mia said as she helped me sit on the ground

"Can he hear me?" I asked

"Kinda," I heard someone say

"Hiii," I said

Mia and someone else started laughing,

"Is he here- what?" I asked confused since I couldn't see anything

"No, he is here!" Mia said

"Alright, you guys can take your blindfolds off!" She shouted

I took a deep breath as I slowly pulled my blindfold off,

"Holy shit," I heard someone whisper beside me

I looked over to see Miguel, I fucking knew it!

"Oh my god I knew it!" I shouted and we all laughed

"Hiii," I smiled leaning in for a hug

"Hi, how are you?" He smiled as he hugged me back

"I'm great," I said pulling away

"This was gonna be my guess when you asked me to guess who it was," I said laughing

"I know, I tried to throw you guys off a little bit," She said

"Well, he isn't four foot three that's for sure!" I said laughing

"Four foot three, She told me you were six foot five!!" Miguel shouted laughing

"SIX FOOT FIVE OH HELL NAHH!!" I shouted

"She did us dirty," Miguel laughed

"Yeah I tried throwing you off by saying he was short- and he's like the tallest person in the world," she said scanning Miguel with the camera

"I know I was so nervous 'cause she was like, do you like short kings?" I said

"Not the short king," Miguel laughed shaking his head

"So I got you guys some sandwiches and waters, and um- OH," Mia said pointing at something behind Miguel

He pulled out a huge Ramo Buchon, It had red roses on the outside and white roses in the middle shaped like a heart and it was wrapped in white glitter paper.

"Oh yeah I got you some flowers," He smiled as he handed me them

"Oh my god thank you, these are so beautiful!" I smiled taking them

"I'm like tearing up, this is the sweetest thing a guy has done for me thank you so much!" I said hugging him

He hugged me back and I just wanted to stay like that forever, he felt so warm and he smelled so good and the way his hands wrapped around me so perfectly made me melt.

"Okay since you guys are both nervous it is a good thing I came up with some good first-date questions," Mia said as she walked behind me and Miguel

"I am so nervous deadass, my whole hand is shaking," Miguel said as he held up his hand

"Okay, my first question is did I do great?" She asked smiling at the camera

"I think you did good," I said looking at Miguel

"I think you did great," He smiled looking at me

"Good because I told them in my intro about how you guys think each other is cute and no one does anything about it," She said pulling out her phone

I and Miguel couldn't stop glancing at each other, he just looked so good, and his outfit looked good, He was wearing some black cargo pants, a black shirt, a red jacket, a black hat, and air force ones, and his hair was also pulled back in a ponytail, The site made me wanna drool.

"Okay the real first question is, What is your favorite movie, I'm trynna see if you guys have anything in common here," She said

"I would defiantly have to say y/f/m," I said (Your favorite movie)

"I would have to go with Friday and hangover," Miguel said

"What is that?" I asked

"You haven't seen hangover?" Mia asked

"Wait you haven't seen hangover?" Miguel asked shocked

"No guess we have to watch it," I said smirking at him

"Oh we are for sure having a movie night," he said smirking at me

"Wait you guys are already planning another date!?" Mia asked

"It feels like you guys are fine without me, I'll stay for one more question," She said

"Okay, so what are your signs?" She asked

"Uh, I am a y/z/s what are you?" I asked (What is your zodiac sign)

"I'm a Pisces," Miguel said as he opened his water bottle

"Aw I love Pisces," I said

"Perfect!" Mia said clapping her hands

"Alright I'm gonna leave you guys to fend for yourselves for a bit and I'm gonna go talk to Mason and the viewers," She said as she got up and walked off with Mason

I looked back at Miguel who was already looking at me, I quickly looked down trying to hide my blush, He laughed as he placed his hand over mine holding it, I looked up at him and he smiled back at me, "You look so beautiful Y/n," He said looking me up and down,

I couldn't help but look him up and down as well, He just looked so good, "Thank you, Miguel, You look really nice too," I said laughing

"I was serious about that Movie date," He said

"Really?" I asked

"One hundred percent," He said as he looked me in the eyes

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to go on a date with you," He said

"I think I know, I've kinda been crushing on you for a while," I said smiling

"You should have said something!" He said laughing

"Oh yeah like you should have said something to me about how you felt the same!?" I said laughing

"I was nervous!" He said

"Why I don't bite?" I said smirking

"You are just so… Beautiful and breathtaking, and you are very intimidating like you carry yourself so well that I felt like if I asked you out you would have laughed in my face," He said lowering his head

Did he really feel that way? am I intimidating? He said I was breathtaking!

"Miguel, I wouldn't have laughed in your face, I would have told you how I felt and we could have been dating and we wouldn't have to be on this weird blind date thing," I said laughing

He finally looked up at me as he laughed

"Alright be honest what is your ideal first date, Cause I wanna properly take you out?" He asked

"Okay so I think- not a movie because you are like sitting in silence and you can't really talk to each other- but what would earn you coochie point is like maybe take me out somewhere to eat and be like, Be ready at this time and dress like this I'm picking you up," I said

He threw his head back as he laughed

"Alright it seems like it's going very well, So I'm gonna make things a little weird," Mia said as she sat back down between me and Miguel

"Oh great," I said side eyeing Miguel who was doing the same

"Okay I want you guys to compliment each other," She said

"Okay, I really like your hair and your eyes and your smile," I said

"I love your smile and your eyes and your lips," He said smirking at me

"That's so romantic Miguel oh my god," Mia said sighing

"Okay so I have this friend who I showed a picture of you both to and she said that you both looked cute together and I was like I know I've been trying to tell them, like Miguel is always like yo whats good with your friend Y/n, and then I'm like Y/n Miguel thinks you're cute and then she's like yeah he's cute, and no one will ever make a move," She said mimicking our voices

"All right guys comment down below if you think this went well, get this to ten thousand likes and I will force them to go on a date alone next time, Byeee!" She said as Mason turned off the Camera

"Soooo, yall going on a date?" She asked wiggling her brows

"I would love to take you out on a date Amor," Miguel said

I looked away blushing,

"Ohhh he's calling you Amor now?" Mia said

"I would like that," I said blushing

Taglist: @vancehopperenthusiast @bradyhepner @deadghosy @finneyblakes @mnsnloverhey @jayceflwrs @bookobsessedfreak

[teaberrii]

Chapter Four: Hi, Neighbour

Alhaitham has the looks and the smarts. He will also be the stand-in CEO for his grandfather's company for a year.

But, he's been mysteriously cursed to turn into a cat every night since his eighteenth birthday… until he meets you, an employee at his grandfather's company, who rescues him as a cat and changes him back with one kiss.

Alhaitham/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on AO3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

You're usually the one responsible for your sleepless nights. Like that time when you were nervous about giving your first solo presentation in school. Or, the time you stayed up way too late for your first project early in your career, wanting to perform well as one of the team's youngest members. You rarely lose sleep because of other people. Well, it seems like Alhaitham just loves to surprise you.

It's already midnight, and you can't stop thinking about what happened today.

“Wait… You two know each other?” Kaveh gasped when you and Alhaitham exchanged a look. “Don’t tell me you’re the soulmate!”

“...The what?”

“Don’t bring up that nonsense,” Alhaitham warned.

Kaveh coughed. “Well, soulmate or not, it’s not every day you get to live across from a CEO.”

Alhaitham shot his friend a deadpan look, and Kaveh innocently looked in the other direction.

“You’re… a CEO?”

Alhaitham assumed you haven’t looked at that official welcome email. Otherwise, you would know. While he knew which department you were in, he didn’t go to see you. Though, sometimes, he’d thought of you barging into his office and demanding an explanation of why he was here. It was a ridiculous scenario, but it kept him entertained. Little did he know, it was those moments where he’d subconsciously smile.

He kept to himself that he knew you and left it up to fate to decide whether he’d accidentally bump into you in the hall or somewhere nearby. Turned out fate had other plans.

