#I think many people do this‚ just not consciously. People pick up others laugh and accents all the time.

[kindredspiritsnotsorare]

@rubyjewelqueen I'd love to hear your thoughts

Assume you're not actively/consciously making a certain expression or hiding your emotions.

–

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[obzessed]

HP characters : powerpoint presentation headcanon

This is so random but here is how I imagine marauders' era characters doing a powerpoint presentation

The Marauders

Do over the top presentations, (down to using costumes, yes) would make the wildest powerpoint (too many colors because they can’t agree on anything)

They make it really fun and entertaining tho

use the airplane (flying broom ??) transition, except the airplane is on fire for some reason

indian drama level of presentation

Will Not stop giggling and interrupting each other

Jocks in middle school vibe, but they’re actually really smart

here to clown and have a laugh

generally get a high grade but get points deducted for clarity and taking too damn long

Severus Snape (+bonus Lily Evans)

In a solo presentation, Severus would make perfect, pristine presentation

King of bullet points

University standards powerpoints

only uses peer reviewed articles

always criticizes said peer reviewed articles

Never uses notes, but doesn't look the audience in the eyes ever

Doesn't look at the audience period

He's not shy, he doesn't even do it consciously

Extremely complicated subjects, Will Not Dumb It Down For You

If anyone has a question, will look at them as if they’re the biggest idiot in the room

The type to explain by simply reformulating what he just said

If they still don’t understand either sighs dramatically and moves on, or sighs dramatically and start drawing on the board, speaking veeeryyyyy slowly, you let me know where I lost you idiot fellow classmate

Actually explains really well when he puts in some effort, has this clean cut way of decomposing each problem and detailing each point, then tying it all back together that makes it really easy to follow

writing on the board and drawing legitimately helps him lay out his thought process

the condescension is just a plus

Type of presentation that is objectively very good and interesting and well thought out but like. no one cares. bring back the airplane transitions.

For a few people sufficiently advanced and interested and who actually understand what he’s talking about, (and who are not rebuked by his style and general attitude), it’s a v good presentation

Positive : Always adds something new and generally brings really pertinent arguments, genuinely passionate about what he’s talking about

Teachers pick up on his fast out of the box thinking and surprising creativity

his powerpoint design is a little depresso, no colors except to highlight important words

very minimalist and to the point

Regulus argues every point of his presentation

Academic rivals to lovers frfr

Gets point deducted for his attitude and his “lack of enthusiasm”

NOW Severus + Lily = best of both worlds, get an O everytime

Lily always insists on using canva (their pwp designs are so cute)

overall they balance each other really well

I feel like Lily would get a little giggly if she fumbles

The marauders would def shout “boring” and giggle like middleschoolers at the back of the class during Snape's presentation

Snape's ability to remain unfazed in the face of bs stems from there

God help them all if they get paired up for a presentation

Marauders + Severus

Snape would have to settle for at least one airplane transition

It would become a war of adding and deleting each other's progress on the pwp design

they split it in two but they try to gain terrain on the other's part like in Clash of Clan

They are at WAR

“I am a commander in battle and your slides are but a village on a map” James Potter

“Fuck you” Severus Snape

“Go jump off an airplane if you like them so much”

Somehow the presentation is even more chaotic than the previous one

passive aggressively asks the other to click on the next slide

always takes the other's question just as they're about to speak

If Snape sees a single one of them look at their notes for too long it's on sight (RIP Pettigrew)

Bc Fuck if he's gonna lose points over this

best or worst grade

lots of brain cells

Teacher tried to make the braincells hold hands but the brain cells are Enemies

[sysmedsaresexist]

To the anon asking about my username...

There's a bit of confusion here, I'm going to answer many of your questions but I may not post the ask itself, hopefully it'll make sense :)

When I started my blog I was heavily anti endo and I specifically posted bad pro/endo takes, debunking or just laughing. To this day, most of it is still pretty hilarious. I wasn't focused on cringe, but totally crazy, out there claims that made zero sense and were flat out wrong. Check out my tags #shit endos say, #shit singlets say, and my newest tag, #shit anti endos say, I hope you have a laugh at a couple of them.

In my pinned post, you'll see the thing that started it all. A pro endo saying that sysmeds are sexist.

I would also like to know how they came to that conclusion. I'm right there with you. Also like you, I still have many issues with the pro/endo community. I believe CDDs are trauma based disorders. I post research pretty much weekly about it (check out #debunk and #research). I think endogenic plurality and CDDs are completely different things.

And you know what, my pro endo friends support me. We're all learning. I'm kind with my opinion, I'm open to talking about it, we debate, we share resources, we change our views and adjust based on new info.

This blog corrects misinformation from both sides, now. Some of it is worse than others. Antis can and do spread just as much misinformation as pro/endos.

What I would encourage you to do is start with the multiple selves theory. It actually developed right alongside Freud's theories on hysteria (which included early versions of CDDs at the time), and if Freud hadn't been such a perv, it might actually be much more well-known. It's a nonpathological theory on consciousness and philosophy. People have been describing this phenomenon for a very long time, "endogenic" is just the newest term for it. Here's a couple examples.

2015 - at any given moment in time, one or another of our subselves is in control and determines how we think and act.

1987

2012 - this one has so many links to other people talking about this theory

2023 - These results suggest that the normative principles by which agents have adapted to complex changing environments may also explain why humans have long been described as consisting of “multiple selves.”

2020

2010

Like I said, though, you can find this stuff as far back as the 50s with ease, anything older might take a bit more digging, but it's not a small or new theory.

I think an overlap in language has created a lot of confusion, but it's really not out of the realm of possibility for people to be more in tune with these parts of themselves. It's been documented for over a century outside of psychology, in other areas of research-- anthropology, philosophy.

I'm going to be honest, I don't think a single one of the headmate sale blogs are real. I think they're antis trying to start shit. Like maybe one out of every ten is actually someone misguided behind the screen.

Even CDD systems still incorrectly believe in core theory, endogenics picked it up from us and don't know any better. System resets aren't real, but there are real experiences that can FEEL like a reset-- try being patient and educating people. Ignore the others, because some people just can't be helped, and you're better off spending your time spreading good, accurate posts than arguing with people who don't want to learn anything.

I forget what I was saying.

Anyways, I'm a pro endo sysmed.

I hope you'll stick around and see what's going on.

[eldritch-nightmare]

howdy!! hope you're having a lovely day! may i request ticci toby and any other creeps of your choosing reacting to someone harming their s/o? thank you in advance!

a/n: hi!! thanks for sending the request!! hope you enjoy <3

reacting to someone hurting their gn!s/o.

includes: toby, nurse ann, homicidal liu + sully [separate], the bloody painter, and laughing jill.

warnings: reader gets injured, murder, blood, the murder isn't detailed but some of them may be a little graphic maybe, near-death experiences, it's implied that the reader doesn't know helen kills people.

TICCI TOBY.

He would not be a happy camper, that's for sure.

Toby has already had so much taken away from him, so if someone were to try and take away the one person he allowed himself to love? Yeah, no, not happening.

Toby has taken so many lives he doesn't even know the exact number, and he doesn't normally draw out their death unless it's something Slender wants him to do.

But seeing you passed out on the ground because some sick fuck decided to take their anger out on you... it brought Toby back to darker days, and all he could think about was eliminating the danger to keep you safe.

And let me tell you, Toby draws out your attacker's death. They hurt you, so therefore they deserve every ounce of pain he gives them.

Honestly, if he could, he'd probably keep the person alive over the course of weeks just to get it through their head just how badly they fucked up deciding to hurt you, but he needed to get you help as soon as possible so he leaves your attacker to bleed out.

Once the anger he feels subsides, it'll be replaced by panic and guilt as he rushes you to the nearest place you can receive medical attention, be it the mansion or the hospital.

He won't feel better until you wake up, and even after, this situation will definitely cause him to become a bit paranoid over your safety. He really can't lose you. That's not a pain he can go through again.

It'll probably take you weeks, maybe even months, to reassure Toby that you were okay.

This situation will definitely make him more aware of your safety. If he's not off completing tasks for Slender, he's keeping an eye on you. He's not trying to be clingy or overbearing, he just doesn't want to see you covered in your own blood ever again.

NURSE ANN.

Ann can't remember anything that happened before her death and... proxification, but she does know that you've been by her side through the entire process. You're one of the very small handful of people she trusts and likes, so there was no way she'd let anyone take you away from her.

So when she sees you on the ground, bloodied and bruised because some dumb group of wanna-be urban explorers she was hunting down freaked out thinking you were her? Well, let's just say there's nothing that can calm Ann's burning rage at that moment.

Not only have these people trespassed into her hospital, but they also dare to hurt the love of her life as well? There's no fucking way she'll show them mercy now.

You're barely clinging onto consciousness as you watch your girlfriend mercilessly slaughter the people who dared to even put you in such a state. It's not because you wanted to watch, you were just too exhausted and in far too much pain to look away.

The amount of blood alone was nauseating, and at some point, you couldn't even tell what color the floor was anymore.

But once Ann has dealt with the intruders, she'll oh so gently pick you up from the ground and carry you to the nearest (and cleanest) hospital room so she can treat your wounds.

Ann doesn't speak much, but you can hear her softly apologizing to you as she takes care of you. She tries her best to be careful, not wanting to make the pain worse than it already is. She doesn't feel as if this is her fault, she knows it isn't, but she still can't help but feel bad.

This experience will definitely make her realize just how much she cares for you. It's a little scary, to be quite honest with you. It's weird being attached to someone.

She isn't going to become overbearing when it comes to your safety, but she'll definitely be more careful about hunting down trespassers if she knows you're in the area.

Don't worry, a situation like this will never happen again.

HOMICIDAL LIU.

Oh. Oh boy, what have you done?

Liu is, as we all know, not the type of person to take another's life in cold blood. He only hurts others when it is self-defense because he doesn't want to be anything like his brother.

But keep in mind that Liu is also very protective and he has a lot of pent-up anger (among a variety of other emotions) that he keeps under tight wraps. So, believe me when I tell you that you really do not want to be on the receiving end of that anger.

Unfortunately, some sad soul was completely unaware of this and decided to hurt you.

Now, for Liu, he honestly blacked out the moment he saw you bleeding out on the ground. You, however, witnessed the carnage that was about to take place. Honestly, for a moment, you thought that Sully had taken over because of how violent it got. But no, it was all Liu.

Liu doesn't make quick work of this. No, by the time he came out of whatever stupor of anger he got put in, he was drenched in blood, and the person he killed didn't even look like a person anymore.

He didn't use his gun. He used Sully's knife. You've never seen him use a knife before. He always avoided them, he only ever used guns. But he used a knife. He broke the fucking knife.

Right. Well. You'll just have to sit him down and discuss what transpired later. Preferably when you aren't bleeding out. Luckily for you, Liu has taught himself medical care. He's pretty damn good at treating wounds like this as well, so you're in really good hands.

Just... keep pressure on the wound for a moment while he quickly washes off all the blood on his hands.

You'll be okay. He'll make sure of it. He won't lose you.

SULLY.

Now, I bet you're expecting me to tell you that Sully would also go absolutely ham on the person who hurts you. No. He doesn't. Unlike Liu, he doesn't become overcome with pent-up rage.

He does get angry, don't get me wrong, but that anger isn't important. You're hurt, and you need immediate assistance, so Sully doesn't even spare the person a glance as he pulls out Liu's gun and shoots them in the head.

Sully is... less good at treating wounds. He tries his best whenever he sustains an injury, but Liu is always the one who has to take care of it.

But he does know where a certain eyeless man tends to lurk around, so he won't waste any time taking you to get treatment from him.

He'll keep the conversation topic light as you get treated, joking around with you and talking about anything and nothing at the same time. It keeps a smile on your face, and it keeps you distracted from the pain you're in.

It also keeps Sully distracted from the fact that his hands are shaking.

For a moment, he's not really sure why he's shaking so much. You're safe, and you're getting treated. It's only when you knock out after taking some pain meds that Sully finally realizes that he was scared.

You could've died, realistically. You probably would've if he hadn't been there.

He's never been so close to losing someone before. The thought alone was making his stomach churn. He's... he's never felt scared like this before.

This is probably when he realizes that he loves you.

