#I told my friend and he reacted similarly

[hillbroski]

today in my history class, we read the Haitian Declaration of Independence, a very serious and important document, and so, I was not prepared to be *jump scared* and activated like a sleeper agent by the phrase 'independence or death'

I had a visceral reaction to that like it was not good

[chaoticace2005]

Thinking about one sided Vox/Alastor has also made me think about Huskerdust, and it’s kind of interesting the way they mirror each other.

Both Vox and Angel (both people who have some kind of relationship with Valentino) push the boundaries of the guy they’re interested in. Both guys turn them down. Both times they react poorly to being turned down. The difference is how the stories begin and ended.

Husk was forced after Angel, jumped in to protect him and made the first step. He started a dialogue that Angel reciprocated in, not because Angel thought Husk would finally return his feelings, but because he was happy to finally have someone who understands him. Their relationship is then created where they care about each other. Whether or not romantic feelings are reciprocated isn’t the point, they formed genuine connection.

Then we have Alastor and Vox, where they were friends BEFORE the confession happened. Alastor must have been willing to be vulnerable to some degree to form attachments with the man, and for a while it was reciprocated, until Vox confessed and pushed. This caused Alastor to leave and then we see the fall out later with Alastor and Vox’s battles.

Huskerdust and radiostatic have the same pieces of the story, just told in very different orders:

Huskerdust: Push boundaries- needle each other- fight- one reaches out- they bond- friendship

Radiostatic: One reaches out- they bond- friendship- push boundaries- fight- needle each other

The difference between the two is not just the order but also the fact with Huskerdust they recognize they needed to stop. Husk was in no way obligated to take the first step because Angel kept pushing him, but he did, because he recognized something in him. Then with Angel’s treatment of Husk later Angel recognized he needed to stop. What Angel was doing was a persona and self-defense mechanism, yes, but that explains why he did it, not excusing it. And to change he must be able to recognize that.

With Vox though, he doesn’t recognize it. We don’t know exactly where Vox’s feelings from Alastor stem, they may not be a persona like Angel’s but they’re certainly unhealthy, and he refuses to recognize it. Focusing only on his own comfort and hurt, which Angel similarly did until he was pulled out of the loop.

I want to again reiterate the reciprocity of these feelings isn’t my point of discussion. Radiostatic isn’t “more toxic” than Huskerdust because Alastor is aroace and doesn’t reciprocate Vox’s feelings, while Husk potentially grows to have feelings for Angel. Alastor isn’t in the wrong solely because he denied Vox. That’s not the point. The point is their similar reactions to rejection and how their relationships changed from it.

In Huskerdust we have the creation of trust and forming of a bond.

In radiostatic we have the loss of trust and fracture of one.

(Literally just exponential growth vs decay)

(Also im just comparing the relationships. I am in no way saying Angel and Vox are the same person or Husk and Alastor are. Everyone has their own separate fucked up shit going on and different degrees of fucked uppedness. Husk and Angel don’t seem near as sadistic as Vox and Alastor are, I’m not equating them to “villains” in that sense. The whole point of this is the fact that their relationships have such different end results BECAUSE Husk and Angel are able to recognize their faults to a degree and WANT to change. With the other two we don’t really have that.

Angel could have continued down the whole “incel” route and told Husk to fuck off every time he tried reaching out. Too snubbed by the fact that he rejected him. Husk could have decided to leave Angel out to try and not help him at the bar. Hell, he could have watched the whole thing happen and fucking enjoyed it. But he didn’t.)

[jacks347]

So I was relistening to Sam for the billionth time and once again came across David lecturing Darlin for being dumb.

Now, this episode gives me...mixed feelings. It always has. And the point I'm about to make was actually one of the first I ever made on the Discord but y'all know me, never missing a chance to restate and overexplain.

I'm most definitely not the first person to point this out but Darlin's first interactions with Sam that get them chewed out are extremely similar to Milo's first interactions with Sweetheart. They both meet somewhere where the listener shouldn't be, they come to a tentative agreement, then fight something that gets them fucked up and was kind of stupid. The difference is, as far as we know, David never finds out about Milo's stupid mistake. And, if you ask me, a shade is far more dangerous than a couple of vampires.

Can you imagine that pack meeting? Darlin getting read the riot act, Milo sitting there knowing he did something just the same but got away with it. Do you think he called them out? Or do you think he stayed quiet, knowing he had no room to talk?

And more so, how do you think Darlin reacted when they found out the story of how Milo and Sweetheart first met? The indignant rage of knowing what he did and got away with, the memory of the burning shame they had to sit there and endure, the humiliation they felt getting lectured like a child. He did the same thing and got none of that. I always imagined that when Sweetheart told them that they had to go take a walk for a few minutes in order to keep a cool head and not explode and then refused to talk to Milo for three weeks so that the rage would calm down and they wouldn't have to suppress the urge to break his jaw whenever they spoke to him.

The point I first made was "Do you think Darlin holds a grudge against Milo for not getting the same lecturing that they did?" Maybe it's not a strong one, but it's there.

It's interesting how the same event characterizes people differently. In Darlin's case, we see them as reckless and stubborn, someone acting out without a plan. In Milo's case, we see him as strong and protective, wanting to help keep someone safe. How can the same even paint one character as a hero and one as a villain when they did the same thing?

Because of connotation, my friends.

Milo has been painted as the smart-mouthed but fiercely loyal and protective friend, so we (including the rest of the pack) want to see his actions in the same light. Darlin has been painted as a brooding, emotional outcast, someone who acts rashly but with good intentions, so we see their actions similarly. But that's not fair. It's not fair to Darlin, who just wanted to protect their friends, and it’s not fair to Milo, who needs to be reminded that him throwing himself in the problem headfirst in life or death situations isn't the solution.

In conclusion, Milo deserves to have his little excursion with Sweetheart revealed and be reprimanded out of respect for Darlin cause that shit ain't right and it bothers me.

(Also, one more thing. In Sam's first healing audio after the double vampire fight he asks why Darlin wouldn't just tell a healer to shut up and heal them when they started asking questions. But in reality, the healer that Darlin would've gone to while running on instincts probably would've been Marie and yeahhhh I'd like to see anyone tell that woman to shut up and do something. Don't fuck with Mama Greer.)

[frozenjokes]

An Angel, Demon, Ghost, and Imaginary Friend Walk Into A Bar Mumbo Jumbo's House

All in all, it was not a surprise for Mumbo to walk down the thin steps of his ancient home in the mornings to find someone else waiting for him, but for forty-four years, that entity had been called Skizz, Mumbo’s self proclaimed guardian angel. Today, there was a woman lounging on the sofa, her flaming curls falling over the back, flashing with a soft silver sheen as she inclined her head, drinking from a similarly shiny mug.

She did not look back when a short gasp punched its way from Mumbo’s throat, nor did she notice or care when he sharply stopped his descent.

You’d think after decades of seeing through to other planes of existence, Mumbo would stop startling at the presence of new visitors, but you would be wrong. Always scary, every time. Though, Mumbo hadn’t ever seen a second angel without a human companion; oh god, was his house actually being burglarized?

Mumbo listened. Didn’t hear anything.

“Hello?” The angel didn’t react. Most likely, they just weren’t aware Mumbo was acknowledging them. “Hi, hello, I’m talking to you. The angel. I can see you. Do not be afraid or- haha-“ Mumbo’s laugh was strained as the angel startled, beverage sloshing in the mug as they whipped around, eyes wide.

“Hi- I know,” Mumbo tried, endlessly awkward despite the number of times he’d introduced himself like this, “Seeing spirits isn’t a pleasant experience for me either most of the time, I’m sure we both wish this wasn’t happening, but I just want to know who you’re looking after? Not someone in my house, hopefully?”

“Christ. Why wasn’t this in your file.”

“Yeah… Wait, I have a file?”

“Not a particularly useful one. Shit, this was supposed to be an easy case.” The angel rubbed their forehead with splayed fingers. “No one told me this could happen. What the hell.”

Mumbo rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, if it helps, I’m not a difficult guy to look after. Only go into work once or twice a week; the rest of my time I spend at home. It’s a dream job, I’m sure. I’m healthy, too, though I could probably do to get some more exercise.. Does this mean Skizz is gone? On vacation? Do guardian angels get vacations?”

“I don’t know a Skizz. I sure wish I could have talked to them before taking you up.”

Mumbo tried unsuccessfully to stop having his feelings hurt, but the twist of grief in his stomach was making him a little more emotional; what had happened to Skizz? He hadn’t mentioned he was retiring or going away; could angels die? Could they get hurt? Mumbo was not close with his guardian angel; Skizz was purposefully distant, he specifically did not interfere in Mumbo’s life as part of some guardian angel ethical code that prohibited heavy human reliance, but Skizz could not keep his distance when Mumbo was truly upset, and when he needed a shoulder to cry on, well.. In the metaphorical sense, Skizz was that shoulder. Skizz was a cheerleader on Mumbo’s best days, and a friend on his worst, regardless of the fact that they rarely talked and the large chunks of time where Skizz was nowhere to be found. Skizz was invested in Mumbo’s life. Like a guardian, Skizz truly loved him. 

Maybe there was no reason to spiral, yet. No need to jump to the worst case, but—

Who knew. Maybe guardian angel changes were a regular, normal occurrence. Mumbo had had a different angel when he was really little, but too young to remember. Mumbo just.. didn’t think Skizz would go without a goodbye. Maybe he didn’t have a choice.

This was stupid. For all Mumbo knew, Skizz would be back tomorrow.

“What’s your name?” Mumbo hated the way his voice croaked. 

The angel narrowed her eyes. Shook her head. Turned away. “Cleo.” They groaned. “Gotta consult management about this..”

Tears pricked the edges of Mumbo’s eyes, a surge of anger almost pushing them over the ridge. Was she hearing herself? Did she even care!? But he couldn’t find the words to speak, and he certainly didn’t want Cleo to see him cry, so he stomped back up the stairs, glancing back only once to see that they weren’t looking at all.

Mumbo didn’t have an abundance of friends, he was the anxious sort, and just the thought of reaching out to acquaintances at work was enough to make his stomach twist, so this..

Skizz had maintained they weren’t friends. They couldn’t be friends, because Skizz was a guardian, he was here to look out for Mumbo, nothing more.

But it’s hard to be completely disconnected from a man you spend twenty four hours a day, seven days a week Knowing They Exist, knowing they’re there, knowing they care. A hand to hold, if Mumbo needed it. That meant something. They couldn’t— whoever this management was couldn’t just take Skizz away! Not to mention, replace him with— with— an ice cube! No, that’s stupid.. A really! Cool breeze!! Fucking hell, Mumbo— Someone! Cold! Someone who didn’t even pretend to care! Mumbo didn’t want a guardian angel who didn’t care! How common was this? Was there someone he could call?

“Hey, man.”

Mumbo screamed, looked up and screamed again, scrambling against the far wall of his bedroom while the ghost of an older man in his bed looked on mildly.

“Yoo, geez, man, come on, you’re fine. I’m not vengeful or anything— well, I have a bone or two to pick, but not with you.” The ghost lounged on Mumbo’s bed, starfishing until he took up the entire surface. “Yeah, as much as I’d love to blame you, I think I’ve experienced firsthand how shit guardian angels can be. I mean, if mine was doing their job, you wouldn’t be here! Because I’d be alive. Get it?” The ghost lifted his head, just a touch awkward, like he was genuinely checking in. 

Mumbo gaped, the gears in his head not turning fast enough. “..Did.. Did you die here?”