Alhaitham didn’t get a chance to respond when Kaveh said, “Uh huh! At Sumeru Entertainment! He’s still a newbie, though.”

“Um, are you okay?” It was the voice of your real estate agent that snapped you out of it. “You just turned pale.”

“At… at where did you say?” you asked.

“Sumeru Entertainment.”

Alhaitham’s voice wasn’t helping.

“I… I work there," you finally said.

“You do?” Kaveh gasped. “Oh, my God! That’s… what a small world!”

“I know.”

Silence.

Alhaitham… knew? Since when? How did he know? Could it be from your conversation with Lumine? But, you never said where—

“I saw you,” Alhaitham continued. “...At the marketing department.”

The marketing…? Oh. It must be from that time.

“Ooh, did something happen?” Kaveh asked.

“I, uh, it’s getting late,” you finally said. “I need to go.”

You scream into your pillow. But then, you look up.

No. Who cares if he’s your CEO? It’s not like you have any direct connection. But the thought of living across from him is…

Your head hits the pillow again. Wait a minute. You look up. Why should Alhaitham influence your decision on whether to buy the place or not? You love the apartment. It's closer to your work. The neighbourhood is nicer. Transportation is also much more convenient. There are too many pros. And the thought of giving that up just because Alhaitham will be your neighbour makes you scoff.

You sit upright.

You made your decision. You’re going to make an offer. You’re going to move in… and it’s not because you also partly want to prove a point.

◆◆◆

“Ooh, I got it! What if the guy is actually an alien?”

Later that week, you’re brainstorming with your team on project ideas, writing them all down on the large smart table in the meeting room. But, this idea… it’s interesting and has potential.

"Okay," you say, looking at the many ideas scribbled on the notepad. "We have enough ideas to work with. Let's start narrowing them down."

“How are we going to do that?”

A knock comes at the door. As soon as it opens, you see your manager… and Alhaitham.

"Oh, please don't mind us," your manager says. "I bumped into Alhaitham earlier, and he was interested in learning about the creative process behind our films and dramas." Your manager smiles. "I knew you were having a creative meeting with your team today, so I thought we could listen in."

It's the first time you've seen Alhaitham since that day. Now that you know he's the new CEO, you've been mentally preparing yourself to bump into him in the hallway or at a restaurant nearby. There's no way he's going to catch you off guard. You almost scoff. Again, this man just loves to surprise you.

Still, you need to become accustomed to this; soon, he will be your neighbour. That's right. You closed the deal on the apartment just yesterday.

"I hope we're not interrupting," Alhaitham says. You watch him walk to the opposite side of the table; your team members instantly make room for him. "All of these look like great ideas." His eyes look from the screen to you. "How do you narrow them down?"

You don't want to overthink and say that he's testing you. Regardless, you welcome the challenge. "I like to start with the ending." You put your hands on the table. "Knowing how the story ends will help write scenes to achieve that ending." You smile slightly. "It'll also help with sequencing."

As he listens to you talk, Alhaitham sees the same sparkle in your eyes he saw that day at your house when you looked at him as a cat. It's easy to tell that you love what you do; the passion in your talk says it all. People also glow differently when talking about something they love. Alhaitham has seen it. But, there's something about you that draws him in. He can't take his eyes off you, but what scares him is that he almost doesn't want to.

Looking up, you see Alhaitham staring at you, and your mind almost goes blank. Perhaps it's the way he's looking at you. Attentive. Focused. But there's also something else. Curiosity. Maybe he's taken more of an interest in what you're saying. Regardless, you're suddenly losing the words on your tongue.

“Um, yeah, so… that’s it,” you finish. You almost want to bang your head against the wall for that eloquent ending.

"It was easy to follow your train of thought," Alhaitham says. "It was logical, and I understood why you would do things a certain way." Then, he smiles slightly, and your heart almost skips a beat. "I learned a lot."

You sigh softly once he and your manager leave.

“Were you nervous?” You look at your colleague, who’s smiling. “It’s rare to see you get nervous, boss.”

You hope it doesn’t happen again… around Alhaitham, that is.

You leave a little early to meet your mother at your new place on the same day. It's still empty as you've scheduled your move to be on the weekend to avoid clashing with work. When you told your family you sealed the deal, they were all thrilled. Though, your mother just had to add that it would be even better if you were moving in with a guy. But, you let it slide.

“Hey, mom.”

“This place is beautiful,” she says, walking inside the lobby with you. “It must’ve cost you a pretty penny.”

"Well, I think I got a good deal after I negotiated."

In the elevator, your mother spends a little time catching you up on what's been happening at her café. Opening a café has always been a dream of hers. So, when she retired as an accountant, she took the plunge and opened one in the city's business district.

“You look exhausted,” you say worriedly. “Why don’t you rest for a little bit? I’m sure the part-timers can handle themselves for a day or two.”

"I know they can. They're good kids. One of them is going to graduate from university this year." She looks at you. "It's hard, though. I'm sure you know."

You know. It’s difficult for you to take a day off when it’s not an official holiday. Work is constantly on your mind. But you’re still young. Your mother, on the other hand…

You unlock and open the door to your new place, allowing your mother to step in first. She takes a look around just as you close the door behind you.

“It’s nice, right?” you ask.

You and your mother chat about the place for a while, and then she changes the topic to the one you’re dreading.

“Lumine told me she gave you the pamphlet.”

“...She did. I’m not going.”

“Why not?”

“Mom,” you groan. “Do you even have to ask? I think it’s obvious.”

“The men this time—”

“It’s not about the men!" You sigh. "I’m honestly really happy right now. I’d rather be happy myself than be in an unhappy relationship.”

Your mom gives you a look. “Who said I want you to be in an unhappy relationship? I know you’re happy, dear. But I want you to be happier. Some memories… some feelings can only happen when you have someone around you.”

“I’d rather have it happen naturally,” you mutter.

“But you have to try!”

That's the thing. You don't want to. It's not like you never had suitors after your horrendous breakup. But you turned every single of them down… for years. Your mom never understood why, and you always used the same excuse. You didn't like them. You just weren't interested. When one guy went as far as to treat you like a literal queen, some of your friends called you "incredible" for turning down such a great guy. But you couldn't date him. Not when the demons of your first relationship still haunted you like no tomorrow.

“Mom, please… can we talk—”

"I don't want you with just anyone, so I specifically signed you up for this event. They're worthy of being with a strong woman like you."

You wish you could just disappear.

Your mother opens the door and walks out. “Go to that event.”

“No. I don’t—”

The elevator doors open, and Alhaitham walks out. You instantly stiffen as he makes eye contact with you… and then your mother. When Alhaitham gives you a small smile, your mother slowly turns to you with a raised brow.

“Hey, neighbour," he says.

Is that your new nickname now?

“...Hi, neighbour.”

It’s… strange calling your CEO that, but maybe it's better than Catboy.

Alhaitham smiles at your mother. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

“My… it’s nice to meet you!” Your mother instantly turns to you. “Are you two friends?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

You and Alhaitham look at each other. What is he talking about? You aren’t friends!

“He’s my neighbour,” you say. "If that wasn't obvious already."

Your mother turns to Alhaitham. “How did you two meet? Here?”

How will Alhaitham respond? You’re a little curious.

“She helped me when I got hurt.”

Your eyes almost turn wide. He isn't going to tell her about the cat incident, is he?

“She was very kind to let me stay with her,” Alhaitham continues, and your jaw almost drops.

Your mother instantly turns to you. “He stayed with you?”

“It’snotlikethat,” you say, your words coming out so fast that even you had trouble understanding what you just said.

“But we got into a little fight, and she kicked me out.”

Your mother looks back at him, and you give him a pointed look. He’s asking for it.

“A fight, you say?” she asks.

"It was me in the wrong." This takes you by surprise. "I shouldn't have overstayed my welcome." Then, Alhaitham looks you in the eyes. "But, I'll always be grateful for her kindness during my time of need."