THE BLOODY PAINTER.

Now, Helen isn't the most emotionally expressive person out there. Just one quick glance at his default expression and you'll come to the conclusion that he's a pretty apathetic person.

But you know him. You've learned how to identify his microexpressions. He had dropped by your place and walked in to see you treating a pretty bad cut on your arm. It was just a very slight shift in his expression, one that only lasted for a fraction of a second, but you could see the worry and the underlying anger.

It's actually pretty awkward as you explain to him what happened, going into detail about how some guy had just randomly decided to attack you when you were in town today.

Helen seemed to be taking in every detail you provided, and when he finally spoke up, it was to ask if you could describe the guy for him.

You had just assumed he was going to sketch the guy's face to give it to the police or something, so you didn't see any real issue with telling Helen, doing your best to describe what the guy looked like. You were honestly over the entire situation. The cut on your arm was bandaged and it didn't hurt much anymore.

The situation ended there for you. It was never brought up again, and Helen stayed the night to help you with anything that may be an inconvenience to do with an injured arm. It was sweet seeing him worried for you, if you're being honest.

It may take a few days, but Helen eventually did track down the person who had hurt you.

He treats them like any other victim, though it's obvious to authorities that this person had a particularly cruel death.

There is nothing tragically beautiful about this person's death. It is not a piece of art like all the other deaths were made out to be. This one still had their blood.

Honestly, their death feels so out of place for the case of the Bloody Painter that authorities are hesitant to consider this another one of his victims. It could be a dispute that led to murder, and in a panic was staged to make it look like a serial killer did it.

And you stay oblivious to this, none the wiser.

LAUGHING JILL.

Look, Jill truly felt as if she would never experience happiness ever again until you came into her life and made her realize that she can still feel such a thing.

You've basically become a source of joy for her, so there was no way in hell she'd ever let that go.

And when someone hurts you? When someone makes your face screw up in pain? It's an image that Jill never wanted to see. She's already lost someone close to her, stolen away from her by a monster. She can't lose you too. She just can't.

She also makes quick work of whoever hurt you, slicing them with her chainsaw once or twice before tossing it to the side and hurrying over to you.

You'll have to reassure her that you're okay as she lets you use her as a pillar of support. Even if you aren't okay, you need to reassure her that you are.

Jill doesn't know how to treat your wounds, something that will definitely change in the future once you're able to get actual treatment.

Honestly, she'll probably burst into tears and apologize profusely even though you getting hurt wasn't her fault. She still should've been there by your side. If she had been, you wouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place.

She'll definitely be hyperaware of anyone who comes near you now. It doesn't matter if it's someone you're close to or if it's a complete and total stranger.

She'll immediately tense up and view them as a threat, sticking close to you just in case something happens.

It'll take months, maybe even years for her to move past this.

[itsjustaninchident]

✼ Drunk Under the Rain

Mick Schumacher x Fem!reader

Summary: A very drunk y/n and a very worried and amused Mick

Warning/s: None

Author's Notes: Would love to hear what you think of it <3

It was late at night and everybody's asleep, snores from Angie can be heard around the room and faint lightning storms present. Mick sprawled on the bed, a kind of emptiness enveloping the mattress he's no longer used to for the past months. Coldness is ever present in the room added by the slight rain from outside.

A ringtone can be heard from the room jolting Mick to wake up, his senses on alert as his significant other is still not present by his side. He immediately picked up the phone not caring who called him late in the evening. 

"Mick?" A voice that belonged to one of y/n's friends rang in his ears. 

"Yep?" He answered groggily, anticipating what the sudden call was about. He can hear quiet muffles from familiar voices but what caught his ears to perk up is your whiny voice causing a smile to tear on his face. 

"Well, y/n's really drunk right now and she wouldn't come with us to go home. She kept on calling for you and wanting you to pick her up." He couldn't be more glad to pick you up missing you already as if you were gone for days. You would definitely tease him for that if you find out. 

"Okay, I'll just go grab my keys." He said not to waste any time picking you up. But before he could put the call down, "Is that Mick? Micky~ Baby, help they're trying to kidn-" Your friend saving you from embarrassment decided to end the call. 

He chuckled to himself quite questioning if he can handle a drunk you. 

He drove to the club you and your friends partied at. As soon as he parks his car he can see you on the pavement of the parking lot, sitting and barely keeping your eyes open as you often fall asleep and jolting when your head abruptly bobs down. 

He went to you, your friends scattered around the vicinity and muttering a quick goodbye when they saw him approaching you, already leaving with their own partners or an uber they hailed. He thanked them all but still focused on your figure slumped off the pavement. He sighed, you're wasted yet still stunningly sporting it. How unfair, he thought. 

He gently touched your shoulders trying to slightly shake you still entranced because of the alcohol. You must've enjoyed it a lot given that you never get this wasted in a party before. Nonetheless, he's happy you're letting loose as he knows some days were very stressful for you. 

"Stop touching me. I told you, I won't go with you. I'm waiting for my boyfriend." You told off the 'stranger' he chuckled at how feisty you sounded. 

"If he sees you touching me, he'll get mad. Plus, you won't stand a chance. He's literally massive." Not able to keep his chuckle anymore from spilling from his mouth, he laughed loudly at that. No way you just called him 'massive'. 

"Liebling, it's me." He said and with that with all little consciousness in you, you stood up almost falling down if it weren't for Mick's fast reflex by holding your waist you would've face planted on the pavement. He chuckled at that, he can't keep count of how many times he's found this situation amusing. 

"Micky! I missed you! Are you taking me home? Some people were trying to take me home but I told them no. They're bad they kept on pulling me." You told him off as if you're a child being told no. You were an explaining mess trying to get your point across almost slurring the word coming out of you. Pouting the whole time, Mick can't help himself but peck you on the lips causing you to back down and cover your lips, eyes bulging from shock. 

"Oh my god!" You muttered, causing Mick to grow worried because of your reaction. Did he do something wrong? 

"I told you, I have a boyfriend!" You were tired of telling people that, why can't they just leave you alone? And now a stranger kissed you! "Schatz, I am your boyfriend." Mick can't believe what's happening right now, he's so amused yet so intrigued by you. A while ago you were a mess explaining everything to him and now he's a stranger. He would definitely have a field day tomorrow telling the story to a hungover you. 

"Well, if you're really my boyfriend then prove it to me. What's my favorite color?" 

"Purple." 

"Well, purple is a popular color." 

"What's the name of your dog?" 

"Angie" 

"What's my favorite F1 Team?" 

"Ferrari" 

"What's, my fav- Wait. How'd you know my favorite team?!" You were freaking out, partly because you never told anyone that and you didn't want to hurt Mick's feelings as he drives for another team.

"Everybody is a Ferrari fan, love." Mick said, quoting a familiar statement from his great friend. 

"Okay, fair enough. Fine, I am convinced you're my boyfriend. But! If you try to do something funny I'll let you know I know self defense and I will not hold back on you even if you have the prettiest blue eyes and the cutest smile." You said earning another chuckle from Mick. 

"Fine." He held up his arms as if he's surrendering.

He was holding your waist and guiding you to the place where he parked his car when suddenly big droplets of rain came pouring down. As if on cue, you started jumping in the air and holding his arms swaying it up as you seem to enjoy the pour of the rain. The drunk version of you is really something. He can't help but shake his head and admire your carefree state. 

Right then and there he already knew, he's never gonna let you go. As the street lights glow off your face, the water from the rain drenching you, and the moves you make while jumping in the rain he's realized that he's deeply and madly in love with you. He hates the rain moreso being drenched in it but when he sees you having fun he can't help himself but put rain as one of his favorite things now that it reminds him of you. 

He kissed you, completely taken aback by his action. You were stiff in the first moment but as the kiss deepens you relaxed through it and kissed him back and entangled your arms on his neck, not wanting to let go of this moment.

Both of you arrived in your shared apartment drenched in rain water, you're a little more sober than before but still drunk to not be able to remove your shoes upon entering the apartment. You were so tired that the moment you saw the couch you immediately plopped yourself on it not caring if you will wet it. 

Mick sighed to himself, still finding you adorable nonetheless. He removed your heels and slightly massaged it, noticing the faint red marks on your feet. He then went to the bathroom to go get some towels, you're only wearing a tube dress but due to your drunken state you're not even shivering at all. He tried tapping your cheek, whispering softly for you to wake up but to no avail he didn't get any response so he tried to sit you up and slowly dry you with the towel he was holding. 

You murmured something inaudible for him. Yet the last part managed to make it to him "I love you, Mick." He smiled contagiously, he's sure the smile will last him a lifetime. "I love you too, Liebling."

He then proceeded to his room to get you his sweatshirt and sweatpants. He removed your dress and your accessories and then dried you before putting you in his sweatshirt, he knew how much you love wearing his clothes even if you don’t admit it plus he loves seeing you in his clothes as well, a win-win situation. 

He then carried you to your shared room, slowly putting you down on your side of the bed. 

Opening the bathroom, he grabbed for your cotton pads and your makeup remover. He's always observing you doing this every time you both go out and you have makeup on. 

Slowly he wiped off the makeup residue on your face. "That feels cold." You slurred in your sleep, he chuckled slightly. 

When he finished with your makeup he went downstairs and got you a glass of water and an aspirin for tomorrow as he knows you will be getting a very bad hangover. He put it on the bedside table and turned off the lamp. 

Settling next to you he hugged your waist and as if on cue, you leaned onto him memorizing the move even in your not so normal state. Perfectly fitting into each other as if you're molded together. "Still clingy when drunk?" He laughed to himself as he slept with the brightest smile waiting for another day with you

[jpitha]

Between the Black and Gray 31

First / Previous / Next

As they ran deeper and deeper into the Heap, Zhe was telling Fen that most of the pirates left were on Elmar's side and so it was fine to kill them. She swore that most of the pirates supported her father and must have fled to not have to pick sides in the coup, but Fen wasn't too sure.

"You've killed... a lot of people Zhe."

"What? No, not that many!" Zhe shook her head as they ran, her earrings jangling. They were in a low corridor, a repurposed umbilical. Northern was still a ship and keeping an eye out for things, while listening in on an open radio channel they shared.

"Zhe, you have killed a lot of people. Not the most I've ever seen, but still. a lot." Northern said, not without a hint of admiration in her voice.

Zhe said nothing, and kept walking but Fen noticed her body language change very slightly. She seemed like she was a little... embarrassed? They approached a very large, very sealed airlock. "This is where Elmar probably is." Zhe looked at the door. It was three meters tall and three meters wide and appeared to open in an iris fashion, Sefigan style. "Open up Elmar! Hemmi says I can't kill you, so I won't, but this coup has to stop."

"You always were daddy's little girl, Zhe, even before you learned what that was. He made sure of it." The bitterness in Elmar's voice carried even over the tinny speaker. "He spent all his time preparing you to take over and then you left to go straight! It was hilarious. You should have just stayed away Zhe."

Zhe crossed her arms and faced the door. "I'm here now, El and the coup failed. Daddy took care of the people on his runabout, and I took care of everyone here. It's you and whoever you have with you left. Daddy asked that I not kill you, so I won't. Open up and he can decide what to do with you when he gets here in a few hours."

Elmar's laugh was more of a snort. "Hah. You think I'm going to open up that door and 'suffer an accident'? I know how you operate. You won't kill me, but I'll die all the same. No." There was clanging thumps that sounded all around them, and then the squeal of an atmosphere alarm. "The whole point of the Heap is that the ships can disconnect and leave, Zhe. Did you forget? I'll just leave and come after you and Hemmi another time."

The ship started to move and shake, and the umbilical vibrated in time. Zhe and Fen struggled to keep their balance as the hallway writhed with the ship. "Elmar! You can't leave the middle of the Heap! There's an order!" The bravado gone, Zhe was shouting into the air. "The ships aren't ready, you'll pull the whole thing apart! Elmar! Don't you dare!" Zhe's fists were balled and she was screaming into the air.

Are you going to let her do that?

Fen jumped at the voice. Maybe someday she'd get used to the intrusion. "Let her do what?"

Let her leave like that. Let her disobey you.

"Oh yeah, sure. I'll just say, 'Hey Elmar, don't leave, my friend needs to try very hard not to kill you'." Fen snorted to herself. "I don't think Elmar will listen."