“In my house? No. I was murdered just down the street, dumped in the river. Never found. Pretty crazy, honestly; didn’t even happen that long ago! I think. Depends on how long I’ve been stuck in that box.”

“Wh- What!?”

“Dude, I’m dead, is it really a huge surprise?”

Mumbo fiddled with his hands, fingers in knots at his waist, “I-I don’t know. No one told me the old owner of the house just went missing.”

“Hey. This is still my house.” The ghost sat up, large arms crossed. He was a big guy, intimidating, if Mumbo was being perfectly honest, though the odd gown he was wearing took away from that just a tad. Wait, that was a lab coat, god, he was fucking stupid sometimes.

“I.. Well I suppose, but.. I don’t know. Do you need help moving on? What’s your name? Do you want me to report your body, or..”

“Nah.” The ghost shrugged, laying back down. “I’m good. You can call me Cub.”

“You’re.. good.”

“I’m good.”

“Well.. alright..” Mumbo pursed his lips, twiddling his thumbs as he waited for Cub to move or do anything.. Mumbo was still kind of intent on having his cry, but he didn’t particularly want spectators.. “Are you gonna.. go somewhere else?”

Cub looked up, and for the first time Mumbo caught a slight strain to his expression. “This is my room.”

“Well, technically it’s my room now.. that’s my bed..”

“It’s not your room, this is my house and I didn’t give anyone permission to sell it because I’m dead, so.”

“Cub, I understand you’re upset, but—“

“I’m not upset.” Indeed, Cub did not look very upset. He didn’t look pleased, but he hadn’t looked that way since the start of this encounter, so it seemed just to be his resting unhappiness. “I live here.”

“I bought this place ten years ago, Cub. You can stay, of course, I just— I really want some—“

“Ten years!?” Cub’s eyes blew right open, “Naaaah, dude, that’s crazy, man, we gotta talk to your guardian angel. That shit’s not okay. He put me in a box for ten years.”

“That’s— really? I don’t think Skizz would— He’s not even here!”

Cub snorted. “He’s not here? Where is he then? Come on, let’s go find him, I’ve got some words to say.” Cub hopped off Mumbo’s bed, crossing the room and making an aggressive grab for Mumbo’s wrist, though when Cub’s hand phased right through him, he didn’t stop walking. Mumbo felt compelled to follow regardless, confusion co-mingling with a slight distress at what Skizz had apparently done to this poor ghost.

The two of them didn’t get past the landing before Cleo shrieked.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!?”

An unassuming man in a wheelchair sat at the bottom of the stairs, and quite honestly, Mumbo didn’t know what he was either. Similar to Cleo and unlike Cub, there was color in his skin, but the colors were bright, saturated, and a little difficult to look at. If Cleo had a silvery sheen, the stranger was almost holographic.

“Well gee, I like you better than the other guy already!” The stranger grinned at a bristling Cleo, her fear starting to put Mumbo on edge. “Now, we aren’t going to have any problems are we? I know you all are the clingy sort, but I won’t be caught off guard again.” The stranger’s arm distorted, and Mumbo had to squint as light and phase shifting crackled at it stretching, tapping a horrified Cleo right on the nose. “Doink!”

“Dude, is that another angel? You didn’t tell me you had two.” Cub was entirely unphased, if not irritated at Mumbo for ‘withholding’ this information, while Mumbo struggled to slow his heart as the stranger turned around. 

Time seemed to slow, then stop. Mumbo knew who that was, just as well as he remembered drawing on his face with marker, delighted when the marks stayed, the other grinning in turn. They were still there, the marks. Faded, whitened, stretched with growth, but there. Scar had promised he’d keep them forever. 

“Look at you,” Scar’s voice was hardly more than a whisper, eyes wide, awed. “You’re so.. God, I’ve missed so much, haven’t I. I’m sorry. I wanted to stay.”

“Wh— I— How do you mean, Scar? I— Gosh, you’ve gone and grown up too, haven’t you. I hardly— I didn’t think imaginary friends could exist this long, goodness me. I thought you’d disappeared! What— How did you end up in the chair!?”

“Is that what he told you,” Scar mumbled, eyes dark, but the moment faded, Scar’s smile returning. It didn’t reach his eyes. “I suppose I was a little too real. I was in the way. But I’m back, and even better, Skizz is gone!”

“Woot woot!” Cub threw up his arms, startling Mumbo who had momentarily forgotten he was there. 

“Oh!” Scar inclined his head, straining to sit up in his wheelchair. His body accommodated him, stretching until he could see past Mumbo. “Who’s that? A ghost?”

“There’s more!?” Cleo held fistfuls of their own hair, but no one else seemed to care.

“Hey, were you threatening the new guy?” Cub said, phasing through the banister and floating to the ground floor, “Can I help? Is Skizz actually gone?”

“No you can’t help!” Cleo hissed, whipping some phone-esc device from their pocket and growling when it didn’t seem to work. “What the hell do I do with ghosts? I’ve never exorcised a ghost before!”

“And you’re not gonna.” Cub huffed, poking Cleo hard in the chest. “This is my house, I bought the damn thing, and the only reason the bank gave it away is ‘cause I died. It’s mine.”

“Yeah!” Scar cheered, throwing up his arms, “This guy has every right to be here as me!”

“You do not have a right to be here!! Imaginary friends are not meant to grow up!! How is this even possible!?”

“Uh, obviously Mumbo wants me here,” Scar leaned so far back in his chair that Mumbo was certain he was going to fall out of it until he remembered Scar’s body kinda just did whatever it wanted. After a moment of staring, Mumbo realized Scar was waiting for his input.

“Uh— Yeah! And— And Cub can stay too, but I’d rather he not sleep in my room..”

“No can do, that’s my room, sorry, sorry,” Cub said, but Scar was already talking over him.

“Yay! Incredible news, incredible, incredible, and remember, if you try anything, I promise you that you’ll never see the light of heaven or hell, but be suspended eternally in a darkness of my own creation. Capiche?”

“Is it quiet in your darkness prison?” Cleo deadpanned, and Scar laughed, loud and boisterous.

“Look at you! Yeah, I like you loads better.” Scar sighed, wiping a faux tear from an eye, “And no. It’s not quiet.”

Cleo groaned, trudging back to their place on Mumbo’s couch.

Scar seemed pleased, turning to chat with Cub, and a few minutes of listening to them had Mumbo realizing he wasn’t hearing anything at all, and actually he couldn’t breathe either, the world was shifting under his feet and he wasn’t ready, oh god, he wasn’t fucking ready for this. 

Scar called his name as Mumbo stumbled back and away, but he could not find the air to excuse himself.

He turned off the lights. Laid in bed. He feared Cub, so he wrapped a blanket around his head and eyes, burying himself in the pressure. If anyone showed up unannounced, Mumbo would never know. He didn’t want to know. He wanted to be alone. He wanted Skizz.

The darkness eased his throbbing head. The silence calmed his racing heart. But as Mumbo’s thoughts slowed, new anxieties bullied themselves in, and the peace he was chasing was clearly not going to find him. Fuck.

It took him a few minutes to find the courage to remove his blindfold. He didn’t want to know. He didn’t want to know. 

Cub was still absent. As was Cleo. And Mumbo was pretty sure Scar couldn’t get up the stairs.. equally certain he’d hear Scar if he tried.

He released a long, shaky breath. Fled to the shower.

Nothing could steal his racing thoughts like a steady stream of warm water, cupping his brain in its fingers and letting anything that fell through the cracks go. Mumbo could close his eyes. When his legs were too shaky to hold his weight, he could sit. It was better. If he cried, no one had to know. 

Unless they did know. Famously, walls were not an obstacle for entities on other planes, and Cub had already demonstrated negative respect for Mumbo’s privacy. Maybe that was warranted. If this was Cub’s house, and Skizz really had done something horrible—

Mumbo scrambled out of the shower, slipping stupidly on the tile in his frenzy not to be seen. He managed to catch himself on the least sturdy object in the room, an antique full length mirror with a stand that wobbled no matter how often Mumbo fiddled with it, but luckily this stint of panic did not end up with Mumbo sprawled naked over a blanket of shattered glass. That was nice.

Out of habit, he spoke to himself, a ritual suggested by his therapist that had sounded so stupid at the time, but if no one else was going to tell Mumbo things were going to be okay, then he’d have to do it himself.

“Everything’s fine. This is good. This is fine. Oh god.”

His reflection looked puzzled, and some sort of deep seeded instinct made Mumbo incline himself to copy it. 

“Well that’s not very convincing.”

Mumbo screamed, flailing until he fell flat on his ass, backpedaling hard until his back slammed against the opposite windowsill. His pained hiss mixed with a gurgled whine as his reflection remained intact, just standing there, a baffled look painting his mirrored face.

“You.. Can hear me..?” Mumbo’s own voice spoke at him, and his shrinking back must have been answer enough, his reflection looking at its own hands in revenant wonder before pushing them to the mirror’s surface, then through. The spirit that fell out of Mumbo’s mirror looked nothing like him, clad in red, comfortable looking clothes with clawed hands and feet. Mumbo had never seen a spirit that looked like this before, colored near opposite to Scar, dull and dreary, but given the small, leathery wings and swishing, pointed tail, Mumbo thought he might be able to take an educated guess on what this was.

Mumbo dove for his towel. The demon looked on in some distress, but it couldn’t be anywhere near as mindfucked as Mumbo felt.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” it tried, almost friendly, but no amount of kindness was going to make whatever this was any less terrifying. “I— Wow! You know, I’ve always wanted to meet you properly! I can’t believe— I mean I just can’t believe I’m finally free! Well—“ The demon gave the mirror a dirty look. “Not quite. Hey, Mumbo, have you ever considered breaking that thing? Silly old mirror, it’s quite ugly, isn’t it, makes you want to put a nice hole through it with your fist, don’tcha think?”

“My— Not my mirror..” Mumbo whimpered, to which the demon looked over him with pity.

“You like it, don’t you.. ugh. Sentimental freak. That’s okay! I can fix you.”

“Wh— What-!?”

“On a scale of one to ten, how do you feel about senseless bloodshed?”

“Oh god, I just want to get dressed, please.”

The demon rolled its eyes. “As if I haven’t seen your bare ass too many times to count, come on, Mumbo, we’re friends! We’ve seen things together, and we’re very nice to each other. You’ve always been good to me.”

“I wasn’t talking to you!”

It scoffed, “Sure, buddy, but you were looking me in the eyes!”

“I— Just— Get out of my bathroom!! Let me put some damn clothes on, for goodness’s fucking sake!!”

The demon’s face scrunched, mild offense or maybe distaste, like Mumbo’s words were bitter on its tongue. “That’s new. I don’t like it when you’re mean to me. Fine, I’ll wait outside, but we’re not done here.” It left without another word, looking over its shoulder about five times before exiting into Mumbo’s bedroom. Mumbo stared after it, just to make sure it was gone, hit his own forehead a few times in rapid succession, bit his forearm to keep from screaming, then got dressed.

“Who the fuck are you?” The demon’s judgmental voice was clear through Mumbo’s open bathroom door, Cub’s monotone just as recognizable.

“This is my house.”

“No it’s not, Mumbo lives here.”

“Mumbo lives in my house. He can stay.”

“Well this is Mumbo’s room, isn’t it? I’ve seen it before he moved the mirror to the bathroom, which I always thought was an odd choice. Do you not have enough mirrors in the bathroom? Why are you in Mumbo’s room?”

“This is my room. I had it before Mumbo had it. This was twenty years before I was murdered. Ten years have passed since then, apparently.”