He's making you feel too many emotions at once, and it must stop.

“Mom,” you say, “I’ll walk you down.”

“Oh, but I haven’t gotten his name yet!”

"Alhaitham." You shoot him a deadpan look, which he returns with a ghost of a smile. Then, he says to your mother, "It's a pleasure to meet you, auntie."

You don’t think it can get any worse, but your mother also loves to surprise you.

“Are you single?”

“Mom!”

“...I am.”

Well, you have one of your secret questions answered, at least.

“Oh, my daughter is, too! I keep telling her to go to a matchmaking party, but she’s as stubborn as always.”

“Mom,” you say loudly. “I really think you should get going. It’s late.”

Your mother sighs. “Fine, fine.”

You meet Alhaitham’s eyes just as he says, “Goodnight, neighbour.”

“...Goodnight.”

This is definitely not how you’re expecting your evening to go.

◆◆◆

Over the next few days, your mother’s been asking you more about Alhaitham. So much that even your siblings now knew about him.

"So, you got a sparkly new place and a hot neighbour?" Lumine had asked. "I wish I had your luck, sis."

“What does he look like?” Aether had asked. “I’m so curious.”

That was only one out of the many questions.

What does he do? What's his family background? Morals? Values? You couldn't answer them as you barely knew him. You thought about letting your family know that he's your CEO, but you weren't sure what path that would lead. So maybe it was best to pretend you didn't know anything for now.

You've just finished lunch, and you're talking with your mother in an empty meeting room when she brings up Alhaitham�� again.

“Mom, it’s not good to keep talking about other people, you know.”

“But I’ve been thinking… someone that handsome is bad news,” she says. You almost choke on your water. You’re still coughing when you hear your mother say, “But… I didn’t get a bad vibe from him.”

“What kind of vibe did you get from him then?” you deadpan. Then, before you can stop yourself, you ask, “Catty?”

“No, far from it! He was very polite.”

Not the definition of catty you’re going for, but… it’ll do.

“Is… he the reason why you’re not going?”

“To what? That matchmaking party?” You roll your eyes. “It’s not the first time I told you no, mom. It’s not because of him. I just don’t want to go.”

"Well, you have such a great catch living across the hallway from you."

“A great catch?” you ask incredulously. “You barely know him! What if he’s a crazy psychopath?” You really hope that’s not true.

“I trust my gut instinct. He really doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”

“Yeah, well, let me dash your hopes right now. Actually, he’s—”

Knock. Knock.

The door opens, and you see one of your colleagues.

“Hey. We have this room booked.”

“Oh, sorry,” you say, standing. Then, as you walk out, you say into your phone. “I have to get back to work. Let’s talk later.”

◆◆◆

Hours later, Alhaitham gets off another call and rubs his tired eyes. Is this the life of an executive? Just meeting after meeting after meeting? Then, just as he's about to return to work, he hears a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opens, and his secretary walks in, holding a black and white suit wrapped nicely in plastic.

Alhaitham is about to ask when his secretary says, “Your grandfather asked me to pick this up for you for the awards night next week.”

“Appreciate it.” Alhaitham gestures to the couch. “You can put it there for now.”

"He… also asked me if you're bringing someone," he says, putting the suit neatly on the couch.

“...To the awards night?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t see why I would."

“In that case, he’d like you to take Layla with you.”

There's a name he hasn't heard in a long time. The daughter of one of the wealthiest family-owned companies in Sumeru… and an old family friend. While he and Layla have been friends for a long time, they lost contact when she moved away for university. Is she back?

“She’s coming back to open a subsidiary company under their name,” his secretary continues. “Your grandfather would like the two of you to get back in touch again.”

There’s obviously a motive, and Alhaitham isn’t going to fall for it.

"I'm sure she'll be busy readjusting. The last thing she needs is to attend an award show that has nothing to do with her."

“...I’ll relay the message.”

"You can also tell him to talk to me directly. No need for you to get involved with this." Alhaitham looks at the clock. "...It's late. Let's head back."

In the elevator, Alhaitham isn't expecting it to stop on your floor. When the doors open and you see each other, he holds your stare until you walk inside.

“Oh, hi, Alhaitham.” Alhaitham turns to Childe, who walks in after you with a smile.

Alhaitham stands behind you as he watches you and Childe make some casual conversation.

“I still haven’t thought about what to get Zhongli for his wedding,” Childe sighs. “Any ideas?”

“Aren’t you two supposed to be close?” you ask.

“What did you get him?”

Oh? Are you going to Zhongli’s wedding, too?

“It’s a surprise.”

“Oh, come on,” Childe groans. “Don’t be like that.”

“Yeah, well, deal with it.”

Childe gently nudges you. “I can keep a secret.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“Let it go, Childe.”

“Never.”

Alhaitham clears his throat. You slowly look over your shoulder and see him staring at Childe. “She already said no.”

“Ah… yeah.”

It's the first time you've seen Childe speechless, and you look back, hiding a small smile.

The doors open, and you step out. As you and Childe walk together, you expect to see Alhaitham walk in another direction or past you, but you never do. Does this mean he's still behind you? You want to look, but you have no idea how to make it look not obvious. Maybe just a—

You gasp when you bump into a large man holding a hot drink that splashes on your clothes. You're still recovering from what happened when the man glares at you.

“Sorry,” you begin, “I—”

“Watch where you’re going!”

“Why are you yelling?” Childe asks.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Me? I’m—”

“Watch your language.” Everyone turns to Alhaitham, who’s walking toward you.

It looks like the man recognizes him as he stiffens.

Alhaitham takes out a napkin from his suit and gives it to you. “...Are you okay?”

You take it. “...I’m fine."

“With all due respect, this woman is the one who bumped into me,” the man huffs.

As you dab the stain on your clothes, Alhaitham removes his jacket and drapes it around you. You stop and look up, catching a glimpse of his worried stare before he glares at the man. Everyone in the lobby is looking at you now, and you just want to disappear into a black hole.

“She already apologized,” Alhaitham says. “There’s no need to yell.”

The man grumbles something and walks away.

“...Thanks for that,” you say. “I’ll clean this and give it ba—”

“We need to get you out of those clothes.”

Alhaitham's voice is so quiet and low that you think you imagined it. But then, you see the warmth in his eyes, and you almost melt.

“We wouldn’t want you getting sick,” he continues.

…Right. Of course. Where is your mind wandering to?

Chapter Five

End notes: I couldn't tag some people, but this story usually updates twice every week. Just so you know. :)

Tag list: @lordbugs @suoshiii @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @sakiimeo @ashtree-and-the-cats @ceylestia @forsh4dow @aalastors-blog @deathkat657 @kalpie @elernity @sentieence

[velvetvexations]

if were talking tv shows and movies, i find that while most portrayals of trans men arent as outright obviously violent, the narrative clearly dislikes what theyre doing and thinks theyre making a bad decision. take max from the l word, a show that clearly cares more about how transitioning will ""hurt"" other people and the beauty of being ""female"" than caring about a trans man getting to be happy.

i mean, "disgusting predator" isnt the only way to be treated badly, and famously trans men arent really depicted in mainstream media, and a lack of representation isnt suddenly good because its trans men. i guess its a grass is always greener on the other side situation.

I don't even think it's that! We're in a new age of maximum casual queer representation across all media, and sure, at this point it's kinna still somewhere between "oh, hey, television is starting to have Black characters appear on-screen" and the ideal you see more of in smaller works, but regardless it's almost always either non-binary people (I imagine because they're easier to signal) and trans women. I've talked about this a few times before but it's always blown me away by how many transmasc people I've been surrounded by relative to how often they appear in media - even the smaller works.

I'm also like, not entirely sure what media everyone is watching. Did people start accidentally subscribing to The Daily Caller or what? It's hard to think of "mainstream media" that's still full-on Buffalo Bill (and even Silence of the Lambs was more a problem for it's misunderstood impact than it's actual content.)