Elmar will listen if you make her listen.

"Oh? And how will I accomplish that?"

Try. with emphasis.

Fen rolled her eyes, but she didn't have anything better to try. "Fine. You'll help?"

You won't need help. You'll just do it.

Fen breathed in. She let her consciousness flow. As she flowed, her awareness expanded. She felt the umbilical they were standing in, the white hot rage of Zhe, hot and sharp. She also felt the electric yellow of the power of the ships all bolted together, with Elmar's ship outlined in her minds eye. How was she doing that? Peering further, she was able to 'see' someone, they looked worried, scared. There were others inside too, but they were more confused than anything.

Huh. Fen could see Elmar clearly. K'laxi, older, wearing a pressure suit with no helmet. It appears that she was getting ready to throttle up. If she does, the thrust will break her free, but she'll damage the Heap and possibly Zhe. Fen takes another breath and-

S̴͙͍̳͈͒̓͝t̵̯͎̑ͅo̷̜̎̈́p̵̫͎̓!̷̢̖̗̱̱͊̚͠

It was like Fen cut Elmar's strings. Her hand immediately went to the throttle and put the engines to idle. The worrying creaking and groaning of the ship ceased. Zhe turned slowly and looked at Fen, her ears back. Fen's eyes were squeezed shut and behind her, glowing red, made up of dust and debris from the umbilical was a set of wings, spread wide. As Fen concentrated harder, they'd pulse.

"Fen... what are you doing? What's going on?"

"I'm busy right now Zhe... give me a minute." -a minute

Zhe blinked. She could have sworn that Fen's voice sounded different just then. She could see sweat pouring from Fen's face. She held back a shudder. Zhe had always thought that the active cooling that humans had was disgusting. They would just pour water when they exerted themselves instead of panting like a more civilized species.

S̴͔̐u̸̫͆r̶̳̿r̷̯̐e̴̞͐ṉ̵͝d̴̪̆e̴̬͊r̵̺̂,̴͓͛ ̶̲͑E̵͙͌l̴̰͝m̷͓͗à̸͖r̶̖̍.̵̺̕ ̴̗̐O̴͍̾p̴̮̆e̴͕͐n̸͇͌ ̵̤̒ṯ̷̑h̷̟̎é̵͚ ̴̻̀d̸͓̏ő̷̦o̴͕̐r̸͕̕.̴̝̌

The ship powered down and settled back into its place on the Heap. After a moment, the airlock opened, and Elmar walked out.

Zhe spun and readied her soar-knives, but Elmar held her hands out in front of her, shaking. "I-I surrender, Zhe."

Zhe's ears flattened again and her tail flicked, agitated. "Why Elmar? Why did you surrender?"

Elmar swallowed, and her ears swiveled in separate directions, like they were trying to locate the source of a sound. "I-I...must surrender." A trickle of blood started to flow from her right ear.

Zhe didn't face away from Elmar, but turned her head slightly towards Fen. "Are you doing this?"

"Elmar thought she could escape, could disobey. We informed her otherwise." Elmar thought she could escape, could disobey. We informed her otherwise.

Fen's voice took on an odd harmonic when she spoke. It was almost like there were a few people speaking at the same time.

Elmar fell to her knees, clutching her head. Blood poured from her eyes, ears, and nose. "Stop it stop it STOP IT!" She screamed and collapsed onto the floor and was quiet.

"Fen! What's happening? Did you just kill her?"

It was like a switch was flipped. The glowing disappeared, the material making up the wings fell to the floor, and Fen opened her eyes. "Oh, fuck."

"I'll say! Daddy said he wanted Elmar alive. That's two of the three we killed. At least Rev hasn't died yet, unless you killed him too?" Zhe raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think so, no." Fen reached out again, this time weaker than before. She felt back the way they came and she came across Rev, sitting on the floor outside of their ship. "No, Rev is waiting by Northern."

"How do you know that?" Zhe's voice was rising in inflection, she was starting to panic.

"I... just know, okay? Something odd is going on, but let's just go with it."

"What about the other pirates?" Zhe walked over to the airlock, stepping over Elmar's body.

Fen reached out. "Don't bother, they're dead."

Zhe turned. "Did you do that too?"

"Yes! I, no, I mean, wait. I think..."

As Fen stuttered, Zhe strode back over with one of her soar-knives in her hand. "Fen. What is going on."

Fen's expression changed instantly, flashing from confusion to anger.

P̴̦̣̈́u̸̞͒͂t̶̳̓ ̸̮̏͠ẗ̴͉͕́͠h̴̥͆̔à̶̹̠̊t̴̕ͅ ̴̦̬̄k̴̘͓̚ǹ̷͇̅i̵̞͉̿͐f̴͚͍͗͝e̷̻̪̚ ̵͖̔̈d̵̤̿̌ͅo̸̘͒͂w̵̧̟̍́n̶̞̐!̵̛̳

Zhe dropped the knife as if it had burned her. It clattered to the floor, still attached by the monofilament to her wrists. Her eyes wide, she took a step back.

"No, Zhe! Sorry! I didn't mean."

"Fen? What's happening?"

Fen fell to her knees, crying. "I don't know Zhe! I think something happened to me when we went through the Gate. I've been hearing voices and I had weird dreams and this voice told me to stop Elmar and I just did and now I told you to drop the knife and I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Zhe?" It was Northern. "Why don't you and Fen come back here. Rev is waiting, and I think your dad just docked. We can work out what's going on."

"Y-yeah, okay Northern." Zhe looked down at Fen, but did not offer a hand. "Come on Fen, let's go talk to Dad."

Sniffling, Fen stood up.

[multific]

His Follower

Kai Anderson x Reader

Warning: Kidnapping, torture, blood, cults 

Summary: Being one of his followers had its moments, especially when his rival thinks they can just kidnap you.

As they pulled the bag off of your head, you let out a groan.

"Well this is pleasant." you looked around the room, five men wearing ski masks stood in front of you as you were chained to a chair.

"You will answer our questions." one said in a distorted tone, he must be using some kind of device.

"Alright, the secret is a good shampoo and I do weekly conditioning masks on it." you said as everyone fell silent.

"What?" one of them finally spoke.

"My hair-care routine." this resulted in you getting a slap across your face.

"We know you are one of Anderson's followers, we want to know his plans." you looked at the mask of the man who just hit you.

"You won't be able to stop him, no one will because all of you are nothing but imitators. Powerless little insects." another slap.

"You whore, you will tell us everything or you will suffer."

"I do like it rough." you smirked.

You probably didn't like it this rough though. Also who could have thought they would stab you with a freaking screwdriver?!

You didn't even feel your thigh anymore as he pulled the damned thing out, you watched blood flow out of the wound.

You looked up at their leader.

"You will regret this."

"Why would I? You are just one of many, he doesn't care about you, Sweetheart. Or did you believe he did? I feel bad for you being so naive."

you started to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"I'm not his follower." even with the mask on you could see the confusion. "I'm his everything, his obsession, the reason he keeps on going. I'm his wife." and now you saw the panic.

These idiots really thought they would kidnap you, chain you to a chair, torture you and kill you without Kai even noticing.

"You picked the wrong one." you said just as the door burst open and people with clown masks filled the room.

Exhaustion suddenly took over as you no longer had to hold it. Then on top of it you were pretty sure you got shot, the pain in your shoulder was killing you.

You were in and out of consciousness. 

"Miss." you heard them say but you couldn't focus. You heard the chains being cut and you felt them move you.

Once you were in a car, you passed out.

---

You woke up in your own bed, feeling like shit, you heard the machine next to you beep to the beat of your heart.

You looked at the damn thing beeping away, the sound annoying you to no end.

You made a face before you felt your hand being touched, you turned and saw your husband smiling at you.

"Sweetheart." he said as you tried to sit up, your shoulder hurt like hell and so did your legs. "Don't move too much, you lost a lot of blood and you were shot in the shoulder."

"Wonderful..." you said as you closed your eyes for a moment.

"I dealt with them." you heard him say as you only let out a sound to acknowledge his statement.

"My shoulder feels like shit."

"You were shot, Darling, it is normal. I'm sorry."

"The fuckers took me from a parking lot! I had ice cream in there..."

"It was planned. Thankfully I found you in time."

"I know you watched the video of them taking me many times. They wanted info, they thought I was only a follower." he almost laughed at that.

"If anything you are the one telling me no."

"Well, they didn't know that." you looked back at him, opening your eyes. "Can you stop that thing? I'm alive, the beeping is making me crazy."

He stood up and went to the other side of the bed, turning the machine off before sitting down by your leg.

"I won't let this happen again, you will be with me at all times or you will have someone with you. I can't lose you." You lifted your hand and put his cheek into your palm, you offered him a weak smile.

"You won't. I'm too stubborn to die anyway, you know that. But I wouldn't mind spending more time with you. You have been busy lately with your plans." he nodded. "I don't blame you for this, if anything its your stupid men who shot me in the shoulder." he made a face at that.

"They told me it was the people who took you."

"They didn't have a gun." you replied and now Kai knew, he needed to have a talk and find just who shot his wife. "I love you. Thank you for saving me."

He didn't want to bring up the fact that he was the very reason you were taken. He can't let that eat him up from the inside. He will just try and move on.

But both of you knew, every time he will see your scars, they will be a reminder to him of his failure. 

Never again. He promised to himself and to you.

"I love you too." he said as he moved his head to kiss your palm.

Taglist: @fleursirvart​ @greenarrowhead​ @thisismysecrethappyplace​ @sincerelyfan​ @theoneanna​ @aestheticsandmarvel​ @rororo06​ @castellandiangelo​ @destynelseclipsa​ @spilledinkindumpster​ @capsiclesdoll​ @puknow​ @alwayshave-faith​ @alex12948​ @lxdyred​  @imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl​ @anonymoussherlockandmarvelgeek​ @praline357​ @trshngyn​ @avengers-r-us​ @violet-19999​ @top1bbgloak​   @manduse​   @jacalineiscomingforyou​  @mandoloriancookie​ @noname2246​

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

DO NOT STEAL, REPOST OR TRANSLATE ANY OF MY WORKS  

[ndjournal]

hello! so i’m wondering if i’m sending this in correctly but i’m just gonna trust that i am. so literally august 30th i had a realization that there is no 3d vs 4d. i am not a human just doing what they have to do nor are things required of me because there is only consciousness (or self? not going to trip over the wording) and then all early morning, i’m talking about up until 5 AM, i read all of the submissions in the understanding concepts tag and boy oh boy. so many bombs were dropped and i just? i had to laugh when i read some of my old diary entries; my gosh i was so cute and deep into it. i realized that i was being Vanessa and actively trying to become someone else and obviously this doesn’t work. realizing that it’s not about changing the dream but to realize you are dreaming in the first place; to become lucid. then i realized what i could apply this to and it just hit me like a ton of bricks.

so as a shifter (you know the whole “reality shifting” thing), something i regularly do is “make scripts”. it’s quite fun to start from scratch and make all kinds of backgrounds with different families and just coming from different walks of life. even if i script something “undesirable” i never care too much about it because i see it for what it is—i know it’s not as deep and if i don’t like it, i can just change the script. so then i thought, “hey, what if Vanessa is a script too?” and i really started to think: “Why not treat Vanessa the same way you treat other scripts; other versions of yourself?” because i will literally come up with a story (as the observer, just picking a new character) and this character could have the hardest life and the most prominent obstacles and i feel absolutely no way about it, just a “yeah, i think that would be cool to experience.” and all i’m thinking is like, “bro..then what makes Vanessa so different from these scripts? from these people you make with these backstories? and then discard when you don’t care for ‘em anymore?”

and that, that’s something i’m just probing. along with letting Vanessa think every thought and feel everything; she’s perfect and she’s in her own little movie playing her part as she was designed to. I, as the observer, would send poor Vanessa on a goose chase of trying to realize things when she’s just like, “what do you mean it’s not real? i’m in it! and i see it, and i feel it! and this happened!” like if you were to step into a movie and told the characters about the problem not being real, they would look at you like you were crazy. they don’t have that luxury, but I do—because i’m not the characters, I AM.

sorry for the ramble, i am just like a kid in a candy store. i just wanna disbelieve i was ever Vanessa, and i am excited to do that. thank you!