“That’s stupid. If you’re dead, this isn’t your house. He bought it! I know, I was there when he moved in! I was in a box for ages! He really likes me, ghost, every morning he says something nice to me.”

“Don’t call me that, I’m Cub. And I don’t care.”

“Well I’m Grian, and I don’t like your fucking attitude—“

“Oh my god.” Mumbo practically fell out of the bathroom, clothes rumpled and eyes probably bloodshot. “Stop. Just stop. I need— I need a break. I need to eat something, shit.”

“Oh, forgot humans did that,” Grian said, all hostility melting away. A thoughtful look crossed its face as Mumbo shambled past it. 

“You would.” Cub mumbled, which relit the fire. Mumbo put his fingers in his ears.

Like a puppy, Scar was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. “Oh! Hi, Mumbo! I’m glad you’re back! Have you considered removing your horrible spiral staircase for, say, an elevator?”

Mumbo pinched his brow, hoping his Abominable Aura would spook Scar off, but the plainest of sourest of moods had zero effect on Scar, who started trailing Mumbo to the kitchen.

“I can’t afford an elevator.”

“Well, well, I’ve heard elevators are the next big thing, Mumbo! You should consider investing, drastically inflating the resale value of your lovely home! Everyone wants an elevator these days, you’ll have buyers lining up at the door for prices double your asking! Rumor has it, there’s a spirit right here in this very home that’s looking to buy..”

Mumbo did not have the strength to reply, but Scar didn’t seem to mind, talking Mumbo through every solitary thought that entered his brain while Mumbo microwaved and ate his stale muffin, wondering how hard he’d have to smash his face into the marble island to turn off the part of his brain that processed noise.

And then something Snapped, and without conscious input Mumbo had a pot and a wooden spoon and was mashing them together, hard enough to splinter the wood, but he just did not care.

Scar must have thought this was fun, because he had his own set of noisemakers, though Mumbo did not know or care where Scar got them, he just needed all new residents of his home here.

Cleo was first, rubbing one of their eyes and looking just about as sour as Mumbo had felt thirty or so minutes before he had completely lost it.

“What and why,” she strained over the noise, but not everyone was here, and Mumbo did not stop.

Grian was next, poking its head around the corner with a distinct curiosity, while Cub followed a few seconds later, looking mild if not slightly annoyed.

“Yay!” Scar cheered, sensing the goal had been reached, to which Mumbo bluntly told him to shut it. “Oh okay.” Scar smiled, unphased.

“If all of you are planning on sticking around, I have a few things to say.”

Cleo crossed their arms, opening their mouth to speak, but the glare Mumbo threw them must have been nuclear enough to keep them quiet. Somehow, that wasn’t good enough.

“No!” Mumbo threw up his hands, and for the first time Scar seemed to sense that Mumbo was upset, backing up a pace. “No, let’s hear it, Cleo, what were you going to say?”

Cleo crinkled her nose, irritation returning. “If you want me gone so badly, you’ll have to talk to my parole officer.” 

Mumbo gaped, stunned, and Cleo smirked. That snapped him back.

“You are going to be nice to me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! I am! And if you can’t just like being here, you’re going to pretend, you aren’t going to tell me how much you don’t care, because I’m processing a pretty major loss and I don’t want to be reminded of how much I’m missing every time I see you!”

“Who’d you lose?” Scar cocked his head, to which Mumbo waved him away a little more frantically than necessary.

“We will talk later— hey!” Mumbo turned on Cleo when he saw their mouth open, “I’m not done! If keeping out of sight is what you have to do to keep from making me feel stupid and worthless, then do that. Don’t talk to me! Don’t look at me! I feel like enough of a burden on a daily basis, I don’t need to know I’m a burden on my fucking guardian angel!”

Cleo curled her lip, but whatever she meant to say, she dropped the thought with scowl. “You won’t see me then. But if you come downstairs and see me sleeping on the couch or whatever, that’s not my problem.”

Mumbo blinked, disarmed. “Can guardian angels sleep?”

Cleo stared. She stared for a long time. “Why. Why are you asking me this. Can guardian angels sleep!?”

“I don’t know.. I’d never seen Skizz asleep. He implied he didn’t; I just thought dead people didn’t really do that.”

“I’m not dead!” Three of the four spirits in the room near-shouted, to which Mumbo shrunk back before he realized he was the one being assertive here. Cub only shrugged. Mumbo.. didn’t want to deal with him right now, so he moved on to Scar.

“Scar, you’re great, I really want to catch up and understand— I don’t know, understand what happened, why you’re here, but right now I am overwhelmed, and I need space. Please find something else to do that isn’t talking to me today.”

Scar went from thrilled to be being addressed, to a little put out, which made Mumbo feel all sorts of terrible (especially for fantasizing about ripped his tongue out fifteen minutes ago), but he had to soldier on. 

Cub had an eyebrow raised, apparently waiting for his turn, and Mumbo steeled himself, certain Cub could smell weakness.

“Cub.” his voice still strained, but Mumbo squeezed his eyes shut and tried his best, “I understand that you’re dead and you lived here before me and that you didn’t have anyone to will your house to, but I also live here now, and I need my own space. I can’t just move out of my room because a ghost I didn’t know about popped back into existence. I need privacy. Actually, to that point, all of you are banned from my room. Don’t go in there. Ever.”

Mumbo tried very hard to ignore the rapid irritation growing on Cub’s face, turning instead to Grian’s raised hand.

“Yes, is that a question?”

“What if you live in a mirror and the mirror is in your room. Does the bathroom count as your room.”

“Yes, the bathroom counts as my room. I will move the mirror.”

“Oooorrrrr,” Grian sang, letting itself float as it flipped onto its back. “You could just break it and I’d be out of your hair! Free! Unleashed back onto the world!”

“Tempting, honestly.”

“What!?” Mumbo startled when Grian threw up its clawed hands in grave offense. “You don’t want me around!? Mumbo, we’re soulbound! Just say you want to cleave away my chest and rip out my heart, why don’t you!”

“Do you want me to break your mirror or not!?”

“Obviously I want you to break the mirror! But you’re not really considering moving it.. are you..?”

“Well I don’t want to break it! I like that mirror! It looks very nice in my home! And— Yes I’m moving it!” Mumbo had a feeling this argument would have gone on until he gained the ability to reach through planes and shake Grian, but he was distracted when Cub started to float away.

“Hey— Wait, Cub, I wasn’t done. I had this idea, we can turn the guest room into your own, I can decorate it however you want, I really am sorry you were murdered and your house was repossessed, but I had no way of knowing, and I want to compromise—“

“I’m going to my room.” Cub’s voice was hard, and he did not look back as he floated through the kitchen wall.

Mumbo ran through the room to catch him before he reached the stairs, but Cub did not slow down, looking forward with definite purpose. Mumbo could do nothing but stare helplessly up at the second floor.

“Are you not going to do anything about this, guardian angel?” Mumbo heard Grian ask, a vindictive edge to his tone, but it must have sensed that Cleo wasn’t, in fact, going to act, turning hostile. “What, seriously? Isn’t that all you’re good for?”

“I’ll be on my way,” Cleo mumbled, presumably floating away. Grian must have given chase, voice growing distant.

Mumbo heard the rumble of Scar’s wheelchair, but when he turned, Scar looked heart-wrenchingly uncertain, keeping his distance across the room. Mumbo sighed. “You’re fine..” He felt less scum of the Earth when Scar brightened, though it didn’t last.

“I wish I could help you.”

Mumbo pursed his lips. “I’ve just had a hard day. I’m sorry.”

Scar quieted. It was a long, horrible quiet, so unlike everything Mumbo remembered of Scar, albeit, very little. “I thought.. you might be excited to see me.”

Mumbo’s brow furrowed, the blow as good as physical, winding, so damn sad. What could he say to that? To the friend he’d made up when he was little; nearly forty years had passed since then, Mumbo hardly remembered the things he’d done with Scar, and everything was happening so fast, so at the same time, how was Mumbo even supposed to process it all. Whatever had happened to Scar, he clearly hadn’t died! Had Scar really spent all that time in limbo thinking about him?

“I wish.. I'm sorry. I am excited to see you, but I’m also confused and overwhelmed and anxious and hurt by the Everything Else. And I’m not— I’m not old, not that old, but it’s been such a long time, and I didn’t think you were real. I didn’t know. Skizz told me.. He told me at my age imaginary friends will disappear, that you knew I was in school, that you wanted me to make real friends my age, and I just.. I mean, he was like a second dad to me. You being here and Skizz being gone is— I really don’t like what that means! For you, for Cub, even. Skizz has been here for half of my life, he’s always been here, and now he’s just gone without a trace and now I think he might’ve done something awful—“ Mumbo cried, he didn't mean to cry, but then he was sobbing, ugly, dribbling tears and snot and when Scar reached for his hand, didn’t even hesitate, it felt like Skizz, and Mumbo broke all over again.

“I didn’t realize how safe I felt, how much it meant to have someone to fall back on until he was gone, just replaced without a word by someone who doesn’t even care. Someone who’s here as a punishment! What— What kind of system is that! Why me, why not someone who wouldn’t even know there was a change!”

Scar mumbled something, but Mumbo didn’t hear him over his own sobbing. “What?”

“I’ll keep you safe.” Conviction. Deathly serious. For the first time, Mumbo really processed his hand in Scar’s, touching; the only spirit he’d thought was powerful enough to pass over planes of existence for this long were angels. Mumbo felt.. He believed him.

“Can I hug you?”

Scar smiled, soft, acutely genuine. “Of course.”

A miracle that something could be so awkward and so beautiful, Mumbo having to bend over at an odd angle, but Scar enveloped him wholly, like nothing else mattered, like he didn’t even care. He was warm, alive, indisputably real and deeply safe. In many ways, that was horrifying. But Mumbo couldn’t think about that now; he didn’t think Scar would want him to either.

The screaming a little bit ruined the moment.

Grian trotting down the stairs on all fours with Cub’s ankle in its mouth created.. more questions, but for all his flailing, Cub could not break free, somehow managing to look like he was bumping his head on every step down; gosh, Mumbo did not know how other-planely physics worked.

On the ground floor, Grian gave Mumbo a curt thumbs up, before taking its quarry directly through the wall and into the front yard, where all screaming was muffled significantly. Well then.

“Huh.” Scar said, and Mumbo had to push away a wave of disgust when he noticed how Scar’s neck had elongated horrifically to see over Mumbo’s shoulder. “I’ll go talk to them, I think. Unless you want me to stay?”

“Uhm,” Mumbo felt awkward pulling away, rubbing the back of his own neck to massage out the discomfort. “You can do that.”

Scar grinned. “Take a nap, buddy! You deserve it, cry-naps are the best!” He wheeled away, and Mumbo almost rushed to open the front door to avoid an explosive collision before Scar went right through it. Right.

“I’ll do that..” Mumbo swallowed hard. He got the sense he had at least an hour of peace.. Yeah. Nap sounded very good, actually.

[oops-all-concrete]

Okay, BG3 fandom, I have had sweet thoughts and would like to share them; Companions reacting to Tavs hiding an injury until they couldn't keep it to themselves anymore/the companions put together that they're hurting. (Companions aren't romanced, but GETTING there)

Tooth rotting fluff in a text wall under the cut, enjoy

Lae'zel -

Lae'zel is annoyed, but in the "Don't fight me when I'm trying to love you without saying it" kind of way. She'll say "This isn't battle strategic, there is no advantage this offers us" but the whole camp knows what she means while she aggressively dresses your wound and tells you to stop whining. If Tav wakes up in the middle of the night to find her guarding their tent like a loyal dog, they didn't see anything as far as she cares.