Even like, The L Word with trans men, I'm not denying that was a major landmark in queer media, but between that and the examples I see people give for negative portrayals of trans women, it feels like people are focusing way too hard on the past and not stuff that's come out in like...the last decade and a half. Which makes this whole thing about pitting representation against each other crazy to me.

Like, maybe I'm wrong? But literally I saw this post about how bad transfems had it in media and every single thing either came out in the 20th century, was a television show (Family Guy, South Park) that began in the 20th century and is mainly watched by middle aged people who think they're still counter-culture, or one movie that was released in the past decade but was a hyper obscure box-office bomb.

So right now it's like, okay, even if we accept trans women did previously have it worse, if we did grant that, it feels like that's much less of an issue now and that trans men being underrepresented is more of a problem that needs addressing instead of obsessing over boomer shit?

Except like, no one was even really saying "we need to prioritize transmascs in media" in the first place, right? Like that anon just came in and was like, transmascs have it so easy because their media representation is so good and ours is so bad, and it's like, okay, well, let's examine that if you're going to bring it to the table completely unprompted.

IDK if I'm out of line here but it sincerely puzzles me.

[gay-jesus-probably]

(Feel free to ignore this-! I’m just happy to hear someone’s deep takes on Zelda)

I really love your deep dives and interpretations/discussions on the Gerudo people and their history, influence and life in BOTW/TOTK (I totally agree with all you’ve said)

I just want to ask/Point out (after reading your imperialism post about TOTK) didn’t the Zora for many years like- not want to serve or be a part of the Hylian families army either? Like, even before Mipha’s death, weren’t the Zora very much against conforming to the Hylian’s rules and such? (In every game?) I’m a bit confused on how Hyrule is split up, the Zora’s having their own kingdom(s), the Rito and Goron’s having elder’s/their own leaders but still serving the royal family??

It’s always bothered me how these separate races all still have statues to the Goddess Hylia (Started in BOTW) and not their own deity’s to pray to or follow (Like the Zora praying to Nayru makes sense, or even something like Jabu Jabu to bring back- or the Rito could’ve prayed to Valoo, a great dragon or something.)

It just feels like Nintendo COULD’VE put so much care into all their races stories and histories! But oops no this game will be for Kids(TM) and we can’t put anything too deep or serious. Makes me sad :( I wanted to see them in a deeper context.

Oh yeah, it's very weird that they just put zero effort into explaining some of the worldbuilding. I mean, in BOTW it makes perfect sense to have the races be off doing their own things! It's post apocalypse, Hyrule does not exist anymore, these different communities have no real reason to interact with each other! And I really liked that BOTW outright showed that there was no particular effort for diplomacy, but people still got along as individuals - I liked that we saw different races hanging around each other. I loved that there were Gerudo in Goron Town to trade for their gems, I loved that Goron were allowed into Gerudo Town because they're a race of rock people that legitimately don't have any real need for gender and just use masculine terms by their own choice, and the Gerudo understood that. And I loved the whole Tarrey Town sidequest, because it actually felt really satisfying to build up a new town that had inhabitants from all the races, not for any particular reason, but just because they were people that wanted to live there and work together. They didn't need a big central government to make it a whole Thing; they were just getting by.

And we also saw the less good side of these things, like that one guy in Hateno that greeted you at the gate, and decided Link was trustworthy specifically because he was Hylian, making it clear that xenophobia still existed. I like that Kass was kind of thrown by Link asking if he was a giant bird, and the implication that Link was being kinda insensitive there and Kass was choosing not to be offended. I liked that there was a Hylian couple on their honeymoon in Rito village because the guy genuinely loved the town and its culture, while his new wife looked down on the Rito and hated being around them. And I liked that the older Zora still held a grudge against Hyrule for many things, up to and including the fact that Mipha died defending it, and the older generation would rather risk everyone's wellbeing than accept help from a Hylian that had been involved. And I like that you can run into other Hylian's near Zora's domain that outright tell you Zora have been trying to recruit them to do something important, but they all refused to get involved because they don't think that those weird fish people could have anything serious going on and it all seemed really sketchy.

My point is, BOTW really did feel like it'd been a hundred years since the end of the world, and everyone was just trying to get by and live their lives. You saw people being open minded and accepting other races for no other reason than the fact that they were all people, and you saw people being petty and bigoted just because they didn't trust people that looked and acted differently from them, but for the most part people were all just getting by and doing their own thing. BOTW gave the impression that Hyrule had been an equal alliance between the Hylian's, Zora, Goron, Rito and Gerudo (and with the Sheikah having a considerably less equal role, specifically built on the Sheikah having been forced to submit to cultural genocide to save their own lives, and the Yiga clan being the survivors that fought back instead), with Hyrule acting as sort of the core of the alliance, if only due to literally being in the geographic middle.

I mean fuck, the existence of the Divine Beasts suggests that things are equal! Yeah, Hyrule has a royal family with holy powers due to literally being the descendants of a Goddess, and they're the ones that always get the reincarnation of the Hero that's the only one who can wield the bullshit OP magic sword... but they don't get a Divine Beast (Link's dinky little DLC motorcycle doesn't count). The Divine Beasts were specifically made to be weapons of mass destruction, and they were specifically made for the non-Hylian races. That really does suggest an active effort being taken to balance the scales, that the ancient people saw that only Hylian's were granted divine favour, and so if the gods wouldn't give that power to other races, they'd fucking make it themselves. The existence of the Divine Beasts feels like a promise to keep everyone on equal footing, and say what you will about pre-Calamity Hyrule, but they didn't even question keeping that promise.

...And then in TOTK, all of that's just gone. The Sheikah aren't their own people with a complicated relationship to the throne, now they're just Hylian's with a different aesthetic. The 'alliance' between the races turns out to be built on Hyrule's first King and Queen pointing their stockpile of magical nukes at everyone and asking them politely to become their subjects, and pretending not to notice the implied threat that they'd magically nuke anyone who refused. In BOTW the Sheikah race being sworn servants of the Hylian royal family was acknowledged as a fucked up situation, and that power imbalance being horribly abused in the past was what created the Yiga clan. In TOTK, we're outright told that Rito, Goron, Zora and Gerudo all exist for the sole purpose of serving the Hylian royal family, and that is framed as a good thing and the proper way of the world; the first sign of Ganondorf being evil is that he refuses to submit.

And even putting all that super gross ancient past stuff aside, the present day is equally fucked. Hyrule has been gone for a century. In BOTW, few people even remembered that Zelda had ever existed, and of those people not many of them cared. Nobody was really interested in having a central government, they were all getting by just fine on their own. And again, it was made pretty clear that the pre-calamity situation had been an actively maintained collective alliance between independent nations. There was a reason that people were predicting that Hyrule's monarchy would be abolished in TOTK, and that's because we all saw that there was literally no reason for anyone other than the Sheikah to respect Zelda's authority as a ruler - the Zora were the only other people to still remember her, and they were completely done with the Hylian royal family anyways. If Zelda rolled up declaring herself the Queen of Hyrule anywhere else, she'd be laughed out of town, because that's the standard response to a random teenager showing up and informing you she was actually the highest authority in the land. Zelda had no inherent authority left at the end of BOTW, if she wanted to be in charge, she'd need to earn it. That's the state of the world that we were shown.