Thank you for sharing your thought process, I'm sure it will help other Vanessas too. I know exactly what you mean. This is what can make LOA a struggle because it's basically telling people who don't understand what their true self is, to deny the ego's reality while identifying AS ego and that often results in a LOT of mental confusion and torture (and no actual desired results because all that effort is the opposite of our true being which is effortless) - GOSH ego is trying to tell itself that something isn't real when it so very obviously is because ego is part of the world! It's like stepping into any fictional world and telling the characters they're not real - but to them, it IS real, it's the only world they know of.

Keep disbelieving and see what happens :)

[asherlockstudy]

So, the journey was more about them (not the chicken). 👀

Of course.

I am gonna analyze the video here and... well... I have reasons that make me feel and think strongly about it and this may be evident in this post. Sometimes I might get a little judgy, a little confrontational... just fyi.

I have this feeling now, I feel vindicated, not so much about this video being obviously once more about their journey towards coming out but instead because I am vindicated in that they WANT people to pick up on their hints and some "brightbrains" who say "don't assume blah blah blah" are actually working AGAINST what Rhett and Link are trying to achieve right now. They are making their job HARDER. I will talk about it in a minute. Let's analyze this.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD

So they get to pick from four chickens in specific, they intentionally asked for four. My assumption is them and the wives, because obviously here we do not have just the issue of the sexuality, we also have the issue of what happens next with the marriages. It's not just a sexuality coming out, it's likely a coming out from two marriages, very well established situations, which makes it much harder overall under the public spotlights. (If someone gets hives at the implication that they will not come out together just because they get hard when they watch a Kevin Costner movie next to their beloved wives, well, it's not my problem. Perhaps stop reading at this point. What is going on is not just a label issue.)

The chicken was used as an allegory of a scared, even cowardly individual. Rhett says the initial idea was to give them names based on personalities (which strengthens the argument they were symbolizing four particular individuals) but kinda gave up on it and they named them Chloe, Lucy, Birdie and Drumstick. Chloe - short for Cloaca - is Link, she's the most eager one, Link has his mentality changed by the egg song, he is the chicken in the egg, he gives that speech for the choice of Chloe, and then of course he is the one who helps Chloe "cross" the road. Cloaca Chloe is Link.

Drumstick is the only one whose name could be perceived as derogatory (makes me suspect the name was indeed pre-selected) and Drumstick stubbornly remains last. Rhett very consciously says that apparently "Drumstick is the slowest one to pick up on what's going on". That's obviously either Jessie or Christy but I am a little confused as to who it really is because I would think the one, let's say, more innocent to start suspecting things would be Jessie but the one intentionally more unwilling to follow through with this plan would be Christy. Unless something has changed lately, I don't know. Maybe I am wrong about the "innocence" part though. I just think Christy is way more suspicious but on the other hand Jessie is very socially skilled and emotionally intelligent. So even though Christy could have been always more suspicious of Rhett and Link's relationship, in the end it may have been Jessie that picked up on the things that were really happening.

I wonder whether the shot of Drumstick hidden in the plants was a conscious choice...

Anyway, next. Eggs here is a symbolism for sex. Link confesses to Rhett he's not big on them and Rhett informs him there are so many ways to try eggs until you find the way you enjoy them. (What if this is how it all started?) But it actually has a double meaning. This is not the first time Rhett has implied Link is too vanilla and too hesitant to try new things. In GMM many times, like once he laughed "We are the most vanilla men in the world" and you can rest assured he doesn't consider himself responsible for it. Back to the video's context, this is an epiphany for Link - this realisation. He is pictured inside the egg, expressing his confusion and despair. The sequence of the song does not end happily. The egg does not crack yet and Link says how he is so confused he is on the verge of dying.

An easter egg (hehehe) is how many egg dishes Rhett is shown enjoying throughout the video. We know it, he loves sex A LOT and he loves it in as many ways as possible.

The roads where they are training the chicken are not coming out attempts, but technically the "coming out with each other". In the very first road, the chicken is very hesitant and uneager to walk. Eventually, Rhett loses patience, grabs the chicken and rushes it across the busy road, to Link's bafflement. They later both agree that this is not the way to do it, because the chicken did not enjoy the crossing. It was all too rushed and haphazard. This is perfectly aligned with what I have described before in at least two posts such as They dug a hole and PUZZLE: The recurrent Rhink storyline is not even new!!!!!!! If you know, you know. If you don't and are positively interested so far, I really think you should read them. AND I REALLY have to remind to everyone that the PUZZLE VIDEO IS FROM 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS FORGET THAT, YOU VERY FEW FOLKS WHO KINDA BELIEVE ME BUT NOT QUITE. Sorry for the screaming. it's just... it's hugely important if you want to put things into perspective.

Want more argument line after line?

Rhett: Come on, Chloe. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Get it. Get it. Get it. Come on, come on, Chloe. We're running out of time Chloe! (grabs the chicken) Link: 10 seconds- what? What are you doing?! (fast road crossing) Four, three, two, one. Rhett: Ah. Ahhh, God... I'm sorry, I panicked.... (apologetically to Link) I was just going on instict. The numbers were getting low*, single digits... Link: You are a results oriented person. Rhett: Right, I mean, she got to the other side! Link: Yeah... but it did not feel... great. Let's go back to the question. Why did the chicken cross the road? What if it wasn't to get to the other side? What if it was to have a glorious crossing experience?

Now compare this to the digging and the Puzzle videos or the paragraph with the bike pedalling in TLCOBC. They are all the same exact thing, the same incident. Digging is crossing, up to this point at least. *Rhett saying digits getting low, AKA falling, compare this with the missing head puzzle piece situation in the Puzzle and the hardship of pushing the shovel in the hard ground in We dug a medium sized hole. Like I have described, Rhett was having some physical limitations the first times and Link's ground was too tightly hard. (Link has numerous times also blessed us with the information that he has a very tight asshole. Sorry. He has chosen to say this.) Plus, Link makes an argument that... for the chicken it was not about getting to the other side, like, getting this done for some reason or ticking something off a list or just because it was a way to confirm something about the chicken's identity etc, but instead he wanted this to be a glorious experience. For him and, I dare say, for the other one who was involved. So this crossing was supposed to be ultimately founded on sincere emotional reasons, according to Link.

Anyway since Link, I mean, Chloe did not enjoy that very first rushed, rapid road crossing, they decide to try again in conditions more suitable for him her. They go to a small neighborhood road, where everything is just more peaceful and intimate and slow paced. And they are just the two of them.

Uhhhh except Jason Segel shows up with his own chicken and advices them that a chicken can't be forced into it but has to take the lead. "Incidentally", Segel's chicken is Paul Rudd and Rhett and Link emphasize on the fact that Paul Rudd is his friend and co-star. Segel and Rudd have played in a few movies together but undoubtedly the reference here is this one:

Now, the movie is exclusively a bromantic comedy, however it has some themes such as that the one's fiancé feels like a third wheel and initially the friend causes strain to the couple's relationship. Also, Rudd, the shorter more brunette half of the duo is the chicken in the stroller and Segel is his tall guide who "walks him out". Just in case you needed more proof Chloe was actually Link that Rhett walks out in various modes of frenzy or calm intimacy. Ahem.

The scene changes abruptly after Segel's advice. We do not see how the second attempt unfolded once they left it to Chloe to take the initiative while crossing the road. I don't remember in which post it was (could be in the linked ones) but I wondered once why they always talk or are inspired by the first, very unfortunate time and never the second or, say, the first mutually enjoyable time. I had reasoned they probably keep this off limits, just for them. I respect this fully, although the cave-girl in my brain dies to know what an inspired metaphor from that experience would look like!

The chicken couldn't realistically cross this highway. So they had to come up with a plan - a van with a build in simulation of crossing the road. I believe this could be an allegory for the fact that the official crossing will happen through an isolated, monitored, secure environment - that of a studio. I mean, aside from the fact that it was a necessary measure for the chicken in this case. We see again Rhett doing weird-ass maths with a hint of delirium in his eye - this is consistent with his overthinking anxiety while trying to take a nap and with his overpreparing for the night in the ghost-free house and for the quest for the brown diamond. It shows how Rhett, who struggles more with the actual crossing, has assumed a position of supposedly curating the crossing experience and overfixating about it, instead of doing it.

True enough, they go on a little competition about who gets to drive the car (plan the whole thing) and who is with the chicken (comes out). Unsurprisingly, Rhett convinces Link he is the one who has to be with the chicken.

A VERY interesting moment to me was the commentary about the animal monitor from the American Humane Society. Given how much of a serious deal this is, I can't be sceptical about whether this man was indeed the animal monitor or just acting like one. However, I am having so many thoughts about how Rhett and Link decided to make use of his (non)involvement. Usually, you don't make monitors and everyone else checking what you do a part of your final project. Usually, they are edited out or somewhere in a corner since their job is not to be part of your movie but instead to ensure all your practices remain lawful, harmless and sensible. The fact that he sits next to Rhett and is depicted multiple times, always taking notes (writing comments?), albeit blurred, makes me suspect Rhett and Link (certain they wouldn't mistreat the chicken), asked him to have a tiny part in the video. They also stressed he was checking on Chloe through a monitor showing him everything, like an audience. But why make a deal out of it? They make a big deal out of his UN-responsiveness, which is a little strange, since it is not his job to be responsive but rather to be as discreet as possible. And yet, here we are, Rhett and Link have something to say about it.

Would anybody make an educated guess whether the animal monitor is used here for another metaphor? The animal monitor is the fanbase. The unresponsive, stone-faced fanbase. They did explain recently they are not getting the reaction they wished for from the fans regarding the videos. And just so you do not get confused, they did clarify they are seeing and are thankful for the positive reception from the viewers. Still, they said, it is not what they were looking for! It's not a "bravo" they are after, they are after getting their message across, they are after seeing some understanding or realisation from the fans, who insist on not understanding or not wanting to understand. That's what I have been saying for months at this point. They want you to understand and acknowledge and expect this BEFORE they speak openly about it. I am not being evil or incosiderate or delusional for discussing this here openly as a few very clever individuals have insinuated - THEY WANT THIS TO START BEING DISCUSSED. They want to minimize the shock impact this will have if they do it on their own suddenly one Monday morning on GMM. And there's MORE proof of that later.

The highway goes in two directions of five lanes each and then there is also the median. They do the first five lanes with Link holding the chicken to walk on the treadmill. Then they reach the median, what they call liminal space. They stress this a lot so I think there is significance to it. They employed Hank Green to explain this better;

Liminal space is the concept of having left one state of being, but not yet having arrived at your next stage.

And because it is stressed, I think it signifies Rhett and Link's current stage: they are in liminal space, which means they have given up on their past selves but are not still quite where they are determined to be. Quite possibly it also means Link (and perhaps Rhett) has already done half the work; in his private relationships, with family and friends. And he is now in liminal space because he is hovering between his previous life and the future one where he can't get yet as long as he is a public persona who is still obligated to cross the next half of the road; the world.

Once they reach the median Rhett helps Link turn around the equipment, in order to give Chloe the illusion she is crossing the opposite direction lanes.

Rhett: I am not doing a lot. Link: I know you are not doing a lot! Rhett: I'm trying to remain in liminal space.

If you have doubts, consider please, what is the point for Rhett saying this in the context of the chicken's crossing? Does he want to keep the car forever in the median? Does he want to stay in the median while Link and the chicken leave him with the car? Does he want to stop the project? What does it mean? Nothing. It means nothing in the text plot of the video, but it means EVERYTHING for all the things we've been saying all this year and is the reason for the occasional apparent strain between Rhett and Link. Rhett does not want to leave liminal space as much as Link. Or, rather, he wants to but he is too scared of the consequences, especially when it comes to the reaction of his father and their fanbase, which could affect their career. Rhett here confirms indeed that he'd rather keep what's happening between them a secret or only known to their closest people (the ones it affects) but Link can't suffer it anymore. Rhett complies with it for Link's sake, both out of necesity and perhaps also out of love.