Shadowheart -

Similarly to Lae'zel, Shadowheart is a little annoyed, but Shadowheart can admit she's worried. "You should have told me. I'd have taken care of this immediately" She tells Tav, healing the wound with a small prayer. She makes them promise to say something in the future, even if only for her sake. "This journey has been treacherous. I'd like the one good thing that's come of it to survive with me"

Wyll -

"Promise me you're not going to make a habit of that" He insists, dressing your wounds with a tense expression. "I'd like you to flourish at my side. And I can't be certain you're doing that when you hide things like this." He admits, apparent worry in his voice, gentle movements, a warning for every touch. He's a hard man to feel uncomfortable around. Tav can practically feel the care radiating off him with every patient smile.

Karlach -

She gives Tav the least flack for keeping it to yourself. "Woah soldier, let's take a break and look at that, yeah?" She suggests, keeping the worry out of her voice quite well. She knows they're hiding it for a reason and tries not to make them feel worse for failing to hide it. She just tries to make Tav as comfortable as possible so they might feel at ease enough to tell her next time.

Gale -

The man basically mothers Tav through the healing process. Insists they're off their feet, won't budge on Tav resting and cleans their wounds and changes bandages around the clock. "As much peril as we are in every day, I'd like if you kept even the smaller injuries out in the open." He explains one night. "As small as any harm seems when compared to impending ilithid doom, it's still harm. Much more, it's harm we can fix. Harm I'd like to fix. Ah- assuming you'll let me"

Astarion -

Sounds inconvenienced, will not sit still while you're unwell. He'll hang around and poke fun but won't let them get up for anything. "I mean, how have you even managed that" he says, handing Tav fresh water. "I know you're clumsy, but surely you could have avoided that" he chuckles, handing you another book to draw in/read. "I'll remember this next time you say you have an idea" He rolls his eyes cutting up food and feeding them personally. Anyone asks? "Well, I can't just let them suffer can I? They'll never shut up"

Bonus! (Our older folks)

Halsin -

"That looks painful...you needn't be in pain you know, I can carry you quite easily" He offers. If Tav truly doesn't want help, he can't/won't make them, but he will hover and puppy-dog-eyes at them until they cave. The man will let Tav use him for warmth in the night while they recover and carry them to the pond to bathe as well. Really, Tav could ask anything of him, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

Jaheira -

"I don't even send Harpers out in that condition if I can help it. You'll sit and relax, yes?" She says. Not asks, because she's not asking. "I mean, what if this got infected, or started swelling? Would you just wait for death like a bird falling out of the sky?" She rolls her eyes playfully. She doesn't hesitate to ask for help on Tavs behalf either. "If they'd judge you for being hurt, they're not worthy allies...if they'd judge you for suffering in silence however, that makes them good friends"

Minsc -

"Boo says this should take care of your battle scars. You'll take it yes? When a hamster gives advice, it's bad luck not to take it" he smiles handing Tav whatever potion variant needed. He's overall jovial about it, casual and moves on quickly. Wether that's out of courtesy for Tavs pride or simply because he's a kind man with a hollow head, nobody can truly say.

Hope you enjoyed <3 (and Happy Holidays)

[akutasoda]

omg, i really like your headcanons. Have you seen that TikTok trend when the boyfriend kisses his gf but she cleans the part where he kissed? May i request that with chuuya, kunikida and tecchou

(I’m really sorry for my bad English :’))

have it your way

synopsis - from them just wanting to show affection to you teasing them, how do they react?

includes - kunikida, chuuya, tecchou

warnings - gn!reader, fluff, teasing, slight misunderstandings, wc - 667

a/n: ty anon! i myself have not seen it so i asked a friend and they told me about it, so if its slightly off sorry! no need to apologise, its fine!

doppo kunikida ★↷

↪ a small part of you felt slightly guilty about what you had planned to do given the next opportunity to do it, but you had ultimately decided to do it just to test out his reaction.

↪you two had planned to have a small date at home. he had offered to make the dinner that night, and as he placed the meal infront of you he had given you a quick kiss and watched as you smiled at him before wiping it off.

↪what? why would you do that? had he done something wrong? you sat in silence for a while until he spoke up and asked if anything was wrong. maybe you should of expected that and immediately felt bad, explaining how it was just a joke to see what he would do.

↪now he understood. he would get you back later. and get you back later he did. as you two were finishing dishes he walked behind you circling his arms around your waist and pressing kisses onto your cheeks. you couldn't help but smile and slightly giggle as he kept kissing you over and over.

chuuya nakahara ★↷

↪it was a more than normal evening when you had decided given the opportunity you would be a slight tease to your lover. just to see how he would react.

↪everything was going fine, the routine you two had built was going smoothly. he had returned frim his work, you greeting him with a hug and when you two pulled away he pressed a kiss to your cheek which you wiped away. maybe he was seeing things?

↪he changed clothes and joined you on the couch, as you idly watched whatever seemed to peak your interest. he sat next to you and to see if he was just imagining things earlier, pressed another kiss to your cheek. and yet again you smiled at him before wiping it away. he tried again and yet again was met with the same result.

↪now he would ask if something was wrong or if he did something, but he saw a smile smirk break your facade. oh. you were teasing him. he smirked to himself as he turned to properly face you. you stared back at him very confused to what he was doing but that was quickly answered when he started pressing more and more kisses to your face.

↪he pulled away from you, smirking, and slowly pulled your hand up to his face before pressing a final kiss to it. your face was now burning from embarrassment. seems he had teased you more than you had teased him.

tecchou suehiro ★↷

↪curiosity got the best of you. and you had decided to be a tease to your boyfriend upon your next opportunity. you just couldn't help but wonder what would he do?

↪similarly, he had gotten back from work to originally find you getting up from the couch to grab a drink from the kitchen. you smiled at him and smiled back. a short while after he had returned from changing into something a bit less uniform and joined you in the kitchen.

↪you had passed him a drink and he took it and gave you a quick kiss. but watched in confusion as you wiped it off before going back to what you were doing. now he resembled somewhat of a kicked puppy.

↪had he done something to upset you? or was he just imagining it? maybe you just needed some space, so he left to go sit on the couch. you had felt slightly bad about it, he looked quite upset. so to avoid any misconceptions you quickly finished what you were doing and joined him on the couch.

↪sat next to him, you gave him a quick peck on the cheek and now he was even more confused. you had to explain to him that it was just a joke to see his reaction, now he understood. hmm what a fun way to get back at you eventually.

[bleue-flora]

You're so right it's so rude of me to forget about Punz

I am sadly sick with silly idea disease right now so I'm spinning the kids getting on the dsmp in my head rn

(First of all, C!Dream immediately glaring at C!Techno and C!Phil when he realizes that you just told the kids everything????)

(He suddenly understands how C!Tommy got like that a lot more)

I imagine the kids would extra love C!Dream (and probably C!Techno but he's terrible with kids and they know from their own Techno that he gets overwhelmed by people quickly) because he has a big cool cape they can hide under. P!Tommy says he looks like batman

C!Dream builds carves a quick room for nap time in a mountain and when someone goes to check on them they find C!Dream passed out and several kids napping under his cape like baby chicks hiding under their mom's wings

(Okay, also silly ideas: P!Punz pointing at C!Dream super excited because his best friend is gonna be the coolest person in the world, P!Sam trying to put on a brave face and protect C!Dream from other adults when he sees he's uncomfortable, any time any adult gets too angry or shouty the kids will side eye them an ask if they need nap time)

Okay that's it *explodes*

P!Punz being protective of c!Dream for some reason is so funny to me. I imagine p!Dream, p!Punz and p!Sam watch all the superhero movies and stuff including The Avengers and Arrow. So even though they were too young to see c!Dream when he was bleeding out into the table, they still put together a rough picture of what happened (lots of scars like Oliver Queen -> torture). But in general I imagine all kids younger than 13 (ya know PG13 lol) weren’t allowed to see c!Dream until he was properly healed and such, so they didn’t get the download on what happened. C!Dream would still be glaring at c!Phil and c!Techno because they let some of the kids see him so vulnerable and more or less told them everything.

Yeah c!Techno is not good with kids but they think his (backup cape - c!Dream refuses to return the one he left in prison something about finders keepers… damn children encouraging him to use kid logic…) cape and pig appearance is so cool. One afternoon Dream indulges the kids and builds a little bat cave in the mountain next to Ranboo’s house. It’s hard work though and eventually he gets tired and in need of a “batnap” forcing some of the younger ones to join him, they snuggle under the warm cape a little closer than is comfortable for Dream but he falls asleep anyways… it’s the first sleep he’s had in ages without a single nightmare. C!Phil and c!Techno make sure no one pounces on the group, p!Tommy does anyways. Understandably, c!Dream reacts badly to a kid attacking him and his baby chicks and ends up punching p!Tommy, breaking his nose. P!Tommy precedes to whine the rest of the day about how both Dreams are his “abusers”… both Dreams roll their eyes, making p!Tubbo and p!Ranboo giggle.

P!Punz is pretty proud to have great taste of best friends in both worlds. C!Phil points out that c!Punz actually betrayed c!Dream, so p!Punz decides he shall take over his job as c!Dream’s bff. C!Dream finds it cute and his mannerisms make him miss c!Punz.

Both Dreams flinch at the sound of angry adults even if it’s not directed at them. Whenever the adults get angry p!Techno, p!Sapnap and p!George run off and hide while p!Dream stays put, ready but scared. P!Sam and p!Punz both know about p!Dream’s parental abuse in some manner and automatically go into protective mode whenever p!Dream looks even remotely uncomfortable around the adults. And after p!Sam notices c!Dream acting similarly, he starts taking a protective stance for him too. C!Dream finds it sweet even if sometimes his brain conjures imagines of c!Quackity killing p!Sam in seconds just to get to him, other times be thinks about how it should’ve been the his Sam, the Warden, standing over him protecting him…

[twisted-tales-of-all]

Summary: anon drabble request- ‘15, 20 & 24 with Dom Hongjoong please’

15 - "You take my fingers so well, don't you?" || 20 - “You'd better be quiet or everyone's going to know what a naughty little slut you are." || 24 - “Maybe if I punish you, it'll help you remember who you belong to next time.”

Pairing: Hongjoong x afab!reader Genres/tropes: smut, drabble, dom!idol, idol!AU, hidden relationship Word Count: 606 Warnings: alcohol use, jealous Joong, pet names (baby, love), you’re called a slut once, praise, oral (f. receiving), fingering (f. receiving)

Spending your typical game night with your close friends, you find San drunkenly resting his head in your lap as you both watch Yunho and Jongho rage at each other in the fighting game. After Yunho succeeds, he passes the controller to a drunken Wooyoung. Similarly, Jongho shoves his controller at San, poking him in the side with it to bring him back to reality.

The moment San leaves your lap, Hongjoong grabs your wrist and drags you off to his bedroom, locking the door behind you. Despite the tipsy emptiness in your head, you can tell that he's upset, but you can't imagine why.

"Hongjoong, what's-?"

"You're mine." He growls out, pinning you against the wall.

"Well, of course I am. Who said otherwise?"

With a dark chuckle at what he thinks it's you acting dumb, he concludes, "Maybe if I punish you, it'll help you remember who you belong to next time. San's not allowed in my place."