Except nope, nevermind, Zelda's the almighty God Princess of the world and literally everyone mindlessly accepts her ultimate authority. She can order people to strip naked and walk into a monster den to die for her amusement, and they would immediately do it without asking any questions (yes I know the underwear thing was a misunderstanding, but the fact that everyone jumped to follow the misheard order without a single question is horrifying). And the imposter Zelda arc just hammers home the point that Zelda is in a completely unearned, lifelong position as dictator of the world, and literally nobody cares if she abuses that power. Zelda brainwashed Yunobo and forced him to ruin his own business and nearly destroy his own people? He's just worried she'll be angry that the mask keeping him brainwashed was destroyed. Zelda summons a giant monster to attack Yunobo and Link then walks away? Oh my god, the giant monster Zelda just summoned to kill us might hurt her, we have to save Zelda from it! Zelda literally openly attacks King Dorephan and tries to murder him? He'd rather go missing in the middle of a crisis and suffer alone in hiding than let anyone know that Zelda just tried to kill him. I don't understand why they bothered with the fake Zelda arc, because literally nothing the fake Zelda does is allowed to have consequences.

It just doesn't make any goddamn sense. Nobody feels real anymore, there's no politics between the races, there's no reason for anything being the way it is now. The entire world of Hyrule has been reduced to just Zelda's Fanclub, and nobody would ever consider doubting her for a second. I don't understand why the fake Zelda arc is in the game, because it's never actually allowed to be part of the story. Nobody actually cares about 'Zelda' tormenting people, and so we're told that there is literally nothing that can possibly happen to make Zelda lose her authority. There's no stakes. We're not supposed to care about anyone who isn't Zelda, we're not given any real reason to care about Zelda herself, and so why the fuck are we still here?

...I've distracted myself a lot here lmaoo, I'm not really sure where I was going with all of this beyond just rambling about shitty writing and bad continuity. The point is, BOTW had some really good writing and worldbuilding. That Hyrule felt like a real place inhabited by actual people, and the different races were their own, independent people. When they worked together, it was a sign of them putting time and effort into reaching out to each other and meet on the same level. Meanwhile TOTK feels like it's made of fucking cardboard most of the time.

(Also for the record I agree that the Goddess statues being Literally Everywhere was kinda fucked, BUT I'm willing to let it slide as a matter of just game design; that's where you go to trade spirit orbs for upgrades, so you want a spot to do that in every major town for player convenience. And using different deities in different areas wouldn't work, because the players are introduced to the mechanic with a goddess statue; they're not gonna naturally assume that the statue of a giant fish can do that too, so most of them would assume the statue is scenery and just ignore it. I thought it was at least a nice touch that the goddess statues had different decorations in some towns, and that some towns put the statues away from the main areas; it gave the impression that while everyone while worshipping Hylia was widespread, everyone was doing it differently, and in some places it wasn't very popular - just look at the Kakariko statue being in the middle of town with a well maintained pond surrounding it and torches to draw more attention to it, then compare that to the Gerudo Town statue being down a side street on the edge of town, away from the main gate, with nothing of any real importance nearby, and nothing to get people's attention. It really works with the Sheikah's culture being built on their devotion to the Goddess, while the Gerudo's history with Hylia and her followers is a lot more complicated, and so their statue's location implies that worship of Hylia is pretty unpopular among the Gerudo.)

[nogenderbee]

Ok- so bit of a request that latches on to a previous story of yours if that's ok :) so, I saw your post abt the brothers adopting teen!mc, and mammons part about like- not approving of something got me thinking... what if mc got a bf/gf/partner, and the brothers are all going into overprotective dad mode. I think thatd be the funniest and cutest thing in the world, so like...🙏

Hello! I'm not sure if I got your idea right but I have fun writing it so I hope you enjoy <3 (also I hope it's alright that readers partner is a demon in every scenario)

Brothers reacting to Teen!mc having partner

⊱ Let's be honest, Lucifer was protective since the day he adopted you and even before. He never let you go alone anywhere and if he did you had to be back home before it was late.

⊱ He knew you had a very good demon friend, and as much as he was worried about you first, later on he started thinking that they may not be as bad as he thought at first. But what he didn't thought is that this "friend" of yours was actually your partner.

⊱ No matter how he finds out you're dating, he'll start scolding you about how "it's a demon so they're far too old for you" and that "you should break up with them", sure you may eventually stay friends but not anything more!

⊱ He's literally the type to go "you can date after my death". Ekhem Satan and Belphie thinking of this as a challenge Ekhem

"No, YN, you're not dating anyone as far as I'm alive."

⊱ Mammon didn't mind that you had demon friends, in fact he was happy that you get around well with others

⊱ He didn't really cared if they were responsible or not, as far as you're having fun and not getting hurt, he's absolutely alright with that! But he really didn't knew that one of your friends was you partner, sure he saw you hanging out with them but you two didn't act romantic to him.

⊱ If you told him yourself that you're dating someone he'll go like "oh great" before he realizes what you just said, and once you do he goes on that you can't date them since they're demon and you're human!

⊱ If he finds you kissing with your partner himself or because of rumors he heard, he will immediately to separate you two and he's really not the type of parent to make you come back home early but just this time he will

"YN, rumors really were true?! Ya not dating anyone! C'mon let's go back for today."

⊱ Levi was very happy for you when he found out you had some demon friends, but he is a little sad that you don't have as much time to spend with him, but at the same time he understands, you would prefer your friends over yucky otaku after all

⊱ but he didn't knew you dated with one of your friends, sure maybe he heard you talking nicely about them more than others but he just assumed you like each other as good friends

⊱ he doesn't go out often so if he would be about to know that you had a lover, it would be by you telling him about it. And to your surprise he literally stops you at word "partner" saying that you can't date them and that they'll "break your heart because they're demon"

⊱ but he may see you himself when he goes out to buy some new figure or if one of his brothers told him that you're all lovey dovey with some demon, and once he does find you, you can see Levi in his demon form separating you two and going back home with you

"They cannot be your partner. You're too sweet for them! ... Because they're demon, they'll definitely try to brak your heart!"

⊱ Satan was a tiny bit angry when he discovered you have so many demon friends, couldn't you pick angels or humans?! Sure there's not a lot of them in Devildom and he's a demon himself but still!

⊱ you told him about his friends and he slowly started warming about to them tho, and once you saw him do that, you started talking a little more about your one "friend" wink wink and at first he just thought that you were like best friends or something but the more you talked the more he thought you two were dating or something

⊱ so his first option will be just asking you and if you still the tea, he won't be that angry since he appreciates honesty but still will tell you how "you should immediately break up with them before they hurt you" explaining how it's a demon thing

⊱ but if you will say that you're just friends and one day he catches you on a date with them, he will immediately walk up to you and separate you two, maybe even will push your partner who should be lucky he didn't beat them and will scold you while guiding you back home

"What did I told you about dating demons?! No, you'll explain yourself at home!" he's still trying to control himself for you although it's hard

⊱ Asmo was actually very happy that you have so many friends and he never sets you time to be back, sure he calls you when it's too late to make sure you're alright but you have your fun!

⊱ you often tell him about your friends on gossips night and mostly about one "friend" of yours, and he jokingly teased you if you like them, but after that he will remind you that "they're demons" and that "they're too old for you"

⊱ if you decide to tell him about your partner he will stop painting your nails to make sure he heard you right, and once he does he tells you that he's happy you finded yourself someone but then tells you about age difference and that you two should just break up because there's no way it will work out

⊱ if you don't tell him and he finds out himself, he won't come up to you, instead he will try to sneakily observe you two for a little bit of time and then just start talking about your little date when he paints your nails, and basically will tell you the same thing if you would just told him yourself

"Darling I'm happy you found yourself someone, but they're at least 100 years older than you! It's literally illegal for you two to date!"

⊱ Beel is extremely supportive of your friends. I mean as long as you're not getting hurt, not coming back at late hours and are having fun, he doesn't have anything to complain about!

⊱ he always liked it when you told him stories about your friends, it erasure him that your friends are really alright but he heard a lot about one of your "friends" but he just thought that you simply get a long the best, he actually didn't even assumed you two could be dating

⊱ so if you decide to tell him, he's quick to tell you about this whole age difference and that they're demon so they might break your heart, but he still appreciates your honestly so he's trying his best to tell you this as gently as possible

⊱ if he catches you on a date tho, at first he just thinks you have friendly hangout and just realizes later on that it's actually something more. He doesn't want to ruin it so he just waits for you at home and then decides to have a talk with you, again he tries to tell you this gently because he saw how much fun you had

"YN, I know this might be hard to accept but they're demons and you're human."