They also make a huge deal out of passing the bridge to reach the other lanes and of course they are much more excited about the second half. That's what happens now. We are at that stage of crossing the second half but unlike in the video we have not reached the EXIT (out). I wonder whether there is significance in that Link opts to keep the chicken in the stroller for the second half. My assumption is that in the first half (coming out to the loved ones) it was a process that took a lot of time like with the baby steps of the chicken, with a lot of pauses in the beginning. But once they decided to leave the liminal space behind, now the developments will be much faster and consequential. Now the chicken will be running on wheels.

Meanwhile, as the job's done and Rhett and Link are cheering for their success, the animal monitor is still taking notes in pure apathy. This alone makes it very likely something's up in his case. He almost certainly stands in for the commentators of their channels, who write, write, write irrelevant stuff while so many things happen under their nose.

The video ends with another cry from Rhett and Link that people will understand it's all about them and it's not just silly meaningless content.

Yes, the journey Link has been talking about the entire year.

Y'all, this is a cry at this point. If it was just cryptic work inspired by their private lives, which however they would want to keep entirely secret, they wouldn't make such pleas to be understood. They want people to start considering it, thinking it, discussing it. They want to prepare the fans' brains before the news falls on them in the likes of a huge asteroid. Still not sure about it?

Like I said, Rhett and Link have freaked out by their failure to communicate their message. So, this time Rhett wanted to check on the situation himself, in real time. They released the video in a later time, when more people could watch and Rhett did something he almost never has done before. He was liking and replying to comments personally. He did like a lot of the positive comments... perhaps he sighed in these ones

but there were SO many which were like this one

This person got nothing from that video and the last scene and everything they have said about their scripted videos and I can sense Rhett's disbelief and sarcasm from here. Also, notice how he did not heart that comment lol

Anyway from a quick scroll through the comments, I believe there are a few which could give them a little faith but ultimately the results were still underwhelming.

Last but not least, Rhett wasn't the only one reading the comments in real time with no chill left. Link found a different way to drive the point home:

Doodling hearts over the video, above their heads, on Rhett and on the first comment, which indeed was ambiguous.

(shoutout to @mpay22 for the screenshots)

They have no chill anymore but who's to blame them... Even I have no chill anymore with all the stuff I see regarding that situation and the whole thing does not concern me one bit.............. let alone them, whose entire future and happiness depend on it.

Thanks for reading my long - occasionally intense - answer / post.

[babyarmybabbles]

Run ARMY! (Meet Part) a1 d4 +155 Words

[Caution: These are not full fics, or even full parts of fics for some, these are part of my writing progress archive!]

Concept: Reader won the opportunity to film a spin off of Run BTS! celebrating the boys return from enlistment, called Run ARMY!, over the course of seven days.

Word Count: 1,250

Notes: Our first official addition! I wanted to do additions in intervals of 1,000, but I'm on the fence of just completely rewriting this entire fic. I'm really unhappy with it and it's fighting me at every turn. I think I focused too much on the little things between point A and B and establishing Reader's voice and character. Might keep like the first bit of the Arrival part and a couple bits here and there. I'll sit on it. Marked the addition with []

Took Inspirations from Run ARMY! series on Tik Tok by _yamanika_ and Guess The Bias! by HelloMyAlien7 on Ao3

Warnings: Reader is p anxious lol. Sort of panic attack? Anxiety attack? idk man. Just anxious Reader.

Masterlist Link <3 | Prev Part Link c: | Next Part Link :D

By the time the SUV is pulling into the underground parking garage to meet the band in you’re sweating buckets. Not literally, thank the stars, but you feel near to it. Hannuel smiles kindly at you from the driver’s seat, obviously able to see your nerves. You’re pretty sure a satellite could see your nerves right now.

“You’ll be fine.” She soothes as the car descends. “The boys are super nice, and they’re excited to meet you. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” You suck in a deep breath in response and let it out. It doesn’t help much.

“I’m more nervous about ARMY not liking me than BTS not liking me.” You admit with a nervous laugh, consciously switching to twisting your rings around so you don't pick at your nails in your anxiety. Having bloody fingers while meeting your favorite group would not be a good look. “Also they intimidate me.” You add quietly.

You hear Hannuel stifle a snicker and your head shoots up to glare at her in affront. She’s supposed to support you, not laugh at you! She must see your mulish stare in the rear-view, because she quickly defends herself.

“Sorry, sorry! I’m not laughing at you, I promise. It’s just that they’re so silly sometimes, it’s hard to find them intimidating after having known them.” You easily concede the point to her. You'd seen enough behind the scenes content to get that impression. It’s a bit soothing to hear from an actual staff member though. “They’re the sweetest, really,” Hannuel continues, “You’ve genuinely got nothing to worry about. They’ll take care of you.”

You groan and let your head thump against the seat. “That’s part of the problem!” You complain, “It’s my first time on this side of a camera, it’s my first time meeting BTS, it’s my first time being in Korea, It’s just a lot! What if ARMY sees me fumbling and the boys helping me and decide they hate me? I can’t be hated by ARMY! I’d die!” You dramatically slump sideways, coincidentally timed with a turn that scootches you that much farther over.

Score one for dramatics.

Hannuel laughs gently at you, and you continue somewhat more seriously from your slumped position. “I mean, ARMY is basically my home. I don’t know what I’d do if they hated me.” You murmur into the leather cushion.

Hannuel hums musingly at you and the two of you lapse into silence for a moment.

“Well,” She starts, “First of all, you probably already know that you can never please everyone.” You nod miserably, aware that she could no longer see you. Both your therapist and your friends had told you as much many times. She continues, “But ARMY loves to see the boys interact with other ARMY. It’s another way they get to know them and feel connected. If you ask me, you’ll have more people projecting onto you than judging you. Not that they won’t judge, but” She shrugs, “People always do.”

You slowly sit up and shoot an admiring look at the woman. “Woah,” you mumble, “How are you so wise?”

Hannuel barks out a surprised laugh. “Life experience, mostly.” She replies amusedly.

You settle back into your seat and finally notice that Hannuel had stopped the car before what you assume to be the final turn before the boys would be in view. You feel a rush of gratefulness for her.

You hadn’t known her very long, but Hannuel had already been an incredible help and a very soothing presence to you. You should buy her something nice before you leave if you get the chance. See if you can send a gift basket through Hybe for her if you don't.

She starts the car rolling forward again as you reappear in the rear-view mirror, fully over your momentary theatrics. You take another deep breath and let it out again. It helps more this time.

“It’s not like my socials are public or anything either," You soothe yourself aloud, "And my friends already know me, they’re just excited. Everyone else is secondary.”

“Exactly” Hannuel affirms. You startle just a bit and then try to pretend you hadn’t forgotten she could hear you. Luckily, she’s too busy driving the car to notice. “Like I said, you’ll be just fine.”

Unfortunately for Hannuel’s encouraging words, you’d finally rolled close enough for you to spot seven men standing near 3 other SUVs just ahead and you were suddenly incapable of hearing anything anymore.

Static fills your brain as you study them. You register the casual clothes, watch them nudge each other excitedly as they notice your vehicle, even note the camera crew nearby, but not a single thought makes it past the haze of panic. Distantly, you wonder if this is what an adrenaline rush feels like. You suddenly can’t remember.

Your heartbeat thuds in your ears as the car comes to a gentle stop.

You absently bring one hand up to the pulse point under your jaw to measure your pulse and raise the other to your chest to make sure you’re still breathing. Hannuel is repeating instructions for your benefit in the front seat, but you simply cannot engage your brain enough to listen. All too soon she's exiting the car. You manage to tear your hands away from their comforting positions as she comes around and opens your door for you.

Hannuel helps you down as you duck out of the car and gives you a brief sympathetic smile as she takes your trembling hand.

Excited exclamations meet your arrival and you hastily paste confidence over your every mannerism as you lift both hands to wave back with equal excitement. Hannuel is the only one close enough to be able to see your hands continuing to shake, or note the fact that you stop breathing as you approach BTS.

You hope your smile isn't too tight and that you look appropriately excited. Hopefully whatever the cameras are seeing right now can be explained by excitement and reasonable nerves. You'll take your near panic-attack to the nearest private space, thanks.

["Hello! Oh my goodness, hi!" You release your held breath and end up attempting a sort of half-bow-half-handshake combo with RM that looks and feels incredibly awkward.

You’re mentally screaming apologies to him and despairing your lack of social graces as you move to greet the next member, one Kim Seokjin. You're not sure you can recover from this. You may just have to perish right here right now.

Blessedly, the man takes the lead for the interaction, opening his arms for a hug. You hesitate for a moment, double checking that he was giving you permission to hug him, before gratefully diving into the embrace.

The hug is a standard, friendly thing. Just a bit of a lean in and affectionate tap-tap-taps to eachothers upper back. It relaxes you immensely.

It helps that he more passes you to the next member down the line than let's you completely reset for a new interaction. No chance of awkwardness in pre-established patterns.

In this manner, you gain a hug from most of the other members as well. Yoongi is the only one who declines, offering a handshake that goes much more smoothly than your initial one with RM.

Once you're done with greetings, the PD introduces you, prompting you to wave and bow at them. You're sure it looks awkward because you feel awkward, but at least it gets done. ]

[thegigilwriter]

07 | “Danger & Star, Rooster & Angel” — Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Female Mitchell OC

Summary: 26-year-old Lucy Asa Mitchell did not know what was in store for her when she first bumped into Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw. After an instant mutual connection followed by a sweet whirlwind romance that swept both their feet, Lucy found herself being immersed deeper into Bradley’s world of the Navy, F-14s, and deployments. What she didn’t expect was finding was the answer to an elusive part of her past — the identity of her long-lost father.

Masterlist

Keywords/Warnings: Romance, Implied religious themes (OC is Catholic), little angst, Drama

07 | Beautiful & Broken ⛪️

Sunday AM June 25, 2023

Lucy stirred into consciousness, eyes first meeting the subtle light of the early morning sky. She squinted, feeling for her phone charging on her nightstand and checking the time. It was 6:20 in the morning and there was somewhere that she needed to be. Just as Lucy was about to start the day, Bradleyʼs visage came into mind as well the feel of his lips and the scent of his neck filled her senses. She sighed, allowing herself to daydream before the quick vibration of her phone interrupted her early daze.

Bradley: Good morning Angel :3

Lucy: Good morning :)) Why are you up so early?

Bradley: Havenʼt stopped thinking about you since our last date :))

Bradley: Did I wake you up?

Lucy: Nope, I was already up.

Bradley: Why are you up so early?

Lucy: Church :))

Bradley: Can I come with?

Lucy didnʼt reply for a couple of minutes, as she pressed her lips against her phone smiling.

Lucy: Of course you can :))

Bradley: Ok! Iʼll pick you up in a few.

Lucy squealed, throwing her phone before sprinting to the her closet.

Bradley arrived at Lucyʼs apartment a few moments later in a hunter green polo shirt and khaki pants with brown dress shoes. He smiled as he watched her close the gate behind her and opened his arms to welcome her into them. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her forehead.

“Hello,ˮ she giggled.

“Youʼre breathtaking Angel,ˮ Bradley said to her softly, as he twirled in her around in her deep aquamarine drop waist-dress with gold-work, embroidered cap sleeves. Her soft waves were in a half up and her lips were glossed.

“Oh stop it you sweet-talker,ˮ Lucy hummed. “Youʼre gonna make me blush too much.ˮ Bradley chuckled as he guided her towards the Bronco and set off towards Lucyʼs church.

“Just a heads up,ˮ Lucy told him. “Youʼre gonna meet a lot of people — like a lot. Many of them are not really my blood-related relatives, but I do consider them my family.ˮ

“Itʼs all good Angel,ˮ Bradley reached over to hold her hand. “Are you nervous that theyʼll scare me away?ˮ

“Itʼs just that—“ Lucy sighed, laughing. “I love them— but they can be loud and intrusive and—“

“Angel,ˮ Bradley drew circles around the back of her hand. “Stop. Iʼm actually really happy that youʼre comfortable with me enough to let me into your life like this. If this is important to you, itʼs equally important to me. Okay?ˮ

“Okay,ˮ Lucy smiled, admiring the way his aviators hung on his nose and the way his locks trembled in the wind. He kissed her hand affectionately.

Bradley parked nearby the entrance and they entered the church together. Bradley gazed up at the painted ceilings, iridescent painted glass, and the elaborate altar in the front. Lucy genuflected before taking her seat in the middle pew near the choir. The people were gathering now, they were just in time before the crowds began to fill up the church.