"San?" Retracing your actions from the evening, you laugh when you realize that he's jealous that you pet the younger boy's hair while he was lying in your lap. "Hongjoong, baby, why are you reacting so strongly over something that small? He's drunk. Cut him a break."

Shaking his head, he leans in and sucks on your neck, marking you clearly for all to see. You scold him, reminding him that you still haven't told the boys of your relationship.

"Well, then, you'd better be quiet or everyone's going to know what a naughty little slut you are." He teases before dropping to his knees in front of you.

Swiftly pulling down your shorts and underwear, he spreads your legs and traces your folds with his fingers. Before doing anything more, he lifts his hand to your face and tells you to suck on his fingers. You swirl your tongue around his skinny fingers, wetting them enough for a string of saliva to fall as he pulls his hand away again.

"Mm, so good for me."

He puts two of his now-dripping fingers into your entrance, curling them up towards himself as he tries to find the right spot. Your hand flies to your mouth when he hits it, muffling your moans. He smiles as he sees you fall apart from his fingers. He adds a third finger and leans in, enjoying the scent of your sex.

"You take my fingers so well, don't you?"

Still covering your mouth, you nod as your eyes close from the added sensation of the third finger and his warm breath teasingly brushing against your clit. Your legs begin to shake as you lose the concentration to hold yourself up.

"Be good, love. Stay standing there all pretty for me."

Although he sounds encouraging, his actions make it harder for you. Right after speaking, he dives in, swirling his tongue around your clit. Trying your hardest to stay quiet and remain standing, you don't have the energy to warn him of your quickly unraveling orgasm, which hits you in waves as he licks up your juices and continues the steady pace with his fingers despite the clenching around them.

"Joong... Too much..." You mutter out, too tired to continue splitting your energy between everything.

"Shh," he urges, his voice sending vibrations through your core, "Let's lay you down so we can continue."

Putting his shoulders under your legs, he coaxes you to sit on his shoulders as he wraps his free hand around your back. He quickly transfers you to the bed to continue the delectable torture of his tongue and fingers, disregarding his group mates in the other room.

[justsomeoneintoomanyfandoms]

Headcanons for @chantillymoon

This was really fun to do! I am currently up to episode 261 of One Piece (Water 7) so please keep that in mind while reading. Because I haven't officially met Brook yet, all of my headcanons are based on what I've read in fanfics and a bit of research so hopefully I'm not too far off.

Platonic headcanons on the rest of the Straw Hat crew can be found here!

Fandom: One Piece

Characters: Brook and Usopp x gn! Reader (separate and platonic)

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

Thoughts on being friends with the Straw Hat crew.

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

I see Brook as someone who’s always got a song stuck in his head. And he’s going to make it everyone’s problem. But is it really a problem when he actually has the voice for it? Yes. Yes, it is. Especially when you’re listening to him humming the same part of that one song for the tenth time that day.

At the same time, he’s great to have around if you’ve got a song stuck in your head. Brook knows so many songs that you’d be hard pressed finding one he couldn’t sing for you. And if he doesn’t know the song, he’s pretty good at picking up tunes quickly.

Have sore muscles? Those bony fingers are great for digging into twisted muscles and sore spots. Brook may have gone through a lot because of his Devil Fruit but he’s glad he can do something with it to help his friends.

He’s got a surprisingly good eye for fashion…if he had eyes! In all seriousness, please take him with you next time you need to go shopping for clothes. Between him and Nami, you’ll get back to the ship with a whole new wardrobe full of amazing clothes that suit you perfectly.

Whether you’re quiet or talkative, Brook loves just being in your presence. If you’re on the quiet side, he likes the tranquillity of sitting in companionable silence with someone. And if you’re talkative, he enjoys listening to everything you have to say.

Similarly, Brook’s great to talk to if you want to get anything off your chest. He’s a good listener and won’t spread around anything you’ve told him unless he thinks it could harm the crew (even then, he’d most likely keep it secret for a while). He also gives really good advice.

Brook missed out on a lot during his time in the Florian Triangle so he enjoys having a younger friend to help bring him up to speed. That being said, he’s an absolute menace with the way he mixes slag from his era with modern day sayings. Think something along the lines of “oh, they know their onions, they're no noob” and "ok you cad, time to catch these hands".

If you want to learn how to play an instrument or sing, Brook is more than happy to help. He’s had decades of practice and, even though he’s a bit rusty at explaining things to others, he’s patient and dedicated to teaching you.

Everyone has that one artist friend. And Usopp definitely falls into that category. He’s constantly got a sketchbook with him and will draw anything and everything. If you’re also into art, you’ll definitely bond over that.

Will absolutely hid behind you in battle. Whether you’re taller than him or not, he feels comfortable enough around you to chose you as his hiding spot.

Makes up stories about your bravado and wild adventures as well. While the other straw hats might react badly to Usopp telling stories about them, even if they are meant to improve their reputation, he hopes you will react differently.

In the same manner, Usopp would love to practice his pre-battle speeches with you and get some feedback. He’s a theatre kid at heart but he needs someone he trusts to work on his lines with. As one of his closest friends (and someone hopefully less judgmental than Nami), you fit that description.

He is also the perfect person to tell you stories about the other straw hats, especially if you joined later. He’s an entertainer and, even if he exaggerates his role in events, you’re able to piece together their adventures to date.

Much like Brook, Usopp has a good eye for fashion, but more from the perspective of figuring out what colours and patterns go together. If you’re struggling to put together an outfit, he’s more than happy to give you his two cents worth.

Gossip buddies! If you like gossip or have a way of knowing things about people, you, Usopp, and Nami are the designated “gossip squad” of the straw hats. Usopp is always a good source of information, even if he tends to embellish sometimes.

If you have long hair and don’t feel like tying it up, Usopp should be your first port of call. Sure, Sanji’s amazing with styling hair but he’s usually busy in the kitchen and Nami and Robin usually wear theirs down. Usopp has the free time and skills to help you out. Fair warning though, he may get carried away by his creative tendencies.

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

Hey, did you enjoy this? If you like my writing, please consider donating to my Ko-Fi page! This will allow me to make some money off my writing, something I enjoy doing.

ko-fi.com/justsomeoneintoomanyfandoms

Important Note: Please only donate if you are financially able to. If you are currently in a position where you can't donate, a like, comment or reblog will mean just as much.

[allgirlsareprincesses]

What did you think about fourth wing??? I'm dying to know. There isn't enough hate (coherent analysis) about these US Air Force Propaganda books. Please share your thoughts ☕ if you feel like it of course. I just really love reading your analysis about character building and romance 💋

HOOBOY. Brace yourself for the negativity. And for those of you who enjoyed Fourth Wing, turn back now and preserve your peace!

Firstly, I lowered my expectations going into this book. Not so much because I thought it would be bad, or I wouldn't have bothered, but because I've been burned before (I liked ACOTAR but hated ACOMAF and quit it about 3/4 the way through... I try to keep my negativity to a minimum but maybe some day I should post my full rant on that series, too). For the most part, I can be satisfied with a proactive heroine and a brisk pace.

And for the first half of the book or so, that's what I got. I liked Violet and the way she used her wits and studies to overcome obstacles, and I was charmed by her friends and dragons. Xaden struck me as kind of a cookie-cutter Sexy Emo Bad Boy, but that's okay. As long as Violet was having a fun adventure, she could have a steamy romance with the tattooed hottie, too. Dain sucked, but to his credit, at least he was written as sucking from the jump instead of like Tamlin who was character assassinated in the second book...

But then, once Xaden decided that he needed to personally oversee Violet's protection instead of just Liam, I started to notice that our heroine had stopped driving the action. Suddenly, she was reacting to things that happened instead of making plans and following through. She stopped using her wits and her book knowledge, she didn't pursue the obvious mysteries that should have intrigued her, and she just generally retreated into more of a helpless damsel than she had started. And here was Xaden, being JUST as controlling and protective as Dain, but because he's sexy and has a magical justification for his protectiveness, he gets a pass.

And then the worst part. It's revealed that Xaden's not ACTUALLY a bad boy at all. In reality, he's secretly noble and generous and self-sacrificial. Just like Rhys, this guy with the Dark Prince aesthetic is actually secretly perfect, and he's also been obsessed with the heroine since he first met her. So there's not REALLY any way for him to grow or any conflict for him to overcome, because he's already this perfect, flawless, blameless hero. And Violet doesn't figure out his secret on her own through clever sleuthing, doesn't defy expectations to do something no one else will do, she just discovers Xaden's noble crusade and decides to go along with it. Because why wouldn't she? He's already done all the hard moral work (or so we're told) of risking everything for an enemy. Now she just gets to go into battle and nearly die so that Xaden can have Man Pain.

It was just deja vu. Once again, a proactive heroine became passive when confronted with the perfect sexy man with the bad boy aesthetic. So BORING.

And lest you think I'm being too critical, I want to point out a variation on this story that I actually love: The Folk of the Air series, by Holly Black. In that story, Jude is similarly a proactive heroine who meets a sexy bad boy, but there are two key differences in her story: one is that she never STOPS being proactive. Take a look at all of the major plot points in that trilogy: nearly all of them are created by Jude herself, and frequently when she's taking action in opposition to what other characters (even allies) want. Jude makes plans, she follows through, she takes risks, she defies convention. The other major difference is that Carden is ACTUALLY a bad boy at the start of his story. He's a selfish, vindictive brat, and it takes him a long time to grow to a place of maturity (at which point he's still not perfect, but he's better). So he doesn't just have the Dark Prince aesthetic while being secretly perfect - he's actually a real antagonist to Jude, which makes their story much more compelling.

So yeah, those are my thoughts. Hope you enjoyed this rant.

[galaksyz]

In Stars and Time: a thought

So! You played and finished In Stars and Time, one of the games I love very much, and also know about the secret epilogue stuff. Wow! Here's just some of my thoughts for you!

Now, normally I don't do this sort of thing, but hey, there's always a first! People may also have already thought about and talked about this, but I just wanted to put down my thoughts anyway. I may have missed some details or forgotten some! This is all speculation stuff yadda yadda.

So, Loop. Loop-de-loopity loopdoop. Super spoilery stuff, but hey, you know the secret epilogue stuff already. So you know that they used to be a Siffrin, and you know of the two wishes they made: the wish that caused their time loops, and the wish that 'got them out of there'. The Timeloop Wish, and the GTFO Wish.

The GTFO Wish is what brought Loop to the ISAT timeline in the first place, but they are a Siffrin themselves, so they also have the Timeloop Wish. We see them use timeloops to prevent losing to Siffrin during their fight.

I simply find the workings of these wishes to be quite interesting. What we know about Wish Craft from the game seems to point to one fact: Every wish accepted, is granted. No failed wishes. Wishes that might be able to be combined, may be combined, wishes that might have conflicts may work around each other.

Let's look at the wishes we know of:

Siffrin's wish, which was to stay with their friends, and Vaugarde's wish, which was for Vaugarde to be saved from the King. This essentially was combined into one wish that caused Siffrin to loop in time until the country was saved, and that Siffrin would afterwards be able to stay with their friends.

The King's wish was never directly told, but it seems to be implied that it was granted in the final few moments before he was frozen. No breaking, no nothing, his wish seemed to be sufficiently granted. Which is interesting. Was the King's wish, which is what gave him power, lined up in a way so that it would not conflict with Siffrin's and Vaugarde's wish later on? Was the King's wish specifically playing into the eventual granting of those wishes? Did the later wishes just luck out, and the outcome of the King's wish was simply redirected even if it were to still be granted truthfully? The King's wish isn't concretely known, and nothing completely confirms that his wish was granted, but this to me seems to be how it played out.