⊱ Belphie didn't cared if you had demon friends or not, but he definitely talked with them about what will happen if you'll get hurt and let's just say they make sure it won't happen

⊱ when you tell him about your friends, he's usually half asleep and probably falls asleep in the middle, but if you ever say word "hurt" or any synonyms then he's suddenly all awake ready to beat- I mean talk with your friends

⊱ when you tell him that you got yourself a partner, it wakes him up just as well and he just grabs you by your shoulder and goes "break up with them" without even saying any reasons

⊱ if he catches you on a date, he'll think that you two are just on friendly meeting so of course he goes to say "hi" but when you kiss, your partner suddenly disappears and then Belphie shows up in his demon form...

"You should just break up with them on spot. Why? Because you should. Don't ask stupid questions"

❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉

[kingofbodyrolls]

Hiii Lissa, just saw your post and first of all, thank you so much for mentioning me in your latest post, it truly means a lot 🥹❤️‍🩹 tbh i don’t usually write reviews for the fics I read but after finishing the "Coming Home" series, I felt I had to because it was so beautifully written and I’ll hold it close to my heart 🥰 Most of the time, I'm a person who read everything in author's/blog m.list; so i will make sure to read your other stories andddd Im actually planning to binge read friendcation too hehe ✌️

Anddd based on your recent post, It sounds like you’re going through a really tough time and I want you to know that it’s completely okay to feel this way. I’ve been there myself many times when doubt sets in and it fades my passion :(( Taking a break to think about your passion and your space is really important, so don't worry <3 also remember that your worth as a writer isn’t measured by likes or comments BUT it’s about the joy and fulfillment you find in the process ✨️ It's your blog, your creations, your emotions, your feelings; don’t ever feel sad or hesitate to take the time you need bcz its also important to prioritize our mental health.

those who appreciate your work and your kindness are still here, cheering you on always ❤️✨️ When you’re ready to share again, I'll be excited to see what you write and will always support you !! I wish i was your friend irl so that i could hug you and tell you many times that it's okay to feel all this emotions 🫂 Since couldn't, I'm sending you virtual hugs 🤗 "Believe in yourself, trust the process and go with the flow, the nature will always guide you" - this is something i always tell to my friends and myself :) Lastly, we dk each other at all but if you ever feel like you need someone to talk, I'll be always here to hear you.. Cheer up and take care of yourself, love youu lissaaa 😘🫂❤️

(pls ignore my grammar mistakes here and there 🫠)

Oh Honey 🥹 Of course! Your review meant so much to me, and it cheered me up so much 🥹 That’s so sweet of you, but you don’t have to read it all if there’s one or more stories you don’t vibe with! But I hope that you enjoy those you decide to read (if not all, there’s a lot lol), and you’re always welcome to write a review or comment, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to (silent readers are also okay) 🫂 Oh, and thank you so much for saying you find my writing beautiful 🥹 Friendcation is a banger! I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun reading that one 🫶

Wow, that was a really beautiful way of putting it; and you’re right. Honestly, I’ve been struggling with mental health on and off for many years, but this is the first year that I’ve really done something about it by being consistent in going to therapy (quite many times before until I found the right fit), and now I’m also on medication, and it’s helping a lot. I still have a lot of work to do, mentally and emotionally, but I feel like I'm on the right track and I’m getting there. Step by step. I’ll get there. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, but I’ll get there. I know it. I’m sorry to hear you’ve gone through rough times too 🥹🫂 If you wish to talk or anything, my dms are open 🫂 This is honestly one of my biggest passions, and I’d hate to end up not loving it anymore (that has happened to my love of photography, but that’s another different talk lol). Mental health is so important! So if you want to talk, you’re always welcome! I feel like talking helps a lot, and also knowing that there’s people out there who have been through similar stuff or felt the same—knowing you’re not alone 🫂

Thank you 🫂 I’m honestly very surprised by how many who cares—but it really warms my heart and I appreciate it so fucking much 🥹

Oh you’re just so sweet!!!! Thank you for the hugs!! 🫂 Virtual hugs are also good 🥹 I wish I could hug all of you irl too!!!

That is such a good, sweet and inspirational quote and it really resonates with me, it’s very beautiful 🥹 Thank you so much! I’ll take that to heart, believe, trust and let nature guide me ✨

Thank you so much Honey 🫂 The same goes for you, even though I don’t know you—you seem very sweet, lovely and nice, and you’re always welcome to my asks or dm 🫂

Love you too and take care too 💜😘

(and what grammar mistakes? I didn’t spot them, but please do ignore mine)

[koi-pond-tears]

Headcanons I love even tho they go against my main beliefs for these characters

Ace/Aro bakugou. Idk why but I just. Love it. So much. Like yes lil dude be free!!! Fuck nobody!!! You never needed bitches!!!

And especially the headcanons where he's like. Absolutely clueless about love. Like Mina will ask "so bakugou what's your type?" And he just looks confused n goes "?? You mean my blood type???"

Izuku and Katsuki being brothers. Like not literal brothers by blood but they have that brotherly bond. I actually do ship dekubaku but this headcanon is still very dear to me and I think in another universe it could work.

Like it's so funny imagining them fighting the way brothers do or being mean to each other but also having each other's backs and protecting/defending the other. I love that for them

Idk why but asexual todoroki just. Wow. I love him

I feel like he would still want a romantic relationship just without the sex part. Like he's totally cool with kissing or cuddling bc cmon there is no way in HELL this boy is not absolutely touch starved.

I feel like while Ace bakugou thinks sex is gross and is repulsed by it, ace todoroki is just indifferent to it. He doesn't rlly care or have any feelings towards it. Like ok bestie go smush your peepees together while I watch the entire Beverly Hills Chihuahua franchise

As much as I love my blorbos bakudeku together I have to admit the idea of izuku being the token straight friend in a class full of the ell gee bee tees is so fucking funny to me. Like he doesn't understand the lingo and is absolutely sweating his balls off trying not to say something offensive and it's just hilarious. He accidentally uses she/her instead of they/them once and almost commits seppuku ( a japanese style of suicide which includes disembowelment)

I'm sure he includes everyone's pronouns in their description in his notebook to make sure he remembers what to use

Nonbinary jirou just. Fits. Like idk what anyone has to say about that but look me in the eye and tell me that bitch doesn't put on a binder

They're an enby and also bisexual bc I am correct about everything.

Trans kiri just works.

If deku doesn't grow up to be tall as fuck then I will literally have a meltdown

does he not look like the tall lanky nice friend that can't even say fuck??? Look me in the eye and tell me that. Do it.

Eri grows up to be really tall

Like idk where this comes from but to me she's just. Tall. Girly doesn't get you things from the top shelf she IS the top shelf

Also I personally don't like the eri x kota ship, I think it's kinda weird to be wanting these whole ass 6 year Olds to date, idk but it makes me uncomfortable

I saw a post once that said that Ochaco would be an active memelord (back when that term wasn't cringe) and oh my god. No. This bitch wouldn't know anything.

She has a fucking flip phone I doubt she has access to motherfucking twitter

I think she'd be like Izuku where she's just absolutely clueless on the lingo and slang and feels left out when her friends reference memes she's never seen before

And even if they do take the time to send her one or two she wouldn't understand it

I also saw this in a different post but tsuyu listens to asmr

Tokoyami too

I love the black Mina headcanons but I'm filipino and so starved of representation so I'll just pretend she's half pinoy but grew up in japan so she doesn't really know much of the language (you'd be surprised how many of us don't speak our native language despite living here all our lives)

Himikos eyebags come from the many long nights she spent as a villain doing literally anything else but getting a good night's sleep. Like I know in the backstory episodes we see her with the eyebags as a child, but when I first watched the show I just assumed that that was the reason she had them, and I'll stick to that till I die

Mirio is autistic. Do not argue with me I am right.