“Great turnout today,ˮ Bradley whispered to her.

Lucy chuckled.

“Itʼs Godʼs day,ˮ she replies.

“And our day,ˮ Bradley says. He holds her hand again.

Bradley watched as Lucy waved to every passerby, even holding brief conversations with them — some in English and others in different languages — before they had to take their seats. When Bradley met their gazes, they would smile kindly and maybe say a quick “hello.ˮ

“Tita Ramona,ˮ Lucy greeted politely as the widow made her way down the pew and sat beside her and Bradley.

“Hello anak, how are you?ˮ Her eyes gleamed. “And who is your new friend?ˮ

“Iʼm doing well ninang,ˮ Lucy replied. “This is Bradley Bradshaw. Bradley, this is my godmother Tita Ramona.ˮ

“Hello maʼam, itʼs nice to meet you,ˮ Bradley said to her, reaching out his hand to shake hers.

“Likewise, Bradley. Itʼs very kind that youʼre accompanying Lucy today.ˮ

“Thank you, but with a woman like her? I think the privilege is mine.ˮ Lucy blushed as Tita Ramona chuckled.

The procession commenced, then the beginning antiphon, the first and second readings, and the gospel. After which, Father Mike came down from the altar and stood at the very front of the mass. He was a sprightly old man in good shape despite his priestly robes with a thick head of silver hair, crowʼs eyes, and a naturally charming smile.

“Good morning everyone,ˮ he spoke into the microphone.

“Good morning Father,ˮ Lucy replied, as well as everyone else.

“Looks like not everyone has had breakfast yet,ˮ he chuckled and echoes of it followed. “So Iʼll keep this short and sweet.ˮ

“Today our readings were centered on Abraham, the Father of Faith, and Job. Particularly, Abraham was commanded by God to offer up his only son as a sacrifice. And Job, a righteous man — a good man — who God had allowed to him all the possibly bad things you can imagine. His livelihood robbed, properties burned, servants and children killed — and if those werenʼt enough he suffered a malady so severe that not even his friends were willing to help him in his time of need.ˮ

“Like Abraham, like Job — every single one of us has been faced with things we have to do but donʼt want to, and go through the rough bumps of life. But why? Why does God allow us to suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people?ˮ

Father Mike paused, and within this moment Lucyʼs gaze lingered towards the choir and the ensemble. She stared at the empty seat.

“In all my years of studying and reflecting, I cannot give you an answer. Yes, He may allow suffering for punishment, to change us, or to bring us closer to Him. But youʼre probably wondering — and as am I — why it all has to be through suffering. Why it has to be so hard...ˮ

“Why do we have to be broken?ˮ

The last time Bradley went to church was when he was a gangly teenager in high school. It was one of the most recent memories he had of his late mother. He remembered not wanting to be there. He only went so that he could make her happy. One of the things that amazed Bradley about his mother, was the faith that she had in a being that allowed her husband to never return home or raise her child alone. And here he was, in church, with a girl appearing to hold to that same kind of faith.

“But let me tell you something: it isnʼt for nothing. If we donʼt experience bad things in life... then why would be need God to turn to? If we donʼt experience bad things in life... then how can we fully appreciate the good? When,you feel like youʼve been broken too much to be worthy, remember this: God turns brokenness into beauty. He uses brokenness to tell his stories. Rahab was a prostitute. David was a murderer. Moses feared speaking to crowds. Joseph was abused. Elijah was suicidal. Samson was a womanizer. The bad things in your life, and the pain that comes after is not for nothing. So, like Abraham, let us have faith. It may not be to the degree that you can put your child on the altar — but even a little is sometimes enough.ˮ

From the corner of Bradleyʼs eye, he swore that he saw Lucy hastily wipe her cheek. Throughout the mass, he couldnʼt help but glance at her frequently. How she sang, the way she held his fingers during ‘Our Father,ʼ how she recited every prayer from memory. When she stood to receive communion, he smiled at her reassuringly as he remained in his seat. Tita Ramona sat beside him, watching Lucy just the same.

“Wonʼt you go up there?ˮ Bradley asked her quietly.

“Oh no,ˮ Tita Ramona replied, staring at the communion line. “I already went to mass earlier this morning, I only came now so that I could see how Lucy was doing.ˮ

“Youʼre a good godmother,ˮ he remarked.

“Itʼs only my duty to her,ˮ she said, pausing right after. “Lucy has never brought a man to church before.ˮ

Bradleyʼs breath hitched.

“It appears that you have made quite the impression on her,ˮ Tita Ramona smiled. “You are here and now you are an important person in her life.ˮ

She gazed right at Bradley. Beneath her widowʼs veil he saw the wisdom and age behind her milky eyes which despite their kind demeanor, regarded him seriously.

“Be careful with her, please.ˮ Tita Ramona whispered. “There are things that can only be broken so much.ˮ She patted his shoulder gently before lifting herself to her feet and gently floating towards the aisle.

After the final blessing, Bradley and Lucy were invited to the after-mass reception in the church common hall. It was a beautiful space complete with a curtained stage, a kitchen, hardwood tables, and painted glass.

As Lucy introduced Bradley to her community, he couldnʼt quite shake from his mind what Tita Ramona had said to him in mass. Was Lucy, for lack of a better term, broken? He watched her closely as she happily greeted the little children that ran to her arms and fondly called her Aunt Lulu. He watched as she pressed her forehead against the wrinkled knuckles of her elders saying ‘mano po.ʼ He watched as she squealed and embraced her girlfriends. He tried to wring his memory of any instance when Lucy ever said anything about her past when all he could recall was her kind smile, her breathtaking gaze, and her sweet lips. If Lucy Mitchell was broken, she was brilliant in showing no indication of it. His thoughts were interrupted when a little old lady placed a plate in his hand and patted his shoulder.

“You eat,ˮ she told him with a thick accent as she wobbled away to place more plates in the hands of more unsuspecting church goers in a daze. Lucy laughed, sauntering over to Bradley after meeting with her giggling girlfriends looking in his direction.

“You donʼt happen to have three other brothers, do you?ˮ Lucy chuckled. “My friends wonʼt believe me.ˮ

“Thatʼs too bad,ˮ Bradley clicked his tongue, as he held her hand. “Thereʼs only one Bradshaw and it looks like heʼs already been spoken for.ˮ

“Oh?ˮ Lucy feigned with a smile. “Are you allowed to tell me for whom?ˮ

“Mʼfraid I canʼt,ˮ Bradley sighed. “Yʼknow for safety reasons, with demand being so limited you see...ˮ

“Okay, you wait here,ˮ Lucy laughed, taking his plate. “Iʼm going to get a slice of Tita Lolitaʼs famous peach mango ice cream cake for you.ˮ

“Thatʼs why Iʼm all yours Angel,ˮ Bradley hummed, kissing her cheek as she headed toward the kitchens.

“Lieutenant Bradshaw!ˮ Someone called. Perplexed, Bradley turned towards the direction of his name. In the sea of crowds he saw a young, handsome, familiar face making his way towards him.

“Benji Bonifacio?ˮ Bradley shook his hand firmly. “Whatʼre you doinʼ here?ˮ

“What are you talkinʼ about? These are my people, man!ˮ He replied excitedly. Benjamin Bonifacio was one of the crew that worked with the carrierʼs radar, he had been with Bradley in his last two deployments and have grown increasingly close since. They first clicked when they switched each otherʼs gym bags because they were both similarly labeled with their initials.

“Who you here with?ˮ Benji asked him just as Lucy came over with the aforementioned dessert with two forks.

“Asa?ˮ

“Bentot?ˮ

“Bentot?ˮ Bradley guffawed.

“Itʼs my other callsign man,ˮ Benji sighed.

“Wait, do you two know each other?ˮ Lucy looked between them.

“Youʼre with her?ˮ Benji looked to Bradley.

“Angel, Benʼs been with me in my last two deployments. He works in radar.ˮ Bradley informed her.

“Oh thatʼs right!ˮ Lucy mused in Benʼs direction. “You just had your first deployment recently!ˮ

“And you date, now?!ˮ Benji exclaimed. “Since when?ˮ

“Bradley, Benʼs my cousin. I grew up with him in Oregon,ˮ she told him before turning to Benji. “And for the record I have always been able to date. I just donʼt prefer to as much as you do.ˮ

“Tomboy ka kase noon,ˮ Ben stuck his tongue out.

“Feeling gwapo ka masyado,ˮ Lucy replied, sticking her tongue out just as so.

“Clearly you guys are related,ˮ Bradley chuckled, amused at the interaction.

“What can I say man?ˮ Ben smirked. “Good looks run in our fam.ˮ

Bradley laughed as Ben patted his shoulder heartily. Lucy looked between them again, smiling widely.

“Hey, did you know Ravagerʼs here?ˮ Ben told Bradley. Bradley averted his gaze towards Lucy, urging him with an encouraging nod.

“Go,ˮ Lucy winked as she began eating away at the dessert. “I need to catch up on the latest chismis anyway.ˮ

“Ravager!ˮ Benji called out and one of the men among others turned to his voice.

“Rooster!ˮ He flashed a smile. “Whatʼre you doinʼ here?ˮ Ravager was a Lieutenant Commander. He was the cool, laid-back older brother type with mad skill and plenty of experience. Ravager was a decade older than Bradley with silver streaks in his haphazard locks and sharp, Sicilian features. Rooster looked closely at the men in his midst and noticed even more familiar faces — they were in the navy too.

“His new girlʼs my cousin!ˮ Benji told him.

“Asa? The pretty one?ˮ Ravager quirked a brow. “Good for you, Rooster.ˮ

After a few exchanges with the other navy men and some friendly banter, Ravager and Rooster found themselves alone together at the buffet table, grabbing a water from the cooler.

“Have you been at this church long?ˮ Bradley asked him after taking a sip from his bottle.

“Oh yeah,ˮ he replied, as he closed his cap. “I was married here. My wifeʼs half- Filipina. She knows Asaʼs mom quite well.ˮ

“So,ˮ Ravager remarked. “You and Asa, huh?ˮ

“Yeah,ˮ Bradley smiled. “Sheʼs really good to me.ˮ

Ravager chuckled.

“What?ˮ

“Itʼs just...ˮ Ravager sighed. “She doesnʼt look like your usual type.ˮ

“My usual type?ˮ Bradley cocked his head. “Whatʼs that supposed to mean?ˮ

“You know... there was Foxy.ˮ

“That was four years ago.ˮ

“Then Cherry.ˮ

“That was two years ago.ˮ

“Then Nova.ˮ

“That was over a year ago.ˮ

“That one was a shit show,ˮ Ravager shook his head.

“Whatʼre you getting at, Ravager?ˮ

“Rooster, I know youʼre a good guy.ˮ Ravager began to use his hands exasperatedly. “And if it were any other girl I wouldnʼt care. But this Asa. This is Lucy. I know her and sheʼs a good girl. She watches my kids and my wifeʼs quite close with her family. Sheʼs not like the other ones that you used to mess around with because you were scared of being committed. I need to know that youʼre serious about her, otherwise I canʼt walk away from this.ˮ

“Well you can,ˮ Bradley replied heatedly. “Because I am serious about her. Iʼm getting deployed soon and I plan on making it official before I go. Youʼre right. Lucyʼs not like any of the other women Iʼve been with. Thatʼs why Iʼm serious this time.ˮ

“Well shit then Rooster,ˮ Ravager chuckled, grasping his shoulder. “Welcome to the club, I guess.ˮ

“Thanks,ˮ Bradley nodded. “And Iʼm not Hangman, you know?ˮ

“Rooster,ˮ Ravager said to him in all seriousness. “If it had been Hangman that walked through those doors with Asa hanging on his arm you best believe he would have been runninʼ out of here like his ass is on fire.ˮ

Bradley laughed.

Bradley pulled up in front of Lucyʼs apartment some two hours later. She reached across to kiss him on the cheek before caressing his face affectionately.

“Thank you,ˮ she smiled, eyes beaming. “For what, Angel?ˮ

“For coming to church with me,ˮ Lucy breathed. “You have no idea how much it means to me.ˮ

“For you, Angel? Anything.ˮ

She kissed him again, fully on the lips, as her hands wandered across his chest and among his curls.