It also seems implied that the reason that nobody can remember the entire home country that Siffrin and the King used to reside in, was because of some Wish with the effect of blanketing the entire country in non-existence. It's likely that it wasn't the direct request of a wish, but more of the method that the Wish used to grant the wish, similarly to how Siffrin was given the power to loop time to defeat the King & bond with their family, and how the King was given immense power to accomplish his own wish. One extra thing seems to be that the harder one attempts to break the wish, the stronger the wish has to react. Out of one's mind, the wish has no effect. On one's mind, and it'll give them a headache. An attempt to say the country's name? Deadly.

Loop has two wishes active. The wish to stay with their friends, and the wish to GTFO. What's interesting is that these wishes might have to play around each other. Loop wished to "get out of here", in an attempt to break free from their situation. But, it could not happen in a way the blocks their first wish - to stay with their friends. And of course, Loop can't simply loop back to before they got the hell out, because then that of course betrays the GTFO wish, and I would imagine that an attempt to do that would play out similarly to trying to say "the country's name", given that its a direct attempt to break the wish.

The result is that Loop was placed in an alternate timeline, with another Siffrin encountering their own time loops. This works! They've been released from the torment of their own time loops, while still being available to stay with their friends, clearly not being actually blocked from doing so as seen in Act 5. Which brings me to one more thought.

I believe Loop's wish to stay with their friends is still in progress. It's not been finished granting. Being thrown into a timeline is simply part of it, and further down the line, Loop may be given the chance to open up to the ISAT timeline version of their friends and form connections. And to stay with them.

What I'm saying is, there is a very real chance that Loop might join the New Journey, alongside Siffrin, Mira, Isa, Odile, Bonnie, and Nille. Like an even bigger family.

And darn I think that's just swell.

[cloudybuck]

tommy kinard being weird

before anyone calls me homophobic, I am bi and I'm allowed to not like a gay character if they're a shitty person :) with that out of the way, lets talk about tommy kinard and why I cannot stand this man!

the first time we meet him, he's at the 118 with chimney. chim tries to make conversation by asking what tommy's into so chim can get into it too and they can talk. tommy ignores him and walks away. he acts similarly towards hen when she joins.

he blames his disgusting behavior towards chim and hen on his old captain. honey, it doesn't matter who you work for, if you're a bad person then you're a bad person. own up to it and do better.

he put in so much effort in his friendship with Eddie (I.e, literally flying the man out to vegas for a fight) but can't bother dressing up for a party that he knew buck was excited for and then when he's confronted, he says "they had henley's in the 80's." (we're not gonna talk about the fact that his best friend was the one to suggest the matching outfits, we're just not going to do that okay? but like okay stop get back on track)

the constant jokes at buck's expense. the first one being on their first date when Eddie and marisol see them together. he makes a comment about closet space and says, "right, evan?" to which buck reacts with a look. the second joke was a bit cringier, not the actual joke but tommy, dear, there is a time and a place. you cannot be making daddy kink jokes when your partner is opening up to you about his trauma.

his continuous admissions of jealousy! he told buck he was jealous of the family bond they had at the 118. he also told him that he was jealous buck had a father figure in Bobby because he didn't have that.

"kid" uh, no. "evan" stop that. why does it sound so condescending? like he's talking to an actual child. . .

anyway, that's my list. absolutely hate the fact that my first post is for this man but I need him gone, I need him ooooouuut! BUH BYE!

[jameui]

MA BOY

PAIRING: Lee Heeseung x M!Reader

GENRE: Angst, Fluff

WARNINGS: height/size difference,

SUMMARY: An enemy turned his lover? Who would've known. Lee Heeseung a band leader and you a co-member of his band was a bickering storm, but, oh how fate loves to play with its strins.

"Writing another song, Y/N?" One of the members of your group who happened to be passing by at the living room saw you all slouched out near the coffee table as your tongue stuck out a little as you tried to concentrate on what you were doing. You did acknowledge his presence and heard his voice, answering his question with a nod. The male just sighs feeling a little bad that after all your effort, the band leader never approved of the songs you've written and persisted on only playing the ones he wrote for HIS band. You are just wondering why he was so against your compositions. Everyone else loved what you have, so how come your leader always reacts with a horrid look and disagrees to ever play one of your songs?

Your roommate slash bestfriend, Sim Jaeyun or simply Jake, exhales through his nose and sat himself down beside you as you wiggle a little more to the side so Jake could have a comfortable seating. "Y/N, you know Heeseung will never agree to play one of your songs any moment now, right? Save your effort for something else. I feel guilty that I can't do anything." Jake lets out, yet you didn't listen and continued on, strumming the guitar occassionally and experimenting on how the next verse would sound like to add a little flavor to the song. If you like how it turns out, you jot the notes down on your music sheet. "Y/N..." Jake calls for your attention, you taking a second to stop and sighed.

"I know, Jake. One more of the reasons why I decided to quit the band and decide to go solo or maybe even start a new band." You told Jake, the latter shocked to hear your revelation. It was just a little too sudden and was totally uncalled-for. "I know you want to stay with hyung and the others, so I don't want to give you a choice, but know I'm always open for a synthesizer." You told him, the other male smiling sadly and embraced you in a comforting manner.

"Whatever makes you happy, Y/N." Jake said, caressing the back of your head as you gave him a nod and smile, hugging him even tighter. "I wish you the best and I just know you'll do great." Jake stated before he breaks off and pats the top of your head making you giggle.

You nudge his shoulder playfully, chuckling. "Thanks, Jake. You're the best friend a person could ever ask for." You told him, the other male smiling up at you with his pearly white teeth looking similarly to a cute dog to which he is, metaphorically speaking. "I just wish I didn't have to do this, but it's for the best." You said in a bitter tone, which made Jake frown sadly, his brows furrowed.

"I just simply think that Heeseung is a little insecure with what you can do and he doesn't want his ego to be stepped on especially by someone who's younger than him." Jake told you to which you knitted your brows out in confusion, never actually seeing it in that same perspective. You just thought he really hated you. "I know it's not what you intend to do, but forgive Heeseung. He just... has a reputation to uphold. Let's just say he's feeling a lot of pressure." Jake laughed softly to explain his statement, you finally understanding the slightest bit as to why the older male seems to despise you.

You let out a sigh and looked at the papers that was placed on top of your usual work place for writing, biting the bottom of your lip. "Jake, I know what I have to do. I made up my mind. I'm not quitting the band and I might actually try to know whatever is bothering hyung. I won't be able to solve anything if I keep trying to run away from the problem." You told Jake, whose brows furrows in concern, wanting to make sure if you're certain of your decsion. He just want what's best for you. "Jake, don't you worry about a thing, because I got a strategy." You gave him a wink, Jake smiling awkwardly.

"Yey, Y/N. I hope it works." Jake whispers, you already planning out your marvelous idea in your head. Oh, it is going to be perfect. It's going to be amazing, jaw dropping and mouth drooling. You just have to find the right time when to initiate the first stage of your plan.

"Hyung." You called out to the male who was having a talk with his friends outside of the band, turning his attention towards the voice as he looks for the owner of it only to see you a feet below him as he rolls his eyes and groans in frustration. He opened his mouth and opted to say something, but before the words could come out of his mouth you decided to cut him off. "You look like you haven't slept in days, hyungie. Aigoo, the dark bags under your eyes. Tsk, tsk. Have a coffee!" You said all in one go, ending with a cheery tone and handed out the coffee you had with you and gave him a smile.

You hear a small scoff come from Heeseung as you tilted your head to the side, confused. The taller man starts to walks up towards you, ever so slowly your hand retreated back towards you as you lifted your head up to face Heeseung. "You really think this will make me want to play any of your songs? I'm not that easy to get, dickwad." Heeseung spat out, his arms crossed.

You shook your head with a small pout on your lips as if to contradict with what he said. "I know it would seem like that, but you really need to know that I'm just genuinely trying to be your friend. We're both in the same band for crying out loud and we don't get along well." You told him, to which Heeseung just scoffed at before swatting the coffee off your hand which was thrown onto your uniform shirt, hissing at the burning sensation of the newly brewed hot coffee.

"Yeah, right." Heeseung smirks, leaving you agitated, but tried to keep a smile on before letting out a breathe of irritation and picked up the now empty cup of coffee and angrily threw the trash in the garbage.

Jake meets you halfway, who was watching the whole scene unfold. "I told you it was a bad idea. He just won't open up to you that really quick." Jake said, but you were determined to make your master plan work. You just know somehow, someday it will work. It's just got to work. You didn't listen to Jake and walked past him, whilst Jake just sighed out and followed closely behind. You are just that stubborn.

Later that time during recess, you were forced to only wear your blazer exposing some bits of skin on you, but you didn't mind. It was not like anyone would stare at you. "Jakey, listen. I know you're going to think this is crazy, but my gaydar is telling me, Heeseung-hyung is queensified." You told him, Jake a little confused with your choice of words, you sighing at his cluelessness. "I meant gay, Jake. I think Heeseung is gay." You deadpanned, Jake's lips forming an 'o' shape as he nodded his head finally understanding what you meant to say.

Jake clears his throat after taking a bite from his ham and cheese sandwich. "I don't feel like you've known about this, but Heeseung and I used to date." Hearing that out of the blue confession you were able to spit out the milk that you were trying to drink and snapped your head towards Jake who continued to munch on his food, unfazed. "Surprise, surprise." Jake awkwardly laughs.

You wiped your mouth dry and took your handkerchief from your pockets to wipe off some of the milk that dripped down your chest. "Jake, how come you've never told me about this before?" You asked the male who only shrugged his shoulders and sipped his strawberry yogurt away. "Guess the master plan has to stop and I actually have to befriend Heeseung-hyung." Jake raises a brow.

"You don't really have to anymore though." Jake suggested, but you shook your head in reply, Jake knowing you have something in mind that you don't want to happen.

"I have got to. If I stop he'll know himself that he was right and I hate it when he's right. I just simply hate it!" You yelled out, Jake laughing a little as he caressed your back to calm you down. You were suddenly like a lion trying to burst out of its cage. You looked over at Jake and gave him a determined look. "I won't let that happen. Hyung is going to be my friend. He will be." You told Jake who gave you a look that said 'suit yourself' and looks away while you thought of what to do next. To become Heeseung's friend.

The day went for a very long time and you just couldn't hurry more to band practice and meet Heeseung there who was always the first one to arrive at the band's designated room. You ran to the room as fast as you can and stood at the door with a halt and a smile, as usual, catching Heeseung playing a few songs on his guitar. "Hyung!" You called out, the voice clearly making Heeseung groan exactly knowing who owns that all too familiar annoying voice. He turns his head around, his anger evaporating for a second the moment he laid his eyes on you.

So suddenly, Heeseung was entranced by the way you were clothed. With only the blazer on top and a little bit of skin showing, it was as though you purposely had done it to seduce the taller male who just can't keep his eyes off your exposed ches—"Hyung!" You shouted at him for another time, snapping the male awake from his train of thoughts, immediately regretting that he was actually checking you out. "Before you say anything, I was not lying back there and really wanted to become your friend. You don't have to play any of my songs. I'll do what you want." You said to the taller male all the while you picked up your own guitar and plugged it to the amplifier. You did a little riff to warm up, Heeseung still in a daze. "Hyung, are you alright?"

"I, what? Huh? Shut up." He retorts yet you just shrugged and practiced on the guitar with a few of Heeseung's written song, every once in a while the older male stealing a glance, but shook his thoughts away and focused on something else to distract himself. "Fuck, what is wrong with you?" Heeseung whispered to himself, grabbing a towel to clean his guitar.