[accidentally-in-fictional-love]

Things I Noticed While Writing Light The Fuse: Part 10, Episode 4

It's Cop Night tonight!

I don't say this nearly enough, but I really love Ethan lol this is one of the funniest things he's ever said, no more fear of the Ghouls with this guy

Not Matty of all people coming in with the 'okay enough of that please don't start things'

He is thinking :] he just stares for so long trying to think of anything to say that wouldn't also start something and I love him for that

I was just gunna add this cause cute Matty and hot Johnson but as I was rendering this I saw Ethan's face for the first time fuckin lmao I have seen this scene SO many times and never once have I looked at Ethan

I really love soft, apologetic Matty, need more of this guy

I love how you can actually see the switch between Well Mannered Matty and his usual self when being polite doesn't work lmao no one else could've played him for REAL /)w(\ also the smug laugh he does afterwards will be the death of me

In case it wasn't obvious already I have a thing with being intimidated and this is the hottest thing I've ever seen in my entire life no one else could've played him

This exchange makes me insane. Matty is so hot here I can hardly stand it. This would've been such a good fucking fight, Matty just staring him down not scared at all, the implication of everyone else he isn't afraid of coming after him and he doesn't even care, his hand is shaking he's so strong and brave and I would fight Gary for him even though he could kick my 5'5 ass

Fucking. Same. Ethan.

I just really wanted to say this outfit fuckin eats, he makes me wanna buy him a very expensive beverage and sit with him while he drinks slow and talks about his day /)//w//(\ okay I'm normal again sorry about that back to the post

Hi Angel~ Been watching a few of Rhys' movies for editing and he does this little wave in like all of them and this is just him continuing the trend lol so cute, I might make a lil gifset about it at some point 🥰

Johnson standing there like 'Matty. Pinup. Matty.' like what is that look I'm going insane, he's surrounded by beautiful dancing ladies and he's always looking at Matty or Ethan

Like. Fucking same, Johnson. I am also looking at Johnson like that as well just so you know

lmao at Ethan but I love the amount of detail they put into all these sets like this bathroom is seen only once and they decked it out so damn cool

Whoa I was just gunna screencap this bit and say I could never use a urinal cause guys are just... dicks out next to each other and that's so awkward oh my god so I'm always like looking at the wall during this whole scene cause I'm shy /)~(\ but Matty actually has another moment of misdirection when Ethan gets all still, doesn't change the subject this time, just hammers it home, but he does it in a way that still gets him away from Ethan it looks like so he knows he doesn't have to freak out over being recognized

Serious conversation, dicks just out, all three of them, pissin' away, can't be me. Also love how Johnson isn't allowed in the scene cause there's only three urinals lmao he's saving their table for them it's all good

He's also watching Ethan and seeing how calm he is this time ;w;

Gross. Disgusting. Don't bring your open drinks into the bathroom you heathen Matty did too but at least he like leaves it there cause I saw it in his hand when he walked in and placed it on the top and then he never picked it back up, he's just littering

I think him looking at me like that might fix me 😌 also cop didn't wash his hands yucko everybody shame him aaaaaaaaand I just now realized I giffed Ethan fuckin shakin' it and Matty's just staring at him with that expression as he's doing it I'm going to jump off a CLIFF MEN'S BATHROOMS ARE SO AWKWARD

'Why?' Cutting Matty out of this part in the fic nearly killed me cause I couldn't do this exchange but I'm so happy with him realizing it himself ;w;

Him saying this to me would definitely fix me. Love how he gets one second to be so genuine, his voice is so soft, and then he just laughs cause Ethan has the best reactions and he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen after Johnson

Nearly hit my limit again surprisingly so yayyy I get to talk about my favourite scene with Ethan and Meredith tomorrow, gimme all the friendships with her to talk about! 💙💛

[quodekash]

IM GONNA HAVE A STROKE ITS TIME FOR EPISODE 4 OF DANGEROUS ROMANCE

I think they should probably kiss right now. that would be nice please and thank you

THE BACK TOUCH IM SCREAMING

bro why he look so confused

is he having gay thoughts or smth and hes confused as to why it's soccer-ball-usb induced?

I love this woman so much

my goddess

my queen

milf fr

OML-

IM LITERALLY CRYING FROM RESTRAINING THE URGE TO LAUGH

I WOULDNT SAY THAT, KHUN

WE DONT KNOW THAT FOR SURE

like yeah, sailom can't rly control kang's study habits outside of their tutoring sessions, but I wouldn't say he can't control him like... at all, ever.

he has top vibes tbh

HE AGREES WITH ME

"um, excuse me bitch (respectful), sailom controls me very well, I am a submissive QUEEN"

"do you want to go on a date with me?" "will you be my boyfriend?" "can I kiss you?" all of the above?

I know it wont be any of the above but I can dream

I JUST LOVE HIM SO MUCH

HE'S SO KIND ALL OF A SUDDEN???

he was fine with being the worst part of Sailom's life, and then suddenly discovered so many other things in his life that Sailom has to face every day, and the punishment he gets every month if he doesn't pay his debt, and Kang realises he's the least of Sailom's problems, and he suddenly wants to help him as much as he possibly can. previously, he was offering his money to Sailom but not as comfort or help, but because he recognised his privilege and power and used it to taunt Sailom and to remind him who is in charge. but then he saw two grown men assaulting him and nearly pressing a hot iron to his face, and Kang suddenly saw just how much power and privilege he has, in the sense that he can literally solve most of Sailom's problems (because they mostly boil down to money) without any change in his own status whatsoever

he went from wanting to be the worst part of Sailom's life, to wanting to fix the actual worst parts of his life, and I just love him so much can you blame me for loving him so much

OKAY BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BOTH IN SCHOOL UNIFORM IN THIS IS SO INTERESTING TO ME

like. are they just taking a detour on the way home from school? or did they run away?

ive got my fingers crossed for an episode (perhaps two?) where they've run away and it's all happy and fluffy and they're away from the pain and the drama and its just me and you and you and me and we can be happy while we're here, we don't have to worry what anyone else thinks about us because we're together. and its probably at a beach.

HE GRABBED HIM BY THE ARM IM GONNA DIE THEY'RE SO REUBKJLF

just give me a moment while I sob

NO BC HE'S HOLDING HIS HAND

LIKE-

AAAAAA

THE HAND ON THE SHOULDER AND THE HAND ON THE HAND

I KNEW THIS FRIKIN VR SCENE WOULD KILL MY SOUL BUT LIKE IN A GOOD WAY

why am I crying.

can someone please explain to me why this is making me cry.

its so domestic. help.

YOU'RE LITERALLY SO IN LOVE WITH HIM????

THIS ENTIRE MONTAGE IS THE END OF ME HOLY HELL

THEYRE SO DOMESTIC. IM DYING.

KANG FALLING ASLEEP ON SAILOM'S SHOULDER??? SAILOM FIDGETING WITH THE PENCIL AND KANG LOOKING AT HIM AND THEN LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND THEN JUST SMILING???? SAILOM PUTTING THE BLANKET OVER KANG WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP AT THE TABLE????

THIS???????

IM GONNA CRY. AGAIN.

IM ALSO GONNA RUN OUT OF SCREENSHOTS FOR ONE TUMBLR POST BUT I DONT CARE, THEY MEAN TOO MUCH TO ME

THATS IT.

IM DONE.