“Iʼll see you tonight,ˮ she whispered.

Hangman said it best: “drop down and take the shot, Rooster!” Go Bradley! Coming up next: 08 | Crab Dinners and Star Gazers.

[misskattylashes]

The Dichotomy of Being a Teenage Alex Turner Fan

In this article I look at why I think so many teenage fans direct so much hate towards Miles.

Look at this image search I did on Alex’s name. First person whose name comes up ‘Miles Kane’, first other person he is in another picture with, Miles...before a puff piece about Louise or Taylor. It’s Miles. There are more results with Miles than anyone else. Whether people like it or not, Miles and Alex are intrinsically linked.

In the words of the big man himself ‘stop and wait a sec’...... imagine Miles was Mila, a constant female companion of Alex’s who he had been close to for nearly twenty years. Had been at his side more than any other woman, had done two duets with him and whilst touring the second one, their performances were so sexually charged you thought any moment soon they were actually going to have sex on stage. What would you think? You would think they were or had been in a romantic relationship. And even though you haven’t seen much of them together over the past few years, Mila constantly talks lovingly about Alex in her interviews, and Alex invites Mila to be the support act for the final days of a very long world tour, and on one of the dates he lets Mila stand side-stage (something his official girlfriend doesn’t get to do) and throughout the set he sings to Mila and can’t stop glancing at her. People would be enamoured with their love story and desperate for them to be together.

So why is it different just because Miles is a guy?

Of course there is the obvious. If Alex is gay, then the teenage fans stand no chance with him, which would be upsetting. But even me, as a creaky old Gen X-er, had gay pop stars who were attractive and sexy – Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Andy Bell from Erasure, even Boy George got screamed at, but we accepted they were gay and we didn’t stand a chance and that was it.

Of course, there was no social media then, but did we write hateful letters to them or their partners, or put up posters on street corners saying how disgusting they were? (the 80s equivalent to posting all over Twitter) No.

So why the anger towards Miles?

Unfortunately when I was growing up, homophobia was acceptable. Gay people were constantly the butt of jokes, straight comedians would pretend to be effette just for laughs. At school we even had the reprehensible Section 28, imposed by Thatcher’s government where any mention of homosexuality was banned, even books featuring gay characters, to apparently help prevent us from experimenting and catching AIDS (yes I grew up in the Dark Ages)

But there comes the rub. Because homophobia was acceptable, any negative feelings we had towards our gay pop stars or their partners wasn’t something we felt bad about so we felt no need to pick on anyone as a way of dealing with our own conflicted emotions

Fast forward to 2023. Gay people have rights, can marry, have children, are positively represented in the media, we have Pride, which is on the point of becoming too commercialised, and to be homophobic is to most young people not cool or acceptable.

Those same girls who spew hate towards Miles probably paint rainbows on their pencil cases during Pride, have male gay friends at school and would have a go at anyone who doesn’t support trans rights.

But then there is the fact that the celebrity they desire has a constant male companion, who he has been more publicly intimate with then any of the girlfriends he has had. Scratch beneath the surface and you can spot the differences in them when they fell out after EYCTE -both a shell of their former self. When there was a brief break in Lockdown in the UK, who did Alex choose to meet? Miles. Whether the fangirls consciously or subconsciously think there is something going on, it makes them feel uncomfortable with themselves. The presence of Miles Kane makes them realise they’re not necessarily that right-on girl who is into gay rights, because when they actually think about it, and think about what men do, they don’t like it.

But instead of realising that this is just part of being a grown up – we all have things about ourselves we don’t like, they direct their anger and frustration at Miles, as if he didn’t exist then they wouldn’t be confronted by these unpleasant feelings they have.

So, what I am trying to say is whilst I find the comments about Miles disgusting and cruel, just remember with these girls the person they really hate is themselves, while Miles lives his lovely life with his career and his friends and Alex and Maxie.

I think we know who is the winner here.

[musicallymelo]

nails

"What is this?" 

Enid picked the rusty nails and inspected them. He didn't know why the nails were there at all. He glanced at his partner, Nessia, as he looked around the classroom to try and figure out why the nails were even there. They were in an abandoned school for a photography project. Enid still remembered how excited Nessia was for this project.

"Enid!" Nessia greeted, waving him over. They were paired together or the upcoming photography project, and Enid couldn't be more happier. Nessia was the best student to be with for the project, as she was able to capture the little moments in life and present them as life changing events. They chatted about nothing, laughing at some lame jokes Nessia had overheard from her other classes while they waited for the teacher to come in.

"Alright, class, this project's theme is a bit different than what you're used to," their teacher called out. The class quieted down. The teacher wrote "horror" on the whiteboard as she explained, "A good photographer should be able to capture all events of life. Horror is a theme not many will touch," the teacher continued, looking at the students, "Remember, horror isn't limited to blood and death. Horror is something that will send shiver up to one's spine, to make one turn their head away in disgust. Do some research before starting." The teacher wrote down the deadline for the project and dismissed the class.

Enid and Nessia walked to the local part, intending to start their project early. "Nessia, any idea?" Enid asked, pulling his notebook and phone out to start researching. When he didn't receive any answers, he looked up from his notebook, only to find Nessia deep in her thoughts. "Nessia?"

"I think I know what I wanted to do," Nessia started slowly. She showed Enid a picture of an abandoned school on her phone, "There's this abandoned school not far away from here. I think we can sneak in and get some shots." The girl quickly sketched a rough layout of the building and its surroundings, circling random parts of fences. "These are the weak spots, we can crawl into the building through these spots."

"Didn't they said that the people who went in never came out?" Enid asked. Nessia laughed it off, "Do you honestly believed that? It's just a myth made by the adults to stop people from going in!"

And a couple of days later, they were in the abandoned school, and Enid started to think that they really shouldn't be in the school. He didn't pay the rusty nails any more attention, but something was nagging at the back of his head, telling him that he was missing something. Something to do with the rusty nails.

He looked around the classroom again. Maybe he had missed something the first time looking around. The classroom was organised, too organised to consider that something awful had happened when the school was still operating. Some parts of the blackboard wasn't cleaned properly. He went to inspect the barely-there words. "Say, Nessia," Enid started, "Do you have any idea how the school got abandoned?"

"Not really, no," Nessia answered, snapping a few pictures from the broken window, "But some said that something demonic was summoned and it refused to leave the school. They say to take it with a pinch of salt, of course." Nessia sighed at the pictures she'd taken before moving back to the broken mirror, determined to get some of the more interesting pictures.

 Enid paused at Nessia's explaination. He turned to Nessia slowly, a horrifying look on his face, "There was a demonic entity and you didn't bother to say that before we entered this school?" He asked. Nessia shrugged, "Take it with a pinch of salt, Enid. It wasn't like the entity will appear in the middle of the day."

"You won't know!" Enid said, looking around with a newfound consciousness, "Demonic entities don't care if it's day or not!" To his surprised, Nessia only laughed at his face. She waved his concerns off, stating that the rumours were rumours, and they were there for their school project anyways. Enid didn't like that they basically entered a place with a demonic entity roaming around, but he couldn't back out from it right now. They were there for their school project, just like Nessia said.

He grumbled a bit before returning to the faded writings on the blackbaord. "It's just something about Chem," Enid thought to himself. He turned back, mouth opened to mark a remark about the blackboard when he realised that Nessia wasn't even in the room. "Nessia?" Enid called out, his fear resurfacing. "Nessia?" He called out again, louder than his last. 

It was only then he noticed a small cotton doll sitting innocently on a nearby table. Was the doll even there when they first came in? Enid picked the doll up, curiosity burning inside of him. He felt something long and slim on the back of the doll. He didn't think much of it, turning it around to check the backside of the doll.

Nails. Long, slender, and most importantly, rusted.

Enid gulped. He stared at the rusted nails on the back of the doll, his body frozen in place. There were a couple drops of dried blood on the punctured back side of the doll. Enid wasn't sure what to make out of it. The boy gently put the doll back to the table, trying to figure out his next move. 

"Where's that blasted nails, anyways?" Enid mumbled, looking around. He tried to find the rusty nails from before, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never find the nails. He walked out of the classroom, intending to find Nessia first. 

"Nessia!" He shouted into the empty hallway. Only echos of his voice were heard. Nessia wasn't there. "Nessia? Where are you?" Enid peeked into each and every classroom he saw, but he didn't find Nessia. He huffed, walking towards a nearby staircase. Maybe he could find Nessia on another landing of the school. He continued to for Nessia, but besides a couple mannequins laying around, there was no sign of Nessia. A shudder ran down Enid's spine. What if he couldn't find Nessia before the sun went down? He would so be in trouble with her parents.

Enid walked around the school, trying his best to find his friend. Oddly enough, he found Nessia sitting alone in the cafeteria, staring into the empty room in front of her. Enid was going to greet Nessia and complain a little bit about her running off without telling him, but something about the atmosphere in the canteen stopped him.

The air wasn't still though, Enid noted, there was some movement in the air, dust floating about. No, Enid realised as he came to a stop in front of the entrance way, it wasn't the atmosphere, it was the aura radiating off Nessia. The feeling of different and unbelonging was coming off of Nessia in huge waves, crashing into Enid's body. He didn't know what to do. Nessia was facing the empty cafeteria, with her back facing Enid. 

He noted that there were a few injuries on Nessia's back. Weird.

Enid, against his better judgement to leave the place at once and return to his home, entered the cafeteria. "Nessia!" He said, "Here you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" The boy waited for Nessia's response, maybe an apology, maybe a bright laugh or even teasing him for worrying, but Nessia said nothing. "You know, we spent enough time in this place," Enid continued, walking towards the door again, "Maybe we should leave here-"

"No!" Nessia snapped. Something solid fell from her lap as she glared at Enid for suggesting that they leave the school. "I wasn't even done," she said. She picked up her fallen camera- Enid's eyes widen when he realised that, because Nessia loved her camera- and walked towards the end of the room. Her grip on the camera tightened when Enid followed her without prompting.

Nessia got down to work in no time. She clicked and clicked and clicked, but this time, Enid noticed that her usual seriousness and attention towards the pictures were gone. She was taking pictures at random, clicking whenever she felt like it or when something caught her eye. Nessia would never take pictures randomly, especially for a school project.

He followed Nessia to the back of the cafeteria. He couldn't ignore the awful smell that assaulted his nose once they reached there. "Ugh, Nessia, is there anything that you'll want to show up in a school project?" Enid asked, disgusted. Nessia didn't answer him. That's strange, Enid thought, his eyebrows furrowed, Nessia always answer things, even if she doesn't know it.

He waited for a couple of moments to let Nessia finish what she wanted to do. He was positively bored, but with the small reminder of a demonic entity roaming the school he kept silent. It wasn't until Nessia got up from the ground and left the cafeteria without a word that Enid finally saw it.

Big, black holes, were formed on Nessia's back. Just like the doll he found after Nessia went missing.

They were walking towards the entrance of the school when Enid finally found the courage to ask. "Nessia, what- what happened to your back?" He blurted out. The boy felt his stomach turned when a round of fresh blood started to pour from the holes. He could see her skeleton, bright and crimson, before another round of fresh blood came oozing out of the holes. "Nessia!" He shouted in panick. Enid have no idea what to do. He froze from trying to find something to cover Nessia's injuries with when he heard soft laughter.

The laughter turned louder and louder and soon enough, Nessia was laughing loudly, as if watching Enid panicking was the funniest thing in the world. "Oh, sweet, sweet Enid," Nessia started. She tried to walk, but her body collapsed to the ground with a painful smack, causing Enid to scream. It didn't lessen Nessia's laughter, it only added fuel to it.

"Enid, Enid, Enid, sweet little innocent Enid," Nessia singsonged, standing up again, her hand raised in front of her, "Isn't being a doll wonderful? You don't have to think about anything, you just have to allow the puppeteer control your movements and words. Isn't that just marvellous?" Tears fell from Nessia's eyes, but she sounded so happy, so relieve. Enid scrambled back even more. His back hit the wall and he was trapped, trapped between this God forbid place called a school and his best friend, who was being very, very unsettling. 