You catching his actions, you yelled out to him to stop before he could do any damage to his priced guitar. "Hyung, wait!" Heeseung faces you and knits his brows, feeling a little stressed already and he had just got to hear you squeak out a noise again. "That's what we use to polish the floor." You informed him, Heeseung looking down at what he thought was a towel, but saw a rug instead and thinks of an excuse.

"I was... about to just polish the floor, so yeah.. But, now I'm lazy." He said, to which you just raised a brow at since Heeseung never really like to clean and actually don't think about cleaning at all unless told to. "Just.. I don't want to hear a word from you." Heeseung told you, which you rolled your eyes to and scoffed.

The following days, you kind of noticed the changes at how Heeseung acted around you and it was not even the best one. He always acted weird and really clumsy when you were in his line of sight, like you are some kind of activator or a switch that turned something on Heeseung's bolts that he starts to act unlike him. Like the confidence and shit faded away type of Heeseung and you weren't so sure why this was happening, but Heeseung literally made it clear that he was being all shy and always left when you arrive, except during practices.

For example this morning's flag ceremony where you lined up along with the other students who are late, you unfortunately stood beside Heeseung and the moment he realized it was you he flinches away with a loud scream, shocking you at how sudden it was. Even the rest of the students were shocked to have heard Heeseung scream. "Hyung, are you alright? You always seem to be scared when I'm around." You asked the taller male who only ignored you and cleared his throat. "Hyung?" You tried to find the answer you needed, but your words fell on deaf ears.

For the first time, you admit you wished the dismissive and sassy Heeseung came back. It was starting to get more and more hard to become friends with Heeseung especially with this new attitude he was showing around you. Pretending like you are invisible and never even dares to look at you in the eyes anymore. He busies himself with something else when he talks to you and when you try to find his eyes, he would just look away and avoid you.

"Jake, don't you think hyung's been... off lately?" You questioned a little concerned and a little worried that Heeseung is purposely doing this so he can prove himself right in the end of the day, as though your advances to be his friend was just nothing. Jake looks at you and nodded his head, humming lightly. "I mean, I'm not certain if I'm the only who's able to notice it, but Heeseung-hyung's been very suspicious. I mean not in a bad way." You admitted, Jake giving you a chuckle as you looked at him feeling confused.

"Oh, Y/N. You are just that dense are you?" Jake smirked, putting down the cup of coffee he bought. Seeing you're cluelessness, he just sighs and takes one more sip from the cup and starts to make some sense with his words. "That Y/N is a Heeseung who's in love." Jake said, you scoffing.

"Wow, didn't know Heeseung had it in him to actually fall for anyone. With who anyways?" You threw him another question, Jake scoffing in disbelief. Was his clues not too obvious enough? You glanced over at Jake when he fell silent, the male giving you a knowing look, you totally confused why he had that look on his face. "What?" You took a chip from his snack and chewed on it, wiping your fingers clean and stood up. "Anyways, I'll chat you later. I have somewhere to be." You told Jake, the latter nodding his head as he gestured for you to go already. Jake smirks smugly, your brows knitting together as you shrugged it off as nothing and left.

On the way to your destination, you unfortunately bumped into a wall, putting a hand over your head since you weren't paying much attention to where you are walking, lifting your head up to see Heeseung. You gave him a smile, although catching the same poker expression on his face. "Hyu—"

"So, Jake, huh?" Heeseung cuts you off mid-sentence. Giving you no context about what he meant. He just went fully with his accusations. You raised him a brow out of confusion, then shook your head and tried to get away from him, but the taller male caught you by the wrist as you averted your gaze to him, your confused expression replaced with a small glare. "Answer me."

"How? I don't even know what you fucking mean. You just come out of the blue and ask me 'sO jAkE, hUh'. What the hell am I supposed to answer? Double it and pass it to the other? Are you a fucking math equation?" You sassed. Heeseung blushing a tad bit in embarrassment, but he kept it subtle and covered it with a clear of his throat, keeping his gaze away from you for a moment, so you don't notice the red tint on his cheeks.

He crosses his arms, viewing you through the side of his eyes. He quickly looks away the minute your eyes met, Heeseung barely forming the right words, on the brink of stumbling through his words if it wasn't for his curiosity. "Sorry, I meant... uh, are you and Jake dating?"

You grimaced at his question and agressively shook your head. "What?! God, no. He's my bestfriend and like a brother to me now. It feels wrong to be dating Jake." You fake gagged, Jake who heard everything from where he was scoffs in disbelief and starts cursing you in his head.

Hearing your answer removed a huge weight off Heeseung's shoulders, his heart swelling with relief, lowkey hiding his smile under an undertone voice, sounding cold and emotionless, like he usually was with you. He tries his best to hide his smile. "Then... can I tell you something?" Heeseung asked you, you tilting your head in question, wondering what exactly could he want from you. I mean, it wasn't every day that Heeseung actually talks to you. When he does, it would only be for him to tease and mock you, so this was a little different to you.

"What? Please, make it quick. I have somewhere to be." You told him, looking as though you are in a hurry, but Heeseung is so persistent to tell you whatever there is for him to tell you. The male actually shocked at himself when he found his hands unconciously on your shoulders to stop you from going anywhere, as if he didn't want you to go.

Heeseung purses his lips, slowly retracting his hands back down his sides and gave another clear of his throats, making you laugh softly at his actions. "I... I actually want to tell you through a song, Y/N." You seemed a little surprise at him hearing your name come out of his mouth. He'd usually call you names just to make fun of you, but you simply shrugged it off and sighed.

You looked at the clock display on your phone's lock screen and decided that there is still an ample amount of time to spare. You averted your attention back to Heeseung, then crossing your arms. "Is it important?" You asked him and Heeseung, surprisingly enough, nod his head vigorously as though excited about something.

"Yes! Too important that you don't want to miss out on it." Heeseung replied, smiling from ear to ear which you found a bit creepy considering the one time Heeseung would only smile at you is when he finds you at miserable state. Maybe, that is his plan and you're falling into his trap.

Not putting your guard down, you still nodded your head and sighed for the nth time. "Alright, fine." He was about to move when you immediately stopped him, pulling him by the wrist which made Heeseung instinctively look down at where your touch lingered before facing you. "You're not... going to try and kill me are you?" You asked him cautiously, Heeseung staring at you for a second or two before bursting out into fits of laughter.

"That's what you were worried about?" Heeseung teases you, holding onto his stomach, making you blush a little out of pure embarrassment.

You avoided his eyes, turning your head to the side trying to hide your reddening face. "Well, yeah. YOU are cruel to me after all." You answered him, Heeseung's laughter dying down slowly and smiles down at you, you looking up at him with furrowed brows.

"Now, you're really scaring me." You told him, Heeseung rolling his eyes before he drags you to the band's practice room, laughing softly all throughout the way. He didn't know what he is feeling as of the moment. It was making him feel all giddy inside and his heart was beating like crazy. He felt nervous and happy both at the same time, but damn, it was you. He didn't know just when it started, but he could no longer handle the ache in his heart whenever he sees you being all lovey dovey with Jake, when it should be him and him only.

"Trust me, Y/N. I won't even lay a finger on you." Heeseung said, which made you feel a sinking feeling in your stomach. Heeseung was only grinning happily, but in your perspective he was trying to fool you, his prey for the night.

The moment you two arrived at the band room, he makes you settle down on one of the chairs as he goes on preparing whatever he needs for whatever he wants with you. You raise him a brow, catching sight of Heeseung's shaking hands, the male cursing himself when he clumsily steps on something or drop anything, in short when he gets a little too careless. He checks in on you and you tilt your head to the side, your usual way when asking anyone if their okay or if they need any help. "I-I'm fine, Y/N. Just... stay where you are." He tells you whilst you nod your head in reply, Heeseung hanging the sling of his guitar on his shoulder and turns to look at you. "I hope you will like it, Y/N." He told you with a small smile, taking a deep breathe and started playing with the strings ever so gently with his fingers, strumming carefully.

He starts to sing you the song, smiling to himself with the image of the person he wanted to sing this to, remained in his head. It was like a dream. Looking at him like this, you thought he looked like a man who came straight out of a comic. He looked like a proper gentleman, not like the Heeseung that you always knew. It was a little different.

He continues to finish the song, but soon slowly stops, the melody that his guitar crated fading into the silence, before he looks at you as you clapped your hands, leaving Heeseung a little confused. Didn't you see the hint he was trying to see? He literally just described you THROUGH A SONG. "Hyung, we should totally play that song during the prom! I bet you everyone will like it!" You exclaimed, the edges of your lips reaching up to the heavens.

"What? No! I mean, thanks, but Y/N..." Heeseung sighs in disbelief. He knew about how you're a little too late to understand the signals, but he didn't know that you are this dense when he already made it pretty obvious that he wrote the song for you and YOU only. No one else. Was it that hard to understand?

Your brows knited together at the center, tilting your head to the side in question. "Isn't that what you wanted to hear from me?" You asked him.

"Y/N—"

"I mean, you always wanted to be the one with the most recognition." You cut him off before he could even say anything, already thinking of other things that Heeseung would probably want to hear right now. Other than that he wants his song to be the only song heard by many. He is a little selfish at that matter, but that's not the point.

"It's not—" Heeseung was about to speak yet another time, but you beat him to it for another time, the older male groaning at how annoying you are sounding right now, mainly since he didn't want to speak about it loud, since it's possible for his ego to be stepped on by you with just a quick no and rejection.

You hummed, paying no attention to Heeseung and started to pace back and forth. "The possibilities of this actually adding more to your fame is about a fifty to fifty percent. I—" You are abruptly stopped mid-sentence when Heeseung yells who could no longer keep it in, especially when he's hearing words that's making him feel too guilty.

"Y/N, I WROTE THAT SONG FOR YOU, OKAY?!" Heeseung let out, puffing his chest while you are left speechless. The taller male turns his back at you, covering the blush that was forming on his cheeks that made him look almost completely like a tomato.

You were dumbfounded. Heeseung? Wrote a song for you? Are you by any chance still dreaming or asleep? Cause if you were, you would very much want to wake up right at this moment. "Hyung..." You uttered out, but the word you wanted to tell him never seemed to leave ypur lips. Your tongue got tied and all you could muster to form was static sentences that didn't make any sense at all. Everything seemed overwhelming and just plain so unreal.

Heeseung breathes in deeply and shuts his eyes close. "Do I have to word it out for you? Fine, L/N Y/N. I like you." He told you without even a tad bit of hesitation as though he was ready with all this. You couldn't even say anything. It's just too sudden and unexpected, like a birthday surprise from a person you know talks shit about you behind your back.

It had already been a few weeks since the confession and it's the only thing that cycled inside your head like a broken record. No matter how much you tried to get it out of your head, you are just forced to think about it even more. It felt like a curse! "AH!" You screamed out too loud that even the person who sat beside you gave out a loud scream as well. "God, sorry." You sighed, almost slamming your head on the table out of habit, weren't for Jake instinctively pushing your head back to stop you.

"What is it now, Y/N?" Jake asks you, moving his hand so he could flip the page of the book he is currently reading. He may have been too engross with what he is doing, but you are his top priority. He had to always look out for you. "Is it still about that confession?" Jake asked, you whining with nod and groaned, laying your head on his shoulder and held onto his arm.