THAT'S THE END OF ME

I SWEAR I FEEL MYSELF RISING UP TO HEAVEN

wait now I think im going down, maybe im going to hell

I have no sense of direction, I got lost on the way to wherever I was going and now im back in my body but HOLY FRICK ITS VERY LIKELY THAT I WILL DIE AGAIN

VUIERJSBDGOPUVJBEWSDOG

GOOD JOB

THATS SO FREAKING GOOD OMG

IM SO PROUD OF YOU HONEYYY

oh look, a not-so-subtle ✨metaphor✨

I think it's about them studying? without wind, the windmills can't spin, and then can't produce energy. without Sailom, Kang wouldn't have the push he needs to study?

it's something like that

it also might not be about studying. it could be about kindness

if it weren't for Sailom's situation, Kang wouldn't have had the change of heart that caused him to be kinder (particularly towards Sailom but im also hoping that he's helping him develop deeper empathy for others who also aren't as fortunate as Kang)

idk its something like that

he leaned closer and now I can't tell if he's genuinely asking the question, or if he's trying to flirt

OKAY WITH THE MUSIC PLAYING I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BOTH

IT'S FINALLY HAPPENED

HE FINALLY DID IT

THE TOP GOT FLUSTERED

BRO THAT IS SUCH A SUGGESTIVE SMILE

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING, THE LITTLE RASCAL

I think he should give him a good luck and goodbye kiss

I think they should kiss is what im saying

pLEASEKISS-

WAIT I DIDNT THINK THEY WOULD ACTUALLY LISTEN????

I know they're not actually gonna kiss. I know he's just gonna like tell sailom about how his grandma wont let him tutor him if he fails his midterms BUT I DONT CARE, I FELT VICTORIOUS FOR A SECOND, AND THAT'S NOT A FEELING I GET OFTEN SO LET ME BASK IN THE GLORY FOR A MOMENT

DUDE YOU'RE LITERALLY THE WIND TO HIS WINDMILL, OF COURSE YOU HAVE INFLUENCE

AND HAVE YOU SEEN HOW MUCH STUDYING KANG'S BEEN DOING WITH YOU?? YOU'VE HAD SUCH A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HIS LIFE ITS INSANE (and you should totally kiss about it)

HE'S LITERALLY LYING AWAKE THINKING ABOUT HIM, IF THAT ISN'T THE GAYEST SHIT IDK WHAT IS

I mean maybe it's the exams hes thinking about. but he's mostly thinking about how, if he doesnt pass all his exams, he'll lose sailom, and he doesnt want that because a) sailom could get beat up to a pulp again, and b) he doesn't want to lose sailom as his tutor when tutoring is like the only time they get to see each other and hang out, and he's realised how much he likes sailom and that he desperately doesn't want to lose that friendship - or the potential for it to become something more

conclusion: gay.

Y E S

YES YES YES YES YES

SIDE COUPLE MOMENT SIDE COUPLE MOMENT

THEY HATE EACH OTHER SO MUCH RN AND IT'S SO ENDEARING TO ME

THEY WANT TO RIP EACH OTHER LIMB FROM LIMB AND IT'S SO ROMANTIC

juST KISS

you can do it bby, you are incredible

I think he'd do a lot better if he had adhd meds

because he has adhd. it's canon I decided.

do you want some of my Vyvanse, kang?

OH LOOK AT THAT, IM CRYING AGAIN

oh look at that, I ran out of screenshots

OH LOOK AT THAT, IVE BEEN WATCHING THIS FOR OVER AN HOUR AND IM ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO THE EPISODE. FRICK.

[swag696942069]

Late night clean up

A/N: This is the last thing I'm writing for this years Jegulus week. I know that I didn't mention it in my last two posts but those where both also written for Jegulus week. This is my second year celebrating, but first year actually posting something.

It's a The Amazing Spiderman based Jegulus AU one shot/drabble(don't really know what it's classified as) it's based off that on scene from TASM where Peter goes to Gwen's room and her dad comes and asks if she wants some cocoa.

Tw(s): Mentions of injury, description of injury, a wee bit of angst. I think that's all. Please tell me if it's not so I can add anything that I missed.

Special thanks to @transdorcasmeadows for being my beta for this(and anything else I write)

Now without further ado, I present "Late night clean up"

James had been hit bad. He had a huge gash acrossed his stomach and was bleeding out. Or at least, he thought. He wasn't quite sure, he was a little loopy from blood loss.

The villain had got away, but at the moment, James couldn't really care, he was in too much pain to focus on much else beside finding a way to stop the pain.

He thought about going to the hospital, but quickly realized that he was still in his suit and therefore would definitely be in some deep shit if he showed up at the hospital and had to strip out of his suit for the doctor's to be able to fix him.

So instead, here he sat, outside his best friend's little brother's window.

James wasn't sure what exactly he was doing here. James and Regulus weren't friends, but they had known each other for years. Since James was twelve, actually.

He also happened to be the only person who actually knew James was Spiderman.

So, gently, James knocked on Regulus's window, waiting patiently for Regulus to open it.

Regulus pulled back the curtain and jumped back slightly upon seeing James, who was still in his Spiderman suit.

"What the fuck?" He cursed, quickly opening up the window.

"Hey." James winced, the pain from speaking almost too much to handle.

Without thinking Regulus pulled Spiderman in the rest of the way. "Jesus, what the fuck happened to you?" He was looking down at his stomach, concern clear on his face as he saw the blood. He squatted down next to James on the floor.

"You should see the other guy." James grunted, attempting to sit up.

"God, James, how many times do I have to tell you to be careful? You could've gotten yourself killed." Regulus pulled off James' mask and began to help him pull off his suit, trying to be as gentle as he could as to not hurt James worse.

Once his stomach was free of his suit, Regulus gasped and fell back at the sight of James mangled stomach.

"Holy- oh my- James you have to go to the hospital!"

"I can't."

"Why not?!"

"How am I supposed to explain how I got this?!" James pointed down at his stomach, a purple, bruised, swollen open gash running acrossed his entire lower half.

Regulus was silent for a moment before he got up and walked into his bathroom for a moment, coming back out with a first aid kit and a blood stained towel. This wasn't the first time James had come to Regulus with an injury, it just so happened to be the worst.

Silently, Regulus began to attempt to stop James' bleeding. Which wasn't going so good considering how large the injury was, and how every time Regulus thought he had stopped the bleeding, it would just start back up again before he had the chance to do anything else.

After about five minutes, however, the bleeding finally stopped, and Regulus let out a breath of relief, then began cleaning the wound.

"Thank you." James spoke, breaking the silence between them.

Regulus looked up at him for half a second before looking back down at where he was still cleaning up James' injury. "Sure."

James knew Regulus was mad at him, he just couldn't understand why.

Regulus was always mad at him, but this time it felt different. It felt off.

Regulus continued to clean his wounds in silence until he was all done, then began to bandage him up.

After about a minute Regulus finished up and scooted back a bit to examine his handiwork.

"How does that feel?" Regulus asked, speaking for the first time since their argument earlier.

"G-" James cleared his throat, "Good. Really good. Thank you, Reg."

Regulus opened his mouth to speak, but before he got the chance to, a knock was heard coming from his bedroom door.

"Hey, Reg want some cocoa? Moony's makin' some cocoa." It was his older brother, Sirius.

"Shit." Regulus whisper-shouted before standing up and speed walking to his door.

James jumped up, his injury completely forgotten about, to worried about potentially being found alone in his best friend's little brother's room. Not to mention him being shirtless, his suit still draped down his legs.

James quickly ran to hide behind the love seat in the middle of Regulus' room.

Regulus opened the door with his usual frown on his face. "No, Sirius, I do not want cocoa! Honestly, I'm 16 years old!" He went to shut his door.

"Okay, I just thought I remembered someone saying last week that his fantasy was to live in a chocolate house." Sirius said with a knowing smirk.

"Well that's impractical!" He shut his door. And then opened it right back up to add, "And fattening!" Before slamming his door shut again and locking it before slowly turning back to James.

James peeked his head over the side of the love seat with a smile on his face. "A chocolate house?"

"Shut up." Regulus grabbed a pillow off his bed and threw it at James. Who, even though could've easily caught it, let hit him in the face.