Nessia took one step forward, blood gushing out of her even more. Another step forward. And another. And another. And another. Until she was face to face with Enid. 

"Oh, Enid, you have no idea how wonderful being a doll is." Nessia's eyes went black. A smirk was left on her lips when the wind blew louder around them. A dark mist formed, with something in the middle of it. The object was thrown towards Enid. Enid sucked in a sharp breath when he recognised and realised what was going to happen.

"No!"

----------

A pair of best friends wandered into the abandoned school, both curious about the numerous rumours they have heard about it. Upon reaching the entrance, one of them crouched down and picked up something. 

"Hey, look at this." He showed the two dolls in his hands to his companion. His companion looked confused but said nothing. "Don't you think they look like the missing children from a couple of months ago?"

The other shrugged. Losing interest in the dolls, they entered the school, never noticing the rusty nails jammed to the back of the dolls, or the dark mist forming in the shadows.

[shnebrght]

Favorite Scent (Flufftober Drabble, KHR)

Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn Ship: 27K (Sawada Tsunayoshi x Sasagawa Kyoko) Word Count: 1,023 Prompt: Favorite Scent Event Host: @flufftober

-- Her focus left her the moment the scent came to her consciousness.

Momentarily stopping by the perfume, a warm smile rose to her features as she got caught up, reminiscing. "Tsu-kun," she started, "Do you remember when we got this?"

Several tryouts, many failed attempts and dozens of scoldings from his tutor drilled into him the proper way of putting on a suit. The Tenth had been occupied with his own preparation, clumsily but surely dressing himself for the occasion as the lady grabbed his attention - alarming the young man briefly before he heaved out a laughing sigh. "Ahh, that…" She looked like she was elated to remember.

"What brought this up?"

… …

The boy must have pinched himself about nine times so far. How couldn't he? Reality just didn't align with his self-perception. After all, here he was, walking side by side with the girl of his dreams!

"Ahh! Tsuna-kun, look!" The girl excitedly alerted, unconsciously picking her pace up towards the stand; "They're giving out samples! Let's try some!" Clearly, one of them was far more immersed in the immediate moment than the other.

To see her so happy, excitedly checking stores out like an enthusiastic child, Tsuna couldn't help but mentally tear up. "Yes, l-let's!" A thought crossed his mind. Kyoko-chan was already looking supefyingly good in her chosen attire for this date, but for her to enjoy herself this much was just precious.

…If only they were truly alone.

In this large mall, it was easy for Tsuna to single Kyoko out from the crowd, going as far as the extremely bold hand-holding attempt, shying away every time before their hands actually touched. Daring as he was today, he could even single the girl out from the numerous people in the crowd with them. What he couldn't ignore, was Lambo and I-Pin, chaotically running by them and right under their legs in their unconcerned game of tag.

Why did Mom think it was a good idea to have them join, today of all days!?

The stand was placed right outside a relatively unpacked cosmetics store; an obvious move to promote sales, even going as far as spraying some perfumes to the air in-front, drawing in a few potential customers - Kyoko among them.

"Tsuna-kun, which one do you like?" The girl asked, bending slightly forward towards the stand as she tucked a loose hair strand behind her right ear, with the boy in tow and quick to reply with a silly smile. "I don't know…"

How can he know? His favorite scent was her shampoo, which she just flared in his face with that simple hair movement. But saying that would be too embarrassing! In the spur of the moment, he mindlessly moved a hand towards one of the pinkish-colored samples; "T-This one, I guess…"

-- "Oh! Really??" Her reaction was too gleeful for a simple choice. Was that a hit?? "I really like this one too!" It was!!

Spraying some of the sample on her left wrist, she quickly took the boy's hand in as well-- "Here, Tsuna-kun, you try it too." Everything was so fast. Kyoko had her sneakily quick pace about her when she was excited, that much he learned when she went on her Appreciation Days. But to so casually grab his own hand? When he was struggling with that all morning!? -- Solid blush rose to the boy's face as soon as his hand was grasped, and with an awkward whiff to his wrist, he looked away; embarrassment and happiness oozing out of every corner on his face.

"O-Oh… It's… It's good, Kyoko-chan…"

Ever the air-head, caught up in her own stride -- it took Kyoko a short moment to realize why Tsuna reacted so timidly at the act; only acknowledging she grabbed his hand in her's after he reacted. Heat rising to her own cheeks, reddening her face all the way to her ears as right away, her mood shifted. Showcasing her own embarrassment, the girl looked down, her frame appearing smaller as she enclosed her body language unconsciously; hands held together at her skirt level.

"S-Sorry!…" She apologized - "I got a little, t-too excited…" Kyoko was an honest girl. Straight-forward and unassuming, and it reflected both in her values and manner of speech. In fact, she may have made conscious effort to make that a point. "It's just, strawberry vanilla isn't very common… But it happens that I really like this scent too…"

Damn it. Tsuna's thoughts failed to process anything more than how cute this girl was. Damn it!

In their awkward embarrassment, the clerk failed to draw their attention. They were there for sampling, weren't they…? Fortunately (or unfortunately) for the worker, the two toddlers having away their time just so happened to crash into the makeshift table, causing a ruckus as they always did - alarming both Kyoko and Tsuna far too late, as they knocked the entire stand over, spilling the contents of the samples all over themselves.

"Ahh! Lambo, I-Pin!!" "You kids…."

If there was anyone to count on to break the moment, it was those two. Snapped out of their mutual embarrassment, Tsuna and Kyoko gave each other some well-warranted, awkward laughter. "I'd feel bad getting nothing after that…" Tsuna admitted.

"I know, right…?" Seems like they were on the same page. "--Excuse me!" A single bottle of the perfume was promptly purchased as a result…

… …

"…We still have the original bottle?" Tsuna humorously asked, remembering that time.

"A lot's happened. Now it's just Tsu-kun and me," Kyoko laughed to herself, coming closer to her beloved.

For Kyoko, it was a keepsake more than anything. Vanilla-strawberry wasn't a popular scent for a perfume, especially nowadays. It was associated with childishness, desires of a young girl yet fully fledged. But at the same time, it was special for her. A small reminder of a certain date with a certain man she loved. Of course, she only wore it for very, very specific occasions. Its tendency waning over time.

And yet,

"You think we should get a new one on the way?" She asked.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah. Let's stop before dinner!"

[stargazer-sims]

Hi, how about 11, 13, 18 & 19 for the writer questions! I'm really enjoying your writing and how you develop your characters by the way :)

Thank you for the ask @simstrashkingdom ! I'm happy you're enjoying my stuff and my character developement. Your comment means a lot, and I appreciate it!

I've been having fun with this question set, and I think I'll have answered them all soon... Anyway, here you go!

__________

Is there a certain type of character you favour writing over the others?

I actually had to give this question a bit of thought. I guess I'd have to say my favourite type of character is the sort of person any reader might know in real life. While I really enjoy reading fantasy and urban fantasy, I don't enjoy writing vampires, werewolves, elves, etc. I do like writing aliens, though, but most of them turn out to be the "exterrestrial next door" as well. They may be unique in their appearance and culture, but they also have an inherent humanity (not to be confused with inherent Terran qualities).

I like writing characters with flaws that aren't immediately obvious until you get to know them, just like real people. There really aren't that many supervillains laughing evilly and giving dramatic monologues about their dark plans in real life, but there are a lot of people who can do maximum harm while either consciously or unconsciously convincing people they're actually not that bad of a person.

Likewise, real people's shortcomings aren't written large for all to see upon first meeting them, and others have to figure it out based on the infomation they have at any given time. This is how we get misconceptions by some characters about other characters. It's why other characters think Victor is stupid and Yuri is a selfish asshole who is emotionally manipulating him.

Incidentally, Yuri is selfish, but he's well aware of it and he struggles with shame and guilt about how much he asks of the people closest to him (but only the people closest to him actually know that). And Victor is neither stupid or naive when it comes to Yuri. He knows he does an extraordinary amount of things for Yuri, but he does it because he loves him and wants to do things, not because Yuri emotionally manipulates him into doing everything.

Is there one character that always fights you when you try writing them?

No, not really. No character in particular stands out for this. I understand my characters well enough that I can generally know what they won’t do, so they don’t fight me that often. From time to time, I try to get somebody to do something that doesn't work, and then they force me to work around them, but it's never consistently one character.

My most notable recent one was Nikolai, who was all, "No, I like all these people! You'll have to pick one for me." and then when I picked one, he changed his mind about it. XD

I also tried to do an AU in which Nikolai and Anya had a child together. They both HATED it.

Yuri also does NOT want to be a parent. I've thought of multiple scenarios in which he and Victor end up with a child, and Yuri is unhappy in all of them. So, obviously that's not happening.

What is one theme/storyline/idea you wish to write but never have?

I love science-fiction, and I've always felt like I should try to write a soft SF piece. It's something I've thought about, off and on, for literal years but have never gotten around to starting. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I have dozens of "vibes" and vague ideas, but nothing concrete enough to base a whole story on, and no SF-specific characters that I'm invested enough in to dedicate a story to.

What is one story idea you have in your head right now?

Really? Just one? I'm not sure I ever have just one at any given time lol.

One idea I currently have in my head is one that I've been brewing for a long time, and that's the story of Seiji & Sachiko; it's Seiji's quest to restore ghost lady Sachiko to life, and how they manage to help each other heal from their respective grief along the way.

I'm also contemplating what's next for Victor and Yuri, and at some point I want to get back to Au Ciel Étoilé and finish that up.

I'm trying to get back on track with The Art of Redemption too, because I really loved where I was going with that, but somehow lost the thread of what I was doing. I think I need to finish up some current WIPs first, so I can give that the attention it deserves.

Aside from that, I always seem to have half a dozen little vignettes or stray scenes floating around in my brain. Currently, I really want to write about Eden and Nikolai's first meeting because I think it'd be adorable, and I want to do some little fluff scenes with Nikolai and Ginger.

[terrifyingstories3]

alcohol is sort of a sore spot for raven. her mother's alcoholism was defining for her, and she's never healed from that, nor really spoken about it. she's not a huge drinker, and generally isn't a happy drinker when she does drink - though that also is largely connected to what situations actually prompt her to drink.

when everyone is celebrating unity day, raven doesn't really drink - partially out of a sense of responsibility for an injured finn and the rest of the hundred, who very much feel like kids to her despite many of them not being very much younger. if she does pick up a drink, it's more to be social than anything else. she doesn't associate drinking with fun the way a lot of people do, the whole prospect of getting drunk to laugh and play games and hang out is kind of foreign to her.

if she does get drunk, it's usually because something is very badly wrong. it doesn't happen often - she has no desire to have anything resembling her mother's relationship with alcohol, but she also isn't interested in abstaining because of her mother. her mother shouldn't get to shape how she feels about alcohol her entire life, and she isn't going to let her. she simply refuses to allow herself to consciously have fear or reluctance around alcohol simply because of her mom. she's determined to be comfortable with it out of spite.

but it doesn't stop her from watching other people drink, and there being a kind of inherent tension in that. she doesn't have a lot of patience for drunk people, and it's not unheard of for her to be in an uncharacteristically bad mood when a lot of people are drinking and the volume and chaos of that is too much for her. it's not really a conscious thing so much as raven getting irritated and not really being able to pinpoint why, and it just kind of gets written off as her being pissy because drunk people are annoying.

she doesn't really know how to deal with a partner or close loved one being drunk. there's an apprehension there that she doesn't really know how to understand or deal with. it's frustrating, because everyone is having A Good Time, why is she tense? she tends to retreat into herself a bit, fighting with this subconscious sense of dread that something is going to go wrong, and can be a bit sharp. it's not something she'd start a fight over or verbally call attention to, because what right does she have to tell anyone not to drink, but she doesn't really want to be touched or talked to, either. she has a lot of compassion for jasper out of understanding for what he's suffered and care for him, but when he's loud or boisterously drunk, there's immediate tension and vigilance, and it hits her really hard when he gets physical with the others.

it takes time for raven to be in a place where she doesn't on some level solely relate alcohol to something that makes people loud and violent and mean, and not to harbor distrust for her partners when they drink. i think she could get there, and is kind of fascinated by the people alcohol softens, by the giggly touchy friendly drunks. there's just a lot of trauma there complicating that relationship.