Jake looks down at you with a chuckle and locks your head in place in his arm, feeling his bicep's muscle flex. "Seriously, Y/N? It's clear as day you share the same feelings." He told you, while your cheeks were being squished, your lips puckered up a little like a duck's beak, you sighing.

You knew that Jake was right. You did find the feelings mutual, but you just don't know how to face Heeseung right now after that incident. You acted on impulse and just left, when you shouldn't have had. Just thinking about it made your stomach feel a little funny. "I... I know." Jake raised a brow at your answer, the urge to just open your brain and see what's going on inside there.

"Then, what seems to be the problem?" Jake asked you, removing yourself from him and groaned.

"I don't even know! I'm just going crazy now." You let out in frustration, you yourself can't even understand yourself any longer. Sure, it made your heart flutter and things, so what seems to be the problem if not that?

Jake's attention went over towards the entrance and smirks, laughing softly. "Well, make a choice. We leave now or stay. Heeseung at three o'clock." You immediately snapped your head towards the direction and you do see Heeseung, but there is something different about him now.

He was glistening with beauty. He looks like an angel, your world starting to revolve slowly as your eyes focused only on Heeseung and watched as he smiles at you, your eyes furrowing at awe, unable to find the answer how the heavens would ever create such a fine man. His new dyed hair and his hair sleeked back, shiny with the hair gel he lways loved to use. You're seeing a complete different side of Heeseung and, God, you just fell even deeper. "HIDE ME, JAKE!" You yelled at Jake, pulling him by the collar and quickly found your way behind him, Heeseung who saw it all rolled his eyes.

"Y/N, I'm not blind and you can't just keep on hiding from me." Heeseung crossed his arms, eyeing you from behind Jake who just pursed his lips and moved back to reading his book before taking a sip of his iced coffee, snorting when he hears your answer almost choking on his drink.

You peeked from where you are and glared at Heseung who tried to find your eyes, but you only looked away. "Says you." You muttered, still loud enough for Heeseung to hear you.

"Goodness." The male sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose. Catching the stress on his eyes, you bit on your lower lip thinking whether to have a talk with Heeseung or not, considering that every time you tried, you're only engulfed in a deafening silence and Heeseung is left to wonder what you're supposed to tell him.

Gathering enough courage, you tapped on Jake's side, the Australian humming in reply telling you that he was listening to you. "...Jake, can you leave me with Heeseung for a moment? I'd like to speak with him in private." Jake closes his book and nods his jead, looking over at Heeseung and gave him a look. He just wanted to make sure you'll be in safe hands the moment he leaves.

Jake finally stands from his chair and starts making his way out of the place. You silently sat down in front of Heeseung who only stares at you in anticipation. You cleared your throat to calm your nerves a little; a headstart to be exact. You lift your head up to see the male eye to eye. "Heeseung, look... I don't have any problem with the confession and your feelings." You admitted, fiddling with your fingers due to how anxious you felt right now.

"...Then? Why are you trying to avoid me?" Heeseung questions, his head slightly towards the side.

"Cause! Everything was all too sudden and I embarrassed myself Infront of you by just literally kissing you that day!" You answered him, the taller male chuckling at your reply, then shaking his head.

He holds your hand into his, which caused you to jump a little in shock. "I liked that kiss though." Heeseung said, placing a kiss on top of your hand, not losing the eye contact you both held, your cheeks starting to turn red.

"Hyung!" You whisper-shouted, Heeseung laughing cutely at you, deciding to tease you even more. You pouted at him, finally peeling your eyes away from his and covered your tomato cheeks.

"I'm leaving." You pulled your hand away from Heeseung and grabbed your things, leaving the table and walked your way out, hearing a soft laugh from Heeseung who follows behind you closely.

The male's hand reached over your chin and slowly moves your head so you could face him. "What? I just said what I should have. Your lips are soft, I could kiss them all day." His words slithered out of his mouth smoothly, that it became unbearable for you anymore and started to regret trying to ever talk to him when he'd constantly just tease you.

[feral-and-chaotic]

Spoilers for Dungeon Meshi, Chapter 88

Laios has just been solidify as my favourite character, I think.

Laios have wanted to become a monster as a child and this hurt me personally. This is a character who clearly has not had that many friends in the past potentially any outside of his sister. He is a character who has had to run away from every opportunity that he has been given. He ran from the military because he didn't fit in and in the panels shown in the background of the winged lion trying to make a deal with him, We see images of Laios being bullied.

The idea that he wanted to be a monster with this context makes a lot of sense. Probably to some extent because he wanted to be a monster so he could be what people thought he was / fear he is because he's clearly been so disconnected from humanity due to how people have treated him because he's a little weird.

Additionally these panels think so much sense for why he reacts the way he did when (To)shiro told him how much he hated him and beat him. With the context that Laios has been treated like this before, his response of "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you pretend to be my friend" makes sense. Because Laios has been so desensitized to those words that should have hurt him.

Additionally, the reveal that Laios has at one stage, as a child, wanted monsters to terrorize villages because he hated humanity also hits so damn hard.

(also this all explains why he's so desperate to save his sister if she was at one point his only friend).

.

.

.

As somebody who grew up as a weird kid this hits in a way that not many other character backstories hit me. I remember being that weird kid and I remember being bullied for standing out. I also have memories similar where I wish those people being mean to me had consequences.

But also similarly, as I grew up I found people that love me for those weird quirks or were weird themselves. Just as Laios finds Senshi who has similar interests, Marcille and Itzusemi who are also social outcasts. And Chilchuck and Namari who love him despite his weirdness.

Basically what I'm saying is that the whole of Dungeon Meshi's plot centers around this autistic man finding people who love him for who he is. And that's fantastic.

Also these panels have cause me so much emotional pain:

[lej222]

Miae loved Cheol and nobody told her he was cool, everybody says Jisu is cool that's why she feels self-conscious around him. That's the difference, Miae loves.Cheol because of who he is.

Well, no one says your opinion is not valid, although I have to disagree with you on some things because you sent this as an ask. Mind you, this is my personal opinion.

Cheol and Jisu both have a reputation and could be considered outsiders at the beginning of the story. Cheol stands out because of his height, so people tend to assume the worst about him. After a while, he gives up on trying to explain himself so he accepts the role other people assume of him, even it hurts him. Jisu, on the other hand, has been the weird kid all his life. It's probably because he was born different, it's not a physical trait like Cheol's height or scar, but his behaviour and cognitive abilities. Jisu doesn't stand out at first glance, but he purposefully chooses to be disengaged. In that regard, both Cheol and Jisu are hiding from other people.

Cheol's bad reputation starts to change when Miae shows the other students that he's a good guy. And when Cheol starts to open up and accepts interacting with others, like Jinseop or the soccer kids, Cheol actually becomes a popular guy. He's tall, handsome and kind, talented at sports and caring. It's something other girls also notice and Miae's friends keep teasing her with how Cheol likes her and how cool he is. About Jisu, not so many people think he's cool. In fact, Miae is the one who realizes all his good qualities. Only one of her friends mention him as a good-looking guy and some classmates don't even know him when they talk about the sports festival. However, everybody knows his reputation as Baekje's weird number 1 student. And no one says how the rumors were not true, in fact, everybody seems to agree because it's not something he can just change about himself. Like we never see girls approaching him or boys asking him to be their friend, something that happens to Cheol in the story (Cheol is the awkward popular kid😁)

Miae is someone who's capable of understanding both of them. She was bullied because of her height like Cheol, and she was also the weird kid like Jisu. No wonder Miae is the one who appreciates Jisu's good qualities when they are alone. So to react to your ask- Miae isn't self-conscious of Jisu because other people say he's cool. It's she who seems to think that the most. Jinseop is supposed to be the cool kid of the school, and now people start to think of Cheol similarly. We see most of the story from Miae's pov, that's why Jisu's unique personality is portrayed in a positive light. Unfortunately, in real life, kids like Jisu are bullied a lot because they are different, just like what we saw in Jisu's memories. Miae seemed to be flustered around Jisu because she started to view him as a man after she began to take him seriously and treat him as an individual. I'm not saying she loves him, but she's more self-conscious about his presence. 🙂 It's definitely a callback to what Jinseop said about how boys and girls who are compatible have some tension between them, and Miae is at the age where she starts to explore romantic love. 👍

[tonydaddingham]

Crowley refusing to build meaningful bonds with humans in the show while Aziraphale seems to have a lot of them just reminds me of how there's only one human I can remember Crowley explicitly having been close to? In both the book and the show he owns the original sketch of the Mona Lisa and it's signed with a handwritten note from Leonardo da Vinci referring to Crowley as his "dear friend Antonio". And Crowley helped with his design for the flying machine and told him about helicopters. Meanwhile fandom jokingly has a list going around of all the historical figures Aziraphale has been "close" with. Makes me think that S3 might explore Crowley's connection to humans in more depth, since we haven't really seen it like we have with Aziraphale, and he now insists on NOT getting to know them.

hi anon, sorry im only getting your ask now!!!✨ this has definitely made me ponder this element of crowley a little bit closer, because yeah - to my mind, you're absolutely right.

aziraphale is shown as having issues with sudden, unplanned, out-of-field change that throws him for a loop. crowley is more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, able to deal with making quick decisions and makes even quicker actions. and this is largely true, if you go by certain events given to us in the narrative (eg. aziraphale's reaction to the kiss, vs crowley coming up with the plan to go up to heaven).

however, i think it goes a little deeper, and is actually sometimes the other way around when it comes to things ending. aziraphale understands that some things are finite, that they have their time, and has made his peace with it. crowley however needs stability and consistency because seismic shift is scary, and disruption to the status quo means that what he has might be taken from him.

crowley didn't appear to give any thought what happened to dalrymple, but makes the offhand comment he does about not getting close to humans, when learning that dalrymple committed suicide. crowley reacted arguably way more emotionally to armageddon than aziraphale did, and was visibly panicking when confessing his feelings to aziraphale. the angel-who-crowley-was similarly was dismayed at - what felt to him ("that's nothing!") - the brief time in which his creations would be destroyed. and we can surmise pretty reliably his initial reaction to his sentence, and the immediate emotional aftermath, of when he fell. crowley cannot handle change, because each time a fundamental change has been threatened, he has lost something he holds close to his heart.

the double-edged sword in that is that crowley is - as you remarked - drawn to a handful (if even that many) of people that provide that stability and consistency. but he is lonely. going by the da vinci example, he forms relationships with humans because it feeds what i imagine is the hole left in him from the fall. da vinci was alive a fair while before - as i perceive it - he formed any truly deep connection with aziraphale (for me, 1601). is da vinci therefore an instance where crowley, in his loneliness, sought out a friendship (?) with someone who pondered the universe, who was fascinated and captivated by the stars, as much as crowley did and was?

but everything has its end; da vinci certainly did. so is it around this time that crowley realises that whilst he keeps going, is condemned to eternity, everything else withers and dies, and leaves him as lonely as he was before? is this when he looks to the only being that he knows also has that longevity, a being he has history with and actually may provide true constancy? a being that, for all intents and purposes, never seems to change?

that may well be the case, and to give his reach to aziraphale legitimacy, he comes up with the arrangement. continues through the next few centuries, but didn't bargain for actually falling in a completely different way? and all of it to be swept away as soon as he tries to reach out for the true consistency, an equilibrium, that would possibly allow him to heal that ache in his chest, the loneliness that he's jealously guarded because there was never anything or anyone else who could ever fill it? all swept away with a comment that meant something completely different, but to crowley only put him back exactly where he started?

"nothing lasts forever."

thank you for the unexpected meta prompt, anon!!!✨